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Monday, August 30, 2004 · posted at 10:54 AM

The Four-Star Follies

Still, there's been a steady critical gradeflation - what could even be called four-star fever - that makes me uncomfortable when I page theough the entertainment section of The New York Times... What's wrong with saying that the rest (with the exception of the odious Van Helsing, which did have the salubrious effect of making even Catwoman look good) are perfectly acceptable summer time-passers and let it go at that?
- Stephen King, Entertainment Weekly.

I've never read a Stephen King book, but damn I like what he's saying. Critics are so quick to jump on the Tony the Tiger wagon and scream "It's grrrrreeat!" as they parade through movie reviews in newspapers, magazines, tv shows, commercials, and sound bites. Anything that doesn't cause you to hurl your $7 popcorn at the screen is labeled a cinematic masterpiece that's Oscar worthy.

Come on. Maybe I don't know statistics, but to say that 80% of the summer blockbusters were more than light summer fare for the beachgoer seeking air conditioning is presposterous.

As a staunch critic of Spider-Man 2, I felt so vindicated to see Stephen King, in his "The Pop of King" column, write:...is Spider-Man 2 really a four-star movie? I love Sam Raimi's work, but I wince at the idea od putting this movie in the same cirtical category as The Godfather and Unforgiven. Sure, I love those dizzying shots of Spidey swinging through the steel canyons of the city. Of course I loved Doc Ock clomping his way up the side of a skyscraper (while not believing the narrative source of those tentacles in the slightest). But let's be real. The emotional care of this story is a girl who's in a snit because her boyfriend keeps missing her play.
Amen.

Makes me think about picking up one of King's books instead of sitting through another 90-minute mediocre movie given rave reviews.



	Monday, August 30, 2004 · posted at 10:54 AM The Four-Star Follies Still, there's been a steady critical gradeflation - what could even be called four-star fever - that makes me uncomfortable when I page theough the entertainment section of The New York Times... What's wrong with saying that the rest (with the exception of the odious Van Helsing, which did have the salubrious effect of making even Catwoman look good) are perfectly acceptable summer time-passers and let it go at that? - Stephen King, Entertainment Weekly. I've never read a Stephen King book, but damn I like what he's saying. Critics are so quick to jump on the Tony the Tiger wagon and scream "It's grrrrreeat!" as they parade through movie reviews in newspapers, magazines, tv shows, commercials, and sound bites. Anything that doesn't cause you to hurl your $7 popcorn at the screen is labeled a cinematic masterpiece that's Oscar worthy. Come on. Maybe I don't know statistics, but to say that 80% of the summer blockbusters were more than light summer fare for the beachgoer seeking air conditioning is presposterous. As a staunch critic of Spider-Man 2, I felt so vindicated to see Stephen King, in his "The Pop of King" column, write:...is Spider-Man 2 really a four-star movie? I love Sam Raimi's work, but I wince at the idea od putting this movie in the same cirtical category as The Godfather and Unforgiven. Sure, I love those dizzying shots of Spidey swinging through the steel canyons of the city. Of course I loved Doc Ock clomping his way up the side of a skyscraper (while not believing the narrative source of those tentacles in the slightest). But let's be real. The emotional care of this story is a girl who's in a snit because her boyfriend keeps missing her play. Amen. Makes me think about picking up one of King's books instead of sitting through another 90-minute mediocre movie given rave reviews.	Recent Posts The new Jason Mraz DVD is porn - without the neces... The bad beginning and the slippery slope. Contrar... Where there's a Will, there's a way. Last night, W... Bird's nest. I just got my hair cut for the first... One in a trillion. … if everyone in the world was ... Appalling mating practices. I can't believe the g... Left on the pedestal. Every week I peruse the Targ... Curtain call. Today was the last day of productio... You brought it upon yourself' It's come to my at... Not your Orwellian drama. The lemonade is squeeze... Morning news babie goose ryan bluemouse daves son dawntaught desiree diorama emily escadawg galveric high entropy invisible cube jepgato kyellow lilly mhuang mogbert nudream starfish + coffee verbivore Archives March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 January 2007 March 2007 April 2007 November 2008

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