Spider-Man 3--Ok, the critics have been pretty narrow-minded about this movie. Sure, it has some issues with evenness, but most of the specific criticisms that have been leveled against this movie are unfair and unfounded. First of all, the plot is complex, but not so convoluted that you can't follow it. Just set aside your expectations and go with the flow. Second, I don't think there are too many villains. Multiple bad guys is standard fare for comic books--if the superhero can't handle more than one villain at once, then maybe he doesn't really deserve to be a superhero. Third, there's a lot of time spent on the often-defunct friendship between Harry and Peter, and people seem to have a problem with that, as well as with the fact that most of the main characters cry at some point during the movie. Is it so terrible that Sam Raimi wants to depict genuine human relationships in all their complexity? There's still plenty of action, not to mention enough special effects to sink a battleship (that is, if special effects could, in fact, sink a battleship). I happen to think it does the audience a disservice to strip a film of its human element. If you want an example, just think of a bland, interchangeable Steven Seagal movie. Or better yet, think of the most recent Star Wars trilogy, then think about how hard you laughed at the "love scenes" between Anakin and Padme. Personally, I laughed pretty hard, because when the filmmaker doesn't care about the plausibility of his characters or their motivations, you just can't bring yourself to care about them either. And fifth, critics say that Spider-Man 3 is too ambitious. (Deep sigh.) Why shouldn't superhero movies be ambitious? Why shouldn't they strive for Wagnerian grandeur? If you want crappy vanilla superhero movies, just put on an endless loop of Daredevil and shut up.
Things I learned from this movie:
- Being evil makes you dance really badly.
- There is no easy way to fight a being made from sand.
- Close proximity to science stuff will almost always turn you into a superhero/villain.
- Bruce Campbell is awesome. But then we all knew that to begin with, didn't we?
Little Miss Sunshine--Twisted and hilarious. I always worry about movies that become wildly popular overnight, but the hype was justified with this one. The whole cast was wonderful, especially Steve Carell and Alan Arkin. I'm going to stop right there, because I'm pretty sure everyone in the universe has seen it by now. Smart and very funny.
Hot Fuzz--The guys who brought us Shaun of the Dead are back (yay!), and this time it's with a hilarious comedy about an overindustrious London cop who gets exiled to a sleepy country burb (his colleagues believe he's making them look bad). The town, of course, turns out to be a little less sleepy and a little more H.P. Lovecraft, although I won't spoil your fun and tell you what I mean by that. I will tell you that this movie is one big homage to American action films, especially the Lethal Weapon buddy film variety, and that its best quality is a magnificent silliness. It seems to be equally comfortable with intellectual humor and bodily function jokes. Plus, you get to see Timothy Dalton chewing up scenery as a diabolical grocery store owner.
Visitor Q--Don't watch this expecting the Broadway show with the puppets--it's not Avenue Q. And don't watch it if you are easily grossed out. In fact, if you're in my list of personal acquaintances, you probably shouldn't watch it at all. It's directed by Takashi Miike, the one who brought us the "kili kili kili" of Audition, and it's just as messed up as that film, if not more so. They call Miike the 'rabid dog of Japanese cinema,' and I can tell you why . . . it's because the man is a complete nutjob. He's wacko. Unlike Audition, though, Visitor Q is not a horror movie. (And unlike The Happiness of the Katakuris, it's not a musical.) This is what it is: vile, disturbing, and amoral enough to put you on a fast track to hell if you so much as giggle. Which you will. Because it's funny. Seriously though, if you're reading this, don't watch Visitor Q unless you can handle a film that delights in smashing every taboo our civilization has ever created.
Flyboys--Ah yes, Green Goblin Jr. is flying again! But this time it's as an American pilot in World War I France. Great special effects, beautifully choreographed dogfights, and a compelling plot. Not sure why this film was overlooked. History buffs will eat it up, and the ladies will eat it up because of James Franco. Also: Jean Reno!
This Film Is Not Yet Rated--Have you ever wondered how the Motion Picture Association of America determines its ratings? Filmmaker Kirby Dick did, and he set out to make a documentary about the process. Problem is, the MPAA kind of operates like a cabal. They refuse to tell him anything about their raters, their process, or their ratings criteria. Naturally, he hires a private investigator, and hilarity ensues! The film itself is rated NC-17, for some harmless sexual scenes (used as examples of the MPAA's inconsistency). It's funny and also eye-opening.
The Prestige--I'll say it again. Christian Bale is one of the greatest actors of our generation. I just love him. From his childhood role in Empire of the Sun to American Psycho and beyond, he has shown himself to be an artist of incredible skill and dedication to craft. He literally starved himself to play the lead in The Machinist, and so it seems appropriate that in The Prestige he plays yet another character who loses himself in a destructive obsession. He and Hugh Jackman portray competing magicians in England just after the turn of the century. It's right at that pivotal time when magic was done with science and science still looked like magic. The plot itself is laid out like a magician's trick, and it keeps you guessing until the end (I nearly swallowed my own tongue with surprise). Also, as you might guess, it's a pretty dark film. But very, very good. Oh yeah, and David Bowie appears as Nikola Tesla. What more could you ask?
My Super Ex-Girlfriend--Where to begin? I hated this movie. It's poorly plotted, poorly paced, sexist, and worst of all, not funny. Say it ain't so, Luke Wilson.
Monster House--Think Event Horizon, but for children. Seriously. This animated movie has a great cast of voice actors. The whole plot feels less like traditional wholesome children's fare and more like one of those bizarre, supernatural horror stories you hear at camp. (By the way, a big thank-you to that brat at Girl Scout camp who told me the creepy story about the three-fingered porcelain doll--I've never forgotten it.) Very entertaining.
Evil Dead: The Musical--I know, I know, this is a musical and not a movie. But I've been listening to it quite a bit lately and it's awesome! Check out the 50s teenage heartbreak song, "All the Men in My Life Keep Getting Killed By Candarian Demons." Classic.