It looks like one of the best summer movie seasons in recent memory...fuck it, EVER...is almost done. Yes, we've still got the Mummy 3, X-Files and the typical plethora of August comedies, but to me the season is over. This year was pretty much all build up for the Dark Knight anyway.
This summer began with what will probably be recognized as one of the best movies of this season that didn't have Batman in it. That would be, naturally, Iron Man. With Robert Downey Jr. being pretty much fucking perfect for this role, it was of no suprise that this film was really good. Throw in some Jeff "The Dude" Bridges and Nick "Sam Jackson" Fury and its even radder. Probably the surprise of the summer eventhough it always looked promising. I'm honestly still shocked it didn't really dissapoint.
Hopefully we'll be seeing a sequel with Favreau coming back to direct.
Speed Racer, the much-maligned Wachoswski Bros. movie, was the second movie out of the gate and while everyone seemed to hate it, I actually enjoyed it a lot. Although I guess that happened because I knew what to expect and that was a crazy kinetic throwback to a shitty cartoon show. It was funny when Billy and I exited the theatre and began to complain about it and we slowly realized that everything we complained about was the shit from the cartoon show that pissed us off to begin with.
I'd call this as retardely faithful to fault but hey, it was pretty cool that the entire movie was peretually in motion.
Chronicles of Narnia 2...what the fuck ever...
Indiana Jones IV was another wonderful treat for me but thats because I didn't have this heavenly view of a rather by-the-book adventure series. I think all of those crazy Indy fans that went into this movie wanted something completly different from even the original movies. Yes, Shia swinging with the monkeys was unneccesary, but it fits perfectly in line with the series as a somewhat ridiculous fun adventure playing on old 40s' serials. The trademark Indy wit was there but it still doesn't hold a candle to Raiders. However, I would say it compares nicely with the likes of the Last Crusade.
Regardless, it was a fun time in the theatre. End of story.
The Incredible Hulk was probably one of the few superhero movies this year that seemed to harken back to the old ways of the genre. That is, the extremely predictable revealed-in-the-trailer bullshit that passed us in recent years. That being said, it was probably the best Hulk movie possible. He's a very limiting character especially when he kind of has to be a hero. I hope when the inevitable Avengers movie gets here, they go the Ultimates route and use the Hulk as a villain in the first half. Fuck, just make the first volume of the Ultimates as the movie, that shit was tight. Mark Millar's hot as shit these days anyway. Let's get that muthafucka reap the benefits of seeing his fantastic Ultimates story on the big screen while making his proposed Superman trilogy.
Regardless, I really hope Tim Blake Nelson comes back as Leader at some point...
Speaking of Mark Millar, Wanted was probably one of the most ridiculous bombastic over-the-top-violent films I have ever seen. Thus, it was awesome. And Morgan Freeman totally said "motherfuckers."
This movie, in a small way, made me extremely pumped for the Watchmen next year as I remember the buzz for Wanted's original comic release was "Its like the Watchmen for super villains!"
By the way, the original comic series was about super villains, not assassins. Imagine how much cooler that would have been.
I still have yet to see Wall-E. I have a beautiful girlfriend and I promised to wait for her.
Shit, I feel like some little kid waiting for Miss Right so he can lose his virginity already...except Wall-E might be better than sex from what I've heard about it.
Hancockless. Hancocksuck. Hancock-shouldn't-have-been-heavily-edited. I am eagerly awaiting the hopeful DVD release of Hancock - the R-rated version.
Hellboy II is the next best competitor for the "Best Summer Movie Without Batman" for a damn good reason. One, its got the best artistic direction courtesy of Guillermo del Toro. Two, Its got better laughs than most of the comedies I've seen this year (except Forgetting Sarah Marshall, which was the best comedy of the first half by far). Three, Ron Perlman is probably the greatest B-movie actor this side of Bruce Campbell. How awesome would it be if Bruce Campbell showed up in del Toro's rumored third Hellboy with all the Universal monsters?
Anyway, awesome characterization, especially in Abe Sapien's direction, and a stellar addition in Seth MacFarlane's Johann Krauss. Also, be prepared to be amazed by the spectacle of all of the creatures. They really look fantastic.
And now...I'm getting to the ultimate. The Dark Knight. I seriously consider this movie to be the greatest movie I have ever been privy to. Everything about this movie, with the exception of a few nitpicky details, was fucking pitch perfect. Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Christian Bale, Morgan Freeman, and Michael Caine all give spectacular performances with whatever they are given. As much credit as Ledger's been getting (and he deserves it), I feel the need to comment more on the brillance of Oldman's Jim Gordon and Eckhart's Harvey Dent. I've heard the term "disappear into a role" said about this movie and its actors and I think one of the most understated disappearances are Oldman's and Eckhart's.
But whatever, this movie is fucking spectacular. Go and break as many records as you want, Dark Knight, I'll still throw my money at you.
And if this movie isn't nominated for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Supporting Actor, than the Academy is no longer worth my time. It doesn't have to win, but it really should be nominated.
Fucking A, Chicago won Best Picture. Like for real, what the fuck?
Anyway, Top 5 Movies of the Halfish-Year (For Me)
1. The Dark Knight
2. Hellboy II
3. Iron Man
4. Forgetting Sarah Marshall
5. Wanted
Best Movie I Haven't Seen: Wall-E
Honorable Mentions: Indy IV, Cloverfield
As far as the rest of the summer...
X-Files: I Want to Believe (July 25th) - I wish I was completly invested in the X-Files mythos so I could be really excited for the new movie, but alas, I have only seen a few episodes here and there. I completly respect the series though. David Duchovny rules.
Step Brothers (July 25th) looks funny but I don't like Will Ferrel. However, John C. Reilly is amazing...so that might make up for it.
Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (August 1st) reveals to me how much this series is pretty much Indiana Jones+Mummies.
Pants 2 (August 6th) = Funnay!
Pineapple Express (August 8th) - I made a bold prediction when I first heard about this movie. I said it would be the funniest movie of the summer. The Superbad of 2008...except, ya know, not overrated. I am sorry to say I might have made an error. In the fiercest comedic competition since 40-Year Old Virgin/Wedding Crashers '05, We have Pineapple Express and...
Tropic Thunder (August 13th) - Like fucking seriously, I am proud to be a comedy lover for that week.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (August 15th) - I would be remiss if I didn't mention this movie but, in all honesty, I don't care too much. It'll probably be cool but I would much rather this be a direct-to-DVD. Although, on that note, can we go back in time and put Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker in the theatres? Fucking great movie.
The Rocker (August 20th) - The fuckers who are distributing this movie are off their rockers (HAHA!) Why did they movie it to this date, within a week and a half after two comedies with much better buzz? I got to see Rainn Wilson at the Transformers 2 shoot and the fucker is hysterical, but this just sucks that his potential breakout movie is getting shit on.
Hamlet 2 (August 22nd) - As a veteran of high school theatre, this intrigues me a little.
And that's the summer (at least for my interests).
Some choice picks for the forseeable future.
September 08 - Eagle Eye, Choke
October 08 - Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, Zack & Miri Make a Porno
November 08 - Quantum of Solace, Harry Potter 6
December 08 - The Spirit
And my early predictions for top "summer movies" of 2009 - Watchmen, Star Trek, Transformers 2, G.I. Joe
And for the record, my top movie of Summer 2007 was Live Free or Die Hard.
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