Back in the 60s there was a popular television show that spoofed the typical spy flicks of the time. The brain child of Mel Brooks and Buck Henry, Get Smart followed a secret agent who was a delightful mix between James Bond and Inspector Clouseau.Bumbling, clumsy and not too bright, Maxwell Smart always managed to save the day – mostly due to dumb luck and the skill of his partner, Agent 99.
The film adaptation of the movie was released this weekend, and we went to check it out. One of the things I liked about the movie is that it doesn’t try too hard to be the original Get Smart. It has elements of the original tv series, but doesn’t attempt to be an exact replica. I’ve read some reviews that criticize the movie because of this fact, but seriously, nothing is ever as good as the original.
With that said, I thought the movie was great.I’m not a big fan of Steve Carell, but he did a fantastic job of portraying this version of Maxwell Smart. There were some scenes that made me laugh so hard I cried. I won’t tell you what those scenes were because I don’t want to spoil the fun for you. Dwayne Johnson and Anne Hathaway also delivered good supporting performances as Agent 23 and Agent 99.
All in all, (use nasal Maxwell Smart voice here) “would you believe” I’m giving it an enthusiastic thumbs up? Yeah, that’s right.Go see it.If you are a Steve Carell fan, you will love it. If you aren’t, you will still love it – I did.
No, I’m not talking about becoming environmentally friendly. I’m talking about the big green monster that invaded theaters this weekend. I have to admit that I didn’t see the last Hulk movie. Although I watched the TV show when I was a kid, it wasn’t one of my favorite “super heroes.” Besides, the movie trailors were lame (IMO), and it looked like it was overladen with CGI (of which I’m not a big fan).
When I heard there was a new Hulk movie coming out, I didn’t care. I wondered why they would even release another one since the first movie didn’t do well. Everything changed when I heard Ed Norton was in the movie. It created a dilemma for me. I love Ed Norton’s work. He is an actor that I will watch in almost anything. So, to quote Keanu Reeves from Speed, “What do you do? What do you do?”
I caved. I figured if Ed Norton was doing it, then it must be good. Well, I hoped it was good. Actually, I think the quote I gave Gary as we walked to the theater was, “I’m expecting it to be bad, but I’m hoping I’m wrong.”
I’m delighted to report that I was wrong. The movie was great. Ed Norton did an excellent job of portraying Bruce Banner and humanizing his struggle to eliminate the green monster that lurks below the surface. Another nice treat was Liv Tyler. She’s not one of my favorite actresses, but she usually does good work. This time was no exception.
My only criticism is the final battle. It had too much CGI for my taste, and the **spoiler alert** Hulk on Hulk fight was a bit over the top. I’m sure most of the men in the audience loved it, but it’s just not my thing.
The movie has a couple of fun cameos. The original Hulk, Lou Ferrigno, appears as well as Stan Lee and Robert Downey Jr.
All in all, I would have to say that The Hulk is a fun summer flick. Check it out.
I seem to have lost my muse tonight and since I really need to get some sleep, I’m not going to stay up trying to find it. Instead, I’m opting to share something funny (well, an attempt at humor in corporate america) and something I love.
So, without further adieu, here they are.
More Stealth Dancing:
X-Files 2 Official Trailer (July 25, I can’t wait!):
Also, check out Gary’s first official “published” blog on The Truth About Cars website, Letter From Car and Driver. Yes, I know. I’m a proud wife, but you’ve got to admit, it’s pretty cool.
I’m feeling uninspired tonight, so it’s time for another Top 5 list. With the summer movie season quickly approaching and a new “blockbuster” sermon series starting at church this month, I’ve decided to share my Top 5 “must-see” movies of 2008. Since Indiana Jones and Iron Man have already been released, those movies won’t make this list.
5. Get Smart. A film adaptation of the spy parody tv show from the 60s, Get Smart stars Steve Carrell, Anne Hathaway, and the Rock. It promises to be a fun, lighthearded comedy that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
4.The Dark Knight. Christian Bale reprises his role as batman, and Heath Ledger is the Joker. That’s enough for me.
3.Hancock. I’m a big fan of Will Smith, and the premise of a reluctant, hard-living superhero who has fallen out of favor with the public is a fresh concept amidst the serious comic book hero movies of late.
2.The Happening. I’ll watch anything from M. Night Shyamalan because I love his work, but I’m really excited about this movie. It looks great — intense and unnerving — exactly what you expect from a Shyamalan film.
1. XF2: I Want to Believe. I know this movie may not have widespread appeal, but for those who were X-Files fans (like me), it’s highly anticipated. After watching the first X-Files movie, I became a fan of the television show. It’s not your typical “sci-fi”. Even if you weren’t a fan of the television series, check out the movie. You’ll probably like it.
After rehearsals tonight, we met a couple of friends at a late showing of the new Indiana Jones movie, “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”. It’s been almost 20 years since the last flick, and we were excited to see Indy back in action. Gary kept humming the theme song in anticipation.
The story is set in the late 1950s. This time, Jones is on a quest to find a mysterious crystal skull, but the pesky Russians are also seeking the same artifact. That’s when things get interesting.
“Kingdom of the Crystall Skull” is a 2-hour thrill ride. If you enjoyed previous Indiana Jones movies, the odds are that you will like this one also. Yes, it’s corny and over-the-top at times, but that’s part of its charm. Another thing that most people will appreciate is Spielberg’s decision to keep the B-movie style of the series. In a world where most blockbuster movies are overdone with CGI and special effects, it was refreshing to see the movie stay true to its original form. It is not entirely free from CGI, but usage is minimal and balanced.
The return of Karen Allen as “Marion Ravenwood” was a treat. You may remember her as Indy’s love interest from the first movie, “Raiders of the Lost Ark”. It was great to see the two characters reunited. The banter between them was classic. Loved it.
Once again, Harrison Ford delivers a great performance, proving that 20 years later Indiana Jones is still my hero.
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