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Jun 15, 2008

TGITDNMAR (6/13/08)

It's that time again for TGITDNMAR, which (obviously) stands for Thank God It's The Day New Movies Are Released.

Well, better late than never. It may not be "the day" anymore, but damnit, TGITDNMAR just cannot be stopped by the limitations of time and space.

The Incredible Hulk
Why Ed, why?

Did Norton peak too soon? His first feature role as Aaron Stampler in Primal Fear earned him an Academy Award nomination. His next two roles were supporting ones in films directed by Milos Forman and Woody Allen. After that? Just three of the most important film in pop culture land in the last ten years - Rounders, American History X, and Fight Club.

Since then, it's been a series of not-so-peaks and valleys, from the highs of The 25th Hour and The Illusionist to the lows of The Italian Job and Death to Smoochy. Now, he's starring in a movie that features a battle between two CGI giants, the scenes from which unfortunately remind me of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen every time I see them. Not a good sign.

It's also not good that this and the 2003 version have me longing for Lou Ferrigno. Maybe we're just not ready for CGI characters in live-action films these days. I shudder to think of T2 with a computer-generated villain...
Fletch's Chance of Viewing (in the theater): 15%, or worse than the chances that I'll ever be able to bench press 200 lbs.

The Happening
Is The Village the only M. Night movie that has nothing to do with water per se? I wanna know what happened (no pun intended) to this guy as a kid that got him so hooked on water. Was he tortured by it? Saved by it? Just thirsty all the time? Seriously, if people are dropping dead in The Happening due to dehydration or something like that, I'm going to track down some waterboarding experts and sic them on the Shamalamaman.

Still, I've enjoyed all of his films to some degree with the exception of Lady in the Water, so, despite even all the negative reviews, I'm sure to catch this at some point.
Fletch's Chance of Viewing: 71%, or equal to the percent of Earth that is made up of water.


8 people have chosen wisely: on "TGITDNMAR (6/13/08)"

Nick said...

This is turning out to be the summer of the unexpected (which I'm thinking of writing an article about later). The Happening looked good, but turning out to be 'blah'.

The Incredible Hulk looked pretty 'blah' and turned out to be as good as if not better than Iron Man. Seriously. And the CGI, when watching the movie, is *excellent*. It doesn't come off as crappy or 'League of Extraordinary Gentlemen' at all. You -definitely- need to check it out.

Mattie Lucas said...

No worries about Lou Ferrigno. He voices Hulk in the new movie.

But yeah, I expected "The Happening" to be good and "Hulk" to be bad.

In reality, its the other way around.

Anonymous said...

I'm interested to see what you think of The Happening, but at the same time I feel afraid for you.

Big Mike Mendez said...

Hulk was actually pretty good, sir. Not Iron Man good, but still really good.

THN said...

Cuba Gooding Jr. is giving him career advice.

Unknown said...

So, THE HAPPENING is not the total trainwreck critics are making it out to be? It sounds pretty awful.

Fletch said...

Yeah, it sounds like I need to switch my expectations and desires. We haven't seen either yet, but at this point, we kinda want to see The Happening just to see how bad it is...

Don't think the missus has any desire to see Hulk, and I don't care about it enough to go alone, so I'll wait till DVD/cable for it, I suppose.

Zenrage said...

I heard The Happening had something to do with plant pollen making people want to kill themselves.

I'll doubt I'll see it. M Night is a decent visual artist, but he really sucks at creating cohesive storylines.

and I liked Death to Smoochy. I think it just suffered for being too dependent on American cynicism and then having the misfortune of being released the summer after 9/11.