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I mean, they kind of are. Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer have released music and toured together as Spinal Tap. They've even done it as a "double bill" with The Folksmen.
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For a long time I had no interest in Spinal Tap but I gave it a try about 5 years ago. For it's humor and what it was going for I'd call it a 10 out of 10. I'd be happy to watch it again.
As far as the talk of characters doing bad things in movies like Revenge of the Nerds, what is wrong today has always been wrong, but I don't care. I can easily laugh at something like that in film with zero guilt or cringe, because I know the differences between right and wrong and reality and film. Now if I watch a documentary or a film based on a true story, that's different.
As far as the talk of characters doing bad things in movies like Revenge of the Nerds, what is wrong today has always been wrong, but I don't care. I can easily laugh at something like that in film with zero guilt or cringe, because I know the differences between right and wrong and reality and film. Now if I watch a documentary or a film based on a true story, that's different.
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Well, I'll clarify, and I probably should have said this in the previous post, that this is the one movie that simply goes too far for me. And there is no slippery slope. I definitely find Sixteen Candles troubling and there's challenging moments in a lot of films that are otherwise strong, even classics. But this is the one that simply goes too far. The revenge porn was an actual joke, and honestly, in 1984, I laughed at it ("That's MY Pi"). And if that was the most egregious thing in the movie, aside from putting cameras in the rooms of all the sorority girls and watching them shower and change clothes, it would probably fall in line with all the other movies I let slide. But that rape. Wow.
And I think especially in a time when young men get away with raping women, when they are guilty, because the judges think they are otherwise fine young men and the judges don't wanna ruin "all of the positive things he otherwise embodies" so they give absurdly light sentences while the victim is simply left to live with it forever, it's just a really, really bad mis-step by the filmmakers and something that I just can't overlook. Letting Lewis be the hero when he has raped someone, and then portraying his victim falling in love with him and leaving her boyfriend for him instead of pressing charges... man, that's just f*cked up.
And, in that spirit, I think your last paragraph is just spot-on.
And I think especially in a time when young men get away with raping women, when they are guilty, because the judges think they are otherwise fine young men and the judges don't wanna ruin "all of the positive things he otherwise embodies" so they give absurdly light sentences while the victim is simply left to live with it forever, it's just a really, really bad mis-step by the filmmakers and something that I just can't overlook. Letting Lewis be the hero when he has raped someone, and then portraying his victim falling in love with him and leaving her boyfriend for him instead of pressing charges... man, that's just f*cked up.
And, in that spirit, I think your last paragraph is just spot-on.
I'm not saying I don't understand why it shouldn't put people off. Or that it probably is quite a few steps over the line, even for viewers who are tolerant of other similar misdeeds being overlooked in their entertainment. I'm only explaining how I can separate the two things, and why I think it is important for it to still be out there for others to see and be dismayed by.
I agree with all of the issues you find with it. I've said many times before that I think what happens in Nerds is thousands of times more dangerous than the overt violent misogyny found in exploitation films. We already have our guardrails up in such films. But Nerds can slide its ideas in when we are busy feeling good about the other more positive messages its spreading. Don't Answer the Phone, as much as it is a reflection of a segment of society, at least has the decency to position itself as something that is being inflicted upon society from the margins. Nerds is our pop culture. It is what we are filling our kids heads up with as we send them off to school to navigate relationships with the opposite sex. It's actually a dangerous film, in a number of ways.
But, putting all that aside, I love most of the rest of it. And think it is actually a legitimately beautiful film if we forget about the Darth Vader mask. Forget about the 'my pi' scene. Which, admittedly, can be a big ask as it is a fundamental element of these nerd characters we are basically rooting for.
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I watched This is Spinal Tap earlier this year. While I enjoyed it, it wasn't as funny as I was hoping it would be. But of course, it's more than worthy of being on this list and I may grow to like it more later on.
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I think the uglier elements in Revenge of the Nerds stick out more because the movie is otherwise much warmer and more genial than the average '80s fratboy sex comedy. It has a real affection for a lot of its characters, the ones it isn't perpetrating sex crimes against at least.
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I love Edgar Wright. His fast paced, quick witted comedy is top notch, his visual style is awesome and most of his filmography is hugely entertaining.
Shaun of the Dead is not my favorite of his and I don’t love it as much as others, but it’s quite good fun and I definitely don’t mind watching it as part of the Cornetto Trilogy. Who knows, maybe I like one of the others more to perhaps pop up on my list
Not seen Galaxy Quest or This is Spinal Tap.
Shaun of the Dead is not my favorite of his and I don’t love it as much as others, but it’s quite good fun and I definitely don’t mind watching it as part of the Cornetto Trilogy. Who knows, maybe I like one of the others more to perhaps pop up on my list
Not seen Galaxy Quest or This is Spinal Tap.
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I'm not saying I don't understand why it shouldn't put people off. Or that it probably is quite a few steps over the line, even for viewers who are tolerant of other similar misdeeds being overlooked in their entertainment. I'm only explaining how I can separate the two things, and why I think it is important for it to still be out there for others to see and be dismayed by.
I agree with all of the issues you find with it. I've said many times before that I think what happens in Nerds is thousands of times more dangerous than the overt violent misogyny found in exploitation films. We already have our guardrails up in such films. But Nerds can slide its ideas in when we are busy feeling good about the other more positive messages its spreading. Don't Answer the Phone, as much as it is a reflection of a segment of society, at least has the decency to position itself as something that is being inflicted upon society from the margins. Nerds is our pop culture. It is what we are filling our kids heads up with as we send them off to school to navigate relationships with the opposite sex. It's actually a dangerous film, in a number of ways.
But, putting all that aside, I love most of the rest of it. And think it is actually a legitimately beautiful film if we forget about the Darth Vader mask. Forget about the 'my pi' scene. Which, admittedly, can be a big ask as it is a fundamental element of these nerd characters we are basically rooting for.
I agree with all of the issues you find with it. I've said many times before that I think what happens in Nerds is thousands of times more dangerous than the overt violent misogyny found in exploitation films. We already have our guardrails up in such films. But Nerds can slide its ideas in when we are busy feeling good about the other more positive messages its spreading. Don't Answer the Phone, as much as it is a reflection of a segment of society, at least has the decency to position itself as something that is being inflicted upon society from the margins. Nerds is our pop culture. It is what we are filling our kids heads up with as we send them off to school to navigate relationships with the opposite sex. It's actually a dangerous film, in a number of ways.
But, putting all that aside, I love most of the rest of it. And think it is actually a legitimately beautiful film if we forget about the Darth Vader mask. Forget about the 'my pi' scene. Which, admittedly, can be a big ask as it is a fundamental element of these nerd characters we are basically rooting for.
Yeah, you guys missed the point in this comedy countdown. We were sarcastically naming North and The Bucket List, two of Rob Reiner's objectively and unquestionably worst films, as his "best".
But as you were.
But as you were.
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There's no accounting for taste. But yes, his Armond White-like contrarian praise is duly noted.
Either way, there is a brand new thread HERE for anyone who wants to go into detail about Rob Reiner's filmography beyond the three that made this countdown.
Either way, there is a brand new thread HERE for anyone who wants to go into detail about Rob Reiner's filmography beyond the three that made this countdown.
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"Film is a disease. When it infects your bloodstream it takes over as the number one hormone. It bosses the enzymes, directs the pineal gland, plays Iago to your psyche. As with heroin, the antidote to Film is more Film." - Frank Capra
"Film is a disease. When it infects your bloodstream it takes over as the number one hormone. It bosses the enzymes, directs the pineal gland, plays Iago to your psyche. As with heroin, the antidote to Film is more Film." - Frank Capra
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Edging out Best in Show as my favorite mockumentary would be This Is Spinal Tap, which I had at #20. (And like with Holden, it is also the 11th movie from my list to be revealed. With five more to come, I'm figuring.)
My List:
2. Life of Brian (#20)
3. The Jerk (#24)
4. Playtime (#48)
8. Being John Malkovich (#44)
12. The Apartment (#29)
13. Modern Times (#39)
16. Bringing Up Baby (#22)
20. This Is Spinal Tap (#13)
21. One, Two, Three (#85)
22. Beetlejuice (#78)
24. Sullivan's Travels (#100)
My List:
2. Life of Brian (#20)
3. The Jerk (#24)
4. Playtime (#48)
8. Being John Malkovich (#44)
12. The Apartment (#29)
13. Modern Times (#39)
16. Bringing Up Baby (#22)
20. This Is Spinal Tap (#13)
21. One, Two, Three (#85)
22. Beetlejuice (#78)
24. Sullivan's Travels (#100)
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I may go back to hating you. It was more fun.
I may go back to hating you. It was more fun.
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Tomorrow's final pair of reveals ahead of the Top Ten will, among other things, tell us if Mel Brooks has one or two titles in the Top Ten. I say they are both there.
Gonna keep guessing it until it shows: Ghostbusters and Liar Liar.
Gonna keep guessing it until it shows: Ghostbusters and Liar Liar.
Last edited by Holden Pike; 08-04-22 at 08:33 AM.
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So what are the predicted final 12 then? I'm shocked Hot Fuzz and Royal Tenenbaums are misses on this whole countdown.
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So what are the predicted final 12 then? I'm shocked Hot Fuzz and Royal Tenenbaums are misses on this whole countdown.
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So what are the predicted final 12 then? I'm shocked Hot Fuzz and Royal Tenenbaums are misses on this whole countdown.
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I've never quite understood the love for This is Spinal Tap. I don't dislike it, I even got a mild chuckle or two from it, but I didn't even come close to loving it. I do love and voted for a different mockumentary, in which the same actors from Spinal Tap form a very different band. That one never had a chance though.
As for Spinal Tap, it is hilarious in sections but it moves along rather slowly rather like that egregious Led Zeppelin documentary/concert film The Song Remains the Same which it was emulating. No vote for me.
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Not surprised to see This is Spinal Tap considering no appearance of it up to now.
I think I've seen it once as a kid and was perplexed to learn that it was supposed to be funny.
I think I tried watching it again when I was older (again, long time ago) and still my only recollection is that it was so utterly deadpan, and the absurdities so mild, that I was totally bored and unengaged by it.
I think I've seen it once as a kid and was perplexed to learn that it was supposed to be funny.
I think I tried watching it again when I was older (again, long time ago) and still my only recollection is that it was so utterly deadpan, and the absurdities so mild, that I was totally bored and unengaged by it.
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"Well, at least your intentions behind the UTTERLY DEVASTATING FAULTS IN YOUR LOGIC are good." - Captain Steel
Movie Reviews | Anime Reviews
Top 100 Action Movie Countdown (2015): List | Thread
"Well, at least your intentions behind the UTTERLY DEVASTATING FAULTS IN YOUR LOGIC are good." - Captain Steel
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Are you talking about A Mighty Wind? If so, I loved that movie. I grew up going to folk festivals and folk clubs with my parents so this music has a real strong place in my heart.
As for Spinal Tap, it is hilarious in sections but it moves along rather slowly rather like that egregious Led Zeppelin documentary/concert film The Song Remains the Same which it was emulating. No vote for me.
As for Spinal Tap, it is hilarious in sections but it moves along rather slowly rather like that egregious Led Zeppelin documentary/concert film The Song Remains the Same which it was emulating. No vote for me.
I liked A Mighty Wind but it is nowhere near as funny as This is Spinal Tap
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Are you talking about A Mighty Wind? If so, I loved that movie. I grew up going to folk festivals and folk clubs with my parents so this music has a real strong place in my heart.
I'm not a huge fan of folk music, but it came out at a time when I was listening to a lot of The Kingston Trio. I loved it and its soundtrack and it's been a favorite of mine ever since. I rewatched it in preparation for the 2000s countdown after not having seen it for awhile and still loved it. I've been listening to the soundtrack a lot recently too.
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I haven't seen Royal Tenenbaums yet, but I thought Grand Budapest was more popular.
We will know soon enough, and guessing has proven to be foolish on this list, but I think Wes may be done with only Rushmore (#54) making the cut.
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