Monday, June 1, 2009

Funk

Anybody out there who might actually read this blog might have noticed lately that many of my posts have been a little, how you say, half-assed. Pictures, or pictures accompanied by two, possibly three, short paragraphs, less than in-depth reviews, and so forth and whatnot. The reason for this is that, blog-wise, I've been in a bit of a funk, lately. I haven't felt especially inspired about any particular topic, even in regards to movies I've seen lately that I particularly liked. The same goes for the bad stuff I've encountered lately, which one might assume should have energized and inspired me towards some sort of massive takedown, but no. I did read one especially bad novel recently, but my inclination was to spend no more time thinking about the book after I closed it, and that's what I've done.

This is how I've been feeling lately

I'm writing this not to announce any kind of momentous change around these parts, so the world can let out a collective sigh of relief. I guess this is just more of an attempt to explain myself, and to keep the blog from lying fallow. More the latter, really, because who cares that much about the former? I also offer no plans to reinvigorate myself or this blog, because I honestly assume that will eventually take care of itself. Everybody has moments like this, after all. Although -- and maybe this is a bit early, especially since I'm not prepared to commit to anything -- I have been considering going back on my word, and kicking off another The Kind of Face you SLASH!! for this October. Last year, I said I was never going to do it again, but now I'm not so sure. It was hard work, but I'm glad I did it, and I also have no idea what else I would do this Halloween. So I guess if this place is still bland and lifeless through September 30, just wait one more day, because things might possibly get marginally better after that. Though I promise nothing.

Also, Star Trek was good! It was a fun time at the theater, and I have no particularly strong gripes beyond the belief that next time around they should maybe rein back a little on the comedy. Especially if the stakes are going to be as high as they were in this film. A story of genocide should maybe not include a scene where Kirk is running around with cartoonishly big hands (the result of an injection from McCoy) trying to warn of imminent danger, but unable to make himself clear because his tongue is numb (ibid). But that's honestly not as bad as it sounds (or not quite, anyway), and overall I had a blast with the film. Special praise goes to Zachary Quinto as Spock, who more or less nails every moment. All the actors stepping in to play these iconic characters must have had a pretty bad case of the jitters, and, honestly, all of them stepped up and delivered, but none moreso than Quinto.

And look, that's going to be my entire review of Star Trek!! I told you I've been half-assing it lately.

14 comments:

Patricia Perry said...

Bill -

You may consider your "Star Trek" review to be half-asses, but I think's it's kind of refreshing sometimes just to read an off-the-curr, no-big-deal assessment of a film. I don't need all the analyiss, all the time. One or two strong obeservations, and I'm satisifed.

(Or course, it's entirely possible that I feel this way, because I often post such pithy reviews when I'm feeling uninspired!)

Patricia Perry said...

off the curr? WTF?

That's meant to be "off the cuff".

Also that'd be "half assed" not half-asses.

And analysis should have only one "s" at the end.

I hope others are amused by my typing errors in direct proportion to how much I'm embarassed by them.

bill r. said...

Thanks, Pat. And really, as much as I liked Star Trek, how in depth can you really get with that kind of film? It's a summer blockbuster that delivers.

Fox said...

Bill-

We disagree on the overall-ness of Star Trek, but I agree with you on the puffy hands sequence. Ew.

Maybe they should have made a masterbation joke about it, or at least had Kirk grab someone's boobs again like he did in the barfight sequence and then add a "boi-oi-oi-ing!" sound effect to the soundtrack or at least play the Benny Hill theme song.

bill r. said...

Fox - Yes, all of those would not have been inappropriate choices for the big hands sequence. But it hardly killed the movie for me (though it did give me cause to worry). I don't mind comedy in Star Trek, because really, who are we kidding: you can't take it too seriously. But I would plead that we don't all go nuts with it. Is all.

Greg said...

I love that song, "They smile in your face, all the time they move at a sluggish pace. The half-assers."

So yeah, October ROCKS! I've got my six teaser trailers ready to go starting this week. Two a month through August and then the full trailer in September. My output last October was phenomenal, and no, I don't give a shit how egotistical that comes off. It's like a big over the top production for me. Montages, reviews, whacked out photos. I wish it was October NOW!

Greg said...

Hello?

Anybody?

Helloooooo?

[shrugs shoulders, turns and walks away]

bill r. said...

Oh, sorry, Greg. I spaced for a while there. I actually spent some of my slow work day (odd for a Monday) browsing through my October posts from last year, and, at this particular moment, I, too, am looking forward to doing it again. Though in all honesty I probably wouldn't if I could come up with another good idea that was less strenuous.

Didn't you say you were going to start teasing us with some October stuff? Did I miss something?

Krauthammer said...

I was kinda hoping that this post would be a long examination of your as-of-yet unmentioned love for George Clinton, oh well.

bill r. said...

I agree, that probably would have been pretty good.

Ryan Kelly said...

Don't feel bad, Bill. I have non-stop phases of writer's block, interrupted by sporadic posting. At least you manage to be the other way around.

And I don't know, Bill, I think you can write about anything. I have trouble writing up films I've watched at home, but I almost always find something to react to in the theatrical experience, even with something as inconsequential as Star Trek.

bill r. said...

I have trouble writing up films I've watched at home, but I almost always find something to react to in the theatrical experience, even with something as inconsequential as Star Trek...

Yeah, why is that? I'm not saying it's an across-the-board experience with me, but I do feel like I'm far more likely to write about a movie I just saw in the theater than I am one I just watched on DVD. That's weird...

Ryan Kelly said...

It's just the sheer size of the spectacle. I love home video, and would not be the film lover I am without it, but the difference between seeing a movie projected versus on a television is the difference between shooting a bullet and throwing it. When images are 100X bigger than you, there's just more to react to.

Rick Olson said...

Star Trek WAS good, and I'm back from Virginia, and glad you're still blogging. I'm sorry we didn't get together, but I turned out to have very little time for anything but family.

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