Hardcore Henry

A few days ago, I was looking for a movie to watch but nothing seemed to match what I wanted. Then, out of the blue I remembered having seen a trailer for an action movie filmed entirely in first person, so I dug it up and watched:

Hardcore Henry (2015).

Henry wakes up in a strange tank in a mysterious lab. A beautiful woman, Estelle, puts him together with cybernetics while explaining that his memories are shot, but that they are married and she loves him very much. Soon, the bad guy, Akan, bursts in with his henchmen and things go very wrong. Estelle is kidnapped, everyone seems to want to kill him and he doesn't know who he can trust, or what he is capable of. Queue a violent, fast paced action comedy with plenty of parkour, chases, fighting and buckets of blood.

Hardcore Henry is written and directed by Ilya Naishuller (Nobody, Heads of State) who has created perhaps the most unique movie I have ever seen. As I said, Hardcore Henry is completely filmed in first person, that is to say, from Henry's perspective. You see what he sees and nothing else. This has caused some people to become violently ill from motion sickness, so if you want to see it, be aware of that fact. Personally I'm not sensitive to that, and I play quite a lot of first person video games, so that helps.

The movie was shot exclusively with GoPro Hero 3 cameras on a special rig, which means that the movie in a sense doesn't really have any cinematography. At times this first person view is very disorienting, especially when Henry falls, rolls around and dives for cover, but eventually you get used to that.

Another interesting fact is that Henry doesn't have an actor. Ten different stuntmen played the role, depending on what was needed and who was hurt. Despite the challenge, only three minor wounds needed stitching, one tooth was chipped and two stuntmen got sore necks from the camera rig. With everything that goes on in Hardcore Henry, that is a miracle!

The story is alright, nothing too remarkable in itself, but it serves as a good excuse for the action. I didn't really like the villain, Akan, as he came across as more of a high school bully than a proper villain. Likewise, the ending dragged a bit, but those are my biggest complaints.

The effects are brilliant and besides all the violence, the movie really shines in the editing department. Some things are edited out like boring car rides, but beyond that you are in the hot seat for the whole ride. There is another aspect where the editing is amazing, but that would be spoilers so you won't get it from me.

The actors all do a great job, and the soundtrack is really nice. I think of it more as a soundtrack than a score, I don't know, it feels more appropriate like that.

So, do I recommend this movie? Absolutely! Hardcore Henry was a blast to watch. I'm not sure I'll watch it again, but as an avid gamer, it was so much fun. It is no coincidence that it feels like a first person shooter, there are in fact several gaming Easter eggs hidden in the movie, like posters and such. Hardcore Henry is a blood drenched movie that just doesn't stop, so if that sounds fun, have at it. Just remember the motion sickness thing.

That's that and all that. Join me again next time and until then, have a great week!

 

Relentless

I had a whole thing planned for this week, but summer finally arrived and my brain melted, making analytical thinking hard.

So, I decided to save my thoughts until later, and instead continue showcasing great standup comedians who passed too early.

This week I present Bill Hicks, one of the original angry comedians. I hope you enjoy.

That's that and all that. Join me again next time and until then, have a great week!  

I Say Nay Nay

Last week I showcased the late Ralphie May, and this week I want to present John Pinette, another great comedian who also passed much too soon.

Unlike Ralphie, John works clean as they say in the business, so no warning today.

But that's that and all that. Join me again next time and until then, have a great week!  

 

 

 

Just Correct

This week I want to share the late comedian Ralphie May.

I don't want to ramble too much, but I need to point out that Ralphie was not afraid to go there. He spoke his mind, he joked about everything, even things he shouldn't have been able to get away with, but he did. Mostly I think, because he said what a lot of people are thinking and because even though what he said could be very rude, it was never incorrect. Finally I want to add a content warning. if you like your comedy clean, this is not it! Enjoy at your own risk.

That's that and all that. Join me again next time and until then, have a great week! 

Stereotypes

 Hello,

I've had a pretty busy week, so unfortunately I have nothing concrete to talk about this week, but you showed up and deserve something for it.

What I have today is the comedy of  Foil Arms and Hog, a comedy trio from Ireland. I want to highlight their amazing getting past immigration interview series, where the answers are true but never what you expect. I'll link the playlist below for your pleasure:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBhpqVyEFbg&list=PLQYUb9JUs7E_-jkxbSykWTB7NfPOIpYk2

 

Beyond that, join me again next time and until then, have a great week!

 

'Tis the Season

Hello and welcome to Eccentric Spheres.

The holidays are upon us, and fun as they are, sometimes we need a small break from the festivities. I still wanted to give you a laugh so I found some old (and I do mean old) but brilliant British comedy sketches. 

Hopefully you'll enjoy them and I wish you all a very Happy Holiday! Join me again next time for the last post of the year. Stay safe and have a great time!  

 

Funny takes on scary things.

If you have ever watched a scary movie and thought; "why are they going in there?" or maybe said "no, don't go in the basement!"then this sketch is for you:

 

 

On the other hand, being chased by a merciless killer is terrifying, so what can be worse? Being ignored by the merciless killer, that's what!

 

 

That's that and all that. Join me again next time and until then, have a great week!

Get Shorty

This week is a rewatch. I decided to re-visit the comedy:

Get Shorty (1995).

We meet Chili Palmer (John Travolta), a loan shark from Miami. He is a movie lover that is getting sick of the whole gangster thing. He has to chase down Leo Devoe, a gambler with an outstanding debt, in order to satisfy his new boss Ray 'Bones' Barboni (Dennis Farina). Chili and Bones do not get along and Bones is looking for a good excuse to get rid of Chili. The chase for Leo goes to Las Vegas and from there to Los Angeles.

In LA, Chili has to call in a marker held against a director of cheesy movies, Harry Zim (Gene Hackman). The problem is that Harry is also in deep debt to Bo Catlett (Delroy Lindo), who is having trouble with Pablo Escobar. In the middle of all this chaos, Chili has the chance to ditch his gangster life and become a movie producer, as long as he can take care of all the outstanding business, all the players involved, as well as learn how Hollywood works.

There is a lot more to this story, but that synopsis is already confusing enough as it is. Get Shorty is not really a gangster movie, despite featuring a fair amount of criminals. At the heart it is a comedy about Hollywood. It points a finger at the criminal elements that surround the movie industry, it jokes with the vain, flaky and unreliable nature of movie stars, personified in Martin Weir (Danny DeVito) who eats breakfast at the same table every morning and always faces west so he can look at his own billboard. He also shows up to a lunch meeting, orders something for the whole table that no one wants and dips before the food arrives. According to author Elmore Leonard who wrote the book the movie is based on, the lunch scene is based on a real event featuring Dustin Hoffman.

Get Shorty is directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, and as is usual, it is lovely to watch. Not all of Sonnenfeld's movies have been hits, like Wild Wild West, though others have been, like Men in Black. Whether they were hits or not, his movies are visually great and Get Shorty is no exception.

But lets talk actors. Yes we have John Travolta, Gene Hackman and Danny DeVito, but we also have Rene Russo, James Gandolfini and in a small uncredited role, Bette Midler amongst others. It is a heavy cast, which can sometimes become problematic. If there were problems on set, you can't tell in the movie. It is wall to wall veterans and it works.

Funnily enough, Travolta didn't want the role of Chili Palmer, even though it was written for him, until Quentin Tarantino convinced him to take the role. Likewise, Gene Hackman turned down his role at first, citing that he didn't really do comedies. Sonnenfeld told him that's perfect and that Harry should be played completely straight anyway.

So, do I recommend this movie? Definitely. Get Shorty is a funny movie that doesn't try too hard to be funny, it just is. It is partially a comedy of errors and partially a fish out of water story. Chili Palmer is essentially the prototype for every “too cool for school” character Travolta ever played, but set against all the madness it really works. I do think Get Shorty is the kind of movie anyone can sit down and enjoy. Oh, and the soundtrack is great!

That's that and all that. Join me again next time, and until then, have a great week!

 

These things happen.

It so happens I've caught a spring cold and been so busy blowing my nose to the point where I'm unsure if I have any brain left in my skull. 

As a natural consequence, I've been too tired to actually come up with anything this week, so I'll give you some comedy instead. I have two full stand up shows, one with Bill Burr and the other with Jimmy Carr. Both are fantastic comedians but be aware that they both like abrasive and controversial humor.

Join me again next time and until then, have a fun week (and don't get sick)!

 

 

It is that time again...

The year is growing old and 2023 is ending. Most of us have lots to do and no matter how much time we think we have, it's never enough. 

All this can add up to a lot of stress, so I figured I'd give you something relaxing and fun to watch.

 

Very British Problems, Christmas edition is a collage of sorts starring some top names in British comedy sharing their Christmas traditions and tribulations. So, enjoy and I'll see you guys on the first day of 2024!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy New Year and all that!

 

 

We are weird creatures

A lot of the things we do and take for granted in life and society are actually pretty weird if you step back and look at them dispassionately. Things like relationships and modern living. 

Comedians Julie Nolke and Ryan George have created a few sketches poking fun at these things and they are pretty good. Have a look and I'll see you next time, so until then, have a great week!

 

 

 

  

 

Finnish Humor.

Today I have a trio sampler of the Finnish comedian Ismo Leikola and his observations about the English language. This wasn't my original plan for this week, but time, like a cat, didn't want to cooperate. Oh well, at least these videos are pretty damn funny. They are in English as well, so no need to worry.

So without further ado, please enjoy and I'll see you next time. Until then, have a great and funny week!   

 

  

 

Lovecraftian, or Comsic Horror Humor

Yesterday I tripped over a trio of Lovecraft based comedy sketches, and since I needed something for you guys, here you go! I hope you will join me again next time and until then, have a great and safe week!

First up is the HPL Insurance company: 

 

 

 

Then The Unnamable Unimaginable Thing In My Basement:

 

 

Finally, The Epiphany Continuum Sketch: 

 

Getting in the mood.

Summer is almost over and Autumn is around the corner and I figured we could get into the spooky season with some light practice. So I have a trio of horror parodies for your amusement. 

Please enjoy and join me again next time, and until then, have a great and safe week!  

 

 

  

 

 

Start the week with a laugh.

Last week was pretty hectic as I spent several evenings and all of yesterday helping a friend move. This has left me little time and no extra energy to come up with something for this blog, so it's comedy sketch time. Please enjoy!

Join me again next time and until then, have a great and safe week!  

 

 

  

 

A simple bit of fun

I just had one hell of a weekend, thanks to a stomach bug, but the less said about that the better.             

It has however left me short on time to work on this blog, so this week I'll have to keep it short and sweet.

Presenting Lonely Ialand:

 

Created and starring  Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone. They all have acting/writing experience on Saturday Night Live, and Andy is well known from Brooklyn 99. 

Anyway, Lonely Island is a comedy music act that sometimes guest-stars some very big names. Content warning though, some of the song are very racy, so don't listen to it in public without headphones.

Here is the channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/thelonelyisland/featured

I'll embed a couple of songs below for you to get started with. That's that and all that. Join me again next time and until then, have a great and safe week!

 

 

  

 

Viva La Dirt League

I have something different for you today. Browsing on Reddit, I tripped over a link to the Youtube channel Viva La Dirt League. They are a bunch of gamers from New Zealand that make comedy sketches about games and gamers. 

Games and the people who play them tend to fall into certain patterns. Idiosyncrasies, if you will. A kind of logic that can be incredibly specific. Viva La Dirt League are very good at bringing these things forward in such a manner that you can't help but laugh at them. If you have ever played a game like an MMO or fantasy games in general you will undoubtedly recognize what is going on.

It isn't just fantasy either. The have sketches about PUBG, Tarkov, Red Dead and more. I myself have mostly been watching the series Epic NPC Man, with sketches ranging from 1-5 minutes. I'll embed a few below.

Here is the link to their channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/VivaLaDirtLeague/videos

And here is the NPC man list: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbJ51AJuR7E&list=PLSMETuURtTXCzW7Q_ZIy4QzEnyUG8totf&ab_channel=VivaLaDirtLeague

And that is really it. I urge you to give it a chance, I myself can't get enough. Join me again next time and until then, have a great and safe week!

 

  

  

 

  

  

 

The last post of the year.

Hello and welcome to the last Eccentric Sphere of 2021.

It's been a mixed year in many ways. Covid continues to bedevil us all but there has been many good things as well, at least for me.

I had a hard time getting my brain to formulate a thought on the subject, so I decided not to. There are enough retrospectives around if you like those, I just aim to entertain you a little bit.

So without all that much more ado, let me wish you a Happy New Year and a great and safe week. I'll see you in 2022 with more Eccentric Spheres!

 

  

 

Undecided

I had a hard time deciding what to talk about today.

I watched a poliziotteschi movie called The Big Racket (1976), but I didn't really like it very much. It's all about a police inspector who tries to take down a gang that runs a protection racket and commits horrible acts of violence against those they don't like. Parts, like a car rolling down a hill was superbly shot with the camera inside the car, and there were some nice action, but the main villain was lousy and the story as such made little sense. You could roll a car through the plot holes if you were so inclined. I realized that I can't really recommend it and if possible, I prefer to not blog about movies I don't enjoy.

Clearly this wasn't the topic for this week...

I also considered talking about how most of the AAA game company executives are keen to implement NFT (non fungible tokens) and block-chain technology in their upcoming games. In a nutshell, NFT's use the same technology that is used to farm cryptocurrency to create “unique” items in game, either for sale or to be earned through playing. These “unique” items can then be sold by the owner to other players for real money. The kicker is that the items don't need to be unique at all, just the code for this particular helmet makes it unique. It can look like every other helmet in-game. Sure, the items can be genuinely unique, but they still want to waste huge amounts of energy to create this market in order to cash in. It is incredibly bad for the environment and to top it off, they don't really seem to know what need or problem these NFT's would solve.

The backlash has been huge, with developers from the companies themselves like EA, Ubisoft and Take-Two asking their bosses what the point is, since microtransactions and in-game shops are already a thing. The bosses have no answers, they just mumble about “investments”, “metaverses” and other buzzwords. Ubisoft seems to be the keenest at the moment and are apparently planning on allowing players who own these items to transfer them from one game to another. Frankly, this is idiotic. Your fancy “property” is going to evaporate the second the game servers are shut down. Recently there was talk that S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 would have NFT's until they realized the PR backlash and publicly stated that the game won't have them.

The NFT technology also raises serious questions about things like money laundering, capital gains tax, game companies holding valuable properties for players meaning that they might function like banks, etc. etc. Time will tell how this plays out, but they already had enough problems with children and loot-boxes. The defense then was that the boxes don't contain anything of real value, but the point of the NFT's is that they do have real value. Can children even earn them or what? Do they need to pay tax or does that get slapped on their parents? Some in-game items have sold for thousands of dollars already, so the potential is there. These are important questions that they don't seem to have asked themselves as they fall over each other to be first in a new gold rush.

Of course, this topic is a bit dull and negative, so I need to come up with something else. But now I'm running out of space so you'll have to settle for this comedy sketch.

Now it only remains to wish you Happy Holidays where ever you are, and I hope you will come back next time. Until then, have a great and safe week!

Low in calories but not in fun

Alright, I haven't done a funny commercials post in a long while. So, to rectify that here are five commercials for Bud Light. Mind you, I have no idea if the beer is good or not, I've never had it but they do spend a lot of money on their ads. So much money that I'm starting to wonder if they're compensating for something...

Either way, please enjoy these commercials. Sadly the resolution is poor in some of them, they are pretty old, but they are still pretty damn funny!

So join me again next time, and until then, have a great and safe week!