Dear Avid Reader,
Sometimes folks would rather have things simple. But things are never simple. They're complicated.
I'm going to try and complicate Enter The Dragon for you now.
Don't Concentrate On The Finger Or You Will Miss All That Heavenly Glory
Here's the problem: the world has no supervillians. But the world needs supervillains, powerful, evil, and brilliant masters of destruction. They need to laugh with "MU-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA". That's right. We need people that start their laughs with "MU".
See, the universe needs folks like Han from Enter the Dragon. A dude that somehow got a bunch of money (I'm guessing a government grant). Someone who's ambitious, smart, and can hold his own in a fight. Han is all of these classically super-villianous things including a mind twisted to the brink of madness. I think that because he never fully recovered mentally from the accident that took his hand, he feels compelled to dominate the world out of an insecurity that he is no longer a whole man. So rather than get a nice prosthetic hand, the guy slaps fur on a garden hoe, then straps the grotesque contraption on his gnarled stump to slice folks in the face. In other words, he's a perfect supervillian.
Very Few People Can Be Totally Ruthless
Like all supervillians you can't go after Han directly. Sure you know every crime he's committed, but you lack evidence. He's just that good. So you have to send a guy in to infiltrate his organization and bring him down from the inside. Someone with a personal beef with the criminal-genius and also someone who has legendary butt kicking skills. Don't worry there's always a guy like that around. The Hans of the world are always killing the person that turns out to be the father of a loose cannon in the special forces. Or the daughter of a boxer that hung up his gloves after he killed an opponent in the ring. Supervillians always go one step too far. This time it was attempting to rape the sister of a spiritual kung-fu dude that...does...kung-fu...and...wait, does Lee have a job or anything? I think he's basically homeless.
Something else that troubles me is how does Han, and other supervillians, get awesome henchmen like O'Hara and Bolo? I mean. I don't think they get days off. Sure they get all of the comforts of the secret island, but what f they wanted to start a family? And what about when they get old? I don't think Han would allow them to retire. They probably have to keep henchmen-ing until they die. I think henchmen need a union. I don't think anyone is looking out for them.
Boards Don't Hit Back
So here's why the world needs supervillians. It's because it is getting harder and harder to tell who the bad guys are anymore. Han makes heroin, kidnaps the poor and conducts experiments on them, kills chicks in his harem for fun, and kills his guards when they make a mistake. He's a terrible human. It's easy to hate him.
But in reality, is it so easy to find the bad guys? It's election season, let's look through that spectrum. When does a political attack ad change from spin into lie? Here in Texas, I saw an ad that accused an opponent of allowing Texas to have one of the highest sales-tax in the country. But the thing is that Texas has no state income tax. And because taxes have to come from somewhere, Texas has higher property and sales tax. It's not anyone's fault, it's just the way it is. So was this a lie, or just stating the facts with a creepy dude's voice?
You Can Call It "The Art Of Fighting Without Fighting"
The truth is complicated. The thought is that the truth is simple because lies traditionally exaggerate or fabricate. But leaving out parts of the truth is also lying. Or is it? I don't know what to call it. I just know it's bullcrap.
If there was an alternative to having people in charge of things (like letting robots or gnomes take a crack at it), maybe things would work out better. The problem is that flawed, imperfect, gross, regular people are all there is to turn to. Even the heroes of Enter the Dragon are flawed. Lee gets captured by Han's trap, which means he can be careless. Williams and Roper are hustlers and womanizers (and one questions Roper's fighting ethics when he bites Bolo's leg). Are these the only people to count on to defeat evil. Unfortunately, the answer is yes.
Destroy The Image And You Will Break The Enemy
But if we had supervillians, then deciding who to fight would be a cinch. There would be no question as to if this was "right"or "wrong". Just look at the dude's house. It's a freaking island fortress complete with a booby-trapped dungeon-maze that's loaded with brawlers in white gis. Look, they're all punching in formation. Put the protest signs down.
But alas, the world is more sophisticated than that. Every day wrought with ethical dilemma. Such is life in the richest country in the world. But I can still dream right?
Yes, I can dream of a world filled with supervillians. I'm doing it right now.
Until Next I Blog,
James
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Week 7: Donnie Darko
Dear Avid Reader,
Can a movie be awesome even though you hate it? I say yes. This is because I've seen Donnie Darko.
Go Home And Tell Your Parents Everything's Gonna Be O.K.
Donnie Darko is a terrible movie. Now I wonder if I hate this movie because it is truly awful, or because it was made for teenagers after I was no longer a teenager. Did I simply become a fuddy-duddy at 22? Maybe teenagers of this generation just like awful movies. That sounds like something a fuddy-dudy would say. These dumb teenagers and their dumb awful movies made me sound like a fuddy-duddy.
I'm going to stop typing fuddy-duddy right now.
Every Living Creature On Earth Dies Alone
Here's why I don't like the film. Everyone in the film is some form of unlikeable a-hole. The End.
Let's use Donnie as an example. Donnie is a troubled misanthrope that can't decide if he has a heart of gold or is full of rage at an unsatisfying world. He defends Cherita at the bus stop, but is a total, unjustifiable brat to his mom. He is kind to Gretchen but he is vicious to his sisters. He bullies the teachers at his school but is in turn bullied by fellow students. Donnie has it both ways. Now some might say that the character has complexity, but I disagree. He's just an unlikeable a-hole.
See, the duality isn't given nuance. Rather it relies on tropes that are all smashed together. Here are some more of the movie's smashed up tropes:
- Predominately white suburban neighborhood appears to be happy and wealthy but underneath is spiritually unfulfilling.
- Intellectual family at center of movie feels under attack from stupid and politically conservative members of community.
- Psychiatrist that pushes for more medication.
- Lone teacher who "gets" art is embattled with conservative school administration.
- Spiritual leader that is big on traditional values but has secret, deviant, sexual proclivities.
- Pop culture conversation that inserts a depth to a TV show/movie/song that reframes the work in a funny/interesting light.
Wait, I do that last one all the time. I'm doing it right now. Ignore the last line.
Why Do You Wear That Stupid Bunny Suit?
The problem isn't that the tropes are used, it's the feeling I get from them. The movie's seams are jagged and crooked. I feel like I've seen this movie before only better. There are attempts at originality, like with the time travel thing (TTT).
Now, I like the TTT, but if you start reading blog posts about it, hardcore fans seem to think that it is some huge, really deep aspect of the film. Like there is something more to it that what is offered. But there isn't, it's real simple. I'll explain. Donnie can see the immediate future through the cool, chest special effect. Frank helps Donnie understand that what he is experiencing from the plane crash on is life if he decides to live as opposed to die in the crash. He is given a the choice to sacrifice himself or Gretchen. He chooses himself. See, simple stuff. I mean this is all covered in It's A Wonderful Life. And George Bailey did act like a douche to everyone.
Time's Up Frank Said
And the TTT leads to the dumbest conversation in the movie. The one between Dr. Monnitoff and Donnie later in the movie, the second one they have. The one where we start to get into how the TTT works that ends when Monnitoff says that continuing it will cause him to get fired. Fired. For talking theoretical science. Seriously? Talking about time travel? That doesn't make any sense. Even the most backwards administration wouldn't fire the guy for talking about what is basically science fiction.
Or maybe the worst conversation is between Pomeroy and the principal when she gets fired. You know, the one where she gives her impassioned plea for the welfare of the students, minus the passion. The one where no clear reason for the firing is offered not because it's been a long time coming from constant fighting with the school leaders, but because the writer is lazy. The one where it looks like Drew is reading her lines out of a script in her lap. I hate this movie.
Sometimes I Doubt Your Commitment To Sparkle Motion
What really bugs me about the flick is that it feeds into the belief that negative people are smarter or better than people that are positive. Mrs. Pomeroy and Donnie spend the entire flick hatin', and they are the heroes of the movie. This just infuriates me. Why are the most condescending characters getting top billing? It's because it's such an easy tactic: being critical means you are more authentic, more honest.
And no one exemplifies this more than Donnie. He acts as the untouchable judge, the administrator of justice against hypocrisy, throughout the flick. But he isn't perfect. He isn't above everyone. He's just a kid with an attitude and psychological problems that has a penchant for needling community leaders publicly. Try getting elected judge with that wacky resume.
But here's the thing, the opposite is also true. It's just as honest to look for the cool things about something as it is for the lame things. It's just as authentic to say something is good as it is to say it's bad. It's also more fun to be raving about stuff. And I realize the irony of bashing a movie for an essay and then saying that it's wrong to bash things. Or is it not irony but hypocrisy? Idiocy? I hate this movie.
What's Cellar Door?
But I love this movie for one thing. At the talent show Cherie does the angel dance and all of the characters clap loudly for her. Now while some jerks scream jeers, the others just clap louder. That's what I'm talking about. We need more of that. Maybe I like this movie. I'm conflicted. Are there other cool parts? Now that I think about, there are. The school montage set to Tears for Fears early in the movie is the greatest sequence ever. It rules! It's better than the actual video for "Head Over Heels". ALL the music in the flick is great. Yeah. I'm starting to feel good about Donnie Darko.
Nah, I really hate this movie. It's an awesome movie that I hate. I'm not going to explain how that is possible. You're just going to have to go with it.
Until Next I Blog,
James
P.S. I ask "Is that Seth Rogen?" everytime he comes on-screen too.
Can a movie be awesome even though you hate it? I say yes. This is because I've seen Donnie Darko.
Go Home And Tell Your Parents Everything's Gonna Be O.K.
Donnie Darko is a terrible movie. Now I wonder if I hate this movie because it is truly awful, or because it was made for teenagers after I was no longer a teenager. Did I simply become a fuddy-duddy at 22? Maybe teenagers of this generation just like awful movies. That sounds like something a fuddy-dudy would say. These dumb teenagers and their dumb awful movies made me sound like a fuddy-duddy.
I'm going to stop typing fuddy-duddy right now.
Every Living Creature On Earth Dies Alone
Here's why I don't like the film. Everyone in the film is some form of unlikeable a-hole. The End.
Let's use Donnie as an example. Donnie is a troubled misanthrope that can't decide if he has a heart of gold or is full of rage at an unsatisfying world. He defends Cherita at the bus stop, but is a total, unjustifiable brat to his mom. He is kind to Gretchen but he is vicious to his sisters. He bullies the teachers at his school but is in turn bullied by fellow students. Donnie has it both ways. Now some might say that the character has complexity, but I disagree. He's just an unlikeable a-hole.
See, the duality isn't given nuance. Rather it relies on tropes that are all smashed together. Here are some more of the movie's smashed up tropes:
- Predominately white suburban neighborhood appears to be happy and wealthy but underneath is spiritually unfulfilling.
- Intellectual family at center of movie feels under attack from stupid and politically conservative members of community.
- Psychiatrist that pushes for more medication.
- Lone teacher who "gets" art is embattled with conservative school administration.
- Spiritual leader that is big on traditional values but has secret, deviant, sexual proclivities.
- Pop culture conversation that inserts a depth to a TV show/movie/song that reframes the work in a funny/interesting light.
Wait, I do that last one all the time. I'm doing it right now. Ignore the last line.
Why Do You Wear That Stupid Bunny Suit?
The problem isn't that the tropes are used, it's the feeling I get from them. The movie's seams are jagged and crooked. I feel like I've seen this movie before only better. There are attempts at originality, like with the time travel thing (TTT).
Now, I like the TTT, but if you start reading blog posts about it, hardcore fans seem to think that it is some huge, really deep aspect of the film. Like there is something more to it that what is offered. But there isn't, it's real simple. I'll explain. Donnie can see the immediate future through the cool, chest special effect. Frank helps Donnie understand that what he is experiencing from the plane crash on is life if he decides to live as opposed to die in the crash. He is given a the choice to sacrifice himself or Gretchen. He chooses himself. See, simple stuff. I mean this is all covered in It's A Wonderful Life. And George Bailey did act like a douche to everyone.
Time's Up Frank Said
And the TTT leads to the dumbest conversation in the movie. The one between Dr. Monnitoff and Donnie later in the movie, the second one they have. The one where we start to get into how the TTT works that ends when Monnitoff says that continuing it will cause him to get fired. Fired. For talking theoretical science. Seriously? Talking about time travel? That doesn't make any sense. Even the most backwards administration wouldn't fire the guy for talking about what is basically science fiction.
Or maybe the worst conversation is between Pomeroy and the principal when she gets fired. You know, the one where she gives her impassioned plea for the welfare of the students, minus the passion. The one where no clear reason for the firing is offered not because it's been a long time coming from constant fighting with the school leaders, but because the writer is lazy. The one where it looks like Drew is reading her lines out of a script in her lap. I hate this movie.
Sometimes I Doubt Your Commitment To Sparkle Motion
What really bugs me about the flick is that it feeds into the belief that negative people are smarter or better than people that are positive. Mrs. Pomeroy and Donnie spend the entire flick hatin', and they are the heroes of the movie. This just infuriates me. Why are the most condescending characters getting top billing? It's because it's such an easy tactic: being critical means you are more authentic, more honest.
And no one exemplifies this more than Donnie. He acts as the untouchable judge, the administrator of justice against hypocrisy, throughout the flick. But he isn't perfect. He isn't above everyone. He's just a kid with an attitude and psychological problems that has a penchant for needling community leaders publicly. Try getting elected judge with that wacky resume.
But here's the thing, the opposite is also true. It's just as honest to look for the cool things about something as it is for the lame things. It's just as authentic to say something is good as it is to say it's bad. It's also more fun to be raving about stuff. And I realize the irony of bashing a movie for an essay and then saying that it's wrong to bash things. Or is it not irony but hypocrisy? Idiocy? I hate this movie.
What's Cellar Door?
But I love this movie for one thing. At the talent show Cherie does the angel dance and all of the characters clap loudly for her. Now while some jerks scream jeers, the others just clap louder. That's what I'm talking about. We need more of that. Maybe I like this movie. I'm conflicted. Are there other cool parts? Now that I think about, there are. The school montage set to Tears for Fears early in the movie is the greatest sequence ever. It rules! It's better than the actual video for "Head Over Heels". ALL the music in the flick is great. Yeah. I'm starting to feel good about Donnie Darko.
Nah, I really hate this movie. It's an awesome movie that I hate. I'm not going to explain how that is possible. You're just going to have to go with it.
Until Next I Blog,
James
P.S. I ask "Is that Seth Rogen?" everytime he comes on-screen too.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Week 6: Scarface
Dear Avid Reader,
So Scarface is about capitalism. Let's get that out of the way. It is also the most awesome movie ever. You can't get out of the way of that. So let's just talk about the capitalism.
Lesson Number One: Don't Underestimate The Other Guy's Greed
Here's the thing about the capitalism allegory of Scarface: it shows capitalism as the awful reality of the American Dream. Tony grows up in Cuba idolizing the movie stars of Hollywood, claiming that he always knew that one day he would go to America. And why did he want to come here? Prosperity. Security. In a word, money.
When individuals talk about the American Dream, I wonder what they think that means. I guess the hokey, Pollyanna version is a life that is comfortable and secure. Chickens in pots, cars in garages and et cetera are included. The American Dream also means some kind of contentment, but that contentment seems to be conditional (or only come after) on getting the house, vacations days, and wireless internet access. The focus is on the material.
Nothing Exceeds Like Excess
This is why Scarface is such an awesome movie. It cuts to the heart of our true beliefs and fears. Tony works hard to get money. He is ruthless. He'll kill anyone that he needs to kill. He makes no bones about it. He's honest about what is happening. This honesty is what makes him an appealing character. He takes what he wants, but never lies about what he's doing to get it. He is a truly ethical capitalist.
And isn't that what every American wants? To drop their guilt? Don't we want our consumption to also be virtuous. I mean that's why we buy Tom's Shoes. In the back of every American's mind, they are just a few decisions away from being super rich. But they also fear they are a couple bad decisions away from been poor. It's what drives the economy. It's why we buy iPhones.
Scarface reminds the viewer that greed has consequences. That greed hurts someone. Tony kills people. His drug business has a terrible influence on his sister. The unchecked greed destroys Tony and everyone around. Scarface also reminds how fleeting the good times are. The movie spends a lot of time on the rise of Tony and on the fall of Tony. The small time that he enjoys his wealth can be fit in a montage.
Me, I Always Tell The Truth, Even When I Lie
I find one of the most honest scenes in the movie to be when Tony is negotiating the interest rate with the banker that is laundering his money. Sure he is bringing in more and more money, but in order for the money to be of use, he must pay more and more. Tony is faced with the reality that wealth cannot defy gravity. It is something that rich people face all the time: Growth that lasts forever does not exist. The American Dream is something you wake from.
But the most terrifying part of Scarface is the scene when Tony shoots Alberto during the NYC hit. Tony asserts himself. There are some things he just will not do in order to maintain his wealth. He knows that folks call him a "bad guy" but he truly believe that he isn't. Everyone else is just as bad, maybe more so because he doesn't hide his failings. But as soon as he takes a stand to rescue his soul, the system move quickly to remove him. Tony has now become the biggest threat to the system. He values himself above the game.
Is This It? That's What It's All About, Manny? Eating, Drinking...Snorting...Then What?
Tony's death is the realization of the fear for every rider on the roller coaster of American materialism. If at some point, if the rider wants off, will they stop the ride and let you go? When it comes time to want an identity of you own creation, will the collective strike back? Does the person that bought in get to cash out?
Yes, greed has consequences, profound, huge, big stinking consequences, and they are not that nice to think about. That something that individuals are so interwoven into could be destroying so much. Materialism is about a fear of death, and everyone is scared. Humanity just cannot move past this, still looking for the immortality application on our smart phone. But maybe it is not too late. Maybe there is something, however painful, that can right the course. Maybe it is time to say "hello" to a little friend. A little friend name "Conscience".
But it may as well be a grenade.
Until Next I Blog,
James
So Scarface is about capitalism. Let's get that out of the way. It is also the most awesome movie ever. You can't get out of the way of that. So let's just talk about the capitalism.
Lesson Number One: Don't Underestimate The Other Guy's Greed
Here's the thing about the capitalism allegory of Scarface: it shows capitalism as the awful reality of the American Dream. Tony grows up in Cuba idolizing the movie stars of Hollywood, claiming that he always knew that one day he would go to America. And why did he want to come here? Prosperity. Security. In a word, money.
When individuals talk about the American Dream, I wonder what they think that means. I guess the hokey, Pollyanna version is a life that is comfortable and secure. Chickens in pots, cars in garages and et cetera are included. The American Dream also means some kind of contentment, but that contentment seems to be conditional (or only come after) on getting the house, vacations days, and wireless internet access. The focus is on the material.
Nothing Exceeds Like Excess
This is why Scarface is such an awesome movie. It cuts to the heart of our true beliefs and fears. Tony works hard to get money. He is ruthless. He'll kill anyone that he needs to kill. He makes no bones about it. He's honest about what is happening. This honesty is what makes him an appealing character. He takes what he wants, but never lies about what he's doing to get it. He is a truly ethical capitalist.
And isn't that what every American wants? To drop their guilt? Don't we want our consumption to also be virtuous. I mean that's why we buy Tom's Shoes. In the back of every American's mind, they are just a few decisions away from being super rich. But they also fear they are a couple bad decisions away from been poor. It's what drives the economy. It's why we buy iPhones.
Scarface reminds the viewer that greed has consequences. That greed hurts someone. Tony kills people. His drug business has a terrible influence on his sister. The unchecked greed destroys Tony and everyone around. Scarface also reminds how fleeting the good times are. The movie spends a lot of time on the rise of Tony and on the fall of Tony. The small time that he enjoys his wealth can be fit in a montage.
Me, I Always Tell The Truth, Even When I Lie
I find one of the most honest scenes in the movie to be when Tony is negotiating the interest rate with the banker that is laundering his money. Sure he is bringing in more and more money, but in order for the money to be of use, he must pay more and more. Tony is faced with the reality that wealth cannot defy gravity. It is something that rich people face all the time: Growth that lasts forever does not exist. The American Dream is something you wake from.
But the most terrifying part of Scarface is the scene when Tony shoots Alberto during the NYC hit. Tony asserts himself. There are some things he just will not do in order to maintain his wealth. He knows that folks call him a "bad guy" but he truly believe that he isn't. Everyone else is just as bad, maybe more so because he doesn't hide his failings. But as soon as he takes a stand to rescue his soul, the system move quickly to remove him. Tony has now become the biggest threat to the system. He values himself above the game.
Is This It? That's What It's All About, Manny? Eating, Drinking...Snorting...Then What?
Tony's death is the realization of the fear for every rider on the roller coaster of American materialism. If at some point, if the rider wants off, will they stop the ride and let you go? When it comes time to want an identity of you own creation, will the collective strike back? Does the person that bought in get to cash out?
Yes, greed has consequences, profound, huge, big stinking consequences, and they are not that nice to think about. That something that individuals are so interwoven into could be destroying so much. Materialism is about a fear of death, and everyone is scared. Humanity just cannot move past this, still looking for the immortality application on our smart phone. But maybe it is not too late. Maybe there is something, however painful, that can right the course. Maybe it is time to say "hello" to a little friend. A little friend name "Conscience".
But it may as well be a grenade.
Until Next I Blog,
James
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Week 5: Heat
Dear Avid Reader,
Man I hate Waingro. Don't you? Do you know someone that is like Waingro? I hope not.
Look at Cheritto's face when he first meets the guy. He almost doesn't want to let him into the truck. He thinks about it. There is a gut reaction to Waingro. He tells him to "stop talking" after just a few seconds of conversation. Waingro makes people want to shut him up.
Want Some Pie?
I mean seriously I could literally burn my TV for having had his image on the screen. During the robbery he hits a guard because he stumbles toward him. After being told it's because the guards are disoriented from the explosion, he still shoots the guard. Later he explains the guard was "making a move" and he "had to get it on". At the diner, it's obvious that the other members of the crew are giving him the cold shoulder. Waingro can't pick up on social cues.
Holy jumping grasshoppers in June I hate this guy. Waingro then procures the services of a lady of the evening. After fishing for compliments with regards to his lovemaking ability, he kills her. Why? Why does Waingro need to kill this women? What is freaking wrong with this guy? Waingro doesn't think.
I Am Cowboy, Looking For Anything Heavy
Great Ceaser's ghost in a tube top walking down the road and laughing at a Bazooka Joe cartoon I despise Waingro. At the bar he gives the bartender his resume of prison terms. He regards himself so highly, but he sucks so badly. Asking for "anything heavy". If you could handle "heavy" stuff, then why do you need Billy Rickett to gain an in with the bartender Waingro? And that whole "grim reaper is with you" bit is so over the top. Does he really think he's cool enough to pull that line off? I'm shocked that girl didn't laugh in his face. She probably cracked a smile and that's why she wound up dead. Waingro is a total idiot.
Then comes the betrayal. What a tool. What a pneumatic, kick-start on sale at Sears but I got it at a garage sale when I stopped with my sister cause she's trying to outfit her college room. Waingro betrays McCauley to Van Zant by giving him the location of McCauley's next hit. Once again, Waingro exaggerates his abilites by claiming to know McCauley better than he does. They took down some "major scores" according to Waingro. Man that guy just deserves it doesn't he? He totally overplays his hand. Then he turns state's evidence when Zan Zandt ends up dead. Like a punk. Waingro is a punk.
I Got Some Move I Could Make Here, Probably Be A Big Help To You
Oh by my rage filled fists and feet I want to hit Waingro. You know what, here's the thing. There are a lot of things to hate about Waingro. But the truly repulsive thing about Waingro, is his ability to stay alive. He has just enough ability to eek by. Billy Rickett thought enough of him to vouch for him. And he did get in with McCauley's crew somehow. Waingro realizes that it's McCauley outside the door in the hotel and he escapes McCauley when he tries to kill him in the diner parking lot. I mean he's such an awful human being, but you kind of have to give him a little credit. Waingro is so frustrating.
In the movie Casino, Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci) describes a person that he has no confidence in as a "guy could screw up a cup of coffee". Only he didn't say that quote exactly as I wrote it. Waingro is that guy. He lives. He survives. Despite his best efforts, he has small successes. You could say a lot about people like Waingro, but I choose to say this: Waingro could screw up a cup of coffee.
Until Next I Blog,
James
Man I hate Waingro. Don't you? Do you know someone that is like Waingro? I hope not.
Look at Cheritto's face when he first meets the guy. He almost doesn't want to let him into the truck. He thinks about it. There is a gut reaction to Waingro. He tells him to "stop talking" after just a few seconds of conversation. Waingro makes people want to shut him up.
Want Some Pie?
I mean seriously I could literally burn my TV for having had his image on the screen. During the robbery he hits a guard because he stumbles toward him. After being told it's because the guards are disoriented from the explosion, he still shoots the guard. Later he explains the guard was "making a move" and he "had to get it on". At the diner, it's obvious that the other members of the crew are giving him the cold shoulder. Waingro can't pick up on social cues.
Holy jumping grasshoppers in June I hate this guy. Waingro then procures the services of a lady of the evening. After fishing for compliments with regards to his lovemaking ability, he kills her. Why? Why does Waingro need to kill this women? What is freaking wrong with this guy? Waingro doesn't think.
I Am Cowboy, Looking For Anything Heavy
Great Ceaser's ghost in a tube top walking down the road and laughing at a Bazooka Joe cartoon I despise Waingro. At the bar he gives the bartender his resume of prison terms. He regards himself so highly, but he sucks so badly. Asking for "anything heavy". If you could handle "heavy" stuff, then why do you need Billy Rickett to gain an in with the bartender Waingro? And that whole "grim reaper is with you" bit is so over the top. Does he really think he's cool enough to pull that line off? I'm shocked that girl didn't laugh in his face. She probably cracked a smile and that's why she wound up dead. Waingro is a total idiot.
Then comes the betrayal. What a tool. What a pneumatic, kick-start on sale at Sears but I got it at a garage sale when I stopped with my sister cause she's trying to outfit her college room. Waingro betrays McCauley to Van Zant by giving him the location of McCauley's next hit. Once again, Waingro exaggerates his abilites by claiming to know McCauley better than he does. They took down some "major scores" according to Waingro. Man that guy just deserves it doesn't he? He totally overplays his hand. Then he turns state's evidence when Zan Zandt ends up dead. Like a punk. Waingro is a punk.
I Got Some Move I Could Make Here, Probably Be A Big Help To You
Oh by my rage filled fists and feet I want to hit Waingro. You know what, here's the thing. There are a lot of things to hate about Waingro. But the truly repulsive thing about Waingro, is his ability to stay alive. He has just enough ability to eek by. Billy Rickett thought enough of him to vouch for him. And he did get in with McCauley's crew somehow. Waingro realizes that it's McCauley outside the door in the hotel and he escapes McCauley when he tries to kill him in the diner parking lot. I mean he's such an awful human being, but you kind of have to give him a little credit. Waingro is so frustrating.
In the movie Casino, Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci) describes a person that he has no confidence in as a "guy could screw up a cup of coffee". Only he didn't say that quote exactly as I wrote it. Waingro is that guy. He lives. He survives. Despite his best efforts, he has small successes. You could say a lot about people like Waingro, but I choose to say this: Waingro could screw up a cup of coffee.
Until Next I Blog,
James
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Week 4: Pee Wee's Big Adventure
Dear Avid Reader,
Is Pee-Wee supposed to be a kid or just a weird dude?
Children are people, but they just kind of suck at everything. And they are kind of selfish and mean. Kids are just a-holes who are bad at everything. There, I said it.
Be Sure And Tell 'Em "Large Marge Sent Ya"!
Pee-Wee I think is supposed to be kind of a kid. "Kind of a kid". What the heck am I writing here? Pee-Wee exhibits all the signs of being a child. He has no job. He rides a bike. He uses alternative methods to power his home. Wait...is Pee-Wee a hippie? Or a hipster? Why am I asking questions in the middle of this post?
The distorted reality is reflective of a child's distorted reality. The clown in the parking lot changes from a happy clown to a nightmarish clown in the aftermath of the bike theft. This embeds as a full blown phobia in the fragile psyche of a child. Later int he movie Pee-Wee is further tormented by image of the clown in his dreams. That and clown's are scary.
Things You Wouldn't Understand. Things You Couldn't Understand. Things You Shouldn't Understand.
The movie is cartoonish in that it exaggerates reality. When something is taken from them, people become suspicious. Do they normally gather everyone they know in a basement and begin hurling accusations? No. When someone is sitting next to a singing hobo, they become annoyed. But do they fling themselves from a train? Usually not.
But is the cartoonishness the fantasy? I think it may be reality in that the cartoon is how we actually perceive thing once we add emotional color to the facts. So, perhaps when we are children, we are as we truly are. Unfiltered. Tantrum-throwing. Suspicious. Obsessed. Dancing on a bar for bikers. Do our impulses wane with age, or do we learn to suppress them? Are extreme behaviors us escaping reality, or embracing reality? Is the person you are deep in your bones the civilized cog in the machine, or the violent warrior in the video game you play?
Is Pee-Wee a child, or an adult that is finally at peace with his true identity?
Until Next I Blog,
James
Is Pee-Wee supposed to be a kid or just a weird dude?
Children are people, but they just kind of suck at everything. And they are kind of selfish and mean. Kids are just a-holes who are bad at everything. There, I said it.
Be Sure And Tell 'Em "Large Marge Sent Ya"!
Pee-Wee I think is supposed to be kind of a kid. "Kind of a kid". What the heck am I writing here? Pee-Wee exhibits all the signs of being a child. He has no job. He rides a bike. He uses alternative methods to power his home. Wait...is Pee-Wee a hippie? Or a hipster? Why am I asking questions in the middle of this post?
The distorted reality is reflective of a child's distorted reality. The clown in the parking lot changes from a happy clown to a nightmarish clown in the aftermath of the bike theft. This embeds as a full blown phobia in the fragile psyche of a child. Later int he movie Pee-Wee is further tormented by image of the clown in his dreams. That and clown's are scary.
Things You Wouldn't Understand. Things You Couldn't Understand. Things You Shouldn't Understand.
The movie is cartoonish in that it exaggerates reality. When something is taken from them, people become suspicious. Do they normally gather everyone they know in a basement and begin hurling accusations? No. When someone is sitting next to a singing hobo, they become annoyed. But do they fling themselves from a train? Usually not.
But is the cartoonishness the fantasy? I think it may be reality in that the cartoon is how we actually perceive thing once we add emotional color to the facts. So, perhaps when we are children, we are as we truly are. Unfiltered. Tantrum-throwing. Suspicious. Obsessed. Dancing on a bar for bikers. Do our impulses wane with age, or do we learn to suppress them? Are extreme behaviors us escaping reality, or embracing reality? Is the person you are deep in your bones the civilized cog in the machine, or the violent warrior in the video game you play?
Is Pee-Wee a child, or an adult that is finally at peace with his true identity?
Until Next I Blog,
James
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Week 3: Terminator 2
Dear Avid Reader,
What is post-modernity? Obviously it's the thing that follows modernity. And that may be really the only thing you need to know.
Probably not.
It's Not Everyday You Find Out You're Responsible For 3 Billion Deaths
Modernity is all about rules, rationality. Terminator 2 is also a movie about rules. Machines WILL turn on humanity and there WILL be a war. John Connor WILL lead the humans against the robot uprising. John WILL send a man back in time that WILL become his father. That WILL be awkward for John.
The really annoying thing about the fatalism of the Terminator timeline is that it should be broken at the end of Terminator 2. They throw all the Terminators and Terminator leftovers into the molten steel. They blow up Skynet with the inventor dude inside. The future is changed. There will be no uprising. And yet there are plenty of other Terminator movies and TV shows. So while The Terminator is like modernity, in that it is about rules, the Terminator franchise is not unlike post-modernity, in that it about breaking rules. But post-modernity is more complicated that just rule-breaking.
At least I think it is.
No Fate, No Fate But What We Make, My Father Told Me This
Let's look at another rule violator...the T-1000. The liquid guy. See, he can't be a bomb and he can't be a gun. The reason being is that bombs have chemicals and guns have complex moving parts. But if he can't form complex parts, then how can he hear? How can he speak?
I'm gonna change gears here. I realize that I am now doing that thing that people do when they talk about sci-fi films and that is to try and undermine the fiction with science. It isn't interesting.
I'm not sure I'm feeling this post. Let's try and get it back.
I Don't Know...How Much Longer I Can Ho...Hold This
The Terminator must follow the orders of John, without question. This is he ultimate in modernity. John speaks, Terminator listens. But in the end, the Terminator defies John's orders and sacrifices himself in order to ensure a peaceful future. One could argue that he is following his larger directive of protecting John. But I guess that is the point.
See, with modernity, the goal is that everything can be solved rationally. We can know everything and understand everything. If we just implement the right rules, then the system will regulate itself. Breaking a rule isn't in the program. You can't break the rules.
But the Terminator is faced with a post-modern dilemma. The best way to protect John is to destroy himself. But John orders him to stay alive and to not destroy himself. He is going to break a rule.The timeline is already set. It is inescapable.
I Asked That Very Same Question And You Know What They Told Me?
You know what? Why don't I just tell you that I love the one-liners. After watching this movie for the first time in a while, I totally forgot the saturation of "I'll be back", "Hasta la vista baby", and "Come with me if you want to live". I mean everyone has heard those lines even if they never saw the movie. And that dude became California's Governor. That's crazy right?
Yeah. I like that better than looking for how the Terminator's decision to jump into lava shows how a modern worldview is unsatisfactory and cannot work.
Until Next I Blog,
James
What is post-modernity? Obviously it's the thing that follows modernity. And that may be really the only thing you need to know.
Probably not.
It's Not Everyday You Find Out You're Responsible For 3 Billion Deaths
Modernity is all about rules, rationality. Terminator 2 is also a movie about rules. Machines WILL turn on humanity and there WILL be a war. John Connor WILL lead the humans against the robot uprising. John WILL send a man back in time that WILL become his father. That WILL be awkward for John.
The really annoying thing about the fatalism of the Terminator timeline is that it should be broken at the end of Terminator 2. They throw all the Terminators and Terminator leftovers into the molten steel. They blow up Skynet with the inventor dude inside. The future is changed. There will be no uprising. And yet there are plenty of other Terminator movies and TV shows. So while The Terminator is like modernity, in that it is about rules, the Terminator franchise is not unlike post-modernity, in that it about breaking rules. But post-modernity is more complicated that just rule-breaking.
At least I think it is.
No Fate, No Fate But What We Make, My Father Told Me This
Let's look at another rule violator...the T-1000. The liquid guy. See, he can't be a bomb and he can't be a gun. The reason being is that bombs have chemicals and guns have complex moving parts. But if he can't form complex parts, then how can he hear? How can he speak?
I'm gonna change gears here. I realize that I am now doing that thing that people do when they talk about sci-fi films and that is to try and undermine the fiction with science. It isn't interesting.
I'm not sure I'm feeling this post. Let's try and get it back.
I Don't Know...How Much Longer I Can Ho...Hold This
The Terminator must follow the orders of John, without question. This is he ultimate in modernity. John speaks, Terminator listens. But in the end, the Terminator defies John's orders and sacrifices himself in order to ensure a peaceful future. One could argue that he is following his larger directive of protecting John. But I guess that is the point.
See, with modernity, the goal is that everything can be solved rationally. We can know everything and understand everything. If we just implement the right rules, then the system will regulate itself. Breaking a rule isn't in the program. You can't break the rules.
But the Terminator is faced with a post-modern dilemma. The best way to protect John is to destroy himself. But John orders him to stay alive and to not destroy himself. He is going to break a rule.The timeline is already set. It is inescapable.
I Asked That Very Same Question And You Know What They Told Me?
You know what? Why don't I just tell you that I love the one-liners. After watching this movie for the first time in a while, I totally forgot the saturation of "I'll be back", "Hasta la vista baby", and "Come with me if you want to live". I mean everyone has heard those lines even if they never saw the movie. And that dude became California's Governor. That's crazy right?
Yeah. I like that better than looking for how the Terminator's decision to jump into lava shows how a modern worldview is unsatisfactory and cannot work.
Until Next I Blog,
James
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Week 2: Rudy
Dear Avid Reader,
Movies are propaganda. I'm like totally certain on this. When you realize that I'm right, you will be like "OMG".
Rudy is a prime example of propaganda served as light entertainment. The propaganda's goal: to convince you that shooting for the middle, that settling for less, is noble.
Yeah, I know. You're all "OMG" and et cetera.
How is it am already bored with this project? The boredom lobe in my brain is like Frank in the movie. He's screaming, "Are you kidding me? You can't write this article! Grow up! Quit NOW!"
These last four paragraphs are small, but I don't care. Frank can die a dark, lonely, screaming death in my brain. Where was I?
Five Feet Nothing, A Hundred And Nothing
Rudy begins the movie wanting to go to Notre Dame. Eventually he come across a copy of the Agama by The Buddha. From this simple text he begins to understand that his father, his brother Frank, and his fiancee are all trapped in their own suffering because they have desires. His father wants his family to be content. Frank wants a different life from his father. Sherry wants to be a mother. Throughout the movie they are disappointed because their desires go unfulfilled. Having discovered enlightenment, Rudy rejects the idea that the road to happiness is paved with Post-World War II conformity. Rudy must find his Bodhi Tree. Perhaps it grows on the campus, of Notre Dame.
Unfortunately, Rudy is merely an novice. He doesn't know yet that he has substituted one set of desires (comfortable middle-class furniture, cheap domestic beer) for another (fame via inclusion into a football program on the decline...an epic-sized "I-told-you-so" for apparently everyone he's ever met). Unfortunately Rudy has no spiritual adviser in his new found belief system. This is why the vacuum left by the desires of his family and community fills up with the desires of Notre Dame. He becomes obsessed. Notre Dame is all he can talk about. Understandably, every other character in the film is annoyed with Rudy.
There Is A God, And I'm Not Him
Fortunately, Rudy's ability to turn any conversation into a conversation about The Fighting Irish results in him having no friends. And no...D-Bob is not a friend. He doesn't even think to tell Rudy that he's moving until seconds before he skips town. It's like he was on his way out and remembered that he forgot to tell one of tutoring clients he was leaving. "Crap," he thinks, "Should I drive back?" If they were friends, Rudy would've already know that he was leaving. And he certainly would've been more crushed at the news. Instead, all Rudy thinks about is the fact that the new football coach might not dress him for a game, (i.e himself). Some friend.
The lack of distractions/friends propels Rudy's studies. He is able to conquer his learning disability and get the best grades of his life. But this doesn't bring him happiness, so he follows in The Buddha's footsteps, adopting an ascetic philosophy and begins living in an equipment closet. To further the punishment of his body, he becomes a walk-on football player. The coaches inform him that they intend to "beat the shit" out of him and the other prospective footballers. It seems to be exactly what Rudy is looking for. Rudy, delighted, promptly has the shit beaten out of him.
You Just Summed Up Your Entire Sorry Career Here In One Sentence
Still, Rudy is unsatisfied. The denial of pleasure becomes a desire itself. But there are glimmers of hope. He begins to show signs of the Noble Eight-Fold Path. The fact that he realizes that God did not put him on the earth to play football is an example of "right view". That he won't ease up in practice is an example of "right action". But of course self-actualization eludes him. That he lies about being a student to the president of the Football Boosters is a failure of "right speech". That he rubs the fact that he made the team in her face is a failure of "right intention". Let's face it, Rudy can be kind of an a-hole.
Despite his early failures, Rudy finally sheds his desires and quits the team. This brings Rudy close to reaching Nirvana, enlightenment. And what does everyone else do in the face of this incredible moment? They pile crap on him.
Seriously, this part of the movie really resonates for me. These people just spent the whole movie telling the guy he can't make the team and that he should quit. But then, when he finally does quit, when he finally realizes that the world does nothing but kick him like dog, when he finally stands up for himself, they all huddle around him and laughingly call him a quitter.
While most of the movie is sappy, this part is really the most true to life. Living life outside of what is generally accepted as normal/good brings criticism. But secretly, the critics really wish they had the courage to live by their own rules as well And that is why when the outsider relents and accepts the rules of the group, the taunts become more vicious. The act of conforming by an outsider reinforces what the rule-followers feared all along: they are trapped in the prison of tradition and communal expectations forever. No escape. Rudy, by quitting, locks the door tighter for everyone else.
The Problem With Dreamers Is They Are Usually Not Doers
This only furthers Rudy's spiritual ascendancy. By being mocked for quitting as well as not quitting, he realizes playing football is the same as quitting football. All actions are freed from moralizing. Nothing is good or bad, it simply is. Rudy rejoins the team, fully comfortable with whatever his existence becomes. This breakthrough quickly spreads to the other players. Now, being the captain of the team could mean playing against Georgia Tech, but it could also mean not playing at all. It could mean playing for the other team. It could even mean cutting up a bunch of Frisbees. The possibilities are endless.
Then we come to the final game, the end of the movie. And here is where I bring back my earlier point. I mean, there is no great significance to Rudy's accomplishment, that's obvious. He merely set a goal and met it. But the bar was so low that he couldn't help but jump over it (or even stagger over it). And that is why the movie is propaganda. In essence, the movie suggests that we set our sights for the outside rings, not the bulls-eye. That way each miss is actually a hit.
See, I proved my point. The movie is brain-washing you to settle for the middle.
I know you're at least "LOL-ing" right now.
Until Next I Blog,
James
Movies are propaganda. I'm like totally certain on this. When you realize that I'm right, you will be like "OMG".
Rudy is a prime example of propaganda served as light entertainment. The propaganda's goal: to convince you that shooting for the middle, that settling for less, is noble.
Yeah, I know. You're all "OMG" and et cetera.
How is it am already bored with this project? The boredom lobe in my brain is like Frank in the movie. He's screaming, "Are you kidding me? You can't write this article! Grow up! Quit NOW!"
These last four paragraphs are small, but I don't care. Frank can die a dark, lonely, screaming death in my brain. Where was I?
Five Feet Nothing, A Hundred And Nothing
Rudy begins the movie wanting to go to Notre Dame. Eventually he come across a copy of the Agama by The Buddha. From this simple text he begins to understand that his father, his brother Frank, and his fiancee are all trapped in their own suffering because they have desires. His father wants his family to be content. Frank wants a different life from his father. Sherry wants to be a mother. Throughout the movie they are disappointed because their desires go unfulfilled. Having discovered enlightenment, Rudy rejects the idea that the road to happiness is paved with Post-World War II conformity. Rudy must find his Bodhi Tree. Perhaps it grows on the campus, of Notre Dame.
Unfortunately, Rudy is merely an novice. He doesn't know yet that he has substituted one set of desires (comfortable middle-class furniture, cheap domestic beer) for another (fame via inclusion into a football program on the decline...an epic-sized "I-told-you-so" for apparently everyone he's ever met). Unfortunately Rudy has no spiritual adviser in his new found belief system. This is why the vacuum left by the desires of his family and community fills up with the desires of Notre Dame. He becomes obsessed. Notre Dame is all he can talk about. Understandably, every other character in the film is annoyed with Rudy.
There Is A God, And I'm Not Him
Fortunately, Rudy's ability to turn any conversation into a conversation about The Fighting Irish results in him having no friends. And no...D-Bob is not a friend. He doesn't even think to tell Rudy that he's moving until seconds before he skips town. It's like he was on his way out and remembered that he forgot to tell one of tutoring clients he was leaving. "Crap," he thinks, "Should I drive back?" If they were friends, Rudy would've already know that he was leaving. And he certainly would've been more crushed at the news. Instead, all Rudy thinks about is the fact that the new football coach might not dress him for a game, (i.e himself). Some friend.
The lack of distractions/friends propels Rudy's studies. He is able to conquer his learning disability and get the best grades of his life. But this doesn't bring him happiness, so he follows in The Buddha's footsteps, adopting an ascetic philosophy and begins living in an equipment closet. To further the punishment of his body, he becomes a walk-on football player. The coaches inform him that they intend to "beat the shit" out of him and the other prospective footballers. It seems to be exactly what Rudy is looking for. Rudy, delighted, promptly has the shit beaten out of him.
You Just Summed Up Your Entire Sorry Career Here In One Sentence
Still, Rudy is unsatisfied. The denial of pleasure becomes a desire itself. But there are glimmers of hope. He begins to show signs of the Noble Eight-Fold Path. The fact that he realizes that God did not put him on the earth to play football is an example of "right view". That he won't ease up in practice is an example of "right action". But of course self-actualization eludes him. That he lies about being a student to the president of the Football Boosters is a failure of "right speech". That he rubs the fact that he made the team in her face is a failure of "right intention". Let's face it, Rudy can be kind of an a-hole.
Despite his early failures, Rudy finally sheds his desires and quits the team. This brings Rudy close to reaching Nirvana, enlightenment. And what does everyone else do in the face of this incredible moment? They pile crap on him.
Seriously, this part of the movie really resonates for me. These people just spent the whole movie telling the guy he can't make the team and that he should quit. But then, when he finally does quit, when he finally realizes that the world does nothing but kick him like dog, when he finally stands up for himself, they all huddle around him and laughingly call him a quitter.
While most of the movie is sappy, this part is really the most true to life. Living life outside of what is generally accepted as normal/good brings criticism. But secretly, the critics really wish they had the courage to live by their own rules as well And that is why when the outsider relents and accepts the rules of the group, the taunts become more vicious. The act of conforming by an outsider reinforces what the rule-followers feared all along: they are trapped in the prison of tradition and communal expectations forever. No escape. Rudy, by quitting, locks the door tighter for everyone else.
The Problem With Dreamers Is They Are Usually Not Doers
This only furthers Rudy's spiritual ascendancy. By being mocked for quitting as well as not quitting, he realizes playing football is the same as quitting football. All actions are freed from moralizing. Nothing is good or bad, it simply is. Rudy rejoins the team, fully comfortable with whatever his existence becomes. This breakthrough quickly spreads to the other players. Now, being the captain of the team could mean playing against Georgia Tech, but it could also mean not playing at all. It could mean playing for the other team. It could even mean cutting up a bunch of Frisbees. The possibilities are endless.
Then we come to the final game, the end of the movie. And here is where I bring back my earlier point. I mean, there is no great significance to Rudy's accomplishment, that's obvious. He merely set a goal and met it. But the bar was so low that he couldn't help but jump over it (or even stagger over it). And that is why the movie is propaganda. In essence, the movie suggests that we set our sights for the outside rings, not the bulls-eye. That way each miss is actually a hit.
See, I proved my point. The movie is brain-washing you to settle for the middle.
I know you're at least "LOL-ing" right now.
Until Next I Blog,
James
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