…it’s time to gush about a movie.
Now, normally, I don’t gush about movies. Movies are passive entertainment, and normally, I don’t gush about passive entertainment. There are a few exceptions; The Matrix, for example, is not so much “passive entertainment” to me so much as “holy scripture,” which I pay homage to in some of my LiveJournal icons…but I digress.
In any event, last weekend, while I was down visiting Shelly in Tallahasse, the time seemed right for some passive entertainment. She and slouchinphysics had wanted to see some comedy or other about some kind of comedic thing involving comedy, which escapes me at the moment, but through a fortuitous combination of good (or bad, depending upon your viewpoint) timing and the fact that Shelly still had a great deal of homework to do instead, we instead saw Shoot ‘Em Up.
Which is a comedy.
A comedy with a really, really, really high body count.
I have not had this much fun at a movie since Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Take everything that is excessive and over-the-top about the entire action/adventure genre, throw in some references to old school Looney Tunes, and crank the knob up to 11. Even one of the trailers for the movie is R-rated:
This trailer gives you a very good sense of what the movie’s like. Take what you see here and make it an hour and twenty minutes long, and you have the movie, in a nutshell.
The reviews of this movie have been mostly lukewarm (or worse), with reviewers, who clearly belong in aforementioned nutshell, complaining that the movie lacks a sense of humor. To which I say, did we watch the same film? Were the reviewers addled on crystal meth and Mad Dog 20/20? Do these folks not recognize humor unless it’s accompanied by a laugh track and a cute yapping dog? For fuck’s sake, the villain’s name is Mister Hertz! I could not stop laughing through this entire flick; it’s so loopily, zanily, recklessly over the top that anyone who takes it seriously…well, deserves to.
I mean, c’mon. Clive Owen quotes Bugs Bunny and then kills someone with a carrot. You can’t get enough of that for my entertainment dollar! And when the camera pulls back at the end of the skydiving scene, it’s just absolutely priceless.
zensidhe, datan0de, if you guys haven’t seen this movie yet, you really need to.
Awesome! This is exactly how I thought I would feel about this movie (after how and why I heard it panned elsewhere) but hadn’t heard anyone say so. Now I will be sure not to miss it.
Awesome! This is exactly how I thought I would feel about this movie (after how and why I heard it panned elsewhere) but hadn’t heard anyone say so. Now I will be sure not to miss it.
Heh.
Tacit, I think that the problem with over the top humor is that our view of what’s over the top keeps rising.
It’s definitely true that the days when the noted
lowbrow romancecelebrated work of fiction “Gone with the Wind” could shock audiences with an over-the-top like like “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn” are gone.But it’s hard for me to see that as a bad thing.
Even today, the United States of America has a stick so far up its ass, culturally speaking, that we belch sawdust and wood chips. I have faith that a little loopiness is a good thing.
Heh.
Tacit, I think that the problem with over the top humor is that our view of what’s over the top keeps rising.
Okay, I’m sold. Kim and I were going to see it the other day but out schedule just didn’t work out. I’m trapped in class all week, but we have some plans on Saturday that’ll involve sitting around doing nothing for a few hours while some files transfer so I’ll try like hell to catch it then.
Okay, I’m sold. Kim and I were going to see it the other day but out schedule just didn’t work out. I’m trapped in class all week, but we have some plans on Saturday that’ll involve sitting around doing nothing for a few hours while some files transfer so I’ll try like hell to catch it then.
oh fuck me in the goatass, I’m downloading it, this is fabulous.
oh fuck me in the goatass, I’m downloading it, this is fabulous.
it is, in fact, on my list. 😀
it is, in fact, on my list. 😀
Great movie. It hurt my brain.
~r
Great movie. It hurt my brain.
~r
I can’t believe you came down to Tally and didn’t bother to say “HI” to SA or me.
I’m on Tally about every other weekend or so–should I drop you a line next time Im down?
absolutely. Would be great to meet you 🙂
I can’t believe you came down to Tally and didn’t bother to say “HI” to SA or me.
I’m on Tally about every other weekend or so–should I drop you a line next time Im down?
It’s definitely true that the days when the noted
lowbrow romancecelebrated work of fiction “Gone with the Wind” could shock audiences with an over-the-top like like “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn” are gone.But it’s hard for me to see that as a bad thing.
Even today, the United States of America has a stick so far up its ass, culturally speaking, that we belch sawdust and wood chips. I have faith that a little loopiness is a good thing.
absolutely. Would be great to meet you 🙂
As the British say: “Fuck me, that’s ace!” It looks like the higher-ups at New Line Cinema saw the two The Transporter movies and said, “Hey, we can beat those!” Definitely need to see this. – ZM
As the British say: “Fuck me, that’s ace!” It looks like the higher-ups at New Line Cinema saw the two The Transporter movies and said, “Hey, we can beat those!” Definitely need to see this. – ZM
Yes: this does look entertaining, and I do enjoy all of those actors. Although I think that trailer just gave me ADD. Maybe I can convince my boy, who also likes to shun movies as lowly passive entertainment, to go.
I like that it glorifies veggie eating. Just what America needs! 🙂
Yes: this does look entertaining, and I do enjoy all of those actors. Although I think that trailer just gave me ADD. Maybe I can convince my boy, who also likes to shun movies as lowly passive entertainment, to go.
I like that it glorifies veggie eating. Just what America needs! 🙂
Thanks for the tip. I’m a “Class B” bachelor this weekend and went to see it. Of course, now I’ve got to see everything Monica Bellucci’s ever done.
Thanks for the tip. I’m a “Class B” bachelor this weekend and went to see it. Of course, now I’ve got to see everything Monica Bellucci’s ever done.