Movie To See: The Fall July 15, 2008
Posted by fanaticalpupil in : Movies , add a commentFrom Jeff VanDermeer (click through for the trailer on YouTube):
The Fall is one of the most visually striking movies you’re likely to see, but the fantasy element is firmly tied to the emotional resonance of the realistic scenes set in a hospital. Some reviewers have complained that the fantasy element is inconsistent, but it is in fact, for the most part, brilliantly inconsistent. [emphasis his]
A man who has lost the use of his legs tells stories to a child to manipulate her into getting him morphine. He has no interest in internal consistency – and in fact as his aims change and the child’s interests shift, the story shifts, as it should. If the child eventually inhabits the fantasy story, it is because she has taken some ownership of that story. The best description I can give for this movie is that it’s Pan’s Labyrinth meets Baron Munchausen. It has neither the escapist quality of the latter nor the political element of the former. It also features a bit of a self-absorbed bastard as the lead, but he has good reasons for his attitude.
It does look pretty awe-some, and seems like a very unique concept to boot. The non-story (non-fantasy) part can’t be any worse than The Cell, right? That was rhetorical, but if it had an answer, that answer would be “No”.
The Fall only has a 53% on Rotten Tomatoes, but I can see that half of all movie reviewers would not fully understand and/or embrace the concept. I’m pretty sure I’ll be with Jeff, and the 53% of fresh reviewers, on this one, though.
Witchblade: The Movie May 30, 2008
Posted by fanaticalpupil in : Movies , 2 comments[From SFSignal]
I will admit to trying to sneak glances at Witchblade comics when I was younger. I suppose I should also admit to hanging out in comic book stores. Mostly just for the X-Men, though. I was terrified of even the idea of trying to purchase a comic like Witchblade. Scared of what the guy at the counter would think. How I would sneak it into the house. What I would say if my parents did eventually find it. And that was before I even heard there was some psychosexual interactive between the Witchblade and the person using it. [I think that’s right, but maybe I’m thinking of some other fictitious comic weapon]
I’m not positive that it’s as sure a sign of the apocalypse as, say, a remake of Robocop and a movie version of 21 Jumpstreet, but Witchblade is coming in 2009. And judging by the poster, I will probably revert to my 10-year-old self and not be able to fight through the shame to actually buy a ticket.
New Trailer for The Dark Knight May 5, 2008
Posted by fanaticalpupil in : Marketing, Movies , add a commentThis movie looks awesome. (Thanks to SF Signal for the video)
The trailer is showing before Iron Man, if you want to see it on the big screen. Speaking of big screens, I hope that this one comes out in IMAX like Batman Begins did. My wife is a teacher, so she has a special pass that lets her see movies at the IMAX at Navy Pier any time she wants. I still have to pay full price (something like $17), but that’s about the price of a normal movie if you split it. I would probably pay full price to see The Dark Knight in the IMAX anyway.