Pop Culture Roundup 3

On the right of this blog is an Amazon affiliate banner. Yes, it’s an affiliate link, but it’s also a little list of the things I’ve been watching at any given time, like a lazy, non-personal journal. It’s over that way ======>

But, I also like to occasionally talk about what I’ve seen, and so here’s some of the stuff I’ve watched over the last few weeks:

Things I hadn’t seen before:

The Fog
I hadn’t seen this 1980s John Carpenter horror movie before. I thought the fog was the actual thing that killed you but I learned that you shouldn’t make those kinds of judgements about movies called “The Fog.” Helpful tip you would think most people would know but didn’t in this movie: if, after midnight, someone shows up at your door and eerily and creepily loudly and slowly rhythmically knocks on your door with what sounds like a large metal object – DO NOT ANSWER YOUR DOOR.

Homeland
Wow. Have any of y’all seen this show? I didn’t really know much about it before I started watching it other than everyone said it was really good. It was really good. I don’t want to spoil anything about the show so the only comment I’ll make on it is that I keep wanting to call it “Homeland Fries.” That comment has nothing to do with anything, don’t worry.

Things I re-watched:

Groundhog Day
Our local movie theater recently had a little film festival with classic comedies. This was one of them. I’ve seen this movie many, many times. It is a practically perfect movie. It survives having Andie MacDowell in it. I’m glad this movie exists, because if it ever happens to me in real life, I will have the advantage of being able to explain it to my loved ones. “Groundhog Day is happening to ME!” Much easier than for Phil Connors.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Discussion: Ferris Bueller is a bit of an asshole – yes or no? I love this movie. This may shock all of you, but I’m much more of a Cameron than a Ferris, so I often roll my eyes at Ferris’ shenanigans and think he’s kind of a jackass. My favorite character is Grace, Principal Rooney’s assistant.

The Jerk
This is one of my favorite movies. I don’t understand people who don’t like this movie. We got to see it in the theater and here’s something I never noticed: the guy that gives Navin his first hitchhike ride is Rob Reiner. I don’t know how I’ve missed that all these years. So many useable quotes from this movie. One of my favorites: “You know, you can tell so much about a person from the way they live. Just looking around here I can tell…you’re a genuinely dirty person.”

Have you seen anything good lately?

24 thoughts on “Pop Culture Roundup 3”

  1. I haven’t seen a “new” movie in forever, but “The Jerk?” Classic. Most Steve Martin stuff is, although I haven’t seen that one in awhile.

  2. The Jerk is one of my favs too (along with The Man With Two Brains). But so many great lines from the Jerk:

    “The new phone book’s here! The new phone book’s here!”
    “He hates these cans. Stay away from the cans!”
    “Damn these glasses.” – “Yes sir. I damn thee.”

    And there’s so many more. Actually, is there any non-quote worthy dialog in that movie?

    1. I’m not sure there is. Even the smallest lines are great. I love: “How did you find me?” – “I don’t know, this is the first place we looked.”

      Whenever we see a blowhard getting interviewed on TV we always say, “Who is….Navin Johnson?”

  3. All of those movies are particularly wonderful comedic classic masterpieces. And I so agree with every single thing you said about FBDO. Totally concur.

    Ahh, the Jerk. “I don’t need anything but this chair. This chair and this lamp. I don’t need anything but this chair, this lamp and this . . . ashtray.” That is my favorite scene in a movie full of excellent scenes.

    And I hated Groundhog day the first time I saw it. Almost couldn’t sit through it. Then I watched it again and thought it was hysterical. Same with Austin Powers. I turned it off a quarter way through. Then I watched it again later and loved it. I think it depends on my mood at the time whether I enjoy stupid comedy.

    1. I think Groundhog Day is actually less stupid than one thinks it will be – that can throw you for a loop, too. He actually learns lessons, which I usually hate in comedies, but this movie is a perfect example of how to do that right.

      I think I’m always in the mood for stupid comedies. I’m rarely ever in the mood for dramatic period pieces (that don’t involve murder) and quiet dramas.

  4. I’m going to admit something here that I have never told anyone: I have never seen The Jerk in its entirety. And now it’s on my list because I feel woefully inadequate.

    Mostly I’m Cameron, but sometimes I can be a Ferris.

    I learned a life lesson from the new Muppet Movie. For real. I don’t have a tv. The end.

      1. Me too! It’s the part where Walter says something like, “it’s easy to believe in others. The hard part is believing in yourself.”

        No shit. That straight up made me cry and is the whole reason I bought a junk store.

  5. When The Fog came out the people in London must have been terrified. I think in the Stephen King “The Mist” it was the mist that killed you… like turned you inside out or something…

    Love all the others too!

    1. I’ve seen the movie “The Mist,” and that one also brings the things that get you. That movie has probably one of the top three most depressing endings I’ve ever seen.

      But I’m sure there must be an “it touches you and that’s it” fog/mist movie out there somewhere.

  6. You have great taste in film if I may say so! I’ve not seen The Fog, but now I think I want to. I’m not a huge fan of that genre, but you make it sound kind of exciting. And isn’t the knock on the door thing almost a classic “meme” in those flicks? Seriously, how many times do we have to watch bad stuff happen before people STOP ANSWERING THE DOOR!

    Groundhog Day is one of my favorites, as is Bill Murray. The Jerk, priceless comedy, and Steve Martin is one of the most amazing entertainers EVER. I almost don’t think of him as an simply actor anymore, now that I’ve read his writing and become a fan of his music. But I’ve enjoyed pretty much all of his movies. I’m with Misty on the fave scene. When he starts picking up all those things I just lose it.

    Bueller? Bueller? Yeah, he’s an asshole, but aren’t a lot of high-school kids? 😉 I proabably was. I didn’t quite do ALL the sneaky stuff he did when I was 17-18, but I definitely had the administration, as well as all the parents, snowed into believing I was a Golden Boy, all the while I skipped classes and smoked cigarettes and drank till I pucked on the weekends with the best of them! lol

    1. Steve Martin is brilliant. He’s smart, funny, thoughtful, and willing to be ridiculous. I loved his autobiography Born Standing Up. He’s one of my most favorite people ever.

      I love all the things in Ferris about how much people love him. On the big screen we noticed in the last scenes where the parents are going up to his room to check on him, the entire house is crammed with flowers. Those little things really make that movie.

  7. THe Fog has Adrienne Barbeau. I rest my case.

    I have a hard time explaining to anyone under the age of 35 that Steve Martin was funny, once. The Jerk is terrific. I’d start quoting lines but then you’d block me or ignore me.

    I just watched Beetlejuice with the kids. I forgot that Michael Keaton was once funny.

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