The Entry Where We Pick On Robert Rodriguez For No Good Reason

I was reading some article about some videogame where the designer offered, "We're looking to give this a Robert Rodriguez kind of sensibility..."

And I was thinking, what does that mean?

I like R-Rod.

I also think he makes kids' movies. I'm not just talking about the obvious kids movies (SPY KIDS, SHARK BOY, etc) -- all of his movies feel kinda like kids' movies.

First, they're all homage-heavy. "This is the one we're doing in the style of That." Most of his movies have a wink-wink sensibility that seem to say to the audience, "Remember the way movies used to be like this?"

Even his R-rated movies—filled with profanity, graphic violence and nudity—feel curiously like kiddie movies. Gratuitous nudity is shot with the tone of an adolescent who's trying to make something naughty. There is the superficial artifacts of something adult and dangerous, but it's on the surface. Violence and sexuality are just gags. He shoots naughty cartoons.

Nothing wrong with that. I just think it's indicative of a larger climate in the industry. I miss when movies were more dangerous.