Ebert Hates On Kick-Ass

Roger Ebert loved Carrie (3 1/2 stars), expressed boredom with Children Of The Corn and says about Orphan: "You want a good horror film about a child from hell, you got one."

But he's suddenly pissy about the violence in Kick-Ass?

Calling the flick "morally reprehensible," Ebert takes issue with the all-too-real violence carried out in the film by a girl dressed as a super-hero. To fanboys who think the movie did the comic book justice, Ebert snorts: " You know what? You inhabit a world I am so very not interested in."

Somebody must have forgotten to add butter to Ebert's popcorn.

His reaction reminds me of my Dad's inability to understand my affection for Kurt Cobain, and my Big Band-era grandfather who thought Elvis was of the devil.

Ebert's review just made me want to see Kick-Ass even more!

It's All About The Spandex

In the wake of Kick-Ass buzz, Moviefone has listed the Top Ten Nerdiest Superheroes in film.

Orgazmo didn't make the list. Looks like he got the shaft, again.

That's Just Gross

OK, so it took another Larry King divorce to get my head out from under the covers.

This one's just gross, though. I can't get past what sorta person Shannon Engemann is. Not only is she selfish enough to [allegedly] hook up with her sister's husband, she's freaky enough to [allegedly] sleep with a guy who looks like a cadaver.

Sheesh . . .

For a guy who made a career outta interviewing others, King sure seems to have poor people skills.

Photo by: Reuters

End Scene

For the last several months I've debated whether or not to put The Film Geek blog to rest. Like Doug in the video below, I kept walking to the door but struggled with how to actually walk through it. I wanted to continue, and hoped the enthusiasm would return. It just hasn't.

So, I'm ouuuta heeerrreeee. . . It's time.

Thanks to all the folks who stopped by this site over the past few years. I enjoyed getting to know you, and talkin' flicks. I've met several of you in person, and hope to continue those relationships. I'll still be reading your blogs, though.

I'll be watching.

The State - MTV Shows

A Serious Man

Oy vey!

Everybody's Fine

Everybody's Fine, directed by Kirk Jones and starring Robert De Niro, allows the audience a peek into the life of Frank Goode, a retired blue-collar kinda guy who has suddenly recognized the significant emotional distance that exists within his family.

Just a few months after the death of his wife, Frank finds himself lonely and disillusioned. He travels the country to visit his four children in an attempt to salvage whatever "family" remains. His road trip provides a great opportunity for substance, but the film is too predictable and cliched to deliver.

Everybody's Fine relies on the audience connecting to De Niro in an emotional way for success. It just doesn't happen, and the film falls flat as a result.

The film provided for me, however, a time to reflect on the relationship I have with my father. It's fair to say the relationship has been strained over the years; despite no smoking gun reason for that strain, personality quirks and disagreements over issues important to both of us has created an emotional distance. My father, an emotionally distant man who seems to seek out and enjoy isolation, hasn't been able to meet my desire to spend more time together and get to know each other as adults. I'm too stubborn to accept his personality as is, and often avoid interaction with him unless I sense he's making a significant compromise.

Our relationship is a lot like that of Frank Goode and his son. Perhaps we need a Hollywood script writer to plot out the final act for us.

Land Of The Lost

My God, how I avoided Land Of The Lost.

So many times Netflix pushed it to the top of my que, and I moved it back. Time after time Mrs. Film Geek suggested we rent it on View on Demand, and I talked her out of it. Even my kids asked to see it several times these past few months. I spanked them each time, and put them to bed without supper.

Today, I could avoid it no longer. And, God help me, I loved it.

I avoided this movie mostly because I loved the 70s show by Sid and Marty Krofft. The show was important to my childhood, and I didn't want a re-make fucking up the good memories I have of that time. Plus, the movie was a colossal failure at the box office: no one liked it, and few people saw it.

But, it's worth seeing. The base humor of the script is laugh out loud funny. Watching Will Ferrell's Rick Marshall describe how he will cook and eat Chaka if necessary is really funny, as is the scene where Chaka gets Marshall and Will stoned on a fruit narcotic.

Come to think of it, Chaka's character is by far the best part of Land Of The Lost. Danny McBride is as good as he is in all the stuff he's done lately, and Anna Friel is fine as Holly. One of my favorite scenes is early in the movie, just after the group find themselves in the alternate reality. Holly rips off the leg portion of her corduroy pants, turning them into shorts. I laughed, because during the 70s I always wondered why Kathy Coleman--"Holly" in the TV series--never did that.

Land Of The Lost isn't a great movie, but it's nowhere near as bad as advertised. I get it. Bet you will too.

Percy Jackson And the Olympians

"Grab your coats, it's movie time!"

That line always gets the kids moving. Seeing flicks together is something we enjoy doing, whether the movie is a good one or not. And with Mrs. Film Geek out of town for the weekend, watching a flick is a good way for me to avoid housework.

Percy Jackson And The Something-Or-Others fit the bill.

"Nah, I'm not gonna go," my 13-year-old said. Maddisen had just awakened, even though it was nearly noon. " It's not a movie I want to see."

"I know," I replied. "But it will be fun to go anyway. Going to the movies is about the popcorn and soda, the together time for family and getting out of the house as much as it is for the movie. You know that."

She rolled her eyes. "Jeez...I went to see The Tooth Fairy. Isn't that good enough?"

It was that moment I realized I'd lost. Not the argument. Not my authority. Nope, my loss was the childhood innocence and enthusiasm Maddi used to demonstrate so easily. It had been replaced by self-involvement and a preference teens have for isolation.

So I left her. My other children had fun. The popcorn and the soda, the together time for most of the family and the getting out of the house were all good. The movie was better than I expected.

But something was missing. . .

Transsiberian

Love a good mystery flick? The kind that isn't too obvious, but doesn't contain an exaggerated swerve that makes little sense?

Transsiberian.

Enjoy squirming along in peril with lead characters? Having that feeling you're along for the ride, and can't escape?

Transsiberian.

Do you find yourself searching for that Woody Harrelson role that avoids stereotypes, is written in an intelligent manner and lets Woody really do some acting?

Transiberian.

Answer: Keep On Walking

Question: What does one do when, after traveling to the cinema to watch Valentine's Day, one encounters a wait line like something out of the Great Depression?