"Rock of Ages"

[madsircool]

Originally Posted by Taomist

I swear, half the fun of watching Cruise do roles like this is because he DOES have a semi-reputation as being all serious and Christian Scientist and whatever else you want to throw in there. Seeing him in this makes you...well, makes ME, actually like him a lot more.

Cruise is a Scientologist....much worse.

[obfusciatrist]

It was pretty awful without getting to fun awful.

The leads were completely forgettable. Baldwin and Brand were doing an SNL skit. It had its moments, but felt like an SNL skit.

Tom Cruise seemed to be the only one who realized he was in a movie and not just doing karaoke.

[Prelude to Fascination]

I haven't seen it, but according to The Numbers, its budget is $70 million, and grossed under $15 million in its first 3 days. That doesn't say much.

I didn't even know Cruise was in it until maybe Friday, when I read an article about it. Seeing the TV spots, I knew Baldwin was in it. I'd consider seeing it, not for Cruise, but for Baldwin, Paul Giamatti, Bryan Cranston, and Catherine Zeta-Jones, but I'll probably not see it, because from reading this thread, I'd just as soon skip the songs.

[Lamia]

Originally Posted by Prelude to Fascination

I didn't even know Cruise was in it until maybe Friday, when I read an article about it. Seeing the TV spots, I knew Baldwin was in it. I'd consider seeing it, not for Cruise, but for Baldwin, Paul Giamatti, Bryan Cranston, and Catherine Zeta-Jones, but I'll probably not see it, because from reading this thread, I'd just as soon skip the songs.

I'm not sure I knew Cruise was in it either until I saw the trailer, in which he's prominently featured. The TV spots depicted the movie as a comedy in which Baldwin plays an '80s rock club manager.

[Prelude to Fascination]

Originally Posted by Lamia

I'm not sure I knew Cruise was in it either until I saw the trailer, in which he's prominently featured. The TV spots depicted the movie as a comedy in which Baldwin plays an '80s rock club manager.

That might explain my ignorance about Cruise being in it. I mute commercials, and try not to even pay attention to them (in the case of ubiquitous insurance commercials, like Progressive, I see that it's on, then actively look away).

[Taomist]

Originally Posted by Double Foolscap

I'm conflicted about this film. I love the cast (at least, those who I've heard of), but the reviews make me think "rental" - on the other hand, this is a film which will definitely lose something played on a 23" PC screen with the volume set to normal levels.

No, it really, really won't. I promise.

I'm one of those who doesn't even care about going to the movie theater, and would rather rent 90 percent of the time. There ARE some movies I really do want to see in the theater, and I, too, thought this would be one of them.

it really, really wasn't.

Also...can't believe I confused Scientologist with Christian Scientist. My ignorance about both denominations is obviously profound.

[Sparky812]

Originally Posted by Snowboarder Bo

My impression, first, was that they were not understanding how bad the music they picked for the movie really is. Then I thought they didn't seem to understand that what they're stated goal is (a musical that guys will want to see and bring their girlfriends to) was stupid.

When they started in on the whole "mashup" thing, that's when it all really started to fall apart for me. You aren't going to make Poison and Europe any better by doing a mashup of their songs. Or Dokken and Winger. Or whoever.

I guess my biggest beef is that they picked, IMO, the worst possible music to use in a transparent effort to appeal to someone's nostalgia, except they seem to not have noticed that the time period their using was more than 25 years ago, and so their target demographic is a very small number of males who are now 40-55 years old. Most anyone younger than that either didn't listen to hair metal and/or actively disliked it. Most anyone older than that prolly didn't listen to it in the first place. And let's face it, many people who did listen to it at the time now slap themselves trying to figure out what in hell they were thinking back then.

This movie strikes me as a product of the same type of flawed decision making process that led to Cop Rock.

I agree, it was an odd assortment, as someone who graduated from high school when this movie(musical) was set, the music was poorly selected. To be honest I felt it was all directed at women, with the occasional rocker put in to satisfy the husbands.
Alot of the music was extremely dated for 1987 and some of the songs were released long after 1987.Come on, really? We weren't listening to REO Speedwagon, Styx, Foreigner or Journey anymore, that the was group of kids before us.

Renegade - Styx - 1979
I Love Rock and Roll - Joan Jett - 1979
Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Pat Benetar - 1979
Any Way You Want It -Journey - 1980
Keep on Lovin You - REO Speedwagon -1980
Juke Box Hero - Foreigner - 1981
Don't Stop Believin -Journey - 1981
Harden My Heart - Quarterflash - 1981 (They were really digging, I guess)
Shadows of the Night - Pat Benetar - 1982

Honesty alot of this music as well as Scorpions, Night Ranger, Quiet Riot, and Twisted Sister was pretty forgotten by 1987.
Also, while Appetite for Destruction was released in 1987, it did not chart until a full year later in 1988.

These songs weren't released in 1987 either.

Every Rose Has Its Thorn - Poison -1988
Nothin but a Good Time - Poison - 1988
Just Like Paradise -David Lee Roth - 1988
Heaven - Warrant - 1989
I Remember You - Skid Row - 1989
High Enough -Damn Yankees - 1991
More Than Words- Extreme - 1991
To Be With You Mr. Big - 1991

Bon Jovi, Whitesnake, and Def Leppard were really the only music actually from that year.

I think the most glaring omission is Motley Crue. Any film or musical depicting the "scene" on Sunset during the 80s must include the Crue. (love' em or hate 'em)


Other things I noted.

I played in a band back then called "Rock Brigade" back in the 80s and I spotted a poster in the background of some scenes, could be coincidence but I'm gonna check it out.

The intro to Van Halen's "Everybody Wants Some" as the band warms up.

I loved the Marquee of The Bourbon featuring Bad Religion, Exciter, and Jetboy and the huge Motorhead Orgasmatron billboard.

I loved the record store scenes, I have almost every vinyl album shown and I had alot of the same posters on the walls.