Monday, November 24, 2008

Overdue Summer Movie Fanchick Reviews

I miss summer already. This was a great summer to be a fangirl, as it seemed
every week had awesome movies coming out. Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Marvel, D.C...all of them out, representin' and doing, in my opinion a kick arse job. I am starting this post sometime in June and will finish it around September. I figure I'd like to include all the movies we've seen with a bit of flair du Jenn and also to send a message to the major studios. Sure, me sending a message to the movie studios is like going to see the Beatles at Wembley Stadium and holding up a marriage proposal to Ringo Starr written in pencil on typing paper as I stand on my seat which has the same altitude as a prop plane's flight path. But hey, I'll give it a try. Maybe if we say and spend enough the studios will be more inclined to keep 'em comin'.

Iron Man: I love this movie. I love it so much. My only regret is that I didn't go back to see it to give Marvel more of my money. What makes me really happy is that they appear to be dropping hints about new projects. Downey says he's in it for the long haul. You can tell he really is having fun playing Stark and he's soo good as the playboy superhero sensible women hate to love. His delivery is like his wardrobe, stylish, snappy, yet smooth saavy and smart. This is his role and he lets the world know.

The Dark Knight: Although it came out later, I think this movie is better (only slightly) than Iron Man. John and I have already decided that we are going back to see it again.The entire cast is outstanding. Christian Bale is a great choice for the young Bruce Wayne. I think that he has the talent to develop the very complex persona that is Batman in multiple movies. Michael Caine's Alfred is protective but not overwhelming, and Morgan Freeman is very effective as Lucius Fox. The portayal of Harvey "Two-Face" Dent by Aaron Eckart was amazingly chilling, and Gary Oldman seems as natural as Commissioner Gordon as Robert Downey was playing Tony Stark. A post about Heath Ledger's performance specifically will appear in July, as I don't want to take anything away from the rest of the movie, as his portrayal of the Joker really deserves its own spotlight. In short, it was amazing and will most likely go down as one of my favorite comic book movies. We saw it opening night at Commonwealth 20, and the crowd we saw it with was energetic and very responsive and thankfully lacking in douchebaggery that some popular movies tend to attract. One of the highlights of the night occurred not in the movie itself, but when I went to the restroom. The theatre had been decorated with all sorts of Batgear, with special emphasis on Joker-like anarchistic graffiti on the glass (if you have time and are in the area, check it out- kudos to the designer). Very attractive and smart marketing. It worked well. A little boy, probably no older than age 5, was in the potty with his mom, trying unsuccessfully to convince her that he was old enough to go see The Dark Knight. Mom pointed out that although this Batman was the same as the cartoon Batman he watched on TV everyday, this movie probably would be a tad too scary for the tyke. The kid responded with the best line ever:
"But Mom, he's the Joker. He jokes. He says, 'Ha ha. It's a joke.' It's not real. I'll be okay!"
My faith in humanity's future has been restored, and maybe one day he will get to go see it. I almost offered to take him myself, but didn't want to creep out a doting mom in a movie theater can with an offer to potentially corrupt her young son. Didn't think that was appro.

Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull: This was so much fun to watch. Like Dark Knight, the cast was great. A lot of the fan reviews point out that it gets better with multiple viewings. We saw it twice in the theatre and we agree. The film's plot has a lot of weight to it, and you will be able to pick up on certain things with multiple viewings- and fill in the gaps if you miss stuff the previous viewing. It's not as good as Last Cruisade, but it is definately worth watching and owning on DVD if you are a fan.

The Incredible Hulk: Marvel's done a really good job getting people who fit the roles. Downey as Tony Stark and now Edward Norton as Bruce Banner. Also, Liv Tyler is really gaining strength as an actress. She and Norton have great onscreen chemistry. I am hoping they bring her back again as Betty Ross in the much hinted at Avenger Movie.

Hellboy 2: "Aw, crap" has become our family's favorite lament now after watching Ron Perlman, the Lon Cheney of his time, reprise his role as Red. Although this was not my favorite of the summer movies, I am nonetheless happy to see it. Del Toro's work is always outstanding, and this movie was just a great way to spend a couple of free hours.

Star Wars Clone Wars: Not my favorite movie of the summer, but still a winner to me. This story involves the time between Episodes 2 and 3. It’s always refreshing to see females in the Star Wars Universe.

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