I like the comments made so far and thank you to all who thus far participated. Adding to what joemighty16 said, from an appreciative point of view, the original Star Wars was in many ways so much better than the later made Episodes 1 - 3. I know that many won't agree, but special effects is like make up, but the true quality of a brilliant film, be it drama, suspence, fantasy, period film, what ever, is in the "natural beauty" of the film. The plot line in "Memento" I thought was brilliant - a brave move by the director with a kind of reverse-engineering to the film.

An ending that you never could see coming, huh? Same as Basic, and Usual Suspects, especially Usual Suspects. That was brilliantly done.

This is for all the serious movie fans. For those who enjoy more in a movie than a stupid car chase, a boring teenager campus thriller, a ridiculous 2 grown-ups vs an 8 year old kid attempt at comedy, or a total unrealistic action flick only succeeding in showing new visual effect capabilities.
I'm talking about the people who can look beyind all the glitz and glamour, past the amazing special effects and notice those things that truly make a geat film unforgetable.

I'd like to hear about those moments in cinema brilliance where you went - "Oh My Word! - now that is absolutely amazing!"
It could be a visual shot, like Michael Mann's camera use in Miami Vice, the dialogue of Pulp Fiction, the coffee scene of Robert de Niro and Al Pacino in Heat or the brilliant acting of Jack Nicholson in The Departed.

Tell me what it was that you found so unforgetably great in a film. Please share.

This and the Mix-It thingie on mobile phones is a tremendously huge problem in South Africa. It is sad to think that the wonderful possibilities these technologies can offer humankind is also there for the sick-minded individuals to abuse and destroy innocent lives.
Just this week it was in our newspaper headlines about a man who sexually assulted his 8 year old daughter and released on R500.00 bail (about US$72).
In this country you can go to jail for not paying your television licence, yet it would seem it is fine to rape and abuse children and get off with a mere slap on the wrist.
Earlier in the year a couple was sentenced to 3 months suspende sentence for burning their 2 year old daughters hands on a hot stove plate because she misbehaved. Sick!

You should never be ashamed to speak about that what you love nor be afraid to share your views with others. Neither should you be bored, offended or troubled when someone shares their love and believe of (in this case God) with you if you share the same love and believe.
Keeping this in mind, it is also not prudent for a person to go on rambling about something of which their audience have no interest in. Say your say, say what you need to say, and get it over with.
I guess with our right to freedom of speach we therefore have the right to say what we want to whom we want. It is only common decency that you shouldn't offend another person or their beliefs.
With the same respect of privacy and personal space that people who feel offended hearing about God want those telling them about Him to treat them, and perhaps avoid the subject all together, perhaps they should also allow those wanting to talk about God the same respect and allow them to say their say. When they are done, one can simply smile, nod and say goodbye.

GW have is about to release a new sublement for LOTR called the ruin of Arnor - am EXTREMELY excited!

Now that was sick! And then someone tries to make a joke about it by saying that maybe the baby was cold. How sadistic can you get?!?

Child and animal abuse is something that makes me utterly mad. I can not fathom how anyone would want to hurt a child (babies even more) or an animal. Not even talking about torturing or killing them. Here's a living breathing thing that no one can ever replace and that has placed all their trust and unconditional love in you and you go and smack them around like soccer balls or rag dolls. I don't understand why people like that are ever blessed with having children or even keep pets on then.

I heard the most horrifying thing the other day. Apparently there is a thing called the Spider Club of South Africa - HOW SICK CAN YOU BE!

This lady spoke on the radio about the club telling just how exciting it was and all the things they do and that you are never further than 1 meter (3 feet) from a spider. Well, thank you very much for just ruining my life. Shees!

And then I found another great surprise in my garage - 3 I tell you 3! black widow spiders living the high life all along my garage door.

I'm gonna die!

thanks again for your comments and views

Thank you so much for the contributions guys, I appreciate it tremendously. It is interesting to read your thoughts, both from SA citizens and those from other countries.

I agree that to flaunt relics of the past simply to offend others is wrong and the better thing to do is to simply laugh it off. But to go and wipe out all trace of our history (be it bad or not) and to be offended by those who still hold on to the symbolism of these objects, well that in it's own right is non-democratic is it not? I mean, part of a free and democratic society and constitution is the right to express yourself and your views. I loved our old flag, even more than I like our present flag and for this love I'm to be judged and old racist and Apartheid lover! Apartheid was the worst thing that could ever happen to our country. Because of it we are in the messy situation we find ourselves today. Because of it we are experiencing the underlying tension and anger that so very often explodes onto the public scene, mostly in the form of violence.

But apart from this, are we to be told and ordered that all things from our past are to be forgotten and dismissed?

As far as the name changing goes - don't even get me started. I think I'll chat about that in another thread.

This past weekend South Africa played in a game of rugby against England. Ever since the end of Apartheid (seperate and undemocratic standards for non-white people) in South Africa, many white South Africans left the country either in fear of reprisal or due to affirmative action and thus no work for qualified white people. Whatever the case, many left for England. During this game at Twickenham stadium a few of these ex-pats displayed the old South African flag, today seen as a symbol of that dark and evil regime of the past. For those not familiar with what exactly transpired during the years of Apartheid can contact through the guestbook.

This week it has been quite a discussion as to whether the display of the old flag at sporting events, be it in South Africa or abroad by ex-pats should be seen as mere lack of respect, unacceptance to let go of the past or a mockery of the new government (who by the way are in certain terms governing in a reverse form Apartheid).

Someone mentioned that the old Confederate flag is sold and displayed in the USA with no eyebrows lifted about it with no care as to what its history holds. Can we in South Africa not adopt the same live-and-let-live, forgive-and-forget attitude? Or will there always be people to either throw the past in everybody else's faces or to continously condemn the relics of the past?

Your thoughts.

ok me gotta run ... takes pillow, fills with candy and tosses it up in the air! Ciao!

Whoa! What the .... who be that .. oh hello Toya! How you doing? Takes wet sack out of mouth after seeing roaches all over bluearth ... now that is sick!

Falls over from MASSIVE pillow nuke - thanks Master!

Cybo saunders in ... looks about ... pick up a wet pillow sack and starts sucking on it

I agree everywhere! There is just so much to see and experience that to single out one or two cities alone would be unjust. Depending on what it is you want to see and experience; like nature, techno, cuisine, tradition etc, perhaps get onto a tourist help site for Japan and take it from there. I myself would love to follow the tradition and religious routes as well as the path of the 5 rings.

Also an old thread of mine that I'd like to see picked up again. Any other GW Warhammer or LOTR collectors/players out there? How about some of the newbies who joined MT in the last few months, any of you GW collectors or players?
With the new Medusa Warhammer 40k, Battle for Skull Pass Warhammer and Two Towers LOTR sublements released, it certainly makes for some truly exciting and interesting gaming.

Comments please.

Now this is my kinda place!
How do everyone?

merged: 09-08-2006 ~ 02:45pm
I guess I'll just sit here and have a Coke, wait for the others to pitch up .... *puts on a DVD and relaxes on the beanbag*

Cybo walks in ... looks around ... picks up a half eaten apple ... smells it ... chucks it in the wastebin ... walks out again.

Good day, good day! Welcome to MT - trust you will find all is simply great here! Have a good time!

It can. As long as the one is willing to resepect and appreciate the value of the other, it certainly can. This can become an extremely long debate, but my bottom line remains, it can.
The same as what certain doctors believe that their skill and accomplishments are all done by the grace of God, they thank God for all that they have done, so too will there alwys be doctors who actually develop a God-syndrome, thinking that they themselves perform godly miracles with the gift of life.

My real name means leader of many, it's a german name, and my surname, portuguese, means balck-smith, originally from the north of Portugal and Spain during Roman times.
My nick is a shortened version of Cyborg, once a favorite super hero of mine.

Being a true Star Wars fan I named my son Anakin. Seeing as how I won't have anymore kids, I doubt that there will be further naming them. Many moons ago there was an Anime called Galaxy Rangers and there was a character named Nicole - she was so gorgeous! Needless to say my daughter is called Jade Nicole.

Saw FF Advent Children, definitely going to buy me that DVD. Planning on seeing Domino and The Da Vinci Code.