12/03/06 The Librarian: Return To King Solomon's Mines

The Librarian: Return To King Solomon's Mines (2006), directed by Jonathan Frakes

watched w/ Leslie; television (TNT) @ home

To say that this film was highly anticipated (as most reviews do) is like saying that tooth decay followed by root canal is highly anticipated. Maybe I'm being a bit harsh, because I know that Leslie will say she enjoyed the film tremendously. I'm sure it's everyone's dream to be a hapless career grad student (Noah Wyle, the dude from "ER" who can't cut it in real movies, so he has to stick to the small screen & bad special effects) who applies luckily to become the librarian/curator of a prestigious library/museum that has magical qualities, thanks in large part to old wise bossman Bob Newhart, and finds that he is the "chosen one" to save the world of evil and protect the most priceless artifacts of civilizations past. Uh, yeah, the dude from "ER" you say? Not buying it. Sorry. When you give me the chance to watch any TNT channel movie, brace for the impending doom. It's called the small screen for a reason, but of course...when the original was a sleeper hit, they went all "big-budget" with a sequel...and well, I think they let their fifth-grade computer class work on the fireball explosions and animated in-animate objects. A horribly cheesy knock-off of anything "Harry Potter" crossed with everything "Indiana Jones," and casting any former cast member of any TV medical drama...and you have this magical mystery tour. It's corny, it's hokey, and it's only saving grace is the ever-quirky and quippy Newhart (bless his heart). What's that you say? And this crap doesn't even count for my daily movie? Damn rules.

2 out of 5 stars

12/02/06 Clerks 2

Clerks 2 (2006), directed by Kevin Smith

watched w/ Leslie (partially); DVD rental (Netflix) @ home & car ride (Raleigh, NC)

Coming on the heels of a somewhat disappointing departure from his usual comedy gold with "Jersey Girl," and clocking in at just a shade over a decade from his original groundbreaking indie hit "Clerks," Kevin Smith returns to his roots...albeit with a much bigger production value than his famous original. However, you have to give the tubby guy credit, he doesn't veer far from the basic premise of that brutally honest first film, as it just captures vignettes of true-to-life slackers in Anytown, USA. Our favorite dead-end jobbers Dante & Randall are back, along with other staples such as Smith & Jason Mewes' Jay & Silent Bob. That 20-something malaise that set in with the first "Clerks" has never truly left the now 30-something crew, just been put into an older, wiser and more bitter frame of mind. The guys are now forced to take a job at the crappy fast food chain Mooby's, deal with each other's shortcomings, wax poetic about women, life & pop culture, and somehow try not to die of boredom. When Dante's impending engagement may force him to relocate from Jersey, Randall is forced to question the magnitude of their friendship and (perhaps even his sexuality) how they could never make it without one another. In what is definitely full of rude & crude dialogue and snippets of degrading action, Smith still manages to create a mature world of feelings and thought-provoking social commentary with his work. A true testament to a regular guy who has escaped the doldrums of minimum-wage hell, to become someone larger than life today, Smith is the ultimate comic book geek hero. How can you resist this stuff? The usual suspects of Ben Affleck, Ethan Suplee, and Jason Lee show up...along with newcomer to the comical debauchery Rosario Dawson. Impassioned debates over the homo-phobic nature about which "Return Of" is better..."The King" of "The Jedi." Pillowpants...don't ask don't tell. He gives homage to his own original script, but doesn't rely solely on old gags & jokes to get through, creating a solid sequel (and perhaps end to a franchise dork dynasty?)...and did anyone mention the donkey show yet?! Oh dear God.

5 out of 5 stars

12/01/06 Pickpocket

Pickpocket (1959), directed by Robert Bresson

watched solo; theater (NC Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC); French Cinema Classics Film Series

Now for some culture. Some artistic culture...involving experimental French cinema, major art museum exhibitions, and some deep inner-monologues within my own brain. Yes, I went off to experience this work of art alone, to collect my thoughts in a room full of arsty fartsy types. With much pomp and circumstance, critics and fans alike were discussing the merits of this stylized brand of cinema on culture and how indelible a mark it may have left...I slipped into the back row (almost as if I was sneaking into a boring college lecture hall in order to only doze off the moment the lights were dimmed). Alas, to what do my wondering eyes see? A beautifully crafted film of simplicity and intrigue, black and white, with little to no dialogue throughout. What is on display here is mostly an appreciation of an artform...and I'm not speaking of the cinematics. Filmmaker Bresson puts on display a quasi-documentary style film, where he gives an artist's appreciative eye to the deftly maneuvering hands of some real-life pickpockets. Yup, all this art for the sake of thievery. Well, you say that most art created these days is thievery anyway huh? It's not like most songs are samplings of older more creative lyrical ditties. It's not as if most movies are nothing more than sad remakes of previously un-clever films based upon semi-best-selling books. It's art imitating life imitating art...I think. In any regard, Bresson shows a very intriguing take on the "art" of pickpocketing, with sleight of hand, body language and observant eyes that speak both to the thieves as well as the filmmaker. It's a very clever and straightforward approach to filmmaking, but utterly brilliant in the framing of the painting. The movie is intoxicating in a very subdued & hypnotic way, as the main character plays a thief who's served his time & wants to try to get out of the immoral game. It's a conflict between the ability to make good decisions as well as appreciate the craft of stealing. Ahhh, you gotta love art. Or hate it. Do what you want.

4 out of 5 stars