In Case you Didn't Know....Bad Boys is a Classic

Bad Boys starring Martin Lawrence and Will Smith and directed by Michael Bay was released April 7th, 1995 and just celebrated it's 25th anniversary. Reading behind the scenes stories of the film, it comes across as a movie that wasn't suppose to be successful. Decades later people still love the film and yes the term "classic" gets thrown around alot, but I believe the film is a classic here's why.

Bad Boys is one of those films I look back as that has stars in them before they were stars. In this case Martin and Will were stars, but they were not the mega stars they would later come to be. Will Smith was mostly known as the clean cut rapper Fresh Prince and star of the TV show Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Martin Lawrence was the star of his own self-title TV sitcom Martin and the first host of the HBO series Def Comedy Jam. He was also the hottest Black comic of the early to mid 90's. Joe Pantoliano who played Captain Howard was always that guy you saw in movies that played his role well, who years later people would come to hate as Cyper in The Matrix. Tea Leoni has had a solid career but nothing superstar worthy.

Bad Boys took the buddy-cop odd couple formula popularized in the 80's by 48 hours and Lethal Weapon, and turned things up bringing that formula to the 90's. Martin Lawrence is the high strung family man Marcus Burnett, while Will Smith is the laid back smooth ladies man Mike Lowrey. It doesn't take itself too serious and try to be something it is not. 

The funniest scenes in the movie to me, are the one's where Marcus and Mike knowing one another for years. Are able to bicker and reflect real annoyances they have with one another to distract those around them, long enough to get out of a jam. The chemistry is displayed at the very beginning of the film when they use that method to get out of an attempted carjacking. The two have viewers really believing they've known each other for years and know how to get on one anothers nerves.

The action scenes are typical Michael Bay action scenes, before he was given budgets to just create utter nonsense. My favorite action scene in the film, is the foot chase through the city of Miami which honestly is the scene that probably convinced producers that Will Smith could be a formdiable, marketable action star. 

There in lies why Bad Boys is a classic. The story is an typical cop plot, but what it done for the careers of it's major players. It helped Martin Lawrence gain more roles and more clout in Hollywood, giving him the ability write, direct, produce and star in A Thin Line Between Love and Hate a year later. It made Michael Bay the new Hollywood IT boy for large explosive films such as Armageddon, The Rock, and The Transformers movies whether you love them or hate them. It led to roles for Will Smith such as Independence Day and Men In Black, which made him a box office draw off name alone. Eventually Will and Martin joined the $20 million a film club and Bad Boys is the catalyst that sparked those opportunites. 

Bad Boys also bought the buddy cop formula back that gave films like Rush Hour and The Other Guys a chance to succeed. A second film was released in 2003, and earlier this year the third film in the series Bad Boys For Life released with a box office take of $290 million in the U.S. box office. Along with mostly positive or netural reviews from film criticss Which proved after a 17 year hiatus, Bad Boys as a franchise is still well loved and the groundwork was laid way back in 1995. That my friends makes Bad Boys a classic.

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Cowabunga Dudes : 30 Years of The First TMNT Movie

In the late 80’s to early 90’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was a powerhouse franchise you could not ignore. Cartoons, toys, cereal, video games, concerts Ninja Turtles were everywhere and consumed by nearly every child on the planet. March 30, 1990 the first film starring the turtles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles hit the big screen worldwide. I was 4 years old when the film released and still remember going to Reisterstown Road Plaza Movie Theater to see the film. I also vividly remember the excitement I couldn’t contain looking on a big screen watching four turtles, that I had all the toys of walking, talking, fighting, and dropping a curse word here and there and having fun doing it. At that age all I wanted to be was a ninja turtle mainly Mickey, eat some pizza and at times some greens so I could turn green, and kick some foot clan butt just like they did.

                                           

Once the films box office run ended, it grossed over $135 million stateside and $201 million worldwide, making it  the most successful independent film at that time which shows how popular the turtles were. Through the years I've watched the movie faithfully on cable, VHS, DVD, and later Netflix still quoting the movie and reliving the memories of wanting to be a ninja. As an adult every chance I get I watch the movie, and watching it now I know exactly why I enjoy it so much.

The ninja turtles’ franchise has produced 6 films, the original trilogy in the 90’s, an animated film in 2007, and two films in the mid-2010s. Out of the original trilogy during the time when the turtles were at the height of their popularity, the first film still reigns as king. The second film (which I love just as much) is much more juvenile and light hearted, borrowing its tone from the popular cartoon. The third movie went even further into light hearted territory with its plot and even more juvenile jokes. It has its flaws but its also not a horrible film, but that’s another story for another day.

The first film borrows most of its tone from the original comic book with its dark and grim atmosphere. The lighting, the set pieces, everything that surrounds the film is dark. Not sure if that was to be intune with the turtles operating from the shadows or not. Even the trailer for the film has a dark vibe to it, which years later all comic book films wanted to use in its tone. That’s why I think the first film is still the best turtles film ever because it appeals to many different audiences. Kids love the turtles with their color coded headbands and wisecracking jokes, but the dark brooding vibe and sense of real danger and consequences appeals to older teenagers and adults as well.

Some of the redeeming qualities and positive aspects of the film include. The fight scenes are hard-hitting, realistic, and has ramifications . Villian Shredder is portrayed as a real intimidating badass who is a serious threat, he displays his martial arts prowess at the end of the film manhandling the turtles by himself despite being outnumbered. The technology of the Turtles suits with their intricate designs and similiar yet distinct features (which to this day is still a marvel). Despite all that the most important aspect of the movie, is that it is about family. When the turtles father sewer rat Master Splinter is abducted, they have to look amongst each other and realize they are all they have. The Foot Clan criminal organization led by Shredder recruits young teenagers and young adults looking for a place to belong. The Shredder proclaims the organization as “family”, with the Shredder being they’re “father”. Manipulating and molding the young minds into being what he wants them to be while feeding their desire to be accepted.

A young teenager in the film and friend of April O’Neil Danny is a part of the organization, and joins them looking for a family as he doesn’t feel close with his father. I wish that could have been explored a little bit more in the film, but it wasn’t super essential to the film so I get it. At the end of the film, some members of the gang learn what you consider “family” may not always be best for you, and the turtles reunite with Master Splinter they also gain new family members in April and vigilante Casey Jones. In the process they learn family is not always blood related.

                                                    

Maybe as an adult I’ve read too much into the film and the themes of the story. I truly believe the theme of family is what makes me continue to love the film so much. Even if you just love watching the movie and don’t care for the themes, on the 30^th anniversary pop in the DVD, pull up Netflix and sit back and enjoy a film that is a bonafide classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

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