I met with light traffic and a sprinkling of rain coming into Seattle. I did the Mercer shuffle (crossing four lanes of tough traffic coming out of a left on ramp to take an exit only half a mile hence). I stopped at Dick's in Queen Anne and smiled at how apologetic their signage was for raising the prices another dime across the board. Eating my Deluxe and fries, I watched a crazy bum shadow box the world just outside my window.
Then I drove back up Denny and arrived at the theater. I was somewhat concerned with the asinine people following me in (they were affecting what I assume to have been a pseudo-gay way of talking and attempting to mock gush about things; I wanted to punch them in the throat on general principles) and the gaggle of black-clad mall revolutionaries smoking outside while waiting for the movie, but I needn't have worried. The show was quiet and engaged. Before the show, the manager came out and apologized for showing _Narnia_ for the past four months. He tried to get us excited for the movies they'd have at the Cinerama this summer, and I have to admit I won't mind seeing _X-Men 3_ there.
The movie was serviceable in most parts, and endearingly self-amused in the remaining parts. I was somewhat miffed at how early Evey betrayed V in this version. I was also somewhat disappointed that they had to concoct a plague angle to explain how the government came to power and why the man in room five was tortured in the first place. The story metamorphosed from being about the rise of totalitarianism when the average people of the world did nothing to something more akin to cartoonish super-villainy. Some of the more subtle points were driven home with thousands of V-cum-Guy-Fawkes-clad marchers in the street, but I guess the average movie goer would need that. My last gripe, however minor, was that V was scarred and deformed in this version; I loved the comic version where he was breathtaking underneath and yet still surrendered his self to the idea of V.
The idea of casting Natalie Portman to act--let alone act with an affected accent--is an entirely different discussion.
Still and again, it was a fun movie, and I'd not mind seeing it again. I love Hugo Weaving in a way that is totally acceptable for a straight man to love a craggy character actor.
Afterward, I piloted the car back home, and I was stuck once again how much I love driving. There in my leather cocoon with my hands at ten and two and the engine providing my symphony, I felt at ease.
Not a bad way to end my birthday.
Then I drove back up Denny and arrived at the theater. I was somewhat concerned with the asinine people following me in (they were affecting what I assume to have been a pseudo-gay way of talking and attempting to mock gush about things; I wanted to punch them in the throat on general principles) and the gaggle of black-clad mall revolutionaries smoking outside while waiting for the movie, but I needn't have worried. The show was quiet and engaged. Before the show, the manager came out and apologized for showing _Narnia_ for the past four months. He tried to get us excited for the movies they'd have at the Cinerama this summer, and I have to admit I won't mind seeing _X-Men 3_ there.
The movie was serviceable in most parts, and endearingly self-amused in the remaining parts. I was somewhat miffed at how early Evey betrayed V in this version. I was also somewhat disappointed that they had to concoct a plague angle to explain how the government came to power and why the man in room five was tortured in the first place. The story metamorphosed from being about the rise of totalitarianism when the average people of the world did nothing to something more akin to cartoonish super-villainy. Some of the more subtle points were driven home with thousands of V-cum-Guy-Fawkes-clad marchers in the street, but I guess the average movie goer would need that. My last gripe, however minor, was that V was scarred and deformed in this version; I loved the comic version where he was breathtaking underneath and yet still surrendered his self to the idea of V.
The idea of casting Natalie Portman to act--let alone act with an affected accent--is an entirely different discussion.
Still and again, it was a fun movie, and I'd not mind seeing it again. I love Hugo Weaving in a way that is totally acceptable for a straight man to love a craggy character actor.
Afterward, I piloted the car back home, and I was stuck once again how much I love driving. There in my leather cocoon with my hands at ten and two and the engine providing my symphony, I felt at ease.
Not a bad way to end my birthday.