Lazy Day: Movie Musings
As I just posted a Carnival yesterday, I feel justified in taking a break. So I'm basically going to collect some random movie related musings below.
I have to admit, I had my doubts about Hollywoodland, but after seeing the trailer that Ragnell showed me, I think it could either be really good or horrendously awful.
-Ben Affleck would certainly not be my first choice to play the Original Superman.
--But to be fair, it took me almost until the end of the trailer to recognize him.
I wonder what Mr. Reeves's family thinks of the movie plot though. Well. It is just a movie.
The Ghost Rider movie looks so bad it might be good. Nicolas Cage is an actor that is take or leave for me, usually leave. But he does clearly like comics*. And this is definitely a comic movie.
I still think Fantastic Four was an infinitely better movie than X-Men: The Last Stand.
If I were James Marsden, I'd have passed up X-Men for Superman too. My roommate bought the novelization of the movie. She said it was weird. Apparently Jason's...nature is much more ambiguous, peculiar.
I still haven't seen Pirates. I've heard good and bad things. Especially regarding the portrayal of race in the movie. It's very likely that, being as oblivious as I am, I might not have noticed these issues until later. Being of the privileged majority in this case, as well as being a bit oblivious to much in general, this is not something I'd tend to notice on my own. Now though, I won't be able to not have this hovering in the back of my mind while watching.
-And really that's a good thing (the thinking, not any racial issues that may or may not be in the movie), I need to be more aware of this stuff.
I've heard that the Silver Surfer will be in the next Fantastic Four movie. This fills me with trepidation. I actually enjoyed the first movie, but I can't see any way for the Silver Surfer's power to be done well.
When's Wonder Woman coming out?
(*)I still think it's dumb to name a kid Kal-El if you're not *actually* from Krypton, Mr. Cage.
I have to admit, I had my doubts about Hollywoodland, but after seeing the trailer that Ragnell showed me, I think it could either be really good or horrendously awful.
-Ben Affleck would certainly not be my first choice to play the Original Superman.
--But to be fair, it took me almost until the end of the trailer to recognize him.
I wonder what Mr. Reeves's family thinks of the movie plot though. Well. It is just a movie.
The Ghost Rider movie looks so bad it might be good. Nicolas Cage is an actor that is take or leave for me, usually leave. But he does clearly like comics*. And this is definitely a comic movie.
I still think Fantastic Four was an infinitely better movie than X-Men: The Last Stand.
If I were James Marsden, I'd have passed up X-Men for Superman too. My roommate bought the novelization of the movie. She said it was weird. Apparently Jason's...nature is much more ambiguous, peculiar.
I still haven't seen Pirates. I've heard good and bad things. Especially regarding the portrayal of race in the movie. It's very likely that, being as oblivious as I am, I might not have noticed these issues until later. Being of the privileged majority in this case, as well as being a bit oblivious to much in general, this is not something I'd tend to notice on my own. Now though, I won't be able to not have this hovering in the back of my mind while watching.
-And really that's a good thing (the thinking, not any racial issues that may or may not be in the movie), I need to be more aware of this stuff.
I've heard that the Silver Surfer will be in the next Fantastic Four movie. This fills me with trepidation. I actually enjoyed the first movie, but I can't see any way for the Silver Surfer's power to be done well.
When's Wonder Woman coming out?
(*)I still think it's dumb to name a kid Kal-El if you're not *actually* from Krypton, Mr. Cage.
posted by kalinara @ 3:54 AM
12 Comments:
At July 19, 2006 7:44 AM,
Centurion said…
I didn't even notice a race issue. Was is between the Flying Dutchmen's crew as a metaphor, or the wierd woman in the swamp?
Supposedly they are getting the guy who played Abe Sapien to play the Silver Surfer - rumored at least. Should at least be interesting to watch.
Rumors of more Spider-Man movies have been floating around, which of course, is expected since they are doing so well. No one is linked by contract to continue a #4, however, so quality may significantly drop if they press production (which they likely will).
A lot of new movie news should be coming out at San Diego.
At July 19, 2006 10:09 AM,
Anonymous said…
I think I know what the "race" issue is.
Apparently some people are offended that the cannibal tribe was black and that the only black characters who featured prominently in the movie were traitorous members of Jack's crew and the voodoo priestess.
Which is all rather silly because any native Carribean tribes that practiced ritual cannibalism WOULD be darker skinned. And at that time, voodooun was pretty much a mix of Carribean tribal and African tribal religion so of course the voodooun priestess would be a black woman.
I suppose you could make a point that all the people on Jack's crew who survive until the end of the movie are White... but then again, points could also be made about how all the other villains meet the American Film law of "All Brits Are Bad Guys"
At July 19, 2006 10:37 AM,
Anonymous said…
Nicholas Cage is just is acting name.
He got "Cage" from Luke Cage - Power Man.
True Story.
Seriously.
At July 19, 2006 12:42 PM,
Anonymous said…
I felt dirty after X3, THIS was my virgin midnight premire (hangs head in sorrow)
God bless Signer for giving Marsden an awesome part,for making Lois strong, for homaging the original subtilely and pulling off a miracle.
A teen GA is suposed to show on smallvile. I'm cringing because nobody can be cynical/badas enough.
I usually see Cage for the movie & agree 100% on Ghostrider. Hey does Cage have a friend named Ironfist?:-)
Pirates: Whatever happed to Anna-Maria?
At July 19, 2006 2:55 PM,
Evan Waters said…
Actually I don't think the cannibals were black. I think they were more Pacific Islander types, but like KING KONG, the film took the approach of dousing said cannibals in so much body paint that it's hard to tell what ethnicity they are. Which does help deflect the racial criticisms- in the abstract it's still the "other", but in concrete terms no group is going to publicly protest if they're not sure they're the ones who ought to be offended.
At July 19, 2006 3:02 PM,
kalinara said…
centurion: I don't know honestly. I haven't seen the movie. But now, when I do, I'm probably going to be hypersensitive to it. :-)
Abe Sapien? I can't quite picture that.
Aww, I wish I could go to San Diego. Maybe next year.
Charles: Ooo. If only I had money enough. :-)
Starman: It makes sense, but still, where's Anamaria from the first movie? I haven't heard mention of her. It seems as though if there was a black woman on the side of the good guys, it might have soothed a few ruffled tempers.
Mallet: Heh.
Green: Well, to be fair, the teenagers on that show are pushing thirty at least. Still, it'll be weird to see.
And I don't know. Seems like Anamaria's presence would have helped a lot.
evan: You're probably right, still it's pretty easy to see where complaints come from. Some racial elements are inevitable given the setting, but it sounds, (I don't personally know, not having seen the movie yet) as though a bit more sensitivity would have been appropriate.
At July 19, 2006 3:52 PM,
Unknown said…
The Caribbean tribes that practiced cannibalism would be native american tribes similar (in appearance at least) to those from Central and South America. I actually liked the obeahwoman, I thought she was an interesting counter/foil for Jack
At July 19, 2006 4:57 PM,
Guy LeCharles Gonzalez said…
The racism charges for Pirates don't really stick in my book, since pretty much all of the characters are cartoonish stereotypes, including the "evil" Brits. As for the dark-skinned members of Jack's crew, it's perfectly reasonable that they would stick together, especially in that era, and with their being on a shipful of untrustworthy miscreants and outlaws -- aka, PIRATES! -- themselves included.
It's a fun movie, BTW; perfect summertime popcorn that delivers maximum bang for the buck.
At July 19, 2006 8:15 PM,
kalinara said…
Thanks guys! That reassures me a bit. I'll see it regardless, but you're making me a bit more hopeful! :-)
At July 19, 2006 10:30 PM,
Anonymous said…
kalinara - not a sign of Anamarie, I'm sad to say. In fact, apart from Mr. Cotton and Mr. Gibbs, it doesn't seem like any of Jack's old crew from the first movie have stuck around or survived.
Guy LeCharles Gonzalez - Exactly! Nobody crying about the racism seems to note that EVERYBODY in this movie is inheritly untrustworthy and ready to doublecross everyone else - the "civilized" British nobles included and especially.
Hell, the whole last half hour of the movie is an exercise in, what might be phrased in D&D terms, as "Why You Don't Want A Party Of Mostly Chaotic Neutral Characters."
At July 23, 2006 6:33 PM,
Katherine said…
The racism charges for Pirates don't really stick in my book, since pretty much all of the characters are cartoonish stereotypes, including the "evil" Brits.
Oh, come on. All stereotypes are not created equal. Historical context matters. The stereotype of "British=greedy empire-builder" was never used as a justification for genocide. The stereotype of "Caribbean islander=savage cannibal" was.
That said, even though my jaw dropped at the scenes in question, they just about squeak past my "evil detected: walk out now" radar because the islanders are a lot more in control of the situation than the others, and we're given some hints that they have a complex and interesting society. But it was a close thing. And it's not at all ridiculous that people should be concerned about it.
At July 23, 2006 6:52 PM,
kalinara said…
katherine: Thanks! I appreciate the perspective! I'll definitely have to see it myself soon.
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