Jan 17, 2008

The Ultimate Girl Movie: A Review of Atonement

Disclaimer: I did not view this film to the end; I had to leave the theater to ice my knee. Furthermore, I watched it with my ex-girlfriend as sort of a last official date (we broke up the next day [fair warning, ladies!]). Therefore, my perception of the movie may be somewhat tainted. What the following review lacks in accuracy, I hope to make up for with entertainment.

I don't want to give away too much, but I will say this much: this film is absolutely full of sexual references and images, but without in the least bit being sexy. Indeed, it removes almost all hope of arousal by dropping the C-Bomb on numerous occasions (the C-Bomb is a word). And the flirting and foreplay is very difficult for a contemporary young man to appreciate, especially the epistolary flirtations. The closest thing we have, I suppose, is Facebook messaging, and even that is not good enough. In short, the romance of the film, from start to finish, does not resemble in any way the sort that the virile contributors to this blog know firsthand.

Another thing about the film, difficult to appreciate, is that the only sexual encounter between the two lovers for years is a period of intercourse lasting about 30 seconds and interrupted by a nosy child. They refer to it later as a momentous act. Perhaps in antiquity it could have such importance, but to a modern male viewer, it seems a flimsy basis for any continued love, more a reason to scorn the male protagonist of the film than sympathize with him.

Jan 15, 2008

Why can’t we kill the 80’s?

Hey Generation X… MOVE ON!
(and ok I know Speed-Racer's from the 60's... but the point is the same... read on)

I recently stumbled upon this website the other day, and I believe it was the last straw in convincing me that everyone over 25 is trying to culturally drag us back into the 80s, or at least any time period before 1990. This conspiracy goes much father than a simple t-shirt that says “Hey! I watched Thundercats, which means I want you to think that I don’t care what you think of me, so that must mean I’m cool.” No no no. Its much more sinister…

Allow me to explain how this works…
There’s general consent among everyone nowadays, that retro = cool. And granted, Top Gun is sweet, and the music is so gay its manly, and playing volleyball in aviators and daisy dukes with your guy friends while spurning the wearing of shirts is ok because its retro—but then again the definition of retro is that its cool because its old. Any shirtless tool playing volley ball and listening to “Playing With The Boys” who hasn’t seen Top Gun is instantly 40% more creepy and 70% more gay than those who’re doing it because it’s a funny reference. Same percentages apply for singing “You’ve lost that loving feeling” in a karaoke bar.

Nowadays we’ve got something worse going on: Retro Remakes that attempt to update old plots for the sake of garnering new audiences. Its like musicians covering the old classics…only the best way to describe this new phenomenon in films is, Recycling.

So if you think I’m making a big deal out of nothing, here’s a giant list for your reading enjoyment of recent and upcoming films and TV shows with original ideas over 20 years old:
Cartoons:
Transformers, TMNT, Speed Racer, Dragonball Z, Garfield, Alvin and the Chipmunks, GI Joe, Scooby Doo, Justice League (aka Super Friends)
TV Shows:
Knight Rider, American Gladiators, Bionic Woman, Starsky and Hutch, Star Trek, Miami Vice
Action/Horror:
When a Stranger Calls, The Wicker Man, Conan, Rambo, Rocky Balboa, Indiana Jones, Amytyville Horror, Halloween, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Hills Have Eyes, Planet of the Apes
Combinations:
Aliens Vs. Predator, Freddy Vs. Jason

I know proven ideas make money, which is why sequels always do better than the original, even when they’re terrible. But this is much more than that. Are Studios so over-run with 30 somethings trying to relive their Saturday morning cartoon memories that they’re willing to subject us to live action versions of ALL OF THEM? Can’t wait for Snorks, Heathcliff, Thundercats, Smurfs and Carebears. Does anyone realize this is going too far!? Does anyone except fanboys really think a Speed Racer, Dragonball Z, GI Joe or Justice League movie will actually be good?

Just kill me now if all my generation will be able to come up with is remakes of Pokemon and Power Rangers.

Jan 14, 2008

Top Ten Best Damn Man Movies of the Past 50 Years


The following flicks are not for the faint of heart. They cannot and will not ever be appreciated by the fairer sex (I am talking about women, idiots). They may show up on network television but half of the dialogue is dubbed over and half the footage sits on the cutting room floor thanks to the good ol’ folks at the FCC. And that’s why we like them.

They are the opposite of “Chick Flicks”. For our purposes, we will call them “Dick Flicks”; movies that put a smile on your face and hair on your…knuckles. I’m not just talking about action movies – anything remotely macho is fair game. While a high body count is not required, it is highly encouraged and gratuitous nudity is always a bonus.

Without further delay, let me give you a countdown of my top ten. I am not saying the list I write is gospel, albeit pretty damn close. You have the right, and are encouraged to refute, rearrange and supplement the list. The important thing is that we bask in the eternal glory that is PURE CINEMATIC TESTOSTERONE.

#10 Total Recall
Arnold at his finest with plenty of violence to go around and awesomely bad special effects. Long story short: Interplanetary conspiracy taking place on Mars. Arnold takes it upon himself to save a deformed mutant race from running out of Oxygen while uncovering his erased identity.

#9 Octopussy
Okay, really I could have mentioned any of the James Bond movies (except the ones with Timothy Dalton and most of the ones with Roger Moore) but with a title like this, do I really have to explain myself? 007 bags more tail than Ted Nugent.

#8 Reservoir Dogs
Tarantino gets close in a lot of movies but rarely goes all the way. Black suites and shades have never looked so cool. And we’re talking a lot of blood. The best part of this one is that despite the exhaustive use of the F-word, the dialogue is still clever.

#7 The Wild Bunch
Not a whole lot of people under the age of 30 appreciate this movie. It is one of the original dirty Westerns. Bullets fly and bodies fall. This ain’t no Lone Ranger. If you want a history lesson on what shaped the genre to this very day, rent this one.

#6 The Big Lebowski
Dude, if you haven’t seen this movie, stop reading this blog right now and go ask a troop of boy scouts to kick you in the nuts. Funny, quotable and cool. Jeff Bridges makes being middle-aged, overweight, single and broke seem like the pinnacle of existence. Macho bonus elements: drug usage and bowling.

#5 Full Metal Jacket
If you’re thinking about joining the army, I’d watch this one and think again. It’s a guy movie –yes- but this one makes us all feel like little girls. How’s this for a plot point?: Imagine being pinned down while a dozen of your bunk-mates beat your senseless with socks full of bar soap.

#4 The Terminator
I hate to risk being cliché, but it doesn’t get any manlier than man vs. robot from the future.

#3 Die Hard
Bruce, please keep pumping these out until the day you die! I mean, the death toll in this movie isn’t even all that high, but killing a Russian is worth like three normal deaths. Terrorism is brought to light in this one, in a sky-scraper no less. I am assuming all NYC cops are this tough. As an added bonus, we see Carl Winslow in a supporting role minus Steve Erkel.

#2 Dirty Harry
The hand-cannon alone in this one merits a nod in my top ten. On top of that, Clint…I’m sorry…Mr. Eastwood spits out one of the most widely recognized lines in movie history. Anybody want to guess what that line is. This flick was way more successful than it’s Spanish counterpart, Dirty Sanchez.

#1 Scarface
Say Hello to my lil’ friend! Idolized by rap stars and pro athletes everywhere, I give you the crème de la crème of guy movies. Al Pacino sits atop a mountain of Cocaine with a machine gun taller than himself. Not the best-shot motion picture of all time, this film makes up for it with ruthless organized crime that inspired Grand Theft Auto – the game where you can actually buy a hooker, do the hooker, kill the hooker and get your money back. I actually looked on some other lists of guy movies and this seems to be a popular pick for the top spot. That isn’t by chance.

And for the record, I don’t want to hear any crying about the fact that the Godfather movies didn’t make the cut.