Hancock
The Taming of the Dude
Although Will Smith’s Fourth of July blockbusters are usually family-friendly action comedies, Hancock is not. It is in no way a family film.
The trailers for Hancock never revealed plot details. All you could gather from them was that Smith was playing a homeless superhero. And once you see the film, it makes complete sense why they didn’t explain anything more.
Halfway through the film, the movie’s plot derails from the typical tracks (much like the train in the film that crashed when it hit Hancock) in a fun, secret twist — a twist that alters the direction and tone of the film. The movie moves from comedy to drama with comedic elements.
And while this is the moment where Hancock lost the attention of most of its viewers, it is also the same moment in which Hancock proved itself an original, creative new take on the superhero genre. It makes it a more natural, human and moral story.
If you don’t mind a little vulgarity, some tough PG-13 violence, and if you’re a fan of fun action, Will Smith, Jason Bateman or Charlize Theron, then Hancock is for you.
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
It’s like Pan’s Labyrinth in Mos Eisley.
When Guillermo Del Toro released Hellboy in 2004, he wasn’t a very well known or accredited director. But now, riding in from the worldwide success of Pan’s Labyrinth and being known as “the guy who’s directing The Hobbit,” Del Toro can do whatever he wants however he wants. And it surely shows in the contrast between Hellboy and Hellboy II.
Hellboy tells the comic book story of a demon raised by the U.S. military as a weapon to combat the supernatural. Along with his team of freakish misfits, Hellboy must take down a rogue prince and stop him from awakening an unstoppable golden army whose sights are set on destroying mankind.
If you liked Hellboy, or even thought it had potential, then you’ll really enjoy part II. If you’re a fan of Pan’s Labyrinth, you’ll appreciate this even more. And, believe it or not, Del Toro has actually created a freak monster even more terrifying than the eyes-in-the-palms-of-the-hands beast that ate fairies in Pan’s Labyrinth.
Journey to the Center of the Earth (3-D)
If there is ever a reason to see a family movie, it’s for the 3-D
Journey to the Center of the Earth is loosely based on the novel by Jules Verne. In this modern-day adaptation, a scientist, his nephew and a hiking guide stumble into lava-created tubes that lead straight down into a secret paradise hidden in the core of the Earth. Along the way, this threesome of explorers sees the most beautiful sights and faces their most frightening fears.
The technology used to create the new 3-D look, known as Real-D, eliminates the need for the nose-cutting, headache-causing cardboard blue and red glasses. Instead, the glasses used are barely-tinted polarized lenses, making it a completely comfortable experience.
If you’re in the mood for a fairly corny family flick, or if you simply just want to see something in 3-D, then go spend an extra buck or two and take a journey to the CG center of the earth.
