In preparation for my review of "Iron Man 2," I wanted to dig up some shorter, older reviews from the archives that revolved around the summer movie seasons of 2007 & 2008. Enjoy!
"IRON MAN" Directed by Jon Favreau (2008)
*** (three stars)
The Summer Movie Season has begun in high style with Director Jon Favreau's classy and hugely entertaining superhero epic. Robert Downey Jr. is absolutely perfect as Tony Stark; a narcissistic billionaire playboy, scientific genius, weapons manufacturer and war profiteer who explores a change of heart and becomes Iron Man after being held captive in Afghanistan and injured by his own weapons. Jeff Bridges exudes strong menace as Stark's duplicitous surrogate Father figure. Terrence Howard shines as the best friend and Gwyneth Paltrow as never been looser and sultrier as she is as Pepper Potts, Stark's "Girl Friday." In addition to the fine performances, this film boats a strong script and Favreau's clean direction which echoes summer films of the past that stressed characters and story over special effects. STAY THROUGH THE END CREDITS for an obvious teaser for "Part Two." I'm ready for an even better adventure!!
Originally written April 2008 and incidentally, I must admit that when I re-read that posting I shuddered. It is so short and uninformative that it doesn't even qualify as a review.
"SPEED RACER" Written and Directed by The Wachowski Brothers
*** (three stars)
The Wachowski Brothers return in grandly neon, high-velocity, day-glo, psychedelic style with their adaptation of the 1960's cartoon. What The Wachowskis have accomplished extremely well is to create a living cartoon; a world of its very own making and rules unlike any film universe I have seen-all the while, completely honoring the source material.
The style IS the substance this time around but while not being completely shallow, the film gleefully offers a tale that supports the bonds of family, being true to one's own individuality and integrity, the value of choices and consequences, a subversive anti-corporate message and in the film's climactic moments, a possible glimpse into the moment of inspiration itself as talent becomes art.
While it is a bit too long, I have to say that I am stunned with the harshness of most critic's reviews. Honestly, when the film is based upon the cartoon, what kind of a film were they expecting?! Stilted dialogue?? Wooden performances? Barely there plot? Is this compared to the "Shakespearean" heft from the cartoon? Hogwash!! This is SPEED RACER, folks and the Wachowskis got the job done. I must give special mention to John Goodman who gives a solid, grounded performance as patriarch Pops Racer (complete with simmering guttural grunts straight from the cartoon) and Christina Ricci, who radiates an innocent sexiness as Speed's girlfriend, Trixie. She nearly steals the spotlight from the candygloss scenery! After "Iron Man" and now this film, I have been very pleased with the start of the 2008 Summer Movie Season.
Orginally written May 2008
"THE INCREDIBLE HULK"
*** (three stars)
While I could somewhat understand the luke-warm to negative response Director Ang Lee received for his visionary and excellent re-interpretation of Marvel comics "Hulk" back in 2003, I was also confused. What Lee delivered at the time, was not a traditional take on our green behemoth or even a "superhero" movie. It was defiantly an ANG LEE movie, (which is what you're gonna get if you happen to hire him to make your film) a deeply Oedipal complex filled psychological drama that dealt with Lee's consistent theme: the tragedy of repression. Heady stuff for the folks who simply wanted "Hulk smash!!"
Well, Marvel now has its chance for a re-boot and it mostly succeeded with this new version that is a much more traditional Hulk tale that honors the source material and the 1970's television drama (complete with cameos from Lou Ferrigno, the deceased Bill Bixby and even a brief reprise of the mournful "lonely-man-walking-down-the-road" music that concluded each episode) as well as existing as a more than satisfactory companion piece to this year's terrific "Iron Man."
What we have on this go around is essentially a highly effective chase movie like 1993's "The Fugitive," where scientist Bruce Banner (an excellent Edward Norton) is in constant pursuit by Gen. Ross (played with expert gruffness by William Hurt) who only wants to capture Banner and harness his gamma ray sourced powers to produce the ultimate military weapon. That's pretty much it and in many respects, and with no offense to Ang Lee, that's all you really need. All of the actors are game to the material and give it the proper weight so the proceedings are not without the proper excitement and dramatic tension.
My only misgiving with the film is the over-reliance on CGI effects. For me, they tended to get in the way during the film's extended climactic battle between The Hulk and the Abomination (a gamma ray overdosed Tim Roth). It felt more like a videogame than a movie by that point and if they continue the series or by the time Marvel arrives at the already announced team-up film, 2011's "The Avengers," perhaps the effects will feel more seamless.
Originally written October 2008
"SPIDER-MAN 3" Directed by Sam Raimi
**1/2 (two and a half stars)
Bigger is not necessarily better in this overlong and bloated third installment. While there was more than enough story remaining from the absolutely sensational second film, I still cannot wonder why Sam Raimi decided to crowd this film with no less than four villains (the Sandman could've been completed excised from the film and it would not have effected the story one bit) and two potential girlfriends. It felt as if he was juggling ten plates in the air and struggled keeping them all suspended. What continued to work for me was the undeniable chemistry between Tobey Maguire and the always impressive Kirsten Dunst, who played the film's romance as real and ultimately anchored it to the ground...just barely.
Originally written May 2007
"PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END" Directed by Gore Verbinski
** (two stars)
I have never been a fan of this series but I have to say that after the terrific extended climax of the previous installment, "Dead Man's Chest," I was actually anxious to see this (hopefully) final installment. Well after the film's great and surreal first third (it was like a cross between Terry Gilliam's 1989 "The Adventures Of Baron Munchausen" and the eternal "Return Of The Jedi" from 1983), the film sadly settled into it's dreaded and crushingly boring mid-section which exemplified the lousiest elements of this soulless series.
It's needlessly complicated from the constantly shifting alliances (sometimes within singular scenes), murky character motivations and for God's sakes, they are STILL introducing characters deep into this mess. By the time we reach the appropriately epic climax, you just don't care at all and really, did the fates of any of these characters ever truly engage you? I've seen worse movies but this is Hollywood excess at it's most crass.
Originally written May 2007
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