The One Where I Heart Manhunter, In Spite Of Its Cold, Cold Heart
“Heart beat, can you feel my heart beat, whooooaaaaaaaa.” Red 7, Heartbeat
I couldn’t believe my luck when Total Film had a 6 page Manhunter spread this month. Wait Total Film… Is that the same Total Film that has a vote for best Blog ever, and ever? Yes. It is. SO VOTE.
It’s my Dads birthday, and this would make his top 5, no question. It wouldn’t be far off mine, either.
I remember clearly going into what I think was MVC (remember those? Are they still around?) My Mum was desperately hunting for Manhunter. The name alone was enough to get a young lad into a tizzy about what that film may be about. It’s just a brilliantly evocative title. But then she dropped the bomb on me…
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 toJoe Esposito, "You're the Best" was originally written forRocky III(1982) which explains the lyric "History repeats itself". The song had been rejected in favor ofSurvivor'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.
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.
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".
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.
More 80s reviews. This time, one of my Fave films of all time...
A huge thanks to Phil from LiveForFilms.Com for letting me live the dream this week. If you'd told me after 3/4 months of setting my own Blog up, I'd be reviewing my favourite films, on my favourite movie sites... well, I'd just look look you square in the eye, and say, "Have you paid your dues? The cheque is in the mail".
"Blu Ray Has 50g Of Storage... It's Too Dangerous"
So, with a little help from a geek on Audio, I have my Elite up and running. As a gaming machine, it offers me loads of options. But crucially, I have a HDDVD player, and shed loads of movies. With them, I don't need to re-buy them on Blu. Many of them, Transformers included, are widely regarded to look better anyway.
The One Where I Hope I Never Die On A Subway For Six Hours Before Anyone Notices
I love Tom Cruise, blah, blah, blah.
This film represented a real departure for him, though. He was a bad guy, went with the grey hair. It was a departure, from what Hollywood expected. Wanted. Most actors will do anything to work with Michael Mann, though - and here, Cruise goes for the film ahead of Box Office.
The film benefits it being original. A hit man hijacks a taxi for the night, so he can take out five hits. As a premise, it's up there with Speed. A simple idea.
The One Where You All Realise War Of The Worlds Is Vastly Underrated
I've always "liked" War Of The Worlds. I always thought it was full of cool ideas. The Tripods being here all along, and "them" "riding the lightning down to earth", to pilot them. I thought Cruise was excellent. Bit of a dick, not a good Father - not by choice, but by not knowing/being allowed to try. Dakota Fanning was at her peak. I liked the fact that, as spectacular as it all was, the camera was shoulder mounted most of the time. When the army go over the hill, and launch a counter attack, the camera doesn't follow. It was a fresh approach.
Well, I don't remember the last time I saw War. It certainly wasn't on a 50" Plasma, in 7.1. And that might have changed things. This Blu transfer highlights how good the effects are. The whole film has a sense of realism, amongst the other wordly goings on. Some of the imagery works so well, in a post 9/11 world.
I think you could make a case that A.I, Minority Report and Catch Me If You Can are Spielbergs three most underrated films. When you have a resume like his, I'm sure he wont lose sleep, but A.I and MR represented the first time Spielberg merged his kiddy films, with the adult stuff. Throw in War Of The Worlds, with its obvious nods to 9/11 and you have a different Spielberg.
The One Where I Remind You Kill Bill Vol. 2 Is Underrated
Vol. 2 has an audacious opening. First we get a redux version of "Do you find me sadistic?". Then, Uma breaks the fourth wall. Direct to camera, she explains wheres she's heading, in startling black and white. The music already suggests a western. Kill Bill Vol.1, this ain't.
I remember going to see Kill Bill in Leicester Square. A guy who I worked with was equally as obsessed with Tarantino, and this was his first film in what seemed like an eternity. Uma Thurman panting over the opening credits, and that first gun shot... It blew me away. Shook me up. I'd spent my life trying to defend Tarantino movies, as not being glamorised violence, and he has the ghoul to open the film with a head shot - albeit in black and white. He makes his intentions clear from the get go. Then a jump forward, and then back, to how she got there. All in fifteen minutes. I honestly wouldn't have it any other way.
