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- John Carpenter Films Ranked: #2 – ‘Escape from L.A.’ (1996)
- Resurrection of The Venture Bros: Long Form Special Teased by Creator
- This Forgotten 80’s Dance Movie Should be Required Viewing
- Gender Identity Crisis: More Transgender Exploitation at DC
- 9 Great Gift Ideas For Any Comic Book Fanatic
| John Carpenter Films Ranked: #2 – ‘Escape from L.A.’ (1996) Posted: 30 Oct 2021 03:55 PM PDT
#2 in my ranking of John Carpenter's films.
I'm going to get so much shit for this. I mean all the shit. 100% of the shit. Oh, well. Here goes.
I love this movie. I unabashedly, unironically, and unashamedly love this movie. I think this is one of John Carpenter's best films, and I think it's a large step up from Escape from New York.
In my review for the first cinematic adventure of Snake Plissken I wrote that it was hampered by extreme budgetary constraints and some odd structural issues with its narrative, insisting that it really needed a script polish before shooting at the very least. Well, I feel like the script for Escape from L.A. is that script polish. Yes, Escape from L.A.is a beat for beat remake of Escape from New York. Snake Plissken is brought to infiltrate a city-sized prison of crazy sub-cultures in order to rescue a piece of technology held by a resident of the White House, setting up a conflict with the local warlord, meeting up with friends he lost along the way, and ultimately getting off the island to come face to face with the true nature of presidential leadership. There's even a moment where Snake is put into an impossible to survive gladiatorial gauntlet that he ends up not only surviving but getting the audience to cheer him on.
But, much like how I prefer Only Angels Have Wings to Ceiling Zero, I feel like Escape from L.A. does more with the plot points in far more interesting ways.
John Carpenter has dealt with a lot of crap from Hollywood. A lot. He worked his butt off for decades trying to make Hollywood happy with him so that he could raise money to make movies he wanted to make. By the late 80s, he seemed to give up on the studio system with a pair of independently financed films (an experience that lead to lawsuits with the independent company), and Carpenter returned to trying to work within the studio system in the early 90s. By 1996, presented with $50 million to make a sequel to his cult hit from the 80s about a Clint Eastwood impersonation breaking into and out of jail, Carpenter seemed to decide to just burn all of his bridges at once, making a deeply cynical satire of all of Hollywood.
It wasn't just Hollywood, though. Carpenter also hated Jerry Falwell, faux-revolutionaries, and pretty much all of modernity. Escape from L.A. is a work bred from hatred of a lot of things, and it is the nadir (one might say zenith) of his nihilism and cynicism, and that, once again, is centered on Kurt Russell's Snake Plissken.
The variations on this story from the earlier film is that it's not the president himself lost in the citywide prison of New York, it is the president's daughter, Utopia (A.J. Langer) lost in the citywide prison of Los Angeles. She stole a weapon from a government lab (somehow, I'm okay with this) that has the power to destroy electronic capability through satellites in orbit. It can be directed or generalized, and with threats of invasion from South and Central American countries, the president (Cliff Robertson) is determined to get it back. The president is modeled after John Carpenter's perception of Jerry Falwell, and he's president for life after predicting that earthquake that cut off Los Angeles from the mainland and a new constitutional amendment. He's a fervently Christian man who has set up a theocracy in America with morality laws that determine people's behavior with the lawbreakers being exiled to Los Angeles (or executed if they so choose).
If that were the extent of the film's satirical bent, it would rub me the wrong way, but the movie goes far beyond that opening and targets seemingly everyone. The most prominent is Hollywood itself. The twisted world of post-prison Los Angeles that Snake finds himself in is a circus of exaggerated cultures that Escape from New York had only been able to hint at. Much can be said of the substandard CGI in the film (it's bad, and it looked bad in the 90s), but most of the money in the production went into this physical creation of a post-apocalyptic Los Angeles. There's Cuervo Jones (Georges Corraface), the revolutionary leader in the city determined to lead the third world revolution against the theocratic America who also seduced Utopia into stealing the weapon for him and now has her as a trophy on his car (complete with a disco ball, just like the Duke of New York). There's the different roving gangs that Snake has to move around, and the centerpiece of imagination are the Surgical Failures led by the Surgeon General of Beverly Hills (Bruce Campbell).
One example of how L.A. does it better than New York are the comparable characters of Taslima (Valeria Golino) in the later film and the girl in the Chock Full o' Nuts (Season Hubley) in the earlier film. The girl in New York shows up very briefly, begging Snake to get her out of the city, before she's taken into a hole in the ground and disappears completely from the film. In Taslima, the later film actually takes some time to build the smallest of connections with Snake. He helps her escape the clutches of the Surgical Failures, and she even offers up a bit of backstory as she tries to help Snake in his mission. When she dies, Snake has this twinge of guilt as he holds her dead body. This moment does a fair bit for Snake's character, making him more than just a walking body of cynicism that hates everyone. He was in the opening stages of making a real connection with someone before she dies, and the brief moment shows us Snake is capable of more but also that his cynicism is a level of protection. It goes a good way of personalizing the cynicism of the movie as a whole and a way out for Snake. He could find people, good people, in the world to connect with, but the world is so messed up that it becomes impossible.
Another example of how I find more favor with L.A. than New York is the feat of strength. In New York, it was a somewhat awkward battle between an injured Snake and an opponent that probably should have overpowered him easily. Here, it's Snake on a basketball court pulling off an impossible feat of scoring ten points on a ten second shot clock. It's also completely ridiculous in a way that I find affectionate. And the scene ends with another improvement on the central idea by, instead of having the Duke of New York scurry away all of a sudden without resolving the Snake problem, Cuervo Jones trying to snipe Snake despite Snake winning. Cuervo is no pure alternative to the theocratic president. He's an awful person, not dedicated to his ideals but only his quest for power. With Utopia by his side suddenly seeing this terrible side of him she ends up functioning as a continuation of Taslima. Snake lets her go when he probably shouldn't, considering his orders.
There are still two moments where Snake gets rescued randomly, but they end up playing better even if they probably still feel too convenient. The first is when he gets picked up by Map to the Stars Eddie (Steve Buscemi) after Snake loses Cuervo for the first time. The second time is after the basketball feat when he gets lost in the sewers, coming out miraculously right next to Peter Fonda's Pipeline, ready with two surf boards and the incoming giant wave that's going to ride right next to Map to the Stars Eddie's car driving on the road next to it. It's a bit much, but the absolute gal of the film to make such a ludicrous decision is one reason I love the movie. So, yeah, the construction maintains some of my issues with the first film, but the execution is so balls to the wall out there that I admire it at the same time.
The movie embraces ridiculousness more and more as it heads towards its conclusion with Snake meeting up with Pam Grier's Carjack to get some gliders and fly to Cuervo Jones' embarkation point for the invasion of the United States where they fight from the air, steal a helicopter, and only Snake and Utopia end up making it back to the mainland.
I love this movie up to this point. It's crazy and fun, but the ending is something else. This is John Carpenter raising his middle finger to the whole world and saying, "Screw you all." This is Carpenter taking out all of his anger out on everyone he can in a movie. Russell, apparently, actually came up with the idea for the ending (getting his sole writing credit in his long career), but it was Carpenter who loved it, approved it, filmed it, and edited it in. Snake takes the EMP weapon and does the only thing someone who hated everything would do. He's sick of everyone's bull, and he's going to take out his anger out on the whole world. Is this a healthy worldview? Probably not. However, I love it as an ending. It's the sort of nihilism that you don't see in large productions for good reason. It doesn't sell well. People don't want to see it. I'm fine if they don't want to see it, but I like seeing it from time to time.
I love this movie completely. At the same time I get why it doesn't play well with most audiences. It's big and brazen in a certain kind of silliness while being completely and thoroughly nihilistic and cynical at a level that many people find unpleasant. I don't, though. This movie works at a level that I really appreciate, and I think it's massively misunderstood and underappreciated. It's one of my favorite movies Carpenter ever made.
Rating: 4/4
Originally published here. The post John Carpenter Films Ranked: #2 – 'Escape from L.A.' (1996) appeared first on Bleeding Fool.  |
| Resurrection of The Venture Bros: Long Form Special Teased by Creator Posted: 30 Oct 2021 01:40 PM PDT
As one of the longest running programs in Adult Swim history, it was devastating for fans like me when “The Venture Bros.” was canceled in September of 2020 after 17 years and seven seasons on the late-night line-up. What started off as a modern send-up of the classic cartoon “Jonny Quest” quickly became one of the funniest adult oriented animated series ever made. The cancelation was especially heartbreaking, as series creator Jackson Publick (aka Christopher McCulloch) had made it known that the team was currently writing the show’s eighth season.
Hammer recently expressed his disappointment of the show’s abrupt ending with ComicBook.com calling it “dysfunctional”:
“We have a character walking away from the Venture family, which is not the way Jackson and I think of the Ventures. There is love and family at the core of all this, and yes [it’s] dysfunctional… but love and family is a deep part of our show. And to have somebody flip his gears and just go off in search for himself… that’s not the kind of ending we would ever write. That doesn’t feel good to me.”
Then this happened yesterday…
We reported earlier this year that Adult Swim ordered a movie for “The Venture Bros.”, which will release on Blu-ray, DVD, and VOD for 90 days before jumping over to HBO Max and Adult Swim at a later date. Now Publick has announced that production on the film has begun, revealing the above photo of the second draft of the screenplay, dubbed “Long-form Special,” penned by Publick and “Venture Bros.” co-creator Doc Hammer (aka Eric Hammer).
While Season 8 was canceled indefinitely, the movie is expected to serve as a way to wrap up Team Venture’s journey and bring the popular series to a close. The official synopsis for HBO’s “The Venture Bros.” film is as follows: Doc’s latest invention will either bankrupt the Ventures or launch them to new heights, as Hank searches for himself, Dean searches for Hank, The Monarch searches for answers, and a mysterious woman from their pasts threatens to bring their entire world crashing down on them.
The Venture Bros. was one of the rare shows that evolved with the times and societal standards rather than fighting them. The early seasons of “The Venture Bros.” hstarted off a bit stiff, but it seemed like Doc Hammer and Jackson Publick allowed the show’s characters and storylines to age and grow, advancing the show’s comedic stylings in the process. Perhaps with a feature film, the show will get to be as bloody and subversive as the creators would like.
The post Resurrection of The Venture Bros: Long Form Special Teased by Creator appeared first on Bleeding Fool.  |
| This Forgotten 80’s Dance Movie Should be Required Viewing Posted: 30 Oct 2021 08:45 AM PDT
As part of my drive to collect favorite films and shows on physical media, I’ve been buying lots of compilation sets simply because it’s the cheapest way to get what I want. Instead of buying a single movie, you can often get 10 for less, and that’s what I’ve been doing. An unforeseen side effect is that a lot of the ‘extra’ movies are great.
That’s how I came to own White Nights and let me tell you, this is an incredible film. Even if you aren’t into musicals, you need to watch this because it not only demonstrates modern artistic mediocrity it also speaks lost truths about Communism.
When Hollywood Actually Had TalentIf you watch older films, one of the things that sticks out is that it uses longer, continuous cuts of film. This makes the pacing slow by our current frenetic effects-driven standards, but it allows the actors to deepen their portrayals and creates more fulfilling performances.
This is particularly true in action sequences, especially dancing. Go watch any modern dance film and you’ll see quick cut after quick cut, maybe a closeup of footwork and then a group shot. This is necessary to hide the fact that modern performers can’t dance and their choreography is a bad joke. Watching White Nights was a revelation to just how quickly our civilization has collapsed into artistic mediocrity.
The film opens with an extended modern ballet sequence that may seem bizarre (my kids were totally confused), but don’t bother yourself about its weird symbolism, just watch Mikhail Baryshnikov. The man’s physical strength and control is freakish. He is literally doing super-hero stuff in real time. Again, notice the long, continuous takes and full frame views that show you how the guy isn’t just doing one move and then resting, he’s bouncing around the set in a grueling endurance contest.
The movie is peppered with sequences like that, and Baryshnikov is ably assisted by Gregory Hines. Hines is an accomplished dancer in his own right, but his job is primarily to add dramatic strength.
One of the problems of musicals is finding a plausible way for people to break into song or dance. White Nights does this by showing actual performances and then what appear to be workout sessions. The music itself almost always has a visible source, usually Baryshnikov’s high-end tape deck.
He has great taste in music. While I never saw the movie in the theater I certainly remember the radio play of its music. Again, this was an era when world-class dancers could have films built around them and the music backing them up would dominate the pop charts. It truly belongs to a lost age.
The Ugly Racist History of CommunismThe plot of White Nights is quite simple: a Russian defector (Baryshnikov) is on tour with an international dance troupe and his plane has to make an emergency landing at a Soviet military base in Siberia. The film takes its name from the “white nights” of the arctic region where sunlight lasts almost 24 hours a day during the summer months. Upon learning Baryshnikov’s identity, the Soviets plan to have him “re-defect” in order to score a propaganda coup. He disagrees and immediately plans his escape.
The Soviets enlist Hines’ character to stop this. He plays an American who defected to the USSR as a result of his experiences in Vietnam and his belief Soviet propaganda about the anti-racist nature of Communism. This has gone down the memory hole, but a key element of Soviet propaganda was that the United States irredeemably racist and that only Communism could provide true equality. The American Communist Party was very strident in preaching this and while the Soviet Union has collapsed, the race-baiting lives on.
The supreme irony is that Communist regimes are in fact far more racist than anything in the West, and the movie powerfully highlights this. Hines escapes America’s “bigoted society” for what he thinks is a post-racial one and yet how does he end up? Endlessly playing Porgy and Bess and doing minstrel shows for white audiences.
Just as Communist China practices genocides against disfavored groups, the Soviet leadership likewise used mass deportations and planned starvation to crush non-Russian ethnic groups. Hines’ character has married his Russian translator (Isabella Rossellini in her first role), and the couple is treated with open contempt.
Hines thus has to decide if this is how he wants to live his life or if he will join Baryshnikov in an attempt to escape Communism.
The Original Cancel CultureThe core of Communism is the total subordination of the individual to the collective. Everything must flow through the state, especially art. Self-expression is therefore tightly regulated and White Nights does a great job of showing just how artists are constrained by its rules.
There is a deep irony in that many of the biggest supporters of Communism today would be the most adversely effected by its adoption. Cancel culture seems like a great thing when you are doing the canceling, but that can change very quickly. There’s a powerful scene where Hines is driven out to a rock quarry to underline the point that there are other career options than dancing open to him in the Soviet Union. Do what we say or you can break rocks until you die.
Who wouldn’t want to live under that system, right?
The film is not idealistic, and the problems of American culture are front and center. The point is not that freedom is perfect, only that it beats the known alternatives.
That message is what allows White Nights to transcend the musical/dance genre. This is a tense film, full of brooding suspicion and unexpected turns. While I’ve highlighted the dancing and artistic angle, this is truly a Cold War thriller, filled with tension and unexpected turns. Even if you have zero interest in 80s music, the fusion of tap and ballet, it’s a story worth watching. The post This Forgotten 80’s Dance Movie Should be Required Viewing appeared first on Bleeding Fool.  |
| Gender Identity Crisis: More Transgender Exploitation at DC Posted: 30 Oct 2021 06:15 AM PDT
Here’s another example of DC’s lurch into extreme LGBT propaganda announced on Remezcla, telling that a new miniseries starring the black Amazon Nubia is being exploited by leftist ideologues for the sake of distributing transsexual ideology:
Notice how they put a letter E in the word Latin, rather than say, Latina with a letter A? Is that some new propaganda tactic meant to dumb down intelligence in community descriptions, along with invalidating women of Latina background? That’s just simply awful.
And “she” isn’t a biological woman, right? Looks like what we have here is another excuse to jam in as much far-left ideology as possible into the script, and much like the case of the new, bisexual son of Superman, this too is another contradiction of the whole idea Warner Brothers doesn’t want its merchandise prospects embarrassed by ideology, which they pathetically claimed in their marketing of Batman and Catwoman. Obviously, they seem to think that, if this is all conducted within spinoff stories, they can get away with this, even though all products are affected and the ideology basically rubs off on all else. This is simply not acceptable. It additionally makes it look as though the Amazons are wrong to want their island to be a girls-only club.
And there we have another DC product with far-left ideologues helming it, proving in addition that, while they may have gotten rid of some more recent employees hired when Dan DiDio was in charge, they’re still fully intent on employing more of the same, no matter how badly it affects their overall image.
Originally published here. The post Gender Identity Crisis: More Transgender Exploitation at DC appeared first on Bleeding Fool.  |
| 9 Great Gift Ideas For Any Comic Book Fanatic Posted: 30 Oct 2021 05:30 AM PDT
Are you having a hard time looking for the perfect present for someone who loves comic books? You're in the right place. Read on and get to know more about some of the best gift ideas that the comic book fanatic in your life will surely love and appreciate.
While manga isn't completely the same as a superhero comic, manga is still a comic book. Manga offers a wide variety of stories, but is more in-depth and personal compared to the usual superhero comics. The comic book fanatic will surely appreciate it most, especially if it's the latest manga.
Today, comic books and movies go hand-in-hand. As a matter of fact, the majority of huge movie franchises started as comic books. With that in mind, if you want to give someone something that's related to comic books and movies, choose movie merchandise from such films. It could be as simple as a poster or a film cell from the original movie. Your options are limitless when it comes to this gift idea. Nevertheless, for posters with autographs from the characters, it's important to check whether they're authentic so that the receiver won't feel disappointed. To ensure that authenticity, seek help from a service provider looking at legitimate autographs.
If the receiver already owns a lot of comic books and you notice that they don't have enough storage area, help them organize their collections by getting quality book storage. No worries as there are many book storage options available out there you can choose from. And, rest assured, there's at least one that'll suit your budget and the style of the receiver. By the way, you may want to invest in book storage that has dividers as these prevent the comic books from sticking. They'll also keep the print looking crisp for an extended period, which is a must for all comic book collectors.
If you're willing to spend a considerable amount of money, you may want to get a classic or indie comic that's comic-graded. There are organizations that grade comic books. In fact, this will help in preserving them, as well as their value as time passes by. If you want to give a present that'll surely be valued in the coming years, you can never go wrong with gift ideas.
A bookmark is a must-have item for every book fanatic. If you notice that your friend, loved one, or partner folds the page to have an idea where they stopped reading, it's the perfect time to give them a bookmark. To make it more exciting and meaningful, consider personalizing it. For example, you can print their name on it or a photo of their favorite character.
Another great gift for the comic book fanatic in your life is a quality pillow book holder. The receiver will surely like it, especially if they're having a hard time holding a book while reading as it puts lots of stress on the hand. They can also read for a longer period without dealing with neck pain.
If the comic book lover in your life loves reading in the tub, and you realize that it's quite a dangerous game, consider getting a teak expandable tub tray. By giving this functional stuff, you'll be able to help someone protect their comic books while relaxing in the tub.
If they're the kind of comic book reader who loves to read while drinking a cup of freshly brewed coffee, level up their experience with the help of a temperature smart mug. Usually, this kind of mug stays hot for an hour or so, depending on what you've decided to get. You can even make it special by looking for comic-inspired designs.
Reading while leaning on the wall or stack of pillows that have a possibility to go flat can make the experience less comfortable. So, if you want to make sure that your comic book fanatic can relax while reading their favorite books, gifting them with a reading pillow is a good idea. Choose one that's sturdy and made of cozy foam. You should also check if it has an adjustable neck bolster as it can offer a slouch-busting and comfortable base, whether it's on a floor, bed, or couch.
Conclusion When it comes to gift ideas for comic book fanatics, there are actually lots of options to choose from. Every gift idea mentioned above can offer something fascinating and unique that the person you're buying for would enjoy and love. Make sure to choose one which you think suits their personality and style. The post 9 Great Gift Ideas For Any Comic Book Fanatic appeared first on Bleeding Fool.  |
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