I love watching series and movies and/or reading literature. They inspire me and when that happens I love to write and/or talk about it. That's what you will find in this blog, connected to my life or the lessons I get from them.
FYI: The quote is from Buffy Summers. It's about her not being ready ('done baking') whoever she is going to turn out to be. I figured it fits.
I just realized that I don't think I've mentioned music in my blogs, while it is in fact a very big part of my life. I love listening to music. I wake up to the radio and when I'm traveling or something I usually play the music on my phone. While cleaning or doing other chores I also listen to a lot of music. It can make you feel sad, or happy. Give you energy or make you feel like you're in some kind of movie or video. And I do think I'm not just speaking for myself here. So I hope you know what I mean. At my summer job (today was my last day!), the radio is on all the time and these songs will play a big part in remembering this summer. That's why today's blog will focus on some of the songs that I loved to listen to while working, just so I won't forget.
Two of the songs that I have yet to learn the lyrics of are 'Blow Me (One Last Kiss)' by Pink and 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together' by Taylor Swift (see video's). The thing is, that when you hear songs on the radio, you miss out on the - sometimes - great music vids. Now, personally, I don't love the Pink one, but I do love it when they are made the way that can be seen in Taylor's video.
However, I really got energy out of some other songs, like 'Call Me Maybe' by Carly Rae Jepsen and her 'Alway's a Good Time' or 'Next to Me' by Emeli Sandé. And I really love the first vid, because whenever I see it, it just makes me happy. It's sweet, innocent, and sure a little teenagery, but that's totally fine! Do you know those moments where you are so frickin' tired that you just don't have any energy left and slouch and stuff? Well, Carly's song really could give me that final boost to get through the final hours of my work day ;-). Just like Nicki Minaj's 'Spaceships' (a very cool vid, but at times also kinda disturbing) and Rihanna's "Where Have You Been?' There's probably a couple of other songs (like 'Scream', 'We Are Young' and '50 Ways to Say Goodbye'), but I think these were played the most and definitely could be seen as the songs that helped me get through the bad/hard days of the job :p.
The funny thing is that years ago on my first summerjob I had the same thing. There was one song that the radio just kept playing and playing and playing... and playing. I got so sick of it, that it could even make me mad sometimes. But now, when I hear this song, I just have happy memories of it. This was 'Come Along' by Titiyo.
I guess that's all I wanted to share with you, in this improptu blog that just came up in my head. Having had my last day, whenever I hear these songs they will always remind me of the summer of 2012 ;-).
After all those quotes from shows with female leads, I though it was time for something a little bit more masculine. And what's more masculine than Nathan Fillion? Right, I wouldn't know either. So this quotes page will focus on his hit show of the moment: Castle. I really love his character, but the beauty of the show is that all of the characters are lovable. Another reason I love this show is because you really feel that the crew behind the series value their viewers. Unlike the previous shows that I quoted, this one is still going strong. So the quotes won't go further than season four for now. But I believe Castle will start again the 24th of September, so I might add some later ;-). That's enough talking. Let's get to the quotes!
Season 1
1x01 - Flowers for Your Grave Castle: (to Alexis) "When I was your age I... wait. I
can't tell that story. It's wildly inappropriate. Which, oddly enough,
is my point. Don't you want wildly inappropriate stories that you can't
tell your children?"
Alexis: "If I'm gonna have to keep bailing you out, you're going to have to raise my allowance... a lot."
Beckett: "No signs of struggle. He knew her." Lanie: "Even bought her flowers. Who says romance is dead?" Beckett: "I do. Every Saturday night." Lanie: "A little lipstick wouldn't hurt."
Castle (to Beckett): "I'd be happy to let you spank me." Beckett: "Are you here to annoy me?" Castle: "I'm here for the story." Castle: "That's too easy. The reader would never buy it."
Beckett: "This isn't one of your books, Castle. Out here, we find a guy
standing over a body with a gun, he's usually the guy who did it." Esposito: (about Castle) "The man's got the Mayor on speed dial. The rich really are different."
Beckett: "You want him? He's yours." Esposito: "A control freak like you with something you can't control? No, no, that's gonna be more fun than Shark Week." Castle: (Beckett grabs his nose) "Apples! Apples! Apples!"
1x02 - Nanny McDead
Beckett: "Detective Kate Beckett NYPD." Castle: "Richard Castle, just NY."
Beckett: "Okay, Castle, but it's accompany and observe, not participate and annoy. Got it?"
Castle: "Participate and annoy is a lot more fun, but alright."
Castle: (to Kate about marriage) "You'd be good at it. You're both controlling and disapproving. You should really try it." Castle: "We could always make it strip poker."
Beckett: "Sorry, but I prefer mystery to horror." Castle: "So. Looks like I managed to make it through the case without getting injured, shot or killed."
Beckett: "Yeah, well, maybe tomorrow."
1x03 - Hedge Fund Homeboys
Castle: "Did you know in the original Greek, 'tragedy' literally means 'goat
song'? ...Whatever that first story was, I can't help but think, bad
things must have happened to that goat." 1x04 - Hell Hath No Fury Castle: "Oh my god. This is quite possibly the worst coffee I've ever
tasted. It's actually kind of facinatiing. It tastes like a... (pauses
to sip the coffee) it tastes like a monkey peed in battery acid. Try
some?"
Castle: "Hiding
would be building a fortress out of my comforter and downing a fifth of
scotch, but apparently that's considered unhealthy." 1x05 - A Chill Goes Through Her Veins Beckett: [about a frozen body] "She's melting." Castle: "Maybe we should be looking for ruby slippers." Castle: "All right, so you and I are married." Beckett: "We are not married." Castle: "Relax, it's just pretend." Beckett: "I don't wanna pretend." Castle: "Scared you'll like it?" Beckett: "Okay, if we're married, I want a divorce." Apartment guy: "Are you two like this all the time?" Castle and Beckett: "Yes."
1x06 - Always Buy Retail Beckett: "Castle, are you having a breakdown?" Castle: "Not a breakdown a breakthrough. I really am ruggedly handsome aren't I?" Beckett: "I'm waiting for the breakthrough."
1x07 - Home Is Where The Heart Stops
Castle: "This is Detective Castle to all units: That's a negatory on the backup. This dirtbag's all mine." 1x08 - Ghosts
Castle: "If we're going to road trip, I'm going to have to pee first."
1x09 - Little Girl Lost Castle: "Do I detect a hint of jealousy?" Beckett: "In your dreams Castle." Castle: "No, in my dreams your never jealous you just join in." Beckett: "6 months." Castle: "6 months….what?" Beckett: "We dated for 6 months." Castle: "I didn’t ask." Beckett: "Yeah, I know, you were not asking very loudly." Castle: "I know, I'm like a Jedi like that." Castle: "Nice guy. I can see why it wouldn't work though." Beckett: "Oh yeah?" Castle: "Yeah. Handsome, strong jawed, rule follower." Beckett: "And that's a bad thing?" Castle: "Yes. He's the male version of you. Ying needs yang not another ying. Ying yang is harmony Ying Ying is a name for a panda."
Castle: "Is that supposed to be an insult? Because Nancy Drew solved every case." Castle (in response to Sorenson's question about why he needs to shadow a real
detective): "Well, the ones on TV seem oddly fixated on their
sunglasses." Martha: "Freud was an addict but that didn't stop him from helping people." 1x10 - A Death in the Family
Beckett: "Ahem. What's the deal with men and boobs, anyway?" Castle: "Biological. We can't help it." Beckett: "But doesn't it bother you that they're so obviously not real?" Castle: (Pauses) "Santa's not real. We still love opening his presents."
Season 2 2x01 - Deep in Death Castle: "Hey! Can we talk about this, please?" Beckett: "There's nothing to talk about." Castle: "Well, at least let me know what I can do to make it up to you." Beckett: "You can leave me alone." Castle: "Yes, I tried that and it didn't work. Hey! I can buy you a pony!" Beckett: "Sometimes when I am bored, I go to cafe in little Odesa and pretend to be Moskevite." Esposito: "That's kinda hot."
Castle: "Me? Scared? No way, come on. Now excuse while I change my shorts."
2x02 - The Double Down Castle: "Bam said the lady." 2x03 - Inventing the Girl
Rina: "Oh. You don't remember me."
Castle: "Yes, of course I do. Yeah! You're--"
Rina: "Rina."
Castle: "Rina! Yes, we met at that party with that, that thing that was late, it was crazy that...wow, what a night." 2x04 - Fool me Once Castle: "That was awesome! I mean, well, obviously it was horrible, but... " 2x05 - When the Bough Breaks [Castle has arrived late to a crime scene]
Esposito: "Yeah, it's too bad, too. Your kind of case, bro'."
Castle: "Yeah?"
Ryan: "Yeah, body was found down that manhole over there. Half eaten."
Castle: "Eaten?"
Ryan: "Yeah, it was covered in some kind of green slime."
Castle: "Whoa..."
Esposito: "Yeah, it was creepy. It's as if someone or some thing is down there."
Castle: [Catching on] "Ha, that's... okay. Very funny. Great. [To Beckett] Was there a body down the manhole?"
Beckett: "Yeah."
Castle: "Okay, thank you. An adult."
Beckett: "Yeah, you should have seen what else was down there.
Two metal canisters with bio-hazard stickers and yellow powder inside
of them."
Castle: "You opened the... [the detectives smirk] Alright. Will someone please tell me what's really going on here?"
Ryan: "We're gonna check nearby trash cans for the murder weapon."
Castle: "What was the murder weapon, by the way?"
Ryan: "Some kind of death ray."
Esposito: "Turns your insides out."
2x06 - Vampire Weekend Beckett: "What happened to him?" Castle: "They never found out." Beckett: "I am so sorry Castle that must have been really hard." (Castle gives a sly smile) Beckett: "You made that up!?" Castle: 'It's what I do!"
Castle: "You smell like cherries"
2x07 - Famous Last Words
Castle to Beckett: "What I said was not confusing enough for your face to be doing what it's doing."
2x08 - Kill the Messenger
Alexis: "Looking good, Grams! A date?" Martha: "Dining and dancing with Chet Palaburn." Castle: "What if he turns out to be bloated and ugly?" Martha: "Oh! How superficial do you think I am?" Castle: "Intensely."
2x09 - Love Me Dead
Castle: "Thanks."
Beckett: "For what?"
Castle: "For not saying I told you so."
Beckett: "Oh, that starts tomorrow."
2x10 - One Man's Treasure Lanie: "Do you know how long I have to shower before heading out on a date?" Castle: "No, but if you need someone to time it for you, I'd be happy to--" Castle: "That ever happen to you with me? One day you look and you see your boy is all grown up?" Martha: "I'm still waiting for that moment, actually." Castle: "I set you up for that, didn't I?"
Montgomery: "Is that our vic's wife?" Beckett: "Fiancee." Castle: "The wife is over there." Montgomery: "Come again?" Castle and Beckett: "Wife (tilts heads to the left), fiancée (tilts heads to the right)."
2x11 - The Fifth Bullet Castle: "See, judging and disapproving, you are so my work wife."
2x12 - A Rose Foreverafter
Kyra
Blaine (played by Alyssa Milano): "Of all the murders, in
all the cites, at all the weddings, you walk into mine."
2x13 - Sucker Punch
Castle: "Are you OK?"
Beckett: "Ten years since we came home and found that
detective waiting for us. Ten years since we crossed that yellow tape
and went into that alley and every time I cross the tape at crime scene I
think of that night."
Castle: "And that’s what makes you such a good cop."
Beckett: "What if I let her down?"
Castle: "Do you know why I chose you as my inspiration for Nikki Heat?"
Beckett: "No. Why?"
Castle: "‘Cause you’re tall."
2x14 - The Third Man Beckett: "I have no life." Lanie: "No, Mr. Bishop has no life. That's why he's on my table."
Castle: "Well, that's Manhattan for ya. Nobody notices anything unless it affects them directly."
2x15 - Suicide Squeeze
Beckett (to Castle): "That was Joe frickin' Torre! I've got to call my dad." 2x16 - The Mistress Always Spanks Twice Castle: "Did you just use the word "veritable" in a sentence?" Beckett: "Yes, I did." Castle: "Sexy!" Beckett: "You should hear me say 'fallacious'."
2x17 - Tick, Tick, Tick... (1)
Esposito: "Pancakes is not just breakfast. It's an edible way of saying, 'Thank you so much for last night'."
2x18 - Boom! (2) Castle: "Every Sunday, my mom had me make her an ice pack and a Bloody Mary."
Castle: "Are you in any pain?" Beckett: "Well, not nearly as much as you. It's killing you, isn't it?" Castle: "What?" Beckett: "Having to wait this long to tell me how you banged down the door." Castle: "You want me to start from the beginning?"
Beckett: "Hell of a shot Castle."
Castle: "I was aiming for his head."
2x19 - Wrapped Up In Death
Beckett: "Either you are being a good cop or you just wanna go to the museum?" Castle: "They have dinosaurs there!"
Beckett: "Murdered Medina just to boost ticket sales? No, that would make this Scooby Doo, and I'm not Velma."
2x20 - The Late Shaft
Castle: "You sure you want to take that many books?" Alexis: "Overambitious for a 5 day trip?" Castle: "You're gonna be responsible for your own pack. I think you're
supposed to be more Sacagawea than a scholarly reader. Besides, look at
all those pages the trees might want revenge."
Castle (to Beckett): "We need a signature line. How about, "She's armed, he's dangerous"?"
2x21 - Den of Thieves
Ryan (to Esposito): "I'm your partner. That means I'm with you until the wheels fall off."
2x22 - Food to Die For
Alexis: "Stupid glass."
Castle: "Remind me to buy smarter glasses." Castle: (looks at a police sketch of a potential witness) "Looks kinda sketchy to me." 2x23 - Overkill Beckett: "I cannot believe you asked for samples." Castle: "What they said anything we want plus these aren't for me they are for Ryan and Esposito." Beckett: "Don't you mean Charlotte and Miranda?" Castle: "Wait that would make me Carrie." Beckett: "You are so metrosexual for even knowing that." Castle: "Hey, I only watched that show out of the corner of my eye when my
mom had it on.... that didn't make my point quite like i wanted it to."
Beckett
(translating a hysterical girl's words): "It's cry talk. There's not a
girl alive who hasn't heard it from a sobbing, heartbroken girlfriend."
2x24 - A Deadly Game
Castle: "I can’t believe you’d blow off illegal fireworks for a lousy head start at a top-notch education."
Alexis: "I know. I’m a huge disappointment."
Beckett: "Wow, Castle, you are working really hard to see me in a swimsuit."
Castle: "If you’re not comfortable in a swimsuit, you can just skinny dip."
Beckett: (to a guy who just threw Castle up against a wall) "NYPD! Hands up." (Castle raises his hands)
Beckett: "Not you, Castle."
Castle: "Right."
Alexis: "Well... Looks like I'm not the only one
getting lucky this summer...(Castle glares at Alexis) Kidding! Kidding!
I'm just-I'm just kidding!"
Castle: "That's not funny. That's SO not funny."
Season 3 3x01 - A Deadly Affair Ryan (looking at cutout of Castle): "He really is ruggedly handsome."
3x02 - He's Dead, She's Dead
Castle: "I am not saying I can speak with the dead, just that there are people in the world more sensitive than me." Beckett: "Now that's not hard to believe." Castle: "Walked right into that one." Ryan: "Uh-huh."
Beckett: "Why is it so important to you that I believe all this stuff about fates, psychics, and Santa Claus?" Castle: "Because, if you don't even believe in the possibility of magic, you will never ever find it."
3x03 - Under the Gun
Castle: "My Spidey-Sense is tingling." Beckett: "I don't think you can handle the sight of me straddling it in tight black leather."
Castle: "You called to seek my council."
Beckett: "I wouldn't say it quite like that." Castle: "No, no, no. You were hoping I would have some wild theory, some sort
of penetrating insight that would lead us to a breakthrough." Beckett: "Well... do you?" Castle: ".... Na I got nothing."
3x04 - Punked
Castle: "Just saying, he was probably very comfortable when he was shot and killed."
Castle: "A 200 year old bullet can only mean one thing: time traveling killer!"
Castle: "So I wear boxers, what do you wear? Thong? Cheekies? Come on I told you mine! Bloomers? Granny panties? Commando!?"
Castle: "How do you know when you're in love?" Beckett: "All the songs make sense."
3x05 - Anatomy of Murder Castle: "That totally makes him McSteamy." Castle: "Turns out Greg isn't McDreamy or McSteamy...he's McSchemey."
3x06 - 3XK
Captain Montgomery: "Feds say he is a white male, 25 to 45 years old." Castle: "Could be me." Captain Montgomery: "With a dysfunctional relationship with his mother." Castle: "Still me." Captain Montgomery: "He has a menial unimportant job." Beckett: "Definitely you." Castle: "Just for that my next book is based on Esposito."
3x07 - Almost Famous Martha: "Auditions are like men, there is always another one around the corner."
Castle: "Have you ever heard of a brilliant doctor named Doogie Howser?"
3x08 - Murder Most Fowl
Castle: "What's the strangest pet you've ever had?" Beckett: "You."
3x09 - Close Encounters of the Murderous Kind
Esposito: "Castle, just prove that ET did this, please."
3x10 - Last Call
Castle to Beckett: "Don't ruin my story with your logic."
Beckett: "I remember that phase, that's about the time that I got my tattoo." Castle: "You have a tattoo... *stutters*... Where?"
3x11 - Nikki Heat
Alexis (phone rings): "Pick it up, Dad, a murder will make you feel better." Beckett: "Do I really do that?" Castle: "Yes and it's adorable." Beckett: "If it's so adorable why didn't you sleep with me? The her me not the me me." Castle: "Oh well a fictional character that I wrote based on you played by Natalie Rhodes its just way to... Meta." Beckett: "Meta...?"
3x12 - Poof! You're Dead
Castle: "You had your hand in my pocket and I didn't even feel it? Do it again!"
Lanie: "Javier Esposito, when we get to this crime scene, do not wink at
me, do not smile and do not even look at me with those puppy dog eyes.
Got it?"
Beckett: "Alakazam, jackass."
3x13 - Knockdown
Captain: "You too, Castle. I don't need you playing Nancy Drew on this."
3x14 - Lucky Stiff
Castle: "Detective Beckett, did you call to tell me a bedtime story?"
3x15 - The Final Nail
Castle: "Shut the front door!" 3x16 - Setup Castle: "For reasons too disturbing to mention, I find that hot." 3x17 - Countdown Martha: "How old are you?" Castle: "Old enough to afford top-of-the-line laser tag."
3x18 - One Life to Lose
Castle: "Esplanie. Lanie and Esposito. Like Fox-Can. We can call them
Esplanie, which is perfect because they are always explaining things!"
3x19 - Law & Murder
Ryan: “Cowards die many times before their death. The valiant never taste of death but once.”
Esposito: "Bro, you’re not Castle."
Ryan: "Yeah, I know I’m not Castle."
Esposito: "Then stop trying to talk like him."
Ryan: "What, I’m not allowed to reference The Bard? I’m a Renaissance Man."
Esposito: "Memorizing one quote does not make you a Renaissance Man."
Ryan: "What if I memorize two?"
Esposito: "Have you memorized two?"
Ryan: "No, but what if I did?"
Esposito: "Depends on the quote."
Sandra Jenkins: "I did it. I did it. I did it."
Castle: "You killed him?"
Jenkins: "Oh my god no, of course not! Why would you think that?"
Castle: "Because you just said ‘I did it.’"
3x20 - Slice of Death
Beckett: "You had a lot of imaginary friends growing up, didn't you?" Castle: "Still do."
3x21 - The Dead Pool
Castle: "This is why Alexis is never going to college."
3x22 - To Love and Die in L.A.
Castle: "Never... Ever... call me kitten."
Castle: "When her blood sugar gets low she gets a little cranky." Beckett: "Zip it kitten."
3x23 - Pretty Dead
Castle: "Bam said the costume lady!"
Beckett: (sees
Castle looking at a nude photo of a victim) "Remind me to get you a
subscription to a girly magazine for Christmas."
Castle: "Oh, that is so thoughtful of you!"
3x24 - Knockout
Sorry, no really 'funny' quotes in this one, but a hell of an episode!
Season 4
4x01 - Rise
Beckett: "Showing her up with the Mayor? You might as well have beaten a beehive with a bat."
Castle: "Worked didn’t it? Besides it sure was great seeing her face twitch like that."
4x02 - Heroes and Villains Castle: "Our killer is a superhero!!"
Castle: "If you could be any comic book hero, who would you be?" Beckett: "Elektra." 4x03 - Head Case Castle: "Are you sure?" Lanie: "No, I just sit down here and make stuff up all day." 4x04 - Kick the Ballistics
Castle: "Execution-style murder? Cement trucks? Can anyone else say mob hit? I’m looking at concrete evidence, right here."
Beckett: "Castle, we just got some bad news, so no hypotheticals. Just give us a name."
Castle: "Well, I have to start at the beginning."
Beckett: "Name!"
Castle: "Chin Hai Lee Chang."
Beckett: "OK, start from the beginning."
4x05- Eye of the Beholder
Beckett: "You guys didn’t go out?"
Castle: "No."
Beckett: "Why?"
Castle: "Because I can’t afford it. Museum just slapped me with a bill for the exhibit I broke." (He shows her the bill)
Beckett: "Whoa!"
Castle: "I know! Think they’d cut me some slack after the whole ‘helping to solve the murder’ thing."
Beckett: "I guess the least the NYPD can do is take you out for a hamburger."
Castle: "I accept."
Beckett: "Let’s go."
Castle: "I could put Alexis through college on this."
Beckett: "Yeah, and med school."
Castle: "Thank God I’m rich."
4x06 - Demons Alexis: "Dad, are you using me as a shield against flesh eating zombies?" Castle: "No, I'm just trying to give you a better view."
Castle: "You? Skepticus Maximus?" 4x07 - Cops & Robbers Esposito: "Hey Castle Jr., can you start acting like a cop?"
4x08 - Heartbreak Hotel Castle: "Let's not let a little thing like murder get in the way of having a good time."
Castle: "This is the worst impromptu bachelor party while on case ever!"
Esposito: "What Elvis can't be brown. I'm El-vis."
Alexis: "He has the IQ of a squirrel."
4x09 - Kill Shot Castle: "Don't worry mother, I saw this work on Die Hard."
Castle: "I know what the paper dolls mean!" Gates: "Mr. Castle, now is not the time for your theatrics."
4x10 - Cuffed Castle: "We're in handcuffs. Kinky." Castle (to Beckett): "You would make a terrible conjoined twin."
Castle: "Lift up my shirt, pull off my boots. Under normal circumstances, I'd like where this was heading."
4x11 - Till Death Do Us Part
Castle: "If you find out a man is cheating on you, how would you kill him?" Martha: "Knife." Alexis: "Shoot him."
Beckett: "That's espionage." Castle: "More like sexpionage."
4x12 - Dial M For Mayor
Castle: "An officer and a gentleman. That could be the name of our crime log."
Martha: "So how's the case of "the phone sex girl who knew too much" going?"
4x13 - An Embarrassment of Bitches
Castle: "Your friends name is Buttons Dutton." Martha: "That is unfortunate."
4x14 - The Blue Butterfly
Beckett: "Did you just say Kate? Are you picturing you as the PI and me as the gangster's girlfriend?" Castle: "No!"
4x15 - Pandora
Beckett: "What are you doing?" Castle: "Bracing myself to shield you from a hail of bullets."
4x16 - Linchpin
Castle: "I guess the good thing about having your daughter at crime scenes is that she can bring you dry clothes."
Castle: "That whole sinking car thing is much cooler in movies than in real life."
4x17 - Once Upon a Crime
Castle: "Red Cloak. In the woods. Animal attack. She's Little Red Riding Hood!"
Castle (to Beckett): "You get cute when you get angry. Not when you get angry with me."
4x18 - A Dance with Death
Castle: "Yeah, well separated twin stories never end happily, except for The Parent Trap!"
4x19 - 47 Seconds
Castle: "I think she's starting to like me." Gates: "No, I'm not."
Alexis: "They say genius skips a generation."
Castle: "Apparently, so does funny."
4x20 - The Limey
Beckett: "I feel like I just walked into a bad episode of Miami Vice." Castle: "First of all, there are no bad episodes of Miami Vice."
4x21 - Headhunters
Martha: "Playing with dolls, are we?" Castle: "They are action figures."
Ryan: "I feel like he's cheating on us."
4x22 -Undead Again
Castle: "You have thirty seconds to suit up."
Castle: "My friends, that is a zombie. The killer is a zombie!"
4x23 - Always
Castle: "The most worthwhile things in life are often the most difficult. For example (Phone rings, Beckett calling) Wow, this really is a smart phone."
I'm so ashamed that it took me so long to post new blogs. The truth is I'm writing a couple, I'm just not satisfied with them yet. Also, I'm busy again with work and stuff so I'm being a bad blogger :$. But here's the first of hopefully many to come. So - as promised - my short review of 21 Jump Street.
'Nothing new here.' That's what I thought when I saw the trailer. It's a story told repeatedly and it never varies (much). So it's been done before, many times over. Not only does the concept come from an series by the same name, but it's another teen movie (even though the main characters aren't played by teenagers, hmm). Luckily the movie was better than I thought. Yes, there are the lame and mostly crude jokes (see vid), but the creativity of the story makes up for a lot. Sarcastic jokes are a part of that.
In a nut shell
Morton Schmidt (Johan Hill) and Greg Jenko (Channing Tatum) are former classmates from high school - the first a nerd, the second a jock - who meet again at police academy. There they end up becoming friends while helping each other with their weaknesses (study/physical activity) and graduate as partners. To their disappointment they are assigned to park patrol, but it gets better when they spot a group of One Percenters and arrest their leader. However, he gets released because Jenko forgot to read him his rights and the partners are reassigned to a revived speciality division on 21 Jump Street. Here Captain Dickson (Ice Cube) explains that their division specializes in infiltrating high schools and that Schmidt and Jenko are assigned to stop a new synthethic drug from spreading to other schools by finding the supplier. In order to do so, the partners go undercover as brothers, living with Schmidts parents. Mistake number one? Jenko accidentally switches their given identities and they get each others' classes, leaving them out of their comfort zone.
High school turned upside down
What makes this movie work is the satire. The makers aren't afraid to use the concept from the series and do anything with it. In a few years everything in high school has changed. When Jenko shows Schmidt how to be cool, he makes fun of someone else. But, that right there, makes him unpopular. He calls a kid gay and the popular kids defend their gay friend. It's not cool anymore to make fun of people who are gay or simply be mean (there might be a lesson there!). Oh, and btw the humanitarians who want to save the world? They are cool now. The environment is important. That's what it's all about! Safe to say that cool kids have changed and Schmidt and Jenko have to give it their best shot to blend in. Or have they? Because as it turns out, the popular guy Eric (Dave Franco) is the one with the drugs.
Is the world turned upside down in a few years? Maybe. Yes, the popular guy has got it all wrong in this one and the geek turns out to be cool. They both make friends and need to deal with 'peer pressure'. And epiphany: they start to understand each other better by walking in each others shoes (that's never been done before!). The weird thing is that it does work. Hill and Channing both play their parts and the funniest moments are the ones that aren't so stereotypical (like Schmidt's Peter Pan audition on drugs).
The high school drama
What bugs is the cliches. Yes, they are called that for a reason, but still. Do you not know from the beginning that these new found friends will eventually have a fight? Yes. And is it a suprise when right in time they will help each other out again? No. It's expected and if you expect it, you will less likely be annoyed by it. But it does take a lot of fun out of it, because you know what is going to happen.
All in all it's a fun movie. Not entirely original, but the difference is that they know that. That's why they take the risk of using that in satire. The drug trip is irritating, but it plays a part in the story, so it can be overlooked. And while Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum don't look like teenagers, they play the teen drama very well (and it's fun to watch - besides, they also make jokes about that ;-) ). Even better is the little gift to the audience who have seen the original series, namely the moment where Tom and Doug (Johnny Depp and Peter DeLuise, who play the main characters in the original series) show up. It gives it an extra layer and their roles are small, but thoughtful without drawing all the attention to themselves. Take the movie with a grain of salt and it's a very amusing movie that you can just enjoy without thinking too much.
Of course the original cannot be forgotten, so here's a little something ;-)
