THE DAILY SOUNDTRACK – 06/18/2012 Everyone’s Gone to the Movies

Your intrepid writer had a ton o’ fun on Friday and stayed out with his friends til about 3 in the morning. Hurrah. He also spent the next two days sufferin’ like a hungry beast so remember kids, don’t do this at home! Anyways, it was catch up time for many of the movies that zoomed past without me seeing (or I didn’t want to pay $15 to see in a theater…

God Of Thunder – Kiss
Thor! I finally got a chance to see “Thor” and let me tell you Kenneth Branagh is some kind of genius because he was able to take a story that was ridiculous in the comics with a bunch of nonsensical characters and make it intriguing. I thought it was a pile but I still enjoyed it immensely. Do I want to see a “Thor II: Inside Jane?” That’s a big no go… but hats off to Branagh. Great performances, the best script possible (considering) and making something out of zilch.  
Sucker Punch – OneRepublic
Sucker Punch is one of the most highly ‘visual’ movies ever compiled on a series of macs. It is also one of the most vapid movies I have ever sat through. The formula would be 0+0=absolutelyf’nzilch⁰. I couldn’t hate it because that would be like hating your neighbor’s birthday cake that was made out of colorful clay. It has substance but it’s all in the making. And it’s colorful. And you can’t eat it and don’t want to. From the director who did “The 300,” so he knows about lack of substance. 
Blitzkrieg Bop – Brats on the Beat w Jim Lindberg
While watching “The Other F Word” I was struck with a thought. (Yes my thoughts tend to slap me around in order for me to pay attention.) It’s easily one of the most powerful indictments of the ‘good old days’ of America I’ve seen. Everyday I see, or read, something to the effect of “we need to return to the days of… .” Um, let’s not. You want to see a positive story about men who love their children and families then watch this “The Other F Word.” Growing up and growing old are not the same thing and the punk attitude is not merely about breaking things, it’s about tearing down the preconceived notions of society.

Shadows – Rufus Wainwright
I saw “Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows.” It went by fairly fast. The characters were named Holmes and Watson. It could have been John McClain and Apple Commercial Nerd. It’s an action film with very little ‘mystery’ or deduction. There’re a few funny sight gags. The actors are engaging. Guy Ritchie knows how to direct a movie. The forest scene is a marvel to watch. If you have two hours to absolutely waste and you’re tired of listening to you air conditioner hum I guess you can rent this like I did. Or wait for premium cable. Or turn the air conditioner up a little louder for variation. 
Boy Wonder – The Undertones
Through sheer chance I watched a fairly low budget indy movie called “Boy Wonder.” There were things about it that I wasn’t crazy about but at the same time I understood they were the kinds of decisions you make for budgetary or rating constraints. Over all I found it intriguing, thought provoking and with enough heft that I’ve recommended it to a few friends. It’s a movie that attempts to stretch it’s boundaries as far as possible and you wish it’d had more money… at the same time with more money would have come a ‘big name’ director and you’d probably end up with the new Spiderman re-boot. Ugh. I can’t wait to miss that one. I’m telling you now, with all of its flaws “Boy Wonder” will turn out to be much more thought provoking. For the friends who worked on it I hope Spidey does well but after watching the trailer I want to go see “Moonlight Kingdom.” 
Tomorrow’s Daily Soundtrack, reflections on Rodney King. Bingo out.

bingo@spinbridge.com