The State of Movies and The Avengers -- A Review
This blogger does not often go out to movies anymore they are far too expensive for the actual value of entertainment. However, when I do it go to see movies, it has usually been for the big budget summer movies, or with friends, or family twisting my arm in the process. Ladies guilt works really well by the way. Nevertheless, the two recent movie I have seen have been polar opposites in what I call "determined value."
I live in the downtown area of Denver, Colorado, so expense wise movies and food tend to be slightly higher in price but not by much. So, for the "determined value" for movies is measured by the following: story content and its quality relaying the tell at hand, special effects value and quality, acting, and direction. A movie can fail and be relegated to dvd or blue-ray content value if more than one of these fail to inspire satisfactorily. A price for a real 3D (or digital 3D) movie is $14 dollars and "regular" non-3D movie are $10.50. To a person over the age of 25 can remember, when movies were less than $7 dollar both 3D and "regular."
I live in the downtown area of Denver, Colorado, so expense wise movies and food tend to be slightly higher in price but not by much. So, for the "determined value" for movies is measured by the following: story content and its quality relaying the tell at hand, special effects value and quality, acting, and direction. A movie can fail and be relegated to dvd or blue-ray content value if more than one of these fail to inspire satisfactorily. A price for a real 3D (or digital 3D) movie is $14 dollars and "regular" non-3D movie are $10.50. To a person over the age of 25 can remember, when movies were less than $7 dollar both 3D and "regular."
Now a person has to decide, which version of a movie they wish to watch, a regular or 3D, and if that extra expense for a 3D is worth the time. I have a rule thumb, I do not go see movies that do not have big screen potentials for special effects, such as romantic comedies (What to Expect, when You're Expecting), or teen angst movies (Twilight). The reason for this is that this are relationship movies and that they only to be gone to if you and your wife (girlfriend) need a day (or night) together. And, ladies (or significant others) this is where guilt comes in handy, but setting this aside, movies are far too expensive. It is not just the ticket, its the popcorn, the candy, the drinks, and the food that makes are so unreasonable. For two people, it is now, at least, $21 dollars and that is if you do not get the candy, the popcorn, and the drinks. If you do, be prepared to spend, at the least, another $11 dollars, one large drink (two straws) and a large box of candy. So, I tend not to go to these movies, unless guilt has been involved. These type of movies, romantic comedies, family movies, and teen angst movies are dvd and blue ray purchases ( I do not rent).
The issue then, for the average person is how much of their funds are they willing to commit to the movie experience. My commitment then is to that of summer and Christmas blockbuster seasons and the excitement of the season has to be genuine and authentic in terms of fandom, Internet, and social media. These measures and the previously mentioned rationale are part of my decision process except when I let my spontaneous heart take over -- and last week that happened -- when I decided to go see Men In Black 3 in 3D.
Simply put, this is a movie that is only dvd worthy and not the moniker of summer time blockbuster movie fare. The acting and direction was decent, but the story was predictable. The usual banter between Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith seemed to be stilted and the special effects could be generated in non 3D just as well. In all, the sequel to Men In Black 1 and 2 could have been seen eight years ago. It is unfortunate that the movie, Men in Black 3, suffers from the predictability and its timing of its release. In all honesty, I cannot recommend this feature for the theater going experience. Director Barry Sonnenfeld simply did not put his best foot forward and writers Etan Cohen with Lowell Cunningham failed to inspire a good story or villain.
On the other hand, when a movie is done well, the theater going experience is the perfect escape. This is the purpose of good cinema to spend, at the least, an hour and half in another world beyond the mundane of one's own. An example of well done writing, directing, and acting good be seen in the comic action flick of The Avengers.
This movie brings together the Marvel Comic book world of superheroes and puts them together so that they have to work with one another: Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Captain America (Chris Evams), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Ironman (Robert Downey, Jr.), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). Joss Whedon directed and wrote the screenplay.
I did not see The Avengers in 3D, after last week debacle, I was skittish. If I had however, I would have been very satisfied that I had. In other words, The Avengers is worth the price of admission of a 3D movie. The character development and chemistry between the actors seem genuine and the overall pacing of the movie seemed to be on the right tack of its 143 minutes. What makes this a successful feature for me is that I want to go see it again and again in the theater -- and that make The Avengers for me a very good movie.
The issue then, for the average person is how much of their funds are they willing to commit to the movie experience. My commitment then is to that of summer and Christmas blockbuster seasons and the excitement of the season has to be genuine and authentic in terms of fandom, Internet, and social media. These measures and the previously mentioned rationale are part of my decision process except when I let my spontaneous heart take over -- and last week that happened -- when I decided to go see Men In Black 3 in 3D.
Simply put, this is a movie that is only dvd worthy and not the moniker of summer time blockbuster movie fare. The acting and direction was decent, but the story was predictable. The usual banter between Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith seemed to be stilted and the special effects could be generated in non 3D just as well. In all, the sequel to Men In Black 1 and 2 could have been seen eight years ago. It is unfortunate that the movie, Men in Black 3, suffers from the predictability and its timing of its release. In all honesty, I cannot recommend this feature for the theater going experience. Director Barry Sonnenfeld simply did not put his best foot forward and writers Etan Cohen with Lowell Cunningham failed to inspire a good story or villain.
On the other hand, when a movie is done well, the theater going experience is the perfect escape. This is the purpose of good cinema to spend, at the least, an hour and half in another world beyond the mundane of one's own. An example of well done writing, directing, and acting good be seen in the comic action flick of The Avengers.
This movie brings together the Marvel Comic book world of superheroes and puts them together so that they have to work with one another: Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Captain America (Chris Evams), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Ironman (Robert Downey, Jr.), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). Joss Whedon directed and wrote the screenplay.
I did not see The Avengers in 3D, after last week debacle, I was skittish. If I had however, I would have been very satisfied that I had. In other words, The Avengers is worth the price of admission of a 3D movie. The character development and chemistry between the actors seem genuine and the overall pacing of the movie seemed to be on the right tack of its 143 minutes. What makes this a successful feature for me is that I want to go see it again and again in the theater -- and that make The Avengers for me a very good movie.
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