AJ, I wanted to thank you for your great review of Freaks & Geeks. In regards to the bullying aspect, I can say that it was definitely like that in 1980. And not just in Michigan, but where I was at in rural northern California as well, when I was just starting junior high. And it was the same in Illinois a couple of years later, going into high school. In fact, the show feels about 90-95% true to my experience from the time, which is one reason I love the show as much as I do. Times do change, and so do students, so hopefully it's gotten much better since then. But yes, I was picked on in 1980, and probably did my own little bit of bullying, but it did occur.
Ever seen the movie My Bodyguard from 1980? That was about as bad as it usually got (the bullying, that is, not the film itself).
Damn, I tried to preview all my discs before sending them out, too. If anybody else is having the problem, let me know and I'd be glad to replace your disc, or at the very least upload the affected tracks somewhere for you guys.
I'm really glad you enjoyed the mix, AJ. Regarding the Nat King Cole song, I always find it fascinating to hear the old guard take on modern pop music. Seems like the same things Nat said would be echoed some twenty years later in regards to the rising of hip hop.
With all apologies, Odysseus, I sent out all the discs that I did have last Friday. But if yours just happens to be on its way to me as we speak, I'd be glad to send you my mix as a consolation prize (or as punishment, depending on its quality).
Good luck getting out from under that snow! The PacNorWest has had about as much but hasn't had the power problems.
1. Joel Coen: The Big Lebowski (it alternates with Miller's Crossing)
2. Wes Anderson: Rushmore
3. Hal Ashby: Harold and Maude (why the major dislike for it? I love it, personally)
4. Kevin Smith: Clerks (out of default)
5. Quentin Tarantino: Pulp Fiction
6. Stanley Kubrick: 2001: A Space Odyssey
7. P.T. Anderson: Boogie Nights
8. Errol Morris: The Fog Of War
9. David Lynch: Mulholland Drive (the only "difficult" Lynch movie I've enjoyed, actually)
I like to think I'm pretty good with album covers, and I found this to be pretty difficult. I ended up getting 12 right, and after finding the answers, I should've had about 3-4 more.
Allow me to be the latest to say how much I've enjoyed and appreciated the site and your leadership of such, Jim. I may not have been as prolific as some listers, but I nonetheless read through it several times a day and was always glad to throw in my two cents' worth.
Seeing that you've had this going for nine years (an eternity for the internets!) had me thinking of joining up for the first time in 2004. I started out as Macheath then, and was duly impressed by your very refreshing, honest, and succinct movie reviews, lbangs' vast wealth of music knowledge, AJ's grasp of film and music appreciation at his age, and far too many other users' traits to mention here. I also started watching Yimou films, so that was a bonus.
If it all goes away, it'll be a sad event, but we'll all be grateful for the opportunity to have participated. If it continues on in some way, excellent! I'll keep my fingers crossed.
I don't understand why he left off Cheap Trick's At Budokan. Some are pretty inspired choices, such as Zevon, Talking Heads, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Costello, the Ramones. I'd recommend Ritchie Valens At Pacoima jr. High, The Beatles Live At The Hollywood Bowl, Full House by J. Geils Band, Nighthawks At The Diner by Tom Waits, and definitely A Session With The Remains.
I believe 12 is from Into The Mystic (Van Morrison) and 36 is Graham Parker from You Can't Be Too Strong ("but everybody else is
squeezing out a spark") , yeah?
29 - Wilco, obviously, but is the song Radio Cure?
Ah, that's what I thought you were getting at. In some of these cases the directors were probably asked to remake their earlier films because they achieved some level of success in their environment (note that a few of these resulted in an English language remake, like Sluizer's), and for others it was likely a case of the director wondering how he'd handle the story in a more contemporary setting (thinking of Capra and Hitchcock here). Either way, it's like trying to get lightning to strike twice. It's gotta be pretty difficult to replicate a particular mix of acting talent, writing, directing, and maybe even the catering a second time.
I'm not too active on twitter, but my handle there is lpstd.
Kaplan, are you not seeing all the numbers? It's showing that I'm at 182 now.
And here's the list.
AJ, I wanted to thank you for your great review of Freaks & Geeks. In regards to the bullying aspect, I can say that it was definitely like that in 1980. And not just in Michigan, but where I was at in rural northern California as well, when I was just starting junior high. And it was the same in Illinois a couple of years later, going into high school. In fact, the show feels about 90-95% true to my experience from the time, which is one reason I love the show as much as I do. Times do change, and so do students, so hopefully it's gotten much better since then. But yes, I was picked on in 1980, and probably did my own little bit of bullying, but it did occur.
Ever seen the movie My Bodyguard from 1980? That was about as bad as it usually got (the bullying, that is, not the film itself).
I'd like to play again. I don't have a list ready to go yet, but I will before the first update, if not tonight.
Thanks for doing this again.
Damn, I tried to preview all my discs before sending them out, too. If anybody else is having the problem, let me know and I'd be glad to replace your disc, or at the very least upload the affected tracks somewhere for you guys.
I'm really glad you enjoyed the mix, AJ. Regarding the Nat King Cole song, I always find it fascinating to hear the old guard take on modern pop music. Seems like the same things Nat said would be echoed some twenty years later in regards to the rising of hip hop.
With all apologies, Odysseus, I sent out all the discs that I did have last Friday. But if yours just happens to be on its way to me as we speak, I'd be glad to send you my mix as a consolation prize (or as punishment, depending on its quality).
Good luck getting out from under that snow! The PacNorWest has had about as much but hasn't had the power problems.
Right-o, I'll play.
1. Joel Coen: The Big Lebowski (it alternates with Miller's Crossing)
2. Wes Anderson: Rushmore
3. Hal Ashby: Harold and Maude (why the major dislike for it? I love it, personally)
4. Kevin Smith: Clerks (out of default)
5. Quentin Tarantino: Pulp Fiction
6. Stanley Kubrick: 2001: A Space Odyssey
7. P.T. Anderson: Boogie Nights
8. Errol Morris: The Fog Of War
9. David Lynch: Mulholland Drive (the only "difficult" Lynch movie I've enjoyed, actually)
I like to think I'm pretty good with album covers, and I found this to be pretty difficult. I ended up getting 12 right, and after finding the answers, I should've had about 3-4 more.
No problem, I'm looking forward to doing it!
Now, if the project goes haywire, I'll know who to go after! :-)
Allow me to be the latest to say how much I've enjoyed and appreciated the site and your leadership of such, Jim. I may not have been as prolific as some listers, but I nonetheless read through it several times a day and was always glad to throw in my two cents' worth.
Seeing that you've had this going for nine years (an eternity for the internets!) had me thinking of joining up for the first time in 2004. I started out as Macheath then, and was duly impressed by your very refreshing, honest, and succinct movie reviews, lbangs' vast wealth of music knowledge, AJ's grasp of film and music appreciation at his age, and far too many other users' traits to mention here. I also started watching Yimou films, so that was a bonus.
If it all goes away, it'll be a sad event, but we'll all be grateful for the opportunity to have participated. If it continues on in some way, excellent! I'll keep my fingers crossed.
I don't understand why he left off Cheap Trick's At Budokan. Some are pretty inspired choices, such as Zevon, Talking Heads, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Costello, the Ramones. I'd recommend Ritchie Valens At Pacoima jr. High, The Beatles Live At The Hollywood Bowl, Full House by J. Geils Band, Nighthawks At The Diner by Tom Waits, and definitely A Session With The Remains.
At least he didn't include KISS or Frampton.
I believe 12 is from Into The Mystic (Van Morrison) and 36 is Graham Parker from You Can't Be Too Strong ("but everybody else is
squeezing out a spark") , yeah?
29 - Wilco, obviously, but is the song Radio Cure?
Ah, that's what I thought you were getting at. In some of these cases the directors were probably asked to remake their earlier films because they achieved some level of success in their environment (note that a few of these resulted in an English language remake, like Sluizer's), and for others it was likely a case of the director wondering how he'd handle the story in a more contemporary setting (thinking of Capra and Hitchcock here). Either way, it's like trying to get lightning to strike twice. It's gotta be pretty difficult to replicate a particular mix of acting talent, writing, directing, and maybe even the catering a second time.
Man....I don't know if I should be relieved or pissed.