Power and Responsibility

Review – Spider Man: No Way Home (85/100) (SPOILERS)

Villain Incursion Score(10/10) Seeing Ock’s tentacle on the bridge was a great moment. And Peter’s befuddlement as he encounters these new foes was priceless. It’s fun to see which villain will pop up next.

Spider Man Incursion Score(10/10) Garfield’s entrance surprised me, very pleasantly so. This makes up for my earlier frustrations at the constant reboots of this franchise.

The Amazing Spider Man Saves MJ Score(15/15) Nothing can make up for losing Gwen(and I lost her twice, once in the comics and once in the movies) but this was a great scene.

Villians-Let-Loose-Score(0/5) This is a big plot hole. Peter’s knows these guys are(at least for the moment) evil men. You don’t just take them on a field trip. But there’s so many other great things happening in this movie that you just kind of accept it and move on.

Multiverse/Creator Score(7/10) >>> As did Star Trek before them, and as the MCU already has in Endgame, the MCU is encountering metaphysical questions they may not be able to answer. How did(will?) Norman Osborn die? Impaled on his own flyer or in some yet to be met fate? There is only one Norman Osborn, he can only die one way. The Multiverse doesn’t have the power of creation, only God does.

Power/Responsibility Score(6/10) “Every one deserves a second chance.” That sound great. The questions here is, “Are you(Peter Parker) the type of being who has the power to give them one? Norman Osborn has already met his “fate.” Is there anything you can do to change that? So far, the MCU answer is “Yes.” Another Thanos has already been created who died by being turned to dust instead of being beheaded(just as, in another franchise, Tasha Yar met 2 different fates.) But it remains to be seen if this view of creative abilities can be fleshed out consistently.

My thanks to my daughter Kelly for first noting this and getting me thinking about it.

Aunt May Score(7/10) SPOILER >>> So what is the message? For the Spider Man character shirking his responsibility is a character flaw that leads to the death of Uncle Ben. Here, accepting responsibility leads to the death of Aunt May.

Is accepting responsibility a good thing? A bad thing? A good thing that sometimes leads to sad consequences(like the death of your aunt?) Or are we subtly being told that, yes, Peter has exceeded his authority? He doesn’t have the right to try to change what has been. Perhaps the Multiverse of Madness will shed more light here.

Reach for the Stars Score(30/30) I expected to be entertained by the sight of Parallel Multiverse Spider Men fighting Parallel Multiverse Villains. This movie is a lot more. Where Marvel has, so far, exceeded DC in film is shown here. To achieve the next level in depth, a movie, even a superhero movie, must be about more than throwing punches and firing energy beams. This movie certainly is. I may not agree with the metaphysics of the MCU but at least they’re asking those questions, and answering as seems best to them.

P.S. Harry Osborn/Venom Score(0/0) If there’s anyone I wish had gotten a 2nd chance to meet a different fate it’s Harry. Perhaps James Franco and Topher Grace weren’t available for the cast.

Trust…..but Verify

James Gunn’s Superman

Opening Scene Score ( 1/1 ) Well, we get right into the action. Skipping the origin let’s you tell more story.

Krypto 1 Score ( 1/2 ) Well, he’s funny but I preferred the dog from the comic with human intelligence. At least for this scene.

Crystalline Fortress of Solitude Score ( 0/1 ) I didn’t like this in Superman ’78 either.

Clark Kent Score ( 0/1 ) I’m learning to appreciate Reeve’s portrayal.

Superman/Lois Lane Score ( 1/2 ) Well, this skips decades ahead in the comic book storyline.

Superman/Lois/Secret Identity Score ( 0/1 ) This bugged me in Superman II as well.

Lois Interviews Superman Score ( 0/5 ) Okay, she recovers from this later but at this point she seems like a headline hound first and a human being second. We’re left with a bad early impression.

Superman’s Ethics Score ( 0/2 ) This seems like a rehash of Captain America: Civil War.

Nathan Fillion Score ( 2/4 ) I love the actor but he needed to bring his writers from Firefly.

Kryptonian Message/Public Opinion Score ( 0/5 ) The movie kind of lost me here. Superman’s 2 years of good deeds are forgotten for…….what? Some report by Luthor? What has he done to earn the public’s trust? And why believe he’s governed by the content of this message considering his 2 year history?

“What did you do with the dog”/John Wick Score ( 10/10 ) This works here too.

Lois’s Loyalty Score ( 5/5 ) Okay, a better impression this time.

Kryptonite Poisoning Score ( 0/1 ) Being that close to that much Kryptonite for that long would result in death by radiation poisoning. But, the movies are changing the story in random ways so, oh well.

Lois Rescues Superman Score ( 12/12 ) Well, that’s a nice reversal or roles.

Jimmy/Eve Score ( 0/1 ) Oh, come on, Jimmy! It’s one weekend. Just hurry up and say yes!

Luthor’s Real Estate Plans Score ( 0/1 ) No! We had this in Superman ’78!

“Your Choices Determine Who You Are” Score ( 1/2 ) It’s a noble truth but we already know Superman isn’t who his parents sent him to be.

Superman/Engineer/Ultraman Battle Score ( 20/20 ) Okay, some nice visuals here.

Superman/Ultraman Battle ( Editing ) Score ( 0/5 ) This went on way too long. I stopped caring who won. I just wanted to battle to end.

Hawkgirl Score ( 5/5 ) Hmm..okay. She’s kind of like Aquaman ( “Let the sea have mercy!” )

Krypto 2 Score ( 6/6 ) Okay, put his aggressive energy to good use.

Luthor’s Envy Speech Score ( 0/1 ) Sorry, I either need better writing or a shorter speech.

Superman’s Speech Score ( 0/2 ) I guess they’re going for cheesy here. Perhaps some will think they achieved it. For me it’s just corny. A speech worthy of Adam West’s Batman. Gunn needs to decide if he wants to modernize these characters or leave them old-fashioned.

Krypto 3 Score ( 4/4 ) Nice. Kind of like Hulk and Loki.

Supergirl/Alcoholism Score ( 0/1 ) Boring.

6.8/10

“What if she’s dead?…..What if she’s not?”

Concept Score ( 1/1 )

Story Score ( 1/1 )

Opening Jump Score ( 1/1 ) A good visual to start.

Opening Scene Score ( 0/1 ) The obligatory action scene is getting old. How about something different.

Florence Pugh Score ( 20/20 ) A great portrayal of both the strength and vulnerability of this character.

David Harbour Score ( 4/5 ) A good job with the lines he’s given but I really appreciate what a gifted comic Downey Jr. was.

Super Soldier Score ( 0/1 ) We’re kind of Super-Soldier heavy here. As noted these guys mostly, “punch and shoot.”

Father/Daughter Score ( 1/2 ) Not much depth here. The limitations of time I suppose.

What About BOB Score ( 10/10 ) I like how he starts out with a Scarlet Witch vibe.

Bucky to the Rescue Score ( 10/10 ) Great timing and editing.

“What if she’s Dead? What if she’s NOT?” Score ( 18/18 ) It happens quickly but they’re a real TEAM aren’t they?

Worst Room Score ( 0/2 ) How does Yelena know they should go to the worst room?

You’re Not Alone Score ( 14/14 ) They’re not alone. And Neither are you Bob. For the 2nd film in a row, an unbeatable opponent is conquered through the power of relationship. I don’t think that will work on Doom though.

“We Own You Now” ( 0/10 ) This doesn’t work for me. I know you want to keep the villain around for future films but, no, just arrest her. 

Post Credit Scene ( 4/4 ) Good humor and good connection to future films. Here’s hoping Mr. Pascal and company can keep it going.

8.4/10

In the Shadow of a Dark (K)Night

Movie Review – The Batman

Mise En Scene(5/5) – Many well constructed images, the jump from the top of police headquarters among them.

Cinematography Score(9.5/10) – The sets were usually in low light but the images were always crisp. A few less headlight closeups would have been nice.

Sound Score(10/10) The soundtrack reinforced the mood of the story. Also some good use of low frequencies that amplified the sense of menace in the film.

Catwoman Score(5/5) Good performance by Kravitz. The first totally non-oppositional Catwoman we’ve had in the movies.

Film Noir/Horror/Thriller Score(9.5/10) The film had a good, dark look. The violence was creepy without being over-the-top gory. It did seem to rain a lot though.

Fight Scenes Score(4/5) This is a problem in a lot of films. A character like Batman hits you once and you’re out. Films want to prolong these fight scenes for the sake of movement but that’s not realistic.

World’s Darkest Detective Score(9.5/10) This is something the other movies were missing, a mystery to solve. Batman did seem to figure out the Riddler’s riddles too quickly though.

Riddler Score(10/20) Film making decisions have consequences. Spielberg’s decision to remake West Side Story invites comparison to the original. Any decision to make a Batman movie will invite comparisons to “The Dark Knight.” And any Batman villain will be compared to Heath Ledger’s Joker. In my opinion, Dano’s Riddler falls short. This isn’t much of a criticism since I think Ledger’s performance is one of the top 25 acting jobs of all time. Dano delivers a hyper-level of energy in his Arkham scene but Heath’s Joker was an archetypal menace. Where Riddler is after revenge, a pretty common motive, Joker wanted to watch the world burn, corruption for the sake of corruption. From the opening bank heist to the disappearing pencil to the burning mountain of money to the “Do You Want To Know How I Got These Scars” running gag to the exploding hospital to the reversed hostages-and-hostage-takers to the reversed Rachel Dawes and Harvey Dent The Joker went to depths no villain(except Scottie Ferguson) had ever gone.

Gritty Darkness Score(6/10) So, yes, this film sounded and looked dark. But, again, one can’t help but be reminded that The Dark Knight was something more, a film that “was” dark even when it didn’t “look” dark. The Joker can blow up a hospital in the light of day but that’s still a dark moment.

Story Score(10/10) One thing I enjoyed about the story was the fact that Batman is still relatively new to his crime fighting role in Gotham City. He still doesn’t have the trust, or the complete cooperation, of the police.

Remake Score(2/5) I was initially perturbed at the 3rd reboot of Spider Man(Homecoming.) But they eventually justified that with No Way Home. Perhaps this reboot will eventually attain similar heights. But, for now, it remains(for me, at least) a good film which I can’t help but be reminded, isn’t a great film.

80.5/100

Even If…

MercyMe surprised me.

My musical/christian music tastes tend to run more in the classic rock/progressive rock direction(Kansas, The Who, Mark Heard, The 77’s, DC Talk, etc.) But MercyMe was playing nearby and my wife wanted to see them. And I wanted to go with her.

So here I was at Addition Arena wondering how long the night might seem. But, from the first notes, the evening was enjoyable. MercyMe, as all bands do, was promoting their most recent album so most concert offerings were from that album. The songs they chose, and the backing videos they had created, were fun tunes. And I was pleasantly surprised that they waited 4 songs before stopping to speak. Some CCM acts are infamous for talking more than they sing(nobody comes to hear these guys preach.) When he did speak Bart Millard, the lead vocalist and frontman, was worth listening to(which, in my experience, has not usually been the case at CCM concerts.) He did a genuinely funny bit about the band’s decision to include a disco song on the recent album. He even faked us out and made us think Gloria Gaynor was there in the arena to sing her vocal part on the song. Millard has genuinely good comic timing. A later monologue sequed into the acoustic set with a replica of the fire pit around which the band frequently gathers(complete with real fire.)

The second highest point of the evening wasn’t even musical. Mark Stuart, the former lead singer for Audio Adrenaline, spoke between sets(there were 2 lead in acts) about his missionary work in Haiti, particularly in regard to helping needy children find adoptive parents. He shared that their best experience in this work involved a baby girl who had been “thrown away” by her 14 year old mom immediately after her birth. In Haiti if a child’s parents cannot afford to support him or her the baby is either given away, sold(into slavery) or thrown away, sometimes in an outhouse toilet. This was the fate of the baby girl about which Mark spoke. Her 14 year old mom dropped her into a 30 foot deep outhouse toilet. And there she would have died had it not been for a 14 year old boy who saw what happened. He grabbed a UN soldier and the two of them, and some other passersby, braved the depths of that toilet to rescue her. A group member with a flipphone video’d her emergence from the toilet depths, wrapped in a plastic bag for the 30 foot ascent. As if this all weren’t dramatic enough what Mark said next really hit me, “The best part of this whole story is that I get to be this little girls father!” Yes, he and his wife had adopted that baby, who is now 15. She walked out on stage and spoke in behalf of the children that Mark is helping. They connected this all to MercyMe’s song “Say I Won’t” which the band played during their set.

The high point of the evening was all about musical quality. The only song of MercyMe’s that I knew was “I Can Only Imagine”, their big hit. But, after leading the audience in a verse of “It is Well With My Soul” the band played “Even If” from their “Lifer” album. It deals with the same theme as the hymn. Well, sometimes the way a writer expresses a thought just totally connects with you and the way Millard expressed his thoughts here really hit me. So I found myself in a situation I thought I would never experience, crying at a MercyMe concert. Surprising but not shocking I guess. I’ve cried singing “It is Well With My Soul”, I’ve cried listening to Michael Card’s “The Job Suite”, and I cried here. It’s a powerful theme and Millard does an excellent job with it.

I know what I like but I’m glad I’m not too old to be surprised. Not yet, anyway.

Broken Needles…Purple Veins

The Jesus Music( 82/100)

The Erwin Brothers strike again.

After the earlier successes of Mom’s Night Out and I Can Only Imagine(reviewed here https://personalityreality.wordpress.com/2018/11/26/i-can-only-imagine/) they’ve given us another story worth telling – the rise and plateau of Jesus Music(later CCM.) They don’t discuss the fall(which is another story worth telling but would also be much trickier.)

Love Song Score(15/15) – The movie bills itself as the “untold story” of the rise of Jesus Music but Chuck Girard neatly summarizes the story in a concert monologue captured on “Feel the Love.” It’s still a fascinating story – We’re looking for God, drugs didn’t work, let’s try Jesus.

Larry Norman Score(15/15) – While Love Song(and similar artists) did a great job of expressing the new truth they’d found, Larry was the one hitting the unbelievers where they lived –

Gonorrhea on Valentines Day
And you’re still looking for the perfect lay
You think rock and roll will set you free
You’ll be deaf before your thirty three
Shooting junk till your half insane
Broken needle in your purple vein

Randy Stonehill would excel in this area as well.

“Bad Choices” Score(0/2) – So was Larry Norman’s bad choice just about a magazine cover or was it something weightier? We’re not told. This fells like “Gossip Lite.”

Stryper Score(1/3) – Love Song, Larry Norman, and their contemporaries sang in the musical style of the day and had some worthwhile things to say. Stryper sang in the music style of the day and ?. IIRC, no Stryper lyrics were quoted.

Russ Taff Score(10/10) This interview makes you want a whole movie about Russ. This was the best example of dealing with the question of “Fallen Angels.”

Fallen Angels Score(5/10) – The movie rightly cautions us against a judgmental spirit but never balances that with a prophetic tone. The movie is very forgiving when considering Amy Grant, Sandi Patty, and Russ Taff but not so when considering Jimmy Swaggart. The film needs to find a consistent approach no matter who they’re considering.

Amy Grant/Michael W. Smith Score(4/5) – The movie considers Amy as someone who had the right sound at the right time. The question of the quality of her music is not crucial to the inquiries this film is making(but maybe it should have been.) Michael W. Smith also has a sound that sells. The film does a good job, I think, of capturing the friendship between the two.

DC Talk Score(12/12) – They are, in my opinion, the finest artists considered during the film. Finally someone pushes the musical envelope and pairs their music with the hardest hitting lyrics since Larry Norman/Randy Stonehill –

There was a man from the desert with naps in his head
The sand that he walked was also his bed
The words that he spoke made the people assume
There wasn’t too much left in the upper room
With skins on his back and hair on his face
They thought he was strange by the locusts he ate
Ya see, the Pharisees tripped when they heard him speak
Until the king took the head o’ this Jesus freak

Worship Music Score(0/5) – At this point the films lack of engagement with the “artistic value” question becomes more noticeable. The “Worship Music Movement” becomes popular but no claim is made that these songs said anything worthwhile in an original way.

Hillsong Score(0/3) – A subset of the previous question. An extended clip is played from a Hillsong performance(and a band member is interviewed) but the gravitas of the earlier performances by Love Song, Norman, and DC Talk was noticeably lacking for me. And this point the film is finding itself unable to avoid the question of musical quality that would come to plague CCM.

Kirk Franklin Score(10/10) – I did not listen to this style of music at the time so I learned a lot here. The account of Kirk’s rise to success, and particularly his comments at the Dove Awards(?) are worth knowing.

Kirk Franklin/Michael Tait/Racism Score(10/10) – Michael Tait’s experience in Tennessee was chilling and makes you want to know more. You feel the movie begin to strain at the seams as it struggles to cover a lot of topics(musical origins, fallen angels, racism.)

Conquering Ourselves

Little Women (99/100 )     (Spoilers: but only if you haven’t read the book(shame on you!))

Dress/Coat Score(0.5/1) This was handled better in the 1978 miniseries.

Story Score(29/29) This viewing has convinced me. This ranks with Pride and Prejudice as the most endearing, and enduring, stories in literature. Jo Marsh and Elizabeth Bennet are definitely my two favorite characters.

Flashback Score(0.5/1) An interesting, and new, way to tell the story. It was effective in Beth’s death scene but was confusing at some other points.

Conquering Ourselves Score(20/20) The movie never shoves it in our face but it’s always there – the desire to become a better person. From the first Christmas, through Meg’s determination not to be poor(and to have a dress), and Jo’s desire to curb her temper, and Jo’s selling of her hair(and her Mom’s pride in her, and her later anguish) and the constant pointing out of flaws in Laurie’s character, the upward arc is always on becoming our best self, on conquering our weaknesses.

“God’s Will” Score(20/20) “Well, God hasn’t met my will yet”  Jo thinks her passion will carry the day, that she can heal her sister with her fervor. And, yes, sometimes you’ll rush downstairs and find Beth at the kitchen table, but sometimes all you’ll find is your weeping mother. So what happens when our will meets God’s will. We bow. We can do nothing else.

Relationship/Mise en Scene Score (30/30) The heart of the movie. Gerwig makes an interesting choice to reveal Jo’s rejection of Laurie early on. So there is no suspense about that relationship. This leaves us free to consider the question of fulfillment; how do the characters “conquer themselves?”  Meg finds that even a marriage relationship doesn’t always satisfy, she still wants the pretty dress even at the expense of John’s coat. But she learns to take satisfaction in the relationship and to relinquish possession of the fabric.

But Jo is at the center of the outworking of this question.  In the central scene of the movie she rejects Laurie’s proposal. He goes and leaves her alone on a hillside. Alone except for the church in the distance and as she sits on the grass she places herself under the church.  Because even in the absence of the human relationships we want there is a deeper yearning. Not just a will to which we can bow but a love in which we can immerse ourselves.  It is this relationship which makes the quest to conquer ourselves not just a question of ethics but one of a perfecting love. We don’t just strive to comply with an abstract set of norms, we strive to know and love the one who made us.
Jo beautifully expresses this tension in the film, “I just feel like women—they have minds and they have souls, as well as just hearts. And they’ve got ambition and they’ve got talent, as well as just beauty. And I’m so sick of people saying that love is just all a woman is fit for. I’m so sick of it… But I’m so lonely.”
There is a relationship that encompasses both of these yearnings, that invites us to be all that we were created to be.  But which still acknowledges that it’s “not good to be alone.” In their enjoyment of family and their yearning to conquer themselves and their(sometimes stiff-necked) bowing to God’s will Jo and Meg and Amy and Beth and Marmee and Laurie testify to the joy and sadness we all encounter on the journey to find our better selves.

 

The Nurse Without a Country

Knives Out (93/100)

Story Score(30/30) A fine opening, an intriguing use of flashback, interesting twists along the way, and a surprise ending.

Acting Score(20/20) Excellent performances throughout. It was hard seeing Captain America playing a spoiled brat, thought.

“Reveal” Score(10/10) At first you’re surprised and how much you learn about events. But then you begin to doubt what you know, and to suspect everybody.

Indestructible Life Score(30/30) In the end justice is done because one person decides to swear to their own hurt, to do what’s right.

Regurgitation Score(3/3) The best use of vomit since “Diner.”

Ending Twist Score(0/7) Okay, that one I saw coming.

Not With a Bang…

Star Wars Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker(75/100)

C3PO Score(5/5) – This may be his first unselfish act in the saga.

Lightsaber Duel Score(10/10) – Nice update of the volcanic background fight from ROTS.

Parental Secret Score(0/5) – An interesting twist which was then jettisoned in the final scene.

“Leia knew your heart score”(5/10) – Well that didn’t seem to work with Ben did it?

Confronting your fear Score(10/10) – Nice homage to Degobah

X-Wing Fighter out of the water Score(5/5) – Another nice homage to TESB.

Ben/Kylo Inner Conflict Score(10/10) – Good job of making us feel the tension here.

Rey’s Inner Conflict Score(5/10) – Not a good job here. The final scene on Exegol lacked tension.

Healing Score – 20/20 – This was a fascinating development in the story. I was really curious where the narrative would go from here.

Wrapping Up the Saga Score(5/15) – So, in the end, this saga never returned to the heights from which it began. The prequels gave us 2 cringe-worthy episodes and the last 3 episodes found themselves recycling old ideas far too often. The “add in” films were actually pretty good. Rogue One ranks with the original trilogy and “Solo” gave us some interesting characters. I think for me the biggest disappointment in the saga is that’s it’s main event, Anakin’s turn to the dark side, was presented with too little motivation. In the end the voices behind this story could not think of 9 episodes worth of creative things to say.  Oh, well, I’ll always have IV-VI and Rogue One.

True Worth

Moneyball Movie Review(80/100)

Billy Beane doesn’t have the money that most managers do so he has to put a premium on real quality in his players. And he assembles the best team in baseball, but they don’t win the series. But he does win where it matters, with his daughter. Even through other relationship challenges during the movie he maintains a close relationship with his daughter who serenades him as the movie ends. She kids him about being a “loser” but he only lost on the field, not with his family. Family is what really matters.

Raiders Lite(weight)

For those who haven’t seen either Raiders or Temple of Doom or Last Crusade or National Treasure this will be a stunningly original story. For those who have enjoy the bike chase. Virtually no suspense or identification with the characters (6/10)

The Crime of Boredom

Movie Review: Oceans 8

Script Score(15/30) Nothing to see here. Just move along. No new ideas since Oceans 11. More wise-cracking and eccentric crooks who you should root for(but don’t.) No original dialogue(“You have no idea what it’s like to be in jail.”)
Security Score(15/30) You don’t hire this many new people right before this big an event. You especially don’t hire a new employee on the recommendation of a new employee right before this big an event. If you are working security you don’t let some smart-aleck party goer who keeps saying “hands off” prevent you from checking the areas you need to check. You put your hands on her and move her out of the way and you do your job. If you are a male working security and your client enters the woman’s bathroom you follow her(and her $150 million necklace) into the bathroom. If some smart-aleck party goer stands at the door and tells you you can’t enter you put your hands on her, move her out of the way, and enter the bathroom.
James Corden Score(30/30) Finally, a law enforcement character who seems to know what he’s doing. He’s funny too(“And you have two of these!”)Needed to work him into the story earlier. Would have been nice if he were more ethical though.
Lonely Celebrity Score(0/10) Really? This is what people do when they’re lonely? Nah. Go watch Bette Midler in “The Rose” That’s what loneliness looks, and sounds, like.

Oh well, it was still better than “The Shape of Water.” (60/100)