When I was younger I laughed through every one of his films. I’m half of the way through Young Frankenstein and have yet to chuckle. I’m looking forward to “Putting on the Ritz” but that’s all Boyle.
I saw Blazing Saddles a few years ago also, and found it cringy. Am I a tough crowd, or did his brand of humor not age very well?
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Hi, Kenneth Michael Daniels. I’m a Stage 32 Lounge Moderator. I wanted to let you know I moved your post from Screenwriting Lounge to the Anything Goes Lounge. The Anything Goes Lounge is for general discussion (the industry, movies, shows, plays, etc.). Let me know if you have any questions.
I've only seen Robin Hood: Men in Tights and Spaceballs, but it's been a long time since I watched them. Mel Brooks' other movies are on my watch list. I know, I'm way behind. haha
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Thank goodness. I would hate for my question about a screenwriter to bother screenwriters discussing screenwriting.
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Ok, I see, Kenneth Michael Daniels. You're talking about Mel Brooks' writing style. Your post reads like you're starting a movie discussion. I moved your post back to the Screenwriting Lounge.
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Hi Kenneth, I love Spaceballs and life stinks
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I had the pleasure of working with Mel Brooks back in 2018. He was still as sharp as ever and we discussed Blazing Saddles in particular. He said that he would not be able to get that film made today. As he described it, the irony was that he was making fun of racists and racism (as well as a lot of other things). The humor still stands up for me and if you ask any contemporary comedy writer/director I can almost guarantee they will reference a Brooks movie as inspiration.
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I saw Young Frankenstein the musical on stage a couple weeks ago. Audience was in tears. Hilarious.
What I missed from the movie? Some jokes work better with the subtle acting you can get in close-up that are hard to get across on stage.
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Kenneth, I'm going to engage in some Confession Time..."Blazing Saddles" was one of the films that inspired me to take this screenwriting/TV-writing journey.
I first saw it when it hit theaters in 1974...and I laughed my butt off.
And Jason, "Saddles'" humor still stands up for me, too.
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Dan MaxXx
Well, that depends on how highly rated you have him to begin with, doesn't it? Isaiah Thomas likes to point out he didn't beat Bird or the Lakers. Guys who played against the Bulls said that Rodman was the guy they couldn't account for. The Triangle Offense was difficult for the league to deal with no matter who was executing it, and Mr. Threepeat himself was a hero in LA just as much as in Chicago.
And then there are others who say that IF he was the best player in the league at the time, which considering how the games he played were called based on how important his success was to the Powers That Be in the NBA is difficult to measure, then perhaps Scottie Pippen was the second best. None of this takes away from the fact that he was a beast and had a will to win which was unmatched. Most people don't know the highest vertical ever recorded was him, and I wouldn't have even had him the highest leaping Tar Heel what with Vince Carter jumping over dudes.
But most evaluations of talent are based in large part on whom one WANTS to be the best, don't they? Find me a Duke fan who doesn't think that Grant Hill was just as good as MJ, or that Jason Williams wasn't the most incredible ball hander the ACC has ever seen. But what of Chris Paul or Bobby Hurley, or the fact that Steve Blake had J-Will's number? Now find me a baby-blue-loving Carolina fan who would say that LeBron is better than their Freshman JV team member hero.
It's rarely about talent, but preferences. Hakeem, Kareem, or Wilt? If they won't call a foul on him, then I'd say Shaq, but Laettner outplayed him... twice. And then you have Tim Duncan's grace, and Zion's insane athleticism, but nobody was better on making a decision to shoot or pass than lowly Carlos Boozer, whose hands were like Christian McCaffrey's who everyone thinks is a great running back, which he is, but would also be the best tight end on most clubs if they put him there since he NEVER drops a pass and ALWAYS makes the first guy miss. John or Paul; Scorsese or Kubrick? Jagger or Tyler, even Morrison or Mercury?
So was Archie Bunker a bigot or a role model? You know the answer for you, but not for anyone else, whether you agree with them or not. Recency bias is a thing, for sure, but bias in the moment is just as impactful when concerned with subjective matters like criticism of anything even remotely artistic always is. I used to think Mel Brooks was the funniest thing going, but now it seems like listening to a stand up comic who only makes puns. Sure, some are funny, but a whole set of them? Yeah, not so much.