Good books on Ancient and Medieval Asia.

My buddy and I whom I play tons of A&A with are both huge Matthew Good fans, we went to see a great show by him last night at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto and I put some footage up on YouTube… Check it out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR9WZJShwvk

You have to be really BIG government to do that……

Where there’s a will, there’s an inheritance tax.

Cops is also hilarious, my uncle, brother and I all love it. So is Southern Fried Stings but it is obviously fake.

Definitely one movie, not two.  Chalk that one up to: greed? overambition? trying to do too much at once?  The style/feeling of the movies are different as well; not necessarily a bad thing, but the second segment felt rushed or unpolished and a major letdown.

Enough with the cheese as far as dialogue goes.  This is one of my Tarantino peeves - his dialogue is nauseating, or at least has been developing that way.

I think the major flaw was that it was a parody of low-budget kung-fu flicks on a high-budget.  Maybe not that reason exactly, but something about it just didn’t “feel” right.  A wolf in sheep’s clothing, so to speak.  It’s so hard to pinpoint this, but his emulation of those bad-but-good films just doesn’t amount to a good movie, and I can’t explain why.  A bastardization of some sort…

The story and premise was laughable - even for a parody - and the ending was disappointing.  I apparently went to the bathroom at the exact time she used the Five Point Exploding Heart technique (or whatever it was called) and felt like I missed nothing.

Now, knowing Tarantino, there was probably lots of little things that I missed.  I’m sure they’re fun and interesting, but I don’t think it would change my opinion about the movie.

So, there’s more I’d add to my critique, but let me note some things I did like.  Music is always a good selection from QT.  I liked the animé sequence - from the first movie, I think.  I enjoyed the choreography of the fights from the first movie, but the second was all dirt & grit (more realistic?) and was a harsh contrast to the first - more on it’s lack of continuity.

Plenty to get this thread rolling.  On a side note, I recommend Lady Snowblood, the main inspiration for this movie.  There’s comedic value, but it’s not intended, and everything else is pure story and action.  A true kung fu flick.  :-D
It’s also pretty crazy if you are under the right conditions…  :wink:

Have fun CC!

Take the period off the end of the link, works just fine then.

Also, reading the story, it sounds a lot like 1998, before the Tech Bubble burst.  Super economy, wage and job creation growth, high investment yields…

If past trends are any indication, 2006 will see a serious “bust” in the economy.  I am betting on a collapse of specific areas for the real estate bubble that will trickle into other areas of the economy, combined with a repeat rise in liquid fuels prices after a winter of extremely elevated consumer expense on heating fuels that will slow consumer spending in 2006.

Increasing instability in the Middle East will further strain fuel prices and guarantees of supplies, further slowing the economy.

Anyone care to lay odds?

Being anonymous and all, I would like to recommend two/three most excellent books:

-The rise and the fall of the Thrid Reich, by William L. Shirer. This book is fantastic! All you wanted to know of the German stirde to power and their downfall is in here. Has won alot of awards. Should last you 6 months.

-The second world war [a very innovative title] by martin Gilbert. This book has a more general overview and is more focused on the how the civilians and soldiers had it during the war.

-Rommel as military commander, by Roanld Lewis. This book has the biography of herr Rommel and all the tactics he used. The book I have is rather old (1968), but it is probably out there somewhere.

Enjoy,

Vinnie