They're related in the sense that the movie is meant, in part, as a satire of the book (one of the reasons so many fans of the book hate it). But, you're right, other than that they really are completely different works.
Actually, I kind of like the idea of re-interpreting "Saving Private Ryan" as humorous social satire. I can just hear Tom Hanks in my head saying "I'm doing *my* part!"
Whedon has a weird fetish with 90-lb cute girls who (very) implausibly kick ass. I always suspected he was just trying to get laid during casting. I swear, if you asked him to do a drama set at an all-boys school he would still find a way to throw in an ass-kicking waif.
"Rome," now *there* was an epic series. I still occasionally re-watch that episode "The Spoils" with Pullo in the gladiator ring. Pretty amazing episode.
I would also add the short-lived but impressive "John From Cincinnati" to the list (made by the same people who made "Deadwood").
People like watching other people who are fuck-ups/whores/losers/addicts. It makes them feel validated (i.e., "Well, my life may suck, but at least I'm better than these dipshits").
I liked Firefly very much. It was one of only two things Joss Whedon has ever done that I've liked. The other is the script for the underrated "Alien: Resurrection." But seeing as the Betty crew in Resurrection are basically just prototypes of the Firefly crew, I should probably count those as the same thing.
You aren't alone. I never got into this show, and I've just never been particularly interested in trying.
And you know what else--I thought "Lord of the Rings" was boring (both in book and movie form), "Babylon 5" was poorly written and acted, and the movie version of "Starship Troopers" was much better than the book. There, I said it.
I assert that being a geek doesn't mean having to like *everything* associated with geek life. And if you have to FORCE yourself to get into it, you're probably going to take all the fun out of it anyway.
That's fine as long as they're upfront about it. But they shouldn't tell people that their donation is going somewhere specific unless it's actually going there.
As I indicated in another post, I think if was their dual nature as a charitable organization and (perceived) for-profit vendor that really irked him.
And, yes, he could have been mistaken. But he seemed pretty adamant that it was actually the Red Cross running those trucks (and by "adamant" I mean don't get him started unless you wanted to hear him yelling for several minutes about where the Red Cross could stick their goddamn bloodmobile).
I would be very curious to know how much the RC charges compared to the private companies. It might help them make their case a little better if they would publicize how much cheaper their blood is than the blood from the private market.
I think you might have felt differently if you had just walked out of some pretty nasty combat (often in very bitterly cold conditions) and been greeted by a Red Cross truck asking you for pony up for a cup of coffee or get nothing--especially if you found out that they were putting up posters back home asking people to donate so they could help out the troops. I'm not saying that troops should be given everything they want for free (it's not like Pizza Hut food service contractors in Iraq let them eat for free, after all). But the Red Cross, in pairing their charitable efforts with (what appeared to the troops to be) a profit-making monopoly, made a *huge* PR fuck-up that left behind a lot of very bitter soldiers and marines. It seemed dishonest. And it was hardly the last time they would have to deal with allegations of dishonesty.
Even they acknowledge that they have often have to limit their services based on time, access, prioritization of other efforts, etc. I don't see that as disparaging.
Well, according to grandpa they did it in Korea too, And I've heard a few other Korean vets echo that too, when I was growing up. He called the trucks that would bring them in "Donut Dollies" and was particularly pissed about his buddies who didn't have the money (he said he used to try to help them out unless he was broke too). He was still pissed about the whole thing decades later.
What REALLY irked him was the fact that the Red Cross used the "We're helping out our boys over there!" type advertising to solicit donations back in the U.S. So they would ask people to give money to help them with their troop relief efforts, then turn around and charge the troops for that relief. Oddly enough, none of their advertising ever adopted the slogans like "We're helping out our boys over there, if they pay!"
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What, no Lazenby love?
Roger Moore was the best Bond of all time, IMHO. And that has nothing to do with the fact that he was the Bond I grew up with, of course.
No problem, I can get it back with one trip to ComicCon.
They're related in the sense that the movie is meant, in part, as a satire of the book (one of the reasons so many fans of the book hate it). But, you're right, other than that they really are completely different works.
The film is pure diluted space opera where bugs rip people's arms and marines empty clips at them.
Wow, you REALLY need to watch more closely next time. I bet you didn't laugh once during Robocop, did you?
Actually, I kind of like the idea of re-interpreting "Saving Private Ryan" as humorous social satire. I can just hear Tom Hanks in my head saying "I'm doing *my* part!"
Dweebs won't.
Whedon has a weird fetish with 90-lb cute girls who (very) implausibly kick ass. I always suspected he was just trying to get laid during casting. I swear, if you asked him to do a drama set at an all-boys school he would still find a way to throw in an ass-kicking waif.
"Rome," now *there* was an epic series. I still occasionally re-watch that episode "The Spoils" with Pullo in the gladiator ring. Pretty amazing episode.
I would also add the short-lived but impressive "John From Cincinnati" to the list (made by the same people who made "Deadwood").
People like watching other people who are fuck-ups/whores/losers/addicts. It makes them feel validated (i.e., "Well, my life may suck, but at least I'm better than these dipshits").
I liked Firefly very much. It was one of only two things Joss Whedon has ever done that I've liked. The other is the script for the underrated "Alien: Resurrection." But seeing as the Betty crew in Resurrection are basically just prototypes of the Firefly crew, I should probably count those as the same thing.
You aren't alone. I never got into this show, and I've just never been particularly interested in trying.
And you know what else--I thought "Lord of the Rings" was boring (both in book and movie form), "Babylon 5" was poorly written and acted, and the movie version of "Starship Troopers" was much better than the book. There, I said it.
I assert that being a geek doesn't mean having to like *everything* associated with geek life. And if you have to FORCE yourself to get into it, you're probably going to take all the fun out of it anyway.
The scale runs from "Mild Exposure" to "Shit Your Pants and Make Peace With God."
Like Duke Nuke'Em Forever, that's a mirage. You keep thinking you're headed towards it, but then it just keeps moving away.
Ah shucks, teacher, that's a trick question. Kunte thanks him *every* day of the week.
at least the Texas history books are not racist anymore by way of exclusion
Yep, now they include both kinds of music: country *and* western.
emergency communications that kept military personnel in touch with their families,
I can't tell you, from all-too-personal experience, that that one is fucking bullshit.
Then why were they still doing it in Korea?
That's fine as long as they're upfront about it. But they shouldn't tell people that their donation is going somewhere specific unless it's actually going there.
As I indicated in another post, I think if was their dual nature as a charitable organization and (perceived) for-profit vendor that really irked him.
And, yes, he could have been mistaken. But he seemed pretty adamant that it was actually the Red Cross running those trucks (and by "adamant" I mean don't get him started unless you wanted to hear him yelling for several minutes about where the Red Cross could stick their goddamn bloodmobile).
I would be very curious to know how much the RC charges compared to the private companies. It might help them make their case a little better if they would publicize how much cheaper their blood is than the blood from the private market.
I think you might have felt differently if you had just walked out of some pretty nasty combat (often in very bitterly cold conditions) and been greeted by a Red Cross truck asking you for pony up for a cup of coffee or get nothing--especially if you found out that they were putting up posters back home asking people to donate so they could help out the troops. I'm not saying that troops should be given everything they want for free (it's not like Pizza Hut food service contractors in Iraq let them eat for free, after all). But the Red Cross, in pairing their charitable efforts with (what appeared to the troops to be) a profit-making monopoly, made a *huge* PR fuck-up that left behind a lot of very bitter soldiers and marines. It seemed dishonest. And it was hardly the last time they would have to deal with allegations of dishonesty.
Even they acknowledge that they have often have to limit their services based on time, access, prioritization of other efforts, etc. I don't see that as disparaging.
Well, according to grandpa they did it in Korea too, And I've heard a few other Korean vets echo that too, when I was growing up. He called the trucks that would bring them in "Donut Dollies" and was particularly pissed about his buddies who didn't have the money (he said he used to try to help them out unless he was broke too). He was still pissed about the whole thing decades later.
What REALLY irked him was the fact that the Red Cross used the "We're helping out our boys over there!" type advertising to solicit donations back in the U.S. So they would ask people to give money to help them with their troop relief efforts, then turn around and charge the troops for that relief. Oddly enough, none of their advertising ever adopted the slogans like "We're helping out our boys over there, if they pay!"