Monday, January 16, 2017

Bad Romance: Is The Fifty Shades Of Grey series secretly smart?

(An eye is looking around trying to discover what is going on until an audible scream is heard. Before cutting to Team TLOTA as Olivia Horvath brandishes a Minigun, Paulo Fonseca has twin gold plated desert eagles, Rebecca Yaun has 50 Sai Daggers, Nick Yaun has a Recurve Bow and a quiver full of weaponized arrows, Eric Kurtzke has a Katana, John Santos has a Semi Auto 30-06 Rifle, Mike Santos has axes of all size, Renee Miller has a sword, Eliza Dushku is brandishing ten Kunai & Traci Hines has a Semi-Auto 12 Gauge Shotgun with deer slugs before cutting to see “Cupid” played by Ed Champion strapped to a wall screaming before cutting to see everyone walking in slow motion either firing or throwing their weapons forwards in a straight line towards “Cupid” as the scene cuts to see “Cupid” Screaming as they either do very little damage or miss entirely before Olivia, Paulo, Rebecca, Eric & John move to their right and Mike, Renee, Eliza & Traci to their left as James Faraci The Last Of The Americans is seen in the center as he is brandishing a Rocket Launcher before cutting to “Cupid” with a look on his face that screams “DIAPERS TO BE DARKENED” before cutting to James firing the Rocket Launcher and the Rocket locks onto “Cupid” before cutting to everyone turning their back as the explosion engulfs the back wall and everyone has a look on their face that shows they’re not a happy bunch and the words “Bad Romance” is Stamped in Steel as 4:11-4:54 of Bad Romance plays in the background throughout the entire intro before cutting to James in his office)

TLOTA: I'm James Faraci The Last Of The Americans and the views that I'm about to express are that of my own and some of yours. We're all aware of the Fifty Shades Of Grey books and the first movie that happened two years ago and the next movie coming out in a few weeks and next year the finale of this movie series that are a step below Z-Grade Soft Core Adult Movies. (Cut to clips of the first movie based on these books and clips from the "Fifty Shades Darker" trailer as James does a voiceover)

TLOTA (Voiceover): And yes, I WHOLLY AGREE with The Nostalgia Kid and every Internet reviewer who despise these as the Soft Core Schlock. But as I checked out the books and the clips from the first movie, I noticed certain themes, motifs and even certain truths that are prevalent in our society. (Cut to James physically)

TLOTA: So before I see even ONE angry mob listen to why I ask this question Is "The Fifty Shades Of Grey" series secretly smarter than we give it credit for? (Cut to clips of the first movie based on these books and clips from the "Fifty Shades Darker" trailer as James does a voiceover)



TLOTA (Voiceover): Well I won't say it's on the same level as say something from Stephen Hawkins or anyone that same level. But I will say that it's not as dumb as some make it out to be. Creepy as ALL Get out but what do you expect when Fifty Shades Of Grey's source material is a adult romantic Twilight fanfic! That's right, the source behind Fifty Shades of Grey is a Twilight Fanfic! So I know it's good! Oy Vey! But regardless is the romance between Christian Grey & Anastasia Steele better or worse than the one between Bella & Edward. Well in The Twilight books Edward actually didn't want anything to do with Bella in the beginning it was through circumstance and bad decisions on Bella's part that made Edward slowly fall for Bella and conversely Bella was not interested in Edward in the beginning and it was because Edward was basically doing everything to keep her safe from harm that she doesn't do anything to harm Edward's family that she slowly begins not only to empower herself but discovers her emotional attachment to Edward was more than just some little crush. There was something there that the two could draw strength from each other. The romance between Anastasia and Christian on the other hand is very much like a hunter after his prey. But in a weird way it's even more realistic to how things may come to be. Christian has an agreement in order for him to be in bed doing the "In Bed Tango" with Anastasia whenever he wants and to a degree it's a little too realistic in some way it feels as if we NEED to have a legally binding contract just to go on a date in the first place. But for the sake of legal authenticity I did research and asked a lawyer to see if this contract has any legal standing ANYWHERE and I can conclusively say that it is NOT worth the paper it is written on. But I do understand Christian Grey's mentality on why he would even suggest it. He thinks romance and the in-bed tango is no different than a business deal and yeah his own backstory as a character makes me understand why he's the way he is, doesn't make him a good character but I understand the mentality of Christian. As for the intensity of adult themes of Fifty Shades Of Grey I would have to say yeah it is so close to being a Z-Grade Stag Film that it's not even funny. But that's because I know I'd never force myself onto a woman or even go as far as Christian goes when he wants Anastasia. However I do know that there are groups who are into that type of stuff and I won't judge them, if it's what they like then that is how they want to live their lives. Do I agree with their way of thinking when it comes to what arouses them?  No. Though it does take different strokes to move this rock. Will I talk to them socially without prejudice? Definitely. I don't judge people for what they do in their private life. If they think I'd be into certain things like say certain adult things, well I'm not a prude but I would like to think if I say no they know better and let me be and I think that's where it is smarter than it's source material. If it has attracted people into some of the darker and more twisted views of romance well I'd probably like to think it was in them already and this just made them feel as if they were as normal as anyone else. So it is smart but not as secretly smart as I thought it was. But it is smart in a certain way we can't think of it being. Do I recommend the books and/or movies? Hell No! Will I ever review them? I maybe crazy, but I'm not that far gone! All I can tell you is if you are into this and you've found something to like, then good for you. Me I'll try to enjoy the more realistic aspects of romance. If I'm ever in a relationship with a woman. (Cut to James physically)

TLOTA: And now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to get myself ready to deal with possibly my greatest assault on my intelligence ever. I'm James Faraci The Last Of The Americans and that's my opinion!

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Bad Romance: A "Super" Bad Romance


(An eye is looking around trying to discover what is going on until an audible scream is heard. Before cutting to Team TLOTA as Olivia Horvath brandishes a Minigun, Paulo Fonseca has twin gold plated desert eagles, Rebecca Yaun has 50 Sai Daggers, Nick Yaun has a Recurve Bow and a quiver full of weaponized arrows, Eric Kurtzke has a Katana, John Santos has a Semi Auto 30-06 Rifle, Mike Santos has axes of all size, Renee Miller has a sword, Eliza Dushku is brandishing ten Kunai & Traci Hines has a Semi-Auto 12 Gauge Shotgun with deer slugs before cutting to see “Cupid” played by Ed Champion strapped to a wall screaming before cutting to see everyone walking in slow motion either firing or throwing their weapons forwards in a straight line towards “Cupid” as the scene cuts to see “Cupid” Screaming as they either do very little damage or miss entirely before Olivia, Paulo, Rebecca, Eric & John move to their right and Mike, Renee, Eliza & Traci to their left as James Faraci The Last Of The Americans is seen in the center as he is brandishing a Rocket Launcher before cutting to “Cupid” with a look on his face that screams “DIAPERS TO BE DARKENED” before cutting to James firing the Rocket Launcher and the Rocket locks onto “Cupid” before cutting to everyone turning their back as the explosion engulfs the back wall and everyone has a look on their face that shows they’re not a happy bunch and the words “Bad Romance” is Stamped in Steel as 4:11-4:54 of Bad Romance plays in the background throughout the entire intro before cutting to James sitting in his office looking at the audience with an look of “Why Me?” on his face.)

TLOTA: Excuse me for a moment. (James walks to the main lobby)

TLOTA: Hey Guys, I’ve got to ask something. Is there a sign over my head saying “I’ve done something wrong and I deserve this punishment!” or “I’m a sadist’s submissive please torture me!” or anything that says I enjoy being tortured?

(Cut to everyone either saying No or nodding as to say no before cutting to James looking at the audience)

TLOTA: SO WHY THE HELL AM I DEALING WITH THIS CRAP FOR THE NEXT THREE MONTHS?! (Cut to Clips of Romantic Comedies as James does a voiceover)

TLOTA (Voiceover): OH…MY…GOD! I am going to be dealing with a genre of movies that I already said should die or at least needs someone to give the genre a huge dose of intelligence and when I mean a huge dose of intelligence I mean enough intelligence to rival Carl Sagan, Steven Hawkins & Albert Einstein combined. I am of course talking about the Romantic Comedy Genre. A Genre that might be the bane of the existence of everyone with an I.Q. larger than the height of the Himalayas and Kilimanjaro, Matterhorn, Mont Blanc and the Rest of the ALPS! (Cut to James in his office)

TLOTA: But maybe if I start off with something not as bad then maybe the next two months after this one maybe just maaaaaay be tolerable. With that said, let’s start this madness parade with something I can tolerate, barely. (Cut to the Opening of “My SUPER Ex-Girlfriend before cutting to clips of the movie as James does a voiceover)

TLOTA (Voiceover): Yeah for those who thought Emma Peel in “The Avengers” & “Poison Ivy” in “Batman & Robin” was Uma Thurman’s worst roles then obviously, they never acknowledge this turkey. But there is something that’s so unbearably bad that there is something so bizarrely entertaining that it may be worth at least one viewing, two at the outside, three if you’re sick in the head like me. (Cut to James physically)

TLOTA: So, let’s start this nightmare rollercoaster ride from hell with “My Super Ex-Girlfriend”! (Cut to the movie as James does a voiceover)

TLOTA (Voiceover): So, our movie begins with a robbery in New York City, A.K.A. a typical Thursday when our soon to be titular “Super” Ex-Girlfriend G-Girl played by Uma Thurman stops the bad guy when one tries to kill her but nearly get this movie an R-Rating! (Cut to the clip in which G-Girl’s outfit is shredded by bullets before static breaks as Edna Mode played by Olivia Horvath sits in chair over a spotlight in a black room.)

Edna Mode (Played by Olivia Horvath): NO! THAT SUIT WAS NOT MADE BY ME! (Cut to James physically)

TLOTA: Edna Mode? (Cut to Edna Mode)

Edna Mode (Played by Olivia Horvath): Yes, darling I know this because if it was I who made the suits for her they would be made with unstable molecules combined with a mimetic metallic alloy lining so they will be virtually indestructible darlings! (Cut to James physically)

TLOTA: But what about…? (Cut to Edna Mode)

Edna Mode (Played by Olivia Horvath): NO! NO CAPES! (Melissa Benoist as Supergirl flies down to confront Edna)

Supergirl: Well, Edna I hate to tell you this but my cousin and I wear them and…

Edna Mode: How many times have you got caught in the blades of the jet engine or tripped and fallen on that skirted little behind?

Supergirl: Never.

Edna Mode: How about the yellow that should be inside the S in your suit.

Supergirl: IT’S NOT AN “S”! IT’S MY FAMILY’S COAT OF ARMS! THE HOUSE OF EL! IT MEANS HOPE! (Cut to James)

TLOTA: Okay, chill out Supergirl, no need to go all red kryptonite crazy on us, believe me I still have nightmares of you doing things to me in the Kama Sutra when you were in that frame of mind and me in traction for the rest of my days! Not exactly worth it to me! We get it! Calm down! Please! I like you! Don’t hurt me! (Cut to Supergirl and Edna Mode)

Supergirl: James you can calm down and Edna the cape aides in Aerodynamic propulsion.

Edna Mode: Oh, I never thought of Aerodynamic propulsion when it comes to capes, I always looked upon them as… (Wonder Woman played by Eliza Dushku jumps in.)

Wonder Woman: Wastes of great fabrics as they should be used to protect the body?

Supergirl: Coming from someone whose outfit is basically a one piece with a skirt, yeah you have room to talk.

Wonder Woman: This is an Amazonian Warrior’s battle suit! (Cut to James as he hears the two argue as John & Mike Santos, Eric Kurtzke, Nick Yaun & Paulo Fonseca come in around James to see the two of them argue before cutting to the two of them argue as Batgirl played by Traci Hines comes in from out of nowhere.)

Batgirl: What about cape and cowls?

Wonder Woman and Supergirl: SHUT UP BATGIRL! (The three of them argue before cutting to see John, Mike, Eric, Nick and Paulo look with Smiles on their faces as James sits there in frustration)

TLOTA (Audio only): Okay quick question How many of you are married AND want to stay that way without the fear of being Bobbitized?! (Nick & Paulo drop out of frame)

TLOTA (Audio only): One more question, just one more. How many of you want to be in a relationship with a woman without the fear of being Bobbitized?! (Eric, John, Mike and James drop out of the frame as the audio of the argument is heard before cutting to the movie as James does a voiceover)

TLOTA (Voiceover): After literally dropping off the robbers outside the precinct, we’re introduced to Matt played by Luke “My Brother is the luckiest Son of a Bitch in the world ” Wilson & Vaughn played by Rainn “No relation to either Luke or Owen and I’m doing this while waiting on the next season of “The Office” Wilson as the two chat, Vaughn suggests to Matt that he try asking a random woman and guess who Matt tries to hook up with? (Cut to Matt trying to hook up with G-Girl’s civilian identity before cutting to James physically)

TLOTA: Well, no wonder the runtime is about ten minutes. (Cut back to the movie as Matt chases down a guy who mugged Uma’s character before cutting to James physically)

TLOTA: DAMN IT This movie is still going. (Cut to the movie as James does a voiceover)

TLOTA (Voiceover): So, Matt tries to grab they guy who grabbed G-Girl’s civilian identities’ purse he gets the purse but not the guy and tries to dis the thug who has ears and chases after Matt cornering him in a dumpster when strange punches and thud are heard and Matt is introduced to Jenny Johnson. Your everyday average Art Gallery Curator, yeah let’s go with that. At any rate the two have a hook-up as we discover that Matt secretly has a crush on Hannah his co-worker played by Anna Faris but from what I’ve heard her boyfriend is a Star Lord. Oh well, at least Jenny agreed to see Matt on a date and believe it or not the rest of the first act goes as follows, Jenny and Matt go on a date and she nearly compromises her superhero identity and supposed bad guy Professor Bedlam played by Eddie Izzard stalks Jenny and Matt and comes up with a plan to get close to Jenny. Jenny and Matt do the in-bed tango so hard his bed and his manhood are reduced to dust! (Cut to James physically)

TLOTA: YOWZA! (Cut to the movie as James does a voiceover)

TLOTA (Voiceover): Also, they show how much of an absolute psycho Jenny is! But as Matt is on his way to work one day when Bedlam kidnaps him, tries to get information out of him then dangles him like a worm on a hook UNDER THE TORCH OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY! Fortuitously, G-Girl saves Matt and as long as Matt doesn’t know G-Girl and Jenny are the same person he should be safe! (Cut to Matt being shown that Jenny is G-Girl before cutting to James slapping himself on the forehead then cut to everyone else at Team TLOTA slapping themselves on the forehead then everyone at Rowdyc.com and The Reviewerverse slapping themselves on the forehead and then God himself slapping himself on the forehead before cutting to the movie as James physically)

TLOTA: I need a break! They just found new ways to make huge piles of dumb. I need Liquid I.Q.!

(0:36-end mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators original run play the camera moves back to see James on top of the slab with the words “The Last Of The Americans” on it act as the commercial break intro and return to the movie while James does a voice over)

TLOTA (Voiceover): Well The little hand is on exposition and the big hand is on Origin Story so go ahead Jenny! Tell us your Superhero backstory. (Show clip in which Jenny tells Matt her backstory before cutting to James physically)

TLOTA: WOW! That is something straight out of a subpar Superhero comedy from the 1990’s now where have I heard that before. (James thinks while holding a copy of “Meteor Man” in his hand and taps the case for it on his forehead before there’s a knock at James’ door.) What’s up? (Cut to Eliza at the doorway.)

Eliza Dushku: A meteorite landed in the parking lot! Do you want us to check it out? (Cut to James)

TLOTA: Sure, why not? ORAC! Contact NASA tell them what we found we’ll be the guys freezing to death like popsicles trying to stay warm by a meteorite.  (James walks away and then a loud explosion is heard and James gets knocked into his office.)

TLOTA: OH, MY BACK! OH, MY ACHING BACK! ORAC! What happened?

ORAC (Audio Only): Eliza, Olivia, Renee, Rebecca and Traci were the closest to the meteor when it exploded and were exposed to the radiation emanating from it. Shall I keep you apprised of anything that happens.

TLOTA: Yeah, even if it interrupts the review. (Cut to the movie as James does a voiceover)

TLOTA (Voiceover): So after nearly dying from joining the Mile-High Club in the most reckless way possible, Matt starts to consider maybe dating a Superhero isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. But that’s not even the worst of it. Jenny shows how psychotic she is by nearly letting Missiles hit the city especially when Jenny thinks Matt is hooking up with Hannah. Finally having enough Matt decides to dump the She-Psycho! Which leads to G-Girl becoming Hell-bent on making Matt’s life a living nightmare. (Cut to James physically)

TLOTA: And just HOW bad does it get for Matt? On a scale of One through ten? It’s a 4,281,982! (Cut to the movie as James does a voiceover)

TLOTA (Voiceover): I’m talking short of making Matt taking a trip off the Empire State Building just to be rid of her. She costs Matt his job, nearly cooks his fish alive, tosses his car into geosynchronistic orbit even when he and Hannah finally hook up after her boyfriend disappeared under mysterious circumstances, though from what I heard he’s commanding the Milano in another sector space. What does G-Girl do to torment Matt?

G-Girl: I HATE YOU MATT SAUNDERS! (G-Girl tosses a Great White Shark and the shark tries to attack before cutting to James physically)

TLOTA: JEEEESUS, MARY, JOSEPH AND HIS TECHNO FREAKING COLOR DREAMCOAT MOVIE! (Cut to the movie and corresponding clips from “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” as James does a voiceover)

TLOTA (Voiceover): I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOUR MESSAGE ABOUT STRONG WOMEN GETTING DUMPED IS BUT DUDE, THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT ONE! In a situation when a strong heroine like Buffy got her heart broken she doesn’t sadistically stalk and make their ex’s life a living hell or shove ‘em in a nest of vampires, she takes it out on the vampires, turns them into dust until she feels better! And yes, I WHOLLY discount that whole “Beer Bad” bad luck with Parker incident. Regardless, she doesn’t toss JAWS onto their table! (Cut to James physically)

TLOTA: I mean for the love of Peat Moss! Why would anyone toss a fish?

Eliza Dushku (Audio only): Heads up! Dinner’s here! (A Tuna lands on James’ desk and James jumps back and shouts “BADABOOMBAH!”)

TLOTA: ELIZA! WHERE DID YOU GET THAT? (Cut to Eliza at the door way)

Eliza Dushku: Oh, off the Hawaiian coast! (Cut to James)

TLOTA: How did you…? (Cut to Eliza at the door way)

Eliza Dushku: I flew! Yeah by the way, I think you need to see this. (James looks out in the doorway with his jaw getting ready to hit the floor before cutting to Rebecca Yaun juggle her husband and her brother around and hear them scream and cry before cutting to James as he looks to see Olivia Horvath, Renee Miller and Traci Hines play Hot Potato with the pieces of the Couch as John & Mike Santos and Eric Kurtzke ON the pieces of the couch!)

Eric Kurtzke: BRACE FOR IMPACT!

Mike Santos: BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES!

John Santos: I WANT MY MOMMY! (Cut to James & Eliza looking at the chaos.)

TLOTA: I’ll fix this or I’ll commit myself, fake my death, go into the Witness Relocation Program after extensive…. My hand is on the Lasso of Truth, isn’t it?

Eliza Dushku: Borrowed it from Wonder Woman.

TLOTA: Well, I’ll fix this! (Cut to the movie as James does a voiceover)

TLOTA (Voiceover): So after…. THAT! Matt decides to team up with the real hero in this turkey Professor Bedlam and set up a trap for Psycho Girl! However, through the usual Bad Timing in this type of movie Hannah and Vaughn come by but that works in the plan’s favor as Vaughn unleashes a rock that sucks Jenny’s powers away from her! THANK YOU, GOD! NOW THEY CAN CART HER OFF TO THE FUNNY FARM WHERE SHE BELONG…Or Bedlam will try to take the powers for himself. I knew I’d have to use this one eventually! (Cut to the “It’s A Trap” General Ackbar moment in “Return Of The Jedi” before cutting to the movie as the rock go kablamo and then cutting to James physically.)

TLOTA: FINALLY, THIS MOVIE IS OVER!  ALLS WELL THAT ENDS WELL… (The audio of Jenny getting angry after getting her powers back before cutting to her shouting “I didn't think you were this despicable! Teaming up with BARRY!” before cutting to James with a sad puppy dog look in his eye and his bottom lip quivering before cutting to James curled up into a ball and crying silently in a corner in the lobby before cutting to everyone else.)

Rebecca Yaun: James? (Cut to James)

TLOTA (Whimpering and sad): DON’T TOUCH ME! I CAN’T DO IT! I KNOW THERE’S LESS THAN TWENTY MINUTES LEFT BUT I CAN’T DO IT! (Cut to everyone else)

Olivia Horvath: Are you the same person who killed a group of rapists and abusive men in the middle of your review of “Gigli”?  (Cut to James)

TLOTA: Yeah, I did that! (Cut to everyone else)

Nick Yaun: And didn’t you review “Fishtales” while you were catatonic? (Cut to James)

TLOTA: Yeah, I did that! (Cut to everyone else)

Paulo Fonseca: And weren’t you and Eliza trapped in a quadrant of space and yet somehow you could analyze “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”? (Cut to James)

TLOTA: Yeah, I did that! (Cut to everyone else)

John Santos: And didn’t you while your mind was scrambled after a New Year’s Eve party with the cast of “Glee” review all THREE of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man movies? (Cut to James)

TLOTA: Yeah, I did that, Didn’t I? (Cut to everyone else)

Everyone else: YEAH! (Cut to James as he stands up as the song from “Airplane” where Ted decides to get back in and save the day plays in the background)

TLOTA: That’s right! I know what to do, take a swig of Liquid I.Q. (James chugs a whole bottle of Liquid I.Q. gasps for air and tosses the bottle), Go into that room, take on the last 20 minutes of “My Super Ex-Girlfriend” and if all else fails, GO DOWN SWINGING! (James walks back into his office as the music swells even passing a cheerleading squad containing Kailey Coney as they cheer “James, James, he’s our man! Can he, do it? Let’s Hope he can!” before cutting back to the movie as James does a voiceover)

TLOTA (Voiceover): So, Jenny has got her powers back but guess who else touched the superhero rock.

Hannah: HEY! Let go of my boyfriend, you crazy BITCH!

TLOTA (Voiceover): That’s right Hannah and Jenny have a Superhero brawl for no apparent reason outside of one of them winning Matt’s heart and in Psycho-Girl’s case it’s on a mantelpiece and in Hannah’s well to keep Jenny away from Matt. (Cut to the two of them brawling before cutting to James)

TLOTA: HEADS UP, SUPERMAN AND BATMAN ARE BRAWLING ACROSS THE BAY BETWEEN METROPOLIS AND GOTHAM! (Intercut the brawl between Superman & Batman in “Superman v Batman: Dawn Of Justice” with the brawl between Hannah & Jenny in “My Super Ex-Girlfriend” before cutting to still images of Jenny Flying accidentally punching Superman, Batman decking Jenny, Hannah punching Batman and Hannah getting punched by Jenny before the two crashing a fashion show and James does a voiceover)

TLOTA (Voiceover): So, after causing enough damage that could give Trump the rights to rebuild every skyscraper in New York, Matt tries to reason with the psycho trying to kill Matt’s true crush by saying “Hey, I’m not right for you but the person who loved you before you got the powers when the two of you had chemistry with in High School still cares so give him a second chance.” And that’s all that it took for G-Girl to stop her rampage and what do Matt and Hannah do to celebrate? Have another bed and manhood destroying night of Super Whoopie! And our movie ends with Hannah becoming a superhero alongside G-Girl and hopefully handling her in being a Superheroine. (Cut to the two just standing there)

TLOTA (Dubbing Matt): So now what do we do?

Paulo Fonseca (Dubbing Barry “Bedlam”): Kiss our careers and manhoods goodbye?

TLOTA (Dubbing Matt): Eh, might as well, my brother is gonna have a better career until Zoolander 2! (Cut to James physically)

TLOTA: And that was “My Super Ex-Girlfriend”! It was bad but what’s worse is that it could’ve been better! (Cut to clips of the movie as James does a voiceover)

TLOTA (Voiceover): I mean this had potential. A romantic movie featuring Superheroes? Yeah! If the Superheroes in love are interesting. There is a reason why the romance between Lois Lane & Clark Kent works in most live action and animated versions because it allows them to have these moments together without having to be all schmaltzy. Hell, the romance in “The Incredibles” because this allows the heroes to have human emotions. But this has as much chemistry as Olive Oil and Nitroglycerine and what’s worse is that it had a great director in the director’s chair, Ivan Reitman! IVAN REITMAN! HE DID GHOSTBUSTERS 1 & 2, TWINS, KINDERGARDEN COP, BEETHOVEN! And he made this turkey?! WHAT HAPPENED?! But I can’t fault him for bad writing, bad acting and an overall good idea done wrong. (Cut to James physically as he sighs.)

TLOTA: But I still have two more months of schmaltz and schlock to deal with so let’s see what’s next on the docket. (James pulls out a clipboard before cutting to everyone else in the main lobby)

Eliza Dushku: Well, finally got these powers under control.

Olivia Horvath: And not a moment too soon.

Renee Miller: Just look at the guys. (Cut to Nick Yaun, Paulo Fonseca, John Ross Santos, Mike Santos & Eric Kurtzke laying down on a couch sucking on their thumbs as Rebecca warms up multiple bottles of Liquid I.Q. with her heat vision.)

Rebecca Yaun: There we go guys, drink it down and in a little while you’ll be back to normal! (A Door is slammed open as it cuts to James with an angered look on his face that can burn through lead!)

TLOTA: Everyone Please Leave…. NOW! (Cut to Rebecca carrying Nick and Paulo over her shoulders and running out the front door followed by Olivia Horvath carrying John & Mike Santos and running out the front door followed by Renee Miller carrying Eric Kurtzke and running out the front door and Eliza Dushku & Traci Hines run out the front door before cutting to James still with an angered look on his face as “Cry Little Sister” covered by “Aiden” play in the background before James starts walking to the backroom as it cuts to James’ boots turning from Tan to Black before cutting to James looking over a wall of weapons before grabbing one and then down the secondary hallway.)

TLOTA (Internal thoughts): My name… is James Benjamin Faraci. I am… an Internet Reviewer. I am… The Last Of The Americans. And I AM ABOUT TO MAKE THE DEVIL PAY HIS DUE! (James pulls out Chudnofsky’s Double Barreled Handgun before cutting to the DVD cover of “Valentine’s Day” as the Chorus of “Cry Little Sister” plays in the foreground before cutting to James with the look of “YOU’RE GONNA DIE!” before cutting to black.)

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

The Top 10 moments of James Faraci The Last Of The Americans in 2016!

(0:36-end mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators original run play the camera moves back to see James on top of the slab with the words “The Last Of The Americans” on it then cutting to James in his chair)

TLOTA: I'm James Faraci The Last Of The Americans and the views that I'm about to express are that of my own and some of yours. Well, the best description of 2016 is Bipolar and that's being nice! But this time around before we get to the Top 10 believe it not we've got some honorable mentions before we get started. So let's get to them! (Cut to clips of review and other moments that happened as James does a voiceover)

TLOTA (Voiceover):

The Rowdy and Friends Fantasy League Sketch) Meant to parody one of the biggest online league player trading scandals I was proud to be a part of this sketch just for the fact I could get to be onscreen and me getting to be onscreen even for a moment.

Tipsy Gentlemen: Passion Of The Christ 2, Bibleman Animated Series and Nostalgia Christian/Say Goodnight Kevin) Being honest as I could I wanted to share my thoughts on certain things and express myself onto a different forum and do so intelligently and I want thank Chris T. Ian for allowing me to be intelligent about my beliefs.

The Kick-Ass Review) Honestly this was meant to be done in November of 2015 but the timing I had at the time was bad as was the fact I hadn't done another "Different Cuts" in a while meant something had to be postponed this review had to be it but it did lead to a lot of great silly moments and started the "Mystery Of James Faraci The Last Of The Americans" storyline.

The Top 10 Good Things to come from Michael Bay's Transformers) Going in I knew these movies were not going to be Shakespeare and finding those ten moments were a freaking chore for me. But I got the Job done and it helped lead into something that made the top 10 list.

The Top 13 Buffy & Angel Episodes) To be honest not my best list but there were some great moments like when I did a "Bar Rescue" Sketch and was a great lead into..

The Tribute To The Magic Of David Copperfield) Something I felt I had to do for one of the first things I religiously tuned into as a kid and remembered and remains with me to remind me of how much of a kid at heart I still am!

The Disney Descendants April Fools Review) Having seen my friend's review on the DCOM. Doing this review straight would've driven me to drink! But I think having Nick play a Raoul Duke Esque character in order to do and say the things I didn't want to or could say without coming off like a knock off of The Rowdy Reviewer's version of the review.

The Five Things I disliked and liked about "Superman V Batman Dawn Of Justice") I had to break character to be honest with myself and with everyone I know who had seen this movie and I needed to say it the way I needed to talk about it!

(Cut to James physically)

TLOTA: And seeing as how I broke character to talk about "Superman V Batman Dawn Of Justice" (James pulls out the Robo Knight Robo Morpher and unlocks the latch to the door that holds James' card and powers down and becomes James Faraci)

James Faraci: I got the five moments everyone else liked and I've got my five. It's time for the Top 10 Moments of James Faraci The Last Of The Americans in 2016!

(A Hand pulling a card designed by Stevie Swigart with the statistics of James Faraci The Last Of The Americans while putting it into the Robo Knight Robo Morpher and punching in the code 428 from the 0:00-0:03 mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators original run. 0:04 mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators shows James Faraci morphing into James Faraci The Last Of The Americans with his Long sleeve Tee-Shirt with the American flag design on it, Blue cargo Jeans and Tan Work boots until 0:07 mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators original run as scene cuts to James stocking up on his arsenal from the Classic Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers Morpher, a bandoleer stocked up with Sonic Screwdrivers, Ammunition for a 303 British Rifle and said rifle, The Ring Of Aeon, The Gem From the Gauntlet Malachite’s Hand, Emmalina’s amulet and the Sword Of Caliverti from 0:08-0:15 mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators. 0:15-0:29 mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators original run shows James leaping and running through moments from the 2015 calendar year of his reviews ranging from James landing on Linkara, to James getting his nards smashed, To Josie & The Pussycats running into James’ office, to James and Paulo dressed as the Mario Brothers on a snow sled, to Everyone at team TLOTA running out of James’ office, to James leading the charge against the Cullens and the vampires of The Twilight Saga, to Rowdy turning his head to Paulo with a demented smile on his face as everyone save for James looks scared as James has his right hand with defeat on his face until the 0:30 mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators shows when James pulls out a sonic screwdriver towards the Power Rangers then cuts over to a slab of titanium where lasers cut out “The Last Of The Americans” until 0:36 mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators original run when James lands on top of the slab while doing a heroic pose with Paulo Fonseca, John Santos, Eliza Dushku & Eric Kurtzke on his right andRebecca & Nick Yaun, Traci Hines, Renee Miller and Mike Santos on his left doing their own heroic poses on a black background the 0:36-end mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators original run play the camera moves back to see James on top of the slab with the words “The Last Of The Americans” on it with the words "The Top ten moments" and underneath "The Last Of The Americans" is "Of  2016" then the camera zooms to the backside of the slab with the number and James doing a voiceover the clip.)

James Faraci (Voiceover): Number ten

10) This review is "Happening" hot stuff!

James Faraci (Voiceover): Knowing this movie had been reviewed to freaking death, I figure I'd be the one to actually bury reviewing this turkey for good! The Nostalgia Critic's review made it safe for me to review but after watching the movie I found myself laughing myself cuckoo! The movie was M. Night Shaymalan at his most doped up and it shows! Hell Mark Wahlberg was possibly the loudest voice as to how much he disliked this movie. But for me, the best parts of the review was the opening when I did a parody of the scene in Airplane when one of the passengers start to have a nervous breakdown. But instead of me acting crazy from fear, I was crazy from laughing and the fact everyone tried to calm me down the way they did then there was the mid-review sketch featuring Cinema Sins Jeremy and Alton Brown played by Nick Yaun was some of my most creative writing I did in a long time then there was the "What?! NO!" moment. I thought of some of the best questions I could think of and I needed to make a subtle add in to the "Mystery Of James Faraci" storyline I made for Eliza and to be honest the most notable moments in the movie just made my review easy but it was one of the best for me to enjoy and work on.

(0:36-end mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators original run play the camera moves back to see James on top of the slab with the words “The Last Of The Americans” on it then the camera zooms to the backside of the slab with the number and James doing a voiceover the clip.)

James Faraci (Voice over): Number nine

9) Jim vs "Jem"

James Faraci (Voice over): "Jem & The Holograms" was the movie that everyone and their GRANDPARENTS knew was dead on arrival! So for me personally I had no interest in reviewing it at all. But surprisingly it became one of my best reviews but how did this happen? Well we have the Blockbuster Buster to thank for this one. He had used a video of one of The Last Of The American's team members, Traci Hines if you need to know, in his review which got me wondering what it would've been like if Traci had seen it and how she'd like to get her revenge for knowing their video was nearly in this turkey. So yeah the star in this review wasn't The Last Of The Americans or the movie itself, it's Traci! That's right I gave her all the spotlight to be as funny and crazy as she needed to be on. However this one had it's fair share of problems. First off, The scheduled release date was supposed to be on September 12th! Several days after a scheduled crossover between my friend Rowdy, Writrzblok & The Cartoon Hero but that crossover was delayed due to conditions beyond normal conditions so to save my friend's backside I had to post my review first so I could save my friend's backside and posted mine first! But I want to once again thank Olivia Horvath for putting up with all the chaos in this review and helping me out with the technical details.

(0:36-end mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators original run play the camera moves back to see James on top of the slab with the words “The Last Of The Americans” on it then the camera zooms to the backside of the slab with the number and James doing a voiceover the clip.)

James Faraci (Voice over): Number eight

8) Highlander II The Different Cuts


James Faraci (Voice over): This one almost broke me! But it was worth the time and effort because WHOO NELLY watching just the theatrical cut alone was an endurance trial. Sitting through the fan cuts nearly sent me to the funny farm. But as you can tell the results were worth the time, effort and sanity plus having Spoony back the whole review in his own way made the experience all the more pleasurable! But the best parts was when I wrote for Eliza Dushku and her reactions to the comments Spoony made which I had to whisper to her because of obvious reasons. So letting Spoony know that even though he may have regained some respect and forgiveness from the Internet Reviewing community trust me no one will fully forget but I hope this does something to remind us we need to be careful in what we say and how we act and treat each other.

(0:36-end mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators original run play the camera moves back to see James on top of the slab with the words “The Last Of The Americans” on it then the camera zooms to the backside of the slab with the number and James doing a voiceover the clip.)

James Faraci (Voice over): Number Seven

7) All The "Peanuts" movies


James Faraci (Voice over): Partly inspired by my love of The Peanuts and the Specials and movies and partly inspired by The Nostalgia Critic's mini-reviews all of the Looney Tunes movies. I wanted to do something similar and for me I had all the material I needed and it was easy enough since last year The classic four movies that were made between 1969 & 1980 were made available on DVD & Blu-Ray and that made it much easier for me to do these reviews. But as I was watching them again I saw things differently. It was like looking at them for the first time and seeing them for how awesome they truly were and how much of an impact they had on me as not only as a fan of Peanuts but also a fan of animation in general and how much effort to make these movies and how they should be as appreciated as The Classic Disney animated movies are. The latest one I went with my nieces and because we did enjoy it I knew it was on par with the classic four so it was easy to know that it belonged on this and how much of an impact these movies would have on me. So Charlie Brown if you think I held that football long enough for you to kick it. You're most welcomed!

(0:36-end mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators original run play the camera moves back to see James on top of the slab with the words “The Last Of The Americans” on it then the camera zooms to the backside of the slab with the number and James doing a voiceover the clip.)

James Faraci (Voiceover): Number six

6) The Three Months of Batman movies


James Faraci (Voice over): Not just my review of "The Dark Knight Rises" I'm talking about all three months of my work from the Bat-Months. The review of the 1966 Batman movie review was possibly the funniest review I had ever done. I always felt the more family friendly version of  "Batman Beyond: Return Of The Joker" was the one with the most depth and possibly did the job of telling the story better and trust me if I never watch "The Dark Knight Rises" it will be too damned soon! But I got some of the best story telling and by all accounts the best ending to a three month review arc! I wanted to show how far Batman has fallen and how far if he's done the right way he can truly rise and not in the way Christopher Nolan's movie made it out to be! (Cut to James and Team TLOTA emerging from the shadows and pulling out Megaforce Morphers and inserting their own cards with their own stats done by Stevie Swiggart and Powering up into a battle ready form as they walk on the rooftop of James’ office building as the wind blows in their faces as camera rises over the team to see the American Flag and James’ signal in the sky as Batman "Finale" from the 1989 soundtrack plays in the foreground.)

(0:36-end mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators original run play the camera moves back to see James on top of the slab with the words “The Last Of The Americans” on it then the camera zooms to the backside of the slab with the number and James doing a voiceover the clip.)


James Faraci (Voiceover): Number five

5) The Big 3


James Faraci (Voice over): The Big 3 consists of my first big three reviews I did on Myspace before Myspace reformatted it site. These reviews consisted of Channel Awesome's Second, third and fourth year anniversary specials. Interweaving the ending of the storyline was something that was just incidental. However this also brought kind of a sense of closure to my past because now I could move forward and not feel like a chapter or three was missing. Also this IS also the last big several day Anniversary special and I think I did end it on a good note. A new Morpher for my card, a new look for my character and afterwards re-reviewing these a new perspective on where I've been and where I can now go from here on out.

(0:36-end mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators original run play the camera moves back to see James on top of the slab with the words “The Last Of The Americans” on it then the camera zooms to the backside of the slab with the number and James doing a voiceover the clip.)


James Faraci (Voiceover): Number Four

4) Reality Checkout: Reality Romance

James Faraci (Voice over): This was something I wanted to get out of me! I mean I have NO love for this genre of "Television" it's an insult to intelligence. It's an insult to Romance in general. Reality Romance STILL to me remains one of the worst things humanity has brought upon itself and this is 2016! The Year we put Donald Trump into the Office of President! But yet somehow this still remains one of the worst things humanity has done! As far as I'm concerned it is a glorified meat market that takes the ones that with the least amount of substance and the most amount of filler without anything with taste. I REALLY REALLY REALLY WANT TO SEE ALL THOSE INVOLVED TO SUFFER THE MOST HORRIBLE FATE EVER! I HOPE TO EVERY DEITY THAT HUMANS BECOME MORE INTELLIGENT AND SEND THIS GARBAGE BACK INTO THE DEPTHS FROM WHENCE IT CAME!


(0:36-end mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators original run play the camera moves back to see James on top of the slab with the words “The Last Of The Americans” on it then the camera zooms to the backside of the slab with the number and James doing a voiceover the clip.)

James Faraci (Voiceover): Number three

3) The Ghostbusters 2016 review!


James Faraci (Voiceover): The first time I did a review of a movie at the time I did while it was in it's theatrical run and for me it was worth it. I wrote the review just as The Nostalgia Critic was doing his. Even though his review was on the now defunct Vessel.com a week before I could get mine out. And yes, I did copy some of The Critic's jokes like with the Meninists. But as where he just sat and heard all the arguing including that from the Meninists. I did something different! I shut those jackasses down by having Eliza Kiss and have her way with me! Then came the fact instead of me dealing with the arguments that had the internet ablaze all because James Rolfe said that he wasn't going to review the 2016 Ghostbusters movie! That's all he said but somehow it divided the Internet Reviewer community. I chose to stay in the middle of the road until I saw the movie and I actually thought the movie for the most part was Pretty Great. I found a lot for me to like and I found a lot for me to use for my review and it was for me one of the best from 2016 I did and I am grateful to everyone who knew I meant to be honest and I did better than the Nostalgia Critic in certain areas but he did better me with two little things. One was Jason Laws and the line "You've got a monkey in a religion" and the other was Aiyanna Wade! Somewhere in the back of my screwy cerebellum I started to think "Yeah she's kind of good looking!" and maybe I'm right for thinking that but something tells me I'm better off not pursuing a crush that might not give me the time of day. But I did one of my best reviews of the year with this one!

(0:36-end mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators original run play the camera moves back to see James on top of the slab with the words “The Last Of The Americans” on it then the camera zooms to the backside of the slab with the number and James doing a voiceover the clip.)

James Faraci (Voiceover): Number two

2) The Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie Review

James Faraci (Voiceover): I SO WANT TO THANK GUS "THE NOSTALGIA KID" WEBB & CHRIS LEE "ROWDY C" MOORE SO VERY MUCH FOR DOING THIS WITH ME! Okay backstory behind this review. Gus was planning on doing a tribute to those on board the Satellite Of Love and the movies they had to sit through and that got me thinking about the movie they made and how I could do something to honor it. The best way I could think about it was to do my review in the same vein as an episode of MST3K. Having A Mad and an Assistant coming up with a way to torment me and my friends with a bad movie. And generally bad adaptations of our childhood favorites is the best way to piss Internet Reviewers off. But this was one of the rare ones that was awesome because it stayed true to what it was doing. And keeping the review in the same vein as Mystery Science Theater 3000 was definitely one of the reasons everyone myself included loved working on and checking out this review!

(A Hand pulling a card designed by Stevie Swigart with the statistics of James Faraci The Last Of The Americans while putting it into the Robo Knight Robo Morpher and punching in the code 428 from the 0:00-0:03 mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators original run. 0:04 mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators shows James Faraci morphing into James Faraci The Last Of The Americans with his Long sleeve Tee-Shirt with the American flag design on it, Blue cargo Jeans and Tan Work boots until 0:07 mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators original run as scene cuts to James stocking up on his arsenal from the Classic Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers Morpher, a bandoleer stocked up with Sonic Screwdrivers, Ammunition for a 303 British Rifle and said rifle, The Ring Of Aeon, The Gem From the Gauntlet Malachite’s Hand, Emmalina’s amulet and the Sword Of Caliverti from 0:08-0:15 mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators. 0:15-0:29 mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators original run shows James leaping and running through moments from the 2015 calendar year of his reviews ranging from James landing on Linkara, to James getting his nards smashed, To Josie & The Pussycats running into James’ office, to James and Paulo dressed as the Mario Brothers on a snow sled, to Everyone at team TLOTA running out of James’ office, to James leading the charge against the Cullens and the vampires of The Twilight Saga, to Rowdy turning his head to Paulo with a demented smile on his face as everyone save for James looks scared as James has his right hand with defeat on his face until the 0:30 mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators shows when James pulls out a sonic screwdriver towards the Power Rangers then cuts over to a slab of titanium where lasers cut out “The Last Of The Americans” until 0:36 mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators original run when James lands on top of the slab while doing a heroic pose with Paulo Fonseca, John Santos, Eliza Dushku & Eric Kurtzke on his right and Rebecca & Nick Yaun, Traci Hines, Renee Miller and Mike Santos on his left doing their own heroic poses on a black background the 0:36-end mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators original run play the camera moves back to see James on top of the slab with the words “The Last Of The Americans” on itthen the camera zooms to the backside of the slab with the number and James doing a voiceover the clip.)

James Faraci (Voiceover): And THE Number one moment everyone liked in 2016 about The Last of The Americans is...

1) "Star Wars: The Force Analyzed"!

James Faraci (Voiceover): Doing this was the most rewarding and subsequently the most fun I had writing on a subject that has been deemed untouchable but somehow I was able to encapsulate the universe of Star Wars and all of the delicate intricacies of that universe in order for me to explain why I liked the First six and in order to explain why I liked The Force Awakens. I made my own version of it because I couldn't do The Force Awakens any justice with a review. Making it in the same way The Nostalgia Critic talked about Mad Max Fury Road. Put myself into the experience of being in a universe just like Star Wars and  talk about my experiences with the entire Star Wars movies while telling a great Star Wars esque story using other well known characters in Sci-Fi and boy did I succeed in that. It's the best moment of 2016 because for me it is the best review I've done! (Cut to clip of James Running to his Time and Space Device as Tray carries Tenn to the Falcon before cutting to footage of “The Day Of The Doctor” in which The 11th Doctor shouts “GERONIMO!” The 10th Doctor shouting “ALLONS-Y!” and The War Doctor saying “Ugh, For God’s Sake!” before cutting to see James’ Time and Space Device getting the hell out of Dodge as a gigantic explosion like experience happens! Before cutting to James in his office.)

James Faraci: So those were the Top 10 moments of James Faraci The Last Of The Americans of 2016. What does 2017 hold? (Cut to clips of future reviews as James does a voiceover)

James Faraci (Voiceover): 2017 promises to be one of the biggest years for me with more Reviews, editorials and behind the scenes of the events featuring Team "The Last Of The Americans" and in addition to that a new summer series that will involve some series from the land down under created by a man named Jonathan M. Schiff. And Starting January a three month nightmare for me. A three month trek into hell called "Bad Romance". This and more will come in 2017 from James Faraci The Last Of The Americans (Cut to James physically)

James Faraci: Now if you'll excuse me! (James grabs the Robo Knight Robo Morpher puts the card into the slot and punches the code 428 and morphs back into James Faraci The Last Of The Americans)

TLOTA: I've got a ton of work to do! I'm James Faraci The Last Of The Americans and I'll see you in 2017!

Monday, December 12, 2016

Top 12 Little known Christmas Specials

(Music from the last seasons of the Original Run of American Gladiators play as a Speedy shot of James Faraci riding with Santa on his sleigh is seen, then throwing snowballs, then singing Christmas Carols with The Muppets, then baking cookies, then Waxing Rudolph’s red nose to add to the brightness and pal around with Frosty before fading away to see a picture of the North Pole Santa Workshop appears in the background as Jesus Christ, Santa Claus and Santa Christ appear in the foreground as all three stand as a Christmas Tree land over them and James Faraci stands alongside the Christmas tree with a smile on his face and in Holiday text the words of The Last Of The Americans stand by his side as Jingling Bells and snow falls in the intro before cutting to everyone save for James in the parking lot walking to the studio)

Paulo Fonseca: You're pulling our leg!
Olivia Horvath: No joking I am a Psychic medium!
Renee Miller: That sounds cool.
John Santos: Did anyone ask you if you've seen Elvis?
Olivia Horvath: Constantly! And for the record YES! He is dead! AND IF ANYONE ELSE has any stupid questions I WILL SEND SPIRITS AFTER YOU!
Rebecca Yaun: Well if it's okay I'd like to ask if you know what's on the menu for today with our annual Christmas Reviewerverse Shindig?
Olivia Horvath: Turkey with Cranberry Sauce and Stuffing, Shrimp Cocktail and Garlic Shrimp, Pigs in Blankets, Meatballs and Sausage, biscuits, A Deli Platter, A Veggie platter, various cookies, pies, A Vanilla/Chocolate sheet cake and A make it yourself cocktail bar!
Rebecca Yaun: How did you know that?
Olivia Horvath: He sent me an E-Mail telling me what's on the menu! Didn't you guys check your E-Mails? 
Others: No not really. (Cut to James running out to the outside of The Studio and meeting up with the rest of the team)
TLOTA: GUYS! STAY RIGHT THERE! (James stands a foot away and says the "Apache Chief Growing cry" as he grows to be the size of a 300 story Skyscraper as the Others look up and shout "WHAT THE....?" before multiples continual zooms to James face)
TLOTA: CHRISSSSSSSSSSSSSSTMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAS! (Cut to Angry Joe in his satellite as James' echo violently wakes him up and he says Ow! before cutting to James Shrinking back to normal as everyone save for Olivia is shocked)
Olivia Horvath: Do you usually do something this extreme to say how much your excitement Christmas?!
TLOTA: Well, let's say after last year's Nostalgia Critic's first Christmas review intro nearly wiped everyone off the face of the earth though Chicago. I scaled back! 
Olivia Horvath: And you guys are not surprised when he does something like this?!

Renee Miller: Last year when he did the intro he was yo-yoing in the center of a green and red hypnowheel!

Olivia Horvath: Well with as loud as you got I'm certain by the end of 2017 we're going to be making first contact!

TLOTA: Well, I can't help it! (Cut to well known Christmas Specials as an electric guitar covers "The 12 Days Of Christmas" and James does a voiceover)

TLOTA (Voiceover): It's incredible to describe, it's the one time everyone reverts to being a kid and we get to watch our favorite animated and live action Specials. But yet for every "Frosty The Snowman" there's a "Cricket On The Hearth". For every "Charlie Brown Christmas Special" there's a "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" and that is kind of sad to know that people don't know about at least HALF of the countless Christmas Specials that don't get shown as much as they should. (Cut to James in his office.)

TLOTA: Well guess what Santa James Faraci The Last Of The Americans is gonna give 12 specials the recognition they deserve! Why 12?  (James grabs a Santa hat off screen and puts it on his head) HO! HO! HO! These are the Top 12 Little known Christmas Specials! (Cut to a basic animated Snow flurry scene with a blue background as Jingling Bells are heard and "Christmas in Sarajevo" by The Trans Siberian Orchestra plays in the foreground before the words "The Top 12 Little known Christmas Specials" before the number is shown)

TLOTA (Voiceover): Number 12 (Cut to clips of the special as James does a voiceover)

12) Joyeaux Noel

TLOTA (Voiceover): I put this one here because it's actually getting more and more recognition. Set in World War I this movie is about the troops in the trenches who make a truce to stop the fighting for one day and celebrate Christmas together. Which is exactly how things are supposed to be for everyone of us. Just this one day when we forget our differences and we call all of ourselves brothers and sisters! They come out of the bunkers, talk to one another, hold a Christmas Mass! It's an amazing thing to know that people can be that good at heart! And this movie shows the sacrifices that these soldiers made NOT to break the bonds they made in that night the troops decided to stop the fighting. If you get a chance to watch it or to find it, get it to maybe just remind us of how good humanity can be!

(Cut to a basic animated Snow flurry scene with a blue background as Jingling Bells are heard and "Christmas in Sarajevo" by The Trans Siberian Orchestra plays in the foreground before the number is shown)

TLOTA (Voiceover): Number 11 (Cut to clips of the special as James does a voiceover)

11) The Pee Wee Herman Christmas Special

TLOTA (Voiceover): While it's not as unknown as bigger Christmas specials, it is not as really well known. Partly because it doesn't break any new ground or doing anything different. It does feel like a well done satire of Christmas Specials and it is done in such a weird and crazy way it's hard NOT to enjoy it. It has celebrity cameos because that's what Pee Wee Herman thinks should be in Christmas Specials and to this Christmas Special's credit it doesn't feel like it's bad. If you want to see it, it's available on Netflix and other Streaming services. Check it out if you want to enjoy something so bonkers and yet so full of Christmas Spirit!

(Cut to a basic animated Snow flurry scene with a blue background as Jingling Bells are heard and "Christmas in Sarajevo" by The Trans Siberian Orchestra plays in the foreground before the number is shown)

TLOTA (Voiceover): Number 10 (Cut to clips of the special as James does a voiceover)

10) The Rifftrax Live Christmas Shorts-Stravaganza

TLOTA (Voiceover): From the ashes of MST3K Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy & Bill Corbett decided to get together and make a fresh start in a new Riffing medium, The Internet where they could riff on ANYTHING unhindered and this Christmas Shorts-Stravaganza with Weird Al Yankovic on joining them as they primarily take on Public Domain or lesser known movies and Shorts. The Cynicism they exposit on these shorts might actually make you feel better as the Holidays continue on! It's available on DVD and on Hulu and other streaming sites if you're looking for it. Give it a watch, it's worth seeing a bit of Cynicism that doesn't come from a Green guy who thinks Christmas must be stolen for him to enjoy their sorrows.

(Cut to a basic animated Snow flurry scene with a blue background as Jingling Bells are heard and "Christmas in Sarajevo" by The Trans Siberian Orchestra plays in the foreground before the number is shown)

TLOTA (Voiceover): Number 9 (Cut to clips of the special as James does a voiceover)

9) A Claymation Christmas Celebration

TLOTA (Voiceover): If you were a kid of the late 1980's early 1990's and seen the California Raisins ads. Then you know about the Claymation studios of Will Vinton. But this special has got a unique charm around it. It's hosted by Dinosaurs and has musical vignettes in which some of the silliest moments but also some of the greatest covers of Christmas songs. And some of the animation is so abstract you swear you have to pause and double check the animation just to make sure what you're seeing IS animation. That's remarkable! It's available on DVD and while I'm not sure about the Streaming sites I am sure you have to see it to believe it!

(Cut to a basic animated Snow flurry scene with a blue background as Jingling Bells are heard and "Christmas in Sarajevo" by The Trans Siberian Orchestra plays in the foreground before the number is shown)

TLOTA (Voiceover): Number 8 (Cut to clips of the special as James does a voiceover)

8) Hey Arnold "Arnold's Christmas"

TLOTA (Voiceover): For those who don't know "Hey Arnold" was about a kid named Arnold whose parents left and never returned possibly the parents are presumed dead and lives with his grandparents in a boarding house full of unique characters. One of them being Mr. Hyunh who left his daughter as he was off doing his duty in the Vietnam war. And as his gift to Mr. Hyunh Arnold decides to find his daughter and reunite the two and if I say any more I'm likely to give away the twists and turns and everything else that makes this one an awesome Christmas Special. It's available on DVD and I think on Shout TV I could be wrong but I'm also sure if you look it's also available on Streaming services. Check it out and see a tale of a Football headed kid just trying to make the world around him a little more bearable.

(Cut to a basic animated Snow flurry scene with a blue background as Jingling Bells are heard and "Christmas in Sarajevo" by The Trans Siberian Orchestra plays in the foreground before the number is shown)

TLOTA (Voiceover): Number 7 (Cut to clips of the special as James does a voiceover)

7) A Chipmunk Christmas

TLOTA (Voiceover): This Special featuring Alvin, Simon & Theodore and their adoptive father Dave Seville is the first one in which Ross Bagdasarian Jr play Alvin, Simon & Dave. The special animated by Chuck Jones could be seen as a semi proto pilot to what eventually became the 1980's Alvin & The Chipmunks series. It focuses on Alvin and his Golden Echo Harmonica and a fan of Alvin's named Tommy and I'm not going to get into too much detail because it will ruin possibly one of the most heartwarming Christmas specials I've ever seen because there is so much to like. The Animation, the music, the story, the twists and turns, I can't do it justice here. If you're looking for it, it's on DVD and I think it's on Blu-Ray I could be wrong on that but  I know it's on YouTube and trust me this special is something that needs to be seen to be believed!

(Cut to James physically)

TLOTA: We've got six more specials to go and three hours before the party so...

Eliza Dushku (Audio only): Hey James, we need more glassware, silverware, plates and more pigs in a blanket!

TLOTA: Well, The next six will be taken care after the break! We'll be back!

(Commercial Sting with American Gladiators first run's final season's ten seconds theme with James Standing alongside a Christmas tree to Holiday Text saying The Last of the Americans. While the sound of Jingling bells and the sight of snow falling are covering the sting then same moment returns to the review)

TLOTA: Whew we are an hour away from this party getting started. So maybe I can finish this countdown without something going wrong again. Let's just say it involved a pressure cooker. Don't ask!

(Cut to a basic animated Snow flurry scene with a blue background as Jingling Bells are heard and "Christmas in Sarajevo" by The Trans Siberian Orchestra plays in the foreground before the number is shown)

TLOTA (Voiceover): Number 6 (Cut to clips of the special as James does a voiceover)

6) ALF's Special Christmas

TLOTA (Voiceover): All I can say about this one is YOWZA! This is possibly one of the saddest Christmas Specials I've ever seen! I mean we have Gordon "ALF" Schumway having befriend a little girl named Tiffany who knows this is her last Christmas in a hospital or on this planet, The Tanners' friend whose Cabin they're staying in having lost their significant other and deciding to end his own life and yet they try to balance out this with a woman having  a baby as Gordon assist her in giving birth and the Tanners trying to get through the Holidays in a Cabin with "Humorous" results. As humorous as a special can be when the special ends with Tiffany looking at Gordon outside the hospital's window and the two share sad glances at one another and the last scene is that of an "In Memoriam of..." scene of a fan of the show! (Cut to James physically on the verge of crying)

TLOTA (quietly): What is wrong with you Christmas Special?! (Cut to clips of the special as James does a voiceover)

TLOTA (Voiceover): If you're looking for it, the special WAS on HULU for a while but you can also check it out on YouTube and other Streaming sites. Give it a watch if you want but be warned if you want to have your heart torn to bits this is the special for you!

(Cut to a basic animated Snow flurry scene with a blue background as Jingling Bells are heard and "Christmas in Sarajevo" by The Trans Siberian Orchestra plays in the foreground before the number is shown)

TLOTA (Voiceover): Number 5 (Cut to clips of the special as James does a voiceover)

5) A Family Circus Christmas

TLOTA (Voiceover): Based on the Comic Strip Characters. This special features the characters by Bill & Jeff Keane sees the one of the younger children Jeffy coming along on a sleigh ride with Santa in hopes of getting his dad the best gift he can find. Will Jeffy get it for his dad? Well you'll have to do some searching but it is on YouTube and sadly not on any streaming sites or on DVD. But if you can find it, I STRONGLY Suggest you check it out. It's worth the time to find this jewel and give it the respect it deserves.

(Cut to a basic animated Snow flurry scene with a blue background as Jingling Bells are heard and "Christmas in Sarajevo" by The Trans Siberian Orchestra plays in the foreground before the number is shown)

TLOTA (Voiceover): Number 4 (Cut to clips of the special as James does a voiceover)

4) The S CLUB 7 Christmas Special

TLOTA (Voiceover): This is something that I feel should be more well known for my own reasons. But here's the gist of what you need to know about the special. A musical group of seven singers from the United Kingdom is trying to make it big here in the states but with their careers not getting off the ground they decide to take a break, go home for the holidays and hopefully comeback in the spring of the next year hopefully in Los Angeles to start fresh. But after being fired from their Mall Santa Job and a crash involving some of their members the remaining members must choose to be loyal to their fallen friends and stay in the City Of Angels or go home as is leaving those who are injured and hope for the best. Well, if you want to know the whole story you're gonna have to find it. But as far as I know it's on YouTube either in one whole episode or in multiple parts and I personally enjoy it. (Cut to James physically)

TLOTA: So if everything is about this is enjoyable and has a decent moral decision the group has to make then why isn't this being shown more? (Cut to clips of the special as James does a voiceover)

TLOTA (Voiceover): Because the band are known for the four series of thirteen episodes and not their music and believe me their music is just that right amount of 2000 pop that should've been more than just a one-hit wonder! That's right they only one hit the Aptly titled "Never Had A Dream Come True" peaked at the Number 10 spot for the first two weeks in May of 2001! They deserved better! They deserved to have tour the States as musicians! But no! Their manager thought they weren't worth their time! Their Manager SIMON FULLER WHO ONCE MANAGED THE SPICE GIRLS, WAS AN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ON AMERICAN IDOL AND PRODUCED A TON OF TALENT SHOWS STATESIDE AND OVERSEAS WHO HAD POSSIBLY A GREAT GROUP THAT WOULD'VE LASTED PAST THE ZEITGEST OF WHAT HAPPENED AND GOT THEM TOUR SPOTS WITH SOME OF THE MUSICIANS OF THE TIME STATESIDE AND DECIDED "NO, I WILL NOT LET THEM SUCCEED!" UP YOURS YOU SCROOGE! HERE'S HOPING YOU GET A LUMP OF COAL UPSIDE YOUR HEAD! But thankfully last year they had a reunion tour but if you lived in the UK you were golden. If you were one of the dozens of American fans you had to spend MORE money just to see them perform once again in the May of 2015! Fourteen years AFTER they made it big here Stateside and twelve years after they broke up! Well, here's hoping people eventually find them out whether through Nostalgia or YouTube and people actually see them for what they should've been!

(Cut to a basic animated Snow flurry scene with a blue background as Jingling Bells are heard and "Christmas in Sarajevo" by The Trans Siberian Orchestra plays in the foreground before the number is shown)

TLOTA (Voiceover): Number 3 (Cut to clips of the special as James does a voiceover)

3) The Snowman

TLOTA (Voiceover): With amazingly hand drawn animation. This tale of a Snowman coming to life is far removed from "Frosty The Snowman" as it can get. With an intro beforehand by the late David Bowie in some versions of this special, amazing music and no dialogue we see this tale of a magical Snowman taking his human friend to a Snowman party and if I give away too much you might not want to see how it goes but it ends on a simple note that makes this one so compelling! It's on DVD, Blu-Ray and on Amazon Prime and some other streaming services for you to check out. If you haven't seen it then you HAVE to see it. This one has to be seen and just beholden as a cherished classic.

(Cut to a basic animated Snow flurry scene with a blue background as Jingling Bells are heard and "Christmas in Sarajevo" by The Trans Siberian Orchestra plays in the foreground before the number is shown)

TLOTA (Voiceover): Number 2 (Cut to clips of the special as James does a voiceover)

2) The Little Rascals Christmas Special

TLOTA (Voiceover): Set during the Depression this animated special follows Spanky, his little brother Porky and their mom played by original "Our Gang"/ "Little Rascals" actress Darla Hood and how Spanky & Porky need to get the rest of the gang to help their mom get something she needs and that is as far as I dare go. Because there is a lot of to enjoy! One thing I should note is that the Directors of the animation would eventually create the 1980's Animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. And the best place I could find this is on YouTube and Dailymotion if you're looking for it. Check this one to make sure as Buckwheat says best OKAY!

(Cut to a basic animated Snow flurry scene with a blue background as Jingling Bells are heard and "Christmas in Sarajevo" by The Trans Siberian Orchestra plays in the foreground before the number is shown)

TLOTA (Voiceover): And the Number one little known Christmas Special is.....(Cut to clips of the special as James does a voiceover)

1) A Christmas Story! (Cut to the cover of the more well known movie DVD)

TLOTA (Voiceover) NO NOT THAT ONE! (Cut to clips of the special as James does a voiceover)

TLOTA (Voiceover): I'm talking about the story about a dog and his little mouse friend trying to make their way to find Santa and give their master's letter to Santa. Will they overcome all the obstacles and give their letter to Santa? Well, for that you'll find it on DVD specifically the Hanna Barbera Christmas Classics Collection but it's not available for streaming though. But I'm sure it's out there on YouTube and other video streaming sites. Check them out, they're worth the time!

(Cut to James physically)

TLOTA: And that was the top 12 little known Christmas Specials and for me this was important! (Cut to clips of Christmas Specials well known and little known as James does a voiceover)

TLOTA (Voiceover): Because these specials need to be remembered even if The Nostalgia Critic can't remember them and to be fair all of them needs to be added to our Holiday Special collection that we all should see and Know that there's room for "Home Alone" and for the animated "Elf on The Shelf" Special equally. There's plenty of room at the table for everyone if we remember that they deserve it even if they are older or lesser known they deserve it as much as the most known of all the Christmas Specials.

(Cut to James physically)

TLOTA: I'm James Faraci The Last Of The Americans. Happy Holidays everyone! (Scene fades to black as the words "A Few Hours Later..." before cutting to James as cleans up the office and finds Aiyanna Wade reeking of booze and half passed out in the kitchen without a word but heartwarming music heard in the ending of The Nostalgia Critic's review of "A Christmas Story 2" is heard as James lets Aiyanna sleep off the drinks she had properly positioned so she doesn't choke on her vomit, hooks her up to an I.V. pump and in case something goes wrong places a bottle of water and aspirin, bucket next to her if she feels ill later on the couch and James goes to his business office and falls asleep on the floor with a blanket over himself curled up in a ball before cutting to the next day as Walter Banasiak finds Aiyanna on the couch)

Walter Banasiak: Hey Aiyanna! (Aiyanna wakes up shocked to see herself hooked up to an I.V. pump with D-5 Half Normal Saline with 20 KCL at 100 CCs an hour, Walter, A bucket, a bottle of Water and a bottle of Aspirin)

Aiyanna Wade: Walter, what happened? I remember going to the bar and making my Batgirl cocktail and next thing I know I'm sleeping on a couch so I don't blow chunks on myself. What happened?

Walter Banasiak: Well, you had more than one and next thing we all knew you grabbed James by the Po-pos! and were stumbling around trying to kiss James under the Mistletoe and well you tried to find more to drink. We lost you in the mix. Apparently James found you and the rest is history.

Aiyanna Wade: Did he...?

ORAC (Audio only): James spent half the night up making sure you were comfortable, the other half... (Cut to Walter and Aiyanna looking into James' business office before cutting to see James asleep on the floor on his side.)

Walter Banasiak (Audio only): Can't believe he spent the night here and made sure you were comfortable. Didn't even have the time to do anything else. (Cut to Aiyanna Wade coming up to James's still asleep body and gives him a kiss on the cheek before walking away and closing the door letting James sleep before cutting to hours later as James wakes up to discover a card saying only one word "Thanks" and James smiles sadly and nod to say to himself "I did the right thing" and walks over to the vault behind ORAC's area and places it in the vault)

Monday, November 21, 2016

Behind The Scenes of "Different Cuts: Highlander II"

(Scene starts with John Santos filming in the backroom as James is getting in character as he plays Christopher Lambert)

James Faraci (Doing Christopher Lambert): THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE! (Jokingly Kiya)

(Scene cuts to James as he drives up to the studio as Combine Harvester plays in the background.)

James Faraci: So today Olivia is officially joining the team and I am planning on having a celebration after we wrap for the day. (Cut to James filming as Paulo gets ready to become Giorgio A Tsoukalos)

James Faraci (Audio only): So enjoying the transformation?

Paulo Fonseca: After seeing you be this character, I'm glad I'm getting to play it because Olivia thought I was better built for the character than you. No Offense dude.

James Faraci (Audio only): None taken! (Cut to James and Spoony on the couch as they go over their lines as Olivia films.)

Olivia Horvath (Audio only): So what are you two up to?

James Faraci: Just going over lines with Noah and seeing if where and when we can ad-lib and I'm going to have record the same voiceover twice. One if Hillary Wins and the other one if Trump wins and it's a big "IF" if he does wins. Because the popular bet is that Hillary wins and basically I'm history! But we're in a world now where The Chicago Cubs are World Series Champions so anything is a possibility.  (Cut to James and Olivia as they go over the intro scene.)

James Faraci: So this is where you officially join our little group and we meet Spoony and I really think you'll be a welcomed addition to the team.

Olivia Horvath: You think so?

James Faraci: Oh I truly believe you're going to be awesome.

Olivia Horvath: Thanks James.

(Cut to James and Olivia being shocked as Spoony lands and a fart from a Whoopee Cushion is heard and Spoony muffles the infamous ninth doctor lines "Excuse me, do you mind not farting while I'm saving the world?" as James and Olivia laugh and James says "Cut" before seeing Spoony dress up as Doctor Insano)

Eric Kurtzke (Audio only): Neyah, What's up doc?

Noah Antwiler: Well, I'm going to be taking Giorgio A Tsoukalos's unconscious body away after one last ramble about Aliens.

Eric Kurtzke (Audio only): So what is Giorgio's deal with Aliens anyway?

James Faraci (Audio from a distance): The guy in my opinion has a little too much fun with somethings that I wouldn't touch with a fifty yard pole!

Noah Antwiler: I hear that! (Cut to James and Noah flubbing their lines together several times before cutting to Eliza Dushku grabbing a gun in the background as James and Eliza go over the way the lines are supposed to go as Traci Hines films.)

Traci Hines (Audio only): So what is this all about?

Eliza Dushku: James wanted me to grab myself south of the border as I say my lines threatening Spoony while I hold This bad boy and I was a little unsure until James said "It'd be a subtle jab at Donald Trump"

Traci Hines (Audio only): Why are you taking jabs at Trump?

James Faraci: To be honest, Yeah I'm a republican but I know he has a snowball's chance in hell to be president and if he does, I will be completely surprised and I will not envy him because he's gonna have the worst job to ever be put upon any human. I didn't want to be president because I know after I'm elected I'm gonna be the most hated person on the planet!

Traci Hines (Audio Only): Really? So you support Hillary?

James Faraci: Not really but come next Tuesday I'm voting for the lesser of the evils. (Cut to James as he films everyone else getting dressed up as UPS like deliverymen)

John Santos: So Nick, we're using "APS" for our delivery service

Nick Yaun: I mean the other guys wanted an arm and a leg for crying out loud.

Rebecca Yaun: Alright. (Cut to the end of the day as James and everyone celebrate Olivia joining the team as James wheels out a vanilla cake with Olivia's face on it.)

James Faraci: So on behalf of ALL of us we welcome you to our team! Team "Last Of The Americans" (Everyone cheers as James breaks out the Martinelli's Sparkling Apple Cider before cutting to James filming Olivia as she is enjoying the cake.)

James Faraci (Audio only): So you like the cake?

Olivia Horvath: Absolutely tasty.

James Faraci (Audio only): Made it myself

Olivia Horvath: No wonder it tastes fluffy! (Cut to where everyone is standing and Paulo said "We're The Avengers" and suddenly everyone including James laughs as Spoony pops up and says "That's All Folks" and James laughs again then says "Cut" before cutting to black)