A heroic movie summer. Sort of.
My take on the movies my significant other and I have seen this summer (and we've seen a bunch of them):
"The Strangers": A truly scary concept about masked intruders who pop up from nowhere and terrorize a couple in a secluded house for no reason. When asked why they are being so cruel and sadistic, one of the intruders says, "You were home." Meanwhile, I'd like to ask the scriptwriter why he let such a promising, creepy premise fizzle in the third act.
"Iron Man": The producers of super hero movies are getting the right idea: Be respectful of the source material. Don't camp it up a la those awful Joel Schumacher Batman movies in the 1990s. And cast good actors who don't necessarily fit the comic book hero archetype. Tim Burton did that in choosing, of all people, Michael Keaton, in his Batman movies. Robert Downey Jr. is another inspired choice as Iron Man, in a movie that combines just the right mix of action, humor and serious business.
"Mongol": This sweeping, beautfully filmed epic about the rise of Genghis Khan is exhilarating and insightful. I left the theater wanting more. They'll probably dub it for DVD, but I prefer the subtitles.
"Hancock: A pretty good adventure comedy about a boozing super guy who means well but uses his powers like a proverbial bull in a china shop. The ending is less than satisfying but the movie has its moments, including the scene in which a woman chastises the hero, "You have liquor on your breath." To which he responds: "That's 'cause I've been drinkin'."
"X-Files: I Want to Believe": Why they bothered to drag this one out of mothballs, I dunno. In its heyday, this was one of my favorite TV series, but the second movie is even worse than the first, tired and morose and listless. I left the theater thinking, "Is that all?"
"Sex in the City": I got brownie points for accompanying my significant other to this one.I've never watched the HBO TV series but found the movie not half-bad and was relieved that it gave its male characters a fair break.
"The Dark Knight": The best movie I've seen so far this summer that I think gets a bad rap for being bleak. I won't give too much away, but one of the best scenes in the movie involves a touching endorsement of regular people's ability to be heroic, without Batmobiles and cool gadgetry. We tried to see this one for a second time in IMAX while in Chicago, but it was sold out for several days. "Dark Knight" will challenge but probably won't break "Titanic's" box office record. But, for my money, it's a better movie.
Comments (6)
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I think the Dark Knight was bleak. I felt there was a strong post-9/11 subtext to the movie with the DA representing a good man, a golden boy-an American Everyman, a political figure, who, due to circumstances, lost himself and decended to a level of savagery commensurate with his enemies which led to his ultimate destruction.
When I mention this, most people kind of say "HUH"???? and a few look at me like I've developed an extra orifice in the middle of my forehead, but I think it was very strong and zeitgeisty and this adds to it's appeal, maybe on an unconscious level.
Posted on August 4, 2008 10:43 AM
Very good point, Savage. So many people place so much emphasis on Batman as a metaphor for post-911 America that they miss an even stronger correlation with Harvey Dent (aka Two-Face). Dent could be seen as representing the best and worst of America, given that he ultimately goes too far to retaliate for a heinous act of terrorism.
Posted on August 4, 2008 10:55 AM
I do think that Titanic was a better movie all around, mainly because it was about what the world needs now, yes, what there's just too little of... LOVE SWEET LOVE.
There's something in this coffee. Jeez.
Posted on August 4, 2008 11:18 AM
Either that ,or you're coming clean that you're a sucker for a five-hankie love story.
Posted on August 4, 2008 11:39 AM
Comment deleted.
Posted on August 4, 2008 3:25 PM
The above comment may accurately reflect the movie but I'm going to delete it for taste reasons.
Posted on August 4, 2008 3:30 PM