#25 of 250

[pintsizeddeepthoughts]

25 of 250: Favorite Films - Zulu

Not long ago, work colleagues and I got into a discussion about what our favorite films were. Given my categorical nature I could not resist writing down a list and, as a writing challenge, have decided to write 250 word reviews of my favorite 25 films of all-time. Note: these are my favorite films, not what I think are the best films of all time.

Directed by: Cy Enfield

Written by: John Prebble and Cy Enfield

Starring: Stanley Baker, Michael Caine, Jack Hawkins, James Booth

Year/Country: 1964, United Kingdom

Is the British classic Zulu racist or anti-imperialist? The film has vociferous defenders and critics, each having good ammunition for their arguments. The subject of the film is the Battle of Rorke’s Drift during the Anglo-Zulu War in which 100 British soldiers managed to survive determined attacks by 4,000 Zulu warriors. It still holds the title for the most Victoria Crosses awarded in a single battle.

For those who claim the film is racist, it’s impossible to ignore that the Anglo-Zulu was fought for racist and nakedly imperialist reasons, the battle features African warriors armed with spears against Europeans wielding breech-loading rifles, and the film starts with the exploitive scene of a Zulu wedding ceremony. These are all valid critiques and impossible to ignore. And we shouldn’t. The Anglo-Zulu War led to a century of apartheid in South Africa, just as other colonial adventures did.

However, the arguments claiming the film is anti-imperialist are just as valid. The soldiers are all professionals who view the Zulus as dangerous and worthy opponents; they are unmotivated by patriotism. When one private asks a grizzled veteran “why us?”, the sargeant deadpans “because we’re here, lad.” The nihilism of the troops undercuts any rah-rah moments, resulting in a much more human story than might’ve otherwise been told. At the end of the battle, one officer asks, “So, you’ve fought your first battle. How do you feel?” The answer: “Sick.” Such moments go a long way to minimizing the film’s more troubling attributes.

[ribbedpleasure]

put me in the little tikes electric chair for little tikes serial murder

[thesquidkid]

Roswell, New Mexico as a brickfilm, part 8 (previous videos, other lego videos)

3x13, Liz interrogates Max and Jones to see who is who

[antisocialxconstruct]

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[abdlrimespotiques]

[sol941sblog]

Bem vindo Novembro

A ano ja estamos chegando no final de ano, vamos juntos na caminhada aprovitar a campanha da prevenção contra o câncer de próstata. Azul tudo ou rosa não importa a côr.Com apena um toque declare amor a sua vida.

Welcome Blue or pink November with just one touch declare your love.

Bienvenido noviembre: azul o rosa con solo un toque, desde tu casa hasta tu amante de la vida.

[teedeekay]

From the TMBG collection: My 250th swag. Back in late 2017 it became known that the band would be touring in April of the following year, which included the 25th anniversary of my first show. I'm thinking if They play a show on that date, I have to attend regardless of location. Additionally, I'm approaching 250 shows and wouldn't it be great if I could make those two events coincide? And that's what I did. Not only was I able to celebrate my 250th on the 25th anniversary, the show was in Philadelphia which is about as local as it gets. And to top it all off, the concert was livestreamed so I can re-live it! 🙌

[ndjams]

father ruining shit for me once again. i been on medicaid for the last almost 5 years but just recently got cut off. i have top surgery in THREE DAYS and my plan was to not get insurance until after bc im having it at a not for profit hospital i was gonna get on an out of pocket payment plan w them then file to have the medical debt erased but my mother in law ran into my father yesterday and said he has had me on his private insurance (for 5 years ?? and ive never used it ????) and one of the few times i ever said anything to him was in 2021 (twenty twenty ONE) i told him dude take me off ur health insurance its fucking w my medicaid (i couldnt get T for like 6 months) and he was like okay when open enrollment starts or whatever ill take u off. what the fuck im so unbelievably pissed. MIL also said he seemed like he was on meth or very drunk so. they met at aa so as u can imagine this was very jarring for her jtfo.

[nendoshinkai]

250 posts!

[volfoss]

Genuinely so impressed that she took 69% of this book to get to what the plot is. Like truly a new record for her!!!

[pintsizeddeepthoughts]

25 of 250: Favorite Films - Red Dawn

Not long ago, work colleagues and I got into a discussion about what our favorite films were. Given my categorical nature I could not resist writing down a list and, as a writing challenge, have decided to write 250 word reviews of my favorite 25 films of all-time. Note: these are my favorite films, not what I think are the best films of all time.

Directed by: John Milius

Written by: Kevin Reynolds and John Milius

Starring: Patrick Swazye, Lea Thomson, Charlie Sheen, Jennifer Grey, Powers Boothe

Year/Country: 1984, United States

The first film to be given a PG-13 rating, John Milius’s Red Dawn is at once a conservative fever dream and a sobering look at the cost of war. Set in 1984, a group of high school students escape the start of World War III after their Colorado town is taken over by Soviet paratroopers. Over the course of months, this group morphs into a guerilla group styling themselves as the “Wolverines” to take on their Russian and Cuban occupiers.

Yes, the movie is ridiculous. And yet Milius’s film is more than the sum of its parts. A large part of that is due to Milius’s eye for striking imagery (the opening with descending paratroopers is always startling) and that forces his characters to make awful choices. Case in point - at one point one of the Wolverines betrays the group and leads the Russians to their hideout. At this point, Swazye and company must make a choice: abandon their comrade or execute him for treason. The Wolverines choose the latter. It’s not unanimous. Swazye is asked by his distraught brother, “what’s the difference between them and us?” Swayze, his face contorted with rage and grief, growls, “we live here!”

No one will accuse Milius of being a romantic and he is to be applauded for not making a rah-rah film. It’s an absurd premise that was paranoid even in its day. Yet, because Milius takes this premise seriously we in turn take it seriously as well (to our own surprise).

[ribbedpleasure]

suffer on! it’s tuesday! don’t forget to always be your worst.

[ssruis]

I think I can hit 150000 before or at least during pandemonium. if I just believe in myself.

[carfuckerlynch]

who do i have so many Fucking expenses

[psychicthepsychic-daily]

Void is most likely older than Psychic, going off of their canon ages (aka very vague ranges spanning centuries ;-; thanks river and star)

but I feel like mentally Psychic is probably older than Void. like Void is mentally in his mid twenties in canon, plus he spends his mod acting like a petulant middle schooler, so.

meanwhile Psychic gives the vibe of a jaded adult in his late twenties to early thirties. definitely more mature but somehow still just as insufferable as Void. just. in a different way lmao

[abdlrimespotiques]