Johnny Saturn

Hi, Folks!

Remember how I used to do reviews of superhero movies on this site?  I stopped after “The Watchmen,” because to me that movie sort of cleared the decks and made anything else seem redundant. I loved Iron Man, but it is very unlikely I’ll see it while it’s in the theater, and I’ll probably wait and get it on Netflix.  I am very hyped about Kick-Ass, however. This just all goes to show that what I look for in a superhero movie is different from what others want.  For example, here are a few comparisons:

• Mystery Men vs. Bryan Singer’s Superman = Mystery men
• Iron Man vs. Spiderman I or II = Iron Man
• The Incredibles against the Fantastic Four movies = The Incredibles

Keep in mind, I have not yet seen (and may never see) Wolverine or Spider-Man III.  Yet, I wonder how cool a television show based on Planetary could be, or a big-assed movie based on the Authority?  I suspect I’ll be left wondering forever, though.

So, having said all this, here is my wholly subjective and probably irrelevant views on some of the movies I’ve seen in recent times:

• 50 Watt Fuse: The G.E. Smith story is interesting, but not a blockbuster.
• A Quantum of Solace: A+
• Aeon Flux: Not as bad you would expect.
• Almost Famous: Outstanding movie! Deserves all the praise it got.
• Black Snake Moan—Outstanding, provocative, just a damn good movie
• Boogie Nights: A+
• Casino Royale: A+
• Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young–Living with War: It’s hard seeing your heroes get old.
• Hancock: Meh… The cum scene was funnier back in the Pro.
• Inside Man: Universe, please give this misspent time back to me!
• It Might Get Loud—Yes! Yes! Yes! Let guitar geeks rejoice!
• Journey to the Center of the Earth: This stretched suspension of disbelief to beyond breaking!
• Lord of War: I was moved. A+
• My Super X-Girlfriend: Even the wonderful Uma Thurman can make a real stinker, it seems.
• Natural Born Killers: Well, this was an eye opener.
• Pan’s Labyrinth: I hated this movie.  Maybe it was brilliant, but I don’t care.
• Thank You For Smoking: I was educated. A+
• The Bourne movies: Excellent, excellent.
• The Illusionist: Very good movie.
• The Last Samurai: Very moving.  With Tom Cruise, I expected less.
• The Mothman Prophecies: I liked it a lot.
• The Prestige: There were some very enjoyable elements in this movie.
• The Secretary—Talk about provocative! Yikes!  But a great movie in any case.
• Ultraviolet: Unrealized, as if they ran out of money and had amateurs edit it.
• Windtalkers: Incredibly bleak.  Watch at your own risk.

Why should it matter what I think about these movies?  Well, if you dig Johnny Saturn, my movie preferences should go a long way in explaining what I like in making comics.  Beyond that, my opinions are no more or less valid that yours.

Scott.