I enjoyed this more than I thought I would, and I already thought I would enjoy it. The transformation was complete — it might as well have been made in the 60s, aside from the more explicit visual sexual references (and really, it’s not as if it’s that much more, there’s some raunchy stuff going on in films before the Age of PG-13). Ewan and Renee have good chemistry and push their roles over the top in that bouncy fun way these films had before the need to be deep, cynical, and sexually dysfunctional. No, really, I liked it. I mean, hell, how often do you see me spout stuff like chemistry and transformation and other critically acclaimed words? Whatever. Go see it with a spring in your step — it’ll be fun.

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Could have been better, could have been more even, could have had a better character, could have could have could have. A few fun parts, but to be honest, the best part involved Steve Carrell more than it did Jim Carrey, who tries overly hard to be zany in an attempt to recapture his old audience. Eh. There is an impassioned conversation in the end that pulls a little on your heart strings, but that sort of effort and emotion comes so late into the film (as in, the last five minutes) you really don’t see the point of your ten dollars.

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I called it.

It was Spike.

I rock.

Good movie. Without the mystery of “”What is the Matrix?”" there was a need to do something else with this one. Fortunately, it appears that there is a bigger question to ask, but it won’t get answered till the third film. Therefore, I will withhold my thoughts on this bigger question until then. As for this movie, the acting was better, the dialogue worked better, and except for a few hitches it’s a great movie to watch in an energy-high theater.
The glitches? The okay score from the first movie is reused in this one, only it isn’t developed, it’s the same damn one. The soundtrack was worse, though… can’t say I’m a fan. The party scene was also far too drawn out and not effective as a plot device, and the need to fill the screen with action every ten minutes meant useless kung fu action that did not serve the plot. Don’t get me wrong, the action set pieces are spectacular. It’s the tiny little fights that are rather pointless and pedestrian.
Still, good movie, possibly upgraded to excellent depending on the third film coming out in a few months.

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Still a fun movie to watch.

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Sunday morning was completely blown, considering that after Tommy’s party I went for a drive and watched the sun rise while driving down the PCH. I got home around six and collapsed into bed. The phone rang at 12:30. Lisa. She was going to compete in a dance competition but sprained her neck — but she still wants to go watch but Matt is out so do I wanna come?
Sure. Never been to one, ought to be interesting.
So I got introduced to categories and groups. Competition is divided by amateur and pro, and within that by groups (by age). And the main categories are American Smooth versus International Standard. American Smooth has, among others, the rumba, chacha, swing, and mambo. International has among its styles the foxtrot, Viennese waltz, quickstep, and tango. The key difference between the two broad categories is that International Standard doesn’t allow “”open work”". All this means is that most of the dancing resembles ballroom dancing at parties, with the couples dancing among couples forming an interlocked whirl of elegant movement. I suppose you can judge based on a couple’s technique, but for a person observing the floor, you tend to take the view of admiring the dancing as a whole, moving and flowing together — and you can’t judge that, really. American Smooth, on the other hand, is much more about the creativity displayed by a couple, and is much more exciting as a sport. I’d have loved seeing open work during the quickstep or foxtrot — but apparently I’m going against the system with my options heading directly into the Strictly Ballroom plot.
Anyway, while watching I picked my favorites, and it turned out I had a pretty good eye. Sure, I can’t move worth crap on the dance floor, but hey, at least I can spot those that do.

Saturday was fun. Spent the day with mom and Bob then spent the evening at a party for Tommy’s birthday (no, not really, but actually, yeah). Fun party. Mak was there as she knew Tommy via his friend Eric. Jo would have been there but she was sick, which would have completed the degrees of separation we just managed to play. Kim also would have been there but she went to celebrate her mother’s birthday (as she should).
So I went stag. This set me up for an interesting end of party segment. Normally, I’d've probably already left, out of courtesy of the guests I brought who would probably have tired somewhere after the Psychiatrist game (no, I’m not explaining this). But as I was by myself I FILO’d and ended up not just being the first guest to arrive, but also the last one to leave. So we’re dwindling down to the point where you have every man in the room but me being gay, and one rather inebriated young heterosexual woman. I’ll leave it at that, but bear in mind who this is, so whatever fantastical little scenario just sprung into your head: sorry, no.
But you’re just dying to know now, aren’t you? =) Guess you’ll have to catch me next time.

So I get in line for this movie in the pouring rain at 8:30 for a 10:40 show. Fortunately, everyone showed up pretty early as well and we just stood there, umbrellas deployed, doing that old UCLA-Westwood thing: lining up forever for a movie premiere.

As for the movie….

Better than the first one, which suffered from a low budget and a lot of plot setup.

Alan Cumming did a great job as Nightcrawler. Jackman’s Wolverine finally got to be nasty. Enjoyed seeing my favorite, Kitty Pride, make yet another cameo, though the previous actress from X-Men 1 was cuter. Interesting cameo by Jubilee. More exposure for Colossus.

Lady Deathstyke was altered from her comic book incarnation, but it served well for the plot.

Cyclops remains true to his comic book character – boring, dull, and weak. We need his brother Havok to show up.

Magneto remains an amazing character. Mystique, beefed up with martial arts prowess, is much more interesting.

Jean Grey is now Phoenix. Now the question is, will the third movie therefore be the Dark Phoenix plotline even though Jason cannot be around to cause the personality split?

And will Hank McCoy remain just some dude on TV supporting mutant rights or will he finally show his colors as The Beast?

We saw Pyotr finally go full metal as Colossus, but when will Bobby go full ice?

Am I this much of a dork who read X-Men as a kid? Actually, no, I read Spider-man. I was merely surrounded by friends who were dorks who read X-Men. I was a spidey-dork.

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Entertaining, but not remarkable. Han made an interesting point: isn’t this Donald Kauffman’s script, only it’s The Eleven instead of The Three?

I enjoyed it just fine, but it’s worth a rental or watching on cable more than it is the $10 to see in a theater.

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