max_t...@my-deja.com wrote in message <8ju45b$a5r$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>...
>I'd be really happy if Canada made a movie that was a big hit, and
>people from British Columbia to Newfoundland rushed to see it. I think
>it would give us a big sense of pride. But Canadian moviemakers can't
>seem to make such a movie. Why?
>
>
>Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
>Before you buy.
> I'd be really happy if Canada made a movie that was a big hit, and
> people from British Columbia to Newfoundland rushed to see it. I think
> it would give us a big sense of pride. But Canadian moviemakers can't
> seem to make such a movie. Why?
because canadians dont seem to have that mainstream hollywood
mentality. and thank god for small mercies.
ania
--
~ seeeeeeeyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ~
canadian films do well in europe and in australia. thats SOME
recognition isnt it?
seeya,
ania
--
~ seeeeeeeyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ~
> I really hate this snotty attitude that a lot of Canadians have when
it
> comes to something the Americans do better. I think we'd be better off
> if we DID SOMETHING instead of just spouting off the same old
> crappy, "Nothing's wrong, we're cool, they are just idiots!" reply.
majority of the american films that actually make it 'big' (and make it
to australia) are bloody glitz and gimmicks.
how often do films like 'magnolia' come out of america and make it huge?
rarely. and what a fucking shame that is.
a bigger budget does NOT make a better movie.
just makes them lose their minds and spend the money on special effects
forgetting all about the fact that usually films are supposed to cary
story lines with substance.
seeya,
ania
--
~ seeeeeeeyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ~
There are basically two explanations for this:
(1) The Canadian government film funding agency (Telefilm) that decides
what films to subsidize is usually loath to fund a movie that has any
commerical value to it, especially if it's not in the French language.
They seem to have the viewpoint that Canadian culture has to be both
"high art" and pushing Canadian values. They don't realize that culture
also includes *popular* culture, and many times products of popular
culture have become classics - just take Shakespeare's plays, which were
aimed at the common man at the time they were written.
It's ironic that, in general, the movies Telefilm decides to subsidize
in an aim to push Canadian culture actually get Canadians to shun them
and think less of their country - giving the opposite effect. Yes, many
of these movies may get critical acclaim, but the average Canadian
moviegoer probably thinks something like, "What's so entertaining about
lesbian angst (or some other subject they can't relate to)? And what's
Canadian about that?" Not only do they not see the movies as
entertaining, most Canadians can't relate to them.
(2) Canadian distributors don't push the Canadian movies they handle.
Before I get into that, I think I have to point out that the
American-owned cinema chains *do* open their doors wide the rare a
Canadian movie with some commerical qualities gets pushed. STRIKE
(a.k.a. ALL I WANNA DO) and EXISTENZ got almost no theatrical release in
the States by their American distributor, but their Canadian distributor
gave them a wide release with plenty of advertising in Canada. GREY OWL
had no theatrical release in the States, but it got a fairly wide
release up here. Some Quebec movies get huge releases in Quebec - LES
BOYS 2 opened in a whopping 80+ theaters in Quebec.
But that's only some of the time. Most times, even if the movie has some
commerical value, the distributor won't do a thing? Why? See, when a
Canadian distributor picks up a Canadian movie, they are only at risk
for 25% of their investment. This is meant to encourage distributors to
pick up Canadian films. However, with them being protected so much, they
have no incentive to push Canadian films. So a quick release to a couple
of theaters, then dumping the movie on video and pay TV will give them a
small profit at taxpayers' expense. This is why even big distributors
like Alliance-Atlantis - which could easily afford on their own many of
the movies they make - won't push the movies they make, and are content
to continue to beg for subsidies.
What could be done? Well, a tax shelter system could work. It's true the
previous one didn't work, but that's because it was filled with flaws.
For example, people using the tax shelter system were forbidden to sell
the rights to a movie before it was made. Anyone in the film business
can tell you that it's usually easier to sell a movie *before* it was
made. That's why so many tax shelter movies never got released.
Germany managed to revitalize its film industry, after years of making
unpopular and heavy art movies, with their own tax shelter system.
Recently, after several years of Brazilian movies only taking 2% of the
annual box office (despite quotas), Brazil introduced a tax shelter
system that's made several domestic hits. Canada could get some ideas
from these particular tax shelter systems.
If it makes you feel better, later this summer there will be a Canadian
action movie in theaters, THE ART OF WAR. Though it stars American actor
Wesley Snipes, it's directed by Canadian director Christian Duguay and a
production by Filmline (a Canadian company). The few reports I've heard
so far indicate it's actually pretty good, which I'm inclined to believe
because Duguay has previously made some fairly good genre movies.
To respond, substitute "spam" with "coastnet".
-----------------------------------
Visit The Unknown Movies Page!
http://www.coastnet.com/~greywizard
-----------------------------------
Because one "Porky's" was enough.
(Greywizard, is that you?)
Norm Wilner
Starweek Magazine
www.chapters.ca/wilner/
Neither do the Brits or the Australians, yet their movies do fairly well
both in their countries and abroad.
--
No, but if you want, Norm, I can write a similar post if you want to get
into another scintillating debate :-)
> I'd be really happy if Canada made a movie that was a big hit, and
> people from British Columbia to Newfoundland rushed to see it. I think
> it would give us a big sense of pride. But Canadian moviemakers can't
> seem to make such a movie. Why?
Have you seen NEW WATERFORD GIRL or TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN? Both are
entertaining, accessible films that the huge brigade of "why do Canadians
only make art movies about weird sex?" complainers might actually enjoy.
(Do other countries have such an - often unwarranted, I think - inferiority
complex about their own cinema? Will the Canadian one go away if Miramax
picks up Atom Egoyan's next film for $10 million? How about if Fox buys the
American TV rights to TWITCH CITY?)
--
Remove "no spam" to reply.
http://home.earthlink.net/~steevee
Might enjoy, yes - if more Canadians actually saw them. Both movies have
got great reviews, and NWG is at least doing some business, though its
distributor doesn't seem to want to expand its release that much. And
TOTFC - how long did it last? Did it even come to Vancouver? (It only
came to Victoria for one day.)
>(Do other countries have such an - often unwarranted, I think -
inferiority
>complex about their own cinema?
(Snip)
I did hear that in the Netherlands and in Denmark, audiences in general
shun domestic films. I remember reading an interview a few years ago
with the Dutch director who had won the best foreign language film Oscar
lamenting that despite the great reviews the movies of his country films
kept getting, the citizens just didn't want to see them. That was a few
years ago - things might have changed.
I also remember reading in Variety a few years ago about films in
Venezuela. The article mentioned the typically bad performance domestic
movies do there. In that particular year, ten Venezualian movies were
made - nine immediately died, and the tenth one (the only commerical
one) which did mild business was a Salsa musical aimed at teenagers.
Again, that was several years ago.
Because Canadians tend to make intelligent films, and intelligent
films are not "big hits." Case in point: "Titanic" earns ninety
gazillion dollars and wins the Best Picture Oscar the same year "The
Sweet Hereafter" is released.
-----
Lorne
Last two movies seen, rated out of four:
The Adventures Of Rocky and Bullwinkle (*1/2)
My, Myself & Irene (**)
* To reply, remove the second "o" (between the "d" and "g").
Kraft Dinner's not our national food?
Not all Americans :)
Anyone who's read Reid Fleming (World's Toughest Milkman) or Heartbreak City
can tell you Kraft Dinner is definitely a Canadian staple food.
Whatever happened to the plans for the Reid Fleming movie?
Hour wrote in message <3Xx85.47018$mP2.2...@newscontent-01.sprint.ca>...
>Maybe Canadian movie companies should actually make good movies that
>CANADIANS want to watch, rather than homosexual art movies that are
supposed
>to try to give Canadians some kind of common culture(?) that we don't have
>nor want. Look I'm Canadian and I admit: CANADA HAS NO REAL CULTURE. We
>don't even really have our own national food. So if they're going to make
>movies and waste money on them they might as well make movies Canadians
will
>like and hey, who knows, maybe one day they will become well known and
>classics.
>
>
>max_t...@my-deja.com wrote in message <8ju45b$a5r$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>...
>>I'd be really happy if Canada made a movie that was a big hit, and
>>people from British Columbia to Newfoundland rushed to see it. I think
>>it would give us a big sense of pride. But Canadian moviemakers can't
>>seem to make such a movie. Why?
>>
>>
: Because Canadians tend to make intelligent films, and intelligent
: films are not "big hits." Case in point: "Titanic" earns ninety
: gazillion dollars and wins the Best Picture Oscar the same year "The
: Sweet Hereafter" is released.
: -----
: Lorne
I agree, though it somewhat undermines your point when your realize that
it was directed by a Canadian, and at least some of it was filmed here as
well...
Hans
> In article <3xA85.114910$7o1.2...@news2.rdc1.on.home.com>,
> "Norman Wilner" <xnwi...@xhome.xcom> wrote:
> > "Hour" <sha...@sprint.ca> wrote in message
> > news:3Xx85.47018$mP2.2...@newscontent-01.sprint.ca...
> > >
> > > Maybe Canadian movie companies should actually make
> > > good movies that CANADIANS want to watch, rather than
> > > homosexual art movies that are supposed to try to give
> > > Canadians some kind of common culture(?) that we don't
> > > have nor want. Look I'm Canadian and I admit: CANADA
> > > HAS NO REAL CULTURE. We don't even really have our
> > > own national food. So if they're going to make movies and
> > > waste money on them they might as well make movies
> > > Canadians will like and hey, who knows, maybe one day
> > > they will become well known and classics.
> >
> > Kraft Dinner's not our national food?
> >
> > Norm Wilner
> > Starweek Magazine
> > www.chapters.ca/wilner/
> >
> >
> Right now hundreds of Americans are going "huh?".
I'm only sort of going "huh." Kraft Macaroni & Cheese is ubiqutious in the
U.S., so I'd tend to think of back bacon when I think of Canadianb food.
And several New York restaurants serve poutine under the name "disco
fries."
Yeah, but we've disowned the asshole. :)
- According to IMDB, Dan Monahan was Pee Wee in "Porky's"
- Peter MacNicol plays Cage on "Ally McBeal"
CaNeMa wrote:
> While were on the subject of Porky's. There was a character on there
> called Pee Wee. Is he also a main character on Ally McBeal?
> Unfortunately I do not watch the show enough to know what the name of
> the character is on the show. But do you kbow who I mean???
>
> DavidC
> Please remove NOSPAM.PLEASE from address to reply via e-mail
> Thank you!
>>Have you seen NEW WATERFORD GIRL or TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN? Both are
>>entertaining, accessible films that the huge brigade of "why do
>>Canadians only make art movies about weird sex?" complainers might
>>actually enjoy.
>Might enjoy, yes - if more Canadians actually saw them. Both movies have
>got great reviews, and NWG is at least doing some business, though its
>distributor doesn't seem to want to expand its release that much. And
>TOTFC - how long did it last? Did it even come to Vancouver? (It only
>came to Victoria for one day.)
I was kind of puzzled by what happened with FOOD CHAIN's release (even
though it got more publicity than any other Red Sky film I can think
of). It did run for three weeks or so in Vancouver theatres, plus the
usual subsequent appearances at rep houses, but this happened several
months after its Vancouver sneak preview and a concomitant ad campaign
on the Space cable channel. I have no idea what caused the delay,
which couldn't have helped the movie's prospects. Too bad, 'cause it's
hilarious. "I think that's her pancreas ... yeah, there's the islet of
Langerhans."
TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN and NEW WATERFORD GIRL both got Telefilm Canada
filming, incidentally.
--
Matthew Butcher | Darlin', I'm not tongue-tied, but I've got a
but...@math.ubc.ca | vacuum cleaner in my head. -- Pere Ubu
><max_t...@my-deja.com> wrote in message
>news:8ju45b$a5r$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
>>
>> I'd be really happy if Canada made a movie that was
>> a big hit, and people from British Columbia to Newfoundland
>> rushed to see it. I think it would give us a big sense of pride.
>> But Canadian moviemakers can't seem to make such a
>> movie. Why?
>
>Because one "Porky's" was enough.
>
While were on the subject of Porky's. There was a character on there
That's Dan Monahan, but he's not a member of the cast of "Ally McBeal".
>Yes and I can see why you might think are the same person.
>
>- According to IMDB, Dan Monahan was Pee Wee in "Porky's"
>- Peter MacNicol plays Cage on "Ally McBeal"
>
Thank you very much for that. It's one of those things that kept
nagging me. Unfortunately I lost a bet with my wife, but even worst,
the bet involved sex.
Steve Erickson wrote in message ...
>In article <8juqkq$q19$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>, Bjorn Olson
><bemy...@my-deja.com> wrote:
>
>> In article <3xA85.114910$7o1.2...@news2.rdc1.on.home.com>,
>> "Norman Wilner" <xnwi...@xhome.xcom> wrote:
>> > "Hour" <sha...@sprint.ca> wrote in message
>> > news:3Xx85.47018$mP2.2...@newscontent-01.sprint.ca...
>> > >
>> > > Maybe Canadian movie companies should actually make
>> > > good movies that CANADIANS want to watch, rather than
>> > > homosexual art movies that are supposed to try to give
>> > > Canadians some kind of common culture(?) that we don't
>> > > have nor want. Look I'm Canadian and I admit: CANADA
>> > > HAS NO REAL CULTURE. We don't even really have our
>> > > own national food. So if they're going to make movies and
>> > > waste money on them they might as well make movies
>> > > Canadians will like and hey, who knows, maybe one day
>> > > they will become well known and classics.
>> >
>> > Kraft Dinner's not our national food?
>> >
>> > Norm Wilner
>> > Starweek Magazine
>> > www.chapters.ca/wilner/
>> >
>> >
>> Right now hundreds of Americans are going "huh?".
>
>I'm only sort of going "huh." Kraft Macaroni & Cheese is ubiqutious in the
>U.S., so I'd tend to think of back bacon when I think of Canadianb food.
>And several New York restaurants serve poutine under the name "disco
>fries."
>
>
Can't remember the last time I had back bacon (though I don't eat that much
meat anyway), but I had Kraft Dinner two nights ago. I think as a nation we
are kind of obsessed with Kraft Dinner, I like it, but I only eat it when
there's nothing else around. I guess it's part of our national inferiority
complex that we have adopted something so cheap and unadorned as our
national food.
As proof that Kraft Dinner is more than just food, during student
demonstrations re: tuition costs it is often used as a prop to signify the
poverty of the average student lifestyle. The more Kraft Dinner that gets
thrown around, the better your protest.
BTW, the next time you visit Canada, don't call it Kraft Macaroni & Cheese
or people will look at you funny.
--
Bjorn "It's good with barbeque sauce" Olson
Very good point. Another factor is the peculiar notion of national
identity that we have in Canada. Those who call themselves "Canadian
nationalists", whose numbers tend to include the aforementioned
cultural bureaucrats, define Canada by its *differences* from the
United States. These so-called nationalists are simply socialists who
have found upon a convenient stone (the U.S.) to grind their
ideological axe upon. To be Canadian, in their view, is not to be
American. Anything which opposes or rejects American values,
therefore, is to be embraced by Canadians, or so these elites tell us.
The American film industry is driven by commerce and the notion of
popular entertainment. Thus, Canadian cinema, in order to distinguish
itself from the evil American cultural imperialists, must reject
commercialism and mass appeal, and instead reflect the values of the
film-making community and the arts bureaucrats who hold the purse
strings on the subsidies.
> It's ironic that, in general, the movies Telefilm decides to
subsidize
> in an aim to push Canadian culture actually get Canadians to shun
them
> and think less of their country - giving the opposite effect. Yes,
many
> of these movies may get critical acclaim, but the average Canadian
> moviegoer probably thinks something like, "What's so entertaining
about
> lesbian angst (or some other subject they can't relate to)? And
what's
> Canadian about that?" Not only do they not see the movies as
> entertaining, most Canadians can't relate to them.
Forgive the stereotyping, but imagine if the people who wrote and
performed in musical theatre didn't have to worry about selling tickets
to anyone, and were free to indulge their own interests and tastes
without worrying about what the audience would think. That's what the
Canadian film industry is like.
Cy
But more importantly we do a lot of things well, if not better than many
other top nations.. I'd take a steak, fish or lobster dinner done in
Montreal over anything I've had in London, Paris, Amsterdam or Rome. We do
it better, cheaper and tastier with less crap sauces trying to hide the fact
European steak & fish just are not as good. Service here is better, more
polite and with more class. You have to pay a fortune in a top Euro bistro
to get the same level of service and food we get on average at home. The
only good steak I've had in Europe was in an Argentinean restaurant in
Amsterdam. Skiing in BC is world class. Bombardier's CRJ Regional Jet
broke ground for world airlines and is among the most innovative changes to
hit the airline industry in years. Airlines all over the globe have bought
them and competitors in Brazil & Germany have come out with similar models
but only after ours came out first. Then there's TV & Entertainment -
Canadian comedy, comic TV shows (This Hour Has 22 minutes, Kids in the Hall
etc) and comedians (Candy, Akroyd, Carvey, Carey, Meyers etc...) match or
beat everyone world-wide... Singers: Morissette, Dion, Twain, Adams...
Newscasters like Peter Jennnings and countless reporters and show hosts
dominate US television and like all the other categories we can match the
world's best.. There aren't many countries outside the G8 group that have
the same range and scope as we do... not to say other countries are not good
at things, they are of course, but so are we... except maybe for movies we
really do not excel. Montreal, Toronto & Vancouver serve as great backdrops
as US cities, or even European cities.. Canadian actors & directors are
prominent in US productions but within the scope of a "foreign" film
production. One typical Canadian national identifier is the lack of funds we
have to promote truly Canadian oriented movies. our market is too small and
our budgets too tight. Distribution is hard for Canadian film producers
within Canada let alone globally. Let's face it, most English-speaking
movies we all see usually are stories that take place within American,
British or "European" settings. How often do we see other great countries
like Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, India or Brazil on Canadian
cinemas.. not very unless it's a film festival. I suspect that most English
speaking countries have the same "problem", if you want to label it as one.
Oddly enough, French Canada is technically more "Canadian-oriented" than
English Canada as most francophones here feed on Quebec oriented material,
from movies, tv, music right down to music videos.
It will take a US production using Montreal, Toronto or Vancouver as the
actual setting of a blockbuster US movie before we begin demanding more of
the same quality from Canadian producers... It may happen one day who
knows.. As for that inferiority complex.. forget it, it doesn't exist
anymore.. we're good at what we do even if the rest of the world doesn't
know or care.. they watch us, use our products, fly in our jets, eat our
food and idolise our celebrities often without even realising it.
(snip)
> Then there's TV & Entertainment -
> Canadian comedy, comic TV shows (This Hour Has 22 minutes, Kids in
> the Hall
> etc) and comedians (Candy, Akroyd, Carvey, Carey, Meyers etc...)
> match or
> beat everyone world-wide... Singers: Morissette, Dion, Twain,
> Adams...
> Newscasters like Peter Jennnings and countless reporters and show
> hosts
> dominate US television and like all the other categories we can match
> the
> world's best..
I'm certainly not arguing that Canadian talent has flooded the global
market (though the relative merits of said talent are certainly up for
debate), that's pretty obvious.
You pretty much hit the nail on the head right there. For some reason
we do feel that the rest of the world, specifically America, should
care. That amusing, but fairly ridiculous "Joe Canadian" commercial,
and the bizzare offshoots thereof, is symptomatic of a national feeling
that we are constantly being overshadowed, when we really aren't. So
what if most Americans are clueless when it comes to Canada, if you
lived in the "world's mightiest nation", would you go out of your way
to learn about your wee neighbors to the north? It's time to realise
that The Excited States of America has better things to do than wonder
what we're up to.
> I'm certainly not arguing that Canadian talent has flooded the global
> market (though the relative merits of said talent are certainly up for
> debate), that's pretty obvious.
I agree. I might add that the US has thrown a lot of questionable talent on
the world stage too. It think it's the nature of the beast (mass market
entertainment).
> You pretty much hit the nail on the head right there. For some reason
> we do feel that the rest of the world, specifically America, should
> care. That amusing, but fairly ridiculous "Joe Canadian" commercial,
> and the bizzare offshoots thereof, is symptomatic of a national feeling
> that we are constantly being overshadowed, when we really aren't. So
> what if most Americans are clueless when it comes to Canada, if you
> lived in the "world's mightiest nation", would you go out of your way
> to learn about your wee neighbors to the north? It's time to realise
> that The Excited States of America has better things to do than wonder
> what we're up to.
If there is any "inferiority" left in us it's exactly what you pointed
out... need to be recognised by Americans.. why, I do not know? I certainly
could care less if they care about us or not. In entertainment they produce
a lot of crap and a few great shows/movies/music.. I guess on a percentage
basis the same as everyone else except physically more of it.. They have
their own star system, their own "Royalty" to idolise, even if it
unknowingly includes some of us... they are a completely self contained
nation who sees no need to go beyond it's borders for essentials.. so is it
so surprising they don't recognise Canadians in amongst them..? Maybe it's
partly our own fault for not making it known. (I know Celine Dion went on
and on about her growing up in Quebec with her 100 brothers and sisters in a
one room bathroom but hey, in the end everyone knew she was from Quebec
and/or Canada. It's just now Americans think we breed kids like ducks and
live in one room bathrooms!) Is it not surprising Canadians to go the US
where they can make more money in their own profession? So in the end Mr
Joe Nebraska sits on the US made couch, watches his Japanese TV while
drinking US beer, his Chevrolet sitting in his driveway, digesting a big US
T-Bone steak waiting to watch Jerry Springer.. not much need for French
wine, Italian suits, Belgium Beer and, gulp, Canadian bacon.. ok, that's not
every American of course.. it actually fits the role of Mr. Joe Manitoba too
(ok, substitute the Chevrolet for a Honda, the beer for a Molson and
Canadian Bacon for...er, bacon eh?). We can be thankful we can get PBS, HBO
& Show Case.. catch some quality foreign imports while still keeping an eye
on some US mass market gems (Frasier, Judge Judy?) and enjoy the best Canada
has to offer as well.. actually when you think of it, we have the best of
both worlds.. why screw it up by letting everyone down south know :) ?
caribb wrote:
Mr. Caribb. With all of that, you left out a very, very important fact.
Canadian Beer is just so damn much better than the American national brands. (I
wont even drink Budweiser when its free). But, some of our microbreweries are
absolutely world class. I have been to Vancouver Island, I have been on the
Canadian side of Niagara. When you get away from the Falls, the country is
gorgeous. Niagara on the Lake is the most beautiful little town I have ever
seen. Vancouver Island is a marvelous place. Canada's got a lot going for it.
You should be proud.
Bob ( in California. We do have better wines here.)
I agree with the beer comment except the best is in the Benelux hands down.
Just a note of interest, Canadian microbreweries are also making a big
splash up here too.. nice trend. Vancouver Island is great especially the
ferry ride from Vancouver through the islands. The Rockies are also
breathtaking. Niagara falls themselves are spectacular although I prefer the
American side to the Canadian . The Canadian side was so tacky it was
disgusting.
I am proud but I also love much of the US too.. I agree, California wine
is world class and nothing beats a trip to the Adirondaks in autumn when the
leaves are every shade or red yellow and orange. Now.. how do we capture all
this beauty on film and make it sell? :)
caribb wrote:
Have you ever been to the High Sierras in California? We have a few places up
here that are breathtaking in their beauty, and unique in the world. Lake Tahoe
is a gorgeous alpine lake, and is a very large lake, and the Yosemite Valley is
something of utter grandeur. Without trying to come off as religious, (which I
am not), the Yosemite Valley is one of Gods finest works on this planet.
Spectacular, and utterly unique. There's more of Canada I want to see, and more
Canadian beers I want to try. I brought home 60 cans last time. My neighbors
and friends, with whom I shared, could not believe how good it was.
Bob
> I'd be really happy if Canada made a movie that was a big hit, and
> people from British Columbia to Newfoundland rushed to see it. I think
> it would give us a big sense of pride. But Canadian moviemakers can't
> seem to make such a movie. Why?
Did you miss Titanic? The biggest movie in history was made by a Canadian
moviemaker...James Cameron.
I think people confuse our unwillingness to brag about every little thing we do with inferority
complexes.
* Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet's Discussion Network *
The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet - Free!
bp
In article <Umsa5.68634$aO5.5...@news1.sshe1.sk.home.com>,
beepers wrote:
> Canadians most definitely do have a culture. There was even a TV series based
> on the premise of there being a difference between them and Murrkins -
> remember Due South (wish they'd make another series, in fact)? The
> difference between Canadians and their neighbours just a few kilometres over
> the border is palpable. There are no doubt numerous exceptions, but language
> in Canada seems to be more 'polite' (it still surprises me to hear Americans
> walk up to a bar and say 'gimme a beer' - no 'please'!) but the people are
> more relaxed than in the US - less hostility lurking below the surface, or so
> it feels. Perhaps Canadians, like Aussies, are a bit repressed in that
> department, but frankly, that can be easier to live with than in-your-face
> assertiveness. I'm sick of attitude. In Canada, our (Aussie) jokes are more
> likely to be understood than in the US. And Canada's one of the few places I
> think I could live in if I had to leave Oz. Kraft Dinner sounds vile, but
> Canadians have great fish, some good films (I've seen Jesus of Montreal quite
> a few times), cute vowels and fantastic scenery. It's just *so* bloody cold!
Of course, Canada does not have a neighbor nation making continuous insulting
remarks about it.
Bob
>
>
>
See, now, DUE SOUTH is the kind of Canadiana that makes me nauseous. I
don't find it particularly clever when a TV show says "Look we're
DIFFERENT we're UNIQUE we're DISTINCT, isn't it funny?" Well, yeah we
are different but cliches about us being faultlessly polite etcetera
don't exactly help matters. The point is we're not that different, and
until many Americans realise that they're not going to stop treating us
like pets. Sure we're cute and cuddly, but we're certainly not allowed
at the dinner table.
--
Bjorn Olson
bemy...@freeze.com
"I know who gaza is -- he is an unusually bright troll though and
actually makes the occasional intelligent comment when he's not
flicking thought boogers into the cyberwind."
-John Harkness
Didn't Canadian Bacon destroy all of those cliches? ;-)
--
"We are the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world."
You have, it's common name is "Ham." It's only called Canadian
Bacon when placed on a pizza. Please don't ask me why, I don't
know. I figured it was to differentiate from Backbacon....
Robb
-----------------------------------------------------------
Got questions? Get answers over the phone at Keen.com.
Up to 100 minutes free!
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Oh my god! Lyle just invited "Helen & Bob" to Vancouver. If you do
come, please do it next week while I'm in L.A. :)
-----
Lorne
Last three movies seen, rated out of four:
Chicken Run (***)
Lorne wrote:
> "Lyle Gardiner" wrote:
> >Hi Helen & Bob,
> > I know it's a long way from Austrilia to Canada, but it isn't all cold,
> >even in the winter here in Vancouver the weather rarely falls below
> >freezing, we do get a lot of rain though.
> > If you ever come to Canada, do visit the 'west coast.
>
> Oh my god! Lyle just invited "Helen & Bob" to Vancouver. If you do
> come, please do it next week while I'm in L.A. :)
> -----
> Lorne
>
1. I'm not from Australia. Somebody has the impression that I am.
2. I've been to Vancouver Island. Absolutely glorious. Marvelous, nice
friendly people, with no snide remarks about Americans (unlike some on this ng),
delightful restaurants, The gardens, etc. A delightful vacation.
3. I've been to the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. Of course, near the falls
its tacky, as is the American side. But, about 20 miles east of the falls is the
town of Niagara on the Lake. That is one (if not THE) most beautiful little
towns I have ever seen. I swear, I thought it was a movie set. Had dinner at
the Prince Albert Hotel. Delightful.
4. Canadians, you lucky ducks. Your beers are so much better than American
national brands. (although we do have some micro breweries that will give you a
run for the money on quality)
5. All in all, what I have seen of Canada is beautiful. Love it.
Bob
[snipped, eh?]
>And Canada's one of the few places I
>think I could live in if I had to leave Oz. Kraft Dinner sounds vile, but
>Canadians have great fish, some good films (I've seen Jesus of Montreal quite
>a few times), cute vowels and fantastic scenery. It's just *so* bloody cold!
>
27 C here in Toronto today.. The central air conditioning's been
running non-stop for a month-and-a-half.. What in the world do you
call *hot*?
>>> > "Hour" <sha...@sprint.ca> wrote in message
>>> > news:3Xx85.47018$mP2.2...@newscontent-01.sprint.ca...
[snip]
>>>> > > Look I'm Canadian and I admit: CANADA
>>>> > > HAS NO REAL CULTURE.
>I think people confuse our unwillingness to brag about every little thing we do with inferority
>complexes.
That's part of our CULTURE. Guess SOME people can't see the forest
for the trees. =\
If you lined up 99 Americans and 1 Canadian, I could pick out the
Canadian every time no prob. No culture, my ass. =b
>In article <8kfl39$skb$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,
> Bjorn Olson <bemy...@my-deja.com> wrote:
>> In article <396b...@newshost.pcug.org.au>,
>> bpo...@pcug.org.au (beepers) wrote:
>> >
>> > Canadians most definitely do have a culture. There was even a TV
>> > series based
>> > on the premise of there being a difference between them and Murrkins
>> > remember Due South (wish they'd make another series, in fact)?
>>
>> See, now, DUE SOUTH is the kind of Canadiana that makes me nauseous.
>>I don't find it particularly clever when a TV show says "Look we're
>> DIFFERENT we're UNIQUE we're DISTINCT, isn't it funny?" Well, yeah we
>> are different but cliches about us being faultlessly polite etcetera
>> don't exactly help matters. The point is we're not that different,
>>and until many Americans realise that they're not going to stop treating
>>us like pets. Sure we're cute and cuddly, but we're certainly not
>>allowed at the dinner table.
>
>Didn't Canadian Bacon destroy all of those cliches? ;-)
I think "The Canadian Conspiracy" did. =) Bwahahahahaha! What a
funny show!
>"caribb" <car...@videotron.ca> wrote:
>>Humm, National Inferiority complex?? I don't know what part of
>Canada you
>>live in but I don't feel we have a national inferiority
>complex. Yeah Kraft
>>Dinner is on my list of quickie dinners. At $0.99 each ($0.65
>USD) it's
>>definitely a cheap supper. I have never had "Canadian Bacon"
>whatever it is
>>or what American marketers think it is.. if anyone knows please
>let me know
>>because I may have had it under a more "Canadian" name.
>>
>
>You have, it's common name is "Ham." It's only called Canadian
>Bacon when placed on a pizza. Please don't ask me why, I don't
>know. I figured it was to differentiate from Backbacon....
>
>Robb
>
I thought Canadian Bacon *was* back bacon..
I thought "When Night is Falling" was excellent, and I do believe that
on video at least, "Anne of Green Gables" and "Anne of Avonlea" were
both big hits. Ok, so they were really public television episodes, but
they were better than most movies made these days.
I thought "Boys of St. Vincent" was a great film, though very intense
and sad.
I'm sure I've seen other good Canadian films. I just can't think of
what they are right now.
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~;-)
Moss
MossAgate gathers no rolling stones
[snip]
Quite a few American movies are so superficial and many are plain junk.
All women are beautiful in American movies and hardly any of them are
older women or women with full figures. In other words, American movies
offer a very limited range of beauty. In foreign films the people
really look like people you would see everyday, not beauty queens.
In American movies 'babes' are totally willing to go out with short,
chubby, bald men. But 'hunks' in American movies wouldn't be caught
dead with short, chubby, a-cup women.
In American movies there is little gray area as the 'good guys' are
exceptionally good and the 'bad guys' are just plain evil. Foreign
films offer more nuances in characterizations.
American movies are fantasies played as reality. Foreign films actually
have a handle on realism.
I realize that the above are generalizations and there are some very
good exceptions to this rule, like just about any movie directed by
Robert Altman, as one example.
Moss
> I have never had "Canadian Bacon" whatever it is
>or what American marketers think it is.. if anyone knows please let me know
>because I may have had it under a more "Canadian" name.
The renouned experts on matters Canadian, Bob & Doug McKenzie referred
to it as "back bacon"
rw
"Porky's" is on the discount shelf at Best Buy.
rw
It's odd that a Canadian star in an otherwise American production
won't give it any Canadian tinge, while at the same time a Canadian
production featuring an American star will still be an American movie in
most people's minds. The quintessential hokey American flagwaver movie of
the '80's, the first Rambo movie, was shot in British Columbia by a
Canadian director and adapted from a book by a native of Kitchener,
Ontario. Does this make it a Canadian movie?
By all means, then, come to Canada! It seems to be the one place to
quell your cantankerousness (is that even a word)? :)
He's the one without the handgun. :)
"A song is a beautiful lie"
Visit Wonderland: http://members.aol.com/grungebunny13/index.html
You put on the air-conditioning at home for 27 C??
As to what's hot, well this town (Canberra) rarely gets over 39 - 40 C - we
are the highest altitude city in Aus. My old hometown (Adelaide) has been
known to hit 47 C, especially when El Nino's in town. I think the coldest I've
known it here Canberra is minus 8 C overnight in winter. Yes, Canada is
cold. Most Aussies just can't imagine what your winters feel like, until
they've been in something similar. I did strike a real warm early April in
Ottawa a couple of years back - bought a nice coat on special ;-). Coats -
another thing Canada does well! We do swimsuits, you do coats . .
In article <oabsmsc5lkhu30qlc...@4ax.com>, Doonie
>"caribb" <car...@videotron.ca> writes:
If we have that settled, the English don't eat anything they call
English muffins and the French don't eat anything they call French
fries. What do the Canadians call them?
Chinese fortune cookies, like chop suey, are an American invention.
What do Canadians call them?
rw
Good one...I think. Barenaked Ladies reference?
j.t.
--
Bjorn Olson
Not really, no -- Kraft Dinner was our unofficial national food long before
"If I Had $1,000,000" put it on the world stage.
Lorne wrote:
> Helen & Bob wrote:
> >Lorne wrote:
> >> "Lyle Gardiner" wrote:
> >> >Hi Helen & Bob,
> >> > I know it's a long way from Austrilia to Canada, but it isn't all cold,
> >> >even in the winter here in Vancouver the weather rarely falls below
> >> >freezing, we do get a lot of rain though.
> >> > If you ever come to Canada, do visit the 'west coast.
> >>
> >> Oh my god! Lyle just invited "Helen & Bob" to Vancouver. If you do
> >> come, please do it next week while I'm in L.A. :)
> >
> >1. I'm not from Australia. Somebody has the impression that I am.
> >2. I've been to Vancouver Island. Absolutely glorious. Marvelous, nice
> >friendly people, with no snide remarks about Americans (unlike some on this ng),
> >delightful restaurants, The gardens, etc. A delightful vacation.
> >3. I've been to the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. Of course, near the falls
> >its tacky, as is the American side. But, about 20 miles east of the falls is the
> >town of Niagara on the Lake. That is one (if not THE) most beautiful little
> >towns I have ever seen. I swear, I thought it was a movie set. Had dinner at
> >the Prince Albert Hotel. Delightful.
> >
> >4. Canadians, you lucky ducks. Your beers are so much better than American
> >national brands. (although we do have some micro breweries that will give you a
> >run for the money on quality)
> >
> >5. All in all, what I have seen of Canada is beautiful. Love it.
>
> By all means, then, come to Canada! It seems to be the one place to
> quell your cantankerousness (is that even a word)? :)
> -----
> Lorne
Lorne, I'm not cantankerous, I'm a pussy cat. The problem is, I try to be honest, and
tell the truth. (Or at least, as I see it). I guess my problem is that I am not a
knee=jerk hater. (except for certain forms of music. REALLY get pissed off at the
idiots driving around at 3 AM with the big speaker in their cars going BOOM,
BOOM-BOOM, and you can hear it 4 blocks away.)
Bob
> > Lorne
>
> Lorne, I'm not cantankerous, I'm a pussy cat. The problem is, I try to be
honest, and
> tell the truth. (Or at least, as I see it). I guess my problem is that I
am not a
> knee=jerk hater. (except for certain forms of music. REALLY get pissed
off at the
> idiots driving around at 3 AM with the big speaker in their cars going
BOOM,
> BOOM-BOOM, and you can hear it 4 blocks away.)
> Bob
>
That's why I introduced legislation this year in the Michigan House of
Representatives to give local communities the right to regulate the (I
agree) obnoxious noise you describe. It's got nothing to do with movies,
but since the issue came up, I felt obligated to respond. Unfortunately,
the bill is bottled up in committee, despite being co-sponsored by well over
50% of the House membership.
(And isn't it comforting (ha-ha) to know stereo dealers are now selling DVD
equipment/monitors for front seat drivers and passengers? Not a good move
for those who are driving.)
Doug
Dude, seriously, you've got to stop watching "90210".
Bill <g>
What about Canadian bacon, eh?
Bill <g>
> > > We don't even really have our
> > > own national food. So if they're going to make movies and
> > > waste money on them they might as well make movies
> > > Canadians will like and hey, who knows, maybe one day
> > > they will become well known and classics.
> >
> > Kraft Dinner's not our national food?
> >
> > Norm Wilner
> > Starweek Magazine
> > www.chapters.ca/wilner/
> >
> >
> Right now hundreds of Americans are going "huh?".
Not the ones who listen to Bare, Naked Ladies.
Bill
IIRC the English referred to syphilis as the "French disease" for years
(and maybe still do).
Bill
True, but they also caused a bloody war (enjoyed seeing the Baldwin
bros. bombed, however).
Bill <G>
Can't believe you omitted Joni Mitchell & Neil Young!
Now, how about a list of talented Canadian musicians who *haven't* moved
to the States?
Bill :-)
The Tragically Hip and Sloan top my list. If you're looking for jazz, try Holly Cole.