Monday, August 16, 2010

A Monday assortment

Well, it's been awhile since I've done an assortment post, so let's see what the Internets can provide for me for amusement and education this evening.

1. Why do I need to point out that 3-D IMAX porn is a bad idea? How is this not completely self-evident? Do I need to see breast implant surgical scars larger than life and in 3-D? I think not.

Also, how many IMAX porn theatres are there in the world? Yes, I can't wait until the next time I'm back in Ottawa and I can go to the Museum of Civilization so I can catch "3-D Sex & Zen: Extreme Ecstasy". I'm sure it will come right after the feature on the space station and before the one on dinosaurs.

2. I've been following with some mild curiosity the story of who was going to be cast in the role of Lisbeth Salander for the English language version of "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo". I rather liked the book and thought the Swedish movie adaptation was pretty good. I can take or leave the other two books, which could have used Leatherface and his chainsaw from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre to trim those things into something more readable.

They ended up picking a relative unknown Rooney Mara for the part. Now, I like the book, the Swedish version of the movie and this thing having David Fincher and Daniel Craig along for the American version is a promising start. I'll give Mara the benefit for the doubt for now.

But the funny thing about the process was that pretty much every starlet under the age of 25 was named at one point for being considered for this part. I was kind of cheering for Ellen Page because I think she's a phenomenal actress. However, the most disturbing name I read was Emma Watson, she of Harry Potter fame.

I think the rumour got started because right around the time all the Lisbeth Salander casting frenzy was going on Watson, gasp, cut her hair. Surely the clip heard around the world...well, at least since Keri Russell chopped her hair after the first season of Felicity.

But, I don't think I could have handled Watson in the Lisbeth role. Not because I don't think she's a good enough actress for the part, although I rather doubt she is. Look, the role of Lisbeth requires the lead actress to have tattoos, body piercings, appear naked, have lesbian sex and hetrosexual sex, plus curse and drink lots. Mentally, I don't know if I'm ready for Hermione to be doing sex scenes. Really, I noticed she had great legs earlier the year and I'm still recovering from the mental damage that caused. So I'm glad I don't have to deal with some of Lisbeth's more...dramatic...character quirks.

3. I still find myself curious about the debate that still rages about the mosque/community centre near the World Trade Center site. The problem is I find a lack of reasonable and intelligent debate from opponents, most of whom strike me as being a step removed from being raving lunatics. Far too many also strike me as simply being political opportunists (cough Palin cough). However, I will give some credit to Rex Murphy putting forward some interesting arguments questioning the mosque. Murphy might be a blowhard, but he does raise some reasonable points. I also agree with the point that if the mosque is built then a memorial of some kind inside the building to the victims of the attack would be very appropriate.

4. On the other hand, this is New York. The notion that there is "hallowed ground" anywhere in the city is a touch laughable. Daryl Lang points that out by showing all the other things that are near the WTC site. I confess the strip joint is blackly amusing. But really, if people want to get outraged about anything, it's those sons of bitches selling 9/11 memorial souvenirs. Feel free to focus your rage and loathing on them anytime you want. How you cannot be outraged at people making a buck off of dead people is beyond my grasp.

Last Five
1. Suburbia - Matthew Good Band
2. The band played waltzing Matilda - The Pogues
3. My rights versus yours - The New Pornographers
4. 12 Bellevue - Kathleen Edwards*
5. I'm in love (live) - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

3 comments:

Adam Snider said...

IMAX porn? Really? Someone thinks this is a good idea?

As if public showing of porn movies weren't already bad enough...

I mean, porn has one singular purpose, and I don't understand why anyone would go to the IMAX to fulfill that purpose.

But, then, I guess I'm just not the target audience.

me, just me said...

A very dear friend of mine lost her husband in the 2nd tower. She feels the community center (that happens to have a little worship area) is a good thing. A very healing step, she says.

As someone said,"If a nail technician had been behind the attacks, would we be shutting down all nail salons near there?"

Karen said...

Hello Townie Bastard! Just catching up on my email reading and have to say I loved this post.

A. The whole idea of IMAX porn is hilarious. I'm waiting for the 3-D version of Debbie Does Dallas.

B. The mosque issue--dag nab it people need to start shutting up. Bloomberg had a great quote the other day when he said (and I paraphrase) that the people who went into the towers didn't question the religion or ethnicity of the people they were saving. Islam is bad--terrorism is. It's always been shocking to me (and I am an Irish Catholic) that Jerry Adams is allowed to march in the NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade. Hello! The IRA is a terrorist group. I'm all for fighting the power and questioning authority but fer-chris-sake, blowing people up has been well proven that it isn't the way to win.