The One With CZJ

It's Valentines Day. I'll probably be made to watch a chick flick. At least if it's this one, I'll get to stare at CZJ... 

Read the review, HERE.

The One Where I Put It All In My Rear View Mirror

For Your Consideration: Bluey Of The Year?

Read The Review, HERE.

The One Where I Go Back To The Future

So, I finally got round to watching the Back To The Future box set that I was kindly given for Xmas.

It's been an 80's fest on the 50", and I make no apology for it. First Karate Kid, now this.

So what is my view?

Well, my view is the box set is £17.99 in most places now, so if you have a Blu Ray player, and like the films, why quibble?

The One Where I Pound Some Cunth

I watched Macgruber back to back when it first came out.

You know how you feel when you're the only one in on the joke?

Yeah. It was lonely. Laughing to myself. Heralding Val Kilmer as the come back king (Bad Lieutenant FTW!).

Now... JMcG has seen. And although I can't directly quote him, he essentially said...

The One Where Peter Cetera Saves Karate Kid Part II

Now, you're all sat there thinking... "Wow. Did AT deliberately go on and on (and on) about the opening of Karate Kid (1984!), because the opening of Karate Kid II is so unique?"

Well, honestly... No. I totally forgot the opening of II meant I could have skipped the original film, and saved myself 127 mins.

I wouldn't have wanted too, obviously. It's a classic. But how cool is it that the credits come up over a total recap of the first film?

I love it.

The only comparison I have is waiting at the end of Matrix Revolutions, after the credits, for the trailer for the other one. Or was it the other way around? Whatever.

We're sort of owed that start, to be fair. The freeze frame on Miyagi at the end of Karate Kid may be the worst ending of all time. (Apart from Hot Tub Time Machine. But that kind of goes with out saying.)

What I also love about Part II, (like The Godfather. You need to treat this bad boy with some respect.) is that the opening scene is more violent than anything in the first one. Yet it's a PG.

No, I don't know what that bothers me so much. So stop asking.

What did strike me during Part II, was that it was a little...gay. Now that's not a problem. I fully appreciate Top Gun is the gayest film ever, but I felt a bit uncomfortable here. Daniel is a young man. He's a little bit obsessed with Miyagi. I'm probably reading too much into the fact that he let Elizabeth Shue leave him. I would never do that. I couldn't do that. I'd go Boxing Helena on her ass.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

 Just kidding. 

*Looks at the floor, then the sky, then to the left...*

Hit the picture up there for a link to one of the greatest songs of all time. In fact it's probably in my Top 100, so lets call this #4 Woman In Chains.

So... is Karate Kid Part II better than Karate Kid? That was a rhetorical question. Of course it's not.

I like that they go to Okinowa. But the fact they go with out saying goodbye to Mrs (Ms?) Larusso makes it feel like a tag on. I know that  Elizabeth Shue was on her way to better things, but... well, couldn't they have had a break up scene? With Peter Cetera singing in the background?

I'm being churlish, but I sort of mean it. A big part of a sequel for me is the characters coming back. Otherwise it gets frustrating. Bond is forgiven for the amount of films there's been. But others, like the Lecter (Lektar?) movies annoy the hell out of me. Especially when I preferred Julianne Moore (what happened to her??). It makes me want them to remake Silence with her in it. Because we all know Jodie never bettered THIS.

If we're really honest, Peter Cetera saves Karate Kid Part II. That, and the quirky opening credits.

In between it's just a re-run of the first one. Miyagi and Daniel-san, getting close. In a bonding sort of way. (It's a PG, after all).

There's also a lot of talk about War. And how War is very bad. Very, very bad.

Thankfully, fighting is OK. And the end fight is a doozy. (Did I just say doozy? Yeah. You pulled it off. Roll with it.)

The reason I love the end fight so much is simple. The yellow outfit the dude in yellow is wearing reminds me of Big Trouble In Little China. And what could be better than that??

And really, we HAVE to finish on this. Legend. *Bows, whilst maintaining eye contact*

I've been thinking for a while I may start doing an IMDb fact thing. MC did it on his own Blog, but after that Blog rising from the ashes (for a day), it's gone (again). Seems a shame to waste it. *Raises JD to MC*

Charlie Sheen turned down the role of Daniel LaRusso

According to Joe Esposito, "You're the Best" was originally written for Rocky III (1982) which explains the lyric "History repeats itself". The song had been rejected in favor of Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger". Ironically, Survivor also performed the theme song ("The Moment Of Truth") for The Karate Kid. 


Former screenwriter Dennis Palumbo has said that he was offered the screen writing job for the film but reacted to the offer by saying he'd be "willing to do it if he (the title character, Daniel Larusso) lost the fight in the end." Palumbo explained his reasoning: "You can't have Mr. Miyagi tell him, 'It doesn't matter if you win or lose,' for 90 minutes and then have to have him win." Palumbo went on to say, "But that's because I was being a moron... Now, they made four sequels to that movie, so obviously I was wrong." (Palumbo's remarks appear in Tales from the Script (2009).)


Another little known fact, (not from IMDb). is that I don't really like Eye Of The Tiger.


And really, we HAVE to finish on this. Legend. *Bows, whilst maintaining eye contact*



Well, actually we should've ended on THIS, but whatever. Bonzai Mother Fucka. I know there were a lot of Links but you absolutely positively have to hit that last one. It may change your life.

The One Where I Sweep The Leg, Johnny

I love the 1984 version of Karate Kid, so take this with tongue firmly in cheek. I've added a lot of exclamation marks... you know... for dramatic effect!

I'm not sure if it's turning 30 in a few weeks, and feeling old and haggard, but what once seemed fresh and new, now seems like it was made years ago.

The remake hasn't helped, as you can see HERE.

I paid £7.77 for both Blueys, and JMcG was right, my collection feels a bit more complete as a result. (Certainly with the first one, anyway).

So I thought I'd do  a double bill...

The opening of Karate Kid is hilarious. For a start, when Danny leaves for his new home, the kids waving him off are half his age. Them randomly, another kid appears on the left, and shouts something at the car. I'm not sure if it's deliberate or not... Mainly because the camera is so far back. We hear Danny but don't see him for about three minutes, when he finally gets his Hero shot. Deep.

This could be a Western, really.

The mountains. The galloping score by Bill Conti. The Horses. Their battered car.

It's very... 80's.

From a Bluey point of view the picture gets much sharper when they get to California, as it's a bit scratchy to start with. You know... a bit 80's.



The music continues to amaze during the Beach scene. Including slow mo shots of Elizabeth Shue (HOT!), and close ups of hot fires. HOT! This whole damn film starts to warm up. If only Bananarama were on the soundtrack with Cool Summer. You know... to cool this film damn. Eh? Cruel Summer? I thought it was Cool Summer? Shit. Still works.

It starts to become a real "coming of age" drama. Except it's a 15. And that puzzles me. The new one, and the sequel, are PGs. Terminator has been downgraded to a 15. So what gives?

I thought about this, and can only think of one answer... hot dang, Elizabeth Shue is HOT!

Fear does not exist in this Dojo... does it?

What I love about 80's movies is the innocence. Nowadays, if Elizabeth Shue was flirting, (I wish!), and she kicked a football miles away (conveniently to the place where the Cobra Kai are!!), then just walked off... well, if it was a summer blockbuster we would call it out. Here? Here we just shrug our shoulders.

That scene literally makes no sense. Why does she boot the ball away? Then he says... "Oh, don't worry, I'll get it". Runs off. Gets his ass kicked. It is there soley to let the Cobra kai have their villainous entrance. Drinking brewskis? Whilst riding mopeds? That's crazy! They must be the bad guys! (With the greatest bike helmet ever).

My biggest frustration whilst watching the first one is I always think Peter Cetera will kick in. Patience, Daniel San.

Holy shit... look what I found! I had these figures. They were amazing!

God I miss the 80's. I saw Hot Tub Time Machine t'other day which was about the 80's. But it was rubbish. JMcG liked it so much he leant it to me. I wasn't sure how to tell him I thought it was poor. Very, very poor. So I thought I'd Blog about it. Hopefully writing about the 1984 version of Karate Kid will counteract that.

Plus it's his fault I crashed my car t'other day.

Anyway. MC gives me stick for loving the remake. When the original gets going, it's pure 80's. And that's a special thing. But lets not pretend it's ageing.

Lets not pretend it could have done with some Peter Cetera, or maybe even Chicago.

GC is doing Icon Thursday again. Todays was most Iconic movie quote. He'll probably go for something no one has ever heard of. I think we all know it's "Sweep The Leg Johnny".

Back in a min with Karate Kid II!

The One With Battle Royale

My Bluey watching so far in 2011 has consisted of classics.

I watched Apocalypse Now, and reviewed it HERE.

But on a particularly chilled out Bank Holiday Monday it was the turn of Battle Royale.

A Christmas pressie, and one of the coolest box sets ever.

There were only 10,000 made, so that meant I had to buy it immediately.

Then Ethan spilt tea on it, and I cried a bit. (True story).

The box set itself is why I would try and get hold of this. It oozes class. And it's quirky as you like.

I watched the Directors Cut, because I'm unhealthily obsessed with other versions of films, (see HERE). The start tells you the film is a 15 (!!) in Japan. Then the music booms in. I've no idea what it's called but it's the same music as PES2011 if you let the intro play out. Straight away you realise the film is a classic. The music and visuals straight away make you realise the film has its tongue firmly in cheek. And, with the subject matter, I guess it has too.

40 odd students sent to an island. Told to grab a bag, (containing supplies, and crucially a weapon), and be the last boy/girl standing.

Simple.

What would you do? Try and get off the island? Camp like Mike Cheese? ("I'm not camping everyone" being my fave quote of 2011, as The Ledgers played Black Ops... even though we were all watching MC camp!).

You can't do either of those things, because of that there neck brace. If you leave it blows up. (Demonstrated in stunning clarity here, as a girl loses her head).

You can't camp as the island is a map for the teacher, who can trigger the neck braces at any time.

So... you know... you're better off fighting.

The film is a satire, as we are told unemployment is at an all time high, and in a flashback see a teacher get stabbed by a unruly classroom.

So, this was the solution.

Now, @Sean_Boon tells me it's on for a remake, and I think the timing of that is perfect.

Imagine they focus on the hoody culture in todays schools. About how street violence is so bad, this is seen as a solution.

I think it would work brilliantly.

I had read that the picture on the DC was a bit disappointed for the scenes that had been integrated, but I thought it was fine.

This isn't one of those films, (like Apocalypse, that needs to look amazing), so much so that I watched it in the bedroom.

It is certainly a lot sharper than my old DVD copy.

I remember the day I got that. I fell in love with this film, and will always love it.

When I was doing Media at A-Level I wrote a story about how a school got taken over by rioting students, and it played out a lot like BR. I based the whole idea around best friends having to fight at the end, and the final shot was two people lying on the floor, with the gun in the middle. The camera (when it was made into a Hollywood Block Buster, obviously), panned out through the roof of the school, and the gun went off.

You never knew who fired the shot.

Hmmm... That may be due a remake rewrite too, you know...

Get hold of Battle Royale. Its a phenomenal reason as to why a lot of people continually chastise Hollywood. They just don't make 'em like they used too...

The One Where Star Wars Gets A Bluey

Tron: Legacy was when I realised I really, really wanted a 3D TV.

So you would think, with the announcement today that Star Wars is due out on Bluey in 2D only, I'd be pissed.

But nothing could be further from the truth.

They will look, and sound so good, I can't wait.

Whats interesting, is how many people are moaning already that it will be the special editions, with all the changes no one really wanted.

Does it matter? Really?

These versions versus the DVD of the old ones is not a choice at all.

The prequels will probably look worse, due to the CGI overload, but but the time I get to Sith, and see Anakin become Vadar, I'm sure I won't care.

Bring it on.

Then, in a year (or several), I'll re-buy the 3D version.

Fuck it. Life is short.

This is what HD is for, if we're honest.

It will be an event. There may even be a midnight opening somewhere. And if you can't enjoy that sort

Now... when is Indy due out?



That was an excuse to post that video, to be fair. Thanks to @DomCoke for pointing me in the direction. I'm not surprised he got Tron on the back of it. Hopefully they tack it onto the Bluey.

The One With Expendables Uncut

Best Buy have a ridiculous offer on Blu Rays at the moment.

Five for Fifty bucks.

Any chart titles. When I went in, that even included the Twilight Box Set.

This is clearly wrong. And mental.

For me, in 2010, Xmas came 9 days early...

The One Where I've Missed Cloverfield

God. How good is Cloverfield?

I'll be honest, I was a little under whelmed first time I saw it, but have grown to love it.

The use of 9/11 imagery in that opening attack is brilliant.

So real. So frightening.

When the head of the Statue Of Liberty is lobbed into the street, I'm hooked. Throw in that reveal, (what a tease), then the dust flying towards them, as the Chrysler tumbles.

A brilliant, brilliant opening.

Having just seen Monsters, it's hard to not compare.

And there are elements of Monsters that out outright lifted from Cloverfield.

But that's a compliment. And this is far more of a Friday night flick. The initial army response, then the subway attack are breathless action scenes. Unexpected. Energised.

Skyline too takes the opening party, as a chance to establish the characters.

It's the film Godzilla should have been.

What it also makes me realise, is that Matt Reeves is one to watch.

Let Me In will make my top five for the year. Easily.

The fact that a sequel to this has been announced, and the fact he wrote Under Siege 2? The guys a genius.

Has it been a while since you checked this out?

Re-visit!



Roll on Super 8, eh...?

The One Where I Get Banksy

I'd wanted to see Exit Through The Gift Shop for ages.

I have a few friends on twitter, and this one is an Artist.

An Artist I really rate, too. he did me a massive favour for my fifth wedding anniversary actually, and did three bits of art based around some of mine and Mrs Ts favourite song lyrics. And they're awesome.

Before that, he did that there Blog header. Aint it cool?

So watching this, it really struck me about how there are artists out there, always looking for that big break...

The One Where Karate Kid 2010 Would Kick Mr Miyagis Ass

The opening scene of Karate Kid (2010) is important.

One, we realise this will be a real coming of age story - especially as Jaden marks on relevant dates from his child hood.

Second, we realise that don't want to crane kick him in the face.

And after a viewing on Blu Ray, I'm staggered to say, I love his performance even more...

The One With Some Closure For "A Serbian Film"

OK. I'm done with this film.

Until after Xmas at least.

I wrote a review for Live For Films though, which got some good feedback.

I thought I'd share it.

A fellow Ledger has seen it now, too, and has chipped in... so we have MC's verdict, too.

Read both. Read neither. I understand either way.

Lets get Christmassy and vote for the best Christmas song ever, eh? *Points Top Left*

The One Where Jaqouin (sp) Is Still Here

It's odd that Inception comes out on Blu Ray Monday.

It's been my film of the year for so long, I just thought it would stay that way.

But I think I've seen a film I was even more fascinated by.

Not necessarily better. Not as revolutionary. Not as stunning on a 50", or 7.1

Just different.

The One Where Avatar Gains 18 Minutes

I'm writing this as I go, so bare with me.

I feel awful, and as GC will tell you, I never get sick.

So I skipped my Black Ops date with @KyeLani and @DiaryOfALedger, wrapped myself up, and invested 3 hours in the new Extended Cut of Avatar.

So... was it worth it?

The One Where He Is My Father

Oh my god. What a film.

Dad and I went to see this in Naples, Florida. Both movie geeks, wanting to experience an American cinema.

I'll be honest. I wanted to see Signs. But Dad. Dad knew this was going to be a classic.

The thing is, I've never really watched this film since. I have no idea why.

When I heard the Bluray had an intro by Sam Mendes with him drooling over the rain scene... how it made him realise the scene was as good as he always wanted it to be... Well. Sold.

The sound too, in 7.1 DTS, is now regarded as a demo disc by most. The power of the guns is just immense. Brilliantly portrayed.

Dad and I watched some video footage of that Florida holiday last Saturday.

2002. I proposed to Julie, my gorgeous wife.

All in, the best holiday I've ever had.

But something was missing.

My Grandad didn't come.

And Dad and I can't remember why.

He would have loved it, too.

It's a real old school film. Brilliant. Just brilliant.

Towards the end, when Michael Sullivan looks out of the window. Well, I hope for a different ending. But it has to play out like that.

Everyone has had a father, at some point. I'm not sure there is a better Father/Son movie.

Besides... Granddad would have gone NUTS at the amount of adverts we got.



"When people ask me if Michael Sullivan was a good man... I reply... He was my Father".

The One Where I Face My Demons

This face has haunted me.

I went to see Exorcist when it was re-released at the cinemas. I went with a group of mates, and we were laughing, and giggling. Everything was really, really funny.

Then, when they dropped me off, it dawned on me.

I had to walk up a long garden path. Then into a house, where I would need to sort turning the lights off.

On my own.

The One Where I Double Take Iron Man 2

I'll be honest.

I didn't enjoy Iron Man 2 as much as I did at the cinema. Either time.

I think the problem with that was that I was psyched for it at the cinema, for two major reasons.

1) I got to experience Southampton's IMAX, and freaking loved it.
2) I got to experience Waterloo's IMAX as part of the Stag, and freaking loved it.

The One Where I Try To Scream, But Whimper

I remember seeing the Total Film review for Alien Resurrection in 1997.

It was pretty scathing.

There was, however, an underwater sequence.

And I remember being wildly excited about that.

The One Where I Scream A Lil Bit At The Alien 3 Detractors

Alien 3 and I go way back.

Waaayyy back.

It all began with me buying a series of comics (Dark Horse), that in hindsight the Newsagent should never had sold me. It was full on gore.

Then in 1992, my Dad kindly took me to the Point cinema, in Bracknell. He went to see Alien 3, and I went to see California Man.

I saw Alien 3 on a pirate VHS the same night I saw Childs Play 3.

Then, on a magical Xmas morning, much to my surprise, Dad had got my a proper VHS copy of it...

Cue stomach churning...