When parodies were good...
Ah the good old days when parodies was a good word. When parodies was actually a word that was celebrated and not cringed upon. Somehow, of course that changed with the putrid sewers of parodies that Hollywood seems to churn out. Click to read my take on parody " sewer" comedies
However, let us revel in those good times which were parodies that spawned catchphrases, t shirt and fandom in their own right.
The Schwartz :
Spaceballs
Ah yes, who could forget the weird song " Dink Dink Da Dink Dink Dink Dink Dink", which were the spaceballs version of ewoks. And those cooky spaceball suits with the circular buttocks? Classic. And who could forget " I am half dog, half man, I'm a mog, I'm my own best friend"But more than that, Spaceballs parodied the simplistic and fanatic nature of Star Wars and it's commercialization. Sheer brillance. May the schwartz be with you.
Airplane!
The mother of all parodies, literally. This parody comedy was so brillant in delivering lines that it remains timeless despite now being more than thirty years old.
Young Frankenstein
Actually a really intelligent look of how ridiculously far away from the original Frankenstein from Mary Shelley's vision has become thanks to Hollywood's recklessness, it is also incredibly funny ( who can forget the sexually deviant Frankenstein and his bride?)
Robin Hood : Men in Tights
A direct parody to the incredibly insipid Kevin Costner film, this movie was also a salute to the older versions of Robin Hood. Not quite as good as some of those listed above but still worth mentioning.
Here are a couple of modern parodies which are not so obvious :
Shrek
Shrek basically gives a twist to the fairy tale of yore : Who says the ogre can't be beautiful? Why does the maiden have to be useless and helpless? Who says the prince is charming and good looking? Suck it Disney!
Austin Powers
It's worth mentioning that Austin powers bears more resemblance to old Bond movies than most of the modern ones, and perhaps is more of a salute to these than a real " parody" , but if you watch these films back to back you will be surprised how similar they really are.
Hopefully, parodies will go back to these classics which rendered tribute as well as giving great social commentary. Instead of the stupidity we have been subjected to in the last couple of years
However, let us revel in those good times which were parodies that spawned catchphrases, t shirt and fandom in their own right.
The Schwartz :
Spaceballs
Airplane!
The mother of all parodies, literally. This parody comedy was so brillant in delivering lines that it remains timeless despite now being more than thirty years old.
Young Frankenstein
Actually a really intelligent look of how ridiculously far away from the original Frankenstein from Mary Shelley's vision has become thanks to Hollywood's recklessness, it is also incredibly funny ( who can forget the sexually deviant Frankenstein and his bride?)
Robin Hood : Men in Tights
A direct parody to the incredibly insipid Kevin Costner film, this movie was also a salute to the older versions of Robin Hood. Not quite as good as some of those listed above but still worth mentioning.
Here are a couple of modern parodies which are not so obvious :
Shrek
Shrek basically gives a twist to the fairy tale of yore : Who says the ogre can't be beautiful? Why does the maiden have to be useless and helpless? Who says the prince is charming and good looking? Suck it Disney!
Austin Powers
It's worth mentioning that Austin powers bears more resemblance to old Bond movies than most of the modern ones, and perhaps is more of a salute to these than a real " parody" , but if you watch these films back to back you will be surprised how similar they really are.
Hopefully, parodies will go back to these classics which rendered tribute as well as giving great social commentary. Instead of the stupidity we have been subjected to in the last couple of years
