Darwin's current musical obsession is The Muppets. It's on heavy rotation right now. He is keenly focused on learning all the musical numbers AND the choreography.
Showing posts with label movies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label movies. Show all posts
Jul 10, 2012
Mar 15, 2012
Full Metal Stand Mixer
This is my mixer. There are many others like it, but this one is mine. My mixer is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life. Without me, my mixer is useless. Without my mixer, I am useless. I must add my ingredients true. I must blend smoother than my neighbor, who is trying to out-bake me. I must cream the butter and sugar before I add the eggs. I will. Before God I swear this creed: my mixer and myself are defenders of my kitchen, we are the masters of our recipes, we are the saviors of my desserts. So be it, until there is no hunger, but peace. Amen.
[apologies to Stanley Kubrick]
[apologies to Stanley Kubrick]
Staying home to be a full time caregiver for the last three years may have warped my mind. Just a little.
Dec 5, 2011
It's Officially Time
"Oh, the silent majesty of a winter's morn... the clean, cool chill of the holiday air... an asshole in his bathrobe, emptying a chemical toilet into my sewer..."
Aug 24, 2011
It's Already Been Broughten - 2011
This is a repost. The 2011 Bring It On worldwide viewing party will be Thursday, August 25 at 10:00 PM Eastern.
...
For a moment, let's take a break from the child-bragging, photo-sharing, and other nonsense that usually occupies this blog. Let's get a little serious.
Let's talk about Bring It On. Or as French Canadians know it, Le Tout Pour Le Tout.
This Sunday, August 22, marks the ten year anniversary of the release of the Double Rainbow of modern film: Bring It On. It's hard to believe that this landmark movie was gifted to us a mere decade ago while it's cultural influence seems to reach back centuries. So often today's theater fare trades substance and artistry for mindlessness and spectacle. It's rare that we're challenged with the intellectual acrobatics that quench the mind and soul the way director Peyton Reed provokes us in this, his magnum opus, Bring It On. Having seen this chef-d'œuvre a full 97 times myself, and at one stretch on 26 consecutive nights, I can honestly give my unbiased opinion that Bring It On is in fact the greatest movie ever made. And it introduced the world to "spirit fingers."
Bring It On follows über athlete Torrance Shipman and her tale of rejection, revenge and ultimately redemption as she embarks on her senior year of high as the newly elected captain of her high school's champion cheerleading squad. Torrance is deftly played by Kirsten Dunst in what may be the only 99 minutes of her career where I don't want to claw her face off with my bare hands. Paired with a spunky performance by up-and-comer Eliza Dushku (who goes on to near Oscar nomination worthy performances in The New Guy and The Coverup) as Missy Pantone, we get a brilliant dichotomy that blossoms into a friendship that could only be forged on the stage of competitive teen cheering. As if this isn't enough, industry clydesdale Lindsay Sloane makes an appearance as lovable firecracker, Big Red. And who can forget the heart wrenching performance by that one guy from that one hacker movie that had a young Angelina Jolie in it? This is one of those few exceptional films where all of the actors wield the hammer of theatrical performance with such precision and synchronicity that you are destined to walk away with a migraine of dramatic veneration.
But don't just take my word for it. A decade ago, the film world was abuzz, singing the praises of this amazing piece of modern art. Along with an MTV Movie Award nomination for Best Dance Sequence and two Teen Choice Award nominations for best actress (Dunst) and best film (that's a comedy), Bring It On took home the granddaddy of them all, the Audience Award from the Czech Republic's Zlín International Film Festival for Children and Youth. To this day, even the staunchest critics admit that had the Academy Awards existed at the time of it's release, Bring It On would have swept every single category including Best Period Costumes, Best Use of the Song "Cherry Pie" by Warrant, and Best Claymation.
Bring It On changed my life for the better and I want nothing more than to share that experience with you. While my letter writing campaign to Universal Studios yielded an encouraging cease-and-desist court order, my best efforts were still not enough to achieve my ultimate goal of a 10th anniversary theatrical re-release of Bring It On. But that shouldn't stop the Bring It On community from celebrating this momentous occasion. Whether you're one of the 1% of humans who never got to caress their eye and ear balls with this treasure, or you're a diehard fan wanting to visit Rancho Carne High School one more time, there are still ways join the anniversary celebration this weekend. While the Netflix catalog is, generally speaking, rather sparse, they were smart enough to obtain several copies of the Bring It On DVD. If you hurry, you may be able to have one shipped to your home in time for Sunday viewing. However, if you're smart, you'll follow the lead of the many movie aficionados that have managed to secure their own copy of Bring It On by scouring the "classics" bin found in most of the nation's finest truck stop gas stations.
Join me this Sunday night for a worldwide simultaneous viewing of Bring It On at exactly 9:30 PM Eastern and relive the greatest event in movie history.
And as Torrance would say, "Take a whiff. This movie's the poo."
...
For a moment, let's take a break from the child-bragging, photo-sharing, and other nonsense that usually occupies this blog. Let's get a little serious.
Let's talk about Bring It On. Or as French Canadians know it, Le Tout Pour Le Tout.
This Sunday, August 22, marks the ten year anniversary of the release of the Double Rainbow of modern film: Bring It On. It's hard to believe that this landmark movie was gifted to us a mere decade ago while it's cultural influence seems to reach back centuries. So often today's theater fare trades substance and artistry for mindlessness and spectacle. It's rare that we're challenged with the intellectual acrobatics that quench the mind and soul the way director Peyton Reed provokes us in this, his magnum opus, Bring It On. Having seen this chef-d'œuvre a full 97 times myself, and at one stretch on 26 consecutive nights, I can honestly give my unbiased opinion that Bring It On is in fact the greatest movie ever made. And it introduced the world to "spirit fingers."
Bring It On follows über athlete Torrance Shipman and her tale of rejection, revenge and ultimately redemption as she embarks on her senior year of high as the newly elected captain of her high school's champion cheerleading squad. Torrance is deftly played by Kirsten Dunst in what may be the only 99 minutes of her career where I don't want to claw her face off with my bare hands. Paired with a spunky performance by up-and-comer Eliza Dushku (who goes on to near Oscar nomination worthy performances in The New Guy and The Coverup) as Missy Pantone, we get a brilliant dichotomy that blossoms into a friendship that could only be forged on the stage of competitive teen cheering. As if this isn't enough, industry clydesdale Lindsay Sloane makes an appearance as lovable firecracker, Big Red. And who can forget the heart wrenching performance by that one guy from that one hacker movie that had a young Angelina Jolie in it? This is one of those few exceptional films where all of the actors wield the hammer of theatrical performance with such precision and synchronicity that you are destined to walk away with a migraine of dramatic veneration.
But don't just take my word for it. A decade ago, the film world was abuzz, singing the praises of this amazing piece of modern art. Along with an MTV Movie Award nomination for Best Dance Sequence and two Teen Choice Award nominations for best actress (Dunst) and best film (that's a comedy), Bring It On took home the granddaddy of them all, the Audience Award from the Czech Republic's Zlín International Film Festival for Children and Youth. To this day, even the staunchest critics admit that had the Academy Awards existed at the time of it's release, Bring It On would have swept every single category including Best Period Costumes, Best Use of the Song "Cherry Pie" by Warrant, and Best Claymation.
Bring It On changed my life for the better and I want nothing more than to share that experience with you. While my letter writing campaign to Universal Studios yielded an encouraging cease-and-desist court order, my best efforts were still not enough to achieve my ultimate goal of a 10th anniversary theatrical re-release of Bring It On. But that shouldn't stop the Bring It On community from celebrating this momentous occasion. Whether you're one of the 1% of humans who never got to caress their eye and ear balls with this treasure, or you're a diehard fan wanting to visit Rancho Carne High School one more time, there are still ways join the anniversary celebration this weekend. While the Netflix catalog is, generally speaking, rather sparse, they were smart enough to obtain several copies of the Bring It On DVD. If you hurry, you may be able to have one shipped to your home in time for Sunday viewing. However, if you're smart, you'll follow the lead of the many movie aficionados that have managed to secure their own copy of Bring It On by scouring the "classics" bin found in most of the nation's finest truck stop gas stations.
Join me this Sunday night for a worldwide simultaneous viewing of Bring It On at exactly 9:30 PM Eastern and relive the greatest event in movie history.
And as Torrance would say, "Take a whiff. This movie's the poo."
Mar 11, 2011
Much Better!
2012 is one of the worst movies I've ever seen. But throw in Yakity Sax and it's pure gold.
Jan 17, 2011
1980s Cinema: First Blood
The first of many, many, many 1980s movies that I will be watching for the first time.
Title: First Blood
Year Released: 1982
Genre: Action
Director: Ted Kotcheff (Weekend at Bernie's)
Stars: Sylvestor Stallone, Brian Dennehy, Richard Crenna
Story: A mentally unstable Vietnam war vet, when abused with a small town's police force, begins a one man war with it. (IMDB)
My Take: It wasn't nearly as cheesy as I was expecting. (Though the sound effects were horrendous.) Anything with Sylvestor Stallone has a certain goofiness to it, but it wasn't distracting -- maybe because Stallone had more grunts than actual lines throughout the film. I think the action was probably typical for 1980s movies. While the stunts were maybe less "clean" than today's action flicks, it was nice to watch action sequences that didn't consist of 100 cuts made every few seconds. Stallone was believable as a disturbed vet and Dennehy worked well as his antagonist. I liked Commando and Predator much more -- I've always been a Schwarzenneger guy.
Favorite Lines:
Teasle: Are you telling me that 200 of our men against your boy is a no-win situation for us?
Trautman: You send that many, don't forget one thing.
Teasle: What?
Trautman: A good supply of body bags.
Surprise: A super young David Caruso as Mitch, the rookie deputy.
The Good: A freeze frame ending! Huzzah!
The Bad: The ending was way too anticlimactic.
The Eighties: Killer stereotypical soundtrack.
Jan 11, 2011
Help Me, Children of the '80s, You're My Only Hope
Resolution #3 for 2011: Watch one 1980s movie per month.
I like watching movies. I wouldn't consider myself a movie junkie or geek, but I do make good use of my Netflix subscription. I'm not a reservoir of Hollywood trivia knowledge. I do like hearing the details about the who, what, why and how behind the genesis and production of particular films. I know very little about the techniques and methods behind cinematography. I'm not sure where I fall on the spectrum of movie consumption but I'm probably not that far from the average. But what I do know is there is a gaping hole in my film experience: the 1980s.
I didn't actually realize how pathetic my '80s movie background was until I married Julie. One of Julie's virtues is her willingness to point out any of my inadequacies. (God bless her.) It's a pretty regular occurrence for her to raise her eyebrows, drop her jaw and gasp, "You've never seen [insert '80s movie]?! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!?!" (For the record, nothing's wrong with me. She's actually the weirdo. She's just a weirdo that apparently has seen every movie made since 1979.) She really freaked out, though, when she discovered that I had never seen Footloose. This was the tipping point. It was as if I had duped her into marrying me and after five years and four kids she had suddenly found out my deep, dark secret. Her foundation had been rocked. Thanks to some personal reflection, counseling and Netflix streaming I was able to rectify the situation and save our marriage.
But she's right. Movies are a form of art and you have to see certain movies to truly appreciate other certain movies. It's like any other creative medium - your appreciation of one particular piece is actually enhanced by your experiences with other, sometimes seemingly unrelated, pieces. Just like literature, art, architecture, video games, dance and music, it's fluid. Any given movie reaches back and steps forward all at once. I mean, how can you truly appreciate Andy Samberg's breakdown in Hot Rod if you've never fully seen Kevin Bacon's iconic dance in Footloose? (You can't.) (By the way, the remake of "Footloose" releases this year.)
Skipping '80s cinema was not a deliberate choice. I think there are three reasons why I've only seen a few movies from that entire decade.
- I was three years old when the decade started and thirteen when it ended. It's not like I was hitting the theater that often for the first half of the decade.
- My parents never had cable (and still don't). I didn't get to play quick catch up as all these flicks went from the big screen to the small screen.
- At that time, my parents weren't readily letting me watch PG-13 and R rated movies. I blame my older cousins Doug and Curt for not hooking me up with more nefarious fare. (Though their house was an oasis of HBO and Showtime.)
So, most of the things I saw in the 1980s were family friendly options I saw when they were released or teenage boy favorites I caught up with in high school and college. Everything else is a blank.
But now the time has come to make amends. At long last, the holy trinity of art, science and my wife's badgering have serendipitously converged to give me the means to excise this monkey from my back.
With some quick research I've generated a preliminary list of 1980s movies that I need to see. (If you're looking for an '80s film fansite, this can't be beat.) It's a long list and it's one of those situations where I don't know what I don't know. I'm sure there are many more movies I'm leaving off the list. Following my resolution to watch one '80s movie per month will hardly put a dent in this list, though. I'll need to shoot for at least two 1980s movies per month this year if I hope to make any significant progress.
It's a long list, but not all of my movie deficiencies are the same. There are basically three categories of films in my missed '80s list:
But now the time has come to make amends. At long last, the holy trinity of art, science and my wife's badgering have serendipitously converged to give me the means to excise this monkey from my back.
With some quick research I've generated a preliminary list of 1980s movies that I need to see. (If you're looking for an '80s film fansite, this can't be beat.) It's a long list and it's one of those situations where I don't know what I don't know. I'm sure there are many more movies I'm leaving off the list. Following my resolution to watch one '80s movie per month will hardly put a dent in this list, though. I'll need to shoot for at least two 1980s movies per month this year if I hope to make any significant progress.
It's a long list, but not all of my movie deficiencies are the same. There are basically three categories of films in my missed '80s list:
- Movies I feel like I've seen, but haven't really. These are movies that are on TV all the time. I've maybe viewed 70% of the movie, though not in the proper sequence or in one sitting. Often they're full of iconic scenes or quotes that everyone else always mentions to the point where I'm fooled into thinking I've seen it, too. I've usually avoided picking up these movies because when you know all the actors, the key scenes and the memorable quotes, what's the point? Die Hard used to be in this category.
- Movies with which I'm familiar but just haven't gotten around to watching. These movies can be pop culture staples and, like movies in the first category, I may be very familiar with some of the scenes or quotes. They're sometimes iconic movies and they're referenced so frequently that I've come to understand their significance without ever seeing much, or even any, of the film. I always intend to watch these movies but never get around to it. Footloose was in this category.
- Movies I don't even know I need to see. I've maybe heard the title of these movies, even repeatedly, but that's about it. I know little about who acted in or directed these films. I may not even have known they were from the '80s. Or, I wasn't even aware of these movies at all. These movies are only on the list because Julie or the internet said they should be. On Golden Pond is one of these movies.
Julie says I'm not allowed to call myself a movie lover until I face these demons. Obviously I can't see every film I've missed - I mean, I am a stay at home dad with four kids, precious little free time and plenty of other things to do besides watching movies. I'm going to need your help on two parts of this challenge. First, what movies do I need to add to my list? I tried to be thorough, but I could be missing important films. And second, if I only get to watch a couple dozen of these movies this year, which ones should they be?
I need your feedback, but let me first give you the list of '80s movies I've managed to view already. (Of course some of these are only here because Julie forced me to watch them.) You'll notice that these are all mainstream movies and most of them were geared towards younger audiences.
Note: On all of the lists, I didn't (knowingly) include any series of films that began in the
'70s. For example, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi are excluded because Star Wars, the first film in the trilogy, was released in 1977. (Which makes this post's title ironic!)
I need your feedback, but let me first give you the list of '80s movies I've managed to view already. (Of course some of these are only here because Julie forced me to watch them.) You'll notice that these are all mainstream movies and most of them were geared towards younger audiences.
Note: On all of the lists, I didn't (knowingly) include any series of films that began in the
'70s. For example, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi are excluded because Star Wars, the first film in the trilogy, was released in 1977. (Which makes this post's title ironic!)
'80s MOVIES I'VE SEEN | |
| A Christmas Story | Parenthood |
| A Fish Called Wanda | Police Academy |
| Airplane | Predator |
| Back to the Future | Raging Bull |
| Batman | Raiders of the Lost Ark |
| Beetlejuice | Raising Arizona |
| Big | Rutheless People |
| Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure | Short Circuit |
| Caddyshack | Spaceballs |
| Clue | Splash |
| Commando | Terminator |
| Crocodile Dundee | The Breakfast Club |
| Dead Poet's Society | The Dark Crystal |
| Die Hard | The Goonies |
| ET: The Extra-Terrestrial | The Great Outdoors |
| Fast Times at Ridgemont High | The Karate Kid |
| Ferris Bueller's Day Off | The Neverending Story |
| Field of Dreams | The Princess Bride |
| Flight of the Navigator | The Three Amigos |
| Ghostbusters | Throw Mama from the Train |
| Good Morning, Vietnam | Top Gun |
| Gremlins | Transformers: The Movie |
| Hoosiers | Tron |
| Innerspace | Twins |
| Little Shop of Horrors | Uncle Buck |
| Mask | Who Framed Roger Rabbit |
| Naked Gun | Witness |
This next list is made up of movies I technically haven't sat down and watched straight through, but I've seen so much of them that I probably won't waste a viewing on them this year.
| '80s MOVIES I'VE PRACTICALLY SEEN | |
| Aliens | |
| Better Off Dead | |
| Beverly Hills Cop | |
| Blade Runner | |
| Children of the Corn | |
| Dirty Dancing | |
| Fletch | |
| Full Metal Jacket | |
| Howard the Duck | |
| Lethal Weapon | |
| Pee-Wees Big Adventure | |
| Planes, Tranes and Automobiles | |
| Rain Man | |
| Revenge of the Nerds | |
| Sixteen Candles | |
| Steel Magnolias | |
| Stripes | |
| Supergirl | |
| The Blues Brothers | |
| The Running Man | |
| Vacation | |
| Weird Science | |
These last two lists are where I want to make my movie selections for the year. There are well over a hundred films on this list and I'll need to narrow it down to a couple dozen.
| '80s MOVIES I NEED TO SEE | '80s MOVIES I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT |
| 48 Hours | A Chorus Line |
| 9 1/2 Weeks | Absence of Malice |
| 9 to 5 | Blood Simple |
| Amadeus | Blue Velvet |
| Arthur | Casualties of War |
| Back to School | Cinema Paradiso |
| Biloxi Blues | Colors |
| Bull Durham | Crimes and Misdemeanors |
| Cannonball Run | Das Boot |
| Can't Buy Me Love | Diner |
| Chariots of Fire | Eddie and the Cruisers |
| Child's Play | Eight Men Out |
| Christine | Escape from New York |
| Cocoon | Fatal Attraction |
| Conan: The Barbarian | Gallipoli |
| Dangerous Liaisons | Gandhi |
| Delta Force | Gung-Ho |
| Desperately Seeking Susan | Hannah and Her Sisters |
| Do the Right Thing | Heathers |
| Dragnet | Heaven Help Us |
| Driving Miss Daisy | Henry V |
| Earth Girls Are Easy | Labyrinth |
| Fame | My Left Foot |
| First Blood (Rambo) | My Life as a Dog |
| Friday the 13th | On Golden Pond |
| Glory | Once Upon a Time in America |
| Iron Eagle | Pale Rider |
| Johnny Dangerously | Private Benjamin |
| Lean on Me | Re-Animator |
| Moonstruck | Red Dawn |
| Nightmare on Elm Street | Roger and Me |
| Platoon | Running Scared |
| Poltergeist | Some Kind of Wonderful |
| Porky's | Starman |
| Pretty in Pink | Summer Rental |
| Purple Rain | Terms of Endearment |
| Red Heat | The Beastmaster |
| Risky Business | The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas |
| Roadhouse | The Big Easy |
| Robocop | The Elephant Man |
| Romancing the Stone | The Evil Dead |
| Roxanne | The Killing Fields |
| Scarface | The Last Emperor |
| Spies Like Us | The Last Starfighter |
| Stand by Me | The Last Temptation of Christ |
| Teen Wolf | The Lost Boys |
| The Abyss | The Man with One Red Shoe |
| The Bachelor Party | The Mission |
| The Big Chill | The Name of the Rose |
| The Burbs | The Thin Blue Line |
| The Color Purple | The Thing |
| The Fly | The Unbearable Lightness of Being |
| The Outsiders | The Untouchables |
| The Right Stuff | The World According to Garp |
| The Shining | Tough Guys |
| This Is Spinal Tap | Trading Places |
| Tootsie | Wargames |
| UHF | Young Sherlock Holmes |
| When Harry Met Sally | |
| Willow | |
| Young Guns |
So there you have it - the cinematic skeleton in my closet. Now which movies do I need to see this year? Want to join in on the '80s film watching fun?
Aug 22, 2010
You're Gonna Pump Our Gas Someday
Happy Bring It On Day!
Don't forget the worldwide viewing party begins at 9:30 PM Eastern. Get your DVD players cued up.
Don't forget the worldwide viewing party begins at 9:30 PM Eastern. Get your DVD players cued up.
Aug 18, 2010
It's Already Been Broughten
For a moment, let's take a break from the child-bragging, photo-sharing, and other nonsense that usually occupies this blog. Let's get a little serious.
Let's talk about Bring It On. Or as French Canadians know it, Le Tout Pour Le Tout.
This Sunday, August 22, marks the ten year anniversary of the release of the Double Rainbow of modern film: Bring It On. It's hard to believe that this landmark movie was gifted to us a mere decade ago while it's cultural influence seems to reach back centuries. So often today's theater fare trades substance and artistry for mindlessness and spectacle. It's rare that we're challenged with the intellectual acrobatics that quench the mind and soul the way director Peyton Reed provokes us in this, his magnum opus, Bring It On. Having seen this chef-d'œuvre a full 97 times myself, and at one stretch on 26 consecutive nights, I can honestly give my unbiased opinion that Bring It On is in fact the greatest movie ever made. And it introduced the world to "spirit fingers."
Bring It On follows über athlete Torrance Shipman and her tale of rejection, revenge and ultimately redemption as she embarks on her senior year of high as the newly elected captain of her high school's champion cheerleading squad. Torrance is deftly played by Kirsten Dunst in what may be the only 99 minutes of her career where I don't want to claw her face off with my bare hands. Paired with a spunky performance by up-and-comer Eliza Dushku (who goes on to near Oscar nomination worthy performances in The New Guy and The Coverup) as Missy Pantone, we get a brilliant dichotomy that blossoms into a friendship that could only be forged on the stage of competitive teen cheering. As if this isn't enough, industry clydesdale Lindsay Sloane makes an appearance as lovable firecracker, Big Red. And who can forget the heart wrenching performance by that one guy from that one hacker movie that had a young Angelina Jolie in it? This is one of those few exceptional films where all of the actors wield the hammer of theatrical performance with such precision and synchronicity that you are destined to walk away with a migraine of dramatic veneration.
But don't just take my word for it. A decade ago, the film world was abuzz, singing the praises of this amazing piece of modern art. Along with an MTV Movie Award nomination for Best Dance Sequence and two Teen Choice Award nominations for best actress (Dunst) and best film (that's a comedy), Bring It On took home the granddaddy of them all, the Audience Award from the Czech Republic's Zlín International Film Festival for Children and Youth. To this day, even the staunchest critics admit that had the Academy Awards existed at the time of it's release, Bring It On would have swept every single category including Best Period Costumes, Best Use of the Song "Cherry Pie" by Warrant, and Best Claymation.
Bring It On changed my life for the better and I want nothing more than to share that experience with you. While my letter writing campaign to Universal Studios yielded an encouraging cease-and-desist court order, my best efforts were still not enough to achieve my ultimate goal of a 10th anniversary theatrical re-release of Bring It On. But that shouldn't stop the Bring It On community from celebrating this momentous occasion. Whether you're one of the 1% of humans who never got to caress their eye and ear balls with this treasure, or you're a diehard fan wanting to visit Rancho Carne High School one more time, there are still ways join the anniversary celebration this weekend. While the Netflix catalog is, generally speaking, rather sparse, they were smart enough to obtain several copies of the Bring It On DVD. If you hurry, you may be able to have one shipped to your home in time for Sunday viewing. However, if you're smart, you'll follow the lead of the many movie aficionados that have managed to secure their own copy of Bring It On by scouring the "classics" bin found in most of the nation's finest truck stop gas stations.
Join me this Sunday night for a worldwide simultaneous viewing of Bring It On at exactly 9:30 PM Eastern and relive the greatest event in movie history.
And as Torrance would say, "Take a whiff. This movie's the poo."
Let's talk about Bring It On. Or as French Canadians know it, Le Tout Pour Le Tout.
This Sunday, August 22, marks the ten year anniversary of the release of the Double Rainbow of modern film: Bring It On. It's hard to believe that this landmark movie was gifted to us a mere decade ago while it's cultural influence seems to reach back centuries. So often today's theater fare trades substance and artistry for mindlessness and spectacle. It's rare that we're challenged with the intellectual acrobatics that quench the mind and soul the way director Peyton Reed provokes us in this, his magnum opus, Bring It On. Having seen this chef-d'œuvre a full 97 times myself, and at one stretch on 26 consecutive nights, I can honestly give my unbiased opinion that Bring It On is in fact the greatest movie ever made. And it introduced the world to "spirit fingers."
Bring It On follows über athlete Torrance Shipman and her tale of rejection, revenge and ultimately redemption as she embarks on her senior year of high as the newly elected captain of her high school's champion cheerleading squad. Torrance is deftly played by Kirsten Dunst in what may be the only 99 minutes of her career where I don't want to claw her face off with my bare hands. Paired with a spunky performance by up-and-comer Eliza Dushku (who goes on to near Oscar nomination worthy performances in The New Guy and The Coverup) as Missy Pantone, we get a brilliant dichotomy that blossoms into a friendship that could only be forged on the stage of competitive teen cheering. As if this isn't enough, industry clydesdale Lindsay Sloane makes an appearance as lovable firecracker, Big Red. And who can forget the heart wrenching performance by that one guy from that one hacker movie that had a young Angelina Jolie in it? This is one of those few exceptional films where all of the actors wield the hammer of theatrical performance with such precision and synchronicity that you are destined to walk away with a migraine of dramatic veneration.
But don't just take my word for it. A decade ago, the film world was abuzz, singing the praises of this amazing piece of modern art. Along with an MTV Movie Award nomination for Best Dance Sequence and two Teen Choice Award nominations for best actress (Dunst) and best film (that's a comedy), Bring It On took home the granddaddy of them all, the Audience Award from the Czech Republic's Zlín International Film Festival for Children and Youth. To this day, even the staunchest critics admit that had the Academy Awards existed at the time of it's release, Bring It On would have swept every single category including Best Period Costumes, Best Use of the Song "Cherry Pie" by Warrant, and Best Claymation.
Bring It On changed my life for the better and I want nothing more than to share that experience with you. While my letter writing campaign to Universal Studios yielded an encouraging cease-and-desist court order, my best efforts were still not enough to achieve my ultimate goal of a 10th anniversary theatrical re-release of Bring It On. But that shouldn't stop the Bring It On community from celebrating this momentous occasion. Whether you're one of the 1% of humans who never got to caress their eye and ear balls with this treasure, or you're a diehard fan wanting to visit Rancho Carne High School one more time, there are still ways join the anniversary celebration this weekend. While the Netflix catalog is, generally speaking, rather sparse, they were smart enough to obtain several copies of the Bring It On DVD. If you hurry, you may be able to have one shipped to your home in time for Sunday viewing. However, if you're smart, you'll follow the lead of the many movie aficionados that have managed to secure their own copy of Bring It On by scouring the "classics" bin found in most of the nation's finest truck stop gas stations.
Join me this Sunday night for a worldwide simultaneous viewing of Bring It On at exactly 9:30 PM Eastern and relive the greatest event in movie history.
And as Torrance would say, "Take a whiff. This movie's the poo."
Nov 3, 2009
Howling at the Moon
What is with the Twilight madness that seems to have infected every female between the ages of 12 and 79? I thought for sure it would have died down by now, but it's still getting worse. Forget H1N1, this country needs to focus its resources on finding a vaccine for this brain altering disease. (If you're a Cougar, you're in the high risk category, so you'll get first priority.)
Did people actually see the first film? I rented it and attempted to keep an open mind, but it was one of the worst movies I've ever seen. What's with the Robert Pattinson hype? He seems only so-so good looking and I'm guessing he needs help to open peanut butter jars. If spindly and wiry are so damn hot, I should have been seeing a lot more action my freshman year in high school. (Disclosure: Any action my freshman year in high school would technically be "a lot more.")
And this Taylor Lautner guy? Isn't he like 13 years old? The things the Cougars want to do to him... yikes. If 45 year old men had been saying these things aboutWinnie Cooper Miley Cyrus, for example, people would be in an uproar. Double standard?
If you haven't seen the first teen angst fest known as Twilight, I've put together a recap that will get you up to speed. Now you can walk into New Moon fully prepared without actually subjecting yourself to the first movie.
Did people actually see the first film? I rented it and attempted to keep an open mind, but it was one of the worst movies I've ever seen. What's with the Robert Pattinson hype? He seems only so-so good looking and I'm guessing he needs help to open peanut butter jars. If spindly and wiry are so damn hot, I should have been seeing a lot more action my freshman year in high school. (Disclosure: Any action my freshman year in high school would technically be "a lot more.")And this Taylor Lautner guy? Isn't he like 13 years old? The things the Cougars want to do to him... yikes. If 45 year old men had been saying these things about
If you haven't seen the first teen angst fest known as Twilight, I've put together a recap that will get you up to speed. Now you can walk into New Moon fully prepared without actually subjecting yourself to the first movie.
Aug 14, 2009
Who You Gonna Call?
Need a Ghostbusters fix?
You can watch the full movie on YouTube with a few short commercial interruptions.
Ghostbusters
You can watch the full movie on YouTube with a few short commercial interruptions.
Ghostbusters
Jul 3, 2009
Gran Torino
One of the benefits of my career change to stay-at-home-dad has been my renewed opportunity for watching movies. Back when I was working for the man I was probably digesting maybe one movie a month. A single Netflix envelope would collect dust next to the TV for months at a time. And even when I did watch something, it sometimes took two or three viewings to take in a whole movie. I hate breaking up movies like that. You lose too much meaning, especially when you spread a film out over days or weeks. I think There Will Be Blood took me a month to watch. (Though that was partially because I was forcing myself to finish a movie that had captured very little of my interest.)
Now that I'm staying home I've been able to get back into my flick habit. It's not that I can watch movies all day (HA!) but our evenings are a little freer. Dinner is done earlier. Baths are taken sooner. And kids are asleep before sundown. Which actually leaves us with some precious free time in the late evenings.
Gran Torino was my latest indulgence. Amidst a marathon series of Hollywood blockbusters I'm watching this year, Torino was the perfect hydration station. First, it was nice just to watch a movie where nearly all the scenes took place in just a handful of locations. Nothing flew. Nothing exploded. There was a story. (I had nearly forgotten that movies have plots.) It's your usual story of two people, misfits in their own right, who, despite their paramount differences, find solace and friendship in each other. You know, you're typical Clint Eastwood film. Actually, I think this might be a remake of the Fox and the Hound. Except where the hound is an alcoholic, racist, Korean War vet and the fox is an awkward, bumbling, teenaged son of Asian immigrants. Definitely a remake. The story builds to an intense climax that was exactly what I was hoping it would be. Michael Bay would have taken it in a different direction and the whole time I was worried that that was where we were headed. But, thankfully, it was an Eastwood film and he did the right thing. Except for the crucifix imagery. That was a little canned.
From an acting standpoint, no real complaints. Some of the novice acting gave it a little bit of an artsy or independent vibe. Clint himself is old as dirt which is exactly what his role required. And apparently it also required that he have his jaw wired shut. Despite speaking through his teeth, Clint's character was someone I could identify with on some strange level. In looks and crankiness he reminded me of a steroidal, racist mash up of my father and both of my grandfathers. The film's neighborhood also had a crankiness to it that I appreciated. The neighborhood and homes may as well have been taken straight from the East Dayton street where I spent my early years. The same plain houses (American Foursquare style?), stacked on top of each other, with a detached garage around back. It was actually quite nostalgic.
So it was good movie, maybe even purchase worthy. But enough with the refreshment, now back to the grind. Bring on Scarlett and the Baroness.
Jul 1, 2009
Gran Torino
I'm sitting here watching Gran Turino. I'm about a third of the way into it. Pretty good so far. Clint always comes through.
Jun 24, 2009
Inspirationism
I love this studio. A group of some of the most amazing illustrators you'll ever find.
Imaginism
They did a lot of character design for the upcoming Tim Burton film, Alice in Wonderland. Very cool stuff.
Imaginism
They did a lot of character design for the upcoming Tim Burton film, Alice in Wonderland. Very cool stuff.
May 24, 2009
Rare Occasion
It's 8:30. All the kids are in bed. The house is clean. The dishes are done. The laundry is caught up. OK, that last part isn't true. The laundry is never caught up. But close enough. So Julie and I will spend it in the most romantic way we know possible. We'll pull out the sofa bed in the living room, rent a movie and try not to fall asleep before it's over.
Tonight's film was Slumdog Millionaire. Not bad. A decent love story and pretty solid acting. And major bonus points for throwing in the traditional Bollywood musical scene during the credits. It's probably the best film I've seen this year. My movie viewing is actually way up this year. It's a busy summer in terms of Hollywood blockbusters and I plan on seeing all of them. So far I've managed to squeeze in Wolverine, Star Trek and Terminator. The whole idea of blockbuster films kinda works in my viewing favor since they typically have midnight openings during the week. That means I can get the kids to bed, get some work done (or catch a quick nap) and then sneak off to a late night movie. Hmmm. Now that I think about it, that sounds pretty pathetic. I'm sneaking off to movies in the middle of the night. Shitty Hollywood blockbuster movies at that. Well, whatever. I kick ass.
Tonight's film was Slumdog Millionaire. Not bad. A decent love story and pretty solid acting. And major bonus points for throwing in the traditional Bollywood musical scene during the credits. It's probably the best film I've seen this year. My movie viewing is actually way up this year. It's a busy summer in terms of Hollywood blockbusters and I plan on seeing all of them. So far I've managed to squeeze in Wolverine, Star Trek and Terminator. The whole idea of blockbuster films kinda works in my viewing favor since they typically have midnight openings during the week. That means I can get the kids to bed, get some work done (or catch a quick nap) and then sneak off to a late night movie. Hmmm. Now that I think about it, that sounds pretty pathetic. I'm sneaking off to movies in the middle of the night. Shitty Hollywood blockbuster movies at that. Well, whatever. I kick ass.
May 12, 2009
Feb 14, 2009
The People vs. George
George is one of those people you either love or hate. His supporters are unwavering even in the face of incredible criticism. His detractors say he should pay for crimes against humanity. Loved or hated, he will go down in history as one of the most pivotal figures of our generation. His impact on our culture, on the world, is undeniable. George wasn't always so polarizing, but by the time he launched the Attack in 2002, attitudes were starting to shift. Then, in 2008, public opinion reached an all time low.
Which brings us to the following documentary. This film tries to take an unbiased look at the last 8 or so years and the impact that George has had on millions of lives. The movie doesn't necessarily try to paint George to be the villain many people swear he is, but understandably there is a great deal of negative sentiment about many of George's actions. With great power comes great responsibility and many, many people think George has completely abused that power. You can judge for yourself.
Which brings us to the following documentary. This film tries to take an unbiased look at the last 8 or so years and the impact that George has had on millions of lives. The movie doesn't necessarily try to paint George to be the villain many people swear he is, but understandably there is a great deal of negative sentiment about many of George's actions. With great power comes great responsibility and many, many people think George has completely abused that power. You can judge for yourself.
Feb 3, 2009
Movie Star
When I was around seven years old, my cousin Doug offered me a starring role in a high school film project of his. My younger sister was the female lead. The movie is titled "Escape" and is just one of many of Doug's displays of creativity over the years. I don't even know how many times I've seen this film, but it always makes me smile. And the thing I remember most about the whole experience? How INCREDIBLY difficult and frustrating it is to make a movie with a snot nosed five and seven year old brother-sister duo that haven't a single notion of what acting is. (Doug, your patience must have been incredible.)
Anyway, here's the film. Unfortunately I couldn't locate the soundtrack. Must have been lost in some tragic studio fire or something. As you can see in the film, my children's large heads were clearly inherited from me.
Thank you Doug for such an interesting childhood memory.
Anyway, here's the film. Unfortunately I couldn't locate the soundtrack. Must have been lost in some tragic studio fire or something. As you can see in the film, my children's large heads were clearly inherited from me.
Thank you Doug for such an interesting childhood memory.
Jul 21, 2008
Best Movie Ever?
It's over. What little competition there was in the superhero film genre can now be completely dismissed. Nothing comes close to The Dark Knight. This movie can't even be equated to other hero flicks. If you need to make a comparison, it will have to be against the likes of Silence of the Lambs, The Shining, Chinatown and even The Godfather. It's not a perfect movie, but it's a great one. Despite its two and a half hour runtime, I can't wait to get in the theater and see it again.
The film benefits from the focus you get when the writer, director and producer are all the same person - in this case, Christopher Nolan. You could strip this movie of all its comic book dressings and we'd be left with a phenomenal crime thriller. Maybe this level of grit and depth is only possible because the Batman universe is actually a comic book world devoid of super powers. In fact, where The Dark Night gets tripped up most is when its stepping on its own cape trying to keep the fantastical elements of the characters front and center.
Could expectations have been any higher for Heath Ledger's performance? I don't recall the last time I went to a movie with one actor's performance so exhaustively hyped. His early demise certainly fueled that fire, fanning the ballyhoo to near mythological proportions. No man could possibly deliver on this promise. Or could he? I tried to take a critical eye to his performance from the outset, but by frame one of the Joker's first scene in full jester togs, I was sold that he was the new king of one of film's classic, even if overrated, performances. Sorry, Jack. By the end of The Dark Knight, I was convinced that Ledger's Joker would be considered one of the all time great villains along the likes of Hannibal Lector and Nurse Ratched. Since my writing skills and Ledger's thespianism aren't even in the same universe, I won't attempt to describe his acting. I will say, Heath Ledger alone is worth the price of admission on this one.
Sans Ledger, Christian Bale's turn as Bruce Wayne might have been notable. In fact, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman all bring sturdy performances to the table. And can someone please tell me who to thank for wisely scrapping Katie Holmes for Maggie Gyllenhaal as attorney Rachel Dawes? I owe them a fruit basket at the very least.
The movie isn't perfect. There is a certain "cheese" factor to some of the vigilante philosophy debating that blankets the story. Though it moved briskly through all two and a half hours, the plot itself was still tedious at times. And, I know, the Bat Tumbler (Batmobile) and Bat Pod (Batcycle) are meant for a very specific, basement dwelling, bra clasp challenged, demographic of which I am not a part, but is all the hokey Bat-tech necessary? I'm still wondering why the Bat Pod was even conceived for this movie and even worse, why its delivery was so poorly executed.
The handful of snags, though, won't scuttle the whole production, and like I said, Ledger alone is worth heading to the theater to see. Best movie ever? Probably not. But awesome nonetheless.
For those of you that have seen The Dark Knight, what is your take?
By the way, if you really want to understand how good this movie is, rent and watch Batman & Robin before you go see The Dark Knight.
May 21, 2008
Iron Man
Julie and I don't get out much these days, but last weekend we did have the chance to sneak off to a movie. I had wanted to check out Iron Man and Julie was at least somewhat interested. Before I get to my review, though, let's take a moment to look at the superhero movie genre as a whole.
Superhero movies suck.
Well, at least a very high percentage of them do. Or at least that's my opinion. Here are my four word film reviews of some random hero movies I'm able to recall at the moment. In no particular order:
Spiderman: Kirsten Dunst can't act.
Spiderman II: Tobey Maguire can't act.
Spiderman III: James Franco can't act.
Superman: Be honest. It sucked.
Superman Returns: Dork lifts heavy stuff.
Fantastic Four: Someone paid for this?
Batman Begins: Good riddance Tim Burton.
Daredevil: Wish I were blind.
Hulk: Nolte new Gary Busey?
X-Men: Close yet so far...
X2: More Rebecca Romijn please.
X3: Where's Cliff and Woody?
I don't know if there is a movie genre that has collectively sucked so much, yet brought in so much money. The revenue to suckiness ratio of these films is off the chart.
All that being said, I really liked Iron Man. I don't think it's quite as amazing as most people are making it out to be, but it was at least worth the price of admission. I'm not a big Downey Jr. fan, but he was definitely the right casting choice as Tony Stark (since he was practically playing himself). The effects were well done and for the most part the dialogue didn't seem as forced as is typically seen in this fare. It should be pointed out, though, that some of the best scenes in the movie were when Downey was interacting with his non-human costars. Is it sad that one of the better actors/scene stealers was a soulless assembly line robot that could have come straight from a GM plant? On the human side of things, Gwyneth Paltrow was surprisingly palatable throughout 80% of the film and Jeff Bridges didn't blow it either. There were plenty of flaws, but at times it managed to be pretty kick ass, which, honestly, is what I'm really looking for in my superhero indulgences. I give it four out of five stars.
So the first attempt of the year was pretty good. Unfortunately, the law of averages suggests I shouldn't get my hopes up for Indy, Hulk and Batman later this summer. The odds are stacked against them.
Superhero movies suck.
Well, at least a very high percentage of them do. Or at least that's my opinion. Here are my four word film reviews of some random hero movies I'm able to recall at the moment. In no particular order:
Spiderman: Kirsten Dunst can't act.
Spiderman II: Tobey Maguire can't act.
Spiderman III: James Franco can't act.
Superman: Be honest. It sucked.
Superman Returns: Dork lifts heavy stuff.
Fantastic Four: Someone paid for this?
Batman Begins: Good riddance Tim Burton.
Daredevil: Wish I were blind.
Hulk: Nolte new Gary Busey?
X-Men: Close yet so far...
X2: More Rebecca Romijn please.
X3: Where's Cliff and Woody?
I don't know if there is a movie genre that has collectively sucked so much, yet brought in so much money. The revenue to suckiness ratio of these films is off the chart.
All that being said, I really liked Iron Man. I don't think it's quite as amazing as most people are making it out to be, but it was at least worth the price of admission. I'm not a big Downey Jr. fan, but he was definitely the right casting choice as Tony Stark (since he was practically playing himself). The effects were well done and for the most part the dialogue didn't seem as forced as is typically seen in this fare. It should be pointed out, though, that some of the best scenes in the movie were when Downey was interacting with his non-human costars. Is it sad that one of the better actors/scene stealers was a soulless assembly line robot that could have come straight from a GM plant? On the human side of things, Gwyneth Paltrow was surprisingly palatable throughout 80% of the film and Jeff Bridges didn't blow it either. There were plenty of flaws, but at times it managed to be pretty kick ass, which, honestly, is what I'm really looking for in my superhero indulgences. I give it four out of five stars.
So the first attempt of the year was pretty good. Unfortunately, the law of averages suggests I shouldn't get my hopes up for Indy, Hulk and Batman later this summer. The odds are stacked against them.
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