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Monday, December 28, 2009

And Now for Something Completely Different

Because I'm busy coughing up a lung, reading books that are due at the library today and beyond any ability to renew, slathering my feet with Vick's Vapor Rub and contemplating the fact that draft one of my novel (I still feel incredibly self-conscious calling it that) may be complete, I'm going to take the easy way out and do something crassly commercial (as if that's something completely different) .

You see, I don't get out much and so, when I do, I make damn sure that it's for something I'm glad on which to spend my time and money. For example, I don't just go see any movie. I go see the movies that, when I see the trailer, I say something like "I HAVE to see that movie." The ones I think might be interesting can wait until they are on Pay Per View or On Demand or Turner Classic Movies, for that matter. Yeah - it may take me that long.

So on Christmas day, we saw the new movie Sherlock Holmes. Now I love Jeremy Brett's portrayal of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's creation so I wondered how I would feel about Robert Downey, Jr. in the role. It was not lost on me that one addict playing another might make Downey's portrayal richer somehow, but I wasn't sure it that would be enough.

Well, let me tell you that I was not disappointed. I loved this movie. I loved it so much so that I want to see it again. It was rich and lush and fun and action-packed and slightly campy and humorous and witty and even had eye candy for anyone's tastes (midget, giant, Mrs. Hudson, shirtless men, beautiful women, officers in uniform, shipyard workers, butchered swine, gamblers, people with funny teeth). Something for everyone!

I don't do this often, but for good entertainment, I recommend Sherlock Holmes. Mind you, I am one who enjoys movies as entertainment and escapism, not so much as social commentary. I could never sit through Slum Dog Millionaire, for example. When it's too real and too depressing, it's too real and too depressing. Thank you, no. That's why I call my mother once a month, okay?



So there we were all ready to watch the movie. The theater darkened and the previews came on (yay!). Wouldn't you know it? Another movie trailer for one in which I exclaimed "I have to see that!"




Oh, no, wait, that's not it. I've seen that one several times. Here's the right one...



See you at the movies. I'll be the chickadee with the purse weighted down with smuggled in candy.

19 comments:

  1. As a fellow fan of Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes (we even went to see him on Broadway in the role!) I am happy to hear you liked the new Sherlock Holmes movie. We were trying to figure out if we should go, given we can't imagine anyone but Jeremy Brett. But if you liked it then I know I will! So we will definitely go see it!

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  2. I love to smuggle in my own candy.

    Sherlock was good huh? I don't like movies I am supposed to like either - too sad and depressing.

    I loved Star Trek, that is the last movie I saw in the theatre. The new one...with the young hotties.

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  3. I can't WAIT to see that movie. I will probably have to see it by myself, as everyone I know is otherwise occupied with family business, and well, I'm free as a bird right now. So . . .

    Great review. Hope you're feeling on the mend.

    Happy New Year, Lisa!

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  4. Since I'm so lazy, I'll probably just wait until it's out on DVD in five months though it does look pretty cool.

    The original Clash had some swanky Ursula Andress, there better be some swanky this time around, too.

    Ain't gonna be the same without Burgess.

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  5. I'll give you $ to pick up my share of snacks at Ye Olde Dolla Tree.

    I'm looking forward to seeing Sherlock Holmes, too. I may have to wait until it's been in theatres a few more weeks, in order to get a discount (here, anyway).

    I'll have to trust your opinion on the second movie, though. I saw the snake things, and was immediately creeped out. How I have lived in the south this long, I will never know.

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  6. I'm all psyched to see it too!! And we saw Avatar the other day and there was this trailer for Robin Hood with Russell Crowe.
    yowza! the line starts behind me, ladies.

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  7. I'm surprised! I didn't think it would be good, although I do love RD Jr. And I always smuggle in my own candy.

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  8. I'd been wondering if it was any good, especially when casting an addict to play an addict didn't seem like much of a stretch. My fear, based on the trailers, was overkill on action and SFX.

    I watched the ultimate Sherlock the other night, Basil Rathbone in "The Hound of the Baskervilles." Gotta love those old movies where they had to do most of the scary stuff through suggestion and the action is implied rather than see.n

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  9. So I'm not the only wily coyote who sneaks in candy in her generous purse? SH looks like a two-boxes-of-Milk-Duds movie. Funny you should post this. I'm trying to talk hubby into seeing it tonight.

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  10. OK so they remade a campy special effects movie by making . . . a campy heavy metal special effects movie? Look forward to it . . . NOT!

    The original is one of those that's so bad, it's fun to watch. Plus, Harry Hamlin is so miscast as to be the best part of it - even better than the bad stop-motion animation.

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  11. We don't get out to see movies that often either. It's cheaper (our own food and wine) and easier to do pay per view. However I really want to see Sherlock Holmes, one because I lust on a daily basis for Robert Downey Jr. and also because I love the storyline.

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  12. glad you got to get out and enjoy a day at teh movies!
    not a big movie goer myself. got spoiled when gawd developed pay per view

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  13. I want to see Sherlock too...it's on Bing's list and I suspect we will be seeing that, if we ever plow out of this snow....

    And Bing and I don't smuggle candy into the theatre. We stop at a burger place and get cheeseburgers and smuggle them in. People turn around to stare at us because...hey...cheeseburger smell carries.

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  14. Hmm, Iwanski and I got an AMC Gift Card from a friend for Christmas...I wonder if the Sherlock Holmes movie would be giftcard-worthy? :)

    I don't know, I think I'm still holding out for the next Michael Moore movie. *smiles*

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  15. Sherlock looks like fun but I'll wait for dvd just like we did for District 9. Yow, it was wild and I was glad I hadn't read much about it. So when are you off to the IMax? Don't forget your seat belt.

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  16. Hope you are feeling better.

    I'm dying to see Sherlock Holmes. It looks great. I've seen "It's Complicated" (cute), "Up And Away" (love George Clooney), "Blind Side" (terrific) and "Avitar" (wow). All were good but not GREAT. I'm hoping Sherlock Holmes is my favorite.

    Hang in there and feel good.
    j

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  17. They're remaking Clash of the Titans?!!?!!?!!

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  18. Very very excited about CotT, but horribly disappointed in the one bit of cheese: they really couldn't come up with anything better than "Titans Will Clash?" WTF? Otherwise: Awesome.

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  19. Please excuse my ignorance, but Vick's Vapor Rub on the feet???

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