Once again, Hollywood has been rifling through my childhood.
For those of you who are suspicious, no. Andre’s not kidding.
I don’t know what to say. I crossed myself when he mentioned CGI. I saw a clip of the original Flinstones series a few days ago. I was a child all over again.
What do you think? Is a new Flinstones film a good idea? Or are production companies getting desperate?
I should talk about the books I’m reading. I should talk about how I don’t wanna die a Cat Lady…I should talk about the fact that school is ending soon and I’m scared stunned.
Everything’s going to be fine. I just wish I knew what was in store…
Instead, Dear Reader, let’s focus on how I’m going to spend my downtime. This summer the usual number of blockbusters are opening. Behold!
How I love this trailer, let me count the ways…
1. Patrick Stewart. In person, and via voiceover.
2. The special effects.
3. The cinematography.
4. Hugh Jackman.
5. The entire cast.
“Hooked on a Feeling” has never not been sexy to me. Don’t know why. Don’t care.
Stanley Tucci!?! LOVE.
Something about this new Transformers film seems a bit darker than its predecessors.
Does it matter to me?
Not really. So long as ish gets blown up.
What–if any–films are you looking forward to?
So. Mr. Social Network has been cast as Lex Luthor, and folks aren’t having it.
Whether in real life or virtually, I know that some people have been disgusted. Meanwhile, me?
I’m gonna be here in the corner…
Here’s why:
1. The Social Network showed me that Jesse is insanely talented. As actors go, he strikes me as someone who has a solid range. I’m not willing to judge him based on something that hasn’t been released.
Also, just as I was wrapping up this post, I found an article on NPR’s site written by someone who agrees with me. As Linda Holmes said…
Lex Luthor, after all, is a smart, diabolical, ice-cold, inhuman, troubled, brilliant, conniving, hateful, maladjusted megalomaniac.
In playing Mr. Luthor, it’s not exactly as though Eisenberg will be visiting new territory.
2. Usually I’m not wrong about these things. Every now and then news of a film concept or casting decision comes my way. If I have the feeling that something’s gonna suck, it hits me pretty hard. And this Lex Luthor announcement? No WTFs in sight.
Just a big, fat ‘ol pile of WAIT. AND. SEE.
Guess what I watched Wednesday night?
My friend Nicole and I went to see Man of Steel.
It revived the sense of wonder that I had as a child when I saw the first Superman films.
Rather than posting a typical review, I’ve decided to share a few random, SPOILER-filled thoughts. I should warn you that almost none of the paragraphs flow into each other. Also, don’t read any further if you don’t want to know about some of the film’s critical moments.
I mean it.
Really.
I do…
First things first: I really loved the clips of Clark Kent as a boy. In particular, the scene where Young Clark felt overwhelmed in school and his mother had to coax him out of hiding. Could you imagine being a kid and having to wrestle with superhuman abilities? Could you imagine being a parent and having to raise a son who could burn you by looking at you? Kudos to the writers for that scene. Not only did I feel Clark’s vulnerability. I caught a glimpse of what Martha Kent must have felt as the mother of such a precious and powerful child.
Jonathan Kent’s death broke my heart. In the aftermath, I was stunned. One thought lingered in my mind: “He didn’t want anyone to know that his son had powers THAT BADLY?!?” I don’t know which part upset me more: The elder Kent putting up his hand to say, “No, Son. Do NOT come get me,” or Clark bursting into tears as his father was swept away. At that point, a part of me wanted to scold Clark. I felt like saying, “I bet you feel bad now for what you said…” (Note: About a moment before this event, smart-ass-young-adult-Clark told Jonathan something like, “You’re not my Dad. You’re some man who found me in a field.”)
How much falling-building-disaster-porn could they have fit into the fight sequences? The scene featuring the destruction of Metropolis was extraordinary. Yet it also left me thinking. How do survivors of 9/11 feel while watching these sort of movies? Do they find them upsetting? Given the magnitude of some of the effects, I can’t help but wonder.
I never realized how fond I was of Russell Crowe as Jor-El until his likeness kept showing up after his death.
Lois Lane knows that Superman is Clark Kent. I’m interested in seeing how this will fit into the franchise’s future. At the very least it saves me from wasting precious energy being annoyed. Back in the day it drove me nuts. How is it that a Pulitzer-winning reporter couldn’t see past some clothing and a pair of glasses?
My only real complaint is that I feel as though one of the action scenes ran a bit long. (I’m referring to the segment where the army went after all of the Kryptonians, including Superman.)
Who knows, though? Maybe the length bothered me because the whole movie was intense. My brain and body weren’t able to rest for over 2 hours. I sat scrunched up with my hands in front of my face for about 99% of the film. On the way from the theater, Nicole mentioned that when she got home she would need to decompress. I felt the same.
By the way. Don’t think I didn’t notice that truck from LEXCORP. Because I did.
Overall, I thought Man of Steel was spectacular. I look forward to seeing its sequel(s).
Random thoughts:
1. Years ago when a friend labelled me “light skinned” I was stunned. In drugstores, I could never find matching foundation. When someone refers to something as “nude”, they’re often speaking of a shade of beige that doesn’t match my skin tone.
Still, her comment left an impression. Although I knew about it in theory, I think that incident marked the first time I began contemplating colorism on a personal level.
2. That black man who says he’s not interested in dark-skinned girls…I don’t even know where to begin.
3. That girl who talks about how “dirty” natural nappy hair is needs help. And I’m not saying that as an insult.
When you think derogatorily about something that’s a part of you, you’ve got a problem.
Because next summer can’t have only one blockbuster.
Everything about this clip makes me want to see the movie. (Isn’t that what a good trailer should do?) From the actors, to the sets and clothes, to Morgan Freeman’s flawless voice…
Now You See Me is supposed to be out on June 7th of next year. It looks like fun.
…And I’m going to throw this one in for the heck of it. Will Smith’s words about “fear” really resonated with me.
Danger is very real. But fear is a choice.
I wonder if either of these movies will give Star Trek a run for its money.
In my hunt for content, I realize I’ve got perfectly good drafts floating around. Here’s a musing of mine from a few weeks back.
This weekend, I watched Gosford Park.
I looked at it three times: Twice on Saturday, and a bit more on Sunday while I did my hair.
Like Downton Abbey, it focuses on upstairs/downstairs culture on an English estate in the early 1900s. The first time I saw it, I was overwhelmed by the pace. If ever a movie was like Downtown Abbey on crack too much sugar, this is it. There was a lot going on, and some people that I just never figured out.
One blog I skimmed said that Gosford and Downton were opposites. But I disagree. I think they’re very similar. Both were (are) written by Julian Fellowes. As already mentioned, they take place in the same worlds–only a few years apart. Both offer viewers plenty of scandal, sexual innuendo, and dialogue using words such as “Lordship” and “Ladyship”. In short, Downton and Gosford are both equal parts juiciness and class.
If pressed for a difference, I’ll be honest. The main thing that I noticed is that Downton has more humorous moments*, and it was easier for me to determine who’s who. (There’s an unhappy couple seen arguing in a couple of scenes. By the time my third viewing was over, I felt like I’d only just begun to understand their backstory.)
Also–although all of the actors were fantastic–I thank God for Maggie Smith. In fact as Ms. Smith is in Gosford, so she remains in Downton. She plays the “snarky-yet-charming aristocrat” flawlessly.
Overall, I enjoyed Gosford Park. If you watch Downton Abbey, once you see this movie, you’ll probably go, “Ah-ha! So THIS‘s where they get that from…”
*I know the trailer makes Gosford Park look like a hoot. But I felt its tone was more solemn than Downton.
claire.she.goes 