Was Mr. Smith the Bad Guy in Ghost Rider?

Russel Smith, why are you so angry? Is the experience of engaging in social interaction really that distressing?  Is there any hope for the human race?

After reading Russel Smith’s article “Why Movie Going Sucks” I was shocked at this man’s level of negativity and his outlook on people. Relax man. So much you’re saying just don’t resonate with me. Why knock down a theater for having no windows. Well shit buddy, outdoor lighting affects the quality of the image on screen. Why would you want to watch a movie where you can see whats outside in the parking lot. Another thing, why do you care so much what people are eating in the theatre. Healthy choices? Nope, but why concern yourself and let it rattle you so much. You know what though Mr.Russel Smith, I’ll attend a movie, something I rarely ever do, and see if perhaps your despondant feelings about people and the movie going experience has some truth to it.

To get the fullest experience of the hustle and bustle of the movie theater experience I attended the Feb. 16 opening night of the movie “Ghost Rider” at the most popular theater in Calgary, Paramount Chinook. The story is based on the Marvel character Johnny Blaze, (Nicholas Cage) a motorcycle stuntman who becomes the host of a “spirit of vengeance” in exchange for the safety of his true love (Eva Mendes). At night he’s transformed into a fiery demon with superpowers who chases bad guys. Here is the trailer.

I dragged my girlfriend kicking and screaming to the theater an hour early to make sure we could get opening night seats. Good thing we did as there was already a line up for tickets. This was a little annoying but something I can deal with on an opening night of a much hyped movie. Now the experience of waiting in line was actually quite entertaining. People were buzzing around everywhere, playing video games, greeting their friends as well as watching the impressive pyrotechnic and light show on display above the snack counters. After we waited about four minutes to get our tickets we proceeded to the snack counter. Might as well get the full movie experience so we got the Jumbo popcorn, the Large pop and the big bag of twizzlers. Feeling fully prepared except one thing we hit our seperate restrooms and meet up again in the line that is now building up waiting for the theater doors to open so we can select our seats. I will admit at this point before we are allowed entrance to the theater that we have spent approximately 15 minutes just standing around in line. I guess it’s abit of a strange activity to pay good money to engage in but I’m also a realist and honestly, what else can the theaters do differently. As the theater doors open it’s abit of an uncomfortable pace to get the premium seats in the theater. Kinda funny though as the “premium seats” is totally a matter of personal preference. Some rushed right to the front and center, many right to the back row, but mostly right to the middle of the theater.  We were able to get seats basically right in the middle and just a little to the left. Not bad at all and the seats were actually quite comfortable. My ancient, student budget furniture at my appartment serving as a favorable tool for comparison, I guess. Unfortunately a fairly tall dude proceeded to walk in a minute or so later and seat himself right in front of my petite girlfriend. I could tell by the look on her face that she was a little rattled but she’d be fine. I mean honestly missing out on the bottom few feet of the 50 foot screen is a little annoying but you really don’t notice as the film progresses. 

We sat around waiting for the ads and previews to start amidst a buzzing theater. This was not so bad an experience. I mean the smell of popcorn is not that bad and I truly could not hear anyone chewing food just conversating. Being a fairly social person I had no problem with this and really did not bother straining to hear others conversations so I could judge and allow them them to annoy me. (Something Russel Smith should try.)

I was getting a little bored with the onscreen trivia and thinking how it’s kind of a shame you have to arrive so early to get decent seats to the show, but hey, REALITY.  The advertisements started next and man is that annoying. I’m the guy that holds the remote in hand at all times when at home so as to not have to sit through commercials so this was a little bit of torture. Although I will admit the commercials at the theatre were quite a bit more visually stimulating than those you see at home on the TV. All in all I think it’s a bit of bullshit this new trend in increased advertising. I had a concerned thought or two about why this was all of a sudden allowed in movies and where does it end.

These were followed by the previews. Alot of people hate on the previews but I must admit I find them quite a good form of entertainment. They are quite often the funniest and most intense scenes from other movies. Sometimes rendering actually watching these movies at a later date a bit of a waste of time and money.

Finally the movie started. Now I’ve given at least an hour of my time and not received much return save a couple chuckles in the preview and a stomach full of tasty though guilt inducing junk food. So far not so good but at least we’ve come to the point where the ultimate conclusion is going to be reached. Was this movie worth seeing.

Well I actually thought the movie was pretty bad. Mind you I was not expecting anything too inspiring. Decent visual effects and action. The love story quite predictable and Cheesy. (Although Eva Mendes is very attractive.) http://www.cherylshuman.com/film/images/Eva%20Mendes.jpgHumor was pretty lame and the acting was pretty much the same. As the show ended i decided I had to make my final conclusion and rating on the film. I gave it a not terrible but would never recommend to a good friend out of three hours of my time and money. My other complaints about the whole experience were the advertisements at the start of the show and the ammount of time we had spent in line that night. Still, it was a fairly pleasant and reasonnably satisfying social outing.

All in all Mr. Russel Smith I think you have serious issues. You need to take another look at what you are accomplishing by looking at things through shit colored glasses. People around you are not that disgusting, going to the theater has it’s ups and downs but it’s not that awful. If you can’t do this well then just stay at home. We don’t need your antisocial thoughts or presence.

Interesting thoughts Mr. Chomsky.

The video shown in class was perhaps a bit boring but had some valid and thought provoking points.  Chomsky states that taste is a socially constructed phenomonom and I agree with him.  Too many times we allow others to dictate to us.  His vision for a future society would be challenging authority and opression of thought.  I was particularly interested when he talked about sports and the importance of distracting people from their real life stresses.  Although he is correct that sports are a great distraction from everyday stresses, for him to say that they were invented as a method of pacification and thought control is incorrect. Humans have engaged in play and sport since the beginning of time before there was any sort of government or societal involvement.

Festivus

Festivus  is a new holiday celebrated usually on the 23rd of December. It is a great idea for a nondemotional holiday inspired by a Seinfeld episode. 

Roland’s World of Wrestling

    I found Roland’s article on the World of wrestling to be very interesting. Many people feel very strongly about wrestling. They either love it or they think it is one of the most stupid aspects of popular culture. I personally fall right in the middle of the spectrum. I was a huge wrestling fan as a child. Tatanka, Hulk Hogan, and Andre the Giant being my absolute favorites. I even hung onto the belief that wrestling matches were real till I was about 13 years old. I now watch wrestling occasionaly for a little childhood reminiscence. I also can watch wrestling and be entertained just by the sheer athleticism of the athletes involved. The agility and dexterity of these massive athletes is very impressive. However, it is the outrageous story lines, the pathetic looking adults in the crowd and the new level of thuggish violence that make me also hate wrestling at the same time. Some of the melodrama and bad acting in the story lines is so bad. The ridiculous middle age fans that are going nuts for their favorite and most hated wrestlers is almost unbeleivable. I mean they have to know it’s fake but this does not seem to stop them from beleiving their racous cheers can sway the conclusion of the fight. The new level of violence in wrestling is also quite disturbing. The use of weapons such as sledgehammers and beating opponents that are already “injured” or “unconscious” is a little too graphic fro my tastes and I shudder at the effects this might have on the kids that are watching this all the time and absorbing theses actions as acceptable and cool. Here is a clip of a few beatings administered byTriple H that I find disturbing and really unnacceptable as a form of entertainment.

The part of Rolands article that I found the most interesting was the portrayal of good vs evil. This is a huge part of wrestling that makes the fans go crazy. There is always the hero and the villain in almost any match. What I find intersting is the portrayal of the villains. They are almost always un-American. The Sheik, the Canadian Mounties, and the Head Shrinkers are good examples. Does mean that the majority of wrestling fans are rednecks and uneducated. I think so.

Will virtual communities rule?

Well my answer is I sure as hell hope not. This blog is a responce to this weeks reading titled The Significance of Virtual Communities by Karen Evans. It is true that the future of communication and much of our social interaction will be carried out throughout the internet. This is already a reality of day to day life today. Social networking sites like Facebook have become extremely popular especially with current students. Although I am a big user of this site, personally I think this is as far as social networking should go with the internet. Facebook already allows you to send messages to basically anyone with an e-mail anyone with an e-mail adress, ie. everyone. Photo sharing and event invitations, notes blogging, and sharing media is almost too easy. The site has become addictive for many students and it is becoming the main way of communicating amongst your peers. Although I aknowledge the convenience of this site I feel that there is now too much information available on these sites and I have concerns about the lack of privacy for our future. Although people do have the choice whether or not they join facebook I don’t think that many people realise the possible ramifications of belonging to this site.

This video is a good post parodying the risks of facebook. People you have no idea about can check out your pictures, relationship status, even phone numbers and adresses, (which I feel is really foolish to publish.) Even if you are careful with what you post you have no control over what others post. I know of people who have had serious troubles with their significant others because of things that are posted on their facebook wall. Picture sharing is also quite scary, other people often have quite incriminating photos of you that you would not want shared with the world. However, if someone else posts them on their site than you have no control over who sees them. My advice to people would be to be careful with the ammount of information they post on facebook and be aware of the risks of other people posting photos they don’t want shared. Trust me, it already cost my roommate his girlfriend. Cheers.