Pour One Out for Swayze

Since I no longer have the opportunity to post as frequently as I would like, my posts will therefore be on the lengthy side. If this is a problem for you, I suggest you visit TMZ.com, where you short attention span, ADD mind and voyeristic pleasures will be satisfied. If thats not a problem, please continue reading.

It was a sad day in Hollywood, neigh America when we lost beloved actor Patrick Swayze. He was one of the first male action stars/sex symbol as we know them today. Without Swayze there would be no Shia LeBouf's, Hugh Jackman's, Gerald Butler's or that dude from the Transporter movies. Swayze starred in one of my favorite "good bad movies" of all time "Point Break" in which he played iconic surfer Bode/Ronald Reagan as part of the ex-presidents bank robbing crew. While we all know who he is, we of the younger generation may not be familiar with his work. So here are Swayze's top 5 career moments in my opinion.

5. "Dirty Dancing"- Although I've never seen this movie, I think its one of those where if your girlfriend makes you watch it on movie night, that you will be rewarded afterwards for sitting through it.

4. "Ghost"- Sure its a little cheesy and romantic, but it's a performance for the ages (and probably the one Swayze movie everyone has seen). Admit it, if you had a pottery wheel and were dating Demi Moore and had a money Motown song playing in the background, you would definitely re-enact that scene (think about it Ashton).

3. "Roadhouse"- Total guy flick if there ever was one. Swayze plays a bouncer trying to clean up a dirty bar. Its full of bar fights, awesome one liners and Swayze. Enough said.

2. "Point Break"- Do yourself a favor and rent this if you haven't seen it, you will not be disappointed. As I mentioned earlier Swayze is a surfer who moonlights as a bank robber, with a crew wearing masks of ex-presidents. Amazing. More on this later.

1. "SNL-Chippendale's"- It might be SNL greatest sketch. Chris Farley and Patrick Swayze have a dance-off tryout to become a Chippendale's dancer. See your yourself.

In the past I have mentioned the term "good bad movie" before. It's a term that the one and only Pasquale was the first to coin, at least amongst my friends. To be more clear its a movie that you enjoy watching over and over, but will never be mentioned with the Citizen Kane's and Gone With the Wind's of the world. These movies usually have terrible dialouge including one liners that make you think the writers were either high or stupid or both. They also usually have an actor in the movie that is only there because of his looks or their bargain salary and not his acting ability. The more of these quality actors and the higher the percentage that your making a "good bad movie".

Which leads me again to Point Break. Two of the three main actors are Keanu Reeves and Gary Busey. That right there makes it one of the best good bad movies of all time. Neither of them have the ability to perform more then 3 lines of dialouge at a time, hence the cheesey one liners. But if you've seen the movie, then you will probably agree its very entertaining. It also led me to think about a remake. It's all the rage in Hollywood these days. Take an old cartoon or movie and remake it, 21st century style. So I came up with a few choices that I think should be remade and who I would want to star in them.

Point Break- I'd get someone like Jerry Brockheimer or Michael Bay to direct it so that it has that "Bad Boys 2/Transformers" feel to it. Fast, intense and moderately over the top. For the role of Johnny Utah, the ex-college football player now undercover FBI agent posing as a surfer (played by Keanu Reeves) I would choose Chris Pine. He starred in the new Star Trek movie and brings that young, cockiness that the character needs. For the role of Bode, the thrill seeking, epitome of a surfer in search for the perfect wave/bank robber I would choose Brad Pitt. Bring him back to his Fight Club/Snatch days as the cool, tough bad guy. He's got the right sense of humor and action background to pull if off. For the role of Agent Pappas, the older FBI agent who's been on the case for a few years but has been a laughing stock (played by Gary Busey) I would choose Bruce Willis. I want to make this role more respectable and he brings enough comedic prowess as well as the intensity for the role. Instead of the character being a joke with Busey, it now has some elderly respect with Willis (You'd be surprised how long it took me to pick these 3 actors). For the love interest (played by Lori Petty) you can really pick any hot young actress. So im going with Kate Mara. Just because.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels- There's a good chance that not only have you never seen this movie, but that you've also never heard of this movie. If that's the case throw it on you Netflix queque. It stars a young Steve Martin and an ageless Michael Caine as con men competing over a woman. Caine is the established pro who can hustle/con anyone and Martin is the young, hotshot con man trying to upstage Caine. It's a very funnny movie but it needs an update. To play the role of Caine I would choose Bill Murray. He hasn't made a funny movie in a very long time and his dry humor and ability to get into a character would be perfect. When he has been at his funniest he plays a sarcastic, conniving, slightly dirtbag of a character, which is perfect for this role. To replace Steve Martin I would choose Andy Samberg. He's a perfect fit because he is goofy and can play many different "characters" as he cons the girl from various angles. And to play the girl that these two are competing over I would choose Jessica Biehl. You need a smokeshow girl that seems innocent, and you have to believe that the guys would make a huge wager to get with her. I know I would do some ridiculous things for her.

The Great Outdoors- This is a comedy classic in my opinion, and despite my adoring feelings toward this movie, I think it would be a great remake. Johny Candy and Dan Akroyd star as in-laws who seek a nice family vacation in a quiet lake town, only to find out Akroyd and his family decided to come along too. Great phsysical comedy here and plenty of room for great interplay between the two stars. To play the family man role that John Candy played, I would choose Paul Rudd. It was between him and Will Ferrell, but I think Ferrell makes this a different kind of a movie. Rudd gives it the innocent, ready to explode with surpressed anger that makes him ideal. For the role of the uninvited brother in law played by Dan Akroyd I choose, Vince Vaughn. If you've seen this movie then you know Akroyd's character wasn't as funny as Candy's. I think Vaughn could make it very funny and actually alter the role from a supporting side character, to main character. I would like to see those two do a movie, and this is a fantastic idea.

Why do I feel like studio executives do exactly what I just did when thinking of movies? Doesn't seem like a hard job. Anyway that's it for this edition, keep an eye out for the next ETC ETC ETC because it could come at anytime. Until next time....Stay Sweet