Chappelle, I had to finally make a comment

I thought I should make a final post and what better topic than my final paper, Chappelle's Show. I was finishing up with my research paper in which I was examining a couple sketches from the show. I revisited the show so that I could accurately comment on my paper. I haven't seen the show in awhile now, despite watching it feverishly when they came out on DVD...the show is gold. It is still as funny as it ever was...maybe more. I did my paper on Clayton Bigsby the black white-supremacist and the white family whose last name is "Niggar". Both of the sketches are so ridicuos, man what gems. Chappelle really had a clear vision where he wanted the show to go and did he ever execute. There were some other sketches that I forgot about. Anything with Paul Mooney is gold. The one I particularly enjoyed was him commenting on movies. "They have the Last Samurai starring Tom Cruise, the Mexican starring Brad Pitt. What's next the Last Nigger On Earth starring Tom Hanks!?" That line gets me every time. The way Chappelle uses humor to make genuine, intelligible, relevant social commentary is masterful. I laugh but the skits do really make me think about things, not many shows do that, even serious ones. Chappelle has a unique ability to take humor and real issues and infuse them together without being to preachy about it or that he is trying to demonstrate his values or ideas...you've got to appreciate talent like that. I realize I'm probably beating a dead horse here being that everybody has already spoke about the show at length at some point this semester but I just had to toss my two cents in.

Catch A Tiger By The Toe...Cheesy

I've been reading a lot of blogs about Tiger Woods, so I thought it prudent to weigh in with my thoughts on this whole debacle. I am already quite sick of this controversy and just wish we could move on to new business already. I get it he was married and he cheated with a slew of women. I realize that Tiger is a public figure so I understand that it is a news story, I just wish it wasn't. His story is no different then the same stories you hear on Jerry Springer. Being that he is such a celebrity it warrants huge amounts of press coverage but I feel that he should be entitled to privacy, let alone dignity. I think what he was did was reprehensible but that is his own private business, what right to "we" have to invade him like this. People are so eager, dare I say happy, to disparage him. Two weeks ago everybody loved him and now they are calling for his head on a pike. It seems that the human condition is such that "they" build you up but once you get there they can't wait to tear you right back down. It just bugs me how people are so mistake-free and self-righteous, they have never made a mistake. I don't agree with Tiger but at the same time I am not judging him either. It is life and he can live it how he wants, who am I to comment on it. I genuinely feel bad for the guy. Despite his actions, I don't feel anybody deserves to be berated the way he is. Also, not to be a stickler, but nothing has been directly outright proven one way or another. It bothers me how this is the most important thing in the news right now, a guy cheated on his wife....how shocking. I'd be willing to bet that there are far more pressing issues that warrant news coverage...priorities people!

Another thing that has gotten on my nerves lately is the accusations that Tiger is racist being that the women he allegedly had the affair(s) with are all white. It's ludicrous, he can't just simply cheat on his wife, the race card must be brought into it. I think the news organizations are really stretching it here. How is having a sexual preference or affinity for now something considered racist. Its like if he had slept with black, Asian, and Latino women it would have been far more acceptable and politically correct. I mean his wife is white, is that racist because he didn't choose a wife that "looked for like him". I mean think this is the opposite of racism being that he had affection for a race that "wasn't his own". It's not like he was negative towards any particular race. I think this is a sign that the news has to move own, they are just grasping for straws and trying to squeeze every last bit of life out of this story. The guy is ruined, mission successful. Let's move on to some new business!

Disney, A Princess, A Frog, and Your's Truly

I was going through some of the class blogs and I one entry seemed to catch me. Melissa wrote an entry about the upcoming animated Disney feature the Princess & the Frog. She wrote about how the movie features a princess who is black and this is the first time Disney has ventured to do this. I commented on her blog but it really got my wheels spinning so I wanted to expand a bit.

The picture she chose to include in her blog was of the two main characters, the prince and the princess. Now as anyone who has seen a Disney movie, this is pretty much the standard way of doing things. Of course this time the princess is black, which is a bold departure from their usual W.A.S.P. princess. Not only is the princess black but the prince being white makes for an interracial couple which once would be considered far taboo especially for a children's movie. I'd imagine they want to make the film contemporary and socially conscious. I will commend Disney that this is a very bold, progressive decision that I think is a real positive step and departure from their standard operating procedure. I think it is great that young children can look up to a princess who doesn't look like the unrealistic Barbie archetype. That all being said, here is where my issue comes in. I can't help but notice that the prince is still white. I haven't seen the movie so I probably shouldn't be making assumptions but I'd imagine the prince makes some sort of a macho brave act. I'm just wondering if his being a white male ultimately makes the black princess out to be something of subservient. I don't mean this in a master-slave relationship, but more in a male-female capacity. As if to say that she is a woman so at the end of the day she will still need a man to rescue her. I mean here she is a bold black princess but at the end of the day she still must be rescue by a white male. It almost seems that her being black is counter-productive because it seems to put the prince up on a higher pedestal than he already would be on simply because he is a male. I hate writing this because I feel like I am attacking Disney, which is not my intention because I think they made a wise and positive departure from their standard archetype(s). I just think the contrast between the two characters has the potential for some unintentional side effects. I wonder if there was discussion about making the prince black and princess white. Perhaps they thought that might be "too much" because America couldn't handle such a culture shock. Do you think they ever realistically entertained the idea of both of the characters being black? Unfortunately I doubt it. As I said before I haven't seen the flick, which actually looks pretty solid, so I shouldn't be making assumptions. It is interesting to consider though, ya heard?

Me & My White Friends

I was considering what to write about for my blog. I was really having on block on a topic that I might want to pontificate on. While in this fog of though I came to the realization that I don't have any friends who are white. This fact is by no means an intentional choice that I made. I don't have ANYTHING against any minority. I enjoy people for who they are, I honestly don't care or concern myself with such trivial things as the race, culture or otherwise of a given person. That being said I honestly don't have anybody that I am friends with that is not white. I was going through my phone and everyone is white, just like me. I was wondering why this might be. I think it has to do with where I grew up (Weymouth) there weren't many minorities. There really wasn't much of a mix of different people when I was growing up. When I was a bit older in high school there was more diversity but I explicitly remember the absence of diversity when I was young. I think this was a big factor in the current situation I find myself it. It is just kind of weird to think about. I'm fairly certain that my friends don't have any friends that are minorities. As weird as it may sound I really don't think that it is that unique. I'd be willing to wager that there are black people who don't have any friends who aren't black. I don't take offense to this concept either because I understand that sometimes it just doesn't work out like that. I wouldn't say that I would LOVE to have a black friend because that would make it sound like I care that they are black. As I said I really honestly don't care what a person's racial background is. I am far more concerned with the person's character, and the quality of it. I would however welcome a new friend, and if they happened to be black, Latino, or otherwise it wouldn't make a bit of difference. As cheesy and cliche as it may sound a person is a person and a friend is a friend. I've known instances of people being or not being friends with a certain someone based on such superficial standards and it always puzzled me. I guess I again refer to myself and think how ludicrous it is to waste time thinking/caring about these types of things. I wouldn't want people to think of me as racist because I don't have any non-white friend because that wouldn't be further from the truth. It is just weird the winding road that is known as Life. If I was born in a different area of the country I could have a completely different stable of friends.

Seinfeld!

Every so often I get sucked into the world of Seinfeld. It is far and away my favorite show of all time and as such I have the entire series on DVD. When these spells hit me I will just rip through episodes and eventually find myself watching the entire series. I think the writing is clever and quite ingenious. Since I the semester has started I have tried to look at things with a more analytical eye, specifically dealing with diversity and race. This mindset jogged my memory to about a year ago. I was watching Pardon the Interruption (PTI) on ESPN. Tony Kornheiser (who is white) made a reference to Seinfeld to which Michael Wilbon (who is black) said "I don't know what you're talking about, black people don't watch Seinfeld". I thought it was a bit off-color at the time but now it really makes me question it. This is a rather "iffy" thing to say. Wilbon didn't receive any "talking to" about what he said. I feel though that if Kornheiser said "You know white people don't watch Cosby Show", I feel that he would be hit with an onslaught on scrutiny. I'm not suggesting that Wilbon is racist or was even saying it in a defaming way I just think it was a questionable thing to say. I realize that the things white people say are subjected to much higher magnified scrutiny than any other race. I think it's a double-standard but at the say time I can certainly understand why. My other problem with this is that Seinfeld is just plain funny I don't understand why black people wouldn't like it. I have heard this argument before that Seinfeld is geared for specifically white people. I can understand the audience being predominantly white but there is no reason why black people wouldn't enjoy the show as well. It just makes me mad because there is a viewpoint that Seinfeld is racist, which couldn't be further from the truth. I've been a fan since I was 8 years old and seen every episode an obscene amount of times, not to mention I'm just in the process of watching them as we speak. This show is completely harmless. The show actually pokes fun at the situation when George has to prove to his boss who is black that he black friends. George doesn't have any black friends, not on purpose, it just never worked out for him. Seeing George scramble to find a friend who is black is funny and an interesting commentary about the world we live in. I like George don't really have any black friends. This is not because I choose not to but rather by coincidence and circumstance it just so happens that I don't have any black friends. I'm sure that there are black people who don't have any white friends. This is not because of any racial preference, it is just the way it worked out. I think Seinfeld was, and still is, light years ahead of itself. The show was such a perfect vehicle for social commentary and pinpointing the human condition. Seinfeld touched on some many areas of human's everyday lives, it is really quite amazing. The show was anything but racist, and I say that as not a casual fan but an extremely hardcore enthusiast. I think what Wilbon said was certainly questionable, but I don't think he meant it in a racist way. I still love PTI and Wilbon...I just gotta defend my Seinfeld! Viva la Seinfeld!!!

Obama's School Message

I'm a Howard Stern fan. I know he has his detractors but he has a solid following. Love him or hate him you must give him credit for sticking around for as long as he has. I think Howard is entertaining and funny, but I also think he is extremely intelligent and insightful. During one of his recent broadcasts the topic of Obama's speech to school children came up. Obama delivered a speech specifically for the students of America that was to air around lunchtime. The speech was basically about not letting circumstance dictate the direction and eventual outcome of your life. Adversity must be met head on, a truly simple and invaluable lessen which is the basic principals of which America is built upon. The controversy came in as there were many parents reportedly pulling their children out of school in order to avoid seeing the speech. Why would they do this? Isn't the President addressing the youth of America a pretty important thing? There has been a whirlwind of supposed reasons for this but Howard was able to cut through the bullshit and be straight. It is a race issue. He contested that people are still uncomfortable with having a black president and as such react this way. I know that it is a sort of easy reason, but to me its true. When a President like JFK or Reagan had a speech to deliver, you better believe that parents weren't pulling their children out of class. Bear in mind that this was completely non-political, non-partisan, non-agenda piece that was meant to do nothing but inspire children to push themselves to their highest potential. Howard pointed out what a disgrace it was that this happened. He is the President of the United States, he deserves respect. I hated George W. Bush for all the same reasons as most people, however, I always respected him and the office that he represented. Some interviewed parents said they were didn't want their children to hear the speech because they couldn't be sure that Obama's speech would inappropriate or not. He is the President with Ivy league speech writers helping him, I'm fairly certain that he isn't going to say anything politically-incorrect or offensive. I know you might be thinking I misinterpreted what these parents were saying. but you'd be wrong. There actual excuse, whether it be fabricated or not, was that they couldn't trust that his words would be something school children should hear. I'll say it again, HE IS THE PRESIDENT. I agree with Howard that it is unfortunately a race issue, and it is despicable. What message does these parent's action send to children? They are essentially demonize Obama and turning him into a villain instead of an ally. What message does it send to other countries? As the unofficial pace car for the world, we set the tone for the world. The world often looks to us as an example. What does it say when "we" don't even trust our leader to speak to school children? These "Americans" should be completely ashamed of what they did, I know that I certainly am.

What's in a name?

I was working on the discussion boards last week and found many of the posts to be inspired as well as insightful. The subject of the class seems to foster genuine thoughts and discussion between classmates. It's pretty cool. I commented on a particular post on the board, but I wanted to discuss it further and hence this blog is immediately coming in handy. The original post was about how the term "African-American" seemed to lessen the stature of black people. For full disclosure, I am a white male. I agreed with the postee that the term did seem to be somewhat disparaging. I mean I wouldn't consider myself "European American". I mean I don't know any more people in Europe than most black people know in Africa, so why the need to label them and not me. I think that we spend too much time in this country worrying about meddlesome things such as this. Not to say that it doesn't have value but I feel there are more pressing issues that deserve our attention. I feel there is a sentiment in this country to go above and beyond in order to avoid being offensive. I mean I am all for equal rights and the right to live in peace and freedom but it's just a name. Whenever I am around a black person I am always hesitant to use the term "black". To me I don't know exactly how they might feel about it because again I'm just a white dude. I mean to refer to someone as "black", is that offensive and/or racist, I don't know. I mean if someone reffered to me as "white" I wouldn't even bat an eyelash. However, I realize that African-Americans have gone through much more struggle in the way or equal rights, so I almost feel that I don't have the right to comment. Even within this post I don't know whether to use the term "black" or "African-American". I think that black may have a negative connotation to some people perhaps. I don't know, it's all just so confusing about what is right and wrong. It's a slippery slope. I couldn't be further from a racist and don't want to offend anyone, I'm just trying to refer to something. To me we are all Americans, no more no less. If you want to get technical, if we were born in America, doesn't that make us Native Americans? That little nugget I will save for another post.

Stand Up

I have always enjoyed stand-up comedy, but now I have a new-found respect for it and the people who do it. Some friends of mine convinced me to go to an open-mic night at this place in Somerville. I have never done any sort of stand-up comedy so it was all new to me. I prepared as best I could and wrote down some bits. There were about 25 other people doing open-mic night aside from myself. Each person gets about 4-7 minutes to do their routine. Some were better than others, which isn't hard to imagine. I was one of the last people to go on so I began to get nervous and question whether or not my material was funny as I was comparing it to other peoples'. The emcee knew it was my first time so he was trying to give me a few pointers while other comics were doing their thing. I finally got up there and it actually went pretty good. Not to say that I knocked it out of the park, but I got some genuine laughs from people who weren't my friends. I was actually able to talk for about 6 minutes, which surprised me because I thought I only had about 2. I missed a couple of points I wanted to mention, and I didn't go into as much description on some things as I had intended but overall I was proud of myself. My approach wasn't to have punchline jokes. I wanted the laughs to come from the descriptions of the picture I was trying to paint. I think it worked well but admit that a few more punchlines would have been effective. Afterwards the emcee bought me and my mates a round of beers which I thought was pretty cool. After the last person went up everyone just sort of sits around and talks to one another. About 5 guys came up to me and said good job and to stick with it. They all told me about some other good open-mic places in the area and that I should definitely come. I was impressed with the support and comradery that people showed me. They realize that it is a hard thing to do and recognize that it is a brotherhood in which ya gotta help each other. I thought it was very nice of these dudes to go out of their way to be nice, very cool stuff. Like I said I really have a new found respect for the art of stand-up comedy. It is SO much harder than it looks. People like Carlin, Seinfeld, or David Cross really have a gift. I realize they didn't start out hitting grand slams, they probably started out the same way. It is very hard to deliver lines in a funny and appealing way. Something you and your friends think is funny doesn't necessarily translate into mass appeal. Last night was a very valuble lesson into the intricate world of comedy. Overall I was happy I did it as it was a very encouraging experience and hope to do more.

Movies/Advertisements

Recently I went to see Adventureland. It was a good flick, you should check it out. I did however something happened before the flick that I felt the need to wax about. About 10 years ago they began to show advertisements before the previews began. I remember my father and I talking about how ludicrous and annoying that this new trend was. Now, we have become desensitized to it, it is just the way it is I guess. I'll choose my battles elsewhere. I figured it was just another way of "the man" getting another buck. It's crazy because I already paid for the movie and even so I am still advertised to. Ehh whatever. My recent jaunt to the theater really pushed it into overdrive. I get to the theater early to be sure that I was able to see the trailers. The trailers went well which leads into the normal "no cell phone, no smoking, enjoy the movie" montage. This is where the story turns askew. Normally after all the trailers and the montage then the movie starts, it's just the way it is done, until now. After all that an well-known actor who's name escapes me at the moment. The whole ad was an anti-smoking campaign. The actor engaged in "funny" acts of smoking that attempt to lessen the appeal of cigarettes. The end of the ad is the traditional "Don't Smoke" boring slogan. I was with my friend Suzanne who smokes, and I felt a little bad for her. I should say that I don't smoke and think it's really gross but I have sympathy for the smoker. People can't even go to the movies without being hit with the anti-smoking campaign. I mean she paid for the movie like anyone else, that should entitle her to a couple hours without harassment. I just feel bad for smokers, as far as the anti-smoking tirades in this country. People who smoke realize the harmful effects it has and are fully aware of their ability to quit. In the end it is up to them, their own choice. You can't make someone quit smoking, it is something they must do for themselves. Watching an ad with someone telling me to stop smoking isn't going to do a goddamn thing, expect piss me off. I don't think it is fair how smokers are treated in this country. Sure it is a nasty habit, but it is a free country. It seems to be completely acceptable to single people out with a anti-cigarette ad. Why is this so? Why aren't there ads for not eating junk/fast food, aren't those also detrimental to one's health? It is socially ok to bring up someone's smoking habit but quite taboo to mention their weight. It just seems like a double standard. Point it people should be able to go to the movies free on anti-smoking lectures. Especially right before the movie starts!

Boston Globe

I have been hearing on the news about the long-running newspaper the Boston Globe getting the feel of the economic pinch. Apparently they lost 50 million dollars last year and their parent company the New York Times, isn't very happy. The Globes average circulation has plumeted by 7.5% which has caused a bit of a panic my the Times. A few day ago the Times demanded that the Globe cut their budget by 20 million dollars in 30 days otherwise they could face being shut down for good. I'm not going to discuss the fact that the bigwigs are getting huge bonuses while now the everyday man has to pick up the slack and suffer for it. We all the know the ugliness of that old chestnut. I'm more just concerned with the overall state of things. In case you know we're are in economic turmoil. It's True! I'm not making this up! (knuck knuck). It's crazy to me that a newspaper can go out of business. I mean everyone buys one in the morning, there cheap enough but I guess everything can be touched by this crisis. Recession aside, I'm curious about how much the internet as to do with the low circulation rate. If I was to by the newspaper, there is a significant chunk that I'm not going to read because I'm not interested in. If I go to the internet I can get exactly the news I want and get it for free. The internet is general is having a big effect of things like, music sales, movies sales, etc. The internet is such an easy, cheap, convenient way to do things that is is beginning to make other mediums obsolete. I just think that we have to take a step back and look at the state of things in general, pretty shitty stuff if you ask me. I just feel the possible closing of the Globe is a metaphor for things in general. I guess it just makes me nervous that if a newspaper can go out of business seemingly overnight, what's next? I enjoying the Globe when I get the opportunity to read it. I hope that it doesn't go belly up. Here's hoping for America to turn that proverbial corner and get back on the right track!

Some Impressive Runs

I've recently heard of a couple of long-running programs coming to an end. First off is the NBC series "ER" which began back in 1994. I remember watching this show in 4th grade, yeah that's right 4th grade. It was such an exciting show and at the time you could find no bigger fan than me, even at 10 years old. It launched many careers including the ever-dashing (haha) George Clooney. Once original cast members began to leave, I felt the show started to loss it's luster as the stories at also become somewhat routine. I just sort of lost interest in it all together. I can't remember but I would say that I probably stopped watching it around 1999/2000. After that I forgot about it. A couple of years ago I was watching some TV and heard a commercial for an upcoming episode of ER. I was stunned, I couldn't believe it was still on the air. I thought/assumed it had been cancelled years ago. I was wrong; it was still one of the highest rated shows on television. I was really taken aback when I found out new episodes were being produced. Fast-forward to last night (a bit of a pun) and the final episode of the series aired. After 15 seasons and 331 episodes the show would finally take its curtain call. Because I stopped watching the show years ago, this didn't really make a difference to me, but it has made me think. This show as been on since I was 9 years old, which means it has been on the majority of my life. I remember watching "Must See Thursday Night" on NBC which included Friends at 8, Seinfeld (my unquestioned favorite show of ALL time) at 9, and ER at 10. I just feel sort of like a chapter of my life is ending, despite the fact I stopped watching it long ago. If I think back to events in my life, boom ER was still on, its just a weird thing to think about I guess.

The other show that has announced its finale is the soap opera Guiding Light. This is a show that I have never seen because soap operas make me sick, but I thought it deserved a mention. The show began WAYYYYY back in 1937 on NBC radio until switching to CBS television in 1952. This in effect means that the show has existed for 72 years! It has been on television for 55 years! Those are some pretty amazing numbers, for anything, let alone a program. I really think that soap operas are cheesy and lame but they produced 15,638 television episode alone. Despite the quality of the program, that is a pretty remarkable amount. Think of all the people and man-hours that have gone into this program over the years, it is truly staggering.

I just felt these two programs deserved a bit of a shout-out from yours truly. They both enjoyed long successful runs and that is a pretty hard thing to accomplish these days.

Who Ya Gonna Call?

A friend of mine once said "Whenever I'm flipping around and I see Ghostbusters (I & II) is on, I always watch it". I felt/feel the exact same way. I'm a fan of both, they are both awesome flicks. I just assumed that Ghostbusters was a franchised that was beloved my everyone. I mean, what's not to like. I have recently started to hear from many people that they "hate" Ghostbusters II and think it is an insult compared to the first one. I've gotten into many arguments about this as I feel they are both great, if anything, I prefer the 2nd one to the 1st. They are both great flicks though. Both made in the 80s with legendary casts: Dan Akroyd, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, Rick Moranis, and the god-like Bill Murray. The first one is great with Gozar and the Stay0Puft Marshmallow Man is quality stuff. One of the funniest scenes the a possessed-crazed Moranis running around New York City feverishly asking people "Are you the gatekeeper? I am the keymaster!" Truly quality stuff. As I said, if pushed, I must say I like the 2nd flick. We are talking about a host of things going on here. First and foremost the bad guy is "Vigo the Scourge of Carpathia, the Sorrow of Moldavia", what a bad-ass title. He is a warlord from the 14th century who was also referred to as "Vigo the Cruel, Vigo the Torturer, Vigo the Despised, and Vigo the Unholy". In the flick he exists as a painting that comes to life. The film also involves this pink "mood slime" that is coursing through the sewers beneath the city and react to good and bad human emotion. Eventually Vigo comes to life and the Ghostbusters must save the day. Vigo isn't happy and even brags that "On a mountain of skulls, in the castle of pain, I sat on a throne of blood! What was will be! What is will be no more! Now is the season of evil!" Pretty cool lines from the man himself. Crazy things start happening including the Titanic eventually docking in New York with a slew of ghost deboarding. The best part of the movie is when the Ghostbusters take control of the Statue of Liberty using the NES Advantage controller (a subtle feature I really dug as a kid). I've always said that Ghostbusters II is easily the best use of the statue that I've ever seen, bar none. Eventually the Ghostbusters save the day and all is well. I really don't see what people think is bad about this flick. It is quite similar to the 1st one and equally as funny and entertaining. I really can't even listen to arguments saying that it is bad. There are now rumblings that there is to be a Ghostbusters III. Ramis and Akroyd are supposedly penning the script right now. There is also talks that Seth Rogen is to be in it as the new fresh buster. I'm certainly intrigued, but it will only work if ALL of the original cast is involved. People are worried that it will sully the original franchise but I feel like the more the merrier. I mean the originals will always have a place in my heart as I've seen both of them at least 40 times but I wouldn't mind seeing more ghostbusting madness. There is also a new video game coming out that is supposed to be pretty good. Point being that the Ghostbusters is one of the coolest movie(s) that are out. I mean who ya gonna call, Ghostbusters! obviously.

The Wackness, Peep It

Yesterday I watched The Wackness, a flick I really dug. It stars Josh Peck and Sir Ben Kingsley. Among other things, it is about a bond that develops between Peck and Kingsley's character. Peck is a good-hearted kid, who "keeps it real". He sells pot to Kingsley in exchange for free therapy. The movie takes place in 1994 New York City. It is nice to see a flick set in the 90s. Most flicks that take place in the 90s are only the case because that is when they were filmed. I really grew up in the 90s so I remember it quite vividly. Peck plays Zelda (Gold cartridge and all) on original Nintendo (NES). The film has a lot of subtle 1994 shoutouts. Peck is standing on the corner and a bus passes by with a banner ad for Forest Gump. Peck is later on the subway and everyone is reading the New York Post with the cover story being O.J. Simpson's highway chase in the white Ford Bronco. The flick is also complete with a extremely well thought out and assembled soundtrack. Some of the tracks include: A Tribe Called Quest "Can I Kick It?", Biz Markie "Just A Friend", Will Smith (Summertime), Wu-Tang Clan "Tearz", and Craig Mack "Flava In Your Ear". These are all quality songs that fit perfectly into this flick. I'm a big proponent of having a quality soundtrack to round-out and complete a movie. Also Notorious B.I.G. has much representation in the flick. In 1994 Biggie released his first and only album while he was alive. that album is of course "Ready To Die, which even if you're not a rap fan you can appreciate this piece. Peck buys pot off a Jamaican dude named "Percy" played by Method Man (Wu-Tang alum). In one scene Percy/Method Man is blasting Ready To Die, specifically "The What" which is a song with both Biggie and Method Man. I thought it was a nice subtle piece to the flick that not everyone would pick up on. I was really impressed with this flick. I highly suggest it to anyone. In case you were wondering about the title. One character says to another "I'm all about the dopeness, you're all about the wackness".

Will Ferrell

As of late, I've been on a Will Ferrell kick. I've just been ripping through his flicks. This all came to pass because I just bought Step Brothers with Ferrell and John C. Reilly. This is actually a very funny film. A lot of good one liners that stayed with me even days later. I ended up watching it a few more times before developing a fever for more Ferrell. "I got a fever, and the only prescription is more COWBELL!" haha sorry about that, that was a quality SNL skit with Ferrell. Anyone I went back into my DVD archive and pulled out: Anchorman, Semi-Pro, and Blades of Glory. This worked out well because Ferrell's "Your Welcome America: A Final Night With George Bush", just was just aired on HBO; if you haven't seen it do yourself a favor and check it out post-haste. Anyway Ferrell's flicks have a tendency to grow on you. Every time I watch one of his movies I like it even more and pick up and more and more subtle nuances. Anchorman is far and away the best film in his canon. From start to finish it is nothing but pure hilarity. I wasn't crazy about Semi-Pro the first time I watched it but since seeing it again I am on board and can vouch that it is good stuff. The only Ferrell comedy I don't enjoy it Taladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. I know I am in the minority here but I just don't think its funny, at all. I was so pumped to see it and when I finally made it to the theater I couldn't have been more let down. It serves me right for getting overly excited about flicks. I've found that it is best to try and keep my hopes reasonable because it can be easy to disappoint, especially with all the crapola that is out there these days. Aside from comedy, Ferrell is actually a quality actor. For those of you who have seen Stranger Than Fiction, you know what I'm taking about. The film is very inventive, creative, and well done. Ferrell is absolutely spot on as the character Harold Crick. Being on this Ferrell kick I have neglected one but mighty title. I have been saving it to cap off this little Ferrell-O-Rama I've been on. That flick of course is Old School. I can't say anything about this flick, it speaks volumes for itself.

Angry Video Game Nerd

A couple years ago I was on a youtube binge (every once in a while I go on youtube for hours on end). I was just typing in random things including video game titles. What I stumbled upon was a series of videos starring the self-proclaimed "Angry Video Game Nerd". In these videos he reviews classic NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) games that were less than perfect. I think video games have become very fine-tuned with a specific but pretty much everyone remembers playing Nintendo when they were young. I think it is partly due to the fact that Nintendo was billed more as a toy rather than a video game. Regardless, if you have ever played old Nintendo games than you know how frustrating some of the games can be. Because the technology there are many questionable and illogical things about some games that make the game virtually unplayable. The Angry Video Game Nerd basically goes on heated rants about why some of these games were so bad. Being familiar with the games makes the videos even funnier but even if you don't know them the videos are funny. The videos so clips from the games and have other funny graphics happening throughout the game review.

I was immediately hooked from that day on, as I found these videos to be right up my alley. I went on to discover that the Angry Video Game Nerd (AVGN) was in fact a dude named James Rolfe who has his own website Cinemassacre.com. In addition to his character of AVGN was just one of many facets of what Rolfe does on his site. He allows does movie reviews of classic horror movies, 80s films, and waxes about other funny film issues. He also is an avid horror movie film and makes his own shorts that are actually pretty good. He updates the site with new material at least once a week. The site is a real treat to explore. If you haven't been on before you can really log in some time with the slew of assorted material. All of his videos have good production value and he admits he uses nothing more than ProTools. I think these videos are pretty inspiring to create my own material being that he seems to have a fun time with what he is going. He actually has a deal with Spike TV and is know seeing some profits from his work, he deserves it. He also was able to compile the AVGN videos into two separate DVDs that he sells through his website. Here are the URLs to his site:

http://www.cinemassacre.com/new/index.php (Main Site)

http://www.cinemassacre.com/new/?page_id=13 (Direct URL to Angry Video Game Nerd Videos)

Star Wars, What More Can I Say?

I realize as of late that this blog as sort of become about how I like certain movies but hey I believe in giving credit where credit is due. Every so often I get into a Star Wars mode. When this happens I will start watching one if not both of the trilogies. I find it to be such a good story to get sucked into. I realize that to some it may be nerdy but I really don't care, there just too damn good. Since it's spring break I've got nothing but time so I decided to jaunt into the world of Jedis, Lightsabers, and the Force. I decided to watch the original trilogy (Episodes IV, V, VI). Every time I watch them I have to stop and reflect about how truly amazing these movies are. In 1977, Star Wars broke open the world of special effects and created a whole new level of effects and film making in general. Aside from the effects, I believe the saga of Star Wars to be one of the best stories ever told. It's got the archetypes of heroes, villains, sidekicks, and mentors. The stories are all intertwined to tell an amazing story about a galaxy far far away. Most people think that it takes place in the future but in fact it takes place in the past, "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far, away". All 6 of the episodes are actually about the rise, fall, and redemption of Anakin Skywalker aka. Darth Vader. It really a beautiful and tragically spun story. To see someone with limitless potential, squander it by falling victim to the "dark side", is one of these most tragic things in life, something I think most anyone can agree with. Fortunately there is Luke who is the "new hope" which represents the human spirit which can prevail and triumph evil regardless of the odds. I really don't think liking these movies makes one "nerdy" because they are just so great and a benchmark of the limitless possibilities of film. After watching the trilogy I watched a supplemental documentary "Empire of Dreams" which recounts the production of the original trilogy. It is so nice to hear first-hand accounts of what it was like to produce such a unique piece of work. At first it was a little depressing watching this because I feel like "I could never do that", but after thinking about it, the case is quite the opposite. As an aspiring filmmaker I find this documentary, and the films in general, as motivation to further my career into the world of film. In fact George Lucas bankrolled all these movies himself which aside from making him very rich, also allowed him to open Lucas Film LTD, Skywalker Sound THX, and Industrial Light & Magic, all of which are the pinnacle of special effects and film making in the realm of cinema. I could literally talk about these movies for ever, the canon of information is that large. There are so many spin-offs and sub stories from these movies it is truly astonishing. The prequel trilogy is also very good but the cream of the crop still lies in the original 3 movies. The movies speak for themselves, and if you don't believe me then check them out. I highly suggest anyone check out any of these films, my personal favorite is the Empire Strikes Back.

Slumdog

Tuesday night, I finally got the chance to go the movies and see Slumdog Millionaire. Man, is this a good flick. I thought I had a general idea of what it was about but at the same time had no idea. I knew it centered on a kid out of poverty getting the opportunity to play "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?". I was right, but it is so very much more than that. I just want to voice my utter " blown awayness" by this flick, don't hesitate to continue reading as I promise not to give anything away.
Think about the poorest, dirtiest, most third-class place in the world, multiply it by some random infintecint number, and the result will be where the main character Jamal is from. This is a place that you wouldn't really believe existed on planet Earth, but unfortunately it does. Jamal goes through extreme trials that test one's character.
I enjoyed so many things about this movie. The locations were so beautiful, even if it mainly took place in a slum. Everything from the cinematography to the acting was completely first class. I especially enjoyed the soundtrack which at times had the power to transport you into the film. It was very loud, and fast paced with a lot of bass. It was great. Danny Boyle is certainly worthy of winning the Best Director Oscar this year as this film is a great example of his gifts. If you are not familiar with his work, get familiar, I suggest Trainspotting, The Beach, or 28 Days Later.
The film also won Best Picture which I am completely satisfied with. In a previous post I discussed my disappointment with The Dark Knight not receiving a nomination, which I still stand by, but Slumdog definitely deserved to win. It was one of those rare films that has the ability to truly show you a completely different world than your own. I can't say enough about this movie. I actually ended up seeing it on Wednesday for the matinee, so in effect I saw it twice it less than 24 hours. The flick is coming out on DVD March 31st, but I strongly suggest seeing it in the theaters, as I'm sure it will have a more profound effect on you. I think there is something to be said for seeing flicks in the theaters as that is the way it is intended to me seen. Regardless, do yourself a favor, see this movie. I'm sure it will stay with you after it's over just like it has done with me.

The Oscars

I found this year's Academy Awards to be something of a letdown. There was a large build-up for the festivities this year. I couldn't tie my shoes without hearing something about the event. According to what I heard, the Oscar's this year were going to be very different from years past. The goal was to hearken back to the 'Golden Age" of cinema and the Oscars. They did make a valiant attempt from the get-go by getting Hugh Jackman to host. I thought this was a bold move being that he is primarily and action star best know as Wolverine in the X-Men movies. Apparently Jackman is a well-trained theater and "song and dance man". I actually felt that he did an adequate job. My beef lies in some other areas.
For starters, as usual, I had a problem with some of the nominations, and lack there of. I was a gigantic fan of the Dark Knight. Despite it being a superhero movie, I really felt it merited Best Picture and Best Director consideration. I realize that it is not the typical movie that receive these accolations, but in this case exceptions should have been made. I also think that "The Wrestler" and director Darren Aronfsky should have been given consideration as well.
People have told me, and I agree, they didn't show clips from the nominated movies during the best acting categories. When it came time to award the Oscar from Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actress, 5 previous winners of their respective categories came out and sung the praises of each individual and their performances. I liked seeing past winners but the praise for each person eventually became repetitive and felt forced. I think seeing a clip of the actor's performance speaks volumes compared to someone talking about how good they were. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words.
I really felt that Mickey Rourke got snubbed in terms of not winning Best Actor. For those who are seen "The Wrestler" you can probably attest to the raw, awesome performance of Rourke. Not to take anything away from Sean Penn as Harvey Milk, but Rourke was one of the most believable characters I've ever seen in film. He swept up all the other awards like the Golden Globes. He really should have taken home the statue this year.
I always enjoy watching the Academy Awards every year, and this year was no different. I'm glad I watched it, I just had some issues with it.

Friday the 13th

Ok, I'll admit it. I'm actually excited to see the new remake of 'Friday the 13th'. It's being released on Friday the 13th, which is kind of cheesy but also extremely bad-ass. I have seen the other ones and am not much of a fan. Except 'Freddy Vs. Jason' but that is on a completely different level. I actually have a friend who paid for and went to see it 9 times in the movie theater. A record as far as I'm concerned.
Judging by the trailer it looks to be pretty solid. Obviously the trailer can be misleading and not an accurate representation of the actual film. It looks to have a more realistic approach to the franchise, which is known for being made up of a lot of cheese. The kills are always pretty entertaining but aside from that, a bit of a joke.
This remake is directed by Marcus Nispel who also directed the 2003 remake of the 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre', which is was completely blown away by. Also it is produced by mega-uber-action director Michael Bay (Transformers, Bad Boys) who also produced the 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre'. The film seems to be taken pretty seriously, considering the content.
I really doubt they would remake a such a classic movie if it wasn't going to be phenomenal. I mean what would be the point? Horror remakes tend to be pretty good because truth be told the originals aren't. Sure the originals are the originals and have cult status while starting the franchise. However, when you get serious, usually the movies themselves are pretty sub-standard. I really think that this is going to be a quality flick. I'm going to the 9:55 show and expecting to come out satisfied. Wish me luck!

Animation, Good Stuff

I just got back from seeing the new CG-Animated movie 'Coraline' for the 2nd time this week. This time I saw it in 3d which added a completely new dimension to it (forgive the filthy pun). I really enjoyed this flick very much. Not knowing anything about the series of books I just went in because I wanted to see a flick and the choices were pretty scant. I really enjoy the Disney Pixar movies over the past decade or so. I feel, these days, they are the pinnacle of animation. I also enjoy Dreamworks' animation to a lesser extent. This flick Coraline though, pretty solid stuff. It was directed by Henry Selick, who also direct 'A Nightmare Before Christmas'. That's one thing I am always compelled to correct people about, most think Tim Burton directed both flicks. He produced 'Nightmare' and actually had nothing to do with this flick. This flick was pretty dark but with charm to it. Without giving anything away this is a pretty all-around good flick. The music, dialogue, animation, everything was very on-point. The trailers at the beginning were also promising, Ice Age 3 and Monsters Vs. Aliens. They looked "cute", as they say.
Bringing it back to Burton, he has some interesting things coming up. The remake of 'Alice In Wonderland' warrants curiosity. However, the upcoming CG movie '9' that he is producing looks to be all together stellar. This flick is based upon an Academy Award nominated short by the same name created by Shane Acker, who is also going to direct the feature. Here are a list of reasons why you should want to see this flick:

1. It comes out 9-9-09 and the movie is called '9'. Although it has nor baring on the quality of the flick it just sounds cool.

2. The short was pretty interesting and definitely leaves the watcher wanting more.

3. Good cast of voice talent, including: John C. Reilly, Martin Landau, Elijah Wood, and Jennifer Connelly.

4. Crispin Glover is also a voice. That dude is nuts, and by my estimation of his talent warrants a separate reason that the other's voices.

5. Coheed & Cambria (completely awesome band) are going to have songs in the film. In fact 'Welcome Home' can be heard in the trailer, and it is very well used.

5. Burton is producing it so it has to have some sort of credibility to it.


6. Simple: The Trailer - (http://www.apple.com/trailers/focus_features/9/large.html)

To put it simply, if the trailer doesn't get you completely pumped, I just have nothing to say to you.

Is H-O-R-S-E Not Good Enough Anymore?

I am a pretty big sports fan. I am always watching ESPN to see what's going on in the wide wide wide wide world of sports, because something always is. With the NBA's All-Star Weekend coming up there is a lot going on. Aside from the game itself, there is the tradition Slam Dunk Contest, 3-Point Contest, and Rookie Vs. Sophomores Game. There has been a call for a game of H-O-R-S-E over the last few seasons to give a little something extra for the fans to watch. This is a game I think most everyone has played in which you try to mimic someone's shot and if you miss you get a letter (H,O, and so on). Finally the NBA agreed to add a traditional game of HORSE to the festivities. I was happy to hear it. The very next day after the annoucement, the NBA announced that the game would still take place but it was going to be called GEICO, after the insurance company. Everything would be the same but instead of the letters of HORSE they will use G,E,I,C,and O.
When I heard this I felt like vomiting. It is complete shameful and the NBA should be embarrassed. I understand we live in a sports world where advertising and endorsements sully the integrity of the sport(s) but there is a line. We are talking about a game that most remember fondly playing as children. Is it really necessary to change the letters to an insurance company? Couldn't it be "NBA's All Star HORSE, brought to you by GEICO"? It just really angers me how nothing is sacred these days. I can't say I blame GEICO because it is good advertising. My beef lies with the NBA for even considering such a farce. It is completely disgusting and something should be done about it. Where do we draw the line, is the basketball itself going to have a big McDonald's Arch on it, or the backboard to have a Coca-Cola logo on it. It sounds funny, but wait a couple years, you never know what may happen.

Left-Wing News, Possible?

Bjorn commented on my post last week concerning OutFoxed. He admitted that, like myself, he is a liberal. He said "Personally speaking, I think "liberal bias" in media is a (conservative) myth. News as a business skews it to the right." With this statement, I couldn't agree more. News is inherently more geared towards the right side of the spectrum. The old news idea that "if it bleeds, it leads" is a complete right-way of thinking, or at least more so than a liberal point of view. News up until now tends to much more conservative. I don't watch the news as much as I probably should because I just find it to be too depressing. For every one uplifting story, there are three horror stories.
It makes me wonder if a left-wing news broadcast could make it. There are more liberal news broadcasts like "Chronicle" or "60 Minutes" but they are more editorial shows rather than hard fact news broadcasts. I think that a more liberal news program could survive in a right-wing environment. If anything, its staying power would lie in the fact (what a pun haha) that it would be a one of its kind. Reading other people's posts and blogs I get the impression that most are more towards the left-side of things and don't like broadcasts such as Fox News. There should be an alternative for people. Especially in this day-in-age, everything is all about choice. Why not get to really choose what kind of news we want to watch?

OutFoxed

So after watching OutFoxed I had a few thoughts, so here goes...

First off, I really liked the title. As it is a deliciously well-constructed pun. In my opinion a good title, such as pun can be the a huge factor in the movie. Being that this film was an attempt to illustrate Fox News' underhanded practices "OutFoxed" works really well, especially with the emphasis on a capital "F" in what would normally be spelled "Outfoxed". Some other movies I enjoy with good titles include Bee Movie (a take on a B-movie, usually horror), Hostel (a cheap hotel room and 'hostile' people). I can think of anymore off the top of my head, but I know puns they are a plenty. Point being I think puns are a smart move, in more ways than one.

I think the filmmakers did a good job and accomplished what I assume they had set out to do. They did an admirably job at showing the slimy practices of a news corporation that self-proclaimed motto is where America goes for its' news. I do agree that Fox News is anything but balanced, however the filmmakers are somewhat hypocritical. OutFoxed depicts Fox News as nothing but a completely one-sided, right-wing, corporation who's motives much always be questioned. Whether that is true or not is up for debate. The problem with the film is that it itself is biased and unbalanced. The filmmakers crusade to destroy this corporation and do so only by interviewing people who are biased and don't like Fox News. They interview former employees who have been fired or let go. Of course those individuals are going to have an ax to grind. The film is trying to illustrate the importance of fair and balanced reporting when film itself is nothing but biased propaganda do sway people away from Fox News. I admire the film's inherent goal but the execution is lacking.

That's just this guy's two cents, take it for what it's worth.

Sopranos, Sucked In Again

I figured I would start off my first real post with something that has been occupying my life as of the last few weeks...The Sopranos. This is a show that I have been on board with since the get-go, circa 1999. I would watch this show RELIGIOUSLY every Sunday night. When the box set for each season would come out, I would be there bright and early Tuesday to pick it up. I have seen each episode probably 3-5 times a piece, my favorite being 'Pine Barrons' from season 3. Every so often I will get the itch to watch the series. This happened to me last March, but I just picked it up at season 3 and went from there. A few weeks ago my friend was watching a particularly good episode from season 5. Despite it being edited to hell on A&E, that's all it took to reignite the flame. I immediately went home and crack open the season 1 box set. I am a few episodes from the completion of the entire season. I approach the end with a mixed bag of feelings ranging from joy, sadness, anger, regret, curiousness, and unfulfillment.
I really love this show, and really have no complaints (even in a nit-picky sort of way), save one. This is some of the best written work I've seen, but the ending still angers me. For those who are unfamiliar, the last five minutes of the last episode of the entire show builds up to a crescendo and then the screen instantly turns black. There are many conspiracy theories ranging from Tony being killed, the entire family killed, nothing happens and they continue living their lives. Every time I watch it I feel cheated. I don't care what David Chase was trying to do with his clever "ending" to the famed series, it is a cop out. I can understand it is hard to end such a acclaimed gargantuan of a show but there needs to be some sort of closure. I didn't watch 86, one hour episodes to learn that I don't know what happened to the main character(s). Some enjoy the idea that you can create your own ending and think whatever you want, but not me. I like ominous and mysterious but this ending leaves you with nothing but unfulfillment. People think that there will be a movie. That is completely false because most of the people in show either got killed, sent to jail, or even died in jail. I just wish that after all the time and money I invested in the show, I got some sort of closure. I just feel robbed, and there's nothing that I can do about it. Curse the heavens!

Here Goes Nothing...

This isn't my first time with a course blog. There actually pretty cool becuase they are a more informal way of talking about the course and reading what my fellow classmates feel in a more casual or even lay-man's terms. I am actually excited to dive right into the subject because this kind of stuff is right up my alley. I am going to go ahead and wish myself and everybody else good luck this semester, Dr. Bjorn included.