I'd like to take a moment to recognize what I think is one of the greatest and most important pieces of American theatrical work ever made. This is not some star-studded, well- coerced, eat-at-the-hearts of the audience type movie; No. This is a gritty, rough-edged movie starring the right actors at the right time. And, they're all virtually unknown. This is a movie for guys that like movies, but girls love it, too (I've met a few)!
The Warriors, directed by famed macho-movie maker Walter Hill, is a tale about a New York streetgang from Coney Island. Nine chosen delegates travel all the way to Eastchester, NY by subway to attend a huge meeting of a hundred gangs all with the same number delegates. Put together by the biggest gang in the state, the Gramercy Riffs, the meeting was supposed to be about union and truce with a united takeover of the whole state; a radical attempt by their charismatic leader, Cyrus. Instead, an even more radical, yet sociopathic leader of another gang, the Rogues, shoots Cyrus down to send the meeting into a chaotic free-for-all just as the police, who have been staking the place all along, begin their raid.
Through the melee, the Warriors leader, Cleon, goes to check on the status of Cyrus. There, the vile culprit of the Rogues accuses Cleon and the Warriors of the dastardly deed, in which Cleon is overtaken by the Riffs and beaten to death. Now the Warriors, lead by the assured 2nd in command, Swan is charged with getting the gang back to Coney Island. Knowing the police are after them, but clueless to the manhunt beset upon them by all gangs at the word of the Gramercy Riffs, the Warriors have to battle their way back home.
The movie faced harsh criticism when it premiered in February of 1979. There were numbers of reported incidents involving violence and gang-related activity surrounding area theaters that were showing the movie. After promotion of the movie dwindled to merely nothing and having been pulled in some locations, The Warriors' success went into some box office obscurity which may have been considered a bomb. However it had gained a huge underground and international cult following.
After watching this with my 9 year old nephew, I realize there has to be a cut off point. Some kids just arent disciplined enough to view such a flick. They just don't have that filter. Not to say my nephew is this kind on kid, but there is more to the story than just the violence. Now my daughter, the little angel that she is, memorized Cyrus' opening monologue at about four years old. There is no cursing, nothing absurd; it's a motivational so to speak, can you dig it?
I don't recal the first time I saw this movie, but I know I was probably younger than most parents would prefer their child to watch such a film. It's not really all that bad, to be honest. Besides a few derogatory remarks, some f-bombs, and a bit of rough, male/female content (but no nudity), it is a perfectly dark and violent movie for viewers of all ages!
I say this because The Warriors has something that a lot of other movies lack; realism. Imperfect characters with very little to say. A dire situation with only one way home. No fancy gadets, no elaborate game plan. Just adrenaline and tunnel vision, it's rather desaparate and primal. You don't have to have grown up on the other side of the tracks to empathize with what is going on. It's a beautiful meadley of vision and sound, choreography and creation. It's a transient tale of getting back home. It's the Wizard of Oz. It's Finding Nemo. It's also, kick-ass and in countless viewings of it, it never gets old. It's timeless and that makes it a classic.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Landmarks
"Are we there yet?". For probably thousands of years that classic phrase that has tormented parents in many languages all around the world. However on this day, it is music to my ears as my trusty sidekick/daughter and first time co-pilot, Ellek rides shotgun in the moving truck we're driving from Michigan to North Carolina. Just one hour in on our almost seven hundred mile trip she begins to warm up the vocal engine for the barrage of third-degree soon to be released. "Is this going to take two days, daddy?".
It's been a rough six months trying to relocate my family. I'm bringing my daughter and most of my house down with me now. My wife is still home in Michigan, working and prepping the house for sale. And she's eight months pregnant! An unconventional approach for most; irrational and insane to others. It's not the easiest transition for us, either. But, my wife and I are Pisces. We ride a wave of emotion and the timing just seemed right. We made a decision and now we're going with the flow, no resistance.
Ellek is a great roadie, too. She's made some serious trips with us over the past six years. But never with just me, in such a huge vehicle, and in the front seat with a great view (yea!). We talked a lot about new rules, school, a new environment all together. Her attention and interaction was quite unexpected. I've missed a lot these past six months. She did not require the DVD player, Leap Frog "Leap Pad", or Kindle "Fire" that are usually there to allay her from becoming too antsy or irritable over a great distance of time. Oh, we brought them! We just didn't need them.
How goofy shouldn't a responsible parent act behind the wheel of a 16 foot box truck? Well, as long as you explain why you can't look at everything your child asks you to look at, you pretty much just need to keep your eyes on the road and your hands upon the wheel (The Doors). I haven't made so many faces or spoken in so many voices in a lonnng time. And, in my whole life, I don't think I've ever counted to one-hundred by 3's, 4's, 6's, 7's, 8's, and 9's. It was a landmark occasion for me and I looked pretty impressive to my baby girl. "Hey look, honey! Look at the beautiful gold dome of West Virginia's state capitol building". "Pssh! I know, daddy. I seen that before when I came down with momma...it is pretty, though".
Just as shocked as I was when I realized that she had a peer group in pre-school, I was just as impressed that she also considered landmarks while traveling great distances. Like, the view of the Roanoke Valley at night time. It looks as if the stars are on the ground. "Yeah, except they're lights. ha!" she says "That means we're almost there, right daddy?". "Almost, honey. Not quite, but almost". You see all you really have to do when they ask the same question is just give a different answer.
Just like the highway, life is full of landmarks: Emotionally, mentally, spiritually, physically (Mayor of Munchkin City). But, the biggest landmark for me is when I am with my wife and daughter because then I know I am, at least, home. But, no landmark is permanent. There is no proverbial mountain top, only greater distances to go. So, as long as "Are we there, yet?" is still a viable question, the answer will always be "no". We'll just have to think of new ways to get there.
It's been a rough six months trying to relocate my family. I'm bringing my daughter and most of my house down with me now. My wife is still home in Michigan, working and prepping the house for sale. And she's eight months pregnant! An unconventional approach for most; irrational and insane to others. It's not the easiest transition for us, either. But, my wife and I are Pisces. We ride a wave of emotion and the timing just seemed right. We made a decision and now we're going with the flow, no resistance.
Ellek is a great roadie, too. She's made some serious trips with us over the past six years. But never with just me, in such a huge vehicle, and in the front seat with a great view (yea!). We talked a lot about new rules, school, a new environment all together. Her attention and interaction was quite unexpected. I've missed a lot these past six months. She did not require the DVD player, Leap Frog "Leap Pad", or Kindle "Fire" that are usually there to allay her from becoming too antsy or irritable over a great distance of time. Oh, we brought them! We just didn't need them.
How goofy shouldn't a responsible parent act behind the wheel of a 16 foot box truck? Well, as long as you explain why you can't look at everything your child asks you to look at, you pretty much just need to keep your eyes on the road and your hands upon the wheel (The Doors). I haven't made so many faces or spoken in so many voices in a lonnng time. And, in my whole life, I don't think I've ever counted to one-hundred by 3's, 4's, 6's, 7's, 8's, and 9's. It was a landmark occasion for me and I looked pretty impressive to my baby girl. "Hey look, honey! Look at the beautiful gold dome of West Virginia's state capitol building". "Pssh! I know, daddy. I seen that before when I came down with momma...it is pretty, though".
Just as shocked as I was when I realized that she had a peer group in pre-school, I was just as impressed that she also considered landmarks while traveling great distances. Like, the view of the Roanoke Valley at night time. It looks as if the stars are on the ground. "Yeah, except they're lights. ha!" she says "That means we're almost there, right daddy?". "Almost, honey. Not quite, but almost". You see all you really have to do when they ask the same question is just give a different answer.
Just like the highway, life is full of landmarks: Emotionally, mentally, spiritually, physically (Mayor of Munchkin City). But, the biggest landmark for me is when I am with my wife and daughter because then I know I am, at least, home. But, no landmark is permanent. There is no proverbial mountain top, only greater distances to go. So, as long as "Are we there, yet?" is still a viable question, the answer will always be "no". We'll just have to think of new ways to get there.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Window Pane
Soft but cold like snowflakes
Accumulative mass might make me break
This burden of love I shoulder
How much more can one man take?
I've seen it before;
A compost heap as one man weeps
I reach for my soul,
But the key that she holds is buried deep...deep
Chorus:
Why would I
Try to hide behind these eyes
If I
Tried to hide, what would I hide behind?
Cause you see right through me like a window pane.
A blissful dream remembered
I'm staring at you lying on a sunset beach
The wind blew cold, you shivered
I go to keep you warm but your out of reach
Where did you go?
Echoes of you mocking me
Then low and behold
I wake up to find your holding me...me
Bridge:
The sun, it don't shine when your away
I think I'm goin' crazy
I want much more than I can take
I'm crazy, crazy, crazy
You know all of my stories
You finish every line before I speak
I bask in all my glory
You let me do my thing then you make me weak...weak
MY APOLOGIES, this post was scheduled for release on 6/13/12 at 7:50. I was "out of the office" this week and figured I would just leave you with lyrics to a song I wrote. Stay tuned for my next post!
Accumulative mass might make me break
This burden of love I shoulder
How much more can one man take?
I've seen it before;
A compost heap as one man weeps
I reach for my soul,
But the key that she holds is buried deep...deep
Chorus:
Why would I
Try to hide behind these eyes
If I
Tried to hide, what would I hide behind?
Cause you see right through me like a window pane.
A blissful dream remembered
I'm staring at you lying on a sunset beach
The wind blew cold, you shivered
I go to keep you warm but your out of reach
Where did you go?
Echoes of you mocking me
Then low and behold
I wake up to find your holding me...me
Bridge:
The sun, it don't shine when your away
I think I'm goin' crazy
I want much more than I can take
I'm crazy, crazy, crazy
You know all of my stories
You finish every line before I speak
I bask in all my glory
You let me do my thing then you make me weak...weak
MY APOLOGIES, this post was scheduled for release on 6/13/12 at 7:50. I was "out of the office" this week and figured I would just leave you with lyrics to a song I wrote. Stay tuned for my next post!
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Howdy Doody Day
It was a beautiful 22nd day of January. A clear, sunny sky and warm enough to get away with just wearing a light jacket or sweater. I was attending church with my in-laws and it seemed as if all the parishioners were arriving at the same time. The foyer and outside of First Baptist Church was swaying with traffic. It's always fun to see people gathered together; smiling, laughing, talking. OK, truth is I'm not sure what day it was, could have been December, but it was beautiful outside.
Did I mention it was beautiful outside? Still fresh off the boat from Michigan, the weather was definite and welcoming. For many nights following, I would have to bite my tongue when talking to my wife on the phone. She was still back home scraping the frost off her car windows every morning. It's amazing how shivering cold it can get in the mid-west. And it becomes normal. Normal to go about every day bundled up in layers of clothing. Trying to ignore the chill of Old-Man Winter. Pretending not to be depressed, stressed. Pressing on through every freezing day, tormented by the fact that he'll be there waiting for you. It's an abusive relationship. So, we decided to get out. We weren't gonna take it anymore. We love Michigan, but we had to get away. Start anew.
To my surprise, I moved on with the quickness. I forgot about Old-Man Winter immediately. The weather here felt like spring. It was a new beginning! I could ride my bike, jog and walk my dog without trying to "make it quick". It was warmth to my Michigan blood.
The weather wasn't the only thing warm here in North Carolina. So were the people. Everybody, it seemed, spoke to me or acknowledged me in some way. I mean, one has to be ready for it. It's like how motor cyclists or Jeep owners do when they pass each other on the roads. Discreet, but real. And that's how warm they were at First Baptist.
I get real comfortable in situations like that and I felt comfortable there. So much so that I begin to get a little cocky with it. Like I was the most interesting man in the world and could share inside jokes with complete strangers. All of a sudden I was speaking to everybody. Doing the "cool kid at school" and finger pistoling people as I passed by.
Then, I spotted the NC State jacket-wearing old man with his back to me. "Hey, Wolf Pack!" I cheered as I patted him on the shoulder. "Hey, Howdy Doody Day!" he replied with a familiar grin. "Howdy Doody Day!?", I retorted with a staggered smile. What is this Howdy Doody Day he speaks of? I thought to myself. Did I miss that page in my North Carolina culture studies? "Yeah, I wasn't able to watch the whole game..." he was saying. "Ohh! How'd they do today?!" I say, recoiled and laughing, embarrassed by my miscommunication. All of a sudden I wasn't THE most interesting man in the world, and he wasn't laughing. In fact, I gather to think he was a bit put out by my silliness.
I apologized and moved on. "What a dumb Yankee!" I cursed to myself. But that was enough to realize I was in a new world. That the weather wasn't the only thing I was going to have to get used to. The language, the culture, there's real history down here! The ugly truth, too. But, I like it and I'm excited to meet it's acquaintance. I'll just keep my inside jokes to a minimum. Still, every now and then when a co-worker greets me with a smile, or once when one complained about the rain, I leave them with a personal message and something to think about. "Howdy Doody Day!", I say as I walk away with a smile. An inside joke from a man, still fresh off the boat.
Did I mention it was beautiful outside? Still fresh off the boat from Michigan, the weather was definite and welcoming. For many nights following, I would have to bite my tongue when talking to my wife on the phone. She was still back home scraping the frost off her car windows every morning. It's amazing how shivering cold it can get in the mid-west. And it becomes normal. Normal to go about every day bundled up in layers of clothing. Trying to ignore the chill of Old-Man Winter. Pretending not to be depressed, stressed. Pressing on through every freezing day, tormented by the fact that he'll be there waiting for you. It's an abusive relationship. So, we decided to get out. We weren't gonna take it anymore. We love Michigan, but we had to get away. Start anew.
To my surprise, I moved on with the quickness. I forgot about Old-Man Winter immediately. The weather here felt like spring. It was a new beginning! I could ride my bike, jog and walk my dog without trying to "make it quick". It was warmth to my Michigan blood.
The weather wasn't the only thing warm here in North Carolina. So were the people. Everybody, it seemed, spoke to me or acknowledged me in some way. I mean, one has to be ready for it. It's like how motor cyclists or Jeep owners do when they pass each other on the roads. Discreet, but real. And that's how warm they were at First Baptist.
I get real comfortable in situations like that and I felt comfortable there. So much so that I begin to get a little cocky with it. Like I was the most interesting man in the world and could share inside jokes with complete strangers. All of a sudden I was speaking to everybody. Doing the "cool kid at school" and finger pistoling people as I passed by.
Then, I spotted the NC State jacket-wearing old man with his back to me. "Hey, Wolf Pack!" I cheered as I patted him on the shoulder. "Hey, Howdy Doody Day!" he replied with a familiar grin. "Howdy Doody Day!?", I retorted with a staggered smile. What is this Howdy Doody Day he speaks of? I thought to myself. Did I miss that page in my North Carolina culture studies? "Yeah, I wasn't able to watch the whole game..." he was saying. "Ohh! How'd they do today?!" I say, recoiled and laughing, embarrassed by my miscommunication. All of a sudden I wasn't THE most interesting man in the world, and he wasn't laughing. In fact, I gather to think he was a bit put out by my silliness.
I apologized and moved on. "What a dumb Yankee!" I cursed to myself. But that was enough to realize I was in a new world. That the weather wasn't the only thing I was going to have to get used to. The language, the culture, there's real history down here! The ugly truth, too. But, I like it and I'm excited to meet it's acquaintance. I'll just keep my inside jokes to a minimum. Still, every now and then when a co-worker greets me with a smile, or once when one complained about the rain, I leave them with a personal message and something to think about. "Howdy Doody Day!", I say as I walk away with a smile. An inside joke from a man, still fresh off the boat.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)