Some Reviews For Your Reading Pleasure...And Also Some Stuff I Did Last Week
I suppose I should cover last week, as it was decent enough...no, it sas pretty damn fun.
On Monday I met up with Rob, and we went to see Iron Man, and that was enjoyable. I'm not too big a fan of Marvel superheroes, I find them to be somewhat silly (especially some of the names and powers---just look at Ant-Man), and sometimes I think they're too bogged down with the angsty, manic, anxiety-ridden melodrama. Although its a point now in the post-Watchman and post-Dark Knight Returns period in comics that both comics, and comicbook-movies, are serious and "realistic" and metaphorical if not melodramatic.
I'm not saying that this is neccessarily a bad thing at all. Sometimes it works out in absolutely fantastic ways, and the results are classic stroy-arcs or graphic novels (Watchmen, V For Vendetta, Dark Knight Returns, Death of Superman, Spider-Man: Reign, Marvel Ultimate storylines, Marvels, etc. etc. etc.). But sometimes, I just want to have fun. And that is exactly what Iron Man was: a whole lot of fun. It was great to finally see Robery Downey Jr. get a lead in a movie of this size, and it was clear that he was obivously having a good time on the set (as was the rest of the cast). I wasn't familiar with teh Iron Man characters, nor the origins of the character, and as a result I was genuinely surprised by the character arc, and was able to view it as something other than "a fanboy".
The character's transition from rich, pampered playboy to superhero didn't feel rushed, nor convenient towards the story, but felt that it went at the exact pace that it needed to. The film understood what it was (a comic-book adaptation), and it didn't attempt to push the boundaries of the genre, nor did it add any unneeded baggage to any of the characters. (My only gripe was that Tony Stark only matured slightly while in the Iron Man persona---there was no change between Tony Stark: playboy and Tony Stark: superhero). But, aside from that minor quibble, there wasn't a dull moment in the movie, and the first fly-by in the Mark II suit, the escape in the Mark I suit, the dog fight with the jets, the rescuing of the Afghan town, and the climax against Jeff Bridges' character (who was pleasingly fun and diabolical at the same time) were the highlights of a movie full of fun moments (I'm glad the romance wasn't developed further than it was, as it would have felt tacky and superfluous otherwise.) The movie, and cameos (especially of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Nick Fury) were great fun, and it was a great start to the summer movie season---a film that was fun, without it having to be dumb as well.
The next film I saw was Speed Racer. I saw that on Wednesday, after going into the City and meeting up with Mauricio to have wings and beer at 1849 (I have never before gone into the City for something as small as buffalo wings). The day was fun itself, as Lacey had slept over (without anyone's knowledge...man, that was fun), and after she left to finish some work, I left to go to the City. Halfway into my 10 buffalo wings, I felt that the night needed something else (Rob was busy teaching, and then playing pool with his pool buddies, and I figured I'd meet up with him after the movie finished). Our options were Speed Racer by the Wachowski Bros., or Redbelt by David Mamet (which was his first choice---he's been thirsty to see that movie). However, Speed won out as it was the movie that played the soonest, and I didn't want to be out too late.
Man...that movie was dumb, the plot was simplistic, the characters broadly-defined caricatures, and Spritle and Chim-Chim were beyond annoying (except for when Spritle gave the villain, Royalton, the finger)...but, fuck me if I didn't love that movie. It was as much fun as Iron Man was, and I was able to just tune out and view it as a kids' movie (which is exactly what it is). This is a movie about visuals, and. at its core, about family. About what it means to live as a tightly-knit family unit, and how one can use family to work together as a team. Does it get too preachy? Yeah. Will kids squirm in their seats, impatient, during the long expository scenes and speeches? I don't doubt it at all. but will the set pieces make up for it? I don't doubt it. Is the film literally a feast for the eyes? Of fucking course---some of the imagery is just plain gorgeous. And, damn if some of the images didn't make me feel like a kid again (e.g.---the last shot; the final race; the time-warping flashbacks; the final lap of the climactic race where Speed jumps through a red-checkered-flag "tunnel", seemingly transcending time and space; the opening scene where a young Speed pretends to drive a colored-in cartoon race; John Goodman as Pops; Christina Ricci doing her pitch-perfect anime look as Trixie; Racer X; etc. etc. etc.) Is the film perfect? Absolutely not...the film stalls when not on the track (and this is more evident upon a second viewing). But once the cues from the original theme song start playing, I couldn't help but get excited. Go.
Friday was absolutely dead at work, so I was finally FINALLY able to see A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints. Man. That was a great film, solid, poignant, with pitch-perfect performances all around, and a sense that I really felt like I was in 1980's Queens (having grown up in the Bronx in the early 1990's, I could easily relate), and Mauricio's comment that he saw one of the characers in the film back when he himself was growing up in Queens merely lent and added depth to the entire film, making it more immediate and real than I expected. The film, written and directed by Dito Montiel, and based on his memoirs about growing up in Queens, has amazing turns by Shia LeBeouf and Robert Downey Jr., as well as Chazz Palmintieri and Channing Tatum. I cannot describe the film as it is visceral experience to witness on your own, but the editing was top-notch, the story engaging, the pacing perfect, and Shia and Robert are just getting more and more respect from me the more I see of their works.
Saturday I saw Umberto D., an Italian neorealist film directed by that movement's founding father, Vittorio de Sica. Umberto was slightly different than most neorealist films, as there was a background soundtrack and several point-of-view shots and other shots uncommon in neorealism. The story concerns the main character, Umberto, and elderly man living alone with his dog in an apartment. He lives on a small pension under a bitchy landlady (who is subsequently evicting him), and a maid who is kind but ineffectual. He is forced to sell most of his possessions in order to just survive, and tries desperately to hold onto the two things that matter most to him: his dignity, and his dog, Flike. So much does he love Flike that he even gives up the thought of suicide, just for the mere fact that no one would be able to take care of his dog, and should Flike be taken to the pount, he would be promptly killed (a fact explained in a scene where Umberto goes looking for a lost Flike, and indeed sees the dog gas chambers in the pound, a cartful of dogs being pushed inside). I knew what to expect from de Sica, and from the entire neorealist movement in general, and wasn't expecting a happy ending. But what I got wasn't a sad ending either. What I got was an affirmation that what everyone needs, every single one of us, is just to be able to love something that loves us back; no matter what, that's what we all need. Just one person. Or, in this case, a dog. Homeless, poor, no food, no possessions, no friends, no family...Unberto is happy and grateful to be able to keep his dog, and the film ends with him and Flike playing in a park, estatic just to be together.
Friday my cousin Robert finally proposed to his girlfriend of 5 years, Emily. It was a catered, family affair at a rental hall in Ridgefield Pakr, and it was pouring. I brought Lacey along, but neither of us was really enjoying ourselves (herso more than me), so we left early, after eating and getting some free drinks, but managed to enjoy ourselves somewhat during the end, when we hit the dancefloor for a bit. We left and picked up Zoe, and later met up with Kelsey when we went to see Speed Racer (me for my second time).
The weekend was spent with family of various sorts, and with my starting to watch the original, Soviet version of Solaris. I hope I finish it before I need to return it to the library...I read a bunch, and actually drew something for the first time in nearly 5 years (man, it felt good). Spent a lot of time cleaning and packing for this weekend as well.
Today, after work, we're all going to 1849 for more wings and beer.
Friday me and the cowokers are getting margaritas, watching Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and then hitting Cooper 35. This weekend I leave for my cruise to the Carribbean. And hopefully, finally, I'll get to see Josh and Phil.
That's that. That's all.