Sunday...

Movies, we haz watched some...

We went to see Spectre yesterday afternoon and I came away with mixed feelings, as usual, when it comes to Bond films. I can't really stand the guy and his womanizing (it's not good when you roll your eyes at the start of all the smexy scenes; part of it might just be that, admittedly, I don't find Daniel Craig the least bit attractive except for his blue eyes), but on the other hand, those sorts of action/spy thrillers are in every other way right in my wheelhouse. The action scenes in this one were all very exciting and inventive, if as unbelievable as usual, but the plot itself had some giant holes that Dink and I both felt left Bond looking like an idiot. Bond has a lot of weaknesses, but idiocy should not be one of them. The new Q is still adorable, however, and I'm warming up to the new M. Still, after greatly enjoying Skyfall, I had higher hopes for this one. It may very well be time to move to a new Bond era with a new actor. *coughIdrisElbacough*

Dink and I also found it eerily similar at times to CA:TWS, both in iconography and somewhat less so with the plot. It could just be that CA:TWS was actually derivative of Bond (which it is, in many ways, since it hearkens back to those sorts of spy thrillers), but because CA:TWS was a better movie with a much tighter, emotionally-laden plot than Spectre, it felt the other way around. If anyone else sees both films, I'd be interested in your take.

There was a nice long Star Wars trailer before it, but this one seemed to skip the passages of the iconic music and long shots of the Millennium Falcon and other iconic ships that so moved me with the first trailer. That, coupled with it simply rearranging what's already been seen in earlier trailers with only a few new little bits, gave it a little less impact for me. Still, I'm getting quite excited about it, both because STAR WARS!!!! and also because apparently the Captain America: Civil War trailer will be attached to it, if rumor holds true. I may die from excitement that night/afternoon/morning/whenever. Of course, that doesn't mean I'll actually see the CA:CW trailer when I go see SW, because I remember going some other film that the first Hobbit trailer was supposed to be attached to, and our theater, for whatever unforgivable reason, didn't play it. Hopefully that won't happen this time. Like all Cap fans, I'm dying to see even a glimpse of CA:CW, even if it's just more official set photos. Marvel seems more tight-lipped than ever about this movie.... we're left having to examine the merchandise for clues, which is never a good way to go about it! But that also happened with Age of Ultron, so I guess it's just the way Marvel likes to play it, publicity wise. I have to admit it works when it comes to working up a frenzy.

Next movie I want to see: The Heart of the Sea, the Chris Hemsworth movie about the true story that inspired Moby Dick. I doubt much 'truth' will remain in this dramatized version, but it's Ron Howard making it, and Chris Hemsworth in it, so how bad could it be? (This from someone who enjoyed the much maligned Blackhat just because, yes, Chris Hemsworth....). After that, Mockingjay Part Two. And somehow, I want to see Shelter, which is an indie drama/love story starring Jennifer Connolly and Anthony Mackie, directed and written by Paul Bettany. I think Mackie is in every movie that came out this year (he was probably part of the crowd in Spectre), aand this indie film looks very promising. It's not showing here at our local indie theater, alas, so I'll have to wait for the DVD unless it goes on to a wider release. Same with Kilo Two Bravo, a film about a British army unit that gets stranded in the middle of a minefield in Afghanistan and has to be rescued. Just the trailer alone had my palms sweating. And of course, the biggie, Star Wars: The Force Awakens. I can't even fathom how huge that one will be. I just hope it's far, far better than the prequel set.

So many potentially good movies, and I know there's several more that I've forgotten. I may not get any sleep for the next month or two....