The truth behind Cinema of the Caribbean
Filed under: Site Announcements
Ryan Stewart has been writing a column for us called Cinema of the Caribbean for almost six months now. I always wondered why nobody seemed to question the title of the feature, in which Ryan never, ever actually discusses Caribbean cinema. Now, for some reason, this week's installment has our readers suddenly storming the gates of Cinematical Headquarters, demanding answers. Here's the story:
When Ryan first started writing for us, he said he wanted to do a weekly column in which he made a case for films from outside "the canon" that he considered classic. I said, "Great! Come up with a name for the column." He said, "What about New Classics?" I rejected that title, because a) it implied that he would be talking about contemporary films, and most of the time, he's not, and b) it's the term TNT uses to talk about movies like Runaway Bride. So, I said, "No, not New Classics. Come up with something else." We bickered about it for awhile, and finally he was like, "Okay, I've got a name, but I'm not going to tell you what it is." When I saw the first piece titled "Cinema of the Caribbean", I wasn't quite sure where he was going with it, but I figured that since I'm not always the sharpest tool in the sharp tool pile, it was probably just me. Then we started getting emails from Caribbean film organizations.
Honestly, I'm surprised our general readers haven't spoken out until now. What would you name Ryan's column?
When Ryan first started writing for us, he said he wanted to do a weekly column in which he made a case for films from outside "the canon" that he considered classic. I said, "Great! Come up with a name for the column." He said, "What about New Classics?" I rejected that title, because a) it implied that he would be talking about contemporary films, and most of the time, he's not, and b) it's the term TNT uses to talk about movies like Runaway Bride. So, I said, "No, not New Classics. Come up with something else." We bickered about it for awhile, and finally he was like, "Okay, I've got a name, but I'm not going to tell you what it is." When I saw the first piece titled "Cinema of the Caribbean", I wasn't quite sure where he was going with it, but I figured that since I'm not always the sharpest tool in the sharp tool pile, it was probably just me. Then we started getting emails from Caribbean film organizations.
Honestly, I'm surprised our general readers haven't spoken out until now. What would you name Ryan's column?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-26-2005 @ 3:54PM
Elrond Hobbert said...
Yay- I feel very special as it was my initial comment that sparked this "revolt." Now I get my very own blog entry to explore it. And I was certain I was just being a newbie or had missed the initial explainer on that one. Or I figured perhaps Ryan lived in the Caribbean and was dutifully exploring films via Netflix or some local speciality video store in Belize.
You should call it Cinefile. It would help christen "Cine" as your brand name prefix. You'll be kinda like AMC meets McDonald's but with more sensitivity. I smell fries...
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10-29-2005 @ 9:03AM
Seth Charles said...
"Cinema of the Caribbean" is a line from the movie Mission Impossible, possibly a favorite film of the critic in question?
Flight Attendant: Excuse me. Mr. Hunt? Would you like to watch a movie?
Ethan Hunt: Oh, uh, no thank you.
Flight Attendant: Would you consider the cinema of the Caribbean? Aruba, perhaps?
If this is in fact the reasoning for the COTC title, then I say it should stay. Obscure movie references are cool in my book.
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10-26-2005 @ 4:16PM
Kel said...
I was also one of those who stormed the gates with the questioning of the title (2nd!). I had never really thought too much of the title until you placed it next to "Dark City." Kind of a weird juxtaposition and not a movie that you would expect to see in or from the Caribbean!
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10-27-2005 @ 2:50PM
Myron said...
How about:
- Netflix Worthy
- Second Chance Reviews
- Movies Ryan Stewart Likes
- Movies You'll Like if You're Cool
- Have You Seen?
- Last Millenium Movies
- Guess Why I'm Reviewing This
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10-27-2005 @ 11:03AM
Ryan Gray said...
I thought it had something to do with pirates...
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