New appreciation for JJ Abrams
There might be hope for the new Star Trek.
I just finished watching Mission Impossible III, and that in itself should say something considering that I felt the first one was a waste of time excessive even for Hollywood and the second was seen, whilst having a conversation in the last half of, while I fast forwarded through said last half waiting for something of interest to catch the eye. When my friend commented on this, and why not watch the damned movie I replied somewhat flippantly about the best thing about this movie so far was a fast forward button.
So, I get to III. 18 months past initial release, long after DVD has been out, I stumble across a copy who's origin is probably questionable as far as the movie studio's go. My personal opinion is that when I feel that I have 'stolen' enough of their precious revenue generating films to the point where I feel paid back for the spoon fed shit that is tossed my way in terms of most film entertainment (Really, that has more to do with why I read as many books as I do than anything), and in specific the spoon fed shit that I, innocent and addled in adolescence, paid for the privelege of consuming.
Anyhoo, this film was surprising. No, Tom Cruise is still slightly creepy and has the funniest looking sprint I've ever seen. And yes, the promo's of this film is where he started going off all over the place about Katie Holmes, an actress who is still looking for the role that fits her. Last I looked it wasn't murdered southern slut or up and coming district attorney. No, Tom Cruise does have some good bits in this film where he is genuinely charming, and he does have some chemisty with his girlfriend/fiance/wife (All the same person, odd for a Mission Impossible Flick) who also surprisingly doesn't stab, shoot, betray or otherwise try to fuck with him.
The action sequences worked well. Especially the bridge, man, that was hot. The timing of: This is the guy who betrayed me! Avenge my death! BOOOOOOM! There goes the rear guard. For something done so often, it's hard to do well. Everything goes to hell, helicopters with goons arrive. And get this: Instead of trying to go balls to the wall killing bad guys, the Government Agent Super Spies stop and help the civvies. No, really. They laid supressive fire and tried to keep everyone unlucky enough to be on that bridge down.
Of course the bad guy gets away. The great thing about the bad guy: Phillip Seymore Hoffman. Now, bad guy is about as two dimensional as this text, but hey, who cares. Hoffman manages to be unapologetic about his bad guy status, he is a classicly portrayed sociopath. Little reaction to bad scenarios, very even, extremely full of rage and a need to take that out on people. It's... Nice. While I love a fully worked villain, far too often I get half baked villainy. Hoffman just made statements and followed them through, it was great.
And I attribute most of this to Abrams. Now, I can't stand Lost. And Felicity bored me to tears. And Alias kinda sucked for me. And oh yeah, I pretty much hate most everything he's done on TV. But I enjoyed this movie, which makes me hope that his film work can maintain this status.
Besides the guy wrote Regarding Henry. I liked that one a lot too.
I have hope.
- Ben
P.S. Watch the trailer for the new Batman, The Dark Knight. I want. Soooooo bad.
I just finished watching Mission Impossible III, and that in itself should say something considering that I felt the first one was a waste of time excessive even for Hollywood and the second was seen, whilst having a conversation in the last half of, while I fast forwarded through said last half waiting for something of interest to catch the eye. When my friend commented on this, and why not watch the damned movie I replied somewhat flippantly about the best thing about this movie so far was a fast forward button.
So, I get to III. 18 months past initial release, long after DVD has been out, I stumble across a copy who's origin is probably questionable as far as the movie studio's go. My personal opinion is that when I feel that I have 'stolen' enough of their precious revenue generating films to the point where I feel paid back for the spoon fed shit that is tossed my way in terms of most film entertainment (Really, that has more to do with why I read as many books as I do than anything), and in specific the spoon fed shit that I, innocent and addled in adolescence, paid for the privelege of consuming.
Anyhoo, this film was surprising. No, Tom Cruise is still slightly creepy and has the funniest looking sprint I've ever seen. And yes, the promo's of this film is where he started going off all over the place about Katie Holmes, an actress who is still looking for the role that fits her. Last I looked it wasn't murdered southern slut or up and coming district attorney. No, Tom Cruise does have some good bits in this film where he is genuinely charming, and he does have some chemisty with his girlfriend/fiance/wife (All the same person, odd for a Mission Impossible Flick) who also surprisingly doesn't stab, shoot, betray or otherwise try to fuck with him.
The action sequences worked well. Especially the bridge, man, that was hot. The timing of: This is the guy who betrayed me! Avenge my death! BOOOOOOM! There goes the rear guard. For something done so often, it's hard to do well. Everything goes to hell, helicopters with goons arrive. And get this: Instead of trying to go balls to the wall killing bad guys, the Government Agent Super Spies stop and help the civvies. No, really. They laid supressive fire and tried to keep everyone unlucky enough to be on that bridge down.
Of course the bad guy gets away. The great thing about the bad guy: Phillip Seymore Hoffman. Now, bad guy is about as two dimensional as this text, but hey, who cares. Hoffman manages to be unapologetic about his bad guy status, he is a classicly portrayed sociopath. Little reaction to bad scenarios, very even, extremely full of rage and a need to take that out on people. It's... Nice. While I love a fully worked villain, far too often I get half baked villainy. Hoffman just made statements and followed them through, it was great.
And I attribute most of this to Abrams. Now, I can't stand Lost. And Felicity bored me to tears. And Alias kinda sucked for me. And oh yeah, I pretty much hate most everything he's done on TV. But I enjoyed this movie, which makes me hope that his film work can maintain this status.
Besides the guy wrote Regarding Henry. I liked that one a lot too.
I have hope.
- Ben
P.S. Watch the trailer for the new Batman, The Dark Knight. I want. Soooooo bad.