『M』uddy 『C』ult: February 2021

Sunday, February 28, 2021

Fair Shake Reaction: Travel - Mamamoo

Travel - Mamamoo

(Genre: Kpop)

Friday, February 26, 2021

Fair Shake Review: New Beginnings - Reason

New Beginnings - Reason

(Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap)

It stands to reason that these are related links:

Flick it Up (Music Video)

Pop Sh*t (Music Video)

Sauce (Music Video)

Favorite N*gga (Music Video)

TheNeedleDrop Review

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Seriously!? Review: Christmas Edition

Starring: Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Juliette Lewis
Directed by: Jeremiah S. Chechik
Language: English
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 1 hr 37 mins

No surprise that I missed out on posting these classics during December. Something I say often to myself about delayed posts: "Better late than never...I guess".

It's Christmas time and the Griswolds are preparing for a family seasonal celebration, but things never run smoothly for Clark, his wife Ellen and their two kids. Clark's continual bad luck is worsened by his obnoxious family guests, but he manages to keep going knowing that his Christmas bonus is due soon. [Source: Rob Hartill on IMDb]

Originally, I was only planning on watching two Christmas classics, this movie and A Christmas Story, but my job recently purchased these fun little binge boxes. These binge boxes feature a different theme with sometimes funny titles such as a collection of infection movies called "I Don't Think a Flu Shot Will Cut It" and other titles are very straightforward like classic black and white horror films called "The Original Nightmares". This collection of holiday fanfare was called "Unwap the Classics". In short, what came to be a double Christmas feature turned into watching all 6 films in the box.

Anyway, this wasn't part of the collection, but that information will be relevant for the rest of the post. I honestly admit that I haven't seen any of the National Lampoon movies...at least, I don't remember seeing any of them. I am aware of the comedic talent of Chevy Chase through Three Amigos!, Saturday Night Live, and snippets of Caddyshack. So, I knew that I was in for a good time with this movie and a good time was definitely had, despite the skipping issues I had to overcome on this well loved borrowed disc. The humor still hits perfectly in this current era in film and I can see families in the future still laughing and enjoying this film.

I really enjoyed that the humor can appeal to any age group and there were plenty of relatable Christmas shenanigans that happen. From putting up outdoor lights and none of them working to dealing with 'interesting' relatives, I enjoyed every minute of the hilarious chaos that occurred for the Griswolds. Watching this movie made me curious what other craziness that the Griwolds had to deal with in the other National Lampoon entries. Perhaps it'll be a future Seriously!? Review entry.

Rating: 4/5

Starring: Peter Billingsley, Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin
Directed by: Bob Clark
Language: English
Rating: PG
Running Time: 1 hr 33 mins

In the 1940s, a young boy named Ralphie attempts to convince his parents, his teacher and Santa that a Red Ryder BB gun really is the perfect Christmas gift. [Source: IMDb]

This early 80's Christmas classic is one I've seen references and clips to for many, many years. I also remember them advertising the live stage version for TV...but I don't think that ended too well. So, here I am; I have finally seen this movie and...it was okay. I guess if I change my mindset to back then I can understand why so many people love this movie and consider it a classic. While I didn't find myself loving it as much as most, I did find it entertaining to see all these childhood winter shenanigans unfold. From running away from bullies, taking on dares with friends, and being afraid of a terrifying (and perhaps unprofessional) mall Santa, I enjoyed every moment with Ralphie. I thought most of the situations Ralphie was faced with were still very relatable and perhaps proves why this movie withstands the test of time. Getting unwanted/embarassing gifts from a relative or dealing with your parents' odd hobbies are things I can see people, and perhaps kids, relating to.

Despite this movie being made in the 80s and set in the 1940s, I'm surprised how much the humor still holds up in present day. Sure, there might be a few things here and there that might be lost to time, but for the most part, the parts that were supposed to be funny were indeed funny...at least to me. Much like the previous Christmas film, I'm glad I watched this, although I don't know if I would purposely watch this again for the holidays. At the same time, I wouldn't be upset if it happened to be playing on TV either.

Rating: 3/5

Starring: Tom Hanks, Chris Coppola, Michael Jeter
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
Language: English
Rating: G
Running Time: 1 hr 40 mins

This is the story of a young hero boy on Christmas Eve who boards on a powerful magical train that's headed to the North Pole and Santa Claus's home. What unfolds is an adventure which follows a doubting boy, who takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole; during this ride, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery which shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe. [Source: Anthony Pereyra on IMDb]

This was a movie that I wasn't completely sure if I've seen or not, but as the movie went on, I don't think I've seen it before. It's really hard to remember everything you've seen when you watch more than 200 movies a year. Nonetheless, I watched this mostly starring Tom Hanks children's book adaptation and...I wasn't super into this. I think if I watched it back in 2004, I might've liked it a little more, but it definitely is made for children and families with children. The whole story revolves around believing in magic and be impressed with all the holiday whimsy, which is fine. I mean it is to be expected for a Christmas movie, but it has been done before...and better, in my opinion.

The acting is pretty good from all the actors and I thought the story was pretty decent. My biggest complaint for watching it in 2020 is the animation. CGI movies, especially for children's movies, seem to not age very well and this movie is no exception. The children's faces seem a little off and the worst sight to see is when they make it to their destination with the hundreds (or thousands) of elves. Those elves still kinda haunt me to this day. If you can look past that, this is a decent Christmas film full of wonder for the kiddos, but for me, I don't think I'll be returning to this animated feature from the early oughts.

Rating: 2.5/5

Starring: Edmund Gwenn, Maureen O'HAra, John Payne
Directed by: George Seaton
Language: English
Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 1 hr 36 mins

When a nice old man who claims to be Santa Claus is institutionalized as insane, a young lawyer decides to defend him by arguing in court that he is the real thing. [Source: IMDb]

This is another Christmas classic that I'm not sure I've seen. I know I have seen the 1994 remake starring a young Mara Wilson, Elizabeth Perkins, and Dylan McDermott quite a few times as a kid and pre-teen. I believe there are 2-3 other versions of this story, but I think I've only seen these two (and possibly the 1973 remake?). Honestly, my memory is very hazy on the specifics. I can say for sure that I have seen this one and the 1994 remake, which seem to be the most popular versions of this story. Whether I've seen the original or not, I wasn't upset in reliving this familiar story I haven't seen in decades.

The brief details I remember in the story from the 1994 film seemed to be played out similarly in the original. Although, Wikipedia says that the 1994 version has a more serious tone. Perhaps I'll go back and revisit that version at some point. Nonetheless, I knew what I was getting myself into. It's another story about a child who doesn't quite believe in Santa, because her mom has a very matter of fact serious disposition about life. Unlike The Polar Express, I enjoyed this execution of Christmas magic and tapping into your inner child a lot more. Despite it being in black and white, the characters are very vibrant, colorful, and extremely likable! As cheesy as the relationships in this movie can be at times, it's hard not to feel that beautiful warmth in your heart when things come together so nicely. I honestly can say that this does live up to the Christmas classic title as it does withstand the test of time.

Rating: 4.5/5

Before I conclude this belated Christmas post, I wanted to mention that I watched one of Maja's favorite Christmas movies, It's a Wonderful Life. I remember hearing the backstory about this movie not being very popular, but gained favor through repeated TV airings. I can understand why people enjoy this movie, but I honestly didn't have a lot to say about it to give it its own entry here. I also didn't want to completely leave it out either. It's nice to fully understand that one episode of Rugrats where Chuckie didn't want to exist anymore and I thought it was an okay movie. I don't think it's one that I would rewatch to get into the holiday spirit, but I don't regret taking the time out to watch it (twice kinda).

If there's something you want me to review, check out Muddy Cult's Patreon on how to submit requests.

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Fair Shake Review: Vol. 2: Deja Vu - Devvon Terrell

Vol 2: Deja Vu - Devvon Terrell

(Genre: Contemporary R&B)

These links are like Deja Vu:

Thank My Exes (Music Video)

You Trippin' (Music Video)

Homewrecker (Music Video)

Life is Good (Remix)

Say Their Names (Music Video)

Monday, February 22, 2021

Quick Movie Review

Truth and Lies: Monica and Bill (2019, USA) | Rating: 3.5/5
Not sure if Hulu was expiring this and the next entry, but I started off the new year with a couple of journalistic documentary specials (or whatever). Most people who were alive in the 90s know about the infamous Clinton scandal that led to his impeachment. This incident led to so many jokes from various comedy outlets like Saturday Night Live that wouldn't be acceptable today in the #metoo era. I was a kid when this situation happened, but I remember almost vividly how it impacted our country. It was definitely a huge scandal for a president. It was nice seeing a look back on the story after a couple decades and realizing that the public didn't give Monica any type of support. She was young and impressionable and former President Clinton was definitely in the wrong. This special definitely shows the error of society's victim blaming ways and opened my own eyes on details that I didn't know, such as Clinton's womanizing habits prior to his presidency. Of course, I was just a child then and didn't understand the whole logistics of cheating, aside from it being a bad thing. It's definitely an informative special for those who are in the same position as myself, but I'm sure others would enjoy it as well as a lesson in listening to victims of sexual misconduct.

Last Days of Richard Pryor (2020, USA) | Rating: 3.5/5
I have a small inkling that I've actually seen this when it aired on TV, but my memory was a little fuzzy and I ended up watching it anyway. Much like the in depth special about Monica and Bill, I wanted to learn more about the late legendary comedian Richard Pryor. I knew that he had fallen in an all too familiar fate that comedians face which is becoming a victim of mental health (and drugs). I was very young when Mr. Pryor was popular in cinema, but I remember enjoying what contributions he gave to stand-up and opening doors to comedians of color. To hear that this highly successful comedian's journey get cut short in such a way was truly eye opening and sad. Of course, back then not many took drug abuse that seriously and were ignorant to mental health issues. Like many others, especially fans and admirers, I had to wonder what would've happened if people took his problems seriously as he didn't hide that he had an addiction problem and severe despression. At the same time, it seemed as though he didn't want to get better when it came to drugs, which makes things very complicated. While die hard fans might not think that this collection of interviews and archival footage brought anything new to the table, casual consumers of media and younger fans can learn something about this very talented individual.

Let's Scare Julie (2019, USA) | Rating: 1.5/5
If you're familiar with my work here on this lovely blog, you would know that I enjoy bad horror movies with hopes that it'll be entertaining. If you're new here, hi...I enjoy trash sometimes. This movie falls into my "judging a movie by its cover" and...yeah, it was not good. It started off at least a little bit interesting with this group of girls just being annoying teenage girls. They start talking about playing a prank on their friend and it goes downhill from there: in execution and plot. I admit that I didn't give this movie my full attention, but it honestly didn't try to keep it either. Yes, there are bad movies that at least attempt to keep my attention, but this one...I couldn't even tell you any character names or describe the movie in detail from beginning to end. Like most reviewers, I guess I can somewhat admire its unique filmmaking techniques, but it doesn't save the quality of the content, especially these bland characters.

Soul (2020, USA) | Rating: 3.5/5
If you haven't heard, animation companies have a problem with black and brown people representation and many of my friends have pointed this out through several examples of them being transformed into animals or whatever for most of the movie such as The Princess and the Frog, Brother Bear, The Emperor's New Groove, and Spies in Disguise. Many fans worried that this movie would be another contribution to this problem and...it sadly did. Yes, I did enjoy this movie and the message was very inspiring for any age group, but especially adults that have been burdened by life (and this pandemic). It definitely isn't the best of Pixar, but it isn't the worst either. Sadly, I'm not surprised that our main character Joe Gardner doesn't stay human for majority of the movie. I predicted that he would mostly be a soul being, but...*spoiler* he's a cat. Nonetheless, the movie was enjoyable, but I can't wait until we can have more black and brown representation without transformation in animation.

Avenger Dogs Christmas (2020, USA) | Rating: 1.5/5
This was a terrible animated Christmas movie that my friend/co-worker saw while shelving DVDs. After reading the ridiculous description and being thoroughly terrified of the cover art, I had a mighty need to watch this with her. If I watched this on my own, I would...probably still be amused, but I would definitely be questioning my choices. With a friend making snarky commentary with you over Discord, it made the movie all the more entertaining! I don't know what child would find this enjoyable and if they did, the parents would be in sheer agony on how awful every aspect of this movie is. Every decision made with this movie is highly questionable. The animation is below subpar for a 2020 movie, most of the characters are voiced by one person, they reuse at least 90% of the scenes, the editing is non-sensical, the subtitles are a little off at times, and there's a scene one of the characters says another character's lines, then responds. This is definitely one of those so bad it's kinda good only if you watch it with a group of friends to make fun of it type of movie. I had the pleasure of being the first and last person to check out this movie from work as one of the children's librarians decided to immediately remove it from the collection and the potential first to rate it on IMDb.

If there's something you want me to review, check out Muddy Cult's Patreon on how to submit requests.

Sunday, February 21, 2021

Katsucon 2020 Haul

Saturday, February 20, 2021

BM5's January 2021 Favorites

Favorite Music Analysis

Understanding Toxic - 12Tone

12Tone is a channel I like to check every once in a while and binge. Yet, this is one of the more recent videos that I just had to share. Britney Spears' "Toxic" is a song that I have always held as one of the few tunes of hers that I genuinely enjoy. This musical analysis really breaks down the reasons why it's always so pleasing to my ears. This video, along with other videos, thoroughly make me understand how music theory is so fascinating and why those who incorporate it in their songwriting leave me happy. Learn a little bit more about how "Toxic" is one of those gems.

Favorite Cover

Ex - Kiana Lede (Covered by Ailee)

I always enjoyed this song from Kiana, so to hear another one of my favorite voices cover this was a match made in heaven. The fact that this is also just her voice and piano was so beautiful to my eardrums. Honestly, that's all I have to say. With Ailee, it's never a hard sell.

Favorite Music Video

Nainainai - Atarashii Gakko!

Over the past few months, I've been seeing releases from this group through 88Rising. I always thought that they have a great energy and vibe including their little video lessons on Japanese culture. Though with this music video, I must say that I'm certainly a newborn fan. I put this on and just want to shake and dance in my room, singing along in my poor attempts at the language. They have quickly become the first Japanese group that I'm going to truly follow.

Favorite Dance Video

2020 Dance Medley - AleXa

Although 2020 had a lot that wasn't going for us, it was also full of fantastic choreography to Kpop title tracks. Who would be able to do it all, though? Don't you need the full groups? Not quite. Just one AleXa! As I've mentioned in past posts, I've really been following her journey since debut and I can see why she won those dance cover contests in the past. She truly tackles each style with such ease. Therefore, I look back at last year with a smile by watching such talent on display!

Full January 2021 Playlist: click here