I found myself feeling nostalgic today.
First a fellow blogger emailed about a project they are starting. I'll keep the particulars quiet for now, but I will say that what they have in mind has participating bloggers looking back at movies from their past. As I went about my workday, and did indeed muse for a moment or two on films from my own past, I was reminded of one in particular thanks to The Criterioncast.
In their most recent episode, the good lads and lovers of all things Criterion talked about Michael Bay's summer of '96 offering, THE ROCK. Listening to them talk about that flick was like listening to Dolly Parton sing a love song. It reminded me of the guy I used to be, and the simple things that used to make me happy.
THE ROCK is crap...hot, steaming, ridiculous crap. Thing is - it's my kind of crap. I've never been able to get into B movies, wacky foreign action, and other such so-bad-it's-good-properties. But when it comes to overblown, Bruckheimer-produced, flag-waving, 1990's pyromania I'm all over it. I realize I might be shaking any trust you have in my opinion of good cinema, but hopefully I'm regaining points for honesty.
When I was younger, these movies provided me a lot of fun. They'd make me smile on summer afternoons and give me a line or three to endlessly quote and drive my friends nuts. They were to buttered popcorn what brie is to cabernet. And yes, I know that I just compared cheese to cheese.
THE ROCK for instance has Cage overacting, an awesome car chase, Michael Biehn, Harris holding Frisco hostage, a band of blood thirsty mercenaries, some weird green gas beads, and Connery lecturing about what it takes to fuck the prom queen. Tell me where I'm supposed to find good stupid fun like that at the multiplex right now? (Did I mention Michael Biehn?)
I grew out of it all of course. While I've moved on to bigger and better things, I can't deny the movie geek I once was...and in many ways still am.
I also can't help but wonder if my dissatisfaction with many of the summer blockbusters I've seen lately, is that none of them give me the laughs and thrills that TOP GUN, FACE/OFF, THE ROCK, TRUE LIES, and yes even ARMAGEDDON once gave me.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Old Time Rock & Roll
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
15 comments:
Damn! I'm not big on heavy action but Face/Off. I loved that movie and it's still my favourite performance (give or take Leaving Las Vegas) from Nicolas Cage. Ultimate badass.
(and of course the same goes for True Lies, obviously a good one)
I do love my cheesy action movies, and hey, now you have a talking point for your Guilty Pleasures ;)
I do know what you mean though about modern action films. They just seem to get worse, and have lost that comically, even we know this is bad edge the 90's so appropriately brought to the forefront. There's still some but they seldom do well.
What's worse for me is that with most recent big budget action films (Avatar included) anyone could see the jokes coming from miles away they're so streamlined.
Used to love this movie in middle school, but saw it a couple years ago and I really couldn't handle Nic Cage and his "Imma gut you like a fish, boy!" overacting rant. Then again...Michael Biehn.
I need to revisit this.
Well, as much as I agree the world needs more Michael Biehn, I'm just disappointed with him being short lived here.
Though if you want a more plentiful screen time, non "Kyle Reese" Michael Biehn, nothing says I shoot you than Planet Terror. Hey, that's my MB fix...oh and Navy Seals:P
This is the only Michael Bay film I can still stomach.
And Biehn seriously needs more work. Particularly in roles where he's not a Navy SEAL.
Dude could probably lead a SEAL team based on his acting experience alone.
90's action Gung-Fu is amazing. Face/Off is still one of my favorite action movies of all time. Con-Air is another one that I shouldn't be able to stomach yet I can't help but love. Cage,Malcovich and Cusack are all having a lot of fun.
Other great Action/Blockbusters that are good but bad:
True Romance
Independence Day
Air Force One
U.S. Marshall
Point of No Return
Hard Rain
Broken Arrow
@ Andrew... FACE/OFF gets extra points for its use of late-career INXS. As for my favorite Cage performance, it'd have to be a toss-up between the aforementioned LEAVING LAS VEGAS, or his recent channeling of Adam West in KICK-ASS.
@ Univarn... I still like AVATAR so easy on the Na'vi bashing.
Part of me wonders if I'm just sentementalizing the blockbusters of my youth. Saying "They don't make 'em like that anymore" but blissfully ignoring the fact that in fact they DO still make them that bad...I just know better now.
@ Aiden... I see your "Guttin you" and raise you a "Beige Volvo". No bashing the cheesy Cage!
@ Marc... The fact that Biehn got clipped so early was what set the stakes! Just like that it was whittled down to Goodspeed and Mason to save us all.
Brilliant!
PS - No love for Biehn in TOMBSTONE?
@ Sean... The only one? You don't count yourself a fan of the first TRANSFORMERS?
@ Mike... (Welcome to The Matinee!) BROKEN ARROW...now that is great cheesy action! It's odd that we know all these films are crap but still can't help but love them, isn't it?
@Mad My Dream of Wonder post the other day was based on me getting to that age where I start joining the "everything was better in youth" stage.
Oh, and I'm not bashing Avatar, I still enjoy it as well. I'm just saying it's not a funny movie. The few jokes it sneaks in are very by the numbers. I like movies to throw me a curveball, or a bit of lighthearted cheese, every now and again.
"Put the bunny back in the box". Totally agree with Mike - Hatter, how could you leave out the greatest of the Nick Cage 90s overblown action movies: CON AIR!!!!???? HE TAKES A BULLET IN THE ARM AND JUST KEEPS GOING!!!
Sorry, I love that movie. That and Speed. Keannu at his finest.
Anyway, if you're in the mood for good action, check out Predators! I just saw it and while it's not big on the cheese factor, it's still a damn good time, especially compared to most action movies we've seen recently (then again I wasn't nearly as big a fan of The A-Team as I know you were Hatter)
"I'm going to see my daddy for the first time ever on July 14th"...that's only 15 days away. I can't wait:)
@ Univarn... I think Cameron lost his sense of humour after TRUE LIES.
@ Tom... Might catch that in August when we go through week-after-week of scraps.
Truth be told, I'm a fan of all three 90's-Cage-Action films (ROCK/CON/FACE), but this is my favorite of the three. I think it's the Sean Connery factor that ups the appeal for me.
@ Marc... I see your July 14th and raise you a "Zeus' Buttgole"
I loved The Rock and it still has a little place in my heart despite all its obvious flaws. And obviously, I loved Face/Off!
@ Hatter: I was never a fan of Con Air. It was just The Rock with a weaker cast and in the air, but with less explosions.
Nineties action was pretty great in a mindless sort of way. Any love for Demolition Man? "Be well." "Be f*cked."
@ Castor... I thought your name sounded familiar!
@ Darren... Never was the biggest fan of DEMOLITION MAN. Stallone always makes me think more of 80's action than 90's action, which isn't *quite* my beat - hence the lack of enthusiasm for THE EXPENDABLES.
About Tombstone...I prefer the protagonist MB to the antagonist one. Although I will admit that Johnny Ringo is definitely one underrated bad guy who should be destined for the history books:)
Oh and I put up a special post in honor of today's date. Looks like someone's daddy is coming home today:P
Post a Comment