Gladiators

[lydamorehouse]

I've been staying up late watching movies the last couple of nights. Mason, for some reason, has been having a lot of trouble falling asleep at night. We have a very strict routine involving when we turn off electronics, brush teeth, etc., etc., but, ever since he was an infant, Mason resists sleep -- not consciously, mind you, just because he's a very alert, interested kid. As he told me once, he has trouble turning off his brain. At any rate, he's told us that it really helps to hear the TV going quietly in the other room. This is normally not a problem, as Shawn and I are happy to stay up and catch up on our Netflix or whatever. However, the last couple of nights Shawn has been exhausted due to stress at work and the pain of her sprained ankle. Thus, I've been left on my own.

And without Netflix as an option, I've been left with network TV. We don't have cable, and I have to say there's not a lot on that really holds my attention. So, I went over to the old VHS cabneit to see if there were any movies or TV shows that I wanted to re-watch. On Tuesday night, I pulled out "The Matrix."

I'm so disappointed that the Wachowski brothers made the next two movies because it makes me embarassed to still LOVE the first one as much as I do. I seriously could watch "The Matrix" over and over. I mean, "I know kung fu," has become one of those phrases that have slipped in our family's personal lexicon. What's cool about that film? Neo *is* the one, and he TOTALLY kicks butt in a very satisfying way.

I'm thinking about all this because I've been considering what it is about cheesy, fun action films that appeals to me so much. My side project is basically that sort of thing. In a similar vein, I watched "Gladiator" last night. When I saw "Gladiator" in the theatres, I actually leapt out of my seat when Maximus is in Rome for the first battle in the Collesium. That scene is still rousing and made of awesome. It reminded me, once again, what was wrong with "Spartacus: Blood and Sand." The gladiator *needs* to be innately awesome. Like, whoa, look at you kicking butt all over town awesome.

Sigh.

Anyway, have to go get Shawn. She was at the doctor's following up with her sprained ankle.

Comments

[seawasp]

Don't let a director's later stupidities harm his earlier work. I don't acknowledge that Lucas ever made prequel movies to Star Wars, or that there was ever a version in which Han shot second. These do not affect the earlier work, so enjoy the Matrix all you want. (I think "The Thirteenth Floor" does the basic concept question better, but the Matrix had cooler action).

[riverrocks.livejournal.com]

If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend RED, which is playing at the Riverview (http://www.riverviewtheater.com/) through this Saturday. It totally fits into the cheesy fun action flick category.