tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post5390123620235091112..comments2024-03-22T02:57:20.853-07:00Comments on Center of Gravitas: Obama NationGayProfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11289510184782252498noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-4402523341069152772009-01-27T04:24:00.000-08:002009-01-27T04:24:00.000-08:00My trilogy memory: a bunch of excited strangers fi...My trilogy memory: a bunch of excited strangers filling in the newbies in the audience on the finer points of Skywalker lore. Little girls, and one boy, happily marching down the aisles with Amidala dolls to get "good seats" in the very front. Hush as the film starts. Then nothing but the sound of uncomfortable shifting in seats and the drowning stench of discomfort. One man in the back yelling "get that racist shlock out of the movie" as his companion begins to repeat Jar Jar Binks sing song dialect to critique the pain that is the film. Suddenly other geeks in the audience get into it doing their bad acting impressions of [fill in the blank] character. Suddenly a single gasp escapes from my lips as I see they have ruined my beloved Yoda. Unhappy this girl was.<BR/><BR/>As I felt my braincells dying, the light returned to the theater and we shuffled out in disbelieving and sometimes angry silence.<BR/><BR/>I went home and showered and hid under the covers. I imagine it was how Leah felt being stroked by Jaba.<BR/><BR/>Nope, there is nothing redeeming about those awful movies. Nothing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-20966138653810638802009-01-26T14:16:00.000-08:002009-01-26T14:16:00.000-08:00I'm with you about Dooku: that's part of the "cycl...I'm with you about Dooku: that's part of the "cycling through secondary villains" thing I demurred to elaborate on, and is, sadly, not something editing could fix. They should have stuck with Maul or introduced Grievous in the second movie or scrapped Grievous to keep Dooku through the third. <BR/><BR/>The "Noooooooooo!" and the "She's lost the will to live!" cringe-inducing moments, though could be easily fixed with just a little re-dubbing. Just have Vader silently, or with a strangled cry, wreck the operating room. And have that droid say something like, "The asphyxiation caused several embolisms/hemorrhages/strokes/whatever. We can't heal them fast enough." Those two things right there would have made the ending at least a little more palatable. <BR/><BR/>As for Padme in the third movie, as I said, the deleted scenes gave her at least the ghost of an independent subplot about the beginnings of the Rebel Alliance (with a young Mon Mothma who apparently spoke just like Julie Andrews, Bai Ling wearing something that's actually about ten times less crazy than her real-life get-ups, two Lucas daughters, and more Jimmy Smits screentime), which is better than nothing. Though, in the end, I just never warmed to either Padme or Natalie Portman in the way I adore Leia and Carrie Fisher, Padme was kick-ass in the first two, which makes her passive weepiness hard to take. I mean, I understand why Lucas didn't have a pregnant lady waddling around shooting at droid troopers, but he could have at least kept the stuff where she's still sitting around, but at least DOING something, in the movie. (I'm actually much more pissed about the deleted scenes in AotC, because they're almost all about giving her some background and a more convincing POV in her budding romance. As cut, I've always thought her falling in love with Anakin was a bit undeveloped.)<BR/><BR/>God, I'm such a nerd.Frankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03301077496668834657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-59929514706085180452009-01-26T11:33:00.000-08:002009-01-26T11:33:00.000-08:00Frank: I think the second film could be reworked i...<B>Frank:</B> I think the second film could be reworked into something decent with editing. The other two, though, seem beyond redemption. As you note, Queen Amidala, who was the <I>only</I> interesting character in the first film, was basically sidelined into a weepy and ever-pregnant prop. Vader's fall into the dark side was not convincing. I didn't understand why, after building him up so much in the second film, Dooku died in the first five minutes of the third film. And then there was the cringe inducing "Nooooooooooooooo!" at the very end.<BR/><BR/>Nope, we would be much better off if somebody started from scratch with a whole new set of films (with Lucas banned from participation).GayProfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11289510184782252498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-22513039118836090392009-01-26T10:22:00.000-08:002009-01-26T10:22:00.000-08:00You know, my Strong Amazon Sister, it's funny you ...You know, my Strong Amazon Sister, it's funny you should mention the Star Wars prequels, because I just got done watching them. It struck me, especially upon viewing the deleted scenes, how just a little tweak in editing would make the last two much, much better movies. For instance, in both, important scenes for Padme were cut that, I think, would have given her more motivation and interest. I mean, in the last movie, as cut, all she basically does most of the movie is be pregnant and stand around her (fabulous, I do have to say) apartment wringing her hands. The deleted scenes actually gave her something to do besides spout silly lines about the lakes on Naboo.<BR/><BR/>I've also come to the astounding realization that Hayden Christensen isn't a TOTALLY horrible actor. He actually does some of the more comedic scenes, as well as action, rather well. It's all the angsty stuff that is just totally beyond him.<BR/><BR/>The writing, of course, is also terrible, but, again, I think a little judicious cutting and/or dubbing would have helped tremendously. I think the writing was just as bad in the originals, but Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher had the panache and charisma to pull it off in a way Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman just don't, and Luke was a corny character anyway, so Mark Hamill was fine. Only Ewan MacGregor (whose steady transformation over the three movies into the reincarnation of Alec Guinness is really, really spooky) and the actor playing Palpatine had the ability to work with camp that the material, I think, needed.<BR/><BR/>I could also elaborate on my belief that the constant cycling through secondary villains (Maul to Dooku -- which involved the criminal underuse of Christopher Lee -- to Grievous) was a mistake, or my conviction that making the Jedi total assholes takes away a lot of the sympathy and rootingness we were supposed to feel, or how truly, astoundingly awful Samuel Jackson was as Mace Windu (though, to be fair, I think Windu was just a really awful character), or how the insistence on callbacks and fore/aftshadowing the original trilogy gets in the way, or that there's actually a lot of VERY interesting things happening with fathers and mothers, as well as misunderstanding and projection and denial, but I won't bore you.<BR/><BR/>BTW, when I say the movies could be much better with relatively little work, I'm talking about Episodes II and III. I don't think any amount of polishing could turn the shit that was Episode I into anything other than a pile of poodoo. My Lord was that awful. Poor Jake Lloyd having to spout those TERRIBLE lines; that's child abuse on George Lucas' part that was. But at least he has an excuse in that he was an eight-year-old boy; Liam Neeson has NONE for the simply dreadful performance he sleepwalked his way through.<BR/><BR/>/end nerd rantFrankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03301077496668834657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-19623708316809644842009-01-25T09:31:00.000-08:002009-01-25T09:31:00.000-08:00ReggieH: And I would make an excellent Secretary o...<B>ReggieH:</B> And I would make an excellent Secretary of Commerce, the office charged with . . . Um -- Well, they do the . . . Er -- It involves the census, I know that much.<BR/><BR/><B>ProfBW2:</B> Alas, Google doesn't grant me the power to fix comments either -- Just delete them forever.GayProfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11289510184782252498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-76316065551427053722009-01-25T00:53:00.000-08:002009-01-25T00:53:00.000-08:00ps I hate google. please fix my comment when you c...ps I hate google. please fix my comment when you can.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-26476505646113744072009-01-25T00:52:00.000-08:002009-01-25T00:52:00.000-08:00I was just rereading this and thinking how funny y...I was just rereading this and thinking how funny you are. :DAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-40977559403482333602009-01-23T17:27:00.000-08:002009-01-23T17:27:00.000-08:00Excellent GayProf. You know he DOES need a Secreta...Excellent GayProf. You know he DOES need a Secretary of Commerce...Reginald Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01318624469970165605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-46102331469873512622009-01-23T08:00:00.000-08:002009-01-23T08:00:00.000-08:00Nik: Finally -- I will be able to bring my flask o...<B>Nik:</B> Finally -- I will be able to bring my flask on board!<BR/><BR/><B>Earl:</B> Mango feels a little too nineties. Maybe we could paint it rust color to match the nation.<BR/><BR/><B>Antonio:</B> Seriously, what was up with the constant pleas for cash? I did feel it was in poor taste.<BR/><BR/><B>Steven:</B> I am delighted by his first actions (except the choice of Timothy Geithner and Tom Daschle), but we will have to see what happens when he starts meeting serious opposition from the Republicans. Remember that the Right used the gays as the very first way to strangle Clinton.<BR/><BR/>But I also think that gay activists have to remember that they aren't dealing with Bush anymore. Getting hysterical and claiming that Obama is out to get us will only make us look expendable. Instead, we should be looking for ways to work with him and show him why <I>not</I> supporting us has serious moral and political consequences.<BR/><BR/><B>Mel:</B> I had no idea that South Carolina had so many boosters. But, seriously, Strom Thurmond was another example of how evil just won't die. <BR/><BR/><B>Torn:</B> By citrus, I mean the juice of a lemon wedge. For whatever reason, though, when I tell people lemon and bourbon, they assume it won't be good (when the Palmer is delightful). Saying "citrus" seems to remove that knee-jerk reaction.GayProfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11289510184782252498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-28435989329135381882009-01-23T04:45:00.000-08:002009-01-23T04:45:00.000-08:00What do you mean by citrus? I've never heard of a ...What do you mean by citrus? I've never heard of a Palmer. Painting the White House a different color is brilliant.tornwordohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16581361982939423598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-31148091267813001832009-01-22T22:16:00.000-08:002009-01-22T22:16:00.000-08:00In South Carolina's defense (Despite our very comp...In South Carolina's defense (Despite our very complicated relationship and that fact that I shall never live there again, it is the state which spawned me, so I feel a little obligated), McCain took the state by a less than 10% margin, which is pretty damned impressive for the state that spawned the Dixiecrats. <BR/><BR/>Have I ever mentioned, btw, that Strom Thurmond gave the commencement address at my grandmother's HS graduation, way back when he was a new state senator?Melhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18047049720897209506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-21306466368532682112009-01-22T18:49:00.000-08:002009-01-22T18:49:00.000-08:00Obama has already signed executive orders for chan...Obama has already signed executive orders for changes (Guantanamo, pull out from Iraq and Afgan) that will take more than a year to complete. Something more immediate and satisfying to the GLBT populace would be an executive order abolishing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and allow gays in the military. Think of the "surge" that could be created by that! ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-10837143448251719692009-01-22T12:06:00.000-08:002009-01-22T12:06:00.000-08:00I also wonder why he keeps asking for money. I gav...I also wonder why he keeps asking for money. I gave him enough already, now where's my stimulus check?Antoniohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13551523252110967405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-45359339883485939282009-01-22T08:59:00.000-08:002009-01-22T08:59:00.000-08:00Mauve seems a little depressing (and eighties) to ...Mauve seems a little depressing (and eighties) to me. I think the WH should be <I>mango</I>! We need a lift right now.Earl Cootiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13204523494279709530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-31250787408059965602009-01-22T08:58:00.000-08:002009-01-22T08:58:00.000-08:00Already one of your commandments has been, well, c...Already one of your commandments has been, well, commanded. Yahoo says: "New technology will allow the TSA to drop the rule against bringing liquids on flight"Nikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15795554401570611521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-55371266637168814382009-01-22T08:24:00.000-08:002009-01-22T08:24:00.000-08:00VUBOQ: In MFT, it's required that you drink bourbo...<B>VUBOQ:</B> In MFT, it's required that you drink bourbon otherwise you will freeze to death.<BR/><BR/><B>PBW:</B> If he calls, I'll give him your number as well.<BR/><BR/><B>Greg:</B> We at <I>CoG</I> love the Manhattan and are intrigued by the New York Minute.<BR/><BR/><B>Jeremy:</B> I suspect that the Palmer was named after the hotel in Chicago. As for the Skinny Black Bitch, maybe the former Secretary of State?<BR/><BR/><B>Clio:</B> Do you know how hard it is to get an amendment passed?! We can't wait that long. We need decisive action now! Innocent children are at risk of seeing those horribly scaring films right now.<BR/><BR/><B>Adjunct Whore:</B> Maybe we could make a "precision strike" on S.C.? And, to be fair, I like the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. Most of the people there should be spared, too.<BR/><BR/><B>Pacalaga:</B> I thought for sure that I was a shoo-in after the Richardson unpleasantness. Then again, maybe I shouldn't trash their choice of Treasury Secretary -- But, am I wrong in thinking he is a little creepy?GayProfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11289510184782252498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-26504276601927411112009-01-22T07:14:00.000-08:002009-01-22T07:14:00.000-08:00Obama hasn't hired you for a cabinet post yet? Dam...Obama hasn't hired you for a cabinet post yet? Damn.pacalagahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12498703982601315908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-72092537620841763692009-01-22T06:06:00.000-08:002009-01-22T06:06:00.000-08:00also, Obama might not be there if it weren't for S...also, Obama might not be there if it weren't for SC in the primaries.gwoertendykehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00542058287462910446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-12860030076377629142009-01-22T06:05:00.000-08:002009-01-22T06:05:00.000-08:00as always, i'm with you. but please don't crush s...as always, i'm with you. but please don't crush south carolina! despite being in the 19th century, there are lots and lots of people--over half, in fact--who aren't: over 45% black population, an obscenely large rural population utterly disenfranchised, and a whole lot of gay, straight, and latino folks who for various reasons (economic) are forced to live in the state for a spell. and are fighting the evil whackos.<BR/><BR/>so maybe crush Texas, there is a man there worth crushing, but give SC more time. i feel certain that in my lifetime, it will be at LEAST at the turn of the 20th century.gwoertendykehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00542058287462910446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-28843561006102811772009-01-22T02:34:00.001-08:002009-01-22T02:34:00.001-08:00This: "Sign an executive order that destroys all c...This: "Sign an executive order that destroys all copies of the “prequel” Star Wars movies and order that we, as nation, never speak of them again," should be a Constitutional Amendment (along with siesta).<BR/><BR/>And, c'mon, this: "sneaking around the White House in a stovepipe hat and mutton chops" would be awesome!Clio Bluestockinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14285486658334618048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-65204896948359995862009-01-22T02:34:00.000-08:002009-01-22T02:34:00.000-08:00Palmer? I don't even know her!Sounds way classier ...Palmer? I don't even know her!<BR/>Sounds way classier than a Skinny Black Bitch.jeremyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06313206057933336246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-61733100001078364582009-01-22T00:08:00.000-08:002009-01-22T00:08:00.000-08:00Oh, Gayprof, thank you - I was in need of a few go...Oh, Gayprof, thank you - I was in need of a few good chuckles and you've given me more than I dared hope. A truly delightful post, this is...<BR/><BR/>Hey, I'm a fan of the bourbon Manhattan, only lately my bartender adds a few extra cherries and some amaretto and we call it a New York Minute.<BR/><BR/>Love. The Money. : )Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-80782220939562936072009-01-21T22:04:00.000-08:002009-01-21T22:04:00.000-08:00he made 6 token appointments after the Warren fias...he made 6 token appointments after the Warren fiasco broke. None of them were poc and only one was female. But hey if you get the call, tell them there is an Afra-Latina Lesbian who will gladly count for 4 constituencies at once and school him on border issues. ;PAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16010478.post-5931385724000157442009-01-21T20:10:00.000-08:002009-01-21T20:10:00.000-08:00vuboq has never heard of a Palmer either ... but c...vuboq has never heard of a Palmer either ... but citrus? bourbon? bitters? book me a ticket! I'm on my way to Midwestern Funky Town!<BR/><BR/>(and, can I just say how totes happy I am that you have hitched your trailer to the bourbon bandwagon?)<BR/><BR/>hm. wasn't this post about something other than booze? drag queens, maybe?vuboqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17713707780151175505noreply@blogger.com