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Customer Reviews of Glory Daze

Fun comedy about facing life after graduation
I admit that I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. I never expected to see a semi-major star like Ben Affleck play a drunk/punk/skater in a raucous comedy, but he pulls it off well. I suppose I liked the movie more than most because I was once in Jack's (Ben Affleck's character) position, and it was a hell of a lot of fun, but at times it was scary, because once you graduate, everyone expects you to put down the beerbong and pick up a briefcase, which is a hell of a transition. The characters were weird, out of control, and at times larger-than-life, but it's exactly what you see in "party" houses around college campuses all around the country, especially in California. Alyssa Milano, Vien Hong, and French Stewart all play their parts stylishly, but Affleck is the star of the show - he even had me believing he was a Screeching Weasel and Op Ivy fan. I recommend this movie to anyone who's interested to know what the non-frat boy college party life is really like, but please don't think that people like NOFX as much as is portrayed in this film. I think Fat Mike (lead vocalist for NOFX and owner of Fat Wreck Chords) must have had a hand in supplying the soundtrack, hats, and t-shirts for Glory Daze, because it was a little silly to see and hear so many references to NOFX! In my opinion this is a must-see comedy, almost like a 90's version of Animal House, and I commend Affleck for taking a chance on this role.

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Moving with very good performance by Ben Affleck
I bought Glory Daze just because I am a Ben Affleck fan. I didn't expect much. I am 38 years old and I thought that the story of a bunch of college graduates would have nothing to do with me. Boy, was I wrong ! Only 10 minutes into the movie I could see myself portrayed in those characters. Although the movie was shot with young people, for young people and about young people, there are certain things that stay with you as you mature and Glory Daze sure manages to pull some of my emotional strings. The actors are all fine. We get to see French Stewart from 3rd Rock from the Sun, Alyssa Milano from Who's the Boss and Charmed, and Brendan Fraser in a small part. There's also a very small scene with Matt Damon. Ben Affleck delivers such a powerful performance. He really knows how to touch you with his sensitive portrayal. It always amazes me his capability of deep emotions at such an early age. This is pretty rare in young actors. It makes you wonder what was Ben's emotional background. A pretty intense one I suppose ! Glory Daze is a must for any Ben Affleck fan and will be enjoyed by young people of all ages. Finally it has come out on DVD. And I can't wait to get my hands on it ! :)

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Gem Hidden in Half Baked Cliche-fest
I find it both amusing and horrifying that legendary underground cinema star Brian Strauss -- who appears briefly in this film and upstages future screen star Ben Affleck and noted burnout Alyssa Milano -- made his final screen appearance (to date) in an uncredited, unrecognized cameo in this crappy film. (He is in the restaurant scene near the end, when Affleck stops to melodramatically deface the window.) Before becoming a Pynchon-esque recluse, Strauss graced avant cinema classics such as Do the Rice Thing, The Life and Tymes of Doo Doo Brown, Baxter the Killer Squirrel, and Watch Out!, just to name a few. Who could forget his emotionally tour de force in the later, as Cragmont the mentally handicapped groundskeeper? Or his oft-quoted "eat this powdered sugar..." soliloquy from Do the Rice Thing? The films Mr. Strauss made during his brief heyday (roughly 1992 to 1996) radically altered the American Independent cinema, and leveled a searing critique at voracious consumer society, tired (...) PC-protected quasi-sociological tribalism, sobriety, and outmoded notions of acceptable personal hygiene (see his fearless plunge into Temescal in Watch Out!). That this miserable movie (whether you refer to it as Glory Daze or it's earlier, more literal-minded title Cruz) remains the most widely known film from Mr. Struss' oeuvre is a savage indictment of the collective tastes of this nation and, indeed, film enthusiasts world wide. For shame!
P.S. - One final historical footnote: (...)