Well, I dunno how much of an authority I am on movies, television, or music. But they are all something I love. I love to go home and put on an album, or put on a movie, or watch one of my favourite TV shows. And I know what you’re thinking, like how lonely is that? But I don’t always listen or watch alone. Sometimes I’ll have a friend over because I wanna watch a show or movie or share an album or song with them. Since I obviously can’t be friends with all of you, and can’t have all of you over, I figured maybe I’ll try and share these things with you by informing you on them and why you might like them. So why are you gunna care what I think about these things? Well, I can’t give you a whole slew of reasons, but I’ll tell you this:
I own over 80 seasons of TV shows on DVD. I keep them around because I love TV shows and I love watching some of these shows with people. Sharing shows that are long since canceled, or may be on channels none of us actually get. I also don’t just love only one kind of show. I love comedies, sure, but I also love some of the good dramas, or action shows, or cartoons even. I am very eclectic in my tastes. Some of the shows I love are cartoons from when I was a kid, but just because a show is a cartoon, doesn’t mean it’s not a good show.
I own over 150 movies on DVD, and countless VHS tapes. I love watching movies. Now, I’m not gunna claim to be some movie expert. I’m sure there’s amazing movies out there by directors whose names I can’t pronounce that I have never seen. I couldn’t tell you Jean Renoir’s best movie. I’m no expert. But I do love movies. I try and find a new movie to watch alot of the time, but there’s some movies I own that again, I love to share with friends, or just watch myself over and over.
I own like 200+ albums vinyl. I LOVE vinyl. I love the warm sound of it. It isn’t ones and zeros and compression on a disc. It is grooves, it’s all analogue. It sounds real. I love vinyl. Now, I mainly love classic rock and progressive rock, but my taste in music is even more eclectic than my taste in movies. It’ll sound crazy because I love rock, but I also love disco. I don’t love what it did to rock, but you’ll have to keep reading to find out what I like and don’t. But I’m not just an outdated dinosaur. There is a lot of new music that is pretty good, and I’ll try and mention it when I can.
So the other thing I guess you might be wondering is who is this guy? Is it a guy, or just some unlucky lady with a beard? Well, I am a 20 year old college student. I go to Mohawk College Fennell Campus in Hamilton, Ontario. I am a freshman in the Journalism program, hence why this blog is part of an assignment. As stated above, I am just a guy who loves his TV and his turntable. But I also love introducing people to things they might really like. I love shining the light on something that may have been in the shadows for a person. So thats what I want to do here. Each post, write about a movie you should see, a TV show you should try and check out, and an album, or maybe just a song, that I think is great.
So all that said, sorry, I know you’re prolly bored by now and wondering “When is he going to post about a movie and show and album or whatever?” Well, I can tell you, I’m gunna do that now.
Movie: Robocop
Well, let’s just start off with my favourites. My favourite movie is Robocop. Now, I know, why would this guy, who says he watches all these movies, have a gore filled 80s action movie as his favourite movie? Well, I’ll tell you.
Now, the first time I saw it, I was a kid, and it really freaked me out. To have a big, hollywood movie that all your dads thought was cool and couldn’t wait to show you, but it has a scene where a guy is torn apart by shot gun fire. Like that was huge. This is alot of people I know’s first R rated movie, because of the lack of sex, your parents didn’t mind as much that you’d see it young. So yes, as a kid I just thought it was cool. A robot man who kills bad guys, and saves the good people. Plus his characters name was Alex, which is my name, so I always thought that was cool, to have a hero figure with your name.
But other then the fact that yes, it is an action movie, it has alot more to say then just “Bad guys should be punished”. When I watched it for the first time in years just a few years ago, I realized how much more this movie had to say. If you watch all of the little news briefs in the movie, and see how the future was predicted, at least the way the world sees America. As well as that, how the media changes the outlook on the way you should be watching the news. On top of all of that, the movie shows how we are just getting more and more obsessed with owning things, with having everything we can. Consumerism at it’s best. The movie’s best quote is one said by no major character at all, but by a television character whom everyone adores. “I’d buy that for a dollar!” It just goes to show how consumer based the future would be. Oh, and again, on top of it all, it has some coool action scenes and great quotes. So whether you’re in the mood for a cool action movie, or just want to check out a movie with good acting, funny one liners, and good political and consumer satire, it’s a good one to check out.
Ok. Wow. So up next. After this blog I think I’ll post movies, shows and songs that are sort of linked to one another. But for this post, I did say I would stick with favourites, so I’ll just pick my favourite show, which as an avid television fan for shows over the years, it’s hard for me to pick a favourite, one that is the best no matter what era they are from. Yes, my favourite show is a cliche, but honestly, don’t let this confuse you, I like a wide spectrum, but I have to give credit where credit is due.
TV: The Simpsons
The Simpsons. Yes, yes, I know. It’s alot of peoples’ favourite shows. It’s gotten really, really bad as of late. I know. But as someone born in 1987, and the show having started in 1989, I was raised on this show. It was what I grew up on. And it was amazing. Seasons 1-8 are some of the best written, and funniest programming ever to grace the small screen. It launched the career of many writers and producers and other talented people. Brad Bird went from The Simpsons to go on and direct The Incredibles. Conan O’Brien started as a writer for The Simpsons, and then got his own late night talk show.
Not only was this a funny, well written show, it was one of the best pop culture referential shows ever made. Celebrities aplenty made special appearances and guest spots. Everyone from Albert Brooks (Hank Scorpio) to Michael Jackson (Michael Jackson and Leon Kompowsky) made appearances. Doing a guest role on The Simpsons became a huge ego trip for celebrities. To have a show be such an iconic thing in Hollywood culture is just amazing. I could go on and on about The Simpsons, but I’ll try and wrap it up. Hilarious, dysfunctional family situation comedy style dealing with real issues and parents who simply don’t always have all the right answers. If you haven’t ever checked out The Simpsons, then you must be living under a rock or something. Haha.
Ok. Rounding the bend. I love a wide variety of music. But my favourite album is, yes, a classic rock album. But it is one of the most amazing albums I have ever heard, rock or otherwise.
Album: Who’s Next
Who’s Next by The Who. Ok. I dunno what words to use to describe this album, other than amazing and astonishing. It opens with Baba O’Riley, or some of you may know it as Teenage Wasteland. It opens with this crazy synthesizer sounding opening. It’s simply astonishing. You’ll be taken aback by it. It just leaves you in awe, considering this album was from 1971, before synthesizers were very big on the scene. The whole band comes together and makes such a strong sound altogether it’ll knock you on your ass.
From Baba O’Riley we just move on to even better songs. This Song Is Over is another great song. Haunting vocals and great piano. Behind Blue Eyes is just another sad, ballad sounding song, that turns into a real rocking anthem. All the songs just flow, because it was created as a concept album originally. So to round off the ending, it finishes with an AMAZING song. Won’t Get Fooled Again. It’s the theme for CSI Miami for those who watch that show. It just rocks sooo hard and builds up soo great, that its an amazing finish of an album. It wraps it all up nicely.
So there we go. There is more to come soon
