Category: Sci Fi

First class action. First class casting. First class film.

Action ala mutant powers – though more brutal and tending toward Dark Knight-esque intensity, Matthew Vaughn (director) can boast stunning and persuasive visuals.The 60’s costumes were brilliant and comic book bright. One small leap in detail and this could have been a more accurate, but vastly more distracting period film. Avoiding Austin Powers is a smart move for any serious film. And, this is a serious film.

Audiences appreciate historical consistency, a thread of the known. It feels like a Jeopardy game during a movie – testing your knowledge of historical events while playing with your psyche to stem myth in truth. Tricky, but appreciated by intelligent audiences around the globe. Who knew that the Cuban Missile Crisis was averted by none other than Professor X?
 Fassbender’s Magneto felt often painfully reminiscent of his recent version of Jane Eyre’s beloved. Despite this, however, I feel that he is a tornado of talent – deadly and attractive. McAvoy’s Prof. X roles likeably as a Tumnus through this tale as well. Funny how I’ve forgotten almost all of the other characters. I had such high hopes for Nicholas Hoult who was lovelier as a Beast. Eye of the beholder. Oh, yes, and how could I forget Bacon. Kevin Bacon. Oh! Nazi pig farmers. I get it. Funny. That is all.

Dear Michael Bay,
Your robot action scenes in this latest “opus” were your tour de force.
No, really. You promised metal on metal fight sequences and you truly delivered. That’s one small step for Shia, and one giant Optimus leap for you personally, Mr. Bay. Your budget must have been enormous – no exaggeration. And your cast? Come on! John Malkovich, Frances McDormand, McDreamy, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese – and that little guy from Community and the Hangover movies who is always saying how proud he is to be asian? Shia was no slouch either. You must be doing something right in the big budget movie world. I mean, every junior high boy will most likely start mowing lawns or selling puppies for the chance to see a movie that they will feel like they wrote, like they could have acted in, that they all would have cast the lead girl in. These same boys could grow up in the belief that girls like that actually exist for real. Not to burst bubbles boys, but she is a robot. No, not in the movie. For real. Shia may be the only real person in this flick. I know because he cries seven times. This movie stretches the imagination – it makes us all believe that alien robots exist, that losers can score chicks, that bad writing can be covered over with better and more explosions, and that models can act. It’s all make-believe. Thanks, Michael Bay. Directing robots, it’s your gift.
Sincerely yours,
S.J.P.

In this summer’s surprise smash hit, J.J. Abrams teams with his own hero mentor, Spielberg, to give us a Goonies meets Band of Brothers monster flick.

It’s the recipe for a great film: take a heaping dollop of daddy issues, followed by two generous spoonfuls of 80’s small town in peril, a tablespoon of star-crossed lover scenes (don’t hold back on the eye-contact). Fold in neatly with enough gasp-enducing special effects to keep the wide-eyed curiousity aglow. Bake in quirky, unforgettable characters with sass and style –  knowing that the secret ingredient is the boy, a lovely, likable, unlikely hero of great character, forgiveness, integrity, bravery, and worth. Only he can save the day. Brilliant. Profound. This film makes me want to make movies. I didn’t love the bad language, but when do I?

I believe that art mimics artist when given a life of its own. J.J. Abrams is a filmmaker.

This word is now synonymous with a Wonka-esque dreamer in my mind. One who makes candy from nothing.  Just as Frankenstein’s monster reveals both the cruelty and heartache of his maker, so J.J.’s film shows J.J. himself – as a child dreaming of making movies. Certainly this fiction roots in reality. We write what we know. J.J. is all about the characters, the journey. Please watch J.J. Abram’s Ted Talk on “The Mystery Box.” Recognize with delight that both the first starship on Star Trek (2009) and the prominent gas station in Super 8 are both named for his beloved grandfather Kelvin who bought him his first Super 8 camera.

Super 8 reminded me of a few great life lessons:

On Monsters and aliens – 1) both are dangerous geniuses – light years ahead of us technologically. 2) All aliens, perhaps since E.T., still just want to go home. 3) If it looks like it could eat you, it probably will. 4) Most monsters have a level of empathy, and therefore require it in return.

On Humans – 1) Bad guys are no longer two-dimensional and therefore more cunning. 2) Forgiveness is paramount – the key to freedom.  3) Drugs are bad.  4) Kids CAN save the planet, and, 5) Fathers can be heroes after all.

Happy Summer, one and all!