Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Rocky Balboa (Closing Credits)
There are two kinds of people in this world: those who stick around to watch the closing credits of a movie and those who don't. The former need to fight that instinct and leave this (mediocre) flick immediately upon its conclusion, lest they see a sickening cross-section of America re-enacting, in oh-so-cute fashion, the famous "racing up the steps of the capitol and raising arms in victory" scene from the first Rocky. Ruins everything.
There are two kinds of people in this world: those who stick around to watch the closing credits of a movie and those who don't. The former need to fight that instinct and leave this (mediocre) flick immediately upon its conclusion, lest they see a sickening cross-section of America re-enacting, in oh-so-cute fashion, the famous "racing up the steps of the capitol and raising arms in victory" scene from the first Rocky. Ruins everything.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Akeelah and the Bee
A movie so inoffensive that it's offensive. African-American girl befriended by Latino boy whose nemesis is a nerdy Asian boy "driven to perfection" by his taskmaster/no-fun father. But wait, that's a stereotype! I know, we'll have the Asian boy nemesis turn nice at the end and make them...co-winners! And it doesn't stop there: the mom wins, the tutor wins (getting over his tearjerking history with a daughter who died young), the goodhearted administrator wins, the LBC wins, even the thugs (gangsta who encourages Akeelah because he wrote a poem once and "what do you think rap is?, gangsta brother who goes from mocking to tutoring) win! We're all winners!!! Except you, sucker.
A movie so inoffensive that it's offensive. African-American girl befriended by Latino boy whose nemesis is a nerdy Asian boy "driven to perfection" by his taskmaster/no-fun father. But wait, that's a stereotype! I know, we'll have the Asian boy nemesis turn nice at the end and make them...co-winners! And it doesn't stop there: the mom wins, the tutor wins (getting over his tearjerking history with a daughter who died young), the goodhearted administrator wins, the LBC wins, even the thugs (gangsta who encourages Akeelah because he wrote a poem once and "what do you think rap is?, gangsta brother who goes from mocking to tutoring) win! We're all winners!!! Except you, sucker.
