FWIW, I haven't heard George Lucas utter a peep about the dark forces who are seeking to achieve total control over our planet. I'm sure he sees Fauci as a great hero of our times. Sigh.
Film buffs might also enjoy this list of "movies for our Covid times" I wrote ten months ago. It's surprising to me how many classic films have lessons for our New Normal world. I'm sure readers can add examples I didn't think of.
Some of the older TV shows, too. They talk about freedom, and laws in the US, and how our government WAS. It's appalling how much everything and everyone has changed.
I like that you brought up One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. In Los Angeles, the head of the County Health Department is a fake doctor who never went to medical school, but holds a PhD in social work. She instituted some of the most draconian lockdowns in California. For no reason. Now I see her as Nurse Ratched!
I'm glad that when I took our kids to Disney World, it was still a place that reflected the spirit of Walter Elias Disney. And they still had Splash Mountain, Br'er Rabbit, and Br'er Bear, Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah! Fast forward to 2023, where Disney corporation is the wokest of the woke. Now you couldn't pay me to take my grandkids anywhere near a Disney movie, let alone a Disney theme park.
"If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?"
It seems like almost every screenwriter or novelist tries to celebrate courage or point out injustices in their works of fiction ... and these stories often become very popular, even iconic, making one think many people admire the few people with principles or courage ... and thus might want to emulate these people in their own lives ... But this rarely happens.
So, Hollywood's work product is probably ... over-rated.
It can be extremely frightening to do courageous acts.
Which is why humans have storytelling, to give children a guide of what heros and villains do in life, so the kids know how to react when they are placed in those threatening situations that created the stories in the first place.
But most people are soft, they like the easy road, so they shirk away from the frightening situations and just go with the flow. There were Morality Plays in the Middle Ages, and Hollywood, especially Star Wars and the Marvel Movies (at least both franchises did early on) followed those arcs of vice and vitue and ultimately, redemption for a fallen hero.
Social media has allowed for the creation of a mental construct where people delude themselves into thinking that they are courageous as they hide behind their keyboards, screaming at injustice, but as soon as they are personally threatened because of their actions, most run away, delete their posts, gaslight others.
I love the movie Casablanca and I always wonder, when the writers and director watched the final cut, did they realize how amazing the last 5 minutes of dialouge were, did they know they had created a work of art, that people still quote today?
This is a wild stream of consciousness, avoiding the-end-of the work week with a mental puke. Sorry about that.
Don't be sorry about this post, CaliforniaLost. You made my main point better than I did! That's why I'm a fan of Reader comments. We can opine on themes/observations like this - which are probably important, or worth commenting on.
In my writings, I always try to expound on observations that I rarely see made at other sites. Most of these observations are pretty obvious ... but they don't generate many essays pointing out these threads or themes.
(Call me naive, but I still think if our side could score one direct hit with the right “truth bomb,” all the other litany of Covid lies might quickly crumble).
I happen to agree with this . I just don't know what it would be though ....maybe one of the vax injured celebrities coming out and saying something. Will Lebron endorse the vax again? After what happened to his son, Bronny? After what happened to Jamie Foxx? And one of Jamie's best friends just died of turbo cancer. Will Jamie Foxx be lining up for another mRNA shot? Michael Kidd Gilchrist, a fairly prominent NBA player had to retire due to myocarditis...he's suing his insurer because they wont pay up. I doubt he'll be rushing out for another shot. And HOW can they put Damar Hamlin back on the field?? Highly doubtful it was commotio cortis. He could collapse again at any time.
Truth-bomb 1 is the fact that the CV-19 vax-harms are widespread. Truth-bomb 2 is that this truth is being suppressed. Those two truths are sufficient to indicate the radical corruption of 90% of our rulers. But to quote another movie, they're truths most people can't handle.
Too many people have been bought off or promised current or future power. That goes for sports figures, people in DC, UN, churches and royalty. These globalists have the media (Operation Mockingbird, et al) and halls of power including the indoctrination of our young (all part of the socialists plan to destroy the US from within) and the tearing apart of our families in their deep pockets.
I had already thought about the analogies with Star Wars including the Jedi not realize they had a monster in the making in their midst until he had destroyed almost all of them.
One of the resort hotels at Disney World was called Dixie Landings. The buildings somewhat resemble Tara, southern plantation architectural style. They changed the name to Port Orleans - Riverside in 2000 because the word "Dixie" was offensive even back then. Roughly 1/2 of our country at this point never even experienced a non-woke era.
I actually like the analogy of the most recent movie where Poe leads the rebel into a final battle against the revived Sidious. He feels all is lost because the signal for help has not been answered. Rebels are crying out for help and what to do and Poe is lost and doesn't know. Then all of a sudden you hear the wonderful voice of Lando Calrissian (sorry for the spelling) say "there is more of us, Poe. There is more of us." Then every type of ship shows up blotting out the sky. Remember everyone there is more of us.
Great article, Bill, so far so good on the new subscription. I, too, like the three original Star Wars movies. I saw them as a kid in the theater and never forgot them. The other Star Wars are movies...mostly forgettable. I do enjoy some of the spin-offs, like Mandalorian and Boba Fett, but when there are no new episodes, I cancel my Disney plus subscription and restart it when new episodes become available. No point giving Disney any more money than they deserve.
Thanks, BK. I've now fixed that one .... I wish I'd make all my typos further down the story instead of in the lede paragraph and first caption.
If I ever get to 1,000 paid subscribers, I am going to hire a copy-editor.
As you know, my dog and writing companion, Annie, is in charge of proof-reading ... but all she does is eat my bills and ink pens. If she wasn't otherwise so sweet and loving, I'd have to let her go.
Amazon, Disney ... they all think the same. But they do save us driving all over town getting Halloween costumes ... and who in Troy actually sells Halloween costumes? Wal-Mart! - whose executives think just like the executives of Amazon and Disney.
As I am currently watching CHI ; it's up to date so to speak , I see similarities in a community that is under the thumb of the "evil rich mafia guy" and shows how a community can come together when they find their voices so to speak . Lots more going on in this series, but, at least for me , it somehow reflects what is going on when people can't speak up for fear of very real retaliation and that it takes discussions with uncomfortable topics to move ahead of the bully .
FWIW, I haven't heard George Lucas utter a peep about the dark forces who are seeking to achieve total control over our planet. I'm sure he sees Fauci as a great hero of our times. Sigh.
I've had friends who worked for Lucas and they hated it. Said he's an ahole.
Another billionaire a-hole.
Totally shocking, huh? (Not at all.)
"Ignore the man behind the curtain." Ignore that bad typo in the first caption. I caught it five seconds after I hit "send" ... Like I always do.
Film buffs might also enjoy this list of "movies for our Covid times" I wrote ten months ago. It's surprising to me how many classic films have lessons for our New Normal world. I'm sure readers can add examples I didn't think of.
https://billricejr.substack.com/p/movies-for-our-covid-times?utm_source=profile&utm_medium=reader2
Some of the older TV shows, too. They talk about freedom, and laws in the US, and how our government WAS. It's appalling how much everything and everyone has changed.
I like that you brought up One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. In Los Angeles, the head of the County Health Department is a fake doctor who never went to medical school, but holds a PhD in social work. She instituted some of the most draconian lockdowns in California. For no reason. Now I see her as Nurse Ratched!
I'm glad I mentioned that movie too. Nurse Ratched perfectly symbolizes the "leaders" who have control over the inmates or asylum.
I'm glad that when I took our kids to Disney World, it was still a place that reflected the spirit of Walter Elias Disney. And they still had Splash Mountain, Br'er Rabbit, and Br'er Bear, Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah! Fast forward to 2023, where Disney corporation is the wokest of the woke. Now you couldn't pay me to take my grandkids anywhere near a Disney movie, let alone a Disney theme park.
Yep. Splash Mountain is gone - zip-a-dee-doo-dah! Maybe five people were genuinely offended by B'Rer Rabbit?
"If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?"
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
The Gulag Archipelago
All you have to do is read the DIGUSTING comments of people defending the Arab dogs who have been slaughtering Jews.
Courage, most people lack it, but they make up for a lack of courage by having principles. Sadly, most people lack those too!!!
It seems like almost every screenwriter or novelist tries to celebrate courage or point out injustices in their works of fiction ... and these stories often become very popular, even iconic, making one think many people admire the few people with principles or courage ... and thus might want to emulate these people in their own lives ... But this rarely happens.
So, Hollywood's work product is probably ... over-rated.
It can be extremely frightening to do courageous acts.
Which is why humans have storytelling, to give children a guide of what heros and villains do in life, so the kids know how to react when they are placed in those threatening situations that created the stories in the first place.
But most people are soft, they like the easy road, so they shirk away from the frightening situations and just go with the flow. There were Morality Plays in the Middle Ages, and Hollywood, especially Star Wars and the Marvel Movies (at least both franchises did early on) followed those arcs of vice and vitue and ultimately, redemption for a fallen hero.
Social media has allowed for the creation of a mental construct where people delude themselves into thinking that they are courageous as they hide behind their keyboards, screaming at injustice, but as soon as they are personally threatened because of their actions, most run away, delete their posts, gaslight others.
I love the movie Casablanca and I always wonder, when the writers and director watched the final cut, did they realize how amazing the last 5 minutes of dialouge were, did they know they had created a work of art, that people still quote today?
This is a wild stream of consciousness, avoiding the-end-of the work week with a mental puke. Sorry about that.
Have a great weekend Bill.
Don't be sorry about this post, CaliforniaLost. You made my main point better than I did! That's why I'm a fan of Reader comments. We can opine on themes/observations like this - which are probably important, or worth commenting on.
In my writings, I always try to expound on observations that I rarely see made at other sites. Most of these observations are pretty obvious ... but they don't generate many essays pointing out these threads or themes.
A real good post. Lots of good points.
(Call me naive, but I still think if our side could score one direct hit with the right “truth bomb,” all the other litany of Covid lies might quickly crumble).
I happen to agree with this . I just don't know what it would be though ....maybe one of the vax injured celebrities coming out and saying something. Will Lebron endorse the vax again? After what happened to his son, Bronny? After what happened to Jamie Foxx? And one of Jamie's best friends just died of turbo cancer. Will Jamie Foxx be lining up for another mRNA shot? Michael Kidd Gilchrist, a fairly prominent NBA player had to retire due to myocarditis...he's suing his insurer because they wont pay up. I doubt he'll be rushing out for another shot. And HOW can they put Damar Hamlin back on the field?? Highly doubtful it was commotio cortis. He could collapse again at any time.
How long can they keep a lid on all this??
Truth-bomb 1 is the fact that the CV-19 vax-harms are widespread. Truth-bomb 2 is that this truth is being suppressed. Those two truths are sufficient to indicate the radical corruption of 90% of our rulers. But to quote another movie, they're truths most people can't handle.
Too many people have been bought off or promised current or future power. That goes for sports figures, people in DC, UN, churches and royalty. These globalists have the media (Operation Mockingbird, et al) and halls of power including the indoctrination of our young (all part of the socialists plan to destroy the US from within) and the tearing apart of our families in their deep pockets.
I had already thought about the analogies with Star Wars including the Jedi not realize they had a monster in the making in their midst until he had destroyed almost all of them.
One of the resort hotels at Disney World was called Dixie Landings. The buildings somewhat resemble Tara, southern plantation architectural style. They changed the name to Port Orleans - Riverside in 2000 because the word "Dixie" was offensive even back then. Roughly 1/2 of our country at this point never even experienced a non-woke era.
That 1/2 will never know what they missed. A shame, really.
I actually like the analogy of the most recent movie where Poe leads the rebel into a final battle against the revived Sidious. He feels all is lost because the signal for help has not been answered. Rebels are crying out for help and what to do and Poe is lost and doesn't know. Then all of a sudden you hear the wonderful voice of Lando Calrissian (sorry for the spelling) say "there is more of us, Poe. There is more of us." Then every type of ship shows up blotting out the sky. Remember everyone there is more of us.
Great article, Bill, so far so good on the new subscription. I, too, like the three original Star Wars movies. I saw them as a kid in the theater and never forgot them. The other Star Wars are movies...mostly forgettable. I do enjoy some of the spin-offs, like Mandalorian and Boba Fett, but when there are no new episodes, I cancel my Disney plus subscription and restart it when new episodes become available. No point giving Disney any more money than they deserve.
Typo Bill:
I’m not as as big a fanatic
~
the second "as" is redundant
of course tis easy to be an editor another thing entirely to be a writer and typos are typos - they happen for sure....
*
ps - I think the fund drive was a success - it was for me!
Thanks, BK. I've now fixed that one .... I wish I'd make all my typos further down the story instead of in the lede paragraph and first caption.
If I ever get to 1,000 paid subscribers, I am going to hire a copy-editor.
As you know, my dog and writing companion, Annie, is in charge of proof-reading ... but all she does is eat my bills and ink pens. If she wasn't otherwise so sweet and loving, I'd have to let her go.
Jack is going to be Darth Vader for Halloween! Did you know?
I forgot about that! I guess Disney will make some more money from our Darth Vader costume.
Amazon surely did! (They get a lot of our $)
Amazon, Disney ... they all think the same. But they do save us driving all over town getting Halloween costumes ... and who in Troy actually sells Halloween costumes? Wal-Mart! - whose executives think just like the executives of Amazon and Disney.
Joseph Campbell's Hero work influenced Star Wars and a ton of other stuff
Maybe we watch and re-watch these movies because they're idealizations that don't fit with our daily lives.
As I am currently watching CHI ; it's up to date so to speak , I see similarities in a community that is under the thumb of the "evil rich mafia guy" and shows how a community can come together when they find their voices so to speak . Lots more going on in this series, but, at least for me , it somehow reflects what is going on when people can't speak up for fear of very real retaliation and that it takes discussions with uncomfortable topics to move ahead of the bully .