How To Survive An American War Movie

molko

theres a peace rally saturday central london in support of the palestinians if you or anyone else here can make it

``An army friend of Bruce Willis` character`s dead father who comes and gives the watch to the kid``

Thanks Ram, now I remember ``he had to hide it up his a * * :-)``

re bong_dongs #51

Which role did he play in Pulp Fiction?

An army friend of Bruce Willis` character`s dead father who comes and gives the watch to the kid. The dialogue (rather monologue) in that scene is hilarious.

re aicha

Don`t know the name of SNL episode but the skit is called The Continental and it was broadcast on May 19, 2001.

``Christopher Walken has done two off the all-time best cameo roles in Annie Hall and Pulp Fiction``

Which role did he play in Pulp Fiction? I have read the book ``Deerhunter`` havent seen the movie.

btw a slip-up Denise Richards plays the nuclear scientist Christmas Jones in ``World is not enough`` and not in ``Tomorrow never dies``.

``who said Christmas comes only once ;-)``

chotu, Mastram

Right - am getting Pulp F!! Hadnt seen it till now. Have either of you seen Men in Black. Taht I thought was good. Do you know how I can get hold of taht SNL show. I am not a big fan of SNL - but remember this one on the gzillion names an Iranian individual has - side-splitting stuff!!

Say - any ideas when the next Bond movie is coming out?

``Also, anyone checked out Denise Richards ? Her

performance in Wild Things was riveting to say the

least. I hear she plays a bond girl in the next 007

movie.``

She WAS in ``Tomorrow never dies``. Plays a nucler scientist :-)

re aicha 46

Christopher Walken has done two off the all-time best cameo roles in Annie Hall and Pulp Fiction. His SNL skit on a faux french guy is weirdly funny too.

regards

aicha:

Christopher Walken had a small but interesting role in Pulp Fiction. He also played the lead role in Hitchhiker, which is a great 80`s thriller.

etu Mama tambien is more of a high school movie- I thought it was different and showed the mexican countryside which made it interesting, but the plot was so-so. Similarities between desi and mexican societies (rich vs. poor) were obvious. Amores Peros is good.

Did anyone see Training Day, for which Denzel won the Oscar ? I don`t know about the oscar, but the movie was entertaining to watch. Denzel had me fooled nearly till the end.

I see quite a few people have mentioned Deerhunter here. I think Christopher Walken did an amazing job in that movie. Does anyone have any idea what other movies he did besides taht one Bond movie with Roger Moore??

Etu Mama Tambien - the previews were too disjointed to make out if it was interesting - but will see it if it hits the theatres!

anNy:

Speaking of movies... I think you and women in

particular will enjoy watching Cowgirls (not sure if

this is the complete name) with Uma Thurman in

which she has one really long thumb and some

weird powers....seriously.

Also, anyone checked out Denise Richards ? Her

performance in Wild Things was riveting to say the

least. I hear she plays a bond girl in the next 007

movie.

The new Mexican flicks doing the rounds are

different and interesting too... Amorres Peros (sp?)

Love`s a Bitchh and eTu Mama Tambien (and your

mama too!) are worth a watch.

Last year`s Sexy Beast with Ben Kingsley was

great. I think he did a better job in that, than in

Gandhi. Each to his own, I guess.

Enjoy!

sorry to butt into this heavy debate about movies iv never even heard off but has anyone seen center stage? *wincing * its err..about these ballet dancers..no storyline really, but some lovely ballet and very pretty boys and girls..anybody?

Another good war movie was `Enemy at The Gate` with whatshisface, the same guy in Gattaca..

And there is that Italian war movie, in which these Italians end up on a Greek Island and decide to relax and avoid the war altogether.

Can`t remember the name. My brain cells are still making up from the long weekend.

I`m surprised that no one has mentioned two of the best war movies ever made, ``Full Metal Jacket`` (infinitely superior to the over-hyped cliche-fest called ``Platoon``) and ``Patton.`` Also, honourable mention should go to a little seen Burt Lancaster one called ``Go Tell the Spartans`` that I can recommend to any war movie buff and, I confess a soft spot for Anthony Quinn`s ``Lost Command.``

precious-u #39, ``he should’ve won way back for malcom x….

that wouldn`t have been politically correct.

he did win for Glory, which was very well deserved

Semiprecious, Scout

re: Denzel`s Malcolm

That`s a great observation; his portrayal of Hurricane Carter or Malcolm were probably considered too ``radical`` for h`wood to approve-and he really was excellent in those roles. Some people charge that Monster`s Ball is pretty disturbing(not in a good way); haven`t seen it yet, but it is astounding that Black American actors haven`t gotten mainstream industry recognition. Perhaps the indie companies can teach them a thing or too.

I agree with you on Poitier`s speech; perhaps he can teach the upstarts and young`uns by example...

samina:

“Hope Mr. Bad heard that part of Poitier`s Oscar speech”

…..that was one moving speech…until all the hype about 3 african-american actors being nominated was created, i had no idea that no african-ameircan woman had won for best actress…and i still feel denzel’s oscar was sort an ‘obligatory’ one….he should’ve won way back for malcom x….

“...Jack Shaheen, author of ``Reel Bad Arabs`` has commented that there are almost no non-stereotypical portrayals of Arabs in Hollywood for the last 20 years...anyone care to comment?”

…..that’s true….i think the main reason being that there are so few roles/little space for minorities in hollywood….hence you’ll see the usual hackneyed “arab terrorists”, “asian taxi drivers/grocery store owners” etc stereotypes… i remember when true lies came out there was this hoopla created by all the american muslim associations and the aclu….people were picketing in front of the theatres…don’t think it did much good because as far as i can remember the movie made big bucks…

#: 33

veeresh

ok maybe on the khans, but our zafars are better than yours.



Veero

Allah bachaye Indianon se ..na inke dosti acchi na dushmani achhi

Thats why ``itna hai badnasib Zafar ,Dafan ke liye do gaz zameen na mila koi yaar maine``

Looks like Zafars ( bahudar shah Zafar & Adha Zafar are banished out of india one to RANGOON & the other to SYDNEY .)

Yeh na thhi hamari kismet ke visalle yaar hota ---Ghalib had already predicted

saminashah #31,

remember Sally Field`s ``Not Without My Daughter?``

there were some very derogatory stereotypes in that one.

but then Hollywood is known for stereotyping every race and religion at some point or another.

i personally prefer watching independent and foreign films, which focus on talent and social situations, and not the glamourized, stereotyped, hype Hollywood produces.

i have to say that the newer animated movies such as Monsters Inc. are doing great at providing intelligent entertainment for kids and adults.

long live Pixar!

Ferozk

`another good movie...Border by both India`

Border -- good movie? Recommend it?

re saminashah #31:

There was a very entertaining article in GQ magazine a couple of months ago about this Arab guy who plays the Arab stereotype in so many of the hollywood flicks. The guy was on screen typically for less than a couple of minutes before being blown/shot/thrown out of a helicopter but he made sure those two minutes were memorable :) Check it out.

later

-sac

Another thought:

Hollywood often makes movies that are supportive of US domestic and international policy, whether it be `Birth of a Nation` or `Rules of Engagement` (again, a movie Mr. S and I found so patently offensive that we turned it off) in order to ``prepare`` its citizens for strikes or further policy.

or

US policy and military manuvering (invasions, missile strikes, embargoes) are seen AS the movie-CNN being the film studio/carrier of this narrative. When you consider how tv coverage of the Vietnam war shocked and horrified Americans in their homes (and fueled the anti-war movement), the US govt. really learned from that lesson....

ok maybe on the khans, but our zafars are better than yours.

Here is another good movie...A Bridge Too Far...and my all time favorite...Border by both India and Pakistan and the sequel to it...

...The Phony Politicans: A tale of cowardice and knavery set in a communal setting of lies and superiority complexes...

For more info...check out its website

www.reallosers.org

Ciao

Arjun,

re:``promises``...thats the one...heard interesting interviews with the filmmaker who pointed out the disparites in realities and futures that the Israeli and Palestinian children faced as they grew older.

What about the movie ``Three Kings``? That was pretty damned good, as opposed to that Samuel Jackson godawful movie-``Rules of Engagement``. I lost respect for Mr. Bad after that-Sidney Poitier hit it on the nail when he said it takes several people with vision and courage to stand up the Race Machine in Tinseltown. Hope Mr. Bad heard that part of Poitier`s Oscar speech...Jack Shaheen, author of ``Reel Bad Arabs`` has commented that there are almost no non-stereotypical portrayals of Arabs in Hollywood for the last 20 years...anyone care to comment?

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Favorite war movies: The Longest Day; The Bridge on the River Kwai (love the tune); Das Boot (The Boat). I have a movie in my head of 1965 which I guess will never hit the silver screen but I swear would be a shoo-in for an oscar.

Even better than any war movie: War channels on TV showing actual shots taken at the Battle of Stalingrad, Battle of Kursk, Battle of Midway, and even some jerky shots of WWI scenes.

All Quiet on the Western Front (book is even better), says it all though - particularly the last scene where dead young chap`s hand is reaching out to a butterfly.

Scout,

Glory was very good!

Anyone seen the Israeli-Palestinian movie `Promises`?

Hamid

re: apocalypse now

Er...don`t remember that piece of dialogue being my favorite...but what an anarchic, surrealistic movie.

imran khan? you like that dump of a budha scoutie? well then, guess who i had the most innane conversation with at the dubai airport ;)

Re: Ras # 25

How about M *A *S *H? Ras, it an not an American war movie per se, but do you remember the Blue Max or Das Boot?

Ciao

``Apocalypse Now`` and the ``Deerhunter`` were
excellent.
Anyone remember ``Coming Home``?

Ras

veeresh #23, ``Our Khans are better than yours.``

oh yeah, well all your Khans are short and dumpy who have to wear hidden heels in their shoes....

one Imran Khan is better than all your little Khans combined....not to mention all the squash champion Khans that we have and you don`t so there.....eat your heart out.

Lagaan proves, once again, that organised commercial cricket sux. Big time sux.

Like organised commercial religion.

However. At least it got to the Oscar stage. Which just proves that our movies are better than yours. Our Khans are better than yours. Even our fake goras on hire for movies are better than yours.

Never mind hockey.

hamidm #13, ``..... apocalypse now was the best of them all ... who can forget colonel kilgore ``

definitely the best

``Glory`` is another great one.

ylh #18:

Lagaan was just an overhyped, mediocre, too long by an hour movie. It didnt deserve the Oscar by a long shot. And I am saying this without watching the other movies in contention.

Its time desis changed their pseudo-patriotic mentality that made them vote in droves for Lagaan on some dumb-ass noname desi sites.

Satyavadi

This was really funny - thanks!

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Uptil last night I thought, Lagaan was going to win.. whatever happened to that... I thought it was a jolly good movie.

Any ideas?

Has anyone seen the Bosnian Movie that won?

Re: Vereesh # 15

Yes, The Deerhunter is a really good movie and I have seen it a few times.

I think that you raise a very good point. We need to make a distinction between American war movies, which are based on actual events and American war movies, which are a fictional account of a real event. In my opinion, the fictional accounts do better justice and offer more nuances of the war, than those trying to portray real events. This does not include the Rambo series except the first one, which was an excellent movie.

If you get a chance, see Philip Caputo`s A Rumor of War and Otto Preminger`s In Harm`s Way. The first one is based on a true story during Vietnam and the second one is a ficational account of American war in the Pacific during the Second World War.

Ciao

Ciao

Thank God, Molko! At last someone takes a cheeky dig at America and its obsession with war movies.

Just saw on TV how Lagaan was shunted off for Best Foreign movie not by Amelie who everyne thought would win but some movie about the war in Bosnia. Errr.... that`s two on two. ``War`` and ``Bosnia`....and Aamirbhai thought he`d win? HEEHEEHEEHEE

Just wondered what you thought about Curage Under Fire though. I thought it was kaafi hatke as far as war movies went.

Cheers.

well, my alltime favourite was ``The Deerhunter`` . . . but most of you here were probably too young to see or remember it . . . mark my words, get hold of a copy . . .

Good stuff this, Molko.

..... so who are we going to pick on next - the three stooges ? ... blasphemy!

..... apocalypse now was the best of them all ... who can forget colonel kilgore :

``You smell that? Do you smell that?...Napalm, son. Nothing else in the world smells like that. I love the smell of napalm in the morning. ``

........ i love the smell of napalm in the morning - i love it !

Molko,

Very amusing; nice set of sharp teeth you have there...only, you forgot the daddy of the genre-``Apocalypse Now``...the uncut version

regards

Re: Molko

The best way to survive an American war movie is to know your history really well and not to believe anything you see on the screen!

The only exception to the rule has been, so far, HBO`s ``A Band of Brothers``, which was based on the true story of Easy Company, Second Battlion of the 506 Regiment of the 101 Airborne Divison.

Black Hawk Down is not an actual portrayal of what happened and why that particular mission was a disaster, just like U571 is not a true story. It was the British and the Royal Navy and not the Americans, who got the German enigma codes off the submarine.

One survivies an American war movie by ignoring the reality and by concentrating on the enterainment myth, which the movie is trying to recreate. The only problem with that is since most Americans learn their history from the movies, they learn the wrong lesson and end up asking, ``why do they hate us?`` LOL

Ciao

ylh:

“These are the ramblings of an Indian who is pissed off that Black Hawk Down Potrays Pakistanis so well...”

….really, yasser…..did you even bother reading the whole piece before making such a snatched

statement?…...-ramblings of a pakistani who’s mystified as to how black hawk down received all the oscar nominations it did…

MOLKO

Obviously you are imitating Brian Molko`s name for some reason.As a quick Google will reveal Brian Molko is bi sexual transvestite ,hardly a hero material whether military or otherwise .

I wish you had chosen a less public handle which anybody these days can read you like an open book.

Its age of information technology & mass multimedia ,that not only makes possible sickly ,weakling kids live loger than they used but worse of all disprove the survival of the fittest theory .Any such dramatic change in the ecology & environment ,is a cause of concern in the balance of nature .If we lose our edge in selective breeding all we`ll have are sissies computer nerds not able to lift anything more than the laptop....

I say Yasser # 3, your humour is in devastating form today!!

Yawn. I`ve read several differnet versions of this type of article, best one was from MAD Magazine umpteen years ago. However, this one is nicely updated, though so it does bring the info up to current times.

I like indian war heroes better. Usually, a captain has two carriers - one to kick some Paksitani butt, as a military ``guy`` and secondly as a dancer in the local cabaret by the night. It is amazing to see how a thumka of these lachkeelay faujis can solve the biggest problems like unarming a bomb hidden in the cabaret bar to stopping the trains, in a giffy. I especially like the part where these faujis take their cabaret act to some village, and put on a show with the village girls with matkas, all to get a kashimri/paki oaf-and when the fight begins how these faujis yell ``ab kay maar dekh`` with every blow.

Watching such movie is survival my friend Molko.

best article on chowk in a long long time...had me smirking like a rabid monkey...do post more (but only if as good ;)

shandana

These are the ramblings of an Indian who is pissed off that Black Hawk Down Potrays Pakistanis so well...

This was good, though you need to brush up on your Kurt Vonnegut Jr., / / / however, what about science fiction war movies?

molko:

...welcome:)

11:...the only certain way to survive...listen to your dad and study them books hard and become a script writer...that is the only fool proof way your character can survive the war, beat up the hoodlums, win the girl/s or buy the tractor, make a killing in the (stock)market;)...

rgds,

t