[Liz]

What a waste of time. We coulda told them: "Nothing you do is relevant to most thinking Americans." Period.

[geaux]

The Role of Cinema in the National Debate

The only national debate that cinema has a role in is: is it entertaining or not?

[BlueLancer]

"The Role of Cinema in the National Debate"

None.

[tophat9000]

A pox’s on all there houses..

[Alberta's Child]

Mr. Shaye said he was “fascinated to learn” that some readers consider the sought-after ring in J.R.R. Tolkien’s 1950’s trilogy to represent the quest to harness nuclear power during World War II.

I thought Tolkien's readers were brighter than this. Tolkien actually began writing The Lord of the Rings in 1936 (I may be off a year or two there).

[Paradox]

Hitchens may be a liberal, but I admire him! I say he should be our Honorary Closet Freeper.

[Darth Reagan]

Mr. Shaye said he was “fascinated to learn” that some readers consider the sought-after ring in J.R.R. Tolkien’s 1950’s trilogy to represent the quest to harness nuclear power during World War II. Thus, he explained, New Line had made a movie that incorporated politics, but by setting the pictures in Middle Earth, those politics had been made “palatable.”

Well, if Mr. Shaye had read anything from Tolkien regarding what his books mean (like, say, the Introduction to the books), he'd know that the Ring doesn't represent nuclear weapons or anything. Tolkien expressly stated that the book is simply a fantasy, a story of a quest and good versus evil and is not allegorical at all.

Besides, would these people take this conference so seriously if it was on "The Role of Movies in the National Debate". Heck, a "Cinema" is a location where movies are projected with lots of seats and sticky floors, but is being used only to make themselves sound more important.

[Jefferson Adams]

These people are all beyond pathetic.

They should be rounded up, dressed in cammies, and dropped into Afghanistan. Those who survive should be picked up a month later, far wiser about the real world than they are now.

[bray]

I would rather have anthrax than watch an Oliver Tin Foil Stone movie!

Pray for GW and the Troops!

[kassie]

Oliver Stone! “I made a movie in which the President’s head gets blown off in the middle of Dealey Plaza, and it was entertaining because it was a thriller!” he said in a voice as loud as his pink socks.

Are him and impeached 42 friends? They seem to like to toot their own horns.

[wimpycat]

It's ALL about THEM, isn't it?

What a pathetic group of human beings they are!

MEMO TO THE ENTERTAINMENT AND ARTISTIC COMMUNITY:
Just SHUT UP and act, SHUT UP and direct, SHUT UP and sing, SHUT UP and finance---just do what you're paid to do and SHUT UP when you're not doing it, for crying out loud! I'd just as soon ask you for advice on world events as I would let you work on my car or remove my tonsils. I'm not interested in what goes on behind the scenes and how much you suffer for art! I'm only interested in the finished product. Nobody cares what you think! You aren't paid to think and you do a lousy job when you attempt it! Just be artistic and SHUT THE HELL UP!

[Piquaboy]

You sure do have that right. These people will never be relevant and never will be as far as I am concerned.

[sendtoscott]

“I appreciate Christopher’s wit, appreciate some of his points, but will not tolerate his disrespect!” she said.

Mr. Hitchens’ eyes flashed. “How would you know?” he said. “I haven’t dissed you yet.”

btt

[NYCVirago]

Did you see what the New York Post quoted Hitchens as saying to Oliver Stone:

"Excuse me? Revolt? It was state-sponsored mass murder, using civilians as missiles. To say that this attack in any way resembles the French Revolution means you are a moral idiot, as well as an intellectual idiot. The man has completely lost it."