MACHETE
Aren't you just excited? Like just a tiny bit? Like when a package is sitting on your desk at work one morning. A package that you were not expecting or forgot was going to arrive.
Even though this movie contains a very corny Steven Seagal/Jean-Claude Van Damme-type plot (man wants revenge from company he used to work for who killed his family), it really does not matter. I’m still excited! Bear in mind, this was never meant to include consistency, intellectual mind-games and clever wit. That ain’t exactly the director’s style.
As the average movie-buff will know, the Machete (2010) movie was already in the making while Robert Rodriguez shot Planet Terror (2007). He simultaneously shot his Grindhouse tribute and a trailer for a movie that didn’t exist – yet.
Due to it background and similarities in style, there is a chance Machete could become another Planet Terror, minus the comedy and tribute elements. Machete looks like it could work solely on the basis of its style, its explosions and its sexed-up female ass-kickers. I.e. not so much content as coolness.
I don’t usually condone the latter-mentioned type of character and I think I have succumbed (a long time ago) to the concept of the vamp, sexy, masucline woman. I like the concept, despite it not being as thoroughly feminist as I wish it was. And with a cast including Michelle Rodriguez, Jessica Alba and Lindsay Lohan, I am not going to moan.
If you are not into explosions, half-naked women, Mexicans and guns – don’t bother. If you are going to mope about because a few women get sexualised, can it. If you are planning on watching it, then complaining about little continuity mistakes and historical accuracy, save yourself a tenner and don’t ruin the experience for the rest of us. This is a simple kick-ass-first-and-take-questions-later movie.
It is what it is.
UK release date: autumn /winter 2010/2011
HOWL
Howl (2010) is a biopic about author Allen Ginsberg, based on his poem of the same name, which caused outrage upon its publishing. There. Basic story. Sound familiar? Perhaps. This is yet another one of those celebratory biopics like I’m Not There (2007) and Milk (2008 – the producers of Milk are also behind this production). Sure the trend is annoying. Look at the disaster that was Factory Girl (2006). But there is something to this one.
My doubts about whether James Franco was enough of a heavy-weight to carry this movie have already been vaporised. He is an average model and a fairly decent sidekick in movies like Spiderman (2002) and Pineapple Express (2008). But from his first appearance in this trailer, I was immediately won over. His acting style is so different to what it usually is: firmer, more serious, natural and composed.
The whole trailer is surprising. It’s a sexy, slick, enjoyable, quick introduction to a movie that will surely be hailed by critics as movie of the year. (Yes, I have very high hopes). It announces the coming of a triumphant tale. It is very captivating – to the eye of the common beholder. In fact, this is the kind of plot that could easily be used as a bad excuse to churn out a slick piece of drama and for some editor to boast of his grading skills. There is definitely meat on this movie-bone. But is the presentation of the product being overshadowed by the style, not to mention the soundtrack?
Possibly. I hope not. Then again, it would be acceptable to surrender myself to an easy, dramatic and racy watch, I’m sure. It’s nice to see something new that is not based on a game, a sequel/prequel or adapted from a comic book or graphic novel.
And with Rob Epstein (The Life And Times Of Harvey Milk – 1984) and Jeffrey Friedman (the man behind the pending Lovelace film - 2011) behind the camera, it’s bound to be as accurate and entertaining as possible.
UK release date: hopefully soon
SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD
Edgar Wright! Michael Cera! Love! Comic book adaptation! Villains! Geeks! Girl with pink hair! Exclamation marks!
Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) is the protagonist who happens to fall in love with a girl who has seven ex-lovers he needs to beat in physical battle in order to keep seeing her. Talk about messy love.
The trailer starts off with a typical (read: cheesy) rom-com plot: boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, boy and girl get together – BAM! Boy gets punched right in the face. Let the film begin.
The trailer’s structure is fairly straight-forward. But it’s not as slick as the other two others.
The graphics are poor (cf. Tank Girl fonts – 1995) and while they are a bit vintage, it doesn’t work to the film’s advantage. It took me right out of the plot.
It’s a funny, different premise, but I am scared it may be more tween- and teen-orientated because of its style and use of make-up and costumes (they look like Play-Dough characters, for crying out loud). I don’t think it’s a style that translates into all ages.
I am also still holding on to a thread of hope that Michael Cera will make a movie that doesn’t show him as a loser, geek, awkward lover or weirdo. What he did in Juno (2008) and Superbad (2007) was great. I would however kill to see him in a weird indie flick in a Michael Pitt/Brad Renfro/Patrick Fugit type of role. He almost did it in Paper Heart (2008), but it was still too lovey-dovey. Is he trying to be a geeky Russell Brand?
I still am a bit excited about what Edgar Wright has done here. Multitudes of questions flow in my head; all of which will be answered come August 25th.
One question that still remains unanswered after watching this trailer: where the hell did that flaming sword come from?
UK release date: August 25th 2010
Louise-Afzal Faerkel
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