Working title: Rattle and Pun
A comment on my last blog gave me an idea for a new one, and then Tassoula dared me to do it. So now I must. (Or should I have waited for the triple-dog dare before giving in?)
We were discussing the pros and cons of “Across the Universe” (starring our favorite lead singer as the Timothy Leary-esque Dr. Robert). I loved it; Tassoula found the “winks” to the Beatles jokes annoying. One example: A new character is introduced when she climbs in out of the rain through an open window in the main characters’ apartment. When someone asks “Where did she come from?” the obvious answer is (wait for it): She came in through the bathroom window. (Get it? Get it?)
Then reader u2rules suggested:
I think Tassoula just fears that in 40 years a U2-homage movie will come out with giant moles digging holes and other terribly obvious “winks”!
So, dear readers, what other “terribly obvious ‘winks’” would just ruin a U2-homage movie? I’ll go first:
Perhaps a tortoise in reading glasses strolls by with his nose in a book?
Maybe someone points out to his companion a cupid in dark sunglasses walking with a white cane, and the companion turns away and says, “I don’t want to see!”
Now it’s your turn. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?
Moi said,
March 3, 2008 @ 11:22 am
What do you want for christmas, Paul?
All I want is you!
Adam, where’s Bono?
Gone! To the dischoteque!
Larry, X is escaping what will you do?
I will follow!!
When is Edge arriving?
In a little while!
Really stupid: What month are we in? October!
Another One: What state are we in? New York! (Can be replaced for city: Miami)
I can’t go up there, I suffer from Vertigo!
Ok, that’s all I can think of now.
Erika said,
March 3, 2008 @ 12:17 pm
A a dancing girl with crimson nails wearing a cross.
A blood red sky.
Someone reaching, but not grabbing. Holding, but not controlling or bagging. Pushing, but not directing…you get the idea.
A street with no name.
Someone wandering around with no destination (perhaps they could even be said to be “in the mud”)
Actual visuals of any of the “See the … ” in Beautiful Day.
Tassoula said,
March 3, 2008 @ 6:00 pm
Since I administered the dare, I thought I should weigh in as well (and yes, for the record, I am frightened U2 will get soiled with bad artistic interpretations of their work in later years).
Here’s a few that came to mind:
If they were to name characters the way the Across the Universe folks did, there could be:
Party (a girl)
Grace
Babyface
Gloria
Pete (the chop)
They could show a man drowning (Drowning Man); they could show characters carrying each other (One). The characters could stay in “A Room at the Heartbreak Hotel.”
I’ll stop there…
Candy said,
March 3, 2008 @ 11:27 pm
Everybody drives a Trabant.
Lemons in the background of every shot.
Pop Tarts for breakfast.
dreamoutloud said,
March 4, 2008 @ 6:36 am
Hero starts inexplicably slapping the side of his head. “There’s an insect in my ear,” he says. He manages to grab hold of it, pulls it out and says, “Stupid fly.” He hurls it against the wall. Camera zooms in for close-up of fly falling from wall.
Sherry said,
March 4, 2008 @ 8:03 am
here’s a few more…here’s a scene set in Another Time and Another Place…
A fish cycling during a beautiful day while throwing a brick through a window with shadows and tall trees in the background; rejoicing about the fire he can’t forget as he was rescued by Love - which appeared as a window in the sky.
Erika said,
March 4, 2008 @ 12:17 pm
Ha! I am loving these. And I agree with you Tassoula…someday our beloved U2 will be besmirched by some commercial giant just looking to make a buck. I’m only a casual Beatles fan, and I wonder what the hardcore fans thought of Across the Universe…
blueshades87 said,
March 4, 2008 @ 3:51 pm
Any piece of dialog involving the phrase “musical journey”
Sunglasses, tons of sunglasses
White boys dancing badly a la “Discotheque”
Character named “Red”
Summer dresses in lemon and see-through
Wild Horse farm
Something being really “bad”
Girl named Grace
Fast cars and Slow Dancing
(see “Stuck in a Moment” video for more)
U2isdebest said,
March 5, 2008 @ 9:58 am
In the MacDonalds:
Hero: “I’d like to order a Big Mac”
Girl: “Anything else sir?”
Hero: “You have permission to call me anything you want - except sir, all right? Lord of lords, your demigodness, that’ll do”
The hero pays and goes to a table to wait for his Big Mac.
Some minutes later a waiter comes and brings him his Big Mac.
Waiter: “Here you go…”
*He gives the hero a GIANT big mac*
Hero: “WOW!!! That big mac is bigger than I thought…..”
Hole-Digging Mole said,
March 7, 2008 @ 10:46 pm
Another character name: Baby (Light my way!)
Cheesy, I know, but isn’t that what we’re here for?
Setting– New Year’s Day, in a place called Vertigo.
Characters lounge, one reads a book entitled “Stories for Boys,” another watching television as Zoo TV messages flash by; a third stands by the window staring at the sun. In the corner sits a singing bird in an open cage. The lights go down, it’s dark. Fourth character fumbles for the phone and rings up The Electric Co. “Hello, hello?” “Hola!”