"Avatar" was derivative and unoriginal in story, but still a thrill ride and visually amazing. I watched it in 3-D at a regular theater, and enjoyed it very much. However, Hollywood hasn't offered us anything surprising in plot for a long time, and what new stories are left for filmmakers to tell? That doesn't necessarily mean that a "re-imagination" can't be good, and special effects are getting more and more dazzling to compensate for weak or "borrowed" scripting. "Daybreakers" and vampires of the near future with Ethan Hawke looking for a cure has been done before. ("Last Man On Earth" with Vincent Price, "The Omega Man" with Charleston Heston, Will Smith in "I am Legend," ALL based on the same Richard Matheson book, and all good flicks.) It was still pretty entertaining with a new twist (Ethan as a scientist fang and what he'll do to avoid drinking human blood, and what happened to vamps who couldn't get a decent cup of Type O), albeit gory as all get out.
"Book of Eli" is yet another glimpse of a dark and dismal post-apocalyptic future and highly predictable, and I don't quite get what the fuss about Denzel Washington's performance is all about. He was his usual good self (perhaps I'm spoiled and just EXPECT high caliber from him), but not hardly "Oscar-worthy" as some are saying. DON'T watch the first 10 minutes if you are a rabid cat lover. You'll be sorry. "Legion" is an angelic horror movie with a Biblical Revelation/Tribulation/Salvation theme we've seen drummed to death, but had great "wings" and a happier ending than most such flicks. All were worth the ticket, popcorn, malted milk balls, and super-sized soda.
With more movies coming up based on books, comics, fairy tales, mythology, TV shows, history, and previous movies....well really, what IS going to be new under the sun? Maybe it's time for a remake of "The Happy Hooker?" Which provider here on ECCIE would you like to see in the starring role? Would you want to do a cameo if it meant free sex with a porn star?
