I just finished watching a DVD of "Hamlet 2' a movie a missed in theaters, partly because I didn't have the time and money, and partly because the reviews were lukewarm, at best.
OK, it's not really true that I hate inspirational teacher movies. "Dead Poet's Society" was pretty good, "Renaissance Man" had some redeemable features, and I'm sure I'd enjoy "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" if I ever saw it. But as the genre gets older, with every "Mr. Holland's Opus" and "Dangerous Minds" it gets more and more stale.
Even the mainstream entertainment establishment has recognized this, however, in this post-modern new millennium, and it has pretty much become a given that any new entry into a genre has to be a parody. But mainstream being what it is, it seems that its the independent features that do it best.
Thus, "Hamlet 2," a story of a hopelessly mediocre but very hard-working actor who finds himself teaching drama in a high school in Tuscon Arizona, saddled with a class full of "Latinos," and facing the elimination of the drama program. He is inspired to create a brand new show to inspire the class and save toe program, and in the end he does. Along the way he loses his wife, meets Elizabeth Shue, and creates a First-Amendment furor.
In several ways, this was a positive, uplifting spin on "Waiting for Guffman." Whereas in that film, the show created by the fish-out-of-water writer/director/actor that inspires a community is "nice," but not great, and each person involved goes on to a sadly mediocre life, "Hamlet 2" gives us an exciting, outrageous play-within-a-movie with Hamlet, "Sexy Jesus," time travel, and a song about face rape.
But both movies are played for comedy, and many a true word has been said in jest. While a serious drama about an inspiring teacher or regional theater might suffer it the audience cannot buy the drama or the writing or a performance or casting (Michelle Pfeiffer as a former marine?), comedy gives one a chance to go over-the-top, look at the absurdity of real life, and allows the audience to accept what in a drama might be considered a shallower character.
Yet, "Guffman" was a downer. I saw it for the first time while in the middle of a theater tour (the Infamous Biggs-Rosati Trois Mousketaires tour) and it really cut close to home. It showed the sad side of those of us who feel a need to prance on a stage for audience approval, and are so willing to do wit, we will do it anywhere, for anyone.
"Hamlet 2" is an uplifting comedy. It really made me feel like creating a piece of entertainment was something that I wanted to do, that it could unite a group of people and give them something to live for, that it could help people see things they had not thought of, and could transcend cultural differences.
Currently my movie project is in a very delicate and exciting stage. The project has a lot of potential, and is finding a lot of resources, but if I don't focus and work hard for the next three weeks, it will all fall apart. Seeing this movie inspired me. When the "Rock Me Sexy Jesus" number came up, not only did the '50's rock & roll number give me the chills such music always does, it also got me all misty-eyed because I saw the cast coming together and their dreams and ambitions coming true in one great moment of unified cause.
And inspirational movies, being such a done genre,that they are hard to take seriously anymore, by simply admitting that it's been done before and going for the comedy inherent in such a done genre, disarms the critical senses, and allows the audience (well, me specifically) to buy into their reality and accept the movie for what it is, and the emotions of the characters as real.
So my new list of the top two inspirational movies includes: "Role Models" and "Hamlet 2"
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Shame on That '70's Show
Grwoing up in the 1970's, I learned to appreciate hat everyone should do what they feel they should do. It was the "free to Be You and Me" decade, where if a boy wants a doll, a girl wants to play baseball, and a man feels like crying, there's nothing wrong with that.
Tonight I stumbled upon an episode of "That '70's Show" in which one character was outed as a roller disco freak nicknamed "Rainbow." His dad was the conservative Korean War veteran who was constantly ashamed of his son for his unmanly behaviors, so it was expected that he wouldn't like it. But when his friends found out, they also were embarrassed, and held an "intervention" (to use an anachronistic term).
They brought the boy's dad to the roller disco rink, where they caught him in the act of dancing and having a ball in his shiny red shorts. His father told him a story about a boy from his youth who had wanted to be a ballet dancer, and years later was with the NYC Ballet. When he returned to the old neighborhood a bunch of the fellows "beat the crap out of him." After that, the roller disco boy dropped his skates and elbow pads in the trash and said "outside I m nobody, but there I was a star!"
Shame on "That '70's Show." this boy is constantly kidded for being a Star Wars fan, being particularly unathletic, and a million other things. True, the tall beautiful redhead is his girlfriend, but in the world of the show, nobody truly appreciates his passions. Once he strapped on this skates, he was confident, smooth, sure of himself, and having a ball. He found meaning and joy in his life. To take that from him was just wrong, and totally against what the 1970's were about!
Tonight I stumbled upon an episode of "That '70's Show" in which one character was outed as a roller disco freak nicknamed "Rainbow." His dad was the conservative Korean War veteran who was constantly ashamed of his son for his unmanly behaviors, so it was expected that he wouldn't like it. But when his friends found out, they also were embarrassed, and held an "intervention" (to use an anachronistic term).
They brought the boy's dad to the roller disco rink, where they caught him in the act of dancing and having a ball in his shiny red shorts. His father told him a story about a boy from his youth who had wanted to be a ballet dancer, and years later was with the NYC Ballet. When he returned to the old neighborhood a bunch of the fellows "beat the crap out of him." After that, the roller disco boy dropped his skates and elbow pads in the trash and said "outside I m nobody, but there I was a star!"
Shame on "That '70's Show." this boy is constantly kidded for being a Star Wars fan, being particularly unathletic, and a million other things. True, the tall beautiful redhead is his girlfriend, but in the world of the show, nobody truly appreciates his passions. Once he strapped on this skates, he was confident, smooth, sure of himself, and having a ball. He found meaning and joy in his life. To take that from him was just wrong, and totally against what the 1970's were about!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
I have seen 65 out of 235 films
I found this note from a fellow Grinnell College allumnus. Looking through this list, I am reminded of the movies I have not seen, and why I have not seen them, as well as the movies I have seen, and the circumstances at which I saw them. Some of them I saw on video or TV at Grinnell College. Makes me thing of polling my fellow allumni to ask what movies they saw while they were in college and whether they had any effect on them.
According to this, I definitely have more of "a life" than I did in high school and the first few years after my first attempt at college. Then I was going to movies or watching them on TV with alarming regularity. Of course as a fan of sci-fi, fantasy, war, western, historical, and "psychotronic" films, many of the movies I had seen would not have been on an equivalent list from back then.
I also noticed a few re-made titles. I am certain the makers of the list meant the Will Smith - Martin Lawrence "Bad Boys," and not the Sean Penn vehicle from the early '80's. The "Dawn of the Dead" that I saw was the original. They list "Hulk," but not "The Incredible Hulk." Ion that las one, I figured for the purposes of this game one was as good as the other.
SUPPOSEDLY if you've seen over 85 of these films, you have no life. Mark the ones you've seen. There are 239 films on this list. Copy this list, go to your own facebook account, paste this as a note. Then, put x's next to the films you've seen, add them up, change the header adding your number, and click post at the bottom. Have fun.
(x) Rocky Horror Picture Show
(x) Grease
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest
(x) Boondock Saints
(x) Fight Club
() Starsky and Hutch
() The Neverending Story
(x) Blazing Saddles
(x) Airplane!
Total: 8
(x) The Princess Bride
() Anchorman
() Napoleon Dynamite
(x) Labyrinth
() Saw
() Saw II
() White Noise
() White Oleander
() Anger Management
() 50 First Dates
() The Princess Diaries
()The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Total so far: 9
() Scream
() Scream 2
() Scream 3
() Scary Movie
() Scary Movie 2
() Scary Movie 3
() Scary Movie 4
(x) American Pie
() American Pie 2
() American Wedding
() American Pie Band Camp
Total so far: 10
(x) Harry Potter 1
(x) Harry Potter 2
(x) Harry Potter 3
(x) Harry Potter 4
() Resident Evil 1
() Resident Evil 2
() The Wedding Singer
() Little Black Book
() The Village
() Lilo & Stitch
Total so far: 14
(x) Finding Nemo
(x) Finding Neverland
() Signs
() The Grinch
() Texas Chainsaw Massacre
() Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
() White Chicks
() Butterfly Effect
() 13 Going on 30
(x) I, Robot
() Robots
Total so far: 17
() Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
() Universal Soldier
() Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
() Along Came Polly
(x) Deep Impact
(x) KingPin
() Never Been Kissed
() Meet The Parents
() Meet the Fockers
() Eight Crazy Nights
() Joe Dirt
(x) KING KONG
Total so far: 19
() A Cinderella Story
() The Terminal
() The Lizzie McGuire Movie
() Passport to Paris
() Dumb & Dumber
() Dumber & Dumberer
() Final Destination
() Final Destination 2
() Final Destination 3
() Halloween
() The Ring
() The Ring 2
() Surviving X-MAS
() Flubber
Total so far: 19
() Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
() Practical Magic
() Chicago
() Ghost Ship
() From Hell
(x) Hellboy
() Secret Window
() I Am Sam
() The Whole Nine Yards
() The Whole Ten Yards
Total so far: 20
() The Day After Tomorrow
() Child's Play
() Seed of Chucky
() Bride of Chucky
() Ten Things I Hate About You
() Just Married
() Gothika
() Nightmare on Elm Street
() Sixteen Candles
() Remember the Titans
() Coach Carter
() The Grudge
() The Grudge 2
() The Mask
() Son Of The Mask
Total so far: 20
() Bad Boys
() Bad Boys 2
() Joy Ride
() Lucky Number Slevin
() Ocean's Eleven
() Ocean's Twelve
() Bourne Identity
() Bourne Supremecy
() Lone Star
() Bedazzled
(x) Predator I
(x) Predator II
() The Fog
() Ice Age
() Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
() Curious George
Total so far: 22
(x) Independence Day
() Cujo
() A Bronx Tale
() Darkness Falls
(x) Christine
(x) ET
() Children of the Corn
() My Boss's Daughter
() Maid in Manhattan
(x) War of the Worlds
() Rush Hour
() Rush Hour 2
Total so far: 25
() Best Bet
() How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
() She's All That
() Calendar Girls
() Sideways
(x) Mars Attacks
() Event Horizon
() Ever After
(x) Wizard of Oz
(x) Forrest Gump
(x) Big Trouble in Little China
(x) The Terminator
(x) The Terminator 2
(x) The Terminator 3
Total so far: 32
(x) X-Men
(x) X-2
(x) X-3
(x) Spider-Man
(x) Spider-Man 2
() Sky High
() Jeepers Creepers
() Jeepers Creepers 2
() Catch Me If You Can
() The Little Mermaid
(x) Freaky Friday
(x) Reign of Fire
() The Skulls
() Cruel Intentions
() Cruel Intentions 2
() The Hot Chick
(x) Shrek
() Shrek 2
Total so far: 35
() Swimfan
(x) Miracle on 34th street
() Old School
() The Notebook
() K-Pax
() Krippendorf's Tribe
() A Walk to Remember
() Ice Castles
() Boogeyman
() The 40-year-old Virgin
Total so far: 36
(x) Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring
(x) Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
(x) Lord of the Rings Return Of the King
(x) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
(x) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
(x) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Total so far: 42
() Baseketball
() Hostel
(x) Waiting for Guffman
() House of 1000 Corpses
() Devils Rejects
() Elf
(x) Highlander
() Mothman Prophecies
() American History X
() Three
Total so Far: 44
() The Jackel
() Kung Fu Hustle
() Shaolin Soccer
(x) Night Watch
() Monsters Inc.
() Titanic
(x) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
(x) Shaun Of the Dead
() Willard
Total so far: 47
() High Tension
() Club Dread
(x) Hulk
(x) Dawn Of the Dead
(x) Hook
(x) Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
() 28 days later
() Orgazmo
() Phantasm
(x) Waterworld
Total so far: 52
(x) Kill Bill vol 1
(x) Kill Bill vol 2
() Mortal Kombat
() Wolf Creek
(x) Kingdom of Heaven
() The Hills Have Eyes
() I Spit on Your Grave aka the Day of the Woman
() The Last House on the Left
() Re-Animator
(x) Army of Darkness
Total so far: 55
(x) Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
(x) Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
(x) Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
(x) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
(x) Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
(x) Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
() Ewoks Caravan Of Courage
(x) Ewoks The Battle For Endor
Total so far: 62
(x) The Matrix
() The Matrix Reloaded
(x) The Matrix Revolutions
() Animatrix
() Evil Dead
() Evil Dead 2
() Team America: World Police
() Red Dragon
(x) Silence of the Lambs
() Hannibal
Total so far: 65
Now add them up and...
Put "I've seen x out of 239 films" in the subject line and repost it.
According to this, I definitely have more of "a life" than I did in high school and the first few years after my first attempt at college. Then I was going to movies or watching them on TV with alarming regularity. Of course as a fan of sci-fi, fantasy, war, western, historical, and "psychotronic" films, many of the movies I had seen would not have been on an equivalent list from back then.
I also noticed a few re-made titles. I am certain the makers of the list meant the Will Smith - Martin Lawrence "Bad Boys," and not the Sean Penn vehicle from the early '80's. The "Dawn of the Dead" that I saw was the original. They list "Hulk," but not "The Incredible Hulk." Ion that las one, I figured for the purposes of this game one was as good as the other.
SUPPOSEDLY if you've seen over 85 of these films, you have no life. Mark the ones you've seen. There are 239 films on this list. Copy this list, go to your own facebook account, paste this as a note. Then, put x's next to the films you've seen, add them up, change the header adding your number, and click post at the bottom. Have fun.
(x) Rocky Horror Picture Show
(x) Grease
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest
(x) Boondock Saints
(x) Fight Club
() Starsky and Hutch
() The Neverending Story
(x) Blazing Saddles
(x) Airplane!
Total: 8
(x) The Princess Bride
() Anchorman
() Napoleon Dynamite
(x) Labyrinth
() Saw
() Saw II
() White Noise
() White Oleander
() Anger Management
() 50 First Dates
() The Princess Diaries
()The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Total so far: 9
() Scream
() Scream 2
() Scream 3
() Scary Movie
() Scary Movie 2
() Scary Movie 3
() Scary Movie 4
(x) American Pie
() American Pie 2
() American Wedding
() American Pie Band Camp
Total so far: 10
(x) Harry Potter 1
(x) Harry Potter 2
(x) Harry Potter 3
(x) Harry Potter 4
() Resident Evil 1
() Resident Evil 2
() The Wedding Singer
() Little Black Book
() The Village
() Lilo & Stitch
Total so far: 14
(x) Finding Nemo
(x) Finding Neverland
() Signs
() The Grinch
() Texas Chainsaw Massacre
() Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
() White Chicks
() Butterfly Effect
() 13 Going on 30
(x) I, Robot
() Robots
Total so far: 17
() Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
() Universal Soldier
() Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
() Along Came Polly
(x) Deep Impact
(x) KingPin
() Never Been Kissed
() Meet The Parents
() Meet the Fockers
() Eight Crazy Nights
() Joe Dirt
(x) KING KONG
Total so far: 19
() A Cinderella Story
() The Terminal
() The Lizzie McGuire Movie
() Passport to Paris
() Dumb & Dumber
() Dumber & Dumberer
() Final Destination
() Final Destination 2
() Final Destination 3
() Halloween
() The Ring
() The Ring 2
() Surviving X-MAS
() Flubber
Total so far: 19
() Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
() Practical Magic
() Chicago
() Ghost Ship
() From Hell
(x) Hellboy
() Secret Window
() I Am Sam
() The Whole Nine Yards
() The Whole Ten Yards
Total so far: 20
() The Day After Tomorrow
() Child's Play
() Seed of Chucky
() Bride of Chucky
() Ten Things I Hate About You
() Just Married
() Gothika
() Nightmare on Elm Street
() Sixteen Candles
() Remember the Titans
() Coach Carter
() The Grudge
() The Grudge 2
() The Mask
() Son Of The Mask
Total so far: 20
() Bad Boys
() Bad Boys 2
() Joy Ride
() Lucky Number Slevin
() Ocean's Eleven
() Ocean's Twelve
() Bourne Identity
() Bourne Supremecy
() Lone Star
() Bedazzled
(x) Predator I
(x) Predator II
() The Fog
() Ice Age
() Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
() Curious George
Total so far: 22
(x) Independence Day
() Cujo
() A Bronx Tale
() Darkness Falls
(x) Christine
(x) ET
() Children of the Corn
() My Boss's Daughter
() Maid in Manhattan
(x) War of the Worlds
() Rush Hour
() Rush Hour 2
Total so far: 25
() Best Bet
() How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
() She's All That
() Calendar Girls
() Sideways
(x) Mars Attacks
() Event Horizon
() Ever After
(x) Wizard of Oz
(x) Forrest Gump
(x) Big Trouble in Little China
(x) The Terminator
(x) The Terminator 2
(x) The Terminator 3
Total so far: 32
(x) X-Men
(x) X-2
(x) X-3
(x) Spider-Man
(x) Spider-Man 2
() Sky High
() Jeepers Creepers
() Jeepers Creepers 2
() Catch Me If You Can
() The Little Mermaid
(x) Freaky Friday
(x) Reign of Fire
() The Skulls
() Cruel Intentions
() Cruel Intentions 2
() The Hot Chick
(x) Shrek
() Shrek 2
Total so far: 35
() Swimfan
(x) Miracle on 34th street
() Old School
() The Notebook
() K-Pax
() Krippendorf's Tribe
() A Walk to Remember
() Ice Castles
() Boogeyman
() The 40-year-old Virgin
Total so far: 36
(x) Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring
(x) Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
(x) Lord of the Rings Return Of the King
(x) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
(x) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
(x) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Total so far: 42
() Baseketball
() Hostel
(x) Waiting for Guffman
() House of 1000 Corpses
() Devils Rejects
() Elf
(x) Highlander
() Mothman Prophecies
() American History X
() Three
Total so Far: 44
() The Jackel
() Kung Fu Hustle
() Shaolin Soccer
(x) Night Watch
() Monsters Inc.
() Titanic
(x) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
(x) Shaun Of the Dead
() Willard
Total so far: 47
() High Tension
() Club Dread
(x) Hulk
(x) Dawn Of the Dead
(x) Hook
(x) Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
() 28 days later
() Orgazmo
() Phantasm
(x) Waterworld
Total so far: 52
(x) Kill Bill vol 1
(x) Kill Bill vol 2
() Mortal Kombat
() Wolf Creek
(x) Kingdom of Heaven
() The Hills Have Eyes
() I Spit on Your Grave aka the Day of the Woman
() The Last House on the Left
() Re-Animator
(x) Army of Darkness
Total so far: 55
(x) Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
(x) Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
(x) Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
(x) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
(x) Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
(x) Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
() Ewoks Caravan Of Courage
(x) Ewoks The Battle For Endor
Total so far: 62
(x) The Matrix
() The Matrix Reloaded
(x) The Matrix Revolutions
() Animatrix
() Evil Dead
() Evil Dead 2
() Team America: World Police
() Red Dragon
(x) Silence of the Lambs
() Hannibal
Total so far: 65
Now add them up and...
Put "I've seen x out of 239 films" in the subject line and repost it.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Is Everyone Gay?
I just channel-surfed into Channel 13's late-night indie film. In an early scene a woman making a toast at a wedding says that she wants to make love to the bride.
Well, this movie had no swords, soldiers, or spaceships, so I surfed away and landed on "Family Guy." It was an episode about gay marriage.
Is everyone gay?
Wait, I just surfed back to the movie on channel 13. She was not talking about the bride, she was talking about the groom and his two best friends.
Wow, did I read that wrong. Maybe it's just because it seemed so much like a sign pof the times that I assumed it was the other thing.
Well, I guess I can't rant on how I hope that everyone gets over this whole gay marriage thing. Legalize it and move on.
Well, this movie had no swords, soldiers, or spaceships, so I surfed away and landed on "Family Guy." It was an episode about gay marriage.
Is everyone gay?
Wait, I just surfed back to the movie on channel 13. She was not talking about the bride, she was talking about the groom and his two best friends.
Wow, did I read that wrong. Maybe it's just because it seemed so much like a sign pof the times that I assumed it was the other thing.
Well, I guess I can't rant on how I hope that everyone gets over this whole gay marriage thing. Legalize it and move on.
Monday, December 22, 2008
John McCain, Forgotten Man...
One of several random thoughts about the media in 2008.
NBS is currently having its Today Show year-end wrap up. They just named the Five Most Intriguing People of 200. They are 5 – Miley Cyrus, 4 – Tina Fey, 3 – Michael Phelps, 2 – Sarah Palin, 1 – Barack Obama.
After the rundown the hosts, Al Roker, Ann Curry, Meredith Vierra, and Matt Lauer, mentioned a few other names that were worthy of mention, including the Jonas Brothers, Beyonce, and Joe the Plummer. However, somehow there was not a mention of John McCain.
Elsewhere in the program Hillary Clinton had gotten some screen time, and the election itself was covered, but poor McCain, somehow, was the forgotten man this year. Older than all the other candidates (some might joke “combined”), not terribly charismatic, disabled, saddled with being of the party of one of the most embarrassing presidents in American history, and being unpopular among its hardcore base that had carried it to victory for the past three decades, the poor guy can't catch a break
NBS is currently having its Today Show year-end wrap up. They just named the Five Most Intriguing People of 200. They are 5 – Miley Cyrus, 4 – Tina Fey, 3 – Michael Phelps, 2 – Sarah Palin, 1 – Barack Obama.
After the rundown the hosts, Al Roker, Ann Curry, Meredith Vierra, and Matt Lauer, mentioned a few other names that were worthy of mention, including the Jonas Brothers, Beyonce, and Joe the Plummer. However, somehow there was not a mention of John McCain.
Elsewhere in the program Hillary Clinton had gotten some screen time, and the election itself was covered, but poor McCain, somehow, was the forgotten man this year. Older than all the other candidates (some might joke “combined”), not terribly charismatic, disabled, saddled with being of the party of one of the most embarrassing presidents in American history, and being unpopular among its hardcore base that had carried it to victory for the past three decades, the poor guy can't catch a break
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Role Models, the Greatest Movie Ever!
I am very, very glad I saw this movie. I cried.
It tells the story of two men in differing stages of arrested development who find themselves in a court-ordered position to mentor two young boys. Through this process, all four people find what they did not even know they needed.
I identified with three of the four people. I identified with one boy because he is a LARPer. He finds in the world of Live Action Role Playing a world where he can immerse himself and live out fantasies that are not possible n the real world, be the best that he can be, and ultimately find the confidence to grow up.
I Identify with the bored yuppie. He is really a wanna-be yuppie, who in 10 years has not been able to get out of a job he despises. He sees through the fallacy of pitching energy drinks while preaching against drugs and wishes desperately that he could break out of his rut. The darkly ironic world around him has given him a cynicism that goes beyond world-=weariness to true nihilism.
I identify with the Man-Boy. He sees the irony too, but in a benign way, doesn't care. He recognizes that the stupid, demeaning, morally bankrupt job he has pays his rent and allows him to get laid without ever having to put on a suit, or even shave. With few responsibilities, he is free to under-achieve, so long as he has fun and no one tells him what to do. He doesn't care what anyone thinks of him, he his happy within himself and blissfully unaware of the effect he has on those around him.
In the course of the film, the bored yuppie sees that there is opportunity to find happiness, by creating one's own world, and sharing it with others. People are imaginative enough to create shared fantasies, establish parallel societies in which one can be something that the “average person” may not understand. Although in the world of this film it was a LARP, for some people it is their bowling league, their stamp collecting club, or even political activism.
The Man-Boy realizes that making a connection with somebody can be more rewarding that hedonistic pleasure. Feeling the beneficial change you can bring to a person makes you feel like a worthwhile person, and betraying a trust that person has given to you is the worst feeling in the world.
The LARPer learns that if you can take a chance with one thing, you can take a chance with anything, and even if in one thing you don't succeed, in something else you might. Most importantly, though, he he realizes his dream of becoming king of his LARP, if only briefly, and then realizes his greater dream of kissing a girl he likes.
This movie also taught me a few things about film making. One cannot underestimate the importance of setup and payoff. Everything in the movie built up to a big payoff at the climax, and between identifying with three of the four protagonists, following the story arc, and understanding the motivations of all the characters, and furthermore, understanding truly why bringing a pickup truck dressed up like a minotaur into a LARP while dressed like the members of Kiss is true wish-fulfillment for me, all the comedy, drama, and emotion that had built up in the film, and in my life, came pouring out of my tear ducts.
It tells the story of two men in differing stages of arrested development who find themselves in a court-ordered position to mentor two young boys. Through this process, all four people find what they did not even know they needed.
I identified with three of the four people. I identified with one boy because he is a LARPer. He finds in the world of Live Action Role Playing a world where he can immerse himself and live out fantasies that are not possible n the real world, be the best that he can be, and ultimately find the confidence to grow up.
I Identify with the bored yuppie. He is really a wanna-be yuppie, who in 10 years has not been able to get out of a job he despises. He sees through the fallacy of pitching energy drinks while preaching against drugs and wishes desperately that he could break out of his rut. The darkly ironic world around him has given him a cynicism that goes beyond world-=weariness to true nihilism.
I identify with the Man-Boy. He sees the irony too, but in a benign way, doesn't care. He recognizes that the stupid, demeaning, morally bankrupt job he has pays his rent and allows him to get laid without ever having to put on a suit, or even shave. With few responsibilities, he is free to under-achieve, so long as he has fun and no one tells him what to do. He doesn't care what anyone thinks of him, he his happy within himself and blissfully unaware of the effect he has on those around him.
In the course of the film, the bored yuppie sees that there is opportunity to find happiness, by creating one's own world, and sharing it with others. People are imaginative enough to create shared fantasies, establish parallel societies in which one can be something that the “average person” may not understand. Although in the world of this film it was a LARP, for some people it is their bowling league, their stamp collecting club, or even political activism.
The Man-Boy realizes that making a connection with somebody can be more rewarding that hedonistic pleasure. Feeling the beneficial change you can bring to a person makes you feel like a worthwhile person, and betraying a trust that person has given to you is the worst feeling in the world.
The LARPer learns that if you can take a chance with one thing, you can take a chance with anything, and even if in one thing you don't succeed, in something else you might. Most importantly, though, he he realizes his dream of becoming king of his LARP, if only briefly, and then realizes his greater dream of kissing a girl he likes.
This movie also taught me a few things about film making. One cannot underestimate the importance of setup and payoff. Everything in the movie built up to a big payoff at the climax, and between identifying with three of the four protagonists, following the story arc, and understanding the motivations of all the characters, and furthermore, understanding truly why bringing a pickup truck dressed up like a minotaur into a LARP while dressed like the members of Kiss is true wish-fulfillment for me, all the comedy, drama, and emotion that had built up in the film, and in my life, came pouring out of my tear ducts.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Terrence Howard Fired From Iron Man 2!
Terrence Howard is an Oscar-nominated actor. He gave a fine performance as Col. James Rhodes, Tony Stark's friend and miltiary liason to Stark Industries. He apparently will not be repeating the role http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/terrencehoward_blog.html http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/20/terrence-howard-doesnt-know-why-iron-man-dumped-him/
This is not the first time a character has been played by another actor in a subsequent film in the series. James Bond, Batman, Harvey Dent, Rachel Dawes, Lt. Saavik, Kitty Pryde, Dumbledor, have all fallen into this category.
But I wonder how I feel about this. first off, Col. Rhodes was a re-interpretation of a character from the comics. The original "Rhodey" was not an officer, and was a much more "ethnic character" than the movie version. Terrence Howard has made a career out of playing some of the most well-spoken, mainstream, polite, "white" black people in the movies, and this was no exception. He would do a damn fine job of it, making me believe every word he said, every scene he was in.
Don Cheadle certainly has darker skin color, and potential for more "ethnic character" and even comedy. But was this the right choice for the movie.
Every movie adaptation makes changes from the original story for various reasons, including updating the material to fit current events and society, as was the case here. Placing Tony Stark in Afghanistan rather than Vietnam effectively updated the story and gave it relevance. The character of Rhodes was upgraded to one of greater authority and achievement, whereas the original was practically a sidekick to Tony Stark/Iron Man. Can Cheadle bring the same sense of nobility and authority to the role, or will they rewrite the role to play to his comedic strength? And will audiences buy the change, or will it distract form the picture?
Whatever the answers, I am disappointed that an actor of Howard's character will not get to return, and become War Machine. And I was very curious as to how Lando Calrissian would have done as Two-Face.
This is not the first time a character has been played by another actor in a subsequent film in the series. James Bond, Batman, Harvey Dent, Rachel Dawes, Lt. Saavik, Kitty Pryde, Dumbledor, have all fallen into this category.
But I wonder how I feel about this. first off, Col. Rhodes was a re-interpretation of a character from the comics. The original "Rhodey" was not an officer, and was a much more "ethnic character" than the movie version. Terrence Howard has made a career out of playing some of the most well-spoken, mainstream, polite, "white" black people in the movies, and this was no exception. He would do a damn fine job of it, making me believe every word he said, every scene he was in.
Don Cheadle certainly has darker skin color, and potential for more "ethnic character" and even comedy. But was this the right choice for the movie.
Every movie adaptation makes changes from the original story for various reasons, including updating the material to fit current events and society, as was the case here. Placing Tony Stark in Afghanistan rather than Vietnam effectively updated the story and gave it relevance. The character of Rhodes was upgraded to one of greater authority and achievement, whereas the original was practically a sidekick to Tony Stark/Iron Man. Can Cheadle bring the same sense of nobility and authority to the role, or will they rewrite the role to play to his comedic strength? And will audiences buy the change, or will it distract form the picture?
Whatever the answers, I am disappointed that an actor of Howard's character will not get to return, and become War Machine. And I was very curious as to how Lando Calrissian would have done as Two-Face.
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