06 August 2010

August 2010 Movies

What a difference two months make. Saw a bunch of movies over the last 8 weeks, three in an actual theatre, although none on a REAL bigass IMAX screen. Toy Story 3 3D was nearly unbearably sad, but still a masterpiece. I could've seen Inception IMAX at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle, but didn't want to pay $10 for parking, so I caught it in a very nice stadium theatre in a double-feature with Despicable Me 3D. Inception was breathtakingly awesome, and it elevated Christopher Nolan into my most-favorite-director slot, unseating Wes Anderson. Despicable Me was cute, but ultimately flat. I hope that Scott Adams is getting residuals for the clear use of Dilbert's Pointy-Haired Boss as inspiration for the Mr. Perkins character.

A side note to Hollywood: quit with the 3D bullshit. Toy Story 3 and Despicable Me were both made worse by having to wear those stupid glasses that darken the entire picture, and the effect for both movies was nearly nonexistent. In fact, the only time it was even notable was in the end credits of DM. Essentially we're paying extra money for a worse product. Unless you can say, with confidence, that the story couldn't be told as effectively without the 3D effect, then just go without. And, if the purpose of the 3D effects is simply to distract the audience from how derivative and banal your script is (I'm looking at you, Avatar), then perhaps you should just turn in those storytelling credentials and let someone else take over.

On DVD I caught Hitman (surprisingly watchable, if ridiculous) and You Don't Mess with the Zohan (also surprisingly enjoyable).

Still, 5 movies in 2 months is a little ridiculous, but since the littl'un now doesn't fall asleep until 9:15, I don't expect that to change anytime soon. Here are my top 10 or so movies in/to be in theaters or on DVD to see, with movies in my collection starred:

1. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince*
2. Tron: Legacy (17 Dec)
3. Red (15 Oct)
4. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (13 Aug)
5. Machete (3 Sept)
6. Resident Evil: Afterlife 3D (10 Sept...mmm, Milla)
7. Kick-Ass*
8. The Expendables (13 Aug)
9. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 1 IMAX (19 Nov)
10. Iron Man 2 (7 May)