Entertainer

(Image: Columbia Pictures)

‘Superbad’
Yes, I know that this movie came out almost three years ago. I finally got around to watching it thanks to a certain co-worker, who repeatedly asked me not to think worse of him for lending me the film. The story follows two best friends (played by Jonah Hill and Michael Cera) on the eve of their separation for college, who attempt to impress the two girls that they have had crushes on all through high school by obtaining a huge quantity of booze for a year-end party. The film, which was written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, includes the rampant profanity and crude humor that you would expect, but gets away with it because of the comedic dedication of the actors who fully commit to the absurd situations that arise throughout the night. Even though the teens in the film have cell phones, the whole style of the movie seemed to harken back to the ’70s evoked in 1993’s “Dazed and Confused,” although I thought this coming of age story had a sweeter ending. (Two stars)

(Image: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer)

‘Fame’ = Lame
More of a montage than a movie. I got this out of the Red Box in a weak moment and suffered accordingly. There was at least 15 minutes of visually interesting dancing in the film, but the music and acting segments fell flat. Not to mention the disjointed scenes and repetition. As much as I like Bare Naked Ladies, it seems a bit odd that high school students today would pick three of the Canadian band’s songs in a row on karaoke night. And did we need two scenes of tuba players in row at the beginning, when the movie ends up having nothing to do with brass players? As a former band geek, I was annoyed to see that those students, although ever present in the background of the film, were pretty much non-entities, which is saying a lot relative to the almost total detachment the main characters (actors, dancers, singers) showed for each other throughout the film. If you want to see a dance movie with better dancing and better music, I highly suggest you see “Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights” or either of the “Step Up” films. Seriously. (No stars)

(Image: 20th Century Fox)

‘Avatar’
It’s good. The special effects are superb. The 3D was neat. The new world that director James Cameron creates on Pandora is creative, colorful and carefully considered. (His background as a skin diver seems evident in jellyfish-like flora). For a film with a rather weighty message, I didn’t feel like it took its self too seriously. Still, I think I would have liked ‘Avatar’ better if it didn’t so precisely mirror ‘Dances With Wolves’ and end in such a predictable final epic battle. Because, as we know here on earth, war never solves anything and I wish Hollywood would stop pretending that it does. In terms of comparison, I think I liked the new ‘Star Trek’ just as much. (Three stars)

(Image: Sony Pictures Classics)

‘The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus’
Trippy stuff. Many of the scenes that wandered into the mind of Parnassus felt like falling into a psychadelic album cover. Still, all of the actors pulled their parts off brilliantly, and it seemed a fitting thing for Heath Ledger’s comrades Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell to step in and fill out the missing pieces after his untimely death. I expect to see newcomer Lily Cole, who plays Dr. Parnassus’ daughter, in other films soon. Saw this on opening night at the Darkside Cinema where the energy of an appreciative audience audience really added to the experience. (Three stars)

(Image: Disney)

‘Morning Light’
If you like sailing, grew up sailing with your parents or enjoy shows such as MTV’s ‘Made’ you’ll probably like this 2008 Disney documentary which chronicles the selection and training of a group of young college students for a race against professionals from California to Hawaii. (Two and half stars)

Recently re-watched:

(Image: Sony Pictures Classics)

‘It Might Get Loud’
I’ve always been a sucker for music documentaries. Although Jimmy Page and The Edge have achieved super stardom, the lesser known and younger Jack White steals the show with his old-school approach to guitar and off-beat humor. A great study in contrasts. (Four stars)

(Image: Warner Bros. Pictures)

‘The Hangover’
Just as funny the second and third time. I love the mix of stunning cinematography with low-brow music and humor. Some of the best character acting this year. Cringe humor, but not the painful kind. The lines will get stuck in your head for weeks. Obviously, not for kids. (Four stars)