When I usually write for Socius, I stick with the movies, because that what I like and that’s what I know. Within the last few weeks here in Korea I have seen a few things that, frankly, have had me wondering what in the heck is going on here in Korea?

I would like to make this remark right now! These are my own view of what is going on here in Korea and do not reflect the view of Socius. This article will have a lot of cutting and pasting and will cover a lot of material that I have seen on different web sites.

This whole thing started out to me with a great article written by Stephanie Shimko about a play in Busan, the article was called Babopalooza and it told of some foreigners in Busan who told stories about their time here in Korea. It was not done for profit and any extra money that was made was to be donated to a local orphanage. I thought, well isn't this a great idea and this made people laugh.

It is when a few days later that the shit hit the fan and I will give the links of what followed next.

People, not Space Invaders

Aftermath of the show.

Foreigner Discrimination in Korea

KBS ‘foreign beauty’ program slammed for racism

And here it comes

Police Story Korean Style

First from Stephanie's story...

In addition to this, another interesting situation has arisen concerning a few of the foreign residents who participated in "Babopalooza", the sketch comedy show in Busan that I reviewed last week. Throughout the beginning of this week, various foreign participants were approached in their workplaces and taken to the police station where they were interrogated for several hours. To the best of my knowledge, the Korean participants have not been approached. Although they say that they were treated kindly while in police custody and were provided with a translator who was not employed by the police, they were fingerprinted and asked to sign wavers stating that they did not request their respective embassies to be informed about them being detained. Afterwards one of them was talked to "off the record" about how it is inappropriate to make fun of other people's cultures.

The two foreigners producers are now being fined one million won each. The police say this is because they worked outside of their teaching contracts, which is untrue. None of the actors were paid for their participation. They did charge for admission, but this was only to recover the associated costs, and any profits made were to be given to a Korean orphanage. I hardly find this reprehensible. They ended up losing money in the end, which doubles my confusion on the issue.

This is just my opinion, but I found the show to be quite good. It took shots at Koreans, but it also took shots at foreigners. A good portion of the skits, including "18!", "The Steam Irons of Busan," and "Gogo on the Rocks" had nothing to do with Koreans or foreigners. I was sure that they most offensive skit would have been "So, Jew!" but I guess it's ok to make fun of foreigners, including Jews as long as they're not Korean as well. From what I have been told, the "Immigration" and "Boshintang" skits were the ones that caused the most offense, but if this is a visa issue, why is the offensiveness of a sketch even relevant?

I fear that this may be a very slippery slope in regards to free speech and the rights of foreigners in Korea. At what point is doing something other than our work considered illegal? Is it illegal when a foreign band plays for fun (and for free) at the Cool Bar on a Saturday night because it's organized? Is it illegal when I go out with my Korean friends because I'm talking to them in English without being on the clock? Should I worry about being interrogated by the police because I'm writing something now that could be considered negative against Koreans, even if it's the truth?

I understand that choosing to live in a foreign country requires me to accept parts of their culture that I may find less than savory. However, if Korea truly wants to be "dynamic", it must first develop tolerance for groups and cultures other than its own in a genuine way. The libel/slander double standard illustrated in the two examples I have stumbled upon in the last few days will do no good for Korea's reputation in the foreign community and our contacts throughout the rest of the world. I know I came here against the advice of my friends and family back home in the first place and have worked hard to praise the benefits of this culture as well as vent my frustrations. I know that not all Koreans behave in such a xenophobic manner, but it only takes one rotten apple to make the whole bushel look bad. The same can be said in regards to the comments about foreigners from the hagwon mentioned at the beginning of this article. It's definitely a two way street. It is my hope, on behalf of all the Korean people I know that are open minded and kind, not xenophobic and uninformed, that these situations will not continue.

This was my reply to her article......

I am not sure if this will make sense but this is how the Korean Police explained to me why I should never volunteer for anything here in Korea.

We do not believe you when you will say that you will work or do anything for free. (Even though it would have been for the orphans) this goes against Korean thinking and understanding. (I was never sure if this is what he was thinking because it was translated to me).

So needless to say, I have never volunteered to help with the kids.

You really are asking a legitimate legal question with the cool bar, because, what happens if there is a raid and the foreigners are playing, based on my experience they will be fined because they, the police, will think that they are doing this for $, even though no $ has changed hands.

You are also correct in that, even thought this is the truth, could you be detained because the truth cast a bad light upon Korea. To be honest, I wish I knew that answer.

So my guess is that, we are not allowed to do anything except work and if we act, or sad to say, write columns, that could give the appearance of us getting paid. In actually we do it for free and for the love of doing it. I guess that is also illegal here in Korea.

Food for thought. Great article Steph.

Now Lets pay special attention to this part of her article....

they were fingerprinted and asked to sign wavers stating that they did not request their respective embassies to be informed about them being detained. Afterwards one of them was talked to "off the record" about how it is inappropriate to make fun of other people's cultures.

Now do you notice the off the record comment here? Please remember this because it will be brought back again into the story later.....

now this is from The Marmot's hole and this is his story, now the number of the audience was wrong and so was the fact of the $ charged and where it went to, looks like the Korean press link was wrong or they just deliberately printed false information


Foreigners in Busan busted for ‘anti-Korean’ performance

Police in Busan have booked nine foreigners in Busan for putting on an unapproved performance that allegedly degraded Korean culture, reports the Kyunghyang Shinmun.

The paper noted that they were booked (but not detained) on procedural grounds (you must seek permission from authorities before holding a performance), but controversy was expected since it was possible police were more concerned about what was said during the performance than the paperwork before it.

All in all, nine foreigners, including a 37-year-old American English instructor at a Busan university, were booked on violations of Korea’s performance laws, while seven band members, including a 30-year-old Canadian, were told to leave the country for violating immigration laws.

The Busan Nine—all apparently English teachers—had formed a performance group called “Right Down” and staged a one-act play called “Oriental Story” on Dec. 1 and 2 at a small theater in Namcheon-dong.

According to the Kyunghyang Shinmun, the performance was made up of 10 short skits that lampooned or degraded aspects of Korean culture foreigners found repulsive. One of their targets, apparently, was Korean immigration officials. During the performance, they ridiculed the entry process, joking (?) that Korean immigration officials ask if you know the Dokdo islets or bosintang (dogmeat soup) or kimchi and claiming that Korean civil servants demand that foreigners adopt the Korean way of thinking (Marmot: Koreans expecting people to do things the Korean way in Korea? The horror! The horror!).

They also lampooned Korea’s “strange” (so the Kyunghyang quoted them) number culture, including Koreans’ insistence on doing things three times (”They even shit three times,” they are quoted as saying), the taboo on the number four, and the use of “18″ as an obscenity. They also ridiculed Koreans’ “saucepan disposition” (naembi geunseong, the tendency of Korean society to boil over quickly about a particular issue but just as quickly simmer down), calling it a “steam iron” (Marmot: I fail to see the association). Finally, they chose to express Korea’s dogmeat culture by pretending to eat with tortured expressions, throwing up, and eating again.

Oh, they also referred to middle-aged women as “stubborn ajuma.” Or something like that. Or so the Kyunghyang Shinmun said.

At the police station, they foreigners in question said about the dogmeat routine that they were just trying to express their displeasure with some Koreans who “force” foreigners to eat bosintang.

Entry to the performance was 7,000 won. Four performances were held, with some 600 people attending in all. (here is where an error is on this article.

Police said the busts were made because it was an illegal performance, not because of the content of said performance.

Actually, I got an email this morning about the performance, which was apparently called “Babo-palooza.” There are discussions going on about it at Busanweb and EFL-law Said one poster at ESL-Law:

Just walked in from Babo-Palooza! at Beach Town on Gwangalli — What a friggin’ joke. More down and out English teachers than you could poke a stick at mocking Korea and Koreans with purile humour barely fit for a mental (###) camp. The organiser “teaches” at a Dong university in Busan and can be seen propping up the bar at O’Briens on any night of the week) spent the night thinking he had a Konglish accent when instead he sounded like a Pakistani. The rest of the losers (including a big chested woman from down under with a gut to match and some gutter baboon who looked like he’d swallowed a sheep) were just pathetic. Ten thousand won to see these monkies performing their favourite hogwan routines with added venom? No friggin’ way! This debacle only confirms my suspicions that Busan is home to the dregs of ESL in Korea. Next time, maybe someone should invite immigration and get these fools shipped home.

Not everyone felt that way, however. This STEPH'S BLOGsaid the show did a “wonderful job walking the impossibly thin line of being witty and occasionally sarcastic without being spiteful or mean towards the Koreans and their culture.” Then there is this BLOGGER, who is apparently one of the Busan Nine. Lamenting his position, he writes:

There is a good possibility that I will be fucked off out of this country. This makes me sad. I don’t want to leave. I’m not done with this place. I’m on the cusp of becoming functionally fluent in the language. I love the food, and most of the folks who I met have been ace.

But this is a nation that disguises itself as a modern industrialized democracy. It is the tenth largest economy on Earth and is a miracle of sorts. But peel the onion and you will see that Korea is still a patriarchal Confucian society, one that tolerates little true dissent or satire, especially from a foreign tongue. We are finding this out now.

If anyone has a detailed account of what was said or—praise be to God—video footage, I’d love to read/see it.

This is usually the point when the comment section flamewar begins.

UPDATE: Here is the NoCut News version of what happened (in Korean). Not really different from the Kyunghyang Shinmun account. The police were quoted as saying, however, that while the show did look at Korean culture from a fairly negative angle, it didn’t really amount to “degrading Korea” and, at any rate, was covered under free speech and hence not subject to punishment. But they added that holding a performance without permission from the Korea Ratings Board and engaging in activities outside your visa status are another story.

UPDATE 2: PusanWeb has posted corrections to what it claims to be inaccuracies in the Kyunghyang Shinmun piece (as summarized here). Be sure to check them out. Also, I should note that I did make one mistake in the beginning of the summary—rather than “arrested,” it should read “booked.” The summary has now been corrected. I’d also like to suggest that it might be better—at least for the sake of accuracy—to write up a refutation based on a full translation of the piece rather than the abbreviated summary you see above.

UPDATE 3: Commenter “Spook,” who says he is “intimately connected to the story,” has some very interesting things to say in the comments, and this, if true, should make a lot of people nervous:

In addition to claims of violations of E-2 visas, these guys are being prosecuted (persecuted?) for putting on an illegal performance. This is an issue that affects everyone, including bloggers, since right now there appears to be some question as to what kinds of activities foreign workers can do other than work, defecate and sleep. When these guys went in to the police, the police also discussed the illegality of another local event–a regularly-held Poetry night at a local bar where foreigners and Koreans would get up on stage and read poetry and play music to an audience for free. Guess what? The police said that was illegal. Are you in a band that plays in Itaewon on the weekends, or a mix-master at a Shinchon dance club? Guess again! You’re breaking the law according to Pusan police. Talking to a small group of Korean friends on the street? Who the heck knows, right? Could be illegal. This has a HUGE chilling effect on what we foreigners can do in Korea. Frankly, I’m not really sure anymore we can do.

Chilling.

THIS WAS the exact question that Stephanie asked in her article, WTF can we do here in Korea? He brings up the exact same questions that Stephanie does


Now from one of the Organizers of the above event and his story...

AND HERE IT COMES...
What a day... man oh man. Have you ever had a day when you sensed that things you have built for years were evaporating before your eyes? I don't mean to be dramatic, but I get that sense.

There is a good possibility that I will be fucked off out of this country. This makes me sad. I don't want to leave. I'm not done with this place. I'm on the cusp of becoming functionally fluent in the language. I love the food, and most of the folks who I met have been ace.

But this is a nation that disguises itself as a modern industrialized democracy. It is the tenth largest economy on Earth and is a miracle of sorts. But peel the onion and you will see that Korea is still a patriarchal Confucian society, one that tolerates little true dissent or satire, especially from a foreign tongue. We are finding this out now.

I know. I am not in America. I should not apply the same standards here, and I don't. I will take whatever punishment is meted out. In fact, as a comedian, there are worse fates in the world than to be banned because of the content of your comedy. In the least, it proves that that something is potent, something is hitting the mark.

The Korean media is already picking up on the story. The snowball is forming. Let us hope that the articles probe deeper than "foreigners disrespect Korean culture."

Here are the links from Koreas two most popular web portals. They're in Korean of course, but check 'em out:

http://news.khan.co.kr/kh_news/khan_art_view.html?artid=200612141808581&code=940100

http://news.media.daum.net/society/others/200612/14/khan/v15057204.html

http://news.media.daum.net/society/region/200612/14/nocut/v15056270.html

And here is what is being said in the English speaking webland/blogosphere over here:

http://www.socius.or.kr/content/view/438/

http://metropolitician.blogs.com/scribblings_of_the_metrop/ (He even links yours truly. Finally.)



This is what's up so far. It's bound to be fruitful and multiply. For those of you here on the Peninsula, check out the Korean Herald on Saturday. We're rumored to be on the front page.

And if deportations actually happen, I will do my damnedest to get the Western press involved. I may even have a contact or two.

Keep posted. There is surely more to come. This was his next comment

Howdy


I am one of the producers of the show. There are several inaccuracies the Marmot’s post. I figure he got a lot of it from a Korean article, so it’s no surprise.

First off, we did TWO performances in a small theater that only fit 80 people. So only 160 people saw the show. NOT 600. I have no idea where they came up with that figure. We spent 1,500,000 won on the show. We took in less, so we LOST money. Do the math. We never tried to make money on this thing to begin with. It was for fun, and any profit made would be donated to an orphanage. There’s a reason we only charged 7,000 won.

The name of the show was “Babo-Palooza!”, not “Oriental Story.” And I will withhold the band’s name, so as to avoid incrimination, but they are not called “Right Down.”

And NOBODY has been punished yet. They have brought many of us in, questioned us, taken our urine samples and fingerprints, but no charges have been filed. They will take everything to the prosecutor, who will then make the decision.

It is apparent that we broke the law by staging a production and charging an admission fee. As one of the producers I’ll take responsibility for that and accept whatever punishment is meted out. But the vigor in which the cops are going after us suggests a motivation deeper than just busting us for visa violations. They were offended by the content of the show (a lot of Koreans loved it, btw) and are using these other laws as a pretext to punish us for dare poking fun at some local sacred cows.

This thing is taking on a life of its own in cyber-land, but please make sure your facts are correct before wagging your finger and blowing your horn.

CT

Now from another blog that I read

Comment

USINKOREA

What gets me about this, and again, I haven’t had time to read all the comments, is how these expats can be rounded up for offending Korean sensibility, and when Koreans read about it in the papers, the mildest form of reaction will be simple agreement that the police did the right thing and the expats should be deported and fined, but a typical reaction would be to off-handedly say the teachers should be roughed up or something.

Yet, this same society can’t get much energy flowing across the masses when it is reported that a Nazi bar is doing business in one of its major cities - that the waiters and waitresses wear brown uniforms aka Hitler’s fanatically political supports/intimidation troops - complete with swastika armbands.

Something like that comes out, and the expat community reacting to it just doesn’t understand Korean culture - it really isn’t meant the way it looks, its just a concept, yada yada yada…

But I guess they are making progress…

Judging by the limited amount of attention I was able to give to the TV foreign beauties posts here and elsewhere, it seems a fair number of Koreans were upset at what happened there.

Give it another 100 years……and you’ll see….


So far I have told a story about what happens when expats makes fun of Korea. Now lets look at what happens when its the Koreans making fun of the foreigners and look at the aftermath of it.

Stupid is that stupid does

(Seriously Stupid Department) KBS ‘foreign beauty’ program slammed for racism

UPDATE #2 (Brendon Carr, 14 Dec. 2006): Video of the KBS program is available by BitTorrent which you may download (if you have a BitTorrent client) at the following Link Thanks to commenter “ihaveseoul” who posted the link in the comments section of related Marmot’s Hole entry Sign Letter Demanding Apology from KBS.

UPDATE: The NGO Cultural Solidarity has released a statement blasting the production team of “Minyeodeului Suda” for its failure to take seriously what it [Cultural Solidarity] considered a pretty overt display of racism. Frankly, I rarely agree with much of anything Cultural Solidarity says, but when they are right, they’re right, and the statement they issued—together with the viewer and netizen condemnation of what they saw on the show—is a great example of just how much things have changed. The key points in the statement, IMHO—regardless of the “intention,” the very idea that to use racist language and actions directed at an individual of a particular race in such an open manner to “improve the show’s mood” is itself indicative of society’s racism; this incident could happen because Korean society is racist in that it favors white people while holding people of color in contempt; and the worst part is that the producers are seemingly clueless as to just how racist what happened was.

I know some commenters have stated their belief that this isn’t a big deal—the joke may have been of bad taste, but it was still just a joke. Before, I would have said this incident was born more of ignorance than actual racism, but if the Hines Ward craze should have taught us anything, it’s that while there are exceptions, the fact remains that not all “foreigners” are treated equal. Many Koreans acknowledge as much, and there is no point pretending anymore that negative stereotypes concerning blacks and other “dark-skinned” ethnic groups (and conversly, generally positive stereotypes about white folk) don’t exist.

Another thing about this whole mess irks me (as it did the Kyunghang Shinmun reporter I linked below), and it’s this—the show seems like an opportunity for Korean male entertainers to flirt with a bunch of foreign female exchange students and Russian models. I have to wonder what KBS2 might think of a show featuring a panel of five Korean female entertainers covorting with a bunch of foreign male exchange students and English teachers.

Somehow, I doubt that would go over real well.

ORIGINAL POST: KBS2 is under fire from viewers and netizens for what many consider to be racism during its “global talk show” entitled “Minyeodeului Suda” (The Beauties’ Chatterbox).



The program brings together 16 lovely and unmarried young women residing in Korea to discuss Korean culture and Korean men, and in the process hopes to break down cultural barriers. The show includes a panel of five (Korean) men. Among the questions (from the website):

* What was the most embarrassing thing to happen to you in Korea?
* What kind of things do Koreans do that you can understand least?
* What dating places have you gone with your Korean boyfriend?
* When have you felt, “Ah, I’ve become a real Korean now”?
* What are five good things about Korean men?
* What Korean entertainer would you like to have as a boyfriend?

The show also apparently has “corners” featuring foreign women doing all the stupid little things foreigners are supposed to do on Korean TV, including a song-and-dance section, a “trying Korean food” section and a Korean dictation section.

All was as it should be—maybe—until lovely African-American Leslie Benfield was performing a rendition of a Korean song. It was then that one of the panel—singer Cheon Myeong-hun—jumped up on stage wearing a rasta wig and began chanting “sikameos, sikameos,” a reference to a black-face routine made famous by comedian Lee Bong-won.




Not cool, said many of the program’s viewers. Not cool at all.

Especially since Ms. Benfield had confessed on the show’s first episode that she’d been disregarded by her boyfriend’s parents because she’s black.

The show’s production team, however, told StarNews there was no racist intent behind Cheon’s stunt. They explained Cheon did what he did to give the show’s atmosphere a bit of a boost. They also said they have no intention of dropping Cheon from the show.

This isn’t the first time the show has run into problems—viewers had criticized previous episodes for incorrectly explaining Korean culture and Korean sayings. Others have criticized it for “sexually commercializing” foreign women and seemingly emphasizing physical contact between the panel and the guest women over actual discussion.

Now to be honest here my original intention was to write a Korean Movie Industry review and I was going to ask a heck of allot of questions. I may still do that one. I started doing research and these 2 stories came up and I was thinking, "WTF?" One group makes fun of and they are given pee test and then asked to sign papers not informing their embassies. Then I see the Korean do the exact same think that the Busan police stated...

...Afterwards one of them was talked to "off the record" about how it is inappropriate to make fun of other people's cultures. So my question is why have not these fools been dragged into a police station and given pee test, if they did the exact same thing and the people in Busan did?

Now this is what I really could not believe.....

* What was the most embarrassing thing to happen to you in Korea?
* What kind of things do Koreans do that you can understand least?
* What dating places have you gone with your Korean boyfriend?
* When have you felt, “Ah, I’ve become a real Korean now”?
* What are five good things about Korean men?
* What Korean entertainer would you like to have as a boyfriend?

It was like the Koreans were trying to sell the fact that Korean men are the best in the world. I do not know if anyone has noticed lately but their have been ads with White females and Korean men and I have always wondered if this is trying to sell that same point that I have listed above. With these questions is sure does make one wonder.

The real Korean quote is what made me do a double take... Earlier this year when Hines Ward mania was gripping this nation, one of the parents of one of my students at my last hogwAn made this comment, "It's not Hines Wards fault that he is only half-Korean." It just left me dumbfounded and left a bad taste in my mind. Once again the narrow view of Korea reared its ugly head.

Overall this has been a large look at a huge problem that all of us who live here are real soon going to have to ask ourselves. Why are we in Korea and can we really do anything except go to work, go home and never do anything to interact with Koreans, because just by talking to them in English, are we violating our visa status?

Well The semester is over and I have all of the grades turned into the office.

It took awhile but its finally done. I know it doesn't sound that complicated but the grades here were just slow but it finally got completed.

So here is what's going on. I am coming back home to Texas for 1 month from Feb 3 to the 28th. i will fly Japan Airlines, American Airlines and Asiana Airlines. Its been 2 years since I have been back home so I am kinda looking forward to it.

We start winter mini-mesters today and I have no idea who I will be teaching and what their English level is. So this week will be fun.

Not much going on at the moment here in Korea, I am trying to catch up on a few films for the end of the year list for mikes movies and I will be doing that for next few weeks.

Dan and Greer seem to be linking their new school and I hope that they have fun this year. They live far out but when the subway line finally opens up (May 2007?) it will be a short ride.

For those who do not know, I attended The University of North Texas and obtained my teaching degree. I have mine in History and maybe one day, I would like to teach high school history. But as for now I am happy at Woosong University.

When I started an UNT, it was a small Division 1 Football team that played in the Big West Conference. The next year the Big West abolished their football ties and UNT was left to join the Sun Belt Conference, where they still play as of now.

I had usually followed The University of Texas as my College football team but I had no real ties to them. I knew a few of the players and coaches who had gone to the school, but that was about it.

This changed for me on Oct. 2001 when I went and saw 0-5 UNT beat 5-0 Middle Tennessee State 24-21 at Fouts Field in Denton Texas (Where UNT plays their home games at). The students, me included, stormed the field after the game and we tore down a goalpost and carried it to Fry street (Where the college bars are at) and had a great night of drinking.

Later on that year, UNT had to beat Idaho ,at their home, to clinch the Conference title and get to go to a college bowl game for the first time in 50+ years. I went to the main college bar and we all watched the game on Fox Sports Southwest. When UNT won the game 50-27, we went nuts and yelled and jumped up and down and someone went streaking outside the bar (No it was not me)It felt like, OK, we are finally on a big stage and maybe just maybe this school will have turned a corner. They lost the game but hey, they got to go to a bowl game.

The next year I went to all of the home games and watched and cheered and they won all of the SB conference games and played The University of Cincinnati in a bowl game, Once again I went to the main college bar and we watched, (at this time I was living in the dorms, so it was a small walk to the bars on Frey Street) I watched and cheered and went insane when the final score was, UNT 25 U of C 19. The whole Fry street erupted and we partied until the bars closed down.

What I will always remember is that on the way home, I told the campus police that we were walking home and that we lived on in the dorm and we just gave a little nod, because the party I was with had a least 4 men under the age of 21.

So I wear the UNT shirts and am honored to say that I am an "UNT Mean Green" and every now and then I will play, Kermit the Frog's "Its not Easy Being Green" and it always brings a little smile to my face.

So you can imagine when I was following this season and it had not gone well and then I read this and when WTF...



Are Wayne Brady and Mike McStay Gonna Have to Choke A Bitch?


Fired North Texas Coach in Black Mood

By Rogers Cadenhead

My alma mater, the University of North Texas, made national news this past week when a booster for its football program threatened to withhold a $1 million donation after the team fired Coach Darrell Dickey.

In nine seasons, Dickey led the Mean Green to four straight Sun Belt Conference championships and the first bowl trip since 1959. He's one of the most accomplished coaches in the school's modest football history, but two losing seasons and criticism over recruitment led to his ouster. He's receiving a buyout in excess of $540,000 for the remaining years of his contract and agreed to coach through season's end.

UNT Mean Green player in black jersey for 2006 Florida Atlantic game



Two incidents that took place during Saturday's North Texas-Florida Atlantic game show how wildly things have spun out of control at UNT since the firing.

According to parents of current players, right before Saturday's game Coach Dickey snuck new black uniforms onto the team without the school's permission. The rec-league quality jerseys, pictured here, didn't contain the names of players or the school and conference logos. They weren't cleared with Athletic Director Rick Villareal or announced to the press before the game and might violate agreements with the school's uniform supplier.

During halftime of the game, offensive coordinator Ramon Flanagan allegedly started a physical fight with wide receivers Coach Chip Garber after being told he should play seniors because it was their final home game. The incident got so out of hand the offense received no instruction before going back out to start the third quarter.

As you might have guessed, North Texas lost the game, 17-16, and fell to 3-8.

I'm a small donor to the Mean Green Club, the school's booster program, and a longtime fan of UNT football. Because I've been digging into these incidents on the GoMeanGreen.Com message board, I've gotten independent corroboration from sources affiliated with the program. I'm withholding their names at their request.

I can't recall a situation where a head coach sprang new uniforms on a Division I college football team to "piss off" his athletic director, as Dickey reportedly acknowledged to players before the game. Combine this with a coordinator putting another coach in a choke hold until being pulled off and it's a meltdown of historic proportions.

Dickey, who also abandoned his customary attire for all-black clothes and a black cap.



He told reporters it "wasn't anything other than kids liking that color," drawing the ire of parents who didn't like the stunt being blamed on players. When I saw game photos on Sunday I thought Dickey had declared a period of mourning for his job.

I left two messages today with new UNT President Gretchen Bataille to relay these events. The departing seniors on the team deserve a better send off than childish stunts from coaches nursing a grudge, fans deserve better, and a school paying Dickey another half-mil not to coach deserves better.

I'll be disappointed if Dickey and Flanagan make the trip Saturday to finish the season against Louisiana-Monroe. I was on the fence about Dickey's firing, but I think he's shown his true colors. (UNT LOST 28-3 vs. L-M)

I really could not believe what the heck I was reading and when i went to the web site Go Mean Green it kinda confirmed the above story, I just wanted to go back to UNT and choke a fool or fools in this case.

Hopefully next season will be better. There are 2 young coaching prospects who are interested in the job, so we shall see, but if this happens again we really need to think about cleaning house at UNT.

Well a general update blog.

I have not written much in the last few days due to me being sick, I feel better so this will be an interesting update.

First, yes I am going back to Texas for 1 month between 3 Feb and 1 march 2007. I will try and go to California to see the kids, if the ex will let me, if not I will go to El Paso, to see the parents graves.

Well we had T-day here once again and once again I went to the USO Club in Seoul and had a very delicious dinner. The day before, Stephanie had a T-DAY party at her house, I brought the rotisserie chickens from Costco. We had mashed potatoes and other things. The Canadians there had never celebrated the American holiday before so it was a fun day.

On Trey's blog, he did the woe is me, I am away from home for the holidays blog. I left a comment on his but he deleted it. I told him to quit whining because it will does more harm than good and that if he wanted a holiday dinner he could have had asked me and I would have had taken him to the USO with me.

I also stated that Steph had a party and that he should try and have his own with his friends. I also told him that we are not back in Texas and that, from a man who has missed too darn many holidays due to being stationed all over the place, he should just make himself one very different Korean t-day with his friends and have fun.

Guess he did not like the comment! Sorry, but I have no patience for those who whine and do noting to alleviate the problem at hand. I had 2 great dinners on Wend and Thursday and would always love some more.

I just about have all of the xmas gifts mailed out, one box looks like it will be late but I can mail that one with express here in Korea and it will take 1 week.

next week I will have to go back to Seoul and finish up the paperwork for the airplane ride back home. They need a copy of my passport.

Next week are finals for my students and I hope that they are ready for their final exam. I have 3 of them on one day, Tuesday Dec. 5th 1 will be on Monday December 4th and my last one (the 2 different projects) will be spread over Wend the 6th and Friday the 8th.

I will miss seeing most of my students. I have been lucky, I have some really good kids.

Looks like I might be playing Santa, again this year. Once again, if I do, photos will follow. Hey I'm tall and big. The look on the Korean faces last year when I was walking in Song Chon Dong with me yelling "Merry Christmas" was priceless.

Now for some sad news, a few people have had to leave Korea because of family problems back home. One girl left because her mom was dying, she made it back in time to say goodbye before her mom died. The other young lady was Nichole's replacement and she has a family crisis and she had to return home. I hope that everything works out for them both.

Thats about it for now, please remember its the Christmas season and lets try and be better people this years end. Please remember if you can not find any Chirstmas cards, try the E cards.

Transformers Movie

Well talk about just being at the right place at the right time. This is the first shot from the above linked movie. It sure looks a lot like Starship Troopers to me. Looks like a July 2007 release date in the USA. (No date listed for Korea yet)

Enjoy the photo.

Well take a look at the new Harry Potter film.

What a nice poster

Well It slowly getting towards xmas here in Korea.

A few updates, after 3 years of hearing nothing, my ex has made contact and I know something more about my 2 kids. I am trying to decide what to get my son for Xmas, what he likes as toys, they do not sell in Korea so I will try and email the ex and see what else he likes.

I have the daughters gift allready and I hope that she likes it.

I am going to try and go home for 4 weeks in Feb to March. I will call home later if they allow me to have the 4 weeks off at a time. I will try and see my kids, if possible. So I will keep you updated on that.

Ben has returned to work one more year in Korea, He was telling me that people did not belive that we ate dog a few months ago. Hey its true and the photos are posted on this blog.

I still havent written my frist article for twitch yet, I am wating to do the review of I'm A Cyborg and Thats OK, So it looks like that will be the first one that I do for the site.

I am still doing the movie reviews for socius, so as always, check them out. I still need to see 4 more films and write up one that I have allready seen. Thats the funny thing about Korea, the film come in Waves, here, some weeks alot of english films and some weeks nada.

Saw the preview for Spiderman 3 and wow it looked good. Next year should be intresting for films with the next chapters of Shrek, Spiderman and Harry Potter ready to go. I so wish that CGV would make an IMAX here in Daejeon.

Now for some sad news, they interviewed the president of YUM Brands (They own KFC PIZZA HUT AND Taco Bell) They are talking of expanding more into Korea but Taco Bell will not be comming back anytime soon to Korea. (in the mid 90's they tried but it did not work out.) Yum please, I want a taco bell here in Korea that is not on the military base.

Well to say I was sad about the elections would be a lie, Our enemies cheered at the result of the elections, this is never a good thing. I wonder what the Democrats response will be to terrorism, give them a hug, or burry their heads in the sand and claim that nothing is wrong and that appeasment is great, like the video I posted on the Dredge report commercial. It should be intresting to see.

I got to see the Reskins game vs Dallas and to be honest I still can not believe that we won that game. It was a good game and so much for TERELL OWENS, Man I can not believe a man with all of that tallent is such a cancer.

Sad to report that Daejeon lost in the Korean world series finals 4 games to 1

the ticket cost me 25,000 won, but hey, it was the championship! for all of the 5 playoff games I saw live the total cost was less than 100$ try that for the MLB Baseball playoffs in the USA. I had a ball watching and cheering for the Eagles, I even have a baseball cap that I am wearing of them, my students love it.

speaking of the university, I have my sophmores final doing a real world senario tied in with their text books. One class is going to try and update the Korean ebay into english and their ideas for that.

in my 40 student engineering class i have divided them into 2 projects.

Wend test will make me a Sears store in Korea. (I know that they is not a store here, but I wanted the student to research online)

Fridays test wanted to make me a new city hall for Daejeon. The results should be intresting next month, and I will post some of their efforts online.

Well thats all of now,say prayers for the soldiers in the US Military that are doing their best.

Its been awhile since I have updated this but today is Nov. 11. Here in Korea its Peppero Day. To me its Veterans Day. In awhile I will poor some brew for the friends of mine who died while they served in the army, Those who went before me in the Army, those who did time with me in the Army and for those who serve on the US Army.

Last year I told you Matt's' story and I thought of him today, he is still 20-22 in my mind, and in my mind he will always be that age. In the review I talk about "Trip" and how he became a hero and how he wanted nothing of it.

I saw Flags Of our Fathers and I did the review for Socius. Please see it if you get the chance. Tonight, whereever you are in the world, buy a vet a drink and say thanks!


Movie Review: Flags Of Our Fathers

Written by SPC(p) Flynn Michael McStay

Tuesday, 07 November 2006

Flags of Our Fathers


Opens up In Korea: Unknown


How I saw it: VCD Screener


Opening Weekend in USA. $10,245,190 (22 October 2006) (1,876 Screens)


Plot: The life stories of the six men who raised the flag at The Battle of Iwo Jima, a turning point in WWII.


For Information on the 6 men who raised the flag and what became of them and a look at the battle please check out this website. Iwo Jima Battle

In the film “Flags of our Fathers” we are asked one question throughout the film, “What is a Hero?”


With the war in Iraq the US Army has attempted to give us 2 heroes who initial clams of super hero feats to inspire the US public. The stories we were told were of Pat Tillman and that of Jessica Lynch In both cases the initial US Army claims were no where close to what actually happened and recently Pat’s brother Kevin, so disgusted with his brothers death, recently wrote this article at the truthdig web site. Kevin's Tale

While I was watching this movie, I recalled a story from my past on how we had a hero in my unit and how it actually happened was no where close to the truth.


One day we had a murder, suicide on Ft Sill and because of a leader in charge, who should have never become one in the first place, the person in question ordered the search everywhere but the area where the witnesses said that the person went into and they heard a shot. The search lasted a few days and we were catching hell because the Military Police had not yet found the body, finally the command realized that we had never searched the area where the body might actually be. So they sent in a new soldier and by his not paying attention he tripped over what he thought was a tree and in actually, he tripped over the dead body.


The chain of command was so happy that they gave him a medal and praised him for being an excellent person to have on searches and what a great future he would have in the US Army. He actually tried to tell the truth that he tripped over the body but that was not the story that the chain of command wanted to be told. He got a real nice easy job after that and soon he met and fell in love with a real nice young lady. When asked how he met her, the unit reaction was that he must have tripped over her. For as long as he was in the unit, his nickname was “Trip” I recall when he left Ft Sill he was so happy to put that, trip, story behind him.

The movie tells about, how in 1945, 6 soldiers, were given an order to raise a second flag at Iwo Jima. The film tells you what happened to the 3 survivors in the following months after the battle and you are shown how the other 3 men died in the battle of Iwo Jima. Please watch how Ira Hayes life stars to spin out of control and see how he deals with being called a hero.


If you are thinking that this film is Pro-US Army or you don’t want to see the film because you think its anti-US Army. Then you need to check those ideas at the door and go into this film with an open mind. The film tells us a truth of how these 3 men became heroes and they never wanted any of the attention and when you see how it effects them all for the rest of there lives, you will ask the question, “If this is what a hero is all about, why in the hell would anyone want to be one? “

“Doc Bradley” (One of the 6 men who helped raise the flag, played by Ryan Phillippe) said this of his day in the sun, “People refer to us as heroes--I personally don't look at it that way. I just think that I happened to be at a certain place at a certain time and anybody on that island could have been in there--and we certainly weren't heroes--and I speak for the rest of them as well. That's the way they thought of themselves also."


Clint Eastwood directs this film and in Feb. 2007 Letters From Iwo Jima

Will be released and told from the perspective of the Japanese who fought it.


What I really enjoyed in the film was then actors’ reactions to the insanity all around them. The moment of the film is when Ira Hayes meets the mother of his friend, who died on Iwo Jima, and you see him just break down and cry. That happened in real life and it was well shown here in the film. What I also liked was that the film told the story of Harlon Block (played by Benjamin Walker) When his mother Belle saw the Flag Raising Photo in the Weslaco Newspaper on Feb. 25, she exclaimed, "That's Harlon" pointing to the figure on the far right. But the US Government mis-identified the figure as Harry Hansen (Played great by Paul Walker) of Boston. Belle never wavered in her belief that it was Harlon insisting, "I know my boy." No one--not her family, neighbors, the Government or the public--had any reason to believe her. But eighteen months later in a sensational front-page story, a Congressional investigation revealed that it was Harlon in the photo, proving that indeed, Belle did "know her boy."


There is also a small story of what haunted “Doc” the rest of his life, with his friend “Iggy”

Iggy


The film does not show any of this taking place nor the aftermath, all you see is Doc’s look of horror when they find Iggy’s body, The next film (Letters..) may show this scene. Doc later said in life, he remember how his friends lived, not how they died. Please stay for all of the credits and you will see more, on one half of the screen is a montage of incredible photographs from the actual battle and it ends with the famous shot that the movie is all about.

Grade. A+ (While Bradley had a public image as a war hero, he was a very private person. He avoided discussion of his war record saying only that the real heroes were the men who gave their lives for their country. The Global Media reported the death of a World War II icon on January 11, 1994 at the age of 70. But his hometown newspaper best captured the essence of Bradley's life after the war: "John Bradley will be forever memorialized for a few moments action at the top of a remote Pacific mountain. We prefer to remember him for his life. If the famous flag-raising at Iwo Jima symbolized American patriotism and valor, Bradley's quiet, modest nature and philanthropic efforts shine as an example of the best of small town American values." ---Editorial, "The Antigo Daily Journal")

OK, so the Nogeun-ri film is complete

Posted by Robert Koehler

Nogeun-Ri

WARNING: If you have anything around you that might damage your computer screen if thrown at it, I suggest you remove it before reading on.

Anyway, Yonhap reports that Lee Sang-woo has completed work on his film on the Nogeun-ri incident Want to learn more? OK:



After many news reports and documentaries about Nogeun-ri came out, director Lee Sang-woo felt obliged to make a fictional film to tell the story. He wanted to ask the U.S. government whether there was no other way than war, a question still relevant today.

“Writing the scenario, I asked myself what story I have to tell. This is not going to be about the incident, not the event, but it’s going to be about the people. It is going to tell the relationships that people had in the small community and how intimate and beautiful they were, and ask them (the U.S. military) if they knew what they were doing. They were destroying these beautiful human beings,” Lee said after shooting the film’s last scene in Sunchang, South Jeolla Province, early this week.

I don’t want to use one independent filmmaker’s take on history to be indicative of attitudes as a whole, but after the success of “Welcome to Dongmakgol,” one has to ask whether Koreans and Americans view their shared history in remotely the same way. This is particularly the case with younger Koreans whose collective memory of the Korean War and the role the United States played in it is being shaped by films like this and “Dongmakgol.”

This question is worth exploring, because this shared history is supposedly part of the reason we keep the Korea-U.S. alliance going. If U.S. intervention in Korea is increasingly viewed as a tragedy that destroyed families and communities and kept a nation divided, what reason does Washington have for maintaining the child of that intervention—the Korea-U.S. alliance—especially at a time when the two sides view their national interests in increasingly disparate ways?

BTW, I’m not arguing that topics such as Nogeun-ri or U.S. misdeeds should not be explored by filmmakers. As artists in a democratic society, Korean filmmakers have a duty to explore all aspects of Korea’s past and present. But as Lee clearly points out and as anyone who watched “Dongmakgol” could tell, the films do more than just examine painful incidents pertaining to U.S. history in Korea—they seek to deny any positive role the United States may have played in post-Liberation Korea by constructing fantasy worlds of happy villagers playing in the fields until they were brutally interrupted by the evil Americans and their warlike ways and exploitive capitalism. Even relatively even-handed “Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War” does little more than depict North and South as moral equivalents (with U.S. and UN contributions ignored completely)—there was no “good side” or “bad side,” and the question is never addressed whether the men chewed up on screen died for anything at all. With “Dongmakgol” drawing over 8 million viewers (5 million in its first four weeks), its historical viewpoint obviously resonates with a large segment of the general population. And it goes without saying that it does not bode well for the future of the alliance when the peoples involved no longer share a common memory of even the “foundation myth” of the alliance itself.

P.S.: I would also like to make clear that in no way, shape or form am I suggesting that Koreans emulate the disturbing levels of hero-worship and moral/patriotic simplicity of American war films. My favorite U.S. war film, for example, is Terrence Malick’s “A Thin Red Line,” which is morally ambiguous about the U.S. campaign in the Pacific, to say the least. But what we’re seeing here with “Dongmakgol,” the upcoming Nogeun-ri film and, to a lesser extent, “Tae Guk Gi” is equally simplistic stories that simply substitute ethnic nationalism for the flag-waving of American films. And that’s not a good thing.


Here We Go Again

Expect another anti-American hatefest film much like Welcome to Dongmakgol that drew record Korean audiences with it’s story of North and South Korean soldiers joining together to kill Americans in order to save a rural village during the Korean War.

As usual the Korean media gets the whole incident wrong from the start. A theme in recent Korean movies is that life in rural villages was some kind of idealistic paradise until the big, bad Americans come and ruined it. If anyone wants a good cinematic example of what life before, during, and after the Korean War was like in rural Korean villages than I encourage you to see the excellent Korean movieThe Taebak Mountains Watch this movie and then compare it to the crap that is Dongmakgol. The people in these villages were dirt poor and life was hard which made many of these villages agreeable towards communism and uprise against the South Korean government including villages in the No Gun-ri area.

Also the villagers were not evacuated by US soldiers and without a doubt they were not strafed by US aircraft during the No Gun-ri timeframe as the Yonhap article claims. Finally 500 people did not die at No Gun-ri, maybe 50 at best. How do I know all of this? Read my series of postings that I did last year on this very subject. The evidence is overwhelming about what really happened at No Gun-ri but when Pulitzer Prizes and millions of dollars in compensation money are at stake, who cares about the truth?

I have no doubt this Nogun-ri movie will just be as equally as crappy as Dongmakgol. There was definitely a tragedy that happened at Nogun-ri however the number of people killed and the motivations and the circumstances behind what happened are not what the leftists want you to believe. I did a whole series of postings on what happened at Nogun-ri and what really happened is actually quite clear once you get around all the lies and propaganda put out there by both the Korean and US media. I encourage everyone to interested in what really happened at Nogun-ri to check out my postings at the link below.

The Truth

If the filmmaker is basing his movie off the AP article than he is basing it on an article that has been proven to be fraudulent. He is making a movie based on what he wishes Nogun-ri to be instead of the actual reality.

This would be like making the Dr. Hwang movie based off what he people wish him to be, “The Pride of Asia” curing all these paralyzed people and ignoring the facts a few brave journalists uncovered to prove he is a fraud.

Time to End the Screen Quota

I generally write ”DOA” posts after an action by either government documents some new low in bilateral relations. The government isn’t responsible for the content of what Korea’s notoriously militant film industry makes, but it wasn’t responsible for the content of “Yoduk Story,” either. So on one hand, fictionalized movies about No Gun Ri or formaldehyde dumps get the protection of monopolistic screen quotas and government subsidies (and just in time for FTA talks, too!), but on the other, those who would make or finance a small-time musical about just one of North Korea’s concentration camps arethreatened with prosecution under the National Security Law.

Never mind that nobody has actually figured out exactly what happened atNo Gun Ri; the reporters already had their Pulitzers by the time we learned that some of their “eyewitnesses” weren’t even there. Either way, I’ll go out on a limb to suggest that this film’s scenes of bucolic village life won’t feature any North Korean infantry dressed in peasant clothing.

The only other point I would add is this: if those Chinese imperialists hadn’t intervened in Korea, why, the entire peninsula would be unified today. Yodok would be paved over with greenhouses and the streets of Chongjin would be packed with bongo loudspeaker trucks heaped with produce instead of dying kkotjaebi Why war indeed. The more I hear the question asked, the more I wonder myself. Overall, however, I increasingly see the U.S.-Korea alliance as a perfectly good idea that’s outlived much of its usefulness, at least as presently configured.

Another interesting perspective here. I saw “Typhoon,” and I didn’t dislike it as much as this reviewer did. My favorite part was the ridiculously Canadian accent of one actor, cast in the role of one of the film’s Yankee villains.

The film will be released in June 2007 here in Korea.

Soap Box time.....

I hated Welcome to Dongmakgol with a passion for many of the same reasons that were listed above. I thought that it was very anti-US Army and in no way showed the truth. I fear that next June it will be the same lies attempted to be shouted so loudly that they will become the truth and that the people who don't know any better will believe these lies.

Well it looks like I will have one heck of a film review for Twitch out of this one.

Oh BTY. I have been accepted as a writter for Twitch Sunday I will try and complete my first article about my trip to the Busan Film festival.

I will keep an eye out for all news related to this film.

Game 3 victory second round

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Game 4 victory second round

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What this is, is the end of games 3 4 of the second round of the KBO baseball playoffs

Daejeon 5-4 Game 3
Daejeon 4-0 Game 4

Daejeon is now in the Korean Baseball Championship.

As of today its

Samsung Lions 1 and Daejeon Eagles 1

game 3 and 4 were delayed until WEND and Thursday so, guess what I will be doing those days.

game 5-7 will be played in seoul, why? I HAVE NO IDEA EITHER!!!!

Don't think I will go to the games but I may change my mind.

This is now the part of the year where we will get the contenders for Oscar 2006 Best Films of the year.

What this article will do is preview the films that you should or should not watch for this upcoming Oscar season.

For release in October 2006 (Us Dates, Korean dates unknown)

The Departed IMDB LINK The Departed

Plot Outline: Two men from opposite sides of the law are undercover within the Boston State Police department and the Irish Mafia, but violence and bloodshed boil when discoveries are made, and the moles are dispatched to find out their enemy's identities. This is a Remake of Infernal Affairs (Hong Kong: English title) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0338564/ The film is directed by Martin Scorsese and has an all star cast such as Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Flags of Our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima

Flags of Our Fathers
Letters from Iwo Jima

What we have here is 2 different looks at the 1945 Battle of Iwo Jima in Flags of Our Fathers we have The life stories of the six men who raised the flag at The Battle of Iwo Jima, a turning point in WWII. In Letters from Iwo Jima we have, the story of the battle of Iwo Jima between the United States and Imperial Japan during World War II, as told from the perspective of the Japanese who fought it. With Clint Eastwood directing these 2 film, this should be a very interesting look at this battle.

Marie Antoinette

Marie Antoinette


Now I have already seen this film, I was given a Cannes copy of this film on DVD.

I have no idea what Sofia Coppola was going for in this film, It was horribly miscast as Kirsten Dunst as Marie and with the 2006 modern soundtrack in 1790 France, it just never worked. It was savagely attacked after its Cannes debut and should not be seen by anybody. Grade F

Volver

Volver


After her death, a mother (Maura) returns to her home town in order to fix the situations should couldn't resolve during her life. Of her family left in the town, her ghost slowly becomes a comfort to her daughters (Cruz, Dueñas), as well as her grandchild (Cobo).

Carmen Maura reunites with Pedro Almodóvar for the director's first comedy since, what, Kika? Not that we're complaining about his recent body of work, but it'll be nice to walk out of a theater after seeing this and not be totally bummed out. And we can't wait to see Penélope Cruz star in her first actual movie in years! Volver opened big in Almodóvar's native Spain, with nearly cross-the-board good reviews (the latter is a rare occurrence for the auteur), and scooped two prizes (Best Screenplay and Best Actress for the ensemble cast) at Cannes.

The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause

SC3


Santa (Allen), aka Scott Calvin, is faced with double-duty: how to keep his new family happy, and how to stop Jack Frost from taking over Christmas.

I have no idea why they are doing a #3. This has not been a good year for Tim Allen, with the failures of Zoom and The Shaggy D.A,.A return to this could only hurt his star until the rumored Toy Stoy 3 return in 2008, to even have a chance of a comeback.


Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan

Release Date in Korea 12/06

Borat


Kazakhstani TV talking head Borat (Cohen) is dispatched to the United States to report on the greatest country in the world. With a documentary crew in tow, Borat becomes more interested in locating and marrying Pamela Anderson


It had a small release at the 11th Pusan International Film Festival and has a very strong Buzz about it. I was told basically if you like Sacha Baron Cohen then go see if, if you do not, please give it a look.


Flushed Away

Flushed Away


The story of an uptown rat that gets flushed down the toilet from his penthouse apartment, ending in the sewers of London, where he has to learn a whole new and different way of life

Aardman Animations (the studio behind Wallace & Grommit) handles their first CGI film, which was born out of their inability to get the Tortoise vs. Hare project off the ground. Reports from the underground, where three directors (including Aardman vets Bowers and Fell) are toiling away, indicate the CGI looks like classic Aardman stuff. Fingers crossed the Brit-friendly cast doesn't result in a Valiant-like reception at the box office.

Have you ever just had a bad idea about a movie that looks like its going to bomb big time? Every time I look at the facts for this film, it just has a huge failure on it, from clay to CGI

News


When I read that article the warnings about this film looks like were confirmed.

A Good Year

A Good Year


Englishman Max Skinner (Russell Crowe) inherits Le Griffon, a crumbling Provençal vineyard owned by his Uncle Henry (Albert Finney). Settling into the property, Max's prospects are shaken up by the arrival of Henry's long-lost daughter, Christie Roberts (Abbie Cornish), a wine brat from California with a surprise or two tucked away.

Will this be a comeback or will this be another failure like the Cinderella Man was. Crowe lately has developed a pain-in-the-but to work with. This film will either help his star or we will slowly start to see it fail over a long period of time.


Harsh Times

Harsh Times


HARSH TIMES stars Christian Bale as an ex-Army Ranger who finds himself slipping back into his old life of petty crime after a job offer from the LAPD evaporates. Freddy Rodriguez (SIX FEET UNDER) plays his best friend and Eva Longoria (DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES) plays Rodriguez's girlfriend. It marks the film directing debut for Ayer who has written such box office hits as TRAINING DAY, U-571 and THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS

The preview looked interesting so we shall see about this film, the buzz is about Bale going psycho and everybody else dealing with it.

Casino Royale (Relaesed in Korea 12/06)

James Bond


After earning his license to kill, MI6 dispatches James Bond (Craig) to Madagascar to track a terrorist. The spy soon expands his search to include an entire terrorist cell, tipping off an adventure that leads him into a Montenegro casino, where his organization backs him in a marathon game against Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), a banker to international terrorist organizations.

I saw the trailer and I was thinking, “Oh S&*^% they may have finally gotten it right.” The pick of Daniel Craig has met with some stiff complaints. To me, it ended, when Sean Connery gave his blessing to this selection. If the ultimate James Bond agrees with this pick then can anyone really argue about it.?

Fast Food Nation

FFN/


A marketing executive (Greg Kinnear) for a fast food giant travels to the Colorado town that's home to feedlots and packing plant that fuels his business. His goal: to quietly investigate whether cow manure has found its way into his product. The film played during the Pusan Film Festival.

Richard Linklater's much-anticipated take on Eric Schlosser's best-seller underwhelmed at Cannes, where audiences cited a lack of cohesion and emotional resonance. We shall see on this one.


Happy Feet

Happy Feet


Warner Bros. bets that their formula of Madagascar meets March of the Penguins meets boy band choreography will yield one of the biggest animated hits of the year. We have to imagine that George Miller, who hasn't directed a film since Babe: Pig in the City isn't sleeping much these days. Meanwhile, Hugh Jackman transmogrifies from a rat to a penguin in the same month. He's so versatile! Okay, we're going to get back to puzzling over the title, as to its utter lameness or complete and total awesomeness; a reminder: your best friend can't prevent you from calling him/her "Happy Feet".

The Preview looked great and I have a good feel about this one so I am looking forward to this one but remember, in Korea it might be dubbed into Korean so check with the movie place first before you go.

Déjà Vu

Deja Vu


An ATF agent travels back in time to save a woman from being murdered, falling in love with her during the process.

I know, Ok it sound like “Time Cop”

It also has Tony Scott and Denzel Washington.

We shall see about this one.


The Fountain

The Fountain


As a 16th-century conquistador, Tom (Hugh Jackman) discovers the Tree of Life. He spends the next 1,000 years searching for a way to save his love, Izzi (Rachel Weisz), as he begins to develop an understanding of the mysteries that have plagued him for centuries.

This production rose and crashed around writer-director Darren Aronofsky so many times, we still feel as though we'll never be sitting in a theater, moments from the flicker of the first reel. After months with only a teaser poster, a couple stills, and an information-less official site, Venice announced they'd host the world premiere (Aronfsky turned down a non-competition slot at Cannes, saying it was full-on Palme d'Or eligibility or nothing). And then came the boos ... Or the reports of people booing the film, which bloated into prognostications of critical and commercial failure.

Well this will be a hit or a bomb, no middle ground for this one.


For Your Consideration

FYC


Three actors (Catherine O'Hara, Parker Posey, and Harry Shearer) learn their respective performances in the film "Home for Purim," a drama set in the mid-1940s American South, are generating award-season buzz. A documentary crew captures all the excitement.

A Christopher Guest film? I am so there!


Bobby

Bobby


Part fact and part fiction, the story of U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy's assassination is told via the intertwining lives of people who were present at Los Angeles' Ambassador Hotel in the hours leading up to the event.
THE BUZZ: Trying swishing this phrase around in your mouth: "Academy Award nominated director Emilio Estevez."

I have had this once picked as a contender for best picture of the year. Everything that I read and seen about it points to it. Hopefully the film will live up to the hype.

The History Boys

THB


Alan Bennett's play performed equally well in the UK and the US, and now a transatlantic coalition brings the screen version to the States with all the major talent aboard. Art house devotees love their tragedy with a little comedy, as does the Academy. Richard Griffiths as a Best Actor candidate? With this role, it could happen, please keep an eye on this one.

The Last King of Scotland

TLKS


Based on the events of the brutal Ugandan dictator Idi Amin's regime as seen by his personal physician during the 1970s A freshly graduated young doctor Nicolas from Scotland went to Uganda in 1970s hoping that he could offer his helping hands to the Ugandan people. Instead of serving the poor and needed, he met the charismatic Uganda dictator Idi Amin and his life is forever changed.

Forest Whitaker nails the role of Amin and the buzz is about an Oscar nomination for his role in this one.

The Nativity Story

The Nativity Story


A drama that focuses on the period in Mary and Joseph's life where they journeyed to Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus.

Now this could be a very interesting selection for December 2006. I have not a clue how this one will play. I guess we're supposed to be shocked that the director of Thirteen is handling this take on Mary's life up until Jesus Christ's birth. Or that the talented, young Keisha Castle-Hughes was cast in the role. Initially none of this was any big deal, but now that Hughes is pregnant (and not yet 17), this could be one very interesting marketing campaign.

Apocalypto

Apocalypto


Imagine being Mel Gibson's publicist ... After flirting with the Antoine Fuqua project Under and Alone, Mel Gibson opted for another historical epic for his follow-up to The Passion of the Christ -- and he self-financed the project, too. Set in the pre-Hispanic era, Apocalypto will be in the Maya language (think back to Men with Guns) and it's not known whether Gibson will make more than a cameo in the film (he's in the teaser trailer for a second, sporting a huge beard, crazy eyes, and what looks to be a huge blunt). It's not hard to realize what Gibson's getting at, as he's been vocal about the dissolution of American society; it will be interesting, and obviously controversial, to see how he ties his film to his beliefs.

Will Mel Gibson’s legendary drunken outburst hurt this film? We will soon see.


The Good German

The Good German


An American journalist (Clooney) in post-war Berlin to find his former mistress (Blanchett) is lured into a mystery involving her missing husband and a soldier's washed-up body.


Easily one of the most hush hush A-list projects in years ... With no competition in the form of actors playing musical legends or literary geniuses, George Clooney might waltz off with the Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of newsman Jake Geismar (though an African dictator does stand in his way). And Cate Blanchett could be this year's Rachel Weisz, unless her performance in Notes on a Scandal overshadows her work here. Actually, toss in a bye for Soderbergh and his screenwriter, the twice-nominated Paul Attanasio.

Well what’s next for George Clooney? Can he earn another Oscar nod for this one or will it be a pretender in a year of contenders.


The Pursuit of Happyness

The POH


Will Smith arrives for the holidays, just in time to bum you out (before lifting your spirits) with the true story of Christopher Gardener. Please note the mid-life drama did not work for Adam Sandler, though if anyone can shift genre and retain his audience, it's Smith. Italy's mass-appeal director Gabriele Muccino makes his English-language debut; Steve Conrad (The Weather Man) wrote the script.

Now this one I have no idea on, It has Will Smith in a non-Alien film. Will it be Spanglish or Hitch?

Eragon

Eragon


In his homeland of Alagaesia, a farm boy happens upon a dragon's egg -- a discovery that leads him on a predestined journey where he realized he's the one person who can defend his home against an evil king.

If you have seen posters of Eragon at the Daejeon CGV, this is the film.

As a 15-year-old boy, Christopher Paolini started working on a novel, fueled by his love of all things Tolkein. Eragon was published when Paolini was 17, and was a worldwide best-seller (Eldest, the second volume of his Inheritance Triology, was published in 2005, and as far as we know it has yet to be optioned). The novel was adapted by Lawrence Konner (Mighty Joe Young) and Peter Buchman (Jurassic Park III) and Stefen Fangmeier makes his directorial debut after serving as visual effects supervisor on such films as Saving Private Ryan, Twister, and Lemony Snicket


The film is worth a look but past that will it be compared farorably to Tolkein or will it be branded a rip-off?


Blood Diamond

BD


If anything else, Edward Zwick's latest film will be remembered as the movie that helped introduce the term "conflict diamond" into popular culture. This film feels more like “The Beach” than anything else. All this over a diamond?


Venus

Venus


A romance, of sorts, blooms between an aging actor (Peter O'Toole) and the grand-niece (Jodie Whittaker) of his best friend (Leslie Phillips).

I have been a fan of O’Toole’s for years and a chance to see him in action again is definitely worth a look.

Rocky Balboa (Rocky 6)

6


'Rocky Balboa' examines one of America's greatest icons at a vulnerable period in his life--middle age. A former heavyweight boxing champion, known and renown throughout the world for going the distance, Rocky finds a new venture: giving back to his community. This is where he, once more, finds himself at the opposing side of opportunity, not unlike the one he has seen decades ago. Heavyweight champ Mason Dixon and his representation offer Rocky a shot for the title. For Balboa, it'll be one last hurrah he'll never forget.....but with his glory days far behind him can he withstand the inevitabilities of what's to come? A look at going full circle and wanting more, when life turns out how you least expect it and then some.

If George Forman can win the title at age 46 why not Rocky Balboa? A long time ago Slyvester Stallone actually made some good movies, Those days have long sinced passed but maybe he had to hit bottom before he could return, wuth this and the return of Rambo maybe he will return to his roots and become what he last shows me in “Cop Land”

The preview looked awesome so we shall see on this one.


Charlotte's Web

CW


Wilbur the pig, fearful he'll end up the family dinner instead of the family pet, hatches a plan with resourceful spider Charlotte to save his bacon. Based on the acclaimed childrens' novel

Once again a remake of a childhood favorite film of mine and once again I wonder, why oh why are you remaking this film?

Night at the Museum

Museum


Ben Stiller in a Museum when the animals and wax figures come alive and with Robin Williams, this one will definitely be worth a look.

The Good Shepherd

The Good Sheppard/


Edward Wilson, the only witness to his father's suicide and member of the Skull and Bones Society while a student at Yale, is a morally upright young man who values honor and discretion, qualities that help him to be recruited for a career in the newly founded Central Intelligence Agency. While working there, his ideals gradually turn to suspicion influenced by the Cold War paranoia present within the office. Eventually, he becomes an influential veteran operative, while his distrust of everyone around him increases to no end. His dedication to his work does not come without a price though, leading him to sacrifice his ideals and eventually his family.

Matt Damon, Robert DeNiro and the return of Joe Pesci. I am so there for this one.

We Are Marshall

When a plane crash claims the lives of the Marshall University football team athletes and some of its fans, the team's new coach (Matthew McConaughey), his surviving players, and the school's dean (David Strathairn) try to keep the program alive.

THE BUZZ: Perhaps more personal than any inspirational sports picture that has come before it, Marshall is being closely watched by people who don't want it to be turned into anything different than what it was: a tragic event that brought a community together. That means no technical flash, and no trumped up romantic angle. Our interest was already piqued when the film was announced and fast-tracked for release in 2006; having Oscar nominee David Strathairn makes it a must-see for us. And so you know, the film's titled is derived from the school's primary cheer at athletic events. And if you care, it's not like director McG is looking to go legit with this film; looks like his next project will be Hot Wheels.

We Are Marshall


The University of Marshall’s Website about the airplane crash with other links to the newspaper and links to the movie.

Please click on to the fountain link and read the story behind it.



Children of Men

CM


"Children of Men" envisages a world one generation from now that has fallen into anarchy on the heels of an infertility defect in the population. The world's youngest citizen has just died at 18, and humankind is facing the likelihood of its own extinction. Set against a backdrop of London torn apart by violence and warring nationalistic sects, "Children of Men" follows an unlikely champion of Earth's survival: Theo (Owen), a disillusioned ex-activist turned bureaucrat, who is forced to face his own demons and protect the planet's last remaining hope.

I keep wondering about Clive Owen, Do I get the great role of him in Sin City or do I get the junk of Closer with him, either I like his movies or I hate them, I just have a bad feeling about this one.

Dreamgirls

Dreamgirls


All the drama you can shake your booty at! This long gestating, loosely veiled story of Diana Ross and the Supremes has attracted Hollywood's A-list and "American Idol" refugees alike. Like it or not, Beyoncé was born to play Deena Jones, just as "Idol"er Jennifer Hudson makes perfect sense as Effie White, the original lead singer who is replaced by Deena. Elsewhere, Usher was in talks to play songwriter C.C. White, but no deal could be reached, opening the door for the relatively unknown Keith Robinson. We think Robinson and Jamie Foxx, who plays manager Curtis Taylor Jr., are the ones to watch here, as their nuanced characters are the type of performances audiences and Oscar love. But who would have thought Eddie Murphy is emerging as the award hopeful? Broadway buffs, however, are holding their breath for JHud's cover of the showstopping ballad "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going.", which didn't make it on teaser trailers and has the potential to upstage Beyoncé. If that's possible.

This is one of the films that I have wanted to watch since it was announced. This could be a huge hit or a huge bomb, I would bet on the hit. It deserves to be seen.


Pan’s Labyrinth

PAN


The Plot: Relocated in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, young Ofelia (Baquero) discovers a stone labyrinth near her new home. Inside the structure, she encounters a mythical creature who tells her she's the princess who belongs to this underground world, but in order to return home, she must complete three dangerous tasks.

Guillermo Del Toro's Directing a film, need I say anymore, Hope it’s a good one.




Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

Perfume


Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, born with no smell, develops a superior olfactory sense, which he uses to create the world's finest perfumes. His work, however, takes a dark turn as he searches for the ultimate scent.

Most expensive German movie ever made (as of 2006)

Well, it has “sleeper” written all over it, will it deliver? Overseas Box office has been strong but how will it do in the US is the question?


Factory Girl

Factory Girl


A biopic of Warhol muse Edie Sedgwick has been in the pipeline since, well... forever. (Forever being as far back as the late 70s.) At one time, Katie Holmes was cast as the doomed party girl, but then she met this older guy named Tom and, well... you know how that went. Miller was actually cast twice, dropped the first time because she wasn't a big enough name, and then she had this relationship crisis with this hot British guy named Jude and, well... you know how that went. Now a tabloid name, this is Miller's opportunity to prove that she's more than just a pretty face, and advance word is she could make the Best Actress list alongside grande dames Helen Mirren and Meryl Streep

With a back story of just this, this film deserves a look.

The Queen

The Queen


The Queen is an intimate behind the scenes glimpse at the interaction between HM Elizabeth II and Prime Minister Tony Blair during their struggle, following the death of Diana, to reach a compromise between what was a private tragedy for the Royal family and the public's demand for an overt display of mourning.

The reviews have been good and the film deserves a good look at with Helen Mirren getting serious talk of Oscar for her performance of Queen Elizabeth II.

Infamous

Why?


While researching his book In Cold Blood, writer Truman Capote (Jones) develops a close relationship with convicted murderers Dick Hickock and Perry Smith

If Capote had not been done last year and Phillip Thomas Semymore not won the Oscar for his acting then I might want to watch this film but twice in one year, didn’t WARNER Brothers learn form the Wyatt Earp mess 10 years earlier?

Deliver Us from Evil

Evil


The Plot: A documentary on Father Oliver O'Grady, a Northern California priest and admitted pedophile who was harbored by the Catholic Church for more than 30 years.

Lionsgate's looking to stir up some trouble by sending Amy Berg's documentary out without a rating. After the MPAA gave the film's trailer a redband rating (as in: good luck getting a theater to pick up your film), the distributor thought to try its chances with theater owners, who can opt to play either a film or its trailer. It might help you to know the general feeling here is Evil's an R-rated film, but if Lionsgate had submitted the film to the MPAA, they would have had to follow their advertising guidelines as well.

Man I hope this ones opens the hornets nest!




Babel

Babel


Three stories set in Morocco, Tunisia, Mexico and Japan. The story begins with a tragedy striking a married couple on vacation. Two children curious about just how far a bullet will travel set into a motion a tragedy that ripples across six families around the world

Huge Oscar Buzz for this one, I have not seen much about it but I will give it a look.


Catch a Fire

Catch A Fire


Arrested for a terrorist act he did not commit, Patrick Chamusso (Derek Luke) embraces the anti-Apartheid movement he has long ignored. As a new member of the African National Congress, he volunteers for a dangerous one-man mission - a plan that causes his old advocate in the police department, Nic Vos (Tim Robbins), to hunt him down

I have no idea why but it just sounds interesting so please check it out.

Death of a President

Hated It


Years after the assassination of President George W. Bush in Chicago, an investigative documentary examines that as-yet-unsolved crime.

Well I watched it and the only thought was, This is so wrong! I was never a fan of the last US President, Bill Clinton, But in my wildest dreams would I ever do this. Please pass on this one at all cost. I just can not believe that it is actually getting a release in the USA. I was glad to hear that major Cinema chains are passing on this one.

Grade F

The last one is the one that I wanted to see at the Pusan Film Festival but the times and dates just flat out would not work for me.

Indigènes or Days of Glory.

Days of Glory


In the liberation of France during WWII, North African men were recruited and enlisted in the French army in the fight against the Nazis. Why do they do it? One reason is to escape poverty, and the holding on to the glimmer of hope that they can be accepted, when the war is over, as equals based on their fight for the "motherland". These soldiers, mujahedeens, fought hard, often being in the frontline, but always overlooked when it comes to recognition of basic military welfare and promotions, not that these rewards will cost an arm or a leg, nor are the fighters so hard up for them. All they're asking for was fair treatment, but all they got was discrimination.

The film won the best Actor To the male ensemble cast at CANNES, I REALLY WANT TO SEE THIS ONE.

This is a small look of what Is coming out during the fall 2006 season.

Lidle Had Passion for Flying, and for Speaking His Mind



Cory Lidle locker at Yankee Stadium was on the opposite side of the empty stall next to the trainer’s room. That is the locker that belonged to Thurman Munson, the Yankees’ captain who died in the crash of a plane he was piloting on Aug. 2, 1979.



The Detroit Tigers observing a moment of silence Wednesday night for the Yankees’ Cory Lidle.

Lidle cleaned out his locker on Sunday, the day after the Yankees were eliminated from the playoffs. As he chatted informally with reporters, Lidle talked about aviation, a favorite topic of his since he earned his pilot’s license in four and a half months last winter.

At one point, Lidle motioned across the room in the direction of Munson’s locker. He said that the full report of Munson’s accident was on the Web site of the National Transportation Safety Board. He also said he had read the report of the accident that killed John F. Kennedy Jr.

Lidle knew the risks of his hobby, but he never seemed to worry about them. When asked by The New York Times in September if he was ever scared in the air, Lidle seemed puzzled by the question.

“It’s fun,” he said. “It doesn’t bother me.”

Lidle was killed yesterday when his plane, a Cirrus SR20 that he bought last year for $187,000, crashed into a residential high-rise building on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Lidle said in September that the plane was built in 2002 and had fewer than 400 hours in the air. He said he had 95 hours of solo flying time.

He said on Sunday that he was looking forward to practicing instrument training with his flight instructor this week before flying home to California.

As part of that trip, Lidle said he also planned to stop in Nashville. A Nashville radio station, 104.5 The Zone, reported yesterday that Lidle had booked a room at the Union Station hotel there for last night.

Flying was a recent passion of Lidle’s. Last season, on a trip to Arizona with the Philadelphia Phillies, he saw a former teammate, Tom Wilson, whose friend is a pilot. Lidle became intrigued by the idea.

“I always had a little bit of an interest, but never thought I’d do anything,” Lidle said. “I always thought it was a two-year process or something. Turns out it’s about a one-year process if you go at a normal rate.

“About a year ago, I started calling around, talked to a couple instructors, and I said, ‘Hey, here’s my deal. I learn fast, and this is going to be my No. 1 priority. If you think four and a half months is enough time, I’m going to do it. If not, I’ll just wait until I’m done playing baseball, because I don’t want to get halfway through it and then get into the season. I may be overwhelmed and I won’t go back to it.’ ”

Immediately after the Phillies’ season ended, Lidle met with a flight instructor, Tyler Stanger, in Pomona, Calif. He had his pilot’s license by February and seemed amazed at how easily he picked it up.

“It’s no problem,” Lidle said in September. “It’s easy.”

In a September interview, Stanger said Lidle was a model student. He said the only time Lidle seemed unsure of himself was when he became sick over New Mexico while Stanger was flying them from Texas to California.

“He was probably my best student,” Stanger said. “He learned very, very quickly, and a lot of it is desire. He had huge desire.

“Really, anyone can learn how to fly. If you can drive a bus, you can fly an airplane.”

Stanger said Lidle’s background as an athlete helped him as a pilot, specifically the competitive drive to accept a challenge and the ability to think clearly under pressure.

Lidle, though, said his experience as an athlete had no correlation to being a pilot. He spoke in matter-of-fact terms about the safety drills he went through with Stanger.

To simulate engine failure, Stanger would pull the throttle back to the idle position, letting the plane coast. To simulate bad weather, Stanger would have Lidle wear blinders so he could see only the instrument panel, then he would tilt the plane high or low and make Lidle recover.

If anything were to go wrong, Lidle said he was confident in his plane.

“It’s got some cool safety features on it,” he said. “The whole plane has a parachute on it. Ninety-nine percent of pilots that go up never have engine failure, and the 1 percent that do usually land it. But if you’re up in the air and something goes wrong, you pull that parachute, and the whole plane goes down slowly.”

Lidle said his wife, Melanie, and their 6-year-old son, Christopher, had flown with him in the plane, and in February he took a Bucks County Courier Times reporter for a flight.

After the Phillies traded Lidle to the Yankees on July 30, Lidle questioned whether his former teammates shared his desire to win. In September, he said he had not thought through his comments before making them; he had been outside in the heat, cleaning his plane.

Lidle’s comments rankled some of the Phillies, including pitcher Arthur Rhodes, who dismissed him as a “scab” in an interview with The New York Post. That was a reference to Lidle’s experience as a replacement player during the 1995 strike.

Lidle was a minor leaguer for the Milwaukee Brewers at the time, and he said he would have been released had he not been a replacement player. (One regret, he said, was that his name could never be in a video game because he was forbidden from joining the players’ union.)

Unlike his high school teammates, the future major leaguers Jason Giambi and Aaron Small, Lidle had not been drafted out of South Hills High School in West Covina, Calif. The Minnesota Twins signed him as a free agent in 1990, and he spent two years in their farm system before being released.

Lidle tended bar, working late nights, and the manager of a first-year independent team in Idaho, the Pocatello Posse, wanted him to try out. Lidle laughed last month as he recalled his indifference; he hit the snooze button one morning and missed the tryout.

Given another chance, Lidle performed well and made the team. The Posse folded after one year, but Lidle had earned his way back to a major league organization, the Brewers. By 1997 he was in the major leagues, pitching in relief for the Mets.

After arm surgery the next season, Lidle carved out a career as a serviceable, if unspectacular, starting pitcher, going 82-72 with a 4.57 earned run average. He became known for his outspoken nature, challenging the legitimacy of Barry Bonds’s home run records in an interview this season with The Philadelphia Daily News.

Lidle explained later that he did not know why Bonds should get a free pass from players when, to Lidle, it was obvious that Bonds had lied about his use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Lidle continued his frank talk almost until the day he died. On Sunday, he said he felt the Detroit Tigers had been more prepared than the Yankees for their playoff series. The next day, he called into the “Mike and the Mad Dog” radio show on WFAN to explain himself.

The hosts of the show, Mike Francesa and Chris Russo, pressed Lidle on his comments, and Lidle emphasized that he had not intended to criticize Manager Joe Torre. Near the end of the interview, he offered the hosts an invitation.

“I’d like to meet you some time,” Lidle said, “and we can sit down and you guys can really get to know me.”

The Drudge Report has obtained an exclusive copy of a “scary” campaign advertisement created by Hollywood producer and director David Zucker that was intended to be used by GOP organizations in the closing weeks of the 2006 campaign.

However, the advertisement was deemed “too hot” by GOP strategists all across Washington, DC who have refused to use it!

In the ad, Zucker, producer of SCARY MOVIE 4, recreates former Clinton Secretary of State Madeleine Albright’s 2000 visit to North Korea. During the visit, Secretary Albright presented North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il with a basketball autographed by former NBA superstar Michael Jordan.

An actress playing Secretary Albright is shown presenting Kim Jong Il with the Michael Jordan basketball, painting the walls of Osama bin Laden’s Afghanistan cave and turning a blind eye to suicide bombers. In one scene her skirt rips as she changes the tire of a Middle Eastern dictator’s limousine.

One GOP strategist said “jaws dropped” when the ad was first viewed. “Nobody could believe Zucker thought any political organization could use this ad. It makes a point, but it’s way over the top.”

Zucker is the producer and director of comedies such as “Airplane” and “The Naked Gun.” In 2004, Zucker, a longtime Democrat, embraced the Republican Party based on concerns he had about national security issues and voted for President George W. Bush.


Every Time I watch this it just gets funnier.