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Augustus Gloop wants to thank Patrick Read Johnson for 5-25-77!!!
Hey folks, Harry here... There's a great misperception about 5-25-77, a date that is burned into the collective conscious as being the date that STAR WARS birthed out onto the screen like the second coming. But while that might, in fact, be the title of this film, it is about a lot more than just STAR WARS. I'll get into that more in my review. Here's Augustus with his...
Every great performance requires an encore. Just a couple of weeks ago, I said my goodbyes to the 'Original' Alamo Drafthouse with Quentin Tarantino's triple-feature screenings. There are other 'big' events planned as the last reels spin, but I had thought the nights with Quentin would be the best way to see the old girl off. But tonight I found myself in the front row for one last last hurrah, and it really gave me the shivers. This night, it felt like the whole family was there, Harry, Father Geek, Massawyrm and Missuswyrm, and many others who might be misfits in the 'real' world, but who are like a giant extended family in the geekverse. And tonight, we were watching a film that manages to capture and celebrate the part of us that doesn't fit in anywhere else.
I wouldn't tell you to go see 5-25-77 if you weren't reading it here. It's not the mainstream big box office big-budget extravaganza of marketing hype that seems to be the requirement to break into the cineplex these days. For the average movie-goer, I might describe it as a little bit "That 70's Show" meets "Freaks and Geeks" (Then I'd have to explain what Freaks and Geeks is) What this film is, to me, is a love-letter to all the geeks out there, a biopic that each one of us can relate to as the events so similar to those of our own lives unfold on the screen. Patrick Read Johnson has condensed a decade of teen geek angst into a couple months of his character's life and then into a couple of hours of very solid film.
GO SEE THIS FILM. Because you ARE reading this here, and I think it will touch you. The previews (and the title) may mislead you into thinking this is a movie about Star Wars, or a kid who wants to make Star Wars. There seem to be enough Star Wars fans over at IMDB who think this is so, but it's not. It's about a kid who can't connect with the people around him, because he's not on the same plane of existence. He has the misfortune of being raised in the wrong place, and he can never be happy until he can get to where he BELONGS.
The cast is solid. I don't know how much John francis Daley looks like a teenage Patrick Read Johnson, but he's got the acting chops to carry the lead. He has a sort of wide-eyed, innocent look that perfectly fits the part of Pat. Steve Coulter, as his best friend Bill, was a strong supporter. My compliments to makeup for turning a hunk like Justin Mentell into such a scary thug in the part of Tony. I'd wondered what happened to him since leaving Boston Legal, but I didn't recognize him in this role. My favorite, though, was Austin Pendleton as magazine editor Herb Lightman. Pendleton is one of my favorite character actors who manages at the same time to be charming but annoyed, sophisticated but world-weary, wise, but a little nutty.
I could go on about the technical details, but I'm not qualified in that area, and it was a rough-cut, almost-director's-edition. Johnson has my deepest respect. I think he's a bigger geek than most of us. When I saw Star Wars, I wanted to be a Jedi, fly an X-Wing, swing a lightsabre. But when he saw Star Wars, he wanted to MAKE people fly X-Wings. More impressive, he kept at it, making a career in the world's most competetive industry. Now, tonight, he was presenting his work to an enthusiastic audience, a sort of jury of his peers.
At the end, I was right there, in the front row just a few feet from "The first kid ever to see Star Wars", a guy who has been making movies in his backyard since before I was born, but I couldn't think of a thing to ask or say to him. Really, I needed more time to digest the experience. 'Thank You' were the only words that would come to mind, and they didn't seem to be enough. If I were back there now, I would say "Thank You for sharing this with us on this special day, and I understand where you're coming from. This is a movie I can relate to, and I know how you feel. Thank You"
I'm not a filmmaker, not even an amateur one. I'm a film glutton. I watch all that I can, and when I get the chance I'm an amateur critic, writing my thoughts as quickly as I can after a show so I don't forget them hoping that someone else cares about my opinion. For me, tonight, I can only say it was the right movie, in the right time, at the right place. 06-06-2007
-Augustus Gloop
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+ Expand All
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got em
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kahdsflkashd
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I was hoping it was more than just a star wars geek out.
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this is my world!
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5-25
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let's get through this whole TB, and only focus on this very nice piece, about what seems to be a pretty cool movie. let's not mention any of the following:Eli RothTransformersCrash shills ad revenue myspace Paul Haggis Episode 1 Godzilla Don Murphy homophobia Hostel Hostel 2 Norbit Dane Cook Hitler Star Trek 2% Milk Snow Leopards Dustin DiamondDominatrixesGoogle Earth Carmelo Anthony Michael Moore Legos Bruce Willis Pumpkin Pie Apple Pie Pecan Pie Bronson PinchotThank you.
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getting better
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any time somebody at this site gushes over something this much it usually winds up falling way short. Oh, and if I have to hear any more crap about The Alamo Drafthouse this and The Alamo Drafthouse that, I'm going to stick a fucking fork in my eye... I'm going to miss my eye
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GREAT!
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I said to myself, "Thank God, someone finally understands." I have nothing but the best hopes for this film. I think everyone who comes to this site will be able to understand just exactly what this movie is saying.
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I made a simple request! and just because you misspelled "Hostel", that still counts as well...let's get back on track, people...no mention of any items from the list above!
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And Mr. Wonka, does that also mean we can't bitch about Harry STILL not owning up to his outrageous lies and inaccuracies about HD-DVD and Blu-ray? The little coward.
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I'm sold
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I LOVED IT!!!
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have been waiting to see this film ever since.
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How many MySpace friends has he got? Because Harry has got 7000.
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Would have been 04/05/77 (or 05/04/77 as you Americans would say). May the Fourth be with you and all that.
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You mean to say you've never seen Spaced Invaders, Angus or Baby's Day Out? Shame on you...
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I have no memory of seeing Star Wars for the first time. I'm always reading people going on about that life-changing moment and there's a big space ship flying over and Jawas and lightsabers and whatnot, but I don't have that. I know my parents took me to see it, but I don't remember actually being in the cinema watching it. Too young, I guess.Also, what the fuck, Augustus Gloop? I don't usually like to rip on the reviews, but I read that thing and I still have no idea what this film is about. Too much chocolate, buddy. That stuff is not good for you.
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I was playing poker the other day. Me, Bruce WIllis, Eli Roth, Don Murphy, Dane Cook, Carmelo Anthony, Dustin Diamond, Michael Moore, and that annoying asshole Bronson Pinchot. It's a pretty big game. Anyway, in between mouthfuls of pumpkin pie, Pinchot says to Bruce Willis: "Paul Haggis makes his pie with 2% milk!"Bruce, of course, wasn't taking any of Pinchot's shit, so he took two other pies - apple in the left hand, pecan in the right - and smashed them into Pinchot's ignorant face. It was pretty funny.Eli Roth, desperate for whatever entertainment he could get since he was losing all the money made from Hostels 1 and 2, took a picture of the resulting mess with his new cameraphone."Faced!" Eli said. "This is totally going up on my mySpace page, you fag!""Hey, now that kind of homophobia is not cool," Michael Moore exclaimed. "And I'm talking Godzilla not cool!""Episode 1 not cool?" Dane Cook asked."Don't be so fucking stupid, Cook." Bruce Willis said, ever the man of reason. "Not even Hitler is an uncool as Episode 1."Don Murphy, bored and depressed as ever, turned away from our game and began to watch a portable television Michael Bay had given him as a gift. He balanced the small screen on his ample, crumb-spackled belly. Star Trek was on. The one with the Tribbles."Transformers will be better than both of those films," he murmured to no one in particular. "Just you wait."Bruce Willis had had enough. Murphy was more annoying than all of the ad revenue Ain't It Cool News had earned from shilling for Norbit."If I know one thing," Bruce Willis shouted, his face reddening with rage, "it's that Transformers will suck! It will be worse even than Crash!"A gasp filled the room. Everyone sat back, astonished. Me included. No one had ever dared suggest that a film might come along that would suck worse than Crash. It was a kind of movie blasphemy.Murphy began to cry, and he could only muster enough energy to ineffectually throw tiny Legos, which landed in an embarrassing pile at Bruce Willis's feet.Then there was silence. Everyone had forgotten about poor Bronson Pinchot's pie-covered face. The shock of Bruce's outburst was only beginning to sink in.Then there was a roar. Then a smash and crash, wood splintering and plaster exploding into clouds of dust. Two dominatrixes astride snow leopards had burst into the room."In the name of the planet Google Earth (TM)," the prettier of the two leather-clad minxes proclaimed as she raised her spear in readiness to attack. "We have been summoned to avenge this most nefarious of slights against the shittiness of Crash.""What the fuck?" Carmelo Anthony said. No one disagreed."Verily," said the other slightly less pretty but actually quite hot all the same dominatrix, "let it not be said that Crash is not the shittiest film ever made! We are here to judge you, Bru..."BLAM!BLAM!She was unable to finish her sentence on account of how Bruce Willis, now inexplicably clad in a grubby vest, had shot her and her friend in their unequally attractive faces."Yippie-Ky-Yay, motherfuckers," he said as he lowered his smoking gun to his side.Amen, Bruce Willis. A-fucking-men.And they all lived happily ever after.The End.
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Oh. I somehow missed that.Thanks for the report. I just checked out the trailer. It's gonny be hard to wait for the next two years to finally see this film. I loved the fact that the trailer said "from the producers of star wars and lost in translation".
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Wow. That teaser is interesting as well. Can't wait for Harry's review.
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Ip osted this over in the other thread:
I'm kinda late to the game.I just saw the trailer last week for the first time,and I can't stop watching it! :) I've sent it to all my movie geek friends,even to comic book author J.M. DeMatteis.The verdict from all is they love it,and look forward to seeing the film!So my question is,where is the best place to get updates on when the film is coming out,either in theaters or dvd? I went to the website and all that was there was the logo.And just to let you know,I am looking forward to this film,not because of the "Star Wars" refrences but because of the fact that,it's a coming of age story of a kid trying to find his own path.Like the trailer says:"Seeing your future is easy.Getting there is the challenge".As I continue to follow my dream of stand-up comedy,I know exactly what that means.So,thanks for making this,I can't wait to see it! -
People are still bitchin' about Harry's BR Vs HD choice?! This past 5-25-07 I watched STAR WARS on a HD DVD player and it looked wonderful ( so it was the Special Edition, still looked great but dropping the music on the X-wing dive on the Deathstar IS the worst thing they ever did to STAR WARS... I remember the horns making the hairs on the back of my neck tingle that first time... No tingles without that music blast : ( Fuckin' " but now you can hear the X-Wing engines" Ben Burt fucked that mix up on the new DVD). I watched THE MESSENGERS on a HD DVD player and it looked great. THE MESSENGERS only came out on BLURAY HD but the regular MESSENGERS DVD looked like HD on my HD DVD player so what did I miss going with the cheaper format other than having a few hundred dollars left over in my pocket? Anyone here using DVHS? I've read it has better image than both HD disc formats. Some Nerd is sitting with his DVHS tapes of the HD cablecast of STAR WARS laughing at us fight over HD/BR ( did they show all six or just the last three in HD on TV?) Well nothing is perfect, not even STAR WARS on DVD.
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I got E.L.O."Mr Blue Sky",but what are the other songs playing in the background.I thought 1 sounded like Paul Simon,any ideas.I really like the last song in the trailer.
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Doesn't work.
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WHAT IN THE NAME OF 7000 MYSPACE FRIENDS HAS THIS SHIT GOT TO DO WITH ELI ROTH? BECAUSE I AM TIRED OF SEEING SO MUCH NON-ELI ROTH COVERAGE ON THIS SITE. THERE ARE 21 NON-HOSTEL 2 ARTICLES ON THE FRONT PAGE - THIS IS A JOKE. LET'S GET BACK TO THE NEWS THAT MATTERS - NEWS THAT DIRECTLY RELATES TO ELI ROTH AND HIS NEW MASTERPIECE, HOSTEL 2 : THE SHITTENING.
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...oh, someone made a movie about young George Lucas around the time he made "Star Wars," then I see stuff about Tony the Thug and some Patrick Read Johnson. After the article, I don't have much clue what 5-25-77 is about or why I should care. Was this confusing to anyone else? Some mention of girls kissing might have helped galvanize my attention
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It's about torturing innocent helpless people to death in increasingly inventive and gory ways. In 1977.
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... please, please, just stop.
A) no-one is going to see this in the larger scheme of things
B) that lead actor is almost "joke level" ugly
C) teenagers suck
D) Lucas doesn't need any further hose-sucking by an awestruck fan
E) how DARE he put Kubrick references alongside Lucas stuff
F) teenagers suck
G) teenagers suck
H) it smells like pretension, and you can almost "use The Force" to feel where the story beats are going to fall
I) I hate teenagers
Thanks folks, I feel so much better now! -
and more star wars if your gonna exploit that audience
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I've never thought about this before, but there have been torture scenes in all the (original) Star Wars films. Droid torture, Han Torture, Luke torture, you name it. Could it be that Eli Roth is actually George Lucas? It would explain why www.aintitroth.com is willing to put up a story about it on their site.
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It's 25-5-77, surely? Also, you don't know how to spell the words colour, honour and harbour. And happiness...
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Mind the gap, buddy.
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The release of Star Wars should be made a national holiday, but only for kids and adults who can prove they still living in their parents basement. That day, they receive free movie admissions, unlimited video game play, a free lunch at Taco Bell/Del Taco/Taco John's , a plastic light-saber toy, and unscrambled Cinemax to masterbate to. But ONE DAY only.
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We're not all illiterate around here. I'm American and I write tyres, colour, honour, harbour, and the like. However, putting the month first does seem more natural so I've stuck with it.
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All those unnecessary "u"s are simply a conspiracy by British writers that have contracts where they are paid by the letter.
Oh, and most Americans spell happiness with an "i"...except for Will Smith and the guy who wrote the book he based his Oscar bait movie on.
One more thing...Stop calling them "biscuits." They're COOKIES. Biscuits are something else you have with chicken and mashed potatoes.
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because that's how it's spoken: may 25, 1977. who says "25 may, 1977" in normal conversation? i love the use of "U" in various words like colour, etc., but the whole "day/month/year" date thing has never made sense to me.
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It's a shitter...you damn unclassy Brits. ;)
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Do Americans use the word minge? You should...
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We say vulva, if we're feeling nice.
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Typingaway,
have you ever watched I HEART HUCKABEES? Go buy the DVD. The song from the trailer is Jon Brion's knock yourself out. -
around the other way is that you get the most important information first - i.e. the actual day, then month, then year. It makes sense to everyone else, but then again you guys haven't even gone metric yet, so...
Oh, while I'm here - Eli Roth is the worst hack since Paul Anderson, and that's saying something. -
I thought it sounded familiar. :)
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who will let Massa put his nastiness inside her? Probally only when he's dressed like a Klingon.
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Be sure to include the W.S. VERY important difference. ;)
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Huh? It makes COMPLETE sense to go day month year. They're increasing orders of magnitude, as in, uh, day, month, year! I can go for the opposite too, as it's like telling the time where you go backwards, like 11hrs 45mins 10seconds.
It sure doesn't make any sense to me though to go month first, jump back to day and then jump forward to the year.
Also, forgive me if I'm wrong but don't Americans say "the fourth of July"? I guess I'll find out in a few weeks!
In the interests of fairness though degrees f seems better than degrees c, as it's more accurate.
As for spelling I'm not English, but that stuff did come first, 'u' and all, and you gotta admit 'airplane' and 'aluminum' are just bastardisations and lazy and sorta look the way a 5 year old would write them. You only call scones biscuits because it was left over after you renamed cookies and secretly couldn't figure out how to pronounce scones anyway. Don't get me started on basil and oregano, jam/jelly/jello and how Americans inexplicably pronounce 'herbs' correctly with a silent h. Another weird one is how decades ago Americans pronounced Aunt like ant, but now most pronounce it like the English (whereas Aussies make it sound like a bit like cunt, which has gotta be a bit disconcerting for all the Aussie Aunties out there). What the hell? As for Abin Sr, don't you mean 'bddy'?!
Oh ;) btw.
Mace, not bitching about his choice at all, just how he outright lied about 'facts' then sneakily (probably not a word) corrected the post slightly hoping no-one would notice and wasn't big enough to own up to his mistake (when we all would have admired his humility and honesty), that's all. -
The Poms say EYEtalian too, and say vitamin like 'bitumen' and yoghurt like boggart, and can't pronounce pasta correctly either. My pet hate at the moment though is how even supposedly educated types mix singular and plural. I think I'm becoming a grammar nazi!
Um, what were we talking about? -
I read this script back in... oh, 1999 I think, in my college screenwriting class. Somehow, the instructor - who was a graduate film student from England - got a hold of the script (guess he knew the writer or something) and gave us all a copy calling it "fucking brilliant" in that great English accent.
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Jun 07, 2007 10:19:22 AM CDT
I love how opening night of Star Wars 1977 has become
by excaliburffolkes
the Gen X equivalent of Woodstock for Baby Boomers and the French Resistance for WWII generation, where everyone of a certain age claims they were present and involved even if the sheer number of people claiming it is impossibly larger than the number of people who actually were (or even theoretically could have been) there.
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I first saw Star Wars in a theater. I was only 6. I just remember the experience of it. Later in life, I would remember '77 as the year of Star Wars, just a mental bookmark, but it never really mattered to me what day or month it had been released. In other news, I'm designing and printing T-shirts for myself and my brother that say "Geek Loser Movie Night." It was an idea I had several years ago, when we saw X-Men, to celebrate our fondness for movies with superheroes, karate, and robots, be they good or bad. Who wants in? You know you do.
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how many people saw STAR WARS on opening day when it only premiered in 43 theaters. I myself didn't see it until around August 3 or so.
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My hero of the day. Kudos to you, sir. Kudos. Now I have to clean up the drink I just shot through my nose.
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1.) Because Biscuit Monster isn't nearly as good of a name as Cookie Monster.
2.) Because scones are something you have at a froo-froo espresso bar with raisins or cheese in them, not simply coated with good ol' artery-clogging butter as a side dish with your artery-clogging extra cripsy piece of KFC chicken.
So now you know...and knowing is half the battle.
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Biscuit Monster just doesn't cut it. You're right. Then again "Disco Biccies" sounds a lot better than Disco Cookies.
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Actually, most of us say "the 25th of May". The logical way to write a date would be yy/mm/dd (with the largest denomination first) but it doesn't really matter.
You can't argue that alot of American spellings are dumbed down versions of their English counterparts (color, aluminum etc.)
"because that's how it's spoken: may 25, 1977. who says "25 may, 1977" in normal conversation? i love the use of "U" in various words like colour, etc., but the whole "day/month/year" date thing has never made sense to me. "
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apl
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