About 2 hours. October 13, 2010 4:51 AM Subscribe
I've gotten to the age that I've lost my Google-fu. In some M. Night Shyamalan thread, there was a link to a comic that showed a progression from "who?" to "this guy is great" to "this guy sucks". Where.
I'd draw a much steeper curve on that graph. I thought Unbreakable was only barely passable, and Signs was complete garbage.
posted by empath at 5:35 AM on October 13, 2010
posted by empath at 5:35 AM on October 13, 2010
No, that's not it. This was presented as, IIRC, a conversation between two people over a span of time (i.e. after each move comes out).
posted by DU at 5:47 AM on October 13, 2010
posted by DU at 5:47 AM on October 13, 2010
People people or anthropomorphic "people?"
posted by theichibun at 6:14 AM on October 13, 2010
posted by theichibun at 6:14 AM on October 13, 2010
That is:
1) the link I was thinking of
2) nothing like I remember
posted by DU at 6:17 AM on October 13, 2010 [4 favorites]
1) the link I was thinking of
2) nothing like I remember
posted by DU at 6:17 AM on October 13, 2010 [4 favorites]
That was less fun than I thought it would be. But still fun.
posted by OmieWise at 6:26 AM on October 13, 2010
posted by OmieWise at 6:26 AM on October 13, 2010
Why were there pictures for a text-only joke?
posted by shakespeherian at 6:28 AM on October 13, 2010
posted by shakespeherian at 6:28 AM on October 13, 2010
Well, you do see the audience fading and dwindling over time.
posted by maudlin at 6:39 AM on October 13, 2010
posted by maudlin at 6:39 AM on October 13, 2010
Where.
You've also lost your ability to form questions?
posted by slogger at 6:53 AM on October 13, 2010
You've also lost your ability to form questions?
posted by slogger at 6:53 AM on October 13, 2010
You've also lost your ability to form questions?
I traded him for my ability to form declarative statements?
posted by Devils Rancher at 7:11 AM on October 13, 2010 [5 favorites]
I traded him for my ability to form declarative statements?
posted by Devils Rancher at 7:11 AM on October 13, 2010 [5 favorites]
OMIGOD GUYS CALM DOWN!!!!!
posted by shakespeherian at 7:35 AM on October 13, 2010
posted by shakespeherian at 7:35 AM on October 13, 2010
Also, it missed out The Village, which is where the decline really started.
posted by Happy Dave at 8:22 AM on October 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Happy Dave at 8:22 AM on October 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
Weird. I was doing the "this is such bullshit" dance from Unbreakable on.
posted by naju at 9:23 AM on October 13, 2010
posted by naju at 9:23 AM on October 13, 2010
Yeah its like in the horror movie when the hero is talking to the person they don't know is the killer (6th Sense) and the unknown killer says something that they shouldn't know or somehow gives away that they are the killer and then you see on the hero's face that he or she is like "Wait a minute, what did that person I don't is the killer just say?" (Unbreakable) and then their face goes "Oh shit, something ain't right." (Signs) and then they make like a "Oh God this can't be true!" face (Lady in the Water) and then they say in this obviously strained voice "Hey person I now know is the killer, I totes don't think you're the killer or anything, but I have to go do some laundry, so I think I'll be going now." (The Happening) and then the killer is like "No . . . I don't think I can allow that NOW THAT YOU OBVIOUSLY KNOW I'M THE KILLER!" (Last Airbender) and then it turns out the killer was actually the hero's laundry the whole time!
posted by ND¢ at 9:38 AM on October 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by ND¢ at 9:38 AM on October 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
Also if we're playing the who-knew-Shyamalan-sucked-first game then you know the guy who knew Bruce Willis was dead the whole time and doesn't see how everyone else missed it is about to show up.
Dude. It was 11 years ago. You need to find something else to be proud of.
posted by ND¢ at 9:43 AM on October 13, 2010 [2 favorites]
Dude. It was 11 years ago. You need to find something else to be proud of.
posted by ND¢ at 9:43 AM on October 13, 2010 [2 favorites]
This is the last thread (I think?) we had about him.
posted by boo_radley at 9:46 AM on October 13, 2010
posted by boo_radley at 9:46 AM on October 13, 2010
True story: twice now I've seen movies with trailers for "The Devil." Each time when the text "From the mind of M. Night Shyamalan" shows up, the entire theater would laugh out loud.
I sometimes feel sorry for the guy. Then I remember his undeserved sacks of cash and I don't.
posted by chairface at 9:59 AM on October 13, 2010
I sometimes feel sorry for the guy. Then I remember his undeserved sacks of cash and I don't.
posted by chairface at 9:59 AM on October 13, 2010
We'd like to do for you now, a song titled, "Shyama Lana Ding Dong." So hit it!
...And that is why he is my sugar diddy dip. He put the oooh mou mou back into my smile, child.
posted by not_on_display at 10:30 AM on October 13, 2010
...And that is why he is my sugar diddy dip. He put the oooh mou mou back into my smile, child.
posted by not_on_display at 10:30 AM on October 13, 2010
As much as I hate Shyamalan's films, it consistently creeps me out when people make fun of his name not being European.
posted by shakespeherian at 10:40 AM on October 13, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by shakespeherian at 10:40 AM on October 13, 2010 [4 favorites]
Whatever, Sh'boom-Sh'boom-herian.
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:09 AM on October 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:09 AM on October 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
That's really low, Astro Zomb...oni.
dammit
posted by shakespeherian at 11:12 AM on October 13, 2010 [2 favorites]
dammit
posted by shakespeherian at 11:12 AM on October 13, 2010 [2 favorites]
As much as I hate Shyamalan's films, it consistently creeps me out when people make fun of his name not being European.
I could've sworn that "Shyama-lama-ding-dong" was a nickname given by Rob Schneider during one of the Copy Machine Guy SNL skits, long before Shyamalan entered the public eye. This is what I imagined people were referring to whenever they referred to M. Night Shyamalan as "Shyama-lama-ding-dong".
However, it turns out that the actual nickname was "Sting-a-ling-a-ding-dong", given to Sting in January 1991. It's possible that "Shyama-lama-ding-dong" is a snowclone of this; I don't know if there's any way to tell.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 12:01 PM on October 13, 2010
I could've sworn that "Shyama-lama-ding-dong" was a nickname given by Rob Schneider during one of the Copy Machine Guy SNL skits, long before Shyamalan entered the public eye. This is what I imagined people were referring to whenever they referred to M. Night Shyamalan as "Shyama-lama-ding-dong".
However, it turns out that the actual nickname was "Sting-a-ling-a-ding-dong", given to Sting in January 1991. It's possible that "Shyama-lama-ding-dong" is a snowclone of this; I don't know if there's any way to tell.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 12:01 PM on October 13, 2010
I don't know if there's any way to tell.
Sting took on a name that has no connection to anything other than him and his artistry. Shyamalan is a birth name. Do we really need to make the distinction between "making fun" of these names? If we had a thread about foreign policy and North Korea and I made a comment like "That Ping-Pong-Ill is crazy AMIRTE?", it probably would be regarded as racist and wouldn't stand. I'm not sure why people think the same thing should stand about someone else.
I also don't see why this needs to be explained. It's at the least a bit xenophobic.
posted by P.o.B. at 1:00 PM on October 13, 2010
Sting took on a name that has no connection to anything other than him and his artistry. Shyamalan is a birth name. Do we really need to make the distinction between "making fun" of these names? If we had a thread about foreign policy and North Korea and I made a comment like "That Ping-Pong-Ill is crazy AMIRTE?", it probably would be regarded as racist and wouldn't stand. I'm not sure why people think the same thing should stand about someone else.
I also don't see why this needs to be explained. It's at the least a bit xenophobic.
posted by P.o.B. at 1:00 PM on October 13, 2010
It is bigoted to think that people with last names that sound a certain way are all of the same ethnicity.
posted by Dr. Curare at 1:27 PM on October 13, 2010
posted by Dr. Curare at 1:27 PM on October 13, 2010
Who said that?
posted by shakespeherian at 1:43 PM on October 13, 2010
posted by shakespeherian at 1:43 PM on October 13, 2010
Still, it's a huge stretch to make it about anything other than a play on words.
So my Kim Jong-il comment would be cool?
posted by P.o.B. at 1:56 PM on October 13, 2010
So my Kim Jong-il comment would be cool?
posted by P.o.B. at 1:56 PM on October 13, 2010
chairface: "True story: twice now I've seen movies with trailers for "The Devil." Each time when the text "From the mind of M. Night Shyamalan" shows up, the entire theater would laugh out loud."
Here's where things get weird. I just went and found the trailer. I watched it and thought "Hey, this could be sort of good. If nothing else it has to be better than Lady in the Water."
Then I looked at the credits. Shyamalan didn't write the screenplay. I'm not sure how much control he let the writer have, but at least on the surface it really is just from his mind and someone else put it together.
The fact that he's not directing either seems a bit off to me since I've never had a problem with the way his movies were shot. But who knows, maybe that was a casting call hangover from Avatar: The Last Airbender. Either way, it has to be better than Lady in the Water. Right?
This is the movie I'll really judge him on.
P.o.B.'s previous related statement: "Still, it's a huge stretch to make it about anything other than a play on words.
So my Kim Jong-il comment would be cool?"
Most of the time I'd say no. But North Korea is so messed up that, at least to me, anything directed at the people in charge over there is fair game.
posted by theichibun at 2:00 PM on October 13, 2010
Here's where things get weird. I just went and found the trailer. I watched it and thought "Hey, this could be sort of good. If nothing else it has to be better than Lady in the Water."
Then I looked at the credits. Shyamalan didn't write the screenplay. I'm not sure how much control he let the writer have, but at least on the surface it really is just from his mind and someone else put it together.
The fact that he's not directing either seems a bit off to me since I've never had a problem with the way his movies were shot. But who knows, maybe that was a casting call hangover from Avatar: The Last Airbender. Either way, it has to be better than Lady in the Water. Right?
This is the movie I'll really judge him on.
P.o.B.'s previous related statement: "Still, it's a huge stretch to make it about anything other than a play on words.
So my Kim Jong-il comment would be cool?"
Most of the time I'd say no. But North Korea is so messed up that, at least to me, anything directed at the people in charge over there is fair game.
posted by theichibun at 2:00 PM on October 13, 2010
"I also don't see why this needs to be explained. It's at the least a bit xenophobic"
posted by P.o.B.*
Wait wait wait what's your username!!!** And how far does this rabbit hole go anyway
*Plate.of.Beans.
**I am afraid of beans
posted by not_on_display at 2:53 PM on October 13, 2010
posted by P.o.B.*
Wait wait wait what's your username!!!** And how far does this rabbit hole go anyway
*Plate.of.Beans.
**I am afraid of beans
posted by not_on_display at 2:53 PM on October 13, 2010
P.S. It was more of a wordplay! I have no idea, nor do I care, where he's from, and I've always just filed it under "made up Hollywood name" and saw none of his movies. (Not even Sixth Sense. I know, right? There's a shitton of movies I haven't seen.) When reading the thread, my mind just started humming the tune, so I thought I'd share. No xenophobia intended, even though I am afraid of humans.
posted by not_on_display at 3:06 PM on October 13, 2010
posted by not_on_display at 3:06 PM on October 13, 2010
I think some people to get really really old and still rock their Google-fu. Like me.
posted by thinkpiece at 4:16 PM on October 13, 2010
posted by thinkpiece at 4:16 PM on October 13, 2010
Agreed, Burhanistan. In my mind, irrevocably, Chinese ==> Pingpong
posted by thesmophoron at 5:44 PM on October 13, 2010
posted by thesmophoron at 5:44 PM on October 13, 2010
I agree that there's no real ethnic malice behind it and it's just a name which immediately puts the song into certain people's heads (mine included.)
But if we're gonna make jokes about a pretentious dude's name, perhaps there's more material in the fact that he insists on people calling him fucking "Night."
posted by Navelgazer at 6:04 PM on October 13, 2010
But if we're gonna make jokes about a pretentious dude's name, perhaps there's more material in the fact that he insists on people calling him fucking "Night."
posted by Navelgazer at 6:04 PM on October 13, 2010
Holy cow... his last movie was panned by critics and got only 6% on Rotten Tomatoes, but it made $306 million on a $150 million budget!? Well, I guess I'm forgetting the shit sandwich on network TV that audiences devour every night, so never mind.
posted by crapmatic at 6:21 PM on October 13, 2010
posted by crapmatic at 6:21 PM on October 13, 2010
Apples and ping pongs, dude.
I'm really trying to gather whether you're serious here. It's not the the wordplay that's the problem, the problem is that you are actually just shrugging it off as jokey. The context of the joke is that his name sounds funny to you. Referencing a 30-year-old-movie to try to make up it is the stretch here. You're not Lenny Bruce pushing some boundaries and nobody's doing some Dice Clay shock jokes. You're dancing on a fine line with your argument, and I hope you're aware of that.
To me this is just one of those head-shakingly obvious things, but maybe you just don't care. IRL if someone started saying some shit like that to me, I would mentally note it and probably put an end to our casual conversations. There's an idea for you, if it's so harmless go ahead and test out the little "wordplay" joke with acquaintances and coworkers. See how that goes.
I agree that there's no real ethnic malice behind it and it's just a name which immediately puts the song into certain people's heads (mine included.)
Yeah, I get that the intent isn't malicious (as far as I can mind read) but I still don't think that makes it right. People really should take a second to think about it.
posted by P.o.B. at 6:28 PM on October 13, 2010
I'm really trying to gather whether you're serious here. It's not the the wordplay that's the problem, the problem is that you are actually just shrugging it off as jokey. The context of the joke is that his name sounds funny to you. Referencing a 30-year-old-movie to try to make up it is the stretch here. You're not Lenny Bruce pushing some boundaries and nobody's doing some Dice Clay shock jokes. You're dancing on a fine line with your argument, and I hope you're aware of that.
To me this is just one of those head-shakingly obvious things, but maybe you just don't care. IRL if someone started saying some shit like that to me, I would mentally note it and probably put an end to our casual conversations. There's an idea for you, if it's so harmless go ahead and test out the little "wordplay" joke with acquaintances and coworkers. See how that goes.
I agree that there's no real ethnic malice behind it and it's just a name which immediately puts the song into certain people's heads (mine included.)
Yeah, I get that the intent isn't malicious (as far as I can mind read) but I still don't think that makes it right. People really should take a second to think about it.
posted by P.o.B. at 6:28 PM on October 13, 2010
Ah, yes, I'm a troll. End of discussion, problem solved.
posted by P.o.B. at 6:42 PM on October 13, 2010
posted by P.o.B. at 6:42 PM on October 13, 2010
Is this the part where I do the "I'm rubber, you're glue" thing now?
posted by P.o.B. at 6:48 PM on October 13, 2010
posted by P.o.B. at 6:48 PM on October 13, 2010
MetaTalk. Offended by the universe.
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 7:25 PM on October 13, 2010
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 7:25 PM on October 13, 2010
MetaTalk. Offended by the universe.
Humanity: offended by there being a universe that does not revolve around us. Discuss and/or declare war.
posted by joe lisboa at 8:15 PM on October 13, 2010
Humanity: offended by there being a universe that does not revolve around us. Discuss and/or declare war.
posted by joe lisboa at 8:15 PM on October 13, 2010
So my Kim Jong-il comment would be cool?
I had this whole stoned master plan back in the day that the Wu-Tang Clan could have a series of guest rappers named after world dictators. The first could be Kim Jong-Illin' the Supreme Leadin' Villain, the second could be Pol Smokin' Pot, &c.
I liked that plan.
posted by elizardbits at 4:58 AM on October 14, 2010 [4 favorites]
I had this whole stoned master plan back in the day that the Wu-Tang Clan could have a series of guest rappers named after world dictators. The first could be Kim Jong-Illin' the Supreme Leadin' Villain, the second could be Pol Smokin' Pot, &c.
I liked that plan.
posted by elizardbits at 4:58 AM on October 14, 2010 [4 favorites]
You're welcome.
posted by Burhanistan at 8:42 PM on October 13 [+] [!]
Is this the part where I do the "I'm rubber, you're glue" thing now?
posted by P.o.B. at 8:48 PM on October 13 [+] [!]
There's just no train we can't wreck!
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 10:23 AM on October 14, 2010
posted by Burhanistan at 8:42 PM on October 13 [+] [!]
Is this the part where I do the "I'm rubber, you're glue" thing now?
posted by P.o.B. at 8:48 PM on October 13 [+] [!]
There's just no train we can't wreck!
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 10:23 AM on October 14, 2010
Do you guys seriously not know that the Shamalama-ping-pong thing is in reference to a song?
posted by empath at 11:20 AM on October 14, 2010
posted by empath at 11:20 AM on October 14, 2010
ZAMBONI
posted by not_on_display at 12:06 PM on October 14, 2010
posted by not_on_display at 12:06 PM on October 14, 2010
You know who's got a funny name? This guy: Richard Face.
The really odd part is that his actual first name is Jack, but he chooses to go by Richard.
I don't think he's ever made a crappy movie though.
posted by robotot at 2:38 PM on October 14, 2010
The really odd part is that his actual first name is Jack, but he chooses to go by Richard.
I don't think he's ever made a crappy movie though.
posted by robotot at 2:38 PM on October 14, 2010
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posted by exogenous at 5:11 AM on October 13, 2010