Movie Log

After what was, surprisingly, a mild build-up, Finch and I went to a Thursday, mid-day showing of Avengers; End Game .  I, along with everyone, their uncle, and his dog had a basic idea of how the movie would play out, but there are so many moving parts and unknowns in this massive story, that it is a spectacle just to see all of these smaller stories intertwine. This film, for its viewer, and I am sure for its makers, is a final culmination of films that, essentially, stem from the original Iron Man eleven years ago.  Although it is a very long film, it doesn't drag, and nicely balances exposition, sentiment, action, as well as references to over a decade of films relevant to this story.

Even Big-D's missus came along to see Hellboy.  This was another reboot hoping to replay a string of sequels.  This most recent version of Hellboy took a step toward realism with the titular character's make up, although the endearing and tortured persona remains the same - it has to, doesn't it?  The creatures that Hellboy encounters were exorbitant and entertaining.  I was surprised at the level of gore.  I wasn't off-put by the graphic violence, and wonder if it is the director's choice, or a general production initiative to put Hellboy into its own niche. The story was quite predictable, and although well set-up, the comedy was enjoyable, but fell short of the mark.  Overall Hellboy is a cool film, but slightly frustrating, since it stops at the doorstep of being great.

Finch and I grabbed a bowl of spicy Japanese ramen in the shopping district near my home, then beetled over to the cinema to catch Shazam .  This film is full of surprises for me.  The first surprise is that it is a fantastic film.  I was expecting a middling action film that tries a bit to hard too compete with Marvel films.  The comedy was set up well, and easily interlaces with an inviting conflict.  Both actors portraying the edifice of the main character did a great job of creating a combination of a single character.  Levi stole the show as a convincing fifteen-year-old inside a 38-year-old super-hero. The second surprise is that the school that the boys attend is the same location of my rookie year as a high-school teacher.  It's not much of a fact, but it endears the movie to me a bit further.