WWE For All Mankind: The Life & Career of Mick Foley (2013)

For two hours (which flies by very quickly), we are treated to the biography of Mick Foley. One of the most hardcore wrestlers and one of the few who have reached the top of the mountain and held the WWF championship, all while becoming one of the most popular and well liked people ever.

It was a long road to get from Mick Foley, a boy with a dream to Mick Foley, WWF champion and best selling author

Early in his career, he started getting noticed for his hardcore "lay it all on the line" style of wrestling, although that's something he never really wanted specifically, very candidly he states that he got pigeonholed and it paid. He discusses his feud as (Cactus Jack) with Vader and how brutal it was and how each man wanted the feud to continue but it's implied that WCW pulled the plug  after Vader ripped off his damn ear. Shortly after that he took Cactus Jack and damn near built ECW into the hardcore paradise before heading to the WWF as Mankind and the rest is history. 

On topic rant:

I find it interesting that in these films, the subject is almost always found in the stands watching a match a some point. That's usually the match they claim inspired them into wrestle. The camera always finds them somehow. In an arena full of people. It's just weird. Like they somehow had knowledge and sat near the camera just in the case they got famous and that footage could be called on.

These are like the hardest to write about, which is why I so often don't. Sometimes they are better just seen.

The behind the scenes stuff is fascinating. Specifically in wrestling as it's really only recently been exposed, yet is still tightly controlled. It's easy to forget that wrestlers aren't just characters, they are people too, and they are doing a job, just like everyone else.

The cool part of these biographies is that you can always count on everyone involved to to speak candidly and out of character about their experiences and  there's just something about Mick Foley that draws people in. Maybe it's his confidence or his demeanor but there's something there. It draws you in and keeps you entertained. This is one of the few films that I would even recommend to non wrestling fans as it really is enjoyable. There's blood and violence, because that's the style he wrestled, but beyond that, it's a good look  into the man behind the curtain.

 

Violence? Yes
Explosions? No
Nudity? No

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Space Jam (1996)

Michael Jordan agrees to help the Looney Toons play a basketball game vs. alien slavers to determine their freedom.

After the Toons are challenged to a high stakes basketball game, the villainous Swackhammer, creates a team of ringers and steals the talent of several NBA players, ensuring his teams victory. So what do the looney tunes do? Kidnap Michael Jordan and get him to play with their squad. (duh!) Reluctant at first, he agrees when he realizes that he's the greatest player and he gets to spread his dominance all over the faces of the Monstars (especially since they were actual NBA talents and he gets off on that.) So what happens towards the end? Jordan is Jordan, wins the game in the clutch and becomes a goddamn toon in the process! Dude was a beast!

All Star Squad!!!!

• Space Jam had done what no other movie could at the time; combining the talents of three different assholes, finding a medium and adding music to create a fantastic experience.


• Michael Jordan - Hands down one of the greatest NBA players ever and no so secret asshole.


• Bill Murray- one of the greatest comedians and not so secret party crasher/sarcastic asshole.


• The Looney Tunes - great animated Comedy Team, headed by Bugs Bunny one of the most recognizable and sarcastic asshole characters in existence
• Basketball - the only sport that goes hand in hand with Michael Jordan. You could do a AA baseball movie, but fuck you, Hitler. Let's not remember that bullshit.


• The Quad. City. DJs. - have you ever rode the train?! The Muthafuckin' choo-choo train?!!

There was no way this movie could not be awesome. Failure was not an option. True, the Toon Squad had to cover for Jordan's acting inexperience but he covered for their lack of b-ball skills. Bill Murray on the other hand, took the the role of player/coach/one liner King. He was just happy to be there. Unsurprisingly, Daffy was jealous, but he stayed in his lane.

Overall, The Toon Squad did their thing. Bugs was distracted by Lola, but he managed to get his head in the game (first), and help in the victory. Plus, Bugs rapped over and killed a track. Idk how he convinced Jordan not to spit a quick 16, but he's a sarcastic winner/beat killer who also courted Jordan and is one of the most recognizable toons? You just know he got that victory bunny later.

There's also the Monstars Anthem, which as you know, is dope, but The Monstars were the bad guys. Smh.

Bugs Bunny Kills A Track:

The Monstars' Anthem:

The Space Jam: 

Violence? No
Explosions? No
Nudity? No

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Bring It On (2000)

A popular cheerleading squad is exposed as frauds after they are caught ripping off another school's routine. With the big competition approaching, the girls will have to prove they're worth all all of the accolades they've received.
 
Bring it On was The first big cheer/ dance film. Its success led to 5 sequels and almost all of the dance flicks that are out today. Thing is, all of that shit sucks and I hate it for that.

Why I like this film is simple:

Cheerleaders
Short skirts/shorts
Eliza Dushku
Gabrielle Union
Spirit Fingers!!!

For what it's worth, I enjoyed this film. Mainly because of the above, but also because they showed the amount of work that goes into their training and routines. Plus, I cannot deny the high, high comedy that is...Spirit Fingers:

Anyway, the original Bring It On is worth checking out if you're trying to find a film you can sit through with your lady or anyone that likes dance. Either way, you get to see Gabrielle Union and Eliza Dushku shake their asses.

Out of Ten? 7

Violence? No
Explosions? No
Nudity? No

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Goon (2011)

Labeled an outcast by his brainy family, a bouncer overcomes long odds to lead a team of under performing misfits to semi-pro hockey glory, beating the crap out of everything that stands in his way.

Steve Stifler stars as Doug Clatt, a man looking for his "thing" in life. After beating up an away player who came through the crowd, he is offered a spot on the home team. When he proves to be a big fish in a small pond, he is assigned to the AA league, which is essentially a step away from the pros. There, he is specifically tasked with protecting and possibly re-igniting a fallen players career.
As the fans revel in his fighting abilities, it becomes increasingly apparent that he'll have to fight the league's premier enforcer, Ross Rhea to prove his worth. After a heat like confrontation with Rhea at a local diner, the stage is officially set for their showdown.

Goon is actually pretty funny and very well put together. The sports scenes are handled without glaring issues, the comedy hits, and the writing is done so well that when Doug and Ross officially square off, their characters and fights have been built up enough to where you actually care to see who wins.


Fun fact: Stifler plays a surprisingly sensitive character. It's weird to see this type of role but it works. In a weird twist to their history, Eugene "I'll do just about anything for money. Anything" Levy plays his disapproving father.

Out of Ten? 7.5

Violence? Yes
Explosions? Of violence.
Nudity? No

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Director's Spotlight #5

Kathryn Bigelow

Kathryn Ann Bigelow (born November 27, 1951) is an American film director. Her best-known films are the cult horror film Near Dark (1987), the surfer/bank robbery action picture Point Break (1991), the science fiction/film noir Strange Days (1995), the historical/mystery film The Weight of Water (2000) and the war drama The Hurt Locker (2008). In April 2010, Bigelow was named to the Time 100 list of most influential people of the year.

Well known within the Hollywood circle, chances are you've seen a few of her films and didn't know it was her. Once the Hurt Locker was released, she became a household name.

If you haven't already, check out some of her work:

Point Break (1991) 

An FBI agent goes undercover to catch a gang of bank robbers who may be surfers.

Simply put: Johnny Utah was The Perfect Role for the Master of the "Whoa!" 

Strange Days (1995) 

A former cop turned street-hustler accidentally uncovers a police conspiracy in 1999 Los Angeles.

Hurt Locker (2010) 

Forced to play a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse in the chaos of war, an elite Army bomb squad unit must come together in a city where everyone is a potential enemy and every object could be a deadly bomb.

Blue Steel (1990)

A female rookie in the police force engages in a cat and mouse game with a pistol wielding psychopath who becomes obsessed with her.

The Embedding was disabled, so you'll have to click here to watch.

Jamie Lee Curtis is a fox!

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The Waterboy - 1998

Does anyone remember when Adam Sandler wasn't phoning it in? This was made during Sandler's "I can do any nonsense movie but I still care" phase. After watching it again, I realize that not only did he go full retard, he was fucking cats up when he was pissed.

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Stick It! - 2006

After a run-in with the law, Haley Graham is forced to return to the world from which she fled some years ago. Enrolled in an elite gymnastics program run by the legendary Burt Vickerman, Haley's rebellious attitude gives way to something that just might be called team spirit.

Haley is rebellious for no real or apparent reason. After her last fuck up, she has been court ordered to attend a gymnastics program. That bullshit rehab story ends there. It really is just an excuse to get us into the world of gymnasts. For what it's worth, that world is no joke though. Gymnasts go through hell to perfect their craft, and no lie, I've gained quite a bit of respect for gymnasts.

Gymnasts, short shorts, and very flexible girls. You really  couldn't ask for more, as a guy, you wouldn't care about the plot. Under the guise of "teen empowerment" and "sticking it to the system," this movie is a fetishist's wet dream. Hot flexible teens, feet, short shorts, abs, legs. The only thing missing was schoolgirl outfits.

Out of Ten? 6

Violence? Nope
Explosions? Nope
Nudity? Nope

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