SUMMER MOVIE VIEWING LIST: SIX FOR THE ROAD
Summer is here and that means surf trips. For me, a surf trip equals lots of movie viewing. Either on a long ass flight to Indo or a long ass haul to Baja, movies are a part of the equation. Here's a list of (in my opinion) great flicks that perhaps you haven't seen to help you get through the long journey. You can only count license plates for so long.
1) THIS IS SPINAL TAP - The greatest rock band in the world is captured in a downward spiral in this, the most profound mockumentary, err, rockumentary, ever made. The satire is deep, all the way down to the original music for the film, which pokes at traditional metal power chords and inane lyrics. Toe tapping ryhmes such as "big bottoms, big bottoms, talk about mud flaps my girls got 'em" and "girl your sweet but your just four feet and you still have your baby teeth" exemplify the two hours of fun on tap. During a 10-year college "experience" I would often wake up, bake some brownies, skip class and 'Tap into America.' I'm a better person because of it. Turn this one up to eleven.
2) SURF WISE - The only recent release on my list, this documentary of and about the famous Paskowitz surfing clan examines the deeply rooted value system of Dorian Paskowitz, the family's patriarch. Surf docs thematically tend to fall into the "isn't surfing great" abyss --and understandably so. SURFWISE examines the consequences of a man's stubborn and tenacious drive to follow his own heart, and in the process the hearts of his children are scattered. Yeah, the family makes up at the end, but I don't buy it. Dad is still dad.
3) MAN ON FIRE - This is a dark film filled with plenty of revenge and ass kicking. Denzel Washington is former American operative turned unemployable, loner alcoholic. Old buddy Christopher Walken dials Denzel into a job as a bodyguard for a young girl whose parents are wealthy Mexico City socialite/politicos. A father daughter bond occurs between the two. Denzel uncovers some dirty secrets and in the process chops off some fingers, firebombs a car, and basically goes postal all over Mexico City's underworld scumbags. What's not too love?
4) THE DIRTY DOZEN - After viewing this film I promise you one thing: you will 'write-in' Lee Marvin for President in November of 2008, and again in 2012. Never mind that he's dead. Marvin takes a group of murderers, con artists, bi-polar nut jobs, and other jailbird ne'er-do-wells under his wing for a dangerous mission into Nazi Germany. Lee Marvin is great actor, although I'm not so sure he's really acting. What you see is what you get. He was born with a cigar and whiskey sour. Plus, as an added bonus, you get Kojak with hair, Charles Bronson and Jim Brown. This flick will make you proud of our federal corrections system.
5) APOCALYPSE NOW - Okay, here's the deal with this one: you have to watch it on a big screen and you need surround sound. I know, most surf trips movie viewing is done on an iPod or portable DVD player. Not good enough for AP NOW. Do yourself a favor, turn the lights off, the sound up and do not allow for interruptions. This one is insane, and I don't just mean the theme of the movie. You may need an Ambien afterwards.
6) HAIL, HAIL ROCK AND ROLL - This is a documentary showcasing the legendary guitarist/musician Chuck Berry's 60th birthday party concert at the Fox theater in St. Louis. On stage you get Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Robert Cray, Etta James and many others including Berry himself. The concert is great, but it is the behind-the-scenes interviews with Richards, Bruce Springsteen, Bo Diddley and others that really crystallize the man behind the guitar.
I'll be leaving for INDO soon and need some movie suggestions. I've packed the USUAL SUSPECTS but need some more ideas. Please, leave the obvious ones like GLADIATOR and ZOOLANDER out of the equation. Thanks.
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READER COMMENTS
Wed May21, 2008, 9:10 PM
Try Red Dawn - Milius flick. New Denzel flick American Gangster. Also heard on the radio this mornign that "Thief" starring james caan is supposed to be good.
Wed May21, 2008, 9:17 PM
Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore. Pinnacle of film making
Wed May21, 2008, 10:23 PM
Are you the replacement for Chris Mauro? Hope not because those are unusually lame movie suggestions Scott. IE: I don't get the Lee Marvin for President deal at all. Are you thinking we need another military leaning hotshot in the Whitehouse, like John McCain? Over Obama? Surfer magazine once had a tradition started by John Severson that didn't buy into the idea that war was good for anything, and he was right. Self defense, of course, who can dispute that? But Lee Marvin for President? I'm sure that everyone reading this blog has plenty of good movie suggestions for summer, but believe me, any political leaning recommendations towards any other direction than a complete change of course in the direction of ending that oil war, ending American torture cells, and facing up to the environmental problem of Global Warming, will be responded to with passion. Electing Obama would be the best thing that has happened in the world politically since Nelson Mandella showed the world what human endurance can
Wed May21, 2008, 10:41 PM
DUDE, I think he just meant Lee Marvin is a bad ass. On ballots people write in Mickey Mouse too, it doesn't mean they actually want him to win the election. Waste of a vote? Yes. Mockery of a political system which is already itself a mockery? Yes. I agree with yes, yes, sure, sure, we need this, we need that, but these are movie SUGGESTIONS, not political statements. With all your knowledge that you love to flaunt on meaningless message boards, try this new word: HYPERBOLE.
Wed May21, 2008, 10:57 PM
Hey Micahel YanAss- You're an idiot and an embarrassment to the Obama campaign. Go ahead and shut the f&*k up...ummm kay. Ghost of Lee Marvin has spoken.
Thu May22, 2008, 9:00 AM
To Mike Yankous- Wow, the left wing nut jobs strike again. Mr. Bass can't even write a simple lightly toned summer movie list without a conspiracy being hatched. By the way, if you knew anything about Chris Mauro you'd know he's more right wing than Alexander Haig. He makes Stalin look like Mother Teresa. The Ghost of Lee Marvin was correct. You ARE an embarrassment to the Obama campaign. I did a quick check, Obama's favorite movies: The Godfather, Godfather 2, and Lawrence of Arabia. You want a dictator? Try the Italian mafia!
Thu May22, 2008, 12:05 PM
Given the fact that the current political regime has destroyed the American status of goodwill in the world, and our economic status with it, I have no interest or respect for people who play the right wing, left wing conceptual game. i am neither. I am an American realist who sees that there is too much at stake in this coming election to not react to people who I sense are in any way supporting a political agenda that is destructive. The media is largely to blame and this is the media. The same Surfer web page also ran a blog claiming Global Warming doesn't exist, based on BS. I am not an embarrassment to Obama, or myself. Actually apathetic people in this country are the embarrassment and they have caused our downfall. Travel to Europe and see how far your money goes, when 8 years ago it was the opposite. Also name calling is weak. I stand behind my opinions, I don't hide behind pseudonyms. People are dying in Iraq daily for no legitimant reason because ideologists here can't think for themselv
Thu May22, 2008, 1:28 PM
I am leaving for indo July 3rd. Here are a few for the flight: Casino Black Hawk Down Blood Diamond The Hunt for Red October Any National Lampoon's vacation (except vegas) Fletch My Eyes Won't Dry 2 No Country for Old Men Pan's Labyrinth Any oldschool Starwars Operation Petticoat As the other guy mentioned: American Gangster and Red Dawn are badass Scott: please tell marty thomas that he is a douche and the next time he trys to backpaddle and wct bulldog me I am going to snap. have a nice flight.
Thu May22, 2008, 1:36 PM
Apocolypse Now uncut, the original, but unreleased until around 2000. it and extra hour long, but worth it. Also The Game with Sean Penn
Thu May22, 2008, 1:38 PM
What's Up Tiger Lilly? by Woody Allen-slapstick heaven Evil Dead 2-cult heaven, trio of kickass, gore, and hilarity Blood Diamond Last Shogun
Thu May22, 2008, 1:59 PM
Yeah Guyyyy, umm wow a lot of serious political talk. But seriously, Blue Crush, you know you loved it. Platoon, The Big Lebowski and Shaun of the Dead.
Thu May22, 2008, 2:50 PM
Hey thanks for the great suggestions. Blood Diamond, My eyes Won't Dry 2, Red Dawn all films I haven't seen yet. And I'll gladly relay the douche bag comment to Marty for you Connor! keep the suggestions flowing!
Thu May22, 2008, 3:02 PM
Bubba Ho Tepp = Elvis lives and is in an old peoples home along with JFK who is black. They team up to fight the curse of an egyptian pharoah that sucks the souls from pensioners assholes...you heard right!! I damaged myself laughing. If all else fails Blades of glory.
Thu May22, 2008, 6:42 PM
Dead Men don't wear Plaid. Steve Martin. Very clever and a must for anyone who's into old movies..
Thu May22, 2008, 9:32 PM
Here's a couple movies I've seen recently that I though were pretty good: Firewall (came out maybe two years ago? Harrison Ford, the plot has some interesting twists), 28 Months Later (much better than I was expecting), and Before the Devil Knows Your Dead (from director of Dog Day Afternoon/Serpico, a dark movie with great acting) If you're on a WWII kick try the Longest Day (great movie about D-Day, with John Wayne), The Great Escape (US/Brits attempt to escape German POW camp, with Steve McQueen), The Guns of Navarone, or Kelly's Heroes (Clint Eastwood goes after Nazi gold).
Fri May23, 2008, 3:31 AM
Les Claypool's Electric Apricot (Jam Band Spinal Tap) Insane: check it
Fri May23, 2008, 4:55 AM
A less popular version: The Summer Book Reading List. My top six for those long trips to perfect waves: 1) 1984 - Cliché but still a great read. 2) Of Mice and Men - Better for a short trip to Mainland Mexico or Central America 3) Bhagavad-Gita - A Hindu guide to all that weird meditating you mock from the water 4) War and Peace - This will last you all of your surf trips for your lifetime 5) Fahrenheit 451 - Gnarly little one from Bradbury 6) Photo/Stoner: The Rise, Fall, and Mysterious Disappearance of Surfing's Greatest Photographer - Enough photos of Californian waves to make you stay at home and surf Rincon instead of Lance's Right