The amazing story of a young woman in love with The Ramones and her best friend, rebelling against the brutal tyranny of the new high school principal.
One of Roger Corman's greatest works, without a doubt (always whispers of a remake, but who'd be tapped to be Joey Ramone? He was the ugliest bastard in history, and even Dick Miller says so as the police chief). It's been at least a few years since I've seen this, and I didn't think my dad would want to watch Kung-Fu Panda 3 after a long day of antique-browsing boredom, so I opted for a silly flick instead.
So much I rediscovered. All kinds of little jokes here and there on top of the obvious stuff (drummer always looks like he's about to crap a brick; all the names of various artists on the measuring machine; what Mrs. Mouse has written on her apron; the sex doll slapping the jock). One big thing I noticed was that Joey Ramone looks like he's peed his pants. No, seriously, look for yourself: every time you see his crotch, it's a starkly darker shade than the pale blue of his barely-there jeans (I say "barely-there" because the holes are so huge you could sail a battleship through them).
Listening to the music again, I found that while I don't love The Ramones, I do rather like them (literally listening to "I Just Want to Have Something to Do" right now, and the scene where they ride in while playing it is hilarious).
I'm really glad I have this film, and I have my dad to thank for showing me this masterpiece.
Very highly recommend.
Villain Draft 3: Fourth Place Winner
September 11, 2001; January 6, 2021; February 13, 2021
Rock 'n' Roll High School (1979)
....
One of Roger Corman's greatest works, without a doubt (always whispers of a remake, but who'd be tapped to be Joey Ramone?
It's been at least a few years since I've seen this, and I didn't think my dad would want to watch Kung-Fu Panda 3 after a long day of antique-browsing boredom, so I opted for a silly flick instead.
I wouldn't exactly call Kung-Fu Panda 3 a serious film either.
Listening to the music again, I found that while I don't love The Ramones, I do rather like them (literally listening to "I Just Want to Have Something to Do" right now, and the scene where they ride in while playing it is hilarious).
Man, I love the Ramones. I think they are mostly pleasant to listen to and since they hark back doo wop and surf rock, they have a bigger appeal than some of the other punk founders.
I'm really glad I have this film, and I have my dad to thank for showing me this masterpiece. Very highly recommend.
I need to pick up a copy some day. I've seen it multiple times and always enjoy it. My favorite line (the Principal's PA): "if you can't be an athlete, be an athletic supporter."
Never heard of the sequel, no, and while Panda 3 is probably as humorous/dramatic mixed as the first two, I really doubted my dad would have put up with it for very long. RnR is sillier by far, even if you have a gang of cro-magnons like the Ramone brothers in it (holy god, they're like The Beatles from the wrong side of the tracks).
Villain Draft 3: Fourth Place Winner
September 11, 2001; January 6, 2021; February 13, 2021
Never heard of the sequel, no, and while Panda 3 is probably as humorous/dramatic mixed as the first two, I really doubted my dad would have put up with it for very long. RnR is sillier by far, even if you have a gang of cro-magnons like the Ramone brothers in it (holy god, they're like The Beatles from the wrong side of the tracks).
They're not very good actors either. I mean, it works for the film, but you could see why they don't appear in a lot of movies (at least not saying lines). And, again, I say that as a fan of the band and the movie.
BTW: did you know Joe Dante actually directed the gym scene? Now, it's on his IMDb, but it was uncredited at the time.
The Admiral: Roaring Currents (2014)
"If you crave life, you will surely die. If you fight to the death, you will live!"
Far and away one of the best naval warfare movies I have ever seen. I didn't know the history, which is a sixteenth-century battle where Korea repelled Japanese invasions.
Far and away one of the best naval warfare movies I have ever seen. I didn't know the history, which is a sixteenth-century battle where Korea repelled Japanese invasions.
Probably exaggerated for cinematic effect but otherwise fairly true. Japan for a long time considered itself to be Asia's equivalent to Germany (the whole "master race" shtick), and for 35 years (1905-40, I believe) sustained a very brutal occupation of the Korean peninsula. I don't doubt that they'd tried to take over the country before, given how China treated some of its neighbors over the centuries.
Villain Draft 3: Fourth Place Winner
September 11, 2001; January 6, 2021; February 13, 2021
Cocaine Cowboys Reloaded (2014)
"It was too much collateral damage. ... How many people have to die for a shiny skyline."
An excellent documentary (this apparently an expanded edition) about the cocaine boom in 70s and 80s Miami.
Well yesterday's movie put me in the mood for another historical naval warfare movie (though I suspect yesterday's was a little closer to accurate than this one):
300: Rise of an Empire (2014)
"Better we show them, we chose to die on our feet, rather than live on our knees!"
Comment