1984 (1984) -- when this George Orwell classic about a possible dark future was remade in 1984, it was clear that his prediction had not come true, even though we children of the 60s felt then like it well might. Watching this new DVD release, I couldn't help but think of Homeland Security, Patriot Acts one and two, Ashcroft, the state of the economy, and the threatened war with Iraq. I would say the film is more relevant today than when it was made in 1984. It stars John Hurt as the outer circle party member who is guilty of thought crime (he doesn't believe everything big brother tells him) and sex crime (he actually has sex with Suzanna Hamilton). Richard Burton, in his final film appearance, plays an inner circle member in charge of reprogramming Hurt.

Hamilton does extensive full frontal in at least three scenes, one of them outdoors, and all of them well lit. IMDB readers have it at 6.7 of 10. There are not enough reviews at Rotten Tomatoes for a rating, but the range is from 2 to 5 stars. I found the film much less terrifying than the book, and also the 1956 original. The pace was a little slow, and the characters, if anything, were somewhat understated. The set design and cinematography evoked exactly the correct somber mood without obscuring the scenes. This film is at least a C, possibly higher who see us very close at the moment to this dark Orwellian future.

Movies:

• Laura Linney(1, 2, 3, 4, 5). She did somewhat more nudity than this - there are somewhat better breast shots, maybe a quick peek southward - but I didn't have a good enough copy to work with. This is Linney, by the way, not a double, as she has admitted in interviews.

Women in Love was a groundbreaking 1969 film, in terms of its acceptance of aggressive female sexuality, and the nudity level. By today's standards, the female nudity is tame, but this movie is still the Holy Grail of male cinema nudity. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

• Glenda Jackson (1, 2, 3, 4)
• Jennie Linden (1, 2)
• Sharon Gurney

Updates:

• New volumes: Victoria Adams, Mini Anden, Bettie Page, Daniela Pestova, Collette Pechekhonova
• Charlie's French Cinema Nudity Site is Updated
• Honte's Swedish and International Celebs Site is updated

Other crap:

• Carol Channing to marry at 82. The article calls her a singer-actress, so it was obviously written by someone too young to have seen her attempt either.  It is kind of a cool story, however. She's marrying her grammar school sweetheart. They went 60 years without seeing each other.

• the editorial cartoonists pay tribute to Fred Rogers

• You have to see this video of Bush and Blair singing love songs to one another

• Catfight: Christina Applegate vs Gwyneth Paltrow

• This is funny - a poem composed of actual Bushisms, therefore written by the Pres, in a sense

• J-Lo lives up to her diva rep - wants all the toilets on the entire floor evacuated so she can pee in private. I never thought Affleck was a genius, but if he marries this gal, he's a lot dumber than I thought.

• page three girls copy Renaissance paintings

• Conan O'Brien's "if they mated"

• WWE's Torrie Wilson to appear in May Playboy

• Grand Jury indicts pretty much the entire senior administration of the SF police department

• Pamela Anderson for PETA

• Saddam and Dubya have that face-to-face debate after all - in convenient wax format
   

What're the odds?

75th Academy Awards: Best Director  

Today we take the time machine back to 1970 for a peek at Erna Schurer in a rather obscure flick "Blood Castle".

The first 3 caps are just teasers although we do see a quick glimpse of a nipple. The final 5 caps are Erna naked on a torture rack as she becomes a "Babe in Bondage". The scene was very dark and while it was from DVD it was not good quality.

• Erna Schurer (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

On the way back to the present, we stopped off in 1984 for a return visit to "The Mask" and Cameron Diaz. The first 2 caps are just Cameron looking cute, but the last 3 she becomes a "Babe in Bondage", sadly with all her clothes on.

• Cameron Diaz (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

Grope Opera - Pamela Anderson is also creating a distraction at the annual Vienna Opera Ball, a tony event where diplomats and politicians rub shoulders with high society and classical music stars. Billionaire playboy Dickie Lugner invited Pam to accompany him, and he's sent out a string of press releases that are threatening to turn the ball into a media circus. Organizers complain that Pam is "lowering the tone" of the ball.