A Slow Weekend

Sometimes I worry that I like too many movies.

I understand the basic maxim, which states that no one ever sets out to make a bad movie. And sometimes I go on streaks where every movie works for me. Transformers 2 worked for me. Will I ever see it again? I don't know. Probably not, unless I'm drunk. Does that mean I didn't enjoy the 800 explosions? I did. I laughed. I laughed at the people clapping. That's fine with me. I knew what my free screening was getting me into. It certainly wasn't going to be Babel: Part Deux.


But this weekend, I don't know what was going on, every movie I watched just didn't hit the mark for me. One of the most important things I've ever learned from a film scholar was from Jim Emerson, who said that all you need to do during a movie is consistently ask, "How is the movie making me feel right. now." And in doing that, in consistenly setting off that mental and emotional alert, I have been able to quickly investigate why or why not a movie is hitting the bar.


And this weekend, not many cut it. I tend to put review/rants on here for movies that I adore. Not the case here:


Eagle Eye (2008)- This is the second time I tried to slosh through this one. For whatever reason, the consistent action puts me to sleep every time. I don't like Michelle Monaghan's character, she seems completely unnecessary. The film references are the only thing that really keeps me awake. In fact, this may be an important movie strictly because it forces modern audiences to reconsider the value of the shots that last longer than 1.2 seconds. A breathless snoozer. The Salton Sea (2002) is a much more interesting Caruso movie.

The Beach (2000)- Who'da thunk this was directed by Danny Boyle? The only evidence would be the meandering and way-too-serious voice over and the disjointed video game hallucinatory scene. This movie is really interesting strictly because it changes tones about 20 times. And I couldn't help but really dislike Leonardo Dicaprio's character, Richard. Not because of the acting; no, the character is an asshole. Totally unempathetic. He just sort of wanders around, does really bad things, and then voices over and expects us to feel sorry for him. Or in awe of his coming-of-age adventure.


The Incredible Hulk (2008)- Second posting on this one, just wanted to say that everytime the movie sets up an action sequence, the action is utterly disappointing. Watch the Humvee piece on the college campus, and then watch the tank sequence in Hulk (2003), which is infinitely better. Ang Lee's Hulk, while more incandescent and glow-lightish, possesses a weightlessness. that doesn't stick with Ed Norton's. While it didn't work with many moviegoers, I am sort of spellbound when I watch Hulk leap through the air, almost flying. This Hulk just sort of runs into things and grits his teeth really hard. Although, it is still really cool when he pulls apart the police car and uses each half as a boxing glove. It's a shame that's the only cool thing he does.


Halloween (2007)- Maybe the biggest disappointment of the weekend. I turned this on with an excited anticipation; I appreciate Zombie's seriousness towards the horror genre. He has a distinct look for his movies. And I love the original Halloween. But this one does not work. At all. And it's an interesting predicament. Why doesn't it work? Well, they spend way too much time on the back story of Michael Myers, which has two detrimental effects. The first is that the killing escapade is compacted into about 35 minutes. No build-up. Just knives and facades of suburban houses. Also, there's about 7 minutes of exposition towards Laurie Strode, who I cared for less than Jon and Kate. The other problem? Michael is not a sympathetic character. What is the point of showing his backstory? To identify evil incarnate? Isn't evil more scary when it's unexplained? This Michael seems too human, too Freudian. The most astonishing sequence in the original is the opening sequence, but the very end. With the iconic theme clinging, all Carpenter shows is the front of houses. It is this moment when we confirm that Michael can be anywhere. That he will never have to run. He is a supernatural presence. He is at your door, or my door. He is the thing that bumps in the night. Not a little boy who wasn't loved the right way. I will be interested to see where Zombie goes with the second one.


Lakeview Terrace (2009)- This was the only movie that had me somewhat intrigued. In fact, I liked the tension of this movie. Until it got a little too ridiculous. The end doesn't work very well, but the characters are believable, and the situation is credible. It's a shame the wife really pissed me off, but then again, I am more than likely a chauvinist.


We'll see about next weekend, I guess.