Saturday night at the movies

(Posted by John.)

So the girlfriend and I went to go see The Golden Compass tonight.  There's a bit of weird layering here, as my fears about The Golden Compass being made in to a movie was one of the reasons I started blogging almost exactly three years ago today.  Seriously.  (Yes, George Bush had just been re-elected, but what really made me want to spill pixels was fears of an emasculated film based on a children's book.  Priorities, people!)

And then there's the big move to Cogitamus, weirdly also happening at the same time.  Obviously, I'm excited to keep blogging with such quality writers, and immensely grateful to Ezra for the opportunity he's given me.  Not that you'll need it Ezra, but best of luck.

So there's a bunch of things going on. But let's get back to the movie. Happily, the fundamentalist rage didn't manage to ruin the movie. Sadly, the movie was still ruined.

I think Stephanie Zacharek more or less nailed the movie's flaws, and its few virtues, with her review. But I had a curious sensation watching this movie, trying to figure out where I'd last seen a movie which had such a dissonant mix of good actors and high production values on the one hand, but absolutely atrocious writing on the other.

Oh yeah...  The Chronicles of Riddick.   Except this time, Vin Diesel is a polar bear.

And if you haven't seen it, Riddick really is a weird movie. You've got Thandie Newton, Colm Feore, and Dame friggin' Judi Dench, but somehow they've all been transported to this alternate universe where they're delivering some of the worst dialogue ever, within a truly atrocious story.  But it's also got some of the most impressive and interesting use of CGI that I've seen in a film recently -- frankly, more in some ways than the Star Wars prequels.  But:  Dame friggin' Judi Dench.  Still, all in all, a forgettable film.

So let's just say that when I'm comparing it with Golden Compass, it's not a compliment.