ReesieKitty's Comments (281)

“Well, although this was not my favorite movie ever, some of the things that bothered the reviewer ARE based on the original stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Holmes was a pugilist, a devote follower of boxing and science of that art. So yes, although the boxing and fighting is very gritty and violent, it is true to the original character.

Also, Holmes is a regular user of cocaine and morphine. So... Downey's 'addlement' is also understandable, based on the original character.

Irene Adler is also from the original stories- a spy, and the only woman ever to outsmart Holmes. They have a love-hate relationship and are mutually obsessed. There have been several excellent novels written speculating about her relationship with Holmes and in the spirit of the story, I didn't mind her presence in the movie, although I agree that McAdams was under utilized.

I think the relationship between Holmes and Watson was totally understandable. I did not find it to be sexual, but rather an unstable, but brilliant and selfish personality who is rather terrified at his only real 'stability' (Watson) disappearing from his day to day life. I felt Jude Law was very sympathetic as Watson, terribly concerned for his oldest friend, whom he has looked after and shared a bond with for so long- but also understanding that he needs to move on with his own life so Holmes can learn to grow up and look after himself.”

“I have to say that while I certainly believe that if Mr. Goldman is a fit parent- not a danger to the child- he deserves to see his son, I also think we have to look at what is best overall for the child. It is really unfortunate that Mr. Goldman and his wife's family could not come to an agreement on their own. It may be that the child was better off with his father- or maybe with his mother's family. Most likely, the best thing for the child would be to have a regular relationship with both, but it looks like that won't happen. I think there is blame to go around here, and I just wish the little boy well.”

“Affluence is not education. Or rather, it does not have to be.”

“I think that it is not just a question of whether or not both spouses work. It is the KIND of work available to a college-educated wife or mother. Work that will earn more money, include benefits, be more fulfilling, and provide not just extra or essential income to the entire family, but also a strong role model for kids, a mom/wife who is using her brain and skills and is valued for it more that someone working just as hard- or harder- for minimum wage, no benefits, in a grinding routine where they are treated poorly and get little or no respect from their employer, their spouse or anyone else for their efforts!

As far as unintended pregnancy goes- education is everything. I don't think wealth is the only factor. Condoms are cheap if you know how to put one on, can use on- and most importantly- are MOTIVATED to do so in order to avoid pregnancy. Too many kids don't fit either of those 3 factors in red states and so they get pregnant more.”

“Fanned, j-tho!! It's bugging me too. I am so furious and frustrated, and I know many other voters who are as well.”

“I agree- I cannot fathom why his so-called party has not removed him from that position. It was like giving him a go-ahead to bait and attack them.”

“I think that there is a limit to indulging other people's rude and insensitive behavior that can go beyond general 'tolerance'. Many people will go on talking, being rude, etc. but if you point out their behavior to them, they stop. Maybe they learn not to be so rude and insensitive to others. Allowing yourself to be treated badly is not 'tolerance'. Teaching is a crucial component of a polite society.”

“I hate that trailer too! I actually had a loud discussion about it with my 10 year old son the last time it was showing and explained to him that it was a commercial to glamorize the National Guard and make it look like it was the same thing as being in a 'cool' action movie. Then I told him how important serving in the Guard could be, but that if it was something you decided to do, you shouldn't be tricked into it with a commercial. Normally I zip my lip completely when the trailers start, but in this case I didn't really care if I was talking over it.”

“I have to disagree with you there. We live in a suburb and I see and hear just as many well-dressed middle age people blathering away during a movie or getting up to get nachoes. It isn' t 'urban young people'.”

“I love that episode as well. It always makes me cry, when we find out that the President's secretary had sons who died in Vietnam and she goes to the funeral with Toby. Absolutely a classic!”

“I love 'A Christmas Memory' too. There are also some lovely illustrated versions of the original story too- they make excellent holiday reading!”

“I love both 'The Bishop's Wife' and 'Christmas in Connecticut' and watch them every holiday season. Of course there are many other classic movies to watch- watch them all!”

“Thank you doctor for trying to inject a little common sense into this debate. Ultimately some will get sick without the vaccine and some who have been given the vaccine will also have a negative reaction to it. Parents need to read up, assess all the available information and make their own decisions. My son is in excellent health, no pre-exsisting conditions, almost never gets sick and has never had a flu shot in his life other than his standard vaccinations when he was small. His school is supposed to be an H1N1 clinic site (although we haven't been told when) and we were asked to sign permission forms- but were told that parents would not be allowed to decide which vaccine our child would be given, live culture through a nose snort or a shot of the inactive culture. If my son is going to get a shot of anything, I want to have the final say-so on it and be present when it happens. I think this entire situation has been handled badly- trying to 'scare' the public into getting this vaccine just makes parents feel railroaded in a way that education would not.”

“I'm interested in what the strategic reasoning behind the burka outfit is. Is the toy company merely trying to be PC and inclusive? Or ( I honestly don't know the answer to this and am curious) is there a new and opening market for Barbie in Middle Eastern countries? it would seem unlikely to me that girls being brought up in a culture that insists on burkas would be encouraged to play Barbies, but I really don't know? Maybe there are hordes of little girls out there dreaming of playing Burka Barbie Stewardess on Air Jordan or Burka Barbie Newscaster, etc. If they do, I don't know if its a good thing, exactly. I mean, I grew up playing Barbies but I don't know that I would want Barbie to be the sole female representation of my culture to a generation of girls growing up far away.”

“I think it's interesting how people read into a film with their own personal issues so much. One guy thinks it's 'anti-white', other people bring Dune into the discussion... Personally, I never could stand Braveheart or Dances With Wolves. I thought both were historically inaccurate, mushy and overly sentimental. The only comparison point I see is that Avatar is also about what happens when a technological culture encounters an indigenous, pre-tech ( or rather bio-based?) culture. The tech culture wants something and the indigenous people are in the way. how will we deal with it?

The truth, in history, as well as in Avatar, is that we humans often deal with indigenous cultures very BADLY- eradicating them to get something we want, or trying to 'fix' them in some way to make them more like us. Avatar uses this historical truth as its main premise, that's all. I found this movie engrossing to watch and as for the story being simple= some issues actually ARE pretty simple, when you think about it.”

“It's really worth seeing in 3D. I'm not normally a fan of 3D, but in this case it is so well done that it definitely added a dimension to the experience.”

“Actually, lots of wives really are 'the last to know' something is going on! No one gets married without wanting to believe the best of their partner and I am sure Mr. Woods and his friends and employees had many excuses ready at all times. Also, in the professional sports culture, as in the rock and roll lifestyle, there is a feeling that 'what happens on the road, stays on the road'. On tour, other golfers or professionals would most likely have covered for Tiger and certainly not have ratted him out to his wife. I am not saying she is perfect- but I think she might have reasonably thought her husband would honor his marriage vows when she married him.”

“Well, we do suffer. All the money that pours out of this country and into supporting our troops overseas could be used domestically. Not just on schools or healthcare or infrastructure either. It could be used to support veterans and give them better care and more opportunities, it could be used to push research that would help get us off of our dependence on foreign oil, - our tax dollars are going to support this war and I would much rather see the money spent within our nation helping people here. Of course we do not suffer the way that a serving soldier or his or her family suffers. But not everyone in the US can serve in the military, but that doesn't mean that they are not suffering in some way, indirectly from the war.”

“Thank you Barbara as always for your common sense. I am sure all women would like to eradicate breast cancer and any form of cancer. But I too have been disturbed by our culture's adoption of a pink symbol instead of really lobbying for women's rights. Don't get me wrong- I am glad people donate money to breast cancer research. I turn 40 this year and since several family members have had breast and uterine cancer, I will most likely go get a mammogram. But I think you have to have a doctor you trust and each woman must review her personal medical history and make a decision. It doesn't have to be the same for everyone.

Women need affordable,high-quality childcare while they are at work. They need equal work for equal pay, better healthcare overall, better protection from rape and abuse... a lot of things. Whether or not you need another mammogram should be between you and your doctor.”

“As long as they actually stick to the timetable, I am willing to give it a year. I hope there is progress and not too much needless loss of life. But I want troops to come home when they are supposed to, and I want to see our veterans get the services, healthcare and benefits they deserve when they do get home. I am concerned that so much is being done to stablize Afghanistan and not enough for average people here at home.”

“I agree. I have been reading the history of the area and over and over any other nation who has gone into Afghanistan/Pakistan with either friendly intentions of just 'helping to stabilize' a sitting government OR less friendly military intentions has been thrown out. Not by the so-called 'ruling' governments, but by the local factions- so many of them- who are a law unto themselves and are agreed only in NOT wanting foreigners to come in and tell them how to run their country. This was going on in the 1800s with the British Raj and the Russians and it is STILL going on. Long before there was a Taliban, it was proved that the area has never had a strong central government and I do not think we can make that happen. It would be great if we could carefully covert local people by helping with crops and education, and improve conditions for women. But as long as local leaders turn to violence to combat our efforts- and history shows us over and over that they will- our efforts are bound to fail. There is no 'winning' Afghanistan for us, the corrupt Karzai regime or anyone else.”

“I'm a woman and I find the Twilight books to be badly written and the characters and situations to be completely contrived and not at all romantic. Edward is a control freak, and Bella is a boring whiny girl who cannot do anything for herself. She does not 'deal' with her depression in any way- her only role in these books is as a cipher to be acted upon by another , more powerful character.

I think it is crazy to just keep bashing men and saying that these books are 'for women' - they are not for women who think for themselves, act for themselves and would like to have ACTUAL relationships with real people. I would be seriously worried if my daughter wanted to be like Bella. New Moon and the rest of the franchise are out to MAKE MONEY. They know teen age girls will go see these films over and over again, whether they are good or not.”

“Yes, because if you really love your 'lady' you 'protect' her from everything that you are, have and are allowed to do- she isn't allowed - because it's for her own good! Then, you can have violent sex with her- but only after she becomes a teenage bride. Then you can impregnate her with a baby that wants to eat its way out of the womb, then pledge your little girl to much older werewolves.

Yep, that is SOO romantic all right. I have a terrific fiancee who has great manners and always treats me like a lady. He also respects my opinion, lets me think for myself and make my own decisions. Imagine that! Too bad Edward could not.”

“I totally disagree. Sorry but these books are not 'the ultimate female fantasy'. Bella is boring, whiny and cannot do anything for herself or take care of herself in any way. It's one thing to want to be loved and adored by someone who devotes themselves to you and is worthy of you- but you don't have to be a totally passive drip while its happening. Edward's mopey sparkling is just not that interesting to me- especially when he is supposedly 'protecting' Bella from stuff. And sorry, but I prefer actual romance with actual physicality and not all that unrequited sexual tension. It just seems unhealthy and obsessive to me. There are much better love stories and much better heroines around!”

“Teen porn for Mormons is EXACTLY what these books and movies are. The books are so poorly written that they are the laughing stock of the young adult literature and bookselling community- except that they make so much darn money no one can afford to not carry them! I actually enjoyed the first movie, simply because it was such a giant improvement over the book. I haven't been able to make myself go to New Moon yet, but the books only get less well written and more icky creepy Mormon 'wait until you get married to have vampire sex and then have a baby who eats out your insides and is 'claimed' by a much older man who is a werewolf' just ick on many many levels.”