Quick Hits

Better Off Dead – While I was watching this one I kept thinking how cheesy it was. It was pure eighties, but cheesy. But I’m a big Cusack fan and now I keep laughing when I think about it—and who wouldn’t like those Asian brothers who liked to race. I was taken back with how much I liked that Camaro. Apparently I’m not the only one. They have the original trailer on YouTube. And for those that have seen the movie, here’s a funny spoof trailer.

Ratatouille – I really liked this movie. Tanner and I went to see this one Friday night. I didn’t come out of it saying it was a must own, and Tanner kept asking when it would be over, but it had a good story-line and the animation was great.

The Godfather III – Although Jason said I’d hate this one, I actually enjoyed this finale. Again there were tons of plot-lines to keep up with, but the struggle to get legit, and the involvement with the Vatican were done well.

The Royal Tenenbaums – Best movie of the five here. Wes Anderson and his loyal cast did a great job once again. The thing that kept hitting me in the face with this movie was how quickly we want to forgive people if they’re truly contrite. I felt myself rooting for Royal to gain favor with his family. Great story. Can’t wait for the new Wes Anderson coming out soon.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail – Yeah. Completely lost on me. The flesh wound, the killer rabbit, the knights who say nee. Not getting it done for me. I’d honestly rather have a heart to heart with my brother on the merits of Ann Coulter than watch this again. Perhaps this is what Tanner will be saying about Napoleon Dynamite in 20 years. I did enjoy the ending however.

Filed under: 80's, Culture, John Cusack, Monty Python, Pixar, The Godfather, Wes Anderson

SPAM

Last night after our Men’s group, four of us stuck around and shot the bull for a bit. During our conversations the origins of the word SPAM (in electronic form) came up. Nobody knew where it began. So I did a little research and came up with some interesting facts.

The term spam is derived from the Monty Python SPAM sketch (see above video), set in a cafe where nearly every item on the menu includes SPAM luncheon meat. As the server recites the SPAM-filled menu, a chorus of Viking patrons drowns out all conversations with a song repeating “SPAM, SPAM, SPAM, SPAM… lovely SPAM, wonderful SPAM,” hence “SPAMming” the dialogue. The excessive amount of SPAM mentioned in the sketch is a reference to British rationing during World War II. SPAM was one of the few foods that was widely available.

Reference
www.wikipedia.org/Spam_(electronic)
www.templetons.com/brad/spamterm

Filed under: Monty Python, SPAM, Video, YouTube