The Hangover Part 3: Seriously? Whenever a movie like this comes out, they should just put the salaries right next to everyone's name, right there for moviegoers to peruse when they're thinking of paying 12 bucks to see the film.
After Earth: It's sad that even when they try to hide the fact that M. Night Shyamalan is involved, nobody wants to see an M. Night Shyamalan movie anymore. Did you know that Shyamalan has a book out about education reform? Me, neither. That's interesting, isn't it? It is to me. This movie, not so much.
Oh, and [SCIENTOLOGY JOKE DELETED AT REQUEST OF LEGAL COUNSEL]
Much Ado About Nothing: Joss Whedon made this Shakespeare adaption on the cheap in between blockbusters, and I guess that's pretty cool, but wouldn't it be cooler if he made a $200 million Shakespeare movie and then did a low-budget Avengers flick?
The Purge: I know nothing about this horror film, but it looks like it made some money at the box office, so I might as well list it.
Stuck in Love: I don't know anything about this, either, but, jeez, does anyone? And doesn't a movie with Greg Kinnear and Jennifer Connelly deserve a little more pub?
OK, well, doesn't a movie with Jennifer Connelly deserve a little more pub?
Best of Evening at the Improv: 4 DVDs of the 1980s late night A&E staple, featuring a whole lot of standup comedy delivered in front of a brick wall. This sounds like a great idea for a DVD, but somehow it won't be the same without being interrupted by Popeil commercials. And while I appreciate the desire to give the flavor of the show by offering some of the musical guests, I'm not sure I think of a song by Alabama as part of the "best" of "Evening at the Improv."
Goldberg: The Ultimate Collection: I was never a fan of the guy even in his WCW heyday, so I'm the wrong guy to ask about the viability of a whole DVD of one Goldberg match after another. I'm sure this will sell some copies, and after all, it's not like WWE is gonna listen to me and put out a Best of the Varsity Club collection.
And in streaming...
Hey, this was a great week and a half or so since I last wrote the column. Hulu Plus added some more BBC shows, many available elsewhere, but one welcome new arrival is The Young Ones. Warner Archive Instant recently started theme categories, like Vincent Minnelli films and Los Angeles locations, as well as adding more episodes of Medical Center and the Danny Thomas 1970s sitcom The Practice.
As far as Netflix goes, this week was seemingly all about responding to my complaints. I complained that season 8 of How I Met Your Mother wasn't up yet, and then it appeared. Months ago I complained that Hulu had yanked some unaired episodes of Don't Trust the B in Apt. 23, and then the whole show appeared on Netflix. I complained about pablum-puking liberals ruining the country with their pinko policies, and then Netflix added Evocateur: The Morton Downey Jr. Movie.
OK, I'm kidding about the reason for that last add, but not about its existence. I hope to write more about Mort soon, but it's a great movie and another interesting new documentary on Instant Watching, joining Salinger and Don't Stop Believin' (about Journey and its new lead singer). Also new is a batch of comedy specials, including Marc Maron: Thinky Pain, and, folks, if you haven't caught on to the brilliance that is Crash & Bernstein on Disney XD, here's your chance to see season 1.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Vault of Coolness: Marvel Fun and Games Part 3
Another look at Marvel Fun and Games #1:
I just wish one of those TVs showed, say, Joe Franklin.
Monday, October 7, 2013
Awesome 80's Video #3: "Overkill" by Men at Work
I told Colin my favorite Men at Work song is "Overkill," and he said, 'That's the thinking man's favorite Men at Work song." Thank you--that's me.
I did have my difficulties dealing with Colin's lazy eye. That goddamn eyeball.
--Mark Goodman in "VJ"
If you think about it, isn’t Men at Work one of the weirdest breakout acts of the 1980s? They had the exotic Aussie thing going as a band, but they weren’t exactly a bunch of Mel Gibsons. They “blew up” with "Who Can It Be Now?", a song I still enjoy today, and really that whole “Business as Usual” album was huge. So how do they follow it up? With a re-release of what became their biggest and most enduring hit, “Down Under.” But even that was pretty damn close to a novelty song (though rhyming “my language” with “vegemite sandwich” was just great regardless), and the video was played for laughs. Still, they were a big deal at the eighties-ish peak of the eighties.
The album “Cargo” comes next, and then things get really interesting if you track the videos. How does Men at Work perpetuate the hit machine? With “Overkill,” the offbeat, moody subject of this post, followed by “It’s a Mistake,” an anti-war song with a spoofy video, and a horror parody called “Dr. Hekyll and Mr. Jive.” Yeah, these guys didn’t exactly aim for U2-like “meaning” in their music.
But they are quite entertaining, and I love “Overkill.” For a while, the VEVO version wasn't available, and the only copy on YouTube was a bootleg-looking clip with time code on the screen. Somehow that only enhanced the oddball feel of the video, and I kind of regret the superior "official" version supplanting it (I don't want to link to VEVO stuff, but it's easy enough to find if you want to see this for yourself).
In "Overkill," the dark (but dappled with neon) 1980s-style visuals and night scenes blend with the insomniac lyrics to suggest paranoia and anxiety. Numerous close-ups emphasize Colin Hay’s funky eye thing, either to heighten the tension or to mess with Mark Goodman.. It all adds up to what I consider one of the most atmospheric songs/videos of the eighties and an underrated gem. I love the patented Men at Work sax riffs and the cool guitar break before the last verse. After the rush of that exhilarating final verse, though, the song ends quietly on an unsettling note. Ghosts appear and fade away…
BUT I have to confess something: This video is never as moody and atmospheric as I want it to be. Take another look at that last shot. The song is unsettling—at least to me—but it looks like daylight has arrived and things are gonna be OK. It looks like...peace…contentment, even. Boo!
There aren't quite as many of those “roaming at night” shots as I had remembered seeing as a kid, and one of the better ones is weakened somewhat by the fact that Hay is looking at a storefront that promises souvlaki. Souvlaki? Nothing against the dish, but it’s not the most noirish of foods.
Worse, there’s a shot of Hay sitting at his pad, alone, watching telly on his couch…in socks. Really, going barefoot would have been better because those socks he’s wearing are about s UN-rock and roll as you can get. The only way this scene can be redeemed is if he is watching “Faces of Death III” on that TV set.
Then there’s that last verse, the intense one I love so much, when Hay kicks his vocals up a notch or two. Well, he also starts literalizing the lyrics. "I can't get to sleep," he wails, so we see him in bed. “I’m diving in too deep,” he adds, and then he actually dives into his mattress. On one hand, this adds to that feverish, manic tension of the song. On the other hand, well, it’s goofy as hell.
So which is it? Is “Overkill” classic eighties MTV noir? Or is it another borderline comedy piece? I do wish it were more the former. You know what, though? I seriously wonder if the comedy value of their videos (and this one really isn’t that funny, nor is it supposed to be, I presume, even though I'm poking a little fun at it) diminished the respect they received as musicians.
I did have my difficulties dealing with Colin's lazy eye. That goddamn eyeball.
--Mark Goodman in "VJ"
If you think about it, isn’t Men at Work one of the weirdest breakout acts of the 1980s? They had the exotic Aussie thing going as a band, but they weren’t exactly a bunch of Mel Gibsons. They “blew up” with "Who Can It Be Now?", a song I still enjoy today, and really that whole “Business as Usual” album was huge. So how do they follow it up? With a re-release of what became their biggest and most enduring hit, “Down Under.” But even that was pretty damn close to a novelty song (though rhyming “my language” with “vegemite sandwich” was just great regardless), and the video was played for laughs. Still, they were a big deal at the eighties-ish peak of the eighties.
The album “Cargo” comes next, and then things get really interesting if you track the videos. How does Men at Work perpetuate the hit machine? With “Overkill,” the offbeat, moody subject of this post, followed by “It’s a Mistake,” an anti-war song with a spoofy video, and a horror parody called “Dr. Hekyll and Mr. Jive.” Yeah, these guys didn’t exactly aim for U2-like “meaning” in their music.
But they are quite entertaining, and I love “Overkill.” For a while, the VEVO version wasn't available, and the only copy on YouTube was a bootleg-looking clip with time code on the screen. Somehow that only enhanced the oddball feel of the video, and I kind of regret the superior "official" version supplanting it (I don't want to link to VEVO stuff, but it's easy enough to find if you want to see this for yourself).
In "Overkill," the dark (but dappled with neon) 1980s-style visuals and night scenes blend with the insomniac lyrics to suggest paranoia and anxiety. Numerous close-ups emphasize Colin Hay’s funky eye thing, either to heighten the tension or to mess with Mark Goodman.. It all adds up to what I consider one of the most atmospheric songs/videos of the eighties and an underrated gem. I love the patented Men at Work sax riffs and the cool guitar break before the last verse. After the rush of that exhilarating final verse, though, the song ends quietly on an unsettling note. Ghosts appear and fade away…
BUT I have to confess something: This video is never as moody and atmospheric as I want it to be. Take another look at that last shot. The song is unsettling—at least to me—but it looks like daylight has arrived and things are gonna be OK. It looks like...peace…contentment, even. Boo!
There aren't quite as many of those “roaming at night” shots as I had remembered seeing as a kid, and one of the better ones is weakened somewhat by the fact that Hay is looking at a storefront that promises souvlaki. Souvlaki? Nothing against the dish, but it’s not the most noirish of foods.
Worse, there’s a shot of Hay sitting at his pad, alone, watching telly on his couch…in socks. Really, going barefoot would have been better because those socks he’s wearing are about s UN-rock and roll as you can get. The only way this scene can be redeemed is if he is watching “Faces of Death III” on that TV set.
Then there’s that last verse, the intense one I love so much, when Hay kicks his vocals up a notch or two. Well, he also starts literalizing the lyrics. "I can't get to sleep," he wails, so we see him in bed. “I’m diving in too deep,” he adds, and then he actually dives into his mattress. On one hand, this adds to that feverish, manic tension of the song. On the other hand, well, it’s goofy as hell.
So which is it? Is “Overkill” classic eighties MTV noir? Or is it another borderline comedy piece? I do wish it were more the former. You know what, though? I seriously wonder if the comedy value of their videos (and this one really isn’t that funny, nor is it supposed to be, I presume, even though I'm poking a little fun at it) diminished the respect they received as musicians.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Instant Gratification Theater: Disorderlies (1987)
I imagine you might wonder, "With scores of classic films from the Criterion Colllection available on Hulu Plus, why in the world are you spending some of your precious time on this planet watching Disorderlies on Warner Archive Instant?" And to that I say...
...
"Disorderlies" is over 25 years old, and people who weren't around back then might assume that in 1987 there was a legitimate reason to build a major motion picture around the rap group known as The Fat Boys. I was around back then, and I'm pretty sure it didn't make sense to us, either. The Fat Boys aren't exactly a modern-day Three Stooges, unless maybe you somehow assembled 3 Curly Joes and drained their charisma, but they aren't irritating, and that counts for something.
There's a plot that involves a battle between the Boys and a villain played by an oily Anthony Geary, but the real battle worth watching is between Ralph Bellamy and his dignity. Bellamy is the ailing rich dude the Boys are caring for, and he goes all out. In fact, the more I see 1980s Ralph Bellamy, the more I love him. Not only was he a great sport in his heyday losing all those women to Cary Grant, but as he matured, he was willing to play increasingly immature characters in films like "Trading Places." Only in "Disorderlies," though, do you get to see an elderly Ralph Bellamy go clubbin' and ask someone if they'll stop illin'.
Bellamy and Geary deliver amusing performances, and there are a few chuckles from the movie's slapstick antics. I also find a certain pleasant time capsule element here. Let's be honest, though, "Disorderlies" is no hidden gem. It is an enjoyable piece of cheese to tide you over between Criterion offerings, though.
...
"Disorderlies" is over 25 years old, and people who weren't around back then might assume that in 1987 there was a legitimate reason to build a major motion picture around the rap group known as The Fat Boys. I was around back then, and I'm pretty sure it didn't make sense to us, either. The Fat Boys aren't exactly a modern-day Three Stooges, unless maybe you somehow assembled 3 Curly Joes and drained their charisma, but they aren't irritating, and that counts for something.
There's a plot that involves a battle between the Boys and a villain played by an oily Anthony Geary, but the real battle worth watching is between Ralph Bellamy and his dignity. Bellamy is the ailing rich dude the Boys are caring for, and he goes all out. In fact, the more I see 1980s Ralph Bellamy, the more I love him. Not only was he a great sport in his heyday losing all those women to Cary Grant, but as he matured, he was willing to play increasingly immature characters in films like "Trading Places." Only in "Disorderlies," though, do you get to see an elderly Ralph Bellamy go clubbin' and ask someone if they'll stop illin'.
Bellamy and Geary deliver amusing performances, and there are a few chuckles from the movie's slapstick antics. I also find a certain pleasant time capsule element here. Let's be honest, though, "Disorderlies" is no hidden gem. It is an enjoyable piece of cheese to tide you over between Criterion offerings, though.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
This Week in DVD and Instant Watching
The Croods: I remember seeing the poster for this all the way back in December when I saw "Lincoln" and thinking, OK, family movie, but what the heck is this about? Well, I still have no idea what this is about.
This Is the End: Each time these guys get together to be a movie now, I have to ask, do we need weed to enjoy it? Because I'm not into that, so...yeah, I might as well just not bother, right?
The Frozen Ground: Cage and Cusack. Two actors of a certain age and pedigree. One keeps making bizarre career decisions that dim his luster, the other...is Nic Cage. Seriously, what HAS John Cusack done lately?
InAPPropriate Comedy: I hate, hate, hate the title of this movie and its spelling, but yet I...can't...resist...typing it.
Little Mermaid Platinum Edition: Each year about this time, Disney proves what a generous corporation it is by releasing a new edition of a video it took off the market several years prior so that nobody could buy it retail anymore. Sure, it costs more now than it ever did before, but that's because it's better! Really, we should just be thankful it's available again.
The Wizard of Oz: You know, I was a total wise-ass with that last item, but I don't have that on DVD, and I'm totally gonna buy it for my kids. As for "Wizard of Oz," everyone should own it by now, but I don't (long story), and so I might well get THIS. So I hope the 43,000K-scan or whatever they do is worth it. At least it should tie us over to the 80th Anniversary Mega Ultra 4-D edition.
From Here to Eternity 60th Anniversary: Ah...yeah, nothing against this movie, but I got to draw the line somewhere.
How I Met Your Mother Season 8: Ah, OK. NOW we'll get this streaming on Netflix, right? Right?
The Carol Burnett Show: Christmas with Carol: So last year, a Carol Burnette Xmas DVD came out, only it was episodes of "The Garry Moore Show," not, as many believed given the cover, "The Carol Burnett Show." Well, angry cranks who don't read the back of the box, here you go! As for me, gee, I really wish I had picked up that disc of "Garry Moore Show" episodes last year, and I may be looking for that this time around.
And in Instant Watching...
No How I Met Your Mother season 8 yet, but October 1 brings the monthly Big Add of catalog titles, and this time out there are many high-profile titles like Fargo, Ghostbusters, As Good As It Gets, Grease, Forrest Gump...You'll probably find something you like in there. You'll probably have seen it already, but still. Also, Walking Dead season 3 arrives with a few weeks for you to catch up before the new season starts.
This Is the End: Each time these guys get together to be a movie now, I have to ask, do we need weed to enjoy it? Because I'm not into that, so...yeah, I might as well just not bother, right?
The Frozen Ground: Cage and Cusack. Two actors of a certain age and pedigree. One keeps making bizarre career decisions that dim his luster, the other...is Nic Cage. Seriously, what HAS John Cusack done lately?
InAPPropriate Comedy: I hate, hate, hate the title of this movie and its spelling, but yet I...can't...resist...typing it.
Little Mermaid Platinum Edition: Each year about this time, Disney proves what a generous corporation it is by releasing a new edition of a video it took off the market several years prior so that nobody could buy it retail anymore. Sure, it costs more now than it ever did before, but that's because it's better! Really, we should just be thankful it's available again.
The Wizard of Oz: You know, I was a total wise-ass with that last item, but I don't have that on DVD, and I'm totally gonna buy it for my kids. As for "Wizard of Oz," everyone should own it by now, but I don't (long story), and so I might well get THIS. So I hope the 43,000K-scan or whatever they do is worth it. At least it should tie us over to the 80th Anniversary Mega Ultra 4-D edition.
From Here to Eternity 60th Anniversary: Ah...yeah, nothing against this movie, but I got to draw the line somewhere.
How I Met Your Mother Season 8: Ah, OK. NOW we'll get this streaming on Netflix, right? Right?
The Carol Burnett Show: Christmas with Carol: So last year, a Carol Burnette Xmas DVD came out, only it was episodes of "The Garry Moore Show," not, as many believed given the cover, "The Carol Burnett Show." Well, angry cranks who don't read the back of the box, here you go! As for me, gee, I really wish I had picked up that disc of "Garry Moore Show" episodes last year, and I may be looking for that this time around.
And in Instant Watching...
No How I Met Your Mother season 8 yet, but October 1 brings the monthly Big Add of catalog titles, and this time out there are many high-profile titles like Fargo, Ghostbusters, As Good As It Gets, Grease, Forrest Gump...You'll probably find something you like in there. You'll probably have seen it already, but still. Also, Walking Dead season 3 arrives with a few weeks for you to catch up before the new season starts.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
I really respect this book for existing
While catching up on some magazines, I saw an ad (why does everyone say "stumbled upon"? I remained upright the whole time, I assure you) for BearManor Media. The page displayed an array of titles the publisher offered.
Now, I do not in any way intend to demean the good folks there, the people that wrote this book, nor those who might buy this book. I love that BearManor is committed to putting out so many pop culture books every year, including quite a few that, even to us junkies, appear somewhat...esoteric.
So in all sincerity, let me say how much I appreciate that there even IS "Hardcastle and McCormick: A Complete Viewer's Guide to the Classic Eighties Action Series."
So if you're at all interested, go buy it, and if you're not, you still have to love a company that publishes it, so go to their website, anyway.
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