Triathlon of the cinemaphile

Hello gentle reader, it is I...me. Most of you who read this know that I am the posterboy for escapism* and this does not stand to change any time soon. So naturally this time of the year is MY time of the year. That's right, its blockbuster season. I mentioned that already, but it's worth repeating. Point is, when the Victorian cinema society (whom I just made up) decided to plan poorly and open three BIG movies at the same date (12/06/08) there was only one thing for me to do, cinema triathlon. Having never had the chance to see three big movies in one day before I was naturally excited even if my wallet was not. So with out further babbling (even though I know you luuuuv it) I'll take you through the films and...well I guess babble about them. Heyooo!

YOU'RE MAKING ME HUNGRY. YOU WOULDN'T LIKE ME WHEN I'M HUNGRY...wait, that's not right.

I started the day with the first screening of the Incredible HULK (yes, you have to spell HULK in all capital letters. It's the law) at 11 AM. Before I could really notice the awesomeness of a morning screening the film started and the next big Marvel film was about to...erupt on screen.
I was a big fan of the "first" HULK film back in good old 2003, so I was quite anxious to see if this more mainstream adaptation with Edward Norton would hold up. And boy does it ever. Though not without its (minor) flaws, HULK is another home run for MARVEL this year after Iron Man (which I feel is still better then HULK, but that’s all Downey Jr.). Bruce Banner is beaten, bitter and looking for answers as the movie picks up some time after he was exposed to Gamma radiation and turned into HULK for the first time. Let me make this clear to all who have not seen it. This ain't no remake of the 2003 film. In fact it almost works as a sequel. HULK looks better then ever and so does Abomination. Norton is really good as Bruce, but I feel that Liv Tyler was perhaps the wrong person to play Elisabeth Ross as every time I see her on screen I miss Jennifer Connelly who did a better job (could be because she is a better actress).
But all in all this is comic book movie at its peek and the scene with Tony Stark at the end will leave you with Goosebumps. OMG, did I spoil? Fuck you.

The plants, the plants! OMG it’s the plants! *Audience laughs*

Second film on my agenda was the much anticipated The Happening, the latest film by M (Mortimer?) Night Shyama...lama... you know, the dude who made Sixth sense. I used to be (that’s right) a huge fan of his. Loved Sixth sense, Unbreakable and the village and liked Signs. The came Lady in the water....and my faith was stirred (because it was crap, FYI). But that was ok, everyone makes a mistake now and again. I still had faith. Then M. Nigh made a movie about plant life making humans kill themselves...now I have no faith. Gone. Zip. 6 feet deep. This is crap, pure and simple. M. Night is a good director, he really is but stop writing your own stuff for god's sake. You're out of ideas and the less said about the clumsy over expositional dialog in The happening the better. Take a script someone else has written and make that. Good boy. This topic is making me depressed, lets move on.

How colours can give you mental orgasms.

Towards the end of the day Speed Racer was on the menu and I was sceptical. One the one hand critics (whom I never really listen to) seemed to really enjoy it, but it still looked like a cheesy kids movie that would offer me little as an (by the eyes of the law) adult. I was wrong and I was very impressed over how this effect splendour sucked me in and held on for the entire ride. Yes, it is a PG kids movie but it offers allot for the older crowd making this a joy to watch. However, you have to know what kind of movie you are going to if you are to enjoy it. If you don't the colours will hit you in the face with a sledgehammer. This is a living breathing cartoon and once you make your piece with that you will find a childlike thrill that you don't really get that often. The races are exciting and the acting is, to much surprise, good. Ironically it kinda comes down to the slogan for the MATRIX. No one can really tell you what Speed Racer is. You have to see it for your self.

PS. Matthew Fox should be in more movies.


So that’s that. Now we wait for Dark Knight which we all already know will be awesome and a half. But the fun doesn't stop there. This year will have, at least me, entertained and fully consumed by that wonderful escapism that for a short time makes everything else go away. Man, I love this time of year.




* Escapism is mental diversion by means of entertainment or recreation, as an "escape" from the perceived unpleasant aspects of daily stress. It can also be used as a term to define the actions people take to try to help relieve feelings of depression or general sadness.
-Wikipedia.com