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.

Mr. SG is Already Drooling....The Dark Knight

In fact, Mr. SG went online to get us tickets to the imax showing of it and accidentally bought ones for tomorrow while I'm at work. So it might be a situation, but I'm sure he'll take care of it. He's been so excited for this for months.

I'm interested to see how it goes. It's getting rave reviews and everyone is talking about a possible posthumous Oscar nod for Heath Ledger.

I just don't get the whole comic book thing--how one character can have many stories. I asked Mr. SG if this Batman had anything to do with the Michael Keaton/Val Kilmer/George Clooney one and apparently it does not. So how do they fit in? They don't.

Color me irritated.

But for the movie's sake and for Mr. SG's sake and maybe, just a bit, for my own sake, I'll let my confusion go and try and enjoy it.

Plus, I love popcorn.

SG at the Movies: Ehhh boy....Baby Mama edition

So though I wasn't waiting with bated breath, I was looking forward to seeing this movie. I like Tina Fey and when Amy Poheler is funny, she's hilarious (of course, when her jokes miss it's not even bearable). But after I left the movie theatre Friday night, I had a sour taste in my mouth that I just could not shake.

The movie, in a nutshell, is this: Tina Fey (who is a "career woman" which means she couldn't have a man and a good career--just one and she chose the career) decides at age 37 that she wants to have a baby on her own. She tries many things, but is told that her chances of getting prego are 1 in a million. So she goes through an agency, run by an annoying-as-hell Sigourney Weaver, to find a surrogate, Amy Poheler. Amy is a saucy, trashy, white chick with a slight fashion flair who is in a "common law marriage" (which conveniently actually exists in Pennsylvania, where the movie is set) with Dax Shepard. They do in vitro using Tina's egg and a random dude's sperm. Amy doesn't get pregnant from this...(which takes awhile to sort out) but does get knocked up from a post-invitro romp with Dax. The guise goes on for 79% of the movie while Tina gets friendly with smoothie-making Greg Kinnear, whom she doesn't tell about her upcoming parental situation. He ends up crashing the shower where Dax announces to the crowd the scam going on and Amy feels bad because (as expected) she's now grown fond of Tina. There is a small custody battle because of the unknown parantage and the DNA shows that it's not Tina's kid. That same day, Amy goes into labor and Tina passes out during (because, of course, even though she's furious at her she accompanies her into the delivery room) and that's when they found out that Tina's overcome the odds and has gotten knocked up by smoothie-Greg. Everyone leaves with a kid, everyone's happy and the movie ends at some Chuckie Cheese like establishment on Amy's kid's first birthday. Hip hip horray for being convenient.

So here are my problems with the film:
1. Maybe there is a real issue with the surrogacy market, but the so-called investigation they did into Amy's background was shoddy at best. I mean, visiting her apartment would have revealed that.
2. Why is it that in order for a woman to have a successful career she must have abandoned all hope for a significant other and family? This movie perpetuates the idea that women, particularly young women, must chose one or the other--either you get to have a career or you get to have a family. You can't have both. And for Tina Fey, the feminist, you'd think she'd get the ridiculousness of this. I mean, if she had just not had the right moment, fine, but she goes through this whole "woe is me for I've chosen career over love" thing for a good 65% of the movie. It's not only unrealistic, but it's really demeaning to those of us who want both.
3. I understand the desire for a happy ending, but Tina Fey ending up prego is just a kick in the crotch to women everywhere who have trouble conceiving. Basically the message is this--once you take your mind off of it, you'll get knocked up and all will be well. And that message is insulting to the millions of women who are unable to have kids. It's almost as if to say "it's all in your head and once you stop thinking about it, it'll happen." It's a twisted way of doing things and though it might be reality for some women, it's a bad thing to portray as possible on a movie screen.
4. I'm all for the bonds of female friendship, but you besta believe that if someone screwed me over as bad as Amy did that we wouldn't be all buddy buddy afterwards.

Call me cynical, but you have to admit that this isn't necessarily the most advanced storyline. I get that it's a comedy and I get that it's a movie, but at the same time, people like Tina Fey have a reputation to live up to. She's keen on telling people that "bitch is the new black," but she isn't so keen on living up to that standard. This is the kind of storytelling drivel that convinces women that they have a choice to make and, unlike men, can't have it all...of course, until they stumble into it (but they first must have made the choice).

File this under: it's cute, but it's questionable.

And the waiting begins

I guess this gives me time to catch up on the last few seasons. I was a huge X-Files fan until...well, until I started having more to do and less time to watch it and it started getting screwy. Then it got good again and I was screwed.

But the second movie is finally in production. And I couldn't be happier.

"We've been waiting five years for this, Dawg."

There's just sumptin 'bout David Duchovony that makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. Like when we used to climb the rope in gym class... Gillian Anderson ain't bad herself and I'm not even into chicks.