Saturday, February 28, 2004

Cassandra Insists Go Look Go On! "What is the single most important site on the web?" is a question that we have frequently heard. The astonishing thing is that when we turn to see who asked - There's never anyone there. What's going on? Why is this happening to us? We'd be willing to answer, if only we knew where that voice was coming from. Interestingly, while most internet professionals would almost certainly answer that question with www.barely-legal-russian-trannies.edu, that actually isn't correct. The single most important site on the web is www.dailyhowler.com Really! Cassandra is brought to you by eXcilliva .  The Family Favorite! 2:47:55 PM    comment []

Cassandra Whines Pinching Pennies Confirmative Action   We really don't mind that Antonin Scalia gets two votes But why do we have to pay for Clarence Thomas' lunch? Cassandra is brought to you by eXcilliva .  Your High Tech Alternative. 3:08:57 AM    comment []

Cassandra On The Arts Guest Review The Passion So, OK, I haven't seen it either.    That said.    Here's what I think. First, I think that Gibson has this masochistic thing going.    A heavy identification with absolute, physical victimhood. I don't know how much input he had in the Lethal Weapon movies (I'm gussing it was a lot) but I remember that in # 3 or # 4 (was there a difference between those two?) he's hanging from a pipe and being tortured and I'm thinking "hey, this torture is getting really heavy for a "fun" movie. Then came Braveheart, and that one was his own, start to finish, and the torture death of William Wallace was sooooooooooooooooooooooooo intense.    You really felt for the guy.   I'm not saying it was gratuitous.    Just that it was there. Now comes The Passion.   As a passion play it's about the death of Jesus,  fair enough.    And as to why Gibson chose to make a passion play instead of a story about the teachings of Jesus - well that was his choice to make. But to have two hours of the most intense torture, told in exquisite detail, this despite the fact that the Gospels are very light on the details of the scourging of Jesus before he was crucified - and, looking back on the previous films I mentioned.    Well, ya gotta ask: Is there this graphic horror in order to tell the story of the passion, or did he do the passion in order to indulge in this bloodfest? That was "first" Here's second: You can't tell the story of the passion without Caiaphas and the Jewish mob - BUT - a Pontius Pilate almost begging the Jews to spare Jesus?  A Mrs. Pilate playing towel boy to Mary?   - this in light of Gibson's really provocative comments about Jews who expressed concerns about the film, and (I think it's fair to look at a fellow's background as long as you make clear this is where he sprang from - on its own it's no proof of where he is now) his dad is a died-in-the-wool Jew-hater--- All of this taken together leads me to  -  ah, yeah -  I kinda think there's a possibility the guy doesn't like me. Not that you asked. Jonathan Swiller Cassandra is brought to you by eXcilliva.    Non-addictive when used as directed, or your money back. 12:31:58 AM    comment []