So I happened on this posting (via Ars Technica), about the latest 'game' to play on Amazon - checking out the 'contrarians' reviews of books, music and film. What's one of them?
I hear you cry. Well, it's (I quote) someone who tears apart cultural icons, movies that you might have accidentally thought were good, etc., all with the most over-the-top, absolutist views possible.
A couple of good (read hilarious) examples:
Seven Samurai: This movie seems to be a scene-by-scene copy of one of my favorite movies-"Magnificent Seven". Magnificent seven is a classic movie that has been copied many times, but I didn't know westerns were popular enough in japan to be copied.
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb: I have no idea why people say this is the funniest movie ever made. I don't get it, and I love comedies. I have seen it four times and I still do not get it. Maybe it is because I don't get Kubrick movies. I have seen several of them and don't get any of them. If you want to see a funny movie see Blazing Saddles. My suggestion: Rent the movie first and see if you like it.
Yet another thing on the Internet to waste hours of your life on... ;-)
Edit: I spotted this one and just had to include it!
This Is Spinal Tap (Special Edition)
I have followed Spinal Tap very sporadically over the years, mostly since their buzz after the release of this film (I honestly remember hearing very little about them during the seventies). After viewing this documentary, I believe the filmmaker could have done better both in his editing choices and his choice of bands.While Spinal Tap is capable of turning out the occasional catchy tune, it's obvious watching this film that they were/are basically one-trick ponies. Whether that's the fault of the editor, I can't say. I will say that viewing this film made me only want the hits (collected on the film's soundtrack) and it did not give me the desire to seek out their earlier work ("Shark Sandwich" and "Intravenous De Milo", both of which seem to be out of print anyway).
I guess my real complaint is with the filmmakers, as I'm wondering why they chose to cover such a little-known group when there were perfectly acceptable alternatives: Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Eddie Money, and/or Motorhead. Spinal Tap may have been an interesting story, but they're hardly a band worth making immortal through film.
Can this actually be a serious review?
