Less Than Fantastic, Better Than Lousy

This weekend's number one movie - Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer - doesn't come close to approaching greatness. Yet given the recent trend toward self-serious superhero movies, its light, frivolous tone struck me as something of a relief.

Otherwise, this week's (slightly delayed) link dump features my three contributions to Slant's coverage of Lincoln Center's 2007 Human Rights Watch festival, as well as my thoughts on a slew of upcoming films, including the latest Stephen King adaptation and an embarrassing new offering from Milos Foreman.

This Weekend:
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (Slant magazine)
Gypsy Caravan (Slant magazine)

Following Weekends:
1408 (Slant magazine)
The Ten (Slant magazine)
Black Sheep (Slant magazine)
Goya's Ghosts (Slant magazine)
Right at Your Door (Slant magazine)

The 18th Annual Human Rights Watch International Film Festival:
Carla's List (Slant magazine)
White Light/Black Rain (Slant magazine)
La Ciudad de los Fotógrafos (Slant magazine)

Comments

[Joe Grossberg]

Happy Father's Day.

You are better than lousy, but less than fantastic because you haven't taught them how to mosh yet.

[Nick]

No moshing yet (I'm working on it), but Hannah's favorite game is "TACKLE!"

[Andres]

Hey Nick:

Hate to ask, but: where did that nifty search tool on this blog go?

[J]

Hoo boy, more Stephen King adaptations! Personally, I'm waiting for the undeniable narrative and dramatic perfection of something like Pet Sematary 2, or preferably the combination of Stephen King source material and M. Night Shyamalan directing. (And writing... And acting...) After all, they aren't hacks.

[Nick]

Andres - the Google search box was an oversight during the redesign. It's back now (thanks for the heads up).

[Dennis]

Good to hear that the new Fantastic Four isn't all bad, especially after reading some of the scathing reviews for it, the epitome of those (predictably) being Walter Chaw's.