As the days get longer (and, to some extent, so do the movies), we can look back with fondness on the summer that was. All things considered, Summer 2008 was a rollicking success. Box office sales, against all expectations, were way up. "Iron Man" and "The Dark Night" ruled, and disappointments were few ("Speed Racer", I'm looking in your direction). Yes, by and large, Summer 08 delivered. And while Fall 08 is looking pretty bare, we can always look back. Which is good because that's what I'm going to do below.
Here's how they came out - the results of my picks for movie I couldn't wait to see in Summer 2008...
"Iron Man"
Prediction:
How'd I do?: In a classic example of "does not disappoint", this Jon Favreau blockbuster delivered all the thrills and laughs you could want from an adaptation of the extravagant Marvel hero. And this was only one of Robert Downey Jr's two against-all-odds performances this summer (see "Tropic Thunder" for the other). As predicted, preorder-the-DVD, if you haven't already.
"Speed Racer"
Prediction:
How'd I do?: On the other side of the coin, we have this letdown. The Wachowski Brothers' adaptation of the long-in-the-tooth anime series was, at best, ill-advised and, at worst, well…what we got: an indulgent, nonsensical, two-plus-hour candy-colored storm of light and sound. And that's not even counting the built-in post-Matrix-sequels backlash. Somewhere along the way, the Brothers lost the thread of their own movie-making skills. Maybe they should have swallowed the blue pill.
"Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"
Prediction:
How'd I do?: Yes, this fourth installment in the beloved, fedora-loving franchise wasn't all it was cracked up to be (As Salah might ask, "Indy, why does the bar lower?"). The script was a mess (thanks again, David Koepp), the ending was laughable and even the direction and pacing seemed off (Speilberg? Is that you?). But it sure was a hoot to see Harrison back in the hat and Karen Allen spunky as ever (though not given enough to do). Cate Blanchett did what she could as a Natasha in search of a Boris, and even Shia LeBeouf acquitted himself nicely in a role surely born from the mind of George Lucas (who I blame for everything wrong with this movie). As a whole, this one falls somewhere below "Last Crusade" and above "Temple of Doom". Could we have asked for more? Yes. But we'll take what we can get.
"The Happening"
Prediction:
How'd I do?: I'm so ashamed. He did it to me again, that M. Night Shyamalan. Lured me in with his tricky trailers that hold the promise of mystery, atmosphere and spooky goings-on. Instead, what did we get? Some kind of hooey about an airborne virus that makes people off themselves - but only in large groups. Or not. Who knows. All I can say is "The Happening" lost me when its heroes were getting chased by a breeze. And that's longer than most people held out. You want to know what'll make people want to kill themselves? Another Shyamalan disappointment.
"Get Smart"
Prediction:
How'd I do?: This one was a bit of a treat. We had no business expecting a remake of the 60s Bond spoof to be anything more than a throwaway box office dud. But Steve Carell's earnest take on Maxwell Smart, and the script's didn't-forget-its-roots updating, made for an enjoyable enough ride. Too bad Anne Hathaway, as charming as she is, couldn't fill Barbara Feldon's shoes as a poorly-written Agent 99. Still, it was a nice surprise to see a remake that was actually, somewhat, dare I say it, smart.
"Hellboy II: The Golden Army"
Prediction:
How'd I do?: This one was more or less exactly as expected. With Ron Perlman back in the red and director Guillermo Del Toro free (after the success of "Pan's Labyrinth") to run amok visually, this second "Hellboy" film was fun, if not entirely satisfying. As expected, the effects trumped the storyline, and the ending built to an ear-shattering crescendo that overstayed its welcome. Still, there are worse comic book adaptations out there…
"The Dark Knight"
Prediction:
How'd I do?: …but few better ones than this. Director Christopher Nolan's operatic follow-up to 2005's energizing "Batman Begins" is nothing short of a triumph, featuring a typically jam-packed script (by Mr. Nolan and his brother), and great performances all around, notably the memorable take on The Joker from Heath Ledger. Though the film is a bit long and has a few flaws (the garbled "Batman" voice; the cartoonish depiction of Two-Face), Mr. Nolan is the only director working today that's willing to take the "comic book" out of "comic book movie".
"The X-Files: I Want to Believe"
Prediction:
How'd I do?: Perhaps Fox Mulder will sympathize with me. You see, I wanted to believe. I wanted to believe that six years after the series ended (and ten years since the last film), they could come up with a better "X-Files" movie than this story of stem cells and neo-Frankensteins. My faith, alas, was not rewarded. Maybe I should be talking to Scully instead.
"The Rocker"
Prediction:
How'd I do?: I didn't see this one, but judging from Chris Boylan's review, I may have over-estimated it.
