Posts Tagged ‘Paul Bettany’
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Seems like after being away from the scene for so long, you’d think I’d return by utilizing my own characters instead of a pink-haired make-up artist and a poorly designed caricature of Paul Bettany. What can I say? I’m an odd duck.
Cami and I have been catching up on the pop culture we missed since we were in Europe at the end of May. An adventure I lovingly refer to as "The Deep Dive." As of this weekend, we’re preparing to surface. We’re almost entirely caught up.
We went to see The DaVinci Code last weekend and – as capivated as I was by Paul Bettany’s performance – it struck me that it wasn’t much of a stretch in casting a painfully pale and pasty Brit to play the albino monk. In the back of my head, I always kind of thought Bettany was an albino anyway. Something about his giant forehead and his nearly transparent eyebrows.
I never read Dan Brown’s book mostly because I don’t get into mainstream fiction. Mostly entertainment retrospectives and biographies. So I didn’t have much in terms of bias going into the movie. I thought there were some sincerely gaps in logic. For people that are supposed to be so well educated, they make some supremely dumb decisions while evading the police. Nothing real people would actually do. Then again, the police in this movie are inept at almost every turn. So perhaps it’s tit for tat.
I feel a little odd talking about The DaVinci Code when the movie has been in theaters for more than two weeks. Typically I pride myself on being more timely. But it’s a pretty big movie and I didn’t want to look back at 2006 having let it slip through my fingers.
I have a couple of other posts that I want to make, so expect them later. Signing off for the moment because it’s late. Despite the simplicity of today’s comic, it took me a while to get back into the rhythm of producing a new comic so long after being out of commission.
More to come!
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For the record, neither one of my grandmothers has an opinion about Barack Obama as President. They’re both dead.
I don’t mean to disparage their memory by being so blunt about it. But I wanted to clarify that I don’t actually have a racist grandmother. Sometimes the comic weaves in and out of autobiographical elements and this is one of those cases where it’s just a joke.
Incidentally, if either of them were alive, I don’t think they would upset about an African American President.
I’m kind of getting into a bad habit where I’m referencing videos in the blog post to help sell the jokes in the comic. But for your own edification, you need to see the red band trailer for the Paul Bettany angels-gone-rogue action film Legion.
WARNING: The language is a little salty and not safe for work.
Watching this trailer reminds me of cheesy action movies from the 80s. I don’t know if it’s the remote desert diner location, but I was immediately reminded of Maximum Overdrive when I first saw this. Also, the music is vaguely reminiscent of the first Terminator to me.
Am I the only one seeing this?
Maybe it’s the abundance of guns. Dennis Quaid’s character actually calls Paul Bettany’s character “Rambo” at one point. But, yeah… The end of the world? God’s army of angels? What does this movie need?… I know! GUNS AND EXPLOSIONS!!
Even though the stringy albino frame of Paul Bettany would be the last one I would run to for protection in the Apocalypse, I believe his detached British charm and dry delivery are the only things lending credibility to this film. It’s almost if he’s communicating “Look, I know this movie is crap, but I’m going to take it seriously.” You have to respect his conviction. Never in my life did I think I would write “Paul Bettany” and “action star” anywhere in the same paragraph.
What do you guys think of Legion? Cheesy fun or bloated action cliches with a Biblical theme? Is Paul Bettany credible as an action star? Also, does anyone have a racist grandmother they want to talk about?
KIDDING! JUST KIDDING ON THAT LAST ONE!
But seriously, leave your comments about Legion below.
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I was looking at the poster for The Tooth Fairy trying to think of a joke that wasn’t completely obvious – when it occurred to me that we have two new movies in theaters this weekend with winged protagonists.
Okay, okay. Paul Bettany’s Michael from Legion is a fallen angel who cuts off his own wings, but you know what I mean. It’s kind of a weird coincidence, don’t you think?
And seriously, what is up with making Paul Bettany a bad-ass and sticking The Rock in a piffle of a kids movie? I understand this softening of action heroes is a great way to reach a new audience, but The Rock hasn’t kicked ass on screen since when? Doom? That was five years ago. Does that even count?
Remember when The Rundown came out and there was that passing-of-the-torch moment between The Rock and Arnold Schwarzenegger? Does anyone feel like The Rock has been given the opportunity to live up to that promise? Because I certainly don’t.
Look, I get it. The Rock has charisma. You can plug him into virtually any scenario and he makes it work. That’s why he’s in been in movies like Be Cool and Planet 51. I get it.
But can we mix in a few more action roles? Because The Tooth Fairy looks suspiciously like The Game Plan from a few years ago – a hard-nose, selfish sports guy learns about life and love through an unusual set of circumstances. They’re practically typecasting him at this point. Just my .02 cents.
Incidentally, as it relates to the comic, this isn’t the first time I’ve suggested a mash-up between films. Check out this jem from 2002 when I suggested they combine Star Trek: Nemesis with Maid In Manhattan. HILARIOUS!
That’s about all for me today. Are any of you planning on seeing The Tooth Fairy? Who thinks The Rock makes a better action star than a family film star? Is anyone aching to see The Rundown 2? Leave your comments below!
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