The Amazing Spider-Man (dir. Mark Webb) ***
The good: It might have felt like an unnecessary reboot but every cast member and line of dialogue brought something utterly refreshing to the series. Andrew Garfield has an adorable quality to him that makes him perfect to play Peter. Emma Stone should be in every movie! The director made an excellent use of symbolism, this was the first time in the series that truly sexualized Peter's transformation, when he first realizes he can shoot spider webs we find ourselves before one of the best executed symbols of ejaculation (and a teenager's need to do it 24/7).
The bad: Action scenes weren't half as interesting as moments between Gwen and Peter.
The ugly: Why can't Spider-Man movies have good visual effects? Sigh.
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (dir. Lasse Hallstrom) *½
The good: Emily Blunt and Ewan McGregor. Also, Kristin Scott Thomas having fun!
The bad: The absolute lack of chemistry between Ewan and Emily.
The ugly: The contemptuous way in which the movie observes the Middle East, the lack of coherence between characters and their motivations. The fact that it's a romantic comedy with no comedy or romance.
Prometheus (dir. Ridley Scott) ***½
The good: A thinking person's blockbuster. The ensemble was ace! Charlize Theron was delicious, Noomi Rapace announced her arrival as an international action heroine and Michael Fassbender proves why everyone's all over him. The best thing in the movie is that it exposes passionate ideas only to pull the rug from under us and remind us that sometimes it's not about the answers but about the sublimity of awe. Why not embrace the beauty of creation and acknowledge the fact that we might never ever fully be able to grasp its magnificence?
The bad: the Alien connection did feel a bit forced.
The ugly: N/A
2 comments:
How can you be so tough on the attitudes on the Middle East in Salmon Fishing and yet give Marigold Hotel a pass? Don't understand.
Nice to see some love for Prometheus - I was on the fence when I saw it but the summer's now over and it was the best box office pic I saw.
Because unlike Salmon, Marigold was splendidly acted. I disapprove of both movies and their Empire mentality but at least Dench and Smith were a pleasure to watch.
I'm the same way with Prometheus. I was thinking today and so far it's the best movie I've seen this year even.
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