14 Awesome Uses of Films
Within Films
Let me explain. I’m going for actual movies that appear in, and
contribute to the story of, another movie. I’m not including fake titles such as
’Logjammin’ in THE BIG LEBOWSKI or ’Angels with Filthy Souls’ in
HOME ALONE. The films below all have somewhat of an importance to the films that
surround them, there’s no mention of anything simply because it was playing in
the background of a scene. What was once a list stalled at eight quickly grew
out of control with the help of many JoBlo.com staff and friends. Thanks go out
to Scotty, Matt, Eric, Nick, Jason, Zara, Sturdy, Dave, James, and Ammon for
basically doing my job for me. My autographed nude self-portraits should be
showing up in your inboxes soon.
Honourable Mention:
SPACEBALLS in SPACEBALLS
I know the title kind of makes you assume I mean one film within
a separate film and I also know that I’ve been on a “trash SPACEBALLS” kick
lately but hey, that’s what honourable mentions are for. Looking back, this just
might be the most brilliant few minutes of this entire movie. In a day when
straight to DVD titles flood our shelves weekly and the turn around for
theatrical releases to home video is getting quicker and quicker, SACEBALLS hit
the nail on the head way ahead of it’s time.
14. RETURN OF THE STREET FIGHTER
in TRUE ROMANCE
The presence of this Sonny Chiba marathon is only important for
the fact that it brings Clarence and Alabama together. I guess it could have
been any movie playing in the theatre that night but something tells me these
two wouldn't have wandered into just any trilogy. Say it's RETURN OF THE PINK
PANTHER instead and we've got a completely different pair of protaganists.
13. THE QUIET MAN in E.T.
THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL
It was this kind of confidence that probably led to Elliot
getting laid later in life. Getting drunk without a drop of alcohol, releasing
doomed frogs, and making out with a future ’Baywatch’ babe while standing on the
back of the class asshole/fatty are credentials any real man would want on his
life’s resume. This is the kind of shit John Wayne brings to the table.
12. BEING JOHN MALKOVICH in
ADAPTATION
It's kind of fun to watch some behind the scenes footage from
BJM and get a glimpse into how insignificant Charlie Kaufman felt on set. It's
these feelings that set the tone for this entire film and allow Kaufman to write
himself as such a loser as he attempts to adapt 'The Orchid Thief'. Throw in the
fact that Kaufman created his own twin brother out of thin air and credited him
with co-writing the screenplay (and eventually went on to become the only ever
fictional character to be nominated for an Oscar) and you've got yourself a
mind-fuck within a mind-fuck.
11. WALL STREET in BOILER
ROOM
If you hadn't already caught the WALL STREET vibe pouring from
this film's script, they made it mighty clear by having a room full of their
characters recite the film's dialogue for us. More than your average homage, the
boys from BOILER ROOM take the "greed is good" message out of Gordon Gecko's
mouth and literally make it their own. I'm pretty sure Ben Affleck should have
had GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS playing in the background at one point also.
10. PONT BREAK & BAD BOYS II
in HOT FUZZ
Getting drunk and watching these two films could bond any two
men in the world. Officers, Angel and Butterman could do nothing but clash
styles before their action marathon. After, it was smooth sailing and ass
kicking whenever they worked together. I saw LETHAL WEAPON in a theatre with one
other guy. We never spoke a word to each other but when it was over we knew we
had formed a super crime fighting tandem that would go on to clean the streets
of evil. I'm just waiting for him to call.
9. SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN
DWARFS in GREMLINS
As much as is it a plot device to get all the gremlins together
to die, it's funny as hell to watch these crazy fuckers sing along with 'Heigh-Ho'
and destroy the theatre. Thank God it was something so cheerful and they had a
chance to chill out for a bit before blowing up. Imagine they all wandered in on
the prom scene from CARRIE or some such horrifying shit. Gizmo would have been
strung up by his fuzzy little nuts and slaughtered like a piñata.
8. GILDA in THE SHAWSHANK
REDEMPTION
It's this scene that finally brings Red and Andy together. It
didn’t mean much at the time as we all thought Andy just wanted some special
Rita Hayworth chaffing material for his wall. Little did we know that this
screening would ultimately lead to his great escape down the poop tunnel. That
last sentence has nothing to do with Ms. Hayworth’s rectum.
7. HELLO DOLLY in WALL-E
The only trace of human emotion left on Earth is within this VHS
copy of a musical. Wall-E rocks this tape every night in hopes of one day
finding a dance partner and someone to hold hands with. Again, this could have
been worse. Say he finds THE SHINING during one of those salvaging missions. Eve
shows up to search for life and finds a psychotic, axe-wielding trash robot that
keeps screaming redrum while trying to kill her.
6. HALLOWEEN in SCREAM
It’s the inspiration of HALLOWEEN that leads to Randy’s defining
speech, which eventually led to SCREAM’s iconic fanboy status (and a long string
of shitty movies mistakenly labelled as the revival of the slasher genre).
Having a house full of teenagers getting killed while Michael Myers stalks
around in the background is just good homage. Rose McGowan’s pokies pointing at
the camera and then having her get killed by a garage door is just good times.
5. GHOSTBUSTERS, RUSH HOUR
2, etc. in BE KIND REWIND
I wish this entire movie was just Jack Black and Mos Def doing
swedes. The subplot (or was the sweding the subplot?) to the film seemed to keep
me from an entire catalogue of films that would have been sweet to see remade.
Oddly enough, the six hundred sweded movies that popped up on YouTube over the
next few months bothered the shit out of me. Never satisfied.
4. A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS in
BACK TO THE FUTURE II & III
If Marty doesn’t watch that scene from FISTFULL in Part II, he
dies in Part III. That’s pretty important, right? Then Doc would have to go back
in time and save him in some wacky way and lead to another crazy adventure. Who
needs that? This is exactly like the time I watched CUJO, went over to my
girlfiend’s house, and kicked her St. Bernard unconscious. Saved everybody’s
ass.
3. FIRST BLOOD in SON OF
RAMBOW
This film is definitely in my top three, if not my favourite, of
last year. I love the feel-good tale of the kids that do silly shit I wish I
would have thought of when I was their age. I wanted to find One-Eyed Willie’s
gold. I wanted to go on an overnight hike to search for the dead body of some
random neighbourhood kid. I wanted to make SON OF RAMBOW. The closest I ever
came was when my brother remade THE EXORCIST using my STAR WARS figures.
Princess Leia’s head fell off when he twisted it around.
2. A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET
in WES CRAVEN'S NEW NIGHTMARE
I kind of covered the concept of this film in another list not
too long ago but couldn’t bring myself to leave it off here. When the star of
your movie is having nightmares about being in said movie (which just happens to
be about nightmares) be sure to make another movie out of it. Follow? If nothing
else this film proves Robert Englund to be a painty little nerd without the
glove.
1(a). PLAN 9 FROM OUTER
SPACE in ED WOOD
I hope I'm around when Uwe Boll gets this treatment. If only Ed
Wood would have known he was one of the weirdest dudes on the planet, he could
have stopped wasting everybody's time and just filmed himself at home for a few
weeks and really entertained his audience. Tim Burton took the concept of an A&E
special and turned it into one of the most original movies of the 90's. I've
never even seen PLAN 9, and I probably never will.
1(b). NOSFERATU in SHADOW OF
THE VAMPIRE
It's very similar to ED WOOD in that it's the tale of the
filming of an old horror movie. What's different here is the outrageously
fictional take director, E. Elias Merhige takes in order to beef up the story.
For example, the inclusion of a real vampire being cast in the original film
might not be true, but it sure as hell is funny to think about. What if Romero
used real zombies, or Landis got a hold of a real werewolf? These are all
stories I'm waiting to be told.
PREVIOUSLY:
The 12 Coolest Movie Vampires
10 Awkward Movie Blow-Jobs
10 Costume Suggestions
10 Fictional Towns I'd Like To Move To
10 Reasons I Never Pick Up Hitchhikers
12 Great Moments in Unorganized Sports
My 10 Favorite Elevator Scenes
10 Fun-Filled Prison Riots
Hotties vs. Geeks II
10 Awesome Ex-Cops
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2:24AM on 03/13/2009