Kung Fu Panda 2 goes a little further with its story than most sequels, and it's surprising that an animated film gets hit with that statement. It's a movie world that made this effort unavoidable, and everyone knew it as soon as the first film started pulling in big money, but this is anything but the kind of money-grabbing continuation that has become the norm. Not only is it often darker, … [Read more...]
To be honest, I really would have liked to have seen Kung Fu Panda simply let itself be enough. It was a bit better than I thought it was going to be, and it was certainly a lot of fun for my kids, but it wasn't the next greatest thing. But, there is really no such thing as not having a sequel to an animated film that makes any money, so here we are. Despite my misgivings, it looks as though … [Read more...]
The Green Hornet is a somewhat strange comic/superhero mythology to begin with, and the curious infusion of both director Michel Gondry and actor Seth Rogen turns the story on its ear, though not necessarily with negative results. On the plus side of the whole affair, few are familiar enough with The Green Hornet to balk at the loose play with Britt Reid's persona. A slapsticky goof as Bruce Wayne … [Read more...]
Early next year, the past will really make its way to the future, as a hero popularized through a radio show makes it to the big screen. January 14th, 2011 will see The Green Hornet hitting theaters, and will not only give you an action film decades in the making, but will test the limits of heroic casting efforts by putting Seth Rogen in the crosshairs. As someone who has actually listened to … [Read more...]
There's a joke in Watchmen which Rorschach enters into his journal. It's an idea that's been around forever, but it's summed up well in the quick delivery of a none-too-funny joke. Basically - A man goes to a doctor and complains that he's depressed. The doctor says the cure is quite simple, because the great clown Pagliacci happens to be in town. Go see him. The man bursts into tears, … [Read more...]
