I just dumped a batch of posts that were in extremely poor taste. Disagree with someone all you want, but your personal attacks went too far Sir Burr. UlyssesG you can put the homo comments on ice too. We have a lot of latitude on what we can discuss, and how we can discuss things in bedlam but sometimes guys start acting like you two and then things have to be dealt with and it winds up ruining things for everyone else because a select few cannot moderate themselves.

Advanced member status comes automaticly at 500 posts. It's supposed to mean you've come far enough that you probably aren't a troll and have shown at least a minimally acceptable level of adult behaviour which is needed for a lightly moderated section of the forum. We'd be more inclined to revert those who show they can't handle the freedom shown here to regular member status than to let them ruin it for the rest.

We don't want to moderate bedlam, and those who are here know by now where the limits are so it's up to you to keep us out of it.

cv

UlyssesG you can put the homo comments on ice too.

cv

The last time that I looked, the gay movement was "taking back" the terms "homo" and "queer" and promoting them, themselves, to take the negativity out of the words.

When I visit Australia, I have noticed that the independent bookshops call their gay sections the "Queer" section.

I was trying to be humorous by using the word in this context, but meant no harm.

I just dumped a batch of posts that were in extremely poor taste. Disagree with someone all you want, but your personal attacks went too far Sir Burr. UlyssesG you can put the homo comments on ice too. We have a lot of latitude on what we can discuss, and how we can discuss things in bedlam but sometimes guys start acting like you two and then things have to be dealt with and it winds up ruining things for everyone else because a select few cannot moderate themselves.

Advanced member status comes automaticly at 500 posts. It's supposed to mean you've come far enough that you probably aren't a troll and have shown at least a minimally acceptable level of adult behaviour which is needed for a lightly moderated section of the forum. We'd be more inclined to revert those who show they can't handle the freedom shown here to regular member status than to let them ruin it for the rest.

We don't want to moderate bedlam, and those who are here know by now where the limits are so it's up to you to keep us out of it.

cv

OK, understood. Apologies.

And the balance of chaos was restored in bedlam

cv

Anyway, Syriana was an awesome movie, very dark, very un-american (Hollywood type ending)

Too bad that most of the US populace will miss the point of the movie

Another interesting movie: JAR HEAD

Had anyone saw that one ?

Brokeback public

In a bid to socially engineer civilization in the interest of 1% of the population,

The UK government recently stated that, using the recent census and various other goverment-collected statistics, it reckoned that homosexuals constitute 6% of the UK population. I can't see the US as being all that much different.

I suppose there's some who would like to see a return to the days of draft dodging Marion Wayne's propaganda movies. They weren't any different to the Michael Moore propaganda pieces of today. It's just a case of the bull shitting in a different direction.

Contrary to what you may hear on Fox News, supporting your country doesn't mean blind obedience to it's leaders. If it did, they'd have never bothered with the bill of rights.

As for Brokeback Mountain being social enineering, that's just silly. It's a story about two people carrying on a love affair behind the backs of their spouses. Many, many, many other films with the same subject matter attract no comment. If the gay thing makes you squeemish at least admit it and don't hide behind comments of adultry unless you want to take on all movies featuring it.

Shrek2 is still selling well on video. Beware of it's attempts to socially engineer people into befriending donkeys instead of elephants like Dumbo. I'm certain there's some sinister democratic plot behind it.

cv

the oscars - the vote rigging in them probably has a lot in common with thai elections.

and hollywood along with its standard lack of reality tripe has churned out the mean , bad , tough , (sad?) american propaganda also - pearl harbour , saving private ryan , blackhawk down etc etc

its about time some more films have a chance to be seen , made by people who don't view america as the greatest nation in history.

Anyway, Syriana was an awesome movie, very dark, very un-american (Hollywood type ending)

Too bad that most of the US populace will miss the point of the movie

Another interesting movie: JAR HEAD

Had anyone saw that one ?

I just watched Jarhead yesterday. It was very good. It's really the story of US marines waiting to get into action in Operation Desert Storm, and the frustration at how it almost ended before it began.

I thought that it was quite similar to Full Metal Jacket.

There was one great line, when a marine sticks on Break on Through by The Doors on a ghetto blaster.

"That's a Vietnam song. This is the Gulf War - we should have our own songs" or words to that effect!

It was the best film that I have seen in ages - until I saw Jet Li's new film today!

Well, instead of 1%, let’s make it 6% then but the point is instead of focusing/singling out John Wayne as some kinda draft-dodging puke, check out this revealing look at Hollywood, now and then:

***In contrast to the opinions and feelings of today’s Hollywood, the real actors of yesteryear loved the United States.

They had both class and integrity. With the advent of World War II, many of our actors went to fight rather than stand and rant against this country we all love. They gave up their wealth, position, and fame to become service men and women, many as simple “enlisted men”.

This group of only 18 men earned over 70 medals in honor of their valor, spanning from Bronze Stars, Silver Stars, Distinguish Service Crosses, Purple Hearts, to one Congressional Medal of Honor.

Most of these brave men have since passed on.

Real Hollywood Heroes

Alec Guinness (Star Wars) operated a British Royal Navy landing craft on D-Day.

James Doohan (“Scotty” on Star Trek) landed in Normandy with the U. S. Army on D-Day.

Donald Pleasance (The Great Escape) really was an R. A. F. pilot who was shot down, held prisoner and tortured by the Germans.

David Niven was a Sandhurst graduate and Lt. Colonel of the British Commandos in Normandy.

James Stewart entered the Army Air Force as a private and worked his way to the rank of Colonel. During World War II, Stewart served as a bomber pilot, his service record crediting him with leading more than 20 missions over Germany, and taking part in hundreds of air strikes during his tour of duty. Stewart earned the Air Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, France’s Croix de Guerre, and 7 Battle Stars during World War II. In peace time, Stewart continued to be an active member of the Air Force as a reservist, reaching the rank of Brigadier General before retiring in the late 1950s.

Clark Gable (Mega-Movie Star when war broke out): Although he was beyond the draft age at the time the U.S. entered WW II, Clark Gable enlisted as a private in the AAF on Aug. 12, 1942, at Los Angeles. He attended the Officers’ Candidate School at Miami Beach, Fla. and graduated as a second lieutenant on Oct. 28, 1942. He then attended aerial gunnery school, and in Feb. 1943 he was assigned to the 351st Bomb Group at Polebrook where he flew operational missions over Europe in B-17s. Capt. Gable returned to the U.S. in Oct. 1943 and was relieved from active duty as a major on Jun. 12, 1944, at his own request, since he was over-age for combat.

Charlton Heston was an Army Air Corps Sergeant in Kodiak.

Ernest Borgnine was a U. S. Navy Gunner’s Mate 1935-1945. Also a 33 degree Mason

Charles Durning was a U. S. Army Ranger at Normandy, earning a Silver Star and awarded the Purple Heart.

Charles Bronson was a tail gunner in the Army Air Corps, more specifically on B-29s in the 20th Air Force out of Guam, Tinian, and Saipan.

George C. Scott was a decorated U. S. Marine.

Eddie Albert (Green Acres, TV) was awarded a Bronze Star for his heroic action as a U. S. Naval officer aiding Marines at the horrific battle on the island of Tarawa in the Pacific, Nov. 1943.

Brian Keith served as a U.S. Marine rear gunner in several actions against the Japanese on Rabal in the Pacific.

Lee Marvin was a U.S. Marine on Saipan during the Marianas campaign when he was wounded, earning the Purple Heart.

John Russell: In 1942, he enlisted in the Marine Corps where he received a battlefield commission and was wounded and highly decorated for valor at Guadalcanal.

Robert Ryan was a U. S. Marine who served with the O.S.S. in Yugoslavia.

Tyrone Power (an established movie star when Pearl Harbor was bombed) joined the U.S. Marines, was a pilot flying supplies into, and wounded Marines out of, Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

Audie Murphy, little 5’5“ tall 110-pound guy from Texas who played cowboy parts?

Most Decorated serviceman of WWII and earned: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, 2 Silver Star Medals, Legion of Merit, 2 Bronze Star Medals with ”V", 2 Purple Hearts, U.S. Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, 2 Distinguished Unit Emblems, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with One Silver Star, Four Bronze Service Stars (representing nine campaigns) and one Bronze Arrowhead (representing assault landing at Sicily and Southern France) World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar, Expert Badge with Bayonet Bar, French Fourragere in Colors of the Croix de Guerre, French Legion of Honor, Grade of Chevalier, French Croix deGuerre With Silver Star, French Croix de Guerre with Palm, Medal of Liberated France, Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 Palm.”

Aside from one or two present-day stars like Bruce Willis who do support the troops – instead we got commie-pinko terrorist appeasing sympathizers like Jane Fonda, Barbara Streisand, Clooney (whatever his 1st. name) and that ilk…

Source

James Doohan (“Scotty” on Star Trek) landed in Normandy with the U. S. Army on D-Day.

Source

Lt. James Doohan (Royal Canadian Artillery) landed on Juno Beach, June 6, 1944. He was shot six times crossing the beach, losing his middle finger in the process, and was saved from a mortal chest wound by his silver ciggarette case.

Source: Fox News

cv

Well, instead of 1%, let’s make it 6% then but the point is instead of focusing/singling out John Wayne as some kinda draft-dodging puke, check out this revealing look at Hollywood, now and then:

If you allow the fact that 6% of Americans are homosexual then approximately 18,000 gay American citizens lay down their lives in battle for their country in World War II.

Audie Murphy did not give up a movie career to fight. He became a movie star because he was the most decorated soldier of WW II.

It is possible to love your country and dislike your government and it's policies. You are confusing not going along with the government as somehow not loving your country.

Your attitude is the same as the Nazi party's was. "If your not for us, you are against us" (sound familiar?)..

Every example you gave was from WW II, a war which I think everybody can agree, was a war that needed fighting and was a righteous war. None of the Allied powers was the agressor.

Vietnam and Iraq are not perceived as obviously righteous.

PS. The majority of US citizens now think going into Iraq was a mistake.

PS. The majority of US citizens now think going into Iraq was a mistake.

Source?

Can't remember. Either BBC or The Economist.

Just did a Google. The addresses below attest that more than half US citizens polled think the original invasion was a mistake.

Just two of many:-

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/09/19/bush.poll/[/url]

Fifty-nine percent said they considered the 2003 invasion of Iraq a mistake. That figure is the highest recorded in a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...5060700296.html

Nearly three-quarters of Americans say the number of casualties in Iraq is unacceptable, while two-thirds say the U.S. military there is bogged down and nearly six in 10 say the war was not worth fighting -- in all three cases matching or exceeding the highest levels of pessimism yet recorded. More than four in 10 believe the U.S. presence in Iraq is becoming analogous to the experience in Vietnam.

Can't remember. Either BBC or The Economist.

Well, both have an agenda - left that is.

Might as well cite CNN or the NY Times too...

If you get your news from biased sources, you will, of course, be 'brainwashed' into believing the worst possibe 'news':

Excerpt Of The Day: Rumsfeld Rips The Media's Misleading And Hysterical Coverage Of Iraq

"From what I've seen thus far, much of the reporting in the U.S. and abroad has exaggerated the situation, according to General Casey. The number of attacks on mosques, as he pointed out, had been exaggerated. The number of Iraqi deaths had been exaggerated. The behavior of the Iraqi security forces had been mischaracterized in some instances. And I guess that is to say nothing of the apparently inaccurate and harmful reports of U.S. military conduct in connection with a bus filled with passengers in Iraq.

Interestingly, all of the exaggerations seem to be on one side. It isn't as though there simply have been a series of random errors on both sides of issues. On the contrary, the steady stream of errors all seem to be of a nature to inflame the situation and to give heart to the terrorists and to discourage those who hope for success in Iraq.

And then I notice today that there's been a public opinion poll reporting that the readers of these exaggerations believe Iraq is in a civil war -- a majority do, which I suppose is little wonder that the reports we've seen have had that effect on the American people.

...Nearly 56 years ago, in 1950, the Truman administration issued what would become a framework for America's Cold War strategy for four decades. In a formerly classified document called NSC 68, the Truman administration said, quote, "Our fundamental purpose is more likely to be defeated from lack of will to maintain it than from any mistakes we may make or assault we may undergo because of asserting that will," unquote. Today our nation is again in a long struggle. And again, the toughest challenge will be to maintain our national will to persevere and to prevail."

-- Donald Rumsfeld .

The Economist is decidedly right of centre. They support the war in Iraq.

Surprised it's not on your reading list.

PS. Added some links for you after you posted.

Vietnam and Iraq are not perceived as obviously righteous.

Iraq should and will be as more information like this comes out.

Vietnam and Iraq are not perceived as obviously righteous.

Iraq should and will be as more information like this comes out.

The link doesn't appear to work on my machine.

However, just let me add, as an additional comment to the posting quoted:

I got pretty righteously upset when the dictator, Saddam Hussein, poisoned his own Kurdish men, women and children.

I also got reasonably righteously upset when he invaded Kuwait.

I got more righteously upset when he fired rockets at Israel.

I experienced righteous indignation when I heard of the families of his political opponents he had imprisoned, tortured and killed.

I righteously became very worried when I realised his plans for hegemony in the Middle East.

My righteousness nearly exploded when I saw the massacres of the Shiites perpetrated by the Husseini dictatorship.

In fact, as far as righteous wars are concerned, IMHO, the Iraqi war is about as righteous as it gets.

Well, both have an agenda - left that is.

Might as well cite CNN or the NY Times too...

If you get your news from biased sources, you will, of course, be 'brainwashed' into believing the worst possibe 'news':

Just so we have it out in the open, could you possibly make a list of all non-bias news-media we are allowed to link too?

Well, both have an agenda - left that is.

Might as well cite CNN or the NY Times too...

If you get your news from biased sources, you will, of course, be 'brainwashed' into believing the worst possibe 'news':

Just so we have it out in the open, could you possibly make a list of all non-bias news-media we are allowed to link too?

That would be a sizeable list being it would stem from 'open-source' media - like in the Internet.

One catagory - Military Blogs perhaps? Written by the boys actually In-Country?

Vietnam and Iraq are not perceived as obviously righteous.

Iraq should and will be as more information like this comes out.

The link doesn't appear to work on my machine.

It's a pretty big file - 24MB or so.

The movie clip shows Saddam discussing terror attacks against the states well before 9/11 and therefore, blows the Moonbats argument re. no justification for the War - right out of the water...

Back on Topic (AGAIN !)

As a previous poster noted, most of the major films that received Oscar nominations were Independant films, and did not come from the major Hollywood producers.

Many of todays actors are well paid enough to be able to produce their own stuff, which would naturally reflect their personal views on a subject.

The elite group that selects and votes for these films chose to ignore more popular films in favour of ones that deliver specific political/social messages. Why ? Well, companies (film producers) can submit any film for Oscar consideration, as long as it meets the specific guidleines laid out by the

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

The nomination ballets are mailed out to the voting members (around 5,800 of them), who have 2 weeks to make their decision and return the ballets. (Those voting members are actors, actresses, directors and other people from the industry)

So, if a large number of those members have an agenda, or are easily influenced by the press coverage that certain movies garnered, then some movies get the nod even if it means ignoring other films that may have made a lot more money.

It's not always about the best movie (obviously). Perhaps some of the "blame" could go to the producers of the higher-grossing movies, for not being agressive enough in promoting those films.

Vietnam and Iraq are not perceived as obviously righteous.

Iraq should and will be as more information like this comes out.

The link doesn't appear to work on my machine.

However, just let me add, as an additional comment to the posting quoted:

I got pretty righteously upset when the dictator, Saddam Hussein, poisoned his own Kurdish men, women and children.

I also got reasonably righteously upset when he invaded Kuwait.

I got more righteously upset when he fired rockets at Israel.

I experienced righteous indignation when I heard of the families of his political opponents he had imprisoned, tortured and killed.

I righteously became very worried when I realised his plans for hegemony in the Middle East.

My righteousness nearly exploded when I saw the massacres of the Shiites perpetrated by the Husseini dictatorship.

In fact, as far as righteous wars are concerned, IMHO, the Iraqi war is about as righteous as it gets.

Well if that's the criteria for a war, then the USA should have started lots more.

Lets start in Africa and work our way through to Asia eh?

One more time, Back On Topic (Which was "Oscars for Osama").

Another movie making headlines lately is the Turkish film "Valley of the Wolves - Iraq"

Not likely to be an Oscar contender next year (except maybe in the Foreign Films category).

It is a story loosely based on an actual incident that took place in Northen Iraq in 2003. American forces raided a building being used by members of the Turkish Special Forces. Those Special Forces guys were apparently dressed in civilian clothes, and video showed them being led from the building with black hoods over their heads. (They were released 2 days later)

This apparently inflamed a lot of anger in Turkey and led to this movie being made.

In the movie, the Turkish hero decides to avenge the honour of those Turkish soldiers by going to Iraq and attacking US forces there.

Billy Zane plays the "evil" leader of the American Forces, and Gary Busey plays a Jewish-American doctor that harvests organs from living prisoners in Abu Ghraib, for sale to wealthy buyers in the West. (Supposedly it is stressed in the movie that the doctor is Jewish)

The American Forces are shown shooting up a peaceful wedding, blowing up a mosque, abusing prisoners and executing suspects.

None of the reviews and news stories I've seen note how the movie ends. The movie is playing to sold out crowds in Turkey, and primarily Turkish audiences in Germany. There are some in Germany calling for the movie to be banned.

Apparently, there are plans to show the movie in the US. It would be interesting to see where it would be shown, and who the audience would consist of.

Considering the way the Oscars went this year, it wouldn't surprise me to see a movie like this get nominated next year.

"Nothing tells you more about Hollywood than what it chooses to honor. Nominated for best foreign-language film is “Paradise Now,” a sympathetic portrayal of two suicide bombers. Nominated for best picture is “Munich,” a sympathetic portrayal of yesterday’s fashion in barbarism: homicide terrorism."

"But until you see “Syriana,” nominated for best screenplay (and George Clooney, for best supporting actor) you have no idea how self-flagellation and self-loathing pass for complexity and moral seriousness in Hollywood."

As usual, Cox & Forkum hits the target with this drawing that is not funny. It is too close to the truth as shown by this quote from an article in the Washington Post by Charles Krauthammer entitled “Oscars For Osama".

In the category of The People’s Vote For Best Picture (boxoffice sales), “March Of The Penguins”, which won the award for Best Documentary outgrossed all five of the nominees for Best Picture.

Imagine that...

I actually think that Syriana is a good movie!!

Anyway, Syriana was an awesome movie, very dark, very un-american (Hollywood type ending)

Too bad that most of the US populace will miss the point of the movie

Another interesting movie: JAR HEAD

Had anyone saw that one ?

I just watched Jarhead yesterday. It was very good. It's really the story of US marines waiting to get into action in Operation Desert Storm, and the frustration at how it almost ended before it began.

I thought that it was quite similar to Full Metal Jacket.

There was one great line, when a marine sticks on Break on Through by The Doors on a ghetto blaster.

"That's a Vietnam song. This is the Gulf War - we should have our own songs" or words to that effect!

It was the best film that I have seen in ages - until I saw Jet Li's new film today!

Yeah very different from the rest, based on a book, a real story. A little boring sometimes. The final scene in the desert, in the dark is pathetic (the situation, not the scene). Another ridiculous war.

PS. The majority of US citizens now think going into Iraq was a mistake.

Source?

Not Faux News for sure, but these are published polls from the WSJ and other mainstream news.

Face it Boon Mee, your side lost a long time ago, it just took that long for the American public to realize it.

After the failure of the Iraq war, the American public will have to suffer the failure of the War on Terror. What a pathetic mess and all thanks to your monkey boy, GW Bush. His daddy must be really proud

Back to the topic. They had the Oscars here on Star Movies

A lot of interesting movies I forgot or never knew about. Crash, Transamerica, "Good Luck and Good Night" are a few of them

Finally independant movies are making it big. Big studio production are tiresome. Intro to the Oscars was very funny though. Jon Steward did OK.

the real actors of yesteryear loved the United States.

Alec Guinness (Star Wars) operated a British Royal Navy landing craft on D-Day.

Donald Pleasance (The Great Escape) really was an R. A. F. pilot who was shot down, held prisoner and tortured by the Germans.

David Niven was a Sandhurst graduate and Lt. Colonel of the British Commandos in Normandy.

My righteousness nearly exploded

you had better keep that righteousness under control - WMD's are not to be taken lightly these days.

and I would have thought "Team America - World police " would have been up for an oscar this year

Not Faux News for sure, but these are published polls from the WSJ and other mainstream news.

Face it Boon Mee, your side lost a long time ago, it just took that long for the American public to realize it.

After the failure of the Iraq war, the American public will have to suffer the failure of the War on Terror. What a pathetic mess and all thanks to your monkey boy, GW Bush. His daddy must be really proud

Blah, blah, blah.

Vietnam and Iraq are not perceived as obviously righteous.

Iraq should and will be as more information like this comes out.

The link doesn't appear to work on my machine.

However, just let me add, as an additional comment to the posting quoted:

I got pretty righteously upset when the dictator, Saddam Hussein, poisoned his own Kurdish men, women and children.

I also got reasonably righteously upset when he invaded Kuwait.

I got more righteously upset when he fired rockets at Israel.

I experienced righteous indignation when I heard of the families of his political opponents he had imprisoned, tortured and killed.

I righteously became very worried when I realised his plans for hegemony in the Middle East.

My righteousness nearly exploded when I saw the massacres of the Shiites perpetrated by the Husseini dictatorship.

In fact, as far as righteous wars are concerned, IMHO, the Iraqi war is about as righteous as it gets.

Well if that's the criteria for a war, then the USA should have started lots more.

Lets start in Africa and work our way through to Asia eh?

Yes, why not?

The world is a global village now.

Let's clean out the garbage before the stench gets too much.