Been way busy of late and had little time to post. Since my last batch of comic reviews, I've finished the rest of last month's group of new comics and moved back into the mid-80s comics, but more on that next time.
Instead, this time I'd like to review a few movies. Kinda binged at the theater over this past weekend and was a little disappointed. Don't get me wrong, all three movies were fun, but two of them were far from perfect.
First up was Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest. The special effects in this one were good, and like the first PotC, it was a fun movie filled with laugh-out-loud funny moments. But the plot just didn't live up to the success of the first movie. Maybe it's just been too long since I last saw the first film, but Elizabeth (Keira Knightley) seemed somewhat out of character near the end of the film, an obvious set-up for a third installment. If you liked Johnny Depp's antics as Captain Jack Sparrow in Curse of the Black Pearl, go see this movie. Depp is once again at his best. Just don't expect spectacular cinema.
Next up was Adam Sandler in Click. This is the movie where Sandler's everyman character is given a "universal" remote control which allows him to fast forward, slow down and pause more than just his viewing habits. The message in this movie is no surprise, except in the level of seriousness to which it goes in making its point, but Sandler and crew do a great job of making the formula seem fresh and fun to watch. You know where this movie is going to end before it starts, but you still enjoy the ride getting there.
And finally, we also saw Superman Returns. I've heard a lot of mixed reviews of this film from comic book fans and non-fans alike. Most of the good stuff revolves around the special effects in the movie which are very good. Routh does an excellent job of evoking the spirit of the late Christopher Reeve from Superman and Superman II. And the storyline Brian Singer and company have come up with isn't bad. As a direct sequel to those two earlier movies, it makes sense that Luthor would exploit his knowledge of Superman's arctic fortress. But from there .... Gene Hackman's portrayal of Lex Luthor was somewhat over the top, campy. Kevin Spacey continues expertly in that vein, but that just doesn't ring true as Luthor for me. And Routh and Bosworth as Superman and Lois Lane look too young for their roles. A lot was made of Routh being the same age as Reeve when he played the Man of Steel. OK, but this movie takes place five years later, so shouldn't he look five years older? And Bosworth doesn't look old enough to have been a great, award-winning journalist before she had her son five years ago. Those things strained my suspension of disbelief enough that the kryptonite fight at the climax of the movie rang hollow for me. Superman was weakened very quickly on his first exposure to Luthor's island, but when he returns later, the kryptonite hardly seems to bother him at all.
Those are the movies we saw this past weekend. Dunno if we'll make it this weekend or not, but my wife is eyeing Lady in the Water, so maybe we'll have something on that one before long. And check back next time for some more comic reviews.
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