Year: 2003

Finally got a chance to see “Kill Bill.” Once again QT manages to take an agglomeration of elements from genres and other sources, run them through a blender, and come up with something that is wholly unoriginal while, at the same time, impossible to tear your eyes away from. This time around it’s everything that ever had any influence in the genre of Hong Kong action. Start with a character evocative of “The Bride With White Hair”; milk the two most potent TV influences, David Carridine (as the unseen Bill) and Bruce Lee’s Kato (in everything from Al Hirt’s Green Hornet/Flight of the Bumblebee riff to the assassins who dress in Kato masks–remember, in Japan “The Green Hornet” was known as “The Kato Show”); do a samurai-esque smackdown in black and white to raise the spirit of Kurosawa; thrown in one of Charlie’s Angels for good measure; trot out Kung Fu icon Sonny Chiba as a master swordmaker (“If in your journey, you should encounter God…God will be cut” he says of his greatest weapon); mix in an extended anime sequence; throw in a surprise ending that Kath and I saw coming ten minutes into the movie; shake well and presto, you’ve got “Kill Bill.”

None of which makes it any less riveting. The film flies by, and I would unquestionably have sat through the entire three hours in one shot if given the option. The “it’s raining blood, hallelujah” sequences aren’t for the faint-hearted, and Tarrantino’s occasional lapses in knowledge (“Revenge is a dish best served cold” slightly predates the Klingons, and muscles “atrophy”, not “entropy”) are just annoying. And, frankly, the row of kids sitting behind us who apparently thought they were in their living room until I told them to shut the hëll up, kinda pìššëd me off. Overall, though, if nothing else it’s a must-see for any fan of Hong Kong actioners.

PAD

For those out there naive enough to think the anti-Semitic sentiments expressed at that Muslim get together the other day were somehow isolated, check out the following article.

There you can read about an exciting new series that I’m sure will be available on DVD just about any time.

When I wondered how Israel can negotiate with people who want them dead, I was asked if I was implying that all Palestinians want them dead. No. I don’t think all of anybody wants anything. But there will always be those who want them dead, and I suspect they will always be working to torpedo anyone who tries to have it otherwise.

I have a relative living in Israel who flatly thinks the country won’t survive. That history will remember a brief time that the Jews had a homeland, and that’s all. Interestingly, he has no intention of leaving the country, so maybe deep down he doesn’t believe it. But let’s face it: Things aren’t going so hot right now. Not in this country, not abroad. And when things aren’t going well, historically what’s the first, best response of humanity? Blame the Jews.

Hey, look over there! A whole bunch of Jews in one country LET’S GET ‘EM!

PAD

I understand that Hal Clement passed away in his sleep last night.

There are folks far more capable than I of writing a comprehensive obit, and I’m sure they will. I just want to say I encountered him any number of times at conventions…even dragooned him into participating in a sketch at one around twenty years ago…and found him to be a genuinely sweet guy who epitomized class and elegance. There is a dwindling number of his type in the SF world, and he will be missed.

PAD

I don’t know how long you’ll be able to access this page at ebay, but you should really check it out since it’s one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen on an auction.

You have to read all the commentary from the guy through to the bottom as he does a not-so-slow burn. It helps if you imagine Daffy Duck’s voice as his frustration mounts.

Thanks to Brandy Hauman for pointing this one out.

PAD

For some reason I have a mental image of “Survivor” with all the members of the Endless as contestants. And the group of them coming to tribal council, and Jeff pulling out the ballots one by one and saying, “Destruction…Destruction…Destruction,” and Destruction is voted off the island, which would be the untold story of why Destruction departed. And my guess is that Dream would be the next one voted off (since so many people are willing to give up their dreams.)

And people wonder where I get ideas.

Don’t even ask about my notion for “Pilates of the Caribbean.”

PAD

I wonder how Jon Stewart, himself a Jew, felt on “The Daily Show” when they were running that clip from a meeting of various Muslim reps worldwide, where a speaker was talking about how Jews were secretly running the world and were manipulating others into doing their fighting for them. A speech that, according to Stewart, received a standing ovation (“Indicating,” he noted, “that the other speeches must have really suuuuuucked.”) I mean, you joke about it, but geez. It just underscores once again the fundamental problem Israel faces in trying to negotiate with people whose long-term goal is its eradication, and America’s problem in the eyes of the Muslim world since we’re allies of Israel.

PAD