Dogtown and Z-Boys (2002)

Featuring: Sean Penn. Director: Stacey Peralta

Warning: This documentary will only be streaming until May 18th so act fast!

I never fully realized how much I like watching documentaries on topics I care absolutely nothing about until I started writing this blog. There is something about documentaries that just sucks me in and forces me to watch them. Somehow I become fascinated by topics as mundane as origami and the California bar exam so long as it is presented in a documentary format.

Dogtown and Z-Boys, for example, is a documentary about skateboarding. I've never really given two s**** about skateboarding, I never really hung around with skateboarders much and the only experience I have on a skateboard came when I was about ten years old. I saved up a bunch of sku's from Kool-Aid packets for about a year and then sent them off in exchange for a skateboard. I got on the skateboard, proceeded to fall on my ass, and never used it again. Now, despite having little interest in the sport I will sit down and watch people talk about it for an hour and a half if it's narrated by Sean Penn. All because it's a documentary and I'm compelled to watch them all.

I think it has something to do with my attraction to passionate people and the only way you'll be featured in a documentary is if you're passionate about something. The Z-Boys were definitely a passionate crew. They were basically a bunch of young punks from Venice Beach (when Venice Beach was still a s***hole) who loved surfing, but since they could only surf for a few hours a day they started skateboarding. While they didn't invent the sport, they pioneered the techniques and style we think of when we think of skateboardering today. As you can imagine they have some pretty damn good stories and some of them even became known as the best skateboarders in the world. It made for an entertaining 90 minutes.

If you're into skateboarding this is a must-see. If, like me, you enjoy watching any sort of documentary or learning about counter-culture movements you should probably consider giving this one a look too. I enjoyed myself.

To add this documentary to your Netflix queue click here.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 5/18/11. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? I'll watch any documentary. Plus, if Sean Penn is attached it must be good.

Is it artsy? Nope, just a bunch of punk kids doing what punk kids do best.

What stood out the most to you? The stories of the various forms of mischief these kids would get into.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Looking to kick back and be a rebel from the comfort of your living room.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 3 Stars. 

Tweet

Slap Shot (1977)

Featuring: Paul Newman, Michael Ontkean. Director: George Roy Hill.

Warning: This movie will only stream until April 30th so act fast!

There aren't many great actors that can do both comedies and dramas. Comedic and dramatic timing just seem to be on different wavelengths. Paul Newman, however, can pull it off. He's always had a sort of mischievous look to him and provided a sense of humor to most of the roles he's played. Plus, it's friggin Paul Newman, he can do whatever he wants.

Slap Shot is a raunchy sports comedy about an awful minor league hockey team that is going to fold unless they turn their season around. Really cliched, right? Yea, it's your average underdog sports movie plot, except that they don't start winning because of hard work and stick-to-it-iveness. They start winning because they decide to just start beating the crap out of the other team.

If you're looking for a foul-mouthed sports movie filled with guy humor this is your best bet. This movie wrote the blueprint for movies like Major League and holds up really well. This is still a very funny movie, the only thing dated is all the polyester.

Click here to add this movie to your Netflix queue. 

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 4/30/11. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? Paul Newman.

Is it artsy? Not in the least.

What stood out the most to you? The Hansons. No, not the band.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Looking for crude humor that is very well done.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 3 Stars. 

Tweet

Punch (2002)

This was my review from yesterday's horrible movie blogring.

I would like to begin this review by quoting the summary for this movie from Netflix:

“This gritty story is a real jab to the solar plexus!”

 I really couldn’t agree more, Netflix. I do feel like I just got punched. Although, I do take exception with you using the word “gritty” when I could think of much better words for that sentence. For example: creepy; misleading; plotless; and saggy.

This story is about a college-aged girl with some really, really creepy issues. She’s the kind of girl that grows up to be a drug-addicted stripper and then ends up giving drug-addicted strippers a bad name. The movie starts off with her giving her father a massage in a public swimming pool that comes off as very inappropriate. Little did I know the what-the-f***ness of the whole movie would go off the charts later on when she got her dad to give her a breast exam.

I make a habit of watching pretty messed up movies but this one was just full of eww. If reading that last paragraph felt gross and dirty to you then just imagine actually watching it! I apologize to Ginny for any disturbing search results this post results in, sorry! Anyway, eventually the dad brings home a date and the girl ends up punching her in the face. Yada, yada, yada (and yes, I can just yada past these parts because they aren’t really worth repeating)  and suddenly topless boxing is a part of the storyline.

Now before you guys start getting all excited I should mention that this isn’t exactly foxey boxing. One of the not-so-foxey-boxers is OK enough looking but she looked a lot better with her top on. The other one looks more like a truck driver than a woman you’d pay a cover charge to see naked. The creepy girl eventually ends up fighting one of the topless boxers in a street fight and get’s her ass kicked and that’s pretty much it.

Needless to say this movie brought out a lot of emotions for me such as disdain, and apathy (does apathy count as an emotion?). None of the characters are likable, there was no point to the whole sordid affair, and I don’t think anyone really learned anything. I’m not even sure this should really count as a sports movie. Oh well. Anyhow, if you like movies with creepy girls that make creepy passes at their fathers then this movie is for you! By that, I mean that you should really seek help right now, sicko. Don’t bother with this one, it’s an hour and a half you’ll never get back. Strangely though, I think morbid curiosity may still make you add this one to your queue.

To add this movie to your Netflix queue click here.

According to instantwatcher.com this movie will be available to stream until 10/10/11.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? I needed a bad sports movie to review for the blogring.

Is it artsy? No.

What stood out the most to you? How crazy that girl is.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Looking to be creeped out.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 2 Stars.

Tweet