SHERDOG MOVIE CLUB: Week 87 Discussion - Detention

[Guestx]

I did finish it. Overall it was a really fun movie, albeit a bizarre ride. I enjoyed the fact that it was so original that I have never seen anything like it, and was trying to tell a buddy about it but had no reference except for possibly Scott pilgrim. I'm not sure what the point of the movie was or what I was supposed to learn from the movie except for the fact that I'm old now and the era when I was going to highschool is now looked upon as interesting subject matter, even to goof on. Overall I was thoroughly entertained and enjoyed the football coach and the jock that was a bully.

Indeed. Well I'm glad that you enjoyed it. It's about time we got a positive opinion up in here!

So here's what I need from you. It's time for you to live up to your screen name and be my enforcer.

I need you to go to every person ITT who aired grievances against the film and systematically dismantle their arguments point by point.

Let me get you the list of offenders. Hold on.

*checks records*

Ah yes, here we go:

@MusterX
@europe1
@Cubo de Sangre
@the muntjac
@jeicex

There you go. Go fuck those guys up.

Don't stop until they've all agreed that Detention is at least an 8/10 or better, and can articulate why.

 

[Cubo de Sangre]

Go fuck those guys up.

 

[the muntjac]

You see. . .

I don't see how you can have all these thoughts about the film, and read into it on the level that you have, but not enjoy it.

I don’t really feel I had to truly analyze the film to pick out the observations that I made. I don’t think there’s any deeper meaning hidden away that begs to be discovered. I think what the movie was trying to say was fairly self-evident, but its way of conveying that message got diluted by teenage-riddled jokes and nonsensical random humor that seemed to exist only to be nonsensical and random.

I don't want to start repeating myself, but I think the movie is funny as hell. I don't get how someone could watch the debate scene and not be entirely amused by it. Or not be amused by the scene where Riley is nominated as the mascot and she first puts on the bear costume for the first time. Or not laugh at lines like, "By the way, you lied to me. It is NOT normal for someone's semen to glow in the dark!"

I guess it just comes down to personal tastes. Examples of jokes in the film that turn me off is stuff like the cop saying, “Worst. Alibi. Ever.” and Riley saying “FML” after falling off the stage. Even if these were interjected as some sort of self-awareness mockery of teenage humor found in teenage movies, it’s still the same brand of humor being presented with the intention of getting a laugh.

For me, I think what captures my imagination the most if the time travel aspect. I always enjoy trying to pull apart time travel tales and work them out logistically and logically and this one is no different.

Have you ever seen Time Cop? I only ask because I introduced my wife to Bloodsport recently, and I got to thinking that Time Cop is a JCVD film I’ve never seen. I can only assume it’s a masterpiece.

 

[the muntjac]

Yeah, he's up next. There are a handful of movies that have been made in Salt Lake.

If that's the theme, and I was up, I'd go with:

Way of the Gun (shot largely in SLC)
Revenge of the Ninja (shot in SLC, no shit)
SLC Punk (self-explanatory)
Halloween 4 (several scenes were actually shot within walking distance of my apartment)

I think I remember you mentioning that you realized Halloween 4 was filmed near you in the Halloween discussion. Got any pics of anything that’s in the movie?

 

[the muntjac]

Now that's a fuckin' movie. Fun and likable characters. Absurdity but some semblance of cohesion. More imaginative than nonsense. Kurt is great with the cheese. Better execution of the love story and climax. I care more about what's on Jack's truck than the plant invasion ending. Thanks for bringing up such a great example of something with similar elements that works on the story and the characters as much as the fantasy.

Yes. Big Trouble is a film that’s balls to the wall crazy, but still all the wackiness has a purpose and is coherent. It’s in my top 3 John Carpenter films with The Thing and Halloween filling the other two spots, with Escape From New York as an honorable mention.

 

[Guestx]

I don’t really feel I had to truly analyze the film to pick out the observations that I made. I don’t think there’s any deeper meaning hidden away that begs to be discovered. I think what the movie was trying to say was fairly self-evident, but its way of conveying that message got diluted by teenage-riddled jokes and nonsensical random humor that seemed to exist only to be nonsensical and random.

The mechanics of the time travel plot didn't interest you either?

I guess it just comes down to personal tastes. Examples of jokes in the film that turn me off is stuff like the cop saying, “Worst. Alibi. Ever.” and Riley saying “FML” after falling off the stage. Even if these were interjected as some sort of self-awareness mockery of teenage humor found in teenage movies, it’s still the same brand of humor being presented with the intention of getting a laugh.

Yeah, personal taste I guess, because I enjoyed all of that. Maybe part of it is because I still have very clear memories of being in my late teens and early 20s and miss that time of my life. It seemed a lot more fun that what I've got going on today and Detention allows me to revisit all of that.

Have you ever seen Time Cop? I only ask because I introduced my wife to Bloodsport recently, and I got to thinking that Time Cop is a JCVD film I’ve never seen. I can only assume it’s a masterpiece.

Yes. It is Van Damme's most successful film, financially speaking, but I have little regard for it. It's okay. But it's not one of those Van Damme movies that I have much of a desire to revisit.

 

[Guestx]

I think I remember you mentioning that you realized Halloween 4 was filmed near you in the Halloween discussion. Got any pics of anything that’s in the movie?

No, but I could easily go take some.

I thought about doing that and posting them but then I figured no one would actually give a fuck. I guess I now know that at least one person would give a fuck.

 

[TheRuthlessOne]

No, but I could easily go take some.

I thought about doing that and posting them but then I figured no one would actually give a fuck. I guess I now know that at least one person would give a fuck.

Dont know if I ever said this but Poltergeist house is pretty close to me. 10 minute drive maybe

If you like film location stuff you should check out adamthewoo

 

[Cubo de Sangre]

Have you ever seen Time Cop? I only ask because I introduced my wife to Bloodsport recently, and I got to thinking that Time Cop is a JCVD film I’ve never seen. I can only assume it’s a masterpiece.

Good luck with that. It's all downhill after this amazing opening scene.

 

[Guestx]

Dont know if I ever said this but Poltergeist house is pretty close to me. 10 minute drive maybe

If you like film location stuff you should check out adamthewoo

That's pretty cool.

When October rolls around again maybe I'll go on the hunt for as many Halloween 4 locations as I can find.

It's always interesting to see stuff from your city show up in a film. If you don't live in New York or LA, it certainly doesn't happen everyday.

 

[TheRuthlessOne]

It's always interesting to see stuff from your city show up in a film. If you don't live in New York or LA, it certainly doesn't happen everyday.

I agree

These awesome shots from Blade Runner

were filmed at the Bradbury building

That is 36 minutes away from where I live so yeah its pretty awesome out here if you like checking out all that types of stuff

 

[the muntjac]

The mechanics of the time travel plot didn't interest you either?

Actually, the time travel was more of the interesting stuff because I have a soft spot for time travel in films because the Back to the Future trilogy is one of my all time favorites. At some point, I realized Riley was going to be the girl in the bear blow job picture before the movie revealed it, and that joke is one of the few I liked. She had been the biggest loser in high school before she ever got to high school basically.

Yes. It is Van Damme's most successful film, financially speaking, but I have little regard for it. It's okay. But it's not one of those Van Damme movies that I have much of a desire to revisit.

Interesting. I wouldn’t have guessed this would be his best drawing movie. I would have thought Street Fighter since it was based on an already popular video game. Granted, it was a terrible movie, and a younger me who waited for it to come out is still scorned by it.

 

[the muntjac]

No, but I could easily go take some.

I thought about doing that and posting them but then I figured no one would actually give a fuck. I guess I now know that at least one person would give a fuck.

In Moleman’s voice from The Simpsons - “I give a fuck.”

The original Night of the Living Dead was filmed a not too long drive from where I grew up, and I’ve been to the cemetery in the opening scene and took pics “reenacting” some shots. If I can find them, I’ll post them.

 

[Guestx]

Interesting. I wouldn’t have guessed this would be his best drawing movie. I would have thought Street Fighter since it was based on an already popular video game. Granted, it was a terrible movie, and a younger me who waited for it to come out is still scorned by it.

Street Fighter actually came VERY close. Timecop made $101 million worldwide. Street Fighter made just over $99 million.

Considering how popular Van Damme was at one time, it's actually pretty surprising to me that his highest-grossing film only made $101 million.

By contrast, Terminator 2 made $520 million. And even Cliffhanger made $255 million.