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FOT Community => General Discussion => Topic started by: Bryan on October 03, 2008, 11:00:19 AM

Title: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Bryan on October 03, 2008, 11:00:19 AM
I thought since there are a small handful of Canadians on the board that we might want to have our own venue for political chatterings.

Did anyone else notice during last night's leadership debate that Jack Layton is turning into Col. Tigh? Same accent, same authoritative, slightly frightening demeanour?

(http://www.theepochtimes.com/news_images/2005-12-4-layton.jpg)  (http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee150/backspace36/360px-Saul_Tigh.jpg)

Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Matthew_S on October 03, 2008, 11:21:59 AM
As a displaced Canadian, I am curious as to how you (and others) think the Green Party leader did in the debates (was she in both the French and English)?

Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Emily on October 03, 2008, 11:34:50 AM
I misread this title as Kardashian Korner
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Bryan on October 03, 2008, 11:54:14 AM
Sorry Emily. This is much less sexy.

Elizabeth May was in both the English and French debates. I didn't see the French one, but she did great in the English one. She (like Gilles Duceppe) had pretty much nothing to lose, so she could just do and say whatever she wanted. She did very well at calling Harper out and challenging his presentation of the facts.

Even though I still think Harper will win, I actually felt pretty hopeful when I saw that everyone else was unanimous in wanting to make environmental issues more central.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Amplituden on October 03, 2008, 07:49:05 PM
Its so frustrating that there are 3 major Left wing parties and one Right Wing.

I had to turn the debate off after a while.  Jack Layton was making me mad with his zingers, and Stephan Harper was so callous that I wanted to puke.

The conservatives are going to win for no good reason and it sucks.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: emma on October 03, 2008, 10:06:54 PM
This election makes me grateful I can't vote.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Sarah on October 04, 2008, 08:44:47 AM
Sorry Emily. This is much less sexy.

And has a much less sumptuous bottom.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Bryan on October 06, 2008, 10:43:25 AM
This site (http://www.voteforenvironment.ca/) provides riding-by-riding analyses that can help with strategical voting. Also, it's pretty interesting.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Amplituden on October 06, 2008, 03:45:47 PM
This is a similar site :

http://anyonebutharper.ca/

We should have a Toronto listening party some time fellow hogtowners.

Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: John Junk 2.0 on October 06, 2008, 07:18:40 PM
I keep reading this subject line as "Kardashian Korner" and getting let down.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Bryan on October 06, 2008, 09:19:50 PM
Sorry Emily Junk. This is much less sexy.

And has a much less sumptuous bottom.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: John Junk 2.0 on October 07, 2008, 04:06:15 AM
Wow, that's embarrassing.  I've got no business being on this thread anyway.  Carry on!  I'll show myself the door.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: chrisfoll577 on October 07, 2008, 07:49:34 AM
This is a similar site :

http://anyonebutharper.ca/

We should have a Toronto listening party some time fellow hogtowners.



My favorite charismatic Canadian demagogue, Nfld Premiere Danny Williams is projecting his Newfoundlander rage right at Harper by heading up a similar Anything But Conservative (http://anythingbutconservative.ca/) campaign.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Bryan on October 07, 2008, 09:37:48 AM
We should have a Toronto listening party some time fellow hogtowners.


That would be fun. I'm not in Toronto, but get there pretty often. I would consider making the trip up for an occasion like this.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Amplituden on October 07, 2008, 10:38:11 AM
Quote
That would be fun. I'm not in Toronto, but get there pretty often. I would consider making the trip up for an occasion like this.

Yeah I wonder if we could take over a small bar and listen live.  Perhaps we could call in to the show.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: emma on October 07, 2008, 11:22:17 PM
We should call from the top of the CN tower.

Or....Sneaky Disease? I can't think of any other easily recognizable Toronto landmarks.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Amplituden on October 08, 2008, 09:35:44 AM
We could call from the 501 Queen Street Car or maybe Vesta Lunch.

I was actually thinking about that bar the Communists Daughter because its really small and if 10 people came that would be half full for them on a Tuesday night.

In other news, good ole Stephen Harper is slipping a bit in the polls!  Hopefully it will continue.

Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Amplituden on October 14, 2008, 02:56:19 PM
Election Day!
Don't forget to vote.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Bryan on October 14, 2008, 03:08:08 PM
I haven't done it yet, but I'll hit up the polls on my way home from work. Still not sure whether to play it safe and go for the incumbent Liberal (who's an idiot), or go Green. The survey data says that it's safe to vote Green, but yeesh, I'd feel bad if the Tory got in here. I guess I'll have to do it Tom Scharpling-style, and wait until I'm in the booth to tally up the pros and cons for each candidate.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Amplituden on October 14, 2008, 03:48:20 PM
I am in a super liberal riding.  I am probably going to vote green just so they get more of a percentage in the popular vote.
The incumbent is running on the very popular "I'm Portuguese" platform, which is proving very popular in little Portugal.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Bryan on October 15, 2008, 12:26:57 PM
So, uh, that was a waste of $300 million.

Did anyone else notice that Harper said in his uncharacteristically gentle victory speech that the Cons have proven that minority governments can work?

Wha? That was his rationale for calling the election in the first place - and breaking his own law while he did it: he claimed parliament was dysfunctional! What the hell! He basically admitted that his rationale for calling an election was bogus. But we all knew that anyway, since he was able to pass everything he wanted to.

I'll be interested to see if he does what a minority government is supposed to do: govern in a way that will get other parties on side. His previous strategy - declare every single bit of contentious legislation a confidence bill - really pissed me off. >:(
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: samir on October 15, 2008, 01:10:30 PM
How long before I get to make my "More like a poo-rality" joke?
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Amplituden on October 15, 2008, 01:31:29 PM
I think that the Libs need to find a really good candidate from BC or Alberta and then start from the ground up.

They ran a terrible campaign, and as much as I like the policies of Dion, the party isn't unified behind him.  Its a bad situation.  I think a sort of eastern intellectual like Ignateiff, or Ray wont sell in the West or in Quebec.

Barf.

Oh well, I guess at least its not a majority.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Sarah on October 15, 2008, 03:02:49 PM
Sorry, Kanadians.  At least it could be worse, right?
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Bryan on October 15, 2008, 04:21:37 PM
I appreciate your condolences, Sarah. And yes, it can always be worse. It's our national motto: "A Mari usque ad Mare" (trans.: "Hey, it could always be worse!")

I think that the Libs need to find a really good candidate from BC or Alberta and then start from the ground up.

They ran a terrible campaign, and as much as I like the policies of Dion, the party isn't unified behind him.  Its a bad situation.  I think a sort of eastern intellectual like Ignateiff, or Ray wont sell in the West or in Quebec.

Yeah, you're right. A Western Liberal would be a smart pick. Are there any prominent ones? And how long before the Conservatives figure out that if they had someone besides Harper, they'd be totally dominating national politics right now?

Thank god for Duceppe - like he says, if not for him and his treasonous party, we'd have gotten that Conservative majority!
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: emma on October 15, 2008, 06:34:54 PM
Okay, so my thing about this being a minority is that at the same time as it will keep Our Stevie from carrying out his deepest, darkest desires, I got super depressed when I found out it wasn't a majority because, what? Two more years of campaigning and doing shitty things in almost-secret (announcing cuts to arts programs over the internet in the middle of the week, anyone?) and then in two years we get to do this all again but with, like, Bob Rae instead of Dion? And then when that election happens nobody talks about the environment because the liberals think it's what screwed them this time around? Sigh. A part of me would almost prefer a majority so we can speed up the apocalypse a little bit.

Almost, of course, being the operative word.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Bryan on December 01, 2008, 04:53:12 PM
Suddenly, out of nowhere, Canadian politics became more interesting than U.S. politics (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081201.wPOLcoalition1201/BNStory/politics/home).

How do you like that?

In case anyone wants the short version of the story, after just FIVE days in session since our last election, the government looks like it will be toppled and replaced by a coalition of opposition parties! Sometimes the system works.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Sarah on December 01, 2008, 05:46:34 PM
This is very exciting news indeed.  Congratulations.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: crumbum on December 01, 2008, 05:51:17 PM
We could call from the 501 Queen Street Car or maybe Vesta Lunch.

I was actually thinking about that bar the Communists Daughter because its really small and if 10 people came that would be half full for them on a Tuesday night.


How about a Mr. Brooks night? Anyone know yet when it's gonna happen?

This would require someone volunteering their house/apartment, I suppose. I would do so if I wasn't in the midst of a renovation.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: emma on December 01, 2008, 08:39:54 PM
Suddenly, out of nowhere, Canadian politics became more interesting than U.S. politics (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081201.wPOLcoalition1201/BNStory/politics/home).

How do you like that?

In case anyone wants the short version of the story, after just FIVE days in session since our last election, the government looks like it will be toppled and replaced by a coalition of opposition parties! Sometimes the system works.

I was in the office of a medium-sized arts/culture magazine all afternoon and everyone was going completely fucking nuts over this. And rightly so! It is exciting stuff.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: elibraden on December 02, 2008, 01:56:55 AM
I'm not Canadian, but I've heard of Pierre Trudeau!

BUBBLES FOR PRIME MINISTER!
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Amplituden on December 02, 2008, 11:08:14 AM
I love the coup d'etat!

I might be able to host such a gathering at my place, I live near Brock and Dundas.

Do you know when the Mr.Brooks thing is happening?
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: crumbum on December 02, 2008, 05:37:23 PM
I don't know -- there seems to be rampant speculation on the board, but I'm just hoping it doesn't happen tonight because I'm totally unprepared.

It sounds like you live very, very close to me.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: emma on December 02, 2008, 06:54:43 PM
Jeremy lives under crumbum's bed. You heard it here first!
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Amplituden on December 03, 2008, 09:53:25 AM
Jeremy lives under crumbum's bed. You heard it here first!

I was wondering what that scraping sound was.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: crumbum on December 03, 2008, 07:44:23 PM
Jeremy lives under crumbum's bed. You heard it here first!

I was wondering what that scraping sound was.

well, i do like to whittle before i go to sleep.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: yesno on December 04, 2008, 01:56:38 AM
I've been reading how Harper might either get the Governor-General to thwart the majority of the parliament, or get the Queen to appoint a new Governor-General if she won't.

Seems unlikely, but what.  the.  fuck. 

I'm sentimental enough to think it's quaint when modern countries have monarchs for ceremonies and looking cool (and to remind "the people" of their place) but it's kind of annoying that they still have real power.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: crumbum on December 04, 2008, 08:54:55 AM
I've been reading how Harper might either get the Governor-General to thwart the majority of the parliament, or get the Queen to appoint a new Governor-General if she won't.

Seems unlikely, but what.  the.  fuck. 

I'm sentimental enough to think it's quaint when modern countries have monarchs for ceremonies and looking cool (and to remind "the people" of their place) but it's kind of annoying that they still have real power.

I hadn't heard that Harper was willing to go that far. What a smug, smirking douche.

I really don't think he has a chance at political survival if he tries that trick. The overthrow of a minority government by coalition is a well-established part of our system, and no one is really buying the separatist scare he's attempting to stir up.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Amplituden on December 04, 2008, 10:00:28 AM
Harper dug his own grave and he is grasping at straws.

He tried to cut funding to political parties so that only the conservatives and their moneyed constituents can afford to run giant smear campaigns against the other parties.  In addition, when ever other country is taking steps to stimulate their economies, he offers nothing but removing the right to stike from government employees for 3 years. 

Like Dion or not, I think that he has the only realistic policies of all of the parties.  Its just too bad that people can't get over that English isn't his first language.

Harper is going around calling it "undemocratic" that they want to throw him out.

Isn't this actually democracy in action?  We elect people to represent us in parliament and when they for once try and use their power to stand up against bad legislation they are branded as treasonous.

It makes my stomach turn that Harper is going to try and stop our parliament from doing its job.

Fuck the conservative party!

Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Bryan on December 04, 2008, 10:25:07 AM
Yeah, this "anti-democratic" rhetoric doesn't make any sense at all. The same people that were just elected will be sitting in parliament, and the majority of them have come to an agreement. It's pretty straightforward.

I can't see how Harper can survive this without some serious dirty tricks. It seems unlikely that the Governor-General (a Quebecoise woman of colour who has flirted with separatism in the past) will be terribly sympathetic to Harper's agenda. I'd be surprised if Harper could get away with dismissing her.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: emma on December 04, 2008, 10:46:19 AM
Originally I was all "the Liberals did this a week too late and it is probably not the best move and blah blah blah" but now the whole thing is underway and I am pretty glad. Fuck Stephen Harper, and fuck all the people who say things like "I didn't realize that votes have nothing to do with who gets to govern the country." This whole thing is fantastic, because it means that whatever goes on, dude will have to remember his place, and whoever ends up in charge will have to run the country like they are WORKING WITH OTHER PARTIES instead of doing what he did, which was governing like he had a majority.

Plus, that whole not-signing-in-front-of-a-flag thing (http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2008/12/02/7609991.html)? Awesomely stupid. I am excited to watch him completely self-destruct over the next few days.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: yesno on December 04, 2008, 10:59:15 AM
dude will have to remember his place

Awesome line.

I also subscribe to the "bitchslap" theory of politics.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: chrisfoll577 on December 04, 2008, 11:04:19 AM
Since I have a lot of family up there, I try to pay attention to Canadian politics, though I'll admit I'm not always clear on the fine points.  I'm a big fan of Newfoundland's ridiculous Premier Danny Williams, so I dislike Harper for the way he's handled equalization.  I'm glad about the news, but I dislike the Bloc even more than I do the Conservatives... I wonder at what price will this deal come?
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Amplituden on December 04, 2008, 12:09:58 PM
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/12/04/harper-jean.html (http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/12/04/harper-jean.html)

So the Govenor General has decided to suspend parliament!

I want to puke.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Bryan on December 04, 2008, 12:12:55 PM
Boo.

It'll be interesting to see how (or if) the G-G justifies this decision. Surely delaying the inevitable and putting the government on ice for 8 weeks during an economic crisis is a bad idea?
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: yesno on December 04, 2008, 12:49:13 PM
hey kanadians,

When youse guys vote, do you see any name for the PM?  Or do just the people for whom the PM is MP actually vote for him?

I mean, I would assume you don't, because that doesn't make sense.  But it also doesn't make sense that Americans vote for President even though our vote "really" means we are voting for a slate of electors who promise to vote for the guy we "voted" for.

Anyway, if the coalition can last until Jan 24 he's out anyway, right?


Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Amplituden on December 04, 2008, 01:25:23 PM
We vote for a candidate for a certain party.

That party has a leader.

There are a certain amount of seats in the parliament, who ever has the most seats wins the election.

That party's leader becomes the Prime-minister.

Right now there is a minority government, that means that if the other parties decided to band together and vote against the ruling party we either have an election, or the other parties can band together as a coalition and form a new government.

Thats how we roll up here in Kanukistan.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: yesno on December 04, 2008, 01:34:22 PM
Right, but does the ballot actually have the name of the party leader, in some sort of head trick fakeout way?

I'm trying to understand how some people are calling the possibility of a majority toppling a minority "undemocratic."
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Amplituden on December 04, 2008, 02:08:19 PM
The Ballot does not have the name of the leader on it.

They are calling it undemocratic because they are grasping at straws.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Bryan on December 04, 2008, 08:20:33 PM
Yeah, as I say above, the "undemocratic" thing doesn't hold water at all. We vote for our MP (that's member of Parliament), a regional representative, who is usually (but not necessarily) a member of a party. The Prime Minister is simply an MP who has been selected by his party to be the big kahuna. The public at large does not vote directly for the PM.

I don't understand how proroguing until Jan 24th helps the Conservatives in any meaningful way. I guess they'll wage a PR offensive until then, and try to demoralize the coalition just in case there's another election real soon. But they'll also have to play nicer if they want to pass any legislation of any kind. I think that the coalition would probably back down if Harper resigned, but I can't imagine him doing that unless absolutely forced to by his party. He totally plays by Bush's rules - never admit any responsibility for anything that goes sour, ever.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Sarah on December 05, 2008, 09:02:26 AM
Kanadians, please accept my condolences for the recent turn of events.  It must be enraging, even though everything will probably turn out okay in the end.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: samir on December 05, 2008, 09:15:18 AM
Kanadians, please accept my c kondolences for the recent turn of events. 

fixed!
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Fido on December 05, 2008, 04:57:09 PM
Krazee.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Amplituden on December 12, 2008, 11:08:25 AM
Whats with all the Candian content last show?
Is the CRTC involved?
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Josh on March 04, 2009, 10:57:13 PM
(http://3.media.tumblr.com/Q3vCFPeTTkk325mbijE5IQKwo1_500.jpg)
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Bryan on March 05, 2009, 09:58:25 AM
I can't dispute that allegation (though I think Vancouver actually has more degenerates.)
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Regular Joe on March 05, 2009, 10:50:58 PM
I can't dispute that allegation (though I think Vancouver actually has more degenerates.)

I can attest to that. More degenerates than you can shake a stick at. And none of them can drive, which in addition to the presence of the film industry makes Vancouver the Los Angeles of Canada.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: mrCoffea on March 06, 2009, 12:17:01 AM
now that's a title I can agree with
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Sarah on December 20, 2010, 07:48:15 AM
Hey, Canadians, have any of you seen Paul Gross's H2O and The Trojan Horse?  I haven't seen the latter yet, but I gobbled up the former yesterday (along with Hard Core Logo and the first episode of Men with Brooms* [it was "I don't want to be American day" in the St. Onge household]).  I don't recall ever having seen a Canadian political thriller before, and to enjoy one featuring two of my crushes (Paul Gross and Callum Keith Rennie, whose villain here is hilariously competent) was a treat.  The ending seemed a little rushed and diabolus ex machina-y to me, but I still liked watching the house of cards tumble (inevitably, it reminded me of House of Cards; also State of Play, Margaret [for the intricacies of the politics], and, of course, A Very British Coup, which I really need to watch again).  I am most curious to hear what you thought of it.

*Very disappointing, by the by.  I think it's trying to be Corner Gas with curling?
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Pidgeon on December 20, 2010, 02:57:57 PM
Not homos!
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Sarah on December 20, 2010, 03:00:44 PM
I don't understand what that means.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Sarah on December 20, 2010, 03:01:30 PM
In this context, that is.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Pidgeon on December 20, 2010, 03:17:09 PM
I was responding to that book cover, not your thing.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Sarah on December 20, 2010, 03:18:16 PM
Thank god.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Pidgeon on December 20, 2010, 03:18:38 PM
Yeah.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Bryan on December 20, 2010, 05:13:25 PM
Hey, Canadians, have any of you seen Paul Gross's H2O and The Trojan Horse?  I haven't seen the latter yet, but I gobbled up the former yesterday (along with Hard Core Logo and the first episode of Men with Brooms* [it was "I don't want to be American day" in the St. Onge household]).  I don't recall ever having seen a Canadian political thriller before, and to enjoy one featuring two of my crushes (Paul Gross and Callum Keith Rennie, whose villain here is hilariously competent) was a treat.  The ending seemed a little rushed and diabolus ex machina-y to me, but I still liked watching the house of cards tumble (inevitably, it reminded me of House of Cards; also State of Play, Margaret [for the intricacies of the politics], and, of course, A Very British Coup, which I really need to watch again).  I am most curious to hear what you thought of it.

*Very disappointing, by the by.  I think it's trying to be Corner Gas with curling?

Weirdly, this is the first I've heard about those Paul Gross things. I'll have to take a look, although I usually steer clear of Paul Gross for reasons that this should make clear:

Gunless Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK-Md46Exxs#ws)

Men With Brooms falls into the same category of lower-middlebrow Canadiana that I try to avoid. I did like Hard Core Logo quite a lot though.

What inspired this bout of anti-Americanism?
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Sarah on December 20, 2010, 06:24:38 PM
I'm often anti-American, but this time I was motivated more by a desire to find something to steer me away from the morbid fare to which I've been drawn recently.  In the past, Canada has helped with this.  Sure, it offers dark aplenty, but often also plenty of quirk for leavening.

I watched Gunless yesterday, too; I forgot to mention that (I wonder why?).  As I noted earlier, I have crush on Paul Gross, from when I watched Due South and, later, Slings and Arrows.  Something reminded me of his new sit com, which in turn led me to Wiki Mr. Gross, which in turn led me to Gunless, H2O, The Trojan Horse, and Passchendaele (which I've yet to watch; I fear it's going to stink). 

I arrived at Hard Core Logo because I came across a mention of the show Shattered in a review of Dirk Gently, which prompted me to Wiki it and then Callum Keith Rennie, whose entry makes much of his appearance in HCL.  Watching that movie has now set me on the quest to watch more Bruce McDonald stuff.

It all makes for a nice change from last week's Margaret Thatcher day, enjoyable and informative though that was.

I have a lot of free time.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: crumbum on December 20, 2010, 06:36:31 PM
Watching that movie has now set me on the quest to watch more Bruce McDonald stuff.

I'm not too familiar with most of his ouevre, but I have to say that last year's little-seen Pontypool (starring the great Stephen McHattie) was one of my faves of 2009. It's a really unique movie that takes the zombie genre to new places, and McDonald does some amazing things directorially with a very confined setting.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Sarah on December 20, 2010, 07:11:44 PM
I loved Pontypool (I watched it during a recent zombie kick [well, who am I trying to kid? during my continuing love affair with zombie-related fare, which ebbs and flows, like any long-term relationship]; it even features yet another of my crushes, Stephen McHattie, with whom I've been madly in love since the early seventies).  I'm planning on getting the book soon; apparently it's really different from the film.  And someday there may even be a sequel to the movie!
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Bryan on December 20, 2010, 07:37:42 PM
Yeah, the book (Pontypool Changes Everything)  is more avant-garde, and much less straightforward than the movie. I liked 'em both a lot.

Bruce McDonald is uneven. He's recently had a run of stinkers (excepting Pontypool). I liked his early 90s stuff, but think it may not have aged well. I really liked Twitch City, the tv series which (or that?) he directed.

I've heard that Passchendale is horrible, and it was from the person I know who was most disposed to have a soft spot for it (Canadian patriot and war buff).
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Sarah on December 20, 2010, 08:13:30 PM
I'm going to check out Twitch City.  And while I'm at it, maybe I'll go on a Don McKellar kick, too.

I look forward to seeing how bad Passchendaele is. 
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Sarah on December 20, 2010, 08:14:43 PM
Oh, right:  the answer to your question is "that."
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Bryan on December 20, 2010, 08:42:07 PM
Thanks for the which/that clarification. I knew you'd come through.

I think McKellar's oeuvre is reliably good - at least as an actor and writer.  As a director... I really enjoyed Last Night, but I've heard mostly bad things about Childstar.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Sarah on December 20, 2010, 09:36:01 PM
I love Last Night.  It's one of the few movies I've seen several times, and, in fact, I had just started downloading it a few minutes before I read your post.  Childstar I didn't like an eighth, or even sixteenth, as much.  In fact, I'd forgotten that I'd seen it till I Wiki'd it just now, so little impression did it make on me.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: dave from knoxville on December 20, 2010, 11:30:17 PM
I love Last Night.  It's one of the few movies I've seen several times, and, in fact, I had just started downloading it a few minutes before I read your post.  Childstar I didn't like an eighth, or even sixteenth, as much.  In fact, I'd forgotten that I'd seen it till I Wiki'd it just now, so little impression did it make on me.

Last Night is very good. I wish Cronenberg had more time for acting roles.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: hardweek on December 21, 2010, 05:32:32 PM
Dance Me Outside is also worth checking out
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Sarah on December 21, 2010, 06:13:52 PM
Got it.  Haven't watched it yet.  Finishing up season 1 of Twitch City.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Sarah on December 23, 2010, 08:09:00 AM
Last night, I watched Goin' Down the Road last night, which was good, followed by the SCTV spoof, which was hilarious.  Jayne Eastwood is a trouper (well, being Joe Flaherty's sister-in-law helped, I guess).  I recognized her voice instantly when she showed up onscreen in the movie.

After multiple failures this past summer, I've finally been able to register on The Empire, which opens up a whole new world of Canadian fare for me (not to mention the rest of the Commonwealth).  I guess my winter's set.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Bryan on December 23, 2010, 10:16:43 AM
I signed up for the Empire, but it seems like I got bounced off it because I didn't use it. There's not really much Canadian tv that I love these days anyway. We do some reasonably good children's programming, some good public affairs stuff on CBC, and once every 5 years or so, something funny and surprising will work its way through the system, but in general US and British tv is way, way better.
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: Sarah on December 23, 2010, 12:56:26 PM
Yeah, a not-very-lengthy browse yesterday did not impress too much.  The site just doesn't have a big catalog yet, 'cause it's so young, and, of course, much/most television is crap anyway.  Till recently, I had the CBC and CTV, so I'm pretty familiar with what they have to offer and know it ain't much.  So I'll get some SCTV and Trailer Park Boys, but The Box will still be the master of my heart. 
Title: Re: Kanadian Korner
Post by: hardweek on December 29, 2010, 04:23:51 PM
I'm not huge on the bulk of Can-con, but I do enjoy some NFB docs, and of course the garbage I grew up on.

Links to childhood garbage another day; today, I give you Carts of Darkness, an excellent documentary on the North Shore bottle picker subculture of Vancouver, directed by a good pal of my brother-in-law (incidently!).

Highly recommended: http://films.nfb.ca/carts-of-darkness/ (http://films.nfb.ca/carts-of-darkness/)