"Summer 2008 Extras" movie review

With the summer movie season winding down this past weekend, we take a look this week at some of the summer flicks that we didn't get the chance to review.




Ryan: Starring Edward Norton and Liv Tyler, The Incredible Hulk (PG-13) rebooted itself into cineplexes this summer. It was only five years ago that the Ang Lee's version failed to resonate with most moviegoers. I for one did like Lee's psychological take on the character but could clearly see why Marvel would want a more crowd-pleasing picture. Norton (who also co-wrote the movie) and Louis Leterrier (the director) certainly delivered that this time around. From a more CGI realistic Hulk to the straightforward action-driven narrative, The Incredible Hulk is an entertaining summer popcorn flick. But with a character that offers so much more, I would have liked for the movie to be a little more nuanced than it was. Ultimately this incarnation is going to please more than disappoint. Final grade: B.




Andy: The Visitor (PG-13) is the latest film from writer-director Thomas McCarthy (The Station Agent). Richard Jenkins, who is perhaps most recognized as the father from Six Feet Under, gives a subtle, yet remarkable performance as a college professor who returns to his long-unused New York City apartment only to find an illegal immigrant couple living there. The transformation Jenkins’s character makes is the heart and soul of the film, but the performances of costars Haaz Sleiman and Danal Jekesai Gurira are just as nuanced and solidly executed. This one is definitely aimed at the Indie film crowd, and some may take issue with the ending. In general the story is appealing and the acting is impressive enough to comfortably earn it a B+.




Ryan: The comic book theme continues with the Mark Millar graphic novel adaptation, Wanted ( R). Starring James McAvoy and Angelina Jolie, Wanted showcases Wesley Gibson, a self-proclaimed loser stuck in a dead-end office job. Unbeknownst to him, he's actually the offspring of the world's greatest assassin. As a stylized action set piece, Wanted does deliver the goods. It's mindless summer fun and McAvoy demonstrates that he can carry a summer action flick. Regrettably, Wanted strays far from the graphic novel—not so much in terms of its tone but with its story. In the long run it was probably a good idea to tinker with the story (thus attracting a more mainstream moviegoing audience) but a lot of the darker ironic ideas in the graphic novel were loss in translation. But all in all Wanted satisfies that summer craving for a violent shoot'em spectacle. Final grade: B-.




Andy: Keeping with our recent theme of checking out documentaries, I recently watched Gonzo: The Life and Works of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson (R). The film spans all the major stops along the complex icon / journalists strange career, but what is particularly striking in this political season is the sections outlining Thompson’s political reporting through the 1970s. Thompson’s version of the 1972 presidential race (and his effect on it) is more than just interesting, it is surprisingly relevant. In spite of, or some might argue because of his iconic and drug addled state, Thompson was able to ask questions and create situations that gave voters a different view how the candidates carried themselves and what they stood for. In addition Gonzo accurately completes the task of serving as a Thompson biography while embracing his spirit and attitude in the composition of the film. Johnny Depp supplies voice work for many of Thompson’s readings, adding significantly to the documentary. Final grade: B.





Next week we’ll step cautiously into the fall movie season with another new review.