Last night, thanks to my good mate Leeann, I was lucky enough to get a free ticket to a preview screening of The Aristocrats (IMDB link). It’s been out in the US for some time now but only just coming out here. The Aristocrats is a documentary about an in-joke amongst comedians that has been around for decades. If you can stomach humour that mentions incest, bestiality, scatology and various other violent and depraved sex acts, this movie is for you. Personally, I was in tears from laughter.

“The Aristocrats” is a joke that has been with comics since Vaudeville. “The Aristocrats” is a joke that is never told in public, a private joke for comedians, so you’ve never heard it before. It’s a secret handshake among comics. It is also the dirtiest joke you will ever hear.

Some of my favourite comedians were featured in the hundred or so interviewed in the making of this film. Gilbert Gottfried, an old favourite was featured prominently (amazing), along with the likes of George Carlin, Steven Wright, the editorial staff of The Onion, Monty Python’s Eric Idle, Kevin Pollack (best. Walken. impersonator. ever), Harry Shearer, Chris Rock… the list keeps going. I must say Sarah Silverman is a new favourite of mine – go the funny ladies! There is an appearance from Penn and Teller and in fact Penn Jillette executive produced the film. Oh and look out for a dark side of Bob Saget (“Can I get a copy of this? I’d like to send it to the kids on the show Full House“) that you may have never seen before…

Anyway, to cut a long story short, go and see this film, or get it out when it makes it to DVD – if you aren’t easily offended that is.

Published at HenryTapia.com – Experiencing and designing things

Oh man, I had the fantastic pleasure last night of completing my viewing of the Karate Kid Trilogy with The Karate Kid Part III, and this was a real corker. This is one of those films that rarely comes along and astounds you with it’s sheer brilliance. This is so bad it’s good, almost on par with films like Commando. Barely a script to be found, and none needed!

I’m not going to give a full review here, there are many more brilliant reviews at IMDB (skip past the first 3 which appear to be written by 10 year olds), but I will point out some highlights:

• In a homage to George Lucas, Daniel Larusso has become Luke Skywalker, who starts to get seduced by the Dark Side. Uber-yuppie cum Van Damme/Steven Segal wannabe Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith) dressed in black is a pony-tailed Darth Vader who wants to train Daniel-san so they can rule the Valley together. John Kreese, the nasty teacher from Part I returns as The Emperor, and Mr. Miyagi is so obviously Yoda. Larusso’s girlfriend is a namby pamby version of Princess Leia, and their cold-fish relationship is more like brother and sister, rather than a horny college couple.
• The greatest revelation in watching this film again is the discovery by my companions and I of the depth of Mr. Miyagi and Daniel-san’s relationship. I mean this film is completely full of homosexual undertones. Daniel and Mr. Miyagi’s relationship breakdown results in tears after Daniel has an affair with another sensei, but they are able to work through their differences and remain passionate lovers.
• A much older and fatter Ralph Macchio wearing what could only be described as “Harry High-pants” jeans. Fashion mistakes alone make this film worthwhile. And what is with Macchio’s swagger?! He really does look like something got stuck where it doesn’t belong…
• What’s up with all this sacred bonsai tree nonsense? Something about “good root”. And the abseiling scenes are reminiscent of the old Batman and Robin TV series.
• I’ve never seen a film that uses the racist term “slope” more than this one. I mean it’s racist AND it’s outdated!

I give this movie minus 4 and-a-half stars. TERRIFIC!

Definitely going to have to top this experience off with “The Next Karate Kid”, Hilary Swank’s finest moment.

Published at HenryTapia.com – Experiencing and designing things

McNamara gives us some candid thoughts into some of the most important conflicts of the 20th century, from the perspective of an instrumental player. From his role in WWII in the Air Force to being hand picked as Secretary of Defence by John F. Kennedy, and serving later under Lyndon Johnson, McNamara is able to reveal interesting insights into those conflicts such as:

• Generals and government officials of the Allied forces, if they had lost against Japan in WWII, would most likely have been tried as war criminals for the way they indiscriminantly flattened dozens of Japanese cities, slaughtering civilian populations that numbered in the hundreds of thousands. This of course was topped off by dropping the nuclear bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki killing and poisoning many more.
• How frighteningly close the US and USSR came to nuclear war during the Cuban Missile Crisis, averted by empathy and understanding, and a lot of luck. (Incidentally, the film Thirteen Days gives a good insight into the whole Cuban Missile Crisis situation – if you can put up with Kevin Costner and Massachusetts accents…)
• Upon meeting his Vietnamese counterpart in the 1990s, realising the gross mutual misunderstandings between the US and Vietnamese governments. McNamara points out that the US was battling against a communist domino effect within the region and against Vietnam being taken over by the Chinese. What his Vietnamese counterpart then passionately pointed out was that if only the US had made more of an effort to understand the Vietnamese, they would have realised that they were fighting a war of independence, and had fought against the Chinese for a thousand years. They saw the Americans as yet another colonial power, stepping in for their own interests.
• McNamara’s middle name is “Strange”.

McNamara stops short of admitting guilt over the Vietnam war, and is not completely candid in all areas. He repeatedly attempts to justify his and his government’s actions, while illustrating the regret he feels, particularly in regards to the Vietnam war. It’s interesting to note that under JFK, McNamara’s efforts were moving towards withdrawal from Vitenam, but after JFK’s death, the US under Johnson moved to a greater presence in Vietnam, and full-blown war. A good quote from McNamara in the film is:

“If we can’t persuade nations with comparable values of the merits of our cause, we’d better reexamine our reasoning.”

This particular insight, as well as many others provide wisdom and are especially relevant in today’s conflicts.

Fog of War is not a masterpiece, but well deserving of the 2004 Best Documentary Oscar and thoroughly interesting.

Published at HenryTapia.com – Experiencing and designing things