Friday, August 24, 2007

Hot Fuzz Soundtrack

I know, I know-- another VA soundtrack? But this one's a winner. I finally saw Hot Fuzz two weeks ago after telling myself that I'd go see it for the entire duration of its theater run.

One of the greatest parts is the NWA and its sinister, cult-militia characterization. I come from a lovely little town full of terrible homeowner groups, mostly concerned with how houses look because they think they know what looks good. While property values are a valid concern, there is no reason to be fascistic (and occasionally racist) about it, especially if your house is already ridiculous on its own. (Remember, I'm from LA, land of pseudo-Spanish-what were you thinking - it doesn't look authentic it looks like shit- style)

A recent debacle was a group of families claiming they wanted to block what they called "creeping mansionization" on their street by taking issue with an already approved Korean family's plans to build a large house to accommodate their family, which included grandparents and a relative who would look after the house while the homeowners were away on their frequent business trips. I've been up and down the street in question; the houses are already big and already hideous; the new one is no different.

The group decided that they were going to participate in legalized harassment and take the matter to the nearly always idiotic Planning Commission whose credentials and decisions have never suggested they should hold their positions. Like many people, I hold a grudge against the commission. My parents are both architects and have had to deal with these guys a few times. So seeing those types of righteous people being brought to violent justice in Hot Fuzz was more fun than it should have been :)
There was a bit earlier that you missed when I distracted him with a cuddly monkey, and I said "Playtime's over" and I hit him with the Peace Lily.
The soundtrack is great. My favorites are, as you'll probably guess, "Goody Two Shoes" and T.Rex's "Solid Gold Easy Action" (just try to keep still while that thing is playing). The film starts off with the Adam Ant song, and how can you go wrong if the (almost) first thing you hear is a serious British man babbling about wacky qualifications with Goody Two Shoes's cheeky intro in the background, ending visually with Simon Pegg being stabbed in the hand by Father Christmas? Also on there are the Kinks, the Fratellis, XTC, even some Robert Rodriguez. The songs have the dialogue over them, but it isn't too distracting.
A friend whose uncle is a police officer in London told her that they actually will move around/out those who are doing too good of a job!

3 comments:

Jim said...

"This shit just got real" Took me 2 viewings to enjoy the film, but once I did, I loved it. Timothy Dalton makes a fantastic bastard. Maybe I just thought that because I used to work for Somerfield (the supermarket chain in the film) and all my bosses were right pricks...

I've finished The Princess Bride now, whatever shall I do next?
I'd rather have Sir Ian than Morgan Freeman doing the narration on the film of my life, I don't want people thinking I'm a penguin. Infinitly funnier would be Brian Blessed though. I've often suggested to my friends the business idea of gradually re-releasing every film made on DVD with a commentary track by Blessed, just because I think it would be tremendously amusing.

And no, that bit isn't just for girls. Been there, done that. Almost all my friends are married now though, so presumably I won't have to do it too many more times in future.

Jim said...

Oh aye, Santa is Peter (Lord Of The Rings) Jackson, doncha know.

Anonymous said...

A hilarious film. I will glady pay $30 to go see their next film.

"Well, I wouldn't argue that it wasn't a no holds barred, adrenaline fueled thrill ride. But, there is no way you can perpetrate that amount of carnage and mayhem and not incur a considerable amount of paperwork. "

~i8flesh

 

© New Blogger Templates | Webtalks