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YouTube ‘Hitler Reacts’ videos are EC’s downfall

January 31st, 2010 by Scott Marks

YouTube Hitler parody videos are my downfall.

These frequently hilarious swatches that the Fuehrer would definitely have classified as degenerate art have been gathering views in record numbers for going on two years. They even managed to grab the attention of the generally high-minded New York Times.

It’s a viral video phenomenon that’s snowballed into what amounts to the world’s largest Film School 101 exercise. Each student is assigned the same scene, in this case a particularly combustible nugget from the German language film “Downfall” (2004), a biographical account of Adolf Hitler’s last ten days. The YouTube auteurs’ mission is to give new voice to Hitler by replacing the original English subtitles with satiric variations of their own.

The snippet in question shows Der Fuehrer (played by distinguished German actor Bruno Ganz) seated at his desk in the bunker while his minions nervously mill about waiting to deliver news that the war is over and Hitler’s side lost. All but three are asked to leave the room after which Hitler’s quivering hand slowly and silently removes his eyeglasses. It’s the calm before the sturm und drang as we await the reenactment of a full mental blitzkrieg on the Poland of Hitler’s cerebellum complemented by sarcastic subtitles.

Screenwriter Keith Ross Leckie (“Everest,” “Shattered City”) told The Globe and Mail, “Hitler is the extreme villain of course, and we’re all fascinated with him. The scene is set for you at the first glimpse. All his generals are standing around looking tense. You know something is up. The very intensity of it is what makes it so funny.”

Several months ago a former student introduced me to my first Hitler parody video. “Hitler learns that the ‘Avatar’ trailer sucks” cast Schicklgruber in the role of a nervous fanboy fearing that that the finished product could not possibly live up to advance hype. It’s a masterful pile of in-jokes that harpoon James Cameron’s most arcane flops and draw unflattering comparisons to “Land Before Time 3” and “FernGully: The Last Rainforest.” There’s even a knowing aside concerning “the Hollywood opiate of putting technology before the story.”

Be aware that every variation contains R rated language. Some of the salty on-screen translations get bluer than a brace of Na’vi.

Sharper entries include “Hitler reacts to McCain’s V.P. pick” (“Her daughter gets passed around like a joint at a Ben Harper concert.”), Hitler confronting his own sexuality after learning that gays are getting married and his wrath and indignation upon discovering that Dallas didn’t make it to Super Bowl 42.

The most obtuse variant I unearthed was “Hitler Responds to Sam’s Birthday,” an exclusive invitation to a London birthday bash.

I just finished “researching” thirty or so of the wildly popular Hitler parodies and my guess is there’s at least ten times that amount on YouTube. No two parodies bear the same title, so it’s impossible to calculate just how many variations there are. Some begin with “Hitler finds out about…” or “Hitler rants about…” or “Hitler is informed about…,” buy they all share the same fundamental concept.

Hitler is brought news that displeases him. It could be that his mother is coming to visit (not surprisingly she drives a Volkswagen) or that he’s been banned from Xbox Live. And I pity the poor SS Officer assigned the task of telling Hitler that there is no Santa Claus. Hitler asks, “If he doesn’t exist why, would they write songs about him?” and demands an explanation for “the consumed milk and cookies.”

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Kennedy Center Honorees visit White House with Scorsese cameo

January 2nd, 2010 by Scott Marks

In this reporter’s never ending quest to pore over every recorded image of Him, I present this brief White House sighting. Believe me, it was easier to spot Hitchcock in “The Trouble With Harry,” but I found Him. Used to be the eyebrows and beard that made it easy to pick Marty out in a crowd. Nowadays it’s the Swifty Lazar frames.

DeNiro looked beautiful! The thought of hitting the men’s room to spit into an Ace comb and do some damage control on that hat head never crossed Bob’s mind. I envision the actor handing the butler one of those Nicolai Ceaucescu Persian wool caps as he entered The White House.

The controversy over what Grace Bumbry wore around her neck rages on. I swear it’s a dog cone so she won’t lick her stitches while sources close to the White House speculate it’s anything from a satellite dish to a toilet seat.

Note to President Obama: Keep Michelle on a tight leash when you’re around DeNiro. You know what I’m saying.

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