Hiatus Over, Write-Time for Theatre

Been a longer-than-usual break from the blog, so I have plenty of films from the vault to discuss. Surprisingly, there are a few really new ones in here this time. But leading the pack are a couple of early films from "The Master of Suspense," Alfred Hitchcock.

Saboteur was an okay work featuring convoluted character design and a fickle plot. Hitchcock still held it together, but you could tell it was early in his career with designs on the verge of greatness. Lifeboat kept afloat much better bereft of much setting beyond the sea itself. The characters were interesting. The story played out extremely. Although I'll still admit drifting off during some more drab scenes.

Atonement earned many accolades for its intriguing story, great character acting, and art direction/costume design (don't all those era pieces get points for costume enough?). And it was very interesting to see James McAvoy (of Wanted fame) in a completely different role. But this movie irritated me; I almost stopped watching after the idiot little sister did what makes the story interesting. I get it, but stories like that just piss me off.

Thankfully Stranger Than Fiction was a playful enough endeavor to atone for any lost time the previous film squandered. The casting felt natural and the story felt right, predictable though it may have been. Coming as no surprise, I discovered the director, Marc Forster, also helmed a few films I only recently delighted in: The Kite Runner and Quantum of Solace. Also of note is his foray into the zombie craze adapting Max Brooks' World War Z (still need to read this).

Finally, a couple movies added to my "Loved It" category: August Rush and Fanboys. August Rush chronicles an unfortunate orphan who reunites his star-crossed parents with the ever-present music surrounding his life. If you've ever dabbled in music creation or carry a great imagination, it's a must-see...also if you think Charlie Bucket (Freddie Highmore) is an awesome child actor.

Now Fanboys was a delicate, geeky treat. As a grown manchild who appreciates Star Wars in most of its facets, this comedy adventure tickled my funny bone in a way few films can. All the characters were outrageous, yet still grounded enough in reality to feel real. Trekkie and nerf-herding jokes abounded, and I couldn't have been happier. Plus Kristin Bell became even hotter somehow (and this even before her slave Leia outfit in the end) due to being in on such geekdom. Haven't done so in a long while, but I'll be buying this one.

-- "Nobody calls Han Solo a bitch!"