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From my movie review in Taki’s Magazine:
Rosie Huntington-Whitely, feminist heroine
Indeed, these movies about a future in which savage Australian booners drive fast and fight furiously to get enough gasoline in order to drive and fight to steal more gas might eventually give you the impression that the petrol isn’t really the point. The “guzzoline” is simply the McGuffin justifying all that very Down Underish driving and fighting. …
George Miller’s Mad Max movies aren’t really about how poor Australians will be in the future; they’re more about how broadly prosperous they are in the present.
Evidently, even after Ragnarök, Australia’s cashed up bogans will still be hooning across the Outback in five mile-per-gallon hot rods. …
Miller yanked the chains of critics by supposedly having Fury Road deliver a feminist statement, driving, for example, Anthony Lane of The New Yorker into self-abasing self-parody:
I have been looking forward to this movie for months, trying not to watch the trailers more than twice a day, but, fool that I am, I hadn’t foreseen its feminist ambitions—crystallized in the sight of one Wife [the cartoonishly delicate lingerie model Rosie Huntington-Whitely], heavily pregnant, flinging wide the door of the War Rig and flaunting her belly, like a bronze shield, at her enraged pursuers. (The Wives were coached in preparation for the film by Eve Ensler, the author of “The Vagina Monologues.”)
Okay!
Read the whole thing there.
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The Fatal Shore:
is a good read and Hughes a fascinating character out of the same milieu as Miller.
They cover pre-history up till the 1970's or so.Replies: @Desiderius
Steve, do you have a link to a list of your top movies?
A while ago, I was reading a book about Australia’s past unique marsupial mega fauna – which is believed to have been largely wiped out by the Aborigines, and is only known through fossils.
Apparently, the Australian climate is very precarious and geological records show that Australia has suffered from some pretty fearsome periodical droughts in the past, droughts which basically wiped everything out, and this cycle of droughts is ongoing.
Combine this with the fact that the vast bulk of Australia is more or less uninhabitable as it is, strongly suggests that Australia should not go for a policy of population expansion, but rather restriction.
Steve, what are your top ten movies of all time?
Apparently, the Australian climate is very precarious and geological records show that Australia has suffered from some pretty fearsome periodical droughts in the past, droughts which basically wiped everything out, and this cycle of droughts is ongoing.
Combine this with the fact that the vast bulk of Australia is more or less uninhabitable as it is, strongly suggests that Australia should not go for a policy of population expansion, but rather restriction.Replies: @Steve Sailer, @Anonymous
Jared Diamond made that point in his book “Collapse” — that Australia’s expansive legal immigration program is kind of nuts considering the prehistoric record of recurrent extreme droughts.
(Road Warrior is easily in my top ten favorite movies of all time)
What are the other nine?
Idiocracy, Troy, Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Fatal-Shore-Australias-Founding/dp/0394753666
is a good read and Hughes a fascinating character out of the same milieu as Miller.Replies: @Paul Walker Most beautiful man ever..., @BubbaJoe, @dearieme
Well, Hughes was a shocker of an old red ragger commie. Good reads on Aust history are “Triumph Of The Nomads” and “A Land Half Won” by Geoffrey Blainey.
They cover pre-history up till the 1970’s or so.
http://www.amazon.com/Culture-Complaint-Fraying-American-Lectures/dp/0195076761/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
I'll check out your recommendations from the grave.
What are the other nine?Replies: @Anonymous, @DWB
“What are the other nine?”
Idiocracy, Troy, Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
I don’t know if we’re in for a post-apocalyptic retro movie revival, but Albert Pyun who made a lot of the weirdest post-apocalyptic movies ever is working on “Cyborgs: End Of Days”, which is supposed to have big-name actors, a Chinese investor, and be inspired by “A Boy And His Dog”.
Australia really isn’t that much of a worker’s paradise these days.
Housing has shot up in price. In modern Australia, housing prices are insane.
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:PzrnpbXUEKUJ:www.domain.com.au/blog/australian-house-prices-then-and-now/+&cd=4&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
http://www.amazon.com/The-Fatal-Shore-Australias-Founding/dp/0394753666
is a good read and Hughes a fascinating character out of the same milieu as Miller.Replies: @Paul Walker Most beautiful man ever..., @BubbaJoe, @dearieme
That is an excellent book, as is Rome by the same author. I’m a bit surprised the HBD-sphere hasn’t mentioned Hughes before.
I read the Harlan Ellison novella “A Boy and His Dog” when I was about 13. I can recall being struck at the time that the narrator, a Mad Max-like denizen of a post-apocalyptic wasteland, made a particular point that he needed to get to the primitive post-apocalyptic gym and work out regularly. In a dog-eat-dog world, you have to be physically on top of your game.
http://www.amazon.com/Starting-Strength-3rd-Mark-Rippetoe/dp/0982522738
I haven’t read “A Boy And His Dog” yet, but I think I will, just to see how that primitive gym compares to mine.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Fatal-Shore-Australias-Founding/dp/0394753666
is a good read and Hughes a fascinating character out of the same milieu as Miller.Replies: @Paul Walker Most beautiful man ever..., @BubbaJoe, @dearieme
“The Fatal Shore” would be an even better read if the bugger had got more facts right.
With gyms, as with nutrition, turns out primitive works pretty well, apocalypse or no:
They cover pre-history up till the 1970's or so.Replies: @Desiderius
In light of the New Left and the SJWeenies, the Old Reds aren’t looking nearly so bad. Rubashov beats Gletkin, though guess I’d rather not cross paths with either one. Also liked Hughes’ Culture of Complaint:
I’ll check out your recommendations from the grave.
I hadn’t foreseen its feminist ambitions—crystallized in the sight of one Wife heavily pregnant, flinging wide the door of the War Rig and flaunting her belly, like a bronze shield, at her enraged pursuers.
I wonder if this was inspired by Freydís Eiríksdóttir, described as the half sister to Leif Erikson in the Eiríks Saga Rauða
Implicit in the review is the relationship between Fury Road’s feminism, its almost comical 98% Rotten Tomatoes score (that’s Selma territory!), and its rather anemic box office.
I wonder if this was inspired by Freydís Eiríksdóttir, described as the half sister to Leif Erikson in the Eiríks Saga RauðaReplies: @Gunnar von Cowtown
Probably not, as Huntington-Whitely’s character and her unborn child both die horribly shortly thereafter. I stand by my assertion from the previous Mad Max post that George Miller pulled the ultimate bait & switch on feminists and their geldings.
Oh, and I’d like to add my voice to the chorus of iSteve-ites wondering about his other 9 favorite movies of all time.
I personally would not ask Steve to try to assemble a list of his ten favorite movies. It is a pointless effort. There was a challenge going around on facebook recently to list the ten movies that were the most important to you. I tried to do so. You can immediately think of some favorite movies, but when the list is limited to as few as ten, you waste time trying to split hairs over whether, for example, “The Jerk” belongs on the list instead of “Dumb and Dumber,” when both are of equal excellence. And anyway, when you complete your list and others read it, it just becomes grounds for pointless internet debate– “How could you like that movie–are you kidding!?”, etc.
But “Road Warrior” is definitely on my short list.
He dropped a lot of hints over the years.
Lawrence of Arabia. Jackie Brown.
On the topic of sci-fi and action films:
http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-05-19/simon-pegg-criticises-science-fiction-and-genre-films-for-dumbing-down-cinema
But "Road Warrior" is definitely on my short list.Replies: @Anonymous, @Clyde
“I personally would not ask Steve to try to assemble a list of his ten favorite movies.”
He dropped a lot of hints over the years.
Lawrence of Arabia. Jackie Brown.
OT update on the biker brawl:
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2015/05/20/texas-biker-shootout-expected-to-shed-light-on-ontario-slaughter.html
“Cook said that he believes members of the Cossacks club involved in Sunday’s shooting were emboldened by recent meetings with the Hells Angels in nearby states.”
Cook is a Kansas City police detective who worked undercover with a biker gang opposed to the Bandidos.
I mentioned that HA reached out to the Cossacks and it looks like I was right.
What are the other nine?Replies: @Anonymous, @DWB
How many “Fast and Furious” Paul Walker vehicles are there?
I think it makes a good litmus test for sorting out the cretins on the alt right….if someone’s in the camp that loudly BOYCOTTS THIS EVIL FEMINIST TRAVESTY, they’re a moron.
“Rosie Huntington-Whitely, feminist heroine”
Most feminists look like manly butch dykes. I am not talking about the band wagoners who only identify themselves as “feminists” because they think it is the cool politically correct thing to say to score brownie points on liberal college campuses. I am talking about the real deal hardcore feminists dedicated to the cause. I am talking about the ones who would still self identify themselves as feminists even if the elites who run this country were right wing conservatives and feminism was seen as a radical fringe ideology and not considered mainstream.
I want to know what are Steve’s top 10 favorite television shows of all time.
Uh, some of us have not seen the movie, and would like to.
I overlooked the feminism due to the insanely complex and awesome action sequences. About 90% of the movie is chase. The other Max’s barely got over 50% if that. Best time at the movies in years.
This from the star of “Paul”?
If you haven’t seen it yet, Dreams with Sharp Teeth, the documentary about Ellison, is pretty entertaining.
Thanks for the spoiler.
What always impressed me about The Humongous: There was a guy who wouldn’t let a little thing like the collapse of civilization get in the way of his workout routine.
Thanks for the nice chick pic Steve. You could do more of those.
Glad to see your review.Some comments/observations:
Man of the people:
Glad to see that my B+ review links up with the common man’s take.Frankly, the critical reaction is almost comical.This a good movie, not a great one.
Running Time: Too long.It should have been 90 minutes, not two hours.then again, bloat is in, and two hours almost counts as lean and mean these days.
Theron vs Hardy on accents: I actually found Theron’s “screw-it, I’m just using my standard General American accent” less annoying than Hardy’s kinda-sorta-only when I feel like it attempt at some kind of Australian accent.Half-assed is always the worst way to go.
Feminism: Why is this a feminist film, exactly? Is taking a stand against sex slavery/forced polygamy somehow radical and daring? For that matter, what does Theron do that Ripley and Sarah Connor didn’t?
Other takes on the film: Trevor Lynch had some good observations:
The real truth, of course, is pretty anti-feminist. TV and movies include action stars who are attractive, lithe young women for the same reason they have astrophysicists, genius doctors and autistic detectives who are attractive, lithe young women--because men like to look at attractive women.
It's probably only a matter of time before period pieces involving real historical figures are popoulated entirely by sexy ladies. I, for one, think Katrina Bowden would make a terrific Henry VIII. Or perhaps Alison Brie as Benjamin Franklin. The possibilities are endless . . .Replies: @Stealth, @Ozymandias, @Cattle Guard, @unpc downunder
A character in “The Walking Dead,” made a joke about working out to out run zombies that was probably the funniest thing to happen on that show.
But "Road Warrior" is definitely on my short list.Replies: @Anonymous, @Clyde
My four favorite sci-fi movies from that golden era. Road Warrior. Alien. Blade Runner. Terminator. Total Recall came later. Minority Report was solid.
Is RW science fiction? Isn't it neo-barbarian?
I do enjoy, though obviously done unintentionally, how the movie embodies Paglia’s line about men being the only reason we aren’t living in caves to this day.
Patriarchal Society: Sophisticated industrial society with art and culture, of a sort, where thousands are fed and maintained in spite of spectacularly harsh conditions.
Matriarchal Society: Half a dozen withered, post-menopausal hags and a bag of seeds they do not know how to cultivate.
Steve with the collapse of Chinese demand, Aussie Miners are not making a lot of money, in fact many of them are out of work as mines are closing.
Maybe.If charisma-vacuums like Jai Courtney and Sam Worthington are any indication….
“My four favorite sci-fi movies from that golden era. Road Warrior.”
Is RW science fiction? Isn’t it neo-barbarian?
Yes and does he have a point? Are we getting dumbed down by all the sci-fi and fantasy stuff? I think we are.
Man of the people:Glad to see that my B+ review links up with the common man's take.Frankly, the critical reaction is almost comical.This a good movie, not a great one.
Running Time: Too long.It should have been 90 minutes, not two hours.then again, bloat is in, and two hours almost counts as lean and mean these days.
Theron vs Hardy on accents: I actually found Theron's "screw-it, I'm just using my standard General American accent" less annoying than Hardy's kinda-sorta-only when I feel like it attempt at some kind of Australian accent.Half-assed is always the worst way to go.
Feminism: Why is this a feminist film, exactly? Is taking a stand against sex slavery/forced polygamy somehow radical and daring? For that matter, what does Theron do that Ripley and Sarah Connor didn't?
Other takes on the film: Trevor Lynch had some good observations:Replies: @HEL
This latter point is what bugs me about the whole female action hero thing. They have been common for fucking decades and film critics are still acting like female action heroes are somehow noteworthy or innovative.
The real truth, of course, is pretty anti-feminist. TV and movies include action stars who are attractive, lithe young women for the same reason they have astrophysicists, genius doctors and autistic detectives who are attractive, lithe young women–because men like to look at attractive women.
It’s probably only a matter of time before period pieces involving real historical figures are popoulated entirely by sexy ladies. I, for one, think Katrina Bowden would make a terrific Henry VIII. Or perhaps Alison Brie as Benjamin Franklin. The possibilities are endless . . .
I'm wondering who you might have penciled in for Abraham Lincoln. Halle Berry, perhaps?Replies: @Romanian
Considering traditional theater in some cultures had men playing all the female roles hundreds or thousands of years ago, we could consider this reparations. You can pitch this to movie studios and try to get funding. Henry VIII is an excellent place to start - you can also have sexy ladies playing all the wives. I can see a certain type of movie studio being very interested in such a project. Unless they've thought of it first and done it already...
I thought I was the only one who noticed that. Also thought it might be a bit crude to bring it up. Now that you’ve mentioned it, though…
The real truth, of course, is pretty anti-feminist. TV and movies include action stars who are attractive, lithe young women for the same reason they have astrophysicists, genius doctors and autistic detectives who are attractive, lithe young women--because men like to look at attractive women.
It's probably only a matter of time before period pieces involving real historical figures are popoulated entirely by sexy ladies. I, for one, think Katrina Bowden would make a terrific Henry VIII. Or perhaps Alison Brie as Benjamin Franklin. The possibilities are endless . . .Replies: @Stealth, @Ozymandias, @Cattle Guard, @unpc downunder
You suggesting that Henrietta VIII was NOT a woman?
Not this adult.
The real truth, of course, is pretty anti-feminist. TV and movies include action stars who are attractive, lithe young women for the same reason they have astrophysicists, genius doctors and autistic detectives who are attractive, lithe young women--because men like to look at attractive women.
It's probably only a matter of time before period pieces involving real historical figures are popoulated entirely by sexy ladies. I, for one, think Katrina Bowden would make a terrific Henry VIII. Or perhaps Alison Brie as Benjamin Franklin. The possibilities are endless . . .Replies: @Stealth, @Ozymandias, @Cattle Guard, @unpc downunder
“I, for one, think Katrina Bowden would make a terrific Henry VIII. Or perhaps Alison Brie as Benjamin Franklin. The possibilities are endless . . .”
I’m wondering who you might have penciled in for Abraham Lincoln. Halle Berry, perhaps?
Apparently, the Australian climate is very precarious and geological records show that Australia has suffered from some pretty fearsome periodical droughts in the past, droughts which basically wiped everything out, and this cycle of droughts is ongoing.
Combine this with the fact that the vast bulk of Australia is more or less uninhabitable as it is, strongly suggests that Australia should not go for a policy of population expansion, but rather restriction.Replies: @Steve Sailer, @Anonymous
That’s true, but on the other hand progress in solar panels could make energy very cheap in Australia and make it much more habitable.
The real truth, of course, is pretty anti-feminist. TV and movies include action stars who are attractive, lithe young women for the same reason they have astrophysicists, genius doctors and autistic detectives who are attractive, lithe young women--because men like to look at attractive women.
It's probably only a matter of time before period pieces involving real historical figures are popoulated entirely by sexy ladies. I, for one, think Katrina Bowden would make a terrific Henry VIII. Or perhaps Alison Brie as Benjamin Franklin. The possibilities are endless . . .Replies: @Stealth, @Ozymandias, @Cattle Guard, @unpc downunder
“It’s probably only a matter of time before period pieces involving real historical figures are popoulated entirely by sexy ladies.”
Considering traditional theater in some cultures had men playing all the female roles hundreds or thousands of years ago, we could consider this reparations. You can pitch this to movie studios and try to get funding. Henry VIII is an excellent place to start – you can also have sexy ladies playing all the wives. I can see a certain type of movie studio being very interested in such a project. Unless they’ve thought of it first and done it already…
http://www.counter-currents.com/2015/05/mad-max-fury-road/#more-55157
Steve who do you think are the top 10 greatest British actors of all time? Would Tom Hardy make your list?
Strictly film, not live theatrical performances.
Scofield
Guinness
Oldman
Bale
Not ten but that's okay. I'm not Steve, either.Replies: @Anon, @syonredux
All we know for sure is that 30 Rock, Don’t Trust the B in Apartment 23, and Curb Your Enthusiasm are at the very top of the list.
I apologize for not posting a ***SPOILER ALERT***, but it’s a Mad Max movie. Anyone can die at any time, and they probably will.
I'm wondering who you might have penciled in for Abraham Lincoln. Halle Berry, perhaps?Replies: @Romanian
Pam Grier?
Check out cantakerous leftist Eileen Jones very funny review of the movie in the far left newspaper In These Times — “Actually, Mad Max Fury Road Isn’t That Feminist and It Isn’t That Good Either”:
http://inthesetimes.com/article/17960/actually-mad-max-fury-road-isnt-that-feminist
Worth quoting at length:
What could make Australia more habitable is modifying the inland geology to create some salty inland seas. This would modify the local climate and make it more suitable for human settlement. There must some lowland area somewhere which can be connected to the ocean by a channel, without disturbing mining operations a great deal. This would be the easiest bit. If not, just crisscross Australia’s interior with channels and holes in the ground. This could be the national project that turns Australia into a promised land, not a Malthusian catastrophe waiting to happen, and may actually justify importing Asians, as national projects let people assimilate easier.
I especially liked those interesting green houses which get their water from salt water. They use the concentrated heat of the environment to produce water for plants, and some of that vapor is released in proximity to the greenhouse. So, as long as you have energy, a dumping ground for salts and a pipeline full of saltwater, these greenhouses actually terraform (not really, I know) the environment around them.
http://www.seawatergreenhouse.com/technology.html
Edit: I have no idea why my link is in all caps.
He argues like a feminist. I can’t stand old white nationalists. They’re out of touch.
Aliens was far superior.
Oooh, me! Pick me!
Strictly film, not live theatrical performances.
Scofield
Guinness
Oldman
Bale
Not ten but that’s okay. I’m not Steve, either.
Olivier
Laughton
James Mason
Hoskins
Connery
Danny DyerReplies: @Anon, @Reg Cæsar
You’re right, but large scale civil engineering and geoengineering projects are much less politically feasible these days. While solar power is very popular.
It doesn’t show up in all caps.
Strictly film, not live theatrical performances.
Scofield
Guinness
Oldman
Bale
Not ten but that's okay. I'm not Steve, either.Replies: @Anon, @syonredux
Michael Caine
Olivier
Laughton
James Mason
Hoskins
Connery
The real truth, of course, is pretty anti-feminist. TV and movies include action stars who are attractive, lithe young women for the same reason they have astrophysicists, genius doctors and autistic detectives who are attractive, lithe young women--because men like to look at attractive women.
It's probably only a matter of time before period pieces involving real historical figures are popoulated entirely by sexy ladies. I, for one, think Katrina Bowden would make a terrific Henry VIII. Or perhaps Alison Brie as Benjamin Franklin. The possibilities are endless . . .Replies: @Stealth, @Ozymandias, @Cattle Guard, @unpc downunder
Americans are also the worst offenders at this, with Australians a close second.
On British television the producers at least make some effort to avoid picking female actors purely based on looks, especially obvious Mills and Boon cover looks.
Another annoying thing with mainstream US movies and TV programmes is that so many of the actresses have pushy, extroverted personalities, especially on those generic crime dramas.
If every woman in America has a personality between that of an aggressive real estate agent and a female customs officer then feminism really has hit you guys hard.
It did, initially. You must have scared it straight by glancing at it?
They aren’t, when you have spotted owls to save. But a blasted furnace of a desert is not going to be on anyone’s mind. That’s why people keep converting Californian desert to golf resorts. Australia doesn’t have that luxury, but, if it chooses to allocate the money, it might get a great deal out of it, including experience and possibly some new technology. I mean, mining is a big thing over there… anything that excavates faster is going to do a lot of good for the competitiveness of the industry.
Strictly film, not live theatrical performances.
Scofield
Guinness
Oldman
Bale
Not ten but that's okay. I'm not Steve, either.Replies: @Anon, @syonredux
Surely worst British actors of all time would be more interesting. Getting my vote for worst British actor of all time (and this is against some pretty stiff competition):
Danny Dyer
What’s the complete list of your favorite films, Steve?
Danny DyerReplies: @Anon, @Reg Cæsar
Peter Sellers.
If you edit your comment, it will show up on your device at first in caps. At least the links will. But we won’t see it that way, and you won’t if you refresh.
Danny DyerReplies: @Anon, @Reg Cæsar
I was going to say Catherine Oxenberg in Lair of the White Worm, but just learned she’s an American who did a good impression of a very bad British actress.
Being of royal Serbian stock probably didn’t hurt.