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Dabs
Member since Jul 19, 2015
Recent Comments
Re: “Richmond's Parkside Kitchen to Close”
Just fine. What we need here is a good local coffee shop/bakery/breakfast spot anyway, not yet another hipster place to buy three shreds of artisanal arugula artfully placed on a little white plate with a dollop of refrigerator hummus and a faint drizzle of balsamic...for $9. Stone Corral, Hatchet, Kitchen Table and Sonoma Station more than have the population covered for that kind of fare. The sad demise of the "real people" places like the Bridge Street Cafe and the Richmond Bakery have left a huge hole in the area for a welcoming, casual place for locals to enjoy and spend time together. I'd like to have a place to be a regular again. Maybe take out an awesome pizza once in a while. Get great coffee and pastries. And the live music at the Bakery is sorely missed too. Can't SOMEbody make a go of it in that terrific location?
Posted by
Dabs
on 04/06/2016 at 6:08 PM
Re: “Minions”
Margot, a final thought on this. You write: "But it's hard to give the slightest credence to that fiction when no one on earth can comprehend their speech."
Then I must ask, what IS your criteria for credible language in movies?
The minions aren't unique in movie history in using their own proprietary language. In fact it's not uncommon at all for movie characters to speak languages that only exist within the world created in that film, and comprehended by no one in the real world on earth. Sometimes with the benefit of subtitles for the rest of us, sometimes without. And though I don't speak or write Na'vi, or R2D2, or High Elven (or numerous other examples) myself, it cannot be disputed that the characters are nonetheless communicating with the coherent language of the world created in that film. Would you say that the elves in the LOTR series are jabbering and speaking gibberish? Or is High Elven more able to be accepted as a valid "language", even though it's still completely fictitious, because some written form of it (also, obviously, completely made up) exists in Tolkein's writing as a precedent? I guess if the minions aren't speaking their own language, then the elves and Na'vi aren't either?
I suppose I'm puzzled by your assertion because it doesn't stand up when examined in the larger context of the linguistically diverse, fictional worlds historically created by filmmakers.
Posted by
Green
on 07/20/2015 at 9:22 AM
Re: “Minions”
We'll have to disagree on this. WIthin the construct of the world created in this movie, the minions do communicate to complete effect with each other, using their own language. It makes no sense to us, and as you point out, it does not need to. But it makes complete sense to them, and is therefore a working language for the minions in this construct. Of course this is also a "1968" world where giant red "Z"-shaped personal spaceships, supervillians and apparently flexible laws of physics also exist. The language is probably the least of the suspensions of disbelief Minions imposes on its audience.
Posted by
Green
on 07/19/2015 at 7:53 PM
Re: “Minions”
Margot I always appreciate your thoughtful reviews. And I can defend nothing about this story-less mess of a movie. A point here however: you describe the creatures as "gibberish-spouting" and "non-verbal". They have their own language, which they understand and with which they meaningfully communicate completely effectively amongst their own. There's a difference between a language YOU don't understand, and gibberish. Is Farsi gibberish? Do you consider Thai, or Navajo or Gaelic (for example) gibberish because they may be languages you don't yourself speak or write or comprehend? I would guess not. That line of thought is not consistent with what I believe I know of your otherwise smart, well-informed and fair reviews. Thanks for your consideration of this viewpoint.
Posted by
Green
on 07/19/2015 at 9:25 AM
Re: “After Convention Star Turn, Vermont Delegate Leaves Philly in Protest”
Seriously, Brian's right. If this was about true conviction and not (more) posturing, Ms. Nelson would know in her heart and express IN HER ACTIONS that it's time to stop being so incredibly selfish and take one for the team. Team Not Trump, since there's no better way to put it. We support Bernie too (please note the present tense). But this is not about Bernie anymore, he conceded as much himself when he threw his support behind Hillary this week. In fact there is only ONE person now, who can prevent our world from looking exactly like Ms. Nelson's precious smashed glass globe in the future, and that person - however you may feel about her - is Hillary. She IS the choice at this late stage in the game. Yes there is evidence now that, as previously suspected, the whole process was stacked against Bernie from the start. It's demoralizing, unfair, and highly undemocratic. Yes, Hillary represents that very establishment in some dismaying ways. And no, Hillary is not anything close to being a substitute for Bernie and what he stands for. But get with it Shyla. Open your eyes, hold your nose if you must, and get over yourself long enough to use your powers for good in encouraging others to do the same, and soon, unless you want Trump to be our next President. Even in VT he has an alarmingly strong following. Door 1 or Door 2. Now. It IS that simple.