Darkmonarch2003 Reviews

Carter Country (1977–1979)

I miss it...

[10 February 2005]

I miss the show. It is a part of an ever fading childhood. I was five years old when the show left the air, so bear with me. I saw reruns in the late 1980's.

You had to watch the show to get a feel for it. Jasper, the ignorant bigot that he was, and how his words of ignorance were presented and how educated Kene Holliday was presented in response. I believe all shows should present bigotry of any form as it truly is... pure ignorance. It was good for that reason alone.

But as I look back now, a thirty year old man, I realize just how much I loved the show from Clinton Corners, Ga. When Victor French passed away, my mom told me, " Chief Roy died... " simply because that's how I remembered him... he was Chief Roy Moby. That really hurts even to this day.

I found out here that Mayor Teddy died. And Jasper and Cloris. If it weren't so sad, I would want Tom T. Hall or Gene Watson to write a song about it.

May their spirits rest in peace and thank you for a part of my childhood.

The Karate Kid Part II (1986)

As good as the first

[3 October 2004]

Rarely does a sequel live up to the original. This movie is one of my personal favorites. It has taught me many lessons that I still hold dear. They don't make them like this anymore.

I enjoyed the fight scenes. They were handled well. It was an interesting plot to see Mr. Myagi go back to face his old friend. A story of love and friendship that turned to bitter hate over that love. And of how true friendship and true love never really die, as Mr. Myagi saves Sato, even as Sato is cursing him with every filthy insult he can think of ( it's a PG movie, though, so instead of the profane and filth, you hear things like " lower than a snake's belly " and " no honor " instead of the more colorful words we hear in movies these days. )

I loved Mr. Myagi's response to what Daniel asked in the airport. Daniel sees a poster of a karate guy breaking a board and asks if Mr. Myagi can do that. Myagi's response? " Don't know. Never been attacked by tree. "

Live or die, man??? DIE! Wrong!! ( Honk!!! )

Priceless and timeless...

The Karate Kid (1984)

I miss these movies

[3 October 2004]

I am a kid of the 80's, no doubt about it. This movie meant a lot to me back when I was growing up. I never really took karate and I wasn't really bullied, but it is great to remember a time when profanity wasn't needed for humor, or vulgarity, or shootings or blowing up buildings.

A time when the " good guy " would adhere to the rules and had morals. A time when the " bad guy " had no honor, but would rarely curse...lol. ( Hey, this was a PG movie after all, wasn't it? LOL. ) " Oh, I think nothing of cheating and being mean, because THAT'S what makes the audience dislike me and root for the hero, but I just can't use filthy words. " I miss that.

I love the movie because it takes me back to my childhood and a simpler time. A good guy and a bad guy, with the good guy coming out on top. If the " good guy " curses like a sailor, shoots everyone that gets in his way, and does everything vile imaginable, he's not really that good of a guy, is he?

Yeah, I'm " old school. " So what?

They Call Me Bruce (1982)

This guy is wrong

[2 October 2004]

First, I loved the movie. I thought it was hilarious. But then again, that was MANY years ago when I saw the movie. I miss funny movies from the 1980's, when it was easier to laugh at ourselves.

I think the dude who posted the bologna and deli comments missed the point. The movie wasn't meant to poke fun at Asians or Asian Americans. It poked fun at EVERYONE. And more specifically, everyone BUT Asian Americans, who were ignorant of all people of Asian decent. It reminds me of the line Gene Wilder had in " Blazing Saddles. " " They're common people, simple folk, people of the land... ya know? MORONS. "

Some people don't get it. Some see it as it is. And some people ( like myself ) just love the movie for nostalgia reasons. It was simple humor and funny. No one in the movie needed to curse like a sailor or shoot and kill people to entertain. TV and Movies NEED that these days. God Bless Johnny Yune wherever he may be... and thank you, sir.