Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Joe S (A) on August 05, 2002 at 09:03:28

In Reply to: No offense, but IMO you're wrong on all counts. posted by Audiophilander on August 04, 2002 at 22:32:49:

"As a comic book fan for over four decades I find the superhero genre every bit as respectable as other genres, but that isn't the point."

You and several hundred other people. But you're right, that's not the point. But watching a film within its chosen context (regardless of the plot) makes its context fundamental to accepting the films message, no? When the context is laugable to many, expecting them to make the leap of faith is a bit much.

I stand by my emotionally hollow comment. I was struck continuously throught this film with a peculiar sense of detachment and unreaility to the characters. Like watching people trying to look like certain kinds of characters without behaving in a believably human sort of way. Mel suffered in the extreme in this regard - playing a bitter man who has lost his faith as though that would mean the person would be an emotional blank. It was like watching a walking & talking piece of cardboard. Instead of organic characters the motivations provided by the script seemed too forced and literate to be believable to me.

And the kids were straight out of Lucas / Spielberg - in a way that was so obvious I would think you would have to try in order to miss it.

Groundbreaking? The guys made one good film and a couple of flawed ones. This one is certainly more interesting than the last. But groundbreaking? Hardly. And his +++++SPOILER ALERT++++++ contrived payoff ending of having Mel do what his dying wife nonsensically said months before to save his son is the sort of contrived plot twist this director is intent on wedging into everything he does. Finding out Willis was a ghost at the last moment, finding out Jackson is the villian who created the hero in the final scene and now Mel rediscovering his faith in following the nonsense words of his wife at the climax of this film to save the day.

Whats next from this groundbreaking director?

Somehow, I suspect more of the same.

joe