Susan Hated Literature

Dir: Jon Favreau
Writ: Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby, Art Marcum, Matt Holloway. Based on characters created by Stan Lee , Don Heck, Larry Lieber, Jack Kirby

• Robert Downey Jr. … Tony Stark
• Terrence Howard … Jim Rhodes
• Jeff Bridges … Obadiah Stane
• Gwyneth Paltrow … Pepper Potts
• Leslie Bibb … Christine Everhart
• Faran Tahir … Raza
• Sayed Badreya … Abu Bakaar

Ever since Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang I’ve loved Robert Downey Jr. and that is the main reason I wanted to go see this film. Sure, I enjoy superhero films, but I know nothing at all about Iron Man, so it wasn’t any grá for that character that made me go. For those of you who share this non-knowledge Iron Man is Tony Stark, a genius of a weapons-dealer. When things go wrong for him in Afghanistan he ends up thinking that the only route forward is to give up the whole destruction business, obviously enough his share-holders object slightly.

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Dir: Sam Raimi
Writ: Sam Raimi, Ivan Raimi, & Alvin Sargent. Based on the comic by Stan Lee & Steve Ditko

• Tobey Maguire … Spider-Man/Peter Parker
• Kirsten Dunst … Mary Jane Watson
• James Franco … New Goblin/Harry Osborn
• Thomas Haden Church … Sandman/Flint Marko
• Topher Grace … Venom/Eddie Brock
• Bryce Dallas Howard … Gwen Stacy
• James Cromwell … Captain Stacy
• Bruce Campbell … Maître d’

I wasn’t a huge fan of the first two spiderman films; I enjoyed them but didn’t LOVE them. They were good, solid entertainment. Two was probably a little better, though I may feel that way because I recently rewatched it when it was shown on the telly a few weeks ago. This one isn’t so good. It is too long. There are too many characters. And worst of all, unlike the second, it has no heart to it.

It felt stop-start, as though they had too many characters and story-lines and couldn’t figure out to make then all work together properly, nothing seemed to fit.

I’ve never been a huge fan of Spiderman, or of Peter Parker for that matter, and in this film I just couldn’t care less what happened him. James Franco was more interesting as Harry. There was nothing to grip the viewer, and while the special effects were excellent you really need a good story to hang them on. This was all pretty curtains and no foundation.

And the cocky version of Peter Parker? That was just weird and stupid. Yes at first it was a little entertaining to see him strut, but after 2 seconds it became creepyfing, and disturbing. And the dancing! wtf!

There is nothing hideous and terrible about the film. You’ll watch, you’ll be entertained and maybe a little bored, I do recall checking my watch and thinking with a sinking heart that there was still an hour to go, but it picked up a little, so I wasn’t eyeing the exit all the way through. Totally worthy of a meh. Too many storyiideas with not enough development

I also took issue with the amount of time Parker wandered about in his Spidey outfit, only with the mask off. Either he has a secret identity or he doesn’t. Half the city should know who he really is if he has as little care as that.

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Dir: Bryan Singer
Writ: Michael Dougherty & Dan Harris, Bryan Singer, Jerry Siegel (characters)

• Brandon Routh - Superman
• Kate Bosworth - Lois Lane
• Kevin Spacey - Lex Luthor
• James Marsden - Richard White
• Parker Posey - Kitty Kowalski
• Tristan Lake Leabu - Jason White

Superman has never really been a superhero that I was a fan of. Sure, he is faster than a speeding bullet and has saved the world on numerous times, but I’ve just never had a grá for him. So I wasn’t all that fussed about this film, apart from the fact that is took Singer away from X-Men. But I figured, big block-buster movie, might as well take a look.

And I’m glad I did, because despite the fact that it has many flaws this is still a highly enjoyable film with plenty to recommend it. Of course, the central problem with any Superman film is that you know, without a shadow of a doubt, that by the end of the film all will be well. A fact that makes it a little hard to build tension over Supes being in trouble, but this film actually manages to make you feel slightly concerned for the man of steel.

I have to say that Routh does a great job at looking all heroic. And all bumbly as Clark, but Clark isn’t really all that central to the story. This is all about Superman. Superman and Lois Lane.

Lois’s character is a bit bland. She gets in trouble, gets saved. Has issues. But nothing overly intriguing. Although plus points must be awarded for not having a pointlessly annoying kid. Jason, her son, is in some respects another “item to be saved” but unlike in Poseidon he doesn’t do any stupid pointless wandering or looking about and gain more trouble for himself. Spacey does the job as Lex Luthor, but doesn’t have much character. And like many a superhero villian his plan makes no real sense. However Parker, playing Kitty does a lot with her limited screen time.

I’m also thinking that we should get a petition together to try and find James Marsden a role where he isn’t involved in some sort of a love triangle.

All in all, well worth seeing, and despite being 154 minutes long it doesn’t drag, although it probably could’ve stood to be trimmed a little.

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Dir: Christopher Nolan
Writ: Bob Kane, David S Goyer & Christopher Nolan

• Christian Bale …. Bruce Wayne/Batman
• Michael Caine …. Alfred
• Liam Neeson …. Ducard
• Katie Holmes …. Rachel Dawes
• Gary Oldman …. Jim Gordon
• Cillian Murphy …. Dr. Jonathan Crane

Ignore all the previous films, this is new Batman origin film. And we get it all, from the fall down the well to the parents being gunned down in an alley. There is the training, the gadgets, and a batmobile like you’ve never seen before

When I first saw the trailers I didn’t really care much one way or the other. After The Machinist I wasn’t really all that looking forward to seeing Bale in anything for a while. I mean his acting in that was great, but he just made me uncomfortable.

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Dir: Frank Miller, Robert Rogriguez & Quentin Tarantino
Writ: Frank Miller

• Bruce Willis …. Hartigan
• Mickey Rourke …. Marv
• Jessica Alba …. Nancy Callahan
• Clive Owen …. Dwight
• Nick Stahl …. Roark Jr./Yellow Bastard
• Elijah Wood …. Kevin

It is hard to know how to describe this film, I suppose I could say that Sin City has three stories, each based on a different graphic novel by Miller. Or that it is just an experiment in style and how to make a film look original.

The film opens with soon-to-retire cop Hartigan (Willis) as he attempts to save 11 year old Nancy Callahan from rape and death. I’m guessing you’ve figured out it isn’t a fluffy-bunny film right? Because there is a hell of a lot of violence. In the main it is fairly cartoony, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have impact, and there are a few scenes that’ll make anyone wince.

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Author: Joss Whedon & John Cassidy
DDC: 741.5973
ISBN:0785115315
X-Men verse

I’ve always been a theoretical fan of the X-Mencomics. What I mean is that I’ve always thought they were cool, but I’ve never bought one. I did love the X-Men cartoon, but never really got to watch enough of it. So when the films were released I knew a bit of background, but I wouldn’t really say I knew a lot.

I guess the problem for me is that there is just so much back story that it is hard to know where to start with the comics. I’ve always been a person to start at the beginning, and work my way to the most recent, but OMG the expense! So I never bothered. But I’m a Joss-girl, so I thought that his X-Men would be a good place to start.

Gifted is the first volume of Joss Whedon’s Astonishing X-Men and I did enjoy it. But as with many comics/graphic novels there is the sense of slightly being cheated price-wise. I know it isn’t really, considering how many people are needed to make a comic (writer, inker, colourist, speech-bubble-head etc), but still..

Whedon places Kitty in the central role (yet again a young female character, more than a little bit of a pattern), but most of the other familar characters are there too. Of course there are also a few I don’t know, but I’m sure the majority are more than familar to real fans.
I read it in one go, but will probably go back over it in order to pay more attention to the actual graphic part.

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dir. Guillermo del Toro

Starring:

* Ron Perlman - Hellboy
* John Hurt - Professor Bruttenholm
* Rupert Evans - John Myers
* Selma Blair - Liz Sherman
* Karel Roden - Rasputin

Before I had heard about this film I had never heard of the comics, never really heard of the character of Hellboy at all, so I wasn’t “mad fer it.” But, after hearing a few positive reviews I decided I’d have to check it out at some stage. Then the trailers put me off, did anyone else get them in blocks of three? And I know that most everyone has praised del Toro’s Blade II, personally I preferred the first. Ah well, the film was on at the right time so I popped along.
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