Summer Movies, Part 3

Now that Labor Day has passed, the summer movie season is officially over. In a few weeks the Fall/Holiday movie season will kick off, and I am eagerly awaiting many movies that will be coming out this fall. However, that is another post, as this one is for taking a breather and looking back at the last group of movies I watched this summer. Despite only having one "summer blockbuster" in this batch, it was probably my favorite set, as some of my favorite movies of the summer were in this group.

The Wolverine
Eh, it wasn't too bad, bub. That seems to be the theme of the movies this summer, as most of the movies I've seen have been OK, but not anything great. The most interesting thing about this movie is it sets up the next X-Men movie that sounds like it could be an absolute flustercuck.

The Way Way Back
I really liked this film. In fact, it almost felt like it was manufactured for the express purposes of me enjoying it. In other words, it kind of felt at times like a paint-by-numbers coming of age story with "quirky" characters. However, the performances of the cast (especially Sam Rockwell and Allison Janney) are anything but cookie-cutter, and its still an enjoyable story.

We're the Millers
This would probably be my vote for surprise of the summer, as it turned out to actually have some fairly funny parts. Considering how awful the trailer was (the Red Band one was a bit better), the fact that it was merely decent makes it a welcome surprise. Again, the cast plays a big role in making this work, especially Nick Offerman.

Jobs
I almost forgot I saw this film. It wasn't too bad, although it seemed a bit second rate at times. Josh Gad was pretty good as Steve Wozniak, and Kutcher's Jobs was actually fairly decent. It wasn't quite as enjoyable as Pirates of Silicon Valley. I wonder how much better Aaron Sorkin's will be, assuming that ever gets made.

Blue Jasmine
I'm pretty certain this is the first Woody Allen film I've ever seen in a theater*. Definitely one of my favorites of the summer, although definitely not an uplifting film. All of you Louis CK completeists will want to check this out, as he makes a rare cinematic appearance in this one. I would gather this is probably worth a longer post, once I get a chance to see it again.

The World's End
I actually saw this before Blue Jasmine, but I figured I would save the best for last. This was definitely my favorite movie of the summer. In fact, I think it might be my favorite entry in the Cornetto Trilogy**. It's definitely the most mature and reflective of the three movies. More importantly, it's damn funny, in several different ways. Like the other two movies in the trilogy, this one is a gold mine for quotes, many of which are most certainly not PG-13***. Although I'm not quite as old as the characters in the story, it still resonated with me, and the end...yeah...the end. I can see how this might not be a favorite of a lot of people, but I really like the ending. If you can, I recommend you see this with someone who has no idea what the hell the Cornetto Trilogy is, has never seen the other two movies, and assumes this is just a small foreign film about some schoolyard chums getting back together for a night of drinking and self-reflection.****

Recommendations
Blue Jasmine
The World's End
The Way Way Back

My Favorite Five of the Summer
5. Blue Jasmine
4. Monsters University
3. The Heat
2. The Way Way Back
1. The World's End

*I have yet to delve deeply into his films. The only one I own is Midnight in Paris, although I really liked Manhattan and Annie Hall.
**Yes I'm aware that this might be fightin' words with the other member of this blog. I don't care.
***The rough standard I try to maintain on this blog. Please don't go back through the archives to prove me wrong.
****Yes, that totally is what this is. Totally. Mm-hmm.

Some random thoughts on Breaking Bad's "Peekaboo"

WARNING: Breaking Bad spoilers below

This past week or so I've been watching Breaking Bad on Netflix, partially to get ready for the final episodes. I don't think I'll make through season five, as I'm just now on season two's "Peekaboo". Still, I'm enjoying going back through the episodes as far forward as I can get the next couple of days..

I don't know if I really have a favorite episode of Breaking Bad. Because of it being heavily serialized, I don't tend to think of it in purely episodic terms, and instead tend to remember favorite scenes or moments in the show.

However, if I had to pick an episode, "Peekabo" would probably be near the top of my list. When I started watching the series, I enjoyed it from the beginning, but it wasn't until this episode that where it was going really clicked into place. It was here that Jesse's humanity started to come through, as seen in dealing with that poor kid and the hands down winners of "Albuquerque's Worst Parents" award. Before this episode, all Jesse was to me was the unlucky screw-up who was in over his head. Obviously, he has done some absolutely terrible shit as time has gone on*, but there is still some level of humanity in him, to the point that I hope against hope there is some redemption out there for him.

Conversely, this is the episode where Walter really started showing himself to be Heisenberg at heart. Before this, it was conceivable that Walter was a genuinely good man, driven to do terrible shit because of a desperate need to provide for his family. However, his meeting with Gretchen Schwartz showed that perhaps Heisenberg has always been inside of Walter, as opposed to being a recent creation. I recall thinking before I saw this episode that Walter was just being stubborn in refusing help from his former associate and friends**. After that encounter, where Walter dropped the F-bomb at Gretchen, his reasons became much clearer. It isn't like this was the first time he had shown the rage and anger bubbling beneath his chemistry teaching surface, but it sure was the first time I saw how deep that resentment and sense of betrayal went. He wouldn't cross the line from Tyrion*** to Tywin**** until he let Jane die, but he stepped a lot closer to it*****.

*Walter may have killed Jane with his negligence, but Jesse helped her fall off the wagon. Also, let's not forget he killed Gale the Superdork. 

**Also, I rationalized that him accepting their help would have made this one boring show. Unless it became a The Office style comedy starring Badger, Saul Goodman, and Skinny Pete. 

***A flawed, but sympathetic character who does some awful things, mainly out of desperation, but who also does some pretty bad-ass things.

****A character you are actively rooting against, but enjoy watching do their thing.

Summer Movies, Part Two

OK, let's move on to part two.

Man of Steel
I kind of enjoyed the latest edition of Superman, at least while I was watching it. However, there really wasn't much that stuck in my head, other than mulling over exactly how insane Jonathan Kent (Kevin Costner) was in the movie. Oh yeah, and thinking about how the Smallville Casey's will be getting a lot more business.* Perhaps they can use some of the more problematic elements (such as the incredibly high death toll/property damage) in the sequel.

Monsters University
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this, considering from its trailer it looked rather middle of the road. Please stay tuned for a longer post about the latest adventure of Mike and Sulley.

Much Ado About Nothing
Who follows a top grossing summer Blockbuster with a barebones rendition of Shakespeare shot at his house? Joss Whedon, that's who. There isn't much value beyond watching some of your favorite Whedonverse regulars play at Shakespeare, and some inspired physical comedy from Amy Acker and Alexis Denisov. Which was good enough for me.

White House Down
I still contend that Roland Emmerich's big, dumb summer movies are in a different league than the typical big, dumb summer movie**. With one exception*** I've enjoyed every one of his movies, even if they are full of implausible science, magical "technology", and ridiculously over the top set pieces. White House Down did not disappoint, although it wasn't quite as good as some of its summer brethren. Still, it has one of my favorite over the top movie lines ever.

The Heat
So far, this is the funniest movie I've seen all year. Yeah, the plotting is far too beholden to typical "buddy cop" cliches. However, that is secondary to the performances by Melissa McCarthy and Sandra Bullock. When you watch this, be on the lookout for a cameo by Paul Feig, the director of the movie.

Despicable Me 2
Eh, this wasn't too bad, and a few parts were pretty inspired. Like the first one, this one felt like they had a edgier film in there somewhere, before those edges were smoothed over by committee thinking and screen tests. The minions had some good moments, particularly towards the end (you'll know it when you see it). I can't see a movie based around them being very good.

The Lone Ranger
This was definitely a weird movie at times. There certainly were parts I enjoyed, and I'm not going to try to dissuade you from seeing it*****. However, I can't forgive the movie for holding the Promontory Point ceremony in Texas (hundreds of miles from the actual site in Utah), or for playing a anachronistic "Stars and Stripes Forever". C'mon, Mr. Verbinski, couldn't you at least use a contemporary march. Considering this was right after the Civil War, there were plenty that could have been used.

Pacific Rim
Holy crap, a big popcorn movie that ISN'T a sequel or reboot of a franchise? That's a real shocker. Like many movies this summer, it wasn't as original as it could have been. After all, this is a Guillermo Del Toro film, so you kind of expect more. However, I stopped caring about the time one of the giant Jaegars picked up an ocean freighter and...well, you'll just have to see the movie.

R.I.P.D.
Jeff Bridges was fun to watch, as usual, and I enjoyed Mary-Louise Parker as well. Frankly, they seemed like they were picked up out of a much better movie, and placed in some mediocre Ryan Reynolds vehicle. Once again, a pretty great premise was poorly executed. I think the next time I want to see Bridges fart around as a frontier lawman, I'll go with True Grit.

My Recommendations
Monsters University
White House Down
Much Ado About Nothing******
The Heat
Pacific Rim

* You midwesterners know what I'm talking about. After the big fight in Smalltown, you can spot a Casey's in a overhead shot of the town, well away from the battlezone where at least one of its competitors was destroyed.
** See Bay, Michael for more details.
*** Godzilla, for the record. That's a completely forgettable piece of crap.
****For the record, completely out of context: "I CHOOSE THE PEN!"
*****Judging by the box office, the movie doesn't need any help convincing people not to see it.
****** Only if you are a Whedonverse fan.

Dispatches from the Popcorn Stadium: Summer Movies, Part One

Who's ready for some thoughts on the Summer movies? Because reviews of movies that have been out for two months is very timely. Oh well, at least I'm not making separate posts for each. I will try to avoid spoilers on some movies, but there is a spoiler coming up for one of them, although you probably already know that if you care about the movie. (Hint: The movie is Star Trek)

Iron Man 3
Iron Man is one of my favorite "comic book" movies. Iron Man 2, although enjoyable, was not nearly as good. I found Iron Man 3 to rest comfortably in the middle. I particularly enjoyed the twist that came part way through the movie, although this is not quite a consensus opinion here at Doctor Strangeblog. The movie probably could have used a bit more coherence with the whole Tony Stark suffers PTSD from the whole flying into a trans-dimensional portal to save the world thing*, but I had a good time watching it, and thought it was pretty funny.  Like all Marvel movies, be sure to stick around until after the credits.

Now You See Me
This one was a big surprise at how much I enjoyed it. Yeah, it was the typical twist upon twist upon twist kind of movie, but considering it was a movie about magicians, that seems to be expected. Fortunately, they didn't play "The Final Countdown" once, or the movie probably would have lost me.

The Great Gatsby
When we are introduced to one of Gatsby's crazy parties for the first time, I'm pretty certain my body almost shut down due to an overwhelming of the senses. I'm also pretty certain that this was the whole reason Baz Luhrmann directed the movie. It's just too bad he didn't show as much enthusiasm for the rest of the movie. The actors did pretty well with what they had, but in the end perhaps this is just a story that is unfilmable. Even though directors beat on against the current, borne back ceaselessly into failure.**

Star Trek Into Darkness
KAAHHHHHNNNNN!!!

Now that is out the way, I enjoyed the movie. Even if it kind of falls apart when you think about after the fact. And it really didn't do that much to stand up against the troubling lack of strong female characters NOT in a Paul Feig directed movie (more on that in part two). Still, it has Scotty, in a trendy club, wearing a suit that is hopelessly out of date. Ever the true engineer, that one.****

After Earth
Why did I see this? I'm not sure, although I'm guessing its because it was there. I can't say the science holds up on this one too well. Although I like to think that it maybe is a sequel to The Happening. Still, I think I'll pass on the next Smith family therapy session. Even if it has killer baboon squads and tigerish animals that attack eagleish birds nests.

This Is the End
I have to say I was enjoying this as a movie even before the whole Apocalypse thing went down. In fact, I almost forgot that was going to happen, until it did happen. What followed was pretty hilarious. Emma Watson definitely stole the show in this one, although pretty much every character had their moment.

Final Verdict:

Go See, if It's Still Playing
This Is The End
Now You See Me
Iron Man 3
Star Trek Into Darkness

Rent it Once It Comes Out
The Great Gatsby

Check it Out If Its On Cable, and Nothing Else Is On
After Earth

Check back later in the week for Part Two. 

*Look, I know that you can't bring The Avengers back in every movie, but what is their threshold for action? Apparently ultraviolent terrorists are not part of their mission. Perhaps the other franchises will shed some light on this. But probably not. Stupid logistics and budgets fudging up the continuity.
**Sorry***
***Not sorry
****That last one is the spoiler I was talking about. Yep, totally that one.

Thoughts on "The Rains of Castamere"

SPOILER WARNING FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T READ THE BOOKS AND HAVEN'T SEEN THE EPISODE. PLEASE DON'T CLICK THROUGH IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SPOILED ABOUT BOOK EVENTS THAT TAKE PLACE FROM AFTER THE ONES SEEN IN "THE RAINS OF CASTAMERE". YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Farewell, The Office

When I watch a TV show, whether during its initial run, or marathoning it on Netflix, I always am on the lookout for the "Lincoln Squirrel" moment*. In other words, the point where a show goes from good or very good, to one of my all time favorites. Some of my favorite shows never had this moment, others that moment has become obscured by time, due to me seeing individual episodes long before I watched them in order. For The Office, that moment is as clear as if it just happened. In fact, I remember it so vividly I could justify calling these moments the "Jan and Michael Take a Meeting at Chili's", except for that being too clunky to use.

Unlike many of my favorite shows, I came to The Office early on in its run. My friend had DVR'd the first season of the show, and we had watched them. I was underwhelmed by the pilot, a mostly shot for shot remake of the U.K. edition's pilot. However "Diversity Day", the second episode was a major improvement, and the rest of the season was funny, at least funny enough to keep me interested for a second season.

The second season started off well, with some great episodes like "The Dundies" and "Office Olympics". Clearly the show had hit another level, as it was funnier while also improving the Jim & Pam relationship. The biggest jump in quality was the character of Michael Scott, who was no longer a pale imitation of David Brent.

As much as it had improved, I still wasn't expecting what happened in the "The Client". Yeah, I expected Jan to get angry with Michael's inability to follow her game plan with this important potential client (played by Tim Meadows), and there was plenty of the awkward comedy to be found in her mortification and frustration at what he was doing. Watching the episode again a while back I realized how clearly it was being set up what eventually happened, but that first time through it looked like the usual Michael Scott dumbassery.

And then it happened. Suddenly Michael Scott made that turn, and you realized that he knew what the hell he was doing as a salesman, and how to get close the deal with this very important customer. The show had defied expectations and added depth to Michael Scott without it feeling cheap or undeserved. From then on, I knew that the American version of The Office was a noteworthy companion to its British counterpart. I was hooked for the rest of that season, and for seven more after that.

I could go on about why The Office was such an important show, or how it reflected life so well in the cubicle jungle (even if it got way too cartoonish at times, especially after season five), but far better writers have already done that. Instead I'll just add my own thoughts on what it meant to me. As of this writing in the wee hours of Saturday morning, I've still yet to see the final episode, so I don't have any thoughts to share about the wrap up of the show. Perhaps I'll share them later. From here on out there won't be any rhyme or reason to the paragraphs, just a bunch of disjointed thoughts about this show that I will miss.

The Michael Scott Paper Company arc is season five was eerily similar to a situation I was going through at the time in my own life. No, I hadn't had my "One True Love" shuffled off to Nashua, NH. Also, my situation was closer to Pam (jumping on board with Michael's company because she feared being trapped in a stagnant situation that was not stimulating) than Michael's (a feeling of disrespect by the company he had been so loyal to for so many years). Unfortunately, my situation ended up being closer to Ryan's before he joined the Michael Scott Paper Co. than what happened on the show, but still that arc holds a special significance to me.

Somehow I enjoyed the sentimental Jim and Pam stuff such as "Casino Night" or "The Job" and the awkward humor best exemplified by "Dinner Party". From reading on the Internet, I gather that these tend to be fairly mutually exclusive groups. Also, the people in the latter group are also more likely to think the U.K. version is far superior. While I certainly enjoyed the U.K. version, I prefer the American version, in part because it is closer to my tastes, and in part Michael Scott is a far better character than David Brent. Keep in mind I saw the U.K. version in its entirety several years after the American version had become a favorite show of mine.

Even in the show's weakest years, it still had some great moments, and some of the characters still rose above the problems. The back half of season eight, my least favorite run of the show, still had Florida Stanley. Ellie Kemper as Erin was one of the best things about the later seasons of the show. She brought a great mixture of joy and sadness to a character that could have been an absolute train wreck.

Right from his debut, Creed was funny. He only got better as time went on, and was always good for a laugh, even during the dire Deangelo episodes following Steve Carell's departure. Stanley, Toby, and Meridith were also fairly consistent season to season, with occasions where they'd rise up and steal episodes.

I've wrote about it before, but I can't help but smile every time I think about the end of "The Job". There, I said it, even if it means I have to turn in my "Cynical and Ironic Humor Appreciation" badge at the security desk.

I like Ed Helms, and Andy had his moments during seasons 3,4, and 5, but he sure became annoying after that. Far too often Kevin became too much of an "Idiot Food Monster" and the show suffered for that. Ryan was a useless character after the MSPC arc, but I enjoyed his time as the overwhelmed corporate manager in season four. I have to imagine that is what it kind of feels like to be an executive at NBC.

Catherine Tate could have had a great role on the show. Perhaps she should have been the manager instead of Ed Helms. But far too often they wrote her character like a female David Brent, and it just didn't work. Ditto with trying to turn Andy into a softer Michael Scott.

Michael Scott's seemingly irrational hatred of Toby was one of my favorite aspects of the show. I'm pretty certain most people have that kind of reaction to the annoyance that is corporate HR, at least to a certain extent. Even if we have better relationships with the HR people than Michael had with Toby. On the other hand, perhaps it was just Toby. After all, his replacement was Holly...

Michael Schur is the primary guy behind Parks and Recreation, quite possibly my favorite show of all time. He wrote for The Office during its first four seasons, including some of the best episodes of the show's run. He was a writer on Saturday Night Live during one of my favorite periods of the show, and he was one of the creators of the late, great Fire Joe Morgan. Yet it is his portrayal of Mose Schrute is the first thing I think of when I see his name.

Michael never got to use that baler, so I suppose Darryl can consider that a success.

Here is where I mention Oscar. Phyllis, and Kelly. I don't really have any specific recollections to share, just that the show was richer for having them.

Gabe was both creepy and goofy looking, and occasionally funny. Robert California was a much better character in theory, at least after his hilarious appearance in the season seven finale, than he was in practice. It's OK, James Spader, you were the best part of Lincoln. Plop and little fat Dwight, Jr, I barely knew you. Cathy, you were the most superfluous character in a show that had a guy work in a closet and spoke one or two lines a week. I had to look your name up you were so unimportant.

The mental unraveling of Jan was a thing to behold. It was amazing how she went from this generic professional in the first season to the absolute train wreck of "Dinner Party".

Can't wait for season 17 of Parks and Recreation, when Ann meets her cousin Karen in Utica during Leslie's Presidential campaign.

"Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica."

Angela was far too awful to Andy during their engagement, even if he retroactively deserved it for being such an ass to Erin. Also, that baby poster was freaking terrible. You were one of the bright spots of season nine, and cats are never not funny.

Favorite Episode: (tie) "Dinner Party" and "The Job"
Favorite Season: Season 3
Favorite Story Arc: Michael Scott Paper Company
Least Favorite Episode: The clip show a few seasons back
Least Favorite Season: Season 8

*I'm aware this sounds borderline insane. To explain this would completely derail my heartfelt appreciation of The Office. The short answer is a reference to that moment when I felt The Simpsons stepped over that threshold. Google "Lincoln squirrel Simpsons" and you'll see what I mean.

Dispatches from the Popcorn Theater: Silver Linings Playbook

So it's May, which means it is time for the start of summer movie season. Kicking off this year is Iron Man 3, which I have seen, and which I will be writing about in the next few days. However, before I move on to explosions and CG spectacles of our warm weather months, I have one last movie from the oscar bait season of the fall and winter.

Had things gone differently (read: better) for me in the winter, I would have already seen this (and several other films as well) months ago. Although I had plenty of time, that corresponding freedom came with a severe lack of income, which made going to movies something totally out of the question, especially since every trip to see one would include an hour drive to the theater. I had hoped to write about some movies, both new and old, that I watched on DVD, Netflix, or other means. Unfortunately, it turns out being unemployed doesn't always inspire you to be in a writing mood. But now I have a new job, moved to a new place about five minutes from a 20 screen multiplex, and am looking forward to getting back to the movies.

Lucky for me, that theater just down the street was still playing Silver Linings Playbook when I went to see it a few weeks ago. After watching it, I was glad I had the chance to see it. I enjoyed it thoroughly, although I could see why other people would not exactly like it.

When I first started seeing the trailers and marketing materials for the film, I must admit it wasn't exactly on my short list of winter movies. Had I known the plot of the movie led up to a climactic scene involving a dance competition, I would have definitely left it off my list. On the other hand, had I first heard it was directed by David O. Russell, then I would have been looking forward to it despite the underwhelming trailer and unimaginative in-theater marketing. I ♥ Huckabees is one of my favorite films, and I also enjoyed The Fighter as well.

I enjoyed pretty much every one of the major performances in the film, especially Jennifer Lawrence and Jacki Weaver (the mother of Bradley Cooper's Pat). Bradley Cooper and Robert DeNiro were pretty great as well, which is a bit of surprise considering how indifferent I usually am to Cooper. I'm pretty certain DeNiro was got nominated for the Oscars because everyone was relieved he gave a good performance for once.

Sometimes the movie was incredibly awkward to watch. This was in part because too often it hit very close to home, but most of the time it was just because it's awkward to watch people lose control or walk around completely self-deluded. Still, many parts of the film were very funny. I'd share the part I thought was the funniest, but it would ruin the climax for you, so you'll just have to see it for yourself.

I recommend seeing this as soon as you can, which in most cases at this point would be on DVD or Blu-Ray. Although I won't go back and alter my Favorite Films of 2013 list, this one definitely fits right in the top 5, behind Moonrise Kingdom, Wreck-It Ralph, and The Avengers.

Next time on Dispatches from the Popcorn Theater: It's Summer Movie Season! Despite the exclamation point, Andrew is a bit underwhelmed by the lineup, but is encouraged by the kick off by Iron Man 3. Tony Stark sure knows how to make an entrance, doesn't he?