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Showing content with the highest reputation on 04/30/20 in Posts
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2 pointsLike Cameron.H said, I was not really being jealous and was more put off by the optics of it. I am lucky that my family and I are not in a bad financial situation right now but I know many that are not so lucky. I also not a big fan of seeing people waste money needlessly. You are right, its not really my business though and they can spend their money how they like. I just hope they consider looking into ways they can keep separate accounts but share purchases in the future(Like Apple, Google or Amazon family share). THen maybe throw that extra $20 over to a food bank.
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2 pointsIt's a close call for me, though I will say that if you're streaming the film online, DO NOT watch the version that comes free with Amazon Prime. You'll notice that the listing claims that their version is 3 hrs, 17 mins, but if you actually watch the film you'll find it's more like 2 hrs. I don't think any scenes or plot were left out, so that means the footage is running VERY fast. I first watched this movie there and found it very hard to follow. Then someone on the Facebook group pointed out that the version up on Kanopy is much better, so I rewatched the film there and indeed it is a big improvement. It actually runs the proper length, which gives the scenes room to breathe, and the picture quality and musical score are better too. So based on the Kanopy version, I found Intolerance very entertaining. Some of the reactionary politics* are still bothersome, but when the film is presented well you can see how strong Griffith's filmmaking technique is. That said, does it belong on the list? I think you can make an argument that if you're talking about cultural and technical influence it's really Birth of a Nation that belongs, even despite the horrible racist messaging. If you're just going off artistic quality, Intolerance is (IMO) a strong candidate but not clearly necessary. I ultimately voted yes but it's a borderline call. *I think the way Griffith frames the motives of the women reformers in the modern section is almost laughably misogynistic, but historical context is helpful here: this was a time when progressive religious women's groups like this were pushing for prohibition of alcohol, resulting in the passage of the 18th Amendment at the end of the decade. Given the disastrous results of Prohibition you could say Griffith does have a point here in criticizing these groups, and it is useful to warn hat socially progressive movements can go too far. That said, the idea that all of it was based on women getting old and bored because they were no longer attractive to men is, uh, pretty wrong-headed. And then of course the movie also contains a great character like the Mountain Girl! People are complicated.
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1 pointI had the same thoughts as Amy on how while Birth of a Nation may have done many things earlier, Intolerance did them on a higher level. I was surprised nobody compared the multiple timelines to a Christopher Nolan movie. Intolerance is typically thought of as Griffith's reply to critics of Birth of a Nation, so it's worth noting other films spawned in response, which given the times also commented on the first World War. "The Birth of a Race" (produced by an aide to Booker T. Washington) was intended as a response to Nation, showing a more noble side to the history of African people, to which is oddly appended a modern story about two German-American brothers fighting on opposite sides of the war in Europe. Thomas Dixon Jr, author of the novels which had been adapted into Birth of a Nation, wrote another novel, "The Fall of a Nation", whose adaptation he personally directed as arguably the first feature film sequel. The film is now lost, but it depicts a future in which Germans trick the U.S into disarming, resulting in a German invasion which is eventually defeated by a militarist southern Congressman and the sufragette who had earlier opposed said militarist. I suppose that's a more common portrayal of a modern female performer than is found in "Intolerance". Major industrialists still come in for critique, as Henry Ford (along with Williams Jenning Bryan) appears in parody form to be mocked for his pacifism. The book it's based on is even more forgotten, but is available on Gutenberg. As for how sincere Griffith was, Walter Huston interviewed him here for the 1930 re-release of Birth of a Nation, and Griffith notes that he was raised in the south as the son of a Confederate officer, and the film was "true" as he understood it.
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1 pointDamnit, well there was definitely a Boston live episode where Jason mocked them. Gotta find that on then.
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1 pointCrap! I missed the watch party. That's what I get for binge-watching 7:35 in the Morning.
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1 pointI like this idea. Gonna probably have to talk about “The Covenant” and the mA geography battle. I have another nomination. Best second opinion song at live episode. “The Great Wall,” second song beginning at 1 hour, six minutes in. “Circle of Life” parody sung by Fiona.
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1 pointI watched the version on the Internet Archive; it was the 2 h 57 m one, with no music or anything. I loved it. I want to watch it again, taking my time, and focusing on the details of the narrative. But anyway, it's so huge and awesome and such a spectacle, I don't see how this could be left off the list. It was 1916! As I said in my Letterboxd, Arrival of a Train - that famous 50-second film of a train arriving in a station that baffled audiences - came out in 1896. That's what Griffith was competing against here. Imagine a world where everyone's making TikTok videos and then basically someone drops like 2001 on them. I know the story of what triggered Griffith to make this. But I don't feel much of that in the stories and final product. It's not all "everyone should tolerate racism!" in any way. So for me, that's really easy to get past in a way I wouldn't for Birth. If anything here, the "love and intolerance battle" message is laughingly simplistic. But then, if you're going to tell a story interweaving four epics in a way nobody had ever experienced before, a simple message probably is necessary. So yea, I'm with Amy here - I love this film. And I find its accomplishment and existence beyond comprehension for what I know about film from back then. I am a little in awe of it.
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1 pointI’d host her poster but her post-hair purse there is my first fare.
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1 pointI haven't listened to the episode yet, but I hear you. The $20 price tag on this movie has been something I've been discussing since the mini. I even tried texting Paul on that app thing about maybe postponing the episode until it was at least available to rent (literally this coming Tuesday!!!). I didn't get an answer. Of course, schedules being what they are, who knows? I think they were trying to do something special by doing "newer" movies with a big guest like Adam Scott, but I also feel like picking a movie that can only be bought at this time wasn't a fantastic idea. And if they joke about buying it twice in an economy where millions of people are out of work, then, yeah, that feels pretty tone deaf. Hell, in my neighborhood, three houses went up for sale just this week! This is the reality we are living in right now. People are struggling. I mean, in the grand scheme of things, twenty, or even forty dollars, isn't all that much. We all get that. And it's not like they are asking people to *buy* the movies. It feels super out of touch, though. And at any other time I probably wouldn't really care. It's their show and they can do what they want. I even think it would be different if it were a *big* legacy type movie for them like a Fast and Furious movie. But for fucking Bloodshot? Really? I guess good on them that they spent $40 on a shitty Vin Diesel movie and it be nbd, just know that the rest of the country is pretty stressed the fuck out regarding finances right now.
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1 pointI don't want to start a war or anything but was anyone else a little put off by the whole conversation about June and Paul buying the movie twice because they don't share accounts. Not sure if it was a bit or not so maybe I am reading to much into it but right now a lot of people are struggling really hard to make ends meet and it just doesn't seem all that funny to hear that two married people living under the same roof(and stuck there because of Shelter-in-place) apparently bought a movie twice because "reasons". I get that people like to be independent and many couples don't combine their finances even when they get married but there is a difference between independence and being wasteful. I know its only $40 dollars, I know its just silly and I know its not really our business but it just came off as a bit tone deaf right now. Also for Paul and June, look at setting up an Apple family sharing. Two adults can have their own accounts but share purchases between each other(I think you can even choose what to share and not share), once your kids get older you can create child accounts as well for their devices.
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1 point
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1 pointThat was fucking awesome! Nacho Vigdaloo certainly likes making films with stalkers in them. Other than Timecrimes, Colossal is on Hulu. I don’t know if I love that movie, but it’s definitely unique. I did really like his episode of Into the Dark—also on Hulu—called Pooka! About a man who has a very odd relationship to a child’s toy. Very trippy, fucked up and funny. he also made a thriller with Elijah Wood called Open Windows that was bad. I don’t remember if it was HDTGM-level, but I know it didn’t work.
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1 pointFrom Ep 139 Simple Irresistible: "Best Impression by Host" or possibly "Grossest Sex Talk" -- 7:14 (Jason says he wants the actress to "get in his bed," but Paul thinks he's about to say "get in my belly" which starts a bunch of Fat Bastard impressions. "Best Realization" (maybe?) -- 15:30 (They talk about who/what the crab is supposed to be.) "Best Fashion Talk" -- 23:55 (Paul brings up a chef's "costume") "Best Realization" -- 48:56 (This is the "Vanilla Frog" discussion. It's really funny, but as @Elektra Boogaloo points out, it was a typo that was corrected in the mini so maybe it doesn't count...)
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1 point
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1 pointWhat about a “Hosts attack a City or Country” category? Im thinking when they go off in Canada in Little Italy or when Paul attacks Philadelphia in the Mannequin 2 ep.
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