My Motley Month

A few notes on some recently digested flicks, including commentary on any indigestion that might have ensued:

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

I took this beast in on IMAX 3D and reacted by merely exiting the auditorium and relieving the Mountain Dew that got me through it. My understanding of Harry Potter and his cineverse (I’ve read exactly none of the books) didn’t seem immediately furthered by the experience, and I recall thinking that making one’s way through the book must have been rather laborious.

I took it in for a second time and was amazed at how much more I liked it. The context was no more defined, but something about the atmosphere got to me that second time. It’s dark and unrelenting, even if it’s never quite ‘entertaining’. I agree with the notion that Harry Potter has grown up as much as I agree with the notion that this is a good thing. If I were compelled to give a damn about the saga as a whole, I might rank this one among the best of the series.

The Simpsons Movie

No more or less funny than any given episode of the series, the movie is hard to love or hate. The humor (save for the subtle, yet ongoing joke concerning the EPA’s stature and resources) is a far cry from the satire that is (or was) the lifeblood of the series, but the laughs do come often enough to keep the groans at bay. Hardly a payoff for the long wait that preceded the release, but I can’t imagine that anybody really expected to be blown away by 18-year-old television characters. In most respects, the Simpsons Movie succeeds by not failing outright.

The Host

Much better than even the critic-inflated expectations that I had for it, The Host is a different breed of monster movie. The existence of the monster is treated as alarmingly commonplace, causing no worse a disturbance in the lives of the public than a traffic jam. This notion adds an indefinable layer of horror to the proceedings that removes the viewer from their comfort zone and pokes at those “what if?” nerves until the rhythmic beat of the monster’s footsteps is more frightening than it’s appearance.

Interesting that Koreans seem to have a better concept of the summer movie than we Americans do…

I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry

I really only had one problem with this movie, but it’s a biggie (and pretty much all-encompassing): it’s full of shit. Gay people are not that stupid, lawyers are not that hot (or easy), and the U.S. Judicial System is not that forgiving. I was starting to develop irrational anger toward this flick… and then it wasted Dave Matthews.

Enduring this movie is a painful experience that can not be remedied by merely two funny lines, and Kevin James’ presence only serves to make things worse – a crumpled paper bag would have more on-screen charisma. Avoid at all costs.

Hairspray

I’m not a fan of musicals – a truth that I perpetuate by rarely taking them in. Call it a whim, call it a lack of something better to do after work, or call it a crush on Brittany Snow – my ass somehow landed in a seat and much musical mayhem did ensue. Minus the “commentary” on racism that seemed a strange engine with which to power the narrative, I was never bored or annoyed by the musical numbers. By the time the finale struck up and segued right past the temptation to include an epilogue, I was sold. Days that the final tune stays in your head? 2.

The Bourne Ultimatum

Something might still come of this in the form of dual-commentary from Chuckwagon and myself, so I will bite my tongue.

Black Snake Moan

Though it wasn’t nearly as exploitive as I originally thought it might be, the real surprise turned out to be that any lack in that department wasn’t such a bad thing. There’s a lot of Christina Ricci running around naked and raping church boys (seriously: not exploitive) and even more psychotic behavior from Sam Jackson’s character, but it all hits an interesting culmination in a musical number that is as masterfully shot as it is terrifyingly powerful; the ferocity of the tune and the approaching “storm” provide enough atmosphere to seemingly carry the whole flick. Unfortunately, that rage is short-lived and ultimately gives way to an annoyingly sunny-side-up ending.

Ratatouille

Not since Toy Story has Pixar hit one out of the park like this. Prior to finally screening it, I didn’t hold much interest in a premise that seemed hokey or any of the “it’s Pixar – it HAS to be good” hubbub that surrounded its release. I stand corrected – and delightfully so.

Ratatouille is the first Pixar film in recent memory that didn’t shove it’s moral down my throat. Subtlety finds an interesting catalyst in an unusually cheery rat with a penchant for all things culinary, and the film breaths easy in that absence of spoon-feeding; viewing it, likewise, is downright liberating.

Not to mention: the voice acting is superb and completely natural. The animation? Sublime.

Rush Hour 3

This movie put me through three phases of hatred. First, I started to hate Brett Ratner and all of those responsible for this mess (honestly – Chris Tucker came back for this?). Then came the self-loathing. Why did I bother? Why did I continue to sit there? By the time “War” kicked up and the credits signaled an end to the suffering, I just hated everybody and was out to pick a fight.

I kind of forget what happened after that – if only forgetting this movie was just as easy.

Superbad

Smell that? That’s the aroma of a full fucking review. A positive one, too.

I know, I know – those are less fun to read. Luckily, the movie will rectify any laugh deficiencies.

I am McLovin’.

In Other News

--> IMAX Corp. has announced that Transformers will soon (as in, Sept. 21 soon) be re-released in IMAX format and feature never-before-seen scenes. An interesting move, to be sure, as an IMAX release wasn’t justifiable with the original release; Harry Potter and his 3Dness loomed a mere two weeks away. Putting it out there with exclusive scenes should prove to be a brilliant stopgap between Harry and Beowulf. I wasn’t a HUGE fan, but the opportunity to see this shit go down on a six story screen is just too sweet to pass up.

--> I’m having to force myself to stop reading updates on The Dark Knight. Every insanely cool morsel is just another that I’m only ruining for myself. Something I’m not upset that I read? That several scenes – including the introduction of the Joker – will be shot with IMAX equipment, making it the first Hollywood production to embrace the medium in such a way. Color me excited.

-->My anticipation for Indiana Jones IV is going in quite another direction. Harrison Ford in the Jones getup had me excited. Spielberg toasting the production as it started seemed pretentious, but certainly excusable. Then Ford straddled Shia LaBeou on a motorcycle and the shit really hit the fan. Please let this movie be good… please.

Until next time…