Attack of the Summer Movies - Episode I

Anyone who knows me is well aware of my love for the cinema. There is nothing more entertaining than sitting in a darkened room while stories of love, action, or comedy unfold on a brightly-lit sixty-foot screen in front of you. In the summer time, when the weather is uncomfortably hot outside, a cool theater can be a welcome escape from the dog days.

My movie tastes tend toward the action/adventure/sci-fi/thriller. I'm not much into drama, unless it's the right kind of drama. I can also leave the romantic comedies - the "chick flicks", if you will. They really do nothing for me, and so I usually opt to skip them (although, I have been known to see them when on a date with my lovely bride). My wife, however, does not usually go in for the shoot-em-ups, so I often find myself at the theater alone, settled in for the last showing of the night. And you know what, I like that just fine.

I also enjoy the family oriented, kids' movies. Anything animated or geared toward the younger crowd, I can enjoy. Being the father of two boys, aged nine and six, I have ample opportunity to see this genre of movie. These are usually flicks that we can enjoy as a family, and we usually anxiously await them as a family. I fear that the Sunday movie matinee with the family is sadly becoming a thing of the past, but my family still enjoys the time together, popcorn and candy in hand.

For your consideration, I have included some of my reviews of a few of the big summer blockbusters this far. Please understand that these are my opinions only. I encourage you to go out and see them for yourself. Except for Transformers, but I'll get to that.

Star Trek
OK, admittedly, I am a fan of Star Trek. I won't go so far as to call myself a true Trekkie (you'd never catch me at one of those conventions), but I really love this franchise. From the camp and comedy of the original series, to the well-written stories of the Next Generation, I am a sicker for all things Enterprise. So you can imagine my excitement when I learned (two years ago) that J.J. Abrams was at the helm of a brand new Trek project. I couldn't wait to see what his interpretations of the early years of Kirk and Spock. As talented as Abrams is, this looked to be a really good movie.

I was not disappointed. When Abrams took on the project of showing the origins of characters so well known that they are considered American icons, he had to know that there would be considerable criticism from the fan base. How do new actors portray classic characters without lampooning the original performances? What's more, what possible freedom can you exploit from a story line that has already been done to death? The challenges for Abrams must have seemed gargantuan, and yet, he managed to meet them with much success.

For starters, Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto deliver consummate performances as the aforementioned principles. Quinto, who even looks like a young Leonard Nimoy in his bowl cut and pointy ears, expertly captures Spock's duality (half human, half Vulcan) in ways that Nimoy never did. And Pine's occasional tributes to the original Captain James Tiberius Kirk in no way leave you thinking, "oh, he just did his Shatner impression". The supporting cast is also excellent, with kudos going to John Cho (Sulu) and Simon Pegg (Scotty). But it is Karl Urban's Leonard "Bones" McCoy that, in my opinion, steals the show. His performance is so on the money that it took me a few minutes to realize that it was really Karl Urban up there on the screen.

For fans of Trek, as well as for the uninitiated, Star Trek is a wonderful movie with lots of action, and a pretty substantial story line. Fans of Abrams will recognize the use of time travel (an Abrams hallmark), and will probably appreciate the film even more for it. Go see this movie.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

As the fourth installment in the wildly successful X-Men franchise, X-Men Origins: Wolverine capitalizes on those solid elements that made the previous three films so successful. An iconic comic character, retractible adamantium claws, and the very talented Hugh Jackman in the title role should have made for a true blockbuster. Unfortunately, this movie falls a little short of its potential.

Director Gavin Hood gives it a go with a markedly different type of film for him, and doesn't do such a bad job with it. Hood is probably best known for directing the film Rendition, but slightly less well known for his Oscar-winning Tsotsi in 2005. Neither previous film could have prepared him for the grand scale of the X-Men films, and yet, his attention to character development is extraordinary. Hood is able to draw a complex and varied performance from Jackman, giving Logan/Wolverine more depth than any of the previous films.

But good direction can only get you so far. When a film lacks a well-written story, even the best directors are ham-strung, and this is the case with Origins. The story doesn't really draw you in or keep you engaged for the entire run time. Supporting characters seem to simply be walking (or flying, or jumping) on and off the screen, and don't really ask for your focus. Overall, the movie left me wanting more Wolverine, and less of the schlock that seemed to be painted around him.

Still, there are several entertaining moments in the film. Wolverine's first encounter with Remy LeBeau, a.k.a. Gambit, makes for a comic lover's dream. We had been told that Gambit would be making an appearance in previous movies with no such luck, so it's nice to see him in the flesh in this one. Liev Schreiber's performance as Victor Creed, a.k.a. Sabretooth is also noteworthy, and makes this movie much more bearable.

All in all, this would make a decent rental, and true fans of Wolverine and the X-Men (of which I am one), will delight in seeing these characters brought to life on the big screen. Perhaps with the next Origins movie (I hear it's Magneto), they'll get the story right.

Angels and Demons

Ron Howard was born to direct. Not to downplay his emotionally charged performance as Richie Cunningham, or as the cute-as-a-button Opie in The Andy Griffith Show; this guy is a consummate director. It's not every man that can make Tom Hanks actually look like he's acting.

Angels and Demons is the second of novelist (and conspiracy theorist) Dan Brown's works to be brought to the screen. After the success of The DaVinci Code, it seemed natural that moviegoers wanted more of symbologist Robert Langdon. The film delivers a stand-alone (you don't need to watch DaVinci first) adventure through the streets of Rome in pursuit of the Illuminati.

As a science teacher, I enjoyed the somewhat simplistic explanations of antimatter and the "God Particle", and as a recovering Catholic, I thought the portrayal of the Church was respectful and fairly accurate. I still don't understand the uproar from those high up in the Catholic Church - I thought Ewen MacGregor's speech concerning science and religion was spot on, and left the Church looking progressive and inclusive (something the Catholics need these days).

While somewhat liberal with his facts, Brown nonetheless tells a compelling story, and Howard has you on the edge of your seat as you sweat it out with the principles in their harried quest to solve the mystery. Seeing this movie made me want to visit Rome and follow the Path of Illumination myself. I mean, I'm a smart guy, I could have been one of those Illuminati guys, right?

In my next article, I'll review Terminator Salvation, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, Imagine That and Transformers: Rise of the Fallen.