I Wanna See...

[dalem]

dalem-
You're really missing out if you don't see Letters from Iwo Jima.  One of the best World War II films I've ever seen.  It's odd to see a version of the war told from the enemy's point of view, especially since we are always led to believe that they were just insane and evil.  It's on Netflix instant watch, if you have it, so you wouldn't even have to wait for it to show up.

The Japanese in WWII were quite evil, and  with their twisted faux-Bushido they were indoctrinated into, one could even make the claim they were insane.  So I'd say that what we've been led to believe is far closer to the truth than you might think.

-dale

[warofthebees]

Their leadership was evil, I'll agree with that.  But the common soldier didn't really have a choice; it was join or die.  I know, ex-Nazis made the same case, but marching civilians to death camps is a little different.  I'm not defending the Japanese in WWII in anyway; but it is interesting to see another point of view. 

All Quiet on the Western Front is one of my favorite novels, because of the similarity of the soldiers to my own experiences in the army, even though the Germans in World War 1 were our enemy.

[dalem]

Their leadership was evil, I'll agree with that.  But the common soldier didn't really have a choice; it was join or die.  I know, ex-Nazis made the same case, but marching civilians to death camps is a little different.  I'm not defending the Japanese in WWII in anyway; but it is interesting to see another point of view. 

How is marching civilians to death camps any different than torturing prisoners, or the horrifying massacre of civilians in China or Korea?  The average Nazi soldier had far cleaner hands than the average IJA soldier.  Not saying much, but still.

-dale

[SJP]

Actually, now I sort of want to see a movie about this very debate.   

[Darth Geek]

I wanna see a GOOD Dungeons and Dragons movie. And I'd like it to occasionally cut to the geeky nerds in a basement playing the game as the big strapping heroes and sexy maiden characters.

[dalem]

I wanna see a GOOD Dungeons and Dragons movie. And I'd like it to occasionally cut to the geeky nerds in a basement playing the game as the big strapping heroes and sexy maiden characters.

Knights of the Dinner Table style?

-dale

[Darth Geek]

I wanna see a GOOD Dungeons and Dragons movie. And I'd like it to occasionally cut to the geeky nerds in a basement playing the game as the big strapping heroes and sexy maiden characters.

Knights of the Dinner Table style?

-dale

Never heard of that. What is it?

[SJP]

I wanna see a GOOD Dungeons and Dragons movie. And I'd like it to occasionally cut to the geeky nerds in a basement playing the game as the big strapping heroes and sexy maiden characters.

It is a very cheap production (well, not quite as cheap as their other ones), but hysterical as hell and very quotable.

"How do you know that?"
"I have no idea." 
*Hand appears out of nowhere, gives bard a Post-It Note*
"Actually, I do!  Bardic knowledge!"

In fact, I can safely recommend all the Dead Gentlemen Productions.  Even though they are clearly filmed with low-budget materials (one of them, Demon Hunters, was actually a college class project, I believe), they are pretty good about being intentionally funny.

[RoninFox]

I wanna see a GOOD Dungeons and Dragons movie. And I'd like it to occasionally cut to the geeky nerds in a basement playing the game as the big strapping heroes and sexy maiden characters.

Knights of the Dinner Table style?

-dale

Never heard of that. What is it?

It's a long running comic strip/magazine about gamers.  Never really read it, but I'd heard about it from some old friends who played a bunch of tabletop RPGs and a quick search just now came up with an interesting image.

[warofthebees]

Their leadership was evil, I'll agree with that.  But the common soldier didn't really have a choice; it was join or die.  I know, ex-Nazis made the same case, but marching civilians to death camps is a little different.  I'm not defending the Japanese in WWII in anyway; but it is interesting to see another point of view. 

How is marching civilians to death camps any different than torturing prisoners, or the horrifying massacre of civilians in China or Korea?  The average Nazi soldier had far cleaner hands than the average IJA soldier.  Not saying much, but still.

-dale

We firebombed Dresden, nuked Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing thousands of civilians, and put US citizens of Japanese ancestry into internment camps in our own country.  I'm not trying to defend the Imperial Japanese, but they were not the only ones that weren't specifically playing by the rules at the time. 

But aside from the whole political debate, I just think that Letters from Iwo Jima is a good film, because I like to see different points of view about things.  Plus, it's directed by Clint Eastwood, so you know that it doesn't really sympathize with the Japanese too much.

On a less combative note (get it...GET IT!?)  I'd like to see a well-made World War 1 movie, OR a movie that's like those crappy National Lampoon college films, but the main character is aware of the fact.  Like all the people think he's a hacker of some sort because he knows how to use a computer.

[Thrifty]

I wanna see a GOOD Dungeons and Dragons movie. And I'd like it to occasionally cut to the geeky nerds in a basement playing the game as the big strapping heroes and sexy maiden characters.

Knights of the Dinner Table style?

-dale

Never heard of that. What is it?

It's a long running comic strip/magazine about gamers.  Never really read it, but I'd heard about it from some old friends who played a bunch of tabletop RPGs and a quick search just now came up with an interesting image.

Ha ha.  That's awesome.  I have a subcription to KODT.  It looks like that image is of the latest issue -- April 2010 -- which I probably won't be getting until the end of THIS month.  KenzerCo has a weird release schedule.

[Thrifty]

I wanna see a GOOD Dungeons and Dragons movie. And I'd like it to occasionally cut to the geeky nerds in a basement playing the game as the big strapping heroes and sexy maiden characters.

It is a very cheap production (well, not quite as cheap as their other ones), but hysterical as hell and very quotable.

"How do you know that?"
"I have no idea." 
*Hand appears out of nowhere, gives bard a Post-It Note*
"Actually, I do!  Bardic knowledge!"

In fact, I can safely recommend all the Dead Gentlemen Productions.  Even though they are clearly filmed with low-budget materials (one of them, Demon Hunters, was actually a college class project, I believe), they are pretty good about being intentionally funny.

"You want to backstab with a ballista?"

[dalem]

I wanna see a GOOD Dungeons and Dragons movie. And I'd like it to occasionally cut to the geeky nerds in a basement playing the game as the big strapping heroes and sexy maiden characters.

Knights of the Dinner Table style?

-dale

Never heard of that. What is it?

It's a long running comic strip/magazine about gamers.  Never really read it, but I'd heard about it from some old friends who played a bunch of tabletop RPGs and a quick search just now came up with an interesting image.

And it's awesomely funny if you've ever done any gaming.  Long-suffering GM running a game of "Hackmaster" for a small group of friends.  There's the rules-lawyer, the relaxed guy who likes to hack, the uptight guy who NEEDS to hack, and the chick who likes to actually roleplay.  I've met all of these people.  Heck, I've BEEN some of these people.

Highly recommended.

-dale

[dalem]

We firebombed Dresden, nuked Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing thousands of civilians, and put US citizens of Japanese ancestry into internment camps in our own country.  I'm not trying to defend the Imperial Japanese, but they were not the only ones that weren't specifically playing by the rules at the time. 

Sure, wars are hell.  Which is why you don't start them to expand your CoProsperity Sphere.  I'm not going to bother to stack Japanese war crimes against anyone else's, I'll just stay with my original statement.  Letters may be a great film, I have zero interest in seeing it because I am not interested in seeing any part of WWII from the Japanese side.

On a less combative note (get it...GET IT!?)  I'd like to see a well-made World War 1 movie, OR a movie that's like those crappy National Lampoon college films, but the main character is aware of the fact.  Like all the people think he's a hacker of some sort because he knows how to use a computer.

I agree a well-made WWI film would be welcome, but I think it would be very hard to watch.  Talk about a colossal and tragic eff-up. -shiver-.

-dale

[Doctor Who?]

We firebombed Dresden, nuked Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing thousands of civilians, and put US citizens of Japanese ancestry into internment camps in our own country.  I'm not trying to defend the Imperial Japanese, but they were not the only ones that weren't specifically playing by the rules at the time. 

Sure, wars are hell.  Which is why you don't start them to expand your CoProsperity Sphere.  I'm not going to bother to stack Japanese war crimes against anyone else's, I'll just stay with my original statement.  Letters may be a great film, I have zero interest in seeing it because I am not interested in seeing any part of WWII from the Japanese side.

On a less combative note (get it...GET IT!?)  I'd like to see a well-made World War 1 movie, OR a movie that's like those crappy National Lampoon college films, but the main character is aware of the fact.  Like all the people think he's a hacker of some sort because he knows how to use a computer.

I agree a well-made WWI film would be welcome, but I think it would be very hard to watch.  Talk about a colossal and tragic eff-up. -shiver-.

-dale

Have you seen Paths of Glory? It may be the one of the five best movies ever made about war.  Also Sargent York is one of my all time favorites.