Elektra Boogaloo

I think they thought making her a doctor who works with children would make her likeable? But like forgot the difference between a job description and a personality. Same could be said for Giorgio, I think.

Does holding that note longer make it better?

So my take on the cooking is that Giorgio is a big child, and this was like,how kids pretend they are going to make their mom breakfast on Mother’s Day and it ends up like “Here is some burned toast? You are welcome.” And at some point he was like I am going to make real Italian dinner with authentic Italian cream pies(?) but that he was sure to eff it up somehow, hence the food fight. The whole time I just kept thinking, “someone has to clean this up” (probably Kwan and Mei Ling who think it is their night off). I find this plausible. I kept thinking there had to be more for Green Acres (Henry) to do. He didn’t seem to have a reason to be there.

Okay so now I have listened to the episode. It does kind of suck that this is such a BUMMER of a movie. Because I, like June, thought maybe one day opera would be a thing I get into. Like right now I don't understand it. I know the Ruth Bader Ginsburg is really into it. I love her. She's goals. So I thought maybe when I was old like her, I'd be into it. After watching this movie, I am don't think it's going to happen. Maybe I am just TOO DUMB? Or maybe I'm not musical? I don't know. But why did we all know who Pavarotti was in the 80s? Was it because of the Three Tenors? But then that was him and two other guys. I had to Google them just now to confirm it which two other guys. Why was Pavarotti part of our cultural awareness then? I don't think I know any current opera singers. Was this opera's ONE chance at mainstream success? I mean, besides Pavarotti those are real singers at the Met, right? Famous people? If this movie had done better, would we know their names like Pavarottis? I guess I wish it had shown why he loved opera so much a little bit. Or maybe made opera more accessible somehow, like translating the plots of one of them? Wouldn't it have been more cost effective to just film the Met people doing TURNADOT? Okay so I CAN'T spoil it for you because I don't know. I did google how to pronounce it after getting the Olivia set. And apparently it means (dokt) daughter of Turan, which was what they called Central Asia. And there is a debate about the proper pronunciation. So I figure the woman is Turandot? The Asian princess? I don't know who Pavarotti was supposed to be. These are things I wish the movie explained, honestly.

I was also in the audience and I would have supported this question so hard.

Here is the post I wrote after being in the audience. I haven't listened to the episode yet. This is going to be a long post. I was in the audience for this show and I have been stewing on this movie for like a month now. I wish I could forget about it like June because the more I think about it, the more frustrated I get. I will give the film two props. 1. I was thinking about some of the other starring vehicles we have seen, like the Hulk Hogan movies, and I appreciate that Pavarotti (may he Rest In Peace) was willing to play a flawed character it might be very close to his actual life—I am not sure. But he’s like “yep I cheat on my wife and I am kind of dumb and chauvinistic.” And thought I found him very stiff in most of the movie I did have A feeling (just one) when he performed the final song and was sad. 2. I was happy that Pamela left. It wasn’t treated like she was going to be unhappy forever without him or anything. She’s a hot lady doctor that other men took time out of their day to sexually harass. She had other options. She had an important job to go back to. She’s gonna be fine, guys. What I did object to was, as the gang mentioned, her just dropping her IMPORTANT job to cater to him. She is a lady doctor who performs surgery on children. Maybe tonsillitis isn’t the most dangerous of ailments but if she froze during surgery like he did on stage, someone could die. So when they initially mention something awful happening at the Met, I thought the stakes would be high. You know that this important lady doctor needs to take time out of her life to fix him. When it was revealed during the food fight that it was just a wardrobe malfunction and he was mainly concerned that people laughed at him? I. Was. Furious. What I really WANTED him to say was, “The Met killed my wife.” Like Richard Kimble in “The Fugitive” or something. How great would it have been if we don’t talk about Carla because she was murdered by that dragon or something? Or maybe a rival pushed her off a balcony? Some more of my nerd notes: — Pavarotti did not speak English very well. I read a trivia big on IMDb that said he was surprised that changing the words around meant changing the entire meaning and he had trouble with it. That made me laugh. Yeah English is a real language with meanings. I found the way he pronounced “Pamela” most confounding. It was like “Pah-meh-la.” And initially because the dubbing was bad I thought he said “Karnilla,” who is a villain in the Thor universe. I call her Karnilla in all my notes. — I thought the comedy vignettes (nuns, hat lady, Asian couple, food fight, etc) were all poorly placed. The more I think about it, the more I like the nun in the opening. The Mother Superior is a trickster and gets him to do her bidding by pretending she doesn’t recognize him. But in the second scene? We don’t know why he deserved that. If that had come AFTER the mistreatment of the poor Asian couple, Kwan and Mei Ling, I think she’d be the hero of the movie. Also, the she had the Italian equivalent of a baguette in her hand bag. It was up by her face in the car ride scene. Why she is taking bread on the plane? Did she being a whole meal? I have a lot of questions about her life. — The Kwan and Mei Ling scenes were the most uncomfortable for me to watch. I hate when people treat service workers (or were they friends? Wait, that makes it weirder.) like slaves. I was really upset by it. And I was concerned that place they had the food fight might be the same set, which would mean they might have to clean up that mess? I was ready to start a GoFundMe for them. — I also found that scene way more offensive than the “yellow face” mentioned by the audience in the final scene. I don’t know much about opera but I do have Il Teatro Olivia, a little play set for the picture book character Olivia. It is for her to wear fancy costumes and be the center of attention. All I know about Turandot (the opera being performed in the end) is that Olivia also wears elaborate robes like the African American opera singer. Not that this makes it okay but I think it is standard for a production of Turandot and not an invention of the movie. Also, Olivia is a pig so I don’t know if that is yellow face or not?

It's Scribbles or nothin'! SCRIBBLES BLUES, the son of Jake Blues.

It feels SO LONG. It is not just the unnecessary singing but the weird structure of the film where there are episodic comedy bits (nuns, old lady hat, Asian abuse, random Latino dancing, food fight) that rarely have anything to do with the plot. I watched it on Google play movies. It wasn't on Amazon. I was so mad I paid for it when it is free on YouTube.

The forums look weird now. This will take some getting used to, but I am glad they are back up. I already wrote a long post for "Yes, Giorgio."

As already pointed out, there already is one. My sign in New York said "We are ALL Balcony Monsters." (Paid for by the Society for the Protection of Balcony Monsterish Welfare and Fans of Harry Potter References) But people already had the Balcony Monster t-shirts and I felt they upstaged me. Also footnote jokes are good for signs. Alas.

Wikipedia actually says Jim Belushi agreed to do it but was forced to drop out because of a production deal with ABC (some show I never heard of). But that makes it extra crazy b cause it had been 18 years, why not just wait for him to be available. Or did they think of the title first and say, "it's called Blues Brothers 2000 we have to get it out in 1998!!!"

I didn't watch this movie because I had a difficult enough time getting through the movie for the NYC live show. But if any of you try to spoil me with Scribbles' actual name, I will be furious.

The Brooklyn shows are tomorrow and I have my signs ready. My sister is fed up with me. She tried to watch the movie and said she got bored two minutes in. I might be in a lot of trouble tomorrow after this is over. But she is the BAM member who got me tickets early. If I can ask a question, should I? But I'd kind of want to ask Paul if he still has his My Buddy doll and his kids call it Uncle Buddy. That isn't movie related. (And also I am sure June would not allow it even if I find the mental image amusing.) Anyone else going??

Well if Paul loves reading this forum so much, I will be the girl holding the Balcony Monster poster this week at BAM. Sister and I are in row AA. I dunno if that is cup size? Anyway sister has not heard the podcast really (except when I listen to it and she is like what is this?) and when the email announcing the movie came she texted me that she was “skeptical” about this. I was bummed that I couldn’t go to both shows, since I have a flight to VT for work the next morning. But when it was announced it was “Beastly” I was relieved. That’s another shitty Ya that I have read and we will cover on our still forthcoming “How Did This Get Written” spin-off podcast.

I read the beginning of the book on Amazon Look Inside to see if it gave any clues as to why Erin was fired. It did not. It does contain the yogurt/cockroach scene though (no mention of hair being blown off). And, yes, the name is "Erb." I am so glad I didn't watch this movie. I'm busy trying to think up a good sign for the BAM show.

Who is this Brandon person sending books? I feel personally attacked for some reason. I work at a Literary agency. I have never sent books. Should I send books? I mean, I don't know Paul and June's kids. Do they want my books? Maybe I should send Jason some of our YA on audio. Keeping with the book theme, I am pretty sure I read JUDE THE OBSCURE in college and did not enjoy it. Too bad the "Gymkata" book isn't in the public domain. I really want to do that one for our hypothetical How Did This Get Written spinoff.

I'm tired of steampunk. It's the future but we would DEFINITELY revert to Victorian society.

Oh. I wanted to talk about dumb weatherman names because Jason was mad that it's a hurricane movie with a character named "Breeze." I'm actually just surprised that HE wasn't the weatherman. My weatherman in NY was literally named Storm E. Field. If you are named a dumb storm name you are required to become a meteorologist. Actual weather person names (look 'em up, nerds) Amy Freeze Dallas Raines Larry Sprinkle Sunny Haus

Agree. I like a man who appreciates Cedric Diggory. Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember Cedric Diggory!!! I also really appreciated June's "Who Jackie" reference. Well done. I tip my hat.

I will listen to this immediately. I love the Blockbuster stories.

I am so excited they are coming to BAM! It's within walking distance from me and my sister is a member so I'm going to force her to buy me cheap tickets (If someone of you want cheap tickets... maybe message me. I'd like to go with someone. She seems uninterested. I don't know how we're sisters.) I will say we saw Hannibal Buress do stand up at BAM the other day and his intro is videos from his DJ (they kind of went on too long) with a lot of bad movie footage that I recognized. She was like "HOW DO YOU KNOW THIS STUFF?" I was like "I listen to How Did this Get Made!" I remember there being Over the Top., Gymkata, some ninja movies. But not Last Dragon, so what gives?

I Googled "Rad" (because I have never heard of of this movie) and apparently that is the stock symbol for Rite Aid. Typical Paul, always wanting to do movies about pharmacies.

How do you guys feel about Sky Captain being a Captain Marvel? I hope he has a scarf.

I"m going to start responding to emails where people pitch me things with, "This is a big bag of no thanks."

Was I the only one who thought Scarlett Johansson was in SKY CAPTAIN? I guess I am confusing it with THE SPIRIT? But, like, who can tell the difference anyway?