September
2002
Summer
movie round-up
By
Dan Dodson
The
Trenton Library film series is taking September off, so I thought
it would be a good time to survey this year's summer blockbusters.
Hollywood has once again been busy churning out what it hopes
are commercial hits, without giving much regard to plot, script
and acting. As always, I had a naïve hope that this summer's
movies would be different.
Summer
2002 started off poorly, with a brother who should have stayed
undercover, and got worse as the sum of all our fears were realized
in Ben Affleck's poorly conceived retelling of Tom Clancy's book.
A well-made action movie, finally, was Bourne, and it starred
Ben's best buddy Matt. But that progress was quickly lost as the
Mystery Van rolled up to the cineplex. The worst movie of the
year starred Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze, Jr. in
a big pile of doggy doo-doo that will hopefully end a few movie
careers.
Luckily
for kids of all ages, we were left in stitches by a troubled alien
fur ball and his adoptive Hawaiian family. However, we traded
this joyful story of self discovery for Will Smith's crass cashing
of paychecks; all that money for wearing a black suit in the middle
of a special-effects train wreck. Sam Mendes and Tom Hanks thought
they would lead us out of the alien sewer on the road to perdition
but only proved that bosom buddies don't make good hit men.
The
summer movie season was really getting me down until a Russian
submarine crew convincingly reminded me to stop whining. The world
now made safe for global intrigue, I was looking forward to Mike
Myers, Mike Myers and Mike Myers…Yeah Baby! The entertainment
lasted through the opening scene but lost its mojo as Myers continually
pushed the limits of comedy taste.
In
August I saw signs that the Oscars wouldn't have to be canceled
next spring and that the first Indian Best Director would be crowned.
Joining M. Night Shyamalan on the Academy podium will be Nia Vardalos
for best screenplay in this year's longest running movie and matrimonial
Greek hit, which was made for $5 million and has pulled in $40
million so far.
I
thought a fitting end to the summer blockbuster season would be
Clint Eastwood's new thriller, but found that his heart really
wasn't into this bloody mess. I hate to say it, but it takes quite
a bit of directorial work to make Anjelica Huston act badly.
My
wife, Michelle, and I have been reviewing movies for several years
and use a "thumb" rating system. Because we're an interracial
couple, the white thumbs are mine and the black thumbs are hers.
To see complete reviews visit our web site at www.livingonthenet.com.
| Round
Up |
Michelle's
Comments |
|
Dan's
Comments |
|
|
|
Some
funny moments |
 |
Austin
Powers rip-off |
 |
|
|
Didn't
add up |
|
Didn't
do the topic justice |
 |
|
|
Best
movie this year |
 |
Best
summer action flick |
 |
|
|
Don't
waste your time |
|
The
year's worst movie |
|
|
|
Not
just for kids |
 |
Smart
and well made |
|
|
|
Not
sequel worthy |
|
An
alien sewer |
|
|
|
Lacks
believability |
|
Hanks
is the problem |
|
|
|
I've
seen better |
|
A
fine Sub-genre gem |
|
|
|
I
didn't deserve the torture |
 |
First
5 minutes were great |
|
|
|
Didn't
see it |
|
I
see gold people! |
 |
|
|
Predictable
movie but Clint still has screen presence. |
|
Embarrassing |
|
|
|
Surprisingly,
great movie! |
|
Everyone
should see it |
|
#
# #
Dan Dodson lives in Trenton and can be reached at dan@livingonthenet.com.
