411 Fact or Fiction Movies: Week 98

Posted by Ben Piper on 10.19.2007

Has the new season of Heroes been completely lame? Will 30 Days of Night not be any good? Will the impending writer's strike be averted at the last second? 411's Rod Oracheski and Chad Webb debate these and many other topics in week 98 of 411 Fact or Fiction: Movies!




Welcome back everyone to yet another heartpounding edition of Fact or Fiction: Movies! This go ‘round we have 411 newcomer Rod Oracheski attempting to take the veteran Chad Webb down a notch. Let's see how these bad boys do, eh?

1. The trend of spoof movies such as The Comebacks really needs to be stopped.

Rod Oracheski: Fiction- They just need to stop the trend of bad spoof movies - especially when they try to turn a spoof movie into a continuing franchise. Reusing the same actors is fine, but they're reusing the same jokes and that gets old pretty quick. Spoof movies have to be well-written and not take themselves too seriously, and that's where they're failing lately. The Comebacks is a good example - spoofing Dodgeball's training session? Guys, Dodgeball wasn't a serious movie and spoofing a comedy is tough to make...what's the word...oh yeah - FUNNY. I love a good spoof movie, but when are we going to see another well-written one? Maybe I should have just chosen Fact, since they don't seem to make those anymore...

Chad Webb Fact - I used to be a firm believer that going to see a spoof film to relax every once in awhile is a good thing. Not anymore. Yes, they do need to stop making bad spoof movies, but to my knowledge, only a handful have been average or better, and even less age well over time. This genre needs to be put to rest permanently. I don't care how awful they are supposed to be, or what the intention of a spoof film allegedly is to certain folks. These offerings are so incredibly horrendous as of late, so lazy in execution, so sloppily directed, and so poorly written that if I do not see another for as long as I live, it will be alright with me. The Comebacks will be exactly what the majority of the others for the past decade have been. The only segments that will cause anyone to remotely chuckle are in the trailer. Other than that, it will no doubt be a total waste of time.

Score: 0 for 1

2. The new season of Heroes sucks when compared to last year.

Rod Oracheski: Fact- There's a reason for it though, we're comparing a full year of serial drama to what - a few episodes? There's going to be a setup period for the end-of-year action here, and I'm willing to sit through it but also willing to admit that it hasn't been 'must see TV' to this point. It's picking up though, and I think they know that they can't string people along for too long. These early episodes will probably be better thought of when we can look back with knowledge of what they're setting up, particularly the Sylar bits.

Webb Fact - Well, I must admit I have not watched one episode of Heroes yet. I can't help it. I'm more of a movie buff. However, from what I have heard so far, the ratings are down, and the new episodes are not being praised nearly as much as they were in the first season. I kind of expected this to happen even though I've never seen the show. Everyone talked about how brilliant it was for so long, and now it started again, and some people are disappointed. It's impossible to be perfect all the time. From the people I've talked to, the storylines have gotten stupid, but you never know what will happen in the future. I'm still planning on watching the first season to see for myself, but since I haven't heard many positives about this season, I am forced to say Fact.

Score: 1 for 2

3. You don't expect Thirty Days of Night to be very good.

Rod Oracheski: Fiction- I have this one pegged to be better than expected. It's got a decent cast (Josh Hartnett has been great in a number of films) and the previews didn't put me to sleep. The presence of the 'estranged wife' might point to a cliche-driven plot, but I'm still hoping for something decent here. It's not like there's been a glut of horror films this year, and it's releasing just before Halloween, so I'm going to check this one out.

Webb Fact - This movie has one thing going for it, and that is it's an adaptation of a graphic novel. Lately the graphic novel to screen genre has a good track record, but I'm sorry, this looks like crap. I understand that fans of the book are hoping for something special, but this is about vampires, so if the cast and crew want to impress the public, they have their work cut out for them. From the trailer, the CGI looks a bit overwhelming, and the plot doesn't really strike me as all that original or interesting. I am a huge Josh Hartnett fan, and Director David Slade's previous effort, Hard Candy, was fantastic, but I am usually very critical of vampire flicks. Only a few are memorable in my opinion, and the latest submissions are weak. I hope I'm wrong about this, but all signs point to this being just another mediocre vampire bloodbath.

Score: 1 for 3

Switch!!!

4. Bones is underrated.

Webb Fiction - We are talking about the show right? Not the 2001 film starring Snoop Dogg and Pam Grier. Anyway, this is a forensic crime drama during a time when it seems like thousands of them are on television every night. The reason I am selecting Fiction is because I have not known anyone personally who talks about this series or watches it constantly, and to be honest, I have not heard a whole lot of acclaim. As I said before, I don't really watch a lot of television, but forensic shows and detective shows are getting on my nerves, so I stay away from all of them equally. It is currently in its third season, and David Boreanaz seems like a decent actor, so perhaps the show is ok, but as far as being underrated, I would have to say no.

Rod Oracheski: Fiction - I dropped off watching this one at about the midway point of the second season, but I wouldn't call it under- or overrated. It strikes me as the kind of show that gets decent buzz and deserves it. Like Chad, I don't know of anyone claiming this is either the greatest or worst thing on TV, so the level of hype seems about right.

Score: 2 for 4

5. Bill Maher is a tool.

Webb Fact - I'm not really sure what to make of this statement. I mean, someone could be a tool and still be entertaining right? I didn't watch Politically Incorrect regularly, and I don't watch Real Time with Bill Maher much, but I have seen both shows before, and I can say he is funny, but yes, he can be a tool at times. I see him on Jay Leno every now and then, and he makes some good points, but he can also be a bit irritating. I feel this way about most political talk show hosts actually. What I see of their shows, whether on TV or radio is based on what I see at someone else's house, or when I flip through the channels randomly. I'm not going to write at length on how I feel about his views, but he is just a goofball if you ask me.

Rod Oracheski: Fiction - I don't make a habit of watching his stuff, but it doesn't take much to understand the act: wild political rhetoric, with Bush bashing galore. Does finding a popular viewpoint for his show make him a tool? Well...maybe if he took it too far, but he's pretty good about finding the fine line that's acceptable and walking along it. He makes it 'edgy' without being offensive. There are better political pundits out there, but there's really nothing wrong with Maher if you understand that it's largely just TV.

Score: 2 for 5

6. The upcoming Writer's Guild strike will be averted at the last second.

Webb Fiction - The way the situation looks now, it is only getting worse. The producers are informing writers that their services will not be needed until a new contract is in place, and at the beginning of October, the producers got pissed that the writers guild was having a strike authorization vote. Both sides seem to be at each other tooth and nail right now. Let me be clear, I hope the strike is averted at the last second, but it does not look promising. It could occur as soon as November 1st. The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers is accusing the Writers Guild of acting irresponsibly during negotiations, and the Writer's Guild says if an agreement is not reached, a strike is a definite possibility. All I know is, if the strike does happen, the quality of films we will receive in 2008 will suffer because of it, and that will suck. Just look at how certain projects are being rushed, like Justice League for instance. I'm crossing my fingers for the two sides to kiss and make up soon.

Rod Oracheski: Fiction - As bad as Spider-Man 3 was, I thought they were on strike already... Seriously though, it looks like both sides are digging in, and that doesn't bode well for a quick resolution. I don't think it will last as long as 1988's 22-week strike, but I believe we're going to see a strike of considerable length. Get ready for a lot of hastily written scripts, turned in before the October 31 deadline. I don't think the movie industry will be terribly affected by the strike if it doesn't last an extended time, though the instant the writers go back to work I could see a few pictures hitting a 'rewrite and reshoot' phase. TV will be hit harder, forced to go back to the reality TV well, and that's already running dry.

Final Score: 3 for 6

Rod and Chad split the difference this week. Thanks to them for putting forth their two cents worth and participating.

If you're keeping track, you'll notice that we're on the cusp of the 100th edition of this particular 411 staple. And yes, I have something big and brash and experimental planned for the occasion. I am personally excited about this, as are all the staffers, whom are tripping all over themselves to try to curry favor with me so I'll pick them to take part. Who will get the nod? How will this 100th column be groundbreaking exactly? And will it ultimately all blow up in my face?

Sorry, you'll have to check back next week to see what's in store…