If Forced To Give Up One -- Would You Give Up Watching Movies Or Sporting Events?

[Jingthing]

This poll inspired by an interview I read with Woody Allen who stated he would choose to give up watching movies at this stage in his life rather than giving up watching sporting events. A surprising choice I thought for a world famous filmmaker with the kind of image you wouldn't associate with jock matters.

For me, I used to closely follow sporting events up to my late 30's (always loved films) but now it would be no contest: I would keep the movies!

To clarify about the sporting events: events watched live or on video both count.

Which would you give up if forced?

Edited April 4, 2013 by Jingthing

[rgs2001uk]

Movies, for the simple reason most of whats made these days are crap, or are remakes of old classics.

Where are todays actors and actresses with the glamour and charisma of yesteryear, wont bother naming the greats, you know who I mean.

[BookMan]

Tough choice.

Decided on movies.

[rucus7]

In terms of sports, I prefer being a participant to a spectator.

[manarak]

most sporting events are boring. I want movies.

[Jingthing]

Woody is a SERIOUS New York Knicks fan ...

I still watch SOME sporting events. Like the world cup and summer Olympics (winter Olympics so boring). I don't watch the Super Bowl anymore (don't tell Homeland Security ) but sometimes I might watch the baseball "world" series if I like one of the teams.

Edited April 4, 2013 by Jingthing

[Ulysses G.]

Sports on TV have always bored me. When I was a kid, I used to beat up my little brother is he tried to watch them when I was around. No wonder he turned out so screwed up.

[Jingthing]

Sports on TV have always bored me. When I was a kid, I used to beat up my little brother is he tried to watch them when I was around. No wonder he turned out so screwed up.

You think that's bad, try RADIO.

Seriously as a boy I was reduced to listening to my favorite baseball team on the radio. That's a LOT of games.

I did this with a buddy and we actually did that nerdy baseball scorecard recording thing while listening.

This could have been the germ of a lifetime of being easily amused.

[canuckamuck]

Can't see the sports I want to see in Thailand anyhow (bad internet connection) so I have already given up sports.

[candypants]

i would give up sports, rather than movies, with the exception of f1.

in fact by cancelling true and depending entirely on torrents for my entertainment i already have.

but i will not give up my f1 sundays though the mondays hurt

[SteeleJoe]

This poll inspired by an interview I read with Woody Allen who stated he would choose to give up watching movies at this stage in his life rather than giving up watching sporting events. A surprising choice I thought for a world famous filmmaker with the kind of image you wouldn't associate with jock matters.

For me, I used to closely follow sporting events up to my late 30's (always loved films) but now it would be no contest: I would keep the movies!

To clarify about the sporting events: events watched live or on video both count.

Which would you give up if forced?

I'm not really surprised about Woody Allen - mostly he only LOOKS like a nerd and that was partly his shtick - but he's always been a serious sports fan ( and a ladies man and a musician and an EXTREMELY strong and determined personality) - an intellectual, maybe, but not really a nerd.

I used to be a boxing fanatic and still enjoy a good fight, a good NFL game, or a good NBA game - but there's no time in my life where there would have been any doubt: movies have always been huge for me. I think at it's best it's an extraordinary art form. Sports can also be an incredible display of so many great and beautiful things in humans but they have never mattered to me so much.

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[Jingthing]

Woody made it clear that he would sad to give up watching movies and it would be a big loss for him, but that there was something about this stage of his life that made the sporting events more important to him. He emphasized that part about where he is at now. I guess I can sort of relate as I USED to be such a sports watching fanatic.

It's also funny to me that one of the very few sporting events I consider musts includes the World Cup as I didn't watch soccer (sorry) ever until well past 40. I can miss the "world" series forever but I would really feel bad missing any world cup.

Sports I used to care so much about, American football, basketball, and baseball, now pretty much ... MEH.

I wonder how many Americans can't even say who won the last super bowl?

Edited April 4, 2013 by Jingthing

[tutsiwarrior]

I never watch sports (unless I'm at someone elses house and wanna be polite) and ONLY watch movies as nothing else on TV has any merit...

I suppose that this disqualifies me from voting...

I remember Woody has the actress in 'Manhattan' describe basketball as a bunch of pituitary cases running madly about...but now I don't pay much attention to his efforts as I'm convinced that he want's to have depraved 'old man' sex with Scarlett Johansson...

Polanski has his detractors in that regard but he just never stops with the best film making possible...'Hugo' was magnificent; a visual feast and one great film maker's tribute to another...as I sat mesmerized in front of the tube in saudi with a satellite channel from Egypt I wondered: 'what do the local arabs think about this?...'

(then someone shouted: 'Scorcese made Hugo, you idiot!!!' but the piece is so atmospherically european that you can forgive my mistake...can't you?)

Edited April 4, 2013 by tutsiwarrior

[SteeleJoe]

I never watch sports (unless I'm at someone elses house and wanna be polite) and ONLY watch movies as nothing else on TV has any merit...

I suppose that this disqualifies me from voting...

I remember Woody has the actress in 'Manhattan' describe basketball as a bunch of pituitary cases running madly about...but now I don't pay much attention to his efforts as I'm convinced that he want's to have depraved 'old man' sex with Scarlett Johansson...

Polanski has his detractors in that regard but he just never stops with the best film making possible...'Hugo' was magnificent; a visual feast and one great film maker's tribute to another...as I sat mesmerized in front of the tube in saudi with a satellite channel from Egypt I wondered: 'what do the local arabs think about this?...'

I think Woody Allen is deservedly often regarded as a cinematic genius but I won't argue about something so subjective as who is or isn't a great director; however I can't help but note a couple things:

1) Scarlett Johansson is on record as saying she will do any movie Woody Allen ever asks her to do. Whether Woody lusts after her or not, she apparently isn't as upset by the possibility as you.

2) Polanski raped a drugged minor and fled. I can still enjoy his films but I find it odd that he's OK but because you THINK Allen wants to have consensual sex with a grown woman who reportedly holds him in very high esteem, you won't watch his films.

3) Hugo is NOT a Polanski film. It was another genius - Martin Scorsese.

EDIT: I obviously hadn't seen your correction when I first posted this.

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Edited April 4, 2013 by SteeleJoe

[tutsiwarrior]

sigh...I deserved that one; the foemen have emerged with the baseball bats and the scaffolding tubes and when finished tossed their bludgeons aside and while dusting off sneered: 'TV poster of the year?...sheeeddd'...

my mistake regarding Hugo was inexcusable and I hereby offer my resignation as Poster of the Year but I still feel that Polanski is maligned by philistine idiots as he is a better film maker than Woody Allen and Martin Scorsese...

except for Hugo, Scorsese and Woody are genre directors and their films make big dough for 'the business' and I don't believe that anyone can say that about Polanski

Edited April 4, 2013 by tutsiwarrior

[SteeleJoe]

sigh...I deserved that one; the foemen have emerged with the baseball bats and the scaffolding tubes and when finished tossed their bludgeons aside and while dusting off sneered: 'TV poster of the year?...sheeeddd'...my mistake regarding Hugo was inexcusable and I hereby offer my resignation as Poster of the Year but I still feel that Polanski is maligned by philistine idiots as he is a better film maker than Woody Allen and Martin Scorsese...except for Hugo, Scorsese and Woody are genre directors and their films make big dough for 'the business' and I don't believe that anyone can say that about Polanski

You altered your post after I "liked" it!

I don't agree at all with the summation of Scorsese and Allen and I doubt either the vast majority of film scholars or Roman Polanski would either (but he'd possibly be biased given how both directors have been open about feeling he should be cut slack for his past). But you've clearly got your prejudices and besides it's pointless and silly to argue personal taste.

By the way, I agree with you, Martin Scorsese (director of "Hugo" - you should see it, it's wonderful) and Woody Allen: Polanski is brilliant. However, the people that malign him - philistines or not - do so for his conduct with a 13 year old and afterwards. Scorsese and Allen's relative merits and whether he is a "better filmmaker" have zero to do with that so I don't understand that bit from you...

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Edited April 4, 2013 by SteeleJoe

[jbrain]

I tell you my choice later..........Now I have a movie to catch.

[FDog]

I suppose it depends what sports are on offer. If it is just the usual US basketball and Gridiron and Baseball, or pretty much mostly US sports then I would have no problem missing them as I don't watch them.

But if my TV allowed me the choice of watching truly international sports from anywhere in the world, especially golf, World Cup Football etc, and throw in the Oz rugby league, Aussie Rules. Plus some obscure sports like the World Downhill Cheese Rolling race then I just couldn't do without it.

Movies would be a distant 2nd.

[tutsiwarrior]

sigh...I deserved that one; the foemen have emerged with the baseball bats and the scaffolding tubes and when finished tossed their bludgeons aside and while dusting off sneered: 'TV poster of the year?...sheeeddd'...my mistake regarding Hugo was inexcusable and I hereby offer my resignation as Poster of the Year but I still feel that Polanski is maligned by philistine idiots as he is a better film maker than Woody Allen and Martin Scorsese...except for Hugo, Scorsese and Woody are genre directors and their films make big dough for 'the business' and I don't believe that anyone can say that about Polanski

You altered your post after I "liked" it!

I don't agree at all with the summation of Scorsese and Allen and I doubt either the vast majority of film scholars or Roman Polanski would either (but he'd possibly be biased given how both directors have been open about feeling he should be cut slack for his past). But you've clearly got your prejudices and besides it's pointless and silly to argue personal taste.

By the way, I agree with you, Martin Scorsese (director of "Hugo" - you should see it, it's wonderful) and Woody Allen: Polanski is brilliant. However, the people that malign him - philistines or not - do so for his conduct with a 13 year old and afterwards. Scorsese and Allen's relative merits and whether he is a "better filmmaker" have zero to do with that so I don't understand that bit from you...

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people who malign can affect the victim's 'career development' and I'm sure that Polanski has suffered considerably is this regard and also folks forget that his wife was brutally murdered by maniacs along with the child that she was carrying...people tend to get a bit weird as in disregarding rules and common sensibilities when <deleted> like that comes down on yer head...

however, even with all the <deleted> he has done remarkably well which could be because some folks have considered that his 'non-family friendly only for adult consumption' image shouldn't be held against him...

I'll allow that Scorsese qualifies as genius because his films do more than just entertain but Woody? wellll (sigh) although I do admit that Annie Hall, Manhattan and Hannah and her sisters are truly great in terms of being good entertainment...but even with Annie Hall which is his best work in terms of accolades received comes across as a series of comedy sketches even though the 'Marshall McLuhan at the cinema queue' was probably one of the greatest sketches of all time...

where is JT? being jewish and from NYC he should have something to say about all this and this is his thread...yew know that the jews and the italians ganged up and ran the rackets in the Big Apple but the poles still peddle underwear outta suitcases on street corners in the Bronx?...

Edited April 4, 2013 by tutsiwarrior

[Jingthing]

The thread really wasn't intended to be about Woody Allen per se and I am NOT from New York!

Edited April 4, 2013 by Jingthing

[SteeleJoe]

who malign can affect the victim's 'career development' and I'm sure that Polanski has suffered considerably is this regard and also folks forget that his wife was brutally murdered by maniacs along with the child that she was carrying...people tend to get a bit weird as in disregarding rules and common sensibilities when <deleted> like that comes down on yer head...however, even with all the <deleted> he has done remarkably well which could be because some folks have considered that his 'non-family friendly only for adult consumption' image shouldn't be held against him...I'll allow that Scorsese qualifies as genius because his films do more than just entertain but Woody? wellll (sigh) although I do admit that Annie Hall, Manhattan and Hannah and her sisters are truly great in terms of being good entertainment...but even with Annie Hall which is his best work in terms of accolades received comes across as a series of comedy sketches even though the 'Marshall McLuhan at the cinema cue' was probably one of the greatest sketches of all time...where is JT? being jewish and from NYC he should have something to say about all this and this is his thread...yew know that the jews and the italians ganged up and ran the rackets in the Big Apple but the poles still peddle underwear outta suitcases on street corners?...

Again, the fact that he is maligned for what he did has nothing to do with whether or not he's better than Scorsese (Kundun, Alice Doesn't Live Here, Raging Bull, Last Temptation, Age of Innocence, Last Waltz, Taxi Driver, King of Comedy, New York New York, After Hours, Color of Money, The Aviator, Bringing Out the Dead - what genre is all that, by the way ) or Allen - no more than his actions make him any less brilliant.

I don't think many people forget about Sharon Tate or Manson. And people often point to his boyhood and what he experienced in WWII as mitigating factors...but neither are necessarily adequate excuse for many folks who aren't as ardent in thier admiration of the man as you are.

The rest of your post is sheerly subjective. No sense in rebuttal.

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[MAJIC]

Woody made it clear that he would sad to give up watching movies and it would be a big loss for him, but that there was something about this stage of his life that made the sporting events more important to him. He emphasized that part about where he is at now. I guess I can sort of relate as I USED to be such a sports watching fanatic.

It's also funny to me that one of the very few sporting events I consider musts includes the World Cup as I didn't watch soccer (sorry) ever until well past 40. I can miss the "world" series forever but I would really feel bad missing any world cup.

Sports I used to care so much about, American football, basketball, and baseball, now pretty much ... MEH.

I wonder how many Americans can't even say who won the last super bowl?

I wouldn't mind if Woody gave up making films though! I could never see much merit in them personally.

[tutsiwarrior]

who malign can affect the victim's 'career development' and I'm sure that Polanski has suffered considerably is this regard and also folks forget that his wife was brutally murdered by maniacs along with the child that she was carrying...people tend to get a bit weird as in disregarding rules and common sensibilities when <deleted> like that comes down on yer head...however, even with all the <deleted> he has done remarkably well which could be because some folks have considered that his 'non-family friendly only for adult consumption' image shouldn't be held against him...I'll allow that Scorsese qualifies as genius because his films do more than just entertain but Woody? wellll (sigh) although I do admit that Annie Hall, Manhattan and Hannah and her sisters are truly great in terms of being good entertainment...but even with Annie Hall which is his best work in terms of accolades received comes across as a series of comedy sketches even though the 'Marshall McLuhan at the cinema cue' was probably one of the greatest sketches of all time...where is JT? being jewish and from NYC he should have something to say about all this and this is his thread...yew know that the jews and the italians ganged up and ran the rackets in the Big Apple but the poles still peddle underwear outta suitcases on street corners?...

Again, the fact that he is maligned for what he did has nothing to do with whether or not he's better than Scorsese (Kundun, Alice Doesn't Live Here, Raging Bull, Last Temptation, Age of Innocence, Last Waltz, Taxi Driver, King of Comedy, New York New York, After Hours, Color of Money, The Aviator, Bringing Out the Dead - what genre is all that, by the way ) or Allen - no more than his actions make him any less brilliant.

I don't think many people forget about Sharon Tate or Manson. And people often point to his boyhood and what he experienced in WWII as mitigating factors...but neither are necessarily adequate excuse for many folks who aren't as ardent in thier admiration of the man as you are.

The rest of your post is sheerly subjective. No sense in rebuttal.

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no one expects any rebuttals as this isn't a debate...

however the gangster films are what Scorsese is known for (Raging Bull was peripheral with the italians and etc and at the time no one had seen photography like that; the famous sequence opening on to the boxing ring has no equal not even in Taste of Evil) and in that sense we can indicate a genre...Taxi Driver owed more to Paul Schrader's script and I don't need to mention what a 13 y.o. Jodi Foster did to the viewers sensibilities but they kept it on the screen and away from the gossip...

The King of Comedy was true genius...disturbing and not so much entertaining but if you said to someone that Jerry Lewis was in a Scorsese film there would be a blank expression, I'm sure...i.e., it is a great film but not many folks have seen it...

Edited April 4, 2013 by tutsiwarrior

[tutsiwarrior]

The thread really wasn't intended to be about Woody Allen per se and I am NOT from New York!

not from NY? then what, then? you guys are either from the east or west coast; you're certainly not from Kansas...

and...this brings up the issue of tutsi being part of a jewish family but not being jewish and his favorite niece in Pasadena is getting married...the sister converted to judaism many years ago so that her kids could have legal title to being jewish and then forsake her ethnic bolivian blood heritage... and tutsi then became annoyed...

(to illustrate please view the crudely made but excellent film 'Blood of the Condor' directed by Jorge Sanjines and tutsi is the guy full faced in the camera with a poncho and ethnic knitted chu'lu cap with a big wad of coca leaves in his cheek wanting the whiteman's blood...)

and then she get's in my face and breathes: 'and do you know what? a DNA sample has revealed that we are 1/4 pure indigenous andean...heh, heh, heh...'

when she was young my sister was one of the most beautiful women I had ever seen; a ringer for the actress Salma Hayek but tall, lithe and willowy as our dad was a whiteman...and as I moved the coca leaves around in my cheeks I said: 'you disgrace our people for which you shall be punished!'

and now my niece who loves me very much wants me to come to her jewish wedding in goddam Pasadena...

Edited April 4, 2013 by tutsiwarrior

[Jingthing]

you guys are either from the east or west coast; you're certainly not from Kansas...

Don't be so sure, partner

Edited April 4, 2013 by Jingthing

[tutsiwarrior]

jesuz, this is terrible...I had a good mate from NY with russian immigrant parents and he spent his adolescent years in Austin, Texas...he was even mixed up with some other jews runnin' pick up trucks from Texas to LA (cheaper to buy in Texas and sold in CA for a good margin)...he had a math degree from a good school in the east and worked briefly in the defense industry in SoCal but gave it up and lived as a semi bum in Venice...but he didn't drink...

it goes to show what generalisations are worth...I lost contact with him about 15 years ago, he was also a friend ob me sister's and other close associates...

Edited April 4, 2013 by tutsiwarrior

[xen]

I could easily give up watching sports except for the Gladiator sports like UFC and Muay Thai , it is just the primitive part of me that emerges.

[tutsiwarrior]

to be fair to Woody...

I got annoyed in a bar with a girl friend in HCMC once and she was smart and looked like she was gonna bring Ho Chi Minh out from behind a partition to shut me up...then we went back to the hotel and watched an old movie on TCM and had wonderful sex...

later I said: 'you are so beautiful that it makes me want to puke...' her, as she lit up a fag: 'and why is that? does my beauty give you stomach trouble?' and I tried to describe the actress Linda Fiorentino who she was a ringer for but with brown skin and asian eyes...

what's a half bolivian to do?...

Edited April 5, 2013 by tutsiwarrior

[StreetCowboy]

Movies, for the simple reason most of whats made these days are crap, or are remakes of old classics.

Where are todays actors and actresses with the glamour and charisma of yesteryear, wont bother naming the greats, you know who I mean.

And the nostalgia's crap, as well; grumpy old men don't know they're born nowadays.

Where are the auld gits in the flat caps with voices like gravel, skin like moss, and spittle like Brent crude?

I've more or less given up watching movies, but I get more rugby on TV now than ever before. I'm looking forward to Sri Lanka v Khazakstan shortly... I watched a world championships curling match earlier today as well...

SC

EDIT: Actually, grumpy old men are much more likely to know when they were born, what with all the documentation and passports and computer records and so forth. Where are the geezers who can't remember their own names, or their birthdays, or anything except their schooldays and 1930s football scores?

Edited April 6, 2013 by StreetCowboy

[tutsiwarrior]

Movies, for the simple reason most of whats made these days are crap, or are remakes of old classics.

Where are todays actors and actresses with the glamour and charisma of yesteryear, wont bother naming the greats, you know who I mean.

And the nostalgia's crap, as well; grumpy old men don't know they're born nowadays.

Where are the auld gits in the flat caps with voices like gravel, skin like moss, and spittle like Brent crude?

they all work on power projects out in the saudi desert...

a recently hired engineer came on board and I heard the brits mumbling like in a prison yard: 'have ye seen 'Greengrass'?' and sure 'nuff he was a ringer for the character in the hit comedy series; an old rogue in a flat cap constantly in trouble with the local constables...

but thus far he's had a positive impact on our operation here although back home in yorkshire he may drink too much and steal candy from little kids...