MAY.
Without fail, every time May arrives my morale improves +100. Though it might be only +75 this time around because of the extra-ridiculous allergy season that is assaulting my senses, but whatever. I saw Iron Man 2 last night and LOVED IT. Proof, once again, that big-budget crowd-pleasers don't have to make their audiences feel dumber when they walk out. They can, in fact, make their audiences happier, and unite them in silly giddy enthusiasm for the same bombastic stories and characters. It's a great feeling. It's why I love the summer movie season.
I was worried, going in, that I wouldn't love this one as much as I do the wonderful first film. I am happy to be wrong: everything crackpot, hilarious, and oddly endearing about the first was still present here, and I could tell the filmmakers were working hard to make sure those elements were capitalized upon. Early reviews led me to believe the film would be too action-heavy (when the first was refreshingly economic), but I didn't feel that was the case at all. There are really only two major set-pieces I can think of, and they weren't abused, IMO. The real spectacle is still most definitely the characters. Robert Downey Jr. is his own special effect, and I have never liked Gwyneth Paltrow more than I do in both of these movies. Here, I'll confess it: I adore Tony/Pepper (which I recently saw dubbed "Pepperony" LOL FOREVER)... adoooooore. They are just note-perfect and turn me into a flaily shipper which is, um, generally out-of-character. ;P
Yeah, the simplicity of the original is missed a bit, but I didn't have a problem with all the crazy plots and subplots: I thought they were handled about as well as they could be, and I had zero issues with Marvel's generous helping of Avengers references. Come on, they are clearly having a blast connecting all their movies like this now that they can, and why not? I think it's fun to work in a bigger picture. This is the Marvel universe, after all: it's a big place. Speaking of which... ScarJo as Black Widow. Okay, I will grudgingly approve. She was fierce. I wasn't expecting to like her at all, and I still think the role could be in better hands, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't get a total thrill out of her later scenes in the classic get-up, kicking ass and taking names right and left. w00t!
Anyway. In front of Iron Man 2 was the shiny final trailer for Chris Nolan's Inception and OH. MY. WORD. Made for me, much?! GAH. I was excited before, but this trailer has shot my anticipation level sky-high. Nolan, why so awesome? He works so damn hard on his movies and it shows. I read that this script has been gestating for a decade - and now of course he's got the clout at Warner Bros to make it happen. CANNOT WAIT. (And I still can't get over that cast. Love Marion Cotillard. Love Joseph Gordon-Levitt. And Ellen Page. And David Thewlis. And Michael Caine. And Cillian Murphy. Uh huh, this hype train is boarded and out of the station.)
Visiting the parentals this weekend for Mother's Day and my brother Mike's 34th birthday; the stolen downtime has been so refreshing. But it appears I have already overstayed my welcome on the computer (Chris's "Ali? Are you done yet?" is making me flashback to six years ago) so off I go to do a bit of reading. :]
I was worried, going in, that I wouldn't love this one as much as I do the wonderful first film. I am happy to be wrong: everything crackpot, hilarious, and oddly endearing about the first was still present here, and I could tell the filmmakers were working hard to make sure those elements were capitalized upon. Early reviews led me to believe the film would be too action-heavy (when the first was refreshingly economic), but I didn't feel that was the case at all. There are really only two major set-pieces I can think of, and they weren't abused, IMO. The real spectacle is still most definitely the characters. Robert Downey Jr. is his own special effect, and I have never liked Gwyneth Paltrow more than I do in both of these movies. Here, I'll confess it: I adore Tony/Pepper (which I recently saw dubbed "Pepperony" LOL FOREVER)... adoooooore. They are just note-perfect and turn me into a flaily shipper which is, um, generally out-of-character. ;P
Yeah, the simplicity of the original is missed a bit, but I didn't have a problem with all the crazy plots and subplots: I thought they were handled about as well as they could be, and I had zero issues with Marvel's generous helping of Avengers references. Come on, they are clearly having a blast connecting all their movies like this now that they can, and why not? I think it's fun to work in a bigger picture. This is the Marvel universe, after all: it's a big place. Speaking of which... ScarJo as Black Widow. Okay, I will grudgingly approve. She was fierce. I wasn't expecting to like her at all, and I still think the role could be in better hands, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't get a total thrill out of her later scenes in the classic get-up, kicking ass and taking names right and left. w00t!
Anyway. In front of Iron Man 2 was the shiny final trailer for Chris Nolan's Inception and OH. MY. WORD. Made for me, much?! GAH. I was excited before, but this trailer has shot my anticipation level sky-high. Nolan, why so awesome? He works so damn hard on his movies and it shows. I read that this script has been gestating for a decade - and now of course he's got the clout at Warner Bros to make it happen. CANNOT WAIT. (And I still can't get over that cast. Love Marion Cotillard. Love Joseph Gordon-Levitt. And Ellen Page. And David Thewlis. And Michael Caine. And Cillian Murphy. Uh huh, this hype train is boarded and out of the station.)
Visiting the parentals this weekend for Mother's Day and my brother Mike's 34th birthday; the stolen downtime has been so refreshing. But it appears I have already overstayed my welcome on the computer (Chris's "Ali? Are you done yet?" is making me flashback to six years ago) so off I go to do a bit of reading. :]