Wednesday, June 07, 2006
X-Ceptional X-Citement?
So the other day we went to see the newest X-Men feature. You know, Kelsey Grammar as a big blue hairball is almost worth paying something for in itself. It’s done a bit differently than the first two, with a different director, but it’s still a fairly decent movie. My students, who are also apparently students of the graphic novels (comic books with a high cover price, that is) tell me that it varies a bit from the established story line, but what the heck, I haven’t read an X-Men comic in decades, so I really don’t care.
If you saw the second movie you’ll know about the girl who got drowned in a lake after the dam got blown up? Sure you do. Well, she’s back, and central to the whole episode. You may also remember how Wolverine felt about her? Well, that plays a big part, too. Magneto ends up back at the chess table in the park, in case you’re interested. If I write any more I’ll be giving things away. Wouldn’t want to give things away. But, you know, the good guys suffer but win in the end, while the bad guys have a great time and lose in the final act. Oh, well, it is an action movie, isn’t it?
Truth is, it was pretty entertaining, but I did catch myself looking at my watch to check the timing and structure, which is a sign that it could have been better. But, heck, almost any movie, except a very few like Casablanca or One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest could have been better. This film is in good company, and it’ll never show up on late-night TV being jeered by a couple of robots and a dweeb from Minnesota, if you get my drift. It’s mostly fun, the violence is less than you’d expect, and the good guys win in the end. What more do you want of a flick?
