Keeping Things Going

Yes, in the interests of keeping things happening around here, I wanted to talk a litle about Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, since I saw finally saw it today. I'm still waiting to fulfill the dream of going to the theaters and getting to watch a movie in an empty theater. You'd have thought going to a 12:20 showing of a movie that's been out for six weeks on a Tuesday afternoon would meet that requirement, but nooo. Eh, it's not like the other 9 people in there were distracting, I'd just like the opportunity to do my own Mystery Science Theater 3000 some day. Wonder how much that would cost to arrange? Probably too much. Enough mindless rambling, let's discuss the movie.

- I enjoyed it, first of all. Unlike a lot of the other superhero movies, it doesn't seem to be trying for anything deep. It's a movie about people with weird powers fighting other people with weird powers, with some relationship/friendship stuff thrown in. I laughed more at this movie than I have at any movie I've seen in recent time, certainly more than any comic book movie (although Ghost Rider had it's funny moments, and no, I don't mean Nic Cage tryng to act).

- Jessica Alba's eyebrows kind of scared me. Why go blonde with your hair, but leave the eyebrows dark? It's odd. Beyond that, I had heard Sue described as "bitchy" in this movie, but honestly, I didn't see it. She was stressed. She's trying to get married to someone she loves, but it keeps getting delayed, he seems terribly distant at times, and they've got people poking into their lives constantly. I had two friends get married last year, they were both pretty stressed, and they didn't have to deal with a shiny alien showing up and threatening the entire planet, so I think Sue's frustration was understandable.

- I like the bachelor party scene. Reed busting a move with the ladies, Sue's initial reaction, followed by her teasing Reed later on.

- I like that Reed's sideburns were just a little gray. It's sort of a classic Reed Richards look; all he was missing was a pipe (Reed used to smoke a pipe, before Marvel Comics decided heroes couldn't smoke, which meant no more cigars for Wolverine. Keep in mind, it's still OK for Wolverine to graphically claw half of a guy's face off, but no stogies!)

- Andre Braugher = good stuff. I've enjoyed Braugher since he was on Homicide: Life on the Street. Granted, his role here is kind of limited, since he has to play the tightass general that won't just trust the heroes, but willingly trusts a lunatic, but I think he does a good job. He doesn't act wild or out of control, he portrays a man who is trying to protect people, but is forced to rely on a guy who is out dancing in clubs and having weddings. It doesn't excuse teaming up with Doom, but you could see how confidence in the heroes could be a little low.

- I've always been a fan of the Thing. Even as a big orange guy with super-strength, he still comes off as a gritty underdog somehow, which makes him fun to root for. He recognizes what's important about life (having people to care about), and he savors having a relationship with Alicia, even if he isn't quite the looker he'd like to be. Also, the look on his face when he and Johnny switch powers? Classic. He's like a kid with a new toy, which if you could control fire, you would probably have that look on your face too.

- Overall, it isn't a great movie, but it was fun to watch, and they did a good job of capturing the Surfer's tortured soul. He doesn't enjoy his job, but it's the sacrifice he makes to protect the people he cares about, even though on a spiritual level, it couldn't have been doing him any good to be responsible for the deaths of who knows how many planets?

- My final thought is simply that Stan Lee looked really damn old. I mean, I know he is old, but he looked really old, like he might turn to dust any second now. Him getting turned away at the wedding was a nice touch (apparently a homage to what happened in the comics when Reed and Sue got married).