Comments on: Theater Releases for July 2nd, 2008

By: Evan Derrick

Evan Derrick — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 03:26:02 +0000

Yeah, I know that you linked to it (thankyou, by the way…makes me feel all fuzzy inside), but you know how these internet memes go… if you’re not screaming your ownership over one the whole way, some 13 year old German kid in the backwoods of the internet (probably at 4Chan) is going to claim he started it himself. And then what would I have, Luke? Nothing. I would have nothing. It would definitely not be the chameleon’s lobotomy.

By: Luke Harrington

Luke Harrington — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 02:57:21 +0000

Hey, no arguments here — but that doesn’t mean I have to like it that there are gigantic organizations that are all essentially above the law, all spending millions to make mom and dad look like the bad guy. I’m not going to get behind something that does no good, just because it’s not directly responsible for all the bad in the world.

And, if you didn’t notice, I did link to the moment you coined the term.

By: Evan Derrick

Evan Derrick — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 23:07:58 +0000

Ah, but shouldn’t parents suck it up and, you know, be parents? I understand that corporate American is particularly nasty when it comes to snagging the minds of children (the diaper aisle at Wallmart is directly across from the cookies…now why do you think that is?), but sometimes a parent just has to say no. When I watch a mom or dad give in to the demands of their screaming children, I have to shake my head. It’s not all Big Business’ fault.

Oh, and I would just like everyone to know that I coined the term ‘the chameleon’s lobotomy.’ Glad you could do your part in propagating the meme, Luke.

By: Luke Harrington

Luke Harrington — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:51:39 +0000

Clearly, you didn’t see me in late 2001/early 2002, when I was buying up all the Treasure Planet merchandise I could find. But for the most part, licensed merchandise always serves one of two purposes:

1. Taking away the money of parents, most of whom have little disposable income (you, of all people, should know how much diapers cost ) but simply can’t compete with the millions of dollars that corporate America pours into research in child psychology annually

and

2. Preventing the financial independence of pathetic uber-geeks, thus forcing them to live in their parents’ basements a little longer (at least until they find a female desperate enough to let them move in ).

I can sort of get behind #2…but #1 really makes me worry about where the world is headed.

By: Evan Derrick

Evan Derrick — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:45:11 +0000

Boy, what “Mystery Men” could have been if it had just been a little more…a little more…gosh, I don’t know, but it needed a little more something.

And Luke, I’m coming to understand that you have a special place in your heart for movies with direct merchandising tie-ins. Were you burned as a boy with Thundercats or Transformers or something?

By: Colleen

Colleen — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:36:32 +0000

I Adore “Mystery Men”. If my friends all formed a league of super loosers…heros. Mystery men would just about be right. Eddie Izzard was awesome in that film. “Disco is not dead, DISCO IS LIFE”…LOL

By: Luke Harrington

Luke Harrington — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:48:02 +0000

It couldn’t be too much worse than that Bratz movie…

By: Phillip Johnston

Phillip Johnston — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:40:45 +0000

Now I’m looking for a movie based off of Vision Forum’s Beautiful Girlhood dolls. Now that would be a camp classic.

By: Luke Harrington

Luke Harrington — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:33:02 +0000

I was looking for offbeat, superhero-oriented comedies. Mystery Men may not have been the best choice. In terms of tone (and clumsy execution), My Super Ex-Girlfriend is the best fit.

As for Kit, I’d be open to seeing it. I’m just a little wary, given its roots in merchandising.

By: Cinexcellence

Cinexcellence — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:00:40 +0000

Mystery Men? How did that get into the recommendation list? Expound, darn it!

By: Phillip Johnston

Phillip Johnston — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:59:20 +0000

I’ve heard Kit is pretty good for a G-rated kids outing. Come to think of it, this year has been very good when it comes to kid’s movies.

By: Kristena

Kristena — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:48:57 +0000

Kit Kittredge could be good–it does have the fantastic Abigail Breslin playing the lead. And I can definitely appreciate alternatives to Disney princesses, no matter how much I love Beauty and the Beast.