A Million Ways to Die in the West

A bit late on this entry, I know - but forgive me, I'm working on other stuff such as getting an apartment and my license and a car, as well as furnishing said apartment. Not to mention, trying to keep up with the shows I watch in the process. So as you can imagine I've been a bit busy. Hell, I still haven't started getting into Mad Men or any of the HBO shows now on Amazon Prime that I claimed I would have been flying through by this point. Call me lazy, but I just haven't gotten around to any of them.

 

I should probably start by saying that I enjoyed this a lot, and I mean a lot, more than most. It's currently sitting at 33% on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average rating of 4.8/10. Admittedly a little less than Ted. Though only slightly. Perhaps I'm just an idiot that likes Seth McFarlane and his comedy style, I mean I do still enjoy watching Family Guy and American Dad, I never really liked The Cleveland Show, though not many really did.

The humor this go around was a lot more obscene than in Ted, or rather, just more in your face about it. I'd be lying though if I told you I could remember a single line of dialogue that wasn't in the trailer. I'd also be lying if I said, as other critics have claimed, that the best jokes are in the trailer. I was one of the people that had seen the trailer for this several times and still found me laughing at the jokes I had already heard. So perhaps, I was just the right audience for this movie.

I should probably get this out of the way now, because a lot of people seem to be claiming that this was trying to be Blazing Saddles. Like this moron. Perhaps "moron" is a strong word, because he actually has a job, but then again, so do most people. There's literally nothing in this film that resembles the mastery of self-referential comedy that is Blazing Saddles. This isn't even self referential. Sure, "Mila Kunis" is the Native American word for "fine" in the film, but that was simply a joke, and nothing more. Comparing this to Blazing Saddles is like comparing apples to oranges, and I mean that literally. They're both comedies that take place during the 1800's in the West. Just like apples and oranges are fruit. However apples are not oranges, they have a different texture, taste, and they don't need to be peeled (well oranges don't technically need to be peeled, but it's highly recommended). A Million Ways is not Blazing Saddles, it's tailor made for McFarlane's audience, and not trying to be a commentary on comedy and how films are made, Seth McFarlane is not Mel Brooks, nor do I think he is even trying to be. The only similarity between them is that they are Western Comedies, that's it, that's as close as they get to each other.

I just have to ask why so many are making this insane comparison. It's like they thought Blazing Saddles was the only western based comedy to have existed before this (1, 2, 3, 4 there's also this one comparing it to Django Unchained, which in no way was a comedy, though there is a Jamie Foxx cameo). Sure, it is likely that Blazing Saddles had some influence on the film, but what about Three Amigos, Back to the Future: Part III (There's even a friggin cameo that would suggest that had more of an influence than Blazing Saddles), Or even Maverick or My Name is Nobody. The fact of the matter is that people are seemingly refusing to see that this is simply a western comedy, and thus it will have similarities to other western comedies. Perhaps its the absurd nature of A Million Ways that links it to the extreme nature of Blazing Saddles.

I also feel the need to call out the writers of these reviews for their comments, but I won't and call it their opinion. But when I see a line like, "There’s also a runaway slave shooting gallery, which shows MacFarlane’s willingness to offend," I can't just sit back and let that slide. First of all, when has comedy not been about offending someone? When did comedy become something to where nobody should be offended? I've always lived under the impression that comedy, inherently in it's very nature, will offend someone, and that's partially where the humor comes from. I mean, arguably the best stand up comedian ever was George Carlin, and you can't get much more offensive than him.

Basically pointing out that a comedy is being offensive is pointless. If everyone went to a comedy, let a lone an r-rated comedy expecting to at some point not be offended by what they see, then I'm afraid...

 

Sure, I'll admit that Mcfarlane was perhaps not the best choice to lead this film, plenty of people would have potentially be better fit to play the role, I'll agree there, but that's as far as I'll go. It seems that more and more people take offense to jokes and somehow label that as a bad thing. Your personal inability to take a joke is nobodies fault but your own, and you are in no place to blame the movie for your being offended. You spent the money to go see it, you are entirely at fault. Now you can however blame the movie for not being funny, because if you didn't find it funny then it's just not your type of comedy. That may seem like a double standard, but it isn't, allow me to explain.

In one case you find a joke offensive, in both then, it's safe to assume that the joke would be found to be unfunny. Many people can find the joke unfunny, I found a lot of the jokes not-particularly funny while others around me were laughing or not laughing. If they also take an offense to it, that's a personal problem. You are putting your own personal feelings about what can or cannot be joked about above all else. I've said this, for what seems like a million times now, but nothing is off-hands in comedy. Anything and everything can be joked about, and if we start saying "you can't joke about that" because we don't want to offend someone, then we can't joke about anything in fear of offending the next person. That may seem like a slope that is slippery, but it isn't, it's just stating that if we start trying not to offend people, we'll end up at a point, where we won't be because jokes won't be offensive any more, or there just won't be comedians any more (that may be a bit of a stretch though, and I can conceive of that point falling into that of the slippery slope variety). 

Take for example last night's episode of Louie (a bit off topic, but it's relevant) the episode entitled "Pamela 1." Louie tries to force himself onto Pamela, in an attempt to kiss her or more. He even begins to lift her shirt up, all while she is saying "No," and trying to leave, but he is persistent. It goes no where, aside from an awkward, consented kiss. But when she gets away from him, when he stops trying, she says "This would be rape if you weren't so stupid -- you can't even rape well," while pulling her shirt back down over her stomach. You can either watch the episode for your self, or read this article about it. The writer of the article states at the end, "While Louie the character doesn't see the connections, I suspect that Louis the writer knows them all too well—and we have him to thank for producing an episode of television that manages to reflect lived realities while simultaneously challenging them, and even sneaks in a few great jokes in the process." We have something as offensive as rape, and yet, there are jokes about it. Which is not entirely surprisingly, as Louie has defended the use of rape jokes before stating, "To me, all dialogue is positive. For me, any joke about anything bad is great. Any joke about rape, the Holocaust, the Mets -- any joke about something bad is a positive thing. I've read some blogs during this thing that has enlightened me with things I don't know" (Source).

 

Then there's this from an entirely different episode (full scene).

So basically, offensive things exist in comedy. That's just the way it is, and nothing is off limits. All in all, I enjoyed my time with A Million Ways. I found it enjoyable, and wasn't bored with it, I was laughing enough to keep my interest and occasionally I was laughing uncontrollably. 

The opening cinematography and landscape shots will remind any western fan of the classic westerns that they know. Just keep in mind, this in no way is a classic western. I'm giving A Million Ways to Die in the West a 7.5 out of 10. Despite the comedy hitting strong at points, there were still a lot of jokes that fell flat, and admittedly McFarlane is a rather weak lead here, and it would have done the movie better justice to have cast someone else in the lead. Also, NPH is awesome.

 I doubt that I'll be going to the theaters this weekend for either Edge of Tomorrow or The Fault in Our Stars. I'll likely be waiting until next week and the 13th's release of both How to Train Your Dragon 2 as well as 22 Jump Street. Until next time, here's a video, enjoy:

The Amazing Spider-Man 2

So this is the start of my "new" format, that I talked all about in my previous post. From here on out the focus is on critiquing visual media. And what better time to kick that off than at the start of the Summer movie season with the sequel to one of my favorite comic book movies, The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

I went to see it last night, May 2nd, with the girlfriend for my Birthday - despite it being a few days early. We went to Outback first, then to the movie. She payed, because, in her words "I love you very, very, very, very, very, very, very much."  We also got free popcorn, so that's a plus.

 

Let's start with the basics, the plot.The film centers on the relationship between Peter and Gwen, in sort of a will they or won't they remain together. This narrative arc wraps around the development of Electro and the Green Goblin,  while also dealing albeit briefly with the mystery behind the deaths of Mary and Richard Parker, Peter's parents. Ultimately the film boils down into a simple idea, self identity. Peter and Gwen, as previously stated spend most of the film trying to figure out who they are and where they belong, this isn't particularly uncommon for comic book films, as that was the central focus of the first Iron Man and every single time the Hulk is used, that's the focus on his character. Peter knows he's Spider-Man, and damn does Garfield knock it out of the park again (but more on that later), but he doesn't know how to be both Spider-Man and Peter Parker, this is the journey he must go through, and the realization he will come to be the films end. Gwen on the other hand, is offered an interview and opening at Oxford, her decision is whether or not to take it, or remain in New York with the man she loves.

Now onto the damn good special effects. I'm normally not one to boast about how good something looks blowing up, or how nice lightning looks shooting from someone's finger tips, or how blue that guy is. But the visual effects in this film were just fantastic. They knew just when to hit the slow motion and just when to pick it back up so you weren't being bashed over the head with slow motion. If you're not sure what that's like, watch 300: Rise of an Empire, people stand still in slow motion - it's ridiculous. By the way, on a complete side note, I burnt my finger, and it hurts, that is all.

  

Zap. Zap. Zap.

 

Seriously though, Electro looks great, once he turns blue and stuff. Before that, he's just some weird guy with a comb-over. Props to Jamie Foxx though for being able to play such a convincing Spider-Man obsessed creep.  Though we are supposed to sympathize with him, he's lived his whole life as just another face in the crowd, nobody remembering his name from day to day, going so far as to make himself his own "Happy Birthday Max" card, just so someone might notice that it's his birthday. So when he's finally noticed, and put in the spotlight, only to have a heroic deed by Spider-Man take it away from him, making him yet again another overlooked face, he snaps becoming the villain and wanting Spider-Man dead.

 

I'm just going to casually flick lightning at you, no big deal.

 

I glow red when I get angry.

Electro's suit, when he gets it, is just plain awesome. Though where he gets it is totally unexplained. Does he just spontaneously make this amazing looking suit? Was there one in Ravencroft where he was being held? Did Harry make it for him? It looks nice, but it comes out of no where. Then there's Harry.

\

Sleep well, children.

Harry becomes the Green Goblin this go around as opposed to the usual Hob-Goblin, and he looks worse for the ware. Say what you will negatively about Sam Raimi's Spider-Man films, but at least the costumes there, Emo Peter Parker aside, wouldn't give children nightmares. I'm an avid Dane Dehaan fan, the kid can do no wrong in my eyes he's a brilliant actor and steals the show in literally everything he is in, this is no exception. He is the best thing about this movie, and to a lot of people (not including myself), the only good thing. So yeah, not only are the VFX top notch, that make-up department killed it with Dehaan's Goblin design.

Garfield is still the perfect Spider-Man, whether or not he's a perfect Peter Parker is another story, for another day, between people who aren't some guy and myself. He's still a better Peter than Maguire ever was, and I'll keep touting that to the grave if I have to. Perhaps it's just the better writing, and a better standard for acting in this type of film, but God, looking back the only redeemable quality of that original trilogy was Doc Ock in the second film. Many are claiming that no one can do Otto Octavius better, so I guess we'll have to wait for the Sinister Six film, or Amazing Spider-Man 3, whichever comes first. The Sinister Six, through the teaser within the credits, appear to be Rhino, Doc Ock, Green Goblin, Vulture, Kraven the Hunter, and either Mysterio, The Lizard, or Chameleon; that last one is a bit ambiguous (source).

Mini-tease confirming at least Doc Ock and Vulture.

The visuals themselves weren't all that striking. There weren't any amazing camera angles or shots that blew my mind. There weren't any crazy lighting choices or anything in the mise-en-scene that seemed peculiar or notable. Peter's scene with Gwen atop the bridge was rather beautifully shot, but it's nothing that hasn't been done before or better.

The melodrama this go around was definitely heightened, Peter's struggling with hallucinations, his relationship is on the rocks, and as stated before he suffers from an identity crisis throughout most of the film, especially in the closing ten or so minutes. I'm not going to spoil what happens for the people that actually want to see the film for themselves, but I will say that you probably already know the big spoiler from other dicks on the internet, or just by knowing the source material. 

Okay I lied, there is one sequence that was fantastic, and it was the tower sequence you can see above. The camera for the most part takes either two positions, looking up at Peter in Spider-suit, or down at Gwen. When it takes a different position, neither of them are seen in the frame. The camera, at one point focuses on Peter's web as Gwen is falling, and the end of the webbing takes on the appearance of a hand, and the camera stays on that for a decent amount of time. I just think the sequence was done masterfully.

There isn't much action in this one, and to be honest I don't think there was in the first, I can't recall just how much action there was in the first. There are three big sequences here, four if you count the last two minutes. They're spaced out quite a bit, about half an hour a piece, there's your opening sequence with Rhino, minus the suit, the first confrontation with Electro, then the battle with Electro/Green Goblin, and the final confrontation with a suited up Rhino. The action, as par for the course, was executed beautifully. The fights are choreographed well and work like a charm. And while the rest of the film for the most part is without "action" that isn't to say that nothing happens, because a lot happens in the near two and a half hours of Spidey-goodness. There just aren't that many fights.

My only real complaint of the film comes with the storyline of the parents death and research. My main issue with this stuff as it does literally nothing for the advancement of the plot, or narrative. It only serves for more melodrama and suffering on Peter's behalf. There's even a scene with Aunt May, where she tells Peter to stop caring about this stuff because it's only going to hurt your feelings and stuff. He basically tells her, "I know, but I don't care I want to know anyways." I will say, however, that the lab he finds was pretty neat, despite its being there not making much sense.

 

There was also this great scene at the start, where Peter is trying to get to his high school graduation, but he forgets to take his mask off and almost walks onto stage wearing the mask. That's about as spoilery as I plan on getting. I felt the need to mention the scene mainly because of this meme, so you can thank the meme for that little tangent there.

All in all, I'm not sure if I can say that The Amazing Spider-Man 2  was better than the first one. Rotten Tomatoes certainly doesn't think so. To be honest, I'm even having trouble deciding. There isn't much a difference in the way the two films were made for me to say one was definitely better than the other. With the other three films already telling Spider-Man's origins the first one did come off as a bit of a retelling, despite ten years separating the first films of both respective franchises (and five years separating the horrendous Spider-Man 3 from The Amazing Spider-Man). 

I'm starting to dislike giving movies a score out of ten, because the scores change over time. I could give the movie an 8/10 this week, and then after my third or fourth viewing, on Blu-Ray of course, it could be a 6,7, or 9. So where does that leave me, because I've got this whole summer season thing coming up, and everyone rates things now-a-days, how will people know that I enjoyed the film despite its minor misgivings. Maybe I should just stick with the good ol' */10 rating system and just keep my revisions to myself.

As of right now I'm going to give The Amazing Spider-Man 2 the aforementioned 8/10, which is about where I would rank it predecessor at the moment despite having initially loved the first one enough to give it a rather high ranking spot on my top ten of Summer 2012 (I believe I gave it the #1 slot actually.) To be fair I judge movies differently than I did back in 2012. Hell, I judge them differently every month, or so it seems.

So the rest of the summer holds quite a lot in store for me. I likely won't review everything that I see, but I will more than likely discuss the good stuff, or the horrendously bad if I end up seeing something that is just straight-up terrible this summer. Next week is, hopefully, Neighbors, with Godzilla following the week after. I'll see you then. Have a video.

Sorry for the Delay

Okay, I'm not really sorry. I just forgot, okay.

By the way, expect to see a lot more 60's Spider-Man memes. I've amassed a collection.

So, what is there to talk about. College is almost over - oh shit, I haven't written about how the academic dishonesty thing turned out, my bad. So, it... didn't. maybe I need to elaborate. I didn't win. It doesn't really bother me - but I do still need to figure out how to pay for the summer course I'll be taking if the bill is due before May - I should probably check that... It doesn't say. Oh, well.

So yeah, I sort of went back on my words from... two(?) weeks ago. I decided to just take an online summer course through Brockport to get it all over and done with, then possibly onto film school (New York Film Academy's online screenwriting program), eventually. With the possibility of actually going to a film school, Chicago, NYFA, Toronto in the greater future. The main reason I decided to take this route was simply that it was by far the easiest route. Going through a community college or different school I would have had to apply and wait for an acceptance letter, and I do not have time for that. Well I do, I'm just much to lazy to do so.

Speaking of lazy, I still have to read 38 pages of a children's book, Feathers, for my Children's lit class. I decided to write this instead of doing that. I'll get to that as soon as I'm done here. I promise, I just can't write this and read a book at the same time. I only have two hands, and two eyes.

I got my graduation tickets today. It's sort of hitting me slowly that one, I'm getting old, and two, college is almost over. I mean, I've had that feeling since the start of last semester, back in like August. But now, it's almost as if it's really happening (as if it hadn't been before now). There are however a few things other than school I'd like to talk about. Bear with me.

First, my girlfriend and I celebrated our five month anniversary yesterday. I honestly couldn't be happier. I know I say this in practically every blog since the end of November, but it's true. Next month is our six month. Our half a year.

 

Perhaps I do overdo, the "I love my girlfriend" stuff, but I can't help it. On now to the summer movies talk, as Summer movie season is swiftly approaching, the first of them coming at the end of next week, which honestly will be my next blog post, in the form of a rather extensive review of The Amazing Spider-Man 2. I feel the need to return to form in the way I review movies. I've simplified it, and got a bit more extensive with Captain America: The Winter Soldier. But nothing beats the way I reviewed M. Night Shyamalan's The Last Airbender. Now that was extensive... I think I posted it on like Flixster, here. 

Essentially, for those who didn't click on the link, I break down my opinions on the various aspects of the film. I wrote it before I started my minor in Film Studies, I saw it around opening week, while it was still in theaters (late 2010 I believe) with a high school friend of mine, Shawn. So the film terminology and what-not would not have been with me, and the review likely doesn't sound as sophisticated as it would if I were to write it now, which I am not going to take the time to do, as it would require me to re-watch the film. Which is my only unforgivable sin.

Back to the Summer movie talk. May is a big month, let's break down the coming months of summer, talking briefly about each of the following movies, all of which will be reviewed in later blog posts.

May 2: The Amazing Spider-Man 2

The sequel to my favorite of the Spider-Man films. Yes, that includes any and all of Sam Raimi's original trilogy. Yes, I personally felt as though The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) was better than Spider-Man 2 (2004). I've yet to have read any of the recent Superior Spider-Man comics, but it still holds that Spider-Man is one of my favorite heroes. I could relate to Peter Parker, and that's something that for me, the first three films lacked, I was never able to relate to Maguire's portrayal of Peter, and his portrayal of Spider-Man was horrendous (natural web shooters aside). I needed my nerd who gets super-powers and thus becomes cocky. I didn't want the boring, always for some reason out-of-touch Peter that was given to us in those first few films. Yes, Andrew Garfield does not necessarily look the part of a nerd, but so what, at least he acts the latter which is what I wanted out of the original films.

On May 9 I may see Neighbors, but I probably won't do a review of it, unless it's as amazing as Rotten Tomatoes and it's current 100% status suggest.

May 16: Godzilla

  

I'm not sure this movie could be any more hyped than it is. It's the biggest Godzilla to date, it features more than one Kaiju, and they well likely fight, and Bryan freakin' Cranston is in it. I'd be lying if I didn't say this is the movie I am most looking forward to seeing.

 

May 23: X-Men: Days of  Future Past

The Days of Future Past storyline is fantastic, and while the film, like all of the other X-Men movies have been doing, is taking liberties with it, I can't wait to see the end result. Especially considering it's setting up for the future X-Men: Apocalypse.

 

May 30:  A Million Ways to Die in the West

I'm a big fan of Seth MacFarlane, and I loved Ted. Now that MacFarlane is actually in front of the camera too, rather than just providing the voice to a character makes things more interesting. Maleficent also opens on May 30, though I don't really care much for that one, but I likely will see it at some point.

June 13: 22 Jump Street and How to Train Your Dragon 2

This day will forever be renamed the day of the sequels as I will. I repeat I WILL. Watch both of them opening night (whether I pay for both of them is another story). 21 Jump Street (2012) was and still is one of my favorite comedies, and How to Train Your Dragon (2010) is my favorite animated movie.

June 27: Transformers: Age of Extinction

Let it be known that despite my qualms with every Transformers movie after the first, that I'm actually looking forward to another one. I may not agree with Bay, or his directing style, but he knows how to get me interested and hoping that he'll do it right this time around.

 

July 11: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

The only movie I'll likely review in July, though Jupiter Ascending and The Purge: Anarchy do have my interests. The first one was excellent, and this one, judging from trailers, looks to be even better. I am sad that they've killed off James Franco's character (source) even if I get to see him die, but the rest of the cast in this is phenomenal.

 

August 1: Guardians of the Galaxy

As one of the few people that knows who these guys are I cannot possibly stress how excited I am for this movie. And considering that Gunn directed and wrote the fantastic Super, only makes me more excited for this. Also, Rocket Raccoon.

 

July 8: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Lucy

My last two-fer of the Summer. Admittedly I don't care much for the new Turtles movie, I'm still interested in seeing it. Lucy I'll likely see opening weekend. TMNT, the week after or sooner if I'm up for it.

Man, this is a long post, though I feel as though it's missing something.

 

Perfect.

Okay, now it feels complete. I'll be back in a week or so - either this weekend or next. If the latter comes first I'll have a Spider-Man review in tow. Here, have a non-Spider-Man related video.