Reflections on Anthony Bourdain in Haiti

Now, to be sure, there are plenty of Americans who are firmly convinced that we would all be better off if we grew our own food, bought only locally, kept firms small, eschewed modern conveniences like home appliances, went back to using only natural products, expropriated wealthy savers, harassed the capitalistic class until it felt itself unwelcome and vanished. This paradise has a name, and it is Haiti.

-from Jeffrey Tucker's "When Capital Is Nowhere In View" RTWT.

(Instapundit)

Reflections on Anthony Bourdain in Haiti

Now, to be sure, there are plenty of Americans who are firmly convinced that we would all be better off if we grew our own food, bought only locally, kept firms small, eschewed modern conveniences like home appliances, went back to using only natural products, expropriated wealthy savers, harassed the capitalistic class until it felt itself unwelcome and vanished. This paradise has a name, and it is Haiti.

-from Jeffrey Tucker's "When Capital Is Nowhere In View" RTWT.

(Instapundit)

RED

This was a fun flick, every bit as violent and funny as the trailer led me to believe. Of course, given that Bruce Willis was the main character, the violent part was a given, but the funny parts, which mostly revolve around his romance with a federal pensions clerk (who has NO IDEA what his old job was) were a pleasant surprise. John Malkovich, Morgan Freeman and Helen Mirren (to say nothing of Brian Cox as Ivan) do great work as retired agents for the CIA/MI6/KGB suddenly forced to fall back on their old skills to avoid death at the hands of CIA officer karl Urban and his small army of cops, soldiers, hit men, etc. Mary-Louis Parker is good as Frank's beloved, Sara, Richard Dreyfus and Rebecca Pidgeon are appropriately vile in their roles - basically everyone in the movie does a good job. The reason why the CIA is trying to off our aged heroes (and heroine, and Sara, who's just in the wrong relationship with the wrong guy at the wrong time) is typical hackneyed Hollywood conspiracy theorist horse shit, but I don't watch these movies for the plot, tbqh. Recommended.

RED

This was a fun flick, every bit as violent and funny as the trailer led me to believe. Of course, given that Bruce Willis was the main character, the violent part was a given, but the funny parts, which mostly revolve around his romance with a federal pensions clerk (who has NO IDEA what his old job was) were a pleasant surprise. John Malkovich, Morgan Freeman and Helen Mirren (to say nothing of Brian Cox as Ivan) do great work as retired agents for the CIA/MI6/KGB suddenly forced to fall back on their old skills to avoid death at the hands of CIA officer karl Urban and his small army of cops, soldiers, hit men, etc. Mary-Louis Parker is good as Frank's beloved, Sara, Richard Dreyfus and Rebecca Pidgeon are appropriately vile in their roles - basically everyone in the movie does a good job. The reason why the CIA is trying to off our aged heroes (and heroine, and Sara, who's just in the wrong relationship with the wrong guy at the wrong time) is typical hackneyed Hollywood conspiracy theorist horse shit, but I don't watch these movies for the plot, tbqh. Recommended.