Random Thoughts...

I'm glad indie directors are getting mainstream films. Some view it as selling out, but I'm glad they get the chance to branch out and breathe freshness into formula. (RE: Christopher Nolan, Catherine Hardwicke, Doug Liman) Do you think Michael Bay could make something along the lines of Sideways or Lost In Translation? Dubious!

Batman Begins - 8/10
Returns is still my favorite just because of the combination of Suzy Diamond and leather. (Would anyone in The Matrix have worn the stuff had Michelle not brought S&M into the mainstream some seven years prior?) This isn't about that series though. So we start anew. Batman Begins is a solid good movie that touches greatness someway through then falters back into being very good. Repeated viewings often fix this miniscule problem for me sometimes. This new series - as it will be that considering this film sets up the next chapter - aims for a more realist approach, and most of the fantasy related elements are left behind. Christian Bale. Ah. *sigh* What perfect casting! He's easily the best. Not that I'm comparing, mind you. I wished for more of Cillian Murphy as Scarecrow, as I loved Scarecrow from the animated series. He didn't even put his full wardrobe on. The cinematography and sound design are nothing short of spectacular. Yeah, and it was a little awkward there at the end when Katie Holmes told Christian she couldn't see him anymore because he wasn't gay. Has she not met Robin? Word of the day: Spelunking.

Cinderella Man - 6/10
It's like Seabiscuit. But with a boxer. And less pretty. Ron Howard has an Oscar now so he should retire. Let his greatness shine on in Arrested Development and daughter Bryce. The problem with this movie is the exact problem that lies in the performances of Russell Crowe and Paul Giamatti: they are good but there's no soul. We have no reason to root for Jim Bradock in the film other than he's the protagonist. He faces hard times. Boohoo. So does everyone else in the film. Paddy Considine is wasted and poor Craig Bierko. Not only does Crowe bash him in interviews but he's saddled with the thankless role of the most comedically overdrawn villain. Only Renee Zellweger - viewed as the lesser of the three main attractions - shows any bit of soul.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - 5/10
I didn't find this movie as hard to follow or in-jokey as everyone else who didn't like it did. There's a light sense of fun to it all, but I was apathetic to the proceedings. Sam Rockwell is really quite something and deserves better. Gags abound, but it's more slight than it is witty or clever.

Kicking and Screaming - 3/10
This movie was a wasted opportunity to explore the obsession parents having with living out their dreams in the form of their child. Had it been darker and more adult oriented, this could have been quite good. Will Ferrell is on the annoying end of "Will Ferrell funny" in this. None of this is particularly funny.

Lords of Dogtown - 8/10
I have a strong feeling that this will earn my "Most Underrated of the Year" award comes year's end. I prefer this film to Catherine Hardwicke's previous endeavor, Thirteen. I felt the direction in that film was too vertigines and chaotic that instead of heightening the downward spiral of the character, it bordered on overkill. Here, it's appropriate. The skateboarding scenes have an exhileration not felt in any film since The Bourne Supremacy's Moscow car chase. After seeing this, I have a newfound respect for skateboarders and their culture. The performances are good, with Heath Ledger - perhaps showing what's to come later this year HINT HINT - and Emile Hirsch being the standouts. Nice small performance by Rebecca De Mornay playing Charlize Theron in Monster. There is a slight awkwardness to the dialogue where one character speaks then there's an uncomfortable silence before the next line is spoken. Perhaps its to represent the disconnected nature of the character, but I counted it about four or five times and it got kind of old. Nevertheless, by the end, I had been emotionally manipulated into caring. Maybe I will go outside and skateboard awhile... *thud*

Monster-In-Law - 5/10
Jennifer Lopez has the same problem in this that Russell did in that boxing movie: his character is painted so broad and likable that you expect bunnies to start flocking around her and butterflies to land on her nose while she giggles. There were parts of this movie that were kind of funny, thanks mostly to Wanda Sykes - the very definition of scene stealer. It gets bonus points for having a gay friend (played by The Aviator's Adam Scott) that isn't an overt stereotype. Seriously, Hollywood, stop it with the meeting-the-in-laws movies. Like Kicking and Screaming, this could have been a greater dark comedy.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith - 6/10
Yeah, it was kind of weird when Jennifer Aniston showed up at the end and killed Brangelina, but whatever. The dark comedy in this is at the right spot, but it's bogged down by run-of-the-mill action sequences. Brangelina is hot. Not that I needed to put that with my thoughts because you'd know that unless you were blind. It's safe to say they'll win Best Fight at next year's MTV Movie Awards. Doug Liman keeps any traces of the constant reshoots and hellish production outside the film, though there are strange vocal cameos by the deleted scene bound Angela Bassett and David Keith. The cool as ice feel of Liman's previous films - this should've been great as a cross between Go and The Bourne Identity - is missing for the most part. However, that Brangelina is some damn fine eye candy. And there's a nice reference to The Avengers.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - 7/10
Imagine Mean Girls (minus the acid) crossed with Beaches (with less saccharin.) The film has some pretty sharp character observations and fine performances from the young actresses. Like Freaky Friday, it's a PG-rated, family approved film that doesn't talk down to it's audience and manages to come off as believable. Apparently, the ladies are crying all way through this, so bring tissues if you have a vagina. (Considering I have a penis and am an emotional robot, I was dry. Wait, that could be misconstrued.) I was distracted by something, however: the blinding radiance of Alexis Bledel. Sure, you know how pretty she is from Gilmore Girls. In this, she's simply luminous. On the other hand, I think I liked Amber Tamblyn's character the most.