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geekgemsspooksandtoons · 3 years

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The Mask 1994

*I finally wrote the whole thing. I finally watched the movie that involved something I’ve been talking about A LOT. I think this took about an hour since I finished the movie. Forgot to mention Charlie.*

I wanna make this clear, even before I watched movie or ever writing this. I am legitimately a stupid and lazy person. Because my mom told me about this, and last week, my dad rented A Quiet Place Part 2. When I was trying to go to sleep but was looking up movies...I literally forgot my tv can do that too...and that I can rent or buy a movie...I rented the movie this morning, and deleted it afterwards...after all that talk...I could’ve done that...wow. I should do that more considering some movies I wanna see or like. Not too much though. My tv has DirecTV. Just a heads up.

But a few or couple of minutes ago, I finally watched The Mask film from 1994. This post is gonna be filled with spoilers and it’s gonna get long. Gonna be kind of a review. My overall thoughts on it. This was my first reaction to the whole movie.

I’d just wanna talk about this too. I like comic books, I like comic book movies. Mainly my favorites are ones like all of Zack Snyder’s DCEU movies, Spider-Man 1 & 2, The Suicide Squad 2021, Wonder Woman 2017, The Dark Knight(Despite whatever issues I have with it), and Joker 2019. Yeah, those are mainly DC films and two Marvel related ones. I don’t even mind Spider-Man 3 as well. I also forgot Dredd 2012 is another one of my favorites. Along with Batman 1989.

I was hoping The Mask could make that list of favorites. Because I read the comics first. I don’t think I ever watch the movie fully as a kid MAYBE. I’m a fan of the comics, I know this movie was gonna be a lighter take on the series.

In a nutshell...I liked it. It’s possible it will be on that list of favorite CBM’s...but I want to talk about it. I’ll also admit I think what got me interested in seeing this film and this series was me liking Jim Carrey as Ace Ventura...now, let’s get to the point.

Yeah, I liked it. I thought the movie was genuinely entertaining. Despite seeing some clips before. But also Ryan Hollinger’s video about it. Revealing the ending, the twist, and other stuff. But I didn’t wanna watch more more that I haven’t seen yet.

I will be honest, it still made me laugh. Even some scenes I already have seen. I will admit, the Cuban Pete scene is actually one of my favorites. XD But what also surprised me is that at times, despite being a funny film. It can genuinely be touching in a way. And I am mainly talking about the developing relationship between Stanley and Tina.

I just wanna talk about the characters right now. I’ll just admit unless I haven’t already. I’m a Jim Carrey fan. Mainly because of his more goofier roles. Particularly his roles from the Ace Ventura movies, Liar Liar, and especially Sonic The Hedgehog. I also will admit this, Jim Carry nails playing Big Head or who they call...The Mask in this movie...I’ll nitpick about that later.

But yeah, Jim’s entertaining as Big Head in this film. He does make me laugh. But I think another role he does well despite there are some sillier moments, which is fine. I feel like in a way, Stanley Ipkiss in this version, is maybe one of his more normal roles. But I know I’m wrong considering whatever other roles he’s in. He portrays a likable good guy who’s sadly mainly pushed around. Which is quite the difference from the comics, except being pushed around. But that’s another topic. Yet for this story, even if maybe Stanley’s name could be changed. But him being a genuinely kind guy works for this story.

Even before I saw the movie, learning more about this version about the character. I can relate to Stanley in some ways honestly. Which is something that I like. He basically shines as a protagonist.

He portrays both sides well. Despite at times...honestly, this Stanley is wacky. I shouldn’t be judging. Jim does a good stuff with what he played, and he’s the highlight of this movie. He also delivers possibly my favorite Jim Carrey line of all time now. Sorry if I get this wrong. I was looking for a clip of it to help me.

“Daddy’s gonna go kick some ass”. A literal line from Jim Carrey in this movie and I love it. He even brings a pistol with him.

I also wanna admit Peter Greene as Dorian is pretty good as a villain. The dude can be threatening and he works with what he is given. And he’s effective as an antagonist. I just wanna admit that I swear, one of these guys. One of them could’ve Walter in a way and I just think that could’ve been possible. But I’m not sure. Just one of Dorian’s henchmen looked like a huge guy. It just got me thinking about Walter from the comics.

Will admit, I think Kellaway is fine. And I just found out Christopher Reeve was one of the actors considered for the role...damn. But again, Kellaway was fine. He’s more like a supporting character and again, this is like an origin story. I do feel bothered Lionel Ray wasn’t added but replaced with this Doyle character. I will admit that Doyle is silly, which is the point of his character. I guess the writers and director didn’t want two sensible cops or something. I like Kellaway alright, but I’ll always dig Lionel too.

I really wanted to get this point. I thought Cameron Diaz was good as Tina Carlyle and Amy Yasbeck as Peggy Brandt. I will admit, I do strangely like the subversion with Peggy in a way with it’s twist. I get the idea if that it was going for that theme of, “We all wear mask” and Peggy turning Stanley into the mob said a lot about her character. While Tina was genuinely the one that truly supported Stanley.

I think was surprised me more was the fact despite Peggy turned in Stanley for selfish purposes such as paying for her condo. Yet what surprised me more was she was actually concerned for Stanley being killed, and didn’t want him hurt...which explains even more why she stuck around in the cartoon. And honestly, it makes me glad the director took out that deleted scene of her getting killed. So she wasn’t that heartless.

Also...it made me think that...my ideas and changes towards her character...maybe hold some weight.

I’ll just put this out there too. Milo is great, one of my favorite fictional dogs maybe. Good dog.

Trying to think what else, the score was fine. But the licensed music was good or something. Overall, I think my negatives could be just...nitpicks. Such as the Big Head part I wanted to talk about. Listen, I understand this is a different version. I just feel it’s weird to call him, “The Mask” instead of Big Head. I know other characters mask in their name or something. But...some reasons, the name Big Head is there. I guess it’s because of the title or something.

Honestly, I think my negatives are more that it feels short. And maybe Stanley becoming Big Head a bit too early. I sound kind of stupid, I know. But this was the 90′s and whatever else. This was a different take on the comics. But I did genuinely like it. Maybe I’m just a bit attached to those comics. Despite knowing the changes they did.

But I will admit, considering the development for this film. And learning that it was meant to be a horror film. But the director Charles Russell found the violence in the source material to be off putting. So he made it less grim, and more fun. I’ve also read somewhere that trying to make comedy with that violence was difficult.

Back to the point, to be honest. I feel like for that time and age. A more light Mask film was maybe the best choice to go. And we wouldn’t have Jim Carrey in it. I do also wanna say, I feel like The Mask series, you can do a lot of it. You can have something dark with it, or maybe more lighter.

There are still some of those darker elements. Mainly considering the moments with the gangsters and all that. But I will admit, learning that Charles mostly directed horror films. I think it’s impressive he made a more family friendly film and it worked.

I liked it, despite my love for the comics. I thought when writing this, maybe some folks reading this may think I sound like fans who read the comics who first experienced this movie. But the film isn’t bad, it’s just a different take and a pretty nice one at that.

And to be honest, as much as I would of loved to see an actual sequel. And not that bad film known as Son Of The Mask. I understand why Jim Carrey dropped out, and I would’ve loved to see Peggy back because the director planned to bring her back reformed. But I feel like this film works as a one off in a way. And there’s also the cartoon, which works fine as a sequel despite some differences. Yet...I’ll admit, I would’ve loved The Mask 2 if we got Jim Carrey as Stanley again fighting against maybe someone like Walter.

The Mask 1994 is a good film. Despite changes from the source material, but the changes for this vision work. It’s cool this film has a cult following, and the fact I have used elements and story beats from it for The Mask Rebirth stuff I’ve been talking about. Even before watched this whole movie.

It’s a genuine fun flick. But I’m hoping down the line, if Warner Bros stops being fucking stupid with how they run things. Maybe we’ll get a reboot or how about an animated film that seems more true to the source material.

I know The Mask/Big Head doesn’t have a big legacy such as the likes of Superman, Batman, and Spider-Man. But I do think this series could be reimagined and expanded upon. Using elements not only from the original comics, but even the movie and cartoon.

And...despite it was because of Ace Ventura...I would like to thank @kaijuguy19 for being such a supportive dude, and talking about this franchise with me. Including wanting to talk about this movie long ago when I haven’t seen it. But I want to say...no...he’s one of the big reasons why I’m a fan. Because he’s one of the only guys I know who’s a fan. It started with Ace Ventura, but it was because of talking with Kaijuguy that I guess things started to escalate. So thanks man for talking about this stuff with me.

Also, Charlie was silly and he was fine as a character. I forgot about that dude despite wanting to talk about him. Gonna tag him too in case. Charlie schumaker

#GeekGem Rambles #the mask #the mask 1994 #jim carrey #stanley ipkiss #dorian tyrell #mitch kellaway #tina carlyle #peggy brandt #cameron diaz #amy yasbeck #peter greene #big head #charles russell #charlie schumaker

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junker-town · 5 years

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What happened the last time the World Series was in D.C. in 1933

President Franklin D. Roosevelt threw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 3 of the 1933 World Series, a 4-0 win for the Washington Senators.

For the first time in 86 years, the World Series is in Washington D.C., thanks to the Nationals’ resurgence from playoff doldrums to October darlings. Baseball was a lot different the last time the Fall Classic was in our nation’s capital, but the 1933 World Series offered some similarities to this year’s version as well.

A contrast in styles

Going into this year’s World Series, the favorite Astros were confident, and with good reason, having won a title just two years ago and with 107 victories this season. Third baseman Alex Bregman talked after the ALCS about building a dynasty, while shortstop Carlos Correa characterized Houston as the “apex predators” of the American League.

The confidence was strong in another Washington opponent 86 years ago, and with good reason. The New York Giants had Hall of Famers Terry and Mel Ott on offense, and another in Carl Hubbell to head the pitching staff at the peak of his powers. Hubbell and 22-year-old Hal Schumaker combined for a 1.89 ERA in 567 innings, and were rightfully touted by their manager as weapons to

“Let ‘em talk. Words don’t win ball games. But the way they have been sounding off has gotten under our skins,” Cronin said before the series (1). I know my gang and when they get heated up, things pop. The Giants don’t have to take my word for this. They’ll get the knowledge first hand.”

While Cronin may have invented popcorn here, it didn’t translate on the field, as the Senators’ bats scored just 11 runs in the five-game series. Hubbell didn’t allow an earned run in his 20 World Series innings, and New York won all four starts by that duo.

Managing from the infield

The phrase “coach on the field” gets uses every now and then to describe how a veteran player might exert his influence on a game, using their accumulated wisdom as a sort of extension of the actual coaching staff. But in 1933, the coaches were, in fact, on the field.

Bill Terry was the first baseman for the Giants, hitting .322/.375/.423 with a 128 OPS+ in his age-34 season. This was his first full season as Giants manager, a gig he held for 10 years while winning three pennants and a World Series.

Joe Cronin was just 26 in 1933, hitting .309/.398/.445, a 125 OPS+ while manning shortstop for the Senators. He finished second in NL MVP voting that season, beat out by slugger Jimmie Foxx. Both Terry and Cronin were elected to the Hall of Fame as players. This was Cronin’s first season as manager, a position he would hold with the Senators and Red Sox for 15 seasons, including 13 years as player-manager.

The Senators made three World Series in Washington D.C., winning in 1924, and losing in 1925 and 1933. What’s unique is that all three teams were led by player-managers, with second baseman Bucky Harris at the helm in those first two trips.

While player-managers were common in the first third of the 20th century, this 1933 matchup between the Giants and Senators was the first World Series with two player-managers since 1906. Each of the next two Fall Classics also saw player-manager duels — Hall of Famers Frankie Frisch (Cardinals) and Mickey Cochrane (Tigers) in 1934, then Cochrane (Tigers) and Charlie Grimm (Cubs) in 1935.

We haven’t seen a World Series with a pair of player-managers since then, and there hasn’t even been a player-manager in the regular season since Pete Rose in 1986, three years before he bet on himself and lost.

Extra! Extra! Read all about it

The 91-win Giants dispatched the 99-win Senators in five games in 1933. We’ll have a parallel with 2019 no matter the outcome. Either we’ll see the presumed underdog National League team triumph over the better-record AL team with a Nationals win, or we’ll see a Washington team lose the World Series.

What made 1933 memorable was the excruciating way the Senators lost the series. This was the first year with the modern World Series 2-3-2 format, and the Giants won the first two contests at the Polo Grounds in New York. The Senators held serve in the first game in Washington, but then lost in Game 4 on a Blondy Ryan RBI single in the 11th inning. Mel Ott homered the next day in the 10th inning to win Game 5 off Jack Russell, the kind of series-ending loss that will terrier heart out.

This was the first time in World Series history that back-to-back games went to extra innings.

Might we see similar late excitement in the 2019 World Series games in Washington D.C.? The Astros are 11-4 in extra-inning games this season, including the playoffs, so the Nationals might need an extra dose of “Baby Shark” to pull through.

(1) “Cronin’s Men Irked By Pre-Series Jibes” by Denman Thompson — The Sporting News, October 5, 1933.

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