Iron Man Vs RoboCop
Saturday, June 21, 2008 Do I really need to explain the premise of Iron Man? Marvel decided to take back their comic book movie franchise(s) from the studios, and make these films in their own image.
How would I rate that effort? Gentle, familiar - certainly with no surprises.
Summary: Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) of Stark Industries gets kidnapped in Afghanistan while visiting with US troops to demonstrate and oversee how his company's weapons are being used. Well, let's just say that after that ordeal he has a change of heart.
I liked this film: it was funny. Robert Downey, Jr. has these huge, intense, stroke of midnight eyes. He gives a good performance. It's what he does, the most he can do, along with the snarky remarks that makes this film fun.
I certainly loved the Audi he drove.
Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard (is it me, or does his voice grate in this flick?), and Jeff Bridges (love me some JB) round out the cast of familiar faces.
I have to treat myself to all the Jeff Bridges flicks I can find - starting with Starman. Hmmm.
Hey, Jon Favreau (of Swingers; directed Elf with Will Ferrell) finally lost weight. He plays bodyguard / driver. Fitting role: he's already a big mofo. Glad to see him drop those killer pounds.
I watched this film thinking: Reminds me of a sedate, calm version of RoboCop.
When that masterpiece of science-fiction sadomasochistic sarcastic extremism - thank you Paul Verhoeven! -came out, I watched it a total of four times.
I was in total lust with Peter Weller's lips.
I've never watched any movie that often since.
Iron Man is a sweeter, kinder version of RoboCop, or Batman if you prefer.
You Don't Mess With the Zohan
Thursday, June 12, 2008
I love stupid movies. I was hysterical when I saw There's Something About Mary in the theaters. I was afraid I was going to pass out I laughed so hard. Don't get me started on Dumb and Dumber.
Some days I need to sit back and laugh. I don't want to be an intellectual when I go to see a comedy. There are enough things to be analytical and miserable about.
You Don't Mess With the Zohan is definitely not for everybody. It's low brow humor. Very low brow. It aims for the crotch - literally. If one has the sense of humor of a giggly 12 year old this movie will do. My sense of humor is that of a 10 year, so this facile film was a treat.
Plot: superman-like Mossad agent Zohan (Adam Sandler) fakes his death after a fight with The Phantom (John Turturro).
I don't know where they filmed that beach scene, but the water crystal clear fabulous. That place was beautiful.
A few familiar faces appear onscreen: Kevin James (he's so chunky-fat cute), John McEnroe, and Mariah Carey.
Half of the time, the fake accents were incomprehensible. When the movie hits DVD, I'm going to put Close Caption on. I put CC on every film. I can't hear anyone now-a-days, most actors mutter or the music is too loud.
