So, I think that you can see what my blog is going to be about this time.
You know, I can actually put up with the hipsters themselves. What I can't stand are the actions that they choose. I can handle the weird colored shoes, the skin-tight jeans, the obscure band t-shirts, the fake glasses that they don't need, their straightened hair, the weird colored hats that they wear, the fact they listen to shitty music, and even the stupid obscure movies that they enjoy watching. Whatever. I could care less. It's their choice.
I just don't like the hipsters who like to put different spins on things that don't need to be messed with. You know what I mean. I am talking about those hipsters who like to take something classic and decent and try to make it modern and hip. It has effected many different professions, but it has become most prevalent in the arts.
What I am most concerned with what they are doing to theatre. Why do they have to take things that are classic and change them around? Taking a classic play and twisting it around to make it modern and hip is wrong. I don't know why they do the things they do. I think the real reason is because they want to try and make a name for themselves, but they feel as though the only way to do so is to try and put different spins on classics. I hate when people try to put their own spin on things. It happens a lot with Shakespeare's works when directors think that since it is old, no one is going to understand it. They don't realize that if they change anything, then it is going to just get more confusing for people and they will just start asking questions about it, and they will walk away pissed off. That is what most hipsters don't realize. It's fine to be a creative artist, but when you change things too much, then you are just going to piss a lot of people off.
That's really all I have to say. I think hipsters need to stop messing around with things. You should just stick to being the weirdos that you are. You will make the world so much happier.
Movie Reviews from Michael Badlands Barry
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
MOVIE REVIEW: Rise of the Planet of the Apes
I figured that I would also do some movie reviews here on my blog. I am an avid movie goer, and I figured that I would share my opinion on the movies that I watch. You may not agree with my opinions, but like I have said before, you don't have to read my blog!
Now, today's movie is Rise of the Planet of the Apes. I saw this with my lovely girlfriend on Sunday night. I like to go and see movies a little after they come out because I am guaranteed to see them. No one goes to see certain movies if they have been in the theatre for too long. That's when I like to go and see them.
Anyways, the synopsis of the movie: This film is set in present-day San Fransisco where a scientist named Will (played by James Franco) is working on a serum that could cure Alzheimer's disease. He must find it quickly because his father Charles (John Lithgow) is suffering from Alzheimers and is slipping quickly. His company tests his serum on an ape, who goes crazy on the day that they were presenting the drug to the board, because she was protecting her newborn babe. When they are forced to put her down, they find the baby all alone and swaddled in a blanket. To keep the baby from being put down, Will brings the baby home with him. Will's father names him Caesar because that was the play that he was reading . As the baby grows, Will notices that the serum was passed down from the mother to the baby, making him smart. As Caesar grows into a full-grown chimp, his intelligence grows tremendously. Also, as his intelligence grows, his awareness of where he came from also grows, along with his awareness of what he is. But Will started using serum on his father, and he improved tremendously, but after a couple years, his body started rejecting it. That's when things got worse. When Charles has a breakdown and wanders outside and crashes his neighbor's car, the neighbor started poking him. When Caesar sees this, he gets defensive of Charles and attacks the neighbor. Because of this, Caesar is forced to be put into a monkey "sanctuary." There, he is treated terribly with all of the other apes. Because of the clothes that he is wearing, Caesar causes hostility from the other apes. He realizes that his kind is being persecuted. Since he is intelligent, he realizes that if the apes join together, they cannot be stopped. So he devises a plan to bring the apes up to his level of intelligence, and they stage a breakout. From there, all hell breaks loose.
In my opinion, this was one of the best movies that I have seen this summer. I think that they definitely redeemed themselves from the first Apes remake, which was not well recieved by the public. I was really glad that they decided to use CGI to make the monkeys instead of using people dressed as apes, like they did in the original movie.
There were a few things that I was not happy with. I thought that James Franco was a little weak with his performance. His performance seemed rather distant. It didn't seem like he made a connection at all. You can't really blame him. He was working with a man in a green suit. The audience was more attached to a CGI monkey than they were to James.
I thought that the performance of Caesar was done incredibly well. Andy Serkis, who also played to role of Gollum in the Lord of the Rings series, was the body behind the computer for Caesar. You really grew attached to the ape, even though it was a computerized one. The only thing I didn't like about his character was that he didn't really redeem himself in the end. If he was supposedly brought to human levels of intelligence, then he would know the right and wrong way to do things, right? I understand that he was oppressed, but once he broke out of the monkey prison, he kind of turned into a douchebag. I think that it would have come across a lot stronger if they gave the monkey some human morality or compassion. I think that it would have been better if he showed that he was better than the humans in the end. Instead, he sunk down to their level.
I still believe that this movie is a definite must-see. It really brings the old series some justice and saved it from that first remake. As long as they don't let Tim Burton anywhere near the other movies that they plan on making, then they should be fine.
Now, today's movie is Rise of the Planet of the Apes. I saw this with my lovely girlfriend on Sunday night. I like to go and see movies a little after they come out because I am guaranteed to see them. No one goes to see certain movies if they have been in the theatre for too long. That's when I like to go and see them.
Anyways, the synopsis of the movie: This film is set in present-day San Fransisco where a scientist named Will (played by James Franco) is working on a serum that could cure Alzheimer's disease. He must find it quickly because his father Charles (John Lithgow) is suffering from Alzheimers and is slipping quickly. His company tests his serum on an ape, who goes crazy on the day that they were presenting the drug to the board, because she was protecting her newborn babe. When they are forced to put her down, they find the baby all alone and swaddled in a blanket. To keep the baby from being put down, Will brings the baby home with him. Will's father names him Caesar because that was the play that he was reading . As the baby grows, Will notices that the serum was passed down from the mother to the baby, making him smart. As Caesar grows into a full-grown chimp, his intelligence grows tremendously. Also, as his intelligence grows, his awareness of where he came from also grows, along with his awareness of what he is. But Will started using serum on his father, and he improved tremendously, but after a couple years, his body started rejecting it. That's when things got worse. When Charles has a breakdown and wanders outside and crashes his neighbor's car, the neighbor started poking him. When Caesar sees this, he gets defensive of Charles and attacks the neighbor. Because of this, Caesar is forced to be put into a monkey "sanctuary." There, he is treated terribly with all of the other apes. Because of the clothes that he is wearing, Caesar causes hostility from the other apes. He realizes that his kind is being persecuted. Since he is intelligent, he realizes that if the apes join together, they cannot be stopped. So he devises a plan to bring the apes up to his level of intelligence, and they stage a breakout. From there, all hell breaks loose.
In my opinion, this was one of the best movies that I have seen this summer. I think that they definitely redeemed themselves from the first Apes remake, which was not well recieved by the public. I was really glad that they decided to use CGI to make the monkeys instead of using people dressed as apes, like they did in the original movie.
There were a few things that I was not happy with. I thought that James Franco was a little weak with his performance. His performance seemed rather distant. It didn't seem like he made a connection at all. You can't really blame him. He was working with a man in a green suit. The audience was more attached to a CGI monkey than they were to James.
I thought that the performance of Caesar was done incredibly well. Andy Serkis, who also played to role of Gollum in the Lord of the Rings series, was the body behind the computer for Caesar. You really grew attached to the ape, even though it was a computerized one. The only thing I didn't like about his character was that he didn't really redeem himself in the end. If he was supposedly brought to human levels of intelligence, then he would know the right and wrong way to do things, right? I understand that he was oppressed, but once he broke out of the monkey prison, he kind of turned into a douchebag. I think that it would have come across a lot stronger if they gave the monkey some human morality or compassion. I think that it would have been better if he showed that he was better than the humans in the end. Instead, he sunk down to their level.
I still believe that this movie is a definite must-see. It really brings the old series some justice and saved it from that first remake. As long as they don't let Tim Burton anywhere near the other movies that they plan on making, then they should be fine.
MACBETH! MACBETH! MACBETH!
So, in my profession, there is this CRAZY superstition that has been around for quite some time, and that is that if you say the word Macbeth in a theatre, then something bad is going to happen to your show because of the paranormal activity that happens during the show, like with the witches and everything.
Well, I'm here to say that I think this myth is COMPLETELY ridiculous. Am I going to back this opinion up with facts or websites? No. I think that the only argument that I can make against it is that superstition is bogus. It is not only something that happens in theatre, but it also happens in sports. Take baseball, for example. There are so many baseball superstitions and rituals that each player is aware of. One superstition is that as a player in the infield or the outfield, you are not supposed to walk over the pitchers mound when you go to your position. They say that it is bad luck. Is it really bad luck? No. It is just a way for the pitcher to gain a little more respect from the other players.
You can pretty much find superstitions in any sport. The same goes for a lot of other professions. People even have superstitions in their own life. Like Don't wear white after Labor Day (I'm not entirely sure that this is a superstition). Why not? all of these things are completely ridiculous.
Macbeth is one of Shakespeare's most well-known and highly regarded plays. It is actually my favorite William Shakespeare play. It is about a Scottish warrior named Macbeth, who stumbles upon 3 witches one day after a battle. They tell him that he will become the Thane of Cawdor and then King of Scotland after that. Macbeth starts to believe them when the first premonition comes true. So, he thinks that since the first one came true, then the second one must come true as well. He starts to think in his mind that he must find a way to become King. The only way to do so is to kill the King who is already on the thrown. When his wife catches wind of this news, she becomes completely obsessed with this plan to kill the King. They devise a plan to kill him in his sleep, and the plan works. They kill the King, and since the two sons fled Scotland for fear of being wrongly accused, Macbeth becomes the King. This thirst for blood and power does not stop there. He becomes so obsessed with what the witches told him, that he decides to kill off anyone who he feels is a threat to the throne. This includes his friend Banquo. His thirst for blood continues until the country of Scotland rises up and fights back and kills him (to make a long story short).
The reason why I can't stand this superstition is because it is one of my favorite plays, and I'm not even allowed to say it in a theatre. It's too good of a play for it to not be said in a theatre. So, from here on out, I am going to say Macbeth wherever and whenever I want. I don't care about some old wives tale. If you don't like it, then you are going to have to deal with it, because I am going to do it anyways. There is no such thing as superstition. I am a man of faith. If there is something that is going to happen, then it was meant to happen. There's nothing that we can do about it. If something goes wrong in or around the play, then it was meant to happen. MACBETH! MACBETH! MACBEEEEETH!!!!!!!
Haha. I just thought that this was an appropriate video for this post. If you want to share your opinions on the matter, don't be afraid to let us know. If you disagree with me, and want to tell us a story of why you believe this myth is true, then I would love to hear it, as well. Of course, as always, you can contact me on my twitter (RealMikeBarry), my facebook (Badlands Barry), or even my LinkedIn profile (Michael Barry).
Well, I'm here to say that I think this myth is COMPLETELY ridiculous. Am I going to back this opinion up with facts or websites? No. I think that the only argument that I can make against it is that superstition is bogus. It is not only something that happens in theatre, but it also happens in sports. Take baseball, for example. There are so many baseball superstitions and rituals that each player is aware of. One superstition is that as a player in the infield or the outfield, you are not supposed to walk over the pitchers mound when you go to your position. They say that it is bad luck. Is it really bad luck? No. It is just a way for the pitcher to gain a little more respect from the other players.
You can pretty much find superstitions in any sport. The same goes for a lot of other professions. People even have superstitions in their own life. Like Don't wear white after Labor Day (I'm not entirely sure that this is a superstition). Why not? all of these things are completely ridiculous.
Macbeth is one of Shakespeare's most well-known and highly regarded plays. It is actually my favorite William Shakespeare play. It is about a Scottish warrior named Macbeth, who stumbles upon 3 witches one day after a battle. They tell him that he will become the Thane of Cawdor and then King of Scotland after that. Macbeth starts to believe them when the first premonition comes true. So, he thinks that since the first one came true, then the second one must come true as well. He starts to think in his mind that he must find a way to become King. The only way to do so is to kill the King who is already on the thrown. When his wife catches wind of this news, she becomes completely obsessed with this plan to kill the King. They devise a plan to kill him in his sleep, and the plan works. They kill the King, and since the two sons fled Scotland for fear of being wrongly accused, Macbeth becomes the King. This thirst for blood and power does not stop there. He becomes so obsessed with what the witches told him, that he decides to kill off anyone who he feels is a threat to the throne. This includes his friend Banquo. His thirst for blood continues until the country of Scotland rises up and fights back and kills him (to make a long story short).
The reason why I can't stand this superstition is because it is one of my favorite plays, and I'm not even allowed to say it in a theatre. It's too good of a play for it to not be said in a theatre. So, from here on out, I am going to say Macbeth wherever and whenever I want. I don't care about some old wives tale. If you don't like it, then you are going to have to deal with it, because I am going to do it anyways. There is no such thing as superstition. I am a man of faith. If there is something that is going to happen, then it was meant to happen. There's nothing that we can do about it. If something goes wrong in or around the play, then it was meant to happen. MACBETH! MACBETH! MACBEEEEETH!!!!!!!
Haha. I just thought that this was an appropriate video for this post. If you want to share your opinions on the matter, don't be afraid to let us know. If you disagree with me, and want to tell us a story of why you believe this myth is true, then I would love to hear it, as well. Of course, as always, you can contact me on my twitter (RealMikeBarry), my facebook (Badlands Barry), or even my LinkedIn profile (Michael Barry).
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Ahab's Adventures!
So, a couple years ago, I was asked to be in a movie, and the project was titled, "Captain Ahab." When I went to the film shoot at the Freight Yard Pub in North Adams, I was introduced to Captain Ahab. That's when I found out that Captain Ahab was a little wooden statue of a fisherman. When the first Captain Ahab short film came out, I immediately became hooked. So much so that I signed up to do the next film as well. That's when I got better acquainted with the founder of Captain Ahab, Geeg Wiles. He told me all about how he came across this wonderful wooden man. The statue used to be trapped in someone's front yard. When Geeg and his friends saw this man, they had to have him. So they took him. I'm not quite sure I'm supposed to say that, but I don't think it matters. He has turned this man into a national (and international, I think) figure. He started taking photos of him in different places, then to videos, and then he created a website. From that website, he has built a company. He sells Captain Ahab t-shirts and other paraphenalia (I think that's how it's spelled).
Anyway, if you would like to see more of Captain Ahab, then visit the website. It's known as Ahab's Adventures. There you will have plenty of fun little things to look at concerning Captain Ahab. Here is the second video that I was in. It was supposed to be used as a "turn off you cell phones" video for a local movie theatre, but they said that the video was too long. Here's the video:
I'm sure that Geeg won't mind that I spread the word a little more. The more publicity, the better!
Anyway, if you would like to see more of Captain Ahab, then visit the website. It's known as Ahab's Adventures. There you will have plenty of fun little things to look at concerning Captain Ahab. Here is the second video that I was in. It was supposed to be used as a "turn off you cell phones" video for a local movie theatre, but they said that the video was too long. Here's the video:
I'm sure that Geeg won't mind that I spread the word a little more. The more publicity, the better!
Monday, August 15, 2011
Top 10 Favorite Bands
Now, I've already given you my top 10 favorite movies. But, I'm not only into acting. I love music too. I have to say, I'm not an expert on music. I don't pretend to be. I mostly just go with wut is popular (except country music). Now, I'm not really a fan of today's music. I do like some current music, and I listen to it on the radio. But, I mostly listen to classic rock. So, this is going to be a list of mostly classic rock. There's a couple of newer rock bands on the list, but the rest is classic rock. So, here's my list. Along with the band, I'm also going to play you my favorite song by that group:
1.) AC/DC
1.) AC/DC
2.) Meat Loaf
3.) Queen
4.) Guns N' Roses
5.) The Who
6.) Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
7.) Aerosmith
8.) Led Zeppelin
9.) Lynyrd Skynyrd
10.) Disturbed
These are my favorite bands. Like I said, I pretty much like the stuff that everyone knows. I like these songs because I really love to sing them. Not just at karaoke bars, but in the shower, in the car, and even while I'm at work. I just love that kind of music. Plus, there is a reason for why these songs are so popular. I CAN'T STAND people who just pick random-ass songs from popular artists and say that it's their "favorite song." I'm sorry, but when you do that kind of stuff, it just makes you look and sound like a snob. And nobody likes a snob.
If you like my list (or dislike, its ok), I would love to hear some feedback from you. You can even send me your favorite stuff. If you want to send me your top 10 favorite bands, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE post it on my blog wall. leave it in the comments section. It looks better on my page, and I will get to compare and contrast right from my blog page.
I would also love for you to follow me on my twitter page, Real Mike Barry, and you can see some of my other posts.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Colonial Chorus Players presents: The Wizard of Oz
IT'S TIME! Colonial Chorus Players is proudly presenting the timeless classic The Wizard of Oz. It's the classic story of how a little girl from Kansas goes on the journey of a lifetime as her house is picked up by a tornado and dropped in a land "beyond the rainbow" called Oz. In order for her to find her way home, she must follow the yellow brick road that leads to the Emerald City, where the mighty Wizard of Oz will hopefully grant her wish to return home to Kansas. On the way, she runs into a few... Okay. You already know the rest of the story. I'm sorry. I'm just REALLY excited!
Anyway, the tickets have just gone on sale. It will be at the Rogers Center for the Arts at Merrimack College in North Andover, MA. The show runs from October 14th and runs until October 16th. There is more info on the website, which I will put as a link on this blog. I am starring as the Cowardly Lion, one of my dream roles. It would mean so much to me if you could all come (I also need to sell a minimum of 10 tickets! teehee!). Here is the link: http://colonialchorus.com/auditions.html. If you can't find a place to put your order in on the website, then just call the number that is on the website. If you are family members, then get in contact with my mother (978-973-0183) so that you can coordinate when you want to go. When you call, tell them that they are under my name. That way I will get credit for your ticket sale. IT'S GOING TO BE AWESOME!!!!!!
Anyway, the tickets have just gone on sale. It will be at the Rogers Center for the Arts at Merrimack College in North Andover, MA. The show runs from October 14th and runs until October 16th. There is more info on the website, which I will put as a link on this blog. I am starring as the Cowardly Lion, one of my dream roles. It would mean so much to me if you could all come (I also need to sell a minimum of 10 tickets! teehee!). Here is the link: http://colonialchorus.com/auditions.html. If you can't find a place to put your order in on the website, then just call the number that is on the website. If you are family members, then get in contact with my mother (978-973-0183) so that you can coordinate when you want to go. When you call, tell them that they are under my name. That way I will get credit for your ticket sale. IT'S GOING TO BE AWESOME!!!!!!
Sunday, August 7, 2011
My Top 10 Favorite Movies of All Time
Sorry that I haven't posted in a few days. I just spent the weekend at Foxwoods Casino with my closest friends. If you want some advice, don't EVER play those damn slots. They are a money vacuum, and it is so rare to win big on one of them.
So, along with stating my opinions, I think that I am going to start telling you about some of my favorite things. I think that these are always good discussion starters, and it would be nice to see what your favorite things are, or if you agree or disagree with any of my top 10 favorites.
Today, I am going to list my top 10 favorite movies of all-time. These movies, in my opinion, are the movies that make you want to watch them again and again. These movies top the rest of the movies that I have seen, and I have seen a lot of them.
#10 - Independence Day (1996)
This is the perfect movie, in my opinion. It has drama, tragedy, comedy, action, love, and oh ya... alien invasion! Directed by Roland Emmerich, this movie is about an alien invasion of planet earth, and how a group of survivors come together in Nevada and devise a plan to "take 'em... take 'em down." It's got a star-studded cast, with Jeff Goldblum, Will Smith, and Bill Pullman, and ROBERT LOGGIA. It is an incredibly awesome movie to quote, especially the president's speech.
#9: The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz is one of those movies that no matter how many times I watch it, it always brings a smile to my face. When I was a child, and my grandmother would come over to babysit me and my brothers, The Wizard of Oz was the movie that she always put into the VCR. I always knew that this movie was special because I was the only one of my friends that was not afraid of the flying monkeys. With Judy Garland as the young Dorothy and Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, and Burt Lahr as the three friends (The Scarecrow, The Tinman, and The Cowardly Lion), this movie is a timeless classic, and also the show that I will be starring in in a few months.
#8: Forrest Gump
This movie is one of those movies that is a serious movie, but has a lot of hilarious parts. That is what I love about this movie. Tom Hanks won the Academy Award for his performance as the title character, Forrest Gump. The best thing about this movie is how they were able to cut him into all of those historic videos. His love for Jenny is relentless, and you feel for Forrest every time Jenny runs away from him. If she had just gone with Forrest in the first place, she wouldn't have gone down the long and unfortunate path of drugs and rock n' roll.
#7: Caddyshack
This movie is one of the first rated-R comedies that I saw when I was younger. My father would always quote it, and he said that I had to see it. Caddyshack has two of the best sketch comedy actors of all time (Bill Murray, Chevy Chase) and one of the funniest and most successful stand-up comics of all time (Rodney Dangerfield, R.I.P.). These people are all amazing, but Ted Knight, who plays the snobby owner of Bushwoods Country Club, has some of the best lines in the movie. He plays that character so well, and he also has some of the funniest lines in the movie, in my opinion.
#6: Animal House
This is the funniest movie that I have ever seen, which is why this movie is on my top 10, along with Caddyshack. Animal House pretty much set the standard for college comedies, and even set the standard for what the Greek life is like on college campuses across America. This movie is a staple for all colleges. It has some of the funniest lines in all of comedy. John Belushi (R.I.P.) created the stereotypical college party animal on the 7 year program. Without this movie, a toga party would be a foreign concept.
#5: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
This movie is another one of those incredibly serious dramas that has a lot of things that make me laugh. Jack Nicholson's performance as R.P. McMurphy won the Academy Award for best actor, and well deserved. McMurphy was able to break through more in the little amount of time that he was there than Nurse Ratched and the other hospital people could. This is what drives the hospital workers mad. Jack Nicholson's performance is one of the most inspiring performances of my acting career. It is what I strive to be.
#4: Pulp Fiction
This is my favorite Tarantino movie. I have seen this movie so many times, I have almost memorized the entire movie. What makes this movie so great is the dialogue. My favorite, of course, is Samuel L. Jackson's character Jules. He has some of the coolest, funniest, and most badass lines in all of film. Another thing that makes this movie so great is how cool every character is. All of the characters play everything extremely cool and badass. I always love watching this movie, and always will.
#3: Jaws
This movie always turns people's heads when I tell them that it is my 3rd favorite movie of all time. Most people like this movie, but they are always surprised that I have it in my top 3. You know, I can't really explain why this movie is in my top 3. I've been watching it since I was a kid. At first, the film was all about the shark for me. I would always think that Jaws was the name of the shark. As I got older, I started focusing more on the dialogue and the characters. That is when the movie started climbing up my list. All of the characters, including all of the little characters with only a couple of lines, are memorable in my mind. I will never forget what those faces look like, and more importantly, I will never forget what their lines are. MY favorite character is Quint. He is just such a badass character.
#2: Rocky
Rocky is a classic. It is the greatest movie that Sylvester Stallone has ever made, and will ever make. I'm not talking about the 5 other sequels that followed, even though they were all good in their own respect (except the 5th one... BOO!). It is a classic story of an underdog who gets the opportunity that we all dream about. I actually would not even consider this movie a sports movie. The movie is NOT about boxing. It is about the boxer himself. Everyone remembers that classic montage ending with him running up those famed stairs in Philadelphia. My favorite part of the whole movie has to be when Apollo Creed knocks him down in one of the last rounds of the fight, and Rocky goes down. Apollo thinks that he has won, but by sheer will, Rocky is able to stand up and keep on fighting. AMAZING!
AND FINALLY, #1: The Godfather
Now, I know what you're thinking, "Gee, Mike. Isn't that a little bit cliche?" Well, yes. It may be cliche, but there is a reason for why this movie is so great. It was voted #2 on the list of AFI's top 100 Greatest Movies of All Time. Everything about this movie, the acting, the music, the dialogue, and the story, is just AMAZING! This is actually one of those movies that you can't really watch too many times. This isn't INDEPENDENCE DAY (ahh, what an awesome movie)! I have only seen the movie about a handful of times. But everytime that I have watched it, I have loved it. I can't believe that Al Pacino didn't win the Academy Award for this role. This story, based on the Gambino family exploits, is one of the most treasured stories in movie generation. I don't care how cliche I sound. It's one of the greatest movies of all time, and I have to agree.
Okay. These are my top 10 favorite movies of all time. I am going to try and break up this category of movies and try to make even more top 10's. Now, there are a lot of other great movies that I love and have seen hundreds of times. But, they just don't make the top 10. It is a tight list, and only the best of the best can make the top 10. I think that the NFL Football Hall of Fame should do the same thing with the people that they induct into the Hall of Fame each year. I can see Shannon Sharpe and Deon Sanders, but Marshall Faulk? Really? I mean, he was good, but I don't think he should be qualified for the Hall of Fame. But, that is for another blog.
If you want to send me your list of top 10 favorite movies, or send me a category of top 10 that you would like me to fill out, then post a comment on my blog, on my facebook (Badlands Barry), or my twitter (RealMikeBarry).
So, along with stating my opinions, I think that I am going to start telling you about some of my favorite things. I think that these are always good discussion starters, and it would be nice to see what your favorite things are, or if you agree or disagree with any of my top 10 favorites.
Today, I am going to list my top 10 favorite movies of all-time. These movies, in my opinion, are the movies that make you want to watch them again and again. These movies top the rest of the movies that I have seen, and I have seen a lot of them.
#10 - Independence Day (1996)
This is the perfect movie, in my opinion. It has drama, tragedy, comedy, action, love, and oh ya... alien invasion! Directed by Roland Emmerich, this movie is about an alien invasion of planet earth, and how a group of survivors come together in Nevada and devise a plan to "take 'em... take 'em down." It's got a star-studded cast, with Jeff Goldblum, Will Smith, and Bill Pullman, and ROBERT LOGGIA. It is an incredibly awesome movie to quote, especially the president's speech.
#9: The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz is one of those movies that no matter how many times I watch it, it always brings a smile to my face. When I was a child, and my grandmother would come over to babysit me and my brothers, The Wizard of Oz was the movie that she always put into the VCR. I always knew that this movie was special because I was the only one of my friends that was not afraid of the flying monkeys. With Judy Garland as the young Dorothy and Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, and Burt Lahr as the three friends (The Scarecrow, The Tinman, and The Cowardly Lion), this movie is a timeless classic, and also the show that I will be starring in in a few months.
#8: Forrest Gump
This movie is one of those movies that is a serious movie, but has a lot of hilarious parts. That is what I love about this movie. Tom Hanks won the Academy Award for his performance as the title character, Forrest Gump. The best thing about this movie is how they were able to cut him into all of those historic videos. His love for Jenny is relentless, and you feel for Forrest every time Jenny runs away from him. If she had just gone with Forrest in the first place, she wouldn't have gone down the long and unfortunate path of drugs and rock n' roll.
#7: Caddyshack
This movie is one of the first rated-R comedies that I saw when I was younger. My father would always quote it, and he said that I had to see it. Caddyshack has two of the best sketch comedy actors of all time (Bill Murray, Chevy Chase) and one of the funniest and most successful stand-up comics of all time (Rodney Dangerfield, R.I.P.). These people are all amazing, but Ted Knight, who plays the snobby owner of Bushwoods Country Club, has some of the best lines in the movie. He plays that character so well, and he also has some of the funniest lines in the movie, in my opinion.
#6: Animal House
This is the funniest movie that I have ever seen, which is why this movie is on my top 10, along with Caddyshack. Animal House pretty much set the standard for college comedies, and even set the standard for what the Greek life is like on college campuses across America. This movie is a staple for all colleges. It has some of the funniest lines in all of comedy. John Belushi (R.I.P.) created the stereotypical college party animal on the 7 year program. Without this movie, a toga party would be a foreign concept.
#5: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
This movie is another one of those incredibly serious dramas that has a lot of things that make me laugh. Jack Nicholson's performance as R.P. McMurphy won the Academy Award for best actor, and well deserved. McMurphy was able to break through more in the little amount of time that he was there than Nurse Ratched and the other hospital people could. This is what drives the hospital workers mad. Jack Nicholson's performance is one of the most inspiring performances of my acting career. It is what I strive to be.
#4: Pulp Fiction
This is my favorite Tarantino movie. I have seen this movie so many times, I have almost memorized the entire movie. What makes this movie so great is the dialogue. My favorite, of course, is Samuel L. Jackson's character Jules. He has some of the coolest, funniest, and most badass lines in all of film. Another thing that makes this movie so great is how cool every character is. All of the characters play everything extremely cool and badass. I always love watching this movie, and always will.
#3: Jaws
This movie always turns people's heads when I tell them that it is my 3rd favorite movie of all time. Most people like this movie, but they are always surprised that I have it in my top 3. You know, I can't really explain why this movie is in my top 3. I've been watching it since I was a kid. At first, the film was all about the shark for me. I would always think that Jaws was the name of the shark. As I got older, I started focusing more on the dialogue and the characters. That is when the movie started climbing up my list. All of the characters, including all of the little characters with only a couple of lines, are memorable in my mind. I will never forget what those faces look like, and more importantly, I will never forget what their lines are. MY favorite character is Quint. He is just such a badass character.
#2: Rocky
Rocky is a classic. It is the greatest movie that Sylvester Stallone has ever made, and will ever make. I'm not talking about the 5 other sequels that followed, even though they were all good in their own respect (except the 5th one... BOO!). It is a classic story of an underdog who gets the opportunity that we all dream about. I actually would not even consider this movie a sports movie. The movie is NOT about boxing. It is about the boxer himself. Everyone remembers that classic montage ending with him running up those famed stairs in Philadelphia. My favorite part of the whole movie has to be when Apollo Creed knocks him down in one of the last rounds of the fight, and Rocky goes down. Apollo thinks that he has won, but by sheer will, Rocky is able to stand up and keep on fighting. AMAZING!
AND FINALLY, #1: The Godfather
Now, I know what you're thinking, "Gee, Mike. Isn't that a little bit cliche?" Well, yes. It may be cliche, but there is a reason for why this movie is so great. It was voted #2 on the list of AFI's top 100 Greatest Movies of All Time. Everything about this movie, the acting, the music, the dialogue, and the story, is just AMAZING! This is actually one of those movies that you can't really watch too many times. This isn't INDEPENDENCE DAY (ahh, what an awesome movie)! I have only seen the movie about a handful of times. But everytime that I have watched it, I have loved it. I can't believe that Al Pacino didn't win the Academy Award for this role. This story, based on the Gambino family exploits, is one of the most treasured stories in movie generation. I don't care how cliche I sound. It's one of the greatest movies of all time, and I have to agree.
Okay. These are my top 10 favorite movies of all time. I am going to try and break up this category of movies and try to make even more top 10's. Now, there are a lot of other great movies that I love and have seen hundreds of times. But, they just don't make the top 10. It is a tight list, and only the best of the best can make the top 10. I think that the NFL Football Hall of Fame should do the same thing with the people that they induct into the Hall of Fame each year. I can see Shannon Sharpe and Deon Sanders, but Marshall Faulk? Really? I mean, he was good, but I don't think he should be qualified for the Hall of Fame. But, that is for another blog.
If you want to send me your list of top 10 favorite movies, or send me a category of top 10 that you would like me to fill out, then post a comment on my blog, on my facebook (Badlands Barry), or my twitter (RealMikeBarry).
Friday, August 5, 2011
How THE LION KING is NOT based off of HAMLET
Hamlet; Argueably William Shakespeare's greatest achievement; It is one of the most well-known pieces of literature in the world. It's where we get the whole To Be, Or Not To Be quote from. It is also the explanation of why a human skull is often paired with Shakespeare. In my opinion, although it is not my favorite (Macbeth), I still have to give credit where credit is due. Every time that I have seen this performed, it is usually done pretty well.
Unfortunately, it has a black cloud over it for me. You see, a lot of people that I have met who are Shakespeare enthusiasts like to argue the fact that the Disney movie The Lion King is based off of William Shakespeare's Hamlet, which is like the bible to those Shakespeare superfans. The Lion King, which is MY favorite Disney movie, is the story of a pack of lions who rule the pridelands of Africa. Mufasa, who is the King, has a son named Simba, who is next in line to become King. The only problem is that Mufasa's brother Scar is extremely jealous of his nephew Simba. So jealous, he creates a plot to kill his brother and convince Simba that it was his fault and make him leave the Pridelands and never return. Well, the plan works, and Simba is banished and doesn't return until his dead father convinces him that he must take over as King. So he comes back, kills his uncle, and takes over as King. The End. Great Story.
Now, there are a few similarities to things that happen in Hamlet and things that happen in The Lion King. So the Shakespeare fanatics have decided that The Lion King must be based off of Hamlet. Well, I am here to tell you that it is NOT based off of Hamlet. Here's why.
Now, one argument that people always bring up is that they are both about a brother killing a brother to become King. Now, this is definitely true. They both have a brother that kills their brother to become King. Claudius kills Hamlet, and Scar kills Mufasa. But, this does not mean that The Lion King was thinking of Hamlet when they were thinking of this plot. Over the course of human history, the world has seen many changes of thrones with Kings. A lot of kings have been killed by their brothers to become king. William Shakespeare is not the first person to think of such a concept. This is not something that was unheard of when Shakespeare wrote this play. To think that Shakespeare came up with this concept out of his own imagination is absolutely ridiculous. In Hamlet, you don't find out about Claudius' dirty deed until a little bit into the play. The action actually does not take place in the play. it is exposition. In The Lion King, you see him plan it, execute it, and then lie about it. There is nothing hidden in the movie. Now tell me, how is that the same?
Another ridiculous comparison that people like to bring up is the similarities of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and Timon and Pumbaa.
Now, this comparison is the one that makes me the most angry. Just because they both serve the same purpose of comic relief, they automatically assume that one was taken from the other. Now, the argument is that since there are two of them, they must represent Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Oh okay. So let's just assume that any comedic duo in history is just copied from William Shakespeare's comedic duo. In that case, Abbott and Costello, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, The Smothers Brothers, they all must have taken their idea of a comedic duo from William Shakespeare. This is just ridiculous. Just because they are a comedic duo that come in as comedic relief, it doesn't mean that they represent anyone. They are just a comedic duo, and you just have to accept that.
There are so many other arguments that I have heard, like how Hamlet and Simba both were banished. This is also ridiculous because they were both banished for different reasons. Hamlet was banished because he went crazy and killed Polonius. Simba was banished because Scar blamed the whole death of his father on him, and if he returned, he would be killed. Where's the comparison?
Another comparison that is always made is the fact that both of the main characters get visited by the ghosts of their respective dead fathers. Yes, you're right. they are both visited by their fathers. This is no reason to jump any sort of conclusion. These 2 events are completely different. Hamlet's father comes to him to tell him that Claudius killed him and he needs to seek revenge. Now, as an audience member, if you hadn't read the play, you start to wonder if he was crazy or not. It is not until Claudius confesses to the audience in a monologue that you know Hamlet isn't crazy. In The Lion King, Simba is visited by his father when he is shown that Mufasa lives inside of him. When Mufasa visits Simba, he just tells him that he is the one future King of the Pridelands and he must take his thrown. He never tells Simba that Scar is the one that killed him. In fact, Simba still thinks that it was his fault, even after Mufasa leaves. Again, when you look at the two, there really is no comparison.
To say that The Lion King is based off of Hamlet is just wrong. In fact, The Lion King is pretty much a ripoff of a Japanese anime movie called Kimba The White Lion, which is a movie based off of an old T.V. show. Every character in The Lion King have a matching character in Kimba The White Lion. There has been so much evidence and facts thrown in the face of Disney, but Disney is sticking to their guns and saying that they had never even heard of Kimba. Kimba? Simba? is there a similarity here?
This is actually, if you look at Disney movie history, sounds more like something that Disney would do. Most of Disney's movies are based on classic fairy tales from different countries around the world. For example, Snow White is a German tale, Beauty and the Beast is a French tale, and Pinnochio is an Italian tale. They also make movies based upon classic novels, like Peter Pan, Aladdin, and Alice in Wonderland. They even make up their own stories, like The Aristocats and 101 Dalmations. It really doesn't make sense for Disney to take a classic play and make a movie out of it. The play is made up of dialogue already. It can't be interpreted into a different story because the story is already there for them. If they were going to make a movie, they would just call it Hamlet, or something. They would make a Hamlet movie and interpret it so that kids would understand it.
So all in all, that is why saying that The Lion King is based upon Hamlet is just absolutely ridiculous. If you agree or disagree, you can leave your comments on the bottom. If I have changed your opinion, I would love to hear that as well. If you don't like this blog, then you are just going to have to suck it up. This is my blog for my opinions. You don't have to follow it.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
THEATRE: Wherefore Art Thou?
Since theatre's beginning years, and I'm talking back in ancient Greek times, it has gone through many changes. I mean, of course it did. EVERYTHING goes through changes if it stays around long enough. Theatre has seen changes in the way that it is presented, spoken, and acting techiques have changed. Now for a while, the change has been for the good. I mean, if you come out with the same thing for too long, it starts to lose its luster. But recently, the changes that I have seen in theatre have made me quite upset. I mean, when Aristotle came out with The Poetics, he didn't envision this. What is this, you say? Well, let me tell you what I mean.
What I mean is that theatre has gotten away from its artistic beauty and originality. I'm talking about all of the ridiculous musicals that have been coming out within the past decade or two. Now, there are some musicals that have come out that are quite good. Good ORIGINAL music, good ORIGINAL script, and some of them have had popular numbers (as in attendance). But most of the musicals that are on broadway have no originality, in my opinion. I'm not saying that it is theatre's fault. I actually don't blame theatre at all. As we all know, theatre is nothing without the people that make it. So, I guess I am putting all of the blame on the people.
Let's face it. Today's general public is SO obsessed with technology. For the past decade or two, the newest parenting technique is just to take their kid and plop them in front of the nearest television. The children don't need to create their own imagination. Their imagination is handed to them by The Last Airbender and Batman. These kids don't have to create anything in their head. Instead of going outside and creating their own storyplots about cowboys and indians in the great plains, they can just take out their Thor hammers or their Spiderman web shooters and recreate what they saw on T.V. Instead of little girls getting a doll and naming it themselves to accompany them at tea time, they have their Barbie doll or Disney princess doll that all come with their own accessories.
So, when children go out to see a play, they don't want to see the play in which they have to think, they would rather go and see the musical that has classic Green Day songs, or the Spiderman musical, with all of the cool spectacle. I'm sorry. Where is the originality that? What happened to musicals like Oklahoma and South Pacific? Everything about those shows are original and they didn't have to make the actor fly through the air and risk their life. Not only do these crazy shows reflect badly on theatre, but they also reflect negatively on the country itself.
Now, one example of an original show that came out recently is The Drowsy Chaperone. This show is a musical within a play. It has original music, an original plot, and it is EXTREMELY funny. You have the classic style of upbeat music mixed with the modern type dialogue with the main character, known just as The Man in the Chair. Another great example, although the story is based upon a classic opera, is RENT. RENT, which was one of the most popular shows in Broadway history, has original music and the story, although it is from the Opera La Boheme, it has been modernized and made culturally relevant. There are other examples, like The Light in the Piazza and, regrettably, Spring Awakening.
Unfortunately, these shows (with the exception of RENT) are brushed aside by these unoriginal abominations to classic theatre. Such shows like American Idiot, Rock of Ages, Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark, Jersey Boys, Legally Blonde, and others are making me sick. With American Idiot, the only reason why people are going to see this show is because the music is from a very popular rock album by Green Day. They even went as far as making Billy Joe Armstrong, the lead singer of Green Day, the lead in the show on Broadway for a period of time. That's not a musical. IT'S A GREEN DAY CONCERT! With the Spiderman blunder, people are only going to see it because they have want to see Spiderman come flying over the audience. We already have a show like this. It's called CIRQUE DU SOLEIL! Legally Blonde: a movie made into a musical? Jersey Boys: they are only going to see it because it is Frankie Vallie songs. Are you getting my point? People don't want to see a show with originality because they don't already know what it is about! Why see a show in which they have to actually pay attention to what is going on when they can go see a show in which they already know what is going to happen? It sucks to hear it, but it's true.
What I am trying to say is in order to save theatre, people need to start writing shows that have originality. In fact, people need to start WRITING PLAYS! Now, you may be saying to yourself, "Well, why don't YOU do something about it?" Well, as an actor, I kind of have to suck it up and deal with it. I can try to write my own plays, but I don't think I have the skill to do that. I can pretty much only act. I can also direct. But in order for me to make a living in this business, I have to just take what I can get. If I get cast in one of these shows, which would be an INCREDIBLE opportunity for me, I would just do what the directors and producers tell me to do. Although you may think that I am just a big pushover for doing so, that is what makes a good actor. If more actors just listened to their superiors, then they would get more job opportunities.
If you want to know more about The Real Mike Barry, then just follow me on my twitter.
What I mean is that theatre has gotten away from its artistic beauty and originality. I'm talking about all of the ridiculous musicals that have been coming out within the past decade or two. Now, there are some musicals that have come out that are quite good. Good ORIGINAL music, good ORIGINAL script, and some of them have had popular numbers (as in attendance). But most of the musicals that are on broadway have no originality, in my opinion. I'm not saying that it is theatre's fault. I actually don't blame theatre at all. As we all know, theatre is nothing without the people that make it. So, I guess I am putting all of the blame on the people.
Let's face it. Today's general public is SO obsessed with technology. For the past decade or two, the newest parenting technique is just to take their kid and plop them in front of the nearest television. The children don't need to create their own imagination. Their imagination is handed to them by The Last Airbender and Batman. These kids don't have to create anything in their head. Instead of going outside and creating their own storyplots about cowboys and indians in the great plains, they can just take out their Thor hammers or their Spiderman web shooters and recreate what they saw on T.V. Instead of little girls getting a doll and naming it themselves to accompany them at tea time, they have their Barbie doll or Disney princess doll that all come with their own accessories.
So, when children go out to see a play, they don't want to see the play in which they have to think, they would rather go and see the musical that has classic Green Day songs, or the Spiderman musical, with all of the cool spectacle. I'm sorry. Where is the originality that? What happened to musicals like Oklahoma and South Pacific? Everything about those shows are original and they didn't have to make the actor fly through the air and risk their life. Not only do these crazy shows reflect badly on theatre, but they also reflect negatively on the country itself.
Now, one example of an original show that came out recently is The Drowsy Chaperone. This show is a musical within a play. It has original music, an original plot, and it is EXTREMELY funny. You have the classic style of upbeat music mixed with the modern type dialogue with the main character, known just as The Man in the Chair. Another great example, although the story is based upon a classic opera, is RENT. RENT, which was one of the most popular shows in Broadway history, has original music and the story, although it is from the Opera La Boheme, it has been modernized and made culturally relevant. There are other examples, like The Light in the Piazza and, regrettably, Spring Awakening.
Unfortunately, these shows (with the exception of RENT) are brushed aside by these unoriginal abominations to classic theatre. Such shows like American Idiot, Rock of Ages, Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark, Jersey Boys, Legally Blonde, and others are making me sick. With American Idiot, the only reason why people are going to see this show is because the music is from a very popular rock album by Green Day. They even went as far as making Billy Joe Armstrong, the lead singer of Green Day, the lead in the show on Broadway for a period of time. That's not a musical. IT'S A GREEN DAY CONCERT! With the Spiderman blunder, people are only going to see it because they have want to see Spiderman come flying over the audience. We already have a show like this. It's called CIRQUE DU SOLEIL! Legally Blonde: a movie made into a musical? Jersey Boys: they are only going to see it because it is Frankie Vallie songs. Are you getting my point? People don't want to see a show with originality because they don't already know what it is about! Why see a show in which they have to actually pay attention to what is going on when they can go see a show in which they already know what is going to happen? It sucks to hear it, but it's true.
What I am trying to say is in order to save theatre, people need to start writing shows that have originality. In fact, people need to start WRITING PLAYS! Now, you may be saying to yourself, "Well, why don't YOU do something about it?" Well, as an actor, I kind of have to suck it up and deal with it. I can try to write my own plays, but I don't think I have the skill to do that. I can pretty much only act. I can also direct. But in order for me to make a living in this business, I have to just take what I can get. If I get cast in one of these shows, which would be an INCREDIBLE opportunity for me, I would just do what the directors and producers tell me to do. Although you may think that I am just a big pushover for doing so, that is what makes a good actor. If more actors just listened to their superiors, then they would get more job opportunities.
If you want to know more about The Real Mike Barry, then just follow me on my twitter.
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