It is with a heavy heart that we learn of the death of Patrick Swayze. Sure, a lot of his movies were forgettable (wow, Skatetown, USA AND Grandview, USA!) but the dude struck us as a real class act. He was a classically trained ballet artist but also knew how to defend Colorado against Commies.
While I could never make any sense of movies like Too Wong Foo or even felt much affection toward the beloved Dirty Dancing, Patrick Swayze shall forever have a place in my heart for two titans of kick-ass action flicks.
I speak, of course, of Road House and Point Break.
Road House may have worn its philosophical aspirations on its sleeve (in what other movie will you hear a buddhist koan as you are thrown from a bar as a blind man plays guitar?) but I'd argue that Point Break may be even more of a mind-altering trip. Did you ever realize that Bodhi's name is short of Bodhisattva? We've actually given this a great deal of thought.
As realists, we recognized that the prognosis for pancreatic cancer is never good. The day we first learned Swayze's sad news, we sank our teeth into the Cinema of Swayze and we invite you to take a look back at what we considered the highlights. From Uncommon Valor, Youngblood, Red Dawn and his small role in Donnie Darko, the man did plenty of fantastic pictures that didn't involve him mushing up clay with Demi Moore.
Patrick Swayze, you were a champ. My sister put posters of you up all over her room, so I was contractually obligated to roll my eyes at you a little bit, but dammit if I didn't think you were the coolest thing ever when you jumped out of that plane for reals. Because of you, no one ever will put a baby in the corner the same way again.
More:
Patrick Swayze Pics.
Point Break Pics.
Road House Pics.
Road House's Wade Garrett.
