CRITIQUE & REVIEW: Rebooted “Star Trek” franchise to live long and prosper

J.J. Abrams could have really laid an egg with his "Star Trek" reboot. Instead he triumphs. Abrams has refreshed and upgraded the characters from the original series that were burdened in prior movies under the limitations of its iconic cast. This new "Star Trek" is now a true movie franchise with true movie production values. No more charity work for marginal TV actors fortunate enough to score a gig on a failed 1960’s television series. The new Trek gets high marks for accentuating the importance of individual initiative on (imagined future) historical events. I also like some of the liberties Abrams took with some of the lesser characters from the series. I look forward to where he takes us in future sequels.

Look: 8

Story: 8

Acting: 8

Politics: 8

Goal: 10

Intangibles: 9

Overall: 9

CRITIQUE & REVIEW: “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” is OK

Why are comic books dominated by Leftist tropes? Again, we have an evil military industrial complex... blah, blah, blah… "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" is entertaining all the same.

Look: 7

Story: 6.5

Acting: 7

Politics: 4

Goal: 7

Intangibles: 8

Overall: 7

CRITIQUE & REVIEW: Who watches the “Watchmen”? Answer: Few

BREAKING NEWS: Leftist ideology continues domination of comic book movies [save the Spider-Man and Batman franchises.]

"Watchmen" was supposed to be awesome. It was supposed to be THE comic book movie to put all others to shame. Instead, it’s a (loooong) swing and a miss. Nothing against the director and fine cast but the hype far outsized its silly story.

Look: 6.5

Story: 6.5

Acting: 7

Politics: 4

Goal: 5

Intangibles: 5

Overall: 6

CRITIQUE & REVIEW: “The Day the Earth Stood Still” wondering why Hollywood can’t entertain anymore

The remake of the 1951 nuclear-weapons-dreading “The Day the Earth Stood Still” into a post-Stone-Age-human-dreading bore is yet another example of how pervasive the global warming… er… climate change faith has enveloped Hollywood. I usually grade science fiction movies on a pretty gentile curve, especially if they deliver the computer generated effects. But this tired, preachy and uninspired film really makes me wonder what has happened to Hollywood’s ability to simply entertain. Apparently entertainment is not a core value in Tinseltown anymore. Watching it I was dogged by so many questions, here are a few:

• Keanu Reaves has finally found the perfect role for his acting range… an emotionless alien who takes human form to communicate in short declarative sentences. Whoa.
• No matter how “reality-based” the Leftists in Hollywood claim to be, ultimately, it’s because of an emotional exchange that our Rational Betters finally reconsider exterminating mankind… er… the human pestilence gripping the planet.
• Does every depiction of the military have to be a cartoon characterization of cavemen in khaki?
• Let me get this right, an omnipotent supernatural/extraterrestrial force lowers itself to our level by becoming human in order to communicate a transcendent message to the humanity only to be rejected… who said there was no originality in Hollywood?
• And now for something completely different… our new priestly class is affirmed when John Cleese’s character is presented as a legitimate leader of Earthlings based solely on the fact that he was awarded the Nobel Prize. After all, Yasser Arafat was not available.
• We never do find out what precisely we’re doing to hurt The Planet (and it should be capitalized as any deity worthy of worship deserves.) Is it global warming, ozone depletion, species extinction, MTV’s The Hills?
• One question kept going through my mind throughout the movie and even still, a couple of days after seeing this movie… would someone please toss Jennifer Connelly a blueberry muffin or ham sandwich? This formally bright, cheery and pleasure-to-see-on-screen actress has morphed in the last decade into a depressing, brooding and heroin-chic waif who is no longer the knockout girl next door but the skeevy junkie from the alley.

If you’re looking for the latest bedwettery from the Luddite, anti-capitalist, anti-human faith currently all the rage among our social betters then “The Day the Earth Stood Still” is just the film for you. Otherwise, “The Dark Night” was recently released on DVD. Buy or rent it to see the best movie of 2008.

Look: 6
Story: 4
Acting: 4
Politics: 3
Goal: 5
Intangibles: 3
Overall: 4

CRITIQUE & REVIEW: “Bolt” a Pixar-like Success

I saw “Bolt” in all its 3-D IMAX glory and liked the movie a lot. As a dog lover, it’s irresistible. The quest/journey/self-discovery plot is predictable but that’s not why you go see these Disney animated films. It was fun and less dark than most other Disney classics. Rhino the hamster-in-a-clear-plastic-ball is an instant classic character.

“LET IT BEGIN!!!!!”

The movie wasn’t done by Pixar. Instead, it was a thoroughly Disney production. I’m not sure what that fact holds for the future of a sequel franchise but I trust the expected profits will cause the powers that be to work through any sticky Pixar/Disney issues. I hope they find a good story to continue the adventures of this promising new Disney character.

Look: 8.5
Story: 7
Acting: 7
Goal: 9
Intangibles: 9
Overall: 8.5

CRITIQUE & REVIEW: "Quantum of Solace" a true Bond sequel

The 22nd Bond film is very dependent on the prior Daniel Craig Bond film "Casino Royale". I wish I knew that it completed that story so I could have reacquainted myself with the intricacies of its plot on DVD. This edition is a worthy chapter in the new Bond incarnation.

Look: 7

Story: 6

Acting: 6

Goal: 6.5

Intangibles: 7

Overall: 6.5

CRITIQUE & REVIEW: “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” is More Fun, Less Filling

“The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” is a fun but hollow experience that suffers from never really making you feel any of the danger threatening our heroes. It feels formulaic in the most uninspired way… and I like formulaic movies that celebrate archetypes and mythology. The fourth Indiana Jones movie had a “son of Indy” plotline so does the fourth Mummy (I count the Scorpion King). The Imhotep bad guy of the first two editions had real gravitas. You could feel the evil and menace when he growled in his ancient Egyptian tongue. The Dragon Emperor in the latest movie only really becomes scary when he transforms into an actual dragon or an angry fu dog. The coolest creature in the movie turns out to be the Yeti (AKA: the Abominable Snowman). Maria Bello is fine as replacement for the newly high-falutin' Rachel Weisz. The Chinese setting was OK but I never really felt like I was in 1947 China… no Communist-Kuomintang Civil War or any allusion to the looming Communist takeover. It is a good-looking movie that benefits from being seen on the big screen. If you can, see it in a theater though waiting for high-def DVD will probably make you feel better that you decided to see Dark Knight again rather than seeing on the big screen.

Look: 8
Story: 5
Acting: 5
Goal: 6
Intangibles: 5
Overall: 6

CRITIQUE & REVIEW: "The X-Files: I Want to Believe" Only an Average TV Episode

“The X Files: I Want to Believe,” the second X-Files movie in 10(!) years, feels too much like an average weekly installment of the popular 1993-2002 FOX television series. The new movie’s hardly worth the trouble of getting everybody together for a 202^nd episode. I’m a fan of the X-Files and wanted this movie to succeed. The story was just so small. I know they were avoiding the alien abduction mythology but I can name a half dozen creatures and “wow” moments from the series that didn’t involve the aliens. Where was the cool shot of something you might expect from an X-Files movie? What Chris Carter has produced is not going to re-launch the franchise. Wait for the DVD if you liked the series. If not, there’s no need to expose yourself to these complex characters and there twisted back-story.

Look: 7

Story: 5.5

Acting: 7

Goal: 5

Intangibles: 6.5

Overall: 6.5

CRITIQUE & REVIEW: “The Dark Knight” is the best superhero movie of all-time, best movie of 2008 so far

Wow. “The Dark Knight” is an outstanding movie. [More soon]

Look: 9.5

Story: 10

Acting: 9

Goal: 10

Intangibles: 9.5

Overall: 9.5

CRITIQUE & REVIEW: "Hellboy II: The Golden Army"

Hellboy II: The Golden Army"

Look: 8.5
Story: 5
Acting: 6.5
Goal: 6.5
Intangibles: 7
Overall: 6.5

CRITIQUE & REVIEW: "Hancock" A Little Fun, Forgettable

"Hancock"

Look: 7
Story: 6
Acting: 7

Goal: 6.5
Intangibles: 6
Overall: 6.5

CRITIQUE & REVIEW: “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" Out of the World

"Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"

Look: 7

Story: 7

Acting: 7.5

Goal: 9

Intangibles: 8.5

Overall: 7.5

CRITIQUE & REVIEW: “Iron Man" Fun Franchise Launched

“Iron Man”

Look: 7.5

Story: 7.5

Acting: 7.5

Goal: 8

Intangibles: 6.5

Overall: 7.5

CRITIQUE & REVIEW: “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” Worthy Sequel

“The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian”

Look: 9
Story: 8
Acting: 7.5
Goal: 9
Intangibles: 8.5
Overall: 8.5

First Post of the "Willet Creek Dam" Blog

Thank you for visiting the Willet Creek Dam Blog. This blog's title is taken from the 1939 Frank Capra film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington that, among other things, centers around good old fashioned graft and corruption in federal appropriations legislation during the Great Depression.

Appointed caretaker Sen. Jefferson Smith, played by Jimmy Stewart, inadvertantly stumbles across the scam when he proposes establishing a national boys camp on a patch of land near the head waters of Willet Creek in Terry Canyon. This is right where the local Taylor political machine has bought up land in advance of the creation of the Willet Creek Dam by Congress. The famous one-man filibuster scene follows.

Willet Creek Dam is provided by an Arizona-based public affairs professional who does a lot of work with my state’s legislative leaders, governor and executive departments. I also have close dealings with Arizona’s congressional delegation. Therefore, much of this blog will focus on Arizona and national political happenings. I am also very interested in international affairs and world and American political history.

To get a flavor for my politics, here are my votes in all primaries and elections for president since I have been old enough to vote.

2008 Presidential Election: John McCain
2008 Presidential Primary: Mitt Romney
2004 Presidential Election: George W. Bush
2004 Presidential Primary: George W. Bush
2000 Presidential Election: George W. Bush
2000 Presidential Primary: George W. Bush
1996 Presidential Election: Robert Dole
1996 Presidential Primary: Steve Forbes
1992 Presidential Election: George H. W. Bush
1992 Presidential Primary: George H. W. Bush
1988 Presidential Election: George H. W. Bush
1988 Presidential Primary: Jack Kemp

I sometimes might meander away from politics and comment on books, movies, TV programs, sports and other pop culture topics.