tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89963262024-03-07T01:26:29.234-08:00Within the EmpireProudly contributing to the breakdown of good taste...DeMosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06684592598378188942noreply@blogger.comBlogger192125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996326.post-67650629952561874292011-05-25T00:22:00.000-07:002011-05-26T16:55:12.127-07:00Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009): Part I - Less than Meets the EyeThe Month of Bayhem concludes with our video review of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009): Part I - Less than Meets the Eye<br />
<br />
<embed src="http://blip.tv/play/AYK9ihcC" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="390" wmode="transparent" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" ></embed>DeMosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06684592598378188942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996326.post-6460152132640115322011-05-20T09:13:00.000-07:002011-05-20T09:13:12.324-07:00Transformers (2007)Today, we repost our 2007 review of <a href="http://chosis.coldfusionvideo.com/2011/05/transformers-2007/">Transformers (2007)</a>, the One That Started it All, because I'm hammering out next week's review of <i>Revenge of the Fallen</i> and, believe it or not, that's gonna take some time.DeMosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06684592598378188942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996326.post-86835462401431761532011-05-18T00:08:00.000-07:002011-05-18T00:08:59.214-07:00The Island (2005)And so, Bayhem continues with <a href="http://chosis.coldfusionvideo.com/2011/05/the-island-2005/">The Island (2005)</a>. That is all.DeMosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06684592598378188942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996326.post-10314071750714851202011-05-16T20:48:00.000-07:002011-05-16T21:12:23.654-07:00A funny thing happened to me on the internet the other day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">And I figured I'd talk about it here since I've barely paid attention to this site in months and feel fairly secure breaking the fourth wall over here. But Something funny happened to "me" on the internet over the weekend, and I figured I'd talk about it here rather than clutter up the main site.<br />
<br />
At this point, I've been posting at-least-weekly reviews on <a href="http://chosis.coldfusionvideo.com/">And You Thought It Was Safe(?)</a> for over a year. In that time, I've managed to increase my audience by a factor of five billion through the steady application of my nose to various grindstone. And yet, over the weekend, the author, blogger and Glenn Beckite <a href="http://www.fivefeetoffury.com/">Kathy Shaidle</a> decided to pat me on the head, initiating one hell of a traffic increase. Seriously: more people saw my stuff last Sunday than normally see it in a week. That's as staggering thought. No matter how much I do, I am not Legion. You fine people in the internet are.<br />
<br />
But the fact I'm such hot shit even Canadian libertarians love me isn't the funny part. The funny part is, a majority of those who came from fivefeetoffury immediately checked out my Vault of Past Reviews, Organized by Rating. Where they immediately encountered, at the top of the charts, sitting pretty with perfect scores of 5 out of 5<br />
<br />
-The Ridley Scott horror movie<br />
<br />
-The early 90s Batman cartoon nobody remembers<br />
<br />
-<i>Fight Club</i><br />
<br />
-The John Carpenter horror movie<br />
<br />
-The Spike Lee documentary<br />
<br />
-The Noam Chomsky documentary<br />
<br />
-The Michael Moore documentary<br />
<br />
-John Carpenter's sci-fi send up of Reaganomics and,<br />
<br />
-The feminist country noir that perfectly captures my home region: bleak, bloody, overrun with meth dealers, and depressing.<br />
<br />
Now if that's not comedy, I don't know what is. I wonder how far they got before the realization sunk in. "Jesus fucking Christ, this asshole's a flaming liberal! Ge even lives in <i>Or-ray-gon!</i> I'll bet he even knows...<i>immigrants! </i>And <i>Muslims</i>!" Buy my cigarettes from 'em, in fact...though I don't know how devout they are, considering they don't seem to have a problem selling me smokes. Or alcohol.<br />
<br />
And Kathy? I'm glad you liked it. Thank you. </div>DeMosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06684592598378188942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996326.post-44740298701306091732011-05-16T20:14:00.000-07:002011-05-16T20:14:36.955-07:00Godzilla the Series: An Exercise in Over-Analysis - Part VIIIReposted <a href="http://chosis.coldfusionvideo.com/2011/05/godzilla-the-series-an-exercise-in-over-analysis-part-viii/">Godzilla the Series: An Exercise in Over-Analysis - Part VIII</a> over at AYTIWS(?) That's all for now.DeMosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06684592598378188942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996326.post-984485391979642822011-05-11T07:17:00.000-07:002011-05-11T07:17:37.587-07:00Bad Boys II (2003)Shit gets real over at And You Thought It Was Safe(?) as we review <a href="http://chosis.coldfusionvideo.com/2011/05/bad-boys-ii-2003/">Bad Boys II (2003)</a>. You're welcome.DeMosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06684592598378188942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996326.post-9996547099606597712011-05-06T09:02:00.000-07:002011-05-06T09:02:05.306-07:00The Rock (1996)The Month of Bayhem continues today, when AYTIWS reviews <a href="http://chosis.coldfusionvideo.com/2011/05/the-rock-1996/">The Rock (1996)</a>DeMosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06684592598378188942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996326.post-32309510050246027502011-05-04T14:14:00.000-07:002011-05-04T14:14:40.594-07:00Bad Boys (1995)Today at AYTIWS, the Month of Bayhem begins where it all began, in Miami, with <a href="http://chosis.coldfusionvideo.com/2011/05/bad-boys-1995/">Bad Boys (1995)</a>.DeMosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06684592598378188942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996326.post-28649896361104230632011-05-02T11:28:00.000-07:002011-05-02T11:28:34.775-07:00Godzilla The Series: An Exercise in Over-Analysis - Part VIToday at AYTIWS, it's a repost of <a href="http://chosis.coldfusionvideo.com/2011/05/godzilla-the-series-an-exercise-in-over-analysis-part-vi/">Godzilla The Series: An Exercise in Over-Analysis - Part VI</a>.DeMosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06684592598378188942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996326.post-8693939434479456712011-04-29T10:30:00.000-07:002011-04-29T10:30:49.496-07:00New Review: King Kong (1933)Today, AYTIWS decides to intentionally bait fan boys by taking a critical dump on <a href="http://chosis.coldfusionvideo.com/2011/04/king-kong-1933/">King Kong (1933)</a>. You're welcome.DeMosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06684592598378188942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996326.post-34208186341251420722011-04-27T11:23:00.000-07:002011-04-27T11:23:46.005-07:00New Review: Nightmares in Red, White and Blue: The Evolution of the American Horror Film (2009)Today And You Thought It was Safe(?) takes a crack at what <i>Fangoria</i> described as "the best documentary of its kind in years." And we all know losers love to whine about their "best." Does <a href="http://chosis.coldfusionvideo.com/2011/04/nightmares-in-red-white-and-blue-2009/">Nightmares in Red, White and Blue: The Evolution of the American Horror Film (2009)</a> come away a loser? Or does it go home and fuck the prom queen, like winners are supposed to do?DeMosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06684592598378188942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996326.post-30438105074953580112011-04-22T18:21:00.000-07:002011-04-22T18:21:59.414-07:00Darkman (1990)Nothing new here. But over at And You Thought It Was Safe(?) we have <a href="http://chosis.coldfusionvideo.com/2011/04/darkman-1990/">Darkman (1990)</a> Go there. See the dancing freak. Only five bucks! To! See! The! Dance! Ing! Freak!DeMosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06684592598378188942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996326.post-36958987642652767552011-04-17T08:18:00.000-07:002011-04-17T08:18:33.478-07:00Godzilla the Series: An Exercise in Over-Analysis - Part IV<a href="http://chosis.coldfusionvideo.com/2011/04/godzilla-the-series-an-exercise-in-over-analysis-part-iv/">Godzilla the Series: An Exercise in Over-Analysis - Part IV</a>DeMosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06684592598378188942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996326.post-27465842108113866652010-09-24T22:27:00.000-07:002010-09-24T22:27:27.172-07:00New Review: Resident Evil (2002)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://chosis.coldfusionvideo.com/2010/09/resident-evil-2002/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYlaXWFAkWDteuwktBMPnsM1Nb6LO_T2ZRgNHEEbu3WkHuVT3GtmxmMtHgpgKT22YZ5lvkkD40HblkSmN99NToZxRlyfJ7zaKZBFTAD4MtK-eVSeLVDDmjN93BrjH-QY1oYVy-w/s320/Resident-Evil.jpg" width="222" /></a></div><br />
This week, AYTIWS(?) watches on in horror as Paul W.S. Anderson pulls a career out of Milla Jovovich's ass in <a href="http://chosis.coldfusionvideo.com/2010/09/resident-evil-2002/">Resident Evil (2002)</a>.DeMosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06684592598378188942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996326.post-37407631442411281092010-09-24T21:23:00.000-07:002010-09-24T21:23:36.790-07:00Gay Air Force Nurse Wins Job Back; DADT Wins Raised Middle FingerVia <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11410515">BBC</a> (among others):<br />
<br />
<blockquote>In the state of Washington, a judge ruled the ban unconstitutional and said the firing hurt morale in her unit.<br />
<br />
Maj Margaret Witt sued after the Air Force sacked her upon learning of her relationship with a civilian woman.<br />
<br />
President Obama and some military leaders have called for the repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, but Congress this week rejected the bid.<br />
<br />
On Friday, US District Judge Ronald Leighton became teary as he praised Maj Witt for her struggle to win back her job following her 2004 suspension and subsequent dismissal.<br />
<br />
"There is no evidence that wounded troops care about the sexual orientation of the flight nurse or medical technician tending to their wounds," Judge Leighton ruled.</blockquote><br />
Thankfully, there's overwhelming evidence at least one District Judge is as fucking sick and fucking tired of waiting for Congress and Our Glorious Leader to pull their thumbs out of their asses as I am. <br />
<br />
Oh, I'm sorry, make that two.<br />
<br />
<blockquote>The ruling is the second this month in which a federal judge has said the "don't ask, don't tell" policy violates the US Constitution. Analysts say the twin rulings add further momentum to the growing movement to overturn the policy.</blockquote><br />
The only thing stopping it? The same thing that stops everything, pinky: upcoming elections. If politicians solved problems, what could they promise to fix during their campaigns? Good God, how could they raise funds? Who could they possibly scare the jaded, coddled, apolitical public out of their gadget-stuffed homes, off their ever-fattening asses, and into a voting booth?<br />
<br />
<i>That</i>'s why we'll have no tax on rich people. That's why "don't ask, don't tell" is still on the books, despite being barbarically stupid. That's why we'll have no direct federal hiring, no net neutrality, no universal health care. Nothing but greed, money grubbing, and desperation for this Empire tonight...punctuated by the occasional bit of good news, in between drone aircraft attacks and the disaster movies sprung to life. The Apocalypse might be upon us, but at least my lesbian sisters can go down fighting. For "freedom," of some kind. DeMosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06684592598378188942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996326.post-48845356699485187512010-09-19T14:06:00.001-07:002010-09-19T14:10:12.889-07:00New Review: Event Horizon (1997)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://chosis.coldfusionvideo.com/2010/09/event-horizon-1997/"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 275px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLGPYFysVNE4PNv3Q832X9NJWj-6BUjNXWCJ0iMwHqjls6ctq9CkbMNjTPdytUL6x4p-ivtOMLtcw7zNmlJxzhmobSI7VPsKx9qv_Gv2qh3l4xOy40WnKzrvel8paQaTpzFP9wKw/s400/event_horizon_poster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518734203748371234" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This week, And You Thought It Was...Safe(?) explores the early works of director Paul (Resident Evil) Anderson, diving back into the late '90s with as much retro zeal as the rest of American political culture seems to have developed. Hence: <a href="http://chosis.coldfusionvideo.com/2010/09/event-horizon-1997/">Event Horizon (1997)</a>.DeMosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06684592598378188942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996326.post-38742757687400593442010-09-16T20:47:00.000-07:002010-09-16T20:49:05.578-07:00A Public Service Announcement from D.O.I.T.<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OWPfcEOr2Yg?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OWPfcEOr2Yg?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>DeMosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06684592598378188942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996326.post-39582487256351215422010-09-05T15:58:00.000-07:002010-09-05T16:07:03.120-07:00And Speaking of Labor Day......my own labors continue. Received my first rejection slip of the month today, pushing one more short story back into the "like a rolling stone" category. On a <span style="font-style: italic;">Sunday</span>, of all days. And a holiday weekend, too. Feels good, in all sincerity. The sour taste in the back of my mind lets me unequivocally know I've been rejected by a by-God <span style="font-style: italic;">professional</span>.DeMosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06684592598378188942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996326.post-36734621065753369362010-09-04T11:31:00.000-07:002010-09-04T11:34:18.986-07:00New Review: New Moon (2009)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://chosis.coldfusionvideo.com/2010/09/new-moon-2009/"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrp6KCMQkpMTgFY-y5Cbl3rsePFrn4xKLZROj06dRb1cezv0jPc6dgbWdD8qOvELoNLVM_SFSDa-X-vZqzJHZEcRmkKwNKY-rGRpjYrWZXj11M5JM-Y-dIps1nhGyv_HCW291bg/s400/new-moon-poster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513128099270564898" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And so AYTIWS returns to fictional-Forks with <a href="http://chosis.coldfusionvideo.com/2010/09/new-moon-2009/">New Moon (2009)</a>. You're welcome.DeMosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06684592598378188942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996326.post-37784518062741822192010-09-01T11:44:00.000-07:002010-09-01T11:47:53.810-07:00New Review: If God is Willing and da Creek Don't Rise (2010)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://chosis.coldfusionvideo.com/2010/08/if-god-is-willing-and-da-creek-dont-rise-2010/"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmwL2PchEuPHsp4WR8qp5mkOpbZ0kaXrlF2rlZL-Tb8pIemQivpXPn6jr3obSiaf5U5qh76FguWSz5UOcIvmFjnf6WRinzG1fJq04n_jJ7YWE5_xea5cLEpO3Wcnfjeu7WHQPVg/s400/if-god-is-willing_logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512018128691033522" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In a rare Wednesday update, AYTIWS reviews Spike Lee's latest letter from New Orleans: <a href="http://chosis.coldfusionvideo.com/2010/08/if-god-is-willing-and-da-creek-dont-rise-2010/"><i>If God is Willing and Da Creek Don't Rise</i></a>.DeMosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06684592598378188942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996326.post-8348786522759777302010-08-31T15:25:00.000-07:002010-08-31T15:34:56.389-07:00Fighting the Future, with Paul Krugman and a Dick named MorrisPaul Krugman <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/30/opinion/30krugman.html?_r=2&scp=2&sq=krugman&st=cse">read my mind</a> this Sunday, meaning at leas <i>one</i> of us is telepathic:<br /><br /><blockquote>The last time a Democrat sat in the White House, he faced a nonstop witch hunt by his political opponents. Prominent figures on the right accused Bill and Hillary Clinton of everything from drug smuggling to murder. And once Republicans took control of Congress, they subjected the Clinton administration to unrelenting harassment — at one point taking 140 hours of sworn testimony over accusations that the White House had misused its Christmas card list.<br /></blockquote><br /><br />And GOP pollster Dick Morris has <a href="http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/dick-morris-gop-will-shut-down-the-government-again-video.php?">confirmed</a> the veracity of my precognative powers:<br /><br /><blockquote><br />Republican pollster Dick Morris told conservative political activists that newly elected Republicans should shut down the government next year. Morris said the party must elect lawmakers who will stand up and say "No" to President Obama's requests for more government spending and predicted a repeat of how Republicans forced a shutdown under President Clinton after they won control of Congress.<br /><br />"There's going to be a government shutdown, just like in '95 and '96 but we're going to win it this time and I'll be fightin' on your side," Morris said at the Americans for Prosperity Foundation Conference on Friday in Washington.<br /><br />Now, that's not exactly campaign trail material, but it's a fascinating glimpse into what Republicans may put into action should they win back control of Congress. Morris' suggestions, memes and talking points frequently end up in GOP campaign materials, so we'll be keeping a close eye on this one to see if Republicans will back up his promise for a government shutdown.<br /><br />It's also quite interesting given that Morris was a Clinton campaign operative in 1995 and 1996 when the Republicans forced a showdown over government spending. (A gamble which, of course, didn't help them much politically. Clinton was able to win reelection in part by running against the GOP's obstruction.)</blockquote><br /><br />I've been saying it ever since nostalgia for the 1980s decayed into a sick and futile parody of itself: '90s Retro is coming, baby. You barely survived it the first time. Now get ready for round two and this time the President really <i>is</i> black. To paraphrase Jello Biafra, the 2010's may suck but at least they won't be <span style="font-style:italic;">boring</span>.DeMosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06684592598378188942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996326.post-6263662156620422402010-08-30T15:03:00.000-07:002010-08-30T15:04:58.905-07:00New Orleans 8/29/05: Never Forget<script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.democracynow.org/embed_show_v2/300/2010/8/30/story/remembering_hurricane_katrina_voices_from_the"></script>DeMosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06684592598378188942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996326.post-17986918208249069292010-08-17T17:51:00.000-07:002010-08-17T17:59:51.188-07:00Quote of the Day: Joe Bageant on Truth<blockquote>After decades of hyper-militant consumerism and its attending alienation, and a national consciousness spun from pure capitalist bullshit and mirrors, it is testimony to the American people that they can still see to piss straight, much less recognize any sort of truth whatsoever.<br /></blockquote><br /><br />(from <a href="http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/joe-bageant/30782/honk-if-you-love-caviar-understanding-americas-class-system">Honk if You Love Caviar: Understanding America's Class System</a> by fellow-strumpetocrat <a href="http://www.joebageant.com/">Joe Bageant</a>, which, apart from being one hell of a rant, is also one hell of a sociopolitical history and required reading for everyone with eyes. Unless you care more about a mosque that isn't a mosque in a city that isn't yours which suffered a disaster you had nothing to do with almost nine years ago. Which, if you're American, you probably do.)DeMosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06684592598378188942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996326.post-42374862225775476822010-08-16T11:42:00.000-07:002010-08-16T12:23:57.642-07:00New Review: Kick-Ass (2010)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://chosis.coldfusionvideo.com/2010/08/kick-ass-2010/"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSvo9z4wHAAMOcYI5R1puOKppn9hSVpPbrVvGbVXCtFoq2ppqEhYTMZNCAE_axoQ0NIoTQOI4fTQ7qaEwWmFsS5aXRy9fi_a8QthuISy6dSqFLRzXhyphenhyphenDGCkSxHfW2CKj7ybNdeA/s400/kick-ass-poster.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506080505717778482" /></a><br /><br />This week And You Thought It Was Safe(?) reviews <a href="http://chosis.coldfusionvideo.com/2010/08/kick-ass-2010/">Kick-Ass (2010)</a>. Because the power of nerds compels me.DeMosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06684592598378188942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996326.post-62570983865684934662010-07-30T20:12:00.001-07:002010-07-30T20:33:54.044-07:00New Review: Predators (2010)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://chosis.coldfusionvideo.com/2010/07/predators-2010/"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 307px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLiLePLk2lf1k9BX46lCDpapzRPHMrYv_z0zl6RUmReMDXFzwNn3uNyohHGRMko0lnCdo9qp1EvQIbLQ1qccQOuxVaTd11rLM9X-ooHkRZAxYL_FURjVVGJjFihy_5ay76X5XtrA/s1600/predators-poster-1.jpg" alt="Predators" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499906889923860306" border="0" /><br /><br />Predators (2010)</a>DeMosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06684592598378188942noreply@blogger.com0