Rock & roll movies are my focus, but I made an exception for The Conjuring because the only thing that rivaled rock & roll for my earliest affections was horror films. I was just as likely to be found reading Famous Monsters Of Filmland magazine as Hit Parader. And I loved the rockers who recognized a market at that particular intersection–Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, and later Alice Cooper and KISS. I was delighted to get a “two-for-one.”
Another Comic-Con has come and gone, and every year I’m amazed when people that I know would love it, tell me they’ve never gone. If you’re one of these people, I suggest you stop listening to your agoraphobic, pseudo hipster, nerd poser, fun impaired excuse for a friend and make the trek. Comic-Con is a blast, especially if you’re attending for the first time, and it should be on every self-respecting fanboy or fangirl’s bucket list. Granted, having a successful Comic-Con adventure can be a bit of an undertaking, so here are some answers to the most common “Con”questions I’ve heard over the years.
This is what Comic-Con has begat. This scenario: Some producer with a three picture deal with some studio rushes down to San Diego one summer in a panic, trolling the booths, looking for a “hot property” to license to get all these dressed up nerds into a movie theatre. Over there, in the Dark Horse booth, is one that is about a police department made up of dead cops who have to come back to earth to capture escaped dead people, or dead-o’s as they are called. “Awesome, I’ll take it!” says the producer. Armed with a stack of these newly found comic books, he slams them down on the desk Monday morning in the L.A. production office. “This is the movie we’re making, and the good news is, it’s already storyboarded!!”
The Heat is both an excellent buddy movie and the most fun I’ve had at a sloppy physical comedy in years. Sandra Bullock has FINALLY found someone who wants to do physical comedy with her and is really really good at it. She’s been trying to do it, in her comedies, forever, and has never had the right foil. Melissa McCarthy is a physical wonder. She is hilarious. I’ve enjoyed her since her, lovely, non-physical dramedy work in The Gilmore Girls.
I was SO looking forward to The Wolverine. Expectations, meet being met. And I have to say, it was an amazingly good time at the movies.
All things considered, Red 2 is still a fun way to kill time in a movie theater. It’s not as inspired as it’s originator, but you’ll find plenty worse in theaters this summer, I can assure you. Three kittenhands here for Helen Mirren alone.
Ladies and gentlemen, we may have a front-runner for the summer season! Though I suppose it’s not without caveat. Pacific Rim may indeed be the most fun I’ve had in a movie theater this summer, but don’t look too closely for a deep, character driven ensemble. You got your conflicted, thinky Man of Steel, now you can just sit back and watch these giant monsters and robots beat the crap out of each other for two hours.
Despicable Me 2 is not as inventive, perhaps, as the original. The story isn’t quite as inspired, but alas, such is the way with sequels for the most part. But don’t let that stop you from seeing it, because frankly, it’s funnier and just a plain good time. And best of all, it’s got 30 % more minions!*
You know, I’m glad I got to see this movie again, because sometimes it’s good to revisit – What? Wait, this isn’t the same film? I see. Huh. You know, I thought Morgan Freeman looked younger. And Gerard Butler looked an awful lot like Channing Tatum.Well, I suppose it’s an easy mistake, seeing as this is basically the same movie as Olympus Has Fallen. In fact, White House Down is almost EXACTLY the same movie. So much so that I’m a bit surprised I haven’t heard about any lawsuits.
If anyone thinks The Lone Ranger will bring back the western, they would be mistaken, unless people bring back the western just to show how much better they can make them. Not that this incarnation of the Lone Ranger is horrible, but it’s not doing the genre any big favors. As far as the Lone Ranger character, well, I can’t imagine this doing so well that they make sequels. I’m guessing we’ll be leaving the Lone Ranger well enough, alone.