The Slay's the thing
 

Or perhaps with Tarantino's goals, the Slay's the bling? No matter. The critics have said the problem with Kill Bill! is that it lacks story. The critics are wrong. Lack of characterization as anything more than combatants in a videogame is the problem. The movie is porn for fight fans, unremitting fights. They're fine and well-played, but as a consequence, there's little more sympathy for the characters in the movie than for the combatants in an arcade.

The Slay's the thing
 

the whole concept of criticism of a popular movie is what's flawed. Everyone seeing a Quentin movie knows its will have some graphic violence. But where criticism gets into characterization, or excess plotlines, or distracting editing or ?, it strays from the point most people use it for.

Most people read a movie review, not as a study guide for reaching the deeper issues of whether the movie at issue has fully realized characterization, or whatever. Most people read a review to decide if they should risk an evening watching the flick.

A movie review that looks for things to criticize end ups being a "no win" for the viewer. You read a review, "Kill Bill is a solid quentin T. movie, but not as good as PF, because the characters are not fully realized....., but if you like QT then go see it" So you'll go see it, but this criticism will be bugging you throughtout the movie "you know I'd be enjoying this if I wasn't noticing how cartoon-like the characters are...."

There was a guy who wrote for a local paper, who would write things like "the new Arnold S. movie is not good, its not as bad as Toal Recall, and certainly not as stupid as Conan, but it still fails as blah blah blah." Problem is, if you had listened to him about the earlier movies, we'd have no point of reference. You never would have seen them.

The thing is, there are only 10 of the 10 best movies ever. they don't get made 10 times a year. if you want to go see 10 movies a year then you'll see some that are flawed, probably 10 that are flawed. a critic telling you what he thinks was wrong before you see it only hurts the experience.

A review for Kill Bill should say "It's Quentin so be prerared for gore, maybe more than usual. There is/isn't nudity. It is/isn't bad. I do/don't recommend it."

The Slay's the thing
 

Originally posted by rufus leeking

I'll be more specific then. If you like superbly choreographed swordfights accompanied by monty python-esqe levels of gore, go. If you like Tarantino-esqe monologues or dialogue, you'll be dissapointed. The characters don't get the sparkly lines, or even cool use of soundtrack, that make the characters of res dogs cool.

ketchup
 

Not even close to it, but as I continue to scroll through like 50 pages of posts (!) made in the last few days, a couple of weekend comments, for those who care (all 2 of you):

-- Radiohead put on a great show in Madison Square Garden on Friday. Unbelievable sound, good song selection (at least 3 from each of The Bends and OK COmputer, my faves). First time in the last decade I've been starstruck. Amazing.

-- Eddie Izzard is a genius in drag. And he has a second dvd that I am anxiously waiting to watch called Circle. Anyone seen it? Sexie is well worth the money if anyone has a chance to catch it. Thanks e/o for the heads up when tix went on sale.

Great parodies everyone!

The Slay's the thing
 

would you give a man a foot massage?

The Slay's the thing
 

Originally posted by rufus leeking

No thank you, M Rufus. We might find it too relaxing.

You should be quoting something like Adam West's Batman. Kill Bill is too shlocky to be quoting True Romance, Pulp Fiction, or Res Dogs.

Two questions about a church service experience
 

Tonight I was a guest at a church service, and it came out during the service that I was Jewish.

At the end of the service everyone hugged each other and wished each other peace, and they came to hug me and wish me peace as well. (I guess they are huggy and peaceful.) Anyway, the organist came down off the stage to introduce himself and hug me, and he asked me if I was a Jewess girl. I know he didn't say Jewish, it was clearly Jewess.

Leaving aside he called me a girl, isn't calling me a Jewess odd? I have never been called a Jewess before. And also wouldn't calling me a Jewess girl be redundant? He didn't seem to mean to be insulting, I would be surprised if he did since it is a very accepting ministry. So much so the minister told me I could actually have communion.

Basically she said that anyone of any faith who was searching for God or some such was welcome. She was clearly speaking to me when she said it. I politely declined by not going up, and she didn't force the issue, I didn't feel any pressure or anything. But how could it possibly be ok for a Jewish person to partake of Communion? Wouldn't a pre-requisite be accepting Jesus as your savior?

Is this unusual?

As an aside it was a wonderful service, I found it to be most enlightening and the people were wonderful. After all of my negative experiences with Christianity over the past few years I'm very much enjoying seeing a more positive side.

Two questions about a church service experience
 

Yes. It is.
It would if he really understood the difference between the words "Jewish" and "Jewess." My money's on him not having a clue.

Different branches of Christianity have different attitudes about Communion. Catholics see Holy Communion as the a sacrament making the faithful one with God. The further you move away from Catholicism, the more casual the ritual becomes. I know devout Catholics who won't take Communion because they haven't made confession or because they are "living in sin." At a Baptist service, it was certainly not the climax of the service. (I certainly can't speak for all Christian faiths. That's why we have Atticus.) It would be highly improper for a Catholic priest to knowingly give Communion a non-believer. (Of course, given recent improprieties in the priesthood, we're kinda grading on a curve here.) I know some very liberal parishes who might do such a thing, but that doesn't make it right. For example, at a Newman Center in college, the priest basically abdicated the service and let a nun run the show. Not proper, but they justified it as fighting the inherent sexism they saw in not allowing women to become priests.
Yes.
Well then you won't want to hear about Fred Phelps effort to place a monument in Colorado commemorating Matthew Sheppard's entry into Hell.

Music Review
 

Summer's over.

But you're still looking for a kinda casual, warm, mellow album to help you make the transition into Fall.

I present 1972 by Josh Rouse. Here's a link to Amazon, but if you take my advice and buy the CD, use the link on lawtalkers so the site gets some coin.

Live from New York
 

Because they're uniters, not dividers, SNL next weekend will be featuring guest host Halle Berry, and musical guest Brittney Spears.

No, you cannot bounce silver dollars off your tv screen.

Two questions about a church service experience
 

I sort of figured that too.

Thought so.

Oh I already knew about that one. The only beliefs that man has seem to revolve around control and hate. His "church" without him present stands there like robots. The only time they seem to show energy is when someone of faith stands there to contradict them. It's pitiful. The man spews bile out of his vile mouth like a drunk spews vomit after a night of carousing.

More troublesome to me is this whole marriage protection week, but I'll avoid discussing it to keep from changing this to the politics board yet again.

Regardless, though it is admittedly a struggle at times, not to be afraid of someone when I learn em is "seriously" Christian, I'd rather reach out and try to understand the religion and those who practice it then turn my back on them.

Legal music downloads?
 

I'm interested in downloading music (legally). Does anyone have recommendations for sites from which one can download music? I'm interested in downloading new releases, as well as some older stuff. I'm using a PC, so for the time being, Apple's iTunes is out.

None of them seem great right now. Napster is coming out again soon (legally.) So if you can hang on a little while they might be good.

I checked to see they are coming out the 29th. If you register now they'll give you 5 free tracks. They charge .99/song 9.95/album.

www.napster.com

Legal music downloads?
 

Wait until Thursday, when many are expecting Apple to release iTunes for Windows (or whatever they'll call it). If it's not released then, the expectation still is sometime before the end of the month.

Music Review (2)
 

Taking Jack's cue, I will also add my own musical recommendation:

Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Unclassified.

I saw RRFB in September (with the Texas FBers) and was blown away. Robert Randolph plays pedal steel guitar, an instrument he learned in church as a kid, and their music is true blues-driven funky rock.

Since the live show was so powerful, we had little hope that the album would be recapture that feeling. Still, we picked it up on Saturday to support them.

The album is outstanding. It captures their exuberance perfectly and adds some songs we've not yet heard. Though this is only their first studio album, Rolling Stone already added RR to their top 100 guitarists of all time.

Here's the amazon link to clips and a non e/o review: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...music&n=507846.