Cormac McCarthy

This story was interesting, but it wasn't exactly what I would read in my spare time just for an easy read. Its very descriptive. I found it hard to wade through the description, just to get to the theme. It was pretty gruesome, I've read things that are a little more vulgar and distasteful but this one is up on the list. The description lives up to what I've heard about McCarthy writings, especially like in "The Road." I believe that some of the descriptive details aren't necessary, but also in a way without them the story would lose a big attribute. Some things that don't add to the story could have been taken out, and the story wouldn't have been effected. It is like McCarthy didn't know what was needed and what wasn't so he threw everything in the story.

Frayling, NPR

I'm not a huge fan of NPR, but maybe I will be when I turn 50 like my parents. NPR is a pretty informative station though. I found this segment pretty interesting. I liked learning alot about Leone and him growing up watching movies like "Stagecoach," and others if they weren't banned by Mussolini. I found it really cool how when people quit making westerns in Hollywood Leone decided to start making his own westerns, but made them with more action and less talk. And he did all this without even learning how to speak full english.

Leone also got rid of the ideal "good" guy who was clean shaven, but added the grungy, "not washed in three weeks" looking guy. Also how he got rid of the perfect western town, and added the dusty and grungy ghost town really adds to his movies. Leone definitely put the balls in western movies.

"Jesus Christ, it's Henry Fonda"

Spaghetti westerns have always interested me. I like how the italians wanted to make their movies like the ones made in hollywood. But the movies being cast by italians added a certain type of twist. Espcecially in the eerie music always being played in the background. Also the cinematography was excellent. You can definitely tell the directors really wanted the movies to look good. Also the close ups and gun dueling/gunfight scenes. I found it really cool how Lucas commented on Leone's use of music to add a sense of epic-ism while Lucas was filming Star Wars.

Throughout the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly you can see these traits added by the Italians. The movie is really a good movie, and it will always be a classic. Clint Eastwood's acting is good, and without him I don't think the movie would've been as good.

Possible Essay Topics

I think that writing the essay about the Jesse Jame's story would be fairly interesting. Mostly about how the West portrayed in the story was driven by greed, and when justice needed to be pursued it was always tainted by the fact of money being involved. It is present that both the detectives and Jesse's gang were constantly wanting more money and when the detectives could've easily killed Jesse they were always worried more about his bounty and buried treasure than him being brought to justice. I really think there could be alot written about this topic, and many accounts in the story to support the idea.

The John Wayne Readings

I found the On "Dear John Wayne" reading fairly interesting. It talked about how in the movie John said that everything we see belongs to us (the white man) and it reminded me of that Dr. Seuss story Yertle the Turtle. In the story Yertle is the king turtle and he believes that everything he sees is in his kingdom, so he takes advantage of other turtles to see farther and become more powerful.

"About John Wayne" was interesting because I didn't know John Wayne wasn't originally name John Wayne. I never knew he changed his name when he wanted to become more famous. I never knew he was a family man. I knew he went to USC but not majoring in Pre-law, and I didn't know he dropped out. Overall, he had a very successful life.

Playboy? Damnit John

I hope ya'll found this interview as interesting as I did. At first I totally agree with John and his assumption of the movie business as it was and it is very prevalent today, and possibly worse. I love how he hates on Easy Rider. Thats a movie my mom had to sneak out to go see. I've recently seen it and I thought it wasn't that bad. Our millenium based generation is used to almost every movie having a sexual scene. The one in Easy Rider is slightly graphic, but by today's standards its barely a rated R movie. Just think about what they had to say in 1970.

When John starts talking about the Indians I think he is a pretty fair dude. When he made the joke about the Indians buying back Alcatraz for what the colonists gave for Manhattan was pretty funny. Especially b/c Manhattan was brought from a tribe of Indians who didnt own it.

I also like John's ideas about socialism. The idea of Socialism is great. Communism too. But the reality is that a pure socialistic/communistic society cannot exist on a large scale. I really have respect for John's answer to the question, because there could've been a way more ignorant and biased answer there, but he handled it in a very respectable fashion.

And when John tells the guy his sex-life is none of his God-damn business that made the whole interview. Its an attention grabber.

How to Play Indian

This is great. Instead of how to successfully portray indian life, submit to the Hollywood fiction and act as if your job is to be defeated by the white man. I definitely would have to say myself that my favorite rule on how to play indian would be number 13. "As you lack stirrups, manage somehow to entangle your feet in the reins, so that, when you are shot, you are dragged after your mount." It just seems like in most "indian killing" movies this one is present, even when the indians are somehow riding bare-back. Its crazy how hollywood can invent just another way to make indians lesser than the white man.