SLC PUNK

I just watched SLC Punk I had forgotten what an interesting movie that it is. If you like punk music the soundtrack alone is worth listening to. But that really is not the most interesting aspect of the movie. It is really an existential exploration of what the punk movement meant to people in the 1980's. Or more accurately what punk meant to one man.

I would put it into the same category as Fight Club because it really is asking what a person is supposed to do as they move from childhood to adolescence to adulthood. It is really a question of how do you stay authentic within a scene like that when to be authentic is to not move forward in life. As the characters in the film grow older they begin to split apart and cracks start to form in their friendships as the real world starts to intrude on the adolescent existence.

A girl in the movie finally asks the main character why he is trying so hard to look a certain way. She says wouldn't it be more rebellious to just leave your hair alone and not spend all your time trying to find punky clothes to wear. She had realized that the whole scene was dying and had become basically one big Halloween party where everyone was beginning to look exactly the same. That is the problem with any group movement when people have to start wearing a uniform to be what they think is an individual.

That is the sad nature of the punk scene today. I see these kids roaming around the town looking exactly like the punks did when I was in highschool. Nothing has changed. The world hasn't been destroyed the system of capitalism hasn't fallen apart. Corporate Amerika hasn't eaten itself (though it might in the future) . There is no scene, nothing is original anymore it is only a variant on what has gone before. It isn't about selling out or even buying in.

It is just about doing what you want to do and not being worried about whatever particular scene you want to fit into.

Top 5 Worst Remakes!!

I wrote an article for my friend Christophers Blog on my Top 5 Worst Film remakes and I wanted to post it hear as well. I intend to write more on here as I move toward a set schedule of some sort.

Hello my few and I hope loyal readers. I am sorry that I was not able to make an appearance on CT’s blog the last couple of weeks but the real world got in the way. That is all taken care of and I am now back to ask you this question.

When it comes to film, why make a remake? As we move further into the 2000’s it seems that Hollywood is having a harder and harder time coming up with new and fresh ideas. Oh sure there are always a few new films that surprise us but even those it seems come from the world of graphic novels and literature and not just appearing on screen for the first time fresh as if they have been taken from their mothers womb.

So, why make a remake? Is it all about the money? Well certainly a large part of it is. But, that can’t be the only reason. Perhaps, the power behind the remake had such a deep respect and love for the original material that they wanted to make a remake as a tribute to the original. I can understand that desire but I wonder if the love for the source material is such that they are unable to look back with a clear eye at it.

Maybe they think the original missed something and that they can retell the story making it that much better. That their vision will be clearer and more nuanced then the original. But sadly more often then not the remake misses the mark and what ends up on screen is either nothing like the original, is insulting to the fans of the original, or so much like the original that it makes you wonder why they bothered at all. Why not just re-release the original?

I think that my top five worst remakes are a pretty simple list and my reasons run from lack of money made to just being a bad film or I felt that it didn’t really need to be remade in the first place.

1. Psycho (1998) A shot for shot color remake by Gus Van Sant of one of the best films of all time let alone one of the best black and white films of all time. A remake that didn’t need to be made.
2. Planet of the Apes (2001) this had some potential but it was just not a good film. There really wasn’t anything likeable about it.
3. Transformers (2007) this film had several problems for me. The biggest one being Michael Bay with him directing the only way I would have wanted to see this film less was if it starred Tom Cruise. I mean come on roller bladeing robots?
4. The Manchurian Candidate (2004) This was directed by Jonathan Demme and starring Denzel Washington, both of whom I like, but it just didn’t work for me. The original in 1962 is just an amazing film that really keeps you glued to your seat and the ending will blow your mind.
5. The Nutty Professor (1996) This travesty of a remake of the classic Jerry Lewis film was just sad for me to watch as Eddie Murphy attempted to fill Lewis’ shoes and failed miserably.

Well that is my top 5 or bottom 5 if you would rather. What are your thoughts agree or disagree please tell me why?

*Incidentally, a prequel to the miserable Planet of the Apes remake is planned.

Weekend Top 10!!

It was a sad weekend for Miley Cyrus as Hannah Montana fell out of the number 1 slot. Who dethroned her you ask, well it was another product of the Disney machine Zac Efron, (He really has done well since graduating from "High School Musical") , starring in yet another remake of "Freaky Friday" a little film called "17 Again". I complain and complain about these remakes but I guess it doesn't matter because Hollywood keeps cranking them out and you lousy mouth breathers go to watch them. So after that abusive and baseless accusation here is the weekends Top 10.

1. “17 Again,” $24.1 million.

2. ” State of Play ,” $14.1 million.

3. “Monsters vs. Aliens,” $12.9 million. ($163,723,000 total)

4. ” Hannah Montana: The Movie ,” $12.7 million. ($56,133,000 total)

5. “Fast & Furious,” $12.3 million. ($136,720,610 total)

6. ” Crank: High Voltage ,” $6.5 million.

7. “Observe and Report,” $4.1 million. ($18,692,000 total)

8. “Knowing,” $3.5 million. ($73,698,556 total)

9. “I Love You, Man,” $3.4 million. ($64,657,000 total)

10. ” The Haunting in Connecticut ,” $3.2 million. ($51,920,000 total)

[source = mediabynumbers ]

FOX Network Sucks!!!!

There I said it and by and large I believe it. But, every now and then something comes along that makes me say "Hey, maybe they are willing to be creative and try something a little different." Of course this all means nothing if they do not let the show stay on the air for a few seasons and gain some fans. That said I want you to watch this preview of an up coming show and tell me what you think. I will freely admit that I am a sucker for musicals. Now watch this while I dance around the room and make jazz hands!!

My 10 Favorite Shows That Were Canceled To Soon!!

I watch a fair amount of television, well to be honest I watch my television on the computer using HULU and other free television services. That said I grew up watching a lot of television. I have fond memories of being home after school and sitting down in front of KPTV Channel 12 and watching The Brady Bunch followed I believe by Gilligan's Island then an episode of Wonder Woman or Buck Rogers and often there would be some Starsky and Hutch as well as a Battlestar Gallactica thrown in there. I really think that in some ways before cable when television was syndicated it was a better time. I do not think that more channels has made fore better television. Sure there are more choices out there but when the choices are just different levels of crap it kind of sucks. But, I realize that often there are good shows out there that just disappear. That the fan base just didn't show up for or perhaps the network really picked a crappy time slot or the network didn't care about them. That being said I bring to you my top 10 favorite shows that were ended to soon.

1. WKRP in Cincinnati - A really excellent show and one that failed really because of network stupidity I believe.

2. Arrested Development - Another show that really proved how stupid the executives at Fox really are.

3. The Ben Stiller Show - This may be a controversial choice but I think this is some of Ben Stillers best work and often far better then his movies. An example of both fans and Fox (again) executives just not getting it.

4. Firefly - Oh look, three in a row for Fox!! Though, I would contend that if the show had continued I am not sure if the quality would have stood up.

5. Freaks and Geeks - A really, really, good show. One that scored on all levels and the cast has by and large gone on to bigger and better things. I blame NBC for not knowing how it market what they had. Maybe it is possible to be to smart for television.

6. Andy Richter Controls The Universe - I think this show was ahead of its time. It really seems like people just did not get it. Oh and surprise, surprise Fox (again).

Change of plans. I am stopping at 6 because it is just to depressing to go on. So tell me what your favorite canceled shows are. I look forward to hearing from you.

Hannah Montana is # 1 !

It was a big weekend for Disney and Miley Cyrus as her Hannah Montana movie took in an estimated $34 million at the box office in what was Hollywood's biggest Easter weekend ever. The top 10 is listed below. (Media By Numbers)

1. Hannah Montana- The Movie Disney $34M

2. Fast & Furious Universal $28.7 M

3. Monsters Vs. Aliens Paramount $22.6 M

4. Observe and Report Warner Bros. $11.1 M

5. Knowing Summit Ent. $6.6 M

6. I Love You Man Paramount $6.4 M

7. Haunting in Conn. Lionsgate $5.7M

8. Dragonball Evo. Fox $4.6M

9. Adventureland Miramax $3.4 M

10. Duplicity Universal $2.9 M

Now, there are some enjoyable movies on that list. Are they movies of quality? Will that depends on what you are looking for in a movie. I really enjoyed "I Love You Man" but was it a film that really used cinema to tell me something that I didn't know about myself or shine a light on something in the world that I did not fully understand? No, it di not. But, what it did do was entertain me and I did not feel that my $9 dollars was wasted at the movies. Often, that is all people are looking for and there is no harm in that.

Revenge of the Nerds!!

I just wanted to give everybody a heads up as one of my all time favorite comedy movies. Hell, I am willing to call it one of my all time favorite movies. It seems that the glorious people at Hulu have just loaded up "Revenge of the Nerds". So please join me and watch the adventures of Lewis and the rest of the nerds in their quest to become Lamda, Lambda, Lamda!

You know that you love it!!