tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post7327478278876164936..comments2024-03-05T21:05:36.848-05:00Comments on CommentaramaFilms: The Great (film) Debates vol. 6AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-25219635812618655352011-12-04T17:17:12.573-05:002011-12-04T17:17:12.573-05:00Kit, In truth, I'm not familiar with that. :(
...Kit, In truth, I'm not familiar with that. :(<br /><br />I agree about the French Revolution. Talks about a fascinating dramatic event with a lot of interesting facets!AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-38954194517811615372011-12-04T17:14:45.497-05:002011-12-04T17:14:45.497-05:00True, Andrew.
But if I had to choose which of my ...True, Andrew.<br /><br />But if I had to choose which of my selections to film (If I was a filmmaker) I would go with the Pheonix City one.<br /><br />Simply because few people know about it, it happened not far from where I live, and it is really fascinating. Read Margaret Anne Barnes "Tragedy and Triumph of Pheonix City".<br /><br />Also, the French Revolution would make a good mini-series.Kitnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-27930621104509380272011-12-04T11:38:27.043-05:002011-12-04T11:38:27.043-05:00Kit, The Bay of Pigs absolutely deserves a story.....Kit, The Bay of Pigs absolutely deserves a story... but it makes a liberal icon look really bad, so don't hold your breath.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-70706190480596187772011-12-04T01:25:27.008-05:002011-12-04T01:25:27.008-05:00Constitutional Convention, Six Day War, Warsaw Upr...Constitutional Convention, Six Day War, Warsaw Uprising (and Stalin's stab in the back), a mini-series on the Protestant Reformation, Bay of Pigs (needs, needs, NEEDS to be told), the so-called "War of the Bandits" (as Che called them, a.k.a. the anti-Castro rebels insurgency), the Grant-Lee era of the Virginia theatre of the American Civil War, and many, many more.<br /><br />Also,<br />Pheonix City, AL 1954. In the late 40s and early 50s organized crime RAN Pheonix City. This culminated in the assassination of the anti-machine State of Alabama Attorney General-elect and the ensuing decision by the governor of Alabama to place the city under Martial law and eventually under Martial Rule, where the Alabama Army National Guard literally came in, and had the Russel Co. Sheriff's office and the Pheonix City police hand in their badges and guns and replaced them with <br />National Guardsmen.<br /><br />Also, any accurate telling would be very pro-Christian as the leading force for reform was the Russel County Betterment Association, founded by a devout Southern Baptist.<br /><br />Fascinating story.Kitnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-84842461749184313982011-09-11T12:55:22.363-04:002011-09-11T12:55:22.363-04:00Outlaw, That's a great point about the Metal o...Outlaw, That's a great point about the Metal of Honor recipients. Those are some amazing stories of bravery, honor and sacrifice.<br /><br />The complaining didn't bother me much in <i>Generation Kill</i> precisely because I know that soldiers do gripe, and I never got the impression we were supposed to take that as an indictment of anyone (except maybe three specific officers). I just took it as how these guys live. The only parts that bothered me was the Monday Morning Quarterbacking toward the end of the series -- it had a very "bad Americans" feel to it.<br /><br />On the Marines v. the Army thing, I'm not sure Hollywood recognizes that we have an Army. They get that we have a Navy and they love the Marines, but they really don't get the rest.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-74175984076355935712011-09-11T12:42:30.166-04:002011-09-11T12:42:30.166-04:00I think you could read the citation for any Medal ...I think you could read the citation for any Medal of Honor award and have the basis of the great movie. In an age where some steroid abusing feak is called a hero to some, it would be good for people to be reminded who the "real" heroes are.<br /><br />I hated the "Generation Kill" book because the Rolling Stone reporter took every bull-s#it" barracks tale and gripe and complaint he heard and published them. DO people on the line gripe and complain, of course they do. There is in fact an old Army saying that, "It's a Soldier's right to bitch" but just because it is it doesn't mean it's justified or based on truth. That's what bothered me the most about it and from what I understand the series followed that pretty closely.<br /><br />Additionally I can tell you from personal experience that war is 90% boring and the rest is sheer terror.<br /><br />I would like to see something done on the battle of Baghdad during the surge of 2007...but since the Marines weren't there you'll never hear about it.Outlaw13https://www.blogger.com/profile/17232117096525959967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-9429273792351038752011-09-10T23:18:57.304-04:002011-09-10T23:18:57.304-04:00et tu Mike?
Sorry, I couldn't resist. At lea...et tu Mike?<br /><br />Sorry, I couldn't resist. At least I didn't say, "vini vidi filmi."AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-11502275551019732452011-09-10T23:00:35.859-04:002011-09-10T23:00:35.859-04:00I'd like to see a movie about Julius Caesar...I'd like to see a movie about Julius Caesar's rise to power.Mike K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17216987126441598720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-44386880332837515452011-09-10T16:13:35.955-04:002011-09-10T16:13:35.955-04:00Scott, Hopefully, but I doubt it.
On your hobbies...Scott, Hopefully, but I doubt it.<br /><br />On your hobbies, let me quote John Goodman in <i>Speed Racer</i>: "you need to get out more. . . get some sun. . . you're so pale." ;-)AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-45497565481067852382011-09-10T15:39:55.309-04:002011-09-10T15:39:55.309-04:00(The post that's up now should link to page 1;...(The post that's up now should link to page 1; I deleted the post that linked to page 2.)<br /><br />As for the article, I don't really have a dog in this fight, at least not now, but I hope the next generation of filmmakers is less politically... I'll just say rigid.<br /><br />And I have a couple hobbies: one of them is looking up interesting info online. :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-487677674611676272011-09-10T14:57:33.129-04:002011-09-10T14:57:33.129-04:00Scott, You need a hobby! Just kidding. Thanks fo...Scott, You need a hobby! Just kidding. Thanks for the link.<br /><br />FYI, your link starts at page 2. Here's the start at page 1: <a href="http://reason.com/archives/2000/06/01/hollywoods-missing-movies" rel="nofollow">LINK</a><br /><br /><br />I think the article is right by the way, that this has to do with Hollywood's own flirtation with communism. If Hollywood hadn't been so sympathetic to communism and it's later offshoots (e.g. unions, progressives, etc.) then it wouldn't be afraid of this topic. As it is, to attack communism would mean attacking a lot of industry heroes and would incur the wrath of people who remain very important in the biz.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-78092495055639040902011-09-10T14:53:11.574-04:002011-09-10T14:53:11.574-04:00I've spent the last hour looking for this Reas...I've spent the last hour looking for this <a href="http://reason.com/archives/2000/06/01/hollywoods-missing-movies" rel="nofollow">Reason</a> article on the subject of cinematic depictions of Communism (and the lack thereof). Some of it goes over my head but it's fascinating stuff.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-38796532240205323582011-09-10T13:43:02.083-04:002011-09-10T13:43:02.083-04:00Floyd, It really should. Plus Stalin starving the...Floyd, It really should. Plus Stalin starving the Ukraine and the purges that seemed to happen every 5-10 years and all the killings they did in Eastern Europe. Really the take over of Eastern Europe alone deserves a lengthy documentary or film.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-7534134439146079232011-09-10T13:31:05.812-04:002011-09-10T13:31:05.812-04:00The Gulag Archipelago needs a Schindler's List...The Gulag Archipelago needs a Schindler's List treatment to be sure....Floyd R. Turbohttp://www.threedonia.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-25149448815373618362011-09-10T12:24:52.965-04:002011-09-10T12:24:52.965-04:00kristina, Welcome! And thanks I'm glad you li...kristina, Welcome! And thanks I'm glad you like it! :-)<br /><br />I agree completely about Soviet history. Hollywood has ignored it for political reasons. If people really understood what happened in the Soviet Union, then the Soviets would join the Nazis in public infamy. Instead, you get college kids wearing Soviet symbols because they think it's hip.<br /><br />I had a professor in college who escaped the Soviet Union and he went through what he experienced and what the Soviets did in Eastern Europe when they took over, and a lot of the liberal kids were shocked. They'd never heard any of that and they actually thought he was lying because they were being told by other professors that the Soviets were good people who were concerned about equality and justice. Yeah... and murdering those who didn't conform.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-20899961116159531462011-09-10T12:19:15.206-04:002011-09-10T12:19:15.206-04:00Floyd, Nice list! I can see this topic interests ...Floyd, Nice list! I can see this topic interests you! :-)<br /><br />On your list, I actually thought about the gates of Vienna and the Barbary Wars. Those would be really fascinating and very timely!<br /><br />On Lewis and Clark, I recall a book coming out about them maybe a decade ago that EVERYONE seemed to be reading. So there is definitely a lot of interest in the topic. And in many ways, they are the guys most responsible for turning the United States into a continent.<br /><br />The rest are excellent choices too!<br /><br />P.S. You mean vikings didn't just kill everyone while singing opera? ;-)AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-34754768221939601382011-09-10T12:10:27.200-04:002011-09-10T12:10:27.200-04:00Scott, The CIA thing would be an interesting topic...Scott, The CIA thing would be an interesting topic. On Castro, I've always heard they tried to get him an exploding cigar and tried to make his beard fall out.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-53817079400857144432011-09-10T11:02:09.438-04:002011-09-10T11:02:09.438-04:00hi, longtime reader of your great blog, 1st time c...hi, longtime reader of your great blog, 1st time commenter. I give a big loud n hearty +1 to the general topic of the real horrors of Communism/Soviets being criminally underdone by Hollywood. It's a huge yawning gap in people's knowledge, which also helps modern "thinkers" smear classic Hollywood conservatives as nutty paranoid fascists. Just my 2 cents. Always great stuff on your blog, thanks.kristinanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-53886396002373652022011-09-10T10:16:56.217-04:002011-09-10T10:16:56.217-04:00And lastly... (not that I've thought about thi...And lastly... (not that I've thought about this much! :-) )<br /><br />World History:<br /><br />1. the Apostle Paul's life (heck any of the well known apostles after the death and resurrection of Christ)<br /><br />2. Mel Gibson's Maccabee movie will rock. He is the PERFECT movie subject.<br /><br />3. Six Day War<br /><br />4. a good Viking epic.... the trek to Greenland... not the berserker crap they put out but an epic treatment of real Vikings... lots of messages about rule of law, property, etc. would be present and the move from paganism to Christianity...<br /><br />5. I would love to see a biopic of Caravaggio... that man was fascinating.Floyd R. Turbohttp://www.threedonia.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-2281398016840209452011-09-10T10:10:33.507-04:002011-09-10T10:10:33.507-04:00Part 2... American history:
1. The Whiskey Rebel...Part 2... American history:<br /><br />1. The Whiskey Rebellion... could be a good George Washington pic... fictionalize some elements to build up intrigue and a few good speeches abut American values.<br /><br />2. Lewis and Clark... a good epic Dances With Wolves-esque (not so PC of course) treatment of this most epic of achievements.<br /><br />3. The Haymarket Bombing<br /><br />4. Lizzie Borden murders<br /><br />5. Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts natch. I look forward to Peter Berg's "Lone Survivor" movie.Floyd R. Turbohttp://www.threedonia.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-85242405127051449922011-09-10T10:01:52.550-04:002011-09-10T10:01:52.550-04:00Oh Holy Cannoli... where to begin?
Just with Musl...Oh Holy Cannoli... where to begin?<br /><br />Just with Muslims and the West...<br /><br />The Battle of Tours 732 Charles Martel (The Hammer) defeats the Muslims armies limiting their advance to Spain.<br /><br />The Battle of Lepanto -- Christian navy wipes out Ottoman navy in epic budget-busting blockbuster.<br /><br />The first 9-11... 911/1683 -- the Ottomans are turned back by the Poles in the Battle of Vienna -- the high water mark for Muslim advancement into Europe.<br /><br />The Barbary Wars... Stephen Decatur's bad-ass move into Tripoli Harbor to destroy the Philadelphia. Navy SEALS with cutlasses...Floyd R. Turbohttp://www.threedonia.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-78353403967764530762011-09-10T09:33:16.402-04:002011-09-10T09:33:16.402-04:00I have a couple more ideas:
-"The Singing Re...I have a couple more ideas:<br /><br />-"The Singing Revolution" - the efforts by which Estonians freed themselves of Soviet occupation through the power of music. A <a href="http://www.singingrevolution.com/" rel="nofollow">documentary</a> was made about the film a few years ago.<br /><br />-I'd love to see a miniseries based on the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Spycraft-History-Spytechs-Communism-Al-Qaeda/dp/0452295475/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1315661345&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow">Spycraft</a>, which tells the story of the CIA's tech guys from the agency's founding up to today's conflicts. I read this book a few years ago and it's fascinating, though one wonders how much material is really true. ;-) The chapter on the efforts to kill Castro read like black comedy. Of course, there are failures as well as successes and any good miniseries would have to look at both.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-78146645755033520102011-09-09T23:20:53.400-04:002011-09-09T23:20:53.400-04:00Koshcat, That happens to me a lot as well, where I...Koshcat, That happens to me a lot as well, where I prefer unknown actors to famous actors because famous actors often are too big for the role and I end up seeing them as the actor rather than the character.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-72068533596233477512011-09-09T23:19:42.830-04:002011-09-09T23:19:42.830-04:00Oh sure, T-Rav... raise everyone's expectation...Oh sure, T-Rav... raise everyone's expectations! LOL!<br /><br />I agree with you about <i>The Patriot</i>. I think what makes it work is that his character grows so well and it mirrors the typical American view of the world -- I just want to live my life in peace and not worry about everything else... but if threatened, I will fight, and if I have to fight, I will win.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-537029042522750142011-09-09T22:50:48.488-04:002011-09-09T22:50:48.488-04:00Thinking about it, it seems to me that what makes ...Thinking about it, it seems to me that what makes The Patriot so compelling is how Colonel Martin (Gibson) develops over time. He starts out as a pacifist--he doesn't particularly care for the British, but he fears the consequences of war too much to get involved. Then he reluctantly becomes the militia leader, largely as a means of keeping his family safe from the British. Then by the end, even though his son has been killed and thus the reason he was fighting is gone, he stays and helps win the war anyway. He comes to believe in the cause and that there's something larger than himself or any one person. It's a moving character arc, infused as it is with patriotism.<br /><br />I got to thinking about this as I was reading some of the stories on NRO about 9/11. Can't wait for the article Sunday morning.T-Ravhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10861218035729479354noreply@blogger.com