Saturday, July 26, 2008

Possible Explanations For My Tiger Dream



The following are possible explanations for my tiger dream. Keep in mind that these are only one man's opinion. If you are seeking the opinion of more than one man, or a different man, click here. (Ha! There are none.)

Also, if you have your own opinion on what my tiger dream means, please feel free to comment on this post. Only the best opinions will be accepted! If your opinion was of objectively low-quality you will not see your opinion appear on this website.

Theory Number One

I have a giant stuffed tiger. I've had it since I was 10 or so. My grandparents got it for me at a Christmas Tree Shops.

INTERJECTION #1

Have you ever noticed that Christmas Tree Shops is actually the name of the store, not the name of all their stores? If you look at their store it says Christmas Tree Shops on it. Not Christmas Tree Shop. The store is plural.


I make nothing up.

END OF INTERJECTION #1

I was so happy when I got the stuffed tiger. It's really quite giant. I'd always wanted a giant stuffed animal as a youth, like the ones at F.A.O. Schwartz.

INTERJECTION #2

When I was a child of like 6 or 7 I had an F.A.O. Schwartz shirt that said "F A O" on it. Have you ever noticed that the letter O is kinda shaped like the letter G? I was called a fag. I never wore the shirt again.

END OF INTERJECTION #2

Maybe the tiger in the dream represents my youth, and my inability to embrace it? Maybe I'm scared of being young? When I was young all I wanted to do was be older, and not have to go to school, or be around immature people that I didn't want to be around. Maybe this tiger running around in the meadow is my youth chasing me, dying for me to embrace it. Then when it bites me, I realize youth not so bad, and I have nothing to be afraid of.

Problems With This Theory

It's kinda flimsy. I've always despised entitlement, and the concept of grown-ups. I hate respecting elders. I respect people on an individual basis. Age tells you nothing about someone. Also, I have no problems with kid stuff. I saw Kung Fu Panda, and enjoyed myself. The only things I hated about my youth were the other kids that were dicks, and school. This theory doesn't really work.

Theory Number Two

Tiger represents the random, the chaotic; that which cannot be predicted. I'm a hypochondriac, and whenever I get sick I think I've caught some sort of disease. Maybe the dream was about me embracing the fact that in life, shit happens, there is as much chaos as there is order, and that's not a bad thing; it's just a thing, and I have nothing to be scared of. Then later, when I watch a nature documentary I realize that I'm not alone, that everyone is in the same boat when it comes to chaos. It affects and effects us all, and none of us are truly alone with tragedy.

Problems With This Theory

Not much. This theory kicks ass and could very well be the message of the dream. It makes more sense than the first theory.

Theory Number Three

Tiger is a giant, hungry vagina. My wrist is my penis. The movie is a porno.

Problems With This Theory

Everything.

Okay

Submit theories of your own. Even though I'm leaning towards Theory Number Two, I'm open to other thoughts. Also, feel free to presuppose shit about me. I don't care. Make it interesting. Interesting is cooler than fact.

To Be Continued...

I Had A Dream Last Night I Was Bit By A Tiger

This is a tiger:



I had a dream last night I was bit by one.

! ! !

In my dream, I was in one of the meadows in Prospect Park. It was a sunny weekend day, and there were a lot of people around. I was with some friends but I don't remember who. You forget these kinds of things when you get bit by a tiger.



Suddenly people start screaming in the park. There's commotion afoot. I look around, and theres an orange thing running around and people in jumpsuits trying to wrangle it. It's running fast, and on all fours. It's a tiger.

People run and scream and dart every which way. The tiger is running in big spirals around the meadow. I don't know what to do or where to go. I feel like I'm stuck in the ocean and there's a crazy shark. Only it's not a crazy shark. It's a tiger.

The tiger is closer to me now and I'm running from it, but it can run faster than me and it always makes it to wherever in the meadow I run before me. It's not running after me per se, me and the tiger just want to be in the same place at the same time it seems. Anyway, now the tiger is like fifteen feet from me. It's close as shit. I back up slowly from it, and it darts at me. The people in jumpsuits can't do shit. I brace myself for the tiger coming at me and put my hands up. The tiger bites me in the wrist.

The tiger's mouth stays on my wrist, its teeth IN my wrist, for a long time. It hurts but it's not as bad as I thought it'd be. I thought my wrist would come the fuck off, but it doesn't. Also there's not really any blood. The tiger chews a bit on the wrist and then hurries off. Then the tiger comes back and does it again.

He bites my wrist again, same shit, not so bad, not that it doesn't hurt, it's just not so bad. Then the tiger runs off again and this time it's wrangled. I walk away holding my wrist, which is now bleeding slightly and swollen, and go to a movie. A movie about nature.

I'm in a movie theater with a tiger-bitten wrist watching a nature documentary when I wake up.

A FUCKING TIGER BIT ME

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Movie Review: Over The Top


Over The Top


Directed by Menahem Golan

93 min.



What Am I Doing With This Movie
I’m a Stallone fan. I think he’s a cool guy, and very good in interviews. The Q&A’s he’s done with Ain’t It Cool News are particularly great. I love or like all the Rambo and Rocky movies. Because people love ranking them, here’s my ranking:

- Rocky

- Rocky III

- Rocky II

- Rocky V

- Rocky IV

- Rambo

- Rambo: First Blood Part II

- First Blood

- Rambo III

And just for fun, I’ll rank the other series people love to rank:

- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

- Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones

- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace

And the other one:

- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

- Raiders of the Lost Ark

- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

- Being Stabbed In The Face

- Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

But back to Over The Top. Stallone + arm wrestling championship + my favorite episode of Dexter’s Laboratory parodying it to a certain extent = movie I need to see. I picked up for like $6 a while back, but never ended up watching it. I think I was working through The Wire at the time, and was too deeply engrossed in that.

What’s Good About It
- Great soundtrack, if you’re into that sorta thing. Will be excruciating for those who aren’t, but I love these kinds of 80’s soundtracks. I’m not even going to describe the soundtrack further than that, because it’ll take the fun out of hearing the first song in the movie.

- Even though this is a pretty formulaic father and son tale, there are a few twists and turns you don’t expect that make it stand out from others.

- The arm wrestling tournament is fun and exciting. I’m a sucker for tournaments in movies though, so I’m biased.

- Stallone is very good. He’s not playing a particularly deep character, but his performance really makes you feel like this guy has had a past where he’s been through some shit. The amount of his past that’s left to the imagination really puts you into the shoes of his son, making the emotional impact of this film a lot stronger.

- Really funny unintentional pedophilic undertones. Like the soundtrack, I don’t wanna ruin the moments for you, but you’ll know them when they arrive.

What’s It Lack
- The actor playing the kid isn’t that great, and the lines he’s given aren’t so hot either. It’s not distracting per se, it’s just noticeably weak.

- Some scenes toward the beginning involving the kid’s grandfather feel unnecessary and drag. Would have liked those scenes shortened, and more scenes of Stallone and the kid on the road.

What Did You Learn
- Stallone can be a good actor in things other than Rocky and Rambo. Previously, I’d only seen him in Cobra and Cliffhanger besides those, and both are pretty bad.

- The move “over the top” in arm wrestling. I can’t wait to try it out on people.

- Truckers sleep in the front seats, not on cots in the back of the truck. Weird. There’s so much space back there! Silly truckers.

What Else
If you’re in the mood for this kind of thing, you’ll enjoy yourself. I can’t see this movie exciting anyone who doesn’t already dig the premise, though.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Movie Review: Chocolate


Chocolate

Directed by Prachya Pinkaew
110 min.



What Am I Doing With This Movie
I'm a big martial arts movie fan, and I've loved Pinkaew and Tony Jaa's output so far. When I saw the trailer for this online a while back, I couldn't wait to see it. This girl was being heralded as the female Tony Jaa, and her moves seemed top notch. Found out a few days ago that the thai DVD of this was out, ordered it on ebay, and it came today.

What Are You Not Doing With This Movie
Buy this movie if you love Tony Jaa. Buy this movie if you love martial arts. Buy this movie if you love martial arts without stunt doubles or CGI or wires. Buy this movie just cause. Fuck, it's good.

What's So Good About It
Great pace, concept, and execution. Phenomenal action sequences. These guys are really devoted to their craft, and they get hurt a lot too as a result. The credits are full of what injuries occurred. I also think this is probably the best movie since Kill Bill for girls. Girls need movies where girls kick ass. There are too many movies with girls in incredibly insulting roles where they don't get to do shit but stand there while other people kick ass.

What Are You A Feminist
I'm pro people kicking ass. I think if more people kicked some ass this world would be a better place. If I went out with a girl and she punched me in the face I'd marry her and kick her in the ribs. I'm not talking about angry or evil violence, I'm talking about what's good and healthy. We'd have stronger kids than you'd ever think possible. They'd change the world and fight crime. I'd fuck and fight my wife every night and make even more kids. They'd all grow up to be great people.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Movie Review: Out For Justice


Out For Justice

Directed by John Flynn

91 min.



What Am I Doing With This Movie
Steven Seagal rules, I don’t give a fuck. People say he’s washed up, his acting sucks, and he fights wooden, but those people haven’t seen him in his prime. He was once the fucking man. I’ve seen Above The Law, Hard To Kill, and Under Siege. According to Seagalogy, my new bible, this one’s even better than those, so I picked it up for three dollars on half.com a few weeks ago, and finally got a chance to watch it last night.

What Is This Amazing Movie Holy Fuck
This is not only his best movie, but it’s definitely one of my top three favorite action movies of all time. It’s unlike any other action movie I know, and it doesn’t miss a fucking beat. Not one scene in this entire movie drags. Damn near every other line is quotable. The action is fantastic. I want to watch this movie again right now.

What I Learned From This Movie
- If you use a weapon against Seagal, it will be used against you.
- A true man solves his problems not with the entire NYPD police force at his disposal, but with an unmarked car and a shotgun.
- If Seagal says he hopes to see you again, he will see you again, and he will hurt you.
- Dogs can be kept in locked cars all night and be fine, as long as you buy two bags of 'puppy dog food' and a six-pack of seltzer and leave them unopened next to it.

What Do You Mean There’s Gotta Be Some Stuff That Sucks About It
No, nothing. I’m fucking serious, this is a great movie. I laughed and cheered throughout and I wish I could see it on a big screen so fucking badly.

What Else
Nothing else. Go see this movie right fuck now, I don’t care who you are. Anyone who doesn’t like this movie is a shit head.

Movie Review: Cannibal The Musical


Cannibal: The Musical


Directed by Trey Parker

96 min.



What Am I Doing With This Movie
I bought it for three dollars at a Gamestop back when Gamestop sold used DVD’s. Is that just a regional thing, or is that across the country? In NYC they don’t sell used DVD’s anymore. It’s a shame because you could always find cheap gems if you sifted through. Anyway, I just never ended up watching it.

What Am I Knowing About Said Movie Going In
Made in college by Trey Parker and Matt Stone. Got picked up by Troma. Gory stuff. Musical stuff.

What I Am Knowing After Said Movie Finished
There are a lot of funny jokes in this, some gut-busting. There are jokes that miss too, and parts that drag, but it was made by students on their vacations. If this were a big production, I’d be harsher on it, but I know what it’s like to work with limitations, and I’ve seen a lot of student-made crap. This is definitely not student-made crap. You can tell by watching this movie that Trey Parker and Matt Stone were brilliant way before South Park, and naturals waiting for an audience to catch up with them.

What About The Gory Stuff
I’m fully desensitized to movie gore, so I’m a bad judge on what’s gory or not, but this is Monty Python type stuff to me. Fun stuff, not scary stuff.

What About The Musical Stuff
A few of them are phenomenal, a few are forgettable. The main one will be stuck in your head forever.

What Else
Don’t be discouraged just cause this is an uneven student film. There are some truly hilarious moments in here that can’t be missed, especially if you’re a fan of Trey and Matt’s other work. Remember, this isn’t a student film by your stoner friends at Brooklyn College shot on VHS-C, this is a student film by two guys who changed animated comedy forever.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Movie Review: Defending Your Life


Defending Your LIfe


Directed by Albert Brooks

112 min.

(out of 5)

What Am I Doing With This Movie
It was on Universal HD and I DVR’d it. DVR’d movies will be getting reviews, too.

What I Know About Albert Brooks
Enough. More than skateboarding, at least. I’ve seen Lost In America (Great) The Muse (Good, underrated) Looking For Comedy in the Muslim World (Borderline passable) and I generally like his vibe.

What Is This Stuff Coming Out Of My Eyes
This movie made me cry.

What
Yes, and I don’t cry from movies often. The only movies I’ve cried during are Fall, The Brown Bunny, and 3-Iron. Never as hard as during this movie though.

What Is It That Has Caused The Eye Leak
I just got out of a relationship, and though it ended amicably and we’re still great friends, there was a lot of tragedy to it. Certain things in this movie paralleled what I'd went through, and thus struck a chord. Not even a dinky three-note power chord, I mean a fucking barred F right across the first fret; heavy and painful to the un-callused.

What About The Rest Of The Movie
It’s a very good movie. Only drags in a few spots (both during two early trial scenes) so I can’t give it the full five stars, but otherwise it’s pitch-perfect. Albert Brooks and Meryl Streep have a phenomenal chemistry.

What Are You Gonna Do Now
Continue with my life.

What You’re Not Gonna Go Keep Crying
Fuck you.

What Else Do You Have To Say For Yourself
I did my best. She did her best. We made the right decision for both of us.

What Else About The Movie I Mean Like Fun Facts Or Whatever
I dunno, Rip Torn is in it?

What I Could Have Learned That On IMDB In My Sleep
How about that Albert Brooks was born Albert Einstein?

What Dude That Is Like Seriously On Albert Brooks' IMDB
Leave me alone. I need tissues.

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Movie Review: Fruit of the Vine


Fruit of the Vine


A Super 8 Film by Coam Nichols & Rick Charmoski

Approx. 50 Min.

(out of 5)

What Am I Doing With This Movie
I did a favor for a friend who had a film released by Plexifilm, so he gave me a few Plexifilm DVD’s to repay me, and this was one of them.

What I Know About Skating
I don’t know very much about skating. Most of what I do know about it, I learned from the first few Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater games— which is to say I know names of tricks and well-known skaters, as well as what they’d look like rendered in polygons. Everything else I know is pretty much common knowledge: Tony Hawk did a ‘900’, Stacy Peralta discovered some skaters in ‘Dogtown’, the black stuff is called grip tape, etc. Now you know where I’m coming from.

What I Learned From This Movie
There are a lot of abandoned or unkempt pools in southern California in poor neighborhoods that used to be white middle class neighborhoods. Skaters sneak onto these properties, clean up the pools, and skate in them. Sometimes they don’t get caught, sometimes the owners or police get angry at the skaters, and a few times the owners are cool with them skating in the pool, because they’re polite and clean up the pool.

What’s Cool About This Movie
There’s a lot of good Super 8 footage of pool skating, and it’s a decent slice of life.

What This Movie Lacks
It’d be nice to know more about the dudes you’re watching skating, but you learn basically nothing about them. Also, it drags in parts, and could have been fleshed out a bit more. I’m assuming they were just doing what they could with the footage they had, but the pace is off. Feels unfinished. I don’t really feel any pull to watch it ever again, and if I did, I’d probably just put it on for vibe.

What Else
The catalog number is 002, so I’m assuming this is the second Plexifilm release.
They use the font Impact a lot in this movie.
Watching a skater skate a fish pond is funny.

Movies I Own But Haven't Watched Yet

The following are all movies I own, but haven't watched yet. This is usually due to:
1) Finding a particular DVD extremely cheap, knowing I'll probably like it, and purchasing it.
2) DVD's that were gifts from other people, and have put off watching just cause I forget about them.

The list my seem like a lot, but I own five or six times the amount I haven't seen. Still, I don't like that there are all these movies in my house waiting to be watched, so I'm gonna start working my way through them, and as I do, reviewing them on here.

Here's the list:
(As I watch these, I'll mark them by crossing them out)

Action
A Fistful of Dollars

Death Race 2000

Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry

Duck, You Sucker

Fire Down Below

For A Few Dollars More

The Glimmer Man

The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

Out For Justice

Over The Top

Anime
Akira


Bottle Fairy

Captain Herlock

Fighting Spirit

Human Crossing

Lupin The Third

Master Keaton

Paranoia Agent

Samurai Champloo

Sherlock Hound

Comedy
Being There

Cannibal The Musical

The Film Crew: Wild Women of Wongo

Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead

Documentary
Fruit of the Vine

Wise Old Little Boy

Drama

Interiors

Ladyhawke

Possession

September


Foreign
Aguirre, The Wrath of God

The Castle

A Chinese Odyssey: Part One

A Chinese Odyssey: Part Two

Christo & Jeanne-Claude: Christo in Paris

Christo & Jeanne-Claude: Islands

Christo & Jeanne-Claude: Running Fence

Christo & Jeanne-Claude: Umbrellas

Cobra Verde

Code Unknown

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge

The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser

Even Dwarfs Started Small

Fata Morgana

Fight Back To School 2

Fight Back To School 3

Fist of Fury 1991

Fitzcarraldo

Hard Boiled

The Killer

Lawyer Lawyer

Legend of the Black Scorpion

Lessons of Darkness

Little Dieter Needs To Fly

The Lucky Guy

My Best Fiend

My Hero

Nosferatu: Phantom Der Nacht

The Piano Teacher

Return of the Sister Street Fighter

Romper Stomper

Royal Tramp 1

Royal Tramp 2

Sister Street Fighter: Fifth Level Fist

Sister Street Fighter: Hanging By A Thread

Sixty Million Dollar Man

Stroszek

Tricky Master

Woyczek

Horror
Ghost Chase

Jack Frost

Night of the Comet

Puppet Master 3-8

Slime City

Song of the South

Sci-Fi
Alien Nation

Captain America

Fantastic Four (Original)

Stargate

TV Series
Adventures of Brisco County Jr.

Alien Nation

Angel
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Doctor Who: Tomb of the Cybermen

Doctor Who: Green Death

Doctor Who: Androids of Tara

Doctor Who: Power of Kroll

Doctor Who: Armageddon Factor

Doogie Howser M.D.
Joe 90

Kids of Degrassi Street

Kung Fu

The Prisoner
Rocky & Bullwinkle
The Secret Service
Terrahawks

Time Slip

Ultraman