Brenna Rants

To Terminate or Not to Terminate

brennae — Wed, 20 May 2009 15:53:45 +0000

No, I’m not weighing the consequences and benefits of killing someone. What I’m trying to decide is whether or not to see Terminator Salvation at midnight tonight. Technically, my mind has been made up by the $8 ticket sitting in my wallet, so basically I’m going no matter what. My mental dilemma originates from the 38% rating on rottentomatoes.com. Let me be clear: I want to see this film. That terrible rating doesn’t overpower my love for Christian Bale, T2, and recent fascination with Star Trek’s Anton Yelchin. Also, sometimes reviewers get it wrong. They really do. I will stand by them when they give a terrible teen film an F, but reviewers tend to grade films harshly because they don’t appreciate a certain genre for what it is. OF COURSE sci-fi can be campy. OF COURSE action films have lame comebacks. But….. back to my original point. Terminator could be a letdown. Hyped films often are. The last movie I saw was Star Trek, so there’s no way it’s going to measure up to that. It also could be awesome. I can’t make up my mind, hence the lame Hamlet-esque title. But I’ll go. I’ll enjoy the atmosphere only nerds at a midnight showing can bring. Maybe I’ll like it… and maybe I won’t.

J.J. Abrams is a Saint

brennae — Wed, 20 May 2009 14:55:00 +0000

Though I am a nerd of sorts, I am not a Trekkie, never have been a Trekkie, and probably never will be a Trekkie (sorry, “Trekker”). However, I can say unashamedly that the Star Trek reboot was the most entertaining film I have seen all year. This film has been advertised with the tagline “Not your father’s Star Trek” in hopes of luring in non-Trekkies, and it’s worked. The film grossed $72.5 millon opening weekend and is sure to add to this sum in the coming weeks.

So why is it so good? I have a hunch; J.J. Abrams. Of course, I am horribly biased due to my dedicated and loving relationship with LOST, the television show he created in 2004. He has admitted he was not a huge Trek fan previously, yet he took on this project with the passion and excitement of one. He also understood that he had to simultaneously satisfy those with Vulcan ears and those without. Considering I understood everything I heard through my perfectly rounded ears, he succeeded in not confusing all the newcomers.

Adding to Abram’s genius is the stellar cast. Though none of the crew members of the U.S.S. Enterprise are superstars, everyone’s face is recognizable and has that “oh it’s that guy!” feeling. There’s Simon Pegg, the man behind Shaun of the Dead, Zoe Saldana from Drumline, and Karl Urban, known for The Lord of the Rings, Doom, and The Chronicles of Riddick. Perhaps the least known cast member is Chris Pine, who plays Captain James T. Kirk. He doesn’t have Shatner’s strange staccato speaking method, yet he easily carries the film on his well-built shoulders. Heroes’ Zachary Quinto successfully and differently plays Spock as a hotheaded prick who immediately has a rivalry with Kirk. Their bickering relationship eventually evolves into a mutual respect, but it takes a while to get there.

I’m sure that many of you are writing Star Trek off as a geeky space movie, but this is both unnecessary and ridiculous. At its core, this is an action movie with the spirit of last year’s Iron Man. To quote Simon Pegg’s Scotty, “I like this ship! It’s exciting!” (well, minus the Scottish accent).

Goodbye Scrubs?

brennae — Mon, 18 May 2009 17:07:11 +0000

And there they are...

It was killed by NBC last year only to be revived by ABC for what was supposed to be its final season. Now it seems that Scrubs isn’t done yet after all. Even though I am an avid Scrubs fan, I think this is a ridiculous idea. After that heartfelt and fan-pleasing “finale”, I don’t think they can top it. Elliott and J.D. are finally together, Dr. Kelso left, and Dr. Cox finally let his true feelings for J.D. be known. What more can they do? Also, Zach Braff has stated that he will only appear in 6 episodes. He is the heart and brain of the show. What will it be without his daydreams and monologues? I don’t think any of the other characters are up to fronting the show. Plus, one of the central relationships on the show is between Turk and J.D. When you take that away, there’s no guy love, and that’s just sad. That’s why their matching bracelets say Turk and J.D…

Wolverine- Not as Bad as I Expected

brennae — Mon, 04 May 2009 15:37:06 +0000

I am a nerdy fan girl, so it was unsurprising to find me waiting in line opening day for a comic book movie. What is surprising is that I had fairly low expectations for the movie I was about to go see. I’d heard that X-Men Origins: Wolverine was, well… meh. Even so, I got a ticket the day before and joined the line of claw-loving freaks. And I was pleasantly surpised. It’s not going to win any awards, but neither were the other X-Men films. Also, Hugh Jackman a very charming feral animal-type guy.

I’d say that 60% of the movie’s likability is the actors. Everyone is well cast and adds something to the film. I adore hobbit Dominic Monaghan and was thrilled to hear he’d received a small role in a huge blockbuster film. He barely made it 15 minutes into the movie (oops, spoiler!) but when he was onscreen he was lovably pathetic and served as the conscience of the film. He knew that the acts he committed with Stryker’s task force were wrong and he punished himself by working as a mere carnie.

I also found Liev Schrieber’s Sabretooth devilishly fun. He’s got no morals, no restraints, and no hygiene. What I find interesting is how in X-Men, Sabretooth is a big hairy moron who can’t even follow Magneto’s bidding. I can’t seem to recall him being gifted with normal human speech. However, Schrieber’s performance is clever and integral to the film. I guess the screenwriters knew that they’d have to make Wolverine really stupid if they wanted the original Sabretooth to outwit him. Taylor Kitsch, unknown except for Friday Night Lights, was also entertaining as Gambit, a southern mutant. Not beng a rabid X-Men fan, I couldn’t tell exactly what his power was until I looked it up online. He can make anything into a deadly weapon (correct me if I’m wrong). If anyone should get another X-Men film, it could be this guy.

There were still some unnecessary characters. What the heck was up with that fat guy? I don’t think anyone in their right mind wants to watch slow-motion jiggling blubber. Couldn’t Wolverine fight another mutant? A less disgusting mutant? And what was his power? Life at 800 pounds?
When I first saw the Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.am on screen, I had to laugh. I’ll give the guy a break, he was nowhere near as bad as Fergie when she played a cruise singer in Poseidon. Her death in that film was welcoming and hilarious.

All in all, Wolverine is what it is. It’s got cool action, a couple chuckles, and Hugh Jackman’s body. As long as you don’t try to pretend it is anyting new and revolutionary, it’s a great way to kick off the summer movie season.