Watching Forbidden Kingdom on Showtime, another cheesy Jackie Chan vehicle, and I must just be a sucker for these things, but I’m having a lot of fun. At any rate, it features the drunken fist style, and that reminded me of one of the classics:
The drunken master style was the most fun of the styles in Jade Empire, too. Wonder why it was never made into a sequel.
I’m rambling.
asiangrrlMN
Jackie Chan is dead to me ever since he said Taiwanese people are stupid for wanting to be independent.
Oh, and Cole, I posted a pic just for you in my blog last night. Lily is definitely part Shiba Inu.
Molly
You’re being irresponsible, John. You’re helping the kung fu terrorists win with your vile propaganda.
General Winfield Stuck
I picked up Dune from wallyworld this afternoon for 5 bucks. Haven’t seen it for many years, and it wasn’t that good then. Maybe it will be better this time watching. Syfy is where my head goes when politics sucks so much it makes my teeth hurt. Oh, and music, always the music.
freelancer (itouch)
Speaking of fun, in the last 18 hours, I powercycled the first volume of Glee. Damn if that isn’t the funnest show to watch since Arrested Development.
Kevin
It was made into a sequel. The Legend of the Drunken Master. It was like 15 years later, and they even released it in America when he got big here.
RedKitten
@freelancer (itouch): It is fun, isn’t it? It’s silly as hell, but damned addictive.
And Chuck will be back on Jan 10th (2-hour premiere, bitches!) I can’t wait!
John Cole
@Kevin: I meant the game.
Porco Rosso
Jackie Chan or Sammo Hung?
I vote Sammo…
aliasofwestgate
I was pleasantly surprised by The Forbidden Kingdom. Since i know the legends it was based off of well, i thought the adaptation wasn’t going to be so good. Instead, i was entertained and totally amused for the most part so i didn’t totally waste my money on a theatre ticket.
It still makes me grin seeing how well Jet Li played Son Goku(Sun Wu’kong), The Monkey King. It was also classicaly excellent Jackie Chan, much less their fights together. Much, much goodness.
kommrade reproductive vigor
John Cole +2 (doses of cold meds)
Mike G
Check out Jackie Chan’s ‘Police Story’ from the mid-80s. Really inventive stunts, interesting locations around Hong Kong and touches of humor and storyline that make it much more than just a series of fight scenes. Probably his most entertaining work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvWNIIEovvU
Porco Rosso
The blu ray version of Pandora’s Box and Cinderella are worth seeking out–Monkey King madness. With Stephen Chow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLlZmh_h-_E
Monkey King
Wikipedia makes research just too bloody easy these days.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Wukong
geg6
HOW can you sit through that chop socky crap?? This might be the worst open thread topic with the single exception of the ones about that Terry McAuliffe (whatever!) syfy writer guy. Personally, I have been spending the day contemplating how to have enough +s during the Stiller game tomorrow but still be in fine Food Network viewing shape for the epic Iron Chef America White House garden two-hour episode extravaganza with the extra added sizzle of Michelle Obama. It will be awesome! Two dream teams: Mario Battali and Emeril versus Bobby Flay and WH Chef Commerford. It’s like the Super Bowl for chefs!
General Winfield Stuck
No such bird as an open thread topic.
MikeJ
To repeat for the Pratchett fans, BBC 7 says:
If you’re the tiniest bit geeky, you’ll be able to install the pvr manager for bbc. If you aren’t, you can just listen on iplayer.
Malron
@aliasofwestgate: Don’t forget the presence of Collin Chou – the guy who played “Seraph” in Matrix 2 and 3 – as the evil Jade Warlord. I was a little jaded myself at first with the whole “white kid saves China” subtext but I really liked the movie. Seeing Jet Li and Chan ham it up together was priceless.
I have “Drunken Master” and “Legend of Drunken Master” (Drunken Master II). Drunken Boxing is the shyt.
If you like cartoonish Kung Fu I recommend Steven Chou’s “Kung Fu Hustle.” The sequel is due out in 2010.
mcd410x
@MikeJ:
BBC heaven?
MelodyMaker
OMG, that’s hilarious. I have zero interest in anything martial-arts-ey– unless it’s about drunkenness, apparently.
geg6
GWS @14: I beg to differ! John Cole often has open thread topics, even though he calls them open threads. How many posts on this thread will now be about chop socky and then digress into the geekiest syfy stuff evah that people who don’t like either will read as if it was written in Chinese? If it’s not at least 80%, I’ll graciously concede the point. But I doubt I’ll have to. ;-)
aliasofwestgate
@Malron:
Ah yes, our luscious villain. How could i forget him? ^_^ I was amused at the kid’s last name because that was one of the variations on the monk that the legends got wrapped around with in the first place. Tripitakas=Three Baskets(Sanzo)
I saw Kung Fu Hustle a few years back, it wasn’t half bad. i had no idea Chow was working on a sequel though!
Milo Johnson
In FK, Chan is at his peak, a blend of Fred Astaire and Bruce Lee and seemingly immune to gravity, even when not assisted by effects.
General Winfield Stuck
@geg6:
You are so very hard to please
edit. and btw, I hate chop socky flicks thoroughly, that is why I didn’t comment on them, ergo open thread.
freelancer (itouch)
How can you mention Jackie Chan and Drunken Master, and then not post this scene:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6o9p8yXjr0
South of I-10
Thanks John, now this will be stuck in my head all night.
geg6
GWS @21: Just call me Laura W. LOL!
The Republic of Stupidity
Okay… for those of you who like kung fu flicks, and haven’t seen it… here’s The Best swordfighting I’ve ever come across.
It’s jet Li v. someone who’s name I’ve never known. It’s from a flick called Shaolin Temple, made on the mainland in 1982 and it was Jet Li’s first film.
It is SPECTACULAR work.
Slow it down and try to figure out just where the F’ the bad guy’s sword is coming from at times…
Litlebritdifrnt
@asiangrrlMN:
Really? cause I have always had a soft spot for him for the whole “clean up Hong Kong” campaign “I’m pitching in, you’re pitching in, we are all pitching in to keep Hong Kong clean, we’re pitching in” He was just a moppy headed cute guy back then of course, not the superstar he is now, but I just liked him back then, cause he was us. I remember watching him film a thingy, in Wanchai, and he was supposed to run in front of a bus, and it went wrong, and the bus hit him, it was like total chaos, there were medics and ambulances and gawd knows what else. I still have a soft spot for him. He is real, sort of, and I like him. Please don’t kill that.
gbear
Well here’s something that I just found that might be of interest on an open thread:
Derek and the Dominoes playing ‘It’s Too Late’ and then tearing it up with Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash live on Cash’s TV show.
geg6
Where’s DougJ? They just had Dinosaur BBQ on Food Network’s “The Best Thing I Ever Ate.” And I’d have to say I agree with Adam Gertler on that. Though my John is smoking me some ribs for the Stiller game tomorrow and that might top the DinoBBQ.
Comrade Luke
More one-sided commentary during the Alamo Bowl regarding the whole Leech/James concussion crap.
ESPN is really becoming unwatchable.
MelodyMaker
@gbear:
Nice find!
freelancer (itouch)
@South of I-10:
That might be my least favorite song ever.
In other news, I think it was Incertus who tweeted this fishing show blooper reel recently, but it is one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_BLggf-mqs
Malron
@Comrade Luke: There needs to be some kind of official directive from ESPN headquarters because all these commentators need to STFU about the Mike Leach situation. It really does look like the network has become the propaganda tool of Texas Tech and Craig James.
burnspbesq
@Comrade Luke:
Has it occurred to you that rather than engaging in the sort of fake balance crap that is endemic to the MSM, ESPN is calling it as they see it?
jeffreyw
@South of I-10: South! There you are.
I took your advice to go out and look at the moon last night, and I’m happy I did.
Steeplejack
@Malron:
Second the recommendation on Kung Fu Hustle. Very funny, good action, surprisingly good special effects. I’m glad to hear that there is a sequel in the works.
getsmartin
Enter The Dragon meets The Wizard of Oz –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfeDYYXUqHc
ajr22
When i was in Beijing I was told Jackie Chan sells out stadiums for concerts! Jackie Chan sings, who knew.
mcd410x
@Comrade Luke: Uh, that happened about the time of Stuart Scott.
Laura W
@geg6: Excuse me?
Comrade Luke
@burnspbesq: No, it doesn’t.
There are a lot of angles on this, yet all they talk about is Leach allegedly abusing James. It’s ALL from the side of James/Tech.
Perfect example: they just talked about the offensive coordinator writing a letter “disparaging” James – only to say that he walked back his comments.
What about all the other comments about James being a prick? What about all the allegations of his dad driving everyone crazy trying to work behind the scenes to get him more playing time?
The only one talking about the timing of the firing coinciding with his contract bonus coming up is Leach himself; after they run tape of him talking about that they just blow past it.
Texas Tech hired Bobby Knight and let him install his son as coach after he retired, and I’m supposed to think they’ve all of a sudden seen the light?
From what I can tell, the guy got a concussion, and while they might not have dealt with it perfectly, it’s being blown totally out of proportion so they can fire a guy Craig James and the administration doesn’t like personally.
ETA: if there is ever a time to provide “balance” it’s when you don’t know all the facts. ESPN is doing the “it would be irresponsible not to speculate!” crap we hate just as much.
South of I-10
@freelancer (itouch): Sorry! I was hoping if I shared, it would get out of my head but no such luck.
@jeffreyw: Wow, you get snow and everything! It is beautiful here again. I would take a pic, but Mr. South has the camera with him. He is off on his annual DFH trip with some friends of ours in a band. So I guess they are jamming and howling at the moon.
The Republic of Stupidity
@gbear:
Ooooooooooo… I discovered this clip 3, 4 months ago.
It’s very, very good…
Want something truly amazing?
This is the ONLY film footage I’ve ever come across of Django & Stefan playing on camera… and it’s well shot too…
Comrade Luke
@mcd410x:
True, true.
General Winfield Stuck
@Laura W:
I am completely innocent in this matter.
freelancer (itouch)
@South of I-10:
No prob, at least you didn’t rickroll me.
Malron
@Comrade Luke: Man, I didn’t realize all this happened in the span of a week. I also find it highly suspect that TT fired Leach hours before was to appear at a hearing to plead his case. It makes it look like Tech was afraid to let him have his say in court about the situation.
Litlebritdifrnt
I just ate my last Jelly Baby, I has a complete and utter sad.
Ken J.
On asian martial arts movies — my current obsession is John Woo’s latest movie, “Red Cliff,” which is about a historical/legendary battle from China’s “Three Kingdoms” period, around 200 A.D. The story comes from one of the great national epics of China, and since seeing the movie I have been reading bundles about the characters on Wikipedia.
The USA theatrical version, which is hardly playing anywhere, runs 2 hours 20 minutes. The Asian version was released as two films running about 4.5 hours, and North America gets that version on DVD in March. Supposedly lots of character development was cut for the USA version, but at least we’ll get it all back eventually.
Pull up the trailer(s) on YouTube and you should see pretty fast if this is a movie you gotta see. I thought it was outstanding.
Midnight Marauder
Did you know that Mike Leach is the worst human being to ever emerge from the gene pool? I mean, going into this year’s Alamo Bowl, I was of the opinion that people like Hitler, Pol Pot, the guys in Nickleback, etc. were at the top of that paradigm. But I guess Mike Leach is suddenly all up in the discussion. Christ, ESPN was horrible before this, but this is just a goddamn shame. And it’s doubly awful that their fantastic ombudsmand, Le Anne Schreiber, is no longer in the position to call these failures out.
The only redeeming element of this broadcast (besides the football) is that Jon Gruden is nowhere to be heard. We can all agree that is a good thing.
+5
Edit: Wow. That touchdown throw was sick. Way to keep the play alive, young man.
Gozer
I occasionally watch this guy’s game reviews (he reviews shitty classic games in a…unique style), but he’s also a film maker and does various top 10 lists and film reviews. A while back he did the top 10 Jackie Chan stunts and top 10 fight scenes. It’s a fucking blast.
Top 10 JC Stunts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cI1AwZN4ZYg
Top 10 JC Fight Scenes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1cHynIXweE
gbear
@The Republic of Stupidity: That was a nice clip.
@Comrade Luke:
Actually, we love that.
Litlebritdifrnt
@Malron:
Really? And they have affidavits from doctors and trainers who said that his treatment of the player was totally out of bounds, my thunk on this is that was his daddy not some influential ESPN commenter he would have got away with it, cause there would have been no one out there to challenge him. How many other players has this coach abused? Who did not have influential parents?
burnspbesq
@Comrade Luke:
Nope. There is only one valid perspective here. A coach interfered in medical decisions involving an injured player. He has to go. All the rest is noise.
If you don’t get that, you must not be a parent.
RedKitten
@Litlebritdifrnt: That IS sad. I’m in that weird boat where we still have so much Christmas food in the house, and I can’t bear the thought of it going bad. But my jeans can’t bear the thought of me shoving another of my husband’s homemade butter tarts in my mouth.
Brick Oven Bill
My estimate is that people probably perform kung-fu at their optimum after one to two beers. More than this, you get sloppy. Less than this, one is bothered by their conscience.
The police are very careful to hide the fact that people drive better after a beer. I have seen the cone-tests.
My butter-tarts are better than your husband’s butter-tarts Redkitten.
gbear
I can see that this thread is not going to end well.
Litlebritdifrnt
@RedKitten: I know how you feel, I went to World Market yesterday and saw at 75% off Mr. Kiplings mince pies, I was so terribly tempted…
MattR
@Comrade Luke:
Actually, you are the one asking them to speculate about whether money was at the root of Leach’s firing. There is very little he-said/she-said in this story. Even if you accept Leach’s version of the story it is clear that his actions were not appropriate. As an isolated incident it is not a fireable offense, but Leach would not agree to common sense limitations on the handling of injured players and essentially told his bosses to piss off. And that’ll get you fired from pretty much anywhere.
Also, if you can explain how Craig or Adam James’s actions before his concussion could justify Leach’s reaction to the concussion then I will reconsider whether ESPN should have mentioned them. But otherwise it is just an attempt to smear the character of a victim.
RedKitten
@Brick Oven Bill: I don’t see how any better tarts could be tastier than those, but I’m sure that yours are also delectable.
@Litlebritdifrnt: You know, I have never in my life had a mince pie. Is that weird?
ajr22
I was shocked when i watched Leach’s interview with Espn. He spent the entire time attacking Adam James. In a single interview he called the kid lazy, irresponsible, and annoying. I don’t believe I have ever heard a college coach attack a students character like that. He clearly is not auditioning for another coaching job, cause a parent would have to be nuts to let that guy be responsible for their kid.
The Republic of Stupidity
@gbear:
It’s sweeeeeeet… actually getting to see Django play. It’s amazing what that dude could do w/ just two fingers on one hand.
There’s a fun clip of Tennessee Ernie Ford (who was actually pretty cool, especially w/ the very great Speedy West & Jimmy Nichols in his band) w/ the Everly Bros, doing Rattelsnake Blues… w/ all three playing the same guitar, at the same time…
Anne Laurie
@asiangrrlMN:
Hate to be a breed snob, but it’s probably more accurate to say that Lily and the Shiba Inus share the “small spitz-type” genes. I just don’t think there are enough Shiba Inus running loose in West Virginia to leave their descendents at the local shelters.
Our cat the Demon Kishkan is a perfect Maine Coon — tufted ears, fuzzy pads, rectangular build & squeaky little voice — except that she only weighs seven pounds. New England shelters are full of “Maine Coon type” cats who’ve inherited much the same set of genes the breeders used to produce their magnificent twenty-pound monsters. The Japanese / Koreans / Taiwanese “perfected” the Shibas (just as Britains working with African stock “perfected” the Basenjis, the Israelis the Canaan Dog, Europeans the Finnish Spitz, exotic enthusiasts the New Guinea Singing Dog, and Mexicans the Chihuahua) because that gene set is widely distributed & there’s always a demand for a good-looking small-to-medium-sized short-haired dog that bonds well as a companion dog. Given what little John knows of the time & circumstances of Lily’s birth, a Chihuahua is her most probable purebred ancestor (remember, puppy-mill Chis often mature in the 10-to-15-pound range, unlike the highly refined arm candy bred for Paris Hilton wannabes).
Corner Stone
@Midnight Marauder:
Thank the baby jeebus you finally see the light on this.
Dannie22
I’m watching “passenger 57”. Wesley Snipes is a guy who knows how to Kung fu fight on a plane.
MelodyMaker
@Brick Oven Bill: I agree with part of your comment, but only as it relates to shooting pool (or snooker) or bowling. And now I really want to know what a butter tart is.
Corner Stone
@ajr22: Anyone who saw Leach had to be like, “WTF are you doing talking on camera? You’re a G_D douchebag and you’re just imprinting it for posterity. Dumbass.”
Corner Stone
@Dannie22: Dude is strong. Strong.
Malron
@Litlebritdifrnt: What affidavits are you referring to? The affidavits were dated January 1 and 2. Leach was fired on December 30th. If they had this damning evidence at the time of the hearing, why didn’t they just present it to the judge to support their decision? Filing affidavits two days after you fired him sounds like a classic CYA file.
Regardless of what the case is between Leach and Texas Tech, ESPN should not be allowing its employees to openly inject their criticisms of Leach into the discussion because the father of the player in question is an employee of ESPN. That’s what I’ve been most concerned about. Apparently you aren’t.
As an added observation, I’m noticing a lot of these defenses of Tech sound eerily similar to the way people defended the Harvard campus cop who arrested Skip Gates because he hollered at him from his own front porch.
The Republic of Stupidity
gbear
It’s sweeeeeeeeeet, getting to actually see Django play. it’s amazing what that dude could do w/ just two fingers on one hand.
Here’s a fun clip of Tennessee Ernie Ford w/ the Everly Bros, singing Rattlesnake Blues, w/ all three playing the same guitar at the same time.
Ford was actually a pretty decent singer, especially w/ the very great Speedy West & Jimmy Nichols playing behind him…
The Republic of Stupidity
@MelodyMaker:
British babe who eats too much dairy…
Steeplejack
@The Republic of Stupidity:
You forgot the obligatory rimshot and “I’ll be here all week.” Is that just assumed now?
Brick Oven Bill
My estimate is that people probably perform kung-fu at their optimum after one to two beers. More than this, you get sloppy. Less than this, one is bothered by their conscience.
The police are very careful to hide the fact that people drive better after a beer. I have seen the cone-tests.
My butter-tarts are better than your husband’s butter-tarts Redkitten. Although your kid is cute, you should look me up. You deserve nothing but the best butter-tarts.
MelodyMaker
@The Republic of Stupidity:
I was hoping so. Can’t make one in the kitchen, tho.
edit: or is it an actor at Fort Snelling?
MattR
@Malron: IANAL so I don’t know the significance, but the statements were apparently made on December 21 but not signed until January 1/2. As far as I know, these affadavits have not been filed with any court but Texas Tech made them public to refute the incomplete versions being disseminated by Leach’s lawyer.
I really don’t buy that Texas Tech was trying to avoid seeing Leach in court since I am pretty confident that all sides believe this will eventually end up there. In fact, if Texas Tech had a weak case they would not have wanted to fire him prematurely since any evidence they discover after his firing cannot be used to justify it.
ajr22
If your looking for a kung fu movie I suggest jet Li’s Fist of Legend. Some classic fight scenes in this flick. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d6GTKMecBs Ignore the horrible music this idiot put over the scene.
Brick Oven Bill
Today I performed a no-kidding sociological experiment on a group of American males, along with their associated women. These specimens were provided with:
1. Pork-based calzones (sausage, pepperoni);
2. Spinach-based calzones; and
3. A really big bowl of raw broccoli.
Coming home with me was:
1. Zero pork-based calzones;
2. Some spinach-based calzones; and
3. Almost all of the really big bowl of broccoli.
Tomorrow I hope to find some way to incorporate the left over fucking broccoli into some beef I have stored, and serve it over rice for my lunches at The Facility. This will be nutritious, and make me productive, and competitive.
When it comes to an energy-balance, one cannot underestimate the value of good nutrition.
The Republic of Stupidity
gbear
Oooooooo… did someone call for Irresponsible Speculation?
I have to say… I am a bit disappointed… after all the sinning I, and we, did the other night, when Limbaugh was hospitalized…
Rush is apparently going to survive… at least for a while…
And all I’ve got to show for it a couple of extra decades in Purgatory… talk about a waste…
The Republic of Stupidity
Steeplejack
Ooooooooops… did I miss a cue?
I thought I was still hanging out in the Green Room…
freelancer (itouch)
@ajr22:
You just named my favorite KF movie.
Steeplejack
Wow, here’s a trippy thought: what does Cleek’s pie filter do when Brick Oven Bill is actually talking about pie (or butter tarts)?!
Whoa, dude, like totally . . . recursive. [Sean Penn and/or Keanu Reeves stoner voice]
RedKitten
@MelodyMaker: Picture a tiny, tart-sized version of a pecan pie, without the nuts. We add raisins to ours, which is a very common variation. Some people put in nuts instead, or currants
AhabTRuler
@Steeplejack: I believe that you are looking for this: </Spiccoli>
SGEW
This is a particularly awesome open thread. Sorry geg!
@freelancer (itouch): Roger Ebert described that scene thusly: “. . . this extended virtuoso effort sets some kind of benchmark: It may not be possible to film a better fight scene.”
@The Republic of Stupidity: I first saw that clip a few years ago; I had never quite realized before how he had actually played – extraordinary. I had been a huge Django fans for years; guy was very influential on my own guitar style, to say the least. But to see that I had unknowingly aped his fingering methods as well (I can only use three fingers on my left hand, due to permanent injury) . . . pretty neat, indeed (not that I’m anywhere as crazy-ass good as Django, natch).
Also: Are butter-tarts a sort of pie? Is B.O.B. literally talking about pie?
RedKitten
@Brick Oven Bill: There have got to be a million Chinese recipes out there for beef and broccoli. Seems rather obvious to me.
Steeplejack
@The Republic of Stupidity:
You’re always “on” on the Balloon Juice stage.
freelancer (itouch)
@The Republic of Stupidity:
Hey. Hey. If Limbaugh can get quality cardiac care, there’s obviously nothing wrong with our health care system.
Anne Laurie
@geg6:
Now the Terry McAuliffe followers and us Terry Pratchett fans are both gonna have to hunt you down. Just remember, the McAuliffers may be meaner, but the People of Pratchett are even more dedicated. May the gods have mercy on your soul-equivalent!
RedKitten
@SGEW: Yes, BOB is talking about actual pie…albeit, pie in miniature format.
You’re welcome.
RedKitten
I totally missed the last part of that paragraph. BOB…are you hitting on me?
Corner Stone
@Malron:
Oh, weak sauce. Weak sauce. Boo, hiss.
MelodyMaker
Ok, I like butter tarts now. Mince Pies, not so sure. ba-dump-bump.
edit: more rundgren- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCanZ-8d9NI
Corner Stone
Leach sounds like a fucking pirate. I kept expecting him to utter, “arrrggghhh” at any given point.
Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle
There was a great movie NYE evening with Jet Li. I wish I remembered the name of the movie. It’s about a Chinese martial arts fighter from the turn of the 20th Century.
Corner Stone
Nothing about my contract, or America, would make me…
Ha!
The Republic of Stupidity
@SGEW:
Now… if there was only some actual footage of Charlie Christian out there… (I don’t think there is… siiiiiiiigh…)
But… here’s a nice bit of the magnificent Les Paul w/ Chet Atkins, from their Chester-Lester phase… fantastic fret work, huh?
I was lucky enough to see Les Paul live twice, the first time in Carnegie Hall in the early 70’s, w/ Laurindo Almeida, George Benson w/ an extremely young Early Klugh, and Bucky Pizzarelli… totally first rate show.
SGEW
@Ken J.: Re: Red Cliff
Um. Wow. I am suddenly very, very excited, actually, kind of. John Woo making an epic medieval war/kung fu movie! With slow motion doves and paper fluttering in the wind and everything. And Tony Leung! Could be spectacularly good, could be spectacularly awful. But definitely, definitely a spectacle.
(trailer here)
Comrade Luke
That’s my problem too.
I’m watching the halftime show right now, and if the affidavits are true – that Leach told the trainer to put James someplace to make him feel uncomfortable – he should definitely have been fired. The thing is, the affidavits that the trainer signed directly conflict what he said just a few days ago.
To be honest, after watching all this I have no idea what to think about what actually happened.
All I know is that I’ve never seen a media network go after him like ESPN is going after Leach. It sure seems to me like they’ve made up their mind.
And one thing is clear after watching just that small portion of the interview with Leach at halftime: he either has no media/PR training or just doesn’t give a shit. I don’t think he’ll ever get another job.
The Republic of Stupidity
@Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle:
Perhaps one of the Once Upon a Time In China flicks?
Tsui Hark is one of the world’s great directors…
MattR
@Corner Stone: He is digging his own grave. He agreed with the terms of the university’s letter but he wouldn’t sign it because it might give the impression that there was some wrongdoing and there is nothing in America that compels him to sign it? Sorry, but it was like asking him to sign a document stating that he understood the sexual harrassment policies at work. If you don’t want to do it, don’t expect to continue your employment.
SGEW
@The Republic of Stupidity: I shook Les Paul’s hand once (his left, natch). His fingers felt like they wrapped around my palm three or four times. Dude’s digits are long.
mcd410x
How about Perkins … That’s Alright Mama/Blue Moon on Kentucky/Night Train to Memphis …
“Oh we’ll have a jubilee
Down in Memphis, Tennessee”
Miss y’all back home.
The Republic of Stupidity
@Steeplejack:
So I’m learning… so I’m learning…
General Winfield Stuck
And I don’t care about the tribulations of a small time coach at a small time university located in the asshole of the world.
Comrade Luke
@MattR: Yea, I don’t know WTF he was thinking. No institution would have kept him under those circumstances. It doesn’t even seem like he thinks he’s above the “law”; it’s more like he just doesn’t want to do anything he’s told. That doesn’t fly anywhere.
Apsalar
Well, I’m happy today. Arkansas won their bowl game even though they didn’t play well. I also made 3 recipes from the Good Eats Early Years book that I hadn’t tried before, the cast iron ribeye steaks, rice pilaf, and garlic greens. They all turned out well, but I’d add more garlic next time to the greens.
MattR
@Comrade Luke:
Are you really surprised that Leach’s lawyer might have selectively released portions of the trainers statement or provided incomplete context? When I first heard the attorney quoting both the doctor and the trainer I could tell that there were parts being left out, such as whether or not this was the standard course of treatment.
Comrade Luke
@General Winfield Stuck:
What a fitting way to end the discussion. I’m done!
:)
HRA
Now I’ll have to break down and make the Canadian Butter Tarts. At one time (kids were all home) I made them every year for Christmas.
Mince pie is something I cannot acquire a taste for or swallow.
I just left the kitchen after a marathon of cooking I did not expect to do. Someday I am going to write a book about my relatives.
Anne Laurie
@The Republic of Stupidity:
I’m guessing gallstones. Limpbaugh got scared by a blockage in his bile duct (insert your own joke here) and now he won’t admit to whinging like a WATB over what’s stereotypically a “fat middle-aged woman” disease.
lamh31
I like Jackie Chan’s earlier Hong Kong fare. And I’ll admit to liking the Rush Hours franchise minus Rush Hour #3, but I wish he would stop trying to “break into” the US market, with films like the crap he did with Jennifer Love Hewitt, and this new trailer I saw which is a cross between the pacificer, and mrs doubtfire. It just looks bad.
Anyway, I just saw Sherlock Holmes, and I liked it. I’m a big Holmes fan, I’ve read the books beaucoup times, so I was already inclined to like it, but I gotta say that Robert Downey Jr is not someone I would have chosen to play Holmes (that choice goes to Hugh Laurie), but he was great, to my virgin ears, he had the accent down. Also, this may actually be the first time that to my mind Jude Law seemed more ruggedly handsome than pretty boy, and it might be the first time that I’ve liked Jude Law in a movie…EVER!
MikeJ
He was faking. Trying to get at the real birth certificate.
The Republic of Stupidity
@mcd410x:
Ooooooooo… sweeeeet… never seen that before. T’anks…
@SGEW:
Les was in a bad car crash back in the late forties. They almost amputated his picking arm (as opposed to the chording one…). He talked them into fusing the elbow in a position that would allow him to play guitar.
I shook hands w/ him the 2nd time I saw him at the new Old Waldorf, in Sf, in the late 70’s. Faaaaaaaaabulous show.
A lot of the great guitar players have long fingers… Johnny Winter, Hendrix… Jimi’s hands were farking HUGE… kinda ‘splains why he could manhandle a guitar the way he could.
Steeplejack
@The Republic of Stupidity:
I love Time and Tide (2000). Tight little gangster movie with some amazing action sequences, e.g., rappelling down the face of a Hong Kong tenement building while blasting away with the obligatory multiple guns.
I was blown away when I first saw it, and a few weeks ago I snagged it on the DVR off a channel that was playing it (Sundance or maybe one of the Encore channels?). Worth checking out.
mcd410x
Sitting down to Inglourious Basterds .. can tell I’m going to like it just from the opening music ..
MelodyMaker
@HRA: is it because I said snooker? sorry. Happy cooking.
The Republic of Stupidity
Anne Laurie
What’s even more galling (pun intended) is the fact that all the dingbats who prayed for ‘El Rushbo’ are going to use this ‘miracle’ as proof their prayers were answered. And Limbaugh’s gonna take ’em to the cleaners over it…
I would have guessed an overdose of V*i*a*g*r*a… he did look taller in a picture the other day…
(last time I used THAT word in a post… it got hung up in moderation… or at least I think it was that word… or mebbe something about little boys in Speedos…)
ajr22
@lamh31: I’m not a huge Jude law fan, but I think you have overlooked some of his movies. Enemy at the gates/ The talented Mr. Ripley are good films, and he gives fine performances in both.
The Republic of Stupidity
@freelancer (itouch):
Well… correct me if I’m wrong… but I could swear I read something once about the viability of using PIG hearts, or parts from them, for human transplants…
(Occasionally, this stuff writes itself…)
Steeplejack
@ajr22:
I would add Wilde–in which Stephen Fry was Oscar-worthy (but sadly not nominated) as Oscar Wilde. Law played Alfred “Bosie” Douglas, Wilde’s lover and downfall. Excellent movie all around.
MelodyMaker
@The Republic of Stupidity:
You know it. That’s why I get all screwy-faced trying to play a Strat.
Got “Burn After Reading” ready to play. ta!
The Republic of Stupidity
@Steeplejack:
I’ll have to look that up. I was so impressed w/ Tark’s work in the OUaTIChina flicks. Clearly a man who knows how to use a camera. I always liked Woo’s Hard Boiled-era flicks.
What can I say? I have a soft spot in my heart for genre flicks.
Anybody know who the truly great Jacques Tourneur was?
(Out of the Past… amongst others…)
burnspbesq
@General Winfield Stuck:
You’ll care when the coach is John Calipari. ;-)
General Winfield Stuck
@The Republic of Stupidity:
There was an early report, that supposedly came from the paramedics who arrived at Rush’s summons. They were quoted as saying first thing Limbaugh told them that he was taking meds for back pain. Don’t know what they were, but it wouldn’t be the first time an addict had a panic or anxiety attack after taking Oxy or whatever, and thought they were having a heart attack and called 911. Quit common in fact.
The Republic of Stupidity
@MelodyMaker:
A Strat is a honkin’ big guitar. You don’t realize until you strap one on just how heavy the fugger is.
Later… ooooooops… heh… MelodyMaker… I get it.
General Winfield Stuck
@burnspbesq:
LOL til then. Did I mention the Cats beat Louisville today and are still unbeaten and ranked third?
Ailuridae
I just found out today that there is a brewery in Chicago that I had never heard of and its on a route I run pretty regularly. Genuine excited as I finish my first FlyWheel Lager
http://www.metrobrewing.com/beers/index.html
Ailuridae +1
Et Tu Brutus?
As a fan of Jackie Chan, as well as Jet Li, I can sincerely suggest “Iron Monkey” as one of the best ‘Chop Sockey’ kung Fu flicks evah, and neither actor appears in the movie ( does feature Donnie Yen, however). If you be likin’ the middling ‘Forbidden Kingdom’, you’ll definitely have a good time with ‘Iron Monkey’. As for art house Martial Arts movies, both ‘Hero’ and ‘House of the Flying Daggers’ kicked the crap out of ‘Crouching tiger, hidden Dragon’, but I fully expect John Woo’s latest ( shot on location in Mainland China) to best both of them.
The Republic of Stupidity
@General Winfield Stuck:
Awwwwww… that’s just a little too prosaic… I would prefer a V*i*a*g*r*a OD… but… siiiiiiiiiigh… if we have to settle for hillbilly heroin, so be it.
burnspbesq
@General Winfield Stuck:
Watched most of the game, and if that’s all you’ve got you will have a lot of trouble with teams that are patient on offense and can drain threes. Y’all are losing at Vandy and at Mississippi State. And if we get you in the NCAAs we will kill your asses. Scheyer, Smith, Singler, and Dawkins will all get 20, and we will draw three charges against Wall.
Steeplejack
@The Republic of Stupidity:
Don’t get me started. Best film noir ever. Did a “DVR Alert” on it here a week or two ago and saved it when TCM ran it. Need to go ahead and buy it.
And of course Jacques Tourneur also gave us Cat People and I Walked with a Zombie. The latter is a personal favorite of mine, despite the lame title.
General Winfield Stuck
@burnspbesq:
20 combined, maybe, Calipari”s man to man D is better than Pitino’s. Of course, some Dukette can always sling one outa their arse at the buzzer and call it skeel. :-)
Corner Stone
A burrito supreme! And a chicken supreme! And a Cutlass Supreme!
Comrade Mary
My butter tarts bring all the boys to the yard.
J. Michael Neal
Michigan State could really use some wide receivers. Pity they had to suspend six of the top eight on the depth chart. Hey, Sparty, next time you want to throw down with a fraternity, send the guys you redshirted.
geg6
Pitt SCHOOLED Syracuse today, so that gave me a happy. And Laura, that was a compliment above. You are an exacting woman, I can tell, and I aspire to your standards.
HRA
@MelodyMaker:
@HRA: is it because I said snooker? sorry. Happy cooking.
Yeah I certainly got snookered.
Corner Stone
@Comrade Mary: Damn right, it’s better than yours.
burnspbesq
@General Winfield Stuck:
Naah. Perfectly designed play. Singler was an all-conference QB in high school, he hit Dockery in stride, and Sean had a clean look.
Oh, wait – you’re probably not referring to the buzzer-beater against Virginia Tech two years ago.
In that case, … 10 for 10 from the floor. And y’all were fucking stupid. There should have been someone on Grant, and Pelphrey should have been fronting Laettner.
The Republic of Stupidity
@Steeplejack:
Speaking of good movies w/ bad titles, ever see Night of the Demon?
Totally first rate…
(Also Tourneur’s work… even though he disowned it after Lewton recut it…)
General Winfield Stuck
@burnspbesq:
Ok,. But what was with letting a post NCAA penalized bunch of “unforgettables” even making it close?
Which, made for the best college basketball game ever played, IMHO. Both teams get credit for that.
tesslibrarian
Thank you for the head’s up, MikeJ!
Stumbling onto Pratchett was one of the few good things that happened to me last year.
Anne Laurie
@Steeplejack:
All the casting in Wilde was spot on, but Jude Law’s performance as a spoilt, hopelessly damaged man-siren was good enough to stand up to Fry in the role “he was born to play.”
Also, the movie A.I. sucked syphilitic elephant balls, but Law as a robot-gigolo trapped in the Uncanny Valley between ‘too mechanical’ and ‘too human’ gave a brilliant and affecting performance.
Of course, both of these roles played to Law’s pretty-boy strength, but his performances convinced me he has the talent to age into character roles instead of just frantically shoring up the infrastructure with surgery and lighting tricks.
JGabriel
John Cole:
Isn’t everyone a sucker for Jackie Chan? Hell, I like Chan, and I’m supposedly one of those hipster douchebags people complain of.
That said, I just finished watching Stellet Licht (Silent Light), which was awesome, especially if you go for the largely quiet, Russian Mennonites speaking Plautdietsch in Mexico, type of art film (yeah, it’s pretty much one of kind).
.
Violet
Went to see “It’s Complicated” tonight. No, it’s not kung fu or sci fi, but it’s very good. Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin are excellent. Lots of laughs.
Speaking of heavy, bad for you food, I made a chocolate raspberry bread pudding last night with some leftover bread. It was quite yummy.
burnspbesq
@General Winfield Stuck:
Don’t forget, Mashburn was on that team. And those guys played their hearts out. After the game, Coach K went over to Cawood Ledford, grabbed a headset, and paid tribute to your guys.
burnspbesq
This is a highly entertaining game. MSU is using the whole playbook.
AhabTRuler
@JGabriel:
If you don’t kick children or puppies, you can’t be that bad.
Yutsano
@RedKitten: Oh jeez. He was mercilessly hitting on TattooSydney for awhile until he figured out they had the same genitalia. I think he might just have a small crush on you. One would think he would have better sense you talking about your hubby constantly and all.
freelancer (itouch)
Anyone never see Whale Wars until after th South Park episode? Jesus Christ. Liberalism at close to its worst. Even if you agree with their doctrine, you still end up hating these fucking people, at least their naive and incompetant leaders.
Goddamn did South Park hit the nail on the head.
http://www.southparkstudios.com/episodes/251888/
Comrade Luke
This is quite a game. With all the controversy surrounding offensive players on both sides, it’s surprising that they almost have 1000yds of combined total offense.
AhabTRuler
@Yutsano: I would think that the Canuckistani-ness of it all would be more off-putting to B.O.B. that the usband-hey. I mean, they’re Ṩṓȼḯặȴɨȿẗṧ!
Yutsano
@AhabTRuler: I’m wondering if it’s a case of big-head/little head blood flow conflict. It’s not like it’s the first time this has happened to BoB.
MattR
@Comrade Luke: A lot of gamblers are very happy (or pissed off). Texas Tech was favored by somewhere between 7 and 9.5 points, depending on when you bet.
JGabriel
AhabTRuler:
I don’t. But only because most of them run faster than I do.
.
Mnemosyne
@The Republic of Stupidity:
Not Lewton — the producer on that was Hal E. Chester. Lewton, sadly, had been dead for 6 years by the time Night of the Demon came out.
I think I have to agree with Danny Peary, though — Chester was right to put the demon at the front of the movie and Tourneur was wrong to only want him at the end, because that MF’er is scary as hell and you do not want him to show up again.
Robert Wise is the other terrific director to come out of the Lewton stable. The Body Snatcher is pretty much the scariest I’ve ever seen Boris Karloff be. Wise took all of Lewton’s lessons and made the film that still scares the crap out of me every time, The Haunting.
MelodyMaker
@AhabTRuler:
blog comments have genitalia? I’m doing it wrong.
asiangrrlMN
@Yutsano: Hi, FH#2. BoB has hit on me from time to time, too. I think he does it to disarm/alarm the ladies on this board.
@Litlebritdifrnt: I can’t find the exact quote, so I will withdraw the statement (though he has said other negative things about Taiwan and its people). I will let you know if I find the actual quote.
AhabTRuler
@MelodyMaker:
No, but I am pretty sure that our Fellow Travelers of the North come with the standard equipment.
Yutsano
@asiangrrlMN: Okay he’s lucky he didn’t say that where I could see it. Maybe it’s my Scorpio protectiveness but honestly that shit don’t fly. There will be no knocking boots with BoB by anyone.
asiangrrlMN
@Yutsano: Huh? The fact that BoB was hitting on me? He said my love could change him. When I said I wouldn’t love him, he said that everything that happened from now on was my fault. And, ew. Knocking boots with BoB. I think you permanently killed my libido.
The Republic of Stupidity
@Mnemosyne:
Geez… I thought it was Lewton…
I kinda like it w/ the demon at the start too. like you said… it scares the crap outta ya and for the rest of the movie, YOUknow just what’s following Dana Andrews around, just waiting for time to run out.
I love that movie. It’s so slick, in its moments. Tourneur was such a good director, and the dude that plays the baddie… he’s just superb. That fantastic manor house… the familiar – Grimalkin?
I have a friend who’s a bibliophile, and he’s got a couple of different rare books… handwritten – I forget what those are called – from the late 18th & early 19th century. Page after page of mandalas, w/ the name of the demon they’re associated w/ and the spell used to conjure them up.
Beautiful and creepy as hell.
Yutsano
@asiangrrlMN: I have more faith in your libido than you do. It’ll come surging back. I just need to say a proper English name and you’ll recover just fine.
As for BoB playing with RedKitten like that yeah can’t really approve of that happenstance. She’s happy with her hubby and SamKitten. :)
asiangrrlMN
@Yutsano: Mmmmmm, Alan Rickman…and chocolate…and pizza….You didn’t even have to say his name.
I agree with you about RedKitten, but I just laugh at BoB when he says those things to me. It’s hard to take him seriously–except the last line. That was kind of stalkerish.
Yutsano
@asiangrrlMN: I just love the smell of cyberstalking in the evening. Desperation always has this nice fleur de sel on caramel taste to me.
At least the housework is mostly done and all I pretty much have to do is show up to work this week and life will be sweet. Oh I do have to go see the doc and get my insurance info changed (company dumped Cigna for Blue Cross, guess we’ll see how that turns out) but otherwise gonna be pretty chill post-holiday. Oh I do need to put in for vacation time, going to a wedding in Arizona in April.
asiangrrlMN
@Yutsano: Glad that you’re having a pretty good life right now. Did you apply for the new post?
As for cyberstalking…it tastes like chicken!
Yutsano
@asiangrrlMN: I went to dinner tonight with some good friends (she’s pregnant, YAY!) and I was discussing my possible employment options. She frowned at the one I finished applying for but lit right up when I told her about the other possibility. So now I just gotta finish off that other one. I’m gonna do a very unusual cover letter for it and I’ll either crash and burn or they’ll decide I fit their unusual corporate culture like a glove and snap me right up. That will be on the agenda tomorrow.
asiangrrlMN
@Yutsano: Yay for unusual cover letters. Fingers crossed that you get it. How’s the Dawg?
Yutsano
@asiangrrlMN: Still off saving the world. He’s actually never been out of contact for this long I’m starting to wonder if I should be worried. I also realize that worrying is just gonna make me more tense and depress me so I think about happier times with him. That tends to ameliorate the real negatives.
Mnemosyne
@The Republic of Stupidity:
There’s a fun Hammer film that’s along the same lines called The Devil Rides Out, with Christopher Lee playing a good guy for once.
If you’re interested in Lewton, there’s a good DVD box set that came out a few years ago that includes a documentary that TCM did called “Shadows in the Dark: The Val Lewton Legacy.” The set includes another Tourneur/Lewton film called The Leopard Man that’s really interesting. It’s like a prototype serial killer procedural — you could almost pick up the plot and put it down into an episode of “CSI” (in a good way).
Last recommendation: Peggy Cummins, the female lead in Night of the Demon, is in a terrific little film noir called Gun Crazy (aka Deadly is the Female, but I’ve almost always seen it cited as Gun Crazy). That’s also in a WB box set, but you can get it by itself. It heavily influenced Bonnie and Clyde and is a solid little film noir with a couple of unexpected twists.
asiangrrlMN
@Yutsano: Aw, I’m sorry for your stress, hon. I like your idea of thinking of the good times because there’s not much you can accomplish by worrying about him (though I know it’s easier said than done). I hope you hear from him soon.
freelancer (itouch)
Insomnia. Go figure I wouldn’t able to sleep after two days without a drink following about 10 days of family and then new years eve.
Sorry ’bout your day Asiangrrl. Hope tomorrow’s better. Midwest is still getting more snow, the ‘flakes miss you.
Yutsano
@asiangrrlMN: It sort of sits in the back of my brain and simmers although on occasion it does break out. I’m waiting for him to surprise me like he always does. It’s when I don’t see it coming that an e-mail from him pops up in my inbox. I might guilt trip him a bit about it even though it won’t be anything he can help. Gotta use my Jewish genes for some good (or evil). :)
Jay in Oregon
@Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle:
You might be thinking of Fearless. Good movie.
asiangrrlMN
@freelancer (itouch): Hiya. Thanks. Today (it’s day now) is good right now because I have time to myself. Ahhhhh, solitude!
@Yutsano: Yeah. It sounds like you have a handle on it, including the guilt. Heh.
Yutsano
@asiangrrlMN: Well always remember: Jews are born with guilt, Catholics learn it in school. Of course he’s a Protestant so I guess that kinda doesn’t work.
I have too many thoughts in my brain right now and I’m too damn tired to really do any sort of digestion of them right now.
asiangrrlMN
@Yutsano: I hear you. Maybe you should go to bed, even though it’s not even midnight where you are.
Yutsano
@asiangrrlMN: 13 minutes to midnight, and I’m starting to come to the same conclusion. My big issue is I really have nothing in the house to help me quiet my brain or simply knock me out. At the very least I don’t have a lot to do this week so there’s that at least.
freelancer (itouch)
@asiangrrlMN:
I got home from dinner with my best friend and his girl at like 9pm last night and I’ve been in a tshirt and PJs since. Watched all of Glee (omg awesome!) and right now I’m watching Whale Wars, cause I’m a moron and a masochist. But yeah, Freedom!
asiangrrlMN
@Yutsano: Alky-hol? I don’t drink much, but I hear it has that effect on people.
@freelancer (itouch): WTF Whale Wars? I’m savoring my ‘fuck yeah, I’m alone!’ time. I probably will get guilted into going to a family dinner, so I should savor it while I can.
Yutsano
@asiangrrlMN: Actually I can feel my brain doing its long slow unwind and I’m letting go of the day. I am definitely inspired to write the unusual cover letter now though so that will be something enjoyable I can do tomorrow. I think I’ve been afeared to do it simply because of it blowing up in my face but fuck it.
asiangrrlMN
@Yutsano: Eh, if it blows up in your face, you’re really no worse off than you are now. I know it’s easier said than done, but really, what do you have to lose?
freelancer (itouch)
@asiangrrlMN:
It’s on Netflix, don’t judge (ok, judge) and it’s too late for me to start something that I actually want to watch. Le sigh.
asiangrrlMN
@freelancer (itouch): Why not just do what I do in those cases? An Alan Rickman fastforward fest in which I watch his movies, fastforwarding through any scene that doesn’t have him in it.
freelancer (itouch)
@asiangrrlMN:
Sorry hon, I’m not a straight lady nor a gay man so I confess Mr. Rickman doesn’t do it for me. But I get your idea. I might implement a modified version.
asiangrrlMN
@freelancer (itouch): Yes. Tailor my model to your taste.
Comrade Kevin
I’ve been trying to decide who the two biggest douchebags in college sports are, and my mind keeps coming back to Lou Holtz and Digger Phelps. They both leave a trail of slime everywhere they go.
bago
Hard sleepers out here.
asiangrrlMN
WTF is everybody???
bemused
@geg6:
That was fun.
RedKitten
They’re all sleeping in, the lucky bastards.
I suppose I can’t complain, though — I got to sleep in until 8:15. It wasn’t enough, as I only got to bed around 1:30am. But, I still can’t complain — the kid sleeps well.
Svensker
I’m delaying going out, which I have to do any moment. It’s 15 below and the wind is like a knife. God I hate cold.
That Django Reinhardt youtube was fantastic.
And Stuck — Dune the Movie sucked sour owl shit when it was made and it didn’t age well, either. Great book, turd film.
bemused
@RedKitten:
Your little guy is adorable. Having one that sleeps well is heaven. Our first, of 3 boys, was not a sleeper. To begin with he was colicky. After we got through those hideous 3 to 4 months (I forget how long it was before he was over the colic…I think I have blocked it out), he was not into naps. He had quit napping during the day completely by the time he was two, a very active kid & I was pregnant with the 2nd one. Challenging times!
When I look back to when the 3 boys were ages baby to 6 plus 2 cats & a wild puppy to train, I have to marvel at how crazy & busy it was. They’re all grown up & wonderful guys now. Worth all the chaos & sleep deprivation.
bemused
@Svensker:
30 below here right now. High of -4 yesterday, low of -28 the night before. The good part of temps that far below zero is that it’s too cold for clouds. Sunny all day.
SiubhanDuinne
Hello to those few of you who are up and around. (I’m the latter, not yet the former.) Hey asiangrrlMN, if you’re still online: I was in an antiquarian book store yesterday and they have *five* resident cats, two solid black — a shorthair, and a longhair with the most gorgeous deep golden eyes. You would have squeeeed. And RedKitten, I just had a proper look at Sam’s most recent pix and love the look on his face where he’s meeting the dog (another Lily!) His expression perfectly combines apprehension, curiosity, and wonder.
asiangrrlMN
@SiubhanDuinne: Sigh. I am envious of your encounter with book store cats. That’s so fucking cool as it combines two of my loves–books and cats (especially black ones).
RedKitten
@SiubhanDuinne: Yeah, we were actually surprised at how well Lily took to him. We were a bit concerned, as she can be a little bitchy at times. But the moment she first heard him squeak, she came right over, and has been like a little mother to him ever since. If he starts to cry, she runs right over and starts sniffing around him, trying to figure out what’s wrong.
tootiredoftheright
“And Stuck—Dune the Movie sucked sour owl shit when it was made and it didn’t age well, either. Great book, turd film.
”
Depends if you mean the David Lynch version or the Alan Smithee version which was more faithfull to the book and had much more content.
The Dune miniseries on scifi had their plus and minuses.
Then so do the rest of the Dune novels and yes I mean the ones written by Frank and his son based on his father’s materials that were found after Frank’s death.
Steeplejack
@The Republic of Stupidity:
Lots of great lines in Out of the Past.
I’ll have to look for Night of the Demon. Is that the one from the ’50s with relatively respectable actors that was released under slightly different titles in Britain and the States?
Steeplejack
@Anne Laurie:
I was going to mention Law’s performance in A.I., but, damn, that movie sucked so bad. I wanted to see the movie they could have made about the aliens (robots?) who showed up in the last few minutes of A.I.
SiubhanDuinne
@asiangrrlMN: yeah, mine too. I was sitting on the floor for a while, looking at bottom-shelf books and pawing through bins of old prints and maps and stuff, and every few minutes a cat would stroll past — the two black ones and a beautiful long-haired grey, a funky-looking calico, and an ordinary street tabby with a chunk of ear missing. Occasionally one or another of them would favour me with a head-butt or a quick sniff, but mostly they just found a patch of sunwarm and curled up in it, or wandered off to find food or litterbox or fresh scenery. The store itself is a wonderful place, full of meandering warrens, hidden rooms, and creaky staircases leading to even more bibliophilic treasures. And despite what you might think, it doesn’t smell of cat at all.
asiangrrlMN
@SiubhanDuinne: So cool. And, I wouldn’t even care if it did smell of cat.
RedKitten
@SiubhanDuinne: That sounds absolutely
RedKitten
Damn, where’d my comment go? Anyhoodle, I was just saying that the bookstore sounds absolutely heavenly. I can just picture the dust motes in the sunbeams now, and can smell old books.
Pasquinade
I urge you to join Netflix to get acquainted with other martial arts actors besides Jackie Chan*.
Some of my favorites:
Yuen Biao
Sammo Hung
Lam Ching Ying
Don Wong Tao (who, unlike Bruce Lee, didn’t blink while practicing nunchucks)
Hwang Jang Lee – Chan’s opponent in the above clip, who, according to legend, actually killed someone in the military with one of his lethal kicks
*I don’t have much respect for Chan because he goes along with the lie that he has never been doubled (he has been doubled since he was first a star), he’s a serial adulterer with at least one illegitimate child, a public drunk, a supporter of Communist China so that he can make more money having his films shown there. Oh, and as for the clean Hong Kong campaign – that stem’s from his own OCD, not necessarily a community improvement project.
WereBear
When he was a child, Jackie Chan was sent to Chinese Opera school (according to his autobiography) because he was showing no promise with more intellectual pursuits. He says he was not excellent at any particular thing, but was good at everything, including the singing.
I enjoy his movies, and while I understand how a performer’s actual personality can dilute one’s enjoyment of their art, it’s not a perfect correlation. I never felt comfortable with Bing Crosby, and the revelation of his abusive child rearing practices only enhanced that opinion.
While Patrick McGoohan had a starchy, conservative underside that generally turns me off, his acting ability and general classiness as a person trumps that, and he was a major crush for me since my teens, even as we both aged.
JAHILL10
Thanks John C.! I loves me some classic Jackie Chan. Have Forbidden Kingdom on the Netflix list, just haven’t gotten there yet, but this has inspired me to boot it to the top of the queue. He’s lost a little of his form since he has gotten older (like the rest of us) but in his heyday Chan’s kung fu was as much ballet as fighting. He put me in mind of a mad scientist experiment combining the genes of Buster Keaton and Bruce Lee. Thanks again! That was lots of fun. Feel better soon
Seth 4:10
I’m late to this topic but, Jade Empire’s Drunken style is cool, but no match for Mirabelle
tootiredoftheright
@Pasquinade:
Well Chan before he became a star wasn’t really known to use stunt doubles he was pretty much the stunt double. He has been injured a lot during filming so he does indeed do a lot of the stunts.
ImJohnGalt
They’re trying to remake Jude Law into an action hero.
Forrest Whittaker and Leiv Schrieber, too?
Next to Kick-ass, about the 14-year old assassin, this is the movie I already feel most guilty about wanting to go see.
Here’s the trailer.