Sunday, March 11, 2012

Sunday rambling

I've touched on this before, but after getting dragged to "The Lorax" today (and no, I didn't like it. The 1971 book, or 1972 TV cartoon, were far better and more to-the-point) I noticed the same issue.

When I was in high school Quiet Riot released a cover version of Slade's "Cum On Feel the Noize" that was a smash hit. It also got censored (at least where written displays of its title were shown) because of the first word's spelling. So in stores you'd see the single (yes, folks, 45 rpm) with an attached piece of paper saying "Come" partially covering the name.

And today, where is this obscenely-spelled piece of music being used? In a movie trailer for "The Pirates! Band of Misfits" a children's claymation film cumming, I mean coming, out this Spring.

In another preview was the less controversial (unless you're Harold Camping), but still very 80's, REM song "It's the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine)" being used in the trailer for "Ice Age 4: Continental Drift".

So, the take home messages from the movie today are:

1. Any book that takes less than 20 minutes to read is unlikely to be made into a decent movie. They simply have to add WAY too much extraneous material. And this usually includes a few musical numbers.

2. The 80's will never die. Music, leg warmers, and all.
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13 comments:

  1. Not HouseMarch 11, 2012 at 7:35 PM

    I respectfully disagree - Where The Wild Things are is a book you can read in about 3 minutes, but was made into an excellent movie.

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  2. Grumpy, M.D.March 11, 2012 at 7:38 PM

    I must admit, I didn't see that one.

    Generally I try to avoid movies that are "based on the beloved childrens' classic" but today I didn't have a choice.

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  3. Slave to ungrateful lawyersMarch 11, 2012 at 9:25 PM

    Not to be devil's advocate, but what about the original "The Grinch"?

    And I agree - the 80s will never die, but as a child of the 80s, I don't exactly consider that to be a bad thing ;o)

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  4. A Fellow Gen XerMarch 11, 2012 at 9:53 PM

    Remember how annoyed we used to get 20 years ago when the baby boomers were running everything and all the pop culture references were about the '60s? Now WE'RE them.

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  5. AnonymousMarch 11, 2012 at 9:54 PM

    You obviously haven't seen the porn version of "Pat the Bunny."

    ReplyDelete
  6. The Plaid CowMarch 11, 2012 at 10:17 PM

    The Polar Express is one of my favorite Christmas movies, and with the exception of drinking hot chocolate on a train ride to the north pole to get the first gift of Christmas from Santa, the rest of the plot was new to the movie.

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  7. A Doc 2 BeMarch 11, 2012 at 10:40 PM

    BIG hair!!!

    80's 4-ever!

    ReplyDelete
  8. ronstewMarch 11, 2012 at 10:59 PM

    But Slave, they had to pad The Grinch to make it last 26 minutes.

    Cow, I love The Polar Express movie - but I have not read the book.

    Doc, the ads for The Lorax said that it came from the people behind Despicable Me. I greatly enjoyed that one. Did you see it, and do they compare?

    Long live 80s music. The best music is what was popular at your college when you were an undergrad.

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  9. Men Without HatsMarch 12, 2012 at 2:06 AM

    Oh, yeah, you thought you were through having to hear "The Safety Dance?" Suck it, beeyotches!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Alex DreamzMarch 12, 2012 at 2:48 AM

    Unfortunately, I'll have to agree on the immortality of the '80's.... Thursday night at the local casino, I was "blessed" with the sight of 2 women (thankfully, much younger than this 1988 high school grad) - woman #1 wearing skintight leggings, poofy leopard print top, knee high boots, and a trailing ends headscarf that didn't have a chance in hell of containing her 3 foot wide 'do. #2 had a more retro '60's look - tight faded jeans, some kind of striped top that just screamed "hippy" (but in an 80's kind of way I can't explain) and the same scarf/big hair thing her friend was toting. MY friend and I never did figure out where the time machine portal was located.
    About the only positive thing I can add here - at least Miss Spandex DID have the bod for the look - eg, nice legs and butt, not the size 12X that makes me want to gouge my eyes out.

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  11. AnonymousMarch 12, 2012 at 4:55 AM

    I was stunned the day I realized that Fisher Price was using Iggy Pop's "Real Wild Child" in their Big Wheels commercial. My boyfriend helpfully pointed out it was to catch parents' interest. He said "You know people our age are the key age to have children so they play stuff that appeals to them."
    That can't possibly be right, I'm way to young to have children.

    ReplyDelete
  12. staceyMarch 12, 2012 at 3:48 PM

    Everyone thinks their past is Perfect...
    http://southgeek.blogspot.com/2012/02/past-perfect.html

    ReplyDelete
  13. AnonymousMarch 14, 2012 at 1:56 PM

    Censored, not censured.

    ReplyDelete

So wadda you think?