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Kiwi
Post Boaster
Joined: May 07, 2003
Posts: 4763
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 Posted:
Dec 28, 2007 - 07:10 AM |
 
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| beautiful_mind0905 wrote: |
| Kiwi wrote: |
| beautiful_mind0905 wrote: |
| Breakfast at Tiffany's |
Only saw this one fairly recently.
A lot of Shanghainese girls told me this was their favorite movie. A lot of things made sense after I saw the movie. |
What made sense? |
Why they are so bloody annoying. That's what made sense.
- The little girl mannerisms of Audrey Hepburn are so Shanghai. . .
- The vapid 'personality' of Audrey Hepburn is so Shanghai
- The obsession with finding some guy to pay her way in life is so Shanghai
- The structuring of a story around a luxury brand is so Shanghai
- The fixation on the idea of a rich foreigner solving all your problems by taking you to a new country where you begin a new life is so Shanghai.
- The inclusion of a socially inept, buck toothed, predatory, sexually frustrated Asian male character (played by a westerner), whose main purpose in the movie is to be ridiculed, is interesting. I wouldn't say it was 'so Shanghai', but it is certainly interesting that a movie with such a tasteless caricature of an Asian male can be such a hit among Shanghainese females. Maybe they see the guy primarily as Japanese (which he in fact is) and so are not offended? I think to the western audience he is primarily just 'an Asian', with his Japaneseness being a secondary detail. Or maybe there is a bit of a racial inferiority complex at play in the way Shanghainese females respond to this character? All very interesting anyway. |
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beautiful_mind0905
Board Lord
Joined: June 18, 2006
Posts: 5647
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Dec 28, 2007 - 05:38 PM |
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Never the less, it is a classic and Audrey Hepburn's most identifiable role...
Besides, none of what you ve mentioned is "so Shanghai". Majority of "Shanghai" do not have little girl mannerisms, dull personalities, obsessions with finding random guys to pay for their way in life, or fixtations on getting carried away to a whole new world by some rich foreigner.
Clearly, you ve not been in touch with real Shanghai! |
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Kiwi
Post Boaster
Joined: May 07, 2003
Posts: 4763
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Dec 28, 2007 - 06:03 PM |
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Clearly, I don't really understand China. |
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beautiful_mind0905
Board Lord
Joined: June 18, 2006
Posts: 5647
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Dec 28, 2007 - 06:11 PM |
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Still living in China? |
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Women are the ones who maintain the world while men throw it into disarray with their historic brutality. |
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hc
Post Roaster
Joined: Apr 04, 2007
Posts: 4545
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Dec 29, 2007 - 01:06 AM |
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yinlin
Rocker
Joined: Feb 26, 2007
Posts: 643
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Dec 29, 2007 - 01:24 AM |
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this is a wonderful thread and should be able to kill off most of my time in this coming holiday. happy new year everyone! |
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leidelaohu
Wonder Wit
Joined: June 11, 2007
Posts: 3781
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Dec 29, 2007 - 01:37 AM |
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| hc wrote: |
| I'm wondering what was the reception to this movie at the time. Cold War full on and all that. |
It was very popular and famous. People liked it, theme song was on radio all the time like Titanic a few years back, it won Academy Awards iirc, Omar Sharif got to be the tall dark and handsome masturbation fantasy for a while, there was some right-wing blabla about how poor Boris Pasternak was beat up by the evil sovietski gov't and so on ... it's not particularly pro-communist so the trailer trash wasn't out in force. The Rooski threat was more of an intellectual exercise than something we had to hide under the bed about to most people, back in the Daye. At our house we had some canned food and such stored in the basement in case the Russians sent over a missile but we didn't freak out about it. No orange alerts, no tewwowist warnings, no spasms of Chicken Little. It was more like a game.
Funny thing about the US tho ... we did have arsehole McCarthy in the fifties but people didn't seem so stupid or polarized. Before the press was totally controlled by religious wackos and hardliner militarists, there seemed to be a lot more viewpoints floating around. Ernest Gruening was actually a journalist at that time. It's hard to know what Americans really think these days, the press is such a crock of watery useless poo. |
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hc
Post Roaster
Joined: Apr 04, 2007
Posts: 4545
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Dec 29, 2007 - 01:42 AM |
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hc
Post Roaster
Joined: Apr 04, 2007
Posts: 4545
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Dec 29, 2007 - 01:49 AM |
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Interesting article on the topic:
30-year Anniversary: Tonkin Gulf Lie Launched Vietnam War
Media Beat (7/27/94)
By Jeff Cohen and Norman Solomon
Thirty years ago, it all seemed very clear.
"American Planes Hit North Vietnam After Second Attack on Our Destroyers; Move Taken to Halt New Aggression", announced a Washington Post headline on Aug. 5, 1964.
That same day, the front page of the New York Times reported: "President Johnson has ordered retaliatory action against gunboats and 'certain supporting facilities in North Vietnam' after renewed attacks against American destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin."
But there was no "second attack" by North Vietnam — no "renewed attacks against American destroyers." By reporting official claims as absolute truths, American journalism opened the floodgates for the bloody Vietnam War.
A pattern took hold: continuous government lies passed on by pliant mass media...leading to over 50,000 American deaths and millions of Vietnamese casualties.
The official story was that North Vietnamese torpedo boats launched an "unprovoked attack" against a U.S. destroyer on "routine patrol" in the Tonkin Gulf on Aug. 2 — and that North Vietnamese PT boats followed up with a "deliberate attack" on a pair of U.S. ships two days later.
The truth was very different.
Rather than being on a routine patrol Aug. 2, the U.S. destroyer Maddox was actually engaged in aggressive intelligence-gathering maneuvers — in sync with coordinated attacks on North Vietnam by the South Vietnamese navy and the Laotian air force.
"The day before, two attacks on North Vietnam...had taken place," writes scholar Daniel C. Hallin. Those assaults were "part of a campaign of increasing military pressure on the North that the United States had been pursuing since early 1964."
On the night of Aug. 4, the Pentagon proclaimed that a second attack by North Vietnamese PT boats had occurred earlier that day in the Tonkin Gulf — a report cited by President Johnson as he went on national TV that evening to announce a momentous escalation in the war: air strikes against North Vietnam.
But Johnson ordered U.S. bombers to "retaliate" for a North Vietnamese torpedo attack that never happened.
Prior to the U.S. air strikes, top officials in Washington had reason to doubt that any Aug. 4 attack by North Vietnam had occurred. Cables from the U.S. task force commander in the Tonkin Gulf, Captain John J. Herrick, referred to "freak weather effects," "almost total darkness" and an "overeager sonarman" who "was hearing ship's own propeller beat."
One of the Navy pilots flying overhead that night was squadron commander James Stockdale, who gained fame later as a POW and then Ross Perot's vice presidential candidate. "I had the best seat in the house to watch that event," recalled Stockdale a few years ago, "and our destroyers were just shooting at phantom targets — there were no PT boats there.... There was nothing there but black water and American fire power."
In 1965, Lyndon Johnson commented: "For all I know, our Navy was shooting at whales out there."
But Johnson's deceitful speech of Aug. 4, 1964, won accolades from editorial writers. The president, proclaimed the New York Times, "went to the American people last night with the somber facts." The Los Angeles Times urged Americans to "face the fact that the Communists, by their attack on American vessels in international waters, have themselves escalated the hostilities."  (Poland? Manchuria? Fabricated attacks are for "evil empires" right?)
An exhaustive new book, The War Within: America's Battle Over Vietnam, begins with a dramatic account of the Tonkin Gulf incidents. In an interview, author Tom Wells told us that American media "described the air strikes that Johnson launched in response as merely `tit for tat' — when in reality they reflected plans the administration had already drawn up for gradually increasing its overt military pressure against the North."
Why such inaccurate news coverage? Wells points to the media's "almost exclusive reliance on U.S. government officials as sources of information" — as well as "reluctance to question official pronouncements on 'national security issues.'"
Daniel Hallin's classic book The "Uncensored War" observes that journalists had "a great deal of information available which contradicted the official account [of Tonkin Gulf events]; it simply wasn't used. The day before the first incident, Hanoi had protested the attacks on its territory by Laotian aircraft and South Vietnamese gunboats."
What's more, "It was generally known...that `covert' operations against North Vietnam, carried out by South Vietnamese forces with U.S. support and direction, had been going on for some time."
In the absence of independent journalism, the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution — the closest thing there ever was to a declaration of war against North Vietnam — sailed through Congress on Aug. 7. (Two courageous senators, Wayne Morse of Oregon and Ernest Gruening of Alaska, provided the only "no" votes.) The resolution authorized the president "to take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression."
The rest is tragic history.
Nearly three decades later, during the Gulf War, columnist Sydney Schanberg warned journalists not to forget "our unquestioning chorus of agreeability when Lyndon Johnson bamboozled us with his fabrication of the Gulf of Tonkin incident."
Schanberg blamed not only the press but also "the apparent amnesia of the wider American public."
And he added: "We Americans are the ultimate innocents. We are forever desperate to believe that this time the government is telling us the truth." |
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Click here to read the latest retarded PM Natalie sent me. Let's make her lose face and FINALLY leave this site. |
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leidelaohu
Wonder Wit
Joined: June 11, 2007
Posts: 3781
Status: Offline
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Dec 29, 2007 - 01:53 AM |
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| hc wrote: |
| ^ Deviating a bit on the topic of movies and talking about 60's media. |
Let's make a new thread, this one has stayed remarkably clean 
relevant to both subjects, how about ?
Gallipoli
The Eagle and the Hawk
Paths of Glory
In Country
Johnny Got His Gun
Windtalkers
As far as your quoted article, yes. It's true. But it's also true that there were masses of Americans fighting against that shit and that you can read about it today. Go find me something printed in Japan about Pearl Harbor or the biological and chemical warfare they conducted against China. The US has done plenty of bad stuff but if we can get rid of the fucking rightwing militarist jerks, Homeland Security (god, how could my country ever institute such a Third Reich establishment !!), Bush Bastards and somehow return to decency, it's not that bad a place. Really.
Let's go back to movies. |
Last edited by leidelaohu on Dec 29, 2007 - 02:00 AM; edited 1 time in total |
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hc
Post Roaster
Joined: Apr 04, 2007
Posts: 4545
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Dec 29, 2007 - 01:56 AM |
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leidelaohu
Wonder Wit
Joined: June 11, 2007
Posts: 3781
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Dec 29, 2007 - 02:02 AM |
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| hc wrote: |
| Windtalkers? You mean the one with Nicholas Cage? |
You didn't like it ? S'pose you're right, we're supposed to be sticking to great but ... Woo is pretty good ! |
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Kiwi
Post Boaster
Joined: May 07, 2003
Posts: 4763
Status: Offline
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Dec 29, 2007 - 05:07 AM |
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| leidelaohu wrote: |
| Go find me something printed in Japan about Pearl Harbor or the biological and chemical warfare they conducted against China. |
I thought unit 731 came to international prominence partly as a result of Japanese journalists researching just those stories? |
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Kiwi
Post Boaster
Joined: May 07, 2003
Posts: 4763
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Dec 29, 2007 - 05:09 AM |
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| beautiful_mind0905 wrote: |
| Still living in China? |
What's this?
Feels like I'm arguing with 周星馳.
Either talk sense or f**ck off. |
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BombayMonsoon
Newbie
Joined: Nov 11, 2007
Posts: 8
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Dec 29, 2007 - 09:11 AM |
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A few more you might enjoy...
8 1/2, La Dolce vita, (Both Fellini...I think they are simply amazing moments in these films that are cinematic without effort)
Once Upon a time in the West (Sergio Leone I love the Opening sequence...just for that, I can watch it everyday...and then he gives you a second sequence that my wife finds even more amazing!!),
Apocalypse Now, ( This, along with Godfather puts Coppola at such a pedestal for me that he can make whatever he wants now, it will never dent my respect for the man!)
RedBeard (Japanese-Kurosawa and Mifune combo again!...If u watched 7 samurai, that is...and u will barely recognize Mifune because of the intensity of his performance)
Closely Watched Trains (Also called Closely Observed Trains...one of the classics of East European cinema),
Jules Et Jim...(Truffaut...part of the French New Wave of the sixties)
and if you want something stimulating...Solaris...( The tarkovsky Original!)
Rushing off...more later. |
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leidelaohu
Wonder Wit
Joined: June 11, 2007
Posts: 3781
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Dec 29, 2007 - 09:58 AM |
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| Kiwi wrote: |
| I thought unit 731 came to international prominence partly as a result of Japanese journalists researching just those stories? |
Unless Barenblatt is a Japanese name, you thought wrong.
Of course, that time when they discovered thousands of corpses buried in downtown Tokyo that turned out to be the victims of "scientific research" on human beings, yeah, that was a little difficult to whitewash. They've conveniently forgotten it by now tho.
How about Last Year at Marienbad ? It'll drive you nuts trying to figure out what's going on |
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beautiful_mind0905
Board Lord
Joined: June 18, 2006
Posts: 5647
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Dec 29, 2007 - 10:13 AM |
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| Kiwi wrote: |
| beautiful_mind0905 wrote: |
| Still living in China? |
What's this?
Feels like I'm arguing with 周星馳.
Either talk sense or f**ck off. |
Isn't it hard to live in a place full of dole personalities, full of people obsessed with finding guys to pay their way in life, etc?
So, naturally, I am wondering if you are still living in Shanghai or elsewhere in China? |
_________________
Women are the ones who maintain the world while men throw it into disarray with their historic brutality. |
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Kiwi
Post Boaster
Joined: May 07, 2003
Posts: 4763
Status: Offline
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Dec 29, 2007 - 10:22 AM |
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Yes, I'm living in Shanghai.
I can't leave the place because despite all the annoying Audrey Hepburn fans, the city is so very fashion, modern and romantic. Who would want to live anywhere else?
Also I find it extremely difficult to get a job or a girlfriend in my home country. |
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SPP
Rocker
Joined: Nov 08, 2006
Posts: 794
Status: Offline
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Jan 01, 2008 - 11:59 AM |
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You guys have no taste.
Best old movies:
Four Rooms, the most unexpected
First Blood part two, the best action
Terminator 2 judgeday, the best fantasy
The people vs. Larry Flynt, the movie every man should see, about a man that got balls
Mr. Bean tv series, the most hilarious
Little Miss Sunshine, very good
Baraka, the best real visual, no fake shitt
Grave of the fireflies,
the best anime, you should see it if you can get it(by downloading, borrowing, renting, stealing, robbing, or whatever), it makes others look like crap, it can even be considered the best movie if you are mature enough to accept that not every anime is for small child only.
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CoffeeHawk_0
Board Buddha
Joined: July 14, 2005
Posts: 14444
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Jan 01, 2008 - 03:38 PM |
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"A Fish Called Wanda" circa 1987 written by and starring John Cleese and Jamie Lee Curtis. Not for the PC crowd. Some hilarious scenes, a good mix of British and American humor. |
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SPP
Rocker
Joined: Nov 08, 2006
Posts: 794
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Jan 01, 2008 - 10:27 PM |
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| CoffeeHawk_0 wrote: |
| "A Fish Called Wanda" circa 1987 written by and starring John Cleese and Jamie Lee Curtis. Not for the PC crowd. Some hilarious scenes, a good mix of British and American humor. |
I watched it a few days ago. Better than "Snatch", but still Boring shitt!
"Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" is way better. |
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vivek123
Barker
Joined: June 05, 2007
Posts: 166
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Jan 01, 2008 - 11:16 PM |
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| SPP wrote: |
| CoffeeHawk_0 wrote: |
| "A Fish Called Wanda" circa 1987 written by and starring John Cleese and Jamie Lee Curtis. Not for the PC crowd. Some hilarious scenes, a good mix of British and American humor. |
I watched it a few days ago. Better than "Snatch", but still Boring shitt!
"Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" is way better. |
You have no taste!!! |
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SPP
Rocker
Joined: Nov 08, 2006
Posts: 794
Status: Offline
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Jan 03, 2008 - 11:01 AM |
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Wrong, buddy!
No, I have good taste!
Let me continue, will you, ladies?
Best movies:
Eyes Wide Shut, a glimpse of Illuminati
Diehard, a decent action movie
Family Man, about a choice and what the meaning of life is
Rosemary's Baby, about secret societies and their relationship to devils
The Last of the Mohicans, a great action picture before the age of fake shitts bombarding, and great music
Samurai X trust & betrayal, a good anime movie about young TianXin or XinTai, and giving you a good view of what the samurais were fighting for long long ago
Rear Window, a good cinematograph from long time ago, the director was a genius (yes, like me)
Dog Day Afternoon, about two decent robbers and a queer love
Dracula Dead and Loving, a great movie aping the real one, Dracula
Thelma and Louise, telling us that we have to show some respect to women, and that they are not weak but dangerous
Scent of A Woman, about a decent *******, and, again, making choices
Dogville, about the true nature of seemingly nice people
The good, The Bad and The Ugly, having a good title and that's enough
To be continued.
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SPP
Rocker
Joined: Nov 08, 2006
Posts: 794
Status: Offline
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Jan 04, 2008 - 11:57 AM |
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Best movies:
Hot Shots, a hilarious version of Rambo 3, and it is great
Striptease, the actress is professional and hot
True Lies, the governor got himself a brain once
Singing In the Rain, best music movie, so positive and I love it
Paradiso Cinema, about a ture friend
Requiem For a Dream, about what those idiots want in their pathetic lifes
Fan Fan, she was cute when she was young, now see what a bitch she is now
Way of Dragon, a Chinese guy has some moves
About Schmidt, about an old arsehole looking back his meaningless life
One Hour Photo, he is lonely, and he is real, and he is not bad
Once Upon a Time in America, about friends, they are all backstabbers
Return of Living Dead 1, 3, two decent B movies
8MM, sick focks can not do everything they want because I am here and I care
Donnie Darko, a good explanation of the reason of "the huge conspiracy of bullshitt", a glimpse of "illusion" and "the end of days"
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p1atl10
Board Royalty
Joined: Mar 18, 2005
Posts: 6297
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Jan 04, 2008 - 12:26 PM |
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The Lion in Winter.
Peter O'Toole as Henry II, Katherine Hepburn as Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, Anthony Hopkins as Richard....Timothy Dalton as the gay King Phillip of France.
3 Oscars, 2 BAFTA's, 1 Golden Globe.....One of O'Tooles finest movies...
The Crying Game
Clockwork Orange
or any Kubrick flick
Jungle Book
Still cry when Baloo looks dead....
" Look for the Bear necessities....."
Paint Your Wagon
Lee Marvin and Clint Eastwood in a musical! Brilliant |
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Not all chemicals are bad. Without chemicals such as hydrogen and oxygen, for example, there would be no way to make water, a vital ingredient in beer.....Dave Barry |
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