Beware of Greek movies bearing bad history and jingoistic subtexts
Canadian Arab News (April 12, 2007)
Visually and aesthetically, 300 is an impressive movie. Unfortunately, it is also a jingoistic bastardization of history that, intended or not, reinforces our cultural prejudices against Iran and the Middle East.
Based on Frank Miller’s graphic novel of the same name, it tells the story of the Battle of Thermopylae, but only in the broadest sense does Miller get the story right.… Like many ahtists, Miller was dissatisfied with the historical record and committed needless embellishments and distortions. The result is a falsified history remarkable mostly for its preposterous depiction of the Persian King Xerxes.” ... read more
U.S.’s political and cultural depravity now playing at a theatre near you
Canadian Arab News (February 22, 2007):
Time again for “the Oscars”—Hollywood’s annual ceremony to honour the best achievements in filmmaking. Doubtless two of the most anticipated categories are Best Actor and Best Director, since the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to its shame has never honoured Peter O’Toole or Martin Scorsese with an award. If Scorsese doesn’t win for his direction of The Departed, he should formally boycott the proceedings. Better to tell the academy to go to hell than risk receiving a “pity Oscar” like Paul Newman’s Best Actor award for the 1986 film The Color of Money—a make-good for not giving him the award for The Hustler 25 years earlier. One subject not up for discussion this night, though, is the overall corrupt state of American filmmaking. ... read more
Hollywood’s licence to lie must be revoked
Vancouver Courier (July 9, 2000)
In the upper left-hand corner of every New York Times front page is the famous motto: “All the news that’s fit to print.” ... read more
Universal studios loses its Silver lining
Vancouver Courier (December 13, 1998)
Have you ever left a theatre asking yourself: “Why did I waste $8.50 and two hours on this dreck? Who thinks that lame Saturday Night Live skits deserve to be made into movies? What studio exec is responsible for this abomination? ... read more
Movie fodder stunts mind and intelligence
Vancouver Courier (July 6, 1997)
John Travolta and Nicolas Cage are billed as the stars of the
current box-office hit Face/Off, but anyone who has seen the film might beg to differ. ... read more
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