RITA's XLVIII: Some Fun Now

[Paradox]

tricksterpup has me going to le petite proot:

What rhymes with Cunard??

Petard ?

[Gilda Dent]

Well he gave Hudsucker Proxy a C and Big Lebowski a B-, so it sounds like he has it in for Coen comedies.

Wouldn't a B- be a positive grade?

I must admit I'm one of those who doesn't "get" The Big Lebowski. I mean, I understand what's going on (a slacker caught up in a Chandleresque mystery), I just don't find it the least bit funny.

That equals "Thumbs Up" or "Thumbs Down" which is even more stupefyingly stupid than the A+ through F system.

WHY do you like it? HOW does it work or not work, creatively or technically? WHAT aspects appeal to the reviewer's experience in film, WHICH aspects do not.

It's not rocket science. There are a lot of us here, including Matt, Jared, Ed, Dread, Slam, Das, jesse, Gilda, Winslow, etc., who come on here and give a movie review without assigning a stupid letter grade. I'll be honest, I'd rather trust a movie review given by somebody here, than pick a movie based on some arbitrary B handed out by Owen Gleiberman.

Well, my movie reviews in the "What movie have you watched lately" thread are accompanied by a star rating. I don't really have a problem with such ratings so long as they're an addition to the narrative review.

Roger Ebert, who uses a four star rating system, says when he addresses the issue about once a year that he'd prefer not to use one and just write narrative reviews, but it's something that's expected by the paper that pays him. He also says to ignore the stars and read the review if you want to know what he thought of things.

James Berardinelli explains his use a little different, in purely practical terms--when checking on how users read his web site, well over half stop at the front page and never follow the links to the actual reviews. As he wants people to come to his site so that he can make enough money to keep it running, he gives those very casual visitors something quick and easy. He also explains that star ratings are not an evaluation of the objective quality of the film--that ends up in the narrative review--but a way of rating the appeal the movie will have to people with similar taste in movies to his.

It also helps when looking a site with a big archive looking for good movies one might have missed to be able to search through reviews by star rating to narrow things down.

I'm looking at the Five Mic list right now, and it holds up pretty well. There are some sketchy choices and some notable exceptions, but, generally speaking, it's a fairly tight list:

Run-D.M.C. -- Run-D.M.C.
Radio -- LL Cool J
Licensed to Ill -- The Beastie Boys
Raising Hell -- Run-D.M.C.
Criminal Minded -- Boogie Down Productions
Paid in Full -- Eric B. & Rakim
Long Live the Kane -- Big Daddy Kane
By All Means Necessary -- Boogie Down Productions
Strictly Business -- EPMD
Straight Out the Jungle -- The Jungle Brothers
Straight Outta Compton -- N.W.A.
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back -- Public Enemy
The Great Adventures of Slick Rick -- Slick Rick
Critical Beatdown -- Ultramagnetic MCs
No One Can Do It Better -- The D.O.C.
Grip It! On That Other Level -- Geto Boys
People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm -- A Tribe Called Quest
One For All -- Brand Nubian
Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em -- Eric B. & Rakim
AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted -- Ice Cube
Breaking Atoms -- Main Source
The Low End Theory -- A Tribe Called Quest
De La Soul Is Dead -- De La Soul
Death Certificate -- Ice Cube
The Chronic -- Dr. Dre
Doggystyle -- Snoop Doggy Dogg
Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) -- Wu-Tang Clan
Illmatic -- Nas
Ready to Die -- The Notorious B.I.G.
The Diary -- Scarface
The Infamous -- Mobb Deep
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx -- Raekwon
Liquid Swords -- Genius/GZA
Me Against the World -- 2Pac
The Score -- The Fugees
Reasonable Doubt -- Jay-Z
All Eyez on Me -- 2Pac
Life After Death -- The Notorious B.I.G.
Aquemini -- Outkast
The Chronic 2001 -- Dr. Dre
Stillmatic -- Nas
The Blueprint -- Jay-Z
The Fix -- Scarface
The Naked Truth -- Lil' Kim

...








I just realized that nobody here will give a shit about it, either.

I can honestly say I wouldn't change a single item on that list. I can't find a single thing to which to object.

I'll admit, I'm kinda partial to the Savage Critic (http://savagecritic.com/) scale:

Excellent
Very Good
Good
Okay
Eh
Awful
Crap

And on rare occasion (http://savagecritic.com/2007/01/intervention-jeffs-review-of-12107.html), they'll award a special, extra-low grade of 'Ass.'

That works for me. It's basically a four star system with word names instead of star ratings. Three positive gradations, three negative, and one neutral.

[Rallura]

Damn all crappy generic cold medicine.

I'm making hot toddies, who wants?

Also, I apparently signed up for a myspace account,
and,
I have no idea what to do with it.

[Athena Bast]

No. Do you recommend it?

My kids watch Naruto, The Batman, and Justice league Unlimited.

If they like Naruto they will like Avatar. You will do, I daresay.

I *heart* Kakashi.

[Paradox]

Gilda Dent damns with faint praise:

Wouldn't a B- be a positive grade?

Sort of. I always see that as "average, although you did make that one decent point".

[Paradox]

Rallura reveals my hatred:

Also, I apparently signed up for a myspace account,
and,
I have no idea what to do with it.



Donate it to charity? :D

[Rallura]

Donate it to charity? :D

The salvation army
has really stringent rules now.

[SOGG]

If they like Naruto they will like Avatar. You will do, I daresay.

I *heart* Kakashi.

Heresy. Maito Gai is where it's at.

[Matt Algren]

As long as I'm waiting on Mac Danny to start the next avatar contest, I may as well be looking at something pretty.

[Paradox]

Night. Night is supposed to start the next avatar contest. Mac Danny's the bridesmaid. And I hear he looks smashing in taffeta.

[Winslow]

As long as I'm waiting on Mac Danny to start the next avatar contest, I may as well be looking at something pretty.

Y'know, I'm not one of those straight guys that is afraid to admit when a guy is attractive . . .but I'm not seein' "it" in your avatar.

Night. Night is supposed to start the next avatar contest. Mac Danny's the bridesmaid. And I hear he looks smashing in taffeta.

Maybe we should give it to Mac Danny . . there should be a statute of limitations on collecting the prize winnings.

Of course, this past year I won the week I was away on vacation . . whoops . . .

[Paradox]

It's been done before. I just hesitate to be the one to call for it, especially with holiday interference and all.

[Matt Algren]

Y'know, I'm not one of those straight guys that is afraid to admit when a guy is attractive . . .but I'm not seein' "it" in your avatar.Maybe a different picture will do it.

http://miickan.blogg.se/images/79295_1192648233.jpg

[Rallura]

Have any pictures
without the beard?

[Winslow]

It's been done before. I just hesitate to be the one to call for it, especially with holiday interference and all.

Yeah, as previously mentioned, I have no credibility.

Maybe a different picture will do it.

http://miickan.blogg.se/images/79295_1192648233.jpg

For some reason, I find him very . . . average. My gay side must be "off." and needs tweaking.

[Paradox]

Eh, he's classically pretty, I guess, with an overlay of trendy scruffy. I'm not much of a judge of guys. I'm the one who wants to look like Sam Elliot. Butch is better. ;)

[Matt Algren]

Have any pictures
without the beard?

The beard's the best part, but let me look...

Here's one with him cleaned up a little with some bitch on his arm:

http://www.fastnews.se/Sukis_Idrottsgalan%202006_060116_9548.jpg

And one without the beard:

38696

[Winslow]

Eh, he's classically pretty, I guess, with an overlay of trendy scruffy. I'm not much of a judge of guys. I'm the one who wants to look like Sam Elliot. Butch is better. ;)

I think the scruffy blend is throwing it off for me.

I can't believe I just posted that.

[Gilda Dent]

Sort of. I always see that as "average, although you did make that one decent point".

Fair enough. Before we switched to the learning objective mastery system of evaluation, I always used a "C" as my default grade, meaning "meets minimal standards". A "B", even with a minus attached, had to be earned.

Heh. I'll be back to that again in right around three weeks now. I managed to get the first unit of my poetry class planned today. It's so nice to have my mom here to take care of the little ones for a few hours so I can get my lesson planning done.

[Matt Algren]

For some reason, I find him very . . . average. My gay side must be "off." and needs tweaking.He's Swedish. It's in my DNA.

[Gilda Dent]

For me it's the jock thing. It just doesn't do a whole lot for me.

[Rallura]

I think he needs to go with
just the scruff,
and not so much an actual beard.

[Athena Bast]

His eyes are too close together for me.

[i_mmmchocolate]

For me it's the jock thing. It just doesn't do a whole lot for me.
You don't say!

[Winslow]

For me it's the jock thing. It just doesn't do a whole lot for me.

But 70's jocks with fros are hot, right?

[Matt Algren]

This is the part where I get all offended that you all don't like the things I like and talk about Entertainment Weekly and stuff.

Well, fuck that. I say it's just less competition.

[i_mmmchocolate]

http://www.honeyjazz.net/blog/wp-content/dateien/misc/swe%20-%20olof%20mellberg.jpg
THIEF!!!!!11

[Matt Algren]

THIEF!!!!!11
If that's stealing, then go ahead and cuff me and stuff me.

...

Wait. That didn't come out right.







yes it did.

[Winslow]

His eyes are too close together for me.

Yeah, and his nose is puny, like a chipmunk.

He's got a killer jawline though.

[Paul McEnery]

Eh, he's classically pretty, I guess, with an overlay of trendy scruffy. I'm not much of a judge of guys. I'm the one who wants to look like Sam Elliot. Butch is better. ;)

Bad luck for you. I'm the guy who does. :evilsmile















Honest to God. In all sincerity, somebody once asked me in a bar if I was Sam Eliot. Guess I'm looking as old as I feel.

[Rallura]

He's cute,
just too symmetrical.
I honestly don't even know who that is.

[Athena Bast]

Yeah, and his nose is puny, like a chipmunk.

He's got a killer jawline though.

That's it! The beard reminds me of the new Alvin and the Chipmunks movie chipmunks!

[Winslow]

THIEF!!!!!11

I know, it's a shame what young Matt has turned to . . . .

[Paul McEnery]

He's cute,
just too symmetrical.
I honestly don't even know who that is.


Any minute now, Puma or dark will come on to tell us.

[i_mmmchocolate]

Roy Keane has pulled off the beard look. He doesn't have blonde hair though.

[i_mmmchocolate]

Any minute now, Puma or dark will come on to tell us.
Mellberg.
_

[Paradox]

Paul McEnery just likes to hurt me:

Bad luck for you. I'm the guy who does. :evilsmile

Bitch.

Honest to God. In all sincerity, somebody once asked me in a bar if I was Sam Eliot. Guess I'm looking as old as I feel.

From the pics I've seen, you do. Do you have the crooked smile and the dimples?

[Gilda Dent]

But 70's jocks with fros are hot, right?

You weren't a jock, you were an athlete. I'm fine with athletes. I was and am an athlete.

It's the jocks I don't care for.

[Athena Bast]

He's cute,
just too symmetrical.
I honestly don't even know who that is.



Some anthropological show on Discovery Channel did a thing where they scanned photos of "hot" and "not so hot" celebs and then did all kinds of math and geometry stuff with them.

Denzel Washington came out most symmetrical which in baseline animal instincts means a desirable and strong DNA strain.

I'm not turned on by symmetrical people. They just seem, uninteresting to me. Boring ya know. Which is probably why I love Gerard Butler and his crooked smile.

[Matt Algren]

Mellberg.
_
Olof Mellberg. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olof_Mellberg)

[Gilda Dent]

You don't say!

Hey, just because I'm not interested in having sex with a guy doesn't mean I can't have an aesthetic appreciation for the male form (as long as certain areas remain covered). Sorta like a gay guy who loves women's fashion and fashion shows.

[Winslow]

Honest to God. In all sincerity, somebody once asked me in a bar if I was Sam Eliot. Guess I'm looking as old as I feel.

Since you don't believe in God, I think you're bullshitting.

Seriously, I can see that.

I look like Stan Laurel.

[Rallura]

I do watch soccer,
but only occasionally.
BB doesn't care much about sports,
and it's sort of boring watching
without someone to talk to
about the plays
and how stupid the refs are.

[i_mmmchocolate]

Hey, just because I'm not interested in having sex with a guy doesn't mean I can't have an aesthetic appreciation for the male form (as long as certain areas remain covered). Sorta like a gay guy who loves women's fashion and fashion shows.
OK, fair enough!

99.9% of the time it's aesthetic appreciation for me too, and I'm straight.

[Pól Rua]

I shouldn't post in political threads.
They make me say 'fuck' too much.

Drinking tonight! Irish pub! only TEN HOURS TO GO!
woo!

Plus, Dr.Who Christmas Special last night. Terribly good.

[Winslow]

You weren't a jock, you were an athlete. I'm fine with athletes. I was and am an athlete.

It's the jocks I don't care for.

I hung out with jocks in high school, I was guilty by association.

But I played Euchre in the Library with the nerds at lunch to redeem myself.

OK, fair enough!

99.9% of the time it's aesthetic appreciation for me too, and I'm straight.

Yeaaaaahhhh . . right. *wink wink, nudge, nudge*

[Athena Bast]

Hey, just because I'm not interested in having sex with a guy doesn't mean I can't have an aesthetic appreciation for the male form (as long as certain areas remain covered). Sorta like a gay guy who loves women's fashion and fashion shows.

I'm not interested in having sex with other females but I desperately want to buy this (http://www.amazon.com/Playboy-Cover-50s-Searchable-Archive-Every/dp/0979526116/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198802048&sr=8-7). Which freaks out the guys at work.

[Paradox]

Athena Bast should draw us lots of meaningless triangles:

Some anthropological show on Discovery Channel did a thing where they scanned photos of "hot" and "not so hot" celebs and then did all kinds of math and geometry stuff with them.

Denzel Washington came out most symmetrical which in baseline animal instincts means a desirable and strong DNA strain.

I'm not turned on by symmetrical people. They just seem, uninteresting to me. Boring ya know. Which is probably why I love Gerard Butler and his crooked smile.

Well, crooked SMILES don't count. That's not really facial symmetry.

But, I have to admit, I prefer symmetry. Or rather, I get turned off by the really unsymmetrical. Say, Katie Holmes or Mellissa Joan Hart with their asymmetrical eyes really weirds me out. Sadly, I think they're both quite cute except for looking like they've had a stroke.

[Paul McEnery]

Since you don't believe in God, I think you're bullshitting.

Seriously, I can see that.

I look like Stan Laurel.

I'm liking the idea of Stan Laurel in The Matrix.

And I'm pretty sure I got the Eliot because all you could see coming through all the hair was the nose and the brows.

[Pól Rua]

I'm liking the idea of Stan Laurel in The Matrix.

And I'm pretty sure I got the Eliot because all you could see coming through all the hair was the nose and the brows.

I can see the Sam Eliot thing. Kind of like Sam Eliot played Alan Moore.

[i_mmmchocolate]

Yeaaaaahhhh . . right. *wink wink, nudge, nudge*
I'm CBR's resident prude!

[Paradox]

Athena Bast goes old school "porn":

I'm not interested in having sex with other females but I desperately want to buy this (http://www.amazon.com/Playboy-Cover-50s-Searchable-Archive-Every/dp/0979526116/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198802048&sr=8-7). Which freaks out the guys at work.

Aw, just tell 'em you want to read the articles. They won't believe you, but they don't believe us, either. ;)

[Paul McEnery]

Well, crooked SMILES don't count. That's not really facial symmetry.

But, I have to admit, I prefer symmetry. Or rather, I get turned off by the really unsymmetrical. Say, Katie Holmes or Mellissa Joan Hart with their asymmetrical eyes really weirds me out. Sadly, I think they're both quite cute except for looking like they've had a stroke.

http://www.geocities.com/~talotta/Batman/three.gif


Works for some, don't it.

[Paradox]

i_mmmchocolate steps up a chair:

I'm CBR's resident prude!

I thought that was Morts.

[Paul McEnery]

I shouldn't post in political threads.
They make me say 'fuck' too much.

Drinking tonight! Irish pub! only TEN HOURS TO GO!
woo!

Plus, Dr.Who Christmas Special last night. Terribly good.

After last year, my expectations were too high. Bit telegraphed and cobbled together out of spare parts, I thought.

[Winslow]

I'm not interested in having sex with other females but I desperately want to buy this (http://www.amazon.com/Playboy-Cover-50s-Searchable-Archive-Every/dp/0979526116/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198802048&sr=8-7). Which freaks out the guys at work.

Pinup art is sensual art . . I can see why you'd want to buy that.

I'm liking the idea of Stan Laurel in The Matrix.

And I'm pretty sure I got the Eliot because all you could see coming through all the hair was the nose and the brows.

heh . . . . I just cut my hair again. I was playing with the idea of growing my hair out but it looks bad when it gets long . . . .

[Paradox]

Paul McEnery shows everything nice:

http://www.geocities.com/~talotta/Batman/three.gif


Works for some, don't it.

Something very wrong about that picture following my mention of "stroke".

Oh, hey, look! Tommy Lee Jones is in the pic, too! :D

[Winslow]

I'm CBR's resident prude!

I won't blow your cover!

waitaminute

[Athena Bast]

Well, crooked SMILES don't count. That's not really facial symmetry.

But, I have to admit, I prefer symmetry. Or rather, I get turned off by the really unsymmetrical. Say, Katie Holmes or Mellissa Joan Hart with their asymmetrical eyes really weirds me out. Sadly, I think they're both quite cute except for looking like they've had a stroke.

Well the right side of his face is lazy. His lips draw more the left side of his face than the right. I'm pretty sure he had an accident of something when he was younger.:p

[Athena Bast]

Aw, just tell 'em you want to read the articles. They won't believe you, but they don't believe us, either. ;)

Everything is included from the original issues. All the original ads. I actually do want to read the articles and stuff from that era and see how revolutionary the magazine was aside from the nekkid wimmens.

[Athena Bast]

http://www.geocities.com/%7Etalotta/Batman/three.gif


Works for some, don't it.

Gawd I love Debi Mazar.

[Pól Rua]

After last year, my expectations were too high. Bit telegraphed and cobbled together out of spare parts, I thought.

I enjoyed some bits a LOT.
The Doc using semantics to get the robots to 'take him to their leader' was a highlight for me. I found the fact that the fat couple were pretty much comic relief and nobody really cared when they died (while weeping tears of blood for poor, doomed Kylie) was a bit bloody callous, and the fact that the Doc tells the old bloke, "I travel alone", but seems ready to shack up with any blonde former pop idol is really starting to make him look a bit of a seedy old perv.
I could also have done without the little tinkly tinkerbell effect at the end. I had enough of that bollocks with the 'clap your hands if you believe in the Doctor' ending of last season.
I think I'm a bit of a nitpicky purist, but to me, the Doctor is a man who is flamboyant but self-effacing, moral and humanistic, a strong optimist without being a braggart and who uses his quick wits, intelligence, lateral thinking and compassion to defeat opponents who use violence, guile, and a lack of compassion and empathy to achieve their aims.
Tennant's Doctor seems too self-satisfied to me. He seems a bit too ready to resort to violence, and, unlike pretty much all the older Doctors, his relationship to his companions seems more like he's some sort of weird lothario rather than the more paternal figure he's cut in the past.

[tricksterpup]

I'm CBR's resident prude!
Funny, I thought howy was. :rolleyes:

[Paradox]

I think we need a nomination process and voting. Let's include that in this year's Corries! :)

[i_mmmchocolate]

Funny, I thought howy was. :rolleyes:
Howya? A prude? C'mon!

[Ray R.]

I think we need a nomination process and voting. Let's include that in this year's Corries! :)

I'm all for the prude, cuckold, spinster and socially maladjusted categories. Some really close races there.

[Ray R.]

Pinup art is sensual art . . I can see why you'd want to buy that.



I agree with that. I also see it as very iconic, particularly representing the fifties and sixties.

[Gilda Dent]

Ok, so I haven't gotten around to watching Paprika yet, but we did watch We Are Marshall last night.

It's above average for an inspirational sports movie. The framing device, a voiceover by the girlfriend of one of the players killed in the crash, though well done, is unnecessary and distracts a bit. I suppose it was an attempt to give things a documentary feel, but it really isn't necessary for a story that has so much inherent drama to it.

The performances were all pretty much what you'd expect from this type of movie, not really challenging roles, but the actors were all up to the job. There are four moments that are meant to big big emotional moments, one of which falls flat because it feels fake--it may or may not have actually happened that way, but the way it's shown it feels fake--one of which works but runs on too long, and two of which work fairly well. The best of these is a small, unexpected one that isn't built up ahead of time, and is much more powerful because of that.

Worth a look pretty much only for those who like inspirational sports stories.

[tricksterpup]

Howya? A prude? C'mon!

Yep, I am sure he would not drink cheap Scotch over expensive.
Oh wait, that would make him a snob..

Ok.. you win.

[Ray R.]

Ok, so I haven't gotten around to watching Paprika yet, but we did watch We Are Marshall last night.

It's above average for an inspirational sports movie. The framing device, a voiceover by the girlfriend of one of the players killed in the crash, though well done, is unnecessary and distracts a bit. I suppose it was an attempt to give things a documentary feel, but it really isn't necessary for a story that has so much inherent drama to it.

The performances were all pretty much what you'd expect from this type of movie, not really challenging roles, but the actors were all up to the job. There are four moments that are meant to big big emotional moments, one of which falls flat because it feels fake--it may or may not have actually happened that way, but the way it's shown it feels fake--one of which works but runs on too long, and two of which work fairly well. The best of these is a small, unexpected one that isn't built up ahead of time, and is much more powerful because of that.

Worth a look pretty much only for those who like inspirational sports stories.

That's good enough for me to give it a wide pass, unless I surf onto it on cable sometime in the undetermined future.

What are your favorite inspirational sports stories?

My top 5:

1. Hoosiers
2. Hoop Dreams
3. Bad News Bears (Matthau version)
4. Brian's Song
5. Glory Road

Lot of clunkers I passed over. There are a TON of movies in this genre when you sit down and think about it.

[tricksterpup]

I agree with that. I also see it as very iconic, particularly representing the fifties and sixties.

I miss seeing new pin ups by Dave Stevens.
http://www.grrl.com/betcircle.jpeg

[Paul McEnery]

I enjoyed some bits a LOT.
The Doc using semantics to get the robots to 'take him to their leader' was a highlight for me. I found the fact that the fat couple were pretty much comic relief and nobody really cared when they died (while weeping tears of blood for poor, doomed Kylie) was a bit bloody callous, and the fact that the Doc tells the old bloke, "I travel alone", but seems ready to shack up with any blonde former pop idol is really starting to make him look a bit of a seedy old perv.
I could also have done without the little tinkly tinkerbell effect at the end. I had enough of that bollocks with the 'clap your hands if you believe in the Doctor' ending of last season.
I think I'm a bit of a nitpicky purist, but to me, the Doctor is a man who is flamboyant but self-effacing, moral and humanistic, a strong optimist without being a braggart and who uses his quick wits, intelligence, lateral thinking and compassion to defeat opponents who use violence, guile, and a lack of compassion and empathy to achieve their aims.
Tennant's Doctor seems too self-satisfied to me. He seems a bit too ready to resort to violence, and, unlike pretty much all the older Doctors, his relationship to his companions seems more like he's some sort of weird lothario rather than the more paternal figure he's cut in the past.

In the retread department we've got


Starship Titanic? Really?
Blowing up a space station for insurance purposes
Evil angels -- you liked them in Blink, you'll love them at Xmas
Another big alien spaceship at Xmas
The Poseidon Adventure? Really?
Robert Maxwell? Really?


And then, on top of that, all the blah about Xmas, and the inevitable death of Kylie -- but wouldn't it have been a pisser if all the Catherine Tate promo stuff had been a fake and it was Kylie after all; instead of another soon to be dead near companion like the first Dalek finale.

[Paul McEnery]

Ok, so I haven't gotten around to watching Paprika yet, but we did watch We Are Marshall last night.

It's above average for an inspirational sports movie. The framing device, a voiceover by the girlfriend of one of the players killed in the crash, though well done, is unnecessary and distracts a bit. I suppose it was an attempt to give things a documentary feel, but it really isn't necessary for a story that has so much inherent drama to it.

The performances were all pretty much what you'd expect from this type of movie, not really challenging roles, but the actors were all up to the job. There are four moments that are meant to big big emotional moments, one of which falls flat because it feels fake--it may or may not have actually happened that way, but the way it's shown it feels fake--one of which works but runs on too long, and two of which work fairly well. The best of these is a small, unexpected one that isn't built up ahead of time, and is much more powerful because of that.

Worth a look pretty much only for those who like inspirational sports stories.

Paprika is soooooo good.

[Rallura]

I have a completely irrational love
of inspirational sports movies.

[Ray R.]

heh . . . . I just cut my hair again. I was playing with the idea of growing my hair out but it looks bad when it gets long . . . .

I decided to grow out my hair and now I'm growing a beard. It's at the 5 day stage now, and the beard still has a way to go.

No lie, with the way I look and my casual dress, I got stopped by the guard in my firm by the elevator bank this morning. She probably thought I was a homeless person (not quite there yet financially....maybe mentally).

[tricksterpup]

What are your favorite inspirational sports stories?


I play..
1. The Natural
2. Rocky
3. The Sandlot
4. Field of Dreams
5. Men with Brooms


I bet you thought I was going to say
Air Bud

[Ray R.]

I miss seeing new pin ups by Dave Stevens.
http://www.grrl.com/betcircle.jpeg

You are so right.

Stevens did/does Betty Page better than anyone except Betty Page. The Rocketeer hit me like a brick when it originally came out.

His Seduction of the Innocent pin-ups are really great and could have been used in Playboy in the 50s.

[tricksterpup]

His Seduction of the Innocent pin-ups are really great and could have been used in Playboy in the 50s.

I am sure it could still be used in today's playboy.
or at least have him be the photographer.

[Paul McEnery]

I decided to grow out my hair and now I'm growing a beard. It's at the 5 day stage now, and the beard still has a way to go.

No lie, with the way I look and my casual dress, I got stopped by the guard in my firm by the elevator bank this morning. She probably thought I was a homeless person (not quite there yet financially....maybe mentally).

Join uuuusssss.

[Ray R.]

I play..
1. The Natural
2. Rocky
3. The Sandlot
4. Field of Dreams
5. Men with Brooms


I bet you thought I was going to say
Air Bud

I haven't seen "Men With Brooms" yet. I'm guessing it's about curling?

Rocky would make my top 10. Field of Dreams is hard to categorize -- inspirational, fantasy, coming-of-age, drama -- the ending used to break me down in any case. I haven't seen The Sandlot in years. Forgot about The Natural.

[Ray R.]

Join uuuusssss.

I'm just looking forward for the itching to stop. And I'll be damned if my beard looks so much more white in patches than it ever did.

What a drag it is getting old.

[Ray R.]

I am sure it could still be used in today's playboy.
or at least have him be the photographer.

One of the best cheesecake artists I've ever seen. Is he out of the comics biz altogether?

You'd think he could do an Alex Ross and coast on a special project every year or so.

[Rallura]

1. Hoosiers
2. Bad News Bears (1976)
3. National Velvet
4. Bull Durham
5. Breaking Away

[Ray R.]

1. Hoosiers
2. Bad News Bears (1976)
3. National Velvet
4. Bull Durham
5. Breaking Away



Great call with Breaking Away and Bull Durham. Classic flicks.

You look at the remake of Bad News Bears (with Billy Bob Thornton), and it makes you realize that you probably can't ever make a movie like that again (they softened up an awful lot), and that Walter Matthau and Vic Morrow can't be replaced.

[tricksterpup]

One of the best cheesecake artists I've ever seen. Is he out of the comics biz altogether?

You'd think he could do an Alex Ross and coast on a special project every year or so.

I am not sure. Either he is just doing different things or is not longer the in guy any more. Comics today is just to fickeled. If you are not liked, you don't get work. I am not sure if he got black listed or his choice?

Here is his website, nothing updated on it really.
http://www.davestevens.com

The next 2 best cheese cake comic artist IMO are
Howard Chaykin (his american flagg was amazing)
Frank Cho

[Puma]

http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/falalalala128419626101646250.jpg

Got home about two hours ago. Left a day early because of a forecasted snowstorm. When I talked to my Dad at 5pm he said it started snowing around 9am and hadn't let up yet; 4-6 inches and its coming down heavy, so I guess it was good Collin woke me up at 4am.

Our house, being that our only heat is from the wood stove, was very cool- 50f in the living room and that was with the space heater we left on for the cats. It's finally around 68f in the main rooms but my study is too damn cold! If I wasn't correcting my typing it would look like some of Cosmic Cat's drunk posts.

Later folks, I'm gonna get warm.

[Pól Rua]

I miss seeing new pin ups by Dave Stevens.
http://www.grrl.com/betcircle.jpeg

DAAAAAAAAAVE STEEEEEEPPHHHHEEEEENNNNNSSSSS!!!!
WOO!

sorry. i do that.

[Rallura]

Great call with Breaking Away and Bull Durham. Classic flicks.

You look at the remake of Bad News Bears (with Billy Bob Thornton), and it makes you realize that you probably can't ever make a movie like that again (they softened up an awful lot), and that Walter Matthau and Vic Morrow can't be replaced.

I tried to look at the remake
and after about 15 minutes,
ended up having to watch
Hello Dolly instead
because I couldn't find anything else
with Walter Matthau at that particular moment.

[Ben Morgan]

Shouldn't the Citizen of the Month and Year threads be starting soon?

[tricksterpup]

Great call with Breaking Away and Bull Durham. Classic flicks.

You look at the remake of Bad News Bears (with Billy Bob Thornton), and it makes you realize that you probably can't ever make a movie like that again (they softened up an awful lot), and that Walter Matthau and Vic Morrow can't be replaced.

Another one I forgot was Seabiscuit. I thought it was an amazing film.

As for Field of Dreams, I have to say it was about the spirit of baseball. When it comes to baseball, I am very old fashion about it. To me it is the only sport that screams America as in the USA. It embodies everything that is pure in the American Heartland. And I feel that FoD brought that out perfectly.

Another film that I have heard great things about was the Rookie. I never saw it but people say it was an amazing film.

[Ronald Bryan]

You're not allowed to correct cold stuttering pststst...

[Winslow]

What are your favorite inspirational sports stories?

I'm not sure I have 5. I'd probably go with

1. Brian's Song
2. Hoosiers
3. Remember the Titans
4. Rudy
5. Heaven Can Wait

[tricksterpup]

1. Hoosiers
2. Bad News Bears (1976)
3. National Velvet
4. Bull Durham
5. Breaking Away


Amusing 2 films that take place in Southern Indiana. Hoosiers and Breaking Away.
I went to college at IU where it was filmed. I gotta tell you the one scene where he chased her on his bike while she was on a moped didnt make sense if you knew the campus. She was going around in circles and out of her way to get some place. But it does bring back wonderful memories of living down there. I love southern indiana and howling with the coyotes down there.

[Ray R.]

I am not sure. Either he is just doing different things or is not longer the in guy any more. Comics today is just to fickeled. If you are not liked, you don't get work. I am not sure if he got black listed or his choice?

Hmmm....maybe Cronin knows? He seems to be the repository of all that information. I'd reserve copies of his comics, no doubt. Maybe it's a deadline thing? Still, the days of deadlines appear to be long behind us if the All-Star series are any indication (for example).....

The next 2 best cheese cake comic artist IMO are
Howard Chaykin (his american flagg was amazing)
Frank Cho

Great call on both accounts. Frank Cho is probably his successor.

A few others:

Adam Hughes
Greg Horn
Terry Dodson

Although I'm not really fond of them....Horn seems to delve into the creepy and inappropriate. Stevens made Bettie Page come alive in an innocent if seductive way, not by having her sit with her legs wide open, anywho....

Old School, you might want to check out Matt Baker's work. He did phenomenal work on Phantom Lady and other Fox comics.

[Pól Rua]

One of the best cheesecake artists I've ever seen. Is he out of the comics biz altogether?

You'd think he could do an Alex Ross and coast on a special project every year or so.

I think it was Dave Stevens who came to the conclusion that drawing a comic cost him $10,000.
Basically, in the time it takes for him to draw a comic, he has to pass up over $10,000 in graphic design projects. Subtracting the amount he earns from the comic itself and its STILL over $10,000.

[Paul McEnery]

I'm just looking forward for the itching to stop. And I'll be damned if my beard looks so much more white in patches than it ever did.

What a drag it is getting old.

Tell me about it.

I'm thinking of calling us the League of Bad Santas.

[Rallura]

Would the Hustler
be considered a sports movie?

[Ray R.]

I tried to look at the remake
and after about 15 minutes,
ended up having to watch
Hello Dolly instead
because I couldn't find anything else
with Walter Matthau at that particular moment.




It was really, really botched. From concept to execution. Bad News Bears was better left alone, not made into a fart-happy, ethnically-diverse PG-13 mess.

[Paul McEnery]

I think it was Dave Stevens who came to the conclusion that drawing a comic cost him $10,000.
Basically, in the time it takes for him to draw a comic, he has to pass up over $10,000 in graphic design projects. Subtracting the amount he earns from the comic itself and its STILL over $10,000.

I figure he made more money off the movie rights than the comic book itself.

[Winslow]

1. Hoosiers
2. Bad News Bears (1976)
3. National Velvet
4. Bull Durham
5. Breaking Away



Gah . . I forgot breaking Away . .what a great flick.

And National Velvet reminded me of Seabiscuit . . I really enjoyed that a few years ago. Redemptive themes always get to me, and it was a 3-way redemption story.

[Gilda Dent]

That's good enough for me to give it a wide pass, unless I surf onto it on cable sometime in the undetermined future.
What are your favorite inspirational sports stories?

My top 5:

1. Hoosiers
2. Hoop Dreams
3. Bad News Bears (Matthau version)
4. Brian's Song
5. Glory Road

Lot of clunkers I passed over. There are a TON of movies in this genre when you sit down and think about it.

Yep. As for favorites, as opposed to what are the best, I'd have to go with these, some of which I know are clunkers but which grabbed me because I encountered them as a kid or when I was in just the right receptive state of mind:

1. Searching for Bobby Fischer
2. The Karate Kid
3. Hoosiers
4. Rocky
5. Lucas
6. Chariots of Fire
7. Cinderella Man
8. The World's Fastest Indian
9. Swimming Upstream
10. Pride
11. Rocky 3
12. Beautiful Boxer
13. Breaking Away
14. Seabiscuit

I know chess isn't something many would consider a sport, but Searching for Bobby Fischer has the form and execution of a sports movie, so I include it on my list. Iron Ladies, a Thai movie about a team of transvestites who won the Thai national volleyball championship in the late 90s is an honorable mention. Not a good movie, but a fun one.

[Pól Rua]

I think of the modern guys, Adam Hughes has in sewn up. His work is often playful and has a genuine sense of visual humour in a way a lot of his contemporaries don't have.

[Ray R.]

I'm not sure I have 5. I'd probably go with

1. Brian's Song
2. Hoosiers
3. Remember the Titans
4. Rudy
5. Heaven Can Wait

Heaven Can Wait. Probably my favorite Warren Beatty flick after Bonnie & Clyde or Reds. He's very likeable there. Good choice.

[Ray R.]

Shouldn't the Citizen of the Month and Year threads be starting soon?

Last year, they went off in February. Could be some time still.

[Ray R.]

Another one I forgot was Seabiscuit. I thought it was an amazing film.

Oh, yes. So MUCH more than I thought it would be. Excellent movie.

As for Field of Dreams, I have to say it was about the spirit of baseball. When it comes to baseball, I am very old fashion about it. To me it is the only sport that screams America as in the USA. It embodies everything that is pure in the American Heartland. And I feel that FoD brought that out perfectly.


Right. Eight Men Out I think was better, particularly on dealing with the Black Sox. But you're right, it was a pretty philosophical film dealing with symbolism and purity as exemplified by baseball. I felt a little emotionally jerked around at times, but overall, it was well-done.

[Rallura]

Ice Castles!

No, seriously.

[Ray R.]

I think it was Dave Stevens who came to the conclusion that drawing a comic cost him $10,000.
Basically, in the time it takes for him to draw a comic, he has to pass up over $10,000 in graphic design projects. Subtracting the amount he earns from the comic itself and its STILL over $10,000.

That's too bad. He really is an amazing storyteller and comic artist.

[Winslow]

Later folks, I'm gonna get warm.[/COLOR]

Get warm!

Tell me about it.

I'm thinking of calling us the League of Bad Santas.

My beard looks pretty bad . . . . I keep it cropped close so the gray and light patches look bald now.

My beard makes Ed Cunard's new dog look healthy.

[Ray R.]

Would the Hustler
be considered a sports movie?


Good question. I put it in the drama camp more than sports. In terms of performances, from Paul Newman to Piper Laurie to George C. Scott to Jackie Gleason, it's probably one of the best movies ever made. Really sad, though.

[Michael P]

I think of the modern guys, Adam Hughes has in sewn up. His work is often playful and has a genuine sense of visual humour in a way a lot of his contemporaries don't have.

I don't know what exactly this is a contest of, but I agree with your assessment.

[Gilda Dent]

Darn it. How could I forget Field of Dreams?

The Hustler is certainly a sports movie, but it doesn't quite fit the inspirational part of things here. It ends with The Big Game, but the aftermath of that is more akin to tragedy than inspiration.

[Michael P]

Anybody want a copy of Final Fantasy XII? My mom apparently ordered two by accident.

[Rallura]

I also forgot Hidalgo.
We should do a top 50.

[Ronald Bryan]

Anybody want a copy of Final Fantasy XII? My mom apparently ordered two by accident.
Already have one. Although, last time I tried to play it on my PS3, it wouldn't play.

[Ray R.]

Yep. As for favorites, as opposed to what are the best, I'd have to go with these, some of which I know are clunkers but which grabbed me because I encountered them as a kid or when I was in just the right receptive state of mind:

1. Searching for Bobby Fischer

Very underrated little flick. I've seen more parodies of it than replays of the actual movie, so that's probably saying something.

2. The Karate Kid

Of course. Sweep the leg.


3. Hoosiers
4. Rocky
5. Lucas
6. Chariots of Fire
7. Cinderella Man
8. The World's Fastest Indian
9. Swimming Upstream
10. Pride
11. Rocky 3
12. Beautiful Boxer
13. Breaking Away
14. Seabiscuit

I've not seen The World's Fastest Indian (I'm guessing a Jim Thorpe bio?), Swimming Upstream, Pride, or Beautiful Boxer. Cinderella Man was entertaining.


I know chess isn't something many would consider a sport, but Searching for Bobby Fischer has the form and execution of a sports movie, so I include it on my list. Iron Ladies, a Thai movie about a team of transvestites who won the Thai national volleyball championship in the late 90s is an honorable mention. Not a good movie, but a fun one.

That looks fun. I'll have to check it out.

I've heard good things about "King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters" too. It's a story about driven competitors who compete to break World Records on classic arcade games like Donkey Kong, Centipede, Pac-Man and others. I think it's out on DVD soon.

[Ronald Bryan]

And no one has mentioned the most heartwarming inspirational sports movie ever. Beerfest

[Gilda Dent]

Very underrated little flick. I've seen more parodies of it than replays of the actual movie, so that's probably saying something.

It's one of my favorite movies of any kind.

I've not seen The World's Fastest Indian (I'm guessing a Jim Thorpe bio?), Swimming Upstream, Pride, or Beautiful Boxer. Cinderella Man was entertaining.

The World's Fastest Indian is a "based on a true story" motorcycle racing movie. The Indian in the title is the model of motorcycle the protagonist, Burt Munro, an elderly Australian man, customizes and wants to race at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

Swimming Upstream is a movie about a famous amateur Australian swimmer (based on a true story).

Pride (based on a true story) is about Jim Ellis, who used a condemned Philadelphia rec building to build a top notch African-American swim team.

Beautiful Boxer (based on a true story) is about Nom Tung, a transsexual Thai kickboxer who at one point was the most popular sports figure in Thailand.

It seems I have some affection for "based on a true story" sports stories.

That looks fun. I'll have to check it out.

I've heard good things about "King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters" too. It's a story about driven competitors who compete to break World Records on classic arcade games like Donkey Kong, Centipede, Pac-Man and others. I think it's out on DVD soon.

I really want to see that.

[Rallura]

Ok now,
would Drumline then be considered,
as it is
competition based
and supposedly inspirational?

[Gilda Dent]

Ok now,
would Drumline then be considered,
as it is
competition based
and supposedly inspirational?


I wouldn't have a problem with that. Such lists are by their nature personal things, so whatever criteria you want to use are appropriate for your own list.

[Ray R.]

I wouldn't have a problem with that. Such lists are by their nature personal things, so whatever criteria you want to use are appropriate for your own list.

I think that's right. I don't consider Drumline a sports movie, but it is inspirational and it is about a climax involving a huge competition, so I think it fits in the overall genre pretty well.

In that regard, Akeelah & The Bee and Spellbound also fit the bill.

[Michael P]

I think that's right. I don't consider Drumline a sports movie, but it is inspirational and it is about a climax involving a huge competition, so I think it fits in the overall genre pretty well.

In that regard, Akeelah & The Bee and Spellbound also fit the bill.

Can this definition expand to include The Wizard?

(I'm not saying it should, just wondering.)

[Ray R.]

Can this definition expand to include The Wizard?

(I'm not saying it should, just wondering.)

I've not seen that. Looked it up on iMdb, and I think it fits. I might have to check that one out. Looks like it holds up better than Tron after almost twenty years.

[Gilda Dent]

I think that's right. I don't consider Drumline a sports movie, but it is inspirational and it is about a climax involving a huge competition, so I think it fits in the overall genre pretty well.

In that regard, Akeelah & The Bee and Spellbound also fit the bill.

Yep, and Word Wars, a documentary about tournament Scrabble players, and Wordplay, a documentary about tournament crossword puzzle solvers.

Spellbound, Wordplay, and Word Wars would make a good triple feature of word oriented competition documentaries.

I like Akeelah and the Bee a lot.

[Ray R.]

Spellbound, Wordplay, and Word Wars would make a good triple feature of word oriented competition documentaries.


Ed Cunard, white courtesy phone.

[Michael P]

I've not seen that. Looked it up on iMdb, and I think it fits. I might have to check that one out. Looks like it holds up better than Tron after almost twenty years.

Trust me, it doesn't. It's a glorified Nintendo ad, notable only for the hilariously awful reading of "I love the Power Glove. It's so bad." (And for Beau Bridges saying "Mechaturtle" without a trace of irony.)

[Gilda Dent]

I've not seen that. Looked it up on iMdb, and I think it fits. I might have to check that one out. Looks like it holds up better than Tron after almost twenty years.

I've seen it. It's not one I think I'd want to see again.

[Ray R.]

Trust me, it doesn't. It's a glorified Nintendo ad, notable only for the interplay between Fred Savage, his retarded brother, and the trucker's daughter. (And for Beau Bridges saying "Mechaturtle" without a trace of irony.)

Ah, thanks for giving me an hour and a half of my life back, then.

For some reason I'm now sadly reminded of Joysticks. Probably makes The Wizard look like Battleship Potemkin. Joe Don Baker is the headliner. Draw your own conclusions.

[Michael P]

Ah, thanks for giving me an hour and a half of my life back, then.

I loved it when I was twelve, but boy, I can't imagine everyone involved not regretting that one.

[Gilda Dent]

Ah, thanks for giving me an hour and a half of my life back, then.

For some reason I'm now sadly reminded of Joysticks. Probably makes The Wizard look like Battleship Potemkin. Joe Don Baker is the headliner. Draw your own conclusions.

Have you seen Tilt? Brooke Shields as a ten-year-old pinball prodigy traveling cross country hustling people to earn money for a high stakes match against a master player known as "The Whale". Because he's fat. And because he's rich and plays high stakes pinball.

Imagine the first third of The Hustler, but if instead of pool, it was pinball, and with Brooke Shields instead of Paul Newman, and you get the idea.

It's a masterpiece compared to The Wizard.

[tricksterpup]

And no one has mentioned the most heartwarming inspirational sports movie ever. Beerfest

I have disagree with you.. its gotta be BASEketball.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8WdDmAFcJw

[Michael P]

By what criteria can Rebecca Romijn be considered "a good actress?"

[Rallura]

By what criteria can Rebecca Romijn be considered "a good actress?"

I am not sure,
but I do enjoy her
on Ugly Betty,
so, comedy?

[tricksterpup]

By what criteria can Rebecca Romijn be considered "a good actress?"
She is willing to wear only latex on a set.

[tricksterpup]

Ok possibly the worst movie of 2008.

http://www.meetthespartans.com/

My Gosh, what happened to Kevin Sorbo's Career??

[Valmore]

That equals "Thumbs Up" or "Thumbs Down" which is even more stupefyingly stupid than the A+ through F system.

WHY do you like it? HOW does it work or not work, creatively or technically? WHAT aspects appeal to the reviewer's experience in film, WHICH aspects do not.

It's not rocket science. There are a lot of us here, including Matt, Jared, Ed, Dread, Slam, Das, jesse, Gilda, Winslow, etc., who come on here and give a movie review without assigning a stupid letter grade. I'll be honest, I'd rather trust a movie review given by somebody here, than pick a movie based on some arbitrary B handed out by Owen Gleiberman.

Actually, many people do tend to explain why they assigned the certain grade and as to what they mean. Using an A to F scale is no more different than ranking things in any other particular way. An "A" stands for a particularly awesome achievment as compared to a "C" which is average.

It's basically a sense of familiarity - most people in the United States are familiar with the idea of what the A to F scale entails, since they see it from, like, fourth grade on through college (though you tend to get the comparative numbers of 4 to 0 in high school and college).

This isn't even exclusive to the movie industry, as many gaming sites have a similar scale for judging video games.

So long as people give a good analysis as to WHY they've assigned a movie (or better, breaking aspects of the movie down and assigning grades to each aspect and an overall rating) a certain grade, I fail to see the big deal.

[Pól Rua]

I don't know what exactly this is a contest of, but I agree with your assessment.

Modern comics cheesecake artists.
I think Hughes' sense of fun, and the fact that most of his art tells a story as opposed to being just pretty pictures, gives it an edge on most of his contemporaries. Even if he wasn't pretty damn good.

[i_mmmchocolate]

re sports movies:

Am I the only one who didn't care much for Bull Durham? I found it to be very forgettable.

[Slam_Bradley]

re sports movies:

Am I the only one who didn't care much for Bull Durham? I found it to be very forgettable.

Yes. You're the only one.

Freak.

[Guapo Méndez]

Speaking of shopping, I just spent almost as much on shipping as I did on the order itself.

Fucking Amazon.com.

Welcome to my world.
Timely shipping costs more than the books I order.

[Rallura]

Welcome to my world.
Timely shipping costs more than the books I order.

Guapo,
did you see BB did another
Sean Connery video?

[i_mmmchocolate]

Yes. You're the only one.

Freak.
YAWN!

No, really, I'm tired. I work tomorrow as usual, but have Monday & Tuesday off. Yay.

I still think it's forgettable, though.

[Guapo Méndez]

re sports movies:

Am I the only one who didn't care much for Bull Durham? I found it to be very forgettable.

I've started to see it several times, I've never finished it.

[Guapo Méndez]

Guapo,
did you see BB did another
Sean Connery video?


He did?
To Youtube!

[Guapo Méndez]

Heheh. Very well done!

[Rallura]

Heheh. Very well done!

He's going to keep doing them.

[Ben Morgan]

Ok possibly the worst movie of 2008.

http://www.meetthespartans.com/

My Gosh, what happened to Kevin Sorbo's Career??
That movie looks horrible

[Ray R.]

Actually, many people do tend to explain why they assigned the certain grade and as to what they mean. Using an A to F scale is no more different than ranking things in any other particular way. An "A" stands for a particularly awesome achievment as compared to a "C" which is average.

It's basically a sense of familiarity - most people in the United States are familiar with the idea of what the A to F scale entails, since they see it from, like, fourth grade on through college (though you tend to get the comparative numbers of 4 to 0 in high school and college).

This isn't even exclusive to the movie industry, as many gaming sites have a similar scale for judging video games.

So long as people give a good analysis as to WHY they've assigned a movie (or better, breaking aspects of the movie down and assigning grades to each aspect and an overall rating) a certain grade, I fail to see the big deal.

I don't see a need for a diminishing and facile "sense of familiarity" in what's essentially an essay on a one and a half to two hour work (or more) of complex artistic and technical presentation and merit. I see it as pretty stupid to judge hundreds, if not thousands, of hours of effort and output with an elementary school letter grade because apparently there are people too lazy to actually read a review, and so they need to be told whether a movie is good or not in the simplest terms possible.

I see it as limiting, constrictive and unnecessary, and apparently most film critics aren't big fans either, as Gilda and others pointed out.

It's really not a big deal to me. I just find it yet ANOTHER example of pandering to the intellectually disinterested and lazy as a short cut to actually reading. If that makes me a preening elitist, then whatever.

[Chris Nowlin]

Man is Ray a preening elitist.




I go to Rotten Tomatoes. Movies get a tomato or a splat. I then go watch the ones with lots of splats because I don't trust critics.

[Pól Rua]

DRINKING TONIGHT IN FOUR HOURS!
doot...
doot...
doot...

[Pól Rua]

On one hand, sometimes, I like to see a comprehensive analysis of the merits and detriments of a film.
On the other hand, sometimes a pithy summation of whether I should see the film or not. I don't think a letter or a thumb does it, but a brief, succinct comment, "I would recommend this film if...", or "This film tries hard, but ends up being pretty slight and not really worth the price of admission" is what's needed.
The right tool for the job and all that.

[Paradox]

What? No sports love for "Stick It!"? Har, OK, it's a dumb movie, but I still enjoyed it. Probably because Missy Peregrym is a cutie with an attitude. :D

DISTURBING amount of crotch shots, though...

http://msnbcmedia1.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/060418/060418_stickit_hmed_2p.hmedium.jpg

[Paul McEnery]

Man Ray is a preening elitist.


Fixed it for you.

[Chris Nowlin]

Man Ray?

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o1/CocaC0la99/mantaray-mantabirostris.jpg

[thespianphryne]

[...]

DISTURBING amount of crotch shots, though...

http://msnbcmedia1.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/060418/060418_stickit_hmed_2p.hmedium.jpg

Gymnastics, my friend. Can't be helped.


-Das

[Brian Cronin]

I think it was Dave Stevens who came to the conclusion that drawing a comic cost him $10,000.
Basically, in the time it takes for him to draw a comic, he has to pass up over $10,000 in graphic design projects. Subtracting the amount he earns from the comic itself and its STILL over $10,000.

Yeah, Stevens is in the realm of artists who are mostly doing commissions nowadays.

And I bet he makes a tidy sum for his troubles, too.

-Brian

[Spike-X]

Yeah, Stevens is in the realm of artists who are mostly doing commissions nowadays.

And I bet he makes a tidy sum for his troubles, too.

-Brian
If I had the money, I'd probably be supporting him single-handedly.

[Ben Morgan]

http://www.gouranga.com/images/other/bin-clubbing.jpg

[Spike-X]

Here's one (http://aislian.org/tile.html) for the herbally enhanced folks out there.

[Typo Lad]

Anybody want a copy of Final Fantasy XII? My mom apparently ordered two by accident.

If still available, I would not say no.

[Typo Lad]

Trust me, it doesn't. It's a glorified Nintendo ad, notable only for the hilariously awful reading of "I love the Power Glove. It's so bad." (And for Beau Bridges saying "Mechaturtle" without a trace of irony.)

The line is actually "I love... my glove." The delivery was so bad it became etched into my mind.

He's going to keep doing them.


Yay! They're fun!

He should do "Sean Connery reads Go Dog, Go".

What? No sports love for "Stick It!"? Har, OK, it's a dumb movie, but I still enjoyed it. Probably because Missy Peregrym is a cutie with an attitude. :D

DISTURBING amount of crotch shots, though...

http://msnbcmedia1.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/060418/060418_stickit_hmed_2p.hmedium.jpg

Can there really be too many crotch shots?

[Paradox]

thespianphryne may not know the extent:

Gymnastics, my friend. Can't be helped.

I think the one with the young Asian girl on the balance beam splitting with one leg up in the air and Jeff Bridges as her COACH doing the "head tilt" staring straight at it could have. :)

[Valmore]

re sports movies:

Am I the only one who didn't care much for Bull Durham? I found it to be very forgettable.

Bull Durham was awesome. How can you not like Costner, Robbins and Sarandon in one baseball film?

[Dom]

Bull Durham was awesome. How can you not like Costner, Robbins and Sarandon in one baseball film?

Because it was a glorified chick flick?

[Forefinger]

I've never watched the entire movie, but I never cared for Bull Durham either.

[Jared_Humpherys]

Woke up this morning to find $100 deposited into my bank from my work. On an off week, even. I figure it must be a holiday bonus(I can't be sure as I won't be in to work until next Wednesday). Is that a safe assumption to make?

[Dom]

Woke up this morning to find $100 deposited into my bank from my work. On an off week, even. I figure it must be a holiday bonus(I can't be sure as I won't be in to work until next Wednesday). Is that a safe assumption to make?

$100 bonus?

What would they be basing it on? Annual salary? Comissions? Random assigned number?

[jessecuster3]

That's good enough for me to give it a wide pass, unless I surf onto it on cable sometime in the undetermined future.

What are your favorite inspirational sports stories?

My top 5:

1. Hoosiers
2. Hoop Dreams
3. Bad News Bears (Matthau version)
4. Brian's Song
5. Glory Road

Lot of clunkers I passed over. There are a TON of movies in this genre when you sit down and think about it.


Awesome, sorry I missed this one last night. Glory Road was a great movie, I am glad its making it into the "pantheon".

Yep. As for favorites, as opposed to what are the best, I'd have to go with these, some of which I know are clunkers but which grabbed me because I encountered them as a kid or when I was in just the right receptive state of mind:

1. Searching for Bobby Fischer
2. The Karate Kid
3. Hoosiers
4. Rocky
5. Lucas
6. Chariots of Fire
7. Cinderella Man
8. The World's Fastest Indian
9. Swimming Upstream
10. Pride
11. Rocky 3
12. Beautiful Boxer
13. Breaking Away
14. Seabiscuit



Great list! I don't think I would have come up with Searching... but it totally fits.


This is a tough one for me:

1. The Sandlot - my all time favorite sports movie.
2. Hoosiers - just showed this one to my girlfriend for her first time, it holds up incredibly well.
3. Field of Dreams - I know its hamfisted, but it pulled all the right strings for me.
4. Brian's Song - the fact that its the Bears definitely makes it warrant a place.
5. American Flyers - little known(seen) bicycle movie, that I loved.


4 and 5 could be replaced with a ton of movies, including Remember the Titans, Friday Night Lights and Varsity Blues(yes, I liked that one).

[Jared_Humpherys]

$100 bonus?

What would they be basing it on? Annual salary? Comissions? Random assigned number?

Yearly profits, perhaps? I dunno. The weird thing is, it was exactly $100. After taxes. That's never happened before.

I've already gotten my normal bonus this month. I'm not one to complain, but I'm just spooked I got laid off or something, and this is some form of severance. Silly thing to think, but my GAD has been weird lately.

[jessecuster3]

Yearly profits, perhaps? I dunno. The weird thing is, it was exactly $100. After taxes. That's never happened before.

I've already gotten my normal bonus this month. I'm not one to complain, but I'm just spooked I got laid off or something, and this is some form of severance. Silly thing to think, but my GAD has been weird lately.

Are you at work today? If not, make sure and call HR as soon as you go back to work.

[Typo Lad]

It could also be a bank error. My bank accidently credited my paycheck twice a few months ago. They drove me nuts. Kept insisting it was a seperate deposit.

"Really? For the same exact amount as my check, at the same ATM, at the same dang time?"

[Jared_Humpherys]

Are you at work today? If not, make sure and call HR as soon as you go back to work.

Nope. Don't work until next Wednesday. However, HR should be in today, so I'll swing by.

I also already e-mailed my boss, who I think will be in today.

[tricksterpup]

It could also be a bank error. My bank accidently credited my paycheck twice a few months ago. They drove me nuts. Kept insisting it was a seperate deposit.

"Really? For the same exact amount as my check, at the same ATM, at the same dang time?"

Did they make you keep the money???

[Typo Lad]

Did they make you keep the money???
They said i could, but of course it was gone by start of next business day.

[tricksterpup]

They said i could, but of course it was gone by start of next business day.

Bastards... breaking promises like that to a wonderful person like you.

[jessecuster3]

Is it wrong to eat Snickers at 8:50 in the morning?

[Dom]

Is it wrong to eat Snickers at 8:50 in the morning?

It depends.

On whether Snickers is a candy bar or your dog.

[jessecuster3]

It depends.

On whether Snickers is a candy bar or your dog.

I don't think I would bring my dog to work...



Not to mention, Snickers is stupid* name for a dog.






*except if any of you named your dog Snickers, in which case, its great, no really, great

[Puma]

Morning people.

[Dom]

I don't think I would bring my dog to work...



Not to mention, Snickers is stupid* name for a dog.






*except if any of you named your dog Snickers, in which case, its great, no really, great

I notice you had no objection to the concept of eating a dog.

Interesting, I didn't know you liked Korean food.

[jessecuster3]

I notice you had no objection to the concept of eating a dog.

Interesting, I didn't know you liked Korean food.

I can't wait for a Korean to correct you in this misplaced assumption.

[Dom]

I can't wait for a Korean to correct you in this misplaced assumption.

I'm pretty sure Koreans have a sense of humour.

Or maybe that's another misplaced assumption, who knows?

[Typo Lad]

I've only seen one Monk ep with Natalie so far, but I like 'er.

[Matt Algren]

Ok now,
would Drumline then be considered,
as it is
competition based
and supposedly inspirational?

I love that movie. I really need to see it again. I was out of my chair during the face off. (Sorry, band nerd here.)
Ed Cunard, white courtesy phone.No, the white phone.

Trust me, it doesn't. It's a glorified Nintendo ad, notable only for the hilariously awful reading of "I love the Power Glove. It's so bad." (And for Beau Bridges saying "Mechaturtle" without a trace of irony.)The line is actually "I love... my glove." The delivery was so bad it became etched into my mind.Do you mean bad as in the usage from the movie, or bad as in bad?

[Ed Cunard]

I can't wait for a Korean to correct you in this misplaced assumption.

http://www.slate.com/id/2060840/

[jessecuster3]

I've only seen one Monk ep with Natalie so far, but I like 'er.

Yeah she is good, its kind of a Cheers scenario, they were both good in their own ways.

[Typo Lad]

Do you mean bad as in the usage from the movie, or bad as in bad?

Bad as in pouring bleach in my ears does nothing.

[Dom]

http://www.slate.com/id/2060840/

I knew I read that somewhere.

[Typo Lad]

Yeah she is good, its kind of a Cheers scenario, they were both good in their own ways.
Dangit. Now I have to hate her.

Why must you ruin everything for me?

[Matt Algren]

Bad as in pouring bleach in my ears does nothing.
One can never be sure, especially when one is talking about the 80s.

[jessecuster3]

Dangit. Now I have to hate her.
Why must you ruin everything for me?


huh? Whatchoo talking about, Willis?

[jessecuster3]

http://www.slate.com/id/2060840/

Right its 10% of the population who do eat dog meat. The poorest 10%, not really representative of the whole country, is it?

[Typo Lad]

huh? Whatchoo talking about, Willis?
CBR rule 813: if jessecuster3 likes it, it is bad.

[jessecuster3]

CBR rule 813: if jessecuster3 likes it, it is bad.


Oh right, I forgot, thanks.

[Slam_Bradley]

What? No sports love for "Stick It!"? Har, OK, it's a dumb movie, but I still enjoyed it. Probably because Missy Peregrym is a cutie with an attitude. :D

DISTURBING amount of crotch shots, though...

http://msnbcmedia1.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/060418/060418_stickit_hmed_2p.hmedium.jpg

Did I ever mention that I dated a gymnast in college?

mmmmm...gymnasts.

[Dom]

Did I ever mention that I dated a gymnast in college?

mmmmm...gymnasts.

that's so weird, I was a gymnast in college.

And I used to date a guy.

Oh shit.

[Slam_Bradley]

I've only seen one Monk ep with Natalie so far, but I like 'er.

I prefer Natalie to Sharona. My opinion trumps Jesse's and makes this ok.

[Matt Algren]

Welcome to my world.
Timely shipping costs more than the books I order.The best part is that now I'm finding out that it won't even be timely. I said two day shipping, and now they're telling me it most of it won't be here till at least the 3rd.

Looks like I won't have to worry about Birthday present shopping. Now I just have to go to the toy store this weekend. Ugh.

[Puma]

I hate movies that treat the military academies like regular colleges; as if all you need to do is apply and automatically you'll get in.

[tricksterpup]

This is so Fucked up..


Suspects admit to slayings in Washington

By ELIZABETH M. GILLESPIE, Associated Press Writer 12 minutes ago

Court documents detail six methodical killings that began on Christmas Eve when a woman and her boyfriend shot her parents at their rural home, dragged their bodies to a shed, then gunned down the woman's brother, his wife and their two young children.

What the documents don't say is why.

Michele K. Anderson and Joseph Thomas McEnroe, both 29, were ordered held without bail after a hearing Thursday. Formal charges had not been filed.

In police affidavits filed in court Thursday, King County Sheriff's Detective John Pavlovich described the horrific killings he said McEnroe outlined to authorities, but the detective made no mention of motive.

First, Pavlovich wrote, McEnroe and Anderson shot her parents, Wayne Anderson, 60, and Judy Anderson, 61, with large-caliber pistols and dragged the bodies to a shed. A short time later, the Andersons' son, Scott, his wife, Erica — both 32 — and their children, Olivia, 6, and Nathan, 3, arrived for a Christmas Eve visit.

"Knowing that Scott and his family were potential witnesses, Joe and Michele shot them," Pavlovich wrote. His affidavit said McEnroe shot all four.

McEnroe and Anderson confessed to authorities, court documents said. Anderson said both of them shot her parents, brother and sister-in-law, and McEnroe killed the children, according to a separate affidavit. It also does not give a motive.

McEnroe and Anderson, who had been together for six years, lived in a trailer about 200 yards from her parents' house. After the killings, they tried to flee to Canada, court documents said, but they returned the following day and were detained.

At Thursday's hearing, both defendants waived their right to appear before a judge.

McEnroe appeared briefly in the courtroom, then left with his attorney. The attorney, Devon Gibbs, did not return a call for comment.

Anderson's attorney, public defender George Eppler, said he spoke with her briefly before the hearing. "We limited our conversation solely to the issue of today's court appearance," Eppler said.

The bodies were found Wednesday morning on Wayne and Judy Anderson's property near Carnation, about 25 miles east of Seattle, by one of her co-workers, who was worried when Judy Anderson did not show up for work.

Ben Anderson, the elder couple's grandson, has said money could have been a factor in the deaths. "She felt she wasn't loved enough and everyone didn't appreciate her and she was pushed out of everyone's life," he said Wednesday night, referring to Michele Anderson.

Ben Anderson showed up in the courtroom gallery moments before his aunt and her boyfriend were scheduled to appear. He fought back tears after McEnroe's lawyer told the judge her client was waiving his appearance. After the hearing, he left the courthouse without talking to reporters.

McEnroe's mother, Sean Johnson of Minneapolis, said she hasn't had much contact with McEnroe since he cut ties with his family after a dispute over money.

She said her son moved to the Puget Sound region shortly after he and Michele met in Glendale, Ariz., about five years ago on an online dating site. Johnson said her son planned to marry Anderson.

She told The Seattle Times that her eldest son was a "good Christian" and she was shocked he had been arrested in the slayings.

[jessecuster3]

I prefer Natalie to Sharona. My opinion trumps Jesse's and makes this ok.

Hmm, I think I actually preferred Sharona, she had an awkwardness and a sense of comedy better than Natalie.

[Athena Bast]

I haven't seen "Men With Brooms" yet. I'm guessing it's about curling?

Rocky would make my top 10. Field of Dreams is hard to categorize -- inspirational, fantasy, coming-of-age, drama -- the ending used to break me down in any case. I haven't seen The Sandlot in years. Forgot about The Natural.

Men With Brooms (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0263734/) staring Paul Gross (Due South) and Leslie Nielsen (Naked Gun) and Peter Outerbridge (Millennium, ReGenesis) and that guy that played the keyboardist on The Chris Isaak Show.

[SOGG]

Right its 10% of the population who do eat dog meat. The poorest 10%, not really representative of the whole country, is it?

It's actually pretty common in SE Asia. We eat dogs in the Philippines. In some higher end restaurants, you need to specifically ask for it because the dogs you breed for eating are more expensive to care for than an equivalent weight in cow or pig.

[Typo Lad]

Thank you for that. Now I can feel better liking Natalie.

Sharona enables Monk a bit too much.

[Slam_Bradley]

Thank you for that. Now I can feel better liking Natalie.

Sharona enables Monk a bit too much.

Exactly. Natalie is more into tough love.

[Athena Bast]

As for Field of Dreams, I have to say it was about the spirit of baseball. When it comes to baseball, I am very old fashion about it. To me it is the only sport that screams America as in the USA. It embodies everything that is pure in the American Heartland. And I feel that FoD brought that out perfectly.



And a Canadian wrote the novel it was based on, "Shoeless Joe" by WP Kinsella. The book is really good too.

[Athena Bast]

Ok possibly the worst movie of 2008.

http://www.meetthespartans.com/

My Gosh, what happened to Kevin Sorbo's Career??

wait, he's playing the greasy senator character? fuck.

[thespianphryne]

Ok possibly the worst movie of 2008.

http://www.meetthespartans.com/

My Gosh, what happened to Kevin Sorbo's Career??

To hear him tell it, it was all Xena's fault.

And not to mention those writers from Andromeda who made the show sound too smart.



-Das

[i_mmmchocolate]

Memphis in May, anyone?

Barbecue Cooking Contest, baby! (http://memphisinmay.org/wbcc.htm)

[Typo Lad]

Oh man. They usually do a Kosher thing there. I wanna go if they do.

[jessecuster3]

Memphis in May, anyone?

Barbecue Cooking Contest, baby! (http://memphisinmay.org/wbcc.htm)

Not only that, but Beale Street Music Fest (http://www.memphisinmay.org/bsmf2k7/home.htm)!

[i_mmmchocolate]

Not only that, but Beale Street Music Fest (http://www.memphisinmay.org/bsmf2k7/home.htm)!
Yea. It looks like it's going to be a lot of fun. My main interest is the BBQ, but everything else looks good, too. I don't want to book a flight or buy a ticket until I know it won't conflict with summer session.

[jessecuster3]

Yea. It looks like it's going to be a lot of fun. My main interest is the BBQ, but everything else looks good, too. I don't want to book a flight or buy a ticket until I know it won't conflict with summer session.

I would have to figure out which festival I decide to do this year:

Coachella
Telluride Bluegrass Festival
The Beale Street one
Lollapalooza
Bonnaroo


And I am sure there are more.

[Typo Lad]

Don't book a ticket for Memphis till Feburary anyway. The rates are inflated right now.

[i_mmmchocolate]

I would have to figure out which festival I decide to do this year:
How many do you normally fit into one summer?

Don't book a ticket for Memphis till Feburary anyway. The rates are inflated right now.
Good tip.

[Paradox]

Nothing wrong with eating dog just because we happen to keep them as pets. Herbivores are more nutritious than carnivores, though.

[jessecuster3]

How many do you normally fit into one summer?


Good tip.

I would only do one of them. Lollapalooza is the easiest for me because it is here in Chicago and I would still like to come up for Mocca again.

[i_mmmchocolate]

I'm trying to fit 3 food-related ones this summer. There's one in NYC, which is great, and now I'm deciding on a couple outside the area.

[jessecuster3]

I'm trying to fit 3 food-related ones this summer. There's one in NYC, which is great, and now I'm deciding on a couple outside the area.

That would be so fun to do, but I think I would rather go to music ones.

[SOGG]

Why does that pig look so happy? Doesn't he know he's about to get aced?

[Typo Lad]

Why does that pig look so happy? Doesn't he know he's about to get aced?
He's a Judas.

[Slam_Bradley]

Why does that pig look so happy? Doesn't he know he's about to get aced?

But he's bacon. How can you not be happy about bacon?

[tricksterpup]

Whoo hooo I start a 4 day weekend in 3 minutes.

[tricksterpup]

I am outta here.. have a good one.

[SOGG]

But he's bacon. How can you not be happy about bacon?

I really like bacon. Not sure I'd want to be bacon though.

[SOGG]

He's a Judas.

Didn't that guy kind of die too?

[Typo Lad]

Someone with a more agricultural background can back me up, but there's a concept in butchering called a Judas too.

Unless fiction has lied to me.

[Paradox]

Judas goat (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judas_goat), perhaps?

[jessecuster3]

I have no idea what you guys are talking about.

[Paradox]

Then we win. :D

[jessecuster3]

Then we win. :D

Ha! How were we so talkative yesterday and dead today?

[Valmore]

Then we win. :D

NEVER! So long as I have fingers... I'll fight you!

Or go have a soda.

[Paradox]

jessecuster3 wants some chattah out there...hey batter...:

Ha! How were we so talkative yesterday and dead today?

People still had days off? Y'got me.

[jessecuster3]

So I am thinking about going back to CoH.

[Paradox]

When were you there last? Lots of change in the last year and a half or so. What issue?

[jessecuster3]

When were you there last? Lots of change in the last year and a half or so. What issue?

Around July of this year.

[Paradox]

Oh. Yeah, then not much change. Just the time-traveling Ourorobous area, where you can go back and get arcs and badges you missed on the way up. I'm in a great SG, the Legion of Valor (http://legionofvalor.guildportal.com)/Fallen Legion (http://fallenlegion.guildportal.com). Give us a look if you want to come back and feel like playing on Victory.

EDIT: You may not have seen the new Rikti War Zone (transformed Rikti Crash Area) either. Plus tons of costume stuff, it you're into that.

[jessecuster3]

Oh. Yeah, then not much change. Just the time-traveling Ourorobous area, where you can go back and get arcs and badges you missed on the way up. I'm in a great SG, the Legion of Valor (http://legionofvalor.guildportal.com)/Fallen Legion (http://fallenlegion.guildportal.com). Give us a look if you want to come back and feel like playing on Victory.

yeah I put a character in it, but I never found people on around my levels or I wasn't playing as that character or maybe both.

[Paradox]

Heh, ya gotta be vocal. Heck, half the time five or six people will switch to different characters to team with your level.

[Paradox]

Oh, and the new Dual Blades powerset is fun. Plus you can customize the appearance of most weapons in the weapon-based sets, too.

**has a pirate catgirl called Tortuga Tabby with a scimitar and a main gauche**

[Jared_Humpherys]

It could also be a bank error. My bank accidently credited my paycheck twice a few months ago. They drove me nuts. Kept insisting it was a seperate deposit.

"Really? For the same exact amount as my check, at the same ATM, at the same dang time?"

Went into work to find out. Yep, it's a bonus. Yay! Funny thing was, it wasn't supposed to clear until Monday, which is when they were going to send out an email informing everyone.

In other news, the exact same damned serpentine belt slipped again today on my car. I took it to the same place as last time. Couldn't find anything wrong with the rotors or timing, and since it's within 90 days of the last time they fixed it, the repairs were free. Maybe they just went about it the wrong way last time(I hope so). Also found out there's a Bar's leak for valve cover gaskets. Going to give it a try and see if it stops the seeping.

[Paradox]

The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. :)

[thespianphryne]

Judas goat (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judas_goat), perhaps?

The Judas animal technique is used to trap and usually kill or slaughter socially gregarious animals. In the wild, this term is applied to a radio collared animal which is used to track low density herds or animal groups that while forming social aggregations don't usually show flocking or herding behaviour. eg feral pigs, feral donkeys, wild boars, even snakes.

In agricultural situations, it's applied to a trained animal that's used to lead the herd to the slaughter as 'Dox pointed out.


-Das

[Jared_Humpherys]

The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. :)

You have no idea how pissed I was about the prospect of not only spending the magic $100 I didn't expect, but maybe having to forgo our New Year's Eve dinner reservations to cover it if it was something worse.

[jessecuster3]

Jared, that still does not explain why you have not started a scrabble game with me today.

[Rallura]

I am home sick again,
forced to sit around,
and play video games,
oh woe is me.



Yay! They're fun!

He should do "Sean Connery reads Go Dog, Go".


That is an awesome idea.
We're trying to find a better place
in the house to film.


I love that movie. I really need to see it again. I was out of my chair during the face off. (Sorry, band nerd here.)
No, the white phone.


The drumming bits were fantastic,
as were the parts between
him and the lead drummer.
The rest of it was fairly flat though
I thought.

[Jared_Humpherys]

Jared, that still does not explain why you have not started a scrabble game with me today.

I pretty much only play when at work.

[Chris Nowlin]

I pretty much only play when at work.

Is that why you haven't responded to my challenge of nearly a week ago?!?

[jessecuster3]

Is that why you haven't responded to my challenge of nearly a week ago?!?

I know you mean challenge in the weakest sense...