Summer Movies 2008, Part One

I'm in the middle of two of the most amazing experiences of my life: working in woods of Northern California for five months and starting the most challenging and, hopefully, rewarding experience of my life at NYU.

During this strange period of time, I am back living with my parents in St. Clair Shores, MI. It hasn't been easy; two days after arriving home- with the car I drove all the way from California - I hit a pot hole and sent it to the scrap yard, I couldn't even get a job as a busboy, a credit nightmare prevented me for almost a month from getting a loan for grad school, and, basically, was reminded of why I left.

To deal with this lull period I indulged in pure, unhinged, escapism.

I filled my Michigan sorrows with mounds of comic books, NYC travel guides, and lots of movies. Anytime someone suggested a movie, I was there. What follows is my account of the biggest movie summer of my life. For kicks, I graded the movies.

Iron Man: A-

I started my summer with Iron Man in Santa Cruz, CA with my mom. The movie is about weapons maker Tony Stark's transformation from US military arms dealer to super-hero. Tony Stark is played by Robert Downey Jr. and the role couldn't have been better cast. In the comics, Tony Stark has been plagued with personal problems like alcoholism, loosing his company, and, recently, blaming himself for the death of Captain America. Downey's own career has been filled with ups and downs and substance abuse. Downey is Tony Stark and Tony Stark is Downey.

Iron Man starts out with Stark supporting the US government's terrorizing of the Middle East through his weapons, but after he is taken hostage, he has a change of heart. Stark's eyes are open to the world and he no longer wants to be involved in the killing of innocents and becomes a full-blown hero for the entire world.

The best parts of the movie are when Tony Stark is creating his Iron Man costume. He starts off from a relatively simple design to something out of the distant future. The mishaps in creating the costume are hilarious (this fire extinguisher robot keeps spraying him) and, when he finally gets it right and flies through the sky, it's like you're really with him in the clouds.

Iron Man is really fun, simple, and has an anti-imperialist message that I loved. Also, if you get a chance to hangout after the credits, there is an extra scene with Stark and Nick Fury – It is every comic fan's dream come true.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull: B+

I have always loved Indiana Jones. I'm a big enough history nerd and adventurer to daydream about chasing down lost tombs and artifacts even without the help of this film franchise. Regardless, Indy's adventures have expanded my imagination and joy for archeology. On our stop in Chicago, Morgan and I saw this movie with my friend Augustine.

In Crystal Skull, we catch up with Indy after his dad died and he is reaching the later years of his teaching career. The United States is also fully embroiled in McCarthyism at this point and the government is targeting anyone that might have a difference of opinion.

The plot of the movie is that the (evil, of course) Russians are trying to find the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull that, apparently, has a bunch of riches and knowledge. Indy, and his son, go on an adventure to find the Kingdom and try to thwart their enemies.

The movie is action-packed, the stunts are amazing, the story is enjoyable, and Stephen Spielberg seems to be at the top of his game. I have heard the critics say that the "alien plot" (they are inter-dimensional creatures, people!) is too far-fetched, but does anyone remember the previous movies? Yeah, you're right Joseph of Arimathea being alive and still having the Holy Grail isn't far-fetched. Jeez.

I could have done without some of the cheesy CGI and the "Russians = bad" theme, but I loved how the movie addressed how even someone like Indiana Jones could be targeted by the government as a "red" just for not approving of something he was doing.

Also, during my last week at San Joaquin Outdoor School, one of my students told me that if we don't find the twelve crystal skulls hidden all over the world by 2012, the world will end. So, um, keep that in mind.

The Incredible Hulk: B-

This was the first movie I saw with my cousin Alex and it was the start of an exciting movie going relationship.

Well, it was sure a lot better than the Hulk movie from a few years ago. The addition of Ed Norton (my favorite actor) was also a fantastic choice. The movie cleverly tells the origin story of the Hulk during the credits so faithful fans wouldn't have to sit through it again.

The Incredible Hulk follows Bruce Banner (Ed Norton) as he runs from a U.S. government weapons program, tries to figure out a cure, and tries to win back the heart of his love, Betty, played by Liv Tyler. I usually can't stand Tyler, but as Alex said, "she was less offensive in this movie."

One of the coolest scenes is when the Hulk goes toe-to-toe with his arch-nemesis, the Abomination, in a crowded street. The action and effects feel so real it's like there is no CGI at all.

The Incredible Hulk was entertaining, much better than Ang Lee's movie, but also forgettable. There wasn't anything about this movie that made me think after or really care about the character. Sure, the scenes with Banner trying to figure out a cure were interesting, but besides that, it was mostly just a bunch of hitting and yelling. I'll be interested to see what they do with a sequel.