movies

[kengr]

I've recently watched two *very* different movies..

V for Vendetta
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert



V for Vendetta has a lot of scary resonances with the political and cultural situation in the US since 2001. I suspect this is on purpose.

Governments deliberately fanning the flames of fear, even if (we hope) they didn't actually set up the incidents? Gee, nobody would do *that*. :-(

And using the populace's fear to gain more power? Nope, not that either. Right? right?

What V did to Evie was scary. But in context it worked. But I hate "retroactive consent" as a principle, no matter who does it.


Priscilla, on the other hand was fun. Serious at times, but still fun. I *like* Bernadette.

Tough: "You gonna fuck me?"
Bernadette: "Yeah, I'll fuck you..."

(hugs tough, then gives a few *hard* knee shots to the groin)

Bernadette: "See, you're fucked."

Comments

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[kengr]

Well, I can sort of understand where the mechanic was coming from. When a certain friend came out to me about being TS, they thought it'd end everyting or make major changes.

But as I explained to them, it just meant that if we ever got "more involved", we'd have to alter the mechanics a bit.

I like *people*. the anatomy is rather secondary. :-)

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[kengr]

Oh, but you are supposed to be "older & wiser" now!

Yeah. Right.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[kengr]

Well, I'm 51, and I wish I could be *brave* enough to take half that much risk. :-(

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[kengr]

Oh, I've run my share of risks. And had a few turn out badly.

It's *emotonal* risks that terrify me. :-(

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[kengr]

Well, you're braver than I am...

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[kengr]

Well, my problem is that I'm too scared to get into a situation where I could make that sort of mistake. :-(

Before you can make romantic mistakes you have to get close enough to attempt a romance...

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[kengr]

Well, I have an easier time online, simply because I can type things I can't say and "show" things (like emotions via emoticons) that I'm not good at in person.

It's when I meet people that it falls apart.

In person, it either takes forever to get close enough (about the time I was ready to try asking one woman for a date she was practically engaged to someone else, for example). Or occasionally someone will "push from their end. Alas, thats resulted in a few friends, but ones who don't want to be more than that. :-(

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[worldmage.livejournal.com]

I agree with you about the Evie thing, though I don't see it as retroactive consent so much as forgiveness. She forgave him for what he did because she realized it was necessary. She never said or implied that what he did was ok. There's a difference there that, while subtle, is very important IMHO.

And yes, Priscilla is awesome. :D Haven't seen it in a while, but it's one of my all-time faves. Need to see it again soon.

[kengr]

Well, the idea of retroactive consent is that you are doing something that if you asked them a person would *not* want done, but that *after* you do it to them, they'll agree that it was the right thing to do.

Trouble is, Stockholm Syndrome and various brainwashing experiments make the "yeah, it was the right to do" real iffy.

So it's kinda borderline for me.

But while V for Vendetta is a fun movie, it's the background that brings out all sorts of scary thoughts about current events.

V timing

[morgan-gw.livejournal.com]

Bear in mind that when V was written, it was about Thatcher's England, not the US. But it does seem we're in danger of getting there first :-(.

Just got this on another list:

Voiwà! In view, a humbwe vaudeviwwian vetewan, cast vicawiouswy as bof victim and viwwain by the vicissitudes of Fate. Dis visage, no mewe veneew of vanity, is it vestige of the vox popuwi, now vacant, vanished, as the once vitaw voice of the vewisimiwitude now venewates what they once viwified. Howevew, this vawowous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified, and has vowed to vanqwish these venaw and viwuwent vewmin vanguawding vice and vouchsafing the viowentwy vicious and vowacious viowation of vowition. De onwy vewdict is vengeance; a vendetta, hewd as a votive, not in vain, fow the vawue and vewacity of such shaww one day vindicate the vigiwant and the viwtuous. Oh, dat scwewy wabbit! Vewiwy, this vichyssoise of vewbiage veews most vewbose vis-à-vis an intwoduction, and so it is my vewy good honow to meet you and you may caww me V.

;-)

Re: V timing

[kengr]

Ah. Someone has a copy of the "fudd" text filter. Harder to find than the valspeak or "kraut" one.

Alas, there's no way you could get a recognizable result by running the original speech thru the newspeak filter...