Sometimes the movie gods give you something tailor-made for you. Sure, critics might say it’s garbage and maybe even a few trusted friends gave it shit, but sure enough once in a while you get a movie that just hits you the right way. For me, that was Ted 2. I was expecting a dropoff from the first one, as it really boggles the mind how you can continue to make a talking teddy bear funny, but sure enough Seth MacFarlane finds a way with this flick. Honestly, the flick is as funny as the first one was, which for me was pretty damn funny. Also, it helps that Tom Brady makes an appearance, so there’s that. I will say this now though, if there is a Ted 3, and if it delivers on this same level, I will gladly proclaim Ted as the go-to comedy trilogy in terms of consistency. This is a strong 7/10 for me.
Guys, Jim Law was right! Inside Out is a return to form for Pixar and gives you all the things classic Pixar films have (and the recent turds of Cars 2 and Brave lacked). The extreme optimism of Amy Poehler’s Joy played against Phyllis Smith’s Sadness is what drives the film and, honestly, makes it one of Pixar’s best. It’s difficult for me to see anything topping the Toy Story trilogy but Inside Out marks a return to grace for Pixar, if only for the brilliant cat scene over the end credits (funniest moment in the entire movie). 9/10, easy.
While Ted 2 was a pleasant surprise, I have to admit True Detective was an unwelcome one. I didn’t expect the season opener to be so convoluted and depressing but I guess that’s probably due to the fact that season 1 must have been lightning in a bottle. I’m two episodes in, and despite an intriguing ending to the second episode I’m not sure I’ll be sticking around for this one. It’s just way too bleak and unrealistic for me, and cheesy for all the wrong reasons. I know the boys harped on some of my feelings in the Binge Cast but I have to say that Vince Vaughn’s character especially is grating to me. I’m no Vince Vaughn fan but here he comes across as snooty and false-badass, two things I don’t want to try and see that mongoloid trying to ape. Truly a disappointment, here’s hoping I make it through episode 3.
Finally, we have Batman Arkham Knight. Despite the technical issues of my PC copy of the game, once I got the game to a playable state this has turned out to be a great Batman story full of unique storytelling techniques and a few interesting plot turns. While the mystery of the Arkham Knight becomes painfully obvious at one point the game still intrigues with an unmentioned and hidden storytelling device in the game. I was worried a Joker-less Batman game would diminish this entry but I’m happy to say the writers found a unique way to keep you vested in the story, and in terms of Batman tales this is one of the more compelling ones. I’m almost through the main story so I’ll have a more detailed review on the next Binge GamerCast, but for now trust me when I say that as a Batman fan this game is meeting my expectations.
That’s it for this week but keep an eye out for our daily content as well as a new Binge SportsCast, Binge GamerCast next week and our special Binge MusicCast featuring Elton John. Binge On!
Ready for our longest show ever? We weren’t. These hangovers I wake up with every Sunday morning are going to be the death of me. I used to think it would be cutting the grass. Now it’s going to be podcasting.
Things kick off with some Literally Literary featuring reviews for The Girl On the Train and Night Film.
Then we get to summarizing our thoughts on the ending of Game of Thrones in TV Round-Up.
Next up is some Google Voice messages.
Then we give our complete lists of our favorite directors of all time.
Rounding out the night (morning at this point) we discuss what we watched and review INSIDE OUT, INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 3, THE GUNMAN, and take another run at JURASSIC WORLD.
How that extends to four and a half hours is beyond me. Strap in.
Try to move past the mind boggling annoyance of that title and let’s watch this together and then we’ll regroup afterward and discuss why I hate it.
The similarities between the STAR WARS franchise and the TERMINATOR franchise are pretty interesting right now. Both are gearing up for a reboot by getting old, classic characters to come in and save the day. This is because, after mind-boggling success at the beginning of their respective stories, both franchises significantly dropped the ball at one point or another while trying to keep the magic alive. Still, there is an argument to be made that these are the two greatest pieces of cinematic science fiction to ever grace the screen, both being highlighted by unforgettable sequels (T2 & Empire), iconic moments, and an unrelenting appeal to multiple generations of fans.
So STAR WARS comes out with their trailer last week and we get some familiar imagery (stormtroopers, lightsaber, x-wings) and one huge moment that gave everybody goosebumps (the Millennium Falcon). It was handled pretty solidly in my opinion. TERMINATOR GENISYS drops that thing above on us yesterday and I feel like they haven’t learned a thing from the last two films. I made a pretty clear decision before watching the clip – if anybody says “I’ll be back.” in this trailer I will have no choice but to move it to the “Fuck Off” bin. This is an actual bin I keep in my garage where I store strangers who knock on my door, dogs that shit on my lawn, and onions. So, not only do we get “I’ll be back.”, we also get the same old characters, including new/old Arnie fighting old/new Arnie (that totally makes sense, read it again), a rehash of the T-1000 doing the exact same shit as the OG, the cheesy “Come with me if you want to live!” bullshit, and a flipping school bus. On a bridge.
I get it, everything I ever loved about the TERMINATOR movies is in there. Had they included a scene where Arnie reloads a shotgun with one hand while giving a thumbs up with the other we might be able to consider this two-and-a-half minute clip a legitimate remake of all four films. I didn’t need or want to see any of this shit. Tell Khaleesi to relax and try showing less naked dudes. At this point I need one of those books “TERMINATOR Movies For Dummies” to get my head straight with this ridiculous timeline. John Conner has literally been played by five different actors after this (including the TV show) and we still have to see Arnold every five fucking minutes? Move on.
TOY STORY THAT TIME FORGOT
This isn’t a review or one of those “Pixar rules the universe” articles I’ve been known for over the years. I have a legit question – Why does Bonnie hate Hamm and Slinky Dog? This was my thought process as I started watching the latest offering on ABC this past Tuesday. Then I started to hate Bonnie. This little bitch shelved, or threw out, or melted in a late night ritual under the cover of her shitty pillow fort, Hamm and Slink. What the fuck? Then I got deeper and more realistic. Who the hell plays with a piggy bank? Do you realize how un-fun that is? And how has Slinky Dog lasted this long without getting mangled? I’ve had a dozen or so Slinkys in my day (yes, I’m old as shit) and none of them lasted longer than a week. One trip down the stairs and then all hell breaks loose. The coils are are stretched and bent out of place. They get tangled and form some sort of unbreakable razor-wire knot and you end up throwing it away because you don’t care. Is this Slinky’s fate? Bonnie is not Andy, and she apparently doesn’t give a fuck. You’re not pulling your weight around the playroom you just might get dismissed. Watch yo’ ass Potato Head.
This is the last time I’m ever going to talk about my 101 Damnations challenge. I ranked and rated the entire list (right here) and did my best this past week to get out of the darkest place I’ve ever mentally visited. I’ve packed up all the visuals of blood, rape, desecration, and general disgust and stored them deep in the back of my brain. To replace them I’ve went to the one place that feels natural for me – animation.
THE BOXTROLLS
First thing I did was make time for a trip to the theater to see THE BOXTROLLS. I loved it. Laika, as a studio, is still batting 1000. While BOXTROLLS isn’t quite as perfect as CORALINE, it is a minor step up from PARANORMAN in my opinion. All three films are great, and while they’re not quite Pixar yet, I’m already awaiting their next film (either WILDWOOD or GOBLINS). BOXTROLLS is one of those animated films that, at first glance, seems too complicated for kids and a tad too childish for adults. Not the case. Every member of my family, ages 4 to 40, loved this film from start to finish and we talked about it for the next few days. There’s nothing as iconic here as Buzz & Woody or as cute as the Minions so what we’re left with is a perfectly spread out collection of fun characters playing out an exciting adventure. Highly recommended.
SPACE JAM
My home life has consisted of nothing but SPACE JAM for the last week or so. SPACE JAM is horrible. Let me re-phrase that – the humans in SPACE JAM are horrible. Let me narrow that down – Michael Jordan is so bad in this movie I truly believe it affects his legacy as a basketball player. I wish I would have shown my kids more about his dominance on the court before showing them this film. Now he’ll forever be the SPACE JAM guy instead of the greatest basketball player that has ever lived. It’s not just him either. Watching that scene at the end when all the NBA players get their “powers” back is some of the most painful acting to ever exist. Wow, Shawn Bradley can dunk again? He’s seven-and-a-half feet tall. Literally.
BIG HERO 6, THE MINIONS
These are the two trailers on repeat in the house right now, and that’s okay. MINIONS for the kids, and BH6 for Daddy. I have a suspicious feeling I’m going to love this film with a passion. I’ve never read the comic or even heard of it before the first trailer but it just happens to be opening the one weekend in my life that I need to love something wholesome.
TOY STORY 4
I honestly wasn’t as excited as I was expecting to be when I heard this news yesterday. Pixar is a religion to me, and the TOY STORY franchise has everything to do with that, but I can’t help but feel Part 3 wrapped things up perfectly. I mean, PERFECTLY. As a 40 year old asshole, I’ll never truly be able to explain the range of emotions I went through while watching tha film. By the time Andy drives of into the sunset at the end I was a mess. The made for TV short films and theatrical add-ons have filled any void of the franchise over the last few year and left me not craving another film the way I was after TOY STORY 2 (my favorite animated film ever). And then I hear that John Lasseter is directing it. Goddammit. I got to interview John a few years back on the old site with Jimmy O so my blubbering admiration of the man is forever available for anybody to listen to forever. If Pixar is a religion – guess who GOD is. I’m obviously still looking forward to it but I’d easily take something original every year, and beyond.
I’m back from vacation, I’m rested, and I have a lot to write about (notice the lack of using the word “aboot” here as Moreno was so inclined when he hijacked my column last week and pretended to be me. The lawsuit is pending.). First things first….
EVIL DEAD: THE TV SHOW
I’ve seen the movies. I’ve sat through the musical. I’ve read all the “making of” books. Do I really want a weekly dose of Bruce Campbell in an EVIL DEAD television program. In a word….. Fucking Hell yes! Now, let’s all relax for a minute. There are a million things that can go wrong with this thing, specifically the fact that Sam Raimi loves to talk out of his ass when it comes to all things EVIL DEAD. I was sitting in the audience 3 or 4 years ago at the very same Hall H during Comic Con when he said him and his brother were working on a new ED script starring Bruce Campbell. Unless he’s counting that remake from a couple years ago and the 3 second cameo Campbell had at the end, we never heard another thing about this. It could also suck donkey dick, plain and simple. This depends greatly on what network picks it up. FX? AMC? Solid. ABC? Horseshit. Something scares me about Raimi trying to continue this story on regular network television as all I can think about is the dance scene from SPIDER-MAN 3 over and over. It would be goofy, watered down, and useless. Some of the more interesting theories have the TV show tying in with the remake sequels thus proving Campbell’s cameo was not just a nod to long time fans but a promise to include him in future features. It’s a little too much to hope for at this point but I love a good rumor – especially when it’s…… good.
THE LEGO STORE
I was shopping with my wife today and found myself standing in the middle of the Lego Store looking around in awe. The place is fascinating because it messes with your senses on many levels. To the left are some of the coolest sets I’ve ever seen – a Lego Death Star, the giant pirate ship from THE LEGO MOVIE, Jabba The Hutt’s barge, a shitload of TMNT stuff that I don’t understand – and then, to the left, 40 annoying kids slamming their way through a disastrous Lego pit while building absolutely nothing. I started to wonder, is The Lego Store the greatest or worst place on Earth to work? “Hey, Bill, your job today is to put together this 3000 piece limited edition STAR WARS set while making sure none of the crass little assholes that are running around the store shove any Lego pieces up their nose.” There are literally a million tiny pieces of Lego flying around the store at any given moment while parents (like me) are staring in complete silence at the detail given to Princess Leia’s bikini in a glass case. The first story of a Lego Store employee going postal (lego?) on a swarm of customers isn’t far off.
COMIC CON
There were a few cool things to come out of San Diego last weekend but nothing got me excited more than the announcement of KING KONG: SKULL ISLAND. Or is it just SKULL ISLAND? Whateverthefuck, it sounds amazing. Why have we never had a King King origin story? In every version of the film people show up to the island and Kong is fully grown, raping bitches. Add the fact that it’s being made by Legendary, the same company that slapped me in the nuts with PACIFIC RIM and GODZILLA the last two years ANNNNNND that they want Joe Cornish, the director of ATTACK THE BLOCK, to direct this bad boy and I’m considering waiting in line. Tomorrow. With no new Pixar film this year it was a pleasant surprise to see attention given to the TOY STORY television special airing December 2nd entitled TOY STORY: THAT TIME FORGOT. The poster is glorious. Most of the original voice cast is involved (oddly, there’s no John Ratzenberger in the credits), the new characters look like He-Man mixed with Dinobots, and the last year’s TOY STORY OF TERROR was great. I’m in. A lot.
As I said during this past Monday’s Binge Cast, I miss certain aspects of the Con (mostly drinking with drunk guys) but had a decent time just letting the news roll on to my laptop this year instead of standing in a line for 8 hours to see the exact same thing. Maybe one day we’ll bring the site down for the festivities….. but we ain’t covering shit. That’s it for this week, make sure you tune in to Monday’s Binge Cast as we’re having the reunion to end all reunions. That’s right, Mega Cast is back!
P.S. How does this guy in the video below not get his ass kicked every 3 seconds?
People ask me a lot, “Law what makes you tick? What are some of your favourite things? Why are you drunk?” It’s been a while since I wrote aboot a few of my favourite things in the world. And I figured what better time than after my vacation and before I go back to fuckhole work and watch 94 movies in two days. If you’re looking to buy me shit for Boxing Day, take note.
Beer
I fucking love me some Alexander Keith’s. It’s beer, and it’s cold and that’s the only thing I need in my face in the summer. Best of all, it’s Canadian. Like me. I’m Canadian. When I’m not drinking the Keith’s, a good ginger beer holds me over until I get more Keith’s. It’s gingery, and it’s beer. Labatt Blue? If ya got it. Corona? Fuck off. Beer is at the top of the list. Beer also goes good with….
Pizza
Oh pizza? Oh pizza be my shit! Just look at that melted cheese. It’s like a pizza cake. Serve me pizza cake for my birthday and fuck right off. One time Moreno and I drove up to Montreal and ate pizza for like three days straight. Moreno wore wifebeaters and we yelled “Shia Lebouf” at French Canadian strippers all night. Fucking Mexicanish. Pizza is my favourite shit yo! Every time I go to Chicago (stay tuned for Jim Lawlapalooza 2014) I make Moreno take me to get Giordano’s stuffed pizza. Here’s what I love about pizza: dough, cheese, sauce. That’s the kinda shit I’m talking aboot. That be my shit!
Pixar
You’ve seen my Pixar collection right? You should. Deal with it. I like Pixar. Nothing geeks me oot more than Pixar. That and pizza. And beer. Fuck off. I’m drunk.
Farts
Farts fucking rule, eh? Fucking love me some farts. Mine anyway. Nothing I like more than farting in a room, and leaving as someone enters. It’s like I detonated a fart, Rambo style. If I had a hit 70s song, it’d be called, “Don’t Go Breaking My Fart”. That shit would rock oot the charts. Way back in the day they called me “Achy Breaky Fart” and I farted on everyone. I’m drunk.
Jodorowsky’s Dune, Filming Syrian Weddings, Path of Exile and
Sobbing Like a Bitch
***MODERATE AMAZING SPIDER MAN 2 SPOILERS NEAR THE END***
Another week, another piece of summer gone. I must say I didn’t do much to utilize the past seven days, but despite all that I still managed to enjoy my one week off from school, even though I was still working. The time off, however, gave me a chance to truly decompress and take in some flicks I’ve been after for quite a while, one of which turned out to be one of the best movies I’ve seen all year. In between all this, I got to get drunk with Ammon and Moreno this week and get into a new PC game for a bit.
For those of you who already caught this week’s BingeCast, you’ve heard me fife the fuck out of this already, but it bears repeating. Jodorowsky’s Dune is an essential documentary for all us movie fans. Even for those of you who have seen Jodorowsky’s stuff and thought “not for me,” I can almost guarantee this documentary will show you things that are deeply fascinating. Every few years a movie comes along that radically changes my perspective, and this flick did it for me in regards to Hollywood. The influence this unmade film has had over the past forty years is undeniable, and I’m dying to get my hands on a copy of the illusive Dune book shown here in the film. This, much like Orson Welles’ failed Batman adaptation, is one of the great what-ifs in the movie world, and this documentary is the closest we’ll ever come to seeing it come to fruition. What amazed me most was that despite the fact that some of the concepts highlighted here have been done in movies at this point, Jodorowsky still has a lot of fresh perspectives that are both emotional and innovative. See this movie, pronto, and check out some additional art from the storyboards below.
Some of you may know from previous articles but I am currently in school. However, I’m also a wedding videographer on occasion, and a particular wedding this past weekend was a good example of exactly why I don’t want to do this for the rest of my life. I think when most people think of a wedding, they either associate it with boredom or drunken fun. I’ll let you guess which camp the guy below falls into:
There is a whole other side of weddings that only people who have worked them can understand, and that is the frustration and inordinate amount of work and attention that you need to have to either film one or take pictures at one. A wedding is one of those life events where you need to be at your best when filming it, due to the fact that you can’t have the “actors” reset and shoot the scene again. If you missed their first kiss, you’re shit-outta-luck. I’ve been doing this for five years now and have a pretty good general understanding of when certain things happen. In a Jewish ceremony, the kiss comes after the groom breaks a glass. In a Christian ceremony, typically the priest/pastor says something along the lines of “You may kiss the bride,” or some such thing. Well, take the difficulty of following the proceedings when they’re in English and multiply that by ten during a Syrian wedding where only the bride and groom communicate to you in English. This makes for an exceedingly difficult day, on top of what is already a strenuous and stressful situation. I don’t know about anyone else, but I sweat balls in a suit no matter what time of year it is. To have to wear one for between 7-12 hours and be on your feet non-stop…let’s just say it requires a liberal and regular use of some fast-acting powder (I can’t stress this point enough). It was a very tough day that capped off what was otherwise a pretty laid back and relaxing week. The good thing about it all is the video actually looks just as good as all my other jobs, but still, it just reinforced the fact that I am not a live videographer by any stretch of the imagination. Also, if you’re living in America and planning on participating in the culture, it might be a good idea to understand basic English. Just sayin’.
As mentioned before, this was a mostly glorious week of sweet nothings. I had some time on my hands, and decided to crack open one of the many games I acquired during the Steam Summer Sale. So what did I choose? Path of Exile, a free to play Diablo clone that’s fun as shit. The irony of this does not escape me but I’m a creature of habit, and I like RPGs. Sue me. The thing that makes Path of Exile especially intriguing is this:
That, my dear BingeFriends, is the skill-tree for Path of Exile. It is massive. Each of those dots can be acquired after achieving one level in the game and allows for deep customization options. You begin with one of seven classes and it is highly suggested that you choose a path somewhere on the board and stick with it to get some of the better buffs later in the game. My class, the Duelist, began in the center of the board and branched outwards. The game is a lot of fun and if you’re into Diablo 3 but sick of the repetitive dungeons, give this a shot, as I’m definitely hooked. I’m talking to you Kupka, let’s do dis shit.
When I was younger, Toy Story was one of the first movies I saw in the theater. I was always a fan of Woody over Buzz, I think because I identified with him more as a little kid. As I’ve gotten older, I’m so happy that not only is Toy Story one of the best film trilogies of all time, but that it is still beloved by new generations of children. Despite all Pixar has done, I still hold the original up as my favorite of all their movies. Toy Story 2 brilliantly expanded the first film, but Toy Story 3 is a hell of an emotional gut-punch. LOTR gets a ton of shit for having a ton of endings, but the thing people always forget is that the story in Fellowship takes around 45-minutes before they embark on their adventure. Those 45 minutes do wonders for building character, setting and story, and at the end of Return of the King, Jackson does the same to bring things back to The Shire and remind the audience what truly matters about the story. Toy Story 3 does the same thing. The Sunnyside/Lotso storyline is resolved, or brought to a conclusion, with about 20 minutes to spare. In a three hour film, that wouldn’t be too abnormal, but this is Toy Story. These flicks barely crack an hour and a half, so 20 minutes is a lot of time. Seeing Andy bring the toys to the little girl and seeing her embrace and care about them is heart-wrenching stuff. In a flick about toys that come to life, the themes they deal with are incredibly resonant and make one of the best Disney moments ever. It’s pretty much Niagara Falls when this scene comes on. A great flick that will stay that way for a long time, I’m sure. Unfortunately for me, there was another flick that had a similar scene, although the rest of the flick was liquid garbage.
Boy did this movie screw the pooch. While not being nearly as bad as Spider Man 3, this flick just felt like it was a few sidesteps of being really great. Everything here just felt like I’d seen it before, from the opening Inception/Dark Knight Rises ripoff (plane attack/rotating like Inception) to the non-existent Electro arc. This flick felt really half-baked and was unapologetically begging for a sequel/franchise.. I honestly didn’t give a shit about anyone for the entire runtime, especially Gwen Stacy who is just a little too perfect for Peter. And while I hated the way Rhino was handled, I must admit that had he not shown up at the end, we wouldn’t have been treated to the truly amazing scene referenced above. There have only been a few moments in superhero films that encapsulate the essence of what these characters are, especially in regards to how children see them. At the end of the first Captain America, there’s a scene where, after the Cap crash-lands Red Skull’s plane, we see some kids playing in the street with a homemade Captain America shield. In The Dark Knight Rises, there’s that quick moment near the end, when Batman’s flying the bomb out of Gotham, where after a small explosion some kid goes “It’s Batman!” That stuff is really important to add to these films and too often we don’t see it. I have to give this movie props for remembering that stuff like this is important and that kids who loved this stuff throughout their lives are largely to thank for the current state of Hollywood.
That’s it for this week guys. Sorry if I rambled a bit, this one turned out longer than I expected. Check out our Strain commentary for this week and don’t forget to check back for Kupka, Ammon, Law and Luke’s blogs!
If you’ve ever listened to the Bingecast you’d know I’m a big fan of audiobooks. The reasons are simple – three kids aged 8,6, and 4. I don’t even have time to watch a single episode of television at home let alone settle in with a Kindle. Everything I need to fulfill my media needs takes place while working on the auto line I call work. Reading an actual book on my job is possible, but only in 20 second intervals every minute. Audiobooks allow me to fire through whatever it is I want to all night long. Now, I understand better than most that there are positives and negatives to listening to novels in comparison to reading. You’re basically leaving the interpretation entirely to the narrator and more often than I’d like to admit, this leads to me probably not enjoying a book as much as I might have left to my own brain. However, every once in a while you come across a narrator that completely nails every aspect of the story. Every nuance of the characters is delivered. Every beat is hit. Every line of dialogue seems fascinating.
Roy Dotrice is the epitome of narrators. His reading of the A Song of Ice and Fire audiobooks is about as completely engaging as possible. His efforts have placed him in the Guinness Book of Records for the largest number of characters voiced in an audiobook. Each one is unique. He is simply incredible. Here’s 188 minutes worth to prove it.
Dotrice aside, there are a few other narrators that have gave memorable performances over the years for me.
Michael Kramer reading Savages: There’s a specific tone to Don Winslow’s novel that even Oliver Stone failed to comprehend in the 2012 movie. Kramer comes across as a no-nonsense, old-school badass and that bleeds into each and every character.
Scott Shepherd reading The Visible Man: I truly believe this book is less interesting to me if I read it myself. The whole novel (by Chuck Klosterman) is basically one man telling the stories of his life inside an invisible cloak and Shepherd wraps you around his finger as you wait on every word.
Raul Esparza reading Under The Dome: All Stephen King audiobooks are a treat as the author, himself, tends to chime in at the end of the story to let you hear some behind the scenes info regarding choices he made with the story, factual errors, and why he decided to tell the tale. Esparza makes for double the enjoyment as he seriously knows how to make you hate certain characters. Once again, I doubt I would have loved this book as much as I did without him.
My Awesome Geek Office
Last week I posted some photos on Facebook of my renovated Office and the feedback inspired me to do a follow up. Because I’ve only recently joined FB the reaction to the pics from some of my friends was interesting. People I’ve know for years had no idea I was such a geek. I saw things like “The 40 year old Virgin” pop up in the comments over and over. People at work looked at me differently. Yes, I’m a 40-year-old man that reads comics, hangs packaged toys on my wall, and has an entire glass case dedicated to Pixar collectibles. I don’t give a fuck. Here’s some updated shots of the room as it is now, almost finished.
I grabbed this set over at Etsy a few months ago. I’m a big fan of minimalist posters and love the fact that CARS was left out while BRAVE made the cut.
The top pic is another Etsy purchase from my Wife. The entire picture is made of dialogue from the film, JAWS. The bottom shot is a picture I took of Thomas Jane my first year at Comic con while we were both shit-faced outside some hotel. The final year I went I was offered the chance to interview him for JoBlo.com and finally got it autographed.
My main comic shelf is almost entirely purchased for me by my brother. There few things I have on my shelves that I love as much as those Batman and Joker statues.
My “top shelf” toys are near and dear to my heart and far away from my children. The Sloth, Han, Chewbacca, Boba Fett, and Michael Myers are all limited editions. The Ultraman is probably the cheapest thing up there but might also pass as my favorite.
The Pixar case is the thing that drives my kids nuts the most. I’m literally the dad from THE LEGO MOVIE when it comes to these things.
The mid-level of my movie collection holds some coveted movie toys as well as some more of those Etsy dialogue prints. The Deathstar, Darth, and Boba Fett are all made of dialogue from the original trilogy.
There’s the whole DVD shelf (I can’t even remember the last time I actually bought a movie), the 3D Posters, and the stupendous Spider-Man figure it took me over an hour to hang from the ceiling. Fun game – find Moreno in this picture.
That’s all for now. Go drink your ass off and blow shit up. Happy 4th, yo.
When MONSTERS, INC. came out in 2001, I didn’t really get all the hype. I didn’t rush out to theaters, and when I finally caught it on video, I thought it was just OK. But over the years and subsequent viewings later, the flick has grown on me and I can see how it’s now considered “classic Pixar”. MONSTERS UNIVERSITY is (obviously) the prequel… does it stand up in true Pixar sequel form like TOY STORY 2 and 3, or does it follow the same shoddy “by the numbers” sequelized poopfest like CARS 2? Let’s find out!
According to IMDb, MONSTERS UNIVERSITY goes like this: A look at the relationship between Mike and Sulley during their days at Monsters University — when they weren’t necessarily the best of friends. But really, it’s a showcase for Pixar to stretch its legs in rockin’ out some fun animation and character design, creating a world that’s like our (but monstered up), and giving us a new set of characters to cheer for while nurturing the characters we already know and love. Unlike the last few Pixar movies (BRAVE, CARS 2), MONSTERS UNIVERSITY feels more like a “classic Pixar” film, utilizing elements from TOY STORY, A BUG’S LIFE, and MONSTERS, INC., while doing its own thing (without trying to be innovative).
The main three characters are back (Sulley, Mike, and Randy), and it’s great to see them in action all over again. The dynamics between Sulley and Mike are what really drive the movie, and it’s fun to watch them transition from enemies to friends over the course of the flick, especially knowing how they end up in the end. But the real stars of the show are the new characters, the other members of the OK fraternity. And this is where MONSTERS UNIVERSITY pretty much replicates the greatness that is REVENGE OF THE NERDS… in fact, in many ways, this is Pixar’s version of REVENGE OF THE NERDS. And the nerds of OK are hilariously nerdy, goofy, dorky, and all-around loveable, with special props going to Art (the purple, hairy, body pillow-looking monster) who steals every scene he’s in, and Squishy (the multi-eyed blob monster) who’s subtle humor is actually quite hilarious.
Is the cast of nerdy characters of OK fraternity as iconic or classic as the characters of TOY STORY? It’s hard to tell after just one viewing, but I see these guys having legs in the popularity department. Other REVENGE OF THE NERDS-like similarities goes to the overall storyline, where fraternities and sororities compete in a mega scare competition, with multiple events leading up to the mother of all events and the crowning of top scarers of the school. And that’s another high point to MONSTERS UNIVSERITY: the Scare Games. The games are fast-paced, fun, and an utter joy to watch. And while the end result is never too hard to imagine (of course they’re going to win), they manage to keep you guessing all the way through.
Like REVENGE OF THE NERDS, the school’s dean acts as one enemy to the OK frat, as does the RAR frat house, which has a few characters who even look like some of the meathead frat guys from NERDS. Which is fantastic—they really nailed these guys as they’re total douche bags, and yet… they’re the perfect kind of enemies for kids movies, because they’re essentially just big bullies—and nobody likes a bully (especially kids).
All in all, MONSTSERS UNIVERSITY knocked it out of the park for me, and returns Pixar to a level of style and grace that has been absent for the last few years. The animation here is so fun and beautiful to behold due to the popping colors of the monsters, but just the fun and imagination that went into creating the monsters here. They really went above and beyond the first movie in that department, while also doing some incredible work on the smaller details of each scene. It’s a long movie, just under 2 hours, but honestly… it doesn’t feel like it. There is one false ending, but otherwise, the movie flies by with one joyous moment after another. It may be as long as CARS, but it’s waaaay more fun to sit through.
I checked it out in 3D, and while it certainly wasn’t necessary, I must admit that it looked pretty good in 3D (as most animation usually does). That said, I saw it with a 5, 4, and 3 year old, and each of them had their glasses off and watched the movie in blurry double-vision about a half hour into it. Why make a movie for kids in 3D when most kids don’t give 2 fucks? I don’t know… but the 3D was better than most, so while I’d save the money, you won’t hate the 3D here.
And finally, the Pixar short before the movie: THE BLUE UMBRELLA. This is a fun mix of live-action (or so it looked like live-action… or it’s the best animation of all time), animation, and imagination. And much like PAPERMAN, this is one of those shorts that kids will sort of like cause it’s animated (sort of), but really, this is a short made for adults. A love story between a blue and red umbrella, and how everyday objects around a city are really all little characters and faces just looking to help out a love connection. It’s one of their best, their most creative, and most mature short to date. Is it a short movie or a short animated movie? I guess we’ll find out during Oscar season, as I’m sure it’ll be nominated for one or the other.
Bottom line: go see Pixar’s MONSTERS UNIVERSITY, it delivers on just about every level!