Random Thoughts for August 2015

I'm finally getting caught up on Twin Peaks. It may have taken me five years, but I'm finally back on the saddle. With the new mini-series coming out, I figured it was finally time to watch what many consider one of the greatest TV shows of all time. And truthfully I agree. It's pretty mindblowing even in 2015, so I can only imagine what the reaction was like in 1990.

I wish more movies like Piranha 3D were made. Seriously, go back and watch that 2010 gem, it is a spectacularly good time. The entire film's purpose is to have a fun time and it accomplishes it without going too tongue-in-cheeky. I still remember seeing this with a group of friends the day it came out my sophomore year of college. We all hooted and howled throughout the duration and it was one of the most fun movie-going experiences I've ever had. I still haven't seen the second one, and given the things I've heard about it that's probably for the best, but I'm glad I still got the first.

Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll is fun but it's no Rescue Me. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy it and will follow it throughout the season but it doesn't have the same spark as Leary's past work. The Job and Rescue Me brought enough drama to add to the comedy but here, there's not enough room for big moments. It all feels so rushed, which takes me out of it. Rescue Me, as ridiculous as it was at times, would always be grounded enough that it felt like a slice of life. Sure, staring at Liz Gillies for 22 minutes isn't a bad way to spend my time, but I was expecting a little more substance from Leary in this stage of his career.

Dr. Dre's new album, "Compton" is incredible. I really can't describe how well it all flows together. The fact that all of the royalties are going to the city of Compton is pretty incredible. Dre is already a billionaire, so why not help out the place that made him who he was, for better or worse. While I selfishly wish Eminem had been featured in more than one song, the entire album is a testament to what true talent in rap embodies, without every going into fraught territory.

I watched "Apocalypse Now" for the first time ever. Yeah, that film was amazing. Not just amazing, but lifechangingly amazing. I thought about the film for days before after hearing all the crazy stories about the film shoot as I had recently become obsessed with Brando. Then after seeing seeing it, I thought about it for days yet again, the imagery both haunting and intriguing me. I'm really looking forward to watching the Redux, something I never thought I'd say, given that I had avoided this film for years due to my own abhorrence to war films. Seriously though, Vietnam is fucked up.

Go and watch The Inbetweeners right now. Seriously, I'll wait. There are 3 seasons ('series' for you Brits) and two movies and you'll wish there were more. The entire cast has a comedic timing that you get to watch evolve as the show goes on, to the point that when the movies come into play, they've gotten their characters perfected. I'm really hoping we get a third film at some point.

I need to read more. During the process of writing my book, I discovered just how helpful it was to be invested in another book at the same time. Just witnessing the process of how a story moves along was a constant reminder of what I needed to accomplish with my own writing. I recently came to the realization that autobiographical non-fiction is something I can easily read and remain interested in without my reading ADD going into effect.

I went to the movies a bunch this summer but that's ending. I saw Jurassic World twice, Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, Terminator Genisys and a slew of others in a time where I don't really venture out to the theater. I made a conscious effort to do so back in June, but I see that dying out now that less and less films are released that peak my interest. It just makes me think that theater going is going to die out eventually and all our movie watching will be done from the couch.

Wrestling is really good right now. I think I'm gonna do a full post about this but I'm really enjoying everything that is going on right now. Given how polarizing the subject can be, I figure I should talk about it while its at one of its peaks. Sasha Banks and Bayley at Takeover: Brooklyn is one of the best matches I've ever seen. Those girls can straight up go. There were two different moments I thought the competitors were dead. That's what I call wrestling.

I've decided I'm doing 31 Days of Horror again this year. I did it my senior year of college and really enjoyed it so figured why not. I'm not sure whether it's going to be on WIGS or this blog but I'll be sure to keep you posted. While I'm not going to plan out every day as far as which movie, I do intend on compiling a list and trying to make sure that at least half of it is stuff I haven't seen. I'm going to make it a little more unique than just a review a day but I'm not sure how quite yet. Maybe a video? We'll see.

Key and Peele is ending and that makes me sad. Just when I thought the show was hitting its stride, they decide to end it. I understand the British way of doing things but I still wish they would have done a couple seasons. I can only imagine the chances they had to give up though, in still creating the show even to this point so we must thank them for that.