OK guys, I get it. I’ve been reading your reviews for a long time now, and I completely understand why you’d like a movie such as Life Itself over a movie such as Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Not enough substance in the summer blockbuster that is Dawn, too many explosions, and where is that last statement – oh, here it is: “That the mere sheen of intelligence in a movie about cartoon apes riding horses and shooting guns is enough to distract from the nonsensical plot and warmed-over bluster of this movie is embarrassing.”
Got it. You both hate the summer blockbuster for the stupid nature of the story, script, plot and overuse of explosions and general “silliness.” Why then, for the love of all that’s holy on this planet, would you EVER describe a movie called, oh wait, it’s here somewhere – Terror of Mechagodzilla as “… we’re talking about men in rubber suits playing giant monsters causing havoc and having smackdowns. This is not weighty stuff, but for the type of movie it is, this is what you’re looking for.” CONTRADICTORY! You can glaze over it all you’d like, but you two need to stick to anything OTHER than movie reviews because I’ve seen this so many times it’s ridiculous. Explosions, fighting and “smackdowns” are OK as long as they’re in a Japanese monster film, but oh no – put them in a 2014 action-driven movie and it’s “silliness.”
Adam DeWitte
Brevard, NC
There’s nothing contradictory about two different people holding differing opinions. It’s not like our reviews are coordinated to present a single viewpoint. My reviews reflect my opinions and Justin’s reflect Justin’s. I didn’t review Dawn of the Planet of the Apes — nor did I see it. He didn’t review Terror of Mechagodzilla — nor did he see it.
I will say that, yes, there’s a difference between a dumb cheesefest that never took itself seriously and that we now watch because it’s campy and stupid, and a movie made by a guy who went on record as wanting to do a “Shakespearean” ape movie that wants to be taken seriously.
He wanted it taken seriously? When all Caesar did was stand around and glower? At least Roddy tried to inject some personality into his character. I found the whole thing rather boring. I won’t even start on your comments about Terror of Mechagodzilla. If he had wanted to do something “Shakespearean” he should have watched “Kumonosu-jô”. And sorry Adam, but you haven’t “gotten it” yet. But keep reading and perhaps you will.