[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CBkyMJjHgw&w=480&h=360]- Elijah Wood.
- Kid From Jurassic Park.
- A really smart dog.
- The ongoing theme of starting fresh.
- Adventure Movie for kids.
- Kind of scary at times.
- A rare movie that resonates with adults and children.
Oh…
- And a small role from Tom Hanks.
Who doesn’t love this movie?
If you’ve been living under a rock or aren’t a sports fan then you don’t know who Jeremy Lin is, and that’s okay. If you are a sports fan and you’re still confused as to who Lin is, then that’s not okay. I’m going to quickly fill in the blanks because this is currently 1 of 7.5 million posts that have been written about Lin in the last week –
Lin was sitting on the bench for the struggling Knicks, and less than a month ago he was demoted to the NBA developmental league. After he had a monster game in the D league he was pushed back up to the Knicks who were in desperate need of a point guard. As it was, Lin was the back up, back up, back up, back up in the point guard rotation for the Knicks. After a few injuries and other random set backs to those guys Lin was given his first shot to play 12 days ago… and he killed it.
After the game 12 days ago, he was entered into the starting rotation for the Knicks and they haven’t lost since, it’s been 6 games – tonight he goes for 7 in a row. Why is this significant? Where does someone begin? To start - The Knicks have been without their 2 best players while Lin was doing all of this, which turned the team on its head (more on that below) and he single handedly CPR’d the Knicks, breathing new life into them. Long story short… The Knicks are the best thing in sports (for now).
In no particular order - Thoughts, Questions, Observations, and Predictions for The Knicks:
- Mike D’Antoni has looked like a wreck with his Luigi moustache on the Knicks sideline. Since Lin has taken over he’s back to looking like himself during his Phoenix days. Lin has saved his job (for now). D’Antoni’s system works, with a point guard. It’s the anti Phil Jackson triangle of the NBA.
- Jeremy Lin has the best pun name ever: Linsane, Linsanity, Just Lin, Linning, Linderella, Lincredible, Played him like a vioLin…. You get the point.
- I love everything about the Lin story. He has pumped new life into what I consider a throw away season. I hate this shortened lock out season because it doesn’t seem that it totally counts. Looking back on the 2011-2012 NBA season there will be 2 asterisks. *Shortened lockout season and *Lin.
- If Lin started 2 weeks earlier he would be a starter in the NBA all-star game. With the departure of Yao Ming every vote from China has just gone to Lin. If Lin finishes this season and doesn’t suddenly disappear off the face of the planet I would bet 10:1 odds that he’s in next year’s all-star game as a top-3 vote getter.
- This has been said 100 times but its true - Tebow is to football as Lin is to basketball. People should take bets right now as to who will have a longer and more successful career… Then take bets on who is the better role model… I say Lin regarding career, Tebow regarding role model. At least Lin has a shot as president one day (Tebow was born in the Philippines).
- When has it ever happened in sports where 2 people have occupied so much attention then delivered to the hype - Lin with basketball and Tebow with football?
- Is Lin’s trademark going to be that band aide that’s half falling off his chin?
- Embracing reality and turning the Knicks on their head:
It’s not as thought the Knicks were irrelevant with talent. They have 2 big guys and 1 score machine named Carmelo Anthony and everyone is wondering how Melo is going to now fit with the Knicks. Until Lin, Melo has been the guy who takes all the last second shots and controls the ball, that isn’t the case anymore due to Lin’s antics.
If Melo somehow fucks up this chemistry when he comes back there is a real chance that the Knicks fans will boo him, which would not be good. I hope this works out for ball hog Melo, I really do. I hope he flourishes with Lin running the show and I hope Lin dishes out 15 assists per game. Only time will tell but if the Knicks keep winning before Melo comes back this could be a lose – lose and Melo may never hear the end of it.
- If Dan Brown replaced Robert Langdon with Jeremy Lin in his next book I wouldn’t mind.
- So we’re not talking about Lin’s 30 turnovers in 6 games because they have been winning, right?
- Is Baron Davis going to make a difference on the Knicks when he returns?
- We all know Lin went to Harvard, right? Where will Lin fall in the Ivy League players turned NBAers. Who else is there?
- I hope Lin is the real deal and I think he is. When I say real deal I mean a guy who can manage a game and be a viable option for a team. I’m not looking for Lin to keep pace with his incredible play; he has to come down to earth at some point, right?
- Lin has reminded me that a point guard is more important than I remember.
- 66 game season. Knicks are currently 14-15. 6-0 with Lin. 37 games to go. I predict the Knicks finish 24-13 making the Knicks over all record 38-28, and making Lin’s overall record 30-13 as a starter.
In this blah NBA season I couldn’t be happier that this is happening. There hasn’t been a time in the last 10-15 years that I’ve really liked the Knicks. I’ve liked them but I wasn’t blatantly rooting for them. I like Melo and am a huge Amare fan but this Lin phenomenon has me rooting for them night in and night out, and especially rooting for him. I think I may have finally forgot about Latrell “Bad as Hell” Sprewell and the NY Knicks era.
Team Lin.
Happy Valentines Day. I thought I'd break out the annual Walkstars song. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYbBlZiB5ic]
In honor of George Lucas bringing back the same product for the 20th time around but just making a few tweaks I think it’s only right we discuss the movies coming out this weekend. Truthfully I would talk movies anyway but this was a good segway, and before we jump into anything else we need to discuss The Phantom Menace, which is coming out 13 years later after it’s original release.
Lets take a few steps back here because something has happened to me, as I’ve grown older…
I once was an avid Star Wars defender. Truth is I saw Star Wars late in life (my teens) but once I got it, I was in. I went with my friend Jon to the midnight showing of Phantom Menace in Wisconsin and tried to find the good in it – even Jar Jar Binks. I saw Episode 2 and defended CGI Yoda and also the casting of Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker. I then went and waited in line for Episode 3 and found myself loving it the 3 times I saw it in the theater.
I was one of the guys, who overly defended Lucas for anything he was doing “wrong” like when he replaced the original Anakin in Jedi, added new scenes to the original trilogy, changed Jar Jar’s voice, and planned to re-release in 3-D (to name a few). I was on board with his excuse that what he was currently releasing was how he envisioned it all along but technology hadn’t caught up yet.
Then… Something hit me. I realized I’m under the force of Lucas and I’ve been defending things I don’t believe in. It makes no sense as to why I’d defend George Lucas. I like Star Wars for what it was and what it did. I came to terms with the fact that Lucas has been adding to something that shouldn’t change. One argument, which is totally valid, is that it’s his product and he can do what he wants. But the other argument is, which is totally valid, is that he’s fucking insecure with what he made so he keeps changing it, and can’t make anything new (and good).
Changing things to 3-D is one thing, but updating a classic is another. I’m not sure Lucas understands that people don’t want new added into the original Star Wars. It took me long enough to learn the name of the Mos Eisley Cantina on Tatooine, I don’t want to be hit with more fictitious names. If you really think about what he’s doing it’s pretty unbelievable… he’s blatantly altering it!
Worst part is… I’m going to see it again! I’m angry with myself and I’m angry I’m under the force of George Lucas and his Santa beard. I digress…
The Phantom Menace is back. It’s currently tracking to make 33 million this weekend. That’s pretty big. I wonder why Lucas didn’t start with the originals. Lucas said he’s releasing new 3-D Star Wars every 2 years. At the current rate we’re not going to get to Jedi until 2022. This just in George Lucas: in 2022 we’re going to have holograms and technology better than 3-D. But you already know that. What are you going to do to Star Wars!?
Other Movies:
I should note that this is Valentines Day weekend and the follow movies are the perfect consumer slate before the “Holiday.”
The Vow: Dear John meets The Notebook. Channing Tatum meets Rachel McAdams. What could go wrong? Nothing. Here are all possible scenarios of why you’d see this movie:
You’re a single female and you love Channing Tatum.
You’re in a relationship and you love Channing Tatum.
You’re in a relationship and you’re desperate to have sex with your girlfriend.
You’re in a relationship and the female runs the show.
You’re in high school.
You read the book.
That pretty much covers it, right?
Safe House: Denzel and Ryan Reynolds. It’s amazing how I currently feel about Denzel, he’s still the man but isn’t the draw he once was. It seems like his sweet spot is to play the Training Day/Man On Fire Guy. It’s the “Don’t fuck with me” Denzel. All in all, this movie is intriguing and in a sense is the anti-Vow. Is it the anti-Vow? I feel like this movie is perfect because women love Denzel and Ryan Reynolds.
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island: I love The Rock. I really do. I wish this foray in kids movies worked out for him but they just haven’t hit. This is the film you take your kids too when you can’t take them to The Vow or Safe House and Phantom Menace is sold out.
Movies that aren’t geared toward Valentines Day and people won’t see… but maybe should:
Rampart: Don’t know much about this movie but I hear it’s a thriller and Woody Harrelson is great in it. I’ll probably see this at some point… maybe even in the theater.
In Darkness: Another movie I don’t know much about, but it sounds somewhat interesting… maybe a bit slow. The Plot: IN DARKNESS tells the true story of Leopold Soha who risks his own life to save a dozen people from certain death. Initially only interested in his own good, the thief and burglar hides Jewish refugees for 14 months in the sewers of the Nazi-occupied town of Lvov (former Poland).
The reviews aren’t too bad and I heard the director, Agniezka Holland, is very good.
I want to give a quick “not yet a movie but almost there” shout out to two trailers that were released this week:
And
If you haven’t checked them out I suggest you do. They’re both reboots in their own right but they both look great.
Whatever you see this weekend (if anything) just know that I may be struggling through Phantom Menace at one point or another. Fucking, George Lucas.
It’s official. A couple days after the most watched Super Bowl / TV program of all time the NFL season has concluded. Truthfully, my season took a major hit somewhere around 5pm PST on January 15th 2012. It was then that I watched super Eli torch the Packers the same way he did a few years ago, and I was once again reminded that it’s foolish to be so invested into something you have no control over. Am I masking my pain right now – Yes, probably.
Us Green Bay Packers fans were spoiled last year and by the out-of-nowhere Packers. We were spoiled with Aaron Rodgers nailing the Favre memory coffin and we were spoiled with a near perfect season…. Damn you for being so good then so bad! Who cares, it’s over time to move on and think of the 2012-2013, but truthfully part of me doesn’t want to think about it, I need a break. I can’t take losing any more bets and thinking about what could be… I’m taking a NFL sabbatical.
Before I stop talking about the NFL and put my efforts into more important things like movies, writing, reality TV, the Internet, and contemplating watching Justin Bieber’s movie on Netflix. I would like to give my advice on the most coveted position in the NFL: The Quarterback.
If you haven’t figured it out by now, where your QB goes, the team will follow. The new NFL coddling rules for a QB has made the position more important than ever. Having said that and moving forward I give you the:
Random Thoughts and Advice for the 2012-2013 starting QB’s of the NFL.
Arizona Cardinals - Kevin Kolb: Dude, I hope you stay away from the injuries and moving forward you need to stop thinking about all the hype you had going into the Cardinals season. Smile in your picture next year, you look miserable.
Atlanta Falcons - Matt Ryan: Change your name to Jack and channel your inner Tom Clancy.
Baltimore Ravens – Joe Flacco: I’ve always though Flacco could be named Flacman and have a legit chance of being a superhero somewhere. Just stay away from Ray Lewis.
Buffalo Bills – Ryan Fitzpatrick: We get it. You went to Harvard and have a massive beard, but the mystique has worn off. Shave that beard already.
Carolina Panther – Cam Newton: Probably one of the best rookies I didn’t watch. Newton is going to be a monster if he can stay healthy and everyone knows it.
Chicago Bears – Jay Cutler: Cutler watch out for Josh McNown… Yeah I’m just kidding. Cutler should start a new reality show with Kristen Cavalari and follow in the footsteps of Khloe and Lamar. HBO presents: (Insert anything here regarding Hard Knocks and Jay Cutler reality)
Cincinnati Bengals – Andy Dalton: Andy Dalton either sounds like a serial killer or everyone’s best friend… which is the trait of a serial killer!
Cleveland Browns – Colt McCoy: In the history of life has there ever been a more Texan name than Colt McCoy? Wait… he was born in New Mexico? But he went to Texas for college? Did he change his name midway through life just to fit in? Mind. Can’t. Compute. It was just meant to be. Last thing I remember is McCoy behind leveled in a game and playing through a concussion. Stay healthy.
Dallas Cowboys – Tony Romo: I love Tony Romo for a few reasons: 1) He’s from Wisconsin. 2) He still sports starter gear like it’s 1995. 3) He kind of reminds me of Favre. Moving forward Romo needs to find any possible wide receiver that’s out there… Even T.O!
Denver Broncos – Tim Tebow: Will Tebow even be the starter next season? If so, for how long? I love this guy; he made the NFL amazing this year. My advice for Tebow is to ultimately ask himself for advice because he seems to have it all figured out.
Detroit Lions – Matt Stafford: The Staff-infection. Congrats on staying healthy this year, I hope (and dare you) to do it again.
Green Bay Packers – Aaron Rodgers: Bring back the Title Belt victory “dance”! You had the best consistent celebration going until Timothy Tebow started Tebowing… Embrace your celebration! Don’t hide behind the discount double check commercials.
Houston Texans – Matt Schaub errr Matt Lienart errr T.J. Yates: Um seriously who is the starting QB? Can’t Arian Foster just play this position and get it over with?
Indianapolis Colts – Peyton Manning: Not sure what’s going to happen here. Is it going to be Andrew Luck? Peyton, my advice to you is go ask Eli what to do, he seems to know it all. But seriously, I think Peyton should join the Jets and allow the Mannings to own NY.
Jacksonville Jaguars – Blaine Gabbert: I love Gabbert basically because of his last name. I’ve seen Gabbert playing for a total of 3 minutes this year… and that’s via ESPN highlights.
Miami Dolphins – Chad Henne: Hmmm, don’t know much about Henne, just make room for Matt Flynn.
Minnesota Vikings – Christian Ponder: Remember Donovan McNabb? Remember Brett Favre before McNabb!? Ponder has never looked better.
New England Patriots – Tom Brady: Is Tom Brady going to go down in history as the guy who has a “but he…” on his resume? IE: Tom Brady was maybe the greatest quarterback ever but he always lost to Eli. Or, Tom Brady lost to Eli but he is married to Giselle so whatever.
New Orleans Saints – Drew Brees: Why do I feel like Brees plays for nothing? It seems like he should have come away with so much more this past season.
New York Giants – Eli Manning: In Eli I trust. He’s got a monster head - seriously he still looks like a little kid in that oversized helmet and if he’s anywhere close to the playoffs next year…. Watch out.
New York Jets – Mark Sanchez: I get the feeling that Sanchez is living the life right now but it’s starting to catch up to him. If he doesn’t perform next year I think he’s done. Advice to him: Don’t lose in NY.
Oakland Raiders – Carson Palmer: What are they going to do with the quarterback fiasco in Oakland, and how poorly did this past season play out for The Raiders? Palmer needs to get off the surfboard and start playing; I think next season is his last shot (kind of like Sanchez)
Philadelphia Eagles – Mike Vick: I get the feeling Vick is going to be amazing next year (don’t say a dog joke, don’t say a dog joke) if I were him I would lobby for a wide receiver. Vick is good but he needs someone who’s his prime target.
Pittsburgh Steelers – Ben Roethlisberger: Did Ben really think he was going to beat Tebow in the playoffs? Fortunately Tebow just wiped Ben’s sins away, meaning next year it looks like the Steelers will be back in the Super Bowl with Mike “don’t blink” Tomlin.
San Diego Chargers – Phillip Rivers: Rivers reminds me of a crazy Chucky doll for some reason. This guy needs to just keep yelling at people and I think he’ll be fine.
San Francisco 49ers – Alex Smith: Was this past season a fluke? Will Harbaugh consider taking over for Smith as the QB? I don’t watch many 49ers games but you know what this guy needs to do – run more, he’s deceitfully fast.
Seattle Seahawks – Tavaris Jackson: It took me a minute to remember that Hasselbeck isn’t their QB anymore. Jackson just needs to keep playing into the Pete Carrol’s system and he’ll be fine. I actually find this guy to be underrated.
St. Louis Rams – Sam Bradford: Advice to you… hand the ball off as many times as possible.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Josh Freeman: Full discretion – I know nothing about the Bucs.
Tennessee Titans - Matt Hasselbeck: Matt, you have a few years left… I still love you because you were an amazing back up on the Packers, and I’ll never forget your coin flip fuck up in the playoffs. Advice moving forward: Get out of Tennessee.
Washington Redskins – Rex Grossman: Why do I feel like this is one of the most dysfunctional teams in the NFL? Grossman needs to hand it off.
Words of wisdom from someone who is so irrelevant to a NFL player that it’s not even worth thinking about how far I’d fall on the totem pole. It’s my final assessment and my best chance to close the door on this NFL season only to wait for a key to arrive for next season. I’m genuinely happy for the Giants… it was a great season. Must. Focus. Elsewhere.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-a_I6qn8JU&list=UUNEY7K0tt-ABkA6nUX8dJeg&index=1&feature=plcp]
David is a guy I've talked to many times. He's interesting... He's the second story. To see more of the series click this LINK
Quick little fact – I really liked The Voice I’m not totally sure why because I actually think it’s cheesy at times. It’s basically the positive version of any other musical competition show. When I heard the new season was starting after the super bowl I had to remind myself that I liked the show, but somewhere through the X-Factor, American Idol, and commercials for Smash I forgot about The Voice. Today I was driving and saw the billboard and my initial reaction: What the hell? I think it’s time to break down the new poster for The Voice –
Lets just start with the obvious: What’s up with Christina Aguilera’s arm? 1st - it’s coming out of her back. 2nd – That’s a man hand. 3rd – THAT’S A MAN HAND. 4th – I can still see the poor photo shopping around her massive fingers. 5th – Why is her ring so awkward on her finger? 6th – Is that different nail polish coloring on her thumb than her other fingers? Yes.
The Guys: Where are you staring and pointing Adam Levine? Same question for you, Blake Shelton? And Cee-Lo Green, what are you reaching for with just one hand like that?
Cee-Lo: Why are you always wearing sun glasses?
The Peace Sign: Okay, it’s sort of clever… right? We get the peace sign is also a V, but do you really think it’s going to catch on? This isn’t The Hunger Games and you aren’t Katniss Everdeen showing solidarity to The Twelfth District.
The Background: Not a fan, what’s the deal?
Back to Cee-Lo: What are you wearing? Is that one step away from a Dashiki? I kind of think it is
Back to Levine: Seriously, that point and look are not even going the same direction.
When is Brittney Spears going to host a reality show (trying to forget that show she did with K-Fed).
The Voice!
I regularly find myself thinking about what I consider quite possibly the greatest movie of all time. When I catch myself thinking about it I wonder if anyone wants to talk about it, probably not, because it’s only my favorite movie. My friends have gotten tired of hearing about and quite honestly; I’m made fun of more than I’m related too. I’m no fool and know that this isn’t the Godfather, and I know that this movie isn’t even in the top 100,000 movies of all time.
Over time when I’ve told people what my favorite movie is I have to preface it with why I love it, it’s not exactly like saying Pulp Fiction and you don’t have to question it. Today I was reminded of this movie and thought I’d take a minute flushing out what many consider the greatest commercial of all time, and what I consider my favorite movie of all time:
The Wizard.
No, I’m not talking about The Wiz with Michael Jackson. I’m talking about the cross-country adventure starring Fred Savage, Luke Edwards, Beau Bridges, Christian Slater, and Jenny Lewis (aka the singer in Rilo Kelly). The film was directed by Todd Holland who later went on and hit his stride in the TV world by co executive producing Malcolm in the Middle, and has directed many other things.
Where to start… Ah yes, the basic premise: Fred Savage finds out his ex step mother is going to put his half brother Jimmy (Edwards) in a home because he’s a quiet guy who keeps to himself and seemingly has some kind of mental issues. As it stands now, Savage is living with his dad (Bridges of course was previously married to Savages ex step mom) and his brother (Slater).
Savage isn’t having any of this, he grew close to Jimmy while they were all growing up together, upon learning the news and in a fit of rage he locks himself in his bedroom and proceeds to throw darts at his map of the USA. First nailing a few less than desirable locations, but ultimately landing on CALIFORNIA. Enter: The plan unfolding behind his Fred Savage expressions. He proceeds to take 72 dollars, his skateboard, and his 1980’s backpack. Grabs his partially despondent half brother and said “We’re going to California” to which Jimmy replies with a phrase that may go down in motion picture history as the most underrated 1 word delivery ever: “California.”
And they’re off. It’s an adventure, 2 kids heading from Utah trying to make it to San Francisco because Savage has questionable aim with his darts. En route they pull off at a bus station and everything changes. Savage sticks Jimmy on Double Dragon to occupy the time and Jimmy (somehow) ends up racking 50,000 points in about 4 minutes of playtime. What the Fuck! Why what the fuck!? Well…. That’s a lot. At the same stop Savage meets a girl – Haley (Lewis), she convinces them they should hustle people en route to California, but ultimately they should go to the video game Championships of the world, which happens to be located at Universal City in California. Otherwise known as: Video Armageddon.
Wait… wasn’t this supposed to be just a premise? Premises are usually something like 1 or 2 lines that says: A boy and his kid brother take an adventure cross country to play in the video game championships of the world. But movies are so much more than a 1 line premise, well they are and they aren’t, but this one is.
En route to California they proceed to experience a man chasing them, an antagonist named Lucas Barton, Reno, Truck Drivers, The Power Glove, video games, and then more video games. Finally and ultimately culminating in a video game showdown between the kid brother and Lucas Barton, as they face off in the, up until now never revealed: SUPER MARIO BROTHER PART 3!
If you have any remembrance of this moment of time and seeing this movie then something you may have retained that this was basically a 1 hour and 40 minute commercial for Nintendo. When you’re a kid you don’t think about what movies mean, but rather you’re brainwashed by that exact subliminal meaning. I can sit here and say that in 1989 all I cared about was the adventure and how much fun they’re having… I was a kid, I enjoyed every second of it, and that’s why this movie my greatest movie of all time - It’s because of what happened to me after I saw the movie.
Sure, I went home and started to plant hints of wanting Mario 3 when it comes out, so that aspect of the brainwashing worked. But something bigger happened, and it was at that moment that I knew I wanted to move to California. I wanted to take a cross-country adventure to Universal Studios and make movies in any way shape or form. I was all in for movies. Somehow The Wizard managed to snap some internal thing inside of me that said “Your road will take you to California.”
Many years later it did. I booked it out of Wisconsin and headed to California sans a skateboard and kid brother – arguably all because of THE WIZARD. Sure, there are about 100 other things that I imagined differently at this point, but who cares – I’m here.
I should probably quit with the sentimental Wizard look back because I’m about to shed a tear and I’m contemplating a road trip elsewhere. I think the only other thing fitting is to jump into a list. I give you:
More Reasons As To Why The Wizard Is Quite Possibly The Greatest Movie Of All Time:
I mentioned Fred Savage was in this, right? How underrated is this guy? He didn’t pull the typical child actor shit and go druggy on us (maybe he did actually) he managed to keep his nose clean and go on to do great parts in Austin Powers and is currently directing and creating TV shows.
The. Power. Glove. How ahead of the game was the Power Glove? This movie made this glove look so cool that it’s actually difficult to explain. If you don’t know what the power glove is just take a look at the clip at the bottom of the post. It pretty much sums up The Wizard.
EXTRAS! Spiderman aka Tobey McGuire played the antagonist’s friend, number of words he spoke: 0. Punky Brewster aka errr… Punky Brewster was an extra. Number of words she spoke: 0. For the record I don’t know what happened to Punky, all I know is that she saved Cherry’s life when she was stuck in the fridge and she was on the cover of People magazine for getting a breast reduction.
Christian Slater. Need I say any more? This was pre 90’s heartthrob Slater by the way, and the casting was clearly ahead of its time. Speaking of casting…
Mali Finn was the casting director. Although IMDB says it’s Sally Lear, I’m willing to bet my VHS and DVD copy of The Wizard on this - IMDB is wrong. Unfortunately Finn passed away in 07 but I note her as the casting director simply because she had the eye… She was huge! She did movies like The Matrix, Terminator, Mission Impossible, basically if it was a good movie she may have been attached to it.
Adventure. I said it above but I’ll say it again. If you can somehow harness adventure in a kid’s movie then you’ve won.
The homage to Nintendo is to good to ignore. I admit, it’s a commercial… But everything about this movie made Nintendo that much better.
The climax in this movie is priceless. I don’t know what I love more, the fact that they’re playing a new Mario game or the fact that Jimmy inexplicably knows all the warp zones and how to use the secret flute.
Kids gambling: This is arguably the first movie where a 12 year girl is telling a 30 year old man how to gamble – and win! I wonder how she got into the casino in the first place? Who cares, they won.
The Title: The Wizard. I wonder how many name changes this movie went through. It’s not as though they call Jimmy the Wizard in every other scene, it’s actually only referenced once. I know that this movie was once called “Joystick Hero’s” - if someone can find me previous titles send them to me.
Quick complaint: Why the fuck are there no special features on the DVD!? Who does that?
Just do yourself a favor and revisit the classic. If you have kids show them – tell them about the archaic time when we had to use our hands to play 8 bit video games. The Power Glove, it’s so bad…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=KZErvASwdlU]
I arrived back to LA earlier today. The 6-day Sundance adventure has concluded. Good-bye coldness, shuttle busses, thinking you know someone everywhere you go, and really nice Utah people. Hello warmth, smog, thinking you know someone everywhere you go, and sort of nice LA people. First time at Sundance was a pretty interesting experience and in a way it’s restored my faith and love for movies – My faith has a tendency to waiver every once in a while. There are some genuinely very good movies out there that are made in a very creative way, creative meaning lack of money and figuring out a way to get it on the screen. There are also a slew of movies with big name actors like Bradley Cooper, Bruce Willis, William H Macy, Helen Hunt, and Chris Rock (to name a few). It’s refreshing to see some of these actors taking on roles like the ones at Sundance.
The Zen…
A Sundance veteran whom happens to be a colleague of mine said, “You gotta just go with the flow” and called it the “Zen” of Sundance. He was right. One of the main things I loved is the potential of the unexpected. Out of the blue someone could mention they have extra tickets somewhere or quickly invite you to a party… you just gotta go with the flow. Take it in and enjoy.
The Hand Washing…
Before I get into talking about movies I think there is something that should be brought into the open – It’s the fact that people aren’t washing their hands in Park City! Yes.. I’m serious. When I first went into the bathroom and saw a few people walk out with out washing their hands, I dismissed it, and I wrote them off as gross trying not to think about it. But then I saw it again, and again, and then my colleague mentioned that he witnessed it too!
As an open germaphobe I will state that 1 – I’m not exaggerating and 2 – this was fucking disgusting. I don’t know why but there was a major lack of hands being washed at Sundance. I was thinking maybe it’s because people were in a hurry, but wait, there is no excuse for this. What person over the age of 5 doesn’t wash their hands? No wonder everyone comes back from Sundance sick. By the way – I’m not sick.
The All Things Sundance Total Recap And Random Awards:
Out of 12 movies that I saw at Sundance my top 3 are:
The Raid – Action, Action, Action!
The First Time – Romantic Comedy.
Robot & Frank – I wonder if sub consciously I’m saying I like this so much because I didn’t hear great reviews about it. I’m trying to be defiant… but I did like it.
Honorable Mention:
The Pact – Scary
The Surrogate – Great movie - Unfortunately I had to leave due to my neck hurting from sitting in the first row.
Simon Killer – Didn’t feel one way or another about this film at first but it’s stuck to me like gum on shoe and I have thought about it too often… that’s saying something.
Slamdance: The Slamdance film festival is located in the heart of Sundance and I loved what this festival brought. It’s a great atmosphere with good movies.
Best Place To Watch Sports: Maxwells. It’s a sports bar that was conveniently located around our hotel. The pizza was huge and delicious, the drinks were inexpensive, the server was from Wisconsin, and the TV’s were everywhere. Truthfully if I could have gotten into the ESPN party this answer would have been different.
Worst Place To Watch Sports: Maxwells. Everything I said above insert right here, and I wanted in to the ESPN party.
Best Moment: The unexpectedness of The Raid.
Worst Moment: Being stuck on main street after having a bit too much to drink watching my phone battery drain and realizing I’m overly dependent on technology.
The Narrative Feature I Really Want To See But Didn’t: V/H/S. I heard this was very good and a great new take on found footage. This was just picked up by Magnolia for roughly $1 million. See it when you can.
The Documentary I Really Want To See But Didn’t: Searching For Sugar Man. Apparently this documentary is about a musician in the 70’s that didn’t do well in America but through a string of events a bootlegged album made it’s way to South Africa. He became a massive success in South Africa with his antiestablishment sound but he never knew. Meanwhile he was floundering in America, ultimately burning himself on stage one night committing suicide.
He never knew the massive effect he had in South Africa, he was as big as the Beatles to the states, and he never made it in America. It’s pretty tragic.
Nicest Person Award: Tie – Between random Southwest Airlines chick we met that gave us the free tickets or the entire crew in Park City. Seriously, every volunteer was very nice. I was actually surprised at how well they were handling everyone. If it were me, I would have lost my shit trying to deal with everyone. If you don’t know what I’m talking about – Sundance has volunteers helping everyone out telling them bus routes or directing people into movies. They keep things moving… somehow.
The One Line I Didn’t Hear But Thought I Would: “Oh, the next time I’ll come back is when I have a movie in the festival.”
Ultimately it was a great experience, and good to know how I’ll tackle it in future years. Next time around I want that ESPN party. It funny because while you’re attending Sundance it’s business mixed with pleasure, and it’s obvious. It’s absolutely an atmosphere that you have to be around to understand, and having said that I could see how someone would love it or hate it.
Either way, it was a great time with great movies. I’m curious to see what movies penetrate the mainstream. Last year’s Sundance gem Another Earth has so far made a domestic total of roughly $1.8 million, that’s not including DVD/Streaming sales. Either way, that’s terrible… But that’s not what it’s about, right? It’s about the film, not the ultimate return, right?
I wish that were true.
Sunday threw me in an official tailspin. I was planning to update on a daily basis but then football had to happen. Sunday morning at approximately 11:04am I walked into Maxwell’s sports bar here in Utah and told them I needed to reserve a seat. They opened at 11am, and for being the first customer I was given a jack and ginger ale. My bartender was from the south, whiskey was her drink of choice, and I’m never one to turn down a free drink. When I asked her if she’d think less of me for drinking at 11am, she replied with “No” as if I were crazy for even asking… sold. That began the potential turn of events. I proceeded to sit in one place from about 11am until 9:30pm. I consumed more pizza and beer than I’d like to admit, and then later headed to a party. This was a longwinded way to say, I missed days of talking about movies and Sundance. My entire system was thrown off… it was inevitable.
Which brings us full swing to Tuesday, and I’m out of my awesome football-watching day.
Up until Monday I had been spoiled by two people I work with. Spoiled in the sense that they know what they’re doing and where they’re going. Part of me hasn’t been paying as much attention to things as I should; I’ve been taking things for granted with them as my guide. But Monday I explored. I finally was able to make out Park City.
Monday reminded me of a day in Los Angeles. As I was exploring I attempted to get into 2 different places and was rejected. First was the Bing.com building where I saw artwork, as I tried to walk in a big guy stopped me and basically told me to turn the fuck around. I asked what was going on, he said I couldn’t be there. I asked who the artist was; he said he couldn’t tell me…. Wow…
Alex, if you’re reading this it was a cool painting of a skull, I was going to snap a picture and send it your way, and you would have liked it. Anyone else reading this – don’t ask why Alex likes skulls.
The second place wasn’t so much a rejection but more of a dismissal. You know what, who cares? I’m sick of talking about rejection. On to the movies!
Nobody Walks: Starring Jon Krasinski, Jane Levy, Olivia Thrilby – Wait – As I was just checking to see if I have correct spelling of names I saw that Krasinski has a “Special Thanks” for the movie Super 8. What the shit?
This movie is the prototypical indie film. That’s not a bad or good thing; well I suppose it could be depending on who you are. If you like films that are attempting to show the internal workings of a family, their problems, issues, and how they deal with them, then you’d like this movie.
Honestly I wouldn’t have paid to see this movie in a theater, as much as I like Krasinski I just felt this pace to be a bit slow (but consistent). Films like these find themselves in an odd place. They’re well made but don’t appeal to the masses and have difficultly making it on a wide scale. If it pops up on your Netflix cue, watch it. But if you’re having marital issues and also happen to have a 23 year old artist staying in your house… don’t watch it.
Black Rock: I honestly just stared at my computer and contemplated how I would embrace talking about Black Rock. I then went to sleep and hoped that I would take a more positive approach on it when I woke up – nope.
This movie sold for close to 7 figures, and was one of the first films out of Sundance to be bought. It was written by Mark Duplass, directed by his wife Katie Aselton, whom also is a star in it along with Kate Bosworth and Lake Bell. Let me be very clear when I say I really like everyone associated with this movie. I’m a huge fan of The League on FX which, which stars Duplass and Aselton, don’t mind Bosworth, and think Bell is good in a supporting role as the goofy friend.
In this movie, it was as though I was watching a cluster of all things bad coming together in a film. To be kind I will state it like this, it had poor directing, annoying dialogue, and then to the delivery of the dialogue made me laugh. I couldn’t understand what I was watching or how such caliber of Hollywood managed to screw this up. It was as though I was watching a film that was shot with my friends when we had no money and were looking to do something in a weekend.
Oh right, the plot – 3 girlfriends take a trip back to a small island that was once special to them and they run into 3 former marines. One of the marines gets too frisky with Aselton, she gets a little too violent, and the film turns to a hunting/hunter film.
The premise doesn’t sound too bad, right? I had high hopes going into this film and thought that maybe my expectations had ruined things for me – no, it just wasn’t bad. When I see that LD entertainment purchased this film it makes me rethink so much about film. But the reality is the film will sell and the powers that be can stick 3 girls on the cover with the name value of Duplass with Bosworth and they’re fine.
The most telling thing about this film is how self-serving Aselton appeared. Her name showed 4 times pre movie, she gave herself top billing (even though Bosworth is the star), the final image of the film rested on her (as though her character had some big change… she didn’t), and then when the film ended we were reminded yet again that it was directed by her… And yes, written by her husband.
I would have walked out of the film if it weren’t for the fact that I was waiting to see Tim and Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie, which brings me too…
Tim and Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie: Full discretion – I’ve never seen their show on Adult Swim, but I don’t think I had too. I don’t need to get into the premise of this film because I think this is either a you’re seeing it already or you’re not seeing it kind of thing.
I didn’t think much of this film going in but it had some genuine moments where I was laughing my head off. Unfortunately those laughs subsided for too long and watching 1.5 hours of Tim and Eric was a little much, I found it to be a bit obnoxious and it left me with a mild headache. It was just a little much for me, even though I love that Will Ferrell, Jeff Goldblum, and John C Reilly are in it.
Like I said, I laughed my head off, but I want it in a shorter film, I’ll probably end up watching the show from time to time on Adult Swim… which is a good thing. It’s a fun movie, just 50 minutes too long.
Without spoiling too much yet trying to inflict interest, the best parts of the film were: The vignettes, the child story line, the black out scene, Will Ferrell, Jeff Goldblum, the wolf, the first 10 minutes, and did I mention the child story line?
My days are winding down here. My Holiday in Express is closing in on me, I have more movies watching to do, and I have to read about Oscar nominations (announced today).
Let’s just jump right into this, yesterday I witnessed one of the craziest action movies I’ve ever seen: The Raid.
The Raid was 1 of 4 I checked out and it was batshit crazy. Not sure if you’ve ever seen the movie Ong Bak but it’s like that with guns. If you haven’t seen that let me just lay out the scenario for you:
A swat team raids a safe house that’s full of killers and drug dealers. Oh, and everyone in the safe house knew they were coming.
You remember in The Matrix when Neo and Trinity entered the building in their trench coats and go nuts, firing guns at anything that moved. As that scene was going on you couldn’t help but realize that you’ve never witnessed this before. Okay, it wasn’t that intense, but almost was, it definitely had its moments that actually made the crowd start clapping.
The movie premiered at the Toronto International film festival and was purchased by Sony Classic, so keep an eye out for it.
Bindlestiffs: Another solid movie that wasn’t at Sundance but was showing at Slamdance. Below is the premise (which I think is great) you decide if you’d want to see it:
Three high school virgins, suspended from school on a bogus graffiti charge, flee to the inner city in an attempt to live out the plot of The Catcher in the Rye - a book they neither have read nor understand. BINDLESTIFFS documents their struggles along the way as they surrender their virginities to vagrants, prostitutes, and crack fiends. Hot on their tail is Charlie, the deranged school security guard. Under the impression that the boys are planning a school shooting, he takes the law into his own hands to stop them and save America.
Honorable mention to Robot and Frank with Frank Langella. It’s a film set in the near future, and Langella gets a robot to watch after him. I’m not exactly sure how it was received but I liked it. I thought it was very consistent, even with a slow pace.
Random Observations:
My shoes are incredibly destroyed from the snow. They were once leather, now they’re basically white. I was planning to put the picture of my shoes in this post but want to refrain from being that guy.
Speaking of the snow – it was falling yesterday. I had a flashback of Wisconsin back in the day. Everyone seems to be taking it in stride, but I guess they closed off the i-80 from Salt Lake City coming into Park City last night. Fuck it, picture included.
The Social Scene: The great thing about being here is that while you’re out everybody suspects you may actually be someone else so patrons are incredibly eager to spark conversation for no reason. Last night I was out alone and stopped at 2 different pubs and 1 bar, when you’re this guy in LA you teeter on being lonely creepy guy, which actually is the case most places. On that note, I think people drinking at the bar by themselves gets a bad stigma; I personally love it and almost prefer it. Wait, does it get a bad stigma? Am I projecting some inner issue? Whatever the case, Park City is a great social environment.
If I didn’t already know it, I’ve entered the word of needing to be completely connected: Last night my cell phone died and had a near freak out about what to do. Sure, it was 5 degrees in a snowstorm and I didn’t know where I was, that may have played into me needing my cell phone charged. But my incredible need to be fully charged may not have been healthy.
Today is a day of football. I will surely be pouring a little out in memory of my Green Bay Packers. Football predictions:
Patriots over Ravens 31-24
49ers over Giants 21-20
Patriots VS 49ers in the Super Bowl.
Below is the trailer for The Raid. Watch it, but be warned… it’s violent.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWlmhMSnVdM&w=560&h=315]
“Look Again” hmmm not too sure if I’m crazy about the Sundance slogan – more on that later.
Full discretion: I’m sitting in my hotel in a partial food coma watching “The Label Maker” episode of Seinfeld… it’s so great.
The short time at the Sundance Film Festival has been good so far. From what I understand this weekend is when people start filing in for parties and screenings then it starts to slow down as the week progresses. The things I’ve seen – Lots and lots of transports from different places (obviously) it’s actually like Los Angeles just picked up and relocated to Park City.
Anyway, here are a few early on observations of Sundance:
Getting back to the 2012 slogan: “Look Again” – Seriously, I don’t get it. I sort of do but I just don’t like it. I Googled to find out what the hell it means - I got nothing.
It’s a bit more spread out than I realized. In my head I had this vision that everything was very close but that’s not necessarily the case. However you can take a shuttle and it gets you where you need to be pretty quickly.
I want to go skiing while I’m here but there is almost no snow.
There are a lot of people who work on films: This is obvious but it’s just a reminder. There are tons of people walking around with passes and it’s just a constant reminder of how big things are, especially the industry.
Slamdance is great. Yes, Slamdance. If you’re unaware there is another pretty great festival going on right now called Slamdance and its dead smack in the middle of Sundance. Apparently 4 guys whose films were rejected from Sundance in 1995 started it and it’s been thriving. They have great films, and one would argue they’re as good as Sundance films. A couple of the filmmakers that have been discovered via Slamdance: Chris Nolan (Dark Knight), Marc Foster (Monsters Ball) and films that have premiered at Slamdance: Paranormal Activity and King of Kong (To name a few).
Slamdance is basically part of Sundance now, whether they like it or not. But I think Sundance likes it.
I need to rest. Today was just an intro to the cold world. Tomorrow is going to be movies all day long. This might sound a bit nuts but the main movie I want to see here is called “The First Time” by John Kasdan (In the Land Of Women with Adam Brody). Why is this nuts? Well, it’s a Romantic Comedy, and truth be told I love the romantic comedy, also I read the script and it was great.
I love this episode of Seinfeld.
This is my pre warning that work is sending me to Sundance from the 20th to the 26th. Odd’s are that the majority of my blogs are going to be Sundance related so I officially give you: The first ever Joshford blog: Sundance Week Edition. This is my first time heading to the Film Festival and all anyone keeps telling me is “Go to parties and expect to get sick.” Wow. Sounds like a ton of fun. Occasionally you may see a random post about something non-Sundance related or me complaining about the Packers. Maybe I’ll wake up in the middle of the night and sleep type a blog entitled: “I’m having a nightmare about the Packers and they lost to the Giants.” But for the most part expect pictures, movie reviews, and the general thought of the expected Cluster in Park City, Utah for the Festival.
If you’re going and looking to getting sick and have plenty of drinks, be sure to seek me out… apparently that’s what goes on at Sundance.
Last note: Any suggestions on movies to check out please let me know.
The Actual Last Note: Or any suggestions on anything, please let me know.
A new project I'm working on called 5 stories. This is the first one, with musician and friend: Josh Osswald.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YIxSzVXduM]
Wait. Wasn’t this supposed to be the 90’s all over again? Weren’t the Packers and 49ers supposed to meet in the playoffs and I could banter with my friends about living in the past and Jerry Rice fumbling? I thought it was, at least that’s where my arrogance was. Instead life reminded me that trends are recycled every 30 years and it’s the 80’s… Oh… whoops. Now I have to relive The Giants VS the 49ers, hmm I missed the memo on this one.
Yesterday was rough. It was so rough that I woke up a few times in the middle of the night unable to turn off my brain.
This is my exact text I sent my friend Alex at 4am this morning:
“I can’t sleep and I’m not happy. It was a good season… Confused …. Eh”
At 7:44am he got back to me:
“I’m trying not to think about it. It was a good season, but that was a terrible game. Worst they played all season.”
His text pretty much sums it up, it was the worst game they played all season. The worst part about it is that you could kind of see it coming, and you could definitely feel it coming. When I watched the Packers lose to the Chiefs earlier this season I felt the same way at half time, things just didn’t feel right. Those passes that they usually connect on just weren’t connecting. I was trying to stay positive during the game but deep down inside I knew this wasn’t happening. The Giants just looked better. Even my mom wrote me a text that said they didn’t look good… MY REALLY OPTOMISTIC MOM!
I need to push through this because it’s not that hard to diagnose, just hard to swallow. The Packers were just rusty and out of sync. The normal amazing shit that’s been happening since 2010 just wasn’t happening and if I may state the obvious – more dropped passes than that one really bad kid on the playground who you don’t throw too because he drops all the passes.
I need to write this out because I’m too cloudy to do it any other way…
Jermichael “I’m suddenly a headcase” Finley: He’s been dropping passes all season and it finally got to him. It’s as if every time Aaron Rodgers threw the ball to him some little voice inside his head said “DON’T MISS, DON’T MISS, DON’T MISS” then he dropped the ball.
Running Game: This is obvious, we haven’t had one all season.
You can’t spell Elite without Eli: Damn you Manning! Eli channeled his inner Peyton and picked apart the defense like he was in the Matrix and two steps ahead of everyone.
Oh yeah the Defense: For a defense that relies on letting everyone throw all over them because they’ll eventually pick it off, this didn’t exactly work this time around.
The Hail Mary: Tebow stepped on the field for a brief second and guided that pass right before the half into Cruz’s hands. I will toss this play into the category above. Seriously, how do NFL players let Hail Mary’s happen?
A Rodg: It seemed like Rodgers really wanted it yesterday. He was their leading rusher but the fact he couldn’t rely on anyone trying to catch a ball didn’t help.
If I had any control over anything: I would have said “Yo team, we’re going to throw the ball to Jordy Nelson and Donald Driver every single play. No, I’m not joking.”
Final Thoughts: Like I wrote the other day, I was worried about this game. Watching the playoffs reminded me that other teams are very good and you cannot afford to have a bad day, or even a bad quarter. Unfortunately, the Packers had 4 bad quarters. The Packers were rusty, too rested, and not prepared. I’m reminded of a quote that Mike McCarthy made when asked if they’re going for 16-0.
“We don’t play scared.”
Well, yesterday they looked like they were being chased by sloth from the Goonies, with a handful of confusion.
It’s moments like this that I need to remind myself that I had no control over the game, and even though I specifically went to the one sports bar that the Packers never lost at when I watched a game last season… I had no control!
Time to move on and get ready for the Manchester United VS Arsenal game next week on FOX!
Kidding. I’ll watch the NFC championships.
Final predictions: 49ers VS Patriots in the Super Bowl.
Oh wait, nevermind… A Manning is in the playoffs…
Giants VS Patriots in the Super Bowl with Peyton sitting in the box seats watching his younger brother on the brink of getting one more Super Bowl than him.
I’m worried that the Packers had a bye week.
I’m worried that Aaron Rodgers was so good he sat out the final week of the season and may be rusty.
I’m worried that the Giants still have players on it that won the improbable Super Bowl in 2008.
I’m worried that if the Packers beat the Giants they face a team that I actually really like (get that out of your head). They face a team that is very good (get that out of your head). And lets be honest, the 49ers are in an odd way a Cinderella team even though they had a first round bye.
I’m worried that tomorrow FOX is going to broadcast some ridiculous stat saying the Packers are 76-1 in temperatures 34 degrees and under. What they aren’t saying is that they’re a lot worse when it’s 35 degrees.
I worried that even if the Packers make it to the Super Bowl they’ll probably have to face the Patriots (jumping ahead!) And the Patriots have a potent offense that I feel is changing the game; their tight ends are amazing.
I’m worried. Okay!
I’m worried that I’m worried.
Wasn’t I confident 2 weeks ago? Yes. But now the bad teams are weeded out and watching the good teams reminds me that the Packers actually have company. The odd part about my feelings are that I still have some lingering issues with Brett Favre, for some reason he has put a stamp of doubt in my head about the Packers, much like he did every time they played a game against anyone. I have to remind myself that Aaron Rodgers doesn’t make the same mistakes.
Reminder, Reminder, Reminder.
I’m not going to finish this off and say that win or lose they had a good season, the sports fan truth is that I want them to never lose again, but we know that can’t happen. I’m realizing I’m a tad bit invested, there was something great about last season and the miracle wild card run to the Super Bowl, and now watching a team that has a bull’s-eye on their back is nerve-wracking, but at the same time it’s also a major compliment to have the bulls-eye.
I must forget about my worries and push forward… Tomorrow will be a major measuring stick for the Green Bay Packers. I’m excited, I can’t be worried. I must remind myself I have no control over the situation… Or do I? No, No, I can’t worry about control over a game that I’ll be watching on TV.
No matter what Sunday’s outcome is I will have to remind myself this is a great season - if they lose I’ll force that fact in my head. If they win… Well, I’ll worry about that later.
I saw the preview for a new show on the food network called “Rachel VS Guy Celebrity Cook off.” It has a cool little hook: Rachel Ray - a food enthusiast and in some ways a mini Oprah goes head to head against Guy Fieri - best known for having a horrible hair color that works on him, and also a NY Times best seller. Both Rachel and Guy have their teams duel by cooking, pretty simple, right?
Rachel’s team consists of: Herself, Aaron Carter, Summer Sanders, Lou Diamond Phillips, and Taylor Dayne.
Guy’s team consists of: Himself, Cheech Marin, Joey Fatone, Coolio, and Alyssa Campanella.
All seems reality show standard in the team VS team format, right? Yes, but something’s off... Oh right, the “celebrity” aspect of it. It took me a minute to swallow that the players on these teams are considered celebrities. In my world the viable celebrities on this show are: Fatone, Phillips, Cheech, and give or take Coolio. I honestly didn’t even know who Campanella was, and the only way I identified her is because she was actually wearing her “Miss USA” sash.
Not that I’m trying to take anything away from any of these people because they’ve obviously worked to get where they are, but seeing them sparked a thought process which has also been a topic of conversation for far too long. I think I have been confused with what exactly a celebrity is and where “celebrity” is going.
On a general ground rule I once associated celebrities as someone you’d know by face (that you don’t personally know). Someone that you don’t have to say “Oh that’s the person from…” At least that’s what it used to be. As cable grew it became impossible to keep up with viable actors from different shows, and the same goes for musicians. Over time a few adjustments to the celebrity rule came into place and I left some wiggle room as to which I associated with celebrity. Then as online videos grew the rule changed even more and we started to have “internet celebrities.”
As new celebrities in different mediums popped up along the way the allure and illusion of celebrity has all but faded. We once looked at someone and wanted to know what they’re doing at all times, and wondered what their lives could possibly be like. But now we have so many shows, magazines, and social networking platforms bringing us together that a peek into the lives of a actor is turning into more than just a peek, we’re being completely welcomed into their personal garbage that soon they’re “just like us.”
I personally love the openness that we currently have. The beauty of it is that we could all avoid it if we wanted too but we don’t. Celebrities have the option not to have Twitter feeds or make sex tapes, but they still do: And rightfully so – it helps their personal brand.
My issue with all of this is the lines that have been blurred into what a celebrity is. There is no fucking way I can associate Clooney and Aaron Carter both as celebrities. But maybe I have too? I looked into the definition of celebrity to be one of those annoying people who needs specifics and this is what Dictionary.com gave me: A famous or well known person.
I need something more. This is what Wikipedia gave me: A person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media.
By these definitional standards an argument could be made that anyone who has influence on the Web is a celebrity and team Rachel Ray is in fact built with celebrities. But it leads me to ask - Why is it that we have an unspoken understanding of celebrity value? I feel that if you’re a celebrity than you’re a celebrity… How have we come to various degrees of how famous you are? If you’re scratching at the heels to barely be identified as a celebrity, shouldn’t that tell you something?
Should celebrity be measured by influence? Exposure? Talent?
An adjustment is coming – it has too. In an industry with so many labels we’re going to get to a point where you’re going to be labeled for what you are. If you’re a celebrity in your particular medium than that’s how you’ll be labeled: Movie celebrity, TV celebrity, Internet celebrity, Writing celebrity, Reality celebrity…. There are just too many transparencies in the world to not get to this point at some time.
Until any celebrity adjustment comes we should all enjoy our celebrity reality shows and the reality shows that create celebrities. Enjoy this time now because soon we’re all going to be blended together and to truly be a celebrity you’ll really need to stand out. We’re in the 2nd golden age of celebrity.
*** Didn’t mean to pick on Rachel and Guy, the show seems entertaining.
Oh no... I guess something like this was inevitable, right? This couldn’t have been the first time porn, which parodies Star Wars was created, right? Apparently it’s the first time that monster adult film studio “Vivid” has tackled the subject, which I guess is a big deal in the porn world.
When I watched the trailer below I felt bad for Star Wars, then about 3.2 seconds later every part of me that felt bad remembered that Star Wars has sold out more than an opening weekend screening of Star Wars itself - From the Ewoks (arguably put into Jedi for merchandising purposes) to the re releasing of the films, with altered scenes and characters.
George Lucas is the master of making money off of his idea so I wouldn’t be surprised if he was behind the making of Star Wars porn… seriously. My only hope is that kids don’t see the XXX version before they see the original trilogy.
A few thoughts on the trailer below:
I should mention that this trailer has no explicit images in it… just a good ol’ fashion teaser.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X56oTgum_VQ&w=560&h=315]
- This porn may be the first porn in the history of porn that is actually watched from beginning to end. The Star Wars XXX movie may actually be interesting enough to the fan base to find out how it ends. Somewhere Dirk Diggler and Jack Horner are proud.
- The special effects in this trailer are actually better than the original Star Wars effects.
- Kudos for going CGI with C3PO and R2D2.
- Bonus points for the 2 best porn names in these credits: Dick Chibbles as Chewbacca and Lexington Steele as Darth Vader. Doesn’t it kind of seem like Chibbles and Steele are already Star Wars character names?
- Whose gonna play Yoda in the sequel!?
- Looks like they really nailed the Cantina scene.
- True or False: Somewhere Carrie Fisher is jealous she didn’t have a cameo in this film.
You have ten seconds to name a film that Tom Cruise didn’t run in… times up… you lost. There is no hiding what most people associate Tom Crusie with -
Outside of his movies his associations are:
Jumping on couches Being subject to multiple rumors His height Yelling at Matt Lauer Oh, and that one religion that is based around Scientolo- (Had to stop sentence due my life being destroyed by L. Ron Hubbard).
Inside of his movies his associations are:
Running. Just running.
—-
Reading the above it may sound like I have something against TC but truth be told I love his movies. As far as I’m concerned he’s still a massive action star and I’ll pretty much see anything he’s in. I recently checked out MI4 and loved it, I was relived when it finished because I had hope that for one second people would forget about all of the things that I listed above (I’m part of the problem) and remember him for being a great entertainer.
Somewhere along the line he surpassed Will Smith as “The guy who runs in movies.” The thing is – TC’s running is totally justified, odds are it’s an action movie. If there isn’t running in an action movie then I say it’s a bad action movie. I’m starting to wonder if his legacy will have something to do with running, seriously. Will we look back at Tom Cruise movies and say “oh yeah, that was the one with that one run scene”?
Side Note: The one confusing run scene that comes to mind is The Firm… I think that was him just gloating with his speed. Another side note: I want to race Tom Crusie.
In the world of TC running we have many options to choose from and decide which is the best. It’s basically like a buffet that serves different variations of the same thing. At that buffet I go to the one movie that is the future: Minority Report. And in this particular scene he’s barely running. It’s a combination of some running intertwined with other Spielbergian action.
Here’s the justification as to why this is the best TC Run: (Video Below)
- The scene involves flying. This run scene may have a slight asterisk next to it due to the massive amount of flight but it’s included because it starts with a run and at one point TC attempting to run on the side of the building.
- It has a cameo from Cameron Crowe (he’s holding the newspaper, no credit at the end, and yes Tom Cruise ran in both Vanilla Sky and Jerry McGuire – both directed by Crowe).
- It’s a totally and completely warranted run scene. It’s not like he’s trying to get somewhere faster than anyone else. He’s trying to elude the cops (who can fly!)
- On a grand scheme one things one of the themes in Minority Report is running (yes it is!). Dialogue between Tom Cruise (John) and Fletcher (played by Neil Donough)
Fletcher: John, don’t run. John: You don’t have to chase me. Fletcher: You don’t have to run. John: Everybody runs, Fletch.
- Did I mention how underrated this movie is? I shouldn’t really get into why this because I’m talking about running but I feel like it got shit on over time. If my memory serves me correct, this had production issues and an inflated budget, which usually is a sure sign of issues. The reality is, this movie is full of things that are ahead of the curve on future technological products. In this opening scene with Crowe reading the newspaper one of the stories is about “nano technology.”
Without further adieu I give you the scene:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta1HBizg0Yk&w=420&h=315]
After watching the scene if you don’t want to see Minority Report while in full sprint you’re nuts.
I enter Tom Cruise running to the same category as Harrison Ford fighting. I’ve always felt that when Ford fights in his movies he’s really giving it his all to look like he’s struggling. From Indiana Jones to The Fugitive… he throws and takes punches with more effort than a UFC fighter. I can even remember his fight scenes in Air Force One, just when you think he’s going to die… (More on Harrison a different day).
Honorable mention:
MI4: If you didn’t see it – do it. Once scene he basically convers all of India and is running through a sand storm.
Eh, all of the Mission Impossible movies.
Collateral: Vintage Tom Cruise sprints when chasing Jamie Foxx.
War Of The Worlds: While Aliens are disintegrating humans next to him, Tom Cruise runs fast… faster than the aliens actually.
Jerry McGuire: Slow Mo running to see the love of his life.
Far And Away: This was a good run for one reason and one reason only: He was running for his future and land.
To cap this off I include this video for your delight:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJdMDvjfyQ0&w=560&h=315]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XnO3oDtCAzE
I’m going to be highlighting 5 different people, sit down with each of them, and hear a story. Everyone has a good story to tell that defines who they are… and I want to help tell it.
Check out youtube.com/thebigshoetv or www.thebigshoe.tv
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