Recently, I compiled a list of movies coming out this summer that intellectuals would actually be interested in seeing.
Iron Man 2 was not on that list.
Although it has already made a boatload of money at the box office, Iron Man 2 is not enjoying the critical success the first movie did. Some might say this is because it is a sequel, or that origin stories are infinitely more interesting than the continuation of those stories.
Actually, Iron Man 2 is different from Iron Man in one specific but very distinct way.
It's a lot stupider.
Iron Man had edge. It was dark. It was definitely not your typical summer movie.
Iron Man 2 very much IS a summer movie, and guess what?
I still love it.
In some way, the stupidity of Iron Man 2, and most dumb summer movies, is sort of...comforting.
What I love about stupid movies is that you don't need to be in any particular mood to see them.
When you're watching Oscar contenders, you have to be sure to go when you're ready for them.
Have you ever tried watching a war drama before hitting up the club on a Friday night?
Not a good idea.
How about taking in a movie about the dissolution of a marriage on a Sunday afternoon?
It'll feel like Monday morning has come around even faster.
I went to see the Fantastic Four sequel early on a Wednesday evening--an odd time to see a movie.
It was one of the dumbest films I've ever seen--and it fit perfectly on that Wednesday night.
I tend to think that summer movies have to be dumb in order to survive. In the winter, you're happy to be in a movie theater where it's warm, enjoying an indoor activity.
In the summer, every time you're inside you feel like you should be out enjoying the nice weather. So summer movies throw lots of explosions and flashy superheros at you, and pretty soon, you forget that you should be on a beach somewhere.
Smart movies are a double-edged sword. They keep you thinking, but while you're thinking, you're not always thinking about the movie.
You start thinking about errands you forgot to run, things you have to do tomorrow, people you need to call...
A movie like Iron Man 2 lulls you into a cinematic stupor where all you're worried about is how long before you finish your popcorn and whether or not Mickey Rourke is that creepy in person.
In other words, it's fun.
And I don't see a darn thing wrong with that.
...But I'm still not holding my breath for the next Fantastic Four movie...
Iron Man 2 was not on that list.
Although it has already made a boatload of money at the box office, Iron Man 2 is not enjoying the critical success the first movie did. Some might say this is because it is a sequel, or that origin stories are infinitely more interesting than the continuation of those stories.
Actually, Iron Man 2 is different from Iron Man in one specific but very distinct way.
It's a lot stupider.
Iron Man had edge. It was dark. It was definitely not your typical summer movie.
Iron Man 2 very much IS a summer movie, and guess what?
I still love it.
In some way, the stupidity of Iron Man 2, and most dumb summer movies, is sort of...comforting.
What I love about stupid movies is that you don't need to be in any particular mood to see them.
When you're watching Oscar contenders, you have to be sure to go when you're ready for them.
Have you ever tried watching a war drama before hitting up the club on a Friday night?
Not a good idea.
How about taking in a movie about the dissolution of a marriage on a Sunday afternoon?
It'll feel like Monday morning has come around even faster.
I went to see the Fantastic Four sequel early on a Wednesday evening--an odd time to see a movie.
It was one of the dumbest films I've ever seen--and it fit perfectly on that Wednesday night.
I tend to think that summer movies have to be dumb in order to survive. In the winter, you're happy to be in a movie theater where it's warm, enjoying an indoor activity.
In the summer, every time you're inside you feel like you should be out enjoying the nice weather. So summer movies throw lots of explosions and flashy superheros at you, and pretty soon, you forget that you should be on a beach somewhere.
Smart movies are a double-edged sword. They keep you thinking, but while you're thinking, you're not always thinking about the movie.
You start thinking about errands you forgot to run, things you have to do tomorrow, people you need to call...
A movie like Iron Man 2 lulls you into a cinematic stupor where all you're worried about is how long before you finish your popcorn and whether or not Mickey Rourke is that creepy in person.
In other words, it's fun.
And I don't see a darn thing wrong with that.
...But I'm still not holding my breath for the next Fantastic Four movie...
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