Going to the movies

[highlydubious]

Over the past week I went to the movies and saw some of the summer blockbusters.
This experience brought back bitter arguments about what qualifies as a good movie and what's simply a bad one.
I can say that when it comes to these movies, once you are able to suspend your disbelief, and adjust your expectations, none of these are really bad. Some lack in basic things, like... plot for example, and some can get a little boring even in the middle of an action scene, but none of them made me want to get out of my sit and escape the cinema.

So... What movies am I talking about?

• Fantastic 4 - The Rise of the Silver Surfer.

The first movie was okay. I even wrote about it here. What I said then I can repeat now - it is up to par, but not unique or special in any way. The main story is about an unknown alien that invades Earth, and the scientists discover that they have 8 days to stop him before Earth is destroyed. In the background, Mr. Fantastic and Invisible Woman are getting married, and Invisible Woman whines a little about wanting to be normal. Two short remarks - they somehow managed to make Jessica Alba not that hot. Yes - this Jessica Abla. Not hot. Two - you will need super powers of SOD to deal with the end. My recommendation - just go with it. Don't try reason, just go with the flow. Bottom line - wait for the DVD


• Shrek the Third

The first two were funny. Not the kind of funny that endures over the years, but for the time - it was great entertainment. They had top-of-the-line animation, sharp references to that spoke to the adults and went right pass the children's heads, new, more mature interpretations to the fairy tales creatures etc. Shrek the Third has only the animation to brag about. It is absolutely amazing. On all other counts - Shrek has devolved to a sweet Disney-like flick, full of kitsch and morales with very little sophistication. Eddie Murphy's Donkey is far less annoying and not at all funny. Antonio Banderas' Puss is redundant (with the exception of Puss making that face [see my userpic]), and Eric Idle is a big waste as Merlin. Some parts in Shrek will probably make you smile, but not a whole more than that. A shame. Bottom line - unless you're really into computer graphics, you can wait for the DVD or download it.


• Transformers

I've been to the preview screening of Transformers movies. Let's start with the good news - it doesn't suck. When I first reported about this movie two years ago, darkesta said Michael Bay is going to wreck this movie. While I have some reservations about some of his directing choices - the movie is a treat for Transformers fans, and not 1/2 bad for children who weren't exposed to Autobots and Decepticons before and for those who just want an action-packed movie. In the movie - the Autobots and Decepticons are in a race after a machine-altering cube of some sort. Problems - Optimus Prime has no trailer but has lips, Megatron transforms into a fighter jet. Sound Wave does not appear, Bumblebee transforms into a Chevy Camero, not a VW Beetle and is much too big. The bright side - there will probably be a sequel, some memorable quotes are integrated into the movie, the transformers look mighty impressive and all in all - the movie is quite fun. Bottom Line - go and see.


• Die Hard 4.0 (or Live Free, Die Hard)

John McClaine is having another one of those days. You know how it is when you stumble upon a terrorist's master plan to take over the world or something, and get shot at, jump out of moving car or plane, blow shit up and live to tell the tale. This time Die Hard goes hi-tech, and the not all of the bad guys are carrying guns. The really bad ones are sitting behind a monitor and a keyboard, and doing some bad shit. The problem with this, when it comes to the movies, is that computer hacking does not film well, so the director shows something that looks cool, with lots of moving flash animations and moving windows, not to mention a whole loads of numbers running on screen a-la the Matrix, and a very convenient indicator showing the exact percentage of whatever it is the hacker is trying to do. This makes the movie lose all credibility in my book, so we are only left with the action scenes. Luckily it is just enough, and the movie comes to par with its predecessors. It is important to note Justin Long - who played Warren Cheswick in Ed who plays alongside Bruce Willis. Bottom Line - unless you're a big fan of the genre (i.e. big explosions, loads of action) - you can wait until it plays ad nauseam on TV.