Movies and Morons

Lets talk about Movies. I love movies. Anyone that knows anything about me knows the passion I have for the moving picture. I am a film geek to the tenth power. This year was an extremely crappy season for movies. I cant think of any great Summer movies that got me pumped for a trip to the theatre. The few big hit movies I enjoyed were Sin City, Batman Begins and of course the final Star Wars. Sin City was an incredible piece of work and Batman Begins was one of the best comic book movies ever. Star Wars Episode three was...well it was Star Wars, you either love it or you could care less. I am a fanboy.

War of the Worlds? So-So.
Hitch? Blech.
Mr and Mrs Smith? Double Blech.
Bewitched? Kill me now, please.

What we did get was a good dose of Horror films. My all time favorite genre. This year marked the return of George Romero and his Zombie universe he made so famous in Night of The Living Dead. He returned with Land of The Dead and I loved it. Rob Zombie's The Devils Rejects was an incredibly disturbing return to the splatter exploitation films of the 70's. Bloody good stuff.

Saw 2 was one of the most brutally violent movies I saw all year. Not as good as the first but funner and bloodier.

The Amityville Horror remake and the Excorcism of Emily Rose were good mindless horror fun.

The 40 year old Virgin and The Wedding Crashers run off with the dirty comedies with a heart awards.

As far as flat out good dramas I haven't seen Jarhead, Walk the Line, Good Night and Good Luck or Capote yet. But I will.

Now for the garbage of 2005:
White Noise
Bewitched
Alone in The Dark
Elektra
The Ring Two
The Pacifier
Son of The Mask
I could go on for ever.

So this brings me to a little film called Brokeback Mountain. Yes its the Gay cowboy movie. Its been getting mostly raving reviews and has already garnered many award nominations. I will be seeing the film when it comes out on DVD to gauge all the hype around it. Not really my type of movie, gay cowboys or not. I just recently read a news story that disturbed me deeply.

Here is a part of it:

A movie theater owned by Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller abruptly changed its screening plans and decided not to show the film "Brokeback Mountain." The film, an R-rated Western gay romance story, was supposed to open Friday at the Megaplex at Jordan Commons in Sandy, a suburb of Salt Lake City. Instead it was pulled from the scheduleThe movie's distributor, Focus Features, said that hours before opening, the theater management "reneged on their licensing agreement," and refused to open the film.
Gayle Ruzicka, president of the conservative Utah Eagle Forum, said not showing the film set an example for the people of Utah.
"I just think (pulling the show) tells the young people especially that maybe there is something wrong with this show," she said.

Now I am all for a business owner to decide what he wants to carry in his store or sell in his restaurant. I am not really sure how I feel about this though. It is obvious that the owner is a religious person who feels homosexuality is bad so he is not going to allow the film to be shown at his theatre. That's his right I guess but I wouldn't be going to that theatre ever again I lived in that town. What he is doing is making the choice for the people in his community on whether or not they can see this film. Granted I am sure they could go elsewhere but what if he is the only theatre in the area? No one is going to go and see a Gay cowboy movie unless they want to. I don't see how this film will have a negative effect on the youth of Utah. Actually its rated R so the kids cant get in even if they wanted to unless an adult goes with them. I doubt there are young men sneaking in to multiplexes across the country, hoping to see the gay cowboys and then head off into the woods to live out scenes from the movie. Its utterly ridiculous. Censorship in any form is wrong even if it tangles with free speech and personal rights. If I lived in that town I would be sure anyone who wanted too could see the film and I am not even a Gay cowboy. :-)

Speaking of utterly ridiculous I will leave you today with a quote from Pat Robertson, giving us his reasoning for the recent downturn in health of Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon

"And now Ariel Sharon, who was again a very likeable person, a delightful person to be with. I prayed with him personally. But here he is at the point of death. He was dividing God's land, and I would say woe unto any prime minister of Israel who takes a similar course to appease the EU, the United Nations or United States of America. God said, "This land belongs to me, you better leave it alone." -Pat Robertson

Tee hee

Justin "not a cowboy at all"

P.S-Congrats to The New England Patriots! Three more wins!!