(Official Seal to change soon)
Wow, we're getting sloppy with the Hall of Fames guys, real fucking sloppy! I'm disappointed in all of you, and its a good thing Dan doesn't have internet right now or he'd rip right into you lethargic Teds...don't ever make me wait like that again! Now that I've berated my fellow writers for my own failures, (taking responsibility for your actions is lame) its time to get down to business. This week: Anthony, like a delicate songbird, sings the praises of arcade style basketball at its finest; Dabs goes on to induct a collaboration between my two favorite actors, and in the process makes me want to steal things; Pat touches base on the fine line between listening to an album 1000 times and going insane; and examine the Bible of panicked government hating crazies in our first ever book inductee. Sick week guys! And for the record, Blogger lets me change time and retroactively post (I like to think of myself as Doc Brown right about now). So looking at the publishing date, we were in a sense on time...just don’t make me do that ever again...
The Game: NBA Hang Time
Hook up your multitap, find 3 friends with a SNES controller each to their name, and you will have a hard time beating this for pure gaming bliss. NBA Jam revolutionized sports-arcade gaming by tuning up the excess that makes sports great, while cutting off the technical fat (fouls, free throws, out of bounds... uh, you know, the rules) that often gives the games a big barrier of entry for less enthusiastic fans. The less popular, but far superior, Hangtime follow-up may have missed the NBA Jam trend, but it perfected the formula. The create-a-player option lets you ball as some real freaks, and the record holders provide some real bragging rights, which are at the hart and soul of the experience. It takes a timeless game to make the PtP halls, and Hang Time is as fun today as it was more than a decade ago. My palms are sweating just thinking about it.
-Anthony
The Movie: Heat
You can tell when watching this movie that Michael Mann was really running on all 8 cylinders. It didn't hurt that he had an all star cast - including DeNiro, Pacino, Kilmer, Sizemore and Ashley Judd to name a few - to bring his screenplay alive.
This movie has, in my opinion, the best bank heist scene ever. It makes M-16's look freaking awesome (which they are) and the music, sound and action all swing together like some apocalyptic symphony of death. Watching DeNiro and Kilmer just rattle off rounds that blow through cops and their cars while running around the streets of LA with millions of dollars strapped to their backs definitely gets the adrenaline pumping.
But what makes this Michael Man film memorable - like all great films - is the small things. The plot, acting and big action is obviously key, but the seemingly insignificant details that Mann included flush out some already great characters. Take for instance Al Pacino's character, Det. Vincent Hannah. For just a moment, after an argument with his wife, he makes a move to go and console her, then sits back down and turns on the tv and pours some whiskey. First off, what a man move. But this is probably a half a second part in the movie and pretty easily missed, especially if you are looking down for some popcorn or a raisinet. However, that small action describes so much regarding Hannah's relationship with his wife and his past two marriages. It is this type of character nuance and detail that separates a great movie from a good one. Every character has moments like this during Heat and all the actors have their chance to shine.
The plot may be a bit predictable, but Mann adds his own style to make an interwoven series of events that is required in a true "crime saga", as the movie was promoted.
If you haven't seen it, rent it or Netflix it. It's worth the investment. And you can see DeNiro deliver some ominous dialogue. My favorite:
DeNiro: What am I doing? I'm talking to an empty telephone.
William Fitchner: I don't understand.
DeNiro: 'Cause there is a dead man on the other end of this fuckin' line.
*click*
-Dabs
The Album: Meteora by Linkin Park
You know those days where you just want to say to hell with the world or that there is something you want to work out in your mind but need some good tunes but at the same time maybe a little anger/self reliance thrown in there, then Meteora is your ticket.
Back in the day I wasn’t really one to care much about Linkin Park, but then this album came around and I must have listened to the whole thing at least 1,000 times. It has a flow to the songs that makes it an easy progression throughout the entire performance and it has its re-occurring themes of “screw you, I’m doing this for myself, and self discovery”. Granted I think if you listen to it too much you could fall into a state of self-loathing so listener beware. But if you need a little angry music with an interesting pissed off motivational tinge, then this just might do the trick.
Just trying on “Breaking the Habit” or “Somewhere I Belong” for size and end the ensemble with a little dash of “Numb” and you’ll feel like you’re ready to tear down some fools or at least look like a tough guy for a minute before you step back into reality. If that happens just tune into “It’s Easier to Run” and rinse, wash, and repeat.
-Pat
The Book: Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell
Wow! Our first book inductee into the Hall of Fame...and quite possibly the reason why last weeks post was delayed until now...sorry guys. At any rate, I struggled to find a book to induct, mainly because whatever I wrote would in someway detract from Anthony's ability to vomit poetic majesty about literature later on. All the while fighting my demons, Pat was consistently bitching at me. Telling me to hurry up, telling me to get to work, trying to get in my head, trying to control my thoughts... totalitarian prick! And that’s when it hit me...Nineteen Eighty-Four. I am living Nineteen Eighty-Four...taking some liberties of course: Pat is definitely Big Brother, Dabs can be the Outer Party, and Anthony, well I was hoping he’d be my beautiful red-sashed Julia...That disturbing statement aside, Nineteen Eighty-Four is a truly powerful novel that makes us question the very nature of government, language, censorship, and sexual repression. George Orwell's dystopic masterpiece is at the very core, a warning against excessive control...something gives my bombastic political side an arousing groin rub. That’s not to say I'm one of those crazies who thinks I'm being bugged...hell if I was PtP would have more hits and we'd all be better off, but it is a cautionary tale for ages if one can actually discuss it would attracting anarchist dingbats. Every government-hating-conspiracy-theorist-lunatic out there has at some point looked to Nineteen Eighty-Four for guidance. It is without question their Book of Revelation. A battle chant, a podium to stand on, a language to converse, a shoulder to cry on, a book that understands their fears and like a cheap hooker to a wealthy John says “use me honey, use me til’ I’m dry". I’ll give the nut jobs credit, good taste in books guys, double plus good!
On a side note, the idea of Anthony as a girl is suspiciously appealing...
-Matt
Hook up your multitap, find 3 friends with a SNES controller each to their name, and you will have a hard time beating this for pure gaming bliss. NBA Jam revolutionized sports-arcade gaming by tuning up the excess that makes sports great, while cutting off the technical fat (fouls, free throws, out of bounds... uh, you know, the rules) that often gives the games a big barrier of entry for less enthusiastic fans. The less popular, but far superior, Hangtime follow-up may have missed the NBA Jam trend, but it perfected the formula. The create-a-player option lets you ball as some real freaks, and the record holders provide some real bragging rights, which are at the hart and soul of the experience. It takes a timeless game to make the PtP halls, and Hang Time is as fun today as it was more than a decade ago. My palms are sweating just thinking about it.
-Anthony
The Movie: Heat
You can tell when watching this movie that Michael Mann was really running on all 8 cylinders. It didn't hurt that he had an all star cast - including DeNiro, Pacino, Kilmer, Sizemore and Ashley Judd to name a few - to bring his screenplay alive.
This movie has, in my opinion, the best bank heist scene ever. It makes M-16's look freaking awesome (which they are) and the music, sound and action all swing together like some apocalyptic symphony of death. Watching DeNiro and Kilmer just rattle off rounds that blow through cops and their cars while running around the streets of LA with millions of dollars strapped to their backs definitely gets the adrenaline pumping.
But what makes this Michael Man film memorable - like all great films - is the small things. The plot, acting and big action is obviously key, but the seemingly insignificant details that Mann included flush out some already great characters. Take for instance Al Pacino's character, Det. Vincent Hannah. For just a moment, after an argument with his wife, he makes a move to go and console her, then sits back down and turns on the tv and pours some whiskey. First off, what a man move. But this is probably a half a second part in the movie and pretty easily missed, especially if you are looking down for some popcorn or a raisinet. However, that small action describes so much regarding Hannah's relationship with his wife and his past two marriages. It is this type of character nuance and detail that separates a great movie from a good one. Every character has moments like this during Heat and all the actors have their chance to shine.
The plot may be a bit predictable, but Mann adds his own style to make an interwoven series of events that is required in a true "crime saga", as the movie was promoted.
If you haven't seen it, rent it or Netflix it. It's worth the investment. And you can see DeNiro deliver some ominous dialogue. My favorite:
DeNiro: What am I doing? I'm talking to an empty telephone.
William Fitchner: I don't understand.
DeNiro: 'Cause there is a dead man on the other end of this fuckin' line.
*click*
-Dabs
The Album: Meteora by Linkin Park
You know those days where you just want to say to hell with the world or that there is something you want to work out in your mind but need some good tunes but at the same time maybe a little anger/self reliance thrown in there, then Meteora is your ticket.
Back in the day I wasn’t really one to care much about Linkin Park, but then this album came around and I must have listened to the whole thing at least 1,000 times. It has a flow to the songs that makes it an easy progression throughout the entire performance and it has its re-occurring themes of “screw you, I’m doing this for myself, and self discovery”. Granted I think if you listen to it too much you could fall into a state of self-loathing so listener beware. But if you need a little angry music with an interesting pissed off motivational tinge, then this just might do the trick.
Just trying on “Breaking the Habit” or “Somewhere I Belong” for size and end the ensemble with a little dash of “Numb” and you’ll feel like you’re ready to tear down some fools or at least look like a tough guy for a minute before you step back into reality. If that happens just tune into “It’s Easier to Run” and rinse, wash, and repeat.
-Pat
The Book: Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell
Wow! Our first book inductee into the Hall of Fame...and quite possibly the reason why last weeks post was delayed until now...sorry guys. At any rate, I struggled to find a book to induct, mainly because whatever I wrote would in someway detract from Anthony's ability to vomit poetic majesty about literature later on. All the while fighting my demons, Pat was consistently bitching at me. Telling me to hurry up, telling me to get to work, trying to get in my head, trying to control my thoughts... totalitarian prick! And that’s when it hit me...Nineteen Eighty-Four. I am living Nineteen Eighty-Four...taking some liberties of course: Pat is definitely Big Brother, Dabs can be the Outer Party, and Anthony, well I was hoping he’d be my beautiful red-sashed Julia...That disturbing statement aside, Nineteen Eighty-Four is a truly powerful novel that makes us question the very nature of government, language, censorship, and sexual repression. George Orwell's dystopic masterpiece is at the very core, a warning against excessive control...something gives my bombastic political side an arousing groin rub. That’s not to say I'm one of those crazies who thinks I'm being bugged...hell if I was PtP would have more hits and we'd all be better off, but it is a cautionary tale for ages if one can actually discuss it would attracting anarchist dingbats. Every government-hating-conspiracy-theorist-lunatic out there has at some point looked to Nineteen Eighty-Four for guidance. It is without question their Book of Revelation. A battle chant, a podium to stand on, a language to converse, a shoulder to cry on, a book that understands their fears and like a cheap hooker to a wealthy John says “use me honey, use me til’ I’m dry". I’ll give the nut jobs credit, good taste in books guys, double plus good!
On a side note, the idea of Anthony as a girl is suspiciously appealing...
-Matt
About time...I had lost hope in PtP for a little bit. But this Hall of Fame makes up for it. Great choices.
ReplyDeleteNBA hangtime has got to be one of the best group games ever. Halo can suck hangtime's pixelated junk. I remember trying to beat Bean's game winning streak in this game...playing all night long. Never made it, his record was at like 138 games or something ridiculous like that. You might think that winning 138 games straight would make this game suck. Not so though, it was all about the numbers, high scoring, and getting the W. I might have to dust of the old SNES sometime soon...
I can't believe I made it so long in life without seeing Heat. I watched it probably 2 years ago for the first time with Parker. Wow. Friggen' great movie. What guy doesn't dream of being a character from this movie? Watching it just makes me want to go out and shoot a couple rounds off...alright...maybe a couple thousand rounds.
It might just be me, but I find that Linkin' Park has lost a little bit of appeal as the years have gone by. When I first got the CD's as they came out, I listened to them constantly. But I now find myself hitting next on iTunes when they start playing.
Lastly, I am ashamed to say that I have never read 1984. I have heard praises about the book from Anthony and Matt. I guess it was good enough for Anthony to quit an art class over. I guess I have one more book to add to my reading list.
Side note to Matt, make me wait until Tuesday for another Hall of Fame and I'm out for good. Your 2nd place on the hit meter will be gone. You son of a b.
Dude! Go read that book!
ReplyDeleteThe Album: Approximately 33,000 minutes of Pat's life that he will never get back.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, that album was named after the Meteora rock formation in Greece. As the story would have it, the band was inspired by its greatness to write the album, trying to convey that same feeling of awe. Unfortunately, they failed. It must be a tough day when you realize a rock formation has more talent than you.