Lady in the Water (Film)

I hated the last M. Night movie, The Village. Didn't care for it at all, though I've really enjoyed his past films. I think he's a gifted filmmaker who makes interesting movies that are shot really well. Armed with reasonable expectations, I went to see his latest. The biggest problem I had with this movie, was the awkward way in which the story was told. Many times the hero of the story was stuck and someone actually ended up telling him what to do next, literally, time and time again. There was no sense of discovery or having the story unfold in a natural manner. It felt like lazy writing with the difference being telling a joke or having to explain it.

Clerks 2 (Film)

The first Clerks came out about ten years ago and I remember renting the videotape (yikes!) because I had heard some buzz coming out of the Sundance film festival. I liked it so much I ended up watching it again the next morning. Something about the low-budget grainy black and white characters riffing on pop culture references really spoke to me. I really could identify with these characters. Since then, I've followed writer/director Kevin Smith's career with great interest. His last couple of films, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (avoid at all costs) and Jersey Girl (not bad) were examples of him saying good-bye to the comfortable and trying something new. I can understand the appeal of re-visiting the Clerks crew, but often times it felt like going to your ten year high school reunion. Sure it was nice to see what some people were up to, but other times it felt really uncomfortable and you're left wondering it was such a hot idea to go after all.

A Scanner Darkly (Film)

Although I've never read any Philip K. Dick stories, I've (for the most part) enjoyed the screen adaptations of his work. These would include Blade Runner, Total Recall, Minority Report, and Paycheck. As much as I've enjoyed some of those films, I can't say I liked this one. There were a couple of moments there, when I actually felt the film might actually bore me to death. The animation was nice and at times it did feel like a graphic novel come to life, but it certainly was not enough for me to recommend this one at all.

Monster House 3-D (Film)

I was lucky enough to catch a free advance screening of this movie in 3-D. Easily one of the better movies I've seen in a long time. So good, I want to pay to see it again, only this time in 2-D, just to be different. I just adored this movie. I think this might have played better in October, as this film takes play on Halloween and perfectly captures that time of year. The 3-D is outstanding and might be one the best examples of 3-D I've seen in a theater, which I admit I have not seen that much of. Either way, just go and see this when it opens on July 21. It's funny, a little scary, and has a solid story. You really can't ask for much more.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (Film)

This was the big summer blockbuster I was really looking forward and was hoping it would be as good as the first, even though they were filming parts 2 and 3 back to back. It felt like they had a really solid idea for a movie and a half and had the choice of either trimming the story or padding the film out. I guess they decided to go the second route. Whole chunks of the movie could have been dropped with none worse for the wear. I left the theater confused about what was going on and didn't understand why they did what they did. At least with the first one, I understand how characters got from point A to B and the reasons why. I very much admired the craft of script and thought at the time it was as solid of a movie as you could get (still thought it went on a tad long). With this one, it felt the filmmakers had the foreknowledge of a third movie, so they decided not to explain as much because it'll all make sense once you see the third part. This approach is hit or miss. There's only been a handful of times when parts 2 and 3 were filmed concurrently. I can think of Superman I and II, Back to the Future 2 and 3, the Lord of the Rings saga, and Matrix Reloaded and Matrix Revolutions. Hmmm...let's think about this a minute. All in all, with the exception of the Rings (and that was based on books), not an impressive list. I think I'll end up seeing it again thinking perhaps I missed something, but all in all it felt like I got to the treasure chest and all I found was something shiny and incomplete.

The Devil Wears Prada (Film)

Like a killer outfit, simple, but done with a lot of style. Meryl Streep as Miranda is the summer's most delicious villain and good enough for serious Oscar contention. The story itself is familiar, but well told. I think I much rather would have seen Anne Hathaway as Lois Lane than Kate Bosworth. Both are 23 years old, but Anne just seems to have it much more together. This movie makes me want to see more Streep and Hathaway movies. Well worth seeing.

Superman Returns Imax 3-D (Film)

I ended up seeing the Imax 3-D version of Superman Returns. For those who are not aware, the entire movie is not in 3-D. Instead, about 20 minutes require you put those glasses on at 4 different points in the movie. The thinking was, when Clark takes his glasses off, you put those 3-D shades on. How did it work? Not so good. Right off the bat, it was pretty distracting to keep putting those glasses on and taking them off. What would happen is, just before a 3-D segment, tiny green eye-glass icons would flash, that's when you popped those glasses on and when it's over, those green icons turned red. Nothing could be more distracting and this completely took you out of the movie. The effects themselves were just okay. It looked really good during static or slow moving shots with very little cutting. When the action kicked into gear and the camera started moving tossed with jump cuts, it was a blurry mess. The entire airplane rescue was in 3-D and I couldn't figure out what was going on or who was who. Thank god Superman was in bright blue with a red cape, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to spot him. I've read Lucas is planning on turning the Star Wars films (all 6) into 3-D, the 30th anniversary is next year. The same process for Star Wars is what was used for Superman. This was one of the big reasons I wanted to see Superman in 3-D. Given what I've seen, I hope they don't.

As for the movie itself, it was just okay. The movie felt played out and I got the sense that I've seen this before, like in 1978 with Christopher Reeve. At least that film was original. I don't know why this movie had to constantly remind people of the Donner version. Some of the action was the same and even the music is reused. I think they made a big mistake going this route. They should have started over a la Batman Begins. While watching that movie, I wasn't thinking about the Tim Burton version or Michael Keaton's portrayal of Bruce Wayne/Batman. This Superman movie had a confusing timeline, a evil plot that made no sense, no story resolutions, hardly any action, and an awful cast. They really dropped the ball on this one. I much rather would have seen the proposed Nicholas Cage Superman directed by Tim Burton. At least that film would have been an original creation.

The Lake House (Film)

I admit it, I got a little misty at the end. The movie is a highly improbable love about two people sending letters to each other by way of a magical mailbox that can time travel the letters either back or forward in time. If you can swallow that premise, then logic takes a back seat. Sure there are a lot of quinky dinks and some wild leaps of logic that don't quite play out, but I bought the whole package, kit and kaboodle. I say if you can buy the basic premise and are in the mood for a corny love story, then you'll enjoy yourself. As an added plus, Chicago looked really nice.

Set this House in Order (Book)

The author Matt Ruff has only written two other novels. While reading each of his novels, when I get to the middle, I think to myself, "this is one of the best books I've ever read." It's rare I want to read a book again after finishing them, but with each book he has written, I know I want to reread them again someday. As always, there are so many books to read and so little time.

One of my favorite Twilight Zone episodes had this bank teller with really thick glasses who loved to read. He much more preferred books to people. On his lunch breaks, he would eat his lunch in the bank vault while reading. It's the only place he can get the proper peace and quiet to enjoy his books. On one of these lunch breaks, something happens, perhaps it's a deadly virus or a bomb of some sort. In the the end the results are the same, everyone is dead except the teller, who was protected by him staying in the vault. Books have saved his life. All excited, he runs to the library to gather as many books as he can. With no one around to bother him, he can read as much as he wants. In his haste to leave, he stumbles down the steps of the library and his books fly everywhere, as well as his glasses. Shattered and useless, he can no longer see. He drops to his knees and begins sobbing.

I find picking up a new book is very much like starting a new relationship, like having a new girlfriend. In the beginning you hope for the best and want very much for everything to work out. Sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't. After reading some books, I find myself needing a break and can't jump into another book right away. I need a little breathing space and find myself wanting to do other things.

Any hoo, back to the book in hand. This book is about a person with multiple personalities. The primary soul in charge is named Aaron. Instead of merging all the souls into one whole, Aaron has decided to live with the other personalities, or co-exist, instead a virtual house inside his head. He meets another person with multiple personalities, only she doesn't know it yet. He feels he must help her and in turn, she helps him deal with a buried secret from his past. A rousing read and well worth checking out. in fact, all his books are worth a read.