When we decided the world needed another arts and culture blog, the first challenge instantly presented itself: what would we call it? Could there possibly be any URLs left that would label our project as an arts and culture blog without saying "Arts & Culture Blog"?
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When the original The Fast and the Furious was released in 2001 I definitely thought that Universal Studios would make 5 more. But in all seriousness I definitely didn’t think that. As far as film franchises go you’d be hard pressed to find a more consistent one than FAF. It delivers precisely what it sets out to deliver. Babes? Yep. Fast cars? Damn right. Stunningly bad acting? There is so much of this that nearly every scene is unintentionally funny (thanks Paul Walker for existing as you’re the only one who still seems is not in on the joke.) Oh…The Rock is in it too in his quest to be in every movie while wrestling and making television shows.
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The Hangover Trilogy…let that sink in for a minute brosef. I’m sure the executives at Warner Bros. knew this phenomenon was coming when they gave the Director of Old School a modest budget to make the original. Now 3-movies and $1 billion later this comedy juggernaut about 3-buffoons who will seemingly ingest whatever is put in front of them is the most successful comedy franchise of all time. That doesn’t mean the trilogy has even been any good but after the abomination that was Part II the Wolfpack’s sendoff had nowhere to go but up.
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Following the 2012 barrage of Chronicle, The Avengers, The Dark Knight Rises, The Amazing Spiderman, Dredd, Ghost Rider and Lincoln it’s safe to say superhero fatigue was in full effect. It’s a genre that follows the same template, reaches for the same symbolism and yields markedly similar results across franchises. So naturally after a banner year for spandex and capes what does Hollywood do? Make 10-more superhero movies of course! Thank goodness Marvel Studios handed the reins of the Iron Man franchise to savvy veteran Shane Black. The results are remarkable leaving me to ponder whether this whole superhero thing does have something left in the tank. Or maybe I just like Robert Downey Jr.
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Oh, Michael Bay…I should’ve known. I should not have trusted the kinetic energy of the trailers for Pain and Gain. I should not have trusted the casting of two of my generation’s best action stars and some inspiring choices for small character roles. I should not have trusted the unique, disturbing and true source material that was begging for a big screen adaptation. But I did. I gave in to the hype.
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