Comments for Tomato Nation http://tomatonation.com better red than dead Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:33:52 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 Comment on Coraline by Sarah D. Bunting http://tomatonation.com/?p=4378&cpage=1#comment-46012 Sarah D. Bunting Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:33:52 +0000 http://tomatonation.com/?p=4378#comment-46012 <em>Are we really saying girls must be nice and polite to boys they'd rather not hang out with or they deserve to end up dead?</em> "We" aren't saying anything of the kind. The movie may be saying it's important to realize that people you may perceive as pesty nerds could have something more to contribute. There's nothing wrong per se with a boy coming to the rescue; it's when assumptions are made about that that it gets icky. In both directions. Are we really saying girls must be nice and polite to boys they'd rather not hang out with or they deserve to end up dead?

"We" aren't saying anything of the kind. The movie may be saying it's important to realize that people you may perceive as pesty nerds could have something more to contribute.

There's nothing wrong per se with a boy coming to the rescue; it's when assumptions are made about that that it gets icky. In both directions.

]]> Comment on Coraline by La BellaDonna http://tomatonation.com/?p=4378&cpage=1#comment-46011 La BellaDonna Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:05:59 +0000 http://tomatonation.com/?p=4378#comment-46011 Yay Becca! Now, why couldn't they have been sensible about this movie? I wouldn't object to someone's being rescued by a <i>cat</i>, because, especially in a spookystory, that would make perfect sense. I know if I was stuck in a spookystory, I'd want the cat on my side! Yay Becca!

Now, why couldn't they have been sensible about this movie? I wouldn't object to someone's being rescued by a cat, because, especially in a spookystory, that would make perfect sense. I know if I was stuck in a spookystory, I'd want the cat on my side!

]]> Comment on An Education by Natalie http://tomatonation.com/?p=4382&cpage=1#comment-46008 Natalie Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:16:27 +0000 http://tomatonation.com/?p=4382#comment-46008 I actually really loved <i>An Education,</i> and yes, I was first charmed by Mulligan on Doctor Who (it's so nice to see so many Who fans!), the essay the book was based on is quite good as well. http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2009/jun/07/lynn-barber-virginity-relationships I actually really loved An Education, and yes, I was first charmed by Mulligan on Doctor Who (it's so nice to see so many Who fans!), the essay the book was based on is quite good as well.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2009/jun/07/lynn-barber-virginity-relationships

]]> Comment on Coraline by Natalie http://tomatonation.com/?p=4378&cpage=1#comment-46007 Natalie Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:10:52 +0000 http://tomatonation.com/?p=4378#comment-46007 Count me among those bothered by Coraline needing to be saved by Wybie. Because yes, Coraline was dismissive to him all movie, but is that a good enough reason to have him save her? Are we really saying girls must be nice and polite to boys they'd rather not hang out with or they deserve to end up dead? I'm definitely not comfortable with <i>that</i> as a moral. And what's so wrong with having a protagonist who's a little self-centered, a little introverted, and prefers to play by herself? Count me among those bothered by Coraline needing to be saved by Wybie.

Because yes, Coraline was dismissive to him all movie, but is that a good enough reason to have him save her? Are we really saying girls must be nice and polite to boys they'd rather not hang out with or they deserve to end up dead?

I'm definitely not comfortable with that as a moral.

And what's so wrong with having a protagonist who's a little self-centered, a little introverted, and prefers to play by herself?

]]> Comment on Coraline by NZErin http://tomatonation.com/?p=4378&cpage=1#comment-46006 NZErin Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:25:46 +0000 http://tomatonation.com/?p=4378#comment-46006 "Apparently Rowling wanted to make sure her daughter got the message that girls will read books about boys, but boys won't read books about girls." And that if you are a woman, you should always make your published name gender non-specific; otherwise, boys won't read you at all. Speaking of Gaiman's subtle and adept use of race in characterisation, we could also ponder Rowling's hamfisted cultural stereotypes...GAH! "Apparently Rowling wanted to make sure her daughter got the message that girls will read books about boys, but boys won't read books about girls."

And that if you are a woman, you should always make your published name gender non-specific; otherwise, boys won't read you at all.

Speaking of Gaiman's subtle and adept use of race in characterisation, we could also ponder Rowling's hamfisted cultural stereotypes…GAH!

]]> Comment on Oscars 2010 Death Race by Sarah D. Bunting http://tomatonation.com/?p=4347&cpage=1#comment-46003 Sarah D. Bunting Tue, 09 Feb 2010 06:16:05 +0000 http://tomatonation.com/?p=4347#comment-46003 @Jenno: I've corrected the title, but FYI, you won't be seeing any Scandinavians in Burma. Or anything else you approve of. Burmese government = murderholes. Oy, Avatar. I'm set to see it on Thursday, and I'm really really trying to keep an open mind (I love The Abyss), but technical marvels aren't what I care about in movies (or any other time), 3D usually gives me motion sickness, and I don't think I see why it has to be that long. I advanced the theory to Glark that, because I'm expecting to hate it, I'll probably be pleasantly surprised. He immediately was like, "No, you'll totally hate it." Great! @Jenno: I've corrected the title, but FYI, you won't be seeing any Scandinavians in Burma. Or anything else you approve of. Burmese government = murderholes.

Oy, Avatar. I'm set to see it on Thursday, and I'm really really trying to keep an open mind (I love The Abyss), but technical marvels aren't what I care about in movies (or any other time), 3D usually gives me motion sickness, and I don't think I see why it has to be that long.

I advanced the theory to Glark that, because I'm expecting to hate it, I'll probably be pleasantly surprised. He immediately was like, "No, you'll totally hate it." Great!

]]> Comment on Oscars 2010 Death Race by Todd K http://tomatonation.com/?p=4347&cpage=1#comment-46002 Todd K Tue, 09 Feb 2010 06:15:26 +0000 http://tomatonation.com/?p=4347#comment-46002 The Blind Side is the one to dread, Sars. I had/have a more modest goal of seeing the likely winners in the major categories, as well as the also-rans of interest to me; and even before TBS got the Best Picture nomination, I had to include it, since Bullock is a lock (the movie seems designed to be her Erin Brockovich opportunity). What I wrote upthread about Avatar not feeling its 160 minutes? I felt the passage of every squirmy, manipulative minute of TBS's 130. I hope it goes down easier for you. The Blind Side is the one to dread, Sars. I had/have a more modest goal of seeing the likely winners in the major categories, as well as the also-rans of interest to me; and even before TBS got the Best Picture nomination, I had to include it, since Bullock is a lock (the movie seems designed to be her Erin Brockovich opportunity). What I wrote upthread about Avatar not feeling its 160 minutes? I felt the passage of every squirmy, manipulative minute of TBS's 130. I hope it goes down easier for you.

]]> Comment on Oscars 2010 Death Race by Fuzzbear http://tomatonation.com/?p=4347&cpage=1#comment-45999 Fuzzbear Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:05:44 +0000 http://tomatonation.com/?p=4347#comment-45999 I was shocked that I enjoyed Avatar (so much that I saw it a second time, taking my brother and sister-in-law). It's really a marvel technically, but yeah, absolutely see it in 3D or not at all. I have this weird personal rule that I don't see movies I know will disturb me, so I could never even attempt such a feat. Hats off to you, Sars. I was shocked that I enjoyed Avatar (so much that I saw it a second time, taking my brother and sister-in-law). It's really a marvel technically, but yeah, absolutely see it in 3D or not at all.

I have this weird personal rule that I don't see movies I know will disturb me, so I could never even attempt such a feat. Hats off to you, Sars.

]]> Comment on An Education by rosengje http://tomatonation.com/?p=4382&cpage=1#comment-45998 rosengje Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:39:14 +0000 http://tomatonation.com/?p=4382#comment-45998 How I wish I lived in a world where Carey Mulligan and Gabby Sidibe were the presumptive front-runners for the Best Actress Oscars. After An Education debuted at Sundance last January, Mulligan immediately became a heavy contender in the race. Through October, must prognosticators had it between her and Meryl Streep (for Julie and Julia), your typical ingenue vs. veteran showdown. And then The Blind Side happened. Sandra Bullock now appears to have it in the bag, with Streep lingering as a possible threat. It hurts my heart. How I wish I lived in a world where Carey Mulligan and Gabby Sidibe were the presumptive front-runners for the Best Actress Oscars. After An Education debuted at Sundance last January, Mulligan immediately became a heavy contender in the race. Through October, must prognosticators had it between her and Meryl Streep (for Julie and Julia), your typical ingenue vs. veteran showdown. And then The Blind Side happened. Sandra Bullock now appears to have it in the bag, with Streep lingering as a possible threat. It hurts my heart.

]]> Comment on Coraline by Becca http://tomatonation.com/?p=4378&cpage=1#comment-45997 Becca Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:00:19 +0000 http://tomatonation.com/?p=4378#comment-45997 Only tangentially related, but after seeing Coraline in the theatre on Valentine's Day last year, my cat adopted me in the parking lot. She was a skinny, noisy little tortie, and once no one claimed her, her name became Coraline. (She's now a noisy *chubby* tortie.) Only tangentially related, but after seeing Coraline in the theatre on Valentine's Day last year, my cat adopted me in the parking lot. She was a skinny, noisy little tortie, and once no one claimed her, her name became Coraline. (She's now a noisy *chubby* tortie.)

]]>