JohnI-2

I never liked Colin Quinn, neither on SNL nor in any of his other roles. However, I do very much enjoy 'Tough Crowd'. I think the appealing force of the show was the real comedians and their real exchanges, and the sense of real friends coming together to discuss and ridicule the issues of the day. Real friends, not the hackneyed cardboard cutouts you find on the show 'Friends'. If a fictional sitcom analogy has to be made, then it is more along the lines of 'Cheers'.

I believe this show has little in common with 'Politically Incorrect', although many make the comparison. That program was primarily politically focused, not focused on comedy. 'Tough Crowd' on the other hand, was focused on comedy. Some have made claims about the show being a failed conservative mouth piece, or not a liberal showpiece like P.I., but I watch this type of television for comedy and entertainment, not political advocacy. I happen to believe in freedom, and not leftist socialism or rightist authoritarianism, and I supported neither Bush nor Kerry, but I enjoyed the show regardless, because I enjoyed it on its merits, and did not let political ideology permeate all aspects of my life and prejudice my enjoyment of the program.

This is certainly the worst film of the series. Perhaps not

stylistically, but in story line.

After a series of films that got continually better as Rocky himself

continued to improve in I - IV, this is a disgrace. After so much

trauma and effort, and the death of many friends including Mickey

and Apollo, Rocky finally goes out on top in IV as he comes to the

pinnacle of his career having defeated the best the Soviets could

offer and help end that totalitarian, impoverished, secret-police

filled cesspool known as the communist world, having a complete

loving family, and being financially set for life to reflect his years of

hard work and achivement. Then we get to Rocky V, and find that because of his incredibly

stupid brother in law, Rocky ends up completely broke and

desitute, ending right back where he started in his old

neighborhood. As if it were all for nothing. Who really wants to see

a study of a hero's fall into depravity? I don't. Ending the series at

Rocky IV would have been the best decision.

When I first saw this film the week it was released, I thought it was more entertaining than most, and I felt my admission price was justified.

Then a few weeks later, I went and saw it in the theatre again, because a friend hadn't seen it. The second time around had to be one of the least pleasant moviegoing experiences I have had. During the second viewing, the movie seemed to drag on and on, and I had a strong desire to be elsewhere.

As I try to think about why this occurred, I believe it was because the movie was propelled by action scenes and suspense, but little else. Once you know what will happen, and have seen those scenes before, the movie becomes boring. Quite often I do like watching movies repeatedly, often into the double digits with the movies I own. But those movies have a rewatchability that the Matrix lacks.

I believe fellow members of my generation are enamoured by this movie because of how it portrays the hyper-cool existence. By this I mean an existence where even the slightest things are portrayed with a profound mysticism and awesome beauty; a slick, hyper-mtv universe. This may result from a feeling of dull clumsiness and utter unsignificance present amongst many of today's under 30 set.

Then there are those that say "oh, this movie is deep, because it has 'philosophy'". Maybe so, but it is philosophy of the absolute worst kind! For more on this, look to Nietzche's "Twilight of the Idols" and "The Anti-Christ". This movie has the most contemptible philosophy since "Bicentennial Man".

As a final statement, I will say this. The Matrix is entertaining for its unusual premise and interesting action, however once you get over these and find out what happens, it loses all flavour like old chewing gum.