Wolf Howling: Hollywood

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Interesting Posts From Around The Web - 30 March 2008

Art: The Conversion of Saul, Michaelangelo, 1545

Best line of the day, compliments of Soccer Dad: Asked about the controversy Wright's comments have created, Republican John McCain said while campaigning in Denver: "I can only say that I am sure, knowing Senator Obama, that he must be recovering now from decades of amnesia."

The Iraqi’s Basra offensive has tremendous ramifications not merely for the Iraqi government, but also the American and British.

The importance of winning in Iraq in respect to what it means for the larger defeat of Wahhabi radicalism cannot be overstated. The effect of our efforts in Iraq are clear, though the left refuses to acknowledge them.

Is peak oil a myth? "America is sitting on top of a super massive 200 billion barrel oil field that could potentially make America Energy Independent . . . Thanks to new technology the Bakken Formation in North Dakota could boost America’s Oil reserves by an incredible 10 times . . ." The ramifications of this are huge.

The greatest long term threat to Britain is insanely out-of-control immigration – a topic of discussion and criticism the left in Britain largely made taboo. Perhaps that is changing. It desperately needs to change, and such discussion needs to go beyond merely short term costs and benefits.

When will Hollywood cease with the anti-war bombs and stop the loss?

Censoring the Geert Wilder’s movie Fitna in essence gives radical Islamists veto power over freedom of speech in the West and tells them that if they act sufficiently violent and lawless, the West will cave to their demands. That is not a message we should ever be sending, and if the EU and Ban Ki Moon do not realize that, they are truly fools.

Well, that was quick. It is now established – Ban Ki Moon is a particularly misguided fool.

The opposite of foolishness is wisdom – and in this case, pearls of conservative wisdom.

Fitna may well pall in comparison to the next anti-Islam film, this being produced by Danish ex-Muslim politician Ehsan Jami on the life Mohammed, including the consummation of his marriage to a nine year old.

Meanwhile, in America, our Wahhabi Islamists operate a fifth column with CAIR.

I appreciate the Obama candidacy for breaking the liberal taboo against holding black racists responsible for their actions. It is unfortunate that the attack on this taboo is an unintended consequence of Obama’s candidacy.

The nipple ring controversy heats up. This was a ridiculous act by several TSA employees who, unless they can point to a specific regulation justifying their actions, need to be cashiered. And as the picture indicates, how could such a tasteful piece of decoration possibly present a threat to homeland security? Terrorist tit rings indeed.

Not that our INS personnel are any more competent than their TSA counterparts. This story is particularly troubling.

McCain may not be a self-proclaimed economics guru, but the straight-talk he is delivering on the mortgage crisis seems to be quite on point.

Hollywood's Iraq Blues

The wave of recent films set against the backdrop of war in Iraq and post-9/11 security has failed to win over film-goers keen to escape grim news headlines when they go to the movies, analysts say.

In a break with past convention, when films based on real conflicts were made only years after the last shots were fired, several politically-charged films have gone on release while America remains embroiled in Iraq.

Almost without exception, however, the crop of movies have struggled to turn a profit at the box-office and in many cases have received a mauling from unimpressed critics as well.

It couldn't happen to a nicer group of people. And hopefully this reflects both the reality that we are "winning" in Iraq and that the public at large understands it. Hollywood prides themselves on pushing the envelope and being out in front on social issues. But this war is far more important than a social issue and embracing defeat does not play well in Peoria. The Hollywood elite does not seemed to have grasped either of those facts, as you can see in the blurb above. According to them, the reason these anti-war, anti-counterterrorism movies are failing is because the actual war news is so grim. Perhaps they might try making a true movie about some of the heroes of Iraq and see if that might sell a little better. Read the entire story.