Monday, June 11, 2012

Saw some Blockbusters

I really am not a big summer movie kind of guy. I'm also not the  go-to guy for really small kitchen drama indie films. I'm more or less a Cult film type of guy. So, what was I thinking, going to see both Snow White and the Huntsman, and Prometheus in the same weekend?
Well, different reasons for different movies. I saw Snow White because my wife wanted to see it. I agreed to see it because the CGI promised to be awesome. That it was. Very little else going on. I think re-imaging the Snow White story in a more adult context is a laudable idea, but that wasn't what this was. This was just as cartoonish as the Disney version, just not as charming. But, yes, the visual effects were awesome. They are called "Movies"- not Talkies, any more, right?
Prometheus on the other hand- well, Alien and even more so Blade Runner is my ideal for SciFi, and Ridley Scott was behind this. Not to mention Noomi Rapace and Michael Fassbender are both very good up and coming actors ( That Charlize Theron Was in both speaks more about her agent, and the lack of decent actors than anything else). And, again, Special Visual effects. And a great online series of adverts.
Was it up there with Alien? Blade Runner? Nope. Very good, though, and visually intoxicating. The plot was fairly straightforward, and the themes were fairly standard. But there were some subtle interactions concerning equality and belief that were fairly sophisticated. It was worth a few bucks, but I think I would have enjoyed it as much, had I watched it at home on the TV- bear in mind the TV is well, let's call it "medium Screen HDTV" ( bigger than average, but definitely not a 'big screen") so, I wouldn't spring for IMAX or 3D, like I did. But, yes, it's worth seeing. Most of the reviews that I've seen that are negative are all about the authors having problems suspending disbelief- that is the reviewer's fault, if you ask me. It's a Science Fiction film. Right off the bat, you have to accept that A. Someone can predict what the future will hold B. That this future will involve Alien things ( lifeforms, technology, something) and C. Problems and conflicts we can recognize. All of that completely defies science. So, going from there to question how fast the spaceship travels is missing the point. Going beyond that is pedantic, didactic and boring.
So, mass culture? Sure, a bit, but not terrible, either.

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