Tue Apr 10, 06:23:00 AM
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Maria Calvo said…
Man I totally don’t know what a shrud is, thanks Chantal! Google Image says this is a shrub. Cool.

OK Maha I can’t believe it’s taken you this long to see Gerry Butler in 300 – DID YOU SEE HIS BUM? HOT. ROUND!

I like the Ethics Hotline. That’s hilarious about the Good Luck With That Fraud Thing, lol!!

LOL LOL LOL re Charmin!!!!!! Honestly you’re CRAZY! Gnarles Bartley wrote that song about you, ahahaha! I am going to go our and buy it!

Who is I.P.?

hugs, maria

Tue Apr 10, 07:39:00 AM
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yasmine said…
His running made me laugh a lot. And when this film is out on DVD, I plan on forwarding right to that part and watching it over and over and over and over in fast motion.

HAHAHAH that’s something I would do! HIGHFIVE! The whole section about ’300′ made me laugh my ass off, so now I must go see it and keep your comments in mind while watching.

There are precious moment in our lives when we see our reflections mirrored in the hearts of our friends. Yesterday, I had a full day of that and today I feel as though I’m still riding that wave.

That was beautifully expressed, Maha. May you always have that – and may the rest of us, too.

Re. the fraud thing: I’ve had my credit card declined before while trying to pay for shopping items, and I’ve stood in line behind other people who have had the same happen to them, and it’s always embarrassing and results in a deliberate lack of eye contact. It would have been easier if I had been able to say, with much assurance, “IT’S FRAUD!”

Tue Apr 10, 02:29:00 PM
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Anonymous said…
So Maha,
Now that you have seen the movie, what are your thoughts on the criticism that it is racist?

I saw it and it was visually pleasing, but really no plot. And unfortunately, there was laughter in the cinema during the love scene.

And yes, I can’t believe they did that to Rodrigo who will always be Carl in my heart (Love Actually). Such a beautiful man and they turned him into a bald transexual with bad make-up. What the hell?

B

Wed Apr 11, 01:11:00 AM
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Maria Calvo said…
HAH Yasmine! I’ll totally do that next time my credit card is declined. I’l turn and say it out loud for fun!

B hi again. Where is this said? I saw the movie and I thought it was really fuqd up in terms of politics. Is this what you’re talking about? Can you post a link please?

Rodrigo was SO HOT AS CARL! He totally was excited in that scene, his body is unbelievable. Apparently, he’s a super super nice guy too. Not at all Hollywood.

maria

Wed Apr 11, 07:31:00 AM
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Anonymous said…
Hi Maria,
Here are a few links:
http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=18730f4a-5275-41c0-8b2a-4203bfbb081e

http://www.socialistworker.org/2007-1/625/625_13_300.shtml

http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=54706

http://english.alarabonline.org/display.asp?fname=2007%5C04%5C04-02%5Czopinionz%5C966.htm&dismode=x&ts=02/04/2007%2003:43:47%20%C3%A3

There’s a tonne of stories about it. When the movie first came out it was banned in Iran. Do a google for “300 racist” under news and you will find many more links.

As for Rodrigo, me and my friends just say Carl and everyone knows who we are talking about. I loved his little story in Love Actually.

B

Wed Apr 11, 12:42:00 PM
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Maria Calvo said…
Thanks B I’m going to go check this crapola out and I’ll be back.
maria

Wed Apr 11, 12:52:00 PM
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Vanessa said…
Ah Maha! At last, you and I are even! In the same way that you have a wardrobe full of crack, I have a garden full of shrubs. Small bushy plants requiring minimum maintenance, like lavender, hebe and rosemary. And now that you are fmiliar with shrubs, watch the film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”…look out for the Knights who say Ni and their search for a shrubbery!

Vx

Thu Apr 12, 02:53:00 AM
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dragonfly said…
A shrub is what would happen if I stood in my back yard for, oh, say a week and let my leg hair continue to grow.

Which is why you don’t have a picture of me and my crack. I’m waiting for a special occasion to shave my legs.

Or spring, which, despite the glorious fact of global warming, has decided to permanently bypass the prairies.

Thu Apr 12, 10:34:00 AM
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Tommy of The Gays said…
This post is all about ass. Just my thing.

GERRY BUTLER HAS AN AWESOME ASS in 300. Bitch is perfect and round.

“Diddle your a**” hah!

Why are we taking about shrubs when shrubs are outdoors and women like us don’t do the outdoors, bitches.

Everyone get a grip and leave the shrubs to “the others”.

Tommy

Thu Apr 12, 09:00:00 PM
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Colleen said…
Maha,

This is yet another funny post thank you.

B I’ve been reading all about the political problems that this film raises and I hate to admit it but the timing of it really sucks. I quite enjoyed the film and I hate to think this and it is not a slur against Gerry Butler or anything but I think a part of the great appeal of this film is that it is currently perpetuating the stereotype that is in the film.

If we were to really break the film down politically, it’s complete with rhetoric and bullshit. All ‘Persians’ and their nations are made to look like freaks and are dressed up in outfits that are very Middle & Far Eastern. The Greeks on the other hand, the men we are supposed to like, are ‘white’.

I believe there’s enough blame to go around here. The message is a little sickening and is furthered by the visual representation that so clearly reinforces the current political problems we are facing all over the world. It’s sad.

But Gerry Butler was beautiful and the film was stunning. How unfortunate that is is mired in it’s own political shit.

Personal opinion and nothing more, I don’t want to be flamed here thanks

Colleen

Thu Apr 12, 09:11:00 PM
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Anonymous said…
Hello Colleen,
I wrote a reply, but it seems to have gotten lost, so here’s a shorter version.

I totally agree with you. When my brother and I left the cinema (and this is before I heard about the controversy) I asked him “Is it just me or was that movie racist?” Basically for all those reasons that you mentioned and were outlined in the articles. What was shocking is that it wasn’t even particularly subtle.

And the movie was a tad bit boring to boot. Summary: Day one-the Persians are coming; Day two-hold back the Persians; Day three-keep holding them back; Day whatever-today we die.

As for Butler, well I don’t want to be flamed either So I will say he did a fantastic job and had no control over what the finished product looked like. And on the plus side, the movie was aesthetically very, very pleasing;) Although some of those Spartans were definitely butter faces (Their bodies were hot, but their faces…)

B

Fri Apr 13, 04:04:00 AM
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just a girl said…
Hi everyone – you guys are absolutely insane…yet awesomely hilarious

Yasmine, you are really something else, lol!!!! Thanks so much for the smiles all across the board. I would love to be an honourary member, please. Maybe your Queen?

B – I agree entirely with Colleen and thanks by the way for sharing those articles.

The ‘politics’ of the films left a really sour note in my mouth, most especially with the Jesus-like crucifiction (sp?) spread of King Leonidas. I thought it was hilariously over the top in terms of the depiction of Us vs Them – and I would be a Them in terms of this movie.

Let’s look at the clues:
- I bellydance
- I wear a turban
- I have a multitude of body piercings attached to one another by way of gold chains

King Leonidas would spear my a** if he saw me.

Politically, the film blew on all levels. There was nothing remotely subtle about it either…and to anyone who says ‘Give me a break, it’s just a film’, then to them I say: GET A CLUE as to the power and impact of how media in all of its many bodies shapes who we are, how we see others and from that then define who we think we are.

But whatever. In the future, I’ll just mute it, fwd the silly parts and watch the rest

As for Iran’s administration – they’re always angry with ‘us’ and they’re just as guilty as the American administration in so far as spewing nonsense rhetoric. At the end of the day, I care only about people; ‘nations’ and speaking in their voice is lost on me.

xox
meesho
p.s. No one will flame you here – you are free to speak at will.

Sun Apr 15, 10:48:00 PM
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just a girl said…
And to clarify: I prefer speaking in universal humanitarian language rather than nation-specific tones.

xox
m

Sun Apr 15, 10:50:00 PM