The Dude Documentary

Not many people know that the Dude from The Big Lebowski is based off of a real person. Here is a documentary about his story. Enjoy and ABIDE.

In a Nutshell: The Campaign

2 out of 5 Lebowski's

To say that Will Ferrell is becoming the next Adam Sandler is a pretty bold statement. Even sad at the same time. Sandler has milked Hollywood at the expense of his fans for over 5 years now. He was a classic comedian, from Billy Madison all the way to Waterboy and Mr. Deeds. The Wedding Singer to me is my 2^nd favorite comedy of all time. What he’s done is become a joke inside of a joke. He has the same formula for every movie, and he keeps trying to become more diverse, giving himself accents and different looks, ie. The Longest Yard, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. And though those movie had their moments, he continues to put inside jokes that just flat out, don’t work in his movies. And they always have these epic endings, that you know have no chance of happening in real life, ie. Anger Management, David Spade playing good bball in Grown Ups.

Any who, this isn’t about Adam Sandler. This is about Will Ferrell. The Campaign is Will Ferrell playing George Bush again. And it just seems old. Ferrell is up to his usual antics. Cursing, sex crazed, belligerent even when not drinking. Once again, he’s doing his best George Bush impersonation, while having the attitude of Ricky Bobby, and that dude in Blades of Glory. And Frank the Tank. And Ron Burgundy. And Jackie Moon. Ferrell still has that punch though, the one that Sandler had for such a long time. They have both graced us with classics, and they will most definitely still make serious bucks in the box office, just because of the IQ of the people that will still stand in line to watch their movies (Unless it’s Anchorman 2, which I will stand in line for). It’s time for Ferrell to do what his real fans know he’s good at: Being an actor. If that means being in a comedy, that’s fine. Being in Stranger Than Fiction, I’d love that. But if he wants to salvage his career before it spirals out of control, he needs to become more like Jim Carrey and not like Sandler. Stop beating stupidity into our heads, you’re better than that. You’re Frank the Tank. You’re Chazz from Wedding Crashers. Do you really want to be known for these last few comedies you’ve made? You’re the funniest guy in Hollywood Will, and you just let Zach Galifianakissonston get a leg over you. Do you really want to be known for this crap movie, with a few diamonds in it? Or Semi-Pro which also had diamonds in it? 

To  explain the movie, you would think they had something solid here. And at times, YES, it works. But most of the time it falls flat. Galiafinakis brings fresh, hilarious stuff to Marty Huggins. The innocent Republican whose life isn’t as innocent as it seems. Especially not till the ultimate sinner in the dirty Democratic politician of Cam Brady shows up in his life, and towards the latter part of the movie, gets a heart. As Brady and Huggins fight for their seat in the Senate, it's entertaining at times to watch how much they can screw each other over, via campaign ads, which just seem too unrealistic. Or Debates, which could be funnier. And once again, sometimes, YES, it works. But the way I’m beating that "it works" into your head is the same way Ferrell tries beating that George Bush, balls to the wall lifestyle living into our heads, and it’s just not that funny anymore. Scenes with Marty’s wife and Cam Brady live up to the hype, and so does a funny turn into comedy from Dylan McDermott and the always reliable Jason Sudeikis as their campaign managers. Dan Akroyd and John Lithgow show up, and the whole time you wonder, why did they show up? You understand the point of it, but they just seem disinterested as much as we are in the movie. And does Brian Cox really want to do this? He seemed so at ease as a sleazeball in the Bourne movies, and Troy. The best part of the film is watching what Marty does after a face-off with Cam. It's not when they actually face-off. Galiafinakis really carries the movie on his back. You have to watch everytime he's on the screen. From his awkward encounters with his wife's tongue, to his dinner table discussions with his children. He's really funny. Wish I could say the same for Ferrell.

I love Will Ferrell by the way, which is why I'm so disappointed. The exact same way I loved Sandler before Little Nicky hit theatres.

In a Nutshell: Ferrell needs a new formula. Using Jay Roach to direct this film might’ve saved the day a few years ago, but he also just directed Dinner For Schmucks a few years ago. That’s not good, and showing he lost his touch a little.  The film has its moments, but falls flat most of the time. Maybe if Ferrell would’ve played Marty Huggins, and Zach played Cam Brady, this movie would’ve been hilarious instead of having its moments and just settling for being watchable.     

In a Nutshell: The Expendables 2

3 1/2 out of 5 Lebowski's

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Randy Couture, Terry Crews, Chuck Norris, Dolph Lundgren, Liam Hemsworth and Jean Claude Van-Damme with Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger

This is by far Stallone’s best work since…umm…let’s say… I really don’t know…Get Carter? Stallone has made a punching bag out of himself lately. He had a promising career. Would you believe me if I told you that Rocky in the late 70’s won Academy Awards? It’s true. But then he came out with Like A Rhinestone Cowboy. Stop Or My Mom Will Shoot. All the unnecessary Rocky's. And a ton more. I never liked any of Rambo’s blood movies. It’s actually quite sad, because Stallone has had some serious hits. Which is why I’m so proud of him right now. He has actually hit the box office head on, with an original idea. Do what we all wished as kids, or young adults, and get these muscle heads in the same movie. It was great when we were younger, everyone had their own niche. Stallone had sequels, that only had a cult following, with the occasional hit that was worthy (Judge Dredd, The Specialist, Demolition Man, Get Carter, Daylight). Van Damme had his foot yielding/Roundhouse kicking bad ass films (Cyborg, Kickboxer, Blood Sport, Double Impact, TimeCop). Bruce Willis does whatever he damn well wants. He’s that good of an actor. Steven Seagal, though I don’t like, had his minions as well, I don’t know why. And Ahhnold was just the baddest dude on the planet, ask Predator, or James Cameron’s bank account. They were all good at it, and their wallets at the time, or Van Damme’s cocaine mountain on his coffee table, could prove it. But we all longed for them to make a film together. Especially since Van Damme and Lundgren’s, or Stallone and Lundgren’s Rocky IV, gave us a belly full of happiness. This makes the best part of the film, which is the fact that they all know what they are doing. They all know they were corny at one point, but the best in the business at the same time. And though its 30 years later, seeing them all grace the scene, the best thing I have to say about this movie, is that at least I’m not saying its 30 years too late.

There’s no plot, nor is there a point in having one. Stallone knows the ingredients, and with a new director in the always reliable Simon West (Con Air), the film knows it’s role, and it kicks ass and makes you laugh your ass off watching it. Schwarzenegger especially who seems to effortlessly thrive while making fun of himself and his compadres. He steals every scene, and to be honest, it feels good to see him in a movie again (Not just the cameo he had in the 1^st) and dropping his lines.

Van Damme doesn’t steal the show the way Ahhnold does with his one hand-gun wielding self, but he’s in too good of shape, and still looking pretty damn good to not be the physically able bad guy. Can you see Stallone fighting Chuck Norris in the finale, and making it realistic? Van Damme, though on coke, and with the 2^nd most mind numbing dialogue in his films (2nd to Steven Seagal and Stallone in a virtual tie) has always been able to impress. His roundhouse kicks, are the best roundhouse kicks. Chuck Norris roundhouse kicks are kindergarten compared to "The Muscles From Brussel's!" 

Statham of course is up for game. He’s underused in my opinion. Dolph Lundgren, Terry Crews and Randy Couture could be out of the film as well as they are on it. Stallone gives himself the steak while everyone else eats fish. Yes, he’s still in good shape, and yes he’s the genius and we thank him for bringing these giant’s together. But isn’t it better to have Statham, The Rock or even Karl Urban lead the way? Stallone deserves his shine, and he makes sure he gets it. But we all know Ahhnold is the baddest to ever do it. And what makes it cool to have Ahhnold and JCVD in the same movie, is that they are both the kings of corny 1 liners. JCVD, in my opinion has the funniest zinger of all time when Van Damme tells his girlfriend who confuses him with his twin brother in Double Impact: “I don’t even wear, a silk underwear.”  I'm talking about corny zingers, not the monumental punch lines that Ahhnold has given in his whole career.

In a nutshell: Schwarzenegger steals the movie, while Van Damme plays the best character. The film only works because the cast knows what it is, and doesn’t go over the top. Well they do, but its fun watching them. If you’re a big action nut, you won’t be disappointed. I would've honestly given this movie a 4 star rating. But I just feel like instead of taking this film seriously they just focused on nothing but fun. Maybe the next one will bring the real action and seriousness taking this franchise to the next level.

Community

    Community. I can go on for hours about this show and I really do feel that it is the best show on television, definitely the best comedy on. From the cast to the writing, it is perfect and consistently hilarious. The continuity on the show is ridiculous! The stories are fun and entertaining no matter how outrageous they can get. It is certainly on its way to being a cult classic (if it isn’t already).
    The first aspect of the show that got me hooked was the cast. Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Yvette Nicole Brown, Alison Brie, Donald Glover, Danny Pudi, Chevy Chase, Jim Rash and Ken Jeong! Let that sink in. Donald Glover was actually the reason I started watching the show and I’ve always enjoyed Joel McHale on The Soup. Also love Alison Brie, she is beautiful and quite the comedian. I wasn’t originally a Ken Jeong fan but his roll as Chang completely “CHANGed” my opinion on him. He’s perfectly psychotic and hilarious and his physical comedy is genius. My personal favorite characters are Troy and Abed (Glover and Pudi). They have awesome chemistry and great timing with one another.
    One of the best qualities of the show is the chemistry between the actors. The viewer can really get the feel that they actually are all good friends. It appears that everyone is having a good time and it transfers to great character acting. Many of the actors are great at improvising and I feel like that’s where the best, and the funniest, material comes from. Not taking anything away from the writers, they are geniuses, and they come up with the most original material that I, personally, have never seen on television. They certainly aren’t afraid to “take it there” and they will do everything they can in an episode, well at least what the network will let them do.
    Continuity and attention to detail are noticeably an aspect that the writers and the prop department take to heart. There are very few flaws in the show which makes it especially enjoyable to watch. One particular example is in episode 3 of the second season. Abed (Pudi) is in the background in most of the episode where, at first, a pregnant student explains that he might be the father. Later in the episode he resolves the problem, deals with her current boy friend, and ultimately delivers her child in the back of a car. Mind you this takes place all in the background of an episode. So when it gets to episode 22 where Shirley (Brown) gives birth in their Anthropology class room Abed explains that he already delivered a baby once during the year. I really connected to this show because nobody does that. It makes the viewer appreciate the creative process that goes with creating each episode.
    Pushing each episode to be something completely different yet still following the basic premise is not an easy task but they do it beautifully. One of my favorite episode, well it’s actually two, is the season 2 finally; the paintball episodes. It is an outrageous idea. To have a huge paintball war in a community college is not an easy concept to get a viewer to buy but it works! You believe and completely buy into this idea and it makes for a great episode. Another concept that I have to mention is the blanket fort episodes. Again this isn’t an easy idea to sell but yet again it works. I personally love it because I love blanket forts. It took me back to being a kid and made me think why the hell did I stop making them? I can go on and on about which episodes are awesome but the truth is I can’t even pick an episode that I don’t like.
    This is the best show on television right now and I hope it continues it’s success. I know that going in to the 4th season they will be without Dan Harmon (creator) which is very upsetting. Having said that, I have complete faith in the producers, writers, and cast that this season will be even better than the previous three. I hope by writing this I convert you readers into fans of Community. This show has inspired me to write and push myself more into my acting career. It would be a dream to be on this show, one that I hope comes true.

In a Nutshell: Total Recall

Starring: Colin Farrell, Jessica Biel, Kate Beckinsale, Bryan Cranston and Bokeem Woodbine

3 out of 5 Lebowski's

I rate Total Recall with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sharon Stone amongst my top 10 greatest action movies of all time. The new Total Recall with Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale and Jessica Biel is not in my top 10, but this year it is one of a kind, because it’s a lot of fun.

It’s non-stop action, a pulse pounding performance from Beckinsale, and great chemistry between Farrell and Biel. If you haven’t noticed, that’s what I look for in movies.

Relationships can be dry, just like the movie if it leads can’t work well together. The film is so much fun, I honestly was on the edge of my seat the entire film. Especially when the scene stealing Beckinsale graced us with her presence. She is a firecracker in a film that’s already lit with c4. And if you thought that Sharon Stone was really good, and a real bad ass in the 1^st. Kate isn’t as sexy because she isn’t as revealing as Stone, but Kate makes her own path for the film. Which is gorgeous with a strong swift kick of bad ass. She literally beats the crap out of Farrell and Biel the entire movie, as well as beating the hell out of every man’s heart, for wishing she could kick their ass in real life.

Farrell as Douglas Quaid, or is he? Does a great job. Of course he is no Ahhnold but he does a damn good job. Especially in the scenes when you truly feel for him for not knowing his real identity. But it’s more drama when he sees the videos of himself prior to the memory crash, leaving clues behind. While Ahhnold’s was a lot more twisted, comical and insane all rolled into one.  

The film has its own good additions, especially revving up Beckinsale, and making her more important and more lethal than Sharon Stone was in the 1^st. Though the film is mostly hit on the upgrades, especially with the special effects and a certain 3 breasted beauty, the film has it’s very bad misses. The clues left behind on video were one of them, and not having a scene as good as that old ladies head blowing up in the airport, with Ahhnold’s head underneath, is a huge let down.

But at the end of the day, there is no point to make this review an explanation of the plot of the movie. Because ultimately, it is a remake.

And no matter how much fun I had, which I did, it’s still a remake. It’s not an original idea.

In a nutshell, Total Recall with Ahhnold is a classic, and Total Recall with Colin Farrell is an extremely noble effort in striking magic twice. It did, but just like the new Conan The Barbarian, it’s unnecessary,  

BYE BYE BYNUM

I have learned the golden rule about writing for a blog.

I learned something new, in the harshest way possible.

Because of Kyle’s awesome post on the Dark Knight Rises being the best movie that he has seen this year, I put an Andrew Bynum post on the shelf, waiting for time to pass. His post was so amazing, I didn’t want anything to keep readers from seeing it at the top of the website.

Now Andrew Bynum has been traded for Dwight Howard.

Shit.

I wrote an article about how, one way or another, we need to get rid of Bynum. I don’t care who it’s for, but we just need to get rid of him. There is no way the Lakers are going to win an NBA championship with Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol in the frontcourt with Nash and Kobe in the backcourt.

There is no way. Yes, they did it twice, but the league is changing. It’s getting point guard heavy, therefore the Nash acquisition.

There are 2 very important reasons and they are the only 2 I need. #1- Gasol and Bynum run the same speed. With Steve Nash, you need a baller, a high flyer, an Amare Stoudemire type, and you need a Dwight Howard type to defend with the best of them. The league is being ran by players who love to attack the rim, ie. Durantula, King James, Iggy, Josh Smith, etc. The Lakers need someone who can defend the rim with a reckless abandon. And that is what D12 brings. He is the Amare type, and he just so happens to be: Dwight Howard.

Nash has never had a Dwight Howard type. A player that will literally break his back defending the rim, grabbing 14 rebounds and shot blocking the way Serge Ibaka does so effortlessly. Amare was amazing in his years with Phoenix but he never played a lick of defense, something that is still haunting him in New York. And though his offensive bball IQ was skyrocketing, his defensive bball IQ was more of an Alberto Einstein, the mechanic down the street that does a horrible job and overcharges, than Albert Einstein.

But now Nash has more, and then some more after that. He has that nasty dude that will back him up and do everything defensively reminiscent of no other than the great Bill Russell. Yes, I am making that comparison defensively. And as for Amare’s offensive bball IQ, have you seen Pau Gasol play in these Olympics? He’s not that powerful as Dwight, as high flying as Amare, but he’s the Spaniard, and if you have forgotten, he is the most crafty post player in the NBA. Like it or not.

What makes Dwight that much more better than Bynum is the fact that Bynum cries for the ball. And he should, I’m sure without Kobe, Bynum will average over 20 points a game in Philly. And in a sense he deserves it. But here is the 1 reason why the Lakers desperately needed Dwight:

Dwight doesn’t need the ball, or want the ball to be effective. He is the 3 time defending NBA defensive player of the year. And to be honest, the Lakers rather have that, than someone who loafs around against the Washington Wizards. Someone who is 7’1” and wants to shoot 3’s, though the coach said no. Someone who says he doesn’t care where he plays next year. Someone who is not proud to don the purple and gold.

That person is Andrew Bynum. He has been a Laker since 17, and besides Jason Kidd trade talks, he has had his back taken care of from Jim Buss for his whole tenure here. But 18 points a game, and having Kendrick Perkins punk you in the playoffs for a whole series, is Bynum pretty much overstaying his welcome. Analysts and fans alike, keep saying, he’s young, he hasn’t hit his peak. How long do we have to wait? Till he’s 30 and his knees are even worse? Or when he’s jacking up a few 3’s a game. Or when he loses valuable playing time in important games to his back-up center, because of his attitude? Bynum has done all of the above. He’s not proud to be a Laker. He’s not proud to be walking the halls that Shaquille O’Neal dominated. Or wearing the same colors as his former mentor Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Or defying the odds and beating the crap out of the New York Knicks like Wilt finally did that 1 year with Jerry West. Though I hate Boston with a passion, they were taking a nap that year.

Bynum has such great potential, but the point of wanting him gone is because his career is going backwards. Usually young players, very young, have problems when they 1^st enter the league. Bynum has become a head case. No he has no pending rape cases, or any lawsuits or D.U.I.’s, but we are talking about his character on the court. He went from 12 points a game to 18, and I’m sure next year he will average 20. But that 30 rebound game was a huge let down. To be that powerful against the Spurs and not play like Howard or Kevin Love every game after that, says a lot. And what it says is not good.

Bynum has been babied by Jim Buss since he came to Los Angeles. The real person going through the most crap was Pau Gasol,  and he handled himself like a true professional. Hopefully Bynum will learn, and take the good things that he learned in LA and submit them the rest of his career.

Bye Bye Bynum, you’re Philly’s problem now.

It’s a fresh start. And do yourself a favor, don’t loaf around in Philly. Donaven McNabb gave his heart, and look where that took him.

We seriously all do wish you the best of luck. It’s not like you care, but we really do.

And on behalf of the Los Angeles Lakers fans and organization. We welcome Dwight Howard. We welcome you to walk amongst the Titans.

We welcome you to roam and protect the Staples Center rims amongst the goliaths that have been proud to don the purple and gold.

Welcome to the city of Angels.

Day Five: Favorite Love Story In A Movie

Favorite Love Story In A Movie: Fight Club

      A film made in 1999 by David Fincher starring Edward Norton, Brad Pitt and Helena Boham Carter. Edward Norton stars as the depressed loner riddled with angst trying to come to terms with his life or lack thereof. Seeking to deal with his pain he seeks out ways to cope by going to meetings for problems he doesn't have such as testicular cancer and post op tragedies. The meetings work as a coping mechanism but the situation goes awry when he meets Marla(Bonham Carter) who is also a "tourist" who finds solitude in these meetings. 
     Now at this point this is where Fight club separates the average movie goer is separated from the avid  connoisseur. Most people tend to view Fight Club as a violent movie about anarchy, sex and violence. However if you really pay attention, the whole movie is based off Norton's love for Marla. 
     The conflict between Marla and Norton is one of a tragic beauty. Norton feels threatened by Marla's appearances at the meetings he finds so important yet he feels oddly infatuated by her and her ways. Another key encounter that Norton experiences is on a plane, he meets a man that seems to understand everything he's going through, Tyler Durden. After Norton's apartment goes up in flames, Norton seeks solace in Durden. He gets more than just a place to rest his head, he gets a meeting of his own, Fight club. The brain child of a drunken exchange between Durden and Norton, Fight Club is a secretive fraternity of men who meet in order to find themselves and seek a means of understanding and brotherhood through senseless beating. 
     Durden is able to instill a philosophy into these men through Fight Club that "Only after you lose everything that you're free to do anything." The men take up arms under there new leader and wreak havoc on the world through destroying the material possessions that normal people find essential. From destroying computer stores to robbing store owners in a way of bringing a radical idea that the day to day routine can bring almost drug like numbing effects. The movie seems a strong test to the overbearing ways of capitalism. 
     To elaborate on the love story you have to understand Norton and Durdens relationship. Norton creates Durden.  He is his alter ego, Durden is the side that Norton creates to win over Marla. Marla thinks that Norton is a recluse and a whiny bitch, whereas Durden is the embodiment of man to Marla. Marla was a women free of materialism and lived by her own rules. So he creates Durden. He didn't need anything, and he especially didn't need Marla. This cause Marla to fall in love with Norton and created the free time for Durden to go off and be "free" to impose his will on the world. It took me a while to come to this conclusion, only after I reread the book did I realize; regardless of the obvious text; to fully understand this modern greek tragedy.  

Day Four: A Film That Makes Me Sad.

A Film That Makes Me Sad:
Kids.

       Directed by Larry Clark and written by Harmony Kormine, Kids follows the lives of a group of friends living in the inner city of New York. Dark and disturbing, Kids was a low budget film that held nothing back. It starts out with the main character Telly attempting to ''deflower" a virgin in one of the most adward sex scenes I've ever scene. After Telly has done the deed he proveeds to leave the house and spits on the hardwood floor and recall the previous events to his friend Casper. As he tells him of his sexual ecounter the two journey through New York stealing from liquor stores and peeing in plain sight showing that the world they live in is theirs. Kids conveys an urban realism that features these Kids thrust into the very adult world of sex, drugs, violence and life, never letting up on the realization that these are just children. 
       The movie handles like a documentary, staying in the perspective of the group. The crushing realism of this movie reflects in the truest way possible growing up in an urban enviorment where there are no rules. I find it sad because I can relate to what this group is going through, it's nostalgia incarnate but in the worst ways possible, bringing past demons to life.
        Tellys character brings to life what every adolescent boy has on their minds: sex and how to get it at any means possible. His no holds bar approach on sex borders on the sadistic in his relentless pursuit of 'deflowering' every virgin that comes in his path. His philosophy on virgins is chilling:  "Say you die tomorrow. fifty years from now, she'll still remember you." You only see the world through their eyes, everything else is arbitrary. The actor who plays Telly portrays him in such a chilling matter, not the best looking but arguably one of the best at his trade, offering the answer to the sexual experience for these young souls. Telly has a chilling secret however, he is HIV positive, a revelation that neither he nor his partners know. The plot thickens however, two of the girls go in for an STD test and you come to find out one of them is HIV positive and the only person she slept with, the person that stole her virginity is Telly. 
         The rest of the film is overcast in her pursuit of finding Telly before he can claim another culminating to the conclusion when she finds him in bed with another victim. She ends up to wracked by the grief of seeing this and ends up passing out only to be raped by Telly's friend Casper. The next ten minutes of the film are to visually and dialogue driven to be put in words so without further ado: Telly: "When you're young, not much matters. When you find something that you care about, then that's all you got. When you go to sleep at night you dream of pussy. When you wake up it's the same thing. It's there in your face. You can;t escape it. Sometimes when you're young, the only place to go is inside. That's just it- fucking is what I love. Take that away from me and I really got nothing.'' By far the most chilling and depressing monologue I've ever heard in a movie. 

Day Three: A Film That Makes Me Happy.

A Film That Makes Me Happy:
Amelie

      This charming film directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet revolves around a young French woman named Amelie, played by Audrey Tautou. Amelie is an engaging individual who overcomes the most unusual and depressing childhood to grow up and  secretly help those around her who are feeling under.
       She grows up alone with her mother having successfully committing suicide and her father a recluse that rarely comes in contact with Amelie, until the day she sees that Princess Diana has died. Princess Diana's death sets in motion a series of events that leads Amelie to finding a box that belonged to a little boy who lived in her flat before her. Amelie sets out to find the man who hid his time capsule and sets in motion her life's work, to bring people joy.
       Amelie doesn't do so in a confrontational approach however, instead relying on mischief and guise to reunite these random people with their lost happiness. From helping a blind man find happiness in a dark world to reuniting long lost lovers Amelie treks through her new found goal with an admirable selflessness until she meets Nino. Amelie finds Nino fascinating but cannot muster the courage to meet him straight on. Through serendipitous encounters Amelie expresses her love anonymously for Nino.
        Arguably the most hilarious and delightful film I've ever seen, Jeunet and Tautou are a formidable pair bringing a righteous happiness to the characters and setting of the film. Although Amelie starts out bleak it turns into a vibrant movie about the simple act of kindness. 

Day Two(Sorry for the delay): The Most Underrated Movie.

The Most Underrated Movie:
The Truman Show

The Truman Show is a 1998 comedy-drama starring Jim Carrey, Laura Linney, Noel Emmerich and directed by Peter Weir. Regardless of the success it generated, I still never hear people mention it, ever. A brilliant movie about a man who accepts the world that is given to him. Born in Seahaven, Truman Burbank lives his life out day by day following the same routine set out by Christof (Ed Harris) according to what will generate views. Truman seems happy but his curiosity gets the best of him and he longs to leave and pursue the spirit of adventure. Despite multiple attempts to leave Seahaven, Chritsof has cleverly implanted different ways to turn Truman away from leaving, like the trauma of his father dying in the harbor to the poster about disease and gangbangers in the outside world. Truman is married to Meryl(Laura Linney) who plays a merry housewife who turns out to be a paid actor and quite the professional. Meryl however is not Truman's true love, Truman falls in love with Lauren (Natasha McElhone). Lauren wasn't in the script to fall in love with Truman however, and despite developing real feelings for him she quickly "moves away" with her family when she tries to tell Truman the truth about his life. What happens next is inevitable, Truman gets curious about his life and events cause him to realize that something is up.
        My reason for this being underrated not only stems from no one bringing it up and giving it credit but also for Jim Carreys performance. Carrey made Truman Burbank a likable, loving and care free man that was easy to sympathize with. The Truman Show also poses the question that media plays on our lives: How far will they go to get new content? In my opinion the Truman Show is one of the beteer thought provoking films I have ever seen.
       

Top 5 Greatest Trilogy's of All Time

MY TOP 5 GREATEST TRILOGY’S

In order to have a great trilogy you must obviously have 3 great movie’s that all grab you and never let you go.  

And there has only been about 5 trilogies that are worth mentioning. No, I am not talking about the Spider-Man franchise, or Leprechaun in the Hood. Or even Freddy or Jason movies. I am talking about a complete trilogy. From the beginning to the end.

I’m talking about a trilogy that’s first film starts everything off. Usually the 1^st film in the trilogy is not the best one. It’s really good, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not the best. It is, on the other hand what entices you the most. You pay attention to every little detail, because if it’s based on comics or books, you already want to play detective, and find out what will be in the next one. But at the same time they are very important, because they set the tone. And if you don’t like the tone, you will probably like the sequel, and you will probably hate the finale.  

Trilogies that have failed, have been Spider-Man 1, 2, and 3. The first one was by far the best, followed by  a lesser quality in the 2^nd, and Topher Grace as Venom in the 3^rd. Enough said. The Godfathe changed cinema. Sure Marlon Brando had made many great gangster flicks, but the Godfather was, in my eyes the 1^st film that made boring cool. It changed everything. It was a trendsetter. A landmark of a film, and guess what? The Godfather Part II was better. In a nutshell, it was a hardcore Mafioso family with everyday Joe problems. The defining moment, was having Robert DeNiro continue the awesome Marlon Brando’s legacy, and making his own on the way. What really hurt the Godfather trilogy was part III. It didn’t bring in anything new to the table. I love Andy Garcia, but he didn’t have the raw star power that gave Pacino the go ahead swing in the bottom of the 9^th, or the grand slam that DeNiro hit in the top of the 1^st. Garcia was just like watching a taller Joe Pesci trying to be like Joe Pesci. It just didn’t mix.

Failing like the Godfather trilogy, are The Terminator, Alien and Die Hard Trilogies. The 1^st film has to be the trendsetter, while the 2^nd one grabs the best parts of the 1^st, kicks it up a million notches, and leaves a lot of plot to the imagination, setting up for the finale. The Terminator, Alien and Die Hard with a Vengeance are great films, respectively, but all these trilogies had 1 film that made you shrug yours shoulders in appreciation. Die Hard is the greatest action movie of all time in my eyes, but do you remember Die Harder? Aliens and T2 spawned the rise of the great Jimmy Cameron, and we all love the Arnold robot and the little Alien popping out the chest in the original, but do you remember Alien Resurrection, or Rise of the Machines plot line without Kristanna Loken?

There is a tear shedding, due to the fact of how much I love the Godfather 1 and 2, Terminator 2, Alien(s) and Die Hard. Another example is Lethal Weapon. Another top 5 action movie of all time. But what the hell is Lethal Weapon 3 about? And though it was really good, was there any point in having a Lethal Weapon 4? Shouldn’t Danny Glover have retired 5 times already? He’s too old for that shit.   

The Matrix was so great, so original, but the Wachowski Bros. started talking about war and war and war in the 2^nd and 3^rd  movies. Next thing you know, what made the Matrix so original was how it had hardly any reality, while the other 2 hardly had any of the Matrix.  Paranormal Activity, like it or not, is an awesome franchise. Though you might not like it, I’m sure you secretly do because it brings the women in a flock. Put that aside,  you have to admit, it stays true to its story and origins.

Back to the Future Part 3 was an embarrassment, especially with everything the 1^st 2 did. Red Dragon wasn’t a shadow of Hannibal, even less of Silence of the Lambs. Mission Impossible wishes Mission Impossible 3 wasn’t possible at all. The 4^th was by far the best one by the way. El Mariachi trilogy? Have you seen Once Upon a Time in Mexico? I wish I was once upon a time in bed during that movie. And I bet Johnny Depp wishes he didn’t work for a paycheck on that one. Blade lost steam somewhere along the line. I don’t know where, and I really didn’t care. Austin Powers had one of my top 5 funniest movies of all time, followed by hot as hell Beyonce, cold as ice acting, followed by the joke within the joke of Goldmember. X-Men, besides the unbelievable First Class, never lived up to the hype, though the 1^st did have some magic. I love Star Wars, but Jar Jar Binks? Really?

So out of respect, I will give my top 6-10 greatest trilogies, the honorable mention list:

10. The Evil Dead – I love the evil dead. They are creepy and hilarious, simultaneously.  

9. Mad Max – One of Mel Gibson’s trilogies had to be on this list. And how much ass did he kick in those movies?

8. Pirates of the Caribbean – I feel really bad Johnny Depp has never won an academy award for any of these movies. He has literally taken a ride, that’s right, a ride, and made it into the blockbuster that it is. Without “Stranger Tides” this probably would’ve been a little bit higher.  

7. Star Wars: Episodes 1-3 – I give in. I hate Jar Jar, but I love Star Wars. It’s Star Wars!

6.  The Jason Bourne Trilogy – I honestly don’t care about the The Bourne Legacy. Jeremy Renner kicks ass. But Jason Bourne is the man. I don’t care about the script. I don’t care about the leading ladies. I only care about Matt Damon kicking ass. He did it so effortlessly for 3 movies straight. And what made these movies that much better, was they were done one after the other.

And now before I crown the top 5. I have to promote what’s coming up quick.

Has anyone seen Rec.? The Spanish franchise that Quarantine tried to replicate and failed miserably? Rec. is probably the scariest movie I’ve ever seen, and Rec. 2 is even better. A prequel is coming up, and part 3 will follow suit. I can’t wait.

Iron Man is simply one of the best, if not the best comic book movies, and let’s be honest, he wasn’t that big to begin with. Oh I’m sorry, The Avengers is also one of the best comic book movies ever, and I can’t wait to see what they do with their trilogies. Though Iron Man 2, was a shell of the 1^st film, it was still decent. They better make it up for the 3^rd installment.

For some reason, I don’t want to see “The Hobbit.”

Sorry.

And in the word’s of the Joker, “A here, a we, go!”

The Top 5:

5. Indian Jones -  The 1^st grabbed your attention. The 2^nd kicked your ass. And the 3^rd finished it with perfection. Sean Connery. James Bond. Come on!

4. Toy Story – Yes it was the same movie 3 times. But it was the same awesome movie 3 times. And yes, I put it at #4. They all give you cocaine type nostalgia. And it feels so good. It’s like listening to the Fresh Prince and Dj Jazzy Jeff’s Summertime for an entire 1 hour and 30 minutes. Then doing it again 2 more times.

3. Lord of the Rings – I love LOTR. I love it more than Star Wars. But the only, and when I say only, I mean only reason this is behind the next trilogy, is because the next trilogy literally paved the way.

2. Star Wars: Episodes 4-6 – In a nutshell, Star Wars is the 10 freeway and LOTR is the 210. Is the 210 faster and quicker? Yes. But is it taking you to the same place? Most definitely. But it only gets the nod because it was done so long ago, and it took over 20 years to make something as good. And to be honest, 2 and 3 are interchangeable, but I thoroughly enjoyed Return of the Jedi far more than any of the LOTR movie. And no matter how much I loved 2 Towers, it had nothing on Jedi.

1. The Dark Knight – Yup. I went there. And I’m not going back. I love this damn trilogy. It was perfect. It had the formulas of Star Wars and LOTR but in 1 word, it was better, in every way. Christopher and Jonathan Nolan took you to new heights with Batman Begins. It was an awesome origin story that had you drooling for more. It was so well acted, and completely redid the Batman origins story to perfection.  The entire time you’re wondering, “I didn’t know Batman went through so much.” It was emphatic on the fact that Batman is not a super hero though he does have 1 super power: His will to never fail. Like it or not, it was the perfect definition of an opener to a trilogy, just like A New Hope. Which to me, is the greatest opener to a trilogy.

The Dark Knight Rises was, in my eyes the 2^nd greatest sequel of all time. The Godfather is still #1. But what did DeNiro have that Heath Ledger brought to the Joker? The brilliant continuation of a legacy. DeNiro made Brando proud, and unfortunately, it took Ledger to his grave, but he sure as hell did Jack proud. Without Brando and Nicholson, DeNiro and Ledger wouldn’t have done what they did. But, they did what they did, in their own ways. It was truly amazing. The Dark Knight was pure chaos. And just like DeNiro overshadowed Pacino, Ledger overshadowed Bale. Godfather Part II had De Niro, LOTR: 2 Towers had the best action, and The Dark Knight was pure mayhem.

What makes The Dark Knight the greatest trilogy, is how it overall compares to its predecessor’s. A New Hope is the greatest Origins opener of all time. Batman Begins isn't too far behind. If the Dark Knight had a better ending it would absolutely be better than the 2 Towers and the Godfather Part II. As for The Dark Knight Rises, it was the perfect ending, the exact same way for Return of the Jedi. Every Nolan Batman, stands tall amongt it's predecessor's, and that's what makes it #1. The Dark Knight Rises put the nail in the coffin.

Those are my calculations, and that is why the Nolan Bros. trilogy reigns supreme.

All hail the Dark Knight.