Movie catch up
I actually went to the movies. Real movies. It was weird.
INDIANA JONES
My brain is getting in the way. I can't tell if enjoyed the movie out of pure nostalgia or if it was actually a good movie that compares favorably to the previous three. Probably a little of both. It was fun and silly and wildly entertaining but still resorted to digital stupidity that has become a Spielberg/Lucas trademark. Shia Lebouf Tarzanning his way through the jungle with a horde of friendly chimps? You're kidding, right? Just because the technology exists, doesn't mean you have to use it.
On a similar note, I never got past the synthetic look of the film. Likely my own hangup, but everyone and everything looked fake and sterile. Did they originally just want Harrison Ford to look younger and then got carried away?
The story was fine. Marion's return didn't work for me, although I'll admit it was necessary. I was disappointed that the big revelation at the end was as simplistic as it was. The characters seemed less awed than they should have been. For me, that was one of the really successul aspects of movies on and three. When they find the Holy Grail there's a moment where the characters acknowledge that what's in front of them, shouldn't exist. I didn't get that here. I also didn't like that the ending was exactly the same as Last Crusade, minus the emotion.
But it was still a good time. As soon as I see Narnia, I'm sure I'll be back for a second go.
Iron Man
I loved it. Too much fun. Roberty Downey is so good as the smarmy, superficial, asshole. I even didn't despise Gwyneth (although there were moments when it was close). Although it would have been hard to do in the time allowed, my only wish is that the bad guy was revealed earlier and there was more of a cat and mouse game.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
The same as all the other Apatow movies (with the exception of Superbad). Meaning, it's really freaking funny, brutally honest about how late 20s/early 30s adults act, and 20 minutes too long. As with all of those movies, there's a point when I start looking at my watch wondering why the movie isn't over yet. Oh yeah, it's because they throw 20-30 minutes worth of random jokes into the movies. Are the funny? Yes. Are the necessary? No. Do they slow everything down? If you're paying attention to the story. I wonder if I'm just not the target audience since I don't like having randomness injected into my stories. In this one, it's the sub-plot of the newleywed couple who can't figure out how to have sex. Undoubtedly hysterical and completely arbitrary. I hate that.
21
Holy shit, that was bad. Really bad. What should have been "Catch Me if You Can" in Vegas turned into a slick television movie. It's style over substance. An adaptation where everyone read the book and said, "That idea is too interesting, leave it out!" Here's what I learned from 21.
1. The suites at the Hard Rock have great views of the Bellagio fountains. Somehow, the Hard Rock Hotel has perfected X-Ray window technology.
2. When counting cards, you will never lose unless you get emotional. Ever.
3. Facial recognition software has eliminated the need for human security teams.
4. Planet Hollywood, the second newest casino on the strip, has yet to implement facial recognition software.
5. Only one student in an advanced mathematics class at MIT, could solve the Monty Hall Dilemma, a problem I learned in High School.
It's movies like 21 that make me wish I was a studio exec.