SZ wrote on Mar 5, 2006 10:37 AM:It's the beginning of the end (if it hasn't started all ready)of hollywood movies if brokeback wins tonight..Not only was it average at best, no one has gone to see it since it was nominated..The Gay Agenda will stop at no ends, even if their movie is poor, they will still try to force their lifestyle upon others as being normal.

harry wrote on Mar 6, 2006 10:49 AM:Brokeback Mountain was a very beautiful movie that touched the lives of millions of Americans who are gay or have gay members of their family. It was a pretty mild movie from the stand point of sexuality, because it theme was repression and denial. It beautifully depicted the toll that 20 years of denial took on the characters of Jack and Ennis and their families. I think the Academy voted against BBM due to its discomfort with the theme and a desire to put profits above art. It is as homophobic as the rest of America. It was convienent that there was a song and a movie that let them pretend to be progressive by being anti racist and acting the fool by rapping about pimps. The GLBT community got b---- slapped last evening.

Rupert wrote on Mar 6, 2006 11:44 AM:I haven't seen Brokeback Mt. or the Passion of Christ. I guess I just don't care for alternative lifestyle movies.

Marcos wrote on Mar 6, 2006 11:44 AM:SZ, you might want to check your facts before writing things on a public forum. Brokeback Mountain has made around $80 million thus far, an astonishing figure for a movie that cost $14 million to make. At one time in January, it was the number one movie at the box office Monday through Thursday, and was declared the "#1 date movie" in January by the box office. Millions of Americans have seen the movie and love it. According to CBS News, Brokeback was the #1 choice of Americans in its poll. SZ, just because you are too small-minded and bigoted to get the message of acceptance and tolerance of gay and lesbian people, doesn't mean the rest of America is. SZ, you are definitely way behind the times.

Secular Bob wrote on Mar 6, 2006 1:51 PM:Characters with alternative lifestyles, such as gay cowboys and transsexuals, have always been rare in movies and will probably continue to be somewhat rare. That's because they represent a fairly small slice of our society. The fact that such movies are getting attention only now, 50 years after the first "talkies," is probably a reflection of this, and possibly also a reflection of Americans' discomfort towards alternative lifestyles. I really don't see the big deal, however. Most movies highlighted by Hollywood and the rest of our society have always had man-woman romance as a major theme. Since 5 to 10 percent of Americans are gay, it seems statistically inevitable that one out of every 30 movies focus on gay romance. Brokeback Mountain is somewhat unique, perhaps, but not any more daring than The English Patient, for example, or When Harry Met Sally. Millions of Americans are gay. Most of them fall in love at some point. So why shouldn't there be a movie about that. Hetero romantic films have been praised for being great films. Why shouldn't Brokeback? And being gay--even being a gay cowboy--is probably at least as common in real life as gunslingers a la John Wayne, or gangsters like Al Capone's Tony Montana. So what makes homosexuality more "alternative" than homicide?

Carl wrote on Mar 6, 2006 2:27 PM:I'm not sure that AMPAS B____Slapped the GLBT community for awarding Crash the Oscar. Crash, like BBM, makes you think; profoundly think. Let's face if, folks, the GLBT community is well ensconced in Hollywood. BBM got it's share of the awards-pie and is doing very well in mainstream theaters. Perhaps comments could be directed at the Palestinian foreign film "Paradise Now" which lost to the "safer" Tsotsi. While "Paradise Now" illuminated to the world the reasoning suicide bombers do what they do, it was accused of glorifying the act. Sad statement on humanity when understanding is mis-understood.

Aaron wrote on Mar 7, 2006 4:54 PM:The reality is, this is an emotional time for gays and lesbians thanks to Brokeback Mountain. The last decade or two has seen this notion that if something is hidden, it must be ok, and many people have fooled themselves that homosexuality faces more tollerance than it really does - simply because it has been kept pretty much out of the media and no one has really had to deal with it in straight mainstream society. And now we see the real face of biggotry and the (hypocritical) hatred of supposed Christians (didn't Jesus profess loving everyone equally, and hang around with prostitutes?). I've been saying this for years, but my boyfriend, who is very young and only just come out (as do many other youngsters facing their sexuality) is now seeing this for the first time - daunting, when you're young and facing a life while seeing the hatred you will face because of it. Ironically, Brokeback Mountain's social furore may put many of them back in the closet, not draw them out like so many presume. It's the fear of being hated and unfairly disadvantaged (I wonder how all those biggots would feel if they could be in our shoes for a day and understand just what that does to someone) that drive men and women back into closets, and why they invariably make the decision to assume heterosexual lives that inevitably fail (and hurt themselves and everyone involved). The line between the fantasy of whats on the screen in Brokeback, and the context of reality around that screen, is somewhat blurred, and somewhat telling. We may have come a long way in women's and black's rights (though even in these issues we have much further to go) but we face a volatile moment in history with the gay issue, to see just how bad that issue is - so bad, people feel comfortable in saying the most dispicably hateful things - the kind of things we are shocked to remember anyone saying about jews, or blacks, or women. "Oh, but this is different," many biggots say. How so?? Isn't that what the racists were saying about the blacks and the jews? How is hatred any different from one example to another? Unfortunately, the gays do not have the power and financial status of the jews in order to fight, nor the collective aggression of the black community, or the sheer numbers of the feminists, and so have taken this biggotry for far too long, and, I am sad to say, will probably continue to do so. It is the straight community that will have to change it for us, and so there is one great thing about this film... that it draws heterosexuals - not to be gay (that is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard) - but to be accepting. If that can happen in the masses, maybe things will change.

AJ wrote on Mar 8, 2006 5:10 AM:Silly homophobes

Adam wrote on Mar 8, 2006 4:43 PM:I totally agreen with Jose. Alternative lifestyles should not be incoroporated into mainstream media and make it a private affair. I don't believe that lifestyle is acceptable and some are even offended by it. In no way at all do I "hate" gays; I just don't approve and it isn't normal according to the bible. We shouldn't continue with shows like "Will & Grace" and movies like "Brokeback Mountain" forcing it down people's throats and pretending like it will be accepted. and one last statement, gay rights is no comparison to black rights. You can't help the color of your skin but you decide your sexual orientation.

Aaron wrote on Mar 9, 2006 6:39 AM:Oh Adam, It's a "choice"??? Do you really believe that?? That's nonsense. Imagine what it's like to be part of a discriminated minority - though you don't hurt anyone, though you don't do anything non-consenting, small minded people who fear they may lived their lives to how they have been told is the ONLY way, somehow feel the need to persecute you, because the very notion that there is any alternative way of living, truth be told, terrifies them. They need to mzke themselves be surer about their own choices by criticising anything that contradicts it. And these small minded people - people like you, Adam - think it is just this.. a choice. But if most gay men are found out in any way, they find it difficult to rent places, difficult to find employment, and ofcourse have their lives restricted because they live with ane ever-present threat of violence, or, at very least, abuse. They face their families potentially disowning them. You think someone CHOOSES that??? The only thing that can be done is to try to choose the opposite - exactly what Brokeback is about - which ofcourse does not work. No more than a black person can choose to be white. The reason why it is the hardest taboo to crack in society is exactly your type of ignorance in a way -because black people are black people, but hey, anyone's kid could be gay. If someone accepts it, they accept it for their families, and that's a very different kettle of fish all together - because most people want to live vicariously through their children, and they want their children to further their own lifestyle and further convince themselves they make the right choice - the "only" choice - in doing so. And since when is this shoved down your throat? Have you seen the film? Obviously not. You have to CHOOSE to see it. You know what time and what channel Will and Grace is on? Sure you do, so don't CHOOSE to see it. You are a very sad man, Adam, who expects other human beings who deserve no less compassion and love than anyone to suffer at the hands of your egocentricity. May your God forgive you.

harry wrote on Mar 9, 2006 9:07 AM:Adam do you really think you could change your sexual orientation and live a happy satisfied life? If someone told you that your form of sexual expression was "wrong" and unnatural and that you had to change, could you do it? I happen to find public expression of sexual attraction, uncomfortable and many many of the main stream movies with lots of explicit, hetero sex scenes are unpleasant to disgusting to me. That doesnt mean Hollywood has to stop filming them; I just don't go to those. But great love stories, gay or straight--I enjoy and hope to see more of them.

Gnarly Charlie wrote on Mar 9, 2006 10:49 AM:Hey Adam, how are shows like Will and Grace shoved down our throats? I've never watched an episode in my life. Never seen Brokeback Mountain either, and I could really care less what the Bible has to say. I also never chose to be straight, it just turned out that way.

Jeff wrote on Mar 9, 2006 7:14 PM:Tolerance yes, Glorification NO!

Susan wrote on Mar 10, 2006 7:39 AM:I do not understand the big deal here. Whether or not it is only entertainment, homosexuality is something that is out there today. We all have to accept it, and the fact that people don't make us all seem a little judgemental and ridiclous.

Litl Bits wrote on Mar 11, 2006 7:17 AM:Tolerance is one thing. Having this crammed down our throats and Hollyweird presenting these lifestyles as "normal" are something totally different. "Brokeback.." is a case in point. This movie glamorizes two guys who couldn't keep it holstered and destroyed TWO FAMILIES. There were children involved here. We are supposed to swallow this as normal? Are you people not aware that Hollywood is proselytizing in movies - and from some of these comments far too many people have swallowed their message! Where are the strong values that made this nation strong? They never even teach our kids the true history of this nation any more.For those of you who are unaware, our Founders were "big" on Judeo-Christian values! Fidelity, self-control, putting your family and your children ahead of a desire to .... freely - these things were important - and SHOULD be important for anyone who is a parent today! And for the last comment from 'jeri' - you're probably right, noone can MAKE you be gay. But people can be influenced to "experiment" more and to waste their lives "experimenting"....do you know the dangers of the gay lifestyle? Are you aware of the STDs - AIDS, Hepatitis, etc. statistics among gays? The movies don't show you THAT part - because that would put a dark light on the gay lifestyle. Hollyweird is all about perverse life-styles - "do whatever feels good at the moment" - and the hell with anyone and everyone whom you might hurt in doing so! Is that the way you want to live? I hope not! This nation was built into the most powerful on earth because we had strong, self-sufficient people who worked TOGETHER to get things done. They did NOT rely on the government to do everything for them. The whole public school system in this country was actually started by churches - that were the center of the community! They had VALUES - morality. And that is not what Hollyweird is teaching our youth! Schools taught discipline. If you didn't behave you were punished. And now punishment has become a dirty word! ("you might damage their little psyche!") - as a result we have kids growing up thinking nothing of destroying a neighbor's property and killing is not all that bad! And if you misbehaved in school, you weren't just punished at school, you were also punished when you got home! But, you see, people grew up with strong beliefs and they knew the difference between right and wrong! The tiny minorities (gays are just one example) who are ruling this nation in terms of values (or lack thereof!). We cannot even talk about God in public without fear of arrest! But filth in public is okay.....is that the kind of world you want? We are destroying this nation from within. Our "tolerance" is killing this nation from within! It was BECAUSE we were "one nation under God" that we ARE the most powerful nation on earth.....and that is being eaten away by the complete erosion of values! It's now perfectly okay for someone to go out and preach hatred of this country - but let someone go out in the public square and try to teach values, Christian (or any faith-based) value system and they can go to jail! That's what is wrong with these movies. America had better wake up. We have become our own worst enemy!

Don wrote on Mar 11, 2006 7:30 AM:Why are people so threatened by those with other religious or societal beliefs? Why not just be strong and faithful and at peace with your life and allow others to do the same? I don't care if you are gay or straight, Christian or not. Anyone who criticizes or villifies another's lifestyle (as long as it is not violent or abusive)is no better than the people he is criticizing. Live and let live, people. If gay movies are truly threatening your way of life, then it's time to re-evaluate what your life is really about, and why it is so vulnerable.

Harry wrote on Mar 11, 2006 11:10 AM:I don't think Little Bits saw the same version of Brokeback Mountain that I saw with my church group. Her rendition had nothing to do with the story line or the moral of the film. Now there are many movies that depict hetero infidelity and family break up and many romances based on infidelity between straights; Brokeback Mt isnt one of them. It also shows the pain of the families including children as tragic and a consequence of the uptight attitudes of the prevailing culture. As far as the Judeo-Christian beliefs of the founding fathers, remember Jefferson had illegitimate childrn with his slave, Benjamin Franklin was a notorious libertine and many of the signers of the Declaration of Independance were Unitarian theists, rather than Trinitarian Christians. Peace and love and a measure of tolerance to all.

Gnarly Charlie wrote on Mar 12, 2006 12:41 AM:Litl Bits never even saw the movie. I'm sure she/he would have no problem if the guys in the movie were cheating on their wives with another woman. That would just be drama right. But since it's with another man, it's being shoved down our throats. Litl Bits makes me sad.

dino wrote on Mar 13, 2006 6:04 AM:I am presently writing a religous story about christ. I am having extreme trouble writing about the gay issue. Although not condoned in bible how does God deny a beautiful/good person he created. Just the same as if your own child was gay would you deny your love for him. What about when Christ was offered freedom in place of the murderer Barabbas and they chose Barabbas to go free. What if a gay was in that situation would they chose a murderer over a gay. I think not,homosexuality has been around since the beginning of time. I agree about tolerence and acceptance but not glorifying it.

Nathan wrote on Mar 13, 2006 9:31 PM:Litl Bits, have you ever looked at it this way... what is wrong in the story of Brokeback isn't that these men put their desires before their families, but that they try to put their families before their true desires (because of ignorant homophobia perpetuated by morons like you). If these men were allowed to be gay, who they really are, they wouldnt have needed to make families, and failed in doing so (destroying everyone). If you'd seen the film (which you obviously haven't) you'd know that although the families are destroyed, the men cop it much worse than the women and children (who are all pretty much olkay by the end). Talk about the issues if you must, but dont base them on something you haven't seen - that is the most abominable type of ignorance there is.

harry wrote on Mar 14, 2006 9:16 AM:Well spoken Nathan. I rather thought that Lil' Bit hadnt even seen the movie she was reviewing because she didnt have any of the facts right. I chose not to go see The Passion of the Christ because of the advanced publicity. It was so anticipated and touted by groups that I hold in distain, and the advance publicity made it seem like a homo-sadistic blood bath; I chose not to go. I realize that I have no right to review it. To do so would be, as you said, the height of ignorance. It amazes me that so many like our little bits don't get it! They go ahead and comment on what they never saw, never read and have no basis for oppinion.

UglyOldWitch wrote on Mar 16, 2006 12:50 PM:I think the reason behind everything Hollywood does (as stated) is money. Sad, but true. Fortunately, movies like Brokeback Mountain are having a secondary affect - we are seeing a relationship between two people - not just gay or straight. TWO PEOPLE. Maybe seeing this on the screen will make us think about things in the real world - and make us realize that everything isn't black and white. Life is a lot of gray area. As for family values mandated by our founding fathers - look it up, folks. Our founding fathers were a wonderful mix of atheist/deists and non-church-attending Christians. And they were in agreement on ONE CORE ISSUE - the division of church and state. For those of us who are learning our American History from the mouths of others, maybe another movie needs making... how 'bout it Hollywood? Thomas and Benjamin Create a Country - The True Story!

Mike wrote on Mar 28, 2006 5:54 PM:Pardon me, but I just don’t get it. Though the film’s backdrop is often spectacular Western landscapes, the storyline is outlandish, the film’s intended tender moments downright laughable, the actors grossly miscast, and authenticity starkly absent. Forget the moralizing about homosexuality, my beef is solely with the quality of the movie itself. The author of the original short-story which spawned this film is a seventy-year-old grandmother from New York City. Perhaps there are lots of gay cowboys in the Big Apple who served as her inspiration, being a West Coaster I wouldn’t know. After all, that’s where the “original gay cowboy” movie, 1969's Midnight Cowboy, took place. But then, Midnight Cowboy was never intended to be a story about “real cowboys.” Brokeback Mountain, on the other hand, wants the audience to believe the star-crossed lovers in the story are actual cowboys -- one a professional bull-rider no less. Well, I grew up around horses and cowboys and began hanging around rodeos during the same time period in which the Brokeback Mountain story takes place: the 1960s and 1970s. As a former bull rider myself, I traveled to rodeos all over the West and nearly all my friends were cowboys, but I never met anyone even remotely like any of the characters portrayed in this movie. There is virtually nothing authentic about these characters: the jargon, mannerisms, and even the wardrobe are all hopelessly wrong. It’s obvious that these Hollywood actors did little to prepare for their cowpoke roles. In one television interview I saw Ann Hathaway, who plays the barrel racing rodeo queen, admit she had no idea what barrel racing even was. And whoever dressed her for the part in that bright red cowboy hat and too-small belt buckle (most trophy buckles in rodeo tend toward the size of car hubcaps) likely had no idea of how a barrel racer was supposed to look as well. So, if the movie is seriously lacking in cowboy authenticity, could it be the story itself which elevates the film to greatness? One way to determine this might be to observe how actual audiences react to the story: how it plays in Peoria, as the old adage goes. Since Peoria is too far away, and too cold this time of year, I decided an audience from Temecula would make an excellent gauge. The heart of Southern California’s wine region, here one can still find a fair number of real-life ranch cowboys sparsed amongst the wealthy grape growers, sophisticated BMW driving vino-swirlers, and ever increasing Gay population. The first audible reaction I noticed from those in the theater came when Jack (played by Jake Gyllenhaal) visits his lover Ennis (played by Heath Ledger) after the two have been apart for several years. Ennis, barely able to contain himself, rushes outside to meet Jack and the two men passionately kiss. Ennis's wife, unaware of her husband’s proclivities, sadly witnesses everything through the screen door. This is one of the film's more poignant moments, yet the Temecula audience burst out in laughter at the wife’s heartbreaking realization. Wondering if this was merely an isolated aberration, I subsequently conferred with friends all along our so-called Left Coast. From California to Washington State, the report was similar: this "love story" made people titter and laugh. One can only imagine how the folks in Peoria responded. Okay, if the movie lacks Western authenticity as well as an unsympathetic storyline, why is this movie garnering such praise and awards from those in the film industry? There are those who claim it is because Hollywood is trying to push some sort of radical Liberal agenda down the throats of mainstream America. But if Brokeback Mountain, along with this year’s onslaught of gay theme films and television shows, is indeed Hollywood’s backlash against the heavy-handed Right Wing pseudo-moralistic agenda of the last several years, it should certainly come as no surprise. For every biased Right Wing action there is an equally biased and opposite Left Wing reaction. But if this is supposed to be some Blue State knock-out punch to Red State America’s macho iconic imagery, it fails to blacken any eyes, fails at bringing about any sort of enlightenment to mainstream America, fails as a love story, and fails as an authentic bit of Western movie making. I certainly have no objection to Hollywood making Gay love stories or any other sort of controversial films, but it would be nice if in so doing they strove for cinematic excellence. Just because Hollywood tells us this is a great movie does not necessarily make it so.

bbq wrote on Mar 28, 2006 10:53 PM:You all are killing me with this banter. If you would all take the time to better your own lives(which I am sure a few of yours are faulty) rather than complain and worry about everyone else who is going through the motions like yourselves we'd all get along just fine.There is no Gay Agenda, there is no conspiracy etc etc. All you conservative morons should be worrying about who we elect to local congress here shortly. The last guy you elected ripped everyone off. Gays, queer, lesbian, queen -whatever word makes you feel better. Its just a word. You better watch your mouth, none of you are in the position to judge anyone based on their life choices.If you are as smart as you think you will notice it has been a common occurence through-out history. Homophobia really only exists here in lil ole America,so get over it!

bbq wrote on Mar 28, 2006 10:57 PM:Mike...you win the Oscar for best adaptation and review of the film. This should shut everyone up.

Hank wrote on May 7, 2006 10:24 PM:What are these alternative lifestyles? I get the idea - those people of the same sex that like to do weird things to each other. They spend a lot of their time trying to get people who disapprove to change their mind. Well, I say to you leave me alone - go hide and to do your dirty and leave me alone. I know it breaks your little heart to hear this, but that's the way it is for the most part and most of us are not interested. If you want to catch some bad stuff have at it. The overwhelming majority in this country disapprove. If you want to be weird don't tell anybody and you will get along much better.

myname wrote on Oct 8, 2006 3:40 PM:hello makakas http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/03/08/blog/entertainment/e10022005.txt|http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/03/08/blog/entertainment/e10022005.txt#blogcomments|personname=|comments=|