Anti-War Day: an Event with an Opinion
LOTR-2 Film Review & Party: Middle Earth rocks Manhattan
SantaCon 2002: NYC & Boston
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It was the day after Valentines Day and heart shaped chocolates were not on the menu.
Around
the world, millions of people were waking up with the goal of speaking up in
a world hurtling towards war. Tired of media coverage shaped by biased interests,
many people took to the streets with their own thoughts being broadcast for
all to hear.
Throughout the world a movement was stirring. With elaborate signage, colorful costumery and the opinion driven energies of so many, the world would hear this collective voice. With communities being rallied through e-mail enhanced word-of-mouth, everywhere people were pouring into the streets.
In New York City, dozens of "feeder marches" were being organized to converge
on the United Nations Neighborhood and northward up 1st Avenue. People of all
ages, shapes & sizes were on the move. In buses, cars 
and
subways folks were carrying signs and a grim determination to make their voices
heard.
The protest's main stage was at 1st Avenue and 51st Street where speakers including Bishop Desmond Tutu and actress Susan Sarandon passionately urged the crowd to prepare for a long, uphill battle against the hawks of the Bush Administration. Reporters from around the world jockeyed for press access while a war-tempered, party atmosphere ensued backstage.
The "Carnival" feeder march began between the two lions at the New York Public
Library. Billed as a costumey, musical oriented group this particular gathering
had some of the most colorful signs, get-ups and opinions. With thousands at
this location alone, it was obvious that it was going to be a very interesting
day.
Anti- war signage ranged from the determined to the ridiculous to downright insulting. George Bush and his cadre were lectured and mocked in the most creative ways. After an hour of chanting and posing, the Library Folk began to drift eastward towards the rally… Then came the roadblocks.
With the powers-that-be pulling their various strings and a dubious "Orange
Alert" in effect, the Mayor had already decided that no formal 
march
would be allowed, for "security purposes". With this tired refrain pumping through
walkie-talkies, the police were everywhere. On foot, on horse and in their three-wheeled
boxes, the men in blue were armed and ready. Wielding truncheons and barricades,
their mission was to stifle the crowd in the name of security.
The strategy was simple. Keep the people from organizing. With the TV cameras
focused on the placid group of early risers that were able to make it over to
First Avenue, the more 'colorful' protesters were being hung up, separately,
behind roadblocks behind roadblocks behind roadblocks. Up and down 2nd and 3rd
Avenue, at every corner barricades were rapidly erected with an in-your-face
style that was unnecessarily confrontational and aggressive. If you were resourceful
enough to make it to 1st Avenue, the protesters were penned away, like cattle,
with no opportunity to circulate from block to block.
Back at the ranch, the speakers were speaking and the cameras were rolling…. Everywhere spinmeisters were spinning. The police said 100,000 while organizers boasted 400,000. The truth was out there… somewhere.
Circulating through the crowds, the creativity was everywhere. With EXPRESSION being the rule of the day, the expressiveness went beyond signs. Puppets, Props, costumery and group themes were scattered about. Comical renditions of Bush Administration folk were busy proclaiming proclamations. Dance troupes danced and singers sang as heated debate went round and round.
Was
it a Successful day??? Around the world, millions marched everywhere. Communities
were mobilized while the war engines revved. People who feel this is the wrong
way to run a planet now know they are not alone. Will change come? Will more
people vote? Will leaders listen? Is this a movement or a blip?
Hang onto your hats.
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More photos in the gallery's Protests Section
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Yep, LOTR addicts, it's that time again, except more so…
Lord
of the Rings #1, The Fellowship of the Ring, proved that New Line Cinema and
Director Peter Jackson had it right and were not going to ruin their most awesome
opportunity. With the full film trilogy produced at the same time, LOTR-1 comforted
enthusiasts by showing that, above all else, these films would capture the true
spirit of the books while not sliding down the slippery slope of commercialism.
LOTR-2 is the second installment with the finale set for release next Christmas.
Two Towers rocked from the very first scene. Not opting for any re-capping
of the first film, the viewer is immediately plunged into kick-ass action and
is continually whipped with more excitement and intriguing character development.
The most epic-like book of the Trilogy, Book Two has the most action and large-scale
battle scenes and the film's production values rose to the challenge. With eye-popping
special effects and real armies of wildly costumed actors battling on the sides
of light and darkness, the viewer is thrust into the middle of a huge battle
like NO OTHER fantasy/medieval epic yet. Two Towers wiped the floor with Braveheart.
During the film, we are introduced to several new characters including Gollum (aka Smeagol) and the tree-creature Ents. A once-owner of the Ring of Power being carried by our heroes, Gollum pursues and ultimately aligns himself with the ringbearers as they follow their Quest. With his mind poisoned from over-exposure to the evil ring, the once civil Smeagol continually battles his evil alter ego Gollum in comical and disturbing sequences. Amazingly portrayed with special effects and excellent voice-overs, Gollum, in my humble opinion, joins the ranks of ET and Yoda as one of the most compelling diminutive creature-personalities of film history.
On the extreme other end of the scale, the magnificent tree-like Ents make
their appearance to battle the devastation of the forest wrought by the evil
sorcerer Saruman. The army of Orcs and their destruction of the forest awake
the Ents, peaceful creatures that generally prefer inaction and the harmony
of the deep forests. The site of the indecisive tree creatures getting really
pissed off and raining mass destruction upon their foes is something to behold
indeed.
True to the books and the first flic, the costuming was weatherworn and realistic. All armor looked battle-tested and only the elves appeared to care about personal grooming.
Oh yes… Then there are the Uruk-Hai. Gestated in a disturbing under-ground
incubation process, this crossbreed of goblins and orcs was created by Saruman
to withstand daylight. This army of seriously angry ghoul-like monsters gets
the viewer's heart pumping like no army of storm troopers ever did. The battle
scene at Helm's Deep between humans and their allies against Saruman's evil
army places the viewer in the midst of a realistic medieval battle scene where
one can practically hear the whistling of the swords, feel the rumbling of the
large battle engines and smell the stench of the oncoming monster-horde.
While Peter Jackson was, once again, faithful to Tolkien's source material, he admits to making more changes in this film than the first (Fellowship) and the conclusion (Return of the King). In particular, some devoted fans may find the changes in Faramir's behaviour and the Ent Moot distressing but we trust that Mr. Jackson had his reasons and all will be revealed in the final film.
In New York City, the film's opening was marked by a Premiere, Opening Night Party at Webster Hall. Hosted by Zenwarp, a group most known for its Black and Blue Fetish Ball, this event was a kind of LOTR-Fetish theme event with a range of LOTR inspired and goth-fetish costumery and performances. Interestingly, hardcore fan's devotion to LOTR does border on fetishism and the energy brought by the LOTR faithful mixed with NYC's goth scene did make for a delightfully unique night.
Featuring several most excellent performances by sexy and scary costumed groups,
the night really rocked. With sword swinging and fire spinning orcs, elves and
ringwraiths, the LOTR theme was reinforced nicely while more established goth
acts like Gabrielle Penabaz's Saint Eve really brought the evening home.
The costume contest was a joyous visual spectacle as a parade of wildly varying "LOTR Inspired" costumery marched across the stage. First place was won by the well deserving rendition of "Shelob", the evil spider queen who makes her appearance at the end of the Two Towers book and, presumably, the beginning of film #3. Her sexy PVC outfit complete with spider tentacles showed the most creativity and best workmanship and her levitating, evil-eye crystal ball (the"Palantir") was the crowning touch.
The only other competitive LOTR specific costume, Sauron - Dark Lord of Mordor, placed fourth. Inspired by the opening scene of Film 1, this seven foot, stilt-wearing costumer swung his mighty mace repeatedly to the delight of the LOTR fanatics and the confusion of the MC who called him "axe-man". With a glowing EL-Wire "Ring of Power" on his gloved hand, the effect was complete.
With
this film and party, it is obvious that LOTR is emerging from the realm of geeks
to the mainstream and hipster circles. In an age where society is increasingly
embracing escapist realms, LOTR, through the magic of Hollywood, now reaches
out to new legions of budding fans. Will LOTR be the Star Wars of the new millennium?
Will it spike interest in fantasy films, medieval costumery and fantasy role
playing games? Will this film break through and win the awards it deserves?
With such a masterful treatment of such an important work, it would be a tragedy
if the stodgy critic set downplays it, again, because of its fantasy subject
matter.
May axe-wielding orcs descend on any Academy members who vote for another mediocre love story over this monster of a film.
See it often...
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More photos in the gallery's Sci-Fi/Fantasy Section
Also....
zenwarp: www.zenwarp.com and Saint Eve:www.sainteve.net
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"Who are you?" they gingerly approached.
"Why, I'm Santa."
"Um yeah. But who are you?" they insisted, again.
"I'm SANTA."
Silence. Blank stares. Confusion.
"OH, I'm sorry, where are you from? I mean, since you don't recognize me?" Santa said, sympathetically, patting them on the shoulder. Smiling at their still puzzled faces, Santa slowly shook his head and simply handed them a present - a box of jello festively wrapped in pornography, and rejoined the parade of Santas.
This scene was repeated over and over in 11+ cities around the world as marauding
santas made their presence
known. On December 6, as Queenie Clauz, Mz. North Pole complete with tiara,
state sash and red-glitter-with-white-fur-trimmed evening gown, I led the devirginization
of Santacon Boston as "InSANTAcy" stepped off with about thirty novice
santas. The following weekend in NYC, I donned my Santa-in-the-hoody (North
Pole REPRESENT!) personae to mix with 280+ creative Clauses.
"Santa knows….Santa knows! You've been Naughty, haven't you?" Santa points his three foot candy cane cattle-prod at the passer by.
Following their acknowledgement by sheepish grin, proud beaming smile or shocked, but twinkling, agreement, Santa applied the appropriate caning. No one was spared the rod; not the 60 year old suited business man, camouflaged National Guardsman nor package-toting season-frenzied shopping mom. Everyone was equal - you were either a Santa, or you weren't.
In
NYC, although Hanukah Harry stood out in his royal blue robes and blowup dradle,
there were many versions of holiday happiness in the form of Ole St. Nick: Blinking
Beard Santa, Clown Santa, Evil Pippi Santa, Merry Me Santa, Springy Hat Santa,
Satan Santa, Santa Closborne, Samurai Santa, Hippie Santa, Glitter SuitSanta,
Pimp Daddy Santa, Easy Rider Santa… As many Santas as there were, were the number
of Santa personalities. Each Santa accepted for his own Santaliness, and yet
proud of his invisibility as one of the Santa (Yes, Virginia, Santa is a collective
noun).
"Hey Santa?!" someone shouts.
"What?!" responds a rousing chorus
Santas on swings, Santas on slides, Santas on see-saws, and Santa vs. Santa
dodge 
ball.
Central Park had it all. The Dodgiest Santa was lifted in victory on the shoulders
of Santa and, after a celebratory lap, was delivered to the stage for his speech.
"I, Santa, could not have defeated Santa without the help of Santa. So let's
hear it for SANTA!" With raucous cheers from Santa (and a Snowman, Grinch and
a couple of reindeer) off the Santas went to his next unannounced stop.
"Hey, look, it's a little reindeer." Santa shouts at every dog he sees.
As the Santas jammed the trains his redwave was noticed. As the throng of subway
Santas poured into the station, they attempted to help the non-Santas by singing
"You better watch out, you better watch out, you better watch out, you 
better
watch out." On a redline car in Boston (what other line would Santa ride?) a
fellow passenger was reading The Scarlet Letter, and another was reading The
Red Badge of Courage. Coincidence…WE THINK NOT!! By the end of the day everyone
wanted to be part of the Santas.
In Boston, at Cambridge's Harvard Yard, the hallowed grounds of Academia, Santas
sang rousing choruses of twisted Christmas Carols to camera pointing foreigners.
One very sprite Santa in a velvet Santa skirt, climbed up into the lap of the
bronze image of John Harvard and helped him don a red hat. Children were given
gifts and candy, adults were labeled with naughty or nice stickers, and those
in red coats, hats, or beards were recognized for their Santa potential and
attempts were made to sweep them into the fold. 
Santa donated money to strippers, formed a kickline with transvestites, danced on the bar, twirled their batons, and marched with the band. The Santas may look the same, but his talents are many. And as everyone knew by the end of the day:
"Santa's wife's a….?"
"Ho! ho! ho! ho!"
Why did Santa do it? Why did each Santa do it? For absolutely NO GOOD REASON.
And that, little children, is as it should be.
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For more, check out www.Santarchy.com
