Okay, open Forum, off-topic, or whatever (grab a cup and sit)

[vsmith]

Tim, you could have just posted here and bumbed this back to the top[;)]

I have been very busy lately only posting where I can feel its usefull to do so. out all weekend, only checked messages online the last couple days. Watched the Oscars last night, wife was happy Eastwoods remake of Old Yeller got the nood, I was rooting for The Aviator, Poor Marty Scorsese , always the bridesmaid, never the bride.

Worst Omission this year was The Polar Express from the animated catagory, apparently some members of the academy thought that the motion capture used to film it wasnt really "animation" BS if you ask me, theres still a tremendous amount of "animation" done before the final print. BTW I was pushing for The Incredibles in that catagory.

[TurboOne]

Looks like Vic, its just you and me. Got a new job doing low interest mortgages. It is fun but very time consuming.

I thought Hollywood was horrible nominating movies that made almost no money, but ignoring the Passion that moved up to #7 on the all time money list. No bias do you think????

Polar Express was great, and so was The incredibles. All I get to see now is kids movies.

Take care Vic

Tim

[vsmith]

The following is just my opinion, so dont anyone get PO'd. We are talking about a MOVIE , a MOOOVVVIIIEEEEE!!!!! so keep that in mind, just a MOVIE.!!!!!![:o)]

I hope this doesnt cause a flame war Tim but I for one was not impressed by the Passion, IMHO I thought it was a 2hr Snuff film. It just my personal opinion but if Mel Gibson wanted to show his love of Christ then he should have focused on what he taught, not focus in graphic gore on a historically anti-semetic Medeavil stage play on how he died, then act surprised when the Jewish community got upset claiming he was anti-semetic in his portrayal of the Jews. (Passsion plays were historically VERY anti-Semetic throughout the centuries) Sad comment when a gore fest like this eclipses the peacefull teaching that were at the core of Christs teachings. Even sadder when a flick like "Jesus Christ Superstar" teaches more about Jesus than this did. I for one was almost offended by the graphic gore which too me was extremely gratuitous and this is coming from a guy whos seen a bunch of gratuitous gore films. I for one walked away not learning a single thing new or insightfull about Jesus other than Mel Gibson has a predomonant fascination with gushing blood! I think the South Park episode "the Passion of the Jew" really caught the gist of this film when Stan tells Mel Gibson "If you wanted to focus on Jesus, then why didnt you focus on what he taught, not how he died, thats Mideavil Dude!"

One other thing, why is Jesus always portraited by an actor who looks like a white dude surfer? For a guy who no-one, not even the Pope has a clue of what they looked like, always portraited as a very Anglo Hippie character. The earliest depictions of Jesus are actually clean shaven and very Roman like. Not until the 3rd century in Constantonople do we get the more traditional depiction of Jesus, 3 centuries later, he could have looked more like Mel Brooks for all we know... now wouldnt THAT be a movie? Anyway thats my take on the MOVIE. and its only my take, my 2cents, so take that as it may ....[;)]

I'm curious if anyone else came away with the same opinion.

BTW let me add that I also wasnt impressed with Clint Eastwoods remake of "Old Yeller" that one this years Oscar....[;)]

[Anonymous]

I wished i had 1/4 of the move peoples money , I could buy a lot of trains and rolling stock and track. JUST a wish. ben

[vsmith]

Yeah Ben, so do I. Some of the "Talent " out here gets payed stupidly large amounts of cash for very little talent, like Ashley Simpsons performance at the Orange Bowl, or someone please tell me why Paris Hilton is a celebrity when her only discernable talent can be seen in an x-rated home movie? Its like the song says "Money for nothing, and your chicks for free"

[Anonymous]

[#ditto][(-D][(-D][(-D]

[markperr]

I think the point of the Passion was missed by many people. First, Christ's ultimate lesson to us was that he, even though scared to death about what he knew was going to happen to him, went through with it because it was his Father's will. "That God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever shall believe in him shall not perish but have everlasting life." That's the famous John 3:16 passage all good football fans see at the endzone during extra point kicks. The point was to show "Christ"ians what brutality their saviour went through so that their sins would be forgiven. I for one was brought up in the very antiseptic "Christ died to save our sins" era, without ever understanding the true implications of what that statement meant.
This movie brought home that reality and was very true to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Second, Look at a picture of Jim Caviezel in and out of the Christ character make-up and tell me that he still looks like a "white dude surfer". Mel Gibson went to great lengths to make him look Jewish since Jesus of Nazareth was indeed a Jew.

Just MY 2cents
Markl

[vsmith]

Mark, I guess we all see things differently.[;)]

I saw along time ago a movie that attempted to show almost the same thing you describe, about Jesus coming to grips with the prospect of dying so the sins of the world could be forgiven, the temptations of the Devil, and final acceptance of his fate, done far far better and more effect because it actually talked about what and why Jesus had to die. The movie was "The Last Temptation of Christ" a movie that devote Christians protested vemonently, even though they did not bother to actually see it. One of the best movies about Jesus and the crucifiction I've ever seen because it actually attempted to make the viewer see it from Jesus's perspective, it really made you think.

..and Max Von Sedow in "The Greatest Story Ever Told" looks about as Jewish as Brad Pit, and Brad Pitt in "Troy" looked about as Greek as ....well, sorry, but everyone looks more Greek than Pitt does[;)]

[Curmudgeon]

Sorry, been busy.
Here's some photos we have of the work we are doing on Cobra:


http://www.ofoto.com/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=xmc75wt.5e6flcb1&Uy=xjxvhx&Upost_signin=BrowsePhotos.jsp%3FshowSlide%3Dtrue&Ux=0


We are stripping paint off wood and re-varnishing as original, re-doing lights, restoring Control Room, panels, tags, indicators......

TOC

[TurboOne]

Curmudgeon awesome photos. It looks like a huge amout of work. Almost as if you are rebuilding all. I salute you and your comrades. [bow][bow]

Vic, I enjoyed the temptation movie. Definately a different point of view from typical Christian movies. Also most of my backyard has become grass again instead of swamp. Location where train is going is still mud, so I will probably have to delay start of outdoor railroad, until I build up the area. That sounds expensive, I may end up with cab forward and no track to play. [:(]

Mark, I thought of Hollywoods treatment of the movie was like their treatment of Spielberg, most of hollywierd was 2nd rate in comparison, so they ignore them, therefore their movies win "awards". $$ speak, The movie went to #7, hello. Believer or non believer, people watched and enjoyed this movie. Mel doesn't need hollywierd, he did it with his money and looked what happened.

I had been avoiding the open forum thread as it seems to upset a certain people when I post on the Garden thread. Even though I have a G scale train, cheap still counts, [:D], and I enjoy the outdoors, heck that is why I live in San Diego, better weather than anywhere, except the last few months.

But now, even if I don't post people get upset, so what the heck,

HOW IS EVERYONE HERE DOING ? [:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)]

HOW IS THE WEATHER TREATING YOU IN YOUR PART OF THE WORLD? [:)]

I LIKE COFFEE, TEA, SMOOTHIES, AND I WILL DRINK THEM WHILE I READ THIS THREAD ONLY, WOULDN'T WANT IT TO SPILL ON OTHER, MORE SERIOUS THREADS. [:D][:D][:D][:D]

Hope everyone has a FANTASTIC day where ever you are, [:D] [:D] [:D] [:D]

Tim (positive Tim)

[markperr]

The last temptation of Christ? Wasn't Willem Defoe Christ in that movie? Never saw the movie but I'd have a hard time watching him play Jesus after watching him battle Spiderman. I've also not seen The Greatest Story Ever Told although one friend of mine who's seen it one told me it's more like the LONGEST story ever told.

Sometimes I shoot from the hip and come off as sounding defensive when defending my position. Gets me in trouble every time. Personally, I really enjoyed "The Passion" and never once thought of it as a snuff flick. My wife bought me the DVD for Christmas and I haven't even unwrapped it from the celophane cover yet. It's a very hard movie to watch, even for the seasoned veterans of "gore". What Christ went through was nothing short of brutal torture. Anyone with half a conscience can't watch those whipping scenes just for the entertainment value. I simply went to see it to see if it would help me understand my own commitment to Christianity.

As for Oscar nominated movies, of the five, the only one that I've seen is Sideways. Thankfully, the wife and I saw it as a matinee. I'd hate to think I wasted 18 bucks instead of eleven.

Mark

[markperr]

Tim,

Here in Michigan, March definately came in like a lion. Got six inches of fresh snow yesterday and the wind whipped it into drifts over a foot high. Hopefully, March will go out like a lamb and I can look forward to another season of garden railroading.

Right now, i'm just sitting at work, drinking a hot black coffee, and enjoying myself on the forums.

Mark

[vsmith]

Mark,
Tempation is definetly worth seeing, Dont remember is it is DeFoe in it but it was made back in the 1980's almost 20 years ago, so I dont think you'll have any Spidey flashbacks!

As for the Oscars, i see quite a few movies each year, some great, some terrible. This year so many smaller screen movies were on the list I only saw a few of the major pics.

Million Dollar Baby = million dollar remake of "Old Yeller" with boxing added.

Hotel Rwanda = didnt see, call it the "Schindler's List effect" but I'm not watching flicks like this anymore in the theater, I'll wait for DVD.

Ray = another we never got around to seeing, definetly going to catch on DVD

Finding Neverland = a wonderfull film, full of emotion and a real magic, so its not 100% historically accurate, what movie is?, definetly deserved to be on this list

Sideways =while a really fun film to watch in places, it does have a certain intellectual pretension to it that might alienate non-wine-snob-west-coast-intelligentia-types. However there are some very funny scenes in it. Didnt think it deserved Best Pic nom though.

The Aviator = should have won IMHO, outstanding movie, Scorcesce should have gotten the oscar for best director at the very least, but the Hollywood insiders and the pro-Clint-mafia snuffed out the competition.

My PERSONAL favorite movie of 2004? Shaun of the Dead!!! [:p]

TOC, good thing I'm not on your crew, I think I'd go ape-s**t from claustraphobia in those tight spaces!!![:0]

[Anonymous]

Hey all here's my take on it, 99.99% of everything I watch is on DVD, drive the wife crazy with my surround sound in our bedroom[:D].

Million dollar Baby- Havent seen it. However I really believe Clint Eastwood is an awsome director and actor! I own 98% of everyone of his movies.
HOWEVER, I never even heard of this movie or saw a preview for it on T.V.! until it was nominated! If you ever compare numbers and schedule of Clint's movies versus others he is fonominal! at it.

On this one though I think the Oscars are trying to be more like the Cans film festival....Artsyfartsy so to speak.

I wish Clint would make another western! Or just start shooting peaple again(movie wise that is)

[TurboOne]

Favorite Clint Movie

Any Dirty Harry movie.

Any movie with the ape ie Any which way you can or whatever it was called.

Tim

[Anonymous]

Tim, Your right on the one Any which you can and Every which way but Loose

My personal favorite- The Outlaw Josey Wales

[markperr]

Just checked imdb.com. Sure enough, Willem Defoe played Christ and Harvey Keitel played Judas. Now I'm REALLY gonna have a hard time watching that movie.

Favorite Eastwood flick? Probably The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

Mark

[vsmith]

For some weekend fun, if you can find it, rent Akira Kurosawa's Samurai film "Yojimbo" and the American remake staring Eastwood "A Fistfull of Dollars" and see how closely redone to the original it is, funny stuff!

Favorite Eastwood flick, The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

For some weekend fun, if you can find it, rent Akira Kurosawa's Samurai film "Yojimbo" and the American remake staring Eastwood "A Fistfull of Dollars" and see how closely redone to the original it is, funny stuff!

Favorite Eastwood flick, The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly!

I think I read about that in his Biography.

[TurboOne]

So how is everyone doing ? Hopefully we all are having fun. I have been working in the
mortgage business, so it will be a little bit before I get some train time. But with money coming in, I can add the track I need to fini***he big layout. Now I just need some time, maybe I will take my Birthday off and that weekend. [:D]

How did everyone like "Hang 'em High" ???

Take care all

Tim

[Anonymous]

Hang em high was O.K.

How about Play Misty For Me That was Clint's directorial deput, the bar tender was Don Segal the director for Dirty harry and Escape from Alcatraz. Clint cast him as the bar tender to have him on location for imput and support. It was also shot at Clint's home in Carmel( Budget saver).

[aljay]

Pale Rider was good.. Unforgiven was really good.I like all of Eastwoods films. Heck I just like all westerns, Think I might go roll me a cigar and have a shot o wiskey at the local saloon...........................[C):-)]

[TurboOne]

Good evening all, had some long drives today. Tomorrow closer to home. Should get to finish some paper work, and generate more cash. Wi***he Cab Forward would hurry up. That will be the decision between O and G, which comes first, and which is better. Tomorrow I will have an amazing pic for you but a picture you won't believe.

Take care all,

Tim

[TurboOne]

Good evening garden folk. More rain has come. Backyard is slowly turning to swimming pool again. Scanner acting up, so new pic will be uploaded Saturday. Someday we will be a desert again but not this weekend. Hope the guys in the land of LA are doing ok. Vic, and others what say you ?

Tim

[Anonymous]

give it a rest Tim

[TurboOne]

Alright Troy I have had it with you. I have been polite and stopped posting to other off topic thread so Troy doesn't get upset. I don't respond in other threads to you, so Troy doesn't get upset.

While you make some great trams, and I love the Thomas pictures, you have no contribution here in the

OFF TOPIC THREAD.

Grow up, quite being a negative nelly, and quite trains.com or stay in your little part of the world. I ended the other topic because of you. And yet I get under you thin skin. I like to socialize, I like people. Many on here have asked you to chill out, yet you persist. I am tired of being polite to a small minded, person with people problems. Find a Shrink over there. Look at a search on google for one, and go see him. I bet with a little help, he will help you get over your anger. Or are you going to just say, I had too much to drink again.

This is not your thread. You are not welcome here, and leave your messages to me to yourself.

Tim

[Anonymous]

Handbags at dawn.Choose your second.

[TurboOne]

Maybe you are a little child that pops in when no one is looking, makes a silly comment, and then runs away. Hopefully you act more like an adult around people then you do in a forum.

[Anonymous]

Is this what is called 'flaming' ?
I have to ask as we don't use the expression in the UK
Troy.

[TurboOne]

Not even close. As I have kids now, I have learned flaming doesn't accomplish anything. But you can come online write something short. Here or at MLS and think you are cute. But alas you still have nothing to add. Your guile only makes you laugh, the rest just feel sorry for you.

Whats funny, back when you had your profile posted, you seemed like a normal guy that liked trains. I thought we might have something in common showing our kids trains. But no. ALAS.

Tim