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Benjamin Button Bazooka Blast
No....some big muscular dude on the basketball court isn't going to care if you look insane. And, I was a scrawny, 6' white boy. Some big black dude wouldn't care about that. I guess in theory, there are some people that would shy away from a fight by someone that had the insanity look in their eyes. They play off that in a weird scene in the new movie RocknRolla. A scrawny kid that's on crack, just starts drinking this big guys beer in a bar. The guy is ready to clock him with an empty beer bottle for drinking it, until he sees this kid is actually welcoming the fight.— December 31, 2008 10:26 a.m.
Teachers and Bumper Stickers
I think the rudeness problem is a mix of a bunch of things. But it's basically more people. And, I know it sounds racist...but I think that African-Americans in movie theatres, they just seem to like talking at the screen. Or on their cell phones. My friends argued this point with me...but then I started pointing it out to them. They notice it, too. It's like they think it's their moment to act like Chris Rock, and they want the audience laughing at their jokes. And don't get me wrong...I've experienced all races, at one time or another, being loud in a movie theatre. But by the numbers, one race clearly is loudest and most obnoxious when they should be quiet and watching the film.— December 31, 2008 10:23 a.m.
Cheap History
Bun is a great drummer. How can anyone do a drum solo (or cool intro for Ain't That a Shame), with a cigarette dangling out of his mouth the entire time? When they played 4th & B a year ago (which Jay will probably write about in 20 years)...the funniest thing after the show. Some young kid was waiting in the parking lot for autographs, and he said his dad went to school with Bun E. Carlos. Security didn't seem to believe it, but passed the message to Bun. Apparently it was true, as he was then given a backstage pass and went to meet Carlos!— December 31, 2008 10:19 a.m.
Weird Stories in North County
If you aren't guilty, you don't care how it's obtained!— December 30, 2008 8:12 p.m.
Benjamin Button Bazooka Blast
And MsGrant, you have a slight advantage. Most guys give a pass to a woman. If I tell some guy to be quiet, his logic is...that it's on! We're going to have a shouting match, because I "disrespected" him. It's not going to stop me. Just as it didn't when a big, muscular dude on the basketball court was talking smack, and I had to talk smack back. My friends thought I was insane, but something about the situation just irked me. And, it didn't mean I was going to be quiet because I was intimidated.— December 30, 2008 8:09 p.m.
Teachers and Bumper Stickers
Shizzy...that is a VERY good point. As much as I hate the rudeness of today, I don't automatically say that it's worse than it was in 1931, or the 1800s, or whatever. We just have "technology" now that we didn't have then (even if that means movie theatres...in the old days, they didn't have "talkies"...which meant it probably wasn't really distracting if people in the theatre talked!) And, with MORE people, that just means there are MORE PEOPLE you come across that are rude. I'd be willing to bet, they were just as bad back in the day. The problem is...with more people, ie more rude folks...I seem to run into them in every restaurant and movie theatre I go to!!! Varsity Blues, on to the other post...is one of the worst movies I've ever seen. I remember the football coach (Jon Voight, I believe), and cops, let the football players get away with everything. And, bottom line, the movie just wasn't that funny. A fat guy that ate a lot. I didn't see the humor.— December 30, 2008 8:07 p.m.
Benjamin Button Bazooka Blast
I usually see 10 p.m. shows, after my friend and I play racquetball. And even if there are only 4 people, you can often count on two of them being idiots. But my new take is going to be...you get confrontational, so will I. And, it will probably hurt my cause to tell management BEFORE HAND, that I'm not going to tolerate that stuff. But, theatres need to start doing something. That idiot Magic Johnson, at his movie theatres, has complained about the talking. Yet, when he sees people talking on their cell phones during the movie, he doesn't even kick them out! He thinks that's "mean" because they spent their hard-earned money. It's idiotic theatre owners like that, that just don't get it.— December 30, 2008 1:56 p.m.
Teachers and Bumper Stickers
Well, the freedom of speech thing to me....I think once you work for a company, you represent them. So your bumper sticker could be ANYTHING, and if they don't like it, or don't want their customers to see it, they have a right to ask you to remove it. I remember when I was 11 years old, a bunch of baseball players on the Reds, were mad they couldn't grow facial hair. My friends and I argued, while looking at our baseball cards, about whether or not that was fair. I came to the conclusion that they made millions, and if that's what the owner wanted...then Rollie Fingers can shave off his cool handlebar mustache! If they want you to wear red caps, with the letter "C" on them, that's what you'd do. Or you can go get a regular job (which would probably also require you to wear a "uniform" of some kind). Grant, you're so right about the gun in the theatre. But as crazy as this sounds, I'm more bothered by the talkers. Believe me, the guy with the gun didn't just start shooting. I guarantee he first asked the dude to be quiet. The guy being asked to quiet down, probably than took "offense" to this request, and mouthed off back. And, the guy has his kid with him! He's going to talk, and not quiet down, with his kid with him. In my mind, having those two losers off the planet is probably a good thing. I would rather people live on this planet that then say to their kid "Oh...we should quiet down. I'll explain that scene later."— December 30, 2008 12:43 p.m.
Benjamin Button Bazooka Blast
Well, two things. First...I initially thought the same thing about the lady taking care of Benjamin (and by the way, in the future, you might want a SPOILER ALERT for those that haven't seen the film!) But, that lady was old, too. Which means her daughter is an adult, so she's out on her own already. Second, the talkers wouldn't think I spilled it on purpose. Oh wait...I guess after the fact, they would. Okay, I guess I wouldn't say the last part about "anyone else wanting to talk"...I'll just spill my soda, apologize, go get a refill, ask for tickets to see the movie again without talkers, and leave. That will be the plan. And, I'll blog how it goes when I first get to do it. I just see a lot of movies for free, and I wouldn't ever do that when it's a free ticket. Only when I spend my own money and the experience is being ruined.— December 29, 2008 12:12 p.m.
Benjamin Button Bazooka Blast
Oh, regarding what I thought about Benjamin...it's funny, because Roger Ebert likes so many crappy movies, yet he didn't give it a good review. His problem was that it's unrealistic, because people aren't born old. To me, that's an insane argument, otherwise, you can't like Iron Man, because there are flaws in their science. I always say, just go with the premise the movie gives you. Ebert also didn't like the love interest because...he knew her as a little girl, and wouldn't that thought be in his mind. Uh...no, dummie. Just like guys that may have been friends with an 8 year old (when they were 8), and meet them in their 20s. You might remember the girl, but you're hardly thinking of her once you start kissing an attractive 20 year old. I thought the movie was okay. It certainly didn't bore me. But so many Hollywood movie cliche things they did that just didn't work. The old lady telling the story. To a daughter that new nothing of this (I mean, really? Not even that she was this famous dancer, even though she has this dance studio, and probably has many students because of her past fame; also, that type of character, that brags so much, is the type that would let you...and everyone else...know of their past accomplishments). I loved all the side characters, although the clock maker/clock didn't work for me. I think it was supposed to back some emotional punch that it really didn't. Theatre laughed when she tells Brad Pitt he's perfect. And, never understand in a movie like this..the one flaw you have is if Pitt is writing all this to the woman, so she knows of his life, why is he explaining that he enjoyed the company of a lady...or two, or three. Does she really want to hear that? No, but the audience is supposed to know about his life, so it's there. Again, very flawed movie, but it was okay. I'm not mad I saw it.— December 29, 2008 11:04 a.m.