It's been a bit now since the passing of Robin Williams, a giant of the current era of film. When I heard the news that he had been found with a belt around his neck, it struck me like a lightning bolt. Now in the name of honesty, I can't truly say that I loved everything the man did- as a kid growing up with two medical professionals as parents, Patch Adams made me angry with it's depictions- but from what I've seen, he was a nice guy and a decent performer.
I think his improv is where he really shined: in film and his later ill-fated TV series, you can tell there are moments when he just lets go of the script and enters his world of snappy remarks and curious quotations. These work on a humorous level that can bring irony or laughs to any situation. Take this quote from Patch Adams, a movie I personally didn't care for but had quotes I like:
(Names and quote slightly adjusted to fit what I remember)
Patch's Roommate: "Paul Whatssisname. Top of my class, valedictorian, dean's list."
Patch: "I once drew a picture of a rabbit that got me two gold stars!"
How does this make me laugh, and why is it such an amusing scene?
The big thing I'll remember him for is Hook, the sequel to Peter Pan that had mixed reviews. I liked it. But is it right to hate on a movie you liked? Maybe, but that's a question for another day. The big topic I want to bring up is, why DO funny people like Robin Williams commit suicide?
If there's one thing I've learned from the works of Voltaire, it's that the smile is the mask of suffering. Most of the time, it ends up being the people who seem the happiest who have the saddest lives. Maybe this entire time, he was going through some severe depression that he kept hidden. And maybe he just tried to put it off, not because of the fame and money, but because he wanted to make other people happy when he couldn't be. And when his show got cancelled, it all caught up with him.
We may never know the full story behind his death. Maybe someone killed him and made it look like suicide. Or maybe he just decided he had enough. Whatever it is, we can't just look at him as "The funny guy who died". In order for his legacy to prosper, we must look at the good times, not the bad, and see him as "The gifted improv comedian with a heart of gold and a desire to make others smile". Only then can we make his final wish come true, and only then can we accept his death. I only hope people can understand what he really stood for, and keep on smiling. I know I will.
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
The Critical Frog: Teen Beach Movie
I've had such an eventful summer I needed to take a break from Equestria and journey into the real world. And by 'Real World' I mean attempting to go up into the mountains but contracting a stomach virus after accidentally drinking untreated water. That led to a visit to the doctor and the realization that I nearly died from dehydration, and I needed to get an IV- so long story short, I haven't had much access to a computer lately due to my travels. All I was able to locate was a TV, and all it was playing was the Disney Channel. I decided to give it a watch, and so I came across Teen Beach Movie.
Okay, before people get on me, I get that this is supposed to appeal mainly to small children. And the musical genre, while appealing mainly to girls, generally reins this into the small girl category (although I do have experience with girly TV, due to my crippling pony addiction). And I'm sure if any little girls see this, they may be inclined to complain if I hate on this film. So to those girls, I say "have fun!". Movies are meant to be enjoyed, and I love them too much to want anybody to have a bad time during one. But before you complain, keep reading.
The film centers around a boy and girl, Brady and Mackenzie (Mack for short), surfers who spend their summer together hanging out and surfing. After a viewing of the movie Wet Side Story (think of the original with bikers and surfers), they are swept away by an enormous wave and knocked unconcious. When they come to, they are greeted with a strange phenomenon: they have magically been transported into the film! Upon arriving in a music number which they accidentally enter, we learn each character's reactions to the teleportation (Mack wants to get out as fast as she can, but Brady wants to enjoy it) and the story to the original movie as it progresses.
Things quickly get out of hand as the two interrupt the big romance scene and fall in love with the opposite gender leads of the film. The couple then plays through the film in an attempt to find a way to escape while still keeping the original film universe intact. Should they fail, they will be trapped in the movie as characters and forced to relive the same story over and over as the new male and female leads.
Of course, like any musical (or parody of one), there has to be songs. But unlike many musical numbers, some of the ones in this flick are actually pretty good. The clash between the bikers and surfers in the original film is played out decently in song (I cite "Cruisin' for a Bruisin' in particular). I imagine i could pluck some of the songs out of this number and make part of a musical mix tape. A personal pleasure is "Make It Stop", sung by Mack and Brady, as they randomly burst into song (becoming part of the film), about how Mackenzie does not want to sing and dance but her body is moving against her will. It's a clever number, executed well and adding to the satirical humor of the film . It's nothing like, say, the overused "Let It Go" in terms of awesomeness or the hilarious parodies of Weird Al Yankovic, but it gets the job done.
OVERALL RATING: 5/10
---------------------------------------------
You know, this is another one of those guilty pleasure films. I wish I could fully hate it or love it, but it's a mixed bag. I'll watch it and like it, but definitely not show it. Honestly, I wish I could just make the entire review say, "Look, of course it's not a really good film. But it has some clever songs, a satirical sense of humor that's strangely amusing, and dozens if not hundreds of wonderful girls in bikinis.", but here at Frog Enterprises we believe in full-service reviews. You're welcome.
(Apologies to the late Ebert for parodying his quote)
Okay, before people get on me, I get that this is supposed to appeal mainly to small children. And the musical genre, while appealing mainly to girls, generally reins this into the small girl category (although I do have experience with girly TV, due to my crippling pony addiction). And I'm sure if any little girls see this, they may be inclined to complain if I hate on this film. So to those girls, I say "have fun!". Movies are meant to be enjoyed, and I love them too much to want anybody to have a bad time during one. But before you complain, keep reading.
The film centers around a boy and girl, Brady and Mackenzie (Mack for short), surfers who spend their summer together hanging out and surfing. After a viewing of the movie Wet Side Story (think of the original with bikers and surfers), they are swept away by an enormous wave and knocked unconcious. When they come to, they are greeted with a strange phenomenon: they have magically been transported into the film! Upon arriving in a music number which they accidentally enter, we learn each character's reactions to the teleportation (Mack wants to get out as fast as she can, but Brady wants to enjoy it) and the story to the original movie as it progresses.
Things quickly get out of hand as the two interrupt the big romance scene and fall in love with the opposite gender leads of the film. The couple then plays through the film in an attempt to find a way to escape while still keeping the original film universe intact. Should they fail, they will be trapped in the movie as characters and forced to relive the same story over and over as the new male and female leads.
Of course, like any musical (or parody of one), there has to be songs. But unlike many musical numbers, some of the ones in this flick are actually pretty good. The clash between the bikers and surfers in the original film is played out decently in song (I cite "Cruisin' for a Bruisin' in particular). I imagine i could pluck some of the songs out of this number and make part of a musical mix tape. A personal pleasure is "Make It Stop", sung by Mack and Brady, as they randomly burst into song (becoming part of the film), about how Mackenzie does not want to sing and dance but her body is moving against her will. It's a clever number, executed well and adding to the satirical humor of the film . It's nothing like, say, the overused "Let It Go" in terms of awesomeness or the hilarious parodies of Weird Al Yankovic, but it gets the job done.
OVERALL RATING: 5/10
---------------------------------------------
You know, this is another one of those guilty pleasure films. I wish I could fully hate it or love it, but it's a mixed bag. I'll watch it and like it, but definitely not show it. Honestly, I wish I could just make the entire review say, "Look, of course it's not a really good film. But it has some clever songs, a satirical sense of humor that's strangely amusing, and dozens if not hundreds of wonderful girls in bikinis.", but here at Frog Enterprises we believe in full-service reviews. You're welcome.
(Apologies to the late Ebert for parodying his quote)
Monday, August 4, 2014
The Critical Frog's Civ 5 Adventures
Things noticed during recent games of Civilization 5 and it's expansion:
-You can not be rational and pious at the same time
- The entire population of a city has no objection to the city being renamed "Asscheeks"
- It is possible to develop heavy machinery before the ability to make clay pots
- The nations of Scotland and India are located right next to each other
- Abraham Lincoln and Adolph Hitler can be allies
- The Great Wall Of China was constructed in Egypt,
- Nuclear Submarines can only attack other ships despite carrying missiles
- Your allies can declare war on you for no apparent reason
- Ghandi, despite being a pacifist in real life, is the game's biggest jerk/user of nuclear weaponry
- Ramses the second lived for over 3000 years
- Germany's Cultural victory, sadly, does not include the "German Dance" from South Park
- Much to my dismay, Colorado was not one of the default city names for America
- Egypt is also famous for the Statue of Liberty and Christo Redentor (the big statue of Jesus in Rio)
- Oxford University is impossible to construct if every city in a nation does not have a University
- In the modern era, it is impossible to build a military academy without stone walls that are obsolete with the invention of dynamite anyways
- After Nuclear Fission, there is absolutely nothing anybody else can create that is new or special- you must endlessly research Future Tech
-You can not be rational and pious at the same time
- The entire population of a city has no objection to the city being renamed "Asscheeks"
- It is possible to develop heavy machinery before the ability to make clay pots
- The nations of Scotland and India are located right next to each other
- Abraham Lincoln and Adolph Hitler can be allies
- The Great Wall Of China was constructed in Egypt,
- Nuclear Submarines can only attack other ships despite carrying missiles
- Your allies can declare war on you for no apparent reason
- Ghandi, despite being a pacifist in real life, is the game's biggest jerk/user of nuclear weaponry
- Ramses the second lived for over 3000 years
- Germany's Cultural victory, sadly, does not include the "German Dance" from South Park
- Much to my dismay, Colorado was not one of the default city names for America
- Egypt is also famous for the Statue of Liberty and Christo Redentor (the big statue of Jesus in Rio)
- Oxford University is impossible to construct if every city in a nation does not have a University
- In the modern era, it is impossible to build a military academy without stone walls that are obsolete with the invention of dynamite anyways
- After Nuclear Fission, there is absolutely nothing anybody else can create that is new or special- you must endlessly research Future Tech
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