A Revisit to "Clerks" is Well Worth It

Over the weekend I made another trip to the Arkadin to see another classic movie, "Clerks". This was no theme night or Strange Brew or anything like that, this was just a showing of "Clerks".

I have been a fan of this movie since the first moment I saw it over 25 years ago. When I first saw it it was unlike anything else I had seen to that point. This movie, again I was 17 years old, was so poignant and profound to me. I would end up watching a bunch between the ages of 17 and 25 or so. It was a movie I would show to friends, I had family members watch it over and over again and I would watch it on my own a ton. Then it kind of slipped through the cracks for me and I moved on to other Kevin Smith movies.

Recently I went back and watched "Mallrats". I had heard someone talk about it on a podcast and that made me want to revisit. While not a great movie by any means, it still held up for me. I was able to look past some problematic language in the movie and I was able to go back to being younger and let myself get very involved in "Mallrats". "Clerks" is such a better movie, in my opinion, though. I was so happy on this rewatch, again, almost 20 years from the last time I saw it, that it still held up. I was laughing harder than I did before. I had never seen it with a true movie theater crowd, and that added a whole other layer for me. I was around other people that like this content as much as I do. We all laughed at all the funny parts. We knew what was coming but it didn't matter. It still hit us all the same. And the writing, I was kind of shocked that it still held up so well. I have seen this movie at different points in my life and this time, with 42 year old eyes and ears, I had a different take. I found Dante to be whiny and egotistical. Brian O'Halloran played this role to perfection. When I was younger I used to side with him. I felt he was just unlucky in love and wanted something better. This time around, I was all about Randal, played perfectly by Jeff Anderson. He knew his lot in life and accepted it. He held no grudges against anyone but the customers. He told Dante off when he needed and sided with him when needed. He was always there for him, but he would give him the business too. And I understand that there are other actors in this movie, but this is all about Dante and Randal. It is their journey through an insane day at work. And Kevin Smith and his writing staff absolutely nailed it.

I couldn't like this movie more than I do now. I feel like I understand it so much better now. And I highly recommend that you rewatch it if you haven't seen it in a long time or if you've never seen it and want to know what all the fuss is about. It is so well written and acted by, at the time, non actors. And if you are between the ages of 18-50, this movie will ring true for you. "Clerks", for me, is a true classic. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Better Late Than Never on "The House"

I was looking for a movie to watch the other day since I had some free time while my kids were in school. I went to a few different streaming services and ended up going with HBO Max. There I saw a movie called "The House" which featured Amy Poehler and Will Ferrell. I vaguely remember hearing about this movie other than it got bad reviews. But, I enjoy Poehler and Ferrell, and the 95 or so minute runtime was perfect, so I decided to watch.

Now, right off the bat, this is not a very good movie. The story is thin, the young actors don't get much to do and for its short runtime, certain moments felt like they went on forever. That being said, this movie did make me laugh, and isn't that the whole point of a comedy? For those that may not know, "The House" is about a family that needs to make money to get their only child into college. They team up with a neighbor and open a casino in his basement. Pretty simple outline. Here's the problem, here's the solution and some wacky stuff will happen along the way. But Ferrell and Poehler made for a dynamite comedy duo, and I found myself laughing more times than not. Those two know how to sell a joke, they know how far to take it and they both seemed to be having a good time while making the movie. Jason Mantzoukas, who I adore, was the neighbor and it was nice to see him play a bigger role in a movie. He always seems to be a side character that comes into a show or movie and steals every scene he is in. He also seems to always play someone gross. Here he does do some gross stuff, but he is the comic relief for the most part. Poehler and Ferrell are still hilarious, but Mantzoukas was right there with them with the comedy the whole way through the movie. I also appreciated that the casting director cast funny people to play bit parts in this movie. Andrea Savage and Lennon Parham play neighbors that hate one another and they are both hilarious. Their fight scene was pretty great. Rory Scovel plays a yokel that just wants to have fun. Nick Kroll and Allison Tolman play scummy local political people, and they had a ton of unexpected laughs from me. Rob Heubel plays a bumbling police officer. Cedric Yarbrough plays a dad in town who doesn't pay back all his loans. Kyle Kinane is a local drunk. Michela Watkins plays Mantzoukas' ex, and she has some of the best line deliveries in the whole movie. Steve Zissis and Jeremy Renner play local thugs who want to take down the casino. And actors like Sam Richardson, Andy Buckley, Wayne Federman, Ian Roberts and Jessica St Clair are peppered throughout the cast and they all do some funny stuff while on screen.

Again, this is by no means a good movie. It does have slow parts and some jokes don't land. But I was never bored when watching. I laughed quite a bit. I found the movie to be a perfect background for if I am writing or doing some housework. Do I recommend it? If you like the people I mentioned, yeah. But if you are looking for something to move you or see epic cinema, skip it. My final thoughts, this movie had funny parts, is not a great story and it kept my attention for most of it. I guess it is a soft recommend from me, but only if you know and like the people involved. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Better Late Than Never on "Freaky Tales"

Another movie I was able to watch the past two weeks was "Freaky Tales". I only vaguely knew of this movie due to the fact that Pedro Pascal was cast in it. I did see one trailer near the release of the movie that got me more hyped, but I never went to see it in the theaters. Then I kind of forgot about it, until I read some people saying it was one of the better movies to come out last year. The publications were ones I like and take their recommendations. So, it was my turn to pick on date night and "Freaky Tales" was the choice.

This movie takes place in Oakland over a couple days in 1987. Right off the bat, the look of this movie was so cool. It had that retro feel to it. It reminded me of watching movies on VHS back when I was a kid. It was a little grainy and I really was into the vibe they were putting out there. There are four different stories that all coincide with each other. Each story is told in its own chapter, and it all culminates and comes together during the finale. The first story focuses on some punk rock kids that have to fight nazis to keep them out of their club. We meet a few of the punker kids, and I was immediately on their side. The nazis, like all of them, were horrific people and they deserved to be beaten. We do get a background on one of the young kids, the punkers who go to the club every night, the owners of the club and their inner meetings. The lead up to the fight scene was great. This was when the movie used montages to perfection. And the fight scene itself was gory and violent and awesome. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing a nazi get punched in the throat with a studded bracelet. As soon as this story started, I was fully in.

By the end, I wanted even more. Luckily for me, the second chapter was right up my alley. This time we saw a rap group, Danger Zone, trying to catch a break. Danger Zone was two ladies and they were still working at an ice cream shop, but just needed a break. Lucky for them, a local promoter saw them perform and invited them to rap battle Too Short, who also happens to be the narrator throughout the whole movie. Meanwhile, we see the members of Danger Zone get annoyed and hit on by a police officer, we see one of the members freaking out prior to their performance and then we see them, dare I say, beat Too Short in said battle. It was cool to watch a musical performance in this movie, and props to Normani for giving one hell of a performance during this chapter.

The third chapter focuses on Pedro Pascal's character. He is a criminal fixer doing one last job. We do also find out some info on what happened to him the day before. There is a scene in this chapter, where Pascal is going to a movie rental store and has a great conversation about underdog movies. The conversation he is having is with Tom Hanks, who plays the rental store clerk. He and Pascal going back and forth was a sight to behold. I truly enjoyed Hanks' work in this scene, and Pascal does some damn good stuff too. The part where he is talking to another criminal in a diner was so electric.

The final chapter, which also happened to be my favorite chapter, tells us a story about former NBA player Sleepy Floyd. He was a great NBA player, and he had a historic playoff game during his career, but "Freaky Tales" tells us something new and fascinating. The tale we get is, during Floyd's epic playoff game, his girlfriend, mom and another friend get accosted and attacked by some thieves. To get his revenge, Floyd takes matters into his own hands, by doing kung fu, of which he is excellent at doing. When we get to the scene with the kung fu, it was akin to the punk rocker scene, but it was amped up by a million percent. It was wild and fun and I wanted to watch more and more of it. I'm not sure who played Sleepy Floyd, but he was incredible and did the best job in the movie in my opinion.

What really made this movie go over the top for me, while it is a fictional tale, some of the people involved are real. Gilman Street is a real place. Danger Zone was a real group who did battle Too Short. And Sleepy Floyd was a great player who did, as mentioned before, have a historical playoff game and a solid run in the NBA. The writers just heightened these stories.

I loved this movie. It was different and cool and a total blast to watch. Check out "Freaky Tales" ASAP. You will not regret it. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Weapons"

Now that I have finished my preseason football stuff, I have some movie and album write ups I want to get to. The first movie I want to talk about is "Weapons".

I wrote a blog a while back about the trailer and how much it made me want to see the movie. And I found a way to see it on opening weekend, going to see it solo on the Sunday it opened. And I absolutely loved this movie. I will be as spoiler free as possible moving forward by the way.

The story of the movie is as follows, 17 kids from one single classroom all leave their houses at 2:17am and "never come back". The movie then tells the story of the aftermath from different perspectives. Julia Garner plays the teacher of the classroom and we get her story first. It's clear she has some deep seeded issues, but in the end she is a person who cares about her kids. She wants what is best for them, she just doesn't really know how to go about it the right way. Garner does some great stuff in this movie, and after seeing her in "Fantastic Four: First Steps", which she is also very good in, she is amazing here. I was very impressed with her work. Alden Ehrenreich plays a local cop who isn't on the job about the missing kids, but he has insight because he works in the police office. Ehrenreich does some solid work too. He is always anxious and nervous about everything around him. He has an overbearing girlfriend.His girlfriend's dad happens to be the chief of police in this town and he may or may not have issues with alcohol. He is also a friend of Garner's, and they may or may not have a personal past. Ehrenreich was fun to watch. He also brings a little humor in an otherwise very scary movie. Josh Brolin plays a parent of one of the kids who left their house. Brolin is about as reliable as they come in Hollywood. He portrays the ache and anger of a parent whose kid is gone. He wants answers and he will stop at nothing to figure it all out. He is also involved in what I found to be the scariest part of the whole movie. There's a long scene with him that made me jump in my seat in the theater. Benedict Wong plays the principal of the school and he is incredible in the movie. He has to do a bunch of different things in his ten minutes on screen and boy oh boy does he nail it. He is probably my favorite part of the whole movie. I also appreciate how he handled the whole scenario as the principal for the school where the kids left. Austin Abrams plays a local junkie who is the catalyst for uncovering the mystery of the movie. But, since he is constantly high, no one will listen to him. It doesn't really end well for him. And then we have Amy Madigan, who gives a performance of a lifetime. She is top notch in this movie and I hope she gets some kind of awards consideration. I was absolutely blown away by the work she did.

"Weapons" worked on a ton of levels for me. I thought about how I would handle this situation if it happened to me. I thought the kid actors did good work. Zach Cregger knows how to make a scary and mysterious movie that always has me on the edge of my seat. "Weapons" is definitely scary, but it also has moments of humor and levity. I appreciate that it isn't entirely shot at night. They created a universe that I'm interested in seeing much more of.

Overall, I'm stoked I was able to see this movie on a big screen and I cannot recommend it enough. "Weapons" is amazing. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Wants to Watch "Weapons"

I was never really much of a fan of horror movies as a kid. I felt that if I was going to watch a movie, I wanted to have a good time and not be scared. I almost always chose sports or comedy movies. And if the two were in the same movie, that was gold for me.

As I get older though, I have found that I do like certain horror movies. I prefer psychological stuff when it comes to horror. Movies like "Black Swan", "The Babadook" and "A Clockwork Orange" are my style of horror. A few years ago I kept hearing people talk about this new horror director Zach Cregger and his new movie "Barbarian". The talk became a constant for me while listening to podcasts that I decided I was going to watch.

I was kind of floored by "Barbarian". Make no mistake, "Barbarian" is a very scary movie, but it also tells an interesting story and is filled with twists and turns. I loved the two different story arcs that met up near the end. The Skarsgaard that was in it was scary until it was revealed that he wasn't an actual bad guy. The scary person was unique in its horror persona and the movie has stayed with me for quite some time now.

Well, I'm here to say that Cregger has a new movie coming out, of which I just watched the trailer, and now I want to go see it. The movie is called "Weapons", and the trailer is so minimal that it has really sparked my interest. I have zero idea what it is about, and that is the mark of a good trailer for me. And the movie looks like it is going to be scary, psychological, maybe a tiny bit humorous and will stay with me just like "Barbarian" did. During the very short trailer we see a kid walking in a school hallway, we see another kid with bruises looking confused, a guy stabbing his face with a fork, another guy being covered in an oily like substance and it looks as if all the other characters scream very loudly at separate points. It is exactly what I want from a horror trailer. Seeing this makes me want to see the movie. I'm itching to know what the story is all about. I want to know why it's called "Weapons". I'm curious as to how it all connects. This is how to make a trailer in modern times. I don't want to know every beat of the story within a trailer. It is nice to leave something to the imagination. I like how ambiguous and vague it all seems. I went into "Barbarian" totally blind and that was the best way to see that movie. I may not watch another trailer for "Weapons". I feel like I want to know more, but I'd rather wait to find it all out in the theaters. If the movie is anywhere near as good as this trailer, Cregger is going to have another win to put in his hat.

If you like horror, especially psychological horror, go check out this trailer. It seems like there will be a good amount in this movie, alongside the traditional horror tropes. In the end, all I really know is I will be seeing "Weapons" in the theater. It is becoming a must watch for me. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Alamo Drafthouse is the Only Way to See a Movie

Yesterday I really gave a poor review to "Jurassic World: Rebirth", and I stand by that. I couldn't find one thing I really liked about it. But, outside of the movie, the theater we went to was amazing, and I want to give that some shine today.

We went to see the movie at the newish Alamo DraftHouse here in Saint Louis. That was pretty much the only reason I agreed to go see that movie. I recommended we see it there in fact. I have heard a ton about the Alamo DraftHouse. A lot of the people I hear on the podcasts I listen to constantly talk about seeing movies there. My wife has to travel to Austin quite a bit for work and she has raved about the one there. I always heard about the theater, but never made my way downtown to see a movie. That changed on Sunday and I, while disliking the movie, had a great time at the theater.

When we walked in I was instantly in love with the theater. They had old school and foreign movie posters all over their walls. They put all those old posters in there amongst new movies too. For every "The Jerk" or "Napoleon Dynamite" poster, there was a poster for "Wicked For Good" or "Together". It was neat to see the movie posters from other countries for famous movies. They had what I think was a French poster for "The Jerk". There were a ton of Spanish posters for classics like "Jaws" and "Alien". They had old school American posters for movies like the aforementioned "Napoleon Dynamite" and other movies like "Big Lebowski" and "Being John Malkovich". It was cool to see all these posters plastered all over the walls. As we made our way to the theater for our movie, when we walked in I loved the setup of the theater. It wasn't like most theaters. Every seat was at the same level, but lifted the further back you go. There were no steps to get to your seat. No one had to go up or down. We were all at the same level, but we could all see the screen very well. The service was incredible. Our server had a "Threat Level Midnight" shirt on, if you know you know, and he was an absolute delight. He really helped to guide us through our first visit. After we ordered we watched the stuff on screen prior to the movie. This wasn't the typical commercials you get at every other theater. This was a curated show of everything pertaining to dinosaurs. We got old Weird Al videos from the first "Jurassic Park" movie. They showed old school cartoons that were all dinosaur related. They showed older commercials for toys from previous "Jurassic Park" movies. It was neat to see something a little different. And the food was so much better than it had to be. We got very big sodas and water to drink. My son and I had chicken tenders that were fantastic and plentiful. Our fries were very tasty. My daughter had a wood fired pepperoni pizza. She let me try the pepperonis and they were great. My wife had loaded fries and she couldn't even finish them. I saw other people order popcorn and it came in a big silver bowl and there was a ton. Someone got the churro varietal near us and I could see very mini churros mixed in. It also smelled delicious. Most theater food is run of the mill, but this was above and beyond. It seems like they care about the product they are putting out there, and I love that.

While the movie wasn't good, the theater and the product and the ambiance and experience was all great and I will definitely be back in the very near future. I now understand the hype I have heard for years in regards to the Alamo DraftHouse. It is great. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Jurassic World Rebirth"

I saw three movies this weekend, written about two that I liked, and now I'm going to talk about the one I wasn't so into.

My wife and I really love the original "Jurassic Park". It was one of my favorite movies growing up. I was obsessed with dinosaurs and seeing them "come back to life" was pretty important to me. They tried to make a few sequels that weren't so great. Although, I did find some things to enjoy in the third installment. Then Chris Pratt was tabbed to play the star in the reboot, "Jurassic World". These movies, especially the third one, were not for me. I am not the biggest Chris Pratt fan, the movies were dull, they had problematic storylines and they really phoned it in in the end. Hell, the third "Jurassic World" movie wasn't even really about dinosaurs. They decided to focus on giant mutated mosquitoes, and that was a bad, bad decision on their behalf. So, going into this new "Jurassic Park" movie, "Jurassic World: Rebirth", my expectations were very low.

And the movie delivered on those low expectations.

I told my wife after the movie was over that I actively disliked it. I couldn't find, for me, one thing that I really enjoyed. The story was slapdash and lazily put together. The direction was wonky and felt disengaged. Scarlett Johannson and Mahersela Ali are both way too good of actors to waste their time in a movie like this. It would have been better if they simply focused on Johnathan Bailey's character and just told his story. It's clear that the people behind Bailey are pushing to make him a star, and they should have given him the leeway in this movie to try out his stardom. He is already making a name for himself in "Wicked" and "Bridgerton" and this movie felt like another big shot for him. But he was not the main character, and I kind of think they should have made it all about him. But I also fully get it if you cast Johannson and Ali in a movie like this, they are going to be the leads. This was just another miss by the group making this movie.

As for the dinos, they were hideous and gross. This one, from what I can gather, was all about mutated dinosaurs, and I feel like they took that way, way too far. The D-Rex had what looked like a giant wart on the front of its head. It also had disgusting alien-like teeth that really bummed me out. I've always been a brachiosaurus guy myself, but they found a way to change these majestic creatures and gave them weird fin looking things on their necks. They also had some kind of hybrid pterodactyl-veliocraptor thing that was terrifying to see on the big screen, and not scary in a good way like the raptors in the first movie. They were gross and nasty and mean looking. I also very much dislike when an animal like a dinosaur can read human emotions and act on it. They did that far too many times in this movie. A guy threw a hammer at one, locked eyes with him and chased him down before eating him. The pterodactyl/veliocraptor thing was actively chasing down the humans in the movie. It was a total mess. And the whole family that got stranded at sea storyline was so pointless and added nothing but stress to the story.

I really do not like to sit down and bash stuff that I wish I had the audacity and intelligence to make, but this movie was very, very bad in my opinion. I do not recommend it. It does nothing to help the "Jurassic Park" movie. In fact, I'd say they may have to start all over because this was a total trainwreck. Clearly, I did not care for this movie. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "The Fantastic Four: First Steps"

My son really wanted to see the new "Fantastic Four" movie when it came out, and we took him on Saturday. All four of us went. We figured this was okay enough for our 9 year old to see, even though she's not all that interested in superhero content.

I really didn't know what to make when this movie was announced. They have tried many times to make a movie from this material, and each and every one has been pretty bad. I saw the 2005 one when it came out simply based on curiosity. Superhero movies weren't really a thing back then and I wanted to see how they would try to pull it off. It wasn't a very good movie in my opinion. It was too dull and not as fun as I wanted it to be. The story was blah and I walked away not very impressed. I did not see the sequel. I had no interest at all. I watched the 2015 version when it came to streaming and that movie is out and out bad. It had a great cast and tried to go darker, both in content and color, and it seemed to have a good story behind it. That movie was unequivocally bad. It was a truly awful movie. Then, RD had me watch the very first one that Roger Croman made in the 90's. It was rough. The movie was boring, CGI and special effects weren't close to what we have today and the actors seemed like they never wanted this movie to see the light of day. So, having all of that in my mind heading into this version may not have been the best impression.

I will say, the casting was great. I love Pedro Pascal. I don't know much about Vanessa Kirby, but I know she is a highly regarded actor. Joseph Quinn has been a star in two main things, and this movie allows his star to shine through. And I adore Eben Moss-Bachrach from "The Bear". They nailed it. And, as the movie unfolded, I found myself interested in what was going on and following along with the story. They don't explain how they got powers, we are introduced to them as superheroes that the world already loves. I liked that. We don't need the backstory. Most people already know the Fantastic Four's backstory. And the rest of the way, the movie was a delight. The action sequences were great, especially the finale. I loved the whole idea of a pregnant superhero. Seeing people adore, then get mad at, and then adore them again felt as realistic as they can make a movie like this. And Vanessa Kirby gives a truly powerhouse performance. She is, hands down, the best part of this whole movie. I believed her character arc, how she reacted when she was giving birth, her refusal to bow down to anyone and how strong and powerful she proved to be in the end. She was awesome.

Overall, this version of "The Fantastic Four" finally found a way to make this group work on screen. I enjoyed this movie. I found it very solid and a good time. I wished they weren't going to make anymore of these, but we know that is not the case. I'd prefer if they just walked away knowing that they finally did it. I recommend this movie, especially for fans of superhero stories. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Happy Gilmore 2"

I watched “Happy Gilmore 2”. Let’s discuss

I was hesitant/excited for "Happy Gilmore 2". I was hesitant because they didn't have to do this. I know that the original "Happy Gilmore" isn't a great movie, but I love it. It is my childhood. I could, and still can for that matter, almost quote that movie line for line. I have tried to show it to my kids in the past, but they don't have the same fervor for it as me, and that's okay. Back in the day my friends and I loved it. We would watch it over and over again and I feel like they nailed it. This was a perfect movie for young me and for my fandom towards Adam Sandler. I loved him on "SNL", "Billy Madison" was massive for me and now he was doing a sports movie. Never mind that it was hockey and golf, two sports I have zero interest in. This was Sandler making a big sports comedy. That was all I needed. And I adored it. I was excited because it was like they were bringing the team back together. Pretty much everyone who is still alive from the first movie is back. And if someone has passed, it was rumored there would be some kind of tribute. They were also bringing in newer faces to the franchise, and some are people I like. And they got Kyle Newachek to direct the movie, and you all know that I really love "Workaholics". So, as my wife and I sat down Friday night to watch, I was amped, but I also had my guard up.

Look, much like the first movie, "Happy Gilmore 2" isn't in the pantheon of great movies, but I really enjoyed myself while watching. This movie is a love letter to the original, and I'm fully on board with that. The new cameos were plentiful. Some worked. I thought Bad Bunny was great. Travis Kelce allowed himself to be made fun of. Eminem did a bang up job taking on a major role from the first movie. Hell, I even thought Jon Daly did a fine job. There were a few cameos I was on board with, but Sandler is nothing if not loyal to certain friends of his. The golf was just as fun this time around. I still love to see how Happy swings that driver when he's on the course. The real pro golfers in the movie knew the assignment and had fun with it. Getting Benny Safdie and Haley Joel Osment to play the villain roles was quite the coup. And Haley Joel Osment was great. And the story of an aging former pro who stepped away from the game is the perfect role for Sandler at his current age. He can dress how he wants, cast friends and family and have a damn good time making a fun movie. But the star of the movie, and scene stealer for that matter was Christopher McDonald reprising his role as Shooter McGavin. The story they told about his current whereabouts was a perfect follow up after his end in the first movie. He was funny, he seemed to love this role and he was all in on every joke and every callback to the first movie. My wife said she saw someone say they want a lone movie about him now, and I'm here for that.

I liked this movie. I had a good time. I never felt like they were taking what they did in the first movie for granted. I am usually prepared to dislike sequels, but "Happy Gilmore 2" worked for me. It was everything I wanted it to be and they never tried to make it something different. I respect that and I recommend this movie. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Eddington"

As well as seeing "Superman" last weekend, I was also able to get out and see Ari Aster's new movie "Eddington". It was a movie going kind of weekend for me. I feel like I'm paying for that now with how busy my week has been so far, and it's only Tuesday.

Anway, "Eddington" was a movie that came on my radar about two or three months ago. I like Ari Aster's movies that I've seen to this point. He makes interesting movies that can be scary, haunting and funny all at the same time. "Midsommar" kicked my butt and "Beau if Afraid" is a movie I still think about to this day. I haven't seen "Hereditary" yet, but that is only because I'm truly scared to watch it, regardless of how much people like that movie. Going into "Eddington", I was curious to see how he'd do a movie that takes place in May of 2020, right at the start of COVID and the pandemic here in America. I appreciate the fact that he wanted to make a movie about the pandemic and how it affected people differently.

"Eddington" focuses on Joaquin Phoenix's character Joe, who is a sheriff of a small town in New Mexico. Phoenix is incredible in this role. He takes this meager sheriff and turns him into a nightmare of the dark web and conspiracy theorist and someone who doesn't think before he speaks. He has a feud with the town mayor, Ted Garcia, played by Pedro Pascal. Whenever the two of them were on screen together it was this great blend of tension and anger and animosity towards one another. It's clear they each despise one another for similar reasons. Emma Stone plays Joe's wife, and she has personal issues. She is basically a homebody that thinks she always needs to rest. She has had past trauma and her doctor has told her not to get too stressed. This has turned her into a conspiracy theorist as well, and she kind of goes off the deep end. Austin Butler plays a cult leader. He has a small role in this, but man is he terrifying when he's on screen. Deirdre O'Connell plays Stone's mom, and she is as delusional as they get when it comes to COVID and conspiracy theories. Luke Grimes and Michael Ward play local cops who have different takes on protests and the pandemic. Cameron Mann and Matt Gomez Hidaka play high school grads trying to navigate life in early 2020. The cast is really good and they all do an admirable job in their roles. But make no mistake, this is Phoenix's movie. He is the star and lead here. Pascal has a big part too, but it is nothing compared to Phoenix. I feel like Phoenix and Aster have some kind of weird guy connection and they're going to see how far they can take it. So far it is working.

Like I mentioned before, the tension in the first 90 minutes of this movie is great. I would squirm and shift in my chair more than I thought necessary in that first part. I was invested in the feud and what was going to happen in the town and everyone starting their protests. Then there is a big shift that happens after a fundraiser at Pascal's house. This is where the movie kind of went off the rails for me. Don't get me wrong, I liked this movie. But this shift in tone is jarring and kind of comes out of nowhere. I feel like Aster had a really good idea and filled all of that within the first 90 minutes. But then he had to find a way to finish the movie and this is when he decided to go nuts. Some of the stuff in the last hour I still really like, but it pales in comparison with the first part of the movie. And the final 10 minutes is so depressing and so scary because it feels like what is going on today with politics, and that bums me out.

All in all I enjoyed this movie. It's the first movie that hearkens back to the pandemic in the right way so far for me. It tells that story best in my opinion. And if you're on the fence about seeing "Eddington", I say go just to see Joaquin Phoenix put on a masterclass in acting. His performance is worth the price of admission.. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Superman"

Last Monday I wrote about the alt right griping about the new "Superman" movie. I also stated how much I wanted to see the movie, even more so after all the complaining. Yesterday me and my family all went out to see it, and I really, really enjoyed my theater going experience.

I was going to like this movie from the get go. I wanted to see it, my son really wanted to see it and after seeing the "backlash", that made me more excited to see it. The movie is fun from start to finish. There isn't really a dull moment throughout. The battle scenes are fun, the villain is chewing scenery and the story is a fun and easy one to follow.

I really enjoyed the guy who played Superman. His name is David Corenswet. I didn't know much about him prior to this movie. I saw he was in "Pearl" and "Twisters", among other things. He was dynamite as Superman/Clark Kent. He had the look down pat. There were moments in the movie when he, to me, looked exactly like Christopher Reeves. It was uncanny to me. He played Superman great. He was sweet, he wanted what was best for the world. He fought injustice and he had some funny things to say throughout the movie.

Rachel Brosnahan was very good as an updated Lois Lane. I like how she questioned things and when she would get into crazy situations, like pocket universes, she acted like what was happening was nuts, because it was certifiably insane what she was seeing. I appreciate that from an actor.

I mentioned scenery chewing earlier, and Nicholas Hoult did just that as Lex Luthor, and he was awesome. He was so bad, with zero redeeming qualities, and that is exactly what I want from my villains. He was bad through and through.

My personal favorite part of the movie was the Justice Gang. Green Lantern, Hawk Girl and Mr Terrific made up the Justice Gang. Two thirds of the group did not like this name by the way. Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner/Green Lantern was my favorite thing in the whole movie. He was gruff and mean and stupid and fun as hell. He seemed to be having a great time playing this character and that really came off watching him onscreen. Isabela Merced was Hawk Girl, and while she didn't have a whole lot to do in the movie, she owned the screen time she got. She was also pretty funny with her quips. And Edi Gathegi was dynamite as Mr Terrific. He was funny, the smartest one in the Justice Gang and had the most memorable performance of any of the side characters. I am stoked for him that he is getting to do more of this super cool, and new to me superhero. I really like what he did with this performance.

As for the story, and why I guess some alt right idiots are mad, it is all about big tech and how they are ruining our world. Luthor is out for nothing but clout and fame and fortune and will stop at nothing to get it. He even tortured poor Crypto by making him chase fake squirrels. Crypto was adorable by the way, but that also doesn't mean that people should be mindlessly adopting puppies right now, especially if they can't take care of them. Anyway, Luthor is your typical tech bro who has more smarts. Superman doesn't like what he is doing in other countries or on Earth. He is just trying to keep the world a nice, and as normal a place that it can be. And all along the way he and the Justice Gang have to fight in pocket universes, help fight wars that Luthor has helped to start, fight Earth breaking into two parts, fight the past and the present and everything in between.

When we left the theater I said to my wife that I like James Gunn's direction because he knows how to make "fun movies". And that is what this "Superman" movie is, a fun, sweet superhero movie. I really liked it and am curious to see where they go with this new vision. It is off to a very promising start for me. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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"Napoleon Dynamite" is so Good Even My Kids Liked It

I adore the movie "Napoleon Dynamite". This is no secret to the people closest to me. I saw it six times in the theater. I bought it the day it came out on DVD. I had a Vote For Pedro t-shirt. My folks would gift me random bobbleheads of characters from the movie. I had a very big doll of Napoleon dancing in his Vote For Pedro shirt. Hell, I was even in a fanclub for the movie, and the only other thing I go to bat for as hard as that is Michigan football. I'm a big time fan.

I often quote the movie, and lately that has ramped up since my son is now a moody teenager. He often says things like, "GOD!", or "GEEZE!", and when he does that it gets me started. One day, while on vacation, my son told me that he wanted to watch the movie. I guess they had started it a different night, but he said he felt guilty not watching it with me. And we happened to have one night where we stayed in and we decided to watch it from start to finish. I have tried watching it with them in the room before, but it never took. They never sat down long enough to get into the movie. So, with all of us being in a one story AirBnB, the timing couldn't have been more perfect.

Going into the movie I will say I was a bit nervous how my kids would see it. My daughter decided to join us, she wanted to take a break from drawing, and this made me even more anxious. She's as tough a critic as there is in the world. As we sat down and the movie started, I was right back into the world that the writers, actors and director created over 20 years ago. That is what I love about this movie, I can turn it on at anytime and be transported back to the first time I saw it. Luckily, for me, my kids were just as into it as my wife and I were. They were laughing when we were laughing. There were some jokes that I would laugh at, and then my kids would also laugh at, and I'd ask them if they understood why I was laughing. My 13 year old, for the most part, got the jokes. My 9 year old knew some of them, but she did admit that she was laughing from time to time because I was laughing. As the movie was going on my son asked me what it was rated. I told him PG. He said that seemed right because there were no curse words and no "adult moments", which is kissing in his mind.

That was when I realized that "Napoleon Dynamite" is truly a movie for anyone and all ages. There is nothing off putting or gross about this movie. It is truly just about a few months of a school year in a few kids lives. Sure, the bullies say some odd things to Napoleon, but it never gets out of the hand. The one bully that puts his hands on Napoleon is served his commuppence when Pedro's cousins confront him. And the kids in the movie are showing how to navigate high school with people that are your true friends. I hope my kids got that out of the movie, and I think they did when I asked them what they thought when the movie was over. My daughter simply said she liked it and it was funny. She also said she liked how much I was laughing. My son had a deeper response. He said he liked that Napoleon found the right people for him, that Kip found the right person to spend his life with and that Uncle Rico seemed like he learned from his mistakes. I thought that was very well put and a very solid summation of the movie.

This viewing made me like the movie even more than I already do. It truly does stand the test of time and, in the right setting, even cool, young kids will enjoy their viewing. "Napoleon Dynamite" is a classic and I'm so happy that my kids finally got to see this wonderful movie I've been yapping about their whole lives. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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The Alt Right has Convinced Me to See "Superman"

Hello all. I'm back from vacation and I already have a bee in my bonnet about something I saw on the internet the night we returned home. Let’s discuss.

I was looking at Facebook, I'm old and I guess I want to be stressed out by nonsense, and I saw some people talking about the new "Superman" movie. For the most part the talk seemed pretty positive. Most people seem to like this movie. I was running with Kirk yesterday and he told me he really liked it. It has gotten mostly positive reviews. Then I saw Dean Cain griping about it being "woke". I laughed that off because Cain is a has been that has no lasting memory or importance to the world. But then I saw more and more of the crazy alt right complaining that this new Superman movie is too "woke".

First off, there's nothing wrong with being a woke person. I consider myself woke. I want people to be treated fairly and justly. I think billionaires are the problem in this world. I feel like people that don't like "woke" people are simply racist and have zero sympathy or empathy. I want others to be treated accordingly and properly, and if that makes me woke, I'm proud to be woke.

I think the thing that makes me the angriest about all of this, that seems to be the most pathetic thing from all of this, is that these alt right maniacs now have an issue with Superman. Superman is the prototype superhero. He is here to help everyone who is in dire need of his help. He wants things to be fair and simple and just. He is the everyman hero, the farm boy who happens to be an alien and the first person I think of whenever someone starts to talk about superheroes. This is who the alt right is mad about. This is who they are deciding they need to come after and chastise for being "woke". This is the person that they're going to lay all their anger and hate towards now. If that is who they're mad at and angry about right now, I've never been happier and feel better about being a liberal. There are so many things wrong with the alt right, but for them to go after a fictional alien superhero might be the most disturbing and pathetic thing about their cult. Who cares if James Gunn, who is a wonderful director, made a "woke" version of Superman. That is well within his rights to do. All I ever heard from former alt right friends is all about their freedom of speech. That is exactly what James Gunn is using when making this movie. It is well within his rights and will and wants to make Superman be whoever he wants him to be. The only boss that Gunn has to answer to is the people at DC that hired him to make this movie. And they seem thrilled with what he has done. Also, the maniacs that go on the internet to gripe about this movie being too "woke", they don't have to see it. They don't have to spend their money to watch it in the theaters. They are wasting their own time just so they can go out and complain about this movie, while DC and James Gunn and the cast just take their cash. I don't go to movies I don't want to see or think I will not like because of who made them. I don't waste my precious time just so I can bemoan something I don't want to even watch. It feels like the alt right just wants to complain about anything that doesn't align with their amoral and horrific beliefs.

I mentioned it before, but I'm even happier that I don't have anything to do with the alt right. It seems like a sad place to be. I feel like the alt right is just waiting to mope about anything. I hope people see what they're saying about Superman and start to realize how petty and childish the alt right can be. They are the kid who takes their ball home when they're getting beat in a game. They're the kid who was never told no until they were an adult. And now they are the kids who complain about the all American superhero being too "woke". It's stupid and childish and disturbing that this is how low the alt right will go if they disagree with something. Personally, I cannot wait to see the new "Superman" movie. I already wanted to see it but now I want to see it even more and I bet I'm going to love it. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Better Late Than Never on "Easy Rider"

I’m going on vacation next week, and since tomorrow is a holiday, this will be my last blog until I get back. What I want to leave you all with is my first experience seeing “Easy Rider”.

This movie has always been on my list of things to see, I have just never gotten around to it. Last night, at The Arkadin, they had Strange Brew, which is a very cool idea wherein the first of each month they show a cult movie. I fully understand “Easy Rider” is not a cult movie but with the 4th of July being tomorrow and how messed up the US currently is, “Easy Rider” felt like a perfect choice. I have heard a lot about this movie from my folks and my brothers. I’ve heard famous critics sing its praises. I have seen all kinds of memes and spoofs as well. Basically I know this movie without having seen it. Until last night.

First of all, this is considered a classic for good reason. This movie is incredible. From the acting to the directing to some of the things they did in the editing room, it was the first of its kind. There are so many movies since then into today that take from “Easy Rider”. From dissolve shots to lens flare to the color used in certain shots, “Easy Rider” was one of the first movies to ever do it.

“Easy Rider” is also the best, by a wide margin, of the bevy of motorcycle movies that came out in the mid to late 60’s. It has a real story that says something important and is pulled off beautifully. Peter Fonda was transcendent in his role. He had a quiet confidence about him. He knew the mission and stuck to the plan. He knew when and when not to have fun. He carried himself with an air of importance, but was never mean or cocky about it. This is one of my first experiences with Fonda as a leading man, and it was so easy to see why he was so successful for so long. Dennis Hopper pulled double duty, costarring and directing this movie. He was your typical hippy, but he was the first to play this type. He had issues with drugs and alcohol. He was mean. He was loud. He started stuff with almost everyone. But there were times that I felt for him and wanted him to be okay. He was out there just trying to live life as a free person away from the monotony of everyday life. Jack Nicholson was far and away my favorite character in the movie, and I thought it was his best performance. He’s only onscreen for about 15 minutes, but damn are those the best 15 minutes of the whole movie. I was liking the movie before he showed up, but when he got onscreen, that like flipped up love real quick. He brought humor and levity to the movie. His character, who also had issues with alcohol, had chosen a righteous path in his life’s work. He was fighting for things not many did back then. He was siesta smiling, always trying to ease the tension and knew right from wrong. What happened to him was so tragic, and when his character was killed, the movie took an even darker turn. The other actors did a fine enough job, but this movie was about these three and their mission to make it to New Orleans for Mardi Gras.

As for the story, it’s a road trip movie centered on bikes and hippies. The hippies, Fonda and Hopper, and to a lesser extent, Nicholson, are living life as free men, but some people don’t like that and they take out their anger in horrifying ways. The three try to stop and eat at a diner and leave when it gets scary. Hopper and Fonda aren’t allowed to rent hotel or motel rooms. The three men get brutally beaten, fatally in Nicholson’s case, by the patrons at the diner who forced them out. Hopper and Fonda are just simply driving their bikes back to LA, and two southern hillbillies decide to kill them because they have long hair and look like hippies. This is what is happening in our country today. People are being judged simply by looks. Only people with empathy want to get to know these guys, and the same is true today.

The host for last night said the movie might be better off being called “Hard Rider” because of the heavy tone, and I agree. It’s also disturbing how relevant it remains today. “Easy Rider” really needs to be seen by everyone for a myriad of reasons. I’m glad I can finally say that I’ve seen it and I love it. I highly recommend the movie.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Better Late Than Never on "The Matrix"

I know that it took me far too long, but I finally saw "The Matrix". And I'm talking about the original, the first one that came out a long time ago. I have had people yell at me about not seeing it for a long, long time. It was all in good fun, but still, I just never got around to watching the movie. And as time passed, I kind of forgot to watch it. That is until an in law of mine wanted me and my son to see it. We agreed on a time, and that time came last weekend.

I loved this movie. Everything about it worked for me. Even the graphics, which were very premature, worked for me. The CGI never really felt out of place or looked all that bad. When you think back to how bad some of the early CGI looked in other movies, it is an accomplishment how well the original "Matrix" was able to use it in its infancy. I also loved the story too. I like the whole idea of deciding if you want to know what is real or what is fake. I like the idea of all of us living in a matrix created by some other entity. I like how things bend and change in and out of the matrix. The whole scene where Keanu Reeves fell off the building and the ground turned to foam, that ruled. The fight scenes in the movie were off the charts as well. I could watch them over and over and over again. It was good for me to see early Keanu fight scenes since I'm such a big fan of the "John Wick" franchise. "The Matrix" showed me that he could pull it off that early in his career. From karate to all out gun and helicopter fight scenes, they were all nailed. I loved the injection of onomatopoeia sounds while they were doing karate. It made the scenes work even more, and gave it a little humor.

What really made this movie work so well was the cast and direction. This was before the Wachoski Brothers became sisters, but that doesn't matter when talking about this movie. They know how to direct sci-fi and action with the best of them. I may not have seen "The Matrix" until now, but I have seen their version of "Speed Racer" and I truly enjoy "Cloud Atlas". So, going into this movie, I had an idea of how they directed, but this has to be their best work. And that cast, man did they crush this movie. Keanu was at his best because he had little to say. When he is given little dialogue and gets to focus on the action, that is when he shines the most. And when he did have to deliver dialogue, he did great. Laurence Fishburne was dynamic in this role. I followed him every time he was on screen. I loved how he delivered his lines, and the action scenes, he absolutely crushed. I was blown away by his performance. Carrie Anne Moss was equally as great. She could've played the whole damsel in distress thing that was big at that time, but she owned it and was totally badass. I loved when she yelled at Keanu and her action scenes were the best. She was so awesome. Joey Pantaleon was smarmy and slimy as always and he does that better than most. And Hugo Weaving was simply the best in the whole movie. I loved how stone faced and mean he was, until he wasn't anymore. I found his villainous role to be one of the best I have ever seen in a movie. There were times where I actually agreed with what he was saying after his crew had kidnapped Fishburne's character. This is a role that sits above others in its greatness.

Look, I know it was my fault for not seeing this movie sooner, but I saw it. And I loved it. "The Matrix" is a classic for a reason and now I fully understand its greatness. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Wants to Watch "Eddington"

Summer movies are going to be coming out every single weekend, and I'm here for it. This is the time I allow myself to watch trailers. In fact I seek them out this time of year. I want to know what is coming out and when. I also try to find indie movies because those tend to be more my style. But lately I have been going back and watching the trailer for Ari Aster's new movie "Eddington" a bunch.

Ari Aster isn't for everyone, but his work makes me think a ton. I still think about "Beau is Afraid" and "Midsommar" a lot. Those movies were incredibly challenging and long, but I cannot seem to shake them. That, for me, is a good sign. I like that his movies sit with you and, for lack of a better word, haunt my thoughts. There is some stuff in both "Midsommar" and "Beau is Afraid" that still scare me to this day when it pops into my brain. But there is just something about this new trailer for his new movie that makes me really, really want to see it.

I think, at least right now, "Eddington" is my most anticipated summer movie. Everything about it screams what I like in movies. The cast is incredible. We've got Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, Austin Butler and Pedro Pascal, among others. Phoenix is a mad man, but his work has always been a pleasant surprise for me. Even in movies I may not like, if Phoenix is in it, I'll watch. I despise "Joker", but his performance is a good one. Stone continues to do kick ass work. I love that she is taking on challenging material time and time again. I loved "Poor Things". "Kinds of Kindness" was bizarre, but she was great. Now she is doing an Aster movie. Keep these coming from her. I have not seen "Elvis", and probably never will. But, Butler was kickass in "Dune: Part 2" and he has some new movie with Matt Smith coming out that looks rad. He is having a moment and I'm here for it. And Pedro Pascal is just awesome on and off screen. He is such a cool dude, seems like a good person and I really enjoy his tv and movie acting. He is the driving force in the trailer that makes me want to watch this movie. And then we have what I can glean of the plot in the trailer. This is clearly a movie set in early COVID times. It looks like there's political stuff going on. I have to imagine social media and influencers are going to play a big, big part. And it all seems to delve into some kind of mental break for the main character/characters. I'm all in on this movie. I am sure I will be pounding the pavement for others to see it after I see it. I believe it comes out July 18th and I'm going to do whatever I can to see it in the theaters on opening day.

Ari Aster keeps pushing limits and trying new things. With "Eddington" it looks like he is going to do that in a more mainstream movie, and that is awesome to me. And anytime I can watch a harrowing drama that takes place in the modern day, I don't know why but I find myself enthralled by that type of story and material. I can't wait to see this movie. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Friendship"

I was finally able to get out and see "Friendship" over the weekend. I had heard mixed reviews on the movie, so I decided this was one that I wanted to go to on my own. I wanted to make my own decision without anyone else telling me what they thought. Selfish? Probably. But I prefer to do it this way with a movie like this.

From the start I knew I was going to like this movie. This was all about Tim Robinson and his style of comedy. Yes, Kate Mara is in the movie and plays a pivotal role. And the same can be said with Paul Rudd, who is clearly the biggest star here. But it was clear from the jump that the people involved wanted Tim Robinson to showcase his talent. And he absolutely delivered.

The whole idea of this movie, from my viewing, is what it is like to make a friend when you're an adult. It is hard and it can be uncomfortable. This movie excels because it lets us dwell in these moments. There is a scene early on when Rudd invites Robinson over to meet him and have a conversation. Robinson ends up looking at an artifact and gets a bloody nose. And we the audience get to watch Robinson yell and scream obscenities while Rudd offers to get him a new shirt and go on an "adventure". This happens early on in the movie. And we get more and more of these throughout the whole movie. Robinson and Rudd hang out in the woods looking for mushrooms and Robinson starts to sink in quicksand. It's loud and hilarious and uncomfortable. When Robinson meets the rest of Rudd's friends, we have to sit through a very uncomfortable hang out that ends with Robinson punching Rudd in the face and then putting soap in his mouth. Every interaction between Robinson and Mara is rife with cringey moments. Robinson invites some of his buddies to be in the movie and they all have issues with his character. Whitmer Thomas' character clearly despises Robinson. Connor O'Malley and Robinson have a very heated argument where they yell at each other very loudly and it is wonderfully hilarious. Carmen Christopher has one scene, where he only has one line, yet it is memorable for how uncomfortable it makes you feel as you watch. That is how this whole movie plays out, and it is done purposefully.

When I went into the movie I just wanted to see what Robinson could do with a movie role. He didn't disappoint. And I think it is because the guy who wrote and directed it just let him do what he does best. I found myself squirming in my seat, which was the point. The crowd and I laughed heartily at every joke in the movie. I wanted to watch more and more of the movie. I was pleasantly surprised at how game Rudd was to do this type of movie.

I would recommend this movie to fans of Robinson or fans of his previous work, mainly "I Think You Should Leave". "Friendship" is like a 90 minute long "ITYSL" sketch, in all the best ways, with a bit of a darker tone. I fully feel like this movie will become a cult classic in a few years and I'm stoked I got to see it in the theaters. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Shredder Orpheus"

Last night my buddy Kirk and I went to the Arkadin for Strange Brew night. Strange Brew night is a theme night where some weird, bottom of the bin type cult movies are shown. And when I saw "bottom of the bin", I mean hidden gems. These movies are delightfully weird and low budget and perfect for a spot like the Arkadin. Last night's selection was a skateboarding movie from 1990 called "Shredder Orpheus".

The host opened by telling us a few things about the movie, and then we were on our way. "Shredder Orpheus" was low budget, featured no big time stars, was clearly made amongst friends and it was gloriously ridiculous. I was pretty much all in from the jump. "Shredder Orpheus" takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where television runs society. We have the EBN, Euthanasia Broadcasting Network, who kind of runs the world now. They try to control all the viewers and they want everyone to become zombies basically. We also have the people who live in the Gray Zone. These are the gutter punks and people who tend to do their own thing. They don't conform to modern society and they're happy about it. This is where we meet Scratch, a young kid and a former soldier, the narrator of the movie. We see the movie through their eyes at the start. The world is bad. It is gross. There's nothing to really do besides skate and play music. Scratch and the young kid are pretty good on their boards. And Scratch is one hell of a percussion player. Scratch does play the "drums" on old oil drums, but it still sounds pretty solid.

After a little backstory, we finally get introduced to Orpheus. He is the frontman of his band, The Shredders. I do want to say, I really dug the music in this movie. The music was described online as punk, but I got much more of a prog/alternative rock vibe. The guitar was rad. The drums too. I wasn't too keen on the singing, but I couldn't really hear any lyrics anyway. But the music is besides the point. Orpheus is in love with a dancer named Eurydice, and they do eventually get married. At the party after the ceremony, Eurydice is killed by some bad dudes in all white makeup. Now, some of you may be thinking that this story sounds familiar, and you're right. This is the filmmakers take on the Greek Tragedy about Orpheus. I did not know this was the case until Kirk told me before the movie. I think they did an okay enough job telling this story too. Anyway, after Eurydice dies, the movie follows the Greek Tragedy pretty well, with its own twists. The skateboarding was pretty cool in the movie when they did show it. That was my biggest critique of the movie, I wanted more skateboarding. But, when skateboarding was onscreen, it was cool. I also thought the portrayals of the Greek figures were solid. Hades and Persphonne were so odd and so wild and I really enjoyed their crazy execution onscreen. The females who couldn't believe Orpheus didn't love them were terrifying and nuts. Cerberus was horrifying and I liked that he was an elevator attendant. Orpheus' parents were solid comic relief. The people who worked for the EBN really gave it their all. But, for me, Orpheus' manager was far and away the best. He was odd, funny, loud, boisterous and made the most sense of anyone speaking in the movie. It wasn't a total surprise to me when I looked him up and saw that he has been steadily working ever since this movie, appearing in a single episode of many procedurals.

Finally, when I really thought about it, when Kirk and I talked about it afterward, this was the exact type of movie I want to see when going to the Arkadin on Strange Brew night. The host was awesome. The crowd was perfect. The setting was ideal. And now I'm going to search out more and more movies of this ilk. I really enjoy these oddities and I'm stoked to have a friend and a place to go watch this stuff. And of course I recommend seeing "Shredder Orpheus" if you can get your hands on it, or if a cool indie theater near you shows it. It has to be seen to be believed. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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I Watched "The Apple"

Over the weekend I was finally able to watch "The Apple".

As many readers of the site already know, RD is a fan of this movie. Well, maybe not a fan so much as just interested in this weird and wild idea of this movie. I had never watched it before, but believe me, RD has let me know more than my fair share of what this movie is all about, on and off the screen. He has let others know about it as well I have to assume. But, he rented out a theater for a party and the invited guests, yours truly included on that list, got to watch it on the big screen, and I have some takes to get out in the ether. RD started off by giving us all a little presentation prior to the start of the movie about the plot and its personal meeting to him. Then we were off.

First and foremost, "The Apple" is a bad movie. I think that is the agreed upon review by the masses. The movie is nonsense. The musical numbers are long and can get boring quickly. The acting is subpar at best. The writing, and even more so, the direction is truly, truly awful. For a movie who's runtime is less than 90 minutes, it felt like it was dragging for a good portion during the middle. It is kind of a slog. I just needed to get that out there. This is unequivocally a bad movie. But, I learned a few things during our screening. I think I get what RD sees in this movie that he was trying to show us.

RD went to school for theater. He has a background in stage work. He knows that world better than I ever could imagine knowing it. I now see why he has a certain affinity for this movie. The sheer audacity of the filmmakers is right up there on the screen. The dancing numbers, while long, are not too bad. Some of the songs in the movie are rad. But, in RD's eyes, it makes sense why he watches it for the direction and the set up and how they tell their story. I could hear him on Sunday talking to his buddy about the stuff on screen, and their conversation flew over my head.

I also get why this movie has achieved its cult status. I'm a humongous fan of the Tommy Wiseau movie "The Room". That has a fanbase that is so unique and rabid towards the terribleness of that movie. I can see the same thing with "The Apple". I have to imagine that musical theater kids have a weird love for this movie. I can see people recreating it or acting it out amongst friends. The vibrant colors and big set pieces are more than enough to gain a fanbase from theater kids in my opinion. So, when my kid asked me the other night "how was the movie?". That was difficult to answer at first. But then I thought about the stuff I'm writing today and I told him that I was glad to see it, but it was a bad movie. I told him I was happy to see this movie that his uncle had been telling me about for years. I finally understood, at least a little bit, why he views this movie the way he does.

So, while "The Apple" is bad through and through, I get why Rd likes it and I understand the cult status this movie has built up over the years. Watch it if you'd like. It sure is a spectacle to see. 

Want to hear more about “The Apple”. Listen to this podcast

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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Better Late than Never on "Run Lola Run"

I recently joined Letterboxd. I like the app. It is good because I can search a bunch of different posts and find movies I want to see but haven't yet. My watchlist is full of movies that I have wanted to watch and other movies that haven't come out yet. The majority of the movies I want to watch are older ones that have passed me by. There are a ton of older movies that, now that I'm older, I want to see. I have never seen a Kirosawa movie. There are a ton of Scorcese movies I've never watched due to my dislike of the movies of his I have seen. There are movies my brothers have talked about for years that I have never gotten around to. I decided to rectify that last weekend. One movie that kept popping up was "Run Lola Run".

I have heard about this movie for years. I believe RD used to talk about it a lot back in the day. I have seen "The Simpsons" episode that is a full parody of the movie. I have seen other people parody it as well. I always knew that it was about a woman running and trying to beat some kind of clock. But I have never watched it from start to finish. That all changed last Friday.

From the first shot, I was all in. This movie is totally awesome. It is one of the coolest things I've seen in a long, long time. For those that may not know, "Run Lola Run" is told in three different parts. The first is through Lola's eyes, the second is through her boyfriend's eyes, Manni, and the third is, spoiler alert, if they both made the right decision in this messed up situation. I liked every single part of this movie. The actor who played Lola was magnificent. She is so good, she owns every single moment she is on screen and, from what I read, the amount of running she was doing and how fast she was going, was a herculean task. I read that she insisted on wearing the Doc Martens her character wore. I also read that she smoked two packs a day. It doesn't show. It was rad to see. I also liked Manni. He did great work with just his face. He acted the hell out of this role, and he didn't have to say too much. What I liked most about this movie was the fate of the "common people" that Lola and Manni would run into. Another thing I liked how the movie would do almost a Polaroid picture break, and then give us some more Polaroids of what happened to these people in each scenario. It was very interesting, and had to be a new technique at the time. I also liked how the movie would switch from animation to real life. It was cool to see, and again, it had to be one of the first movies to do this. I also thought that the throughline story was pretty great. We get to see three different outcomes, and each has their own way to show what could happen. The first two are tragic, and the third is oddly comforting.

If you have never seen "Run Lola Run" I cannot recommend it enough. I'm so happy that I finally saw it myself. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.