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Sep 25, 2007

Watching movies is hard to do while driving

Not that I tried. It's just that with traversing 1500 miles across the country over two days, I didn't have much time to take in any feature films. That didn't stop me from catching a couple portions of flicks on cable or from waxing nostalgic on the Muscles from Brussels.

Whilst enjoying the lovely confines of an Amarillo (TX) Motel 6 on Saturday night (you wish your Saturday was that thrilling), I caught about half of The Last Boy Scout. Made during the limbo period of Bruce Willis' career (after Die Hard 2 and prior to Pulp Fiction), Boy Scout gets either neglected or just plain dismissed as another bad 80s style action flick, a precursor and perhaps target of the action parody Last Action Hero (it was released in 1991). Sure, it's filled with over-the-top villains and dumb one-liners, but there's a certain charm to Willis, and Wayans proves he capable of acting while bringing some of his comedy chops along the way. What can I say - I'm a sucker for it. And though I fell asleep before he appeared onscreen, I'm also a fan of Taylor Negron. Great that guy/character actor there.

Also seen in bits and pieces over the last few days is the college comedy Accepted, starring Justin Long. While not being all that funny, it has the feel of something that will pick up an audience on cable, bolstered by the appearance of the now-more-famous Jonah Hill (looking about 50 lbs. heavier as well), Lewis Black, the capable Long (in non-annoying mode, just as I like him) and George Bush lookalike Anthony Heald, who should get some credit as being the Paul Gleason (The Breakfast Club) of the 90s and 00s. Accepted isn't great, but it's fun in a PCU kind of way.

Finally, my favorite Jean-Claude Van Damme flicks, just for the hell of it. Let's all shed a tear for the fact that we don't currently have a horribly-accented Euro action star these days.

5. Hard Target - it's hard to go wrong with Lance Henriksen as your bad guy.
4. Kickboxer - wonderfully bad. And what's not to love about Tong Po?
3. Lionheart - "He's gon' kill you, Lionheart!" Also features the bizzaro/musclebound version of Troy Aikman.
2. Double Impact - Ok, they're twins...from Hong Kong. One goes to America as an infant, yet both end up with a Belgian accent. Where do they come up with this stuff. Also features...
1. Bloodsport - Bolo Yeung as one of the bad guys. Chong Li is one of the greatest movie villains of all time. Throw in a slumming Forrest Whitaker, a fresh JC and the guy who says "Oh, right, like put up your dukes." and you have one of the greatest bad action movies of all time.

(For the record, JC was dead to me after 1995's Sudden Death. As good/bad as that was (Powers Boothe!), that was the end of the line. I could not follow Van Damme on his Quest, nor could I watch him with Rob Schneider and Dennis Rodman. How sad.)


5 people have chosen wisely: on "Watching movies is hard to do while driving"

Matt said...

I too have watched my share of Van Damme movies. They've all blurred into a super van damme movie in my memory.

It's funny that you mention Accepted. I saw most of it last week and I couldn't stop thinking about the impossible logistics of running a fake college. I think I might even write a post on it.

Mandy said...

I'm glad that you didn't attempt to watch movies while you were driving...although with some of the things that people do while driving, this might not be the worst...

And in response to your comment on my blog - I'm glad to know I'm not the only one not raking in the money from my site!

Myherobobhope said...

I actually thoroughly enjoyed Accepted.

Yes, it was a bad movie, but it was an excellent bad movie.

When it is on cable, I will always give it 5 minutes (there are no great scenes, but most of the scenes are good).

As for JVCD, Bloodsport was his only good movie. I can't stand him in anything else.

Anonymous said...

VanDamme is evil, brotha

Jon Stan LamBam said...

Bloodsport is also my favorite. Although, for me, Kickboxer is a close second, simply on account of the dance scene. JCVD's smooth moves are my secret weapon when I go to the club. Breakin' it down like JCVD on the dance floor always gets me two things: tired and sweaty. And that's back at my apartment, after JCVD's moves first get me a baby-makin' partner. True story.

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