Thursday, July 19, 2007

Summertime Blues

In the past 2 weeks, I've been unfortunate enough to sit through some mind-numbingly bad films:

Live Free or Die Hard- I know I'm getting jaded when I start looking for plausibility and consistency in a summer action blockbuster, but "Live Free or Die Hard" does a tremendous dis-service to the Die Hard trilogy. How would one actually drive a car through an office building by accessing the parking lot garage??? Why would all those cars be abandoned for hours and hours just because the traffic lights aren't working.. other than to save the costs of requiring extras? And the list of plot holes goes on and on... not to mention horrible characterizations, lazy pleas on emotions and a Bruce Willis who truly has gotten too old to portray a believable action hero.

The Hills Have Eyes 2- Detestable sequel to the first Wes Craven remake that situates itself somewhere between the slasher films of the 80's and 2006 torture porn. Not only does it roll out a sickening rape scene, but indulges in eye-gougings, severed limbs and a man being put inside a portable toilet?! Like that character, the rest of the film is just as full of shit.

Police Beat- Robinson Devor's 2006 indie that charts the week in the life of A Muslim Seattle bicycle cop. Desperately wanting to imitate some type of Terrence Malick art film, it never finds a tone or tempo.

Shooter- I have to give this film a few props for its imaginative shoot-out scene on a snow-capped mountain, but its hamfisted politics, unbelievable character archs and mumbling performance by Mark Whalburg don't add up to much of anything.

The 1 bright spot during my recent disc-watching: seeing "Freaks and Geeks" for the first time on DVD. So good. I'm in love with Linda Cardellini.

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