Brandon Reacts to Frivolous Arrest of North Carolina Father for Overdue ‘Freddy Got Fingered’ Rental

‘The Taking of A-Z’ continues as vinyl popcorn snobs take over this blog for the next 21 days.

Hi folks, my name is Brandon and I’m here today with an example of how insanely fucked up our nation’s legal system tends to be – especially when handling minor offenses. Last month, a police officer in North Carolina pulled over James Meyers for a broken taillight, while he was taking his daughter to school.

During this traffic stop, Meyers was also informed of an outstanding warrant out for his arrest. Want to know what was his crime? He failed to return a VHS of the cult comedy Freddy Got Fingered that he rented in 2002!

Meyers thought the officer was joking but the warrant was indeed real and he ended up turning himself in to face misdemeanor charges and a $200 fine for an overdue video rental. Freddy Got Fingered is a comedy film about an unemployed cartoonist who moves into his parents’ basement and starts spreading sexual abuse rumors about his father.

When I found out about James Meyers the arrest warrant for such a frivolous “crime,” my faith in the justice system has decreased significantly. Firstly, I do believe that there should be consequences for theft. I also agree with pursuing the collection of fines when customers renege on a deal or contract such as in this case where Meyers did not return a piece of property that he had on loan from a video rental store. To go so far as to issue an arrest warrant for a 2002 transaction involving one VHS tape? That’s a bit over the top!

The whole process of dealing with this man’s arrest including filing the paperwork, placing him in handcuffs, proceedings, etc. is such a frivolous use of law enforcement and resources that could have been better utilized in going after those who are deliberately committing other crimes such as robbery. There is a happy ending to this story. Tom Green, the director and star of Freddy Got Fingered, offered to help pay the fines for Meyers. Apparently, Green is another person who considers this whole ordeal -- of arresting a man because he did not return a movie -- to be just as ridiculous as it sounds.

How would YOU have reacted to this frivolous arrest over a video rental?

What was the last movie YOU rented?

Brandon is a popcorn snob that enjoys learning about weird film trivia. He likes technology and impersonating famous actors.

Reese’s Enquiry – What makes a film EPIC?

A group of vinyl figures known as the popcorn snobs are running this blog for the next 22 days, in what they’re calling ‘The Taking of A-Z.’ Enjoy!

Hello to everyone, I am Reese and I’m requesting your help in settling an ongoing disagreement that Kesha and I usually have when we go to the cineplex. She claims there is only one key element that determines whether a film will turn out to be truly epic or not – acting. However, I don’t see things that way because it all depends on the type of movie you’re watching.

To me, epic films are the kinds that play well in a theater setting because different elements are working together so well that you have to see it on the big screen to get (and appreciate) the “full effect” of a movie in all its glory. The sound is so riveting that you don’t even realize how it’s playing with your emotions. The cinematography is breathtaking that you might think you’re actually there. The acting performances are so captivating that you feel like what you’re watching is real. The directing is so smooth that everything you’re watching looks like it belongs.

There’s nothing out of place that is making you question some aspect of the film. The script flows with characters that are so bold and unforgettable, you learn a lot about yourself from watching them. The editing is so smooth and extraordinary that you feel like you’re being taken on an exhilarating journey – one that will eventually come to an end but you’re fine when that happens because you got what you needed.

Extraordinary editing delivers nothing more and nothing less that you need to see or experience. In fact, if there was one element that is crucial to the recipe for making an epic film, I would say editing is it!

Extraordinary editing can make you forget you’re sitting in a theater amongst hundreds of strangers, watching a piece of fiction play out before your very eyes. It can take you into the future, make you relive the past and bring you back to the present, all without missing a beat. It can keep you on the edge of your seat, so wrapped up in a scene that you’re anxiously waiting to find out what happens next.

What element(s) do YOU think a film needs to be truly EPIC?

Reese is a popcorn snob who enjoys the art of making movies and believes they were meant to be seen at the theater, not on computers or mobile devices. She likes socializing about all things related to cinema, dancing, music and cute hairstyles. 

Nate is Distracted! Why Fans of ‘The Divergent Series: Allegiant’ are better than ‘Deadpool’ Viewers

Several vinyl Popcorn Snobs are running this blog for the next 23 days, in 'The Taking of April A-Z,' for your reading pleasure. 

Happy Humpday! It’s Nate M. Stevens, your barefoot pal from the cinema and I’m back with a case for why people who flock to see Marvel Comics’ superhero flick Deadpool are some biggest douchebags in the world. As I’ve previously mentioned, going to see this movie was my very first time visiting a theater.

Although I do plan on returning -- maybe even wearing a pair of shoes next time -- the experience I had while in the presence of other men, women and *gasp* children watching Deadpool helps me further understand why many dudes and dudettes would rather “Netflix and chill” than watch movies with a bunch of strangers. I also went to see the dystopian adventure movie The Divergent Series: Allegiant on the same day that I got my Deadpool fix and, well, the differences in the level of disrespectful behavior shown among moviegoers at these two films stood out like a sore thumb.

There were only a few dozen (or less) people in attendance for the early afternoon show time of Deadpool. Several children under the age of 10, accompanied by parents or guardians, were among the attendees to see this R-rated movie. There was a talkative lady seated near the back rows who chose not to use her inside voices when addressing matters involving the children in her company. Not surprisingly, they didn’t respond to her with their inside voices. A guy sitting in the row behind me also kept kicking the back of the chair while a woman seated in the row in front of mine kept texting, scrolling through apps and doing lord-knows-what with her cell phone.

She was not discreet at all during the times when she tapped away on her bright screen. At one point during the movie, she even had the audacity to get on a phone call and engage in a conversation, albeit brief, with someone on the other end of the line.

The theater showing The Divergent Series: Allegiant became so crowded by the end of the first act that some people either walked back and forth or stood on the side just to try to find an available seat. One older man seated at the end of my row kept shouting random nonsense at the big screen. My guess is that, based on chosen words in his outburts, he is a veteran of some kind because he shared his thoughts out loud during previews and commercials that displayed content related to (or involving) the government or the military.

He became quiet as the movie progressed and would shout reactions to what was happening in a few of the scenes in the second and third act, some of which were understandable and caused many people in the audience to laugh and/or respond with similar sentiments. Needless to say, there was a moment or two during the movie when a lot of the audience members agreed with his outbursts. This evening showtime for The Divergent Series: Allegiant was comprised of mostly middle-aged and college-aged adults with the exception of a few older children and teens who came as a group with adult chaperones. Based on their conversations and interactions with each other, the group appeared to be from a school or organization that helps children with developmental disabilities.

A few times during the movie, some of the children and their chaperones left the theater but returned shortly thereafter.

They didn't seem bothered by the fact that they were missing out on portions of the movie.

To sum things up, Deadpool had less people (but way more children) and an earlier showtime but caused more distractions than The Divergent Series: Allegiant, which showed later in the evening and was a packed house. The Divergent Series: Allegiant had almost no distractions aside from the outburst from that guy and people walking in and out for (what appeared to be) bathroom breaks throughout the movie.

Bottom line: The Divergent Series: Allegiant audience is pure* while the Deadpool movie attracts damaged* people who don’t know how to behave and practice common decency when in the company of others.

*Extra brownie points for those of you who get the reference ;)

How much does the quality of the audience impact YOUR overall moviegoing experience?

Am I asking too much by demanding that moviegoers practice common decency at the cinema?