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#1021 Re: The Sunset Strip » Actor Paul Walker dies at 40 » 675 weeks ago
Axlin12 wrote:I think had Walker lived well into older age, he might've ended up being a cult actor to a generation, similar to a Vincent or Mickey Rourke.
Lol
It's sad, tragic even but c'mon ffs. The guy was a decent spud but he made shit films & was a hack actor. It's a shame & a waste but don't be acting like its a great loss in artistic terms.
Shit films? Wow, to each his own. Several of his films were ICONIC to my generation, good or bad. I remember being in high school, and even though I wasn't a big fan of the film, everyone quoting Varsity Blues, even though he wasn't the star. The Fast & The Furious became the benchmark for that generation, and when it dropped IT WAS MASSIVE. It's ripple was felt everywhere, even in the illegal racing scene that I was around at the time. Everything changed, and Paul Walker & Vin Diesel were a large part of that. I have no doubt that in 20 years there will be directors in Hollywood that will be making films and casting Vin Diesel, because Fast was such an influence on them, and I have no doubt Walker would've gotten the same kind of roles.
Do I think they are great actors? Not necessarily, but that's why I made the Jan-Michael Vincent & Mickey Rourke reference. I honestly don't find Vincent or Rourke to be "that great of actors". Rourke didn't have The Wrestler until he was older, and although the critics went on and on about him in 9-1/2 Weeks and Diner and all this other stuff, I didn't see anything earth-shattering. I could name same Walker films that he was at least, as good as those films, maybe not The Wrestler, but Rourke didn't get The Wrestler until later. Walker might've had a moment like that, you never know. He wasn't a bad actor per say.
I see Walker as totally a Jan-Michael Vincent of his generation. One that was known, and popular right up to that B-level cult status, but never quite a Brad Pitt. How is that inaccurate of Walker?
Now I did hear someone earlier today mention Paul Walker's name with the name "Steve McQueen". That I would agree with you. Paul Walker WAS NEVER a Steve McQueen, even if Walker could've easily passed for McQueen's kid.
Regardless, Walker was an icon of that late 90's/early 2000's generation. Girls knew him, thought he was hot, guys tried to look like Brian O'Connor, so I thought it was kind of a big deal.
There was a very short period of time from around 2001-2005 that Paul Walker was a household name, even if his resume doesn't quite show it. Everyone I knew knew him, and he was spoken of among high school/college kids right off the tongue no different than Vin Diesel or Eminem. He played most roles pretty dead pan, but pretty much so did say, Kurt Russell.
Nobody knew Russell was even an actor until Backdraft.
#1022 Re: Guns N' Roses » Happy birthday Chinese Democracy! » 675 weeks ago
With the release (and aftermath) of CD, Axl's wings were cut off. The story along the grapevines goes that while Azoff had his sights ultimately on an old Guns reunion, he was set to accommodate Axl in return, with two follow-up albums on around two-year cycles, leading up to a reunion at RRHOF. This would've given Axl a break to do his own thing with the new lineup, with the new music finally out in the open. After that, he would've reverted to the nostalgia thing for a while. The audiences would've been happy, Uni would've cashed in on the new additions to the back catalogue, and Azoff would've personally seen a lucrative income, using his position at Ticketmaster to facilitate Guns' touring stateside.
It was to be a great, great pipe and slippers deal for Axl, and much better than anyone in the industry would've guessed he'd be entitled with after the clusterfuck which bore CD. His career would've been rebuilt from scratch in the public eye; going from a hugely profilic lone gun to a full-blown reunion in a matter of years, parading past rows of former naysayers and collectively smacking them across their faces. An ongoing victory march, if there ever was one. That is said to be the deal Axl walked away from. If he'd be friends with Slash, one could say it was all about integrity. But his personal obsession proved too tough a nut to crack, even for an industry ballbuster like Azoff.
With Azoff out of the picture, Guns lost their rejuvenated life-line with Uni, and have had to resort to touring to keep money coming in. During the non-eventful year following CD, during which Ax only seemed to pop up to berate Jimmy Iovine and Slash, he gained weight - no longer the lean and mean middle-aged rock star pro (in figure, at least), but more akin to someone boozing and eating to tolerate depression.
Axl's always been reactionary on his looks; people called him fat while he openly displayed a paunch next to some serious muscle in RIR3. The next year, he showed up covered in those oversized jerseys. The braids he put on were snickered at as having to do with hair loss; this may well be the case, but again, make no mistake, the reactions he got were a blow to his self-esteem. Only in 2006 did he regain that trademark vigor again, looking proudly ablebodied, with the braids much diminished. This went on for over a year, he was ready to reconquer the world and felt dedicated to maintain his physical health in the meantime.
After CD, he gave up. One year after another, he gave up more. The 06/07 Axl would scare the living daylights out of the current Vince Neil. Not so much now. Personally, I'm less fazed by Axl's fashion sense (or lack thereof - kilts!) than his physical condition, as it directly correlates with his performance on stage and his longevity as a touring musician. That line of work is hard, and he tends to put more into it than many of his peers. Without a health regimen, it's painfully obvious that touring becomes all the more strenuous to him as time goes on.
In early 2010, just as the band had started out their post-Azoff phase (and the NeverEnding Tour), some signs of things to come were there.
NY Post wrote:Rose’s recent high jinks are legendary even where rockers are concerned. For the last three weeks, the singer has been on an epic bender in New York, tearing through the city’s nightclubs and bars like he’s still the stick-thin 25-year-old who became a worldwide phenomenon after the release of his album “Appetite for Destruction.” Since he arrived in the city for his Fashion Week concert on Feb. 11, he’s gone out nearly every night (and continued on till the morning), usually crashing afterward at his $1,550-a-night suite in the Essex House Hotel.
... author Ray LeMoine who’s partied with the rocker in the past three weeks... thinks Rose lets the negative press get to him more that he should. “The interesting thing about the guy is that he’ll tell stories and you’ll say, ‘Dude, you’re Axl Rose, you’ve got to not worry about that s – - t,’ “ LeMoine says. “You’ve put out so many great records and you’re the man, but he won’t hear it … there’s a nuanced psychological thing about the guy where he’s not trying to be Axl Rose.”
So far, no one knows when the party — or his existential crisis — will end. As Rose prepared to leave one club, The Post cornered him and asked how late he generally stays out. Rose just smirked. “As long as it takes,” he said. - NY Post"
Alas, Happy Birthday to Chinese Democracy. We're still checking the program listings on that same Bat Channel to see if we get anything but reruns. One day...
NY Post wrote:Another person who’s partied with Rose says he’s working on a new album after last year’s disappointing “Chinese Democracy” — the first Guns N’ Roses studio album in 15 years — and has something to prove.
This is a fascinating post, that my reply should probably exist more in that religious trilogy thread, instead of here.
I wonder sometimes if GN'R got bigger than even Axl ever expected or wanted to admit to. I wonder if he didn't want to admit to "Izzy syndrome", thinking GN'R might be a great club band. I remember Mick Wall partying with the guys and claiming that when the band got the news that AFD had cracked the Billboard Top-100 albums, that band was ecstatic. That strikes me of 5 very humbled guys that were living the dream, and not really worried about being the next Rolling Stones.
But Axl took it in stride (if you call stuffing Uzi's under your pillow, fucking your fiance and then leaving her in the closet, and pushing pianos off of balcony's "in stride" -- but where Axlin comes from that's "in stride").. in Axl's world being Queen, might not be a bad thing, so he went with it. And it got bigger, and bigger, and BIGGER. Suddenly within only 2-3 years, he's playing alongside his idols from only maybe 10 years post his childhood. It had to be overwhelming for him. I know even at my age, if within a year I was doing dueling screams alongside even the Axl of today, I would be completely lost and overwhelmed.
I know Sky Dog tries to simply it as "Axl's crazy", but I don't think he's near as crazy as he's reputed to be. I think the guy FEELS EVERY-THING. I don't think he knows what to do with it, and I don't see him as a "poor me" type, as more of a "he's his biggest critic" type, which is why his perfectionism breeds paralysis.
Another thing on Axl's plate, and this is why I love him, he doesn't do this shit "without a good goddamn reason" (to quote a famous sequel). Axl waited so long to get his mind together, that the industry changed and died in the same time.
Axl might've said what he wanted to say with Chinese, and that's it. What else does he have to say? Axl is strictly a reactionary writer. From his emotionally damaging childhood, to his issues with authority and women and religion, to his ultimate disillusion with the business and the world, which leaded into his words on Chinese. Look inside the album, and you'll find words that could be prophetic to a final swan song from Axl, maybe even a goodbye. "There's nothing more that I can do"
And that leads into his physical decline. People just look at it as "Axl's gettin' after it", wooo party, let's drink, because we have a bunch of Rock fans on here that are drunks or whatever. But let's be honest... if Axl was on any other substance other than alcohol, people would be alarmed. He looks like a guy that's stopped caring. Yes people age, but unless he had major blood pressure issues, his bloat is getting a bit Duff-like.
I feel bad for the guy.
When he cared about being a good son, he got beat.
When he cared about religion/spirituality, it criticized him and molested his family.
When he cared about being a better husband (post-Erin) or a good dad, he either screwed it up himself, or was denied to him.
When he cared about Guns N' Roses, it blew up in his face, and everyone tried to take it from him (in his mind)
Everyone hates him, when he made decisions he thought was best.
Any decision he makes, even the right ones for the fans, get denied because of legal wrangling, and he gets blamed
The media still continues to hate him because he refuses to play the game or understand his point of view
Everything that he seemed to love or have a passion for, has either died or been taken from him. I don't think this is a guy that picks up 19-20 year old hookers because that's what he wanted for his life. Whomever, or whatever he loved... seems gone. Look at the personality change in Slash & Duff with their wife and kids, and think of Axl in that very short period with Stephanie & Dylan and how much his personality was different during that short period.
And that's the positive point of view. In the negative point of view, it's even worse. He could be the cause of all of his destruction, and if that's the case, i'm surprised he hasn't offed himself by now.
The guy is still an emotional, passionate, idealistic, spiritual, living breathing human being... BEFORE being Axl Rose. But he can't escape the character of Axl Rose. Could you imagine being something that required you be the same person you were 20-25 years ago FOREVER, and you have no choice?
Now the business has changed so much, and is SO commercial, that now he's required to be something he has utterly no interest in being. The future did not turn out the way I think he, or any of us, foresaw the business turning in to literal corporate sludge. The fact that Katy Perry & Taylor Swift will be considered the artists of a generation is like proof positive of how little interest Axl probably has in continuing.
"What would you do if I told you I loved you, then walked away?"
If Axl had something to walk away to, I think he'd be long gone imo. But he doesn't seem like a guy that truely has something to walk away to, so he keeps the light on with Guns N' Roses, because that's truely all he's got. He hates being "Axl Rose", but all he has is this thing -- "Axl Rose".
I think at one time had the business locked in around 1995 or 2000 and stayed the same, Axl would've been willing to play the character again, but legal issues and more disillusion... we lost him for good.
At this point I don't see why Axl would want to do anything anymore. This is of course ALL SPECULATIVE, but he strikes me as a depressed guy, but partying because "i'm Axl Rose and I love it", but partying to pass the time, trying to find a reason. Where's the emotional outlet? Where's the artistic outlet? Where's the personal outlet? He can't do any of it. Wherever he goes, he's Axl Rose. Whoever he meets, he's Axl Rose. Now he's older on top of it, and the game has changed, yet everything has stayed the same. If it can go wrong, it does go wrong.
I think if he were to have anything left in him at this point lyrically, he's be writing Mad Season records.
#1023 Re: Guns N' Roses » 11-21-2012 The Joint, Las Vegas (Being filmed in 3D) » 675 weeks ago
Which makes sense as to why Axl wanted to re-record all of the classic songs with the new band, and only use those to license for films and such.
I can't blame Slash & Duff one bit. They wrote those songs and should be treated as the writers, no different than Axl. If they don't want their material getting used on an Axl & Izzy-version of new Guns, I don't blame them, no different than say Axl & Izzy balking at Slash & Myles doing GN'R songs on his live stuff.
In the end the fans get screwed, but honestly if these hold ups will continue to exist for Axl, it's all the more reason for him to go into a studio and fucking bury them with his best material yet, so the new Guns can play mostly new songs. That way the next release comes, they only have to go to Slash & Duff to sign off on maybe 4-5 songs, rather than 20.
#1024 Re: The Sunset Strip » The 13 Most Insidious, Pervasive Lies... » 675 weeks ago
About half of this is bullshit from the perspective of a pro-label nihilist-perspective, and about the other half is absolute truth directly aimed at the Napster generation.
The truth is in the middle. I've heard directly from the artist's themselves that the money is in touring and that they would love to be rid of major labels.
However what was truely over-estimated was how brainless, indoctrinated, non-music loving, robotic, droids, pathetic, worthless wastes of oxygen the major music fans are of the world. "Good music" to them, is whatever the mass media tells them good music is. The music is then manufactured to have as much instant-appeal to those brainless listeners. Those types are not going to search out for music because they aren't actual music fans. They're the type of person when you ask them what their favorite album is of their favorite artist, they said "Greatest Hits".
Everytime I see Katy Perry's face, I want to puke. 'nuff said
#1025 Re: The Sunset Strip » Actor Paul Walker dies at 40 » 675 weeks ago
Wow, just wow. My father was actually the one that broke the news to me about this and at first I thought it was a joke. Then when he said it was for real, I thought at first he had died on the set of "Fast 7" during filming to find out, it was a simple act of misadventure on a Saturday afternoon.
The guy reminded me in alot of ways of a modern-era Jan-Michael Vincent. Pretty boy, California-surfer type, that had action lead and screen charisma all over him, but never managed to have that big "Brad Pitt"-type career. He was always a B-level action type. I think had Walker lived well into older age, he might've ended up being a cult actor to a generation, similar to a Vincent or Mickey Rourke-type.
Regardless, RIP man. This guy was a real anti-Hollywood, anti-celebrity type. Charitable, and down-to-earth. A real loss.
Now it becomes even more puzzling, how "Fast 7" will be handled. The film is due for release next year, and was still in the middle of production. How Walker's character of Brian O'Connor will be written out, or finalized remains to be seen. Personally I hope they just re-structed "Fast 7" and use it as a series finale. It won't be the same without him. If you like those movies, I always thought Walker was the glue, the heart and soul of the franchise, the real reason to watch.
#1026 The Sunset Strip » Actor Paul Walker dies at 40 » 675 weeks ago
- Axlin16
- Replies: 8
Paul Walker, "Fast & Furious" Star, Dead in Fiery Car Crash at 40
by Matt McDaniel / Yahoo! Movies
Paul Walker, the edgy action hero with all-American good looks who became an international star with "The Fast & the Furious" movie franchise, has died in a fiery car collision in Southern California. He was 40 years old.
According to the statement put out by Walker's team and also posted on Facebook, the actor was "attending a charity event for his organization Reach Out Worldwide. He was a passenger in a friend's car.
"We appreciate your patience as we too are stunned and saddened beyond belief by this news," the statement continued. "Thank you for keeping his family and friends in your prayers during this very difficult time. We will do our best to keep you apprised on where to send condolences."
The identity of the second victim, a male, has not been released by authorities; but numerous reports have identified the driver as Roger Rodas, the owner of Walker's auto-racing team, Always Evolving.
“Him and his buddy, his brother in arms at heart, just decided to joyride, take a spin," Antonio Holmes, an onlooker at the event who identified himself as a friend of Walker's, told the local Santa Clarita Valley Signal newspaper. "Something we all do. We're all car enthusiasts. ... We’re all here driving, enjoying each other, and God must’ve needed help."
According to witnesses, the red Porsche carrying Walker and his friend lost control and slammed into a tree and then a light pole. Walker, an unapologetic car lover, had been participating in the "Winter Drive" for Reach Out Worldwide, a toy drive and car meet charity event for disadvantaged children. Walker was also involved in humanitarian efforts in Chile and Haiti after the devastating earthquakes in both countries.
Earlier, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department and county coroner confirmed that two people were pronounced dead at the scene of a crash in Santa Clarita, north of Los Angeles, around 3:30 p.m. PT.
"When they arrived, deputies found the vehicle engulfed in flames. The Los Angeles County Fire Department responded, extinguished the fire and subsequently located two victims inside the vehicle," Sheriff's Deputy Kim Manatt said in a statement. "The victims were pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of the collision is under investigation."
The tall, blond-haired, blue-eyed heartthrob was a California native, hailing from the L.A. suburb of Glendale. He began appearing in TV commercials when he was just a toddler. He guest starred on shows like "Highway to Heaven" and "Charles in Charge" as a teen, and scored his first leading role in 1998's "Meet the Deedles." This lead to higher profile roles in features like "Pleasantville," "Varsity Blues," and "She's All That" in the late '90s before cementing his status as a leading man in 2001's "The Fast and the Furious."
Walker starred in all but the third installment of the "Fast & Furious" movies, including the seventh chapter which is still in production and scheduled for release next summer. He also received critical acclaim for his performances in 2006's "Running Scared" and in Clint Eastwood's WWII drama, "Flags of Our Fathers." His next film, "Hours," about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, is scheduled to open on Dec. 13.
"Fast" running mate Vin Diesel posted an image of him and Walker on Instagram with the caption: "Brother I will miss you very much. I am absolutely speechless. Heaven has gained a new Angel. Rest in Peace."
In a brief statement, Universal, the studio behind the "Fast" franchise, also mourned one of its top stars: "All of us at Universal are heartbroken. Paul was truly one of the most beloved and respected members of our studio family for 14 years, and this loss is devastating to us, to everyone involved with the 'Fast and Furious' films, and to countless fans. We send our deepest and most sincere condolences to Paul's family."
Walker is survived by his 15-year-old daughter, Meadow.
#1027 Re: The Sunset Strip » The Star Wars Thread *NO SPOILERS ALLOWED!* » 678 weeks ago
I think though if you at least have the dynamic between Hamill, Ford & Fisher, albeit older, the rest will fall in the place for the fans.
The new Dallas is not that good, but diehards will swear by it as long as those principles are on screen, because there's such a power in it. These old school people pop WAY MORE than these new school kids.
I think Episode VII could be the worst Star Wars film yet, and if the big three are there, the diehard geeks will swear VII is lightyears better than the prequels.
#1028 Re: The Garden » The Grand Theft Auto V Thread (Release Date Announced!) » 678 weeks ago
And see that was my problem. It's kind of the same complaints people are making about Arkham Origins. The world is bigger, but kind of lifeless.
GTAV's world never, ever feels lifeless, but in most cases it does feel just kind of there. I never felt that way in previous games, and yes, regardless, the map is still superior to the dull Gotham that was GTAIV's Liberty City.
Like in Red Dead Redemption, there were so many different places on the map. So many different terrains, and so many different places to go. Despite the lack of people, it still felt full of life, even complete with random bandits and people trying to rip you or others off.
When this same aspect happens in GTAV, it's a distraction, not something to do. You literally have to STOP what you're doing, turn over there methodically, and rob the Wells Fargo truck or grab the purse snatcher, or walk into an ambush. It's work, and not random.
Maybe GTA is just showing it's age, but good story's always make games FEEL better. Like at Max Payne 3. All of that reinvention, all of this new stuff added to Max never before seen, but the story? Not even close to 2 let alone 1, and thus it's always going to be less remembered.
I actually think the three protagonists thing TOOK AWAY from the story of GTA. Michael's story was uninteresting to me. He seemed like a self-centered douche, which was the character. Franklin was easily the most likable of the bunch, by far. Seemed to actually care, and was obviously a new CJ, with shades of Niko. Trevor though was without a doubt the most fascinating of the bunch. Completely nucking futs... or was he? The whole put on act of a drunk, bisexual, pill popping redneck at times got challenged by Trevor's obvious love of those whom he considered VERY close to and trusting. The death of Brad (should've gotten played up and explored WAY MORE), the betrayal by Michael, and yet his undying love for Patricia, from a guy that would use and abuse any other woman.
All of this stuff was so interesting in a game, that was story-wise very uninteresting.
I would've liked the whole game to just focus solely on Trevor. I'm hoping any DLC they do (can't wait honestly to see if a better story pops up like Gay Tony), that the DLC will focus solely on Trevor or a side guy like Packie McCreary we haven't heard from in a while.
#1029 Re: The Sunset Strip » The Star Wars Thread *NO SPOILERS ALLOWED!* » 678 weeks ago
I'm still kind of stunned Abrams brought back Kasdan to help right VII.
I'm curious what the continuity will look like with Jedi, compared to the prequels. I thought after Lucas re-tooled Jedi to incorporate the characters from the prequels, that everyone just wants to move on from that period, and either have a direct-sequel to Jedi, or just a sequel in the future.
I say a sequel, rather than a reboot, because A) it's # VII, and B) I think all the fans will be disappointed if Hamill, Ford & Fisher aren't there in some form.
Still think the best move is to do it sort of similar (but written WAY better) to the new "Dallas". Just bring in a new group, or kids, and have 'the big three' in the background kind of guiding them.
#1030 Re: The Sunset Strip » The Walking Dead » 678 weeks ago
See that's what I don't like about it. Everytime they stop, the show stagnates. Remember the farm in Season 2? Now the prison has become their prison.
I like it more when they are nomadic. Moving around, where things are more unpredictable. I personally would like to see a major locale change, and see them get the hell out of Georgia. Obviously based on Michonne & Daryl's conversations, there are no more supplies in the area. It's time to move.
I'm not familiar with the comics, but i'm stunned nobody has thought up the idea of going further north. I'd of had my ass in Canada at this point, depending on supplies. Wait for the winter for those sons of bitches to freeze.
