Tim Blair

Remember the scene in "Independence Day" where they New Age folks from Los Angeles are standing on top of an office building to greet the aliens and end up getting atomized by one of their death rays? As long as Hollywood sees George W. Bush and his Christian beliefs as a bigger threat to them than radical Islam, they'll have the same reaction -- if not cheering the Islamists on, then at least never offering any critcism, because not only would that be "intolerent," but in their minds it would validate everything Bush has done in the last 3-plus years, and we cretainly can't have that idea floating around the flim capital.

You know, the interesting thing about Hollywood's lack of interest in making a red-state terrorist-ass-kicking movie (and frankly, I can't say it's all bad that we have NOT had a heroic 911 fireman movie starring Vin Diesel or The Rock) is that whenever a movie has had a pro-War on Terror subtext, it's been a monster hit. What the hell am I talking about? Well...

• Three-movie epic about nation of little people who just want to live peacefully and happily, but who discover that there is serious, non-negotiable evil out there which has to be chased back to where it comes from and destroyed at the source, once and for all.

• Comic book movie in which guy with big powers tries to live as if he doesn't have them, but finally realizes that "with great power comes great responsibility" and if he doesn't do something about evil, no one will.

Clearly audiences are responding to Bushite themes which Hollywood is putting out there despite itself; Hollywood can talk the Reiner-Streisand-Penn talk but put it in a hypothetical situation like Middle Earth threatened by Sauron and it walks the Rumsfeld walk. Compare these movies' box office receipts to the movie made by a Western European which posited a massive destruction of New York-- and tried to blame it on Dick Cheney, The Day After Tomorrow. The audience has spoken and Hollywood knows it, like it or not.

If God struck down everyone who ever has wished someone else dead, the world wouldn't be overpopulated.

Not all of us have the chance to say so on televion of course, but only the people with no discernable brain activity watch TV these days.

What's more interesting is that "van de Ven" is a Dutch name. The guy is indeed Dutch, converted to the Islam willingly. And more and more Dutch convert to the Islam.

Berend - since the world isn't overpopulated, does that mean God has already acted on those wishes?

What's more interesting is that "van de Ven" is a Dutch name. The guy is indeed Dutch, converted to the Islam willingly. And more and more Dutch convert to the Islam.

And this means... what? That it's okay to wish someone dead in the name of Islam?

Berend de Boer:

I thought I would give you the benefit of the doubt, but have changed my mind. What I've just read in your post is a little of that malignant Dutch tolerance for diversity which will end in the future de Boer family enjoying the delights of Sharia Law.

Thirty years ago over 80% of the Dutch attended Christian churches, which is not a safe index of practicing Christians, but today the number is at about 6%, which is a safe index of the disregard for Christianity and the culture derived from it. I wonder if your remark that "more and more Dutch convert to the Islam" doesn't confirm that the Netherlands is empty of something important. You and your countrymen might spend some time thinking about it.

But then, you can just wait about twenty years and the problem of secularism and moral equivocation will be settled for you, by "The Islam". I hope you find it to your liking. And by the way, I don't expect American, Australian or British soldiers to be prowling some future Dutch Fallujah in search of your liberty.

Or is it, as Eddie Izzard asked an American audience a few years ago: "You DO know there are other countries?"

Their laughter was uncertain.

Slightly off topic, but speaking of Hollywood, did anyone see David Stratton's reaction to "Team America" on 'At the Movies' last night?

He basically had a big sulky dummy spit over the film's attacks on Hollywood lefties and only gave it one star. Quote:

And to be honest, I think people like Sean Penn and Tim Robbins have been very principled in what they've said about the Iraqi War and I think that to deliberately destroy them the way this film does is really playing into the hands of George W. Bush. I think George W. Bush would love this film if it were not for some of the bad language.

Contrast this with his views on Fahrencrap 9/11 where he basically offered to have Moore's lovechildren... ABC bias?

I wonder if Michael Moore would now consider doing a documentary exposing the downside of Islam (is there an upside ?).
Of course not. He'd rather take potshots at strawmen who have the tolerance to accept criticism.

The only reference i could find was Mel Gibson's father's who said Theo was killed by mossad agents
source -AL Rotors

I want to see the Harry Potter movie where he battles Voldemort with "conflict resolution" or where he stages a sit-down strike until the Christmas tree is removed from the Great Hall.

Slightly off topic, but speaking of Hollywood, did anyone see David Stratton's reaction to "Team America" on 'At the Movies' last night?

No, I haven't watch David and Marget since they went from SBS to ABC. I went to the ABC web site just to verify those words. He actually said that! Ha, how stoppy! Such satire from a film would be laudable, considering celebrities manner of political voice.

The way it reads, Margaret had not agreed and gave it 4 out of 5 stars. Damn, would have been great to hear the tone of his "review"!

Actually the Pomeranian makes it a matter of conscience to disagree with Stratten's verdict on a film. She is head of the Australian chapter of the anti censorship league and makes it a point of honour to attend (maybe organise?) illegal screenings of banned films usually very violent ones.

Actually the Pomeranian makes it a matter of conscience to disagree with Stratten's verdict on a film. She is head of the Australian chapter of the anti censorship league and makes it a point of honour to attend (maybe organise?) illegal screenings of banned films usually very violent ones.

Ah, she was one who made a point of being involved in the screening of Ken Park. I never remember her as being the same person.

Art,

Yes, I saw David sniffing his little purse-lipped disapproval act. It didn't surprise me one bit - left wing "arty" types habitually take themselves and their kind way too seriously, and David has made a whole new art form of smug sanctimony itself.

I must admit, though, that I was surprised by Margaret's reaction, since she can be as PC as the best of them, too. I think that she actually got it!

The movie pokes fun at all sides in the "war on terror" and takes particular delight in to pricking the biggest, most self-important bubbles. The fact is, it's an extended parody of the whole neo-con "transforming the world" mindset. But, unlike the "holier than thou" left, those of us who are firmly in the neo-con camp and can still laugh at ourselves will laugh at this movie like drains!

That's just us, I guess. When all you do is talk, talk, talk about saving the world, everything is just too serious. But when you actually support real action to change the world, you appreciate stepping back and having a laugh at your own expense now and then. Go figure.

TFK

Madison, his tone was so sulky and petulant. It was incredibly unprofessional (but hilarious). I mean, how dare they make a film that criticises the left?