Where are popular Canadian movies?
Hour
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$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>...
>I'd be really happy if Canada made a movie that was a big hit, and
>people from British Columbia to Newfoundland rushed to see it. I think
>it would give us a big sense of pride. But Canadian moviemakers can't
>seem to make such a movie. Why?
>
>
>Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
>Before you buy.
max_t...@my-deja.com
ania
> I'd be really happy if Canada made a movie that was a big hit, and
> people from British Columbia to Newfoundland rushed to see it. I think
> it would give us a big sense of pride. But Canadian moviemakers can't
> seem to make such a movie. Why?
because canadians dont seem to have that mainstream hollywood
mentality. and thank god for small mercies.
ania
--
~ seeeeeeeyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ~
ania
max_t...@my-deja.com
comes to something the Americans do better. I think we'd be better off
if we DID SOMETHING instead of just spouting off the same old
crappy, "Nothing's wrong, we're cool, they are just idiots!" reply.
In article <8ju52a$asd$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,
ania
in the US doesnt make it less valuable or worth while. to the contrary
in fact. unfortuantely hollywood has become just one big fat sausage
factory - same old same old... formulas and stereotypes left right and
centre. boring, predictable and fucking annoying.
canadian films do well in europe and in australia. thats SOME
recognition isnt it?
seeya,
ania
--
~ seeeeeeeyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ~
ania
> 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 ~
ania
Greywizard
>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?
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
-----------------------------------
Norman Wilner
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.
(Greywizard, is that you?)
Norm Wilner
Starweek Magazine
www.chapters.ca/wilner/
Greywizard
>> 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?
>
>mentality. and thank god for small mercies.
Neither do the Brits or the Australians, yet their movies do fairly well
both in their countries and abroad.
--
Greywizard
>> 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?
>
>
>(Greywizard, is that you?)
No, but if you want, Norm, I can write a similar post if you want to get
into another scintillating debate :-)
Steve Erickson
> 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
Greywizard
>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.)
>(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.
Hot4Hose
>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?
Aren't you forgetting Asses of Fire?
Lorne
>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
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").
Manh Tuong Lewis Nguyen
: because canadians dont seem to have that mainstream hollywood
: mentality. and thank god for small mercies.
Sure we do. We just can't afford it.
Lewis.
Norman Wilner
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?
Bjorn Olson
--
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
Mark Towler
of Canadian Culture (I had enough of that while earning a degree in CanLit)
I'll insist that there IS a definable Canadian Culture that can be
recognized by Canadians. I'll quote Ebert on this: in his review of Last
Night he mentioned that a Canadian critic told him how you could tell it was
a Canadian movie. During the collapse of civilization, a woman walks into a
looted grocery store looking for wine. She finds two unsmashed bottles,
picks them both up and eventually decides on one. The other she puts back on
the shelf where she found it - that's how you know it's a Canadian 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$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>...
>>I'd be really happy if Canada made a movie that was a big hit, and
>>people from British Columbia to Newfoundland rushed to see it. I think
>>it would give us a big sense of pride. But Canadian moviemakers can't
>>seem to make such a movie. Why?
>>
>>
max_t...@my-deja.com
the end of the world did come, Canadians would act just as greedy and
destructive as Americans (or anyone else) would in the same situation.
In article <_0K85.3642$cc3....@news.magma.ca>,
"Mark Towler" <mto...@NOmagma.SPAMca> wrote:
> Recant , heretic! While I refuse to get into a discussion on the
definition
> of Canadian Culture (I had enough of that while earning a degree in
CanLit)
> I'll insist that there IS a definable Canadian Culture that can be
> recognized by Canadians. I'll quote Ebert on this: in his review of
Last
> Night he mentioned that a Canadian critic told him how you could tell
it was
> a Canadian movie. During the collapse of civilization, a woman walks
into a
> looted grocery store looking for wine. She finds two unsmashed
bottles,
> picks them both up and eventually decides on one. The other she puts
back on
> the shelf where she found it - that's how you know it's a Canadian
movie.
>
Hansel F Cook
: 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
Steve Erickson
<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."
Lorne
>Lorne wrote:
>: 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.
>
>it was directed by a Canadian, and at least some of it was filmed here as
>well...
Yeah, but we've disowned the asshole. :)
Dr. Strangelove
> <snipped>
>
> >(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.
The Dutch film Turks fruit (a.k.a. Turkish Delight) was nominated
for the 1974 Academy Award for "Best Foreign Language Film", and last
year it won the Nederlands Film Festival's Golden Calf award for
"Beste Nederlandse Film van de Eeuw" (Best Dutch Film of the Century).
Its director, Paul Verhoeven, stopped making films in the Netherlands
in the mid-1980s. I wonder what became of him? :-)
- Dr. Strangelove
P.S. For those who aren't already aware of this, Turkish Delight,
Business Is Business (OT: Wat zien ik?), The Fourth Man (OT: De vierde
man), A Girl Named Katy Tipple (OT: Keetje Tippel), and Soldier of
Orange (OT: Soldaat van Oranje) are being released by Anchor Bay on
both VHS and DVD; the tentatively scheduled month of release for all
of them is November of this year.
Dr. Strangelove
> 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?
Illinois has a population of over 12 million people - which is
about 2/5th of the size of Canada's population - and it is a
relatively prosperous place, yet what is the largest grossing film
ever made by an Illinois production company?
- Dr. Strangelove
Dr. Strangelove
> Lorne (lorn...@hotmail.com) wrote:
>
> : 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
Indeed, James "the Plagiarizer [of Harlan Ellison et al.]"
Cameron was born in the logging/mining town of Kapuskasing, Ontario,
and part of his film Titanic was shot in Halifax, Nova Scotia. RMS
Titanic sank approximately 600 miles southeast of Halifax;
consequently, a hundred and fifty of its dead are buried there, in
three cemeteries.
BTW, you neglected to mention that Titanic's Academy
Award-winning song "My Heart Will Go On" was performed by Canadian
chanteuse Céline Dion (born in Charlemagne, Québec). Of course, you
may have been trying to forget that this torturous song even exists,
in which case I sincerely apologize for having reminded you about it.
- Dr. Strangelove
sd...@ticnet.com
- 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!
Matthew Butcher
>Steve Erickson wrote:
>>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
RAnder3127
colourless, left-wing cranks (the Canadian
art's community). Fill their minds with the
idea the only film to make is an el cheapo
one room drama, or a socialist diatribe,
or a meditation on some aspect of
homosexuality (notice all the free entertainment newspapers in Toronto are
festooned with the gay lifestyle?)
mix literally with handouts from the federal government and voila! Movies of
no great merit or interest for the majority of people! What a suprise!
The odd director shines, but they haven't
the talent, or the imagination to do things on a large enough scale to attract
a mass audience. The only Canadian movie makers who seem to be able to compete
do it by adopting the U.S. model of film making and head south. Like it or
not, the
U.S. filmaking model dominates the world more and more. Their movies sell and
the smaller countries who are successful in this area are emulating the U.S.
The really sad thing is that while countries like France and England can
produce entertaining and thoughtful movies on a small scale, Canadian
filmakers are so lacking in dynamism, they can't even do that. For every
decent small Canadian movie there are a few that don't even rate being a play
at a local dinner theater.
Canadian movie "stars" are even worse.
If they don't hightail it to Hollywood, they become more boring as time goes
on,
eventually adopting a pretentious,
pseudo-English accent that they carry
to their dying day-in cheap regional plays.
-Rich
"Gasoline price increases are systematically destroying the longest running
economic boom in American history. The machinations of OPEC and the
environmental lobby (Gore the Bore) prove their ultimate goal is to hurt the
U.S."
CaNeMa
<xnwi...@xhome.xcom> wrote:
><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
Norman Wilner
news:7lq7ms0jp78k9qc7n...@4ax.com...
>
> 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???
That's Dan Monahan, but he's not a member of the cast of "Ally McBeal".
Robert Matthews
rande...@aol.com (RAnder3127) wrote:
> Let's see; Take a group of undertalented,
> colourless, left-wing cranks (the Canadian
> art's community). Fill their minds with the
> idea the only film to make is an el cheapo
> one room drama, or a socialist diatribe,
> or a meditation on some aspect of
> homosexuality (notice all the free entertainment newspapers in Toronto are
> festooned with the gay lifestyle?)
"The gay lifestyle"? It's a lifestyle, not a life, and there's only
one of them? So conversely, what's *the* heterosexual lifestyle: getting
married and having kids? Not getting married and being as promiscuous as
time and circumstances allow? Having kids without being married? Because
straight people do all these things and a million others, and here's a
clue--gay people do, too.
> mix literally with handouts from the federal government and voila! Movies of
> no great merit or interest for the majority of people! What a suprise!
> The odd director shines, but they haven't
> the talent, or the imagination to do things on a large enough scale to attract
> a mass audience.
And yet somehow Canadian filmmakers do manage to create movies that
are fascinating, watchable, and critically acclaimed, without having to
spend a hundred million dollars or more in the process. "Crash",
"Exotica", "The Red Violin", "Last Night", "The Five Senses", and "The
Sweet Hereafter" are only a few recent examples.
If all you demand from your movies is loud noises and shiny things,
then yes, you will probably be disappointed with Canadian movies.
> The only Canadian movie makers who seem to be able to compete
> do it by adopting the U.S. model of film making and head south. Like it or
> not, the
> U.S. filmaking model dominates the world more and more.
Yes, the "Lowest Common Deonominator" method of exporting popular
culture, from the nation that gave the world "Baywatch" and "Last Action
Hero".
Robert Matthews
Helen & Bob
Robert Matthews wrote:
Yes isn't it horrible. Terrible, terrible America, going all over the world and
stuffing that stuff down peoples throats. MAKING them go to the films, when they
don't even want to. Its really a crime that the horrible Americans aren't up to
YOUR height level of perfect taste. We really should make YOU the arbiter of good
taste and entertainment for the world. That would really improve everybody,
wouldn't it.
Bob
Dawn Taylor
>... notice all the free entertainment newspapers in Toronto are
>festooned with the gay lifestyle?
This query wouldn't be nearly as entertaining without the inclusuion
of the word "festooned".
Dawn
-----------------
"We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful what we pretend
to be." -- Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
tim gueguen
RAnder3127 <rande...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20000705214328...@ng-ch1.aol.com...
> Let's see; Take a group of undertalented,
> colourless, left-wing cranks (the Canadian
> art's community).
I'd call the Canadian arts community.
tim gueguen 101867
Robert Matthews
<chil...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
> Robert Matthews wrote:
>
> > In article <20000705214328...@ng-ch1.aol.com>,
> > rande...@aol.com (RAnder3127) wrote:
> > > The only Canadian movie makers who seem to be able to compete
> > > do it by adopting the U.S. model of film making and head south.
Like it or
> > > not, the
> > > U.S. filmaking model dominates the world more and more.
> >
> > Yes, the "Lowest Common Deonominator" method of exporting popular
> > culture, from the nation that gave the world "Baywatch" and "Last Action
> > Hero".
>
> Yes isn't it horrible. Terrible, terrible America, going all over the
world and
> stuffing that stuff down peoples throats. MAKING them go to the films,
when they
> don't even want to. Its really a crime that the horrible Americans
aren't up to
> YOUR height level of perfect taste. We really should make YOU the
arbiter of good
> taste and entertainment for the world. That would really improve everybody,
> wouldn't it.
Well, it obviously would improve *you*.
I wasn't trashing the entire country, which has also given us "Law &
Order" and "American Beauty". I was, as I said and which you obviously
couldn't understand, trashing the American lowest common denominator,
which has entirely dominated popular culture the world over.
Robert Matthews
CaNeMa
>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.
Helen & Bob
Robert Matthews wrote:
Seeing as the American film industry has films going all over the world, and that
at least half a films gross comes from overseas sales, perhaps they are catering
to the Worlds L.C.D.
Bob
Melville
Helen & Bob <chil...@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:396490EF...@ix.netcom.com...
>
>
> Robert Matthews wrote:
>
> > In article <20000705214328...@ng-ch1.aol.com>,
> > rande...@aol.com (RAnder3127) wrote:
> >
> > > colourless, left-wing cranks (the Canadian
> > > idea the only film to make is an el cheapo
> > > one room drama, or a socialist diatribe,
> > > or a meditation on some aspect of
are
> > > festooned with the gay lifestyle?)
> >
> > "The gay lifestyle"? It's a lifestyle, not a life, and there's only
> > one of them? So conversely, what's *the* heterosexual lifestyle: getting
> > married and having kids? Not getting married and being as promiscuous as
> > time and circumstances allow? Having kids without being married? Because
> > straight people do all these things and a million others, and here's a
> > clue--gay people do, too.
> >
> > > mix literally with handouts from the federal government and voila!
Movies of
> > > no great merit or interest for the majority of people! What a
suprise!
> > > The odd director shines, but they haven't
> > > the talent, or the imagination to do things on a large enough scale to
attract
> > > a mass audience.
> >
> > And yet somehow Canadian filmmakers do manage to create movies that
> > are fascinating, watchable, and critically acclaimed, without having to
> > spend a hundred million dollars or more in the process. "Crash",
> > "Exotica", "The Red Violin", "Last Night", "The Five Senses", and "The
> > Sweet Hereafter" are only a few recent examples.
> >
> > If all you demand from your movies is loud noises and shiny things,
> > then yes, you will probably be disappointed with Canadian movies.
> >
> > > do it by adopting the U.S. model of film making and head south. Like
it or
> > > not, the
> > > U.S. filmaking model dominates the world more and more.
> >
> > Yes, the "Lowest Common Deonominator" method of exporting popular
> > culture, from the nation that gave the world "Baywatch" and "Last Action
> > Hero".
> >
>
> Yes isn't it horrible. Terrible, terrible America, going all over the
world and
> stuffing that stuff down peoples throats. MAKING them go to the films,
when they
> don't even want to. Its really a crime that the horrible Americans
aren't up to
> YOUR height level of perfect taste. We really should make YOU the
arbiter of good
> taste and entertainment for the world. That would really improve
everybody,
> wouldn't it.
If we forced people to watch good films instead of this egocentric American
crap, yes, it probably would improve everybody.
Not you again, Bob? The "shoot and run" author of the newsgroup universe
who runs away from an argument as soon as he is backed into a corner. Are
you actually using the words "perfect taste" and "American movies" in the
same paragraph? Amazing! And you don't just stop there. Your post seems
to suggest that you actually think that American movies are the best simply
because the ignorant masses are willing to put down some money so they can
shut their brains off for a while. Unbelievable! Come back when you learn
what the term "Film" really means.
And by the way, the word is "high", not "height". I have never heard of a
"height level of taste".
Melville
P.S. I am usually not this aggressive, but their is something about your
arrogance or ignorance that really drives me nuts. Just because you say
"It's my opinion" does not make it right. Back it up with some proof.
Helen & Bob
Melville wrote:
> Helen & Bob <chil...@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
> news:396490EF...@ix.netcom.com...
> >
>
> >
> > Yes isn't it horrible. Terrible, terrible America, going all over the
> world and
> > stuffing that stuff down peoples throats. MAKING them go to the films,
> when they
> > don't even want to. Its really a crime that the horrible Americans
> aren't up to
> > YOUR height level of perfect taste. We really should make YOU the
> arbiter of good
> > taste and entertainment for the world. That would really improve
> everybody,
> > wouldn't it.
> > Bob
>
> If we forced people to watch good films instead of this egocentric American
> crap, yes, it probably would improve everybody.
>
> Not you again, Bob? The "shoot and run" author of the newsgroup universe
> who runs away from an argument as soon as he is backed into a corner. Are
> you actually using the words "perfect taste" and "American movies" in the
> same paragraph? Amazing!
Yes, but I did not say that American Movies are perfect taste. Why don't you go
back and READ what I said rather than making your usual knee-jerk, unthinking
response.
> And you don't just stop there. Your post seems
> to suggest that you actually think that American movies are the best simply
> because the ignorant masses are willing to put down some money so they can
> shut their brains off for a while.
Simply, that's not what I said, that's what you wish I had said. Then you might
have some justification for your otherwise ignorant statement. By the way, you
DO understand sarcasm, don't you?
You DON'T? Oh, that explains it.
> Unbelievable! Come back when you learn
> what the term "Film" really means.
>
> And by the way, the word is "high", not "height". I have never heard of a
> "height level of taste".
It implies the highest level. Of course, I am sure there's LOTS of things
you've never heard of.
>
>
> Melville
>
> P.S. I am usually not this aggressive, but their is something about your
> arrogance or ignorance that really drives me nuts. Just because you say
> "It's my opinion" does not make it right. Back it up with some proof.
How does one provide "proof" for an opinion??? I say that something is my
opinion, how I feel about something, it is by definition true that it is my
opinion. This in no way forces you to agree with my opinion. I would ask you
to voice an opinion on a subject, and then prove your opinion objectively. That
you dislike me is of no importance. I have no obligations to you, nor do you to
me. That you consider me ignorant is nothing more than your own wounded ego
jumping up. Careful, it may get you into trouble someday. I did notice that
you advocated FORCING people to watch "good" films. Zu Befehl,
Reichsfuehrer.
Bob
Bjorn Olson
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
Melville
And once again, Bob, you do not respond to what I have written, but
instead, you read into it what you want so you can attempt to sound
educated. You accuse me of claiming that you said "American movies are
perfect taste". Go back and read the paragraph, Bob. I said you used them
in the same paragraph. This, combined with your sarcastic tone (which I
did get, I just did not find it noteworthy) seems to suggest that American
movies are quality movies because people want to see them. Is this not
what you were implying? If it wasn't, please do us all a favour, and
explain what your point was.
>
> > And you don't just stop there. Your post seems
> > to suggest that you actually think that American movies are the best
simply
> > because the ignorant masses are willing to put down some money so they
can
> > shut their brains off for a while.
>
> Simply, that's not what I said, that's what you wish I had said. Then you
might
> have some justification for your otherwise ignorant statement. By the
way, you
> DO understand sarcasm, don't you?
> You DON'T? Oh, that explains it.
See above. I did not say that is what you said, I said your post "seems to
suggest". Slow down and read carefully, Bob.
>
> > Unbelievable! Come back when you learn
> > what the term "Film" really means.
> >
> > And by the way, the word is "high", not "height". I have never heard of
a
> > "height level of taste".
>
> It implies the highest level. Of course, I am sure there's LOTS of things
> you've never heard of.
No, it does not. At least not in the incorrect way you use it. "Height" is
a noun, and, therefore, should not be used in place of an adjective, like
"high". If you were to use it in a sentence such as "height of good
taste" that would be fine. This is something you should have learned in
grade 9 English.
Another thing you should have learned in Grade 9 English is that the verb
in a sentence should agree with the noun in the prepositional phrase:
"There's LOTS of things"--WRONG!!!
"Lots of things" - prepositional phrase.
"Things" - noun - plural.
Therefore, the correct version would be "Of course, I am sure there ARE lots
of things you've never heard of."
Obviously, there are a lot more BASIC things that you have never heard of
that you should brush up on before you get in a debate that is beyond
you.
And furthermore, there may be LOTS of things that I have never heard of,
but I have never attempted to say that I know everything and in the end
looked like a fool when I was wrong. That is the wonderful thing about the
internet. You can never really have so-called intelligent arguments,
because once one person knows they can no longer argue with someone, they
start throwing out misinformation, and if they are proven wrong, they simply
choose to no longer take part in the discussion rather than admit that they
were wrong. Hey, this sounds familiar. Haven't we been here before?
>
> >
> >
> > Melville
> >
> > P.S. I am usually not this aggressive, but their is something about your
> > arrogance or ignorance that really drives me nuts. Just because you
say
> > "It's my opinion" does not make it right. Back it up with some proof.
>
> How does one provide "proof" for an opinion??? I say that something is my
> opinion, how I feel about something, it is by definition true that it is
my
> opinion. This in no way forces you to agree with my opinion. I would ask
you
> to voice an opinion on a subject, and then prove your opinion objectively.
That
> you dislike me is of no importance. I have no obligations to you, nor do
you to
> me. That you consider me ignorant is nothing more than your own wounded
ego
> jumping up. Careful, it may get you into trouble someday. I did notice
that
> you advocated FORCING people to watch "good" films. Zu Befehl,
> Reichsfuehrer.
> Bob
>
>
Finally, in your last paragraph you have made a good point and I am a big
enough man to admit when I have made a mistake. Actually, I am not even
sure if it is a mistake or an assumption. You see, in our world today, we
seem to think that by simply inserting the words "In my opinion" we are on
solid ground and cannot be proven wrong. We value anyone who is willing to
stick their nose in somewhere and start babbling on without any
justification. This is an incredibly damaging trend (this is the opinion
part), as people no longer make an effort to read and discuss ideas (this
is the justification part) to discover whether their opinion is correct or
not, they simply state, "It is my opinion" and that is the end of it.
Therefore, I should not have written "opinion", I should have written
"educated opinion". Those of us with educated opinions understand the
difference.
By the way, my ego is not wounded. I enjoy a good debate. I just can't
stand it when misinformation rears its ugly head. Nice try with the Nazi
reference. I am guessing on this one, as this is one of the things that I
do not know a lot about. However, I do think it is another attempt by you
to move this discussion away from your weak argument.
Good luck with this one. And please don't run and hide again.
Melville
Melville
Helen & Bob
Melville wrote:
Ah yes, you did miss the point. My point was that people go to see them. I
anybody else makes better films, people will go to see them. Its called free
choice. I have not seen (in any volumes of production) better films than
American. There USED to be some, from England. J. Arthur Rank film. Ealing
studios. great stuff. But I rarely see anything like that today. I did see
The Red Violin. I thought it was a marvelous film. I Thoroughly enjoyed it.
My point is, let anybody make the films, if they can. If they can knock off the
American film industry, more power to them. Of course, that would not have
occurred to you. I am saying let competition do it. I just don't see any
volume of competition in English language films. Now, of that irritates you,
that's just too damn bad. You jump in here from somewhere, write like an
insufferable prig, and accuse me of arrogance and ignorance, and you know
nothing about me. I DO know from your posts that you are an intellectual snob,
and think that you are better than most, that is evident in your posts.
>
>
> >
> > > And you don't just stop there. Your post seems
> > > to suggest that you actually think that American movies are the best
> simply
> > > because the ignorant masses are willing to put down some money so they
> can
> > > shut their brains off for a while.
Oh God, I love it, you are just so superior to the ignorant masses.
Its just a damn shame that they don't bow to you. I am sure that in a well
ordered world, your greatness would be recognized.
Pedant. When your argument is weak, attack the persons use of language. You
know exactly what I was saying. If you do not like my use of the language,
suffer.
>
>
> And furthermore, there may be LOTS of things that I have never heard of,
> but I have never attempted to say that I know everything and in the end
> looked like a fool when I was wrong.
Nor have I ever said I knew everything. I have admitted my ignorance on many
items. You call me a fool. Tell me, what have been your wonderful
accomplishments in life, that makes you so great that you can judge others??
> That is the wonderful thing about the
> internet. You can never really have so-called intelligent arguments,
> because once one person knows they can no longer argue with someone, they
> start throwing out misinformation, and if they are proven wrong, they simply
> choose to no longer take part in the discussion rather than admit that they
> were wrong. Hey, this sounds familiar. Haven't we been here before?
Yes. We noticed that you had been absent for a while.
Ah, yes, again the intellectual snob. A little education and you think you are
so very smart. I remember I had that problem when I was at University. I
outgrew it. You may.
>
>
> By the way, my ego is not wounded. I enjoy a good debate. I just can't
> stand it when misinformation rears its ugly head. Nice try with the Nazi
> reference. I am guessing on this one, as this is one of the things that I
> do not know a lot about.
Why not? It is (WW2, that is) the seminal event of the 20th century. The
entire fate of the world was determined in those 15 or 6 or 4 years (depending
on whose count you use).
>
> However, I do think it is another attempt by you
> to move this discussion away from your weak argument.
>
> Good luck with this one. And please don't run and hide again.
>
> Melville
Melville, I have never ran and hid. I find you to be no danger. I wonder if
you could face some. Somehow, I have my doubts.
Bob
Cy Coe
greyw...@spam.com (Greywizard) wrote:
> >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?
>
>
> (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.
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
Melville
So, in your first sentence, you say that I missed your point, but then
in the rest of your paragraph you basically state that "[you] have not seen
better films than American". Isn't that exactly what I said? Either you do
not read these posts very carefully or you and I are on a completely
different wavelength here. My guess is it is a little of both.
Believe it or not, I am not snobbish, unless you think that challenging
mainstream ideas is snobbish. I do not think Americans make great films. I
think they make a marketable product. In fact, if you had read my posts in
the past, you would know that I do not think people decide which films they
see any more. It is all about marketing and hype. Why do you think
studios make such a big deal about opening weekend results? But people
don't want to talk about these things. Take this newsgroup for instance.
People would rather talk about how cool Tom Cruise looks in his new
sunglasses than DIFFERENT and inventive films from around the world. Too
often, Hollywood gives us the same story over and over again, and people
still have not realized this. That is why I referred to the ignorant
masses. Corporations want the masses to be ignorant. If they understand
how advertising works, then it is less likely to garner the desired effect.
>
> >
> >
> > >
> > > > And you don't just stop there. Your post seems
> > > > to suggest that you actually think that American movies are the best
> > simply
> > > > because the ignorant masses are willing to put down some money so
they
> > can
> > > > shut their brains off for a while.
>
> Oh God, I love it, you are just so superior to the ignorant masses.
> Its just a damn shame that they don't bow to you. I am sure that in a
well
> ordered world, your greatness would be recognized.
>
See above. By the way, I have no desire to see my greatness recognized.
But I do believe that if we, as a society, valued intelligence and critical
thinking skills a little bit more, we would be a much healthier society.
I was simply pointing out that what you stated as fact was not the case.
You attempted to slight me by claiming you used a word correctly, when, in
fact, you did not. It's important to notice that what you often state as
FACT seems to often get confused with your OPINION. A very dangerous
thing, if you ask me.
So, according to you, someone who insists on using words correctly is a
Pedant. Very revealing.
>
> >
> >
> > And furthermore, there may be LOTS of things that I have never heard of,
> > but I have never attempted to say that I know everything and in the
end
> > looked like a fool when I was wrong.
>
> Nor have I ever said I knew everything. I have admitted my ignorance on
many
> items. You call me a fool. Tell me, what have been your wonderful
> accomplishments in life, that makes you so great that you can judge
others??
I have only called you a fool if you are admitting that you are wrong in
this case. But in the paragraph previous to this one, you once again
accused me of intellectual snobbery because I corrected your mistake.
I am not judging you, I am simply challenging your ideas. Is this a bad
thing? Don't you think that the world would be a better place if we could
have intelligent discussions without the use of insults?
>
> > That is the wonderful thing about the
> > internet. You can never really have so-called intelligent arguments,
> > because once one person knows they can no longer argue with someone,
they
> > start throwing out misinformation, and if they are proven wrong, they
simply
> > choose to no longer take part in the discussion rather than admit that
they
> > were wrong. Hey, this sounds familiar. Haven't we been here before?
>
> Yes. We noticed that you had been absent for a while.
Touche. I have not been absent. I simply choose to discuss topics that I
feel are important, which, unfortunately seem to be disappearing at an
alarmingly fast rate.
So, because I say it is important to think about what you are saying before
you say it, and because I think it is important to read and educate yourself
on a topic before you state your opinion, I am an intellectual snob. A
VERY SCARY IDEA!
>
> >
> >
> > By the way, my ego is not wounded. I enjoy a good debate. I just can't
> > stand it when misinformation rears its ugly head. Nice try with the
Nazi
> > reference. I am guessing on this one, as this is one of the things that
I
> > do not know a lot about.
>
> Why not? It is (WW2, that is) the seminal event of the 20th century. The
> entire fate of the world was determined in those 15 or 6 or 4 years
(depending
> on whose count you use).
I have absolutely no interest in war. It serves no purpose and only has to
do with hate. The only thing I find interesting about war is the way
people respond to being put in an incredibly hopeless situation.
A bit off topic, but also very interesting to me, is Hollywood's version (or
should I say revision) of War. Far too often, they suggest that the
Americans were the only people who struggled to end these conflicts. I
could rant about this for a while, but I am sure you will not be interested
in this at all.
>
> >
> > However, I do think it is another attempt by you
> > to move this discussion away from your weak argument.
> >
> > Melville
>
> Melville, I have never ran and hid. I find you to be no danger. I wonder
if
> you could face some. Somehow, I have my doubts.
Are you calling me a coward? What have I said that suggests that I am
cowardly. I have faced many challenges in my life (I am not sure if I would
characterize them as dangers) but I have always held my head high and tried
my best. Maybe "ran and hid" was a poor choice of words, but you are
certainly very evasive in some of your responses. When I have presented you
with specific questions in the past (and in this thread), you have chosen
not to respond. Okay, yes, I can admit my choice of words was a little too
harsh in my first post. I did not think as much as I should have before I
wrote my message, but I still stand behind the general idea.
Melville
caribb
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.
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.
Bjorn Olson
of one week at a fairly out-of-the-way suburban multiplex in Calgary.
I'd guess no more than fifty people saw it (including myself, though I
saw it at the press screening).
NEW WATERFORD GIRL has fared much better, and could probably qualify as
a bona fide Canadian hit.
It's up for debate exactly how "Canadian" it is, but SUNSHINE did some
amazing box office last Christmas, and is fairing quite well in the
States too.
--
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
Bjorn Olson
"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.
>
> But more importantly we do a lot of things well, if not better than
> many
> other top nations..
(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.
caribb
> 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 :) ?
Helen & Bob
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.)
caribb
> 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? :)
Helen & Bob
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
Helen & Bob
Melville wrote:
No, that is not what I said. I said I had not seen better films IN VOLUMES OF
PRODUCTION. Now, that is a very important point. there are people whose only
recreation is films. If they are english speaking peoples, and would like to
see a movie per week, where else do they go than to American films? I also
discussed how much I enjoyed British films, but there do not seem to be any
volumes of them any more. When I can find a good Canadian film, I see it. I
mentioned that the last one I had seen was The Red Violin, and I greatly enjoyed
it. You seem to have missed all of that. WHY? Because perhaps you have your
mind made up about me before reading my posts? Perhaps you only see every other
word? Perhaps, because of your mental set about me, you see what you WANT to
see, and not what is there? I was stating that there is a great open market out
there. Where is the production coming from to fill the demand? How many films
are made per year in Britain? Australia seems to have a viable film production
industry. I see Australian films when available, also. I will admit, it's been
a while since one was in the area.(AFAIK). I do have other things in my life,
besides film. Sometimes, due to work/travel schedules, I wont see a film for
several weeks.
Either you do
> not read these posts very carefully or you and I are on a completely
> different wavelength here. My guess is it is a little of both.
>
> Believe it or not, I am not snobbish, unless you think that challenging
> mainstream ideas is snobbish. I do not think Americans make great films. I
> think they make a marketable product. In fact, if you had read my posts in
> the past, you would know that I do not think people decide which films they
> see any more. It is all about marketing and hype. Why do you think
> studios make such a big deal about opening weekend results? But people
> don't want to talk about these things. Take this newsgroup for instance.
> People would rather talk about how cool Tom Cruise looks in his new
> sunglasses than DIFFERENT and inventive films from around the world.
You obviously never read my posts. When have I ever mentioned any actor aside
from performance? (OK, Maybe sometimes a joke). Truly, I do not give a damn
about actors personal lives, or what they look like, aside from normal lust for
a beautiful woman. Too often, Hollywood gives us the same story over and over
again, and people
> still have not realized this. That is why I referred to the ignorant
> masses. Corporations want the masses to be ignorant. If they understand
> how advertising works, then it is less likely to garner the desired effect.
Are you talking about hidden advertising? Product placement? You do realize
that sort of thing goes back to the '30's, right? I have noticed, and this is
rather recent in my life, just how much smoking goes on in film. No reason for
the cigarette in the film at that point, but there it is. It will be
interesting to see how much longer that goes on. I have also read posts from
others about it.> > >
> > > > > And you don't just stop there. Your post seems
> > > > > to suggest that you actually think that American movies are the best
> > > simply
> > > > > because the ignorant masses are willing to put down some money so
> they
> > > can
> > > > > shut their brains off for a while.
Again, your mind set about me screws up your perception. What I was saying is
that American movies are the best option out there (in volumes of films,
VOLUMES) in most cases. Simply put, who is Hollywood's competition for the
english speaking audience? I don't particularly LIKE that Hollywood has the
market, but realize the fact that it is so. People bitch and moan and curse
Hollywood. Where were they when the British motion picture industry needed
audience? Where are they for the Canadian films? I read the Canadians
complaining that their films don't make any money. But, every once in a while,
here comes a Canadian film, and sonofagun, the people go to see it. And maybe 6
months or a year later, here comes another one. Aussie films make money here.
But, there's not enough of them to provide real competition.
It kept you alive.
> The only thing I find interesting about war is the way
> people respond to being put in an incredibly hopeless situation.
>
> A bit off topic, but also very interesting to me, is Hollywood's version (or
> should I say revision) of War. Far too often, they suggest that the
> Americans were the only people who struggled to end these conflicts. I
> could rant about this for a while, but I am sure you will not be interested
> in this at all.
> >
> > >
> > > However, I do think it is another attempt by you
> > > to move this discussion away from your weak argument.
> > >
> > > Melville
> >
> > Melville, I have never ran and hid. I find you to be no danger. I wonder
> if
> > you could face some. Somehow, I have my doubts.
>
> Are you calling me a coward? What have I said that suggests that I am
> cowardly. I have faced many challenges in my life (I am not sure if I would
> characterize them as dangers) but I have always held my head high and tried
> my best. Maybe "ran and hid" was a poor choice of words, but you are
> certainly very evasive in some of your responses. When I have presented you
> with specific questions in the past (and in this thread), you have chosen
> not to respond. Okay, yes, I can admit my choice of words was a little too
> harsh in my first post. I did not think as much as I should have before I
> wrote my message, but I still stand behind the general idea.
>
> Melville
Melville, in my life, I have faced physical danger. I have looked down the
front end of a pistol that was being held by somebody I know was not a police
officer. I never, never want to repeat the experience. I have died. ( I have
an ecg tape that shows me flatlined twice in a 10 minute period). I have been
in the shelters, waiting for the MiGs to turn around and go back across the
Baring Straight, when the CO came down an unlocked the ammo. (That one scared
the hell out of me. We thought WW3 had started). But to say you know nothing
about the seminal event of the 20th century because "you don't like war" is
denying the single event that has most formulated the world as it exists today.
Nobody hates war more than the men who have to fight it. But to avoid knowledge
of History is, IMHO, a grave error. My greatest hope is that there is nothing
like WW2 ever again. I don't want my children or grandchildren (if any) to have
to go through anything like that.
But I study it. This huge event is fascinating to me.
Am I implying that you are a coward? No. I just think you are a person
whose courage has never been tested. I did not like your implications that I
was afraid. As I said, there are times I travel. I find it irritating to come
home, pull up a bunch of posts, and find that I have 500 posts that are out of
date, and I cannot get them.
OK. Lets stop this ridiculous thing. It proves nothing, and is becoming
boring. You stay out of my hair, I will stay out of yours.
Just accurately read what I say. If you have a problem about one of my posts,
ask me a courteous question rather than flaming me. We'll put up with each
other. This argument about nothing is going nowhere.
Bob
Melville
person
> whose courage has never been tested. I did not like your implications
that I
> was afraid. As I said, there are times I travel. I find it irritating to
come
> home, pull up a bunch of posts, and find that I have 500 posts that are
out of
> date, and I cannot get them.
>
> OK. Lets stop this ridiculous thing. It proves nothing, and is becoming
> boring. You stay out of my hair, I will stay out of yours.
>
> Just accurately read what I say. If you have a problem about one of my
posts,
> ask me a courteous question rather than flaming me. We'll put up with
each
> other. This argument about nothing is going nowhere.
> Bob
>
Agreed. You know, it is funny. The further we got into this the more I
seemed to agree with some of the things you were saying, and from this post
it seems like maybe (just maybe) you agree with some of the things I am
saying. Next time I have a concern I will be a little more careful with my
wording and my emotions.
Melville
Olchowy, Gerald [CAR:CF66:EXCH]
> 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.
Reagen Sulewski
<39663...@news.cadvision.com>:
I think people confuse our unwillingness to brag about every little thing we do with inferority
complexes.
Angelo Muredda
ania <ani...@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:8ju52a$asd$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
> max_t...@my-deja.com wrote:
>
> > I'd be really happy if Canada made a movie that was a big hit, and
> > people from British Columbia to Newfoundland rushed to see it. I think
> > it would give us a big sense of pride. But Canadian moviemakers can't
> > seem to make such a movie. Why?
>
>
>
>
> mentality. and thank god for small mercies.
>
> ania
>
>
>
> --
> ~ seeeeeeeyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ~
Tineann
movies(very current titles)at excellent price.
* Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet's Discussion Network *
The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet - Free!
beepers
Canadians most definitely do have a culture. There was even a TV series based
on the premise of there being a difference between them and Murrkins -
remember Due South (wish they'd make another series, in fact)? The
difference between Canadians and their neighbours just a few kilometres over
the border is palpable. There are no doubt numerous exceptions, but language
in Canada seems to be more 'polite' (it still surprises me to hear Americans
walk up to a bar and say 'gimme a beer' - no 'please'!) but the people are
more relaxed than in the US - less hostility lurking below the surface, or so
it feels. Perhaps Canadians, like Aussies, are a bit repressed in that
department, but frankly, that can be easier to live with than in-your-face
assertiveness. I'm sick of attitude. In Canada, our (Aussie) jokes are more
likely to be understood than in the US. And Canada's one of the few places I
think I could live in if I had to leave Oz. Kraft Dinner sounds vile, but
Canadians have great fish, some good films (I've seen Jesus of Montreal quite
a few times), cute vowels and fantastic scenery. It's just *so* bloody cold!
bp
In article <Umsa5.68634$aO5.5...@news1.sshe1.sk.home.com>,
Helen & Bob
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
>
>
>
Bjorn Olson
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
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
sma...@my-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? ;-)
--
"We are the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world."
robb
>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
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
-----------------------------------------------------------
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Lyle Gardiner
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.
Cheers,
Lylenews:396B371A...@ix.netcom.com...
>
>
> beepers wrote:
>
> > Canadians most definitely do have a culture. There was even a TV series
based
Lorne
>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
Last three movies seen, rated out of four:
Chicken Run (***)
The Adventures Of Rocky and Bullwinkle (*1/2)
My, Myself & Irene (**)
* To reply, remove the second "o" (between the "d" and "g").
Helen & Bob
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
Doonie
[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*?
Doonie
wrote:
>>> > "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
Doonie
>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!
Doonie
<robb969...@hotmail.com.invalid> wrote:
>"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..
Moss Agate
max_t...@my-deja.com wrote:
> 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 the same tastes in movies as a lot of people do.
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
Moss Agate
max_t...@my-deja.com wrote:
> I really hate this snotty attitude that a lot of Canadians have when
it
> comes to something the Americans do better.
[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
r wiley
> 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
r wiley
"Porky's" is on the discount shelf at Best Buy.
rw
W.M. Cavanagh
to observe that anyone who makes it big here goes to the US. Seems to
me Leno had both Jim Carrey and Alanis Morrisette on one night a few
weeks ago, and I doubt that anyone who didn't know already would have any
reason to consider that show "Canada-themed."
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?
Lorne
>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. :)
>
>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
> If you lined up 99 Americans and 1 Canadian, I could pick out the
>Canadian every time no prob. No culture, my ass. =b
He's the one without the handgun. :)
Bjorn Olson
lorn...@hotmail.com wrote:
> Helen & Bob wrote:
> >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
>
now, then what's the point of carrying on.
--
Bjorn "Cranky old people all the way" Olson
bemy...@freeze.com
"It's been a bloody stupid day."
Garry Sykes
rising stars....
Garry
"A song is a beautiful lie"
Visit Wonderland: http://members.aol.com/grungebunny13/index.html
beepers
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
r wiley
>"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
Bjorn Olson
robw...@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu (r wiley) wrote:
> robw...@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu (r wiley) writes:
>
> >"caribb" <car...@videotron.ca> writes:
>
> >> 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"
>
> 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?
>
perjorative term in Canada. Be sure to ask for "Potato whores" next
time you're at your favourite Canadian fast food restaurant.
--
Bjorn Olson
Helen & Bob
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
Doug Spade
Bob wrote:
> > 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
Helen & Bob
RAnder3127 wrote:
> > 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
>
> As long as idiot yuppies insist on driving
> Harley Davidson motorcycles with their
> attendent noise, I can't really say much more about rolling boom boxes.
> -Rich
I am not a motorcyclist, but generally, even the loudest Harley is not as bad as
the idiots with the boom boxes.
Bob
RAnder3127
>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
As long as idiot yuppies insist on driving
Harley Davidson motorcycles with their
attendent noise, I can't really say much more about rolling boom boxes.
-Rich
"Don't mourn for the tobacco companies. After the
misery they've helped inflict on millions of people,
they deserve their fate."
William Lynch
>
> In article <8jua2j$e9d$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,
> max_t...@my-deja.com wrote:
> > I really hate this snotty attitude that a lot of Canadians have when
> it
> > comes to something the Americans do better.
>
> [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.
Dude, seriously, you've got to stop watching "90210".
Bill <g>
William Lynch
>
> 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.
What about Canadian bacon, eh?
Bill <g>
William Lynch
>
(snip)
> > > 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
William Lynch
>
> robw...@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu (r wiley) writes:
>
> >"caribb" <car...@videotron.ca> writes:
>
> >> 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"
>
> 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?
>
> What do Canadians call them?
IIRC the English referred to syphilis as the "French disease" for years
(and maybe still do).
Bill
William Lynch
>
> Asses Of Fire did quite well apparently. Terrence and Philip certainly are
> rising stars....
True, but they also caused a bloody war (enjoyed seeing the Baldwin
bros. bombed, however).
Bill <G>
William Lynch
>
(snip)
>
> Singers: Morissette, Dion, Twain, Adams...
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 :-)
Reagen Sulewski
The Tragically Hip and Sloan top my list. If you're looking for jazz, try Holly Cole.
Bjorn Olson
William Lynch <wbl...@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
> caribb wrote:
> >
> (snip)
> >
> > Singers: Morissette, Dion, Twain, Adams...
>
> 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?
>
>
All of the following are far more talented than the first four hacks:
Sloan, Tricky Woo, The Smugglers, Godspeed You Black Emperor, Bran Van
3000, Danko Jones, Oh Susanna, Tristan Psionic, Thrush Hermit (r.i.p.),
The Weakerthans, The Dears, Tegan & Sara, Hawksley Workman, Rufus
Wainwright (though I've heard he's living in LA), Starling, Kid Koala,
The Sadies, Ian Blurton, Richie Hawtin, a shiteload of other great
indie bands that have slipped my mind, and of course, Rheostatics.