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May 26, 2004
Reviewers are Douche-Nozzle JackassesThat's long been my theory, and it's served me well over the years. Now, I haven't seen Troy yet, and I don't particularly want to. I'm just not interested. Still, that doesn't mean that dopey, talentless, brainless reviewers should have a free hand at criticizing the film for entirely ludicrous reasons. Two Braincells presents an enjoyable panning of the critics' pans: The film isn't called The Iliad for a reason, and that reason is that it's not a direct adaptation of The Iliad. Homer didn't originate the story of the Trojan war. He wrote the best-known versions of two parts of the saga in the Iliad and the Odyssey, but these are not the only source materials. The choice of Paris (i.e., the selection of the most beautiful among Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite and subsequent awarding of Helen) does not appear in the Iliad. Neither does the abduction of Helen. Neither does the Trojan horse. Neither do the deaths of Achilles, nor Paris, nor Agamemnon. Criticisms based on a supposed lack of fidelity to the Iliad would seem to miss the point in this regard. I know nothing at all about the Iliad, but apparently I know more than critics. I wouldn't presume to comment upon the film's fidelity to the Iliad, having only read the Cliff's Notes in ninth grade. But that makes me smarter than reviewers, it seems. This is good too: For those further waxing wroth over the absence of the gods: you've got to be joking. Has it really been so long since Clash of the Titans that you're actually prepared to swear you'd treat the movie seriously if you'd seen Paris being wafted away in the middle of his fight with Menelaus on Aphrodite's cloud? Note to self: Must begin making Clash of the Titans references. And, if you've got a hankering to read through the Iliad with a snarky guide, Jamie R. provides a first-rate fisking to Homer. posted by Ace at 05:31 PM
CommentsThis is exactly why I like the Rotten Tomatoes website. Convenient review summaries and compiled ratings so you don't actually have to read the gibberish spewed by the majority of reviewers. Posted by: Hermit Dave on May 26, 2004 07:04 PM
Since when did movies even bother to follow books that they're named after. Much less ones they're not. I did see the movie, and I have read both the Iliad and the Oddessy. I had no expectation going into the theater that the movie would have more than the same characters and more or less the same or a sub-set of the plot line. It turned out to be a very entertaining re-telling of the most well known part the story, the fall of Troy (hence the name I would suppose), and did it in such a way that gave plausable explainations to things that the people of the time interpreted as being the actions of the gods, but may have been very ordinary occurances. If you like swash-buckling movies, this one is a lot of fun for the buck. Posted by: Dacotti on May 27, 2004 12:33 AM
Oh, man. Thank you ever so, Ace, for that link to Jamie R's Iliad site. I've loved and read Homer's stuff for years now (at one point many years back I seriously considered a dual major in classics) ... and that's the funniest thing I have read in a long, long time. I'm still twitching with mirth. Posted by: Dirge on May 27, 2004 10:59 AM
"Menelaus and Aias finally bring the body of Patroclus to safety, now alas measuring some eight foot four," That had me laughing out loud, I couldn't stop laughing for several minutes! I can't wait for Book 23. Or A Brief Brief History of Rome, Part Three. Posted by: Squirrel on May 27, 2004 06:33 PM
Glad you liked Jamie's site. He's a cool guy. Posted by: ace on May 27, 2004 06:41 PM
Join the Linux community. Linuxwaves.net Posted by: Stephen on July 5, 2004 05:30 PM
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Money Wired to Mexico Hits a Decade Low as US Immigration Policies Take Hold
Now bump the fee to 10%, and mandate proof of legal residence for all money transfers out of the United States [CBD] ![]()
"As the discussion continued, Fox News host Charlie Hurt asked Trump directly to confirm there will be no U.S. troops involved in this potential security umbrella for Ukraine. "Well, you have my assurance, and I'm president," Trump replied."
Good! I hope I am wrong! [CBD]
Lost Seventies Mystery Click: The Darkest Song Ever Recorded?
I think Professor of Rock (on YouTube) claimed this song was so upsetting that people used to pull over to the side of the road when it came on the radio. It's about a fatal plane crash, but obviously it suggests a fatal car crash too, which could wig out a driver. It's like one of those nasty 70s anti-war body horror movies. Not for the squeamish. I'm not even going to post the lyrics because they're upsetting too.
Compilation of Naked Gun intros
That theme gets me charged. Compilation of all Police Squad! openings. They're all the same except for the last few seconds where they reveal the Special Guest Star and the title(s).
Pitch Meeting: Amazon's new, terrible War of the Worlds
I don't know why these tech monopolists spend so much money on ripoff/sequel/remake slop. I like popcorn entertainment but is it legally required to be terrible?
Lost 90s Mystery Click: College Radio Edition
Well you look fantastic in your cast-off casket At least the thing still runs This nine to five bullshit don't let you forget Whose suicide you're on. Also: You wax poetic about things pathetic As long as you look so cute Believe these hills are starting to roll Believe these stars are starting to shoot ![]()
Forgotten 80s Mystery Click: Garrett's Favorite Band Edition
Everybody wants you Everybody wants your love I'd just like to make you mine, all mine
Baylor Coach Dave Aranda Apologizes for 'Ableism' After Using the Word 'Midget'
Well, he is also disabled...he is a eunuch [CBD] I'm frankly surprised the title is 107 Days. I would have thought it would be:
Soft weak poop from the early 80s Mystery Click
I never liked this song, but it is memorable. In a weak, annoying way. The kid's in shock up and down the block The folks are home playing beat the clock Down at the golden cup They set the young ones up Under the neon light Selling day for night It's alright Nobody rides for free (nobody, nobody) Nobody gets it like they want it to be (nobody, nobody) Nobody hands you any guarantee (nobody, nobody) Nobody
Flashback: UCLA allows terror-supporting thugs to set up and maintain checkpoints to keep Jews out of campus buildings
More video of the anti-Jewish checkpoints A major university allowed this and defended this. Recent Comments
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Thanksgivingmanship: How to Deal With Your Spoiled Stupid Leftist Adultbrat Relatives Who Have Spent Three Months Reading Slate and Vox Learning How to Deal With You You're Fired! Donald Trump Grills the 2004 Democrat Candidates and Operatives on Their Election Loss Bizarrely I had a perfect Donald Trump voice going in 2004 and then literally never used it again, even when he was running for president. A Eulogy In Advance for Former Lincoln Project Associate and Noted Twitter Pestilence Tom Nichols Special Guest Blogger Rich "Psycho" Giamboni: If You Touch My Sandwich One More Time, I Will Fvcking Kill You Special Guest Blogger Rich "Psycho" Giamboni: I Must Eat Jim Acosta Special Guest Blogger Tom Friedman: We Need to Talk About What My Egyptian Cab Driver Told Me About Globalization Shortly Before He Began to Murder Me Special Guest Blogger Bernard Henri-Levy: I rise in defense of my very good friend Dominique Strauss-Kahn Note: Later events actually proved Dominique Strauss-Kahn completely innocent. The piece is still funny though -- if you pretend, for five minutes, that he was guilty. The Ace of Spades HQ Sex-for-Money Skankathon A D&D Guide to the Democratic Candidates Michael Moore Goes on Lunchtime Manhattan Death-Spree Artificial Insouciance: Maureen Dowd's Word Processor Revolts Against Her Numbing Imbecility The Dowd-O-Matic! The Donkey ("The Raven" parody) Archives
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