Question for blog on the first time Bret and Shawn faced off on pay-per-view:1-I feel like the crowd is dead for 90% the match until the finish. Do you think this was the WWF audience just getting used a more mat based main event style now that Hogan and Warrior were gone? Or was Shawn not over enough at the time to be be considered a serious threat to actually win the title?2-Do you know the original plans for surviver series 92 before the title got switched to Bret? Was it going to be Flair defending against Macho Man?
1. Shawn was in a different universe from Bret at that point and had no viable chance of winning. Plus it was a different style on top, as you note.
2. No, I'm pretty sure Savage/Warrior v Flair /Razor was always the idea, unless we're veering into the weird parallel universe where Warrior turned heel at Summerslam.
Wasn't it supposed to be HBK vs Bret for just the IC title?
ReplyDeleteGreat great great match. This is the first PPv I ever watched live. I wanted flair to fuck up perfect for slapping Heenan around and I was very excited for hart vs hbk because they were both awesome in whatever video game I was playing at the time, although I don't remember any actual TV build to hype that match.
ReplyDeleteThe Bret/HBK match was announced as just a match on the card before either guy had a belt. Or at least it was listed in WWF Magazine as just a match on the card. Flair as WWF Champion was in the tag match and IC Champ Davey Boy Smith was to defend the belt against The Mountie.
ReplyDeleteI even recall seeing a face-to-face between Smith and the Mountie on Prime Time wrestling hyping the match.
The Savage/Warrior v Flair/Razor tag match was announced with Flair as champion before he dropped the belt to Bret. That tag match was always "the plan."
ReplyDeleteYup that's all as I remember it too. Tag match was always on with teh Warrior included, Hart vs Michaels as a singles match and then a title match after became WWF champ. Michaels won the IC title shortly after that, although it didn't air till a bit later. Bulldog left the company VERY hastily after that.
ReplyDeleteLooking back on Shawn matches from that period, I'm really impressed with how quickly and drastically he was able to alter his Rockers style to fit the new character.
ReplyDeleteA year prior, he's in a survivor style match w/Marty, jumping off the top rope, tassles flying every which way. After the turn, he slowed things down, incorporated tons of old school heel tactics (ex. side headlock hair pull when the ref's back is turned) and added an edge that made this skinny blonde punk seem almost, kind of, dangerous.
And then, over the next few years, he picked up the pace and incorporated that dynamic movement back into the matches.
Ha, I guess this is just a love letter to Shawn, but I dig how the guy reinvented himself time and time again over his career.
Thread jack with a question of my own....the My Disqus section won't reset the notifications when I look at them. Tried signing in and out, didn't really see anything on the disqus site itself. Vaguely remember seeing similar complaints...solutions?
ReplyDeleteI dunno, I have one notification this morning, but otherwise nothing too wonky other than how dead this QOTD is.
ReplyDeleteThat show really needed some proper survivor matches.
ReplyDeleteHbk having the IC title really, really removed any doubt as who would win.
ReplyDeleteBut the tag match was the real main event and the crowd treated it as such.
Kid rock, bon jovi, Eminem etc didn't sell out. They were all always mass consumption, top 40, popular acts. Any stylistic changes they've made over the years would be analogous to McDonald's setting up a mccafe. Just a marketing move.
ReplyDeleteWhen bands I've liked in the past have sold out, I've used it as an opportunity to discover new bands doing what the band you like used to do.
ReplyDeleteI liked Silver Linings Playbook damnit!
ReplyDeleteWho can forget Bulldogs memorable 9 month dominance in WCW in 93!
ReplyDeleteI liked it a lot, but that little bit about how the two tortured souls heal each other felt like a biiiiit of a cop-out, although I think that's the point of the movie in a way. Sometimes we're fucked up, and well, if we're gonna be fucked up, might as well be fucked up together.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about that. Obviously they have creative prowess, and wouldn't be in the music biz. I mean I don't think there's anything wrong with attempting to make your music / passion catchy / popular / accessible.
ReplyDeleteAnd while I'm sure Kid Rock saw the success 'picture' had and was like, okay, Country music is where the dinero is, I do think he has a passion for that aspect of music.
I hate the perception of anyone "selling out". If someone wants to change their creative, artistic, etc., abilities to appeal to a broader market to make more money, you know what...good for them. Who am I to tell someone what their creative narrative is. People who scream "sellout" are typically fanboys or "marks" so to speak.
ReplyDeleteAlso, take someone like Dr. Dre. How do we know his creative tastes didnt really change? Sure when youre in your early 20s youre gonna rap abour cop killing, bitches, hoes, etc. Yourw not gonna rap about the same stuff or have the same style when youre in your 40s. I used to do alot of "recreational substances" and read alot of theoretical physics stuff, now I rarely do any of that. Did I sell out or just change/mature as a person?
I'm in that theoretical physics phase of my life right now. What a trip. Watch Enter The Void sometime.
ReplyDeleteThe CLOSEST person I can think of being a "sellout" is LeBron. Turning your back on your hometowm team when they havent won a championship in decades, was almost incomprehensible to me. Even though I wouldn't do what he did, i cant say he "sold out." He had every right to leave and didnt owe the Cavs anything more after carrying that team and increasing the franchises value while he was there.
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing wrong with changing your direction. It's when your new direction is devoid of substance, that's when you sell out. WWE sold out when it went PG. It has a worse creative direction (not that it's PG's fault, but it coincides with their creative bankruptcy), but it's making a lot more money.
ReplyDeleteIn comparison, bands like Genesis and Yes went from a prog direction to a pop-prog direction. The inclusion of pop elements made things more accessible, but it also made the songs more fun while retaining their substance. I love 90125.
I agree with the PG-era thing, though if I had to guess the Benoit thing had a LOT to do with that company floundering for so long. A death like that can linger over a company for years and create a lot of second guesses.
ReplyDeleteTatanka definitely sold out...maybe its because I was in 6th grade at the time but I never saw that swerve coming
ReplyDeleteI don't really believe much in selling out. We're all trying to get paid.
ReplyDeleteArtists change as they age too. I would find it a lot faker if a 35 year old was making the same music that he did when we was 20. I hope that he's changed in that time. I know that I have.
And if your favourite band has left you behind, that seems like a good time to find a new favourite band anyhow.
Agreed. That and the Hulkster selling out WcW. How could you brother??
ReplyDeleteYea, I viewed it more along those lines as a realistic portray of mental diseases.
ReplyDeleteReally what pisses me off the most about Shawn's out of the ring antics is it sometimes took away from his amazing in ring ability. Thankfully he mellowed and we can now concentrate on his workrate and matches fully.
ReplyDeleteI think it was the ESPN special and the "not 1, not 2, not 3..." thing that really pissed people off. There's nothing wrong with signing with a better team in hopes of winning a title, but there's no reason to be a total asshole about it.
ReplyDeleteYea, that was a big part of it. The "selling out" part I think was more LBJ, the clear cut best player on the planet going to D Wades team and city to chase a ring. As riduclious as it sounds with hindsight, the narrative at the tine was that it was gonna be Wades team, Wade would get the shot in the lasr seconds, etc. The thought was that LBJ traded in his "Jordan card" to go chase a ring
ReplyDeleteWhen I hear the term "sell out" I usually think of punk/hardcore bands signing with major labels, and usually I can't fault them for it. Even though the quality of the music often suffers, I can't blame someone for growing up, dropping the act, and wanting to make real money. Even not selling out can be just as bad sometimes, look at NOFX, who have almost become a parody of themselves. You guys are almost 50 years old and rich as fuck, so sorry, I'm not buying it (literally or figuratively) anymore. And with regards to Kid Rock, does selling out really matter when your a talentless white trash piece of shit to begin with?
ReplyDeleteMr. Curry I want you to listen to the following songs:
ReplyDelete1. Never met a mother fucker quite like me.
2. Black Chick / White Guy (all a true story)
3. Prodigal Son
4. Cowboy
5. Happy New Year - THIS ONE ESPECIALLY.
And then he took a pay cut to help sign other players. That's like the opposite of selling out. If you're a pro athlete your goal should be to win as many titles as you can, not make money. And lets be realistic, Cleveland ain't winning shit, LeBron or not.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I just feel the movie ended at the wrong time then. For a movie so keen on depicting the good and bad parts of crazy shit, it ended at the logical high-point. What happens when Deniro loses his money again, or Bradley Cooper has a bad day, etc?
ReplyDeleteit was one of those movies that was almost TOO good of a Romantic Comedy where the sweet moments are very sweet, but then you kind of wish they showed you the cavities, too.
But that's what Blue Valentine is for, I suppose.
Cowboy is one of the worst songs I've ever head. You can smell a pig from a mile away. Yeah, you're really cool...
ReplyDeleteSelling out sucks if you like the old sound, but it's nothing I'd judge their character for UNLESS their music pre-selling out was anti-authority, or if they did a dozen interviews saying that the music industry is evil, cause then they look like twat-waffles.
ReplyDeleteI guess I'd re-frame and say I don't think less of a band that chooses money as I think more of a band that chooses artistic integrity
I think the whole "decision" was silly. That said, I like Lebron. I hope he loses to the Celtics, but he seems like a decent enough guy, tough worker, not a pussy-ass bitch, seems fine having all that insane kobe / jordan pressure on his shoulders.
ReplyDeleteGood for him.
Ray Allen on the other hand.
Any cred RBF lost with 'sell out' was plenty redeemed by their part in the Forces Of Evil. I miss them.. And Jeffries Fan Club.
ReplyDelete/skastalgia
I'm with you, Kid Rock is trash.
ReplyDeleteHa. You gotta listen to it again. Every verse flows together really well, tells a great story, and so on.
ReplyDeleteBut listen to how dense that song is. Bells and whistles, even the censored noises play in with the tune.
I think NOFX isn't a great example - Fat Mike produces their stuff in house and has sunk a ton back into Fat Wreck. Now a band like RATM... Yeah. Stopped buying it as soon as Evil Empire broke big.
ReplyDeleteIt was the idea that he couldnt carry "his" team to a title, like Jordan, because that was the comparison. Like I said Wade waa a top 5 guy in 2011 and people were disappointed seeing LBJ "give in" and change teams. At the time I agreed with some of this. You cant reallt defend the fact Cleveland never gave him a legot #2 guy though
ReplyDeleteKid Rock You can call me Tex
ReplyDeleteRollin' sunset women with a bootle of becks
See a slimy in a vette Roll down my glass
And said "Yeah this dick fits right in yo ass"
No kiddin', gun slingin', spurs hittin' the floor
Call me hoss,I'm the boss,with the sauce,and the horse
No remorse for the sheriff and his eye ain't right
I'm a paint his town red Then I'm a' paint his wife white
'Cause chaos Rock like Amedeus
Got west coast pussy for my Detroit playas
Mack like mayors ball like lakers
They told us to leave but bet they couldn't make us
Why they want to pick on me
Lock me up and throw away my key
I ain't no cheat I'm just a regular failure
I'm not straight out a' compton I'm straight out the trailer
Cuss like a sailor Drink like a mick
My only words of wisdom are just suck my dick
I'm takin' my pick
Up and down that and keep on truckin'
'Til I fall in the ocean
The entire song weaves the act of being a cowboy through being an actual, honest-to-god, pimp on a boat. It's great.
I bet he probably regrets that now. And I don't see the Celtics beating anyone decent this year, and they really shouldn't even be trying, from what I hear the 2014 draft is going to be stacked.
ReplyDeleteHaha yeah. I hate that now The Nets are legit contenders thanks to all our players being over there.
ReplyDeleteI can't label kid Rock a sellout. I've met him and the guy has an almost encyclopedic knowledge of old school rap lyrics and artists. He knows his shit.. I also went to one of his concerts and even though I only knew two songs (American Bad Ass & Sweet Home Alabama) I had a pretty good time. I respect the guy for mixing country, rock and rap music and creating an audience for that. So many artists just stick to one genre, but most of the people I know from the Old School grew up on Jazz, Blues, Rock, Heavy Metal, Country and Pop, so if you ask me.. Kid Rock is being true to himself and making a shitload of money in the process.
ReplyDeleteThat's a bullshit comparison. People seem to forget that Jordan had 2 HOFers (Pippen and Rodman) and plenty of other really good players. He didn't single-handedly carry a bunch of scrubs to 6 titles, he was the best player on an already very good team.
ReplyDeleteYea, but he stayed in 1 place and let them build the team around him he didnt chose to go sonewhere else after he kept losing to the Pistons.
ReplyDeleteExactly. I think he's one of these "Musician's Musicians" much like how Louis C.K doesn't tell jokes. Kid Rock is one of these dudes that you really learn to appreciate when you kind of get his frame of reference a bit.
ReplyDeleteIf you read about his story he was making songs way back in like 1988, knocked up a black chick, raised that kid as his own despite it not being his (some hardcore Maury shit), flipped off his principal while graduating, and in general is just one of those guys that OOZES passion for music and performing, and I can appreciate that.
I don't like ALL of his stuff, but I like what he's about.
Yeah, but the Bulls were actually willing to give Jordan the talent around him to succeed, the Cavs were not willing to do the same for LeBron, but Miami is. I can probably name 10 guys that Jordan had for support and I wasn't even watching the NBA back then, I can't even think of who the second-best player was on the Cavs when LBJ was there.
ReplyDeleteI also think it's bullshit that LeBron gets hated on because he left his hometown team. First off, he's from Akron, not Cleveland. That would be like Bills/Sabres fans bitching about a guy from Rochester leaving. And second, he didn't go to the Cavs because he wanted to, he went there because they drafted him. Had the 2002-03 season gone a little different it could have been Wade leaving Cleveland to go play with LeBron in Miami.
None of those lyrics look clever. "My only words of wisdom are auck my dick" yeah, that's not awesome, it's confessing that you're white trash
ReplyDeleteI hate the finish of that match so much that it just about ruins the Iron Man match for me (because it lifted the 92 finish for the false finish). The Flying Set-Up is pretty close to the My Rival's Entrance Music is Playing in terms of finishes that insult all intelligences across the board.
ReplyDelete"i didn' sell out... i bought in!'
ReplyDelete10-10-10, NEVER FORGET
I knew a couple of guys in college who said that NIrvana's Nevermind and all their subsequent albums, post-Bleach, were crap because they "sold out" and signed with a major label. They said the same thing about Blink 182. As soon as these bands discovered that they could buy things with more money, these former fans turned against them. I never understood that.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine anyone doing something differently with so much money on the line. It's not selling out, it's looking out for yourself. If you're happy with the way things are going, more power to you. If not, well, you have the power to change that.
Wait, how is that a horrible false finish? I loved it as a callback.
ReplyDeleteYea, I cant argue the fact he never had a legit #2 banana. That fact alone makes me ease up on the criticism of his move.
ReplyDeleteWe just disagree on the Cleveland thing though. Yea, Cleveland isnt Akron, but its close enough that Id have a real tough time leaving. I'd rather win one there then 3 in Miami but thats just my preference
I dig his matches against Vader
ReplyDeleteI remember Foley's argument about selling out to go to the WWE:
ReplyDeleteI like to wrestle.
I like to wrestle in front of as many people as possible.
I would like to be paid well for doing so.
That's the point though, he's saying he's not smart, he's not being profound, he's just a dude doing his thing.
ReplyDeleteYou know what ruins the Iron man match for me? Watching it
ReplyDeleteWhen he told me to stick it, he was really sticking it to me!
ReplyDeleteHBK being in the match in 1992 really removed any doubt as who would win.
ReplyDeleteThat's pretty much the point. It's all about celebrating your white trashedness and not giving a shit.
ReplyDeleteI liked a couple of Kid Rock's earlier albums. Newer stuff not so much.
I agree that I really like Kid Rock's earlier stuff more than more recent music, but I definitely don't begrudge the man for changing things up a bit to make more money.
ReplyDeleteGot to love how WCW claimed that Ricky Morton "sold out" when he joined the York Foundation even though he didn't really sell out. Hell, he didn't even change his ring attire or cut his hair. At least Terry Taylor made himself look slicker and Tommy Rich even became more corporate by upgrading to drinking Coors Light instead of his usual cheap hooch like Milwaukee's Best.
ReplyDeleteExactly. And that should apply to music, movies, whatever. Get as many people to see the product you produce.
ReplyDeleteNot at all. Like I said in my other comment - we're all just trying to get paid. If you're not then you're doing it wrong.
ReplyDeleteThe iron man is an excellent 20 minute match
ReplyDeleteThe Rock sold out.
ReplyDeleteHe sold out the Garden, he sold out Wrestlemania, he sold out Royal Rumbles...
The lines between I a'int no cheat, and suck my dick are awesome.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'd actually go one further and say that a lot of the time corporate meddling makes better music. That "I'm not gonna write a love song" is a perfect example. "The Way I am" is another one.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally there's the whole art from adversity thing to be considered. Sometimes creative freedom makes a mess.
Everyone says the Survivor Series gimmick had lost its luster, but SurSer 1992 felt so weird without the elimination matches. I'd like to see them bring back a full elimination schedule and see what happens with the buyrate. I would definitely be more inclined to buy the show.
ReplyDeleteI think its because some fans like to feel anti establishment, like theyre special for liking a band not alot of people know about. As soon as their favorite band "makes it" and is accepted by the mainstream theyll turn on them, regardless of whether their music actually changes or not.
ReplyDeleteIt's only lost it's luster because those in charge stopped putting the effort in. I guess it's easier to churn out bland PPV #473 than it is to do the job properly.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that was absolutely Bill and Rick. I really think they end up missing out on a lot of great stuff because it was "mainstream."
ReplyDeleteIt's my opinion that "selling out" was coined by someone who thought he was the only fan of a certain band, and felt special that he listened to this awesome band, and enjoyed turning friends on to these guys. Then when the band caught on, and sold more records, and made more money, and saw all these "posers" who were fans; it pissed him off. He was there from the beginning, dammit. Suddenly, he's not so special anymore. So the band "sold out".
ReplyDeleteHonestly, people want to be paid for the things they LOVE to do. If someone would pay me to sit at home and comment on blogs all day, I would do it.
That's a pretty spot-on description, and it applies to wrestling too. Yeah, Danielson and Punk are obligated to wrestle in front of a couple hundred indy geeks for peanuts for their whole careers. Idiots...
ReplyDeleteThough I believe it was The Who that actually coined the term "sell out".
Coors Light isn't cheap hooch too?
ReplyDelete'the who sell out' is a great, fun album
ReplyDeleteit's all relative
ReplyDeleteThis is consistent with my line of thought but I HATE the idea that The Rock sold out. He gave the WWE a ton of great years, made them alot of money and has bloodlines throughout the history of the company. Not really having a relationship with them for 7 years was a personal decision he made to a) try and establish himself as an actor first, not an actor/wrestler and b) he wasnt crazy about how wwe handled things, particularly Eddie Guerreros death.
ReplyDeleteHe had enough money for his lifetime but still came back and gave them a really good 3 year run, that ended with him putting over Cena. He didnt owe them anything when he left, when he came back, or now. Thats why I HATED the build to WM27 and how Vince and Cena tried to portray him as an "outsider" and "sellout" as opposed to a returning, conquering hero. That will always annoy me.
Mad Dog 20/20
ReplyDeleteAnd that thing is be trash with nothing to add to the world.
ReplyDeleteStill don't see what part of that is cool. The moral is he has nothing to add to a conversation and is proud to be scummy.
Meh.
Celtics will be bad, really bad before Rondo returns.. Though, the Suns and 76ers are currently leading the "Riggin' For Wiggins" race.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen anyone drink that shit and not get sick. Nor have I ever seen anyone over the age of 15 drink it. See also: Four Loko.
ReplyDeleteKG and Pierce aren't exactly all of the players. Only good players... sure. Terry and White are awful and don't matter.
ReplyDeleteThe throwing around the middle finger like he invented it thing is also pretty childish. Also, you're from Detroit, we fucking get it.
ReplyDeleteIt suddenly occurred to me that you could swap out Kid Rock's name out with Eminem and make all the same points. Except that Em actually has talent, even if it's mainly wasted on bitching about his mom and his baby momma and his drug problems.
I'm sure he'll correct me if I'm wrong, but I took his comment to mean he hates when a guy jumps off the turnbuckle into a move like Michaels did there, because even if Bret just stood there and didn't counter, what the hell was Michaels doing? He literally just jumped off the buckle into Bret's general direction.
ReplyDeleteThe Kings are right up there too.
ReplyDeleteSurvivor Series '92 match > WrestleMania XII match
ReplyDeleteI don't think The Rock sold out. He moved on to other interests that didn't involve knocking the crap out of his body 250 - 300 nights a year. Who can blame him?
ReplyDeleteTo me, the phrase "selling out" involves compromising one's integrity. To go with the Kid Rock thing, if he pursued other musical styles because he was interested in doing so, that's not selling out. If he did it for the sole purpose of making cash, I would say that *is* selling out. Of course, if he's only making music for the sole purpose of obtaining big bags of money, selling out doesn't really entire into the equation. I'm not saying he is; just making a point.
I'll give you an example of what would be selling out to me. My aikido teacher was once approached by a man heading a another aikido organization with a large number of students. He promised each of his students would contribute X amount of money towards membership fees, promotion fees, etc, if my teacher would give each student a black belt certification after a year. He actually considered it, because hey - who doesn't need cash? But in the end, my teacher realized he wouldn't be able to live with himself. Had he done it, that would have been selling out. This happened before I met him, and my response to the story was something like, "Well, if you take one step as a whore..."
He thought that was pretty good.
Another thing that always struck me as selling out was Kiss' foray into the disco sound. But then again, those dudes aren't exactly all about art for its own sake.
Sell out.
ReplyDelete;-)
A couple of years ago, back when the brand extension was more or less treated like three legitimately separate brands, they did a Survivor Series card that was almost entirely elimination matches, with each team having somebody from each brand on it. I really enjoyed that, wish they would do it again.
ReplyDeleteYes. It is.
ReplyDeleteBlech.
To be it tastes like watered down Bud that was bottled in an ashtray. Original Coors (with the cream-colored label) is actually quite tasty, assuming you can find it.
ReplyDeleteYou've changed, man.
ReplyDeleteI've wondered what his legacy would have been if he'd met the bad end he was on the road towards, never had a second act, and became sort of somber "What If".
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure the self-titled album sold more than Evil Empire, but I get your point, and even Zack De La Roca seemed to agree with you at one time. I don't think it's fair to compare the two though, Rage is strictly a leftist anti-government band, whereas NOFX is a punk band who's target demo seems to be the high school crowd.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing that bothers me about NOFX is their constant breaking of the 4th wall, so to speak, the song "Dinosaurs Will Die" is a perfect example. You know how well all bitch when wrestlers use "insider" terms on camera? It's kind of the same thing.
How dare you!!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to law school...
ReplyDeletenah. You're much more interesting when you down 'shroom and ponder the multiverse.
ReplyDeleteThose are the worst type of karate schools. Those "black belts" can't do shit.
ReplyDeleteAs an Old School head, I just want to add to your points about Dr Dre. A few years before he was with NWA, he was a Jherri Curl wearing producer for a rap group called World Class Wrecking Cru. Their biggest song was one of rap music's first legitimate slow jams. EVEN before that he produced Electro-Rap music with a guy called the Arabian Prince (you know Beat Street/Planet Rock style) So in retrospect, Dr Dre had already changed his tastes twice before he became the Gangsta Rap icon most of the world knows him as now.
ReplyDeleteDr Dre is like the Glen Jacobs of rap music.. LOL
Well it's really how fast paced everything moves now compared to the late 80's/early 90's. Most of those Survivor Series matches involved guys who were feuding with each other and the modern show doesn't have the same amount of total feuds as back in the day.
ReplyDeleteThe other issue is that with PPV quality matches always airing on free TV, it takes away of the allure of being able to see unique matchups between name guys or even just two guys engaged in a feud. For as awesome as the concept was, it just really doesn't have a place anymore.
I don't care for any kind of Coors. My grandfather always said regular Coors was originally marketed as a "light" beer (I can neither confirm nor deny that); therefore, the idea of Coors Light always irritated him.
ReplyDeleteI like Fosters, Rolling Rock, and very rarely, regular Budweiser. It has a bite I sometimes crave. But, I'm not exactly a regular beer drinker. In fact, I don't drink alcohol of any kind consistently.
But when I do, I post on BOD.
I just want to add that while we may not like every topic for these QOTDs, and while we collectively hate "blog otters", these QOTDs are a great thread to bullshit in about random shit. Good work Meekin.
ReplyDelete"I do think he has a passion for that aspect of music."
ReplyDeleteI'll agree on that point. I think the shitty rap-rock stuff he did earlier in his career was the real cash grab, because it was the hot thing at the time.
Four loko is intense. Never want to drink it again.
ReplyDeleteAgree on both points. Though if there was a soda or even a not-super-strong adult beverage that tasted like the watermelon Four Loko I'd buy it.
ReplyDeleteYeah...I have mixed feelings about lawyers and doctors. On the one hand, it's beneficial to have a good one. On the other hand, I'd rather not need one.
ReplyDeleteYup. Essentially, the "teachers" are stealing.
ReplyDeleteHa yea. For some reason Ive had all their flavors, I think, and watermelon is the least revolting. Loko is with Franzia out of a box, all MD 20/20s, and OE as stuff I swore off a few years ago.
ReplyDeleteOh man, I HATE Rolling Rock. I've had a lot of shitty beers in my life (Sam Adams Triple Bock, I'm looking at you here), but I was able to choke them down. Rolling Rock and Red Dog are the only beers I couldn't even finish. Tastes like wet bread mixed with lima beans. To each his own though, I mean, hell, I really like PBR. Had Fosters once and thought it was pretty nasty, but seeeing as how I had to wipe the dust off the can before I cracked it makes me think it was well past it's exparation date.
ReplyDeleteI've been drinking a lot of Flying Bison Rusty Chain lately, it's tasty and not too heavy, it's pretty strong, and it's brewed within walking distance of my house. Gotta support your local businesses. Give it a try if they have it wherever you live.
This is going to sound crazy but sometime during the attitude era Stone Cold was pulled over for a traffic violation. Turns out he was driving a corvette and I was so bummed out and thought he sold out, because how could the rebellion be led by someone that drives a corvette.
ReplyDeleteNow my mentality is do what you have to do for the dollar and do whatever you want to with that dollar.
OE... Christ. I do enjoy a Magnum 40 now and then though. "Now and then" being a code for "It's Thursday and I'm fucking broke".
ReplyDeleteOne of the owners of the restaurant I work in not only owns a Vette, but has a Hummer as well. You'd think a guy that owns those 2 cars would be a complete douchebag (he just needs a Mustang to round out the vinegar-and-water trifecta), but he's actually the nicest guy I've ever worked for.
ReplyDeleteThey could do Survivor Series type matches on free TV instead of blowing through potential match ups for free.
ReplyDeleteI think you missed the joke. Actually, I think I fucked up the joke, it was supposed to be a Jimbo Jones reference. The Simpsons character, not the guy that posts here.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of a story I heard about some older rock band, think it was Def Leppard but not sure. Some fanboys rented out the hotel floor below them thinking theyd get to partake in some wild rock partys, since I guess they used to have a wild rep. They were fucking bummed when they saw that the members of the band now brought their wives and kids on trips with them and instead of patrying with hookers and doing blow, they read their kids bedtime stories. These dudes illusions were crushed
ReplyDeleteWhenever I see a dude in a Hummer, I assume he owns lots of Ed Hardy and Tapout shirts
ReplyDeleteI had the opportunity to sell out for a fad wad of dough a few months ago. I was getting paid to write video game reviews, and upon being told I liked a game too much - despite supporting my points with...24 years of experience, the editor said I'd have to change my review or they wouldn't post it.
ReplyDeleteI quit on the spot. Not sure if I should have, but I did. I kind of regret it, but I do value my journalistic integrity, just a bit.
Wow I didn't even know that was there...
ReplyDeleteSame here, but not this guy. If I showed up to work with one of those shirts on I'm sure he'd relentlessly make fun of me for it. I assume the Hummer was his wife's idea, but I've never asked, telling your boss to his face that you think he looks like an asshat isn't a good career move.
ReplyDeleteGood man. And this right here is why I regard video game/music/movie reviews to be total bullshit. In fact, wasn't GamePro busted for taking payoffs to give some games better scores.
ReplyDeleteSurvivor Series soon, combined with this discussion... I think it's time to search around for some old Survivor Series.
ReplyDeleteI think, next to the cartoon Rumble covers, the 80s SurSer covers stick out most in my head. The shows may never have been the best but damn, as a kid you'd see ALL THOSE WRESTLERS and think that it had to be awesome.
It's worth noting that Kid Rock definitely has talent. He writes his own songs, and at the concert I was at went around playing all the instruments on stage. It was cool.
ReplyDeleteHe sings / raps / performs about a bunch of different stuff. He kind of taps into a white-boy Bob Marley kind of vibe (not style), meaning I can turn on any of the Kid Rock songs I like, dig all the different musical beats and notes and words, and pump myself up a bit, or zone out, or rock out. I'm not saying he's for everyone, but I do kind of find the hick/redneck/just talking about being from Detroit thing a bit obtuse.
Adam, did you listen to any of the songs I said to check out? Here, I'll link to one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GJrcmvXBYw
Listen to the whole thing. If you want something a little shorter, try "Wasting Time"
Eminem is kind of a different beast where he's essentially pugnacious as a way to be cerebral and not have people notice. He's trolling listeners by being offensive as possible, which in turn makes his music, when you 'get it' all the more rewarding.
Additionally lets keep in mind that from that 1999 TRL era that brought us Korn, Rage, Limp Bizkit, Eminem, Nsync, Kid Rock, and any number of other bands, Eminem and Kid Rock are like the only people (save Justin Timberlake) who have maintained relevance.
And a really crappy 40 minute match.
ReplyDeleteThe New Jack Swing era was a weird time, my friend.
ReplyDeleteI DID THIS THURSDAY!
ReplyDeleteHe kind of started that thing, though. If you listen to Polyfuse Method and Early Morning Stoned pimp, he was doing that kind of thing before it was a thing.
ReplyDeleteThat's visually what bothers me about it. It looked like Shawn giving the mat a Senton and then Bret slapping on the Sharpshooter. Like you said even if Bret hadn't caught the ankles, it still didn't look like he would have been hit by anything.
ReplyDeleteConceptually, and why I don't like it as a callback (warning: I'm about to get very specific and nerdy here), is because Shawn never uses that flying dropkick (which is the move it was supposed to look like Bret was countering). Even when he was a Rocker he never did the move where he would land on his back (like Daniel Bryan does)--and post-Rockers he never used any flying dropkick anyway. But I get it, at SS 92 they wanted a clever finish and contrived though it may have been, a match ending reversal was still a pretty dramatic finish back then. So I can accept that maybe Shawn tried a new move and it backfired on him.
Fast-forward 4 years. Now Shawn has worked his way up to a second chance at the title on a bigger stage. He's presumably learned a lot in this time. Time is running out and Shawn is desperate to find something that will put Bret away. He's got one more chance. So what does he do? Try to hit his current finish, the move he's had much success with, the Sweet Chin Music? No, Bret's expecting that. Does he bring back his old finish, the Teardrop Suplex? No, Bret might be ready for that. So Shawn goes back to the move that he he's only used once, 4 years ago, that cost him his last opportunity at the title. A move that is not commonly associated with anyone actually getting pin-fall on their opponent afterward. A move that looks terrible. Shawn tries to give Bret a flying dropkick to the stomach. And, amazingly enough, history repeats itself and Bret catches Shawn's feet and nearly beats him if it weren't for time expiring.
I'm sure it was supposed to be clever booking but I just find it tedious. It would have been a great false finish earlier in the match, maybe even around the 20 minute mark where their previous match ended. But as the fake finale, it turns the match into a stretched out version of their previous encounter. And it insults the fans intelligence. Why don't you just run a banner that says "This is Scripted" before the match. The fake finale should have just been Bret catching the Chin Music and turning it into a Sharpshooter until time ran out.
I also hated Steamboat/Flair repeating the double-pin finish in 94 for a similar reason. Hey Steamboat, the last time this happened the match was declared a draw. If you want to win the title, let go of the stupid Chickenwing. Idiot.
It was gamestop. Essentially the game Kane and Lynch gave them a bunch of insider stuff, demo copies, interviews, bought a TON of advertising, then the guy, Jeff, gave the game a....5 or a 6 (out of ten).
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts on that sort of thing are two fold. If you get a lot of insight into a game, and hype it on your website, then TRASH IT, the developers have a right to be angry and defend themselves, "Well did you play it *this* way?" "How much of the game did you actually play? Did you try the Co-op?" Those sorts of questions are valid and worth being sent to an editor after a bad review. It never hurts to defend your title.
If I had to guess the editor was under pressure from the developers, and then quickly asked the guy to change the review.
I do think that kind of access to developers and demo-builds is worth while. I think the best kind of critic is an enthusiastic one - I've been getting free games for years, and still think it's the coolest thing in the world. Which is good.
I view my job, when writing, as to tell you what is worthwhile, not why it sucks. It's why I can appreciate a game like Lost Planet 3, despite samey mechanics, because the story and plot and atmosphere is good, and kind of hate Grand Theft Auto Online, because all the moving parts are great, but nothing comes together in a really meaningful way. Lost Planet is trying to do something neat through well known mechanics. Grand Theft Auto Online is just the well known (and great) mechanics, which makes it sort of masturbatory, in my opinion.
I'm excited because I have COD: Ghosts coming in, and I haven't played a COD game since Modern Warfare, so we'll see how that franchise has expanded its horizons.
----
That said, if you care, game / movie / music reviews have value, but it's changing. It's more of a validation than a "is it worth it" kind of thing these days, which is interesting. When I write a review I try to let people know what their getting, but I like to communicate what a given title is trying to say, if anything at all.
The problem is that game reviews tend to focus on aspects, versus the package. The graphics are great, control is crisp, the story is okay, but we fail to name-tag why these are good and how they play into the over-all narrative.
Take for example, Far Cry 3, which is my favorite game of all time(ish). People panned the story for having unlikeable and one dimensional characters, when THE POINT was having unlikable an one dimensional characters, so your growth in the jungle and as a predator makes you dislike 'where you came from' more and more.
Similarly, the AWESOME thing about that game is how you grow stronger as you get better at the game. You can stalk hide-outs, set stuff on fire, release wild animals, and it all plays into this predator / warrior / I'm not who I was at the start mentality.
The best reviews I've found are on Gametrailers. The game reviews and "The Final Boseman" are absolutely stellar.
I've heard every song except the first one. And Kid Rock is far from the only person that needs to shut the fuck up about where they're from, pretty much every rapper is guilty of that too
ReplyDeleteI also hate the "guy jumps off the turnbuckle toward a downed opponent, landing on his feet next to the opponent, who raises his foot up into the guy's face" spot for the same reason - you jumped off the top rope and landed on your feet next to the guy. What were you trying to do?
ReplyDeleteSee, I consider any review of anything by some who is writing for a publication or company that sells or has ads for the said product in the publication to be shit, because there's an obvious conflict of interest there. But I'm confused, you said the problem was you liked a game too much. Was it a game competing with a game Gamestop (fuck Gamestop, BTW) was pushing?
ReplyDeleteGTA online is alright, and seeing as how I've got all 3 endings and am up to about 90% on the single player mode I've gotten into pretty hard, which is weird, because I normally hate online gaming. And it's still a work in progress. The problem is really the problem with any online game, in that there's always some asshole that ruins everyone else's fun. Especially in the races, a lot of those fucking wankers need to play Forza 4 online and learn to race like a man, and not be a little bitch every time someone accidentally hits you, or God forbid, actually makes a clean pass.
The board has really gotten on the bandwagon of hating the Iron match match. It's like with Derek Jeter where there's so many people who say he's overrated he actually becomes underrated?
ReplyDeleteAnd fucking PAINFUL 60 minute match.
ReplyDeleteYeah the thing I got into trouble with is that I tend to have a distinct style, I guess. I judge things against other things in weird ways. The game was Dead Ahead, which I really liked, and it felt like an old SNES game, and it made me nostalgic for those sorts of experiences, So I made a point to say how Dead Ahead scratches an itch that those old games did (I.E doing one thing REALLY WELL, versus trying to do a bunch of things) and the editor said I couldn't reference all those other games because it would start a comment-thread shit show.
ReplyDeleteWhich I kind of thought was good. The funny part is that the site went on to get a HUGE ad-buy from Dead Ahead a few weeks later.
And I think it's possible to avoid conflict of interest. Like I said, getting a free game is really cool, and may endear me to a publisher, I.E Ubisoft is really good about getting games in the hands of the press, and I appreciate it, but it doesn't prevent me from thinking that its a 60 dollar software title.
I'd rather have it be the developers cater to the press and get looked upon favorably, then go the opposite route where a reviewer will trash a game because they hate the developer, which kind of happens a lot with EA games.
In my perfect world view of media criticism, I'd like all writers to have a great knowledge of how a piece of media was made, by who, and why. Enthusiasm is good, pandering is not.
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Yeah with Grand Theft Auto Online I guess because I loved the story so much that when I got into JUST doing the mechanics - racing, shooting, etc, it was FUN, but not like, devine.
I could write for PAGES about that game and what it's trying to tell gamers (a lot), and I have written pages about, and could go on and on. It's really almost sublime how Rockstar Managed to be so heady in a game that isn't really 'for' heady people.
He made a decision anyone else in pro wrestling history would have made. He became bigger than wrestling and that it seems to irk HHH is just fantastic.
ReplyDeleteFirst one that I saw live as well.
ReplyDeleteAnd the Headfirst Whatever that Orton always hits the RKO from (and X-Pac used to use to nail the X-Factor on D-Lo). The flying reversal has only looked good a few times. Randy's SSP RKO on Evan Bourne was awesome because Bourne actually did his entire move and would have reasonably hit it if Orton hadn't jumped up and RKO'd him. Shawn's Sweet Chin Music to Shelton Benjamin was also pretty good because Benjamin was still air-born when the move hit. He didn't just land on his feet in a vulnerable position, like Angle did for the terrible finish to his second match with Shawn.
ReplyDeleteI don't consider getting a free copy of a game to review it a conflict of interest, no more than I have a problem with Scott getting free copies of a lot of the DVD he reviews. But the thing is, Scott also isn't having ads on his site promoting said DVD (Scott also owns his site, which helps). I don't know too much about Gamespot (I'm a DP/GameFAQs man), but most websites and all magazines have ads for the products. Put it this way, there's been a shitload of advertising for the new CoD game in print and on the web. If the game turns out to be total dogshit I'm sure that it will still get an 8 (I hate the 10-point scale for reviewing anything, BTW) from 75% of the reviews out there, because of all the ad money.
ReplyDeleteI just wish the GTA story would have been a bit longer. You can play through the game in about 8 hours. But it is pretty sweet. I'm surprised their hasn't been a GTA movie yet. And am I the only one that finds Amanda De Santa's voice sexy as hell?
Your comments used to MEAN SOMETHING!
ReplyDeleteThat's what I was thinking when I read your other comment. He's not the first guy to throw around middle fingers and talk about his hometown.
ReplyDeleteThe black belt thing drives me crazy also... so many schools produce so many black belts that have no understanding of how to defend themselves or what they know martial arts are even all about. I call them McDojo's. My wife's son was in a karate tournament where the rules included "No kicking or hitting" for fucks sake.
ReplyDeleterip mrs krabappel... i wonder how the show is gonna handle it. someone was slated to die this season apparently, so i wonder if they'll scrap that now so that edna can be written off
ReplyDeletepoor ned, twice a widower :(
What were they allowed to do then? Throws and shit??
ReplyDeleteDid Flanders hook up with Krabapel? I thought that she and Skinner were a thing?
ReplyDeleteI haven't watched in a number of years..
she and ned married a couple years ago
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of storm drain are you living in when Coors Light is an upgrade?
ReplyDelete"Grappling" which consisted of rolling around on the ground and tapping out the second someone got your back... which is now something he thinks is acceptable in a real fight (tapping out) he also thinks that punching and kicking are cheating.
ReplyDeleteNo, he's not. Even Tool is guilty of the hometown thing, though they tend to constantly shit all over LA rather then give it props. And the whole NY state bird thing is a big reason why I never was a huge Austin fan. During the Attitude era I was thinking "Dude, grow up". I was 13 when he won the title from HBK.
ReplyDeleteDerek Jeter is over rated. The iron man match is not.
ReplyDeleteFor his sake, I hope that he is never in a real fight.
ReplyDeleteAren't martial arts schools totally unregulated? Like, couldn't I start one up right now and hand out black belts, even though I've never had any fighting training at all?
ReplyDeleteIs that the chick that left over a contract dispute for a couple seasons?
ReplyDeleteIts that at the time it was a novelty concept, due to us never having seen it. After time passes, the novelty is gone, not to mention the better iron mabs weve seem since. Bret/Shawn doesnt hold up, it just doesnt
ReplyDeleteWe used to drink OE and St Ides for 3-40 challenges.
ReplyDeleteI don't do 3-40 challenges anymore.
It is a daily concern for me. I do my best to undo the damage... but it is tough. To make it worse his mother tends to baby him a lot... and the school system here punishes children that get into a fight... both parties regardless of who started it, so he is afraid to hit back on top of it (despite my telling him it is worth getting in trouble for) so I am hoping that somehow he just avoid pissing anyone off hos whole life.
ReplyDeleteLOL Yup. That's why there are so many brands; everyone has their own tastes. I'll keep my eye out for Flying Bison Rusty Chain...hard to forget that name. The best way to try a Foster's is from a tap...head to Outback.
ReplyDeleteThat's right. There are a couple of federation type deal that have tried to form an alliance to give their stamp of approval to any school so that there is some sort of accountability... but they have a hard time getting along with one another (basically they are the NWA) and even if they had their shit together no one outside of the martial arts community even knows who they are so their credibility doesn't do much good anyway since no one knows to look for their approval anyway... so yes literally anyone can open a martial arts school... I have considered it myself, but I didn't make it to what my system requires in order to be a teacher so I don't want to disrespect that, even though I am more qualified than most "Black Belt Grand Masters" or whatever that I know.
ReplyDeleteAh. Yeah, I miss about half the Simpsons references on this site. I haven't watched the show consistently for years now.
ReplyDeleteThe Kings will be better than those teams this year, they actually have a couple of decent players.
ReplyDeleteThe old SS matches were just awesome as a kid.
ReplyDeleteFun fact: Outback Steakhouse has, and has never had, any affiliation with the country of Australia at all. And I'm pretty sure that Fosters is brewed in Canada under license by Labatt. But I'm about to make a B-double E-double R-U-N right now, and it will be fresh at the store I'm going to. I'll pick up some and report back.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I looked around for awhile before I found a group where I was comfortable. All a black belt really means within our dojo is that you can now really start training safely. You now have the proper tools to take ukemi (falls) and generally are skilled enough to train at full speed without hurting your partner. I'm pretty sure they've equated to to graduating from high school.
ReplyDeleteI actually haven't trained consistently since 2006 when I moved from AZ to WI, and I really miss it and them. I am NOT a black belt; 1st degree brown belt. To go along with the previous analogy, I'm in grade school somewhere. The best thing I've learned - seriously - is how to fall and not hurt myself, and move properly. I'm big, fat, clumsy and not at all athletic. And, living in WI, I've slipped and gone down on icy patches a few times, and what I have learned kicked in immediately. It's very liberating, actually.
And, kids beneath the age of about 14 shouldn't be doing anything involving strikes or joint locks.
2 is my limit, and even 2 is a bit much. One 40 and one 24oz. can does the job for me. The popular challenge around here for a while was to drink 4 Four Lokos. I never took part, but I've seen a couple. Not good...
ReplyDeleteYeah, the organization of which I am a member requires new folks to watch 3 full classes before joining. It gives them a chance to learn about what we do, and gives us a chance to feel them out.
ReplyDeleteWho will probably be traded mid-season.
ReplyDeleteLike I said, I'm pretty sure I fucked it up anyway.
ReplyDeleteThat's pretty smart.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with them not learning strikes, but that is probably the difference between our styles talking.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything else you said though... my teacher always said having a black belt (we called them sashes) was equivalent of mastering the basics... that you could then learn some real Kung Fu.
For me it taught me so much more than punches and kicks and stuff... it taught me the value of hard work in order to accomplish something (Kung Fu literally means hard work) and it taught me how to deal with pain better than most... it is something I miss deeply every day.
Oh and I could totally kick your ass.
I think it should be taught in schools. Not only would it keep the kids in shape, but it would probably eliminate a lot of the bullying issues.
ReplyDeleteThere are other lessons that, when taught properly, would be incredibly important lessons for children... I really can't understate how great a human development tool martial arts is.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen a Four Loko. Not sure if maybe we don't have them here, or I've just never been exposed.
ReplyDeleteI regret not getting into it when I was younger. There's a school right around the corner from that seems on the level (it's been there since the early 90s), and once I don't have to take these fucking blood thinners anymore I'm gonna go check it out. More because I need to get back into shape than anything else.
ReplyDeleteAdjusting your style / thoughts / opinions for the sake of the publication for which you're writing is definitely commonplace, sir. This weekend, I have to write endorsement editorials for the upcoming NYC elections. I'll be writing endorsements for at least two guys I have no intention of voting for, because the publisher said "This is who we're endorsing." It can be rough, but it keeps me able to pay rent.
ReplyDeleteWhat you're describing, though, seems a bit petty from Gamespot. Maybe you don't want a comment shitshow, but it doesn't hurt to have a good amount of discussion. Probably why I'm not editing a video game website (although, that would be a LOT of fun.
Look in the section of your local Arab store that has the Simrnoff Ice and crap like that.
ReplyDeleteI'm in Ontario so it's LCBO or The Beer Store for me.
ReplyDeleteI just Googled it and apparently we have had it here, off and on, but the product debuted after my quantity over quality days had ended.
At the time I my thoughts were it would've been much better if they just had a match that went 1 hour.
ReplyDeleteDude, I'm still me! Dammit, that's it. I'm going on an acoustic tour, and get back to my roots.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Also the cover of that years program has those two teams on it.
ReplyDeleteWriting insincere endorsements is the best, since you can be so passive aggressive.
ReplyDeleteI'm against endorsements in general.
I've been YouTubing as many pay-per-views as I can find, starting at WM1 and going forward, I'm about to start the Royal Rumble 1992, but after Ric gets a tear in his eye, I may start exclusively watching Survivor Series.
ReplyDeleteIt's weird, though, I can't find a complete 1988 anywhere.
Silver Linings Playbook? Oh, you mean that movie where crazy manic depressives are depicted by handsome and beautiful people as opposed to somebody with pale skin and a build up of spittle in the corner of their mouths?
ReplyDeleteOne Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, that movie was not.
I have no problem believing Outback has as much to do with Australia as I do. But, I usually get a good meal there. And, they have Foster's on tap, which I consider to be yummy. They could brew it in the Wyatt's basement, for all I care. ;-)
ReplyDeleteAnd, you just quoted Todd Snider to me. Nice.
Yup. :-)
ReplyDeleteIf I sat down with my publisher, had a discussion about each of the candidates and decided who was the best choice, I would be fine with writing the endorsements. But my boss just wants to go down the line and support the party line.
ReplyDeleteWhile he and I are both members of the same political party, I have ideological differences with some of the candidates and it seems like I'll be ticket splitting a bit this year.
I've had that issue with editors where we sit through an interview and both hear two different things. Since I'm the one who represented the beat, people thought it was my opinion, when it wasn't. But I just don't like endorsements in general.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of a "bloomin' onion', if that tells you something.
ReplyDeleteWe have the Fosters brand here, but again, I've never in person seen a can or bottle of Fosters beer itself.
The British love Fosters because it's watery, and you can drink 18 beers without being completely pissed. We'd rather get shitfaced on 12.
I'm just quoting one of my teachers on kicks and strikes; it's not that they can't be useful; he feels that they shouldn't be done before a certain age because of the development of the body. He has seen some really nasty dislocations on young and preteens that came from just punching and bad joint locks.
ReplyDeleteAnd, you might be able to kick my ass. I'd prefer not to find out.
Plus he only charges like $25 per ticket. Nice fella.
ReplyDeleteRick Ross is a sellout
ReplyDeleteOnyx were sellouts
Hammer was a sellout
The Rock did what was best for his career.
I agree - but at the same time I guess you can argue it illustrates that mental illness is everywhere. It can be our Dad's gambling problem, that incredibly sexy girl that boned you despite you being six leagues out of her ball park, it can be the college professor everyone really liked, but one day went nutso.
ReplyDeleteYour manic depressive, crazy people look crazy sometimes, but often times it's bubbling just under the surface. I think Cooper did a GREAT job playing the issues he had not as a facet of his character, but something he simply can't control.
We've all been obsessed, be it as kids or adults, with something, perhaps too much. I was hung up on the same girl for a very long time, and felt like a crazy person because I couldn't *not* be hung up on her. I'd get in shape, I'd write a novel, that'd show her, when in reality I had to show myself, first.
I agree the movie has problems, but the cool thing about it is that it's SUCH a good rom-com that it CAN have those sorts of problems and discussion points. Things aren't 100 perfect and traditional, and while there's a happy ending, and we know their journey isn't quite through, we know Cooper is in Therapy, Lawrence has found a man that didn't try to fuck her within the first five minutes of meeting her, and that, well, everyone is crazy.
It's like Rocky.
They fill gaps.
Good on ya.
ReplyDeleteWell my issue was with TouchArcade, not Gamespot, but I agree. I have no problem being told what to write and how to write it, but don't tell me what to *say*, ya know?
ReplyDeleteI fucking loved that Dead Ahead game, I still play it, though it may be out of spite now, and it baffled me completely that they WOULDN'T want a ringing endorsement of a game that was free, which drives up page views.
Worse, I tried to review Quell: Memento, and my editor changed my rating without really letting me go back and change my words, so I ended up giving the game a really positive review, only to have a crummy star rating attached to it.
Business was mad good during the Power Rangers era, uh?
ReplyDeleteI hardly even play video games for the last 10 years or so, but I did preorder Simcity this year.
ReplyDeleteFuck EA.
Hahahahaha oh man I am sorry. If you get a chance look up "Shadow President" which is kind of like, Sim Global Economy where you're the President of 1990s America. It's a blast, and sort of realistic, too.
ReplyDeleteAnd the horse they road in on.
ReplyDeleteThat actually sounds fascinating and like a good exercise. I know it must be grating if you hate the person you're endorsing, but some of my favorite things are when a democrat has to say something positive about a republican, and so on.
ReplyDeletePeople don't live on party lines, and the closer we get to that in our politics, the better.
Well, before that it would have been Bruce Lee and/or kung fu flicks in general. Loved 'em when I was a kid.
ReplyDelete