I went to the midnight screening of District 9 this past Monday…by myself. It was rad. By movie’s end, I wish I were a prawn.
Every now and then I come across a movie that rocks my innards so hard that I leave the theater wishing my life was that movie. Here’s a short list of funky things I’ve done “post rad movie”. Some were intentional, and some were unknowingly executed by my subconscious…
1) Trainspotting – shaved my head to look like Mark Renton
2) The Matrix – shaved my head to look like Neo who stole the look from Mark Renton
3) Raiders of the Lost Ark – rubbed charcoal on my face to emulate Dr. Jones’ stubble. an act that I still perform today prior to hot dates
4) Tron – bought a glow in the dark frisbee and threw it at my sister as she ran in terror through the night
5) Star Wars – learned to speak like Darth Vader and tried to convert my friends to the dark side until they submitted or challenged me to a light saber duel
Now that I have thoroughly exposed myself, what are some of your “post cool movie” inspired acts?
Hmm..Roger, I remember you telling me at the time you shaved off your hair because of me, now I learn that was all a lie?!
I can’t say I’ve been inspired to imitate something recently but some of the things from childhood:
Back to the Future–Getting on my skateboard and hanging on the back of cars. Don’t try this at home, kids!
Mean Streets–Imitating DeNiro whom I thought was the baddest motherfucka I had seen. I especially tried to imitate the scene where he walks into the bar with two chicks on his arm while “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” is playing and pulls down his pants. Good times.
Indiana Jones series–I bought this prop whip (it still snapped, made that whipping noise and was pretty painful) and would take it everywhere and practice with it. I used it so much, it broke. But the best time was in government class when the teacher asked if anyone knew what a Majority whip was. I pulled out the whip, cracked it against the floor and shouted, “I got your majority whip right here!” (I carefully planned this for weeks so the timing would be impeccable) It was worth the suspension.
Soylent Green–This is the movie where in the future, food is made from people. I was so inspired that during lunch at the school cafeteria, I took my tray of school food/crap and ran around screaming, “Listen to me, it’s people! The cafeteria food is made out of people!” Chaos ensured. Again, worth the suspension.
I probably shouldn’t mention how I was inspired by films like Porky’s and Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
White Men Can’t Jump… bought a basketball and failed.
Good Will Hunting… dropped out of college and failed.
New Jack City… started dealing cocaine and failed.
Days of Thunder… started a NASCAR raceteam and failed.
Swimming with Sharks… tried to get in the industry and failed.
Basquiat… tried to be an artist and failed.
All the Shaw Bros. and early 80s Hong Kong wuxia movies – Come Drink with Me, Swordsman series, Once Upon A Time in China, etc. inspired me to learn wushu. I never quite learned how to fly across rooftops, but picked up a few straight sword tricks to bluff my way through a tavern fight. I had considered jeet kun do but realized that 100% of what makes jeet kun do cool is Bruce Lee’s signature style and charisma. Only he knows how to be like water, which is why everyone just looks like a pale imitation.
Shaved my head before watching “Natural Born Killers” and getting a gift of movie’s shirt. People thought it was a post cool movie inspired act, but I failed miserably.
On flying superheroes, keep trying to levitate, still failing. Even searched “jetpack prototypes”, that’s how hard I’m failing.
Grew my beard after watching “Goddess of 1967″, but failed to find myself a treehugger.
Tried to correspond with my love in the future after “Il Mare”, mailbox failed.
my memory is failing me. I need to hypnotized before I can come up with examples for you.
I think I’ll go watch “Red Dawn 2010″ and kill me some wh… wh… whait. No, nevermind.
american ninja – after watching that movie, i finally realized i can make my tshirt into a mask.
breakin’ – when turbo danced with the broom stick, i carried around a broom stick everywhere doin it.
- drinking raw eggs after Rocky
- chasing chickens after Rocky II
- one handed push ups after Rocky III
- got flattop and inject myself with steroids after Rocky IV
- trained a white guy after Rocky V
- did nothing after Rocky VI