pop culture
12/19/2006
Rocky Balboa - Old Man Fight
Clearly, with tomorrow's release of Rocky Balboa, Hollywood is telling us that there is no franchise too dead and rotting to resurrect. Movies like Rocky Balboa, Live Free or Die Hard, and Basic Instinct 2 are like a new breed of zombie film, only this time the puffy, botox-ridden movie stars are eating away at your brains in an entirely different manner- through your own nostalgia.
I've only seen one Rocky film, and it was called Rocky. It was a simple underdog story made poignant only because he lost the big match but still found self-respect and the love of a dorky pet store girl. Was it better than All The President's Men, Network and Taxi Driver which it trounced at the '77 Oscars? Hell no.However, despite my wariness of Rocky Balboa's senior citizen bout, the early press has been resoundingly positive. Not to mention, one Daily Reel contributor has been threatening to be first in line on opening day for the past 3 weeks. But will he be first in line for Rambo IV: Pearl of the Cobra when it arrives next Fall? Doubtful. I, for one, will remain in my tower with my sawed-off shotgun, ready to take these franchise zombies out at any cost.
12/13/2006
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
In the new movie, the four reptilian brothers seem to have more individualized looks than they did in prior adaptations -- where their weapon and colored eye bands where the only way to tell the characters apart. With muscles that flex and bodies that reflect their turtle roots, the “world's most fearsome fighting team” has been upgraded and redesigned to coincide with the anticipated CGI greatest.
So, with no Shredder and Splinter returning from the dead, what could we possible fear? That is, besides the devastating slaughter of childhood memories? The New Animated TMNT revival series that aired in the late 90's was horrible. And re-watching the classic men-in-fiber-blend-costume movies can be quite the let down a decade later. Case and point: I refuse to be let down by the idealized super heroes of my childhood memories again. Hopefully, the modern adaptation harnesses the surfer/frat boys within the half-shells to be as funny as the animated series.
Cowabunga, dudes! Wait, they don't say that in this trailer. Turtle Power!
