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Some Raves of U-571 have begun pouring in!
Hey folks, Harry here. I'm dying to see U-571. Ever since I was a kid I've had that submarine fetish because my Uncle was a Sub Commander and it captured my imagination. From 20,000 LEAGUES BENEATH THE SEA to THE ENEMY BELOW to ICE STATION ZEBRA to DAS BOOT to THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER to CRIMSON TIDE... and more... I love Sub movies. There are spoilers below as well as absolute raves for the film. I see it Thursday... I can't wait!
THE ADVENTURES OF A NORMAL GUY WHO WAS LOOKING FOR THE STRIKING JANITORS IN
LOS ANGELES AND FOUND A U-571 SCREENING INSTEAD...
So there I was stepping off the good ol' MTA bus at the corner of Santa
Monica and Avenue of the Stars when I realized I might not be in the right
place. You see, I had seen the sea of red t-shirt wearing, striking janitors
marching down Avenue of the Stars with Jesse Jackson on Friday night as did
everybody in Los Angeles, and wanted to be a part of the party. Knowing that
this was an important issue (hey, give them their f***ing $1 an hour raise,
my god!), I had to be there if they were going to be marching again Saturday
night. But no. No red t-shirts. No Jesse Jackson. No placards or wild
postings. In fact, there were no janitors in sight! As I walked up the
Avenue, I kept telling myself, "Goddamn it, man! Get a hold of yourself!
There has to be a janitor somewhere!" As I got closer to the ABC building, I
thought I heard a commotion. I picked up my pace, started opening my
back-pack to pull out my red t-shirt and realized it was a line of
non-striking, non-apathetic, non-janitors waiting to get into a screening for
U-571. U-571!!?? The film that generated so much talk-back on Harry's site?
So much talk-back that director Jonathan Mostow wrote a letter setting the
pissed off Brits and Americans straight!!?? I wanted to see this movie! As I
approached the line, the striking janitors quickly escaped my mind as now I
was thinking, "How am I going to get into this screening?" Obviously, these
people of young and old, derelict and non-derelict, had gotten their tickets
through someone. I slid into the back of the line and pretended I belonged.
The conversations I began to eavesdrop on were hilarious - my whole purpose
to see if first, the tickets received were meant for two people, and
secondly, IF the tickets WERE meant for two people, the ticket holder in
question was by themself, then maybe I had a chance to get into this
screening.
A couple of my new neighbors in line were a mother and daughter. And by
listening to their conversation, I was able to find out the following: 1)
they went to EVERY screening in Los Angeles and were known by other
"regulars" in line 2) something about them actually winning a trip to London
at a screening 3) that they hadn't taken a bath in a week (actually, I could
just smell them) and finally, 4) they each were so good at getting screening
tickets, they both had one! DING! DING! DING! I quickly swooped in on the
daughter, who, when turning around to talk to me, had a huge hairy mole
protruding from the right side of her face. I thought I was looking at the
nurse from South Park - you know, the one with the "dead fetus blemish?"
Trying not to focus on her "dead fetus blemish," I asked her if I could get
in on her ticket. She began to giggle and said something completely
incoherent, burped, farted and then a "yes" slipped out of her (I added the
burp and fart for dramatic effect). I was in! For the next ten minutes, I
waited and talked with other line-standers, finding out that most of them
knew each other from other screenings and that they hated the fact that
usually the middle section was taped off for "VIPs." Whatever. I was going to
be seeing U-571!
As soon as we were let into the theatre, I ditched the baggage and her
mother, and found a seat to the far right of the theatre. Sure enough, the
middle section was taped off for press and the rustling of complaints from my
fellow line standers began to be heard amongst the chewing of their free
popcorn. I didn't care. I liked my seat. And the movie was about to begin. I
was excited.
The film opens up with a short explanation of German U-boats sinking
destroyers in the Northern Atlantic during WWII and the Allied forces'
inability to crack the secret code. It then goes into this Das Boot-ish scene
of a German U-boat who just sinks an Allied destroyer and is now being depth
charged by another destroyer. They are able to escape but become stranded due
to damage. The panic and emotion from the Germans in this opening scene sets
the tone for the film - and the sound of the explosions was fucking
incredible. My seat actually would rumble every time a depth charge would
explode. The film then jumps into a party scene where each character is
introduced. We see Matthew McConaughey, as Lt. Andrew Tyler, contemplating a
letter just received - a letter we find out states he "didn't get his boat",
Jon Bon Jovi with a couple of women (typical), Bill Paxton as the Lt.
Commander who doesn't feel Tyler's ready to skipper a sub, and the god,
Harvey Keitel as the sub's Chief. All of this learned in this scene and the
way its shot makes you feel like you're a fly on the wall. The scene is
interrupted by a group of MP's stating the immediate assistance of the crew
in an "issue" that has just come about. We find out the Allied forces have
intercepted the distress call from the stranded German U-Boat - and the film
kicks into fourth gear.
As the crew gets ready for their new mission, David Keith comes into the film
as Marine Major Koonan, a hard-ass soldier who takes over per the Admiral's
orders alongside a nervous desk-sitting Lt. Hirsch (I can't remember the
actor's name, even though he looks very familiar). They are going to lead the
crew of young navy seamen and take-over the stranded U-boat - in hopes of
attaining the Enigma, a machine that will finally allow the Allies to
descramble German codes - but in complete secrecy. As soon as they are out of
Allied waters, Koonan opens the crates brought aboard and reveals a Trojan
horse plan of making their sub look like a German U-boat, complete with
German uniforms and ensignia. They approach the stranded U-boat and the
tension the crew feels is felt throughout the audience, as well. You could
literally hear a pin drop as the Allied crew, dressed in German uniforms rows
across to the U-boat. The tension in this scene is summed up in Lt. Hirsch,
who we find out earlier, speaks fluent German. He is one of two on the
rowboats that will be able to communicate and understand what the German
soldiers are saying. It's because of his uncontrolled fear he doesn't answer
the Germans and almost jeopardizes the mission. Jack Noseworthy's character,
radioman Wentz, covers for him and answers in perfect German - the mission,
now back on track. The Americans begin to board the U-boat when the Germans
realize they're being taken over. The next five to seven minutes of the film
is some of the most classic and beautiful shot scenes I have ever scene - not
to mention deafening. Chaos breaks out and when finished, you have people
dead you would never have known would be killed, all the German soldiers that
were supposed to be taken as soldiers, except for one - dead, and the
American sub completely destroyed and sunk. The movie now kicks into fifth
gear. From this point on, everybody in the theatre was transfixed to the
screen. Not one person got up to pee and even the "dead fetus blemish" girl
and her look-a-like mom had stopped their popcorn stuffing to watch. The
range of emotion portrayed between the crew that is left is incredible.
Everything written on the U-boat is in German, the sub is paralyzed and needs
work, a select part of the crew plans mutiny over Lt. Tyler and now they not
only have to keep away from the Germans, but their own Allied forces!
One of the greatest moments during this time is when the crew, being quiet
due to a destroyer heading over them, hears a light tapping and can't find
where its coming from. All of a sudden, Lt. Hirsch realizes its Morse code
and that the German prisoner they have captured, is tapping on pipes to
communicate with any vessel in the vicinity. The ensuing scene provides huge
canojes for Lt. Hirsch and a rousing applause from the audience. Other scenes
of greatness includ a close collision between the American-operated U-boat
and an Allied destroyer, Lt. Tyler finally standing tall and taking charge
against another crew member's planned mutiny and the martyrdom of the
youngest and smallest crew member, who sacrifices his life for the rest of
the crew by freeing a stuck torpedo.
You can see I liked this movie. I really felt Matthew McConaughey does a
great job with this ensemble cast - he shows the same kind of talent shown in
A Time to Kill. Its about time a film with this great mixture of emotion,
tension and suspense is made well. Kudos to Jonathan Mostow.
Now - what am I going to do with this red t-shirt??
And now here's that fatass country western singer, Girth Brooks
Hi Harry, First of all, you gotta see this damn flick! I know you're psyched
about it, and I will tell you now, you will not be disappointed. Go see it
the first chance you get!!! Here is my review for it.
Before I get started talking about this flick, I would like to get one
thing out of the way.
SPECIAL NOTE: To all of you Historical Enlightened Schmucks who think this
film is warping the truth about the war, the U-boats, the code machine, etc,
etc, etc..... Please get over it. This film is a work of fiction and made
for pure entertainment. I really don't wanna hear any of that "This isn't
historically accurate!" bullshit. Who gives a rat's ass if it is or isn't?
It is one hell of an action flick that is made to entertain you for two
hours. Mostow and company give due credit to the U-boats and crew that were
involved in the seizure of any of the Enigma coding devices at the end of the
film.
I have some advice for all of you reading this. What you need to do is
look at your calendar and see if you are doing anything on the weekend of
April 21st. If you aren't, that's great. But if you are doing something,
you need to cancel those damn plans because you have got to see this film as
soon as possible.
U-571 follows the accounts of a group of Navy soldiers who are sent to
seize an Enigma code machine and code book from a disabled German U-boat.
This Enigma machine is a secret code device used by the Germans to encrypt
messages sent via their radios. This code machine is costing the Americans
the war. The German U-boat is attacked at the beginning of the film and is
left disabled. With no mechanics on the U-boat to repair it, the Germans
must radio for help.
The Allies find out about this and decide to send a group of Navy
submarine sailors to pose as the German resupply team and take the Enigma by
force when they meet up with the U-boat. Well, all does not go so well for
our group of soldiers and they end up losing their sub while trying to
capture the Enigma. This is only the beginning of their problems though.
They now have to use the German U-boat to get back home. All of the panels,
instructions, buttons, etc are in German and plus the boat is not in tip top
shape. They also have the German Captain (I kind of feel that he was
underused) on board as a prisoner who ends up giving them even more problems.
I am not gonna tell you much else because you need to see it for yourself.
I hate to give away even the smallest details of a movie because I am scared
it may piss people off.
The performances in this film were outstanding. I think this film will
give Matthew McConaughey the much deserved push to the next level. He plays
Lt. Andy Tyler, an officer who feels he deserves his own sub and crew. He is
tired of parading around and not getting to be the captain. Unfortunately
his captain, Dahlgren, played by Bill Paxton, doesn't think Tyler is up for
it yet. He feels that Tyler would not be able to make the decisions he has
to make because he is like a brother to most of the crew. McConaughey plays
this part dead on and we can feel some of the pain in the decisions he has to
make while manning the German U-boat.
This movie featured a lot of young actors who did a hell of a job with
their parts. One of them being E.R.'s Erik Palladino. He plays the
untrusting Mazzola. There is a very memorable and chilling seen he is
involved in and he pulls it off rather nicely. Tom Guiry (from The Sandlot!)
plays the role of Trigger. I'm glad to see that he is doing roles in
powerful films instead of all that teenage Freddie Prinze Jr. shit. Other
stand out performances come from Jack Noseworthy, Dave Power, and Bon Jovi.
Everyone else kicked ass too, just too many to mention.
SPLASHES!!! Whenever you hear this word during the film, I suggest you
grab hold of your seat. The depth charges occur in rapid succession and will
knock you out of your seat if you don't hold on for the ride. The sound is
terrific and they make good use of the surround channels during this part.
This film was directed by Jonathan Mostow. I will now publicly forgive
him for Breakdown. I really thought Breakdown sucked big donkey balls. I
know a lot of people that liked it, but I just kind of look at them as being
stupid (Sorry Harry). Mostow really shows us this time that he is a serious
action director and does a good job keeping you on the edge of your seat. I
am really looking forward to seeing what he will offer us next.
I was very impressed with this film as I know all of you will be too. It
is truly one of the best films of the year so far and definitely one of the
best action flicks to come out in a few years. Here is a quote all of you
marketing guys at Universal can use to put on your commercials: "HOLY SHIT!
A Kick Ass action flick you won't soon forget." Forget about MI2 and X-Men,
this IS the action film of the year. See you at the theaters on April 21!!
-Girth Brooks
Here's that pointy toothed cape wearing mofo with an extra L, Bella Lugosi....
Bella Lugosi here, Harry, fresh from an advanced viewing of U-571. I'm not
sure if this is something you'd like to post, but my review follows and I
pleased to contribute.
Sometimes a movie geek just gets lucky. Not only did I get an advanced
screening of a film for free, but I actually got to see an honest-to-goodness
wonderful movie. That movie is Jonathan Mostow U-571 and suggest you RUN- do
not walk- to see it when it comes out.
Let me say first off that my review will contain some spoliers, so for right
now let me just hit the high points for those who want to remain U-571
virgins. The movie is a fine ride. The cast is excellent and the effects and
camera work are wonderful. If you are looking for a real quality film, you
could do much worse than U-571.
Now, for those who want an in-depth look (without revealing too much) let's
move on.
For those not in the know, U-571 is about a group of U.S. Navy men who storm
a damaged Nazi submarine to get a machine called the Enigma. This machine
will allow U.S. forces to decode Nazi messages for the first time and will be
quite a weapon in fighting WW2.
Lt. Andrew Tyler (Matthew McConaughey) is bitter about being passed over for
command of his own ship and is one of the men who storms the Nazi submarine.
For plot point reasons which I will not get in to, Tyler and his men have the
submarine they arrived on sank and now they must try to survive against Nazi
battleships and aircraft in a damaged Nazi sub.
Tyler is having a crisis of confidence. His own captain, Captain Dahlgren
(played woodenly by Bill Paxton), had him passed over for his own command
because Andrew is too close to his men and the captain feels Tyler will
freeze if he has to sacrifice the lives of his men. When Tyler finds himself
as the captain on the damaged Nazi sub, all of Dahlgren's fears are made
flesh- Tyler is not comfortable in command and yet if he does not lead his
men all of them will die.
Tyler's problems on the sub are many: the torpedo tubes are in disrepair,
the batteries are almost drained, all of the machinery is marked in German,
and he can not communicate with the radio. If Tyler uses the radio, the Nazis
will plot out his position and sink the sub. Also, Tyler has been informed
that none of his men can be held prisoner by the Germans, so if things look
bad, they must blow the ship up and themselves to prevent the Nazis from
learning about what we know of the Enigma.
The only prisoner on board is the German captain who originally commanded
the damaged sub, and will prove to be bad news as I'm sure you can guess.
But Tyler's big problem is that his crew knows he was passed over for his
own command and his crew does not want him as a captain. So, from within and
without the sub, Tyler is in the middle of an explosive situation that only
he can lead them out of.
This is as much of the plot as I want to get in to. The real reasons to see
this film are the cast, the effects, and the camera work. These should be the
reasons you see ANY film, but how often do we get a home run in all areas?
As far as the cast goes, there are only two real disappointments: Bill
Paxton and David Keith. Paxton is just too uneven here. He gives a REALLY
wooden speech (if you wanna call it that) to his men before they leave dock,
but then really seems to connect when he informs Andrew why he will have no
ship of his own. It's like he just did not try for half of the film. As for
David Keith... outside of An Officer And A Gentleman, I have always had the
opinion that casting David Keith was the same as casting David Carradine...
why bother? Might just be my personal taste, so take it for what it's worth
to you. As for the rest, the characters of crewmen Tank and Trigger are very
memorable. Not as cohesive a cast as American Beauty, but they do a damn fine
job. Even John Bon Jovi was good... it is so hard to believe I just wrote
that. AHEM!
The real gem here is Matthew McConaughey. For those of you waiting to see if
Matthew is A-list talent material, you can wait no more. Mr. McConaughey has
arrived people... and he came to play. Matthew brings very real dimensions to
the role of Tyler and make you feel his struggles as an officer and as a
human all the way through the film. Some of the decisions he must reach in
the film are gut wrenching and you feel them right along with him. Whatever
you may think of his past work, Matthew has really grown as an actor and he
deserves his due for this.
The camera work is stunning. You really feel that you are one of the crew
members and that their danger is your own. Aside from keeping the vibe of the
film on the right track, Mostow really brings out an unusual quality in the
weapons of war: beauty. I know it's odd, but when the short range depth
charges go off and spray into the air, it's breath taking.
Of course a submarine movie without great effects would be worthless and
here Mostow really delivers again. All I can say here is that the effects
make you feel like you are part of the war itself and the constant
depth-charging keeps you on the edge of your seat.
There were things that I really did not care for, of course. This was good
for a PG-13 rating, but I really feel that so much more could have been
achieved with more depiction of the suffering of the men who die in the film.
It does not ruin the experience of the film at all, but one wonders what we
might have missed. I feel that Paxton and Keith really watered down the
scenes they were in and that the characters might have been better served by
someone else. Again, you'll have to decide for yourself on that.
Also, for all of those unhappy with the "fictional history" angle, I was
happy to see that Mostow addressed this by giving you a run down just before
the credits who actually delivered the Enigma machine and a list of all of
the people the acquisition of this machine would have been impossible
without. Very classy, I thought.
The last thing I wanna say is that I was very happy with the way U-571
distinguished itself from "The Hunt For Red October". October was a very
different film. In U-571, we are hardly on the enemy ship opposing Tyler and
his crew at all. Most of the time, we are in the trenches with Tyler as he
defends a helpless submarine in the face of opposing Nazi battleships and
aircraft. There is nothing more riveting than watching the expression on a
man's face when he has no weapons and hears that dreaded word : SPLASHES.
Anyway, that's my take on U-571. I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did.
It looks like we just might have another great year in film if U-571 and High
Fedelity are any indication.
Thanks- Bella Lugosi
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The trailer wasn't all that frenzy-inducing, but these reviews certainly make up for it.
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Ever since first seeing the trailer for "U-571" I've been chomping at the bit. Glad to hear that it's not just a rehash of "Hunt For Red October." I just wonder how long this talkback will go before we hear the familiar "I suspect this review is a plant" rant that's becoming as tedious as the whole "I'm first" stuff.
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The miniatures by Grant-McCune just look like miniatures when shot from below against the surface of the water. And the Exploding German destroyer looked even worse. But overall, this film has a very good story. Saving Private Enigma... but is this the movie that will turn Jon Bon Jovi into a serious actor.. I think so. Hell, I didn't even know it was Bon Jovi when he was onscreen. His acting has come a very long way... Mostow was there at the screening with some of the production crew. My hats off to them...
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I have to agree completely with Batfink about the liberties Hollywood always seems to make with historical fact. In event of nuclear war future generations would discover that Robin Hood was American, the British weren
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Yes British sailors captured an enigma machine... but the Americans did too. The Germans changed codes throughout the war making captured Enigma machines only temporarily helpful. The glory for the success of reading the German codes belongs to both our nations.
As for the constant British whining about us getting in the war late... sorry, but you're guilty too. We stood by while you got yor asses kicked by the Germans, even though we lost hundreds of ships and thousands of men supplying you during those years. We both, however stood by while Czechoslavakia fell, Austria was annexed, and more importantly, we both stayed out of it while Democratic Spain fell to Franco's Facists with the help of the Itallian Army and the German Luftwaffe.
And I know you Brits hate to hear it, but you may have fought the war for us til we joined in, but we won it for you. -
Yes the Enigma was real. Yes there were daring stories of Enigma machine captures (both British and American) but this is a fictional sub adventure movie using the Enigma as a plot device. FICTION!! Quit griping! There are tons of fictional films set in WW2...KELLY'S HEROS, THE EAGLE HAS LANDED, etc.
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Apr 11, 2000 4:50:15 AM CDT
Why would people think the British weren't involved in D-DAY?
by brendan3
Some poster (presumably British) suggested that notion. Is that a reference to SAVING PRIVATE RYAN? Probably. Sorry mate, but that wasn't the story of D-Day. That was the story of those men in that story which happened to take place during the first week of the invasion. Spielberg was telling the story of a small squad of soldiers, not giving a historical overview of Operation Overlord. Hey, by that reasoning I can say Australian cinema is biased. I just saw Peter Weir's Gallipoli again the other day and was shocked to see no mention of the American contribution on the Western front...how revisionistly insulting! Oh wait, I just realized Peter Weir wasn't trying to tell the whole story of World War One, just of those few men from Australia. Silly me.
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Ever Heard of Station X? Ever heard of Alan Turing? Didn
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The main characters in the movie were real people. Real British Sailors. The same names. This story was true. There was a documentary on the BBC a few weeks ago about the controversy around the film. The son of the Captain played by Harvey Keitel, was talking about how funny it was to see Keitel playing his father with an American Accent. So Brenda, better check your facts next time. Oh and by the way, we didn't drop the bomb on Hiroshima killing millions of innocent people, you did.
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... not again. In a world where Jude-Law-as-Spiderman talkbacks can quickly descend into WWII arguments, what hope for a WWII film talkback. What hope for humanity with this kind of purile one-upmanship, people using scraps they half remember from history textbooks to look down their noses at each other under the guise of 'setting the record straight'.... I can't believe people are getting upset about Hollywood fudging history to help make the US look good. That's what they do, people! This is not the history channel! Sure people will go and see this and think that's what happened, but who cares? Seriously, WHAT'S THE POINT???.... as an aside: "Stalingrad" by Anthony Beevor is well worth a read; the decisive battle of the war, IMHO.
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...we did, however, firebomb Dresden. Not the same scale, but the same moral descision, for the same purpose.
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Fair comment Mole. What they say is 'history is written by the winners' but what is really applicable is 'history is re-written by Hollywood'. I would like to point out, however that I am not anti-American and have visited many times because I love the place. But it really makes my blood boil when facts are presented wrongly, I personally think it is important that people are presented with the facts. But what I disagree with is people going away from movie theaters/cinemas and every time they see a war film they are presented with the gung-ho Americans-kicked-ass-in-WW2-and-the-Brits-did-nothing. My great grandfather told me a lot of stories about the Americans in WW2 and a lot of it doesnt quite fit in with Hollywoods painted picture.
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...in fact, I was unaware that they were using real names of British navy guys and making them American. Why not just make up the names? That's just strange. On a related note, did you know that the UK/European edition of Microsoft Encarta (their CD-Rom encylopedia.) lists John Logie-Baird as the inventor of the television, but the US version lists an American? Aside from whch is 'right'- something to do with both inventions being a bit different and the one that came slightly second being closest to what we use now - it goes to show that a corporation will sell whichever truth will make the most money. That's just how it is. Thank heavens for the internet.
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In actual fact, it was neither. A Frenchman (whose name escapes me) was the inventor of the television but died before he finished. Logie-Baird just continued hi research and produced the television. The American's are not taking that one away from us!
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Apr 11, 2000 7:24:42 AM CDT
Jon, repeat Jon, yes that was JON Bon Jovi, is in this. Really p
by roger u. roundly
...by the aforementioned diminuitive one's presence on the soundtrack even. LET ALONE ON THE FREAKING SCREEN. Know matter how good the movie is said to be, I wouldn't go to see it if I heard JBJ's Third cousin whom he has never met, had once stepped in the same fuckin ocean where it was spozed ta be set.
Thankyou & GOODAY. -
I recall having this argument before. Who captured the Enigma, when, where, how...etc.
You should never look towards Hollywood films for the truth. It is just entertainment - nothing more.
By all means, go and see the film. Have a good time, enjoy yourself. Afterwards - do yourself a favour and read about what really happened. You will feel better for it. -
If the UK's hands are clean (we'll gloss over Dresden where far, far more people were killed than Hiroshima) why hasn't the RAF's Gen Harris recieved the same awards as his contemporaries in the service of the Crown? Could it be that he was judged a mass murderer? Incompetant? Or wasteful of so much British treasure and aircrews on a strategic air campaign that bore so little fruit?
I've given up on being mad at the director for taking major liberies with reality in U571. He's said ENIGMA was a macguffin, that the film was fiction, and to enjoy it. After all, the REAL U571 was blasted to smithereens by the Aussies. So, as long as the historical inaccuracies aren't too grating, I'm buying a big tub of popcorn and watching it repeatedly. These British clowns whining about this movie are actually French. -
..... you guys seem to forget that Jonathan Mostow addressed the concerns of talkbackers months ago. Do a keyword search, and read what he had to say.
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where is the dip shit that always starts his post like this!?!? every time there is a movie that is getting good buzz and i'm excited to see, there is some jerk off who start his posts like this. so i will get it out the way. this movie will fucking rock!!!
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face the facts: television was invented by einstein, WWII was won by the non-involvement of Tonga and Anakin will be computer-generated.
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i spose i better live up to my name and give you guys a relevant simpsons quote...ummmmm....wait i got one: "Do they have partially gelatinated non-dairy gum-based beverages?" "Yeah, they call em 'shakes'" "Shakes...*psfft*...you don't know what you're gettin'"------okay so its not relevant - but its funny!
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SHOULD PICK UP A FUCKING BOOK ONCE IN A WHILE. If I want to know the truth about history I sure as shit am not going to seek information from the movies. Quit nitpicking you pack of nerds.
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Everyone knows that Germans in WWII were all evil Nazis who liked to shoot kittens and babies. Yet in 'Das Boot,' those Germans are shown as real people, with thoughts and feelings of their own. Some of them are *gasp* sympathetic! The outrage!****These 'My country is better than your country' arguments are really tired. Why don't we give them a rest?
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Lordie lordie. You Brits sure are a snooty bunch. This is a fictional movie based on a true story. Its a form of entertainment. And by the way, next time you try to bash our country for dropping the a-bomb keep in mind you are our allies. Oh yeah and don't forget all the oppression your country has caused in the past - do you want me to name the countries? Since we are bringing up the past here.... Check out your own "civilized" past. This my country is better than yours shit is just stupid.
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Man! I sure hope that Jon Bon Jovi does a full soundtrack for the film! Ive been itching for a good hit song like Blaze of Glory for years!! WOOO! I hope they add a musical number in the film of good old Jon singing Whale of A Tale like Kirk Douglas in 2000 Leagues Under the Sea! I cant wait for this one!!
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We all know, without Uganda the Germans would have overrun the world. So shut up! Seriously, Hollywood makes movies for Americans. Of course they'll play on Americans' sense of patriotism if it'll make them a few bucks more. Every country does this, and most much worse than Hollywood. Have you ever seen Saladin? It's a middle eastern film about a muslim general in the crusades so historically inaccurate it's disgusting. The movie makes the Christians look like the three thousand Stooges. And when Saladin comes on the battlefield, all the Christians tremble in fear. Of course Saladin is dressed in white, and the Christians in black.
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was actually captured by the Poles and passed to British intel by way of the French. Cracking Enigma was a group effort led by Britain, just like the Manhattan project was a group effort led by the US. So there.
And the UK didn't stand alone for two (not three) years; there were also Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, South Africans, Indians, Czechs, Poles, Greeks, Yugoslavs, Dutch, Norwegians, Free French, and even a few Americans pretending to be Canadians in on the fight, not to mention a few million Russians for six months before Pearl Harbor. So quit your bitching; you're doing the same thing you're criticizing.
Americans go to the movies to be entertained, just like everyone else; most of them are more entertained by stories about Americans than by stories about foreigners. That may be close-minded but it doesn't mean they think no one else ever did anything. -
I really hate his jingoistic (a British term from the Crimean War, by the way) nonsense. We could all stand to quit this historical whining and get on to the business of talking about movie. Sheesh... Fanboys are ugliest when the subject is politics or history, since most care little for either.
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Anyway, really...who in America would go pay to see a bunch of Brits on a big Hollywood movie? Not me, and not Mom & Pop in Oklahoma. Can you imagine a big action movie saturated with British accents??? Yukkk!!!
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this movie will be inaccurate. i just read at michaelbay.com that this week, they will be filming action scenes for Pearl Harbor. One of them scenes is a Japanese plane chasing a Hartnett's characters through the streets of Pearl Harbor. And get ready for this one: They had the planes flying between the battleships and the length of battleship row. The ships were moored 50 yards apart. Those planes would have been torn apart!!!!!
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The whole Gallipoli argument is rather stupid since the Gallipoli campaign occured in 1915, several years before the Americans entered the war.
It should be noted that Darryl F. Zanuck, in his dramatization of Cornelius Ryan's The Longest Day made every effort to show all the Allies--including the Canadians and Free French.
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I think you're getting Verne confussed with Allen...I might be wrong, so if I am I'll sit down and shut the hell up.
Oh, and you american's and brits really love to rumble don't you? I mean isn't it pointless? We all know it was the French who really won the war. -
Apr 11, 2000 1:06:39 PM CDT
Celtican..what the hell are you talking about? And I challenge
by brendan3
In the middle of complaining about Hollywood's revisionist history you suddenly write" Oh and by the way, we didn't drop the bomb on Hiroshima killing millions of innocent people, you did." What the hell does that have to do with anything? All I did was point out that both the British and the Americans captured Enigma machines throughout the war and that this film is a fictional submarine movie using the Enigma as a plot device. There are tons of fictional WW2 movies out there, some of them British. AS for your gripe about US films rerwriting WW2 history, that's just not true. There are films that deal with specific units and specific battles that don't show the Brits because they weren't there... but all the big films that dealt with entire campaigns (A Bridge Too Far, The Longest Day, Patton,etc.) have been completely fair to the British. Can you name one WW2 film where Hollywood puts American soldiers where historicly it was British soldiers? Quit your griping kid and put on your thinking cap and get back to me if you can think of one. Oh yeah...your Hiroshima comment...was that meant to be an insult? Did you think bombing Hiroshima was the wrong thing to do kid? If you knew anything about military history, you'd know that Operation Downfall (the planned two phase allied invasion of the Japanes home islands set for Fall 1945 and Spring 1946) would have cost millions of lives. You also wouldn't have written that the bombing of Hiroshima killed Millions when it only killed around 100,000....or is that just your own revisionist history?
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Just thought of a film where Yanks where inserted instead of British.... A Bridge To Far. The tank crews headed by Eliot Gould where in fact British crews, Operation Market Garden only had minimal American involvement. Even though it was a cluster fuck.
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Years ago a famous British rock star was asked why English accents always seem to disappear when singing. His answer was that singing with an American accent sells more records. It's the same thing here. U-571 is an American movie with American stars, primarily for the American market. It is not a factual account of any single event by any single unit. It is a fictionalized account based on several actual events. There are no gross factual misrepresentations. It is fiction! I would be quite happy to see the story of Bletchley Park on the big screen, British accents and all, with a languid pace, but the American geek fanboys want action. So here it is. Shut up, pay your money and enjoy the damn movie. Within a week of its opening, tune in to The History Channel where a group of distinguished historians will discuss the movie's relationship with all the Enigma snatchings, and then you can watch several fascinating documentaries on the subject. None of them will be nearly as exciting as this movie. Get over it.
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To all those assholes arguing about which country won what war or killed more innocent people remember the words of a prophet: "Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religon too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace..." and imagine TBs not having any jingoist bullshit mucking up discussion about movies FCOL!!!
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Anonymousbob says that "U-571" is a rip-off because it is about a bunch of guys in a submarine that are terrorized by depth charges, torpedos, etc. LOL! What the hell else is a sub movie supposed to be about? Is "Das Boot" the only sub movie that can feature torpedos and depth charges? You also say that it stole the cinematography and visuals. I doubt you have seen it so how do you know what all the visuals look like anyway? Maybe you should wait to see the movie before you start bashing it. If "U-571" is a rip-off of "Das Boot", then "Dick" is a direct rip-off of Oliver Stone's "Nixon."
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Elliot Gould does not play an American where a Brit should have been and he doesn't ride a tank. He plays an officer from the American 101st Airborne Division at Eindhoven who is leading in reopening a bridge so that the British XXX Corps (the tanks) could pass through. There is a scene where he is helping direct the traffic of British tanks over a bridge, but that's as close as he gets. In fact in the film, British actors Edward Fox and Michael Caine play officers in XXX Corps. The movie shows Operation Marketgarden from all the allies involved: The US 101st ABN who parachuted into Eindhoven, The US 82nd ABN who parachuted into Nijmengen, the British 2nd Para who parachuted into Arnhem, the Free Polish Parachute Regiment that tried to reinforce them, and the British armored XXX Corps that tried to drive through to the Rhine using the bridges and roads siezed by the Allied paratroopers. In fact, the film spends most of its time on the story of the British at Arnhem and the British officers planning the operation before it was executed. Other notable British actors in this Hollywood film, aside from Michael Caine and Edward Fox, were Anthony Hopkins, Sean Connery, and Denholm Elliot. Dobbin, you have good taste in film. A BRIDGE TOO FAR is one of the best WW2 movies made, but it is completely accurate to telling the British side of the story.
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I know the history of the Crusades. I was using it as an example of pandering to a specific audience, not defending the actions of the Crusaders. The way the movie portrayed the Christian soldiers was inaccurate. I can't believe I'm arguing this.
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Okay. I've heard enough! History... British... blah blah blah. Let's stick to the facts. This ain't Das Shmeg, this ain't Hunt for Shmegma October, this ain't ShmegTV... this is WAR, baby! so, shut yer traps and enjoy. McConaughey is back! Mostow kicks ayyasss! and who the hell is Mr. Noseworthy? Whatever. I'm goin'. So, if you want to brawl... meet me at the theater... it'll be a great meeting of the British and the Americans... it's the Revolution all over again. Whatever. I'm there. War, baby, Warrr!!!!
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Nice comment about the revolution. That was you lot fighting a lot of Germans mercenaries as well. We were to busy having a go at the French to care about the Colonials (nothing better than beating the French.
When are we going to see a film about the American attempted invasion of Canada. On another note, whats all this 'if we hadn't have joined in, you British would all be speaking German now' rubbish, if a german member of the embryonic senate of the USA after the revolution hadn't voted for English to be the national language, then all you Yanks would now be speaking German. -
Nice comment about the revolution. That was you lot fighting a lot of Germans mercenaries as well. We were to busy having a go at the French to care about the Colonials (nothing better than beating the French.
When are we going to see a film about the American attempted invasion of Canada. On another note, whats all this 'if we hadn't have joined in, you British would all be speaking German now' rubbish, if a german member of the embryonic senate of the USA after the revolution hadn't voted for English to be the national language, then all you Yanks would now be speaking German. -
OKAY SO, I WILL FORGIVE THE FILM-MAKERS FOR TAKING A FEW LIBERTIES IN THE NAME OF ENTERTAINMENT BECAUSE, IT'S NOT LIKE THE BRITS HAVE EVER LET A TECHNICALITY LIKE HISTORICAL FACT STAND IN THE WAY OF A GOOD STORY. I SUBMIT:THE DAMBUSTERS, THE MOST BULLSHITTED ABOUT BRITISH WAR MOVIE AND OH,"WHAT A THEME TUNE, BY GEORGE, WHAT, YES, RATHER!" OF COURSE THE FACT THAT THE ACTUAL RAID WASHED AWAY A COUPLE OF P.O.W. CAMPS POPULATED BY INNOCENT WOMEN AND CHILDREN. BUT A JOLLY GOOD FILM IF YOU DONT MIND SUCH UNPLEASENTNESS WHAT!,YES RATHER. TOODLE-PIP.
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I'm currently writing a script about a small group of brave Englishmen defending The Alamo. I think this will play really well, especially as I've changed the ending so that we win! Get your chequebooks out Studio bosses, we're onto a winner here!
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I have never said Toodle-Pip in my entire life. Fuck, I just did.
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...when this was clearly the right bunch of Talkbacks for a comments on Brit/Yank comparisons. Wow! Brits vs Yanks vs Aussies. Brendan3 doing the usual hot under the collar 'I am an authorityyyyy!'. Lots of others with factual tidbits and a heated desire to show their breadth of historical knowledge (hey - where else would you find a discussion on a sub film mentioning Byzantine history? Sexy!) This place clearly rocks! Anyway, because my post elsewhere was so screamingly funny, I have decided to repeat the general gist here with a few additions. Here is a run down of how these talkbacks usually go: Brits get antsy about how they are constantly villainised by Hollywood and drone on about the way they fought WW2 by themsleves for a bunch of years, created anglo-saxon culture, cricket, rugby, Shakespeare, The Beatles and Catherine Zeta Jones. Then the Americans respond with 'we saved your Limey asses, blah blah, your food's stodgy, blah blah, Oasis are shite'. And of course you also get the occasional Down Under type who blathers about being a slave to the Empire and that wretched Queen person, crap yobbo Pommie tourists and how Yanks are always impolite tossers with Kodaks around their necks. and, apparently, how we invented the telly, Elle McPherson (God Forgive Us!) and the Hills Hoist. Then you all write back and say 'Crocodile Dundee was utter crap and Aussie tourists are also yobbo's and neither Mel nor Rusty Crowe are really Australian anyway, so there'. Now I have written all this and so wittily lampooned everyone's efforts, the rest of you should no longer feel a need to post anything else. Ever. But of course, you all probably will. Goddam! Anyway, we should all pay heed to the mind numbingly insightful lyric by that pioneering band, Culture Club. 'War is stupid and people are stupid'. Wow! And this from a guy who wore pink eyeshadow with black gloves!
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I've sat through the excrement of Romeo Must Die. I've sat through the excrement of Reindeer Games. Forgive me, Father, for the sins of my past.... and redeem me by allowing me to see this film...
Cuz it looks like it is DA EXCREMENT!! Anything with Bon Jovi... count me in. Anything with Paxton... count me in. Anything with submarines... count me in. I've rambled, I know. But, my friends, there is truth in rambling... just as there is fiction in film. Bon voyage, Sea Dogs! -
Has anyone else here ever noticed just how insecure the British actually are? I mean sheesh, this just proves it. "Let's see. We can't form an argument that can't be shot down so let's find something else quick.....Oh! I know! You BASTARDS! (pointing at Americans), YOU BOMBED HIROSHIMA!" Quite clever. ::sigh:: Things always degenerate into insults.
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Of course, I do believe that the "my country is better than your country" bullcrap is ludicrous, but we must conciede that the Brits have a point. In WWII, the British were for the most part the ones responsible for cracking Enigma. For U.S. cinema to steal their thunder and parade the breaking of Enigma as our own accomplishment is, quite frankly, wrong headed and irresponsible. "But wait, ya nerd! The movie is going to fucking rock! Get over it..." Frankly, this is an assinine argument typically made by assinine people. History IS important, people. You might think this is a small pointless issue, but it's not. Millions...that's right; Millions of people died millions of horrible deaths during this last world war. I think we owe their memory the dignity of getting the story right...or at least make SOME attempt to portray truth in our fiction.
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I will concede that they may have a teeny-tiny point as far as the accuracy issue is concerned, but let's face it, would the Brits really do something as obviously as controversial (apparently) as this justice on film? It's American's telling the story, so it's American actors acting it. The British couldn't make something like this into a watchable film. Just look at the quality of the crap they produce. Allright, there are a few good films, but for the most part they suck! (The films, not the British)
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YOU may think their films suck, my cycloptic colleague, :) however you must remember that though we speak a very similar language, we are two very different cultures... I'm sure they don't think their movies suck. Come on, Trainspotting? crazy baby on the ceiling...) Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels? These are EXCELLENT films. As I am pursuing a minor in history (particularly european), I've come to understand that yes, Americans are known for their sheer, unadulterated audacity... But the Brits are known for the enormous circumferance of their iron balls...Something that we Amercians admire and respect... and ought pay tribute to through our cinema. Go watch Zulu....what an incredible movie...
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I admit that the Hirosima remark was totally uncalled for and I apologise. Secondly, most British films are crap from an American point of view because they all seem to be set in the North of England and all star the same actors. One reason is we don't have the budget that the US has for film making and the other is that English people seem to like Mike Leigh films. Going back to the previous comment from looking-for-love about 'who in America would go pay to see a bunch of Brits on a big Hollywood movie?' then I guess he didn't go and see 'The Phantom Menace' (Ewan McGregor, Liam Neeson, Terrence Stamp, Ray Park, Ian McDiarmid, Ralph Brown, Anthony Daniels..I could go on) like all the other millions. Granted, it's not a great film but it's an American blockbuster starring mostly Brits. So I rest my case there. The truth is Hollywood makes some great and not so great films and the Brits love them. I do seem to have holes in my knowledge regarding WWII but this is due to watching too many British, German & American war films where the facts must have been altered to make a better story. I must start reading books again! Regarding the was more important in World War II - all of the allies. From the French Resistance to the Land Girls of Somerset, the US, the Brits, the Aussies - we all played our part and WE ALL won. We all kept the world free from tyrany. Today the allies still have strong links (except the French/Britain - beef crisis) and I concede that bickering about the past and who did what was wrong and once again I apologise. One last thing though, why has there never been a film made about the Nazi/IRA alliance in 1943? That would make a great movie...
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I admit that the Hirosima remark was totally uncalled for and I apologise. Secondly, most British films are crap from an American point of view because they all seem to be set in the North of England and all star the same actors. One reason is we don't have the budget that the US has for film making and the other is that English people seem to like Mike Leigh films. Going back to the previous comment from looking-for-love about 'who in America would go pay to see a bunch of Brits on a big Hollywood movie?' then I guess he didn't go and see 'The Phantom Menace' (Ewan McGregor, Liam Neeson, Terrence Stamp, Ray Park, Ian McDiarmid, Ralph Brown, Anthony Daniels..I could go on) like all the other millions. Granted, it's not a great film but it's an American blockbuster starring mostly Brits. So I rest my case there. The truth is Hollywood makes some great and not so great films and the Brits love them. I do seem to have holes in my knowledge regarding WWII but this is due to watching too many British, German & American war films where the facts must have been altered to make a better story. I must start reading books again! Regarding the was more important in World War II - all of the allies. From the French Resistance to the Land Girls of Somerset, the US, the Brits, the Aussies - we all played our part and WE ALL won. We all kept the world free from tyrany. Today the allies still have strong links (except the French/Britain - beef crisis) and I concede that bickering about the past and who did what was wrong and once again I apologise. One last thing though, why has there never been a film made about the Nazi/IRA alliance in 1943? That would make a great movie...
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I admit that the Hirosima remark was totally uncalled for and I apologise. Secondly, most British films are crap from an American point of view because they all seem to be set in the North of England and all star the same actors. One reason is we don't have the budget that the US has for film making and the other is that English people seem to like Mike Leigh films. Going back to the previous comment from looking-for-love about 'who in America would go pay to see a bunch of Brits on a big Hollywood movie?' then I guess he didn't go and see 'The Phantom Menace' (Ewan McGregor, Liam Neeson, Terrence Stamp, Ray Park, Ian McDiarmid, Ralph Brown, Anthony Daniels..I could go on) like all the other millions. Granted, it's not a great film but it's an American blockbuster starring mostly Brits. So I rest my case there. The truth is Hollywood makes some great and not so great films and the Brits love them. I do seem to have holes in my knowledge regarding WWII but this is due to watching too many British, German & American war films where the facts must have been altered to make a better story. I must start reading books again! Regarding the was more important in World War II - all of the allies. From the French Resistance to the Land Girls of Somerset, the US, the Brits, the Aussies - we all played our part and WE ALL won. We all kept the world free from tyrany. Today the allies still have strong links (except the French/Britain - beef crisis) and I concede that bickering about the past and who did what was wrong and once again I apologise. One last thing though, why has there never been a film made about the Nazi/IRA alliance in 1943? That would make a great movie...
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Sorry for posting it 3 times. By the way Monkey Lord, you're a top bloke!
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Eboe used the words "courageous" and "French" in the same sentence. (giggle, giggle)
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Apr 12, 2000 1:36:56 PM CDT
jbreen, you forgot another thing that always appears on these ta
by brendan3
In your attempt at a witty lampoon stereotyping these talkback arguments you forgot to mention that there is always at least one snide person, unable to contribute to the debate, who feels it's necessary to belittle all the other talkbackers and dismiss their views because he sees it as pointless because it doesn't interest him. It's about as witty as the kid in the back of the class making fart noises with his armpit to get attention because he's not interested in what the class is discussing. If you don't like the discussion, don't be a part of it.
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Brendon3, I know his sounds cliche, but just ignore him. I, for one, didn't bother to read past his 4th or 5th sentence....and moved on. :) And thank you, Celtican... as an American, I've never been called a "top bloke" before. I'll add it to my list. :)
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Would ya blame them?
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Sorry, Brendan, DEBATE? Doesn't that word tend to imply reasoned argument, intellectual rigour, that kind of thing? Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a playground slanging-match as much as the next social incompetent, but I wouldn't try to dignify it by calling it a debate.
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Matthew McConaughey IS Desi Arnaz IN "Babaloo-571."
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I can't wait to see this one! Just surprised that Harry mentioned "The Enemy Below" and left it off the voting list..should be #2 after "Das Boot". Anyway..as for the Enigma machine; it was not "captured". The basic machine was a commercial device sold on the open market prior to the war, but quickly taken off once the German military realized its importance. A few devices were taken apart and analyzed by some Polish scientists, and the info given to the British. As time went on, more code wheels and patch plugs were added to increase the complexity, and one of the major breakthroughs in cryptography was made at Bletchly Park (sp?) where one of the first computers was designed to specifically model the inner workings of the Enigma. Without going too far off the mark, I would suggest if you are interested read "The Ultra Secret", and "The Code Breakers", both fascinating glimpses into the Enigma, WWII secrets, etc. And remember, just because some public figures make idiotic comments with regards to the "facts" contained in a movie, and the movie itself may say "based on a true story, blah blah", it is just entertainment!
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Ahh me. Brendan, you and I have discussed history quite seriously within these Talkback posts before. I do find some points of these debates quite interesting. On the other hand these 'debates' more often than not degenerate into a slanging match between Brits and Yanks which is often ugly, divisive and dull. My attempt a lampooning - not particularly funny I grant you, but, cheez, lighten up! - was an attempt to draw some attention to the repetitious nature of the Brit/Yank debate in these forums. To make people like you have the good grace to not be drawn into a 'our lot are better than your lot' debate about something as emotive and tragic as war. Here are some of your 'intelligent' and 'reasoned' comments so far: 'Ahhh...the Brits are already starting to moan' (and you think I'm snide?) / 'We stood by while you got yor asses kicked by the Germans' / 'but you may have fought the war for us til we joined in, but we won it for you' and so on. You may be right, Brendan, and you may be a very informed person in the realms of military history.
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...and I hit that friggin' Post thing by mistake. Oh, really, I could almost not be bothered making a defense of my earlier post. How sad it is that some people take themselves so seriously that a little bit of levity - however bad - should be vilified. That they are unable to laugh at themselves even a little. Brendan, even you must know that you are a sucker for military subjects - I recall you in 'Three Kings' posts and 'Gates of Fire' posts. And you must be aware that, as far as I can recall, you have never conceded a point, and that you see yourself as quite the - 'corrective' - authority. Me, I don't give a rats if Monkey Lord doesn't read the whole post, but I hardly feel that one 'humourous' post is any more belittling to other talkbackers than, say, your 'Brits are moaning' etc. comments, which seem to belittle the demeanor of the Brits and their efforts in WW2. (Which, if I had the egotistical tenor of your good self, I would be up in arms about, considering my father fought in WW2 and my grandfathers in WW1). Really - every time there is some subject here that can be turned into a Brit/ank debate, it is - music, war, films, history, actors etc. - and it can get unpleasant. A bit of humour lampooning that almost racial divide shouldn't be a bad thing and should really be as much a part of the, ahem, 'debate', as anything else. Humour has, after all, always been an important part of discursiveness and comment. So Brendan, as they say down here, if you can't stand a bit of heat, stay out of the kitchen.
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Sure the movie was great, in fact I thought it was wonderful! However, the one thing that made this movie less than stellar had to be the soundtrack. Sure the background music would have been wonderful in most action movies, but this was a more serious, and suspensfull movie. The last thing I need to hear while waiting for depth charges to fall on my head is a loud roaring orchestra. Movies need appropriate sound tracks for the experience to be worth it!
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You say I have never conceded a point. Actually,there were quite a few political points on which we agreed in some of the past talkbacks. As far as my not conceding a point, I supose that there are some subjects I won't budge on because I have such strong feelings about them. This talkback, however, is not one of them. I concede this point. You're right...while there's some merit to the arguments here, most of the Brit vs Yank stuff here is silly and should not be taken as seriously. I guess it's the Irish in me that doesn't like to see the limeys get the last word in and I enjoy pointing out when they're wrong, even when it's petty. I apologize for getting defensive with you before, but I was simply reacting to what you said about me when you were going on about this talkback. You said, and I quote, "Brendan3 doing the usual hot under the collar 'I am an authorityyyyy!'. " I took that personally. There are a great many subjects for which I am a layman and posess only an average knowledge of, but military history isn't one of them. I am a military history buff and a combat veteran so there have been past debates where I haven't budged. This one (brits vs yanks) is a silly one and I enjoy debunking the Brits. This is a pointless talkback, though there have been some good points brought up here...just not by the Brits (sorry, it's the Irish in me again)
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Brendan, you crack me up!
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Failte!
Ah Brendan, at last we see you for what you are: an opinionated individual with no basic background knowledge of pretty much anything! My name is Andrew O -
Does this Brendan fool not realise that Northern Ireland is part of Britain? and that the south is not yet the south have great ties with the British? Does he not know about the 4 countries that go to make up Britain? (England, N Ireland, Wales & Scotland) did they not teach this is school? They must have taugh him how to be xenophobic as using his so called 'Irish' roots as an excuse to dig the Brits is very very pathetic. Do some research sadboy!
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Tsk.tsk...yes I'm an American, but as you suggested my knowledge of Ireland doesn't come from dumb ass movies like The Devil's Own. Since I seem to have touched a nerve with you and offended your loyalist sensibilities, I shall respond. You say you were from Belfast. Good. I lived for a while in Belfast. I shared a flat for a while during the Summer on Jerusalem street, near the Queens University. When students came back at the end of Summer, I moved in with some friends at the Divis Flats (that should tell you right there what my politics are) Before living there I had some opinion, but after living there and seeing first hand what the loyalists do during the Summer marching season I learned a lot more. You suggest that only a few hundred Irishmen have any animosity toward the Brits. You know, of course, that you're lying unless you got your numbers from BBC news reports. You must have never seen a provo funeral procession going down the Falls road. I personally have nothing against British people in general and if you actually read the comments that I made on this talkback on the subject of Brit portrayal in war movies, you'd see I wasn't even Brit bashing. I was simply pointing out where American historical war movies, not fictionalized ones, have been very fair to the British. I made a joking comment to jbreen that I was doing it because I was Irish. I was being sarcastic. But apparently you were offended. Well...pbbllttt! Tciocke ar la!
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Well Brendan a summer holiday/vacation in Belfast doesnt constitute living in Belfast. I dont care what your politics are and I don't much care for you. Well done for knowing your geography and I could name several towns and streets in the States but it doesnt make me Einstein does it? As for my other points, I see you've ignored them, maybe because I'm right. Someone had to stand up and tell you what a wanker you are and I'm sure I won't be the last.
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I didn't summer vacation in Belfast as you suggest. I lived and worked there for over a year. I said I lived over by the University for the Summer and then moved in to the Divis Flats after that. I only mentioned the locations because you said you were from Belfast and would be familiar with the areas I mentioned. You say I failed to address your other points...what points? All you said was that I was a wanker and had no right to comment on Irish affairs
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I didn't summer vacation in Belfast as you suggest. I lived and worked there for over a year. I said I lived over by the University for the Summer and then moved in to the Divis Flats after that. I only mentioned the locations because you said you were from Belfast and would be familiar with the areas I mentioned. You say I failed to address your other points...what points? All you said was that I was a wanker and had no right to comment on Irish affairs
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I saw the movie tonight at a theatre opening in Rhode Island. This has got to be the best sub movie of all time. as a huge Hunt For Red October and Das Boot fan, I am happy and disheartened to say that this movie was just outright better. Fucking unbelievable. Could not ask for more from the movie. drama, suspense. the whole nine yards. cant sing its praises enough. great movie
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This talkback is supposed to be about the movie not Irish politics and who lives where and what they know. C'mon guys
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