:: Wednesday, May 26, 2004 ::

Summery Blockbuster Goodness

Well, the summer movie season has officially started, I guess. This past weekend, I saw Troy and Van Helsing.

First off, Troy. Though at times it seemed like a Lord of the Rings and Braveheart reunion, it was quite good. Makes me interested in trying to read The Iliad, or at least the Cliff's Notes version. :) I've read parts of it before (and even wrote a paper once upon a time comparing the roles of the gods in the Iliad and the Odyssey), but the movie raised several questions I'd like to have answered more fully.

I thought Brad Pitt as Achilles was quite good, as well as Sean Bean (LOTR's Boromir) as Odysseus. I particularly liked how they did the Trojan Horse, though I thought they could have perhaps found a better Helen than Diane Kruger (I think Sienna Guillory in the TV miniseries Helen of Troy made a much better Helen). I also would have liked to see the gods take on the major role they do in the Iliad, but I knew they decided not to put that in the movie and I understand why, so no real problems there. All in all, quite an enjoyable film and well worth the almost 3 hours spent! I would even say that I liked it better than Gladiator (a Best Picture winner). Brad Pitt as Achilles would totally kick Russell Crowe's Maximus' ass in a fight. 'Nuff said.

On to Van Helsing. Regardless of the horrible reviews it's been getting, I actually quite enjoyed it. No, it's not the Lord of the Rings, but it's good, fun, summer fluff. Lots of action, great visuals and cinematography, cool special effects, good action, and of course, Kate Beckinsale in a corset. I was impressed with how they connected the classic Universal movie monsters (Dracula, Frankenstein, the Wolfman) together in one movie, and it was cool seeing Dracula's brides (hotties themselves, natch) getting to play a much more active role in things than in most Dracula movies. I also liked what they did with Van Helsing himself, in terms of his final showdown with Dracula and what was needed to finally destroy Dracula. And not to give anything away, but of all surprises, it doesn't have a typical Hollywood ending. Yes, there is plenty of room for sequels (of course), but not in the way you might think.

And compared to other Vampire vs. Werewolf movies starring Kate Beckinsale (such as Underworld), Van Helsing is practically Citizen Kane.

So ignore the somewhat threadbare plot, enjoy the stunning visuals, look out for the homages, laugh at the jokes and the fluctuating accents, suspend your disbelief entirely (really? a road that close to the edge of a cliff for that long?), and enjoy. You may just have fun.

Oh, and regarding the carriage-pulling horses that jump over an impossibly wide chasm that you might have seen in the previews? As Anna herself says, "Transylvanian horses are faster than even a vampire!" (Like I said, suspend all disbelief - it's fun!)

Now I'm just waiting for The Day After Tomorrow.

:: posted by Rob 4:04 PM [+] ::

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