Cinematic Commentary


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Cinematic Commentary
I am looking for a few good heroes. Maybe not the traditional heroes that most people think about when it comes to film. Of course, I have seen the latest installment, that shining collaboration of George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford known as “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.” It started the summer out with a bang, reminding me of those pulp serials that people enjoyed in the 1930s, 1940s and even into the 1950s. Then there are the two Brendan Fraser vehicles coming this summer — a remake to “Journey to the Center of the Earth” (July 11) and “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” (Aug. 1). I have come to appreciate Fraser’s humor and the pulp comic book-like roles he seems to enjoy playing. There are the atypical heroes coming this summer too with “Hancock” (July 2) starring Will Smith and “The Dark Knight” (July 18), the second installment starring Christian Bale and the late Heath Ledger. There is one more on the fringes that I want to mention – Ron Perlman’s second stab at playing Dark House Comic’s Hellboy. I thought his first story of redemption and accepting the humanity inside him fascinating. I am looking forward to the second installment “Hellboy II: The Golden Army (July 11). My husband and I talked about how fun movies collectively are turning this summer. There are larger-than-life characters and grand adventures. My husband, who teaches history, says this sort of escapism may be typical with summer fare, but it also harkens back to the Great Depression when people wanted to sit in a dark theater and escape their woes. So I guess with the price of gas limiting summer travel, perhaps we will all embrace the summer matinee again. However, I am still looking for that hero. Jimmy Stewart captured that spirit of the common man rising through the masses with films like “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.” Stewart was a lanky man with a sweet I am thinking Steve Carrell might be a fun replacement. He is handsome in an offbeat way with a quirky sense of humor, yet not so handsome that he intimidates men and women. My husband and I both like him in his varied roles including “The Office,” “Evan Almighty” and “Dan in Real Life.” Carrell is starring this summer in a remake of “Get Smart,” which came out June 20. I think he might just have a turn at the “aw shucks” quality that we all loved with Stewart. I suppose time will tell, but I think I have found my “hero” for the moment, even if he is a little offbeat.

       I am looking for a few good heroes. Maybe not the traditional heroes that most people think about when it comes to film. Of course, I have seen the latest installment, that shining collaboration of George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford known as “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.” It started the summer out with a bang, reminding me of those pulp serials that people enjoyed in the 1930s, 1940s and even into the 1950s. Then there are the two Brendan Fraser vehicles coming this summer — a remake to “Journey to the Center of the Earth” (July 11) and “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” (Aug. 1). I have come to appreciate Fraser’s humor and the pulp comic book-like roles he seems to enjoy playing. There are the atypical heroes coming this summer too with “Hancock” (July 2) starring Will Smith and “The Dark Knight” (July 18), the second installment starring Christian Bale and the late Heath Ledger. There is one more on the fringes that I want to mention – Ron Perlman’s second stab at playing Dark House Comic’s Hellboy. I thought his first story of redemption and accepting the humanity inside him fascinating. I am looking forward to the second installment “Hellboy II: The Golden Army (July 11).
       My husband and I talked about how fun movies collectively are turning this summer. There are larger-than-life characters and grand adventures. My husband, who teaches history, says this sort of escapism may be typical with summer fare, but it also harkens back to the Great Depression when people wanted to sit in a dark theater and escape their woes. So I guess with the price of gas limiting summer travel, perhaps we will all embrace the summer matinee again.
       However, I am still looking for that hero. Jimmy Stewart captured that spirit of the common man rising through the masses with films like “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.” Stewart was a lanky man with a sweet
I am thinking Steve Carrell might be a fun replacement. He is handsome in an offbeat way with a quirky sense of humor, yet not so handsome that he intimidates men and women. My husband and I both like him in his varied roles including “The Office,” “Evan Almighty” and “Dan in Real Life.” Carrell is starring this summer in a remake of “Get Smart,” which came out June 20. I think he might just have a turn at the “aw shucks” quality that we all loved with Stewart. I suppose time will tell, but I think I have found my “hero” for the moment, even if he is a little offbeat.