SG at the Movies: Religulous is Alright by Me

Last week, Mr. CVD and I went to see Religulous. I wanted to go earlier, but Mr. SG claims he hates Bill Maher and refused to go. That's fine, I don't think he would have appreciated it.

You all know how I love documentaries, espeically ones about religion, right? Well as much as I wanted to wholehearteldy endorse this film, I found myself irked at times. I think I, more than anyone, can appreciate poking holes in religious theory. I've been doing it for my entire life. I was that kid in catechism that always asked "why" far too many times. I was that teen in youth ministry that disagreed with planting politics into religious discussions. I am that adult who views religion as having both good and bad attributes. And normally, I am that writer who can appreciate poking fun at religion.

Alas, I yearned for more.

I did like parts of the film. Bill talking to the Catholic priest outside of the Vatican was a great scene, remenecent of my own views on Catholicism. Bill talking to the fake Jesus at the Holy Land themepark was also a great visual and logical treat. Bill asking truckers at the truck stop church about their beliefs in a candid discussion also gave me joy.

The problem is that these clips were few and far between. The movie's 101 minutes seemed disjointed from minute 2 forward. Often, I found the film to be scratching merely the surface of the idiocies contained in our beliefs, while trying to belie them at the same time. It can't be done. You can't challenge people for having faith in ridiculous things and just leave your argument at that. You have to do something more. Sure it's crazy to believe that a woman gave birth to a son without having had sex, but just saying it's crazy isn't really anything new. People have been saying that for years. Just criticizing peoples' beliefs brings nothing new to the conversation. It just makes us lapsed Catholics giggle. Which is precisely what this movie felt like for 75% of the time. The other 25% it felt as if the movie was trying to take aim at other religions (primarily Islam) just to compensate for the fact that it hit Christianity so hard in the beginning. I felt as if the arguments about Islamic extremism and whether the extreme nature is ingrained in the religious doctrine needed more depth, more development. Instead, I was left with another second-camera view of Bill and Company getting kicked out of yet another holy place.

I like Bill Maher. He can get on my nerves and he has beliefs of his own that are as ridiculous as the ones he condemns (PETA and their comparisons of meat eating and the Holocust, anyone?), but I felt as if the message and the man were stiffled in this film. While the film touched on the ridiculousness of certain beliefs, like evangelicals being able to cure homosexuality, or the jihadist beliefs in Islam, it never got further than introducing them. And that, in and of itself, is Religulous.

SG at the Movies: Star Wars: Clone Wars was a SNOOZEFEST

Quite literally. And I'm willing to give it the benefit of some doubt because I was exhausted from painting in our new house, but honestly, I was so intrigued by the popcorn that I could have lasted the hour and a half it took to watch the movie. But it was so godawful, I couldn't help it.

First of all, the voices were all weird. To quote Stewie Griffin, it was like the "wrong sounding Muppets," took over. None of the actors who portrayed the characters in the live action films were there for this one, making the voices only slightly similar, but different. That was more annoying than had they just changed the voices altogether.

Second, the plot was horrible. Yes, we know the Clone Wars were an important event in the rise of Annikin as a Jedi, but can't we throw a little excitement in there? Somewhere?

Third, the animation was bad. I know I'll probably get flamed for this, but it was too Anime and not enough action.

All in all, I'm glad I got a short nap (I fell asleep in the last twenty minutes), because that is about all I got out of this film.

SG At the Movies: X-Files I Want to Believe (So I Did)

I used to be a BIG X-phile. It's faded over time, but I've never lost the appreciation for the show. So my excitement over the movie led me to start getting DVDs via Netflix to catch up. I didn't catch up in time, but nevertheless, I saw the new movie "X-Files: I Want To Believe" on opening day. Mr. SG agreed to go with, but I think it was more out of guilt over a missing payment than anything else. He doesn't care for the X-Files. Too bad for him.

I think this movie was something that you had to appreciate the characters of Mulder and Scully to like. For people like Mr. SG it was probably boring as hell. But for people like me that thrived on the tension between the two, it was exciting and even memorable. Notably, the two are now cohabitating and neither work for the FBI anymore (sans this escapade into a missing persons case), but nevertheless, the tension still remains between their beliefs and their ways of thinking. I've never seen such a successful movement from a will-they-or-won't-they couple to an actual couple in my life. For that they deserve much credit.

The movie worked on a purely stand-alone basis though. There was a story and it followed through quickly on the plot. It never left you stranded wondering where the story went. It kept you interested and even intrigued.

There were also nuggets for us Philes of old. AD Skinner, who maybe is a bit higher up in this fictional world at the FBI now, appeared to help Skully save the day. There were mentions of past psychics that the pair delt with at the X-Files. Hell, even the inner-conflict in Fox Mulder between trying to believe as a way to try to save his abducted sister and seeing things that just don't add up to a true psychic ability was still there. Hell, even the poster that gave this installment its name was a focal point in Mulder's home office.

All in all, I enjoyed the film. It wasn't spectactular, but nothing that comes this far after the fact usually is. (And I certainly disagree with the various negative reviews it received.) I don't think it was ever going to compete for the top box office, so it's 4th place finish is still a victory to die-hard fans.



Nevertheless, it was a great voyage back--and a nice look forward--for us Scully-Mulder fans.

SG at the Movies: Dreaming of The Dark Knight

Mr. SG dragged me to the movies on Saturday to see The Dark Knight in IMAX. (Seeing that the movie had the best weekend of any movie ever, I don't think we were the only ones.) Mr. SG has a predilection for IMAX, especially when it comes to movies made from comic books or graphic novels (read: Spiderman 3, 300, etc.) So it was no surprise that he had to see The Dark Knight in IMAX, making us wait until Saturday afternoon to see it.

The IMAX is always fun, but this movie was amazing without it. It was the first blockbuster in a very long time that I have absolutely loved. I honestly don't have anything bad to say about it. (Apparently no one else does either.) The movie just kept you hooked for two and a half hours, making the time fly by and the story important to all. I guess I do have one bad thing to say--I don't really care for Maggie Gyllenhaal. I want the old Joey Potter (Katie Holmes) back--there was more chemistry I think. But other than that it was brilliant.

Heath Ledger was at his finest in this role as the meniacal Joker. It's hard to believe that the same actor that played the flamboyant, schizoid, derranged Joker also played the quiet, soft, and demure cowboy in Brokeback. Although I think his portrayal was brilliant, I wonder if there would have been the same hype around the role if he were still alive. I wonder if there would be Oscar talk, seeing that movies of this nature often aren't seen as serious contenders for such awards. Nevertheless, I'd agree with the nomination and the award if it were given to him. Every time he was on the screen, the entire audience would light up. It could have been the Joker show and everyone would have been in rapt attention.

Aside from the sadness of it being Ledger's potentially final role, I feel that the other actors may not get their due. Aaron Eckhart is quietly becoming one of my favorite actors. (I mean, have you seen Thank You for Smoking?) Sure he's hot as hell and that doesn't hurt, but he is a consistently quality actor. His portrayal of Harvey Dent (aka "Two-Face") was emotional and heart-felt. Then there's Christian Bale, who I never thought could pull off the caped crusader, making Batman and Bruce Wayne a little more subtle, and definitely more complex than previous go-rounds. Couple that with amazing supporting acting from Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman and Michael Caine and you don't just have a blockbuster--you have a truly spectacular piece of entertainment.

I'm afraid Mr. SG will take my excitement over this film to mean that I can't wait for other comic book/graphic novel films (he's already salivating over The Watchmen). Neverthless, for the first time in a long time, I was happy to be at the movies to see one.

For as it is said, "what doesn't kill you makes you stranger." Consider me a tad stranger.