Vulcan Stev’s month-late movie review… “Get Smart”
Orginally posted at the Dire Cafe Septeber 16, 2008
Starring:
Steve Carell … Maxwell Smart
Anne Hathaway … Agent 99
Dwayne Johnson … Agent 23
Alan Arkin … The Chief
Terence Stamp … Siegfried
Terry Crews … Agent 91
David Koechner … Larabee
James Caan … The President
Reviewers: V.S., PIT #2, PIT #3
Would you believe a cinematic tour-de-force to rival Gone with the Wind?
Would you believe a theatrical experience worthy of multiple Oscar nods?
Would you believe 110 minutes of laugh-out-loud comedy?
The cliche would be “Missed it by that much.” Fortunately for us the cliche is wrong in this case. If the audience at the Center Theater is any indication of the likability and humourous aspects of this movie, Peter Segal and Steve Carrel captured the feel of the 60′s TV series perfectly.
Steve Carrel channeled Don Adams. Agent 86 is the same bumbling man updated for 21st century. Agent 99 is not the girl sidekick that Barbara Feldon was, she is cut from the cloth of Angelina Jolie’s ‘Lara Croft’.
The ubiquitous shoe phone makes its appearance but is also replaced by a swiss army knife worthy of James Bond.
Maybe I think too much like a writer, but the “surprise” plot twist telegraphed itself to me with the attack on CONTROL’s HQ
Overall rating 6 pointed ears.
VS – 2 ears: I have fond memories of watching the original series in reruns after school. I didn’t have high expectations for the movie as I’ve seen what Hollywood had done to TV shows (especially comedies) to make the jump to the BIG screen. For every “Fugitive” there are 5 “Car 54 Where Are You”s. Get Smart was fast paced. Laugh out loud funny at nearly every turn. The director and producers captured the essence and feel of the series and did it very well.
PIT #2 – 2 ears: Caught the Bill Murray cameo before I did. He has never seen the original but still loved this film meaning it plays to fans of the series and newcomers as well.
PIT #3 – 2 ears: The explosions and train chase made up for the “kissing” and “boring” ballroom dance scene. He was a little confused by the “surprise” plot twist, “Is he a good guy or a bad guy Daddy?”
I’m worried….
Mrs. VS is VERY concerned about the upcoming chemo treatment. She is afraid that the treatment will kill her. She has been reading books, listening to other survivors and googling about the horrors, pain, and systemic problems that chemo will cause.
One person at she met at the cancer survivor club who happens to work for the same place she does told her that chemo could knock her off her feet for four days, not just the two days that the doctor is telling her. Mrs. VS has never believed she has as strong a constitution that she actually does. I could see the fear in her eyes as she confessed this morning that she’s afraid that chemo will kill her.
My telling her that I love her and will be there for didn’t seem to help. My encouragement that if I were in her position, I’d take the chemo didn’t seem to help. I don’t know what to do, my wife is listening to her own fears and non-professional advice.
Vulcan Stev’s month-late movie review… “The Dark Knight”
Originally posted at the Dire Cafe November 15, 2008
Christian Bale … Bruce Wayne / Batman
Heath Ledger … The Joker
Aaron Eckhart … Harvey Dent / Two-Face
Michael Caine … Alfred Pennyworth
Maggie Gyllenhaal … Rachel Dawes
Gary Oldman … James Gordon
Morgan Freeman … Lucius Fox
Reviewers VS, PIT #s 1, 2, & 3; Mrs.VS
9 pointed ears
Finally after months of waiting, The Dark Knight made it to our dollar theater. It was worth the wait. The theater was packed and the VS family had a wonderful time.
VS – 2 pointed ears:
I’m never one to believe hype. This movie however lived up to it. Loved Two-Face’s make-up, hated what the producers did to him (*Spoiler Alert* It’ll take some clever writing for Two-Face to show up in the next Batman movie). I’m glad that the door was left open for the Joker to return but wonder who they’ll be able to cast to play him to the perfection that Heath Ledger did.
Mrs VS – 1 pointed ear (sympathy vote):
This movie was simply a good excuse to go sit in a dark room with my husband’s arm around me (VS’s side note the seats at the dollar theater aren’t very conducive to cuddling). It was definitely a movie for my husband and kids
PIT #1 – 2 pointed ears:
Wanted to know if the Hispanic Female cop was Detective Montoya (VS side note, I’m raising such a good girl, she’ll make some geek a good wife someday). Loved the Two-Face makeup and was very distressed at the fact that the producers killed him off. Is now trying to guess at the villian for the third.
PIT #2 – 2 pointed ears:
Pointed out that physics alone would not allow a truck and trailer to crash in that manner. Was very distressed over the demise of the “coolest Batmobile ever”.
PIT #3 – 2 pointed ears:
“This was a very good movie Daddy, there was hardly any kissing in it”. Also very distressed at the Batmobile’s demise.
Overall, this movie was a good 2 & 1/2 hour diversion. Made me want to play Hank’s Gotham CSI
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