Filipino Tamarind Soup

Ingredients

30 ml (2 tbsp) canola oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
455 g (1 lb) beef stew meat, cut into 1 inch cubes
945 ml (1 quart) water
2 large tomatoes, diced
225 g (1/2 lb) fresh green beans, rinsed and trimmed
0.5 medium head pechay (bok choy), cut into 1 1/2 inch strips
1 head fresh broccoli, cut into bite size pieces
39.5 g (1-1.41 ounce) package tamarind soup base

1.
Heat oil in medium stock pot. Saute onion and garlic until tender. Add beef to pot, and saute until browned. Pour in water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer 20 to 30 minutes.
2.
Place tomatoes and green beans in pot, and continue to simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in pechay (bok choy), broccoli and tamarind soup mix. Simmer for an additional 10 minutes.

D´ho! Well... Neighbors don´t of course!

Tersicore said:

notice, those are all british movies! ;)

Love dark humor and this kind of movies, my  favorite are:

° Neighbors (John Belushi is just fantastic in this film. His best to me)

° Eat the rich

° Shaun of the Dead (so silly but so much laugh)

and Monty Python anyway!!

notice, those are all british movies! ;)

You're fuckin' - A right , I'd say it's worth it , but , if you'll trust me on this one , you just have to find out for yourself.....Hey , Peter Sellers , Ringo Starr , Badfinger, Raquel Welch , Christopher Lee , Roman Polanski , and most of the future Monty Python troupe. Can't lose with the stuff they use.
 
dave said:

Still haven't seen the MC. Would ya say it's worth it?

John Battles said:

But , it ees a thin , thin WAFAIR......Hmm, which is grosser , that scene , or the climax to "The Magic Christian"? (MAYBE a bit of a Black Comedy ? I dunno. Certainly  lost on a lot of folks.).
dave said:

Monty Python's Meaning of Life!

Still haven't seen the MC. Would ya say it's worth it?

John Battles said:

But , it ees a thin , thin WAFAIR......Hmm, which is grosser , that scene , or the climax to "The Magic Christian"? (MAYBE a bit of a Black Comedy ? I dunno. Certainly  lost on a lot of folks.).
dave said:

Monty Python's Meaning of Life!

But , it ees a thin , thin WAFAIR......Hmm, which is grosser , that scene , or the climax to "The Magic Christian"? (MAYBE a bit of a Black Comedy ? I dunno. Certainly  lost on a lot of folks.).
dave said:

Monty Python's Meaning of Life!

Monty Python's Meaning of Life!

Headline o' the day for us Uber-Geeks:

Dr. Frederic Wertham Was Manipulating His Data

If William Gaines was around today, he'd have a good laugh.

No , I was'nt familiar with Strigoi....I'd only read the legend about Vlad Tepes losing so much blood in a battle that he drank the blood from his dead enemies , thinking it would restore his life , and that is , reputedly , why Bram Stoker adopted the story  of  Vlad , or "Drakul" , and came up with Dracula. It appears to me , though , as horrific as realities were in Vlad's regime were , that Stoker drew far more from legends in that region. The legends of Vampires (See Karloff in "Black Sabbath" as The Wurdalark.) and Werewolves vary in different parts of teh world .

It's true , Romero's films were social commentary ( The Black man becomes the hero , gets shot dead , anyway....and , on a bigger scale , it's all about the end of the world...... The scene in "Dawn" where the guy takes all that money from the bank , thinks he's set for life , then realizes , there is no life. It's the beginning of the end.)......But , I think it's time we reclaim The Zombie. I don't care if there's  more psuedo - Romero Zombies (THEY WON'T STAY DEAD!) , but , it's as though the original Zombie did'nt exist.

The Santo pictures are closer to folk tales , because Santo and his compadres (Most of them deceased, exc. Mil Mascaras.) were Folk heroes in Mexico. Still are. The Mummies in the "Mummies of Guanajuato" series are more like the actual Mummies still on display in Guanajuato......But , the Zombies Santo does battle with are more like the Zombies of previous films (This was made in or around 1961.). I recently just saw "Santo Vs. Black Magic" , which was actually shot on location in Haiti , and shows what appear to be real Voodoo rituals , or an approximation approved by the Voodoo church. At any rate , the subject is handled with respect.   But , I'm thankful that my bringing this topic up is appreciated. "King of The Zombies" IS closer to the legend , even though it's a comedy , with Mantan Moreland in rare form.

The Romero films were just supposed to be social statements as opposed to actual movies on or about zombie lore and legend. I appreciate that you bring up the subject of actual zombies. I really love the earlier films you're naming, specifically I Walked With a Zombie (1943) because when you watch it you know immediately that someone had obviously done a lot of research on the subject of zombies in Haiti. I think that the subject was really being explored in the 1940s, or at least brought into public consciousness at that time. Jacques Tourneur also directed Cat People, another great classic horror must-see.  King of the Zombies (1941) is another closer to the subject zombie film. I've never seen Plague of the Zombies or Santo Vs. The Zombies....Both actually sound very entertaining on different levels, not so subject-specific. I have to say on the purely amusement factor, the 2009 Norwegian film Dead Snow was not all that awful as far as the whole blood 'n' guts mock-shock Zombie-train goes.

This sort of enters into the subject of vampirism, but have you heard of strigoi? It's the  Romanian folk belief that gave rise to modern-day vampirism, which was actually a pretty common belief not only there and throughout history, but oddly enough in early colonial New England times as well. I recall reading something about there being an actual physical condition in which people thought someone was dead and were buried, but were just actually severely ill with some rare sickness that put them in a comatose state similar to zombies. So, I saw this movie Strigoi (2009), Romania?, which goes into this subject. It falls under the terror-comedy genre. I feel like it sort of explained this belief and the actions of a strigoi pretty well. . . the movie being so-so.

There was a movie the serpent and the Rainbow in the 8o's that broached the subject a bit. I dig the white zombie flick. I'll have to check some of those other titles. Always on the look out. Cheers

No , I don't mean post - "Night of The Living Dead " gutmunching cannibalistic Zombies . As great as NOLD , and as good as it's two sequels are , neither these films , nor the many unofficial followups , remakes ,  variations on the same theme , and parodies have much of anything to do with the actual legend of The Zombie , which , in itself , has nothing to do with cannibalism or radiation. Besides , "The Creature With The Atom Brain" is arguably the first radioactive "Zombie" picture , and , well , they were dead. They did'nt need to eat.

The real Zombie legend is pretty simple....The salt is drained out of a dead person's body , Voodoo magic is applied , and the corpse becomes reanimated , to do it's master's bidding. THE STORY , OF COURSE , ORIGINATES IN HAITI , BY WAY OF AFRICA. Some people still believe it's possible to produce a Zombie.........BUT , to be fair , some people may  think Justin Bieber will have a career in ten years , too.

Some Zombie titles include  WHITE ZOMBIE (Lugosi.),  I Walked With a Zombie , Zombies on Broadway (Lugosi) , Zombies of Mora -Tau , King of The Zombies (Mantan Moreland.) , Plague of The Zombies ( Hammer.) , and even Santo Vs. The Zombies. "I Eat Your Skin" does'nt even involve cannibalism , bu t, its been so long since I've seen this dubbed Voodoo picture , I can't verify that it involves Zombies.....But , as I recall, it does.  It must. 

The last almost - faithful Zombie pic of note was probably ZOMBIE , tho' , of course , it involves cannibalism.

Anyway , I hope the Zombie genre will make a comeback......We've got what're called Zombies coming out of our ears. Anyway , any favorites ? Or , even least favorites?

Still eager for more of the same , or a return to tradition ?

Yeah , there was actually a "Golden Turkey Film Festival" at The Granada Theatre in Dallas , in '81 or '82. The Medveds were there. I'd read about the same thing happening in New York . I was living in Arlington , Tx. at the time, an hour away , and did'nt have wheels. But , I'd forgotten all these other facts about Michael Medved ....I SORT OF STOPPED PAYING ATTENTION.  I was just kind of shocked at his defense of Gibson's anti - semitic views. If he merely said it was a matter of free speech , OK , but , he really agreed , that's the fucked - up  part......But , I used to get my kicks , reading those books , wondering what these movies were really like. Some , I've never seen , though I've seen a lot of 'em . You have a good point about the condescension making people curious about these pictures....But , now , it's morphed into that "Mystery Science Theatre " mentality. Let's make so much noise about what a piece of shit this movie is , that no one can tell , maybe it's not such a piece of shit. I tried watching that show , but I wanted to watch the damn movie , and got irritated. I realize I'm in a minority , here . I can handle a Horror Host interrupting the film on occasion , but , even our own (Son of) Svengoolie in Chicago knows the difference between a Universal classic and some piece of crap , and his commentary is dispensed accordingly.....

I have'nt looked at their books in a long time , either , I mean , I'm on my third copy of The Psychotronic Video Encyclopedia.....But , I get a laugh reading about why these movies were such flops , or artistic failures....That is , to hear them tell it. Sometimes , it's a letdown when a movie is'nt as bad as you've been told......I saw Russ Meyer once. He said 20th Century Fox swore they'd never release "Beyond The Valley of The Dolls" or "Myra Breckinridge".....Well , it was criminal that they'd keep "Valley" from the public (And a head scratcher that it recieved a Golden Turkey mention.) , but , Fox caved , finally , and even released "Myra" , eventually. Is it a crowning cinematic achievement? No. Is it as bad as they say ? Not in my estimation , then it would be unwatchable.

When I saw The Medved Brothers host a "B-Movie Marathon" on The Movie Channel around 1983/84.  I became a fan.  I thought they were funny and I enjoyed the movies they were featuring (mostly Godzilla movies and the clip-movie "It Came From Hollywood").  I eventually found the two "Golden Turkey Awards" books and that helped me in searching for these movies in the early video rental stores.  Their snide remarks made me want to see some of these movies more.  I never read "50 Worst..." or "hollywood Hall of Shame" so I can't comment on those books.  But when Michael Medved started to devote himself to reviewing "normal movies" on Sneak Previews and calling for "family values" in entertainment.  I stopped paying attention.  I still have those "Golden Turkey" books but haven't cracked them open in years.   

  I'll buy that. Never met him. BUT , HE HAS'NT ENDEARED HIMSELF TO ANYONE , LATELY.

Thanks for responding so quickly , but , you know something , I was just telling my buddy , Francis , I HATE CAPTAIN BLOCH !!! Then my wife , Lucille  heard me , and had to open up the windows and yell "LISTEN TO ME , AMERICA !!! MY HUSBAND , GUNTHER TOODY , IS A NUT !!AND HE HATES HIS OWN PRECINCT CAPTAIN !!! HE HATES CAPTAIN BLOCH !!!".

i'M KIDDING.

Michael Medved is a dick.

In the early 80's , whether anyone wants to admit it or not , The Medved Brothers , Michael and Harry , got the ball rolling for Bad Film Fandom. Yes , just as "Graphic Novels" used to be called "Comic Books" or "Comix" in some quarters , there was a time when Psychotronic Films were lovingly called "Bad Films" , or , with a hint of respectability , "Exploitation Films" , or , with contempt , "Camp Films". Now , Michael Weldon did a lot more for the medium than The Medveds , and , I've no doubt , will continue to do so (He and his wife own a store , it's possible that has  something to do with his inactivity online.) , but , like a lot of people , I guess , I was already a film of Cinema Fromage when I first happened uponm a copy of "The 50 Worst Films Ever Made". Not too much later , "The Golden Turkey Awards was released" ,  supposedly a primer for all things Psychotronic. Well , they knock movies that should have got at least three stars , or are merely inoffensive. Their contempt for their subject is hardly benign , but, you know what? It's still fun , as a referenc ebook . I've moved on , since then, but , hey. The third in their trash trilogy is"The Hollywood Hall of Shame" , documenting collossal wastes (And Losses) of money on celluloid , starting , of course  , with D.W. Griffith.

Other writers have criticized The Medveds for their condescening attitudes , and , while I feel their pain , it only gets weirder from there......The "Golden Turkey" book challenged it's readers to spot the movie that's an out and out hoax. There were two chapters "Worst performance by an actor as Jesus Christ" ( Ted Neeley won. Lech Kowalski's "Stations of The Cross" , with Johnny Thunders as The Savior , was never finished.) , and "The Most Unerotic Concept in Pornography" , the award going to "Him" a little seen picture that depicts Christ and his Apostles as flaming Homosexuals. OK , I had actually heard of this movie before I read about it in this book. But , I'd only heard of it. The Medveds took an extraordinarily pro - Jesus stand , being that they're Jewish , but, presumably with the mindset that they respected Chrisianity ,and , after all......He was one of theirs. More recently , Michael (Also the Author of the hit novel , "Whatever Happened To The Class of '65?", briefly made into a TV show.)wrote an essay in defense of Mel Gibson and "Passion of The Christ" , whatever it's called ,almost  blatantly apologizing for being a Jew and not a Christian at this time , so he could really get behind the former "Sexiest Man Alive" ....which reminds me , a friend of mine who's Gay said that "Him" is the film in their book that was a hoax. I know ! How could I not have known? I heard it was English , and starred Donald Pleasance and was banned, over here.....So , I don't know....Maybe The Medveds have issue , maybe they appreciate , yet , they don't appreciate , what we now call  Psychotronic Cinema , but , they were relevant , once. Anybody remember?

I have not read this, but it comes w/ a Bruce Sterling recommendation, good enough for me.

The Fat Years is a 2009 Chinese science fiction novel written by Chan Koonchung.

It was first published in Hong Kong, though it has been banned in m... [Wiki]

Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! Banned in China, sounds good already...

I went to Target last night (I was that bored.), I got to thinking about how radically different it used to be.Target and Wal-Mart , as well as K-Mart , of course , were real pits compared to what they've become (Lest anyone think I'm part of the problem , I've been in ONE WAL-MART IN THE LAST 28 YEARS.), tho' at least Wal - Mart had stuff like The Fleshtones ' first album and a big rack of 50'S AND 60's reissue 45s. In MEXICO , THEY STILL HAVE wOOLWORTHS ! tHE ONE IN pUERTO vALLARTA LOOKS JUST LIKE A tARGET IN 1975. 
 
dave said:

Yeah, remember the $1 movies, second-run? The Wal-Mart effect is very real, the big boys control the pond and the fishes...

I can't find anything online to support this, but a few years ago I heard that there's actually a limit on how many foreign movies can come into America in a given year. Can anyone give any information on that?
John Battles said:

It IS The Wal - Mart effect......Almost nothing gets into American theatres (Again , barring Blink - and - you'll miss 'em "Limited Engagements".) anymore if it's not predesigned to be a fucking blockbuster . Then , when it's gone (Mercifully) , it's gone. The days of second run theatres , and a movie making back it's intial investment before it's grossed enough to feed , clothe and house the entire population of West Malaysia for an entire year , are over. There may be a second - run house here and there , where you can see a movie that came out last month for less than $10 , but they're going the way of the Drive- in , and that's a damn shame.