tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449435543689622165.post779221294437511183..comments2024-02-15T01:05:07.101-08:00Comments on The Smoking Pen: Hey, Kid. You Want A Toothpick?M. Hufstaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08710221415534490058noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449435543689622165.post-62890676048953395272011-10-23T10:54:26.262-07:002011-10-23T10:54:26.262-07:00Niiice! I like that "Superman" spin on i...Niiice! I like that "Superman" spin on it. "Natural born killer", "Superman", it's all different heads of the same coin. Either way, definite larger than life character falling in with reality and trying to piece the two together. <br /><br />"Anyways, he clearly would rather drive off into the sunset than play house, so it all worked out." So very true. Great assessment! Albert Brooks really was the shit, definitely underrated as hell in this movie.M. Hufstaderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08710221415534490058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449435543689622165.post-25236926452855472532011-10-19T17:29:52.600-07:002011-10-19T17:29:52.600-07:00Cool theory. Refn thinks of the character as "...Cool theory. Refn thinks of the character as "like a superhero" when he becomes the driver (initially in his moonlighting jobs) Clearly his abilities apply to killing as well, I think action is the thing. Not so good at hanging out with people though. I liked how he clicked instantly with the kid though, none of the awkward stuff there. Anyways, he clearly would rather drive off into the sunset than play house, so it all worked out. ALbert Brooks though. wow, he was awesome.INDBrenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11606473452389713844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449435543689622165.post-60538452381335565832011-10-12T14:42:04.232-07:002011-10-12T14:42:04.232-07:00@ Ventilation Shaft--Do not mess with a frowning D...@ Ventilation Shaft--Do not mess with a frowning Danny Trejo. He will fuck shit up. <br /><br />You're probably going to disown me, but I that lavish list of names only sounds vaguely familiar to me. And mostly just because I IMDBed them. Which only means I have a hell of a lot of watching to do. I'm definitely going to check out SoA, now that I have so much backing behind it! Ranting is always good for the soul, especially when something is badass enough to deserve a good rant.<br /><br />@ Thaddeus--That is a depressing thing to hear! So far, it's one of my favorite Geek shows I've seen, ever, possibly shows period. But I might just be a little too infatuated with Starbuck for my own good. Either way, I'll probably end up getting through the whole show just because I have friends that would eat me alive if I didn't--when I do, I'll definitely let you know what I think! So far, I'm barely through the first half of season 2, so I've got a lot of catching up to do. <br /><br />And honestly...I think you can rent Drive. Even though some might slaughter me for saying that. But the fact is, I only pay to see a movie in theaters if the explosions are big enough, or if there's some huge futuristic set design that demands a big screen. Otherwise, I wait, and review once the hype is over and the review is irrelevant. Drive's good, but the action is scattered about in short bursts--it'll pack just as much of a punch on a smaller screen.M. Hufstaderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08710221415534490058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449435543689622165.post-13061037278764552142011-10-09T09:18:01.008-07:002011-10-09T09:18:01.008-07:00Please, do yourself a huge favor & don't b...Please, do yourself a huge favor & don't bother watching the last 2 seasons of Battlestar. The writers got kinda dumb, repetitive, and rather full of it. If you stop at the end of S2, you can be content knowing you watched two brilliant seasons of Greek Space Tragedy with a neat cliffhanger. Everything after is like what Deniro's done to his career, & you can definitely spend your time better.<br /><br />I'll try to catch Drive soon - do you think it's something you have to catch in the theater?Thaddeushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17414047155226211676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449435543689622165.post-12876996870108688572011-10-07T13:30:29.270-07:002011-10-07T13:30:29.270-07:00"Dammit, Danny Trejo is the way to my heart. ..."Dammit, Danny Trejo is the way to my heart. Especially if they're going to be calling him Romeo."<br /><br />Romero Parada is the name. But friends call him Romeo. And he just frowned upon the Sons in the last episode. So I'm sure shit's gonna hit the fan pretty soon.<br /><br />As a sidenote, there's a number of great actors who had appeared in the series so far in supporting roles, like:<br /><br />Mitch Pileggi (Skinner from 'X Files') as Ernest Darby, the local Neo-Nazi leader.<br /><br />Tom Arnold was in a couple of eps as Georgie Caruso, a porn-star studio owner.<br /><br />Henry Rollins was AJ Weston, the street leader, of the League of American Nationalists.<br /><br />Adam Arkin (of Chicago Hope fame) as the leader of the said League.<br /><br />Drea De Matteo played Hunnam's ex-wife in the first season.<br /><br />Plus, you'll surely come to appreciate other cast members like Kim Coates, Mark Boone Junior, and especially the lead Charlie Hunnam. Ray McKinnon shines this season as the Assistant U.S. Attorney Lincoln Potter.<br /><br />Anyway, I've gone off-topic long enough, but SoA usually makes me ramble about it a lot.Shafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08941535851365874324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449435543689622165.post-27871447756522158512011-10-06T15:21:36.229-07:002011-10-06T15:21:36.229-07:00@ Melissa--Dammit, Danny Trejo is the way to my he...@ Melissa--Dammit, Danny Trejo is the way to my heart. Especially if they're going to be calling him Romeo. <br /><br />@ Ventilation Shaft--Now I really have no choice but to watch that show! I'll definitely have to catch on TV one of these days, if nothing else. I've already got a couple seasons of Battlestar Galactica to finish up on netflix (I think my inner nerd is showing...). But SoA will definitely be my new venture. <br /><br />I'm glad you like my theory about Driver! It was the only thing that really made the movie made sense to me, but maybe I'm just too literal minded to appreciate the aesthetic of silence. Then again, after seeing Bronson, I don't think Refn is one to shy away from films about men who seem to lack humanity as the average person sees it. <br /><br />But, like you said, whatever the case, the direction and cast performances were definitely what made the movie. Refn certainly took something which could've been very average and made it extraordinary.M. Hufstaderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08710221415534490058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449435543689622165.post-23748087650991392412011-10-06T08:57:33.275-07:002011-10-06T08:57:33.275-07:00First of all, I'll second Melissa's recomm...First of all, I'll second Melissa's recommendation: "Sons of Anarchy" is bar none the most badass TV series currently on air, and also brilliantly written and extremely well acted. If you have any more doubts about "SoA", don't.<br /><br />As for "Drive", saw it yesterday. I must admit your theory about Driver's personality is cool, and I haven't thought of it this way. Still, I think that screenplay-wise "Drive" was very average in character development and such. But, Winding Refn's direction and the cast's performances were impeccable!<br /><br />And that's what made the film work for me.Shafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08941535851365874324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449435543689622165.post-62172674626911507462011-10-04T21:13:46.383-07:002011-10-04T21:13:46.383-07:00You'll want to move it up on the list, I think...You'll want to move it up on the list, I think. Danny Trejo is playing a cartel captain named Romeo this season. BAMF to the hilt as always.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04443736284850057306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449435543689622165.post-37828351751327001742011-10-04T18:16:57.141-07:002011-10-04T18:16:57.141-07:00I don't mind a non-actiony action film--I'...I don't mind a non-actiony action film--I'm all for the slow pace and the way the movie takes its time. There were just certain arcs I wanted closed that were left too open to be satisfying. I'm sure they worked well in the novel it was based on (though I don't know how true-to-book it was), but moviewise I think it could've used a little assistance from Wolfe the Cleaner to take care of the loose ends. <br /><br />Ahahaha! I was wondering if someone was going to call me out on that! I just meant that his transformation to "the natural born killer Driver"--the way his speech comes quicker and how his actions suddenly have that much more conviction behind them--is the subtle bit. But you're right, cracking someone's skull under your boot is definitely a little less than subtle!M. Hufstaderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08710221415534490058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449435543689622165.post-32210027260052474912011-10-04T16:49:43.651-07:002011-10-04T16:49:43.651-07:00I actually thought that it was the "blank spa...I actually thought that it was the "blank spaces" that made this such a great film. If there had been a lot more action I feel that it would have diminished the impact of the sequences that we did get. And my word, they were explosive.<br /><br />I like the way that you use the word subtle! A claw hammer to one guy, and stomping another guys head to mush! Not what I would call subtle!filmrrusshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08242906606942840491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449435543689622165.post-56289923154933694792011-10-04T15:04:23.851-07:002011-10-04T15:04:23.851-07:00@ Melissa--I'll definitely have to check it ou...@ Melissa--I'll definitely have to check it out! It's going on the list.<br /><br />@ Dan--I wouldn't feel guilty about it, I agree with you, the title is a bit misleading. And I was really disappointed that the race car...you know. Didn't make it out of the garage. I think the little action it had was done really well, but it was a bit misleading to label him as "Driver" and then have his car not actually be that personal to him, up until the end, maybe, when he had a bit of a Western last ride with his car. Thanks for commenting!M. Hufstaderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08710221415534490058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449435543689622165.post-11691850150462990162011-10-04T14:02:24.775-07:002011-10-04T14:02:24.775-07:00I feel a little bit guilty saying that Drive neede...I feel a little bit guilty saying that Drive needed more driving. When the action comes it is tense and artfully done without shying away from the extreme violence, but that all starts to go away as soon as the characters start talking, or sighing and looking at each other. Nice review.Dan O.http://www.dtmmr.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449435543689622165.post-45813026847699063482011-10-04T10:27:28.608-07:002011-10-04T10:27:28.608-07:00The biker thing turned me off, too, but I happened...The biker thing turned me off, too, but I happened to catch a rebroadcast ep when I was sick and man I was hooked. I am continually stunned at the shit that goes down each week.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04443736284850057306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449435543689622165.post-8142997670638380922011-10-04T09:39:51.056-07:002011-10-04T09:39:51.056-07:00You're actually not the first to recommend Son...You're actually not the first to recommend Sons of Anarchy to me! I was avoiding it because...something about big, burly Hells Angels-style biker dudes just rubs me the wrong way. However, I've been told (and now confirmed by you) that the women are badfuckingass, so I'm thinking I definitely have to take a look at it. And the matriarch sounds like the shit! We need more "hard like panther" women on screen. Plus, I do love Ron Perlman's rough-like-sandpaper face. Going on the list!M. Hufstaderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08710221415534490058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449435543689622165.post-80310957996248555652011-10-04T09:29:42.826-07:002011-10-04T09:29:42.826-07:00I have got to see this movie. And as for Ron Perlm...I have got to see this movie. And as for Ron Perlman...Do you watch Sons of Anarchy? That is bar none, the baddest motherfucking show on tv. I am addicted to it. Perlman plays Clay Morrow, the ruthless leader of Samcro (Sons of Anarchy Redwood Original). It's Hamlet meets motorcycle club created by the ultimate badass screenwriter Kurt Sutter. The women in here, while they are the old ladies of the bikers, are just awesome. Especially the matriarch, Gemma Teller-Morrow. Oh. My. Fucking. God. Katey Sagal is one of the most bad ass bitches I have ever seen over forty five on screen. Make that ever, really. Her character sticks a bitch til she dies, then smokes a cigarette while some dude cuts her up into pieces to dispose of the body. You have got to watch this show. It's insanely great in my opinion.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04443736284850057306noreply@blogger.com