Episode 158 - Body Parts: LIVE!

[Cameron H. 23786]

I can't hit quote on Cameron H's post about IF because I haven't finished the series yet, but I agree about the story being stretched out.

 

I wanted more of the wushu stuff (sorry Colleen and kendo). The fighting scenes at The Hand HQ was so short compared to say, Danny's stay at the psych ward (that part was unnecessarily drawn out). Also, please no more flashbacks to the plane crash. There was some brief mention of leopard style. Gimme more! There was a nice long sequence with drunken style too, but I doubt I'll get to see it again.

 

 

The ending is infuriating. The more I think about it, the dumber it gets.

[Smigg 1488]

If you have a spare 25 minutes, you HAVE to watch "Southpaw Regional Wrestling", it's a brilliant send up of the cheesy 80s wrestling territories. Especially John Cena as a Ron Burgundy-esq commentator, and a Bulgarian as a hillbilly farmer.

 

[Smigg 1488]

[joel_rosenbaum 1269]

There is a Dollop episode (#57 "Eric Red") about the writer of Body Parts and The Hitcher. Long story short, he basically acted out some of the shit from those movies in real life and basically got away with it.

Dude, you buried the lede!

 

Skid marks still scar the barroom floor where a speeding Jeep Cherokee plowed through a West Los Angeles pool hall five weeks ago, killing two patrons and injuring several others.

And while plywood and particle board disguise all other physical evidence, the crash lingers unresolved in the legal system in a way that troubles witnesses and the families of its victims.

 

Police still haven't interviewed the driver, 39-year-old Hollywood film writer and director Eric Red, who reportedly swerved across three lanes of traffic, plowed through a bus stop and the bar's patio, splintered the mahogany bar and then jumped from the Jeep and began slashing his own throat with a shard of glass.

Relatives of one victim and bar patrons who witnessed the May 31 incident are confounded by the fact that Red, who was released from a hospital three days later, has received no citation and has refused to speak with investigators.

[KimberlyRudd_90231 3]

I had an issue with the transplanting heads theory so no one would die... where would the bodies be coming from? For that to really work they'd have to create a sub-class of humans to be farmed for parts a la Jupiter Ascending.

[Cakebug Tranch 6873]

As I was watching 'Body Parts', I kept getting glimpses of familiar-looking areas in the backgrounds, of what is (I think) supposed to be Westchester County and environs. My suspicions were confirmed when Charlie Fletcher crashes his car in front of the famous Canary Restaurant, a crappy diner that is long-closed but popular with location scouts, for movies shot here in Toronto (it's the restaurant Matthew Perry goes to in the horrid 'Two to Tango' in order to eat poisoned food, so sad is he over Neve Campbell). Here's a still of Charlie crashing his car in front of the Canary: http://imgur.com/a/NrCeo

 

More to the point, when Bill escapes Detective Hat and goes to confront Mom Doctor at the hospital, he gets out of his car on Hoskin Avenue in the middle of the University of Toronto campus, mails a letter, then proceeds into a foreboding concrete building, as screencapped here: http://imgur.com/a/piRbY

 

That's no hospital, that's Robarts Library, the University of Toronto's flagship and the biggest in Canada. It's constructed in the brutalist style, is meant to look like a turkey/peacock, and a long-held rumour was that engineers who constructed it did not take into account the weight of the books the foundation would need to support, so it's gradually sinking. That's mostly an urban legend I think.

 

Robarts is used as an external location often in film: it's even in an episode of 'Friends' as another hospital and it's a prison in the Resident Evil films (http://torontoist.co...t-evil-sequels/). I wrote my entire PhD thesis in the college directly across the road from where Bill mails his letter, and borrowed most of my books from that library. I didn't see any dismembered corpses on life support in there though...

 

ETA: googling "Toronto Movie Body Parts" leads to a distressing number of stories about the east Toronto porn actor who killed and ate some of his boyfriend, then mailed parts of his anatomy to politicians across the country. That guy's in jail now.

[joel_rosenbaum 1269]

That's no hospital, that's Robarts Library, the University of Toronto's flagship library and the biggest library in Canada. It's constructed in the brutalist style, is meant to look like a turkey/peacock, and a long-held rumour was that engineers who constructed it did not take into account the weight of the books the foundation would need to support, so it's gradually sinking. That's mostly an urban legend I think.

Pretty much applied to every University library.

 

Probably most believable in the case of Geisel (UC San Diego).

 

[Elektra Boogaloo 3371]

I don't know why the link isn't working. Journal is here: http://agentem.tumblr.com/

 

I still have a few more episodes to watch, but I thought the casting was fine and I don't blame the actors for how this is shaping out. It's the direction and the writing that's weak. If this was their attempt to silence their critics, they needed to do much better.

 

That all being said, I still want to see the Luke Cage/Danny Rand bro-mance in a Heroes for Hire show, and I've read somewhere someone suggest a Daughters of the Dragon show led by Colleen, which I would also be totally down for. I haven't given up hope yet. There's potential there, unfortunately, unless they can pull it together soon (which I doubt) it's completely squandered here.

I agree. It is weak. I'm only six episodes in, but there are some good moments followed by like the rest of the episode being about the difficulties of running a big company? Like I am supposed to feel bad that they are getting sued by someone with cancer because their chemical plants might have caused it? I would've loved to see the Tournament where Danny becomes the Iron Fist, and then only to have him sent back to NY to fight the Hand.

 

It's like the QUEST, I guess. You were promised BLOODSPORT and got a lot of weird other serious stuff. (Except even French Clown Van Damme is at least on the side of the people?) I just don't think they understand the character very well. What I liked about Luke Cage and Jessica Jones was that the creators had a very specific vision of what they wanted the show to be about. Iron Fist feels more like, "Ah fuck I guess we gotta do Iron Fist now. Anyone know who that is?" And they settled on a guy who had read one arc or something.

 

It's not even really fun bad. Although I'm excited that Cameron says it gets WORSE.

[Cameron H. 23786]

It's not even really fun bad. Although I'm excited that Cameron says it gets WORSE.

 

It freaking broke my heart how terrible it was. Like, really? WTF?

But, like Tom said, the drunken fighter is coming up. He's like the best part of the show. And, you're right Tom. He's a one and done character

 

[tomspanks 9039]

Are the footsoldiers of The Hand called handsoldiers?

[Cameron H. 23786]

Are the footsoldiers of The Hand called handsoldiers?

 

I think they're called pretty shitty at their job if even Claire can take them out. I'm not trying to take anything away from her, but how is someone who has had the equivalent of a year's worth* of weekly, one hour self-defense courses at the local YMCA able to take out ninjas that have been training their whole life? It certainly minimizes the hard work and sacrifice Iron Fist, Colleen, and Daredevil put into their craft. "Oh, you were beaten with sticks and had to carry heavy jugs of water a mile up a mountain everyday? Me? No, I've been coming here after work on Tuesdays for the past two months. I like it because it's right next to Chili's and I like to grab a drink afterward. Hi-ya."

 

*A year's worth at BEST!

[tomspanks 9039]

 

I think they're called pretty shitty at their job if even Claire can take them out. I'm not trying to take anything away from her, but how is someone who has had the equivalent of a year's worth* of weekly, one hour self-defense courses at the local YMCA able to take out ninjas that have been training their whole life? It certainly minimizes the hard work and sacrifice Iron Fist, Colleen, and Daredevil put into their craft. "Oh, you were beaten with sticks and had to carry heavy jugs of water a mile up a mountain everyday? Me? No, I've been coming here after work on Tuesdays for the past two months. I like it because it's right next to Chili's and I like to grab a drink afterward. Hi-ya."

 

*A year's worth at BEST!

 

And, Claire's only got a pair of iron fist claws! I like Claire, but it's not believable.

[Cameron H. 23786]

 

 

And, Claire's only got a pair of iron fist claws! I like Claire, but it's not believable.

 

I talk a little about my feelings about Claire behind some of my spoiler tags

[Cameron H. 23786]

I don't know why the link isn't working. Journal is here: http://agentem.tumblr.com/

 

It's not even really fun bad. Although I'm excited that Cameron says it gets WORSE.

 

I've been reading your journal and it is spot on . God, I hated that disgusting thing that happens in Episode 7

their awkward lizard sex

 

 

I can hardly wait to hear your thoughts about how a certain character completely changes their personality afterward. I speak A LOT about how wrong that scene was in one of my other posts

[RyanSz 3140]

If you have a spare 25 minutes, you HAVE to watch "Southpaw Regional Wrestling", it's a brilliant send up of the cheesy 80s wrestling territories. Especially John Cena as a Ron Burgundy-esq commentator, and a Bulgarian as a hillbilly farmer.

I watched most of these today and they are glorious, especially if you have any memory of the territory days and how bad they got near the end of their runs. The Ric Flair impersonator may be the best part of the whole series.

[mikemac 49]

 

Dude, you buried the lede!

 

Yeah, I didn't feel like getting into the details since there was that podcast episode about, but it is messed up. The dude even still has film credits as recently as 2015.

[Smigg 1488]

I watched most of these today and they are glorious, especially if you have any memory of the territory days and how bad they got near the end of their runs. The Ric Flair impersonator may be the best part of the whole series.

 

I think Gallows and Anderson as "Tex Ferguson" and "Chadd 2 Badd" were hilarious, especially Anderson bragging about his new green jacket.

[Cameron H. 23786]

Elektra, please, please, please change your member title to "Mistress of All Agonies!"

 

If anyone gets to be that cool (besides Gao), it's you.

[Cam Bert 8145]

I have a very busy work week this week so can't be on here as much as I'd like. I won't be getting a chance to start watching Iron Fist until next week most liklely but based on what I read and what you guys have been saying I'm hesitant. Much like my fellow Cameron, Iron Fist was always a favourite of mine and from everything from what I've seen and read just seems to me like they don't get the character. From the casting, to what I've read of the plot it just seems like this was tossed off because they needed to use the character opposed to wanting to use him. I could be wrong. I hope I am but according to you all I'm not.

 

I have a question, I'll post in a spoiler because I'm not sure but..

 

Does anything from Matt Fraction's run i.e the Immortal Weapons show up? Or is it just trying to shoehorn it into the New York crime world they've created?

That might make me more eager to watch it.

[Cameron H. 23786]

I have a very busy work week this week so can't be on here as much as I'd like. I won't be getting a chance to start watching Iron Fist until next but based on what I read and what you guys have been saying I'm hesitant. Much like my fellow Cameron, Iron Fist was always a favourite of mine and from everything from what I've seen and read just seems to me like they don't get the character. From the casting, to what I've read of the plot it just seems like this was tossed off because they needed to use the character opposed to wanting to use him. I could be wrong. I hope I am.

 

I have a question, I'll post in a spoiler because I'm not sure but..

 

Does anything from Matt Fraction's run i.e the Immortal Weapons show up? Or is it just trying to shoehorn it into the New York crime world they've created?

That might make me more eager to watch it.

 

Let's put it this way, the show should be called The Meachums ft. Iron Fist. (Yeah, I know, I've already used that joke behind one of my spoiler tags. It's 100% accurate though.). It's kind of an adaptation of Iron Fist's first appearance back in the Seventies, except what was told in two issues and was sort of interesting, has been stretched for thirteen, hour-long episodes and made super boring. As a fan (high five, btw) I'd say skip it (God that hurts to say) and just find his fight with the Drunken Master on YouTube. I don't feel like anything happens that will have any significant baring on The Defenders.

 

ETA: At this point, I think he should have been introduced like The Punisher was in Daredevil. They could have just introduced him, fully formed in Luke Cage or The Defenders, and if the audience responded to him, then they could give him his own show.

[Cam Bert 8145]

Sorry for the double post but a brief note about Body Parts.

 

Brad Dourif must have filmed all his scenes in one day. How do I know this? Well his outfit is virtually the same in every scene. When Jeff Fahey first meets him he's wearing tan slacks, blue button up shirt, with greyish black jacket underneath his undone smock. Oh he's also wearing an undone bow tie to match. Next time we see him is in the bar and he actually removed the bow tie and thrown on a tweed overcoat. The rest of the outfit unchanged. Then when he's back in his studio it's the same outfit as the first scene minus the bow tie. This time his has red paint all over him yet his smock is still undone! This raises a few questions like why does he paint in a suit and why leave the bow tie dangling there? Was it done up at some point or was it just for show? Is this guy like Sam Raimi in that he wears a suit at all times while working? For that matter why does he even bother to put a smock on if he's not going to do it up. What's the point! You're getting paint all over your shirt and if you don't want to get your jacket dirty why did you put it on in the first place?

 

 

Sorry BCB

 

[Cam Bert 8145]

 

Let's put it this way, the show should be called The Meachums ft. Iron Fist. (Yeah, I know, I've already used that joke behind one of my spoiler tags. It's 100% accurate though.). It's kind of an adaptation of Iron Fist's first appearance back in the Seventies, except what was told in two issues and was sort of interesting, has been stretched for thirteen, hour-long episodes and made super boring. As a fan (high five, btw) I'd say skip it (God that hurts to say) and just find his fight with the Drunken Master on YouTube. I don't feel like anything happens that will have any significant baring on The Defenders.

 

ETA: At this point, I think he should have been introduced like The Punisher was in Daredevil. They could have just introduced him, fully formed in Luke Cage or The Defenders, and if the audience responded to him, then they could give him his own show.

Back when Marvel was announcing their films I thought Iron First, while not fitting in with the Avengers, would be perfect because you're right. His origin story is simple enough to make a tight movie with an open ending to see where it goes.

 

Also you're right he would have been perfect to slot into Luke Cage or The Defenders a la The Punisher. Like Luke just sees this weird homeless looking guy roaming the neighbourhood. He stops him and asks him what's going on, and finds out that he's been away for twenty years or so and is just out there. He agrees to help him track down these people. Soon he finds out he's got abilities of his own. This builds the foundation for that friendship which is key to these two characters!

[Samantha Ridiculous 14]

Did anyone else have a problem with the physics of the car crash? We see Jeff Fahey come to a screeching halt because the car in front of him lost its tire, then he's rear-ended by the semi. When you're at a stop and get rear-ended you are pushed back into your seat. Hitting something head-on is what would launch you out of your windshield.

[Cakebug Tranch 6873]

Okay, I've been thinking a lot about body proportions. Should I share? Sure!

 

When Charlie Fletcher is brought in to the hospital for his execution - a point that's bizarre enough on its own but I think it was covered enough in the live show - we see his head removed, before montaging over to see Bill Cruishank rocking his new arm, which we know was harvested from this other guy's body. Fine. That's the concept of our film. Until we meet Brad Dourif as Remo Lacey, our artist, and Peter Murnik as Mark Draper, our basketball player. Both of them have Charlie's other three limbs. Fine. I have discussed elsewhere just how many months and years of rehab would be required to allow these limb recipients to even have a rudimentary use of those new limbs, let alone being able to fling kids around or have the hops to dunk a basketball. We should probably assume that Mark Draper wasn't able to dunk before he got his new legs, but now he can because Charlie was a kickass baller when he wasn't randomly murdering prison guards, right?

 

What's bothered me about this is how relatively seamlessly Charlie's limbs fit on these other guys' bodies. If you see images of people with limb transplants, there's nearly always a major join where it has been attached, with lots of scar tissue, fluid, and often pigmentation differences between the skin. Sometimes, the arm is slightly larger or smaller than the recipient's body, which means a noticeable difference visually. Here's a kind of graphic image of a double arm transplant recipient:

 

 

 

 

 

 

But, in Body Parts, aside from some superficial scarring, there is no real difference between the new arm and the old body - which is obviously because Jeff Fahey's arm has been made up to look like a donor arm. This gets mostly interesting once you start considering proportions. Jeff Fahey is 6'0 tall, and the images of John Walsh, who plays Charlie Fletcher, suggests he's the same size or a little bigger (there's no data on this that I can see, but looking at his next to Jeff Fahey (see here http://imgur.com/a/eVAAz) I would assume maybe the same or a little higher). BUT.

 

Brad Dourif (The Artist) is 5'9.

 

AND

 

Peter Murnik (the Basketballer) is SIX FOOT FIVE.

 

So, if you add the arm of a six foot tall man to the body of a 5'9 man, you will see a noticeable difference in the lengths of his arm. More to the point, if you add the legs of a six foot man to a 6'5 man's body, they will be comically short, particularly since Charlie takes Mark Draper's entire lower half when he reclaims his legs.

 

The obvious example to point to here is Da Vinci's Vitruvian Man, which sketches out the ideal proportions of the human body:

 

 

The radius of the circle around Da Vinci's man points to the correct proportions between torso and limbs, which would be seriously out of whack putting a too-long arm on a 5'9 artist or too-short legs on a 6'5 basketball player. And as this 2010 scientific study has suggested, "leg length and proportion are important in the perception of human beauty, which is often considered a sign of health and fertility." Mark Draper not only looks normal to everyone around him, but his SHORTER legs make him MORE able to perform feats like dunk a basketball. Given that this character has likely lived most of his life on his 6'5 guy legs, only to lose them both, the adjustment to these stubby little serial killer legs would be arduous and would almost certainly result in less coordination, not more. The same goes for Remo Lacey, who would have to deal with a lop-sided set of arms: and given that he's using his left hand to paint (which means he lost his dominant arm and would have to relearn how to use it), the proportions there would be considerable too.

 

We have plenty of artists on this forum: I'd be interested in knowing about arm and leg proportions when drawing the human form. There are lots of guides online and most seem to suggest that they are dependent on torso length. What happens when too-short legs are put on a longer body? Would we need to do what this Russian model did, by spending thousands of dollars on leg-lengthening surgery? http://www.dailymail...ng-catwalk.html

[Cameron H. 23786]

This builds the foundation for that friendship which is key to these two characters!

 

That's exactly right. To be honest, Iron Fist was the show I was looking forward to the most. And although I would have preferred Ryan Kwanten for the role

 

 

I got that he had probably aged out of the role. So I was okay with Finn getting the part. But the part that really got me worried for this whole thing is when I read an article that Mike Colter and Finn Jones didn't even meet each until they were on the set of The Defenders! That's insanity! Luke Cage and Iron Fist's relationship is EVERYTHING! Hell, they flew a bunch of kids down to do chemistry tests with Robert Downy Jr. when they were casting the new Spider-Man, why wouldn't they have done something like that here?

 

At this point I'm really scared that

because of the negative reviews, Iron Fist might be sacrificed to show us just how powerful the new bad guy is. Which I don't think is fair, even if I can't blame them. Iron Fist is a great character. The just did him wrong.