Feb 16
Movie Day: Coach Carter
i always refused to watch Coach Carter. I missed it in the theaters, then someone told me the ending. Now, I’m not a guy who gets mad when you tell me an ending. You do me a service when you let me know the ending sucks. During my lifetime, movies have gone from ending ‘happily ever after‘ to all ending like Crash. When the lights come on now, you’re not sure whether you liked it or not. We spend days debating the meaning of endings which doesn’t get settled until the DVD get released and we watch the ‘alternate ending’. It’s almost like directors now-a-days have 2 endings for every movie: the perfect ending, and the worst ending imaginable. As of late, it’s been in fashion skip the perfect ending and sub in the ending that scratches people’s heads. It’s for that reason that I don’t go to a movie unless I’m sure the ending isn’t some soliloquy in premature ejaculation. Watching a move that’s great for 9/10’s of the show length is like eating my favorite meal and polishing it all off with a kick in the nutts. NOw-a-days, love stories end with sadness. acton flicks end with the hero dying. its like going to a fine restaurant and ordering their worst dish…
The way things generally work out for me in real life, my team makes it to the finals and loses on the last shot of the game. In my experience, Cinderella gets car-jacked on the way to the ball, raped and left for dead in the bushes. In my story, Rudy never sees the field. Look: I’ve had enough unhappy endings to push me into my final parking space, I don’t need to leave the theater feeling worse than when I paid for the ticket.
Enter Coach Carter.
It was heartwarming. It was moving. I got chills… but I won’t be watching the ending. Movies like these set you up for failure. I generally watch movies as an escape from the hustle of diapers and work an real life. I don’t need some lame movie setting me up, making me feel all cuddly inside and then scuffing my manhood with her incisors. A sports movie that ends without the protagonist hoisting a trophy is like a porno without the money shot: all sound and fury, signifying nothing. I did find this line by Timo - the Hispanic drug dealer - very powerful
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It’s not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
That’s powerful… “There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine…”
It’s like I say all the time: my vanity has nothing to do with you. My promoting myself as #1 does not automatically make you #2. I exist outside of - and in no relation to - you. In the end, we both can be #1.
That’s the issue people have with loud mouth WRs and basket ballers. in the average man’s eyes, the loudmouths are putting themselves above everyone else. but ya’ll must understand that it is possible for me to ‘do me’ without shitting on your parade. I simply say that your emotional standing isn’t my responsibility. I don’t humble myself so that you can feel better about yourself; and neither do you have to humble yourself for me.
Perception being reality, I do know that wasn’t the point of the movie. I was just sayin…
February 16th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
[...] Shots From The Darkside: Not what youre used to hearing. Not how youre used to hearing it. wrote an interesting post today on Movie Day: Coach CarterHere’s a quick excerptMovie Day: Coach Carter demonicume A Blogger Darkly, Features February 16th, 2008 i always refused to watch Coach Carter. I missed it in the theaters, then someone told me the ending. Now, I’m not a guy who gets mad when you tell me an ending. You do me a service when you let me know the ending sucks. During my lifetime, movies have gone from ending ‘happily […] [...]
February 16th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
I have a couple of rules about movies. Now first of all, I usually wait for movies to come out on DVD. I spent way too much money on my television and sound system to go to a movie theatre and listen to a couple jerkoffs fuck around behind me or in front of me. So instead of getting arrested again for chocking some ass hole at the movies…I just keep my silly ass home. NOW…one of my other rules. Rent ANY and EVERY movie that has Samuel L. Jackson in it.
I have seen Coach Carter but it was a few years ago. I do remember that I liked it. I also remember that quote from the movie. I concur…Powerful words.
Peace!
February 20th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Miracle Can’t get through, he’s not in the Accounting department.
February 20th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Must be the email addy in the database. If I….oops, I mean if “Miracle” uses his gmail addy it gets sent down to the mail room where the throw mail in the trash while they’re researching porn sites.
February 20th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Can’t understand why my comments never make it through on your blog Demon. Am I blocked? Damn!
Saw the movie and liked it. Samuel L played the role very well, the 8 foot baskets helped these guys look good and I have a soft spot for Ashanti. For some reason I like her.
I remember the quote by Timo in the movie and though it was a good quote, the character that said it just lacked credibility. So in a way it made me laugh when I first saw the movie in theater.
Good stuff Demon.
February 21st, 2008 at 3:40 pm
demonicume
One of the better films depicting the African American experience and especially when it comes to sports and the well being of an individual.
tophatal ………
February 21st, 2008 at 6:24 pm
holy shit, Toph, you got thru?
Dan are you having problems too?
if you guys can comment, i may just post a blog tonite
February 21st, 2008 at 6:55 pm
demonicume
I’m using my gmail account. But I’ll revisit the issue when it comes to the other site and see what happens.
By the way have you seen the film ‘Pride’ ? It’s well worth watching for the acting and storyline alone.
I believe it’s out on DVD now and stars Terrence Howard and Bernie Mac. It’s in a similar vein to Coach Carter and is a factual account.
tophatal ……….
February 22nd, 2008 at 2:01 pm
demonicume
Yeh I got through and I’m now seeing if I’ll get through by way of my other e-mail address. Just chillin to a little Jodecie ol’ school if you know what I mean ? I’ve got to prepare my friggin’ tax returns at the moment. Ain’t too happy about that at all.
Is it me did the Cavs just take a turn for the worse by trading for Ben Wallace ? I’m not sayin’ that they should’ve stayed pat but Wallace isn’t the answer to their problems. They’d have been better off with someone like Mike Miller as far as I’m concerned.
tophatal ………
February 23rd, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Demon - I only have problems on your site when I DONT login. I will typically come onto the site, read posts and comment immediately. I should take the 90 seconds to login and go back to the page I was reading.
You must have set the coding to “var Dan is a jackass if he doesn’t login”. Grade 11 Computer science kicking in.
June 8th, 2008 at 1:52 am
Thanks for sharing your perceptions about the new breed of movies. The new trend in movies reflect the hopelessness of society at large, and I feel it is a moral responsibility of moviemakers to create movies that could shape the society in a positive way, rather than producing some crap movies that damage the society at the expense of making quick cash.
June 14th, 2008 at 2:13 am
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