Recently viewed movie thread - Rental Edition (5 Viewers)

[Andy Dufresne]

The Bank Job - based on a true story.

That's the next movie I watch. It's been in my drawer from Netflix for about a month now.FYI - All Blu-Ray rentals are FREE at Hollywood Video right now. That's right, free. One out at a time, but no cost whatsoever.

 

[Hov34]

Just saw The Bank Job.

Entertaining movie.

This was a great movie. Horrible title, and lots of people hate Statham, but it was very well made and entertaining. Kind of got passed over.

I liked it a lot. Kind of a throwback to the classic 1960-1970s British crime dramas.

Agreed, 2nd best movie to be released this year so far behind In Bruges.

Totally agree.

I 3gree.I would love to reccomend In Bruges to some family/friends but some of them wouldn't be able to see past the F-bombs, which is a shame, because it's a good movie.

 

[Hov34]

Big Lebowski

Big fat ZERO. There was nothing I liked about this movie. It wasn't funny. It wasn't "twisty". It wasn't symbolic. And it wasn't in the least bit interesting.

This movie is now #2 on the list of "movies other people love but I don't see any possible reason why they do" list. #1 being Pulp Fiction.

If this is truly many people's favorite comedy, I weep even harder for the world's future.

I hated this movie. Noexplode!!1! glll pease, etc.

Who peed on your rug, Dude?

 

[jdoggydogg]

The Bank Job - based on a true story.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Big Lebowski

Big fat ZERO. There was nothing I liked about this movie. It wasn't funny. It wasn't "twisty". It wasn't symbolic. And it wasn't in the least bit interesting.

This movie is now #2 on the list of "movies other people love but I don't see any possible reason why they do" list. #1 being Pulp Fiction.

If this is truly many people's favorite comedy, I weep even harder for the world's future.

I hated this movie. Noexplode!!1! glll pease, etc.

Who peed on your rug, Dude?

This is what happens when you #### a stranger in the ###!

 

[Bogart]

Watched Chaos Theory over the weekend starring Ryan Reynolds. I only rented it because Reynolds was in it. Decent idea of a story (productivity expert whose life falls out of place because his routine is ruined one day) but the execution was not done well at all. The characters were not well defined and the story was just all over the place. The total running time is like 87 minutes and you can feel them rushing it at the end. Sarah Chalke is in it and is really hot in bra and panties.

Watched 30 mins of Breakin' 2 - Electric Boogaloo Sunday afternoon. Man was I stupid as a 9 year old. I bet I watched that movie 15 times the summer of 1984.

 

[Hov34]

Big Lebowski

Big fat ZERO. There was nothing I liked about this movie. It wasn't funny. It wasn't "twisty". It wasn't symbolic. And it wasn't in the least bit interesting.

This movie is now #2 on the list of "movies other people love but I don't see any possible reason why they do" list. #1 being Pulp Fiction.

If this is truly many people's favorite comedy, I weep even harder for the world's future.

I hated this movie. Noexplode!!1! glll pease, etc.

Who peed on your rug, Dude?

This is what happens when you #### a stranger in the ###!

This aggression will not stand, man.:slowlycomingaround:

 

[QUEZILLA]

Also saw In Bruges and loved it.

It's really rare when a film raved about by the critics is actually better than expected.

Good story, photography, acting and something else I noticed - it was the least predictable movie I've seen in a long time.

It also had a mix of violence and laugh out humor that reminded me of Fargo.

well, this finally popped up in our queue and we watched it over the weekend. really very good. colin farrell has a nice comic touch. brendan gleeson really holds this movie together though. he's done so many blah, big hollywood movies in recent years (harry potter franchise, "troy", "cold mountain", etc") that i'd forgotten the sly work he's done in little films like "the general" and "i went down". both as a director and writer, mcdonough shows a pretty sure hand even when the plot puts him in a corner. good work all the way around.

Not sure how I missed this one. Just checked out the trailer, and it looks awesome. I primarily watch movies from Pay Per View & Xbox Live Market place, and occasionally a movie isn't available on ether format. I just fired Netflix back up for Cocaine Cowboys 2, so I will just add it to the queue. I can't wait till Netflix comes to 360.

 

[hooter311]

Watched Chaos Theory over the weekend starring Ryan Reynolds. I only rented it because Reynolds was in it. Decent idea of a story (productivity expert whose life falls out of place because his routine is ruined one day) but the execution was not done well at all. The characters were not well defined and the story was just all over the place. The total running time is like 87 minutes and you can feel them rushing it at the end. Sarah Chalke is in it and is really hot in bra and panties.

Watched 30 mins of Breakin' 2 - Electric Boogaloo Sunday afternoon. Man was I stupid as a 9 year old. I bet I watched that movie 15 times the summer of 1984.

Chaos Theory was dreadful, it was almost as bad as watching Reynolds in "The Nines" which is like a really crappy David Lynch story that attempts to all tie together at the end. He has definitly taken on and deserves a lot better material than these two junkers.

 

[hooter311]

Just saw The Bank Job.

Entertaining movie.

This was a great movie. Horrible title, and lots of people hate Statham, but it was very well made and entertaining. Kind of got passed over.

I liked it a lot. Kind of a throwback to the classic 1960-1970s British crime dramas.

Agreed, 2nd best movie to be released this year so far behind In Bruges.

Totally agree.

I 3gree.I would love to reccomend In Bruges to some family/friends but some of them wouldn't be able to see past the F-bombs, which is a shame, because it's a good movie.

It is absolutely useless to recommend a movie like In Bruges to someone that doesn't have a mature/dark sense a humor and an appreciation of film. That rules out a lot of people.

 

[SmoovySmoov]

Big Lebowski

Big fat ZERO. There was nothing I liked about this movie. It wasn't funny. It wasn't "twisty". It wasn't symbolic. And it wasn't in the least bit interesting.

This movie is now #2 on the list of "movies other people love but I don't see any possible reason why they do" list. #1 being Pulp Fiction.

If this is truly many people's favorite comedy, I weep even harder for the world's future.

I hated this movie. Noexplode!!1! glll pease, etc.

Who peed on your rug, Dude?

This is what happens when you #### a stranger in the ###!

You're not allowed to quote a movie if you say it's horrible. It's a rule, dude.

 

[El Floppo]

A Woman Under the Influence

Meh. This is a famous 1974 Cassavetes film. It is so well-acted and so bare bones it's almost like a documentary. But ultimately, I didn't like or care about anyone in this movie.

that's an oft heard complaint of cassvetes, i think.

Wow... the baby has turned my brain and memory to mush, as I don't recall the movie too well- but I remember flat out loving it when I first saw it. It makes cry on the inside to hear that both of you don't like it. Sigh.

 

[Statorama]

If you want to rent a horror movie, try "Devour" instead of "Cursed" or "Boogeyman". It's a low budget movie, but you'll recognize some of the actors and it's entertaining and definitely a lot better than the 2 aformentioned movies.

Not a bad little horror flick Thanks for the recommendation.

 

[kblitz]

Leningrad Cowboys go America: If you don´t like the band you will not like the movie, for me it was funny but a little bit to long.

 

[tdoss]

The Band's Visit

An Egyptian Police orchestra visits Israel for a concert. Pretty good little indy movie. I liked it.

I enjoyed this film immensely.I recommend it for anyone who enjoys foreign films at all.

Oscars made a huge mistake in not allowing it to be Israel's submission.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

The Bank Job - based on a true story.

That's the next movie I watch. It's been in my drawer from Netflix for about a month now.

Pretty good. Definitely worth the rental. At least they didn't drop as many f-bombs as they typically do in a British movie.7/10

 

[jdoggydogg]

A Woman Under the Influence

Meh. This is a famous 1974 Cassavetes film. It is so well-acted and so bare bones it's almost like a documentary. But ultimately, I didn't like or care about anyone in this movie.

that's an oft heard complaint of cassvetes, i think.

Wow... the baby has turned my brain and memory to mush, as I don't recall the movie too well- but I remember flat out loving it when I first saw it. It makes cry on the inside to hear that both of you don't like it. Sigh.

I think it's well made and I think Gina Rowlands is good. But I guess craftsmanship isn't enough for me. This reminded me of The Last Picture Show. As real as those movies feel, there doesn't seem to be much emotional involvement in the process. Very realistic acting, but too aloof.

 

[jdoggydogg]

The Band's Visit

An Egyptian Police orchestra visits Israel for a concert. Pretty good little indy movie. I liked it.

I enjoyed this film immensely.I recommend it for anyone who enjoys foreign films at all.

Oscars made a huge mistake in not allowing it to be Israel's submission.

I can't believe they denied it. Very good movie.

 

[bryhamm]

OK, I know I will be shamed for this, but I have never watched a Monty Python movie before. What is a good one (or more) to throw in my NetFlix que?

 

[piratemike]

Holy Grail.

 

[Drifter]

OK, I know I will be shamed for this, but I have never watched a Monty Python movie before. What is a good one (or more) to throw in my NetFlix que?

Holy Grail should be first.Life of Brian is excellent, but it's best to warm up to Python before tackling it.Meaning of Life is funny but it's really just a bunch of skits that they tied to a theme.Live at the Hollywood Bowl is good if you want to see some of their funniest skits from the show.Holy Grail and Life of Brian are the only ones that follow more of a traditional movie plot and Grail is more accessible IMO.

 

[Drifter]

OK, I know I will be shamed for this, but I have never watched a Monty Python movie before. What is a good one (or more) to throw in my NetFlix que?

Holy Grail should be first.Life of Brian is excellent, but it's best to warm up to Python before tackling it.Meaning of Life is funny but it's really just a bunch of skits that they tied to a theme.Live at the Hollywood Bowl is good if you want to see some of their funniest skits from the show.Holy Grail and Life of Brian are the only ones that follow more of a traditional movie plot and Grail is more accessible IMO.

Actually, I take that back. If you are completely unfamiliar with Monty Python (the shows), than it's best you start with Live at the Hollywood Bowl so that you know what they're about. THEN watch Holy Grail.

 

[jdoggydogg]

OK, I know I will be shamed for this, but I have never watched a Monty Python movie before. What is a good one (or more) to throw in my NetFlix que?

Holy Grail should be first.Life of Brian is excellent, but it's best to warm up to Python before tackling it.Meaning of Life is funny but it's really just a bunch of skits that they tied to a theme.Live at the Hollywood Bowl is good if you want to see some of their funniest skits from the show.Holy Grail and Life of Brian are the only ones that follow more of a traditional movie plot and Grail is more accessible IMO.

 

[hooter311]

OK, I know I will be shamed for this, but I have never watched a Monty Python movie before. What is a good one (or more) to throw in my NetFlix que?

Watch Holy Grail, its the best film, if you enjoy it go back and watch the rest, it really doesn't matter the order I don't think. You'll catch on to the style of humor within 15 minutes of Holy Grail.

 

[PHFootball33]

Not a rental, but really funny internet movies:

http://www.mixercast.com/apps/custom/nike_shoes/deploy.html

They are for the Nike Hyperdunks, you will laugh.

The marketing company I work for is actually promoting these videos, but I would suggest watching them even if they weren't.

 

[jamny]

Watched A Streetcar Named Desire One of those movies I just never saw before. I thought it was a very good movie but was completely blown away by the difference in acting skills of Brando compared to everyone else in the film, especially the women. He was absolutely believable and real while everyone else around him was "acting" Now I can see why so many people say he changed the acting world. It was really remarkable.

Karl Malden was very good as well.

I'm gonna have to watch some other old Brando flicks. Any suggestions?

I just recorded Mutiny on the Bounty and I know On the Waterfront is a must see.

There's a Brando marathon this Friday on TCM. I've obviously seen his more modern work including Godfather, Apocolypse Now, The Freshman, and (shudder) The Island of Dr. Moreu.

 

[saintfool]

I'm gonna have to watch some other old Brando flicks. Any suggestions?I just recorded Mutiny on the Bounty and I know On the Waterfront is a must see.There's a Brando marathon this Friday on TCM. I've obviously seen his more modern work including Godfather, Apocolypse Now, The Freshman, and (shudder) The Island of Dr. Moreu.

For his early films, of those not mentioned, I would recommend "The Young Lions", "The Fugitive Kind" and "One-Eyed Jacks". Of his mid and late period films, I would offer "The Missouri Breaks" because it's fun to see him out schtick Jack Nicholson.

 

[NCCommish]

Buddy loaned the wife some DVDs and Street Kings was one of them. Hadn't seen it before. You could pretty much see it all coming from a million miles away. I was wondering just how drunk Reeves character was not to see it coming. Very predictable. Not as bad as I was led to believe but still glad I saw it for free.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Buddy loaned the wife some DVDs and Street Kings was one of them. Hadn't seen it before. You could pretty much see it all coming from a million miles away. I was wondering just how drunk Reeves character was not to see it coming. Very predictable. Not as bad as I was led to believe but still glad I saw it for free.

Haven't seen it. The trailer looked like a cheap ripoff of Training day to me.

 

[NCCommish]

Buddy loaned the wife some DVDs and Street Kings was one of them. Hadn't seen it before. You could pretty much see it all coming from a million miles away. I was wondering just how drunk Reeves character was not to see it coming. Very predictable. Not as bad as I was led to believe but still glad I saw it for free.

Haven't seen it. The trailer looked like a cheap ripoff of Training day to me.

It was pretty much a mishmash of cops gone bad ripoff. I have to hope the original James Elroy script drafts were better.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Buddy loaned the wife some DVDs and Street Kings was one of them. Hadn't seen it before. You could pretty much see it all coming from a million miles away. I was wondering just how drunk Reeves character was not to see it coming. Very predictable. Not as bad as I was led to believe but still glad I saw it for free.

Haven't seen it. The trailer looked like a cheap ripoff of Training day to me.

It was pretty much a mishmash of cops gone bad ripoff. I have to hope the original James Elroy script drafts were better.

I bet they were. I think studios routinely bring in uncredited writers to punch up many scripts.

 

[NCCommish]

Buddy loaned the wife some DVDs and Street Kings was one of them. Hadn't seen it before. You could pretty much see it all coming from a million miles away. I was wondering just how drunk Reeves character was not to see it coming. Very predictable. Not as bad as I was led to believe but still glad I saw it for free.

Haven't seen it. The trailer looked like a cheap ripoff of Training day to me.

It was pretty much a mishmash of cops gone bad ripoff. I have to hope the original James Elroy script drafts were better.

I bet they were. I think studios routinely bring in uncredited writers to punch up many scripts.

The worst part is here and there you could catch just a little something to think about. But then it would get pushed out of the way. I think they had the kernel of a pretty good flick here but Ayers couldn't put it together.

 

[Bob Magaw]

Big Lebowski

Big fat ZERO. There was nothing I liked about this movie. It wasn't funny. It wasn't "twisty". It wasn't symbolic. And it wasn't in the least bit interesting.

This movie is now #2 on the list of "movies other people love but I don't see any possible reason why they do" list. #1 being Pulp Fiction.

If this is truly many people's favorite comedy, I weep even harder for the world's future.

I hated this movie. Noexplode!!1! glll pease, etc.

Who peed on your rug, Dude?

This is what happens when you #### a stranger in the ###!

This aggression will not stand, man.:slowlycomingaround:

chinamen is not the preferred nomenclature, dude... my favorite characters were the nihilists... hey, everybody has to stand for something (let me rephrase that)...

saw street kings with keanu reeves & forest whitaker... almost like a poor man's LA confidential set in the present (OK, destitute man's)... some satisfying plot twists, you could see some of them coming, but not necessarily from a mile away...

 

[guru_007]

I'm gonna have to watch some other old Brando flicks. Any suggestions?I just recorded Mutiny on the Bounty and I know On the Waterfront is a must see.There's a Brando marathon this Friday on TCM. I've obviously seen his more modern work including Godfather, Apocolypse Now, The Freshman, and (shudder) The Island of Dr. Moreu.

For his early films, of those not mentioned, I would recommend "The Young Lions", "The Fugitive Kind" and "One-Eyed Jacks". Of his mid and late period films, I would offer "The Missouri Breaks" because it's fun to see him out schtick Jack Nicholson.

My wife's favorite is Guys and Dolls

 

[saintfool]

I'm gonna have to watch some other old Brando flicks. Any suggestions?

I just recorded Mutiny on the Bounty and I know On the Waterfront is a must see.

There's a Brando marathon this Friday on TCM. I've obviously seen his more modern work including Godfather, Apocolypse Now, The Freshman, and (shudder) The Island of Dr. Moreu.

For his early films, of those not mentioned, I would recommend "The Young Lions", "The Fugitive Kind" and "One-Eyed Jacks". Of his mid and late period films, I would offer "The Missouri Breaks" because it's fun to see him out schtick Jack Nicholson.

My wife's favorite is Guys and Dolls

I forgot to mention that one. Good call. It's a fun movie and a classic musical. Watched a great little australian film called "flirting" last night. it features a very young Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts and Thandie Newton in a sweet but not sappy coming-of-age/love story set at boarding schools. Noah Taylor does a nice job as the resident outsider at one of the schools. it has some depth to the story that is not often found in these kinds of stories. Taylor's character reminded me of Max Fischer in "Rushmore" a tad.

 

[SKribbles]

Doomsday: The basic plot is ripped straight from 28 Days Later: a country in Europe gets hit with a deadly plague (minus the zombies). I was entertained throughout the movie even though it was pretty weird. The plot twists are ridiculous yet enjoyable. As long as you aren't expecting too much, you'll enjoy this flick. 3/5

mytagid = Math.floor( Math.random() * 100 );document.write("

A couple parts that really bothered me:

1) Only 25 or so years went by but the changes are unbelievable. Kane's people back to living like it 1400's and Saul's people being canibals.

2) The car chase at the end. Ridiculous. Somehow a trashy little police car keeps up with a brand new Bentley??? Come on. I also hated that when a motorcycle crashed it looked like a freakin nuclear bomb going off.*** SPOILER ALERT! Click this link to display the potential spoiler text in this box. ***");document.close();



The Wanderers (1979): One of my all-time favorite movies. I've probably watched it 7-8 times now and I rarely ever re-watch movies. A movie about "gang" life in 1963 New York. 4.5/5

 

[jdoggydogg]

Watched a great little australian film called "flirting" last night. it features a very young Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts and Thandie Newton in a sweet but not sappy coming-of-age/love story set at boarding schools. Noah Taylor does a nice job as the resident outsider at one of the schools. it has some depth to the story that is not often found in these kinds of stories. Taylor's character reminded me of Max Fischer in "Rushmore" a tad.

I really like that movie. A lot.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Transformers

Free on HBO - lest you accuse me of paying money to see this piece of ####. Wow. Even worse than I thought it would be. Let's just say that I had very low expectations, and Bay somehow managed to sink lower.

Michael Bay cements his role as the biggest hack in Hollywood. Look at Bay's resume: never before has so much money been spent on so much garbage. A waste of time and utterly useless.

 

[saintfool]

Watched a great little australian film called "flirting" last night. it features a very young Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts and Thandie Newton in a sweet but not sappy coming-of-age/love story set at boarding schools. Noah Taylor does a nice job as the resident outsider at one of the schools. it has some depth to the story that is not often found in these kinds of stories. Taylor's character reminded me of Max Fischer in "Rushmore" a tad.

I really like that movie. A lot.

have you seen "the year my voice broke"? same writer/director and with taylor in the lead.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Watched a great little australian film called "flirting" last night. it features a very young Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts and Thandie Newton in a sweet but not sappy coming-of-age/love story set at boarding schools. Noah Taylor does a nice job as the resident outsider at one of the schools. it has some depth to the story that is not often found in these kinds of stories. Taylor's character reminded me of Max Fischer in "Rushmore" a tad.

I really like that movie. A lot.

have you seen "the year my voice broke"? same writer/director and with taylor in the lead.

No. Good?Taylor was also good in Max playing a young Adolph Hitler.

 

[NCCommish]

Doomsday: The basic plot is ripped straight from 28 Days Later: a country in Europe gets hit with a deadly plague (minus the zombies). I was entertained throughout the movie even though it was pretty weird. The plot twists are ridiculous yet enjoyable. As long as you aren't expecting too much, you'll enjoy this flick. 3/5

mytagid = Math.floor( Math.random() * 100 );document.write("

A couple parts that really bothered me:

1) Only 25 or so years went by but the changes are unbelievable. Kane's people back to living like it 1400's and Saul's people being canibals.

2) The car chase at the end. Ridiculous. Somehow a trashy little police car keeps up with a brand new Bentley??? Come on. I also hated that when a motorcycle crashed it looked like a freakin nuclear bomb going off.*** SPOILER ALERT! Click this link to display the potential spoiler text in this box. ***");document.close();



The Wanderers (1979): One of my all-time favorite movies. I've probably watched it 7-8 times now and I rarely ever re-watch movies. A movie about "gang" life in 1963 New York. 4.5/5

Really like this movie.

 

[El Floppo]

Watched a great little australian film called "flirting" last night. it features a very young Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts and Thandie Newton in a sweet but not sappy coming-of-age/love story set at boarding schools. Noah Taylor does a nice job as the resident outsider at one of the schools. it has some depth to the story that is not often found in these kinds of stories. Taylor's character reminded me of Max Fischer in "Rushmore" a tad.

I really like that movie. A lot.

have you seen "the year my voice broke"? same writer/director and with taylor in the lead.

No. Good?Taylor was also good in Max playing a young Adolph Hitler.

Big fan of all three of those movies (always forget about Flirting after having seen it in the theaters orginally... long time ago). Max was pretty great. Taylor is a shoe-in for the bio-pic of Nick Cave... should that ever happen. Solid actor- glad to see him get the occasional big HOllywood payoff (TombRaider series).

 

[jdoggydogg]

Watched a great little australian film called "flirting" last night. it features a very young Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts and Thandie Newton in a sweet but not sappy coming-of-age/love story set at boarding schools. Noah Taylor does a nice job as the resident outsider at one of the schools. it has some depth to the story that is not often found in these kinds of stories. Taylor's character reminded me of Max Fischer in "Rushmore" a tad.

I really like that movie. A lot.

have you seen "the year my voice broke"? same writer/director and with taylor in the lead.

No. Good?Taylor was also good in Max playing a young Adolph Hitler.

Big fan of all three of those movies (always forget about Flirting after having seen it in the theaters orginally... long time ago). Max was pretty great. Taylor is a shoe-in for the bio-pic of Nick Cave... should that ever happen. Solid actor- glad to see him get the occasional big HOllywood payoff (TombRaider series).

 

[Sundays Rule]

I'm gonna have to watch some other old Brando flicks. Any suggestions?I just recorded Mutiny on the Bounty and I know On the Waterfront is a must see.There's a Brando marathon this Friday on TCM. I've obviously seen his more modern work including Godfather, Apocolypse Now, The Freshman, and (shudder) The Island of Dr. Moreu.

For his early films, of those not mentioned, I would recommend "The Young Lions", "The Fugitive Kind" and "One-Eyed Jacks". Of his mid and late period films, I would offer "The Missouri Breaks" because it's fun to see him out schtick Jack Nicholson.

All good picks, he's awsome in Streetcar named Desire, obviously On the Waterfront and if you can get past subpar singing from Brando Guys and Dolls a is fun movie if only to see Sinatra and Brando on screen together.

 

[Sundays Rule]

Saw Be Kind Rewind, not impressed at alll...pretty terrible except for the Ghostbusters part.

 

[jamny]

I'm gonna have to watch some other old Brando flicks. Any suggestions?I just recorded Mutiny on the Bounty and I know On the Waterfront is a must see.There's a Brando marathon this Friday on TCM. I've obviously seen his more modern work including Godfather, Apocolypse Now, The Freshman, and (shudder) The Island of Dr. Moreu.

For his early films, of those not mentioned, I would recommend "The Young Lions", "The Fugitive Kind" and "One-Eyed Jacks". Of his mid and late period films, I would offer "The Missouri Breaks" because it's fun to see him out schtick Jack Nicholson.

All good picks, he's awsome in Streetcar named Desire, obviously On the Waterfront and if you can get past subpar singing from Brando Guys and Dolls a is fun movie if only to see Sinatra and Brando on screen together.

Well, Guys and Dolls is actually on today during the TCM marathon. I didn't intent on watching it, but I guess I'll give it a shot.

 

[jamny]

Saw Be Kind Rewind, not impressed at alll...pretty terrible except for the Ghostbusters part.

Watched this on the same flight as I saw Streetcar Named Desire. Talk about both ends of the spectrum.I thought it would be good for a few laughs but it was pretty bad.

 

[Gnat Berries]

I watched Sick last night because I'm running an art unit in one of my classes, and I wanted to introduce some rural rednecks to the oddest thing possible.

Now, I've read about Bob Flanagan, but I've never actually seen Sick.



Holy crap. I'm a pretty open and tolerant person with an iron stomach, but watching a man (for whatever reasons) get a steel ball forcefully rammed up his butt (so much so that the table he's on is shaking with the effort), right after he's had a needle pierce his cack.....that's when I back away slowly and run screaming into the night.

But I'm still going to introduce the students to Bob. There's a segment of the movie strictly on one of his art exhibits, and another about his disease (with family interviews and stuff). I think I can get away with that. I may be unemployed come November though. Pray for me.

Bob Flanagan (December 27, 1952 – January 4, 1996)[1] was an American writer, poet, musician, performance artist, and comic.

He was born in New York City and grew up in Glendale, California. At a young age he was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis, a condition which would influence his art and ultimately claim his life. He studied literature at California State University, Long Beach and the University of California, Irvine. He moved to Los Angeles in 1976. In 1978, he published his first book, The Kid Is A Man. He also worked with the improv comedy group The Groundlings.[2]

He was the subject of the documentary SICK: The Life & Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist (1997) a film by Kirby ****,[1] which films the final years of Bob's life.

Flanagan is featured in the widely banned music video for the song "Happiness in Slavery" by Nine Inch Nails.[1] In the video, he plays a character who worships a machine. He offers a candle to an altar, before ceremonially undressing and washing. The slave (Bob) then lies down on an intelligent torture machine that molests and ultimately kills him, all with a mixture of pain and pleasure on his face.

In 1993 he also appeared in the video for the Danzig song "It's Coming Down". In the uncensored version of the video, Flanagan hammers a nail through the head of his penis before urinating on the lens of the camera recording him.

He also had a bit part in Godflesh's Crush my Soul video, as a suitably blasphemous, upside-down suspended Christ, hoisted on to the ceiling of a traditional-looking church by his wife Sheree Rose.

While some of his performances were notable for acts of extreme masochism (on at least one occasion he hammered a nail through his penis, while cracking jokes), he also wrote rather clever, humorous songs, many of them intended as much for children as adults.

His latest posthumous piece by Sheree Rose entitled Bobaloon, was shown in Japan, featuring a 20 foot tall inflatable Flanagan complete with pierced penis, ball gag and straitjacket.

On January 4, 1996, he died of cystic fibrosis, aged 43.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Flanagan

 

[D_House]

Last night, I watched something called The Package (1989) with Gene Hackman and Tommy Lee Jones. It was a free movie on the Comcast On Demand channel. I'm surprised I never heard of this one before. Solid action-thriller set in the Cold War era. Definitely had a Tom Clancy type feel. Hackman and Jones were good as usual, and the supporting cast was good as well. Definitely recommend for a rental.

 

[hooter311]

Redbelt

Martial arts movies usually hold my attention, and I'm sometimes impressed by Mamet. I liked The Heist more than most people, but this was the worst movie I've seen in some time. I wish I could compare it to The Eye, Strange Wilderness, or Evan Almighty (The three worst movies I could think of released in the last 2 years), but this one made me despise it even more because it thinks and acts like it is an intelligent and quality film, its definitly not. Mamet's hailed dialogue basically amounts to a lot of people repeating themselves or giving issues way more importance than they would ever mean to somebody. The plot to Never Back Down made more sense, and thats not much of an accomplishment. Add an unsatisfying ending and the least action ever in a 2 hour movie about martial arts competitions and you have one big waste of time.