Cars 2 opened today. The reviews have been terrible. The Bean is really excited to see it.
I've been thinking about it a lot.
Click over to the Reeling Blog on Offsprung to see what I have to say about all of it.
Showing posts with label movies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label movies. Show all posts
Friday, June 24, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Super 8 (a personal, yet spoiler-free review)
I was lucky enough to get to see a sneak peak screening of Super 8. You can read my spoiler-free thoughts of it over at Offsprung.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Something Positive About Transformers?
Over the weekend while consuming the summer season’s first cinematic tour de force, I saw the new trailer for the next Transformers movie. It kills me to say this, but the trailer was really good. Maybe it was my overall jovial mood or maybe it was the theater packed with cheering moviegoers that made the difference. Or maybe, just maybe, Transformers 3 might actually be a decent movie? (Gasp!)
Anyone who follows my blogging, or knows me in person, is aware of my utter disdain for the filmmaker behind the Transformers movies, Michael Bay. Despite the fact that the Transformers movies have made gazillions of dollars, they are soulless, inane, disorienting messes. They are all spectacle with no heart, no trace of a coherent story or well drawn characters. Things I consider to be essential ingredients in a movie.
I’ve been ragging on T-Form 3 since it was announced they were doing another one, especially about the fact that it was being shot in 3D. I can’t think of a more vertigo-inducing experience than a Michael Bay in the third dimension. Bay’s knack for using quick cuts and shaky close ups makes his flat movies hard to watch. However, Bay has said that he needed to stop moving his camera so much in order to use 3D. This is encouraging.
But Bay has not yet earned my money.
Bay has also been talking a lot of smack about Transformers 2 lately. (Although it’s easy to come out and say your movie sucks after it’s been universally panned by nearly everyone.) Bay promises that T-Form 3 will be better than T-Form 2. While that’s all well and good, it doesn't fill me with confidence. Just because Revenge of the Sith is better than the other two prequels doesn’t mean it’s a good movie. To Bay, the high bar seems to have been set with the first Transformers movie. For me, that’s not high enough. I don’t just want Transformers 3 to be better than 2. I want it to be better than 1.
Admittedly my interest is piqued by the new T-Form trailer, but beast we forget that the original Transformers movie had a great trailer too—a trailer good enough to get my butt in the seat. And that one didn’t turn out so good.
For the time being, I will temper my feelings about Transformers 3. I believe Michael Bay when he says he’s making a movie better than the last one. But I don’t have hope that he will completely correct course and make a decent movie. I would love to be wrong about this. But I’m going to have to let the public convince me of that first, before I can truly buy into the promise of the trailer.
Anyone who follows my blogging, or knows me in person, is aware of my utter disdain for the filmmaker behind the Transformers movies, Michael Bay. Despite the fact that the Transformers movies have made gazillions of dollars, they are soulless, inane, disorienting messes. They are all spectacle with no heart, no trace of a coherent story or well drawn characters. Things I consider to be essential ingredients in a movie.
I’ve been ragging on T-Form 3 since it was announced they were doing another one, especially about the fact that it was being shot in 3D. I can’t think of a more vertigo-inducing experience than a Michael Bay in the third dimension. Bay’s knack for using quick cuts and shaky close ups makes his flat movies hard to watch. However, Bay has said that he needed to stop moving his camera so much in order to use 3D. This is encouraging.
But Bay has not yet earned my money.
Bay has also been talking a lot of smack about Transformers 2 lately. (Although it’s easy to come out and say your movie sucks after it’s been universally panned by nearly everyone.) Bay promises that T-Form 3 will be better than T-Form 2. While that’s all well and good, it doesn't fill me with confidence. Just because Revenge of the Sith is better than the other two prequels doesn’t mean it’s a good movie. To Bay, the high bar seems to have been set with the first Transformers movie. For me, that’s not high enough. I don’t just want Transformers 3 to be better than 2. I want it to be better than 1.
Admittedly my interest is piqued by the new T-Form trailer, but beast we forget that the original Transformers movie had a great trailer too—a trailer good enough to get my butt in the seat. And that one didn’t turn out so good.
For the time being, I will temper my feelings about Transformers 3. I believe Michael Bay when he says he’s making a movie better than the last one. But I don’t have hope that he will completely correct course and make a decent movie. I would love to be wrong about this. But I’m going to have to let the public convince me of that first, before I can truly buy into the promise of the trailer.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Exit Through the Parking Lot
There hadn’t been a Bean-friendly movie in theaters for many months, so I was excited when Hop opened. I had been planning to take the Bean for a few weeks and when I broached the subject with him, he seemed excited. Soon tickets were bought and a giant tub of popcorn procured. But about a half-hour into the movie, the Bean signed “all done”, which is the last remaining vestige of teaching him sign language as a toddler. A few moments before, I had noticed him sitting rigid in his seat, hands over his eyes. As much as I wanted to see the rest of the flick, it would have been bad parenting to keep him there. He asked to leave again. We left.
The Bean was despondent as we walked out of the theater. My attempts to find out what was bothering him went ignored. We passed by a furniture store and I suggested we go inside to test-sit the couches. When the Bean found a rocking chair, his disposition brightened some. After several minutes of chasing each other around the store, my boy was back. I found a nice over-stuffed sectional for us to crash on and I was finally able to coax his troubles from him.
There was a scene in the movie, where a cute and fuzzy talking bunny is hit by a car. Although the bunny was barely touched, he feigned hurt to gain the driver’s sympathy. The driver, thinking he had maimed a small animal picked up a rock in order to put the rabbit out of its misery. At the last minute the bunny realized what’s happening, a bit of chaos ensued and thus began the comic misadventures of man and bunny that drove the rest of the story.
Although all of this is played for laughs, this scene is what bothered the Bean. He couldn’t get over it and he worried that another “scary” moment might be around the corner. While having to bail before the end credits disappointed me, I understood that doing anything more than complying with the Bean’s wishes to leave the theater would have been incredibly hypocritical of me. Because when I was a kid, I was petrified of the movies.
My first movie memory is of Superman. When faced with the death of his beloved Lois Lane, Superman flies around the world backwards and turns back time. As a young child seeing this on the big screen, I completely and utterly lost my shit. For years afterward, I would have panic attacks at the mere mention of going to see a movie. When I did make it inside, I would often have to leave mid-flick. As a result, my dad and I spent a lot of time doing deep breathing exercises in many a movie theater parking lot.
Amazingly I not only got over my fear, but I transformed into a giant movie nerd. To those closest to me, particularly the ones who endured my phobia, my obsession with movies stands as the greatest of ironies. Any psychologist worth their salt would say that my connection to movies is a subconscious way of overcoming my childhood fears. Though I guess I didn’t just overcome them, I obliterated them.
All of this ran through my mind as the Bean and I ate lunch. I fought off the urges to try to explain to him that the movie wasn’t supposed to be scary, that even though some scenes can be thrilling, movies are filled with happy endings that make us feel good. But I knew that anything I said would have been as pointless as when people said them to me many, many years ago when I was a freaked out kid. The best thing I could do here was to accept that my son is my clone, to stand by him and to realize that this wouldn’t be the first time we walked out of a movie together.
I hope that the Bean doesn’t develop the level of fear that I had as a kid. It was something that haunted me for a long time. But if he ever does, he’s lucky because he’s got me for a dad—somebody who understands what he’s going through and will stand by him unconditionally, and somebody who knows plenty of deep-breathing exercises and where the best places are in parking lots to do them.
The Bean was despondent as we walked out of the theater. My attempts to find out what was bothering him went ignored. We passed by a furniture store and I suggested we go inside to test-sit the couches. When the Bean found a rocking chair, his disposition brightened some. After several minutes of chasing each other around the store, my boy was back. I found a nice over-stuffed sectional for us to crash on and I was finally able to coax his troubles from him.
There was a scene in the movie, where a cute and fuzzy talking bunny is hit by a car. Although the bunny was barely touched, he feigned hurt to gain the driver’s sympathy. The driver, thinking he had maimed a small animal picked up a rock in order to put the rabbit out of its misery. At the last minute the bunny realized what’s happening, a bit of chaos ensued and thus began the comic misadventures of man and bunny that drove the rest of the story.
Although all of this is played for laughs, this scene is what bothered the Bean. He couldn’t get over it and he worried that another “scary” moment might be around the corner. While having to bail before the end credits disappointed me, I understood that doing anything more than complying with the Bean’s wishes to leave the theater would have been incredibly hypocritical of me. Because when I was a kid, I was petrified of the movies.
My first movie memory is of Superman. When faced with the death of his beloved Lois Lane, Superman flies around the world backwards and turns back time. As a young child seeing this on the big screen, I completely and utterly lost my shit. For years afterward, I would have panic attacks at the mere mention of going to see a movie. When I did make it inside, I would often have to leave mid-flick. As a result, my dad and I spent a lot of time doing deep breathing exercises in many a movie theater parking lot.
Amazingly I not only got over my fear, but I transformed into a giant movie nerd. To those closest to me, particularly the ones who endured my phobia, my obsession with movies stands as the greatest of ironies. Any psychologist worth their salt would say that my connection to movies is a subconscious way of overcoming my childhood fears. Though I guess I didn’t just overcome them, I obliterated them.
All of this ran through my mind as the Bean and I ate lunch. I fought off the urges to try to explain to him that the movie wasn’t supposed to be scary, that even though some scenes can be thrilling, movies are filled with happy endings that make us feel good. But I knew that anything I said would have been as pointless as when people said them to me many, many years ago when I was a freaked out kid. The best thing I could do here was to accept that my son is my clone, to stand by him and to realize that this wouldn’t be the first time we walked out of a movie together.
I hope that the Bean doesn’t develop the level of fear that I had as a kid. It was something that haunted me for a long time. But if he ever does, he’s lucky because he’s got me for a dad—somebody who understands what he’s going through and will stand by him unconditionally, and somebody who knows plenty of deep-breathing exercises and where the best places are in parking lots to do them.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
The Performing Ushers
The movie theater that I frequent takes the moviegoing going experience very seriously. Just the way I like it. From the real butter on the popcorn to the assigned stadium seating to the fact that they won't let anyone in after the movie has started—so there's nobody walking in front of you during those crucial first few minutes, this is a modern movie palace seemingly custom designed for a movie geek like me. Watching a movie here is about as close to a pure experience as a multiplex will allow. Take, for example, what's on the screen before the movie.
Nothing. A blank screen.
Not a bunch of commercials. Not horribly outdated and easy movie "trivia". Nothing. When the show starts there are just three trailers. No annoying theater ads gently suggesting that you to buy a washtub of popcorn and a tanker of Coke before reminding you to turn off your cell phones. Nope. In this theater the ushers take center stage. Before lights go down, a spotlight is illuminated in front of the screen and an usher introduces the movie.
Before the show can start, there are a few key pieces of information that must be conveyed: the name of the movie, it's run time, a reminder that there should be no phones or texting, and please no putting your feet on the seat in front of you.
When the theater first opened, these speeches were very dry and technical. But because this is Los Angeles and this is an opportunity to perform, some of the ushers have developed routines in order to make the announcements more interesting.
Some tell jokes. Others offer wry observations about the movie. A few play to the crowd. Some of the ushers use different personas—the intellectual, the fanboy, the nervous nerd, the caffeinated cheerleader...
If the theater is fairly empty, an usher might try to strike up a conversation. In a theater composed of me and one other couple, as the usher got to the, "there's no talking in the movie" part, he pointed at me and said, "especially you, sir." When he remarked that I didn't respond to him, I reminded him that he had just asked me not to talk. A courtesy chuckle came from the other couple.
A few of the ushers have actually developed fans. It's not uncommon to hear their name being shouted out as they take the stage or vigorous cheering after their speeches. It doesn't seem like the patrons are doing this ironically either.
I've grown to look forward to these performances each time I see a movie there. And I see a lot of movies there. Instead of being bombarded with the same ad over and over, these performing ushers add a welcome dose of spontaneity and life to the moviegoing experience, which is something that you don't usually get at the multiplex.
Nothing. A blank screen.
Not a bunch of commercials. Not horribly outdated and easy movie "trivia". Nothing. When the show starts there are just three trailers. No annoying theater ads gently suggesting that you to buy a washtub of popcorn and a tanker of Coke before reminding you to turn off your cell phones. Nope. In this theater the ushers take center stage. Before lights go down, a spotlight is illuminated in front of the screen and an usher introduces the movie.
Before the show can start, there are a few key pieces of information that must be conveyed: the name of the movie, it's run time, a reminder that there should be no phones or texting, and please no putting your feet on the seat in front of you.
When the theater first opened, these speeches were very dry and technical. But because this is Los Angeles and this is an opportunity to perform, some of the ushers have developed routines in order to make the announcements more interesting.
Some tell jokes. Others offer wry observations about the movie. A few play to the crowd. Some of the ushers use different personas—the intellectual, the fanboy, the nervous nerd, the caffeinated cheerleader...
If the theater is fairly empty, an usher might try to strike up a conversation. In a theater composed of me and one other couple, as the usher got to the, "there's no talking in the movie" part, he pointed at me and said, "especially you, sir." When he remarked that I didn't respond to him, I reminded him that he had just asked me not to talk. A courtesy chuckle came from the other couple.
A few of the ushers have actually developed fans. It's not uncommon to hear their name being shouted out as they take the stage or vigorous cheering after their speeches. It doesn't seem like the patrons are doing this ironically either.
I've grown to look forward to these performances each time I see a movie there. And I see a lot of movies there. Instead of being bombarded with the same ad over and over, these performing ushers add a welcome dose of spontaneity and life to the moviegoing experience, which is something that you don't usually get at the multiplex.
Friday, January 28, 2011
A State of the Union on 3D Movies
Hey everybody...
Wanna know where I am? I'm hanging out over at my blog Reeling on Offsprung for a discussion about the current (sad) state of 3D movies.
Wanna know where I am? I'm hanging out over at my blog Reeling on Offsprung for a discussion about the current (sad) state of 3D movies.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Green Hornet: F Yeah!
Green Hornet comes out tomorrow and despite some bad buzz from last year’s Comic-Con, I think the movie’s going to be fun on a bun.
Here’s why:
Here’s why:
- Seth Rogen as action hero is awesome against-type casting
- It’s got a fun, bright, crisp, pop look to it
- I have a not-so-secret man crush on Seth Rogen.
- It’s mad genius crazy, visionary director Michel Gondry’s first action movie. (He’s done some amazing music videos as well as director of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.)
- The Black Beauty
- Though it wasn’t shot in 3D, it was conceived that way. It looks like it makes good use of the extra dimension.
- Kato-Vision.
- It was written by Rogen and Evan Goldberg, who also wrote Superbad and Pineapple Express, and they know their way around a buddy pic.
- The notion that studios dump their less than stellar movies in January is an antiquated notion. These days, the popcorn movies don’t always come out in the summer.
- Did I mention my worship of Seth Rogen?
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
My Very Own 3D Glasses
As I strode into the movie theater and gave the usher my ticket, I politely refused the 3D glasses he tried to hand me.
“No thanks. I brought my own,” I told him.
The usher looked somewhat confused and I don’t blame him. I very well might have been the only person in the theater wearing my own 3D shades. But if Oakley has their way, everyone will soon be.
Let’s face facts, 3D isn’t going anywhere. It’s quickly migrating from movie screens to our TVs and game consoles so it makes perfect sense that companies are starting to manufacture personal 3D glasses. I had heard that they were coming, but hadn’t really been paying attention. Then a rep from Oakely reached out to me.
Okay, full disclosure time: I was given a pair of 3D glasses from Oakley, but in accepting them I was under no obligation to write about them or pressured to give them a positive review. The products that I write about on this blog are things that interest me (even if they don’t contain bacon). Being the giant movie-geek that I am, how could I not test-drive personal 3D glasses?
You should know that I’m a fan of 3D movies. Well, I’m a fan of movies that make good use of 3D. Flicks like Avatar, How to Train Your Dragon and Despicable Me use 3D in clever ways to enhance the experience. So if a movie is conceived and shot in 3D, I don’t mind paying a bit more for that extra dimension.
The glasses soon arrived with a bunch of literature extolling the virtues of the lenses—premium optics designed to reduce glare and show truer colors, etc. I was excited to see if these claims were true. At the very least, it would be nice to have a pristine pair of glasses that nobody else had worn.
For the test run, I decided to see Tangled because I heard it was a good movie (and I secretly have a hair fetish, shhh). When it came to picking a theater, I encountered the first stumbling block of personalized 3D glasses: not all 3D theaters are created equal. There are two different kinds of 3D—active polarization, which use glasses with an electronically controlled shutter, and passive polarization, which use standard disposable glasses. While the majority of theaters use passive, guess which one my favorite local theater uses? So I had to travel a little bit further to try ‘em out.
In the theater I settled into my seat and strapped on the Oakleys. They were comfortable, feeling good against the bridge of my nose without hurting the tops of my ears like some 3D glasses can. Aside from that it was hard to notice much of a difference. The picture did look a tiny bit sharper, but nothing overtly noticeable. It’s like when I hear an audiophile complain that mp3s don’t sound as good as CDs or records—I really can’t tell.
After watching the movie (it’s very good, by the way) I began weighing the pros and cons of personal 3D glasses. The biggest con is that they aren’t cheap. The Oakleys retail for $150. Considering that theaters aren’t yet dropping the 3D surcharge if you bring your own glasses, these truly feel like a luxury item. While they are super comfortable to wear, and having my own glasses means I won’t be watching through scratched or dirty lenses, it’s unfortunate that they don’t work on every 3D screen (including 3D TV’s, which currently use active polarization).
I think there will be a market for personalized 3D glasses down the line—perhaps when there’s a more uniform system of exhibition is in place. But considering the love affair I have with my local theater, having my own glasses isn’t enough to lure me away. But I’ll happily wear them if I’m at a theater where the glasses work.
“No thanks. I brought my own,” I told him.
The usher looked somewhat confused and I don’t blame him. I very well might have been the only person in the theater wearing my own 3D shades. But if Oakley has their way, everyone will soon be.
Let’s face facts, 3D isn’t going anywhere. It’s quickly migrating from movie screens to our TVs and game consoles so it makes perfect sense that companies are starting to manufacture personal 3D glasses. I had heard that they were coming, but hadn’t really been paying attention. Then a rep from Oakely reached out to me.
Okay, full disclosure time: I was given a pair of 3D glasses from Oakley, but in accepting them I was under no obligation to write about them or pressured to give them a positive review. The products that I write about on this blog are things that interest me (even if they don’t contain bacon). Being the giant movie-geek that I am, how could I not test-drive personal 3D glasses?
You should know that I’m a fan of 3D movies. Well, I’m a fan of movies that make good use of 3D. Flicks like Avatar, How to Train Your Dragon and Despicable Me use 3D in clever ways to enhance the experience. So if a movie is conceived and shot in 3D, I don’t mind paying a bit more for that extra dimension.
The glasses soon arrived with a bunch of literature extolling the virtues of the lenses—premium optics designed to reduce glare and show truer colors, etc. I was excited to see if these claims were true. At the very least, it would be nice to have a pristine pair of glasses that nobody else had worn.
For the test run, I decided to see Tangled because I heard it was a good movie (and I secretly have a hair fetish, shhh). When it came to picking a theater, I encountered the first stumbling block of personalized 3D glasses: not all 3D theaters are created equal. There are two different kinds of 3D—active polarization, which use glasses with an electronically controlled shutter, and passive polarization, which use standard disposable glasses. While the majority of theaters use passive, guess which one my favorite local theater uses? So I had to travel a little bit further to try ‘em out.
In the theater I settled into my seat and strapped on the Oakleys. They were comfortable, feeling good against the bridge of my nose without hurting the tops of my ears like some 3D glasses can. Aside from that it was hard to notice much of a difference. The picture did look a tiny bit sharper, but nothing overtly noticeable. It’s like when I hear an audiophile complain that mp3s don’t sound as good as CDs or records—I really can’t tell.
After watching the movie (it’s very good, by the way) I began weighing the pros and cons of personal 3D glasses. The biggest con is that they aren’t cheap. The Oakleys retail for $150. Considering that theaters aren’t yet dropping the 3D surcharge if you bring your own glasses, these truly feel like a luxury item. While they are super comfortable to wear, and having my own glasses means I won’t be watching through scratched or dirty lenses, it’s unfortunate that they don’t work on every 3D screen (including 3D TV’s, which currently use active polarization).
I think there will be a market for personalized 3D glasses down the line—perhaps when there’s a more uniform system of exhibition is in place. But considering the love affair I have with my local theater, having my own glasses isn’t enough to lure me away. But I’ll happily wear them if I’m at a theater where the glasses work.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Alone on Father's Day
The house will be empty for father’s day. I will be alone.
WonderWife™ and the kids will be on the other coast, visiting their grandparents. I will be enjoying the benefits of their absence. I will sleep in (maybe until 8am!). I will be able to enjoy my coffee leisurely. I will watch a Blu-Ray that isn’t Cars.
I will have the greatest gift a father can have--a day to spend exactly as I see fit. No rules. No obligations. Just me, being coerced by my id to have another beer or watch cartoons with the volume turned way up. Perhaps I’ll grill a steak. (and wrap it in bacon!). It’s been almost a year and a half since I was last left to my own devices. Last time, I watched six movies in one day (a double feature in the theater and four DVDs, and no my eyes didn’t start bleeding). Should I try to break my record? Maybe I should take a nap. Or both!
There are lots of things that I can do. But some things that I can’t. This father’s day I will be alone. WonderWife™ and the kids will have been gone for six days and won’t be back for another four. While I will be enjoying my freedom, I will be missing them. For what is father’s day if the reasons why I’m a father aren’t there to share it with me?
WonderWife™ and the kids will be on the other coast, visiting their grandparents. I will be enjoying the benefits of their absence. I will sleep in (maybe until 8am!). I will be able to enjoy my coffee leisurely. I will watch a Blu-Ray that isn’t Cars.
I will have the greatest gift a father can have--a day to spend exactly as I see fit. No rules. No obligations. Just me, being coerced by my id to have another beer or watch cartoons with the volume turned way up. Perhaps I’ll grill a steak. (and wrap it in bacon!). It’s been almost a year and a half since I was last left to my own devices. Last time, I watched six movies in one day (a double feature in the theater and four DVDs, and no my eyes didn’t start bleeding). Should I try to break my record? Maybe I should take a nap. Or both!
There are lots of things that I can do. But some things that I can’t. This father’s day I will be alone. WonderWife™ and the kids will have been gone for six days and won’t be back for another four. While I will be enjoying my freedom, I will be missing them. For what is father’s day if the reasons why I’m a father aren’t there to share it with me?
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Reeling Q&A Part 2: Remakes
Hey gang...I'm playing with my friends over at Offsprung today, where as you probably know I'm their resident movie guy. Today I answer one of the questions I'm most asked about Hollywood, What's up with all of the remakes?
You just may be surprised at who is to blame.
You just may be surprised at who is to blame.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Retroactively Busted
One day out of the blue, the Bean started talking about Chester Cheetah—beloved corporate mascot of Cheetos brand cheese-ish flavored crunch snack. Apparently, one of the Bean’s good friends at pre-school eats a bag of Cheetos every day, which at some point prompted a roundtable discussion about said mascot.
Not only did the Bean bring up Chester, but he also gleefully said that he ate a bag of Cheetos one time at the movies. Upon this revelation, WonderWife™ looked at me with an all-too-familiar bemused shock. Since I am the only one who takes him to the movies, there was nowhere else to look for the culprit.
So here’s what happened…
Popcorn is a choking hazard for kids under the age of 5. Since the Bean had a nasty habit of choking on anything with a remotely crunchy texture, as we terrifyingly discovered one afternoon while snacking on potato chips, popcorn was not going to be in his future for quite some time.
However this presented a problem because that damned Curious George had taught the Bean that a person eats popcorn at the movies. But since the Bean did not actually know what popcorn was, I would put some Pirate’s Booty in a paper bag, give it to him as the theater lights were dimming and he’d happily munch away none the wiser.
But one time I didn’t have any Pirate’s Booty, so I covertly brought the boy into the ‘Sev and scored a bag of Cheetos. Well, I thought I was being covert. Cause as the Bean revealed, he knew that he had eaten Cheetos that day instead of popcorn.
I didn’t know if I should be pissed or impressed. I retraced my steps and realized that I had taken him to the movie in question probably a year and a half ago. That’s a way better memory than I’ve ever had. However, this means that the popcorn ruse is up, which will make it all the more difficult to take him to the movies the next time.
Not only did the Bean bring up Chester, but he also gleefully said that he ate a bag of Cheetos one time at the movies. Upon this revelation, WonderWife™ looked at me with an all-too-familiar bemused shock. Since I am the only one who takes him to the movies, there was nowhere else to look for the culprit.
So here’s what happened…
Popcorn is a choking hazard for kids under the age of 5. Since the Bean had a nasty habit of choking on anything with a remotely crunchy texture, as we terrifyingly discovered one afternoon while snacking on potato chips, popcorn was not going to be in his future for quite some time.
However this presented a problem because that damned Curious George had taught the Bean that a person eats popcorn at the movies. But since the Bean did not actually know what popcorn was, I would put some Pirate’s Booty in a paper bag, give it to him as the theater lights were dimming and he’d happily munch away none the wiser.
But one time I didn’t have any Pirate’s Booty, so I covertly brought the boy into the ‘Sev and scored a bag of Cheetos. Well, I thought I was being covert. Cause as the Bean revealed, he knew that he had eaten Cheetos that day instead of popcorn.
I didn’t know if I should be pissed or impressed. I retraced my steps and realized that I had taken him to the movie in question probably a year and a half ago. That’s a way better memory than I’ve ever had. However, this means that the popcorn ruse is up, which will make it all the more difficult to take him to the movies the next time.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
The Battle of the Pfeiffers
Today I'm hanging out with the Culture Brats where I'm engaged in another debate with A Vapid Blonde. Based on the comments from our last battle, Who's the Best Babysitter: Uncle Buck vs. Chris Parker?, I seem to have won that one.
Will I remain undefeated when pitting Michelle Pfeiffer from Grease 2 against Michelle Pfeiffer from The Fabulous Baker Boys?
Check it out.
Will I remain undefeated when pitting Michelle Pfeiffer from Grease 2 against Michelle Pfeiffer from The Fabulous Baker Boys?
Check it out.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Why I’m Worried About Iron Man 2
The summer movie season officially starts on Friday, which means I will spend a number of evenings sitting in the dark scarfing popcorn in my craw and basking in the warm glowing warming glow of the silver screen.
Iron Man 2 is first out of the gate this year. Hard to believe that around this time two years ago it wasn’t a foregone conclusion that the flick would even be a hit. But it was, which means we get to watch another one. And while I’m excited to see it, it makes me nervous.
The first movie was an underdog in every sense. It had a second tier super hero not well known to most people who have never attended a comic convention. Its director, Jon Favreau had never helmed a movie of this size and scope. Marvel, who bankrolled the flick, was doing it on their own for the first time.
It was fun to root for the underdog. But like the Boston Red Sox after they finally won the world series, Iron Man 2 is the farthest thing from an underdog. (Yes, I did just make a sports reference.) Last time out, Favreau was one bad flick away from movie jail. If he had failed, it could have sent his directing career into a downward spiral from which it might never recover. He doesn’t have to worry quite that much this time around. He's on solid ground after directing one of the most successful comic book movies of all time.
What it seems we the audience have to worry about is super hero sequel double vision. It’s an unfortunate condition that seems to have sprung up over the past few decades where filmmakers take everything that worked in the first movie…and double it.
My concern popped up at the same time as my excitement, when the trailer for Iron Man 2 first popped up. The trailer teaches us that in Iron Man 2 there are two bad guys (Whiplash and Justin Hammer), two babes (Pepper Pots and Black Widow) and two good guys (Iron Man and War Machine). Not to mention a whole lot of other armored suits as well as Nick Fury himself. To me that feels like the movie equivalent of that chubby lady I saw wearing spandex at the mall, a whole lot squeezed into a small space.
If Batman Forever, Spider Man 3, X Men 3, Transformers 2, and countless others have taught us anything its that sometimes there can be too much of a good thing.
I hope that Iron Man 2 doesn’t fall into that oh so tempting cinematic trap. I don’t believe that bigger is better. I don’t need my sequels to be overflowing with characters and story threads. I just want them to be competent and compelling.
So here's hoping that Marvel pulls it out again. And here's hoping, as I always do at the start of one of my favorite times of the year, that everyone has an entertaining summer movie season.
Iron Man 2 is first out of the gate this year. Hard to believe that around this time two years ago it wasn’t a foregone conclusion that the flick would even be a hit. But it was, which means we get to watch another one. And while I’m excited to see it, it makes me nervous.
The first movie was an underdog in every sense. It had a second tier super hero not well known to most people who have never attended a comic convention. Its director, Jon Favreau had never helmed a movie of this size and scope. Marvel, who bankrolled the flick, was doing it on their own for the first time.
It was fun to root for the underdog. But like the Boston Red Sox after they finally won the world series, Iron Man 2 is the farthest thing from an underdog. (Yes, I did just make a sports reference.) Last time out, Favreau was one bad flick away from movie jail. If he had failed, it could have sent his directing career into a downward spiral from which it might never recover. He doesn’t have to worry quite that much this time around. He's on solid ground after directing one of the most successful comic book movies of all time.
What it seems we the audience have to worry about is super hero sequel double vision. It’s an unfortunate condition that seems to have sprung up over the past few decades where filmmakers take everything that worked in the first movie…and double it.
My concern popped up at the same time as my excitement, when the trailer for Iron Man 2 first popped up. The trailer teaches us that in Iron Man 2 there are two bad guys (Whiplash and Justin Hammer), two babes (Pepper Pots and Black Widow) and two good guys (Iron Man and War Machine). Not to mention a whole lot of other armored suits as well as Nick Fury himself. To me that feels like the movie equivalent of that chubby lady I saw wearing spandex at the mall, a whole lot squeezed into a small space.
If Batman Forever, Spider Man 3, X Men 3, Transformers 2, and countless others have taught us anything its that sometimes there can be too much of a good thing.
I hope that Iron Man 2 doesn’t fall into that oh so tempting cinematic trap. I don’t believe that bigger is better. I don’t need my sequels to be overflowing with characters and story threads. I just want them to be competent and compelling.
So here's hoping that Marvel pulls it out again. And here's hoping, as I always do at the start of one of my favorite times of the year, that everyone has an entertaining summer movie season.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
I'm a Brat
The awesome blogger Chag from the awesome blog Cynical Dad started something really cool. It's a brand spanking new blog called Culture Brats. And guess who he's invited to be a contributor?
A lot of really cool and talented bloggers.
Foolishly, they have asked me to join them.
The blog went live this week and it's already chock filled with stuff about music, movies, TV and one of the coolest features, Criss Cross Counterpunch, where 80s pop culture is thrown into a battle royal to answer important questions like, Which is the better album, Prince's Purple Rain or Michael Jackson's Thriller.
My first post over there is about, what else, movies and the current 3D trend that's sweeping through multiplexes.
I strongly suggest you click on over to Culture Brats and poke around. It's totally awesome.
A lot of really cool and talented bloggers.
Foolishly, they have asked me to join them.
The blog went live this week and it's already chock filled with stuff about music, movies, TV and one of the coolest features, Criss Cross Counterpunch, where 80s pop culture is thrown into a battle royal to answer important questions like, Which is the better album, Prince's Purple Rain or Michael Jackson's Thriller.
My first post over there is about, what else, movies and the current 3D trend that's sweeping through multiplexes.
I strongly suggest you click on over to Culture Brats and poke around. It's totally awesome.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
The Inevitable Avatar Post, Part 2: The Review (spoiler free)
Let’s just say this right up front: Avatar will not meet the extraordinarily lofty expectations that have been placed on it. I don’t think that any movie truly could. But it comes close. Avatar is a beautiful, groundbreaking spectacle that instantly sets a new bar for computer animation.
It's clear that James Cameron’s main goal with Avatar is to transport the viewer into a new world. He does this through jaw-droppingly real looking computer animation. In the movie, we swoop over vibrant landscapes, crawl through jungles and soar around mountains. Cameron shows off the rich world of Pandora like a new parent would their baby.
I loved being in Pandora and basking in its phosphorescent glow. The animation is stunning and as the movie unfolds it keeps revealing surprise after dazzling surprise. There were many times I had to remind myself that what I was seeing was created by a computer.
To heighten the experience Cameron uses 3D very effectively to draw the viewer into the movie. If your only 3D experience has been at a theme park, you are in for a surprise. The 3D in Avatar is never used as a gimmick where objects are purposely aimed at the audience. Instead, 3D is used to make you feel as if you a part of this world. In 3D the movie envelops you. The scenery has depth. Objects like leaves, bugs, smoke or debris sometimes obscure your view. It’s a cool a subtle way to make the viewer feel like they are directly in the scene.
I’m not sure if the movie would be as effective in 2D. The visuals would still be eye-catching, but I’m not sure if it would pull audiences in the same way. If possible, I strongly suggest seeing the movie in a gigantic sized Imax theater, where this world projected onto a 30-foot screen is an incredible sensory event.
For all of its beauty, the film does come up short in the story department. The plot has a simple narrative that lacks surprises. It’s really only there to provide a clothesline over which shot after shot of gorgeous scenery can be draped. The story doesn’t ask a lot from the audience while making obvious statements about human greed, evil corporations and war-mongering military operations. Yes, war is bad and saving the planet is good. These are hardly controversial political stances. It’s great that the movie has a message, but it’s all just to service a standard good vs. evil plot where the bad guys are humans and the altruistic good guys come in the form of blue-skinned cat-like creatures, called the Na’vi.
The film’s biggest feat is how it brings the Na’vi to life. Cameron and company have created a detailed language, philosophy and culture for the Na’vi that is a mix of Creole, African, Native American and Wiccan. Though totally rendered in CG the nuances of the actor’s performances show through, making the Na’vi fully realized and sympathetic characters.
With a running time of 2 hours, 40 minutes it’s a long movie, but it moved along swiftly. The first half is definitely stronger, featuring most of the spectacular views of Pandora. The movie turns darker and suffers from a few cheesy moments in the second hour. But hang in there, because it finishes with an explosive action-packed climax that makes up for any indiscretions that may have come before it.
Speaking of action, the action scenes in the film are breathtaking. Cameron is a confident filmmaker who thankfully doesn’t need to hide behind quick edits or shaky camerawork. He uses wide shots and even slow motion to highlight the action and provide a sense of geography even in the most chaotic of fight scenes.
At the end of the day, Avatar is not a perfect movie but it is a landmark film that is going to revolutionize the way movies are made. It will give filmmakers more freedom to create exotic worlds and immerse audiences in them. For that alone James Cameron should be applauded.
As for me, my jaw was on the floor during most of the movie. Yes it has its faults but Avatar is way more good than bad. I totally dug my trip to Pandora and can't wait to travel there again.
It's clear that James Cameron’s main goal with Avatar is to transport the viewer into a new world. He does this through jaw-droppingly real looking computer animation. In the movie, we swoop over vibrant landscapes, crawl through jungles and soar around mountains. Cameron shows off the rich world of Pandora like a new parent would their baby.
I loved being in Pandora and basking in its phosphorescent glow. The animation is stunning and as the movie unfolds it keeps revealing surprise after dazzling surprise. There were many times I had to remind myself that what I was seeing was created by a computer.
To heighten the experience Cameron uses 3D very effectively to draw the viewer into the movie. If your only 3D experience has been at a theme park, you are in for a surprise. The 3D in Avatar is never used as a gimmick where objects are purposely aimed at the audience. Instead, 3D is used to make you feel as if you a part of this world. In 3D the movie envelops you. The scenery has depth. Objects like leaves, bugs, smoke or debris sometimes obscure your view. It’s a cool a subtle way to make the viewer feel like they are directly in the scene.
I’m not sure if the movie would be as effective in 2D. The visuals would still be eye-catching, but I’m not sure if it would pull audiences in the same way. If possible, I strongly suggest seeing the movie in a gigantic sized Imax theater, where this world projected onto a 30-foot screen is an incredible sensory event.
For all of its beauty, the film does come up short in the story department. The plot has a simple narrative that lacks surprises. It’s really only there to provide a clothesline over which shot after shot of gorgeous scenery can be draped. The story doesn’t ask a lot from the audience while making obvious statements about human greed, evil corporations and war-mongering military operations. Yes, war is bad and saving the planet is good. These are hardly controversial political stances. It’s great that the movie has a message, but it’s all just to service a standard good vs. evil plot where the bad guys are humans and the altruistic good guys come in the form of blue-skinned cat-like creatures, called the Na’vi.
The film’s biggest feat is how it brings the Na’vi to life. Cameron and company have created a detailed language, philosophy and culture for the Na’vi that is a mix of Creole, African, Native American and Wiccan. Though totally rendered in CG the nuances of the actor’s performances show through, making the Na’vi fully realized and sympathetic characters.
With a running time of 2 hours, 40 minutes it’s a long movie, but it moved along swiftly. The first half is definitely stronger, featuring most of the spectacular views of Pandora. The movie turns darker and suffers from a few cheesy moments in the second hour. But hang in there, because it finishes with an explosive action-packed climax that makes up for any indiscretions that may have come before it.
Speaking of action, the action scenes in the film are breathtaking. Cameron is a confident filmmaker who thankfully doesn’t need to hide behind quick edits or shaky camerawork. He uses wide shots and even slow motion to highlight the action and provide a sense of geography even in the most chaotic of fight scenes.
At the end of the day, Avatar is not a perfect movie but it is a landmark film that is going to revolutionize the way movies are made. It will give filmmakers more freedom to create exotic worlds and immerse audiences in them. For that alone James Cameron should be applauded.
As for me, my jaw was on the floor during most of the movie. Yes it has its faults but Avatar is way more good than bad. I totally dug my trip to Pandora and can't wait to travel there again.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
The Inevitable Avatar Post, Part 1: Expectations
Expectation plays a huge role in the movie going experience. Whether or not you think you’re going to like a movie has a direct impact on whether or not you actually do like a movie. It’s nice to be pleasantly surprised by a flick you thought was going to suck, but it’s awful to be disappointed by something that seemed like it was going to be great. But what creates these expectations?
Rabid fanboys feed on any scrap of information about an upcoming movie, then make a snap judgment about the movie and post it on the web. After a while, these separate decisions meld together to form one collective opinion, commonly referred to as “buzz.” Buzz is what sets expectations for a movie and, like it or not, it has become the lifeblood of the modern popcorn movie. Most of the time, buzz is built as a movie is being made, but sometimes buzz can be created through anticipation. In the 20 years between Star Wars movies, fans grew so itchy for new Star Wars that it didn’t matter if the new movies weren’t very good.
Once upon a time there was a filmmaker who beat bad buzz. It seems hard to imagine now, but James Cameron’s Titanic was purported to be a colossal flop. It was over budget and over schedule. But Cameron had the last laugh when the movie was seen by everyone who could take in oxygen and made just over a kabillion dollars.
It’s been a decade since James Cameron’s last movie. He’s been out of the limelight for so long that there is a generation of young movie fans who think that McG directed Terminator. But those of us fanboys who are old enough to know better have been eagerly anticipating his next move.
In the aftermath of Titanic, Cameron wanted to make this movie he’d written called Avatar, but technology wasn’t good enough for him to be able to pull it off. At this point most filmmakers would move on to something else, but Cameron, in his interminably stubborn way, said ‘screw it’ and set about inventing the technology he needed to make his movie.
Three years ago, it was announced that Avatar was finally going into production. The project was shrouded in secrecy. The only thing that was known was that it was destined to be spectacular. We were told it was going to change movies forever.
That last statement is a dangerous one. It set the bar for Avatar impossibly high from the very beginning.
Last summer at Comic Con—the current birthplace of movie buzz—Cameron unveiled 10 minutes of footage from the movie. Fans waited for 4 hours to get a glimpse of the “future of movies” (which is a long time for anyone to spend in stuffy convention hall squeezed into a Stormtrooper costume). The immediate reaction to what they saw was…”meh”. The bad buzz began to build.
James Cameron is nothing if not a master showman and he’s always said that Avatar is meant to be seen in as large a format as possible in 3D. So a few months ago, 15 minutes of the film where screened for audiences in Imax theaters around the country. Reactions were again mixed.
At this point, it’s unclear if Avatar is going to revolutionize movies, like Star Wars, Terminator 2 or The Matrix, or go down in history as another overpriced, bloated flop alongside Waterworld and Ishtar.
I say let the fanboys throw barbs behind the shield of anonymity that is the internet. Let them debate if the aliens in the movie look as if a Thundercat mated with a Smurf. I don’t care. I’m in. Bad buzz or not, you had me at “a film by James Cameron.” I’m trying not to create expectations for the movie because the only way I will know where it belongs in the annals of cinematic and pop culture history is by planting myself in front of an Imax screen, strapping on a pair of 3D glasses and experiencing it for myself.
After 11 years of buildup, Avatar opens in theaters this weekend. My ticket is bought and I am anxiously waiting for my chance to see it.
To be continued…
Rabid fanboys feed on any scrap of information about an upcoming movie, then make a snap judgment about the movie and post it on the web. After a while, these separate decisions meld together to form one collective opinion, commonly referred to as “buzz.” Buzz is what sets expectations for a movie and, like it or not, it has become the lifeblood of the modern popcorn movie. Most of the time, buzz is built as a movie is being made, but sometimes buzz can be created through anticipation. In the 20 years between Star Wars movies, fans grew so itchy for new Star Wars that it didn’t matter if the new movies weren’t very good.
Once upon a time there was a filmmaker who beat bad buzz. It seems hard to imagine now, but James Cameron’s Titanic was purported to be a colossal flop. It was over budget and over schedule. But Cameron had the last laugh when the movie was seen by everyone who could take in oxygen and made just over a kabillion dollars.
It’s been a decade since James Cameron’s last movie. He’s been out of the limelight for so long that there is a generation of young movie fans who think that McG directed Terminator. But those of us fanboys who are old enough to know better have been eagerly anticipating his next move.
In the aftermath of Titanic, Cameron wanted to make this movie he’d written called Avatar, but technology wasn’t good enough for him to be able to pull it off. At this point most filmmakers would move on to something else, but Cameron, in his interminably stubborn way, said ‘screw it’ and set about inventing the technology he needed to make his movie.
Three years ago, it was announced that Avatar was finally going into production. The project was shrouded in secrecy. The only thing that was known was that it was destined to be spectacular. We were told it was going to change movies forever.
That last statement is a dangerous one. It set the bar for Avatar impossibly high from the very beginning.
Last summer at Comic Con—the current birthplace of movie buzz—Cameron unveiled 10 minutes of footage from the movie. Fans waited for 4 hours to get a glimpse of the “future of movies” (which is a long time for anyone to spend in stuffy convention hall squeezed into a Stormtrooper costume). The immediate reaction to what they saw was…”meh”. The bad buzz began to build.
James Cameron is nothing if not a master showman and he’s always said that Avatar is meant to be seen in as large a format as possible in 3D. So a few months ago, 15 minutes of the film where screened for audiences in Imax theaters around the country. Reactions were again mixed.
At this point, it’s unclear if Avatar is going to revolutionize movies, like Star Wars, Terminator 2 or The Matrix, or go down in history as another overpriced, bloated flop alongside Waterworld and Ishtar.
I say let the fanboys throw barbs behind the shield of anonymity that is the internet. Let them debate if the aliens in the movie look as if a Thundercat mated with a Smurf. I don’t care. I’m in. Bad buzz or not, you had me at “a film by James Cameron.” I’m trying not to create expectations for the movie because the only way I will know where it belongs in the annals of cinematic and pop culture history is by planting myself in front of an Imax screen, strapping on a pair of 3D glasses and experiencing it for myself.
After 11 years of buildup, Avatar opens in theaters this weekend. My ticket is bought and I am anxiously waiting for my chance to see it.
To be continued…
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Wimpy Activity
I am a huge wimp.
Let me rephrase that. I am a huge wimp when it comes to all things scary. Growing up, this was especially true of horror movies. This phobia was particularly difficult seeing as I came of age in the 80s, the decade that birthed the modern horror flick. My friends saw just about every one. So naturally, despite me never having seen any of them, I knew all of the grizzly details.
Let me rephrase that. I am a huge wimp when it comes to all things scary. Growing up, this was especially true of horror movies. This phobia was particularly difficult seeing as I came of age in the 80s, the decade that birthed the modern horror flick. My friends saw just about every one. So naturally, despite me never having seen any of them, I knew all of the grizzly details.
I was 10 years old when I saw Poltergeist on cable. Even though I knew in advance nearly every scare, and even though it was a sunny Saturday morning when it was on, that movie had a profound effect on me. I tied a rope around the doorknobs of my closet for over a year after.
During horror movie nights at summer camp, I would be forced to spend the evening hanging out with the kids who were “docked”—a suspension of sorts for campers who had gotten in trouble that day and were not allowed to participate in that evening’s activity. When my bunkmates returned I was subjected to mockery while they spent the rest of the evening talking about all the gruesome scenes they had earlier witnessed in The Thing or Creepshow.
Only a handful of my closest friends knew of my fears and I tried very hard to keep it that way. This was not always easy to do. One weekend night in junior high there was a screening of Aliens at the house of a girl I kind of liked. As we gathered around the TV, I purposely positioned myself in a corner that had an obstructed view of the screen. I sat there trying not to listen and wishing for time to accelerate when somebody popped up behind the couch and screamed “boo.” Weather or not, this was actually intended for me will forever remain a mystery. Instinct took over and before I knew it I had leapt over the couch. My next memory is that the lights were turned on and I was sitting on top a guy whose head I had pushed through the drywall. To call the aftermath mortifying is an injustice to that word.
Now that I’m an adult, and a movie geek, I’ve shed a lot of my fears about horror movies. I’ve seen a handful of them and for the most part, have emerged unscathed. I can openly and honestly admit my wimpish tendencies.
There is a movie out right now called Paranormal Activity. Over the past few weeks, it has been shown to sold out audiences at midnight screenings. It is fast becoming a phenomenon, similar to The Blair Witch Project of a decade ago. I don’t usually listen to platitudes, but Paranormal Activity is being called one of the scariest movies ever. Like Poltergeist, it takes place in a regular suburban home. I have heard it’s the kind of flick that creeps the skin and haunts you long after you’ve left the theater.
As a fanboy, I am compelled to see it. But as a wimp, I’m afraid. Most of the time, I go to movies by myself. Nearly all of the time, I see them at night. After the movie is over, I would have to walk alone through a subterranean parking garage to my car and arrive at a darkened house where everyone is sleeping.
Total. Wimp.
I am not the type to miss out on a pop culture phenomenon, but in this case I’m afraid that I may have to make an exception.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
The Plan for Meatballs
I’m overjoyed that my son is old enough for a movie theater and can now be my movie buddy. However, it’s a gamble taking him to a flick because his track record for sitting through an entire movie is spotty at best. Now it’s one thing if we leave halfway through Hotel For Dogs or G-Force. But you want to leave in the middle of a Pixar movie and you and me got problems, mister. (Halfway through Up, we had problems.)
I’m not one who feels like he’s being forced into sitting through the latest cartoon flick. I have been going to animated movies long before I had kids. When I first saw the trailer for Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs months ago, I knew I wanted to see it. I also wanted to share it with the Bean. But I didn’t want to have to bail on it before it was over. So I began working on a plan to insure against such a thing.
I first obtained a copy of the classic book on which the movie is based. The Bean was pretty much hooked from the moment the pancake landed on the boy’s head until the kids went outside to play with their grandfather in the snow. Along the way, I also rediscovered my own memories of the book, buried under each page. When it was finished, he asked me to read it again. And again. And yet again.
Next, I plopped him on my lap in front of my computer and downloaded the trailer. He giggled softly as the glorious HD picture flickered in his eyes. It wasn’t long before he was reciting one of the lines from the trailer. It became his most requested video, for a while replacing the elephant jumping on a trampoline.
My plan was working. The Bean soon began asking to see the movie. Because he lives in an on-demand world of Tivo’d shows and DVDs, he couldn’t wrap his little mind around the fact that we still had to wait a month before we could see it. A few weeks later, when we drove past a billboard for the flick, the Bean pointed it out and I knew he was ready.
Opening weekend finally arrived. WonderWife™ had never taken the Bean to a movie, and she knew that her taking him instead of me wasn’t an option, so with Sprout being looked after by a babysitter, the three of us went to a matinee.
An hour and a half later, the credits rolled and we were all still in our seats.
I’m not sure I could tell you who enjoyed the movie the most. It had been a while since I had seen a movie in the theater with WW™ and I had forgotten how wonderfully boisterous her laugh could be. True to form, the Bean loved all of the broad physical comedy. I appreciated how sly and subversive it was. The movie never pandered. It didn’t force pop culture references down our throats. It merely entertained each of us, thoroughly.
For the past few days, in between talking like a pirate and tormenting the cats, the Bean will reference a scene from the movie. Every time, I’m more than happy to indulge my movie buddy and talk about it with him.
I’m not one who feels like he’s being forced into sitting through the latest cartoon flick. I have been going to animated movies long before I had kids. When I first saw the trailer for Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs months ago, I knew I wanted to see it. I also wanted to share it with the Bean. But I didn’t want to have to bail on it before it was over. So I began working on a plan to insure against such a thing.
I first obtained a copy of the classic book on which the movie is based. The Bean was pretty much hooked from the moment the pancake landed on the boy’s head until the kids went outside to play with their grandfather in the snow. Along the way, I also rediscovered my own memories of the book, buried under each page. When it was finished, he asked me to read it again. And again. And yet again.
Next, I plopped him on my lap in front of my computer and downloaded the trailer. He giggled softly as the glorious HD picture flickered in his eyes. It wasn’t long before he was reciting one of the lines from the trailer. It became his most requested video, for a while replacing the elephant jumping on a trampoline.
My plan was working. The Bean soon began asking to see the movie. Because he lives in an on-demand world of Tivo’d shows and DVDs, he couldn’t wrap his little mind around the fact that we still had to wait a month before we could see it. A few weeks later, when we drove past a billboard for the flick, the Bean pointed it out and I knew he was ready.
Opening weekend finally arrived. WonderWife™ had never taken the Bean to a movie, and she knew that her taking him instead of me wasn’t an option, so with Sprout being looked after by a babysitter, the three of us went to a matinee.
An hour and a half later, the credits rolled and we were all still in our seats.
I’m not sure I could tell you who enjoyed the movie the most. It had been a while since I had seen a movie in the theater with WW™ and I had forgotten how wonderfully boisterous her laugh could be. True to form, the Bean loved all of the broad physical comedy. I appreciated how sly and subversive it was. The movie never pandered. It didn’t force pop culture references down our throats. It merely entertained each of us, thoroughly.
For the past few days, in between talking like a pirate and tormenting the cats, the Bean will reference a scene from the movie. Every time, I’m more than happy to indulge my movie buddy and talk about it with him.
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