Partly to make sure my really negate post about Father's Day is moved down, and inspired by seeing Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen (and the critical response to it).... a post on movies.
First off, I loved Transformers 2 (I want to abbreviate it T2 but that is taken). I really enjoyed the first movie, and pretty much knew I'd be getting more of the same. It was a great ride, had some really cool visuals, some great lines, and a plot that was serviceable. Was it worth the 12 bucks it cost to see it - absolutely. But then it is a Micheal Bay movie, and I've loved every one of his films I've seen. (And as a note to Joe, should he read this - I love Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin too. :) )
I work at Blockbuster part time. I hear a lot of opinions of movies. And stuff like this gets trashed talked a lot. By critics too. And it annoys me to some extent - yeah the movie isn't the end of the world, but so what. I see a movie for entertainment... not for some searching for "art" that may or may not exist. For example, the only movie Woody Allen was involved in that I actually liked was Antz. I don't watch a lot of serious dramas either - as I said I watch movies to be entertained and and hour and a half or two or someone else's angst isn't that entertaining to me (with a few exceptions).
I don't mind formula movies (I'm a huge fan of sports movies, and enjoy romantic comedies... probably the two most formulaic genres in film). I love SF of any stripe (fantasy, Science Fiction or related). I admit I am very picky about the comedies I watch, and I tend to think of animated movies as a lesser art form than live action... so I only watch animated stuff I'm pretty sure I will enjoy based on previews and such.
Just because a movie is made for the masses, doesn't make it bad. I love the fact that Transformers is raking in the money when it is sitting at 20% as Rotten Tomatoes (whereas Up is at 97%, and I won't bother with that 'till it hits DVD).
The other movies I plan on seeing in a theater this year - GI Joe, Harry Potter and New Moon.
