America is Like the Movies?

If a half hour is too long for you, you can get the core idea from the woman at 23:24.

All people generally know about a place is what the media tells them. For years I've encountered the negative side of this as I've had English people on the internet telling me how Americans are all rednecks and it's a country of uncontrolled, non-stop crime. And so finding there's a flipside to that coin - the idea that movies have imbued the country with a feeling of magic - is pretty cathartic.

Popcorn in Bed - The Insider

It seems to me that "The Insider" is an underrated classic.

There's an interesting phenomenon here They say the movie makes them question the government and the News stories they're told, etc. - that's all well and good - but they believe the movie implicitly. Why is one form of storytelling more trustworthy than the other?

Which Once Again Proves My Theory...

 As a reluctant fan of the "Reacts To" genre, and a low-level movie buff, I went down the rabbit hole of movie reactions and observed one incontrovertible fact: Women Love "Rocky".

I first documented this phenomena in "The Ladies and Rocky - A Genre Within a Genre" and noted as evidence the Youtubers: Popcorn in Bed, Duaffy M&S, Mom and Mary Cherry.

Since then, there has been Jen Murray, MovieJoob and Liteweight Reacting.

Today I offer as further evidence: Liz Reacts (above), Movie Date with Kate, Addie Counts, VKunia, MillieMochisTV, Stacey's Silver Screen, Molly Bee, Verowak Reacts and Totally Whatever.

Not all of these women have made it through the entire series but, for those that have, 5 is generally recognized as the weakest. However, it must be noted that 5 is still generally really well-liked, they just rank it below the others. And there was one woman who said 5 was better than 3. Another commonality is: almost everyone hates Paulie (which is expected). But I continue to be surprised by how underrated the character of Mickey is among women (though with some stark exceptions).

They often comment how much they love the training montages and the gimmick that every big fight has a certain unique strategy.

World Cup Fans React to America Compilation

I kept hearing about how "viral" the World Cup fans reaction videos were but, not being on social media, I didn't see any. Here's a compilation I found.

I don't know if this is the best one or what the best ones are, but I found it interesting.

If you're in the opposite situation and you're being flooded with these and I'm just hopping on a trend, my apologies.

Popcorn in Bed - City Slickers

 

Similar to "Twins," another wide-release, crowd-pleasing, mainstream movie that we don't get anymore, it seems.

A little depressing that the Billy Crystal character has a mid-life crisis when he's younger than I am. Of course he also thinks his life sucks when he has a steady job, a wife and kids. Best not think about it too much.

Popcorn in Bed - Twins

Another delightful look back at an 80's classic.

Cassie's final thoughts in this reaction include the sentiment that "They don't make movies like this anymore." That got me thinking... I think I agree. Yes, that's become a trope but I believe it to be true. But, for the life of me, I can't figure out why. It's not Shakespeare, it's not the smartest or most elaborate movie of all-time, it's just a simple, fun, buddy comedy. In fact, I don't know if I'd even call this a "smart" comedy - this is a not-stupid, charming, general-audience pleasing light comedy. That's the bar we seemingly aren't able to reach.

Am I blinded by nostalgia? Was there a fundamental change of culture? Have studios decided they're not profitable? (And even if the latter is so, a movie of this type could easily be done independently.)

This is the movie equivalent of the secret formula of Coca-Cola. I intuit that it should be reproducible yet no one is reproducing it.

And one more mystery while we're here...

The movie makes it clear that the engine/suitcase is worth $5 million. The movie makes it abundantly, perfectly clear that the engine/suitcase is worth $5 million. And then at the end, Devito says that by turning it into the authorities, they got a $50,000 reward when they could have had $4 million. 

I've wondered about this for decades. Is that an obvious mistake or are they implying that Vincent is still dishonest, and muddling the happy ending?

LiteWeight Reacting - Rocky

Yes, I've found another girl on Youtube watching the Rocky franchise. And while I don't expect anyone to still be with me on this pointless journey, it has to be noted.

Let it be noted that the pattern continues: women love Rocky.

Let it be noted that this is the first girl who appreciates the character of Mickey.

Let it be noted that this is the first girl who actually shows anything resembling tolerance of the character of Paulie.

I also want to re-state how impressed I am by their ability to intuit film analysis while watching a movie for the first time. As many times as I've seen "Forrest Gump," I never connected that Jenny prays to become a bird and then, during a certain climactic scene, "Free Bird" is played - she registered that. Even more impressive, she connects Lt. Dan saying "If you're ever a shrimp boat captain, that's the day I'm an astronaut." with the detail that when Dan gets prosthetic legs he mentions that they're "titanium alloy, it's what they use on the space shuttle". I believe I've heard people point out the irony that both Tom Hanks and Gary Sinise would both be playing astronauts together in "Apollo 13" but I've never heard anyone make that connection before. And on one watch. Impressive.

The Charismatic Voice - Don't Let Me Down

 

"Don't Let Me Down" has the peculiar property that I feel I could listen to it on loop forever and not get tired of it.

Popcorn in Bed - Forrest Gump

Cassie and Carrie watch "Forrest Gump."

You can read my thoughts on the theme of the film (or one of the themes of the film) here.

Popcorn in Bed - Duel

 

 Girls watching "Duel"? Sign me up.

Duel seems to be one of those rare movies where it's both a classic and underrated. 

Popcorn in Bed - Bringing Up Baby

Absolutely delightful.

And now I'm looking forward to "The Philadelphia Story" which DOES star Jimmy Stewart and Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn.

Popcorn in Bed - Gladiator

 

"Gladiator" is one of those classics that I should be re-watching consistently but, in reality, I can't tell you the last time I watched it. The first time I saw it in the theater, it was such an intense, transcendent,  experience but then every time I watched it thereafter I found I liked it a little less each time. So I stopped the bleeding.

If you've followed along, Carly is not a fan of violence in movies so watching "Gladiator" is at least a precarious proposition, if not a very bad idea.

I never put it together that Oliver Reed is in this as Proximo (the gladiator owner). All I know of him comes from the disastrous "Late Night" interview. His excellent performance is possibly due to the fact that he promised Ridley Scott he would not drink during production. According to Wikipedia, he went to an Irish bar, was challenged to a drinking match, accepted, and died of a heart attack. The rest of his scenes had to be completed with a body double and CGI.

Popcorn in Bed - National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Another classic.

Growing up, we never had advent calendars. I remember my friend had one in 1st or 2nd grade but that was it. Whenever I would watch this movie, the thing that would fill me with Christmas awe and wonder was the advent calendar. As the date of the calendar increases, childlike joy and excitement build inexorably.

It's good... it's good... it's good.

Popcorn in Bed - Uncle Buck

"Uncle Bucke?" Aw, heck yeah!

A John Hughes/John Candy classic.

Popcorn in Bed - Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me

Cassie watches "Austin Powers 2" for the first time.

By total coincidence, I re-watched this movie recently. It's a very uneven movie and a lot of it falls flat. The character of Fat Bastard seems like an old relic, the plot isn't even trying to make sense, there's never been anything funny about the coffee/lab scene... 

The musical numbers. When Austin introduces a Burt Bacharach number, it's completely appropriate. But then when Dr. Evil sings "One of Us" I was baffled and wondered how many people today are even aware of that song. Finally you get to Dr. Evil singing "Just the Two of Us" and it's a "jump the shark" level of bonkers. Why are there so many musical interludes?

Still, the good jokes outnumber the bad and so if you look at it as a series of gags - which it is - and you add to it the extreme nostalgia of seeing it during a college summer, it's an enjoyable movie. I have my criticisms but I don't want to go too far.

Popcorn in Bed - Star Trek TNG Series Finale

 

Cassie has reached the end of her goal to watch the most important "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episodes. In this episode, she watches the series finale.

She's certainly going to go on to the TNG movies but we know how that goes...

Popcorn in Bed - No Country for Old Men

 

I've never really penetrated what the Coen Brothers are trying to say with "No Country for Old Men." I have a general guess but that's it. Even so, it is a masterpiece in the aspect of creating tension and dread.

Popcorn in Bed - Invincible

  

I'm appreciative of this reminiscence of "Invincible" - it's not a movie I think of often or one that I've thought of recently, but it is a good one.

Popcorn in Bed - Miracle

 

Is anyone excited about the Olympics? I can't say I am. But "Miracle" is great.

Popcorn in Bed - Star Trek TNG Season 5 Part 2

 

"Cause and Effect" and "Inner Light" - two of the greats.