Hey dudes. Man of Steel comes out in less than two weeks. I suppose it goes without saying that I am beyond excited for that movie. I love Superman almost as much as I love Batman. Almost. So I figured I'd watch a few of the older Superman flicks again and get on here and have at it. So here. We. Go.
Superman Returns is probably my second favorite film based on the Man of Steel, sometimes third depending on the day. It's certainly a flawed film, and there are numerous things in it that make me cringe when I think about them *cough* Superboy *cough*. But as a direct sequel to Richard Donner's original film from 1978 and it's production troubled sequel, Superman Returns succeeds entirely in recreating that sense of awe and wonder in a way that is just not done very often anymore.
One of the biggest complaints about the film I've heard the most is it's lack of action. First off, what? The dude lifts a landmass off of the planet. A MASS OF LAND. I guess people really just want to see Superman punch stuff. And I get it. Him punching stuff would be a lot of fun on screen, especially with today's special effects. In fact, it looks like Man of Steel is going to be filled with exactly that. So that's why I don't mind at all that director Bryan Singer decided to focus on Superman's sheer strength and power rather than his punching abilities. I mean, the airplane sequence is one of the great superhero action scenes out there. Not only is it a great re-introduction of the character in this particular movie-verse, but it's also a genuinely exciting and tense piece of action film making. Again, Singer focuses on the characters brute strength to an awesome degree.
Also, Brandon Routh is a great stand in for Christopher Reeve. No one can match Reeve in the suit, and it's possible no one ever will, but Routh does a damn good job matching that all American goodness inherit in both Superman and Clark Kent. I'm genuinely bummed out that his career hasn't gone farther since Superman Returns. He popped up in Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World and was great, though it's hard to find a bad player in any Edgar Wright feature. Still, I think Routh has an extremely likable presence onscreen, and I hope he keeps at it.
Kevin Spacey is great as Lex Luthor. I mean, duh. Like Reeve, it's hard to top Gene Hackman ( HACKMAN!) but Spacey is about as good as it gets. However, it is kind of a bummer that he didn't have some better motivation here. Yes, it's cool that it's the same motivation as the original movie, LAND LAND LAND. But it falls a little flat. Oh well, Spacey rules. I'm curious to see who plays this role next. I don't think it's quite as hard a role to fill like Superman, but Hackman (HACKMAN!) still leaves a big shadow.
The only bit of casting that really fails in Superman Returns is Kate what's her face as Lois Lane. Bland, bland, bland. And Lois Lane is anything but. Actually, the writing for Lane is pretty good here, but Kate doesn't have the chops to really bring the character to life. Amy Adams should have a field day in Man of Steel.
Superman Returns is a bit of an anomaly in today's standard of superhero movies. It's almost a romantic drama first and action movie second and it doesn't completely work. However, there is some amazing film making on display here, and it's great to see Superman on screen after almost 20 years. Man of Steel will probably ( and hopefully ) knock this out of the water, but I like this version of Superman, and it feels good that no matter how the character changes onscreen, this version is always around.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Saturday, June 1, 2013
High Fidelity
Alright guys, I have to first apologize for this post because it's going to be cheesy, schmaltzy crap about how High Fidelity has quietly played a major part in my life in terms of emotions and things.
Before I delve into that history though, let's talk about how good a movie High Fidelity is. For those who haven't seen it, it stars John Cusack as a record store owner who is going through a brutal break-up with his current girlfriend and how he uses music and talking to the camera to fill the audience in on how he ended up where he is.
A large part of the way this movie works is it's love and use of music. I mean, duh. I know next to nothing about music, as is the case with most things, but I certainly appreciate it. Thankfully, it doesn't matter if you love music or not when it comes to this movie because at its core, High Fidelity is addressing fandom and elitism and of course relationships all at once in a way that makes both the elite and the casuals feel included.
It's weird knowing that I loved this movie at the age of 14. I immediately responded to the notion of loving and knowing so much about something that I couldn't even relate to most people. Forget about relationships, I loved movies in a way that no one else could. And John Cusack talking directly at me about how intimate and special it is to have such a love struck a chord. Again, I really didn't care about music, but having a ridiculously likable actor in a ridiculously likable movie tell me how meaningful it is to truly care about something special just resonated with me.
And then I had a relationship. And then it ended. And then I watched this movie again. DEVASTATION.
High Fidelity had officially become the ultimate " I feel sorry for myself" movie for me. It didn't matter that the movie actually ends ( SPOILER ALERT ) with a very natural and not entirely definite conclusion for the main couple. The bulk of the movie was about the pain of a major break-up and how an elitist of the Nth degree deals with such an event. Anytime I felt emotional I put either this or The Notebook in. ( The Notebook was reserved for especially " I'm sorry nobody loves me!" bouts) .
But then something happened. I met someone. His name was Bruce. Bruce Willis. Turns out I loved him all along. Then I met some girl named Katy. And four or five years later I gave High Fidelity another shot.
And it's just as good, but in an entirely different way. Like I said, the movie is about elitism and dealing with people and changing relationships, and over the course of time has come to resemble the artifact of a couple trying to keep it together.
I love my wife. I don't need an awesome movie or monologue to tell me otherwise. But I sure don't mind a good movie like High Fidelity to remind me of it.
I should be clear here. Nothing that happens to John Cusack and his girlfriend in High Fidelity has happened to myself and what's her name. No cheating ( besides guys for me ) and no abortions ( that I know of ), but just average everyday couple shit that happens. And it's nice to see a ridiculously likable actor in a ridiculously likable movie tell me how meaningful it is to truly care about something or someone special in a way that completely resonates with me.
I might still have nights where I want to put in High Fidelity for entirely self loathing reasons, but at least now I have someone who is legally forced to deal with me and my emotions. Thanks, you. *winks*
Before I delve into that history though, let's talk about how good a movie High Fidelity is. For those who haven't seen it, it stars John Cusack as a record store owner who is going through a brutal break-up with his current girlfriend and how he uses music and talking to the camera to fill the audience in on how he ended up where he is.
A large part of the way this movie works is it's love and use of music. I mean, duh. I know next to nothing about music, as is the case with most things, but I certainly appreciate it. Thankfully, it doesn't matter if you love music or not when it comes to this movie because at its core, High Fidelity is addressing fandom and elitism and of course relationships all at once in a way that makes both the elite and the casuals feel included.
It's weird knowing that I loved this movie at the age of 14. I immediately responded to the notion of loving and knowing so much about something that I couldn't even relate to most people. Forget about relationships, I loved movies in a way that no one else could. And John Cusack talking directly at me about how intimate and special it is to have such a love struck a chord. Again, I really didn't care about music, but having a ridiculously likable actor in a ridiculously likable movie tell me how meaningful it is to truly care about something special just resonated with me.
And then I had a relationship. And then it ended. And then I watched this movie again. DEVASTATION.
High Fidelity had officially become the ultimate " I feel sorry for myself" movie for me. It didn't matter that the movie actually ends ( SPOILER ALERT ) with a very natural and not entirely definite conclusion for the main couple. The bulk of the movie was about the pain of a major break-up and how an elitist of the Nth degree deals with such an event. Anytime I felt emotional I put either this or The Notebook in. ( The Notebook was reserved for especially " I'm sorry nobody loves me!" bouts) .
But then something happened. I met someone. His name was Bruce. Bruce Willis. Turns out I loved him all along. Then I met some girl named Katy. And four or five years later I gave High Fidelity another shot.
And it's just as good, but in an entirely different way. Like I said, the movie is about elitism and dealing with people and changing relationships, and over the course of time has come to resemble the artifact of a couple trying to keep it together.
I love my wife. I don't need an awesome movie or monologue to tell me otherwise. But I sure don't mind a good movie like High Fidelity to remind me of it.
I should be clear here. Nothing that happens to John Cusack and his girlfriend in High Fidelity has happened to myself and what's her name. No cheating ( besides guys for me ) and no abortions ( that I know of ), but just average everyday couple shit that happens. And it's nice to see a ridiculously likable actor in a ridiculously likable movie tell me how meaningful it is to truly care about something or someone special in a way that completely resonates with me.
I might still have nights where I want to put in High Fidelity for entirely self loathing reasons, but at least now I have someone who is legally forced to deal with me and my emotions. Thanks, you. *winks*
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)