Category: Random Thoughts Series
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RamWu-Tang-es: a Pre-Mature, Barely Informed Comparison of the Ramones and Wu-Tang Clan
Part of my recent pursuits to close some serious cultural gaps (ie mostly non-white components), I’ve been dipping my toe into the world of Wu-Tang Clan. This has been done in the following ways: 1. Listening to “Enter the Wu-Tang” top to bottom on repeat 2. Reading Wikipedia-level recaps on the key players 3. Watching…
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Measuring Time with Popular Music
Or (Setting My Internal Clock to Albums) or (Alt Rock Clock) If you’re like me, you have to be in a bunch of (thrilling) meetings. The Pandemic has created a Zoom-based Office Culture, resulting in a strange push and pull between “Respecting People’s Limitations” and “Your Thing Says You’re Available.” However you slice it, there’s…
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Why Bands Breakup
I’m sitting in my backyard, blasting the Damned’s “Music For Pleasure” at full iPhone-speakers volume (you’re welcome, neighbors), considering their legacy in punk music and music in general. The songs are all a lot of loud fun, with even more grit than their already-pretty-gritty debut album. It all sounds exactly like an English punk band…
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Random Thoughts on “The Godfather, Part 2”
Yes, we’re back to this. Again and again, I keep examining these movies. What can I say that hasn’t already been said? Well, I’ll try to surprise you. Mostly because these are almost entirely nitpicks and complaints. Anyway… 1. Cazale Got Stepped Ova! No disrespect to DiNiro for winning Supporting Actor, but with hindsight it…
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“Pistol” Series Watched, Mostly Enjoyed
On a total whim — or as “total whim” as it can be for something that is almost perfectly designed to entice my eyeballs — I watched “Pistol,” the mini-series about the Sex Pistols, directed by Danny Boyle. Here are some random thoughts about that experience, shall we, won’t you, we shall. 1. Excellent Opening.…
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Oh, Man… Batman Talk Again
As luck would have it, I received a McFarland Toys version of the Joker for Christmas. It’s a really great figure, and it sparked a revisit of the 60’s series and movies. Yes — movieS, as I’m including the two animated films starring West, Ward and Newmar. But wait! The list is yet to come: …
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I Watched “Aquaman” For Some Reason!
Availability is everything. My grandfather lived his entire life in rural Illinois. However, in his later years (around the 2000’s), he once mentioned how his favorite basketball team was the Los Angeles Lakers. This seemed sacrilegious to me. He liked watching sports, sure, but I thought he favored local teams. The Bears, the Cardinals (it…
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Under the Silver Lake: WILD Theories
YES, I’m still thinking about this movie. And YES you can read more about it in prior posts here and here. And YES YES, I’m done with this intro. “Under the Silver Lake” is filled with lots of crazy conspiracy theories, puzzles and mysteries. Consequently, it has inspired viewers to look for patterns and clues…
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Heroism in ‘Under the Silver Lake’: “This MEANS Something” vs. “THIS Means Something?!”
An attempt to explain part of why this movie works is nearly impossible and easy. It either makes sense or it doesn’t.
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The 2-String Bass Project
I went down a weird Presidents of the United States trip, discovered their unique guitar set-up, and thought, “I can do that.” In a nutshell, their two guitars are hybrids. One is a three-string “guitbass,” and the other is a two-string “basitar.” And since I now own two electric guitars, with one relegated to the…
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“Vertigo” and Repeating Repetitions
I’ve been re-watching “Vertigo.” And re-rewatching, and re-re-rewatching. I’ve actually been listening to the audio, without images. With all this study, I’m not 100% certain of my opinion about it. I’m not sure I love it, or if I do, if I love it because it gives me something to think about as a film…
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Random Thoughts: “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure” Re-Watched
Possibly spawned by this ERB, I recently re-watched “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure.” Commence thoughts: 1.) It’s Aged Well. Surprisingly well. The situation is still relatable, understandable and (as far as a story based on time travel can be) straightforward. Most of the jokes still work, too, because they are character based, and most of…
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Random Thoughts: “Gotham”
Believe it or not, I watched the pilot for “Gotham.” Here are some feelings and thoughts that I came up with and then typed: 1.) Good start, then less good, and then both bad and good. But not “so bad it’s good.” Just flip flopping. I thought they handled the Wayne m-rder really well, and that kid’s scream alone…
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Lebron James Is Boring
I have never been a fan of Lebron James. I’ve always kind of found him boring, and I finally figured out why: he has no rival. He exists in a vacuum of his own talent. The only thing he ever needs to overcome (it would seem) is his own insecurity. And talent on its own…
Phillip Mottaz 