I
think we all need at least one really nice positive thing about the
entertainment business every single day of the year, including weekends.
Sometimes it may be something simple, like a video that showcases
something fun and sometimes it may be a movie poster that embraces the
aesthetic we all want Hollywood to aspire to. Sometimes it may be a
long-winded diatribe. Sometimes it’ll be from the staff and extended
family of CHUD.com. Maybe even you readers can get in on it. So, take
this to the bank. Every day, you will get a little bit of positivity
from one column a day here. Take it with you. Maybe it’ll help you
through a bad day or give folks some fun things to hunt down in their
busy celluloid digesting day.
think we all need at least one really nice positive thing about the
entertainment business every single day of the year, including weekends.
Sometimes it may be something simple, like a video that showcases
something fun and sometimes it may be a movie poster that embraces the
aesthetic we all want Hollywood to aspire to. Sometimes it may be a
long-winded diatribe. Sometimes it’ll be from the staff and extended
family of CHUD.com. Maybe even you readers can get in on it. So, take
this to the bank. Every day, you will get a little bit of positivity
from one column a day here. Take it with you. Maybe it’ll help you
through a bad day or give folks some fun things to hunt down in their
busy celluloid digesting day.
8.8.10
By Jason David Rhodes (Reader Submission!)
What I’m Thankful For:
Drive.
Directed by Steve Wang
“The secret ingredient (dramatic pause) is (dramatic-er
pause) aaaaaaaaaaasss-kickING! “
pause) aaaaaaaaaaasss-kickING!
Sometime between being Scott Wolf’s co-star in Double Dragon, and somehow
magically becoming a Japanese Chairman on Iron Chef America, Mark Dacascos was a
super-powered, cyborg mixed-martial-arts killing machine with a
conscience.
magically becoming a Japanese Chairman on Iron Chef America, Mark Dacascos was a
super-powered, cyborg mixed-martial-arts killing machine with a
conscience.
Sometime between popularizing flip-up sunglasses and appearing in the movie
Bratz, Kadeem Hardison was a surprisingly durable down-and-out songwriter
at the wrong place, at… wait for it… the wrong time.
Bratz, Kadeem Hardison was a surprisingly durable down-and-out songwriter
at the wrong place, at… wait for it… the wrong time.
Sometime between running after Brisco County Jr. and having one of the
smallest roles on one of the most hated episodes of Lost, John
Pyper-Ferguson managed to deliver one of my favorite non-sequiters of all time:
“Well, if it ain’t my favorite cheese-eatin’ Dick Monkey”*
smallest roles on one of the most hated episodes of Lost, John
Pyper-Ferguson managed to deliver one of my favorite non-sequiters of all time:
“Well, if it ain’t my favorite cheese-eatin’ Dick Monkey”*
Sometime between her standout role in Clueless and… well… now…
Britney Murphy played a jailbaitey motel manager with a wonderbra and some form
of mild retardation.
Britney Murphy played a jailbaitey motel manager with a wonderbra and some form
of mild retardation.
Yes, sometime in 1997, the movie
Drive happened.
Drive happened.
It would be excusable to mistake my genuine appreciation of this movie
as sarcasm, but here’s the thing: this movie works! The fights
are varied and creative, the stunts are painful, the banter is fun, and there
are some genuine laughs. I have a difficult time remembering a theatrical
action movie in recent years that has lived up to the standard set by this
late-night cable catch. It is a perennial non-guilty pleasure of
mine.
as sarcasm, but here’s the thing: this movie works! The fights
are varied and creative, the stunts are painful, the banter is fun, and there
are some genuine laughs. I have a difficult time remembering a theatrical
action movie in recent years that has lived up to the standard set by this
late-night cable catch. It is a perennial non-guilty pleasure of
mine.
Here’s the plot. Ready? Bad guys are trying to catch Toby Wong (Mark
Dacascos). Some fight scenes. By chance he meets Malik (Hardison).
Some more fight scenes. By chance they meet Deliverance (Murphy). Some
more fight scenes / shit blows up. Big fight scene in a techno-club with
motorcycles, whips, and shit blows up. And that’s pretty much it, aside
from the tre 90’s credits song, which continuously asks where the party is at,
but never gives us the answer, but will remain stuck in your head for the next
seven days while you ponder it.
Dacascos). Some fight scenes. By chance he meets Malik (Hardison).
Some more fight scenes. By chance they meet Deliverance (Murphy). Some
more fight scenes / shit blows up. Big fight scene in a techno-club with
motorcycles, whips, and shit blows up. And that’s pretty much it, aside
from the tre 90’s credits song, which continuously asks where the party is at,
but never gives us the answer, but will remain stuck in your head for the next
seven days while you ponder it.
Mark Dacascos was robbed of a career as Jackie Chan Lite. He
certainly doesn’t do every stunt here, but the ones he does do are
impressive. Kadeem Hardison comes off as effortless and likable, and
barely legal Britney Murphy is at the apex of her arc from
crazy weird to weirdly hot.
certainly doesn’t do every stunt here, but the ones he does do are
impressive. Kadeem Hardison comes off as effortless and likable, and
barely legal Britney Murphy is at the apex of her arc from
crazy weird to weirdly hot.
If you are at all a fan of Jackie Chan style action – which this is all
cleary emulating – you need to check this out in a non-Youtube capacity on
your big screen with the sound turned way up. And for those still
unconvinced, Tracey Walter is in it. Tracey Walter, bitches.
cleary emulating – you need to check this out in a non-Youtube capacity on
your big screen with the sound turned way up. And for those still
unconvinced, Tracey Walter is in it. Tracey Walter, bitches.
*Capitalized here to give the term the respect it deserves
Want to contribute one? Send me the text and links to materials for your own ‘What I’m Thankful For’.
Requirements:
Well written, fun, and not self-promotional. Also, no pseudonyms or
fake names. Stand up and be proud of your opinions. MESSAGE BOARD SUBMISSION THREAD or EMAIL YOUR IDEA TO ME.
Requirements:
Well written, fun, and not self-promotional. Also, no pseudonyms or
fake names. Stand up and be proud of your opinions. MESSAGE BOARD SUBMISSION THREAD or EMAIL YOUR IDEA TO ME.