Re-Watching the CRAP!

I've been in the mood recently, to re-watch some of the crappy movies from the past... You know, movies that you left the theatre feeling like you'd wasted your money, your time and lost a little piece of your soul in the process. I know we've all felt like that at some point. It's a feeling that you can't help getting when a really big movie has been over-hyped and you buy into it whole-heartedly.

A few of those huge letdowns have been: Pirates of the Caribbean - At World's End, X-Men: The Last Stand,  The Matrix Revolutions, The Day After Tomorrow, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Spider-Man 3, Quantum of Solace, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, The Wolfman, Clash of the Titans,and the list could go on.

Now some of you may disagree with some of those on my list but I'd like to call upon the opinion of others:
Encell Entertainment's 10 Biggest Summer Movie Let-downs 1999-2008 and Dean00

SOOO! Here is my point. We watch those movies in theatres, with the highest of hopes and then we leave feeling like we've been shot in the stomach. Well, after going to see Predators (2010), without any expectations and being blown-away despite the reviews, I've decided it's time to put aside expectations and give movies a chance based solely on their vision and how successful they in realizing it.

Beginning with X-Men III (The Last Stand), I decided to go back to the comics and the cartoon. I re-read the Ultimate X-Men comics to get an understanding of the Phoenix. Then I watch all of the Phoenix Saga cartoons. After all of that reading and watching I revisited The Last Stand. I must say that it was still lacking. The change in direction with Brett Ratner was a mistake. But they couldn't go with the original story line of the Phoenix. If they went with the "aliens from space" angle it would have complicated the plotline too much. So, in retrospect, what they did was alright. It has redeeming qualities, apart from the fact that they killed the series by killing Xavier. That SUCKED!!!

Now for At World's End; the terrible 3rd installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean saga. I did no background research. I just jumped in and I must say that it was okay. I didn't feel like I'd been shot in the gut. The plot seems plausible, after seeing it again. The acting was quite good. On a negative note, the scenes in Davey Jones' Locker with Johnny Depp were ridiculous. But aside from that. The movie had enough action, drama, twists and an ending that satisfied. It was definitely worth a second chance. Because of that, I don't want to go into too much depth about it. I'd like you all to go and see it again for yourselves.

As for the other movies I've mentioned in this post. If you happen to disagree, or feel that they may deserve a second chance - minus the high expectations - go for it. I'd love to read some of your opinions.

Movie for Schmucks

         Dinner for Schmucks was not without its charm. If you are looking for a movie that will make you laugh, this will do the trick. But there were some problems. The movies felt like it had gone through too many brainstorming sessions in the writing process. At every plot point I could visualize a group of people sitting in a room and asking, "What is the worst thing that could happen for this scene?" and all of the resulting responses were then thrown into the script ad nauseum. Then they would brainstorm about how to make this terrible thing worse. As a quick example that doesn't give away any of the plot: Tim (Paul Rudd) forgets his phone on the way to a business lunch. Barry (Steve Carrell), after hearing a voicemail on said phone, stating that Tim needed to bring his girlfriend, goes and finds an unsuitalbe replacement. Tim then has to propose to this terrible stalker-woman in the restaurant. What is the worst thing that could happen at that point? His girlfriend walks in. Then the stalker-woman beats his car to death with a steal pole. 

            The problems with this movie outweigh the jokes. An hour into the movie, the plot sags and you get used to the worst possible scenarios that keep occurring. The jokes get predictable and the laughs die off. BUT!!! And this is a big but, toward the end the movie gets a sudden burst of energy and it become the movie it should have been all along. With fast-paced comedy and lots of laughs, it carries through to the finish. The only other problems at that point are with the plot's resolution where we get to see many inconsistencies with the story. Characters working together who should loath one another, etc. 

Overall, the movie was entertaining and the last 15 minutes will leave you feeling like it wasn't a complete waste. But then again I saw the movie during a pre-screening and didn't have to pay. So maybe you should wait for this one on DVD and Blu-ray. 

http://www.nj.com/entertainment/movies/index.ssf/2010/07/dinner_for_schmucks_movie_review_carell_strains_for_laughs.html