Does Teen Movie Claim Obama’s a Demigod?: Exclusive Interview With ‘Percy Jackson’ Screenwriter Craig Titley
by John NolteOver the course of the last few days emails have been coming my way about the new Chris Columbus film “Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief.” Something about a reference to President Obama being a demigod. When our colleagues over at NewsBusters picked up the story this morning, I emailed the film’s screenwriter Craig Titley, one of the most amiable guys you’ll ever meet, and asked him about it. He immediately agreed to do an interview on the matter and so here it is:
BIG HOLLYWOOD: First off, thanks for agreeing to do this. And many congratulations as the screenwriter of “Percy Jackson” – a big studio movie that opened on thousands of screens across the country today.
You and I have known each other a long time and I couldn’t be happier for you or … more surprised. When it comes to movies you are the most agnostic, apolitical guy I know. I haven’t seen the film yet, but are the reports true? Does one of the characters compare President Obama to a demigod?
CRAIG TITLEY: I think that may be reading a lot into it what isn’t there. I certainly didn’t think that. The line you are referring to — which was actually an ad-libbed line so I can’t tell you the intention behind it — is when Grover (Brandon Jackson) is explaining to Percy (Logan Lerman) that since the gods first appeared to man they have been having, um, close encounters of the sexual kind with mortals. Their offspring are everywhere. Could be people you pass on the streets. Could be professional athletes, could be Craig Titley or John Nolte (the likelier case). Grover says something along the lines that you’d be surprised where they turn up, even the White House. Now to me that wasn’t a reference to Obama. It just meant that demigods turn up in powerful places. It could be Obama. It could also be Reagan. Or Lincoln. Or JFK. Or Washington. Or Jimmy Carter…well, maybe not Carter. Is there a God of Ugly Sweaters?
BH: So as the sole screenwriter, you’re sitting in your first screening of the film and this line pops up that you didn’t write. What did you think?
CT: I was thinking “that’s new.” Nothing more. Actually I don’t know for sure that it was ad-libbed. It could have been something written on set by Chris (Columbus, the director). I wasn’t there that day. But I know that Brandon is a very, very funny and spontaneous actor. He reminds me of Eddie Murphy in his prime, so many of his lines were ad-libbed. I don’t want to say which ones because they are pretty damn funny and I want people to think I wrote them all
BH: Any idea what the actor was thinking?
CT: I have no idea. But for me the point is: demigods are in places you might not expect to find them. Even in the halls of power. I think it’s an apolitical line that, like a inkblot test, you can bring whatever or whomever you want to it. You want to think it’s a reference to Obama, fine. You want to think it’s a reference to another president, fine. That being said, let’s say for the sake of argument that it was intended as a reference to our current president. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a compliment or an endorsement. His “God” father could have been Narcissus! Or Hermes the Trickster, the shape-shifting God of Lies! See what I mean about it being an “inkblot” line? The line is all things for all people.
BH: When you heard it where did your mind go?
CT: Reagan, baby, Reagan! No, seriously, it’s what I just mentioned. It just meant to me that Grover was emphasizing that demi-Gods are and have always been, in everyday places and powerful places. They are everywhere because the gods, going back to Homer and Hesiod have been sexually insatiable and they love their mortals. Literally. I didn’t think it played politically at all.
BH: Our readers worry because at first glance it sounds like another one of those moments that break the storytelling spell. Like that gratuitous shot at Bush in “The Blind Side.”
CT: It’s definitely nothing like that at all. It’s an innocuous line and only political if you want it to be (which is also well within everyone’s right of interpretation). I’m not even sure why this is suddenly “controversial.” Must be either a slow news day or someone trying to stir up something out of nothing. Nah, no one would do that, would they?
BH: Us? Stir up trouble? Please.
Thanks again for doing this on such short notice. And while you’re here, take advantage. Why should the Big Hollywood community see “Percy Jackson” this weekend.
CT: I’m going to tell you why as a fanboy and not as the writer. First of all, having grown up on his Amblin films, I think this film fits rather nicely with Chris Columbus’ “Holy Triumvertae” of Amblin films – “Gremlins,” “Goonies,” and “Young Sherlock Holmes,” all of which he wrote. For me, this is like his fourth Amblin film only this time he got to direct it (nerd note: he used the same DP who shot “Young Sherlock Holmes”). It a fun, family-friendly adventure with great characters, a great sense of humor and some non-cynical wonder and magic.
Secondly, what I personally tried to do when writing this was make a cool fun introduction to the Greek gods and monsters for a new generation so they would feel the way I felt after seeing Jason and the Argonauts and the Ray Harryhausen Greek god movies for the first time. After I saw those I wanted to know everything there was to know about the gods and mythology (still do which is why I’m currently getting my PhD in Mythological Studies). If kids come out of the movie with that kind of enthusiasm to read and learn, I will think: mission accomplished.
BH: Well, good luck. I’ll be checking it out today or tomorrow. One last question. I was wondering if you’d read my script?
Craig…?
Hello?
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419 Comments
I think I can buy that explanation.
yeah sure- Obama a 'demigod' makes it in by accident…
The Bush swipe in 'Blind Side' was added by Director John Lee Hancock AFTER the test screening. Slimy is as slimy does, as Gump might say.
And this gratuitous 'compliment' to Comrade Obama (All Hail!) is just an accident. We were born at night- but it wasn't LAST night…
ANOTHER MOVIE NOT TO SEE……….
I SAVE ALOT OF MONEY THIS WAY.
I think that I can also buy the explanation. The writers can't always control what the actors and director do when creating the final product. I would hope that if Craig had felt that something snuck in there that he didn't approve of, he would mention it. Not that it would do any good.
I have tried really hard to remain entertained by the films I watch and not be political, which is getting harder and harder. However I also realize that if I never watched a film because of its politics or the political views of the people involved there we would be at the movies all… um.. some… ummmm never mind.. we wouldn't go and just watch TV. Oh Wait…
I love this: "Any idea what the actor was thinking?" Inside J.N.'s head as he poses the question: "PLEASE say that the actor's an Obama supporter, PLEASE say that the actor's an Obama supporter, PLEASE say that the actor's an Obama supporter, that'll be good for at least 600 words from Meister, 600 words from me, maybe something from Shapiro, and then in three months Prelusky can come around and put the cherry on top. Too bad there's no reference to Latin American leaders in the movie, that woulda been good for five posts spread out over a year from Fontova…"
This is OT, but an Olympian just flew off the luge track and was killed during training. It's the third crash in two days on the same track. The other kids have been complaining all week that the track was unsafe. Those of you who pray, please do so for this young man's family and friends, and for the other Olympians who will be competing on this track. There's already been one horrible tragedy too many, we don't want any others.
Sounds about right.
The article's title made me think they came right out and called Obama a demigod (like the mainstream media does
). Once I heard the actual line though, it pretty much became a non-issue to me…
I will go with son of Hermes (the Greek god of thieves). Maybe that's why the birth certificate is such a secret.
We saw the movie last night in Hollywood. I believe that in one of the books, George Washington is a demi-god. So when my kids heard the reference by Grover, that 's what they thought. I actually didn't notice the line. There were so many screaming fan girls in the theater that I missed many of the lines. Will see it again.
No more ad-libbing for this actor. Ever!
Demi-God, hell! (You should pardon the expression.) Reagan was A God!
I buy the explanation. I wouldn't get worked up over this.
I would like to see this movie. I think I'll like it better than the updated Clash of the Titans.
So yeah, the current guy in the white house is the son of Hades. makes sense.
Any one thinking we just might have become so paranoid (understandably so) that we get too upset over things which do not matter?
He didn't even mention Obama. Freak out, why don't y'all?
I could actually by Mr. Obama as a demigod. We must remember that the Greek gods and demigods were not perfect individuals. They were not holy, nor were they righteous in the since of the Judeo-Christian God. They were essntially supermen who, while they possessed great power, were just as blatantly flawed as mere humans. Demigods in particular were often narcisistic and created more harm than good. Hercules was not the Kevin Sorbo dogooder but rather a drunken laut who often hurt those around him. Other demigods plagued humanity as they sought to work through their own personal issues. That could be Mr. Obama.
On another note, I have no idea what superpower Mr. Obama would possess. The ability to ruin an economy in a year hardly counts. : )
Thanks for going to an actual source rather that perpetuating the usual echo chamber that is the blogosphere.
Eh, I wasn't going to see this anyway.
Gotta agree with you. Don't forget the film was made before Obama fell from Mt. Olympus. For all the producers* knew when they were making the film, the cult of the god Obama might have gotten even more widespread before the film debuted.
As for saying it could have been anyone in the White House. That's arrant nonsense. I've been around for 75 years and I can tell you no other president even came close to being called the messiah or had haloes around is picture in posters.
JFK was a pop idol, but nobody, not even his adulators in the media referred to him as anything but mortal — even after he was killed, he was called a sainted martyr, not a god.
My 12 years old granddaughter is going to see the film today. Her parents are careful to monitor what she sees, so I'm sorry she'll have her first taste of leftwing propaganda interjected into a film she was so looking forward to seeing.
*If those making the film didn't approve of the ad-lib, they would have taken it out before the film went into the "can." You can be sure if someone had ad-libbed, I love Bush, it wouldn't have made to the finished product.
Good to see you're an avid, if not fanatic, follower of BigHollywood….Keep on Readin', it's GOOD FOR YOU !
Yeah, that's kind of what I was thinking. It's a given that we're inundated with leftist ideology, so we've become sort of defensive. We run the danger of reading too much into things and looking like the crazies Keith Olbermann believes us to be.
Perhaps, in the far-left land of Hollywood, the actor or director really did mean it as a positive on Obama. Perhaps Titley himself (whom I know nothing about) is an Obama supporter. He still raises a valid point; if the line is as innocuous as he claims, you're free to bring your own interpretation to it.
No fair being so erudite and witty…you're making the rest of us look bad ! ; )
it's two things:
1) Marxist iconography. Chairman Mao. Papa Fidel. Che. Rest our case.
2) Pagan idolatry. A new age mystic take on it, as above.
It's revolting…
I think that finding a problem with the line, even thinking it was meant to mean Obama, is really silly. I'd even say ignorant. At the very least, a deliberate act of will.
Because while some gods, demi-gods, or heroes are heroic-good, there is no assumption to that in any classic pantheon of gods; Greek, Roman or Norse. Or any other anyone could name. In Norse mythology Loki is forever turning himself into some animal or other or disguising himself in order to trick someone or other into pro-creating with him.
I couldn't possibly say anything about the quality of this film or the story-telling but the fx look fun and it sounds like a clean adventure suitable for kids.
And the writer sounds like a decent guy.
There's so much to actually fuss about, why make things up?
Obama will be furious about this.
DEMI god?
We don't have to make things up. "Things," as you call them are shoved in our faces 24/7.
Why not check out the nose in front of your face. Nobody in this country thinks of a god as anything but heroic or good, Laki isn't a household name here.
While I don't blame the folks here for reading into the line, I have to ask… when does it end? Does every positive mention of "the White House" or "the presidency" from now till Obama's out of office constitute left-wing propaganda?
My gauge for this stuff is actually Back to the Future. If the Internet and BH existed in 1985, would people have been offended by the "Ronald Reagan? The actor?!" joke in the film? Would people have made a fuss or accepted it as a lighthearted joke (which is what Reagan did when he had the White House projectionist rewind that part during a screening).
I saw the trailer for the film, the movie looks so idiotic. Nothing interesting to me. I could care less about the White House line. The movie just appears stupid. Plus the annoying Pierce Bronson is in the flick.
I just think it's awesome that Grover is in this. Always my favorite Muppet.
"when does it end"
When the same standards are applied to Republicans as are applied to Democrats.
I was thinking perhaps a reincarnation of Narcissus (though Narcissus was not a god or demigod).
Maybe Obama is the child of Marksengels (god of redistributionism) or Totus (god of telemprompters)?
Who was the writer who shushed his companion when they were standing in the wings of a Marx Brothers show and said: "Shh – I think I just heard a line I wrote"? This newest ad-lib doesn't sound like it comes up to Groucho standards, unfortunately.
… but then what does?
Demigod? no.
Ga'uld? maybe.
He's been President for a year and he's already ended Global Warming. Makes you wonder.
Yeah, and what's with the lowercase g?
Thanks John, for jumping on this and getting the story straight from the source. It's an endemic problem with this instant form of communication that we have to learn to deal with. There's always going to be something that someone will raise the alarm about that then gets out of hand and overblown. It isn't always necessary to create the drama just to have something to jabber about and blame the other side for. Chicken Littles and numerous posters on the internet often aren't very different.
Me three ! What is the fun of getting punched all the time if you can't punch back once in a while?
We were here first by about 100 years.
I'd like to see it…even though I'm technically not a kid. I loved mythology when I was younger (it's still cool), and I think it will be a great way to teach something classical to our young hobbits.
Narcissus the shape shifter is about it.
Hollyweed protraying Obamao as a demigod,after the movie Chi whats the big surprize ???
"…would people have been offended by the "Ronald Reagan? The actor?!" joke…"
Probably not because Doc Brown´s question – "Who is President in 1985?" is exactly the sort of question you´d ask in that situation. And in 1955 Reagan was mostly known as an actor. Doc Brown couldn´t know about Reagan the great political orator and two term governor of California. His reaction is understandable. So while we know the director is a big liberal, the joke isn´t nasty or out of place. It is NOT a suckerpunch.
I agree that this one line is no reason to get mad or boycott the movie. Some people just wait for a reason to be offended. But let´s get real – the line wouldn´t have been there in 1985 or 2005. I don´t buy an neutral interpretation like His “God” father could have been Narcissus! and not just because Narcissus wasn´t a God. We both know they don´t mean it as anything but a compliment to the Effendi.
The ability to cloud Chris Matthews mind? But that´s not so "super". Anyone can do it.
Couldn't you just hear him saying "Jaffa, kree!" at each applause line in the SOTU?
I'm not sure what Robert Zemeckis' poltics are. I'm sure he leans left but isn't vocal about it, unlike many of his contemporaries.
Writer/producer Bob Gale was the conservative Republican in that working relationship.
Nerd trivia: They wanted Reagan to play the Hill Valley mayor in 1885 in Part III. The studio head had been Reagan's agent back in the day and actually asked him but he politely declined.
I saw this movie today and honestly, I didn't even notice the aforementioned line in the context that others are trying to insert here. There wasn't anything overtly political in the movie, maybe a little jab at the Statists, for all intents and purposes. The message was about trying to grab power and how it corrupts and how "the youth" can be sucked into "social change" for revenge on the previous generation. Also, it was great how they make it a purpose to ask why two kids whose parents hate each other have to hate each other. If you have a child with learning disability or ADHD, this movie will speak right to them. The location of Hades was priceless. A smart parent could find lots of things to talk about with a relatively inquisitive child. I did think it was a little intense in some places for a younger child, so be warned, but otherwise a fun way to spend a couple of hours. I like it when a movie can put some modern day challenges into a context that kids can understand.
As hilarious as your post was (and it was) I would say that if the pink hand of the left wing is implanted in a movie, I don't mind discussing it. Be it a slap like Blind Side or several kicks to the junk like Avatar. Keep readin baby and they will keep writing.
Teddy Kennedy really was the son of Thor and proved it by being constantly hammered.
"this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal"
- Sen Barack Obama upon securing the Democratic nomination
Your ignorance, not mine. Nor anyone else's either. The basics of Greek Mythology actually are common knowledge in this country. Loki, less so, but hardly obscure. Seriously, no one saw "The Mask?" No one watched Disney's "Hercules" a dozen times either as a child or with their child? No one read a comic about Thor? Is "Clash of the Titans" really that obscure?
You know… when the libs accuse conservatives of thinking their ignorance is a virtue, they're generally lying. They're making stuff up to smear people who generally *are* better educated and better informed than most. Knowing History and knowing how the world works is *why* people are conservative.
Complaining about this is a stretch at best. Particularly if the books this movie is based on actually establish George Washington as a demi-god. Functionally it's no different than any science fiction out there where the President is an alien. It's practically a cliche.
Sorry Jason and the Argonauts the original way back in the day is the best. In fact I think I will watch it tonight.. As far as his explanation. Who knows at least he had the balls to get interviewed.
Yes, he will since he thinks he is the One.
That wasn't the line. It was Grover saying that he knows who they are but he keeps them secret "some are famous, like White house famous".
Not as innocuous as he made it seem.
The fellow so enamored with his own beauty that the gods turned him into a flower. No?
The books. by the way, would be the kind of ones people around here would love their kids to read. They talk about and honor Western Civilization and the kids in them are un-ironically referred to as "heroes". I find them refreshingly unapologetic about our society.
The author had absolutely nothing to do with the movie, and actually sold the film rights before the first book was published. I have a feeling he isn't entirely enthusiastic about them, since his website doesn't even mention that the movie is opening today.
As for the so-called offending line. It was a quick aside, and was something like this: "you'd be surprised how many demigods there are. Some of them are famous. I'm not allowed to tell you their names, but I mean White House famous." That's the line. That's it. Nothing more. No big deal. Get a sense of humor, people!
I'd love to hear the trolls if somebody ad libbed something snarky about the guy in White House. They'd be howling and accusing the producers of racism. Give me a break.
I'm curious to read the reviews… My kids and I have been reading the books and while they are very engaging and fast-paced, the hero is about 3 years younger in the book than the movie, and the tone is much, much lighter than that suggested by the trailer. The book is G to PG-light, but the movie appears a solidly frightening PG-13.
If makes a difference to parents who have younger children who have gotten hooked. The book's not aimed at high schoolers or college kids or ComiCon fanatics, but the movie sure appears to be.
C'mon, as robotic as Obama is he is definitely a replicator.
I just gotta point out, that in the original book, they name some names of people who were demi-gods, at least three or four Presidents were on the list, including George Washington.
Also, Obama, in the setting of Percy Jackson, fits perfectly as a demi-god of Aphrodite: vain, self-centered and concerned with appearance over substance.
Being a demi-god just means one is special, not that one is good, in the setting, seeing as the overarching plot of the entire series deals with a war between gods that is mostly headed up and kicked off by demi-gods. Oops, that might have been a bit of a spoiler.
As was said above, we'll start laughing when the asides are directed at both sides, instead of from the left to right 24/7.
Makes sense. As previous commenters posted out, Greek gods aren't "godly" in the sense most modern religions would use the term. They are *extremely* willful, fickle and dangerous beings. Demi-gods are just very powerful people, with all the moral strengths and weaknesses any other human beings possess. Something the movie might make us think about: If George Washington was a demi-god, Hitler could have been one, too.
Actually, in the books, they make it clear that WWII was a battle between the sons of the big three gods: Hades' son on one side, and the sons of Zeus and Posidon on the other. Though not specifically spelled out, you are left to assume that Churchill and Roosevelt were the sons of Z & P and Hitler was the son of Hades.
There wasn't anything else to ask the writer? How he feels about the many reviews (un)favorably comparing the movie to the Harry Potter series, what's it like to adapt a popular book series, was he made to feel part of the film process, did he feel his words were sidelined for the effects, etc. etc.? It sort of feels like Nolte kept digging for something the writer disproves in his first answer at the detriment of other topics.
Whose son was Stalin then?
Flush D Maoist Obamaz
I definitely prefer the Judeo-Christian God as a source of morality.
So a pre-emptive crab fest directed at someone who didn't actually *do* anything is your idea of taking the high road?
Obama love is passe, but only because it was (still is?) inescapable. "Okay, everyone's getting off on this guy… time to rebel and find a new latest obsession!" Maybe the actor was thinking of Obama, and just isn't with it and hasn't realized O's a loser. Or maybe he's on his way out of bubbleheadedness but isn't fully deprogrammed. It could have been some residual brainwashing. ^__^ He probably didn't intend to bring religion into pop culture, but you know, when something is part of your core beliefs, it just comes out.
White House famous was obviously a reference to Rahm Emmanuel, son of Discord.
Isn't that the entire point of this website? Or do you find it crucially important that a Captain America comic book was mean to some tea partiers?
And if everyone invovled actually did mean it about Obama — why could this possibly matter to anyone?
Because if the Breitbarts of the world can't keep you buzzing with rage over an endless series of meaningless complaints, you might actually sit up and notice that they are allied with the very same people who wrecked this country for eight years, and all they want is to bring the same crooks and charlatans back into office. As long as you're spending your time being upset about Avatar and Sean Penn, you'll never think to ask where Dick Armey's money is coming from.
Since pagan gods and demi-gods have their share of vain douchebags among their ranks, I don't care whether it was ad libbed or not, intentional or not.
Maybe if you just tried to ignore things that obviously weren't important, they wouldn't get out of hand.
Is there a God of Ugly Sweaters? Yes, but not a Greek god. That would be Huitzilopochtli, Aztec God of War, Sun God, Patron of the City of Tenochtitlan, and God of Ugly Sweaters. Formerly propitiated with human sacrifice, now would-be followers have to show 10 Cliff-centered episodes of The Cosby Show back-to-back.
That is classic! Well-done!
I think that – this time – I'll curb my natural paranoia and go with the writer's explanation. The line *is* open to interpretation and can mean anyone you want.
If it had been ME interviewing the screenwriter, I would have asked why he wrote such a damned boring script that has absolutely NO background or character development of its hero. Isn't that supposed to be step one for a script about a hero? Give the audience a reason to care about him, a definition of who he is, etc.? The Potter films starts with Harry's character – he is an abused orphan made to sleep under the stairs who is utterly bewildered by strange things happening to him. Only after this is established do they then proceed with the story. But the 'Lightning Thief' is nothing but this bland, boring kid who can hold his breath underwater for 7 minutes. That's it. Nothing else about whether he's kind, lonely, a jerk, friendly, etc. I don't even know who his mom or dad are and apparently this was a crucial fact in the books. In short, the script gave me nothing on the hero. Yeah, like I'm going to pay money to see a film about 'nothing'. Nope. Scratch THIS film off my list.
I have no problem with this. His story sounds reasonable and even if Obama were being deliberately compared to a Greek god I would be okay with it. I think it's an apt comparison. The Greek gods weren't paragons of virtue. They were cruel, vicious, petty tyrants that people worshiped because they were afraid of what the gods might do to them if they didn't.
Zeus couldn't keep it in his toga, was known to rape women if he couldn't get what he wanted any other way, and occasionally turned his lovers into animals to hide them from his wife. Admittedly I don't have that much of a clue as to what goes on in women's minds but I have to think being turned into a cow isn't real high on their list of things to do. Hera was a jealous harpy who once sent snakes to kill a baby in its crib because she was mad at Zeus. Ares was a coward. Dionysus was the definition of a drunken degenerate. Hermes was a liar and a thief. Hades had to kidnap a woman to get a wife.
Make the gods angry and they turn your hair into snakes or make your wife lust after your prize bull or turn you into an animal and hunt you or make you take 20 years just trying to get home.
If someone wants to say that Obama reminds them of the Greek gods, I can live with that.
But how about the leg thing?
Funniest comment of the night!
Agreed.
LOL! Good one. But I think Titley's suggestion of Narcissus was more accurate.
I'm going to fall on the side of those that say – sounds like a reasonable explanation. And also agree about the Greek god thing – they were not exactly paragons of virtue. So while "demi-god" might sound nice it's not necessarily. Coupled with the fact that the book itself mentions that some demi-gods were American Presidents, it sounds reasonable to me.
I'm not going to get my knickers in a twist every time something like this comes up. I'm with you guys on Avatar – I refused to see it. The Blind Side was meh. I pick my battles and I think it behooves conservatives to do the same. I absolutely stand up for our side when it is warranted and often have pages-long flame wars on message boards because I do so. And I would do so face to face as well.
But this is a non-event. I kind of want to see because Greek mythology always fascinated me.
that is the best line ever – ROTFLMHO
In the books it mentions that George Washington is a son of Athena so that's probably where the actor got his ad-libbing from…stuff from the actual books.
Craig seems like a very nice, witty guy, and I buy his version.
The actor ad-libbed, or Columbus wrote on-set, what he thought was a "totally awesome" line.
What a dink. Definitely screws up the movie magic.
And besides, ObamaLove is soooo last year….
Thanks for the heads-up and follow-up, Mr. Nolte, and good luck and thank you for your time, Mr. Titley .
In the book, I believe George Washington is mentioned as a demi-god. I saw the movie and didn't see it as a political comment, at all.
mal, you took the words right out of my keyboard.
Notle grenade-diving is appreciated indeed. Kevlar Man.
Even if this movie claims such an asinine thing, reality proves he is not.
His father was an adulterous alcoholic Marxist.
His mother was an under-aged, atheist Communist who abandoned him.
Hardly the stuff of Gods.
For what it's worth, the movie-proper is rated PG. Overall I'd say it's more superficially "violent" than, say, the Harry Potter movies, since the "weapon of choice" is swords instead of wands and the action-emphasis is on monster-slaying instead of spell-casting (also: whereas Potter's central "hub" is essentially a proper British boarding school, here it's a rambunctious boy scout-style camp); but it's nowhere NEAR as frightening/scary as even the first "Potter" was – most of it takes place in the daytime, and the emphasis is on "fun" fights with monsters and bad guys instead of all the vaugely-demonic ghouls and hauntings that tend to plague Hogwarts.
Proteus was the shapeshifter, I believe. Narcissus was…the narcissist, and as someone upthread pointed out, not even a demi god.
Thanks.
I was thinking of taking the kids since we still "owe" them a movie from not taking them to Avatar. I was worried that they might be a little bit old for it, though. My youngest is 12.
Pretty sure he was just a good looking mortal dude…
I like the inkblot reference. My son is dying to see this movie although we rarely watch secular stuff. I don't think one line makes me feel any more drawn or repelled from the movie. As a Conservative when I hear the words "White House" I think of Reagan. I don't default to St. Barry the Taxer or Jimmy Carter.
On a strange side note, I know tons of people who have seen "the Blind Side" and not one has mentioned a swipe at GW.
Oh yeah… sure. That's what it is.
White House famous was obviously a reference to Michelle, according to my wife. Look at those shoulders.
I agree completely. John came off like a total asshole. Here's this guy–the screenwriter–sits down for an interview, and all he's asked about is a five-word ad-lib. Nothing about how he broke into an intensely tough industry… challenges of writing…future projects…advice for aspiring writers. A five-word ad-lib. To smoke out a possible threat of…well, something. What's ironic is that Nolte actually directed a film!
Guess all he cares about these days is stoking his never-ending hard-on for Avatar, and penning 1,000-word columns about throwaway lines in otherwise perfectly politically neutral films.
Um, I resemble, I mean, I resent that 'drunken lout' remark…
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