May. 24, 2008 at 3:16am

Movie Preview Review #2

The Tacoma blogosphere made another movie outing. This time it was Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. The verdict: fun, but don't think too hard. On to the important stuff, the previews.

Step Brothers: Wait, Will Ferrell playing an emotionally stunted man-child? Wow, he's really pushing himself, isn't he? John C. Reilly as his equally stunted sidekick? Wherever have I heard this before? Ferrell - in his 235th movie of the last 18 months - and Reilly, so childlike as to seem retarded, play live-at-homes in their late thirties who become stepbrothers. They start as rivals, and eventually become best friends. Really though, the plot to this is pretty much beside the point. What will make this movie are the gags, and in this trailer they look pretty damned funny. The job interview bit, where Reilly sits directly behind Farrell is Dada comedy as its best. This is a Must See Unless You Loath Will Ferrell. And yes, I am well aware this is cheating. This was not a real preview, but a segment of the preshow infotainment.

Australia: Baz Lurhmann's first film since Moulin Rouge, Australia stars Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman. Beyond that, I got nothing. This trailer is gorgeously shot but borderline incomprehensible. There are shots of Japanese Zeros, so World War II seems play a part. Plus there are some vaguely wild west moments, so this could be an historical epic about Australia. I'm sure I could find this out by Googling it, but that seems to totally defeat the purpose of the trailer in the first place. This is a Christmas release, so we have a long way to go. Call this For Baz Junkies Only.

Hancock: This was the first actual trailer I've seen for Will Smith's troubled superhero movie and quite frankly, it left me cold. I have a personal aversion to non-comic book superheros, so there is that to consider, but the Hancock just doesn't seem very good. The premise is good enough: the world's only superhero is a lazy, drunken lout. He solves crimes and helps people, but does it so lazily and recklessly he does as much harm as good. Eventually he hooks up with a PR guy, rehabs his image and saves the world. So why don't I want to see this? The trailer seems surly and mean-spirited, including a rather grotesque scene where Hancock shoves a man's head up his ass. Sounds fun huh? No, Just No.

The Dark Knight: The same trailer seen before Iron Man. And we know how much I enjoyed that.

Kung-Fu Panda: Kung-Fu is always cool. Jack Black is often cool. Dreamworks animation is sometimes cool. Talking animals are seldom cool. This is not the right direction to be traveling. Kung-Fu Panda looks watchable, but in an instantly-forgotten-kind-of-way. Video, Unless The Kids Love The Funny Violence.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army: I had no idea this was successful enough to garner a sequel. While director Guillermo del Toro has added some serious Pan's Labyrinth-isms to this second movie based on Mike Mignola's demon-hero, it looks pretty much the same. And that works. Hellboy II promises big fun, wisecracking demons, creepy fish-men and a pryokinetic Selma Blair. What more could you ask for in a summer movie? Oh, a coherent plot and non-ridiculous villains? You ask for too much. See, But Not In Any Real Rush. Warning: Rating automatically flips to Must See for any of the following: Goths, Comic Book Geeks, People Who Love Demons With Overly Large Hands.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: Here we go. This is the preview that strikes a cord, much more than the silliness of Step Brothers or the grim intensity of The Dark Knight. Based on F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button follows the titular character as he ages in reverse, having been born as an elderly man. Brad Pitt stars, which could be perfect as Pitt has always been a character actor trapped in a leading man's body. Cate Blanchett is utterly radiant as his lover and the aging make up (a potentially huge problem) looks spot-on. Must See And Watch It Win Oscars.