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September 28, 2007
Prose Combat
Forget the Catholic League boycott of Miller beer over the Folsom Street Fair poster. (I have many weird stories from the Folsom Street Fair from when I lived in San Francisco; none of them were even remotely sexual. One involved a discussion of regional transit policy with a naked 50-something man wearing nothing but clothespins.) I feel like boycotting Bud Light for their new Spanglish/Caribbean slang subway advertising campaign. Last night I had to move to another subway car, it was making me so queasy.
Not that I have anything against Latinos! I am taking Spanish again this fall, and the class is even taught by a Cuban. Except he is making us watch the terrible Spanish sitcom “Ana y los 7”, about a 48-year-old, street-smart stripper who becomes the nanny to the seven mischievous children of a rich widower. It’s like The Sound of Music, minus anything redeeming.
Speaking of television, I’ve been watching “Human Weapon”, and I’m shocked that I find it interesting. I know this type of show is popular with a certain segment of the bear-Eagle-going-scruff-and-fur-and-shaved-head-and-ultimate-fighting-loving gay male population, but I’m normally more of a quirky, very low-rated comedy kind of guy. Anyway, I like “Human Weapon”, but I often get distracted by Jason Chambers’s full, lustrous hair while watching. But maybe I should take a קרב מגע class.
Speaking of which, I am going to take Hebrew and Spanish simultaneously this fall. Wish me luck. It could end up being a total nakba.
Speaking of which, I finally saw Paradise Now (oh, sorry, الجنّة الآن). I liked it well enough, although I had read this review beforehand, which calls it a “Nazi film”.
I agree with some of her points -- there is something ominous about the way that the only Hebrew words spoken in the movie are “בהצלחה” (“good luck”) by the Jewish Israeli who has been paid to facilitate their suicide bombing. But her criticism that the suicide bombers are too attractive doesn’t seem fair to me.
If that's a legitimate criticism, then any American film could be condemned for not having an all-morbidly obese cast.
Also, I think that the Palestinians, of all people, have the right to use Christian imagery. Here is the ninja scene from Divine Intervention, which I think uses Christ imagery in a very clever way.
UPDATE:
Another cool scene from Divine Intervention with no Christian imagery.
Posted by eric at September 28, 2007 12:13 AM
Comments
I agree with you on the Bud Light ads - truly terrible, but what are your thoughts on Miller Chill?
Posted by: Pedro Goes South at September 28, 2007 11:24 AM
There's something redeeming about The Sound of Music?
Posted by: Mark at September 28, 2007 02:07 PM
The hell with the full, lustrous head of hair (yes, I know you said that ironically): Cheekbones! Mandible! Good grief!
I'm excited that they made an ad that says Tan bueno como encontrar un parking en frente al building. Seriously. I think the comment thread here is a good one. I'd be in agreement with the commenters there who think that printing (legitimizing?) Spanglish in ad copy isn't an example of slouching toward Gomorrah.
Posted by: Joe at September 28, 2007 02:47 PM
i found Paradise NOW kinda dreary, but not the total bomb.
i LOVE the Bud-Lite adverts' pervertizment of language, but then again i don't drink beer without a wedge of lime.
as for the hunk-of-hair... he'd be another John-John if he'd prep-out abit and sport some brooks brothers... thanks for the friday nite tip !!
Posted by: A.J. at September 29, 2007 11:56 AM
I'm off to find these movies today. Thanks for the recommendation.
Sound of Music always makes me cry, but first why not watch Dancer in the Dark.
ahoj
Posted by: czechOUT at September 30, 2007 05:03 AM
Thanks for posting that last scene from Divine Intervention. It was incredibly moving.
Posted by: gwyneth cornrow at September 30, 2007 04:50 PM
Jason Chambers is SOOO HOT!
I'd rather not comment about Paradise Now.
Posted by: אסף at October 1, 2007 10:58 AM