I came across this at Fark.com, a great clearinghouse for entertaining and dopey and laughable news.
(For those of you unfamiliar with Fark, the site is designed for the smart-aleck in all of us. Links are posted, with generally comical headlines, and a barrage of snotty and hilarious comments ensue. Headline examples: “Jessica Simpson wants a man who can intellectually stimulate her. She’s PROBABLY going to want to narrow that field down a bit “ and “Nicholas Cage’s father dead, possibly of shame “ When they post about college sports, the headline is often followed with the phrase “Duke sucks.”)
So here’s the question, for those of you who don’t want to follow the link:
A foreigner comes up to you and says “I’ve never seen an American movie. What movie should I watch which will tell me most about Americans and the kinds of movies they love?” What do you respond?
The lovely Mrs. Cain responded “Star Wars,” since it includes a good-vs.-evil element, a hero who rises up from nothing and an ul-timate underdog battle. I mentioned “Independence Day,” because it includes jingoism, stuff blowing up, outsmarting a bigger foe, Americans saving the world and smoking cigars.
If you vote in the Fark survey, come back and post your vote here as well. But at any rate, post your vote here.
November 23rd, 2009 at 2:19 am
Both are good suggestions, and I’ll assume a lot of other folk would answer ‘Top Gun.’
I’m gonna go with ‘Raiders of The Lost Ark.’ Crazy action, fighting Nazis, a monkey… the theme song alone makes you want to stand up and salute, right?
November 23rd, 2009 at 7:34 am
“Caddyshack”…the have’s vs. the have not’s…explosions, vandalism, sex, drugs, the struggle against conformity, and the best ‘Jaws’ parody since the “Land Shark”. Oh, and more sex. America at its core!
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:18 am
October Sky. Tells several truly American tales at the same time and it’s a true story.
November 23rd, 2009 at 4:22 pm
I gotta go with Red Dawn. Russians, explosions, tanks, hot chicks and Patrick Swayze.
Small number of heroes beating unbelievable odds and lots of guns.
November 23rd, 2009 at 4:26 pm
I saw this film called ‘Idiocracy’ that seems to fit the bill. I believe it’s a documentary.
November 23rd, 2009 at 6:17 pm
“Idiocracy” is a farce - and I mean that in a good way. It’s written and directed by Mike Judge of “Beavis & Butthead” and “King of the Hill” fame.
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:44 pm
How about Blazing Saddles? It’s hilarious. Mel Brooks showed how it was and how idiotic it was. There is violence, foul language, racism: along with the first Black sheriff, nazis, klansmen, mexican bandits, homosexuals, dope smoking and a man hanging a horse. What more could you ask for?
November 24th, 2009 at 9:28 am
The Right Stuff.
November 24th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Another for vote for Blazing Saddles! From the country that brought you thin skins and political correctness. Racial slurs, campfire farts, and just enough gratutious sex to make it a winner!