bill bodkin keeps it coming, this time for the 7th week
If you didn’t notice, there was no column last week…sorry folks gotta pay the bills, so work comes first, especially with a wedding in November. So I’ve combined stuff from the past few weeks into one column, enjoy!
Pop Culture: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
I was immersed in the world of nerdiness during the midnight showing of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. You can read an excellent review by Logan Fowler here. My thoughts on the night — last time I checked I wasn’t exactly supercool and considered myself a bit of a nerd. But honestly, I felt like a 40 year old dude at a Reel Big Fish 
concert..or more accurately a 28 year-old guy at a Reel Big Fish concert — seemingly in the know, but completely not jiving with the young folk and feeling totally out of place. In terms of the movie, I thought it was a masterful display of Edgar Wright’s visual brilliance in terms of comic timing and fantastical thought. His casting was spot on awesome, the music superb — I just HATED the Scott Pilgrim character. I was informed by many a Pilgrim fan, that this character is supposed to be a real chode, but honestly he was so unlikeable that I would completely disconnect from the film. And I don’t think that’s a good thing. However, Wright, one of my all-time favorito directors, really delivered on all cylinders so that obnoxiousness of Pilgrim was minimized by just about everything Wright put on screen. The film is currently floundering at the box office, which means this has CULT CLASSIC written all over it. I recommend it to all those who are looking for a unique alternative to the current crop of films out there. College students prepare to find the movie that speaks to you. This and The Expendables.
Movies: One Was Kick-Ass, The Other Assed Out
Two weekends or so ago, it was a Redbox kind of night. Two films were chosen, the overly hyped yet underseen Kick-Ass and the equally underseen yet critically praised Greenberg.
Kick-Ass, also reviewed by Logan Fowler, was one of those movies I had hoped the hype didn’t kill. It was pushed so hard by marketing 
teams as a cult movie, as something different, that I almost didn’t believe. When Hollywood tells you something is crazy and unique — be afraid. Luckily, my spider senses of sucktitude were wrong, Kick-Ass indeed kicks ass. Imagine a hyperviolent Spider-Man loaded with buckets of blood, bullets and a little girl action hero who swears like a sailor. Yes, it’s moral compass goes way astray in terms of the Hit-Girl character, but otherwise this movie is aces. One of my favorite characters/performances in the film is from Nicolas Cage’s Big Daddy. Yes, we all know Cage is a super comic book nerds, but Ghost Rider was awful and his current film resume isn’t exactly stellar, so I was a bit skeptical Cage still had any left in the acting tank. Thankfully he does and he gives one hell of an engaging performance. I’m also stoked that director Matthew Vaughn, who helmed the incredibly underrated caper flick Layer Cake, was able to flex his directorial muscle in America. I thought the film was pieced together terrifically and is definitely worth a rent if you’re into the whole comic book movie thing.
Well, if Kick-Ass was kick-ass then Greenberg was just plain assed-out. Yes, very mature of me, but this was an amazingly awful film. What initially intrigued me about this film was that Ben Stiller was 
returning the world of drama. I’ve been told his work in Permanent Midnight and Your Friends & Neighbors was amazing; so couple that with some kind words from critics and I figured this could be a solid indie flick. Nope. Greenberg, much like it’s main character, is a self-absorbed, utterly pointless and dreadfully dull film. The performances are solid but what the actors are given by writer/director Noah Baumbach (The Squid & The Whale) and wife Jennifer Jason Leigh, is awful. Relative newcomer Greta Gerwig plays our female lead Florence and instead of giving us a powerful lead, we’re given an immature and idiotic female character who for no reason is head over heels with Stiller’s character. Stiller’s character is completely one-note: depressed. Nothing really changes about him. So our plot is an immature woman falls for a depressed guy who wallows in his own misery. Pass the popcorn! Seriously not worth a rent.
Music: Anthrax…WTF!
Yes Anthrax, what the froog. I’ve been a massive fan of Anthrax for years. I consider their 1998 release Volume 8: The Threat is Real! one of my top 10 favorite albums of all-time. They are an amazing, amazing 
band. They helped bring the fusion of metal and hip-hop together with their groundbreaking collaboration “Bring the Noise” with Public Enemy back in the 90s. But I’ve been seriously waiting for seven years for a new record. It’s just frustrating — they actually cut a record with a new lead singer, Dan Nelson, but the band and Nelson went splitsville and still no new record. I really wish they’d throw former lead singer John Bush, who does a lot of voiceovers for Burger King commercials, a buttload of cash to get him to record a new album and they can tour in New Jersey (which they never seem to do) and I can finally see them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBA-xi8WuCU
Television: Tosh.0
I wanted to save this for another blog, but I have to admit it, I love Tosh.0. I really shouldn’t because it’s 
basically America’s Funniest Home Videos with a hipper host. And I hate America’s Funniest Home Videos with a burning passion. Yet, there’s something about Tosh.0 that I just can’t help but loving. Daniel Tosh is an excellent host for this show — he’s quick-witted and snarky as all hell, he’s arrogant but completely relatable. He’s a jerk but you love him for it. His “web redemption” segments where he takes the subject of a classic YouTube disaster (the world’s worst comic, the foul mouthed preacher, the terrible weatherman) and gives them a second chance (all the while completely ripping on their failure) is absolute gold. This show is so funny that my short description cannot do it justice. Just tune into his show on Comedy Central and laugh your ass off — just don’t tape it and put it on YouTube, he’ll find you.
Food: Red Robin
The ads don’t lie — yum indeed. Red Robin is not the most prolific chain in New Jersey, but if you live near 
South Plainfield, I say make the trek, it’s well worth it. The concept is simple and classic — burgers, served right. We’re taking fat, juicy burgers that just are oozing flavor. I ordered the Guacamole Bacon Burger and honestly I could care less about the guac. It was almost unnecessary; because those burgers are so tasty. I mean just slap a slice of Swiss on it with a few strips of bacon and I’m ready to go. Oh and the amazing thing about Red Robin is that you can add a second burger patty onto your already stacked burger for very little money and trust me it’s worth it! Burger lovers, I deem this place a haven that you must check out. They also serve beer, which is a very positive thing for me and if you aren’t into burgers, don’t sweat it, there’s plenty of other menu items to check out.
I still kind of disagree with your views on Scott Pilgrim. And with whoever said he’s kind of a chode. I thought the character was much more lovable in the books, as was pretty much every other character. The movie cut out everything but the bare-bones essential plot points, which I feel hurt the movie a bit. They could have easily done two movies, or an animated series and put in more of the stuff that makes Scott more of a relateable character. I think a big part of the reason that he was really kind of annoying in the movie was the lack of development that the books had that helped the reader relate to him. The only one that was more or less the same on screen and in the book was Kieran Culkin’s portrayal of Wallace Wells, and he stole every scene he was in. Other than that, I loved the movie, and agree with your stance on Edgar Wright. Easily in top 5 directors at the moment, and has been since I first saw Shaun of the Dead.
I think I was the one who said Permanent Midnight and My Friends and Neighbors were good…which explains why Greenburg was my choice and, ultimately, my mistake. Bad call….my bad.
Don’t ever put Anne Hale and Brent in the same room.