On Saturday, March 24th, I went to the Warner Theater to see a show that was performed by none other then the Mythbusters. For those who do not know, the Mythbusters is a show on the Discovery Channel that features Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman as they well bust various myths. Myths like can pop-rocks and cola make your stomach explode, can you set a wooden ship on fire using a lot of mirrors reflecting sunlight on to it, can you really make the magic bullet, and is Jimmy Hoffa's body really buried in Giants Stadium. Though every kind of science and mathematics that you can think of, they and their team, go out to try any myth that can be tested by use of the scientific method and see if there is any kind of truth to the stories they hear.
So you can only think about what they would be doing for a stage act.
Now, while this show was not really them busting any myths, this was more a demonstration of other facts that surround the show, like facts about their machines. One of the big highlights of the show was seeing some of the machines they could make like a huge gatling paintball gun that can shot four paintballs at once and a water pump the worked by the power of someone pedaling a bike. They also showed the science of things like why you can lay on a bed of nails not have your whole body go through the bed. Also, they showed off some of their known equipment from the show like the high speed camera they use for slow down moving objects.
The crowd was a fun mix of fans ranging from young kids and older people. It felt like there was no real set age group for this show and that helped because it is nice to go to shows that you fell more people can enjoy it. This was good because there were question and answer parts of the show (one for Jamie and one for Adam) and they give good, informative, and entertaining answers to each of the questions.
It was a good show and it you wish to know more about the Mythbusters, you can see them on the Discovery channel .
I recently had seen the famous film "Birth of A Nation" by D.W. Griffin with a club that I had recently joined and we had choose to see this film for all the reasons this film is so well known. I'll save my views of the film itself for maybe a future post. The next day I was talking about the film with members of my family and one person asks me if it makes me uncomfortable to watch films like this. For those who do not know, the reason this film is so notorious is because this silent picture is one of the most racist pieces of entertainment (it was once used as a recruitment film for the KKK) and at the same time it help create the modern way stories are being told in film. It is one of the most praised films of all time and is one of the most hated films of all time. All for good reasons.
I answered the question by stating that I know the reasons why I am watching this film.
The first reason is for educated prepuces. I am a media student and my main interest is film. I do make it a goal to watch many kinds of films for different reasons and a film this reputation is a movie on a huge list of films that I feel I must see at least once in my lifetime. Also the discussions about the film, I feel are better for others, than making the film go away. This is because we are talking about subjects that most do not which to discuss, but I find it better than being silent about them.
This leads to my next reason, I do not like pretending that things did not happen just because they are depressing, sad, or uncomfortable. Somethings can be over blown and talked about to the point that the speaker has noting new to say about it, but it still keeps going. But I rather the latter then nothing being discussed.
Finally, the main reason I have no problem watching this film. I know, while I watch it, that I am not the person who believes anything that this film is saying. I am also not any of the characters shown in the film and that helps me have a good understanding of why I am watching films like this.
Bill Hicks- Bill Hicks is a comic that most people mainly know for his content and that should be noted because a lot of his comedy is his view on various topics and a lot of it is very controversial. But this works for a few reasons. One reason is that it shows how fearless he was as a comic. Also, his reasoning in a number of things he has said works because he gives off the feeling that he really believes what he is saying and is not just doing to shock people or get a rise out of the listeners. He also just really good giving good stances and interesting views on topics.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Hicks
Ron White- Another member of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, Ron White is one of my favorite comics because he has the fearlessness that Bill Hicks has, but he is a really different style of entertainer. He is number one, a great storyteller and most of the things he says seem to be really true, but they almost have this comic book style feel to them. He has this style to his comedy that at times he even goes “well that’s nuts”, but it is not so unbelievable that it takes me out of the real world.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_White
Chris Rock- I really enjoy his stuff because of the energy he puts into every one of his jokes. He really seems to give off the idea that the listener must hear each one of his words. Another thing that I really enjoy about Chris Rock how he can look at a topic and quickly point out the problems with both the people who like it and the people who have issues with it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Rock
Louis CK- He is a weird comic, not because he is surreal, but because his comedy is often so random and he seems to not have a set list of topics that he talks about like most comics do. Also he is comic that seems to be breaking the fourth wall in the world of stand up comedy and is just moving past in what seems to be the limits on comedy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_ck
Lewis Black- Have you ever heard someone say something like they would listen to so and so sing the phone book or something like that. For me, I think Lewis Black could read the Scarlet Letterand make it at least humorous. His delivery is very funny and works with almost anything. I also enjoy how harsh he can get and how full of life he can make the story at the same time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Black
My top three standup comics
Patton Oswalt- His is like if I cut up a million books and make comedy out of the pieces. He has this very larger than life, very imagery way of doing comedy and it feels like someone made an Internet forum page of the most odd ball people and made it into a life form that made perfect sense. But as weird as it is, in my mind I can see everything he is describing and enjoy the very animated humor he gives.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patton_Oswalt
Bill Cosby- He is the prime example of someone who had a list of things he wanted his comedy to be and that is what he got. Bill Cosby has to be one of the best story tellers in the world of entertainment, because not only do the stories work, but also he can tell a story that was set in a reality that you can be in. Just about all of his stories and points of view are at least interesting, but most often funny to listen to. He also shows how well done clean comedy can be done and not be in your face about it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Cosby
George Carlin- My number one favorite stand up comic, it is said George Carlin’s comedy had three main subjects that he talked about:
1) The English language
2) The Small World (losing things, men who wear hats backwards)
3) The Big World (life and death)
All three of these subjects he had talked about with witty remarks and with a point of view that seemed to really just grip you and not let you go. Through out all of his various forms of being a standup, he has always had this stylized flow to it that keeps the listeners in the comedy world, but can also make you rethink about the subject as well. I also love that he seemed to tackle any subject and at least tried include it in a way that his audience could enjoy for at the least entertainment level.
