You got me Dot. I never was one for rock operas. I remember seeing Rocky Horror waaaaaay back when it was playing at the Biograph in Chicago. I remember being amazed at the time by the audiance. But I thought the movie sucked. Although I did like the timewarp. I saw the movie years later and I still thought it sucked. (although I really like tim curry)
I'f there is any kind of symbolizm in these operas, than I guess that I'm either not artsy enough to get it, or I still have some brain cells intact.
I think it is all just a ploy to allow people to cross-dress and throw popcorn and soda at the movie screen. :D-->
That and that bikers are eeeeeevil.
OR are they?
I think the answer to all your qwestions are in the greatest movie of all time.
biker1:
"I say we kill him."
group:
"YEAH!"
Biker2:
"I say we hang him....then we kill him!"
"YEAH!"
"I say we skin im' then we tatoo im'... then we hang im'.. and then we kill him!"
"YEAH!!!"
biker lady:
"I say you give him to me first."
bikers:
"YEEEAAAAAHHH!"
("Pee Wee's Big Adventure")
sorry I'm a child of the eighties.
Pee Wee then as a last request does his own version of "break" dancing to the toon of "Taquila". The bikers befriend him, give him a bike and send him on his way. Pee Wee imediatley rides off into a bilboard and almost dies.
The moral?
Oh, I think it is very obvious.
Moral:
In the presence of bikers....
If you act like a gay child dressed like a white member of the Nation of Isalam while dancing in platform shoes and breaking things, you become a "brother" to them and they give you things. Also, nobody dies.
Thanks for your insight and in a light hearted response--
Lindy:
I will have to check out peewee. Of course that is only when he is not checking himself out at the theater....Mmmmmm The popcorn throwing and audience participation was something that happened later. I do not think it was intentional. But considering how awful the movie was perhaps the first one to throw something at the screen was because they paid $8.00 to see a sucky film and from there it grew to tossing toast etc.
Rottie:
And what is with the old guy in the wheel chair who gets up and has on a garter belt?
I also like the Time warp.
I tried to reasonably figure out Tommy. It was written during the time when cults were popping up everywhere. Perhaps it was a kid whose parents never saw or heard him. So he joins a cult let's call the cult -- TWI. Then, he gets so involved with it he becomes the object of worship -- translation he goes in the corps and becomes ordained.
Then, he kills his parents -- symbolic for not being able to go home to be with your family when you were a WOW.
I still do not get the swimming and climbing a mountain however. Unless of course, the mountain is the giant erection leadership has for single believers... Mmmmmm perplexing.
I should really just relax'...--Opening theme to "Mystery Science Theater 3000"
Rocky Horror was originally a British stage musical, written by the actor who plays Riff Raff in the film. It's just a farce really, nothing more. It's really more of a filmgoing experience than a decent film in its own right. The audience is frequently funnier than the dialogue, and the whole thing is best thought of as one tremendous in-joke. Watching it on DVD, you may feel it's a waste of time. Seeing it in a theater with a bunch of silly folks participating is fun.
The story Ex on that site is nothing like the movie. Did the meaning change when it was filmed?
For instance when Tommy's mother is in her pristine white room. She sings a song in her not very good Ann Margaret singing voice. Then she throws a bottle at the TV. The TV breaks and weird things start to flow out of it -- like dark liquid and red stuff with white pasta looking things. Mom rolls around in each substance then she grinds her vagina on a huge long pillow shaped like a large long (like 7 feet long) neck roll. Represents a penis?
Do you know why when Tommy finds religion everyone lives in silver pods and he kills his parents?
I dunno - the site tells a story that is not shown in the movie. Someone screwed up the film then.
Zix- I think someone needs to visit the "acid queen" of Tommy to understand the Rocky Horror Picture show. Maybe it was a Victoria Secret promotional as everyone walked around in garters and Merry widowers....
Dot: It's like searching for meaning in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"--there really isn't any. Unlike "Monty Python's Life of Brian", which explored the silliness of blind faith in anything, Holy Grail was just one big long MP skit.
Same with RHPS. It's just meant to be a farce, poking fun at self-important Hollywood musicals and ridiculous B-movies at the same time. No deep meaning, just silly fun.
OMG Pirate that is so true. I remember running home from school to watch Dark Shadows when I was a kid. I was SO excited when we got the sci fi station in our area so I could watch it!
Boy..was I disappointed, to say the least. Did not hold up well after time for me at all.
I went to Rocky Horror Picture Show about 50 times...it wasn't about transexuals, it wasn't about cross-dressing, it wasn't about aliens...it was PURELY about FUN!!!!!!!
No judgements, no spiritualism, no fear....just FUN!!!!
I STILL do the time warp!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyone wants an authentic Rocky Horror experience....find someone who has done it many times and go with em....if you don't have a problem with judging stereotypes....it's a BLAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was a HUGE Rocky Horror Fan when I was a teen, I have no idea how many times I've seen it.
Zix is right, there is no meaning, it is a spoof, a parady, a joke. Watching it at home sucks, you have to see it at a theater, preferably one with a floor show. Best time to do this is either Halloween or during an anniversary showing.
Wow, the memories.
I've seen Tommy a few times too, liked most of the music but was not impressed with the movie, nor did I "get it".
Some other great cult classics are "Harold and Maude" which does have a point you will understand and "Clockwork Orange" which is rather violent and graphic.
To every man his own truth and his own God within.
I thought Rocky Horror was the stupidiest movie I have ever seen... except, of course, for the TIME WARP. Best part of the whole movie! Then I get all these fans of Rocky Horror who start calling me Damit Janet.
Tommy didn't make any sense either but there was some good music I thought. Haven't seen it in so long that I might not agree with that any more either.
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RottieGrrrl
You got me Dot. I never was one for rock operas. I remember seeing Rocky Horror waaaaaay back when it was playing at the Biograph in Chicago. I remember being amazed at the time by the audiance. But I thought the movie sucked. Although I did like the timewarp. I saw the movie years later and I still thought it sucked. (although I really like tim curry)
I'f there is any kind of symbolizm in these operas, than I guess that I'm either not artsy enough to get it, or I still have some brain cells intact.
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lindyhopper
I have no idea wht the true meaning is.
I've seen Rocky Horror but not Tommy.
I think it is all just a ploy to allow people to cross-dress and throw popcorn and soda at the movie screen.
:D-->
That and that bikers are eeeeeevil.
OR are they?
I think the answer to all your qwestions are in the greatest movie of all time.
biker1:
"I say we kill him."
group:
"YEAH!"
Biker2:
"I say we hang him....then we kill him!"
"YEAH!"
"I say we skin im' then we tatoo im'... then we hang im'.. and then we kill him!"
"YEAH!!!"
biker lady:
"I say you give him to me first."
bikers:
"YEEEAAAAAHHH!"
("Pee Wee's Big Adventure")
sorry I'm a child of the eighties.
Pee Wee then as a last request does his own version of "break" dancing to the toon of "Taquila". The bikers befriend him, give him a bike and send him on his way. Pee Wee imediatley rides off into a bilboard and almost dies.
The moral?
Oh, I think it is very obvious.
Moral:
In the presence of bikers....
If you act like a gay child dressed like a white member of the Nation of Isalam while dancing in platform shoes and breaking things, you become a "brother" to them and they give you things. Also, nobody dies.
you only nearly die.
Any questions?
Watch the movie, you'll see the light.
;)-->
Lindy
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Dot Matrix
Thanks for your insight and in a light hearted response--
Lindy:
I will have to check out peewee. Of course that is only when he is not checking himself out at the theater....Mmmmmm The popcorn throwing and audience participation was something that happened later. I do not think it was intentional. But considering how awful the movie was perhaps the first one to throw something at the screen was because they paid $8.00 to see a sucky film and from there it grew to tossing toast etc.
Rottie:
And what is with the old guy in the wheel chair who gets up and has on a garter belt?
I also like the Time warp.
I tried to reasonably figure out Tommy. It was written during the time when cults were popping up everywhere. Perhaps it was a kid whose parents never saw or heard him. So he joins a cult let's call the cult -- TWI. Then, he gets so involved with it he becomes the object of worship -- translation he goes in the corps and becomes ordained.
Then, he kills his parents -- symbolic for not being able to go home to be with your family when you were a WOW.
I still do not get the swimming and climbing a mountain however. Unless of course, the mountain is the giant erection leadership has for single believers... Mmmmmm perplexing.
Dot Matrix
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Zixar
If you're wondering how he eats and breathes,
And other science facts (la-la-la!)
Just repeat to yourself 'It's just a show...
I should really just relax'...--Opening theme to "Mystery Science Theater 3000"
Rocky Horror was originally a British stage musical, written by the actor who plays Riff Raff in the film. It's just a farce really, nothing more. It's really more of a filmgoing experience than a decent film in its own right. The audience is frequently funnier than the dialogue, and the whole thing is best thought of as one tremendous in-joke. Watching it on DVD, you may feel it's a waste of time. Seeing it in a theater with a bunch of silly folks participating is fun.
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firebee
I concur.............go to a theater to watch
Rocky Horror....its a blast
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Pirate1974
Don't know much about the meaning of "Tommy" but I have heard that Pete Townsend said the movie got it all wrong.
The Broadway version is supposed to be closer to his original idea, whatever that might be.
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excathedra
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Dot Matrix
The story Ex on that site is nothing like the movie. Did the meaning change when it was filmed?
For instance when Tommy's mother is in her pristine white room. She sings a song in her not very good Ann Margaret singing voice. Then she throws a bottle at the TV. The TV breaks and weird things start to flow out of it -- like dark liquid and red stuff with white pasta looking things. Mom rolls around in each substance then she grinds her vagina on a huge long pillow shaped like a large long (like 7 feet long) neck roll. Represents a penis?
Do you know why when Tommy finds religion everyone lives in silver pods and he kills his parents?
I dunno - the site tells a story that is not shown in the movie. Someone screwed up the film then.
Zix- I think someone needs to visit the "acid queen" of Tommy to understand the Rocky Horror Picture show. Maybe it was a Victoria Secret promotional as everyone walked around in garters and Merry widowers....
Dot Matrix
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Zixar
Dot: It's like searching for meaning in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"--there really isn't any. Unlike "Monty Python's Life of Brian", which explored the silliness of blind faith in anything, Holy Grail was just one big long MP skit.
Same with RHPS. It's just meant to be a farce, poking fun at self-important Hollywood musicals and ridiculous B-movies at the same time. No deep meaning, just silly fun.
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excathedra
dottie, i can't remember anything
the summary on that website seemed to fit with what i can't remember
i do know i had the album and played it a catrillion times
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Dot Matrix
Pirate:
The movie is not like what the Who wrote in that site Ex mentioned. So you gotta be right.
I dunno Zix, I guess I just figured that things should make a little sense -- at least through symbolism.
Dot Matrix
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Zixar
Dot: "Sometimes a cigar is only a cigar..." Sigmund Freud.
:)-->
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Pirate1974
It's interesting what age will do to your perspective.
I saw "Tommy" when I was 22 and thought it was really cool.
I watched it again about a year ago and thought it was one of the worst movies I'd ever seen.
Ann Margret rolling around in the chocolate and baked beans was kind of interesting.
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firebee
Always liked Ann Margret and Angie Dickinson too
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RottieGrrrl
OMG Pirate that is so true. I remember running home from school to watch Dark Shadows when I was a kid. I was SO excited when we got the sci fi station in our area so I could watch it!
Boy..was I disappointed, to say the least. Did not hold up well after time for me at all.
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Dot Matrix
I LOVED DARK SHADOWS! And yes, I saw it was back on and watched it and it was awful!!!
I saw Panic in Needle Park when I was a teen -- loved it! Then, years later I saw it and it was terrible -- did not stand the test of time.
Ya know, The Wizard of OZ is still one of my favorites -- go figure.
Maybe one needs to smoke a j to understand those movies and that is something that has been left behind long long ago.
Maybe I will watch it on an Efforx or St. Joh's Wart and see if it is any better.
Pirate- why was she rolling in the beans and chocolate? What did that indicate?
Dot Matrix
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Cindy!
I loved Dark Shadows, too Dot!
I went to Rocky Horror Picture Show about 50 times...it wasn't about transexuals, it wasn't about cross-dressing, it wasn't about aliens...it was PURELY about FUN!!!!!!!
No judgements, no spiritualism, no fear....just FUN!!!!
I STILL do the time warp!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyone wants an authentic Rocky Horror experience....find someone who has done it many times and go with em....if you don't have a problem with judging stereotypes....it's a BLAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I STILL love it!
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Abigail
I was a HUGE Rocky Horror Fan when I was a teen, I have no idea how many times I've seen it.
Zix is right, there is no meaning, it is a spoof, a parady, a joke. Watching it at home sucks, you have to see it at a theater, preferably one with a floor show. Best time to do this is either Halloween or during an anniversary showing.
Wow, the memories.
I've seen Tommy a few times too, liked most of the music but was not impressed with the movie, nor did I "get it".
Some other great cult classics are "Harold and Maude" which does have a point you will understand and "Clockwork Orange" which is rather violent and graphic.
To every man his own truth and his own God within.
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firebee
The Time Warp
Riff Raff: It's astounding
Time is fleeting
Madness takes its toll
But listen closely
Magenta: Not for very much longer
Riff Raff: I've got to keep control
I remember doing the Time Warp
Drinking those moments when
The blackness would hit me
Riff and Magenta: And the void would be calling
Chorus Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
Criminologist: It's just a jump to the left
Chorus And then a step to the right
Criminologist: With your hands on your hips
Chorus You bring your knees in tight
But it's the pelvic thrust
That really drives you insane
Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
Magenta: It's so dreamy
Oh, fantasy free me
So you can't see me
No, not at all
In another dimension
With voyeuristic intention
Well secluded, I see all
Riff Raff: With a bit of a mind flip
Magenta: You're into the time slip
Riff Raff: And nothing can ever be the same
Magenta: You're spaced out on sensation
Riff Raff: Like you're under sedation
Chorus Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
Columbia: Well I was walking down the street
Just a having a think
When a snake of a guy gave me an evil wink
He shook-a me up, he took me by surprise
He had a pick up truck and the devil's eyes
He stared at me and I felt a change
Time meant nothing, never would again
Chorus Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
Criminologist: It's just a jump to the left
Chorus And then a step to the right
Criminologist: With your hands on your hips
Chorus You bring your knees in tight
But it's the pelvic thrust
That really drives you insane
Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
just had do post this...........have fun, I'm listening to the song as we speak
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Abigail
was great Firebee, but you left out the audience's lines. hehehe, the post probably wouldn't have gone through if you put them in, eh?
Thanks for putting the lyrics up. Ahhhh the memories.
To every man his own truth and his own God within.
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firebee
Abigail.......I'm laughing my arse off as I type this.............and dancing to the tune
If they only knew.
Can I throw toast at ya
;)-->, or do I have to wait for DammitJanet to join in?
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Pirate1974
Dot
I have know idea what the beans and chocolate was supposed to mean, if anything.
Probably just some weird fantasy of Ken Russell's to see Ann Margret rolling around in the stuff.
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Oakspear
Any of you NYers remember the band Swift Kick out on Long Island?
They used to do covers of the Rocky Horror songs...that's when I first became aware of the movie.
Oakspear
...goin' down to Rosedale, got my rider by my side...and I'm standin' at the crossroads...
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DamitJanet
I thought Rocky Horror was the stupidiest movie I have ever seen... except, of course, for the TIME WARP. Best part of the whole movie! Then I get all these fans of Rocky Horror who start calling me Damit Janet.
Tommy didn't make any sense either but there was some good music I thought. Haven't seen it in so long that I might not agree with that any more either.
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