Nineteen Eighty-four - Page 3

trolls' bane · 10-25-2006, 10:04 PM

Hence the quotation marks... *shines a bright light in the former grammar nazi's eyes*

(That was you, right? I'm not thinking of anyone else?)

**Nurvingiel** · 10-27-2006, 12:40 AM

Grammar nazi? Where?

Well folks, I just bought 1984. I'll read it after the two other books I'm currently reading. But still, I'm very excited.

After I read Animal Farm, I really wanted to read more Orwell, but somehow I never got around to this gem until now.

Serenoli · 10-27-2006, 11:58 AM

Margaret Atwood - The Handmaid's Tale, rather similar in the whole Big Brother scenario of 1984.

trolls' bane · 10-27-2006, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nurvingiel

Grammar nazi? Where?

Well folks, I just bought 1984. I'll read it after the two other books I'm currently reading. But still, I'm very excited.

After I read Animal Farm, I really wanted to read more Orwell, but somehow I never got around to this gem until now.

Besides Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four, I found all of the other books of his I've picked up boring.

GrayMouser · 10-29-2006, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trolls' bane

So...It's like a version of Nineteen Eighty-four with a happier ending?

Actually, Brazil has been released with three different endings.

SPOILERS!!!!!!!
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The original Terry Gilliam version with the 'bleak' ending was released in Europe at 142 minutes. It ends with Sam being tortured, but he escapes into
the fantasy in his own mind- into madness, actually.

Universal Studios insisted the film be shortened and a happier ending put in, so Gilliam did an American release (132 minutes). Instead of opening with a terrorist bombing, it has a dream-like cloud sequence; in the ending the torture chamber fills up with the same clouds while the interrogators look on in amazement.

This wasn't good enough for Universal president Sidney Sheinberg; he insisted on turning it into an optimistic romance. This, at 94 minutes with the tacked on happy ending - derisively referred to as the "Love Conquers All" version- is an abomination.

Terry Gilliam actually had to take a full page add out in Variety demanding to knoow when his movie was being released. He then staged a clandestine showing for the LA critics. When the LA Film Critics had their Awards night, Brazil won Best Picture- a slap in the face for Universal, which didn't know it had been screened, and was heavily promoting "Out of Africa".

GrayMouser · 10-29-2006, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trolls' bane

Besides Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four, I found all of the other books of his I've picked up boring.

As far as his fiction goes, yeah. His first, "Burmese Days" has an interesting setting, but it's very undeveloped; the others "Keep the Aspidistra Flying", "A Clergyman's Daughter" and " Coming Up For Air" are period pices- though the last one is much better.

OTOH his nonfiction- "Down and Out in Paris and London", "The Road to Wigan Pier" and "Homage to Catalonia"- is great, though the for the latter two you have to be interested in the period (1930s, Depression, rise of Hitler and Stalin)

Of his essays, "Politics and the English Language" is a must-read for anyone concerned with our modern society and the ways we are manipulated by language.

Falagar · 10-30-2006, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrayMouser

Actually, Brazil has been released with three different endings.

SPOILERS!!!!!!!
[...]

Loved Brazil, and this only heightens my esteem for Mr. Gilliam.

As to 1984, I found the book to be brilliant (along with most people around here, it seems) . Definitely deserves its place among the greats of literature.

trolls' bane · 10-31-2006, 11:29 PM

I'm having some fun at school now. I'm doing the same thing I did in eight grade: I now have half of the sophomore students calling me (and eventually (hopefully) each other) Comrade.

hectorberlioz · 10-31-2006, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trolls' bane

I'm having some fun at school now. I'm doing the same thing I did in eight grade: I now have half of the sophomore students calling me (and eventually (hopefully) each other) Comrade.

Communists! Bolsheviks!

trolls' bane · 10-31-2006, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hectorberlioz

Communists! Bolsheviks!

LOL!
What's a Bolshevik? It sounds like some sort of edible pastry.
"Excuse me, Comrade. May I have two cheese and one rasberry Bolshevik? Oh thank you ma'am that's very nice of you."

hectorberlioz · 10-31-2006, 11:38 PM

The Bolsheviks were the socialist revolutionaries who took over Russia...

"Comrade" is a famous stereotype of communists...I imagine they used it the word a lot...

trolls' bane · 10-31-2006, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hectorberlioz

The Bolsheviks were the socialist revolutionaries who took over Russia...

"Comrade" is a famous stereotype of communists...I imagine they used it the word a lot...

I'm sure they did, Comrade Berlioz.

Darn. And I was getting hungry, too.

hectorberlioz · 10-31-2006, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trolls' bane

I'm sure they did, Comrade Berlioz.

Darn. And I was getting hungry, too.

You want to eat a Bolshevik! You Cannibal!

Whenever I hear "comrade" I imagine a hefty hand on my shoulder, trying to influence me...kinda like Mafia persuasion...

trolls' bane · 10-31-2006, 11:54 PM

Whenever I hear comrade, at least lately, I imagine a bunch of revolutionaries entrenched and in control of some torn nation's capital city busily setting about the execution of former government leaders.

Yes, I just read a bit about the French Revolution.

hectorberlioz · 10-31-2006, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trolls' bane

Whenever I hear comrade, at least lately, I imagine a bunch of revolutionaries entrenched and in control of some torn nation's capital city busily setting about the execution of former government leaders.

Yes, I just read a bit about the French Revolution.

Well, you're in luck, because thats how most revolutions go...

.

trolls' bane · 11-01-2006, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hectorberlioz

Well, you're in luck, because thats how most revolutions go...

.

Ooo! How fun! *goes and founds a distant colony in Antarctica just to observe this phenomenon*

hectorberlioz · 11-01-2006, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trolls' bane

Ooo! How fun! *goes and founds a distant colony in Antarctica just to observe this phenomenon*

With one exception...but since you're observing, I'll wait to tell you...

***Alcuin*** · 11-01-2006, 12:34 AM

The only difference between a Bolshevik and a Nazi is his excuse for murder.

-|-

Edit:
Oh, heavens! Have I just invoked Godwin’s Law here?

***Rían*** · 11-01-2006, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trolls' bane

Hence the quotation marks... *shines a bright light in the former grammar nazi's eyes*

(That was you, right? I'm not thinking of anyone else?)

One is never a former grammar nazi ... *twitch*

*waves to Grey Mouser*

rohirrim TR · 11-02-2006, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alcuin

The only difference between a Bolshevik and a Nazi is his excuse for murder.

-|-

Edit:
Oh, heavens! Have I just invoked Godwin’s Law here?

Thats rather oversimplification the Bolsheviks motivation was very different from the Nazis. But yes they did kill lots of people, Communism has killed many millions more over the years than the Nazis.

10-25-2006, 10:04 PM	#41
trolls' bane Entmoot Secretary of the Treasury Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Campsite-by-Giraffe Posts: 5,408	Hence the quotation marks... shines a bright light in the former grammar nazi's eyes (That was you, right? I'm not thinking of anyone else?) __________________ KI6PFA Amateur Radio Operator

10-27-2006, 11:58 AM	#43
Serenoli Head of the Department for the Invention and Propagation of Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ithilien Posts: 852	Margaret Atwood - The Handmaid's Tale, rather similar in the whole Big Brother scenario of 1984. __________________ "I meant," said Ipslore bitterly, "what is there in this world that truly makes living worthwhile?" Death thought about it. "Cats," he said eventually. "Cats are nice." -Terry Pratchett, Sourcery Join the Harry Potter discussion, click here

10-31-2006, 11:29 PM	#48
trolls' bane Entmoot Secretary of the Treasury Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Campsite-by-Giraffe Posts: 5,408	I'm having some fun at school now. I'm doing the same thing I did in eight grade: I now have half of the sophomore students calling me (and eventually (hopefully) each other) Comrade. __________________ KI6PFA Amateur Radio Operator

10-31-2006, 11:38 PM	#51
hectorberlioz Master of Orchestration President Emeritus of Entmoot 2004-2008 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Lost in the Opera House Posts: 9,328	The Bolsheviks were the socialist revolutionaries who took over Russia... "Comrade" is a famous stereotype of communists...I imagine they used it the word a lot... __________________ ACALEWIA- President of Entmoot hectorberlioz- Vice President of Entmoot Acaly und Hektor fur Presidants fur EntMut fur life! Join the discussion at Entmoot Election 2010. "Stupidissimo!"~Toscanini The Da CINDY Code The Epic Poem Of The Balrog of Entmoot: Here ~NEW! ~ Thinking of summer vacation? AboutNewJersey.com - NJ Travel & Tourism Guide

10-31-2006, 11:54 PM	#54
trolls' bane Entmoot Secretary of the Treasury Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Campsite-by-Giraffe Posts: 5,408	Whenever I hear comrade, at least lately, I imagine a bunch of revolutionaries entrenched and in control of some torn nation's capital city busily setting about the execution of former government leaders. Yes, I just read a bit about the French Revolution. __________________ KI6PFA Amateur Radio Operator

11-01-2006, 12:34 AM	#58
*Alcuin* Salt Miner Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: gone to Far Harad Posts: 987	The only difference between a Bolshevik and a Nazi is his excuse for murder. -\|- Edit: Oh, heavens! Have I just invoked Godwin’s Law here? Last edited by Alcuin : 11-01-2006 at 07:07 PM.