Tonight, Steph and I saw Superman. Honestly, I have been pretty interested in this for some time now. I have not cared much for any of the big Superhero movies that have come along lately.
I saw Spiderman in 2002 and I liked it pretty well. Especially the first half of it. The second half was somewhat lacking. Really though, it wasn't very good over all, and the more I watched it the worse it got. There was Hulk, and that was just flat out dreadful. And I mean bad. Then there was Daredevil. And that was lousy. And I love Ben Affleck. Then there was Spiderman 2, and it was better than the last. But by that time, I really didn't care. Last year was interesting. First there was Batman Begins. Now this one was good. Really, very good. But I had a little bit of ill will toward it, because I still didn't think it was THAT good. I mean, as good as everyone was trying to say. There was also Fantastic Four. Which I actually kind of liked. On a low standard sort of scale. Oh, and then there was X-Men. Pretty cool in 2000. Pretty cool in 2003. And Pretty cool in 2006. But to be honest. The only one that I honestly like is Batman Begins.
At this point, the Superhero genre is in full swing. I honestly feel like Superman and Batman are a little above the trend of superhero movies being popular. So I wasn't thrilled about them coming out during this time. But we got a pretty good one in Batman, so I was cautiously optimistic about Superman Returns.
One thing I loved was that this was going to be a sequel to Superman II. For two reasons. One, it kind of wipes out the crap that is Superman III and IV. Two, it does not wipe out the excellence that is Superman and Superman II. While Batman Begins is kind of like a prequel to the others, it really didn't feel like it fit with the others. But this one does. Superman Returns is a straight up direct sequel to Superman II. Not just stylistically. It looks and feels just like the old series. The credits are the same, the music is the same. The mannerisms of Supes and Clark and Lois and everyone are still the same.
I'll tell you what. I loved this movie. Straight up loved it. Its not without a problem or two, but it was really really good. And now, I'm kind of glad that it came out now. Because it deserves to be the best of the bunch. As Superman is clearly the best of all Superheros. I now see a little battle starting, and it could be good, and it could be bad. But no matter what, it will be interesting.
We have a franchise of Batman movies on the way. All trying to be the darkest and grittiest.
We have a franchise of Superman movies on the way. All trying to be the brightest and classiest.
We have a franchise of Spiderman movies that are already here and still coming. All trying to be the most fun and silliest.
Who's going to come out on top? I don't know. But in the end. I think Batman and Superman will crush Spiderman. Or at least I hope so. Right now, box officially speaking. Spidey is cleaning up. But he clearly sucks.
We shall see. But for now.....Maybe I will Lois.....Maybe I will.
-T
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
I think it's time for me to fly
I turned in my two weeks notice tonight. I'll tell you what. I was actually a little nervous, and this surprised me. I have, of course, expected this day would come for quite some time. I have, of course, been ready to be done with this line of work for a while. I have, of course, no real regrets or sadness over leaving Texas. I have, however, a strange and urgent desire to make sure people don't hate me. Sometimes, this desire can be a problem. Most times I'd say. I honestly though that my current supervisor would be fine with me leaving, but on the way over I got really nervous that he might be mad. He wasn't. He reacted how I generally expected him to. Supportive and generally cool, all the way around.
So now I am free. I am ready to give up all this. My 23 dollar an hour job. My food per diam. My free housing. Everything. I'm ready to be an artist. Preferably not the starving kind, but an artist anyway. I'm ready to go! I can't wait. California here we come, right back where we started from. California.....Californyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.
And Stephanie realized that my last day will be July 12th 2006. My first day ever working for Dataline in Utah was July 12th 2004. 2 years to the exact day! Thats freaky.
-T
So now I am free. I am ready to give up all this. My 23 dollar an hour job. My food per diam. My free housing. Everything. I'm ready to be an artist. Preferably not the starving kind, but an artist anyway. I'm ready to go! I can't wait. California here we come, right back where we started from. California.....Californyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.
And Stephanie realized that my last day will be July 12th 2006. My first day ever working for Dataline in Utah was July 12th 2004. 2 years to the exact day! Thats freaky.
-T
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Finally!!!
Ha ha....after weeks and weeks of problems, I finally saw a good movie that didn't lose the critics. Cars is the movie, and the critics finally get it.
This movie was first, very very funny. Second, it was very clever. Third, it was quite touching. As we know, Disney/Pixar movies have become kind of a Genre on its own. Mixed in with a couple of notable cartoons from other studios (Dreamworks' Shrek and New Line's Lord of the Rings Trilogy), the world of computer animated features has completely replaced the hand drawn animation of the past. Toy Story and Toy Story 2 are, without a doubt, the best of the bunch. Cars is next on the list for me.
One thing the Pixar does well is cleverness, and this movie is full of it. Lots of good humor that adults can appreciate a long with kids. Tractor Tipping is funny. SUV boot camp for SUVs that have never been offroad is hilarious. And Jeremy Piven in the role of Lightning McQueen's agent is the funniest thing ever. And if you don't know why... YOU BETTER RECOGNIZE. All that mixed with typical pixar heartwarming story about people and relationships that helps kids learn good lessons and reminds adults that they should remember whats important.
All that said, the critics liked it too. Good for them. Maybe they're not as dumb as I thought.
-T
This movie was first, very very funny. Second, it was very clever. Third, it was quite touching. As we know, Disney/Pixar movies have become kind of a Genre on its own. Mixed in with a couple of notable cartoons from other studios (Dreamworks' Shrek and New Line's Lord of the Rings Trilogy), the world of computer animated features has completely replaced the hand drawn animation of the past. Toy Story and Toy Story 2 are, without a doubt, the best of the bunch. Cars is next on the list for me.
One thing the Pixar does well is cleverness, and this movie is full of it. Lots of good humor that adults can appreciate a long with kids. Tractor Tipping is funny. SUV boot camp for SUVs that have never been offroad is hilarious. And Jeremy Piven in the role of Lightning McQueen's agent is the funniest thing ever. And if you don't know why... YOU BETTER RECOGNIZE. All that mixed with typical pixar heartwarming story about people and relationships that helps kids learn good lessons and reminds adults that they should remember whats important.
All that said, the critics liked it too. Good for them. Maybe they're not as dumb as I thought.
-T
Friday, June 09, 2006
Finally!!!
Ha ha....after weeks and weeks of problems, I finally saw a good movie that didn't lose the critics. Cars is the movie, and the critics finally get it.
This movie was first, very very funny. Second, it was very clever. Third, it was quite touching. As we know, Disney/Pixar movies have become kind of a Genre on its own. Mixed in with a couple of notable cartoons from other studios (Dreamworks' Shrek and New Line's Lord of the Rings Trilogy), the world of computer animated features has completely replaced the hand drawn animation of the past. Toy Story and Toy Story 2 are, without a doubt, the best of the bunch. Cars is next on the list for me.
One thing the Pixar does well is cleverness, and this movie is full of it. Lots of good humor that adults can appreciate a long with kids. Tractor Tipping is funny. SUV boot camp for SUVs that have never been offroad is hilarious. And Jeremy Piven in the role of Lightning McQueen's agent is the funniest thing ever. And if you don't know why... YOU BETTER RECOGNIZE. All that mixed with typical pixar heartwarming story about people and relationships that helps kids learn good lessons and reminds adults that they should remember whats important.
All that said, the critics liked it too. Good for them. Maybe they're not as dumb as I thought.
-T
This movie was first, very very funny. Second, it was very clever. Third, it was quite touching. As we know, Disney/Pixar movies have become kind of a Genre on its own. Mixed in with a couple of notable cartoons from other studios (Dreamworks' Shrek and New Line's Lord of the Rings Trilogy), the world of computer animated features has completely replaced the hand drawn animation of the past. Toy Story and Toy Story 2 are, without a doubt, the best of the bunch. Cars is next on the list for me.
One thing the Pixar does well is cleverness, and this movie is full of it. Lots of good humor that adults can appreciate a long with kids. Tractor Tipping is funny. SUV boot camp for SUVs that have never been offroad is hilarious. And Jeremy Piven in the role of Lightning McQueen's agent is the funniest thing ever. And if you don't know why... YOU BETTER RECOGNIZE. All that mixed with typical pixar heartwarming story about people and relationships that helps kids learn good lessons and reminds adults that they should remember whats important.
All that said, the critics liked it too. Good for them. Maybe they're not as dumb as I thought.
-T
Saturday, June 03, 2006
5 Weeks in a Row!
Its great. Apparently, I am the dumbest movie person ever. Every Single Saturday, for 5 weeks in a Row, I have gone to see the Hot movie of the week. Whoa. Actually, 4 weeks. The first week I saw Stick It, instead of Mission Impossible III. But for 5 straight Saturdays, I have gone to the movies, and come back pleased. More than pleased. My reactions ranged from Very Pleased to Really Excited. And, for 5 weeks in a row, the same movies that I saw have been slapped across the face by the Film Critics. First it was Stick It, the Posiden, then DaVinci Code, then XMen 3. The latest entry to the list is The Break Up.
The Break Up, coming in at a dismal 33% Fresh Rating , was a good movie. In fact, it was a very good movie. First things first. It was as funny as a comedy should be. As funny as the trailer implied it would be. But more than that. It was pretty darned good. Romantic Comedies tend to be blown off by people anyway, as summer fun for girls. So it should surprise no one that it would have as difficult a time as summer action movies have in getting respect. This movie is better than that. It had real drama without ever having to try too hard. A well-made movie that perfectly blended comedy and drama. Almost every man in the world has a relationship or two, so its not just for women. It plays on the very obvious themes of Men and Women are different. But it does not rely on that. We are presented with the facts that its really not about the differences between men and women and the various aspects that are unique to gender. Its really just about these two people. We are given to outside characters that react to the stars. Joey Lauren Adams plays Jennifer Aniston's sister, and Jon Favreau plays Vince Vaughn's friend. John Favreau points out to Vaughn that he is not just a dumb guy, but that he specifically is kind of selfish. Selfish to all his friends, not just his girlfriend. Adams tells Aniston that she specifically is handling this situation all wrong. That she is acting crazy, not that women just do that. This is what I liked the best. It showed us some things that TEND to be common amongst typical guys and typical girls, but explained that they don't have to be that way. And that most people can get over that and work together.
However, I read reviews of people who clearly didn't watch this movie. They come in with their catchy little catch phrases. The ones they clearly had in mind a week ago and were just hoping to get to use. Like Just another Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus retread. No it wasn't. And if you had actually watched, instead of writing in your little notebooks through the whole movie, you would know that. Its a shame, but I say again: Film Critics have the most power in influencing people to see a movie yet they are clearly the least qualified people on earth to give their opinion about a movie.
Sad But True.
-T
The Break Up, coming in at a dismal 33% Fresh Rating , was a good movie. In fact, it was a very good movie. First things first. It was as funny as a comedy should be. As funny as the trailer implied it would be. But more than that. It was pretty darned good. Romantic Comedies tend to be blown off by people anyway, as summer fun for girls. So it should surprise no one that it would have as difficult a time as summer action movies have in getting respect. This movie is better than that. It had real drama without ever having to try too hard. A well-made movie that perfectly blended comedy and drama. Almost every man in the world has a relationship or two, so its not just for women. It plays on the very obvious themes of Men and Women are different. But it does not rely on that. We are presented with the facts that its really not about the differences between men and women and the various aspects that are unique to gender. Its really just about these two people. We are given to outside characters that react to the stars. Joey Lauren Adams plays Jennifer Aniston's sister, and Jon Favreau plays Vince Vaughn's friend. John Favreau points out to Vaughn that he is not just a dumb guy, but that he specifically is kind of selfish. Selfish to all his friends, not just his girlfriend. Adams tells Aniston that she specifically is handling this situation all wrong. That she is acting crazy, not that women just do that. This is what I liked the best. It showed us some things that TEND to be common amongst typical guys and typical girls, but explained that they don't have to be that way. And that most people can get over that and work together.
However, I read reviews of people who clearly didn't watch this movie. They come in with their catchy little catch phrases. The ones they clearly had in mind a week ago and were just hoping to get to use. Like Just another Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus retread. No it wasn't. And if you had actually watched, instead of writing in your little notebooks through the whole movie, you would know that. Its a shame, but I say again: Film Critics have the most power in influencing people to see a movie yet they are clearly the least qualified people on earth to give their opinion about a movie.
Sad But True.
-T
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