the Dalaverse

I'm trying to become someone who posts again, I swear. To that end I'll share some mini-movie reviews since I've actually managed to get to the cinema recently.

The Adjustment Bureau - saw this with my mother, aunt, and grandmother (who has a massive crush on Matt Damon). The advertising didn't do much for it, so I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it. The trailers made it look like wall-to-wall chase scenes with a smidge of meet-cute to draw in the ladies. While there are a fair amount of action sequences, they don't overwhelm the more introspective moments of plot or drag on for too long (*coughChristopherNolantakenotecough*). The primary special effect of the Adjusters (and David) cutting back and forth through various bits of New York through doorways is cleverly done and really cool to watch. My aunt thought it was the best use of New York she's seen in years (they actually filmed some of the boardroom scenes in her office).

There is a meet-cute, even a couple; fortunately we have Matt Damon and Emily Blunt to carry it off. Honestly, the whole premise would fall apart with lesser actors. They have the kind of chemistry that makes you believe that this man would actually spend years thinking about a woman he hardly knows (and vice versa). There's a real, tangible love story at the core of this movie, which is rare in action or sci-fi. They also stand on their own, as characters. David is a flawed man but Damon plays him with an essential goodness that shines through without making him cartoonish or unrelatable. And Elise could so easily slide into Manic Pixie Dreamgirl territory, but as the film progresses it pulls back on her just enough - and Blunt is good enough - to skirt it. John Slattery is light and funny as the mid-level bureaucrat trying to clean up everybody's mess, Terrence Stamp has as much menace as ever, and Anthony Mackie is basically playing Castiel in a dashing hat. Oh, did I mention Eric Kripke was an associate producer? He's not listed on IMDB for some reason, but his name came up on the end credits and I cackled. There are definite elements of the angels/war in heaven/free will storyline of the past few SPN seasons in the plot.

You know what else is in the plot? A perfect opportunity for a Kirk/McCoy AU. I am not even kidding, this movie is crying out for it. Obviously Jim is David, with his ambitions natural leadership ability, and tragic backstory (guys, he even has a bar brawl in his past!) That leaves McCoy in the Elise role. I mean, you could leave him as a dancer, but it'd work with him still a doctor, I think. There is snark, there is an undeniable spark, they are MEANT TO BE. Harry, the Adjuster who finds himself swayed by the pull of human emotion, would have to be Spock. I'm not too fussed as to the rest of them, honestly - Pike would be one of the other two main Adjusters. Oooh, oooh, Spock Prime could be God The Authority Alanis The Chairman! We already know he's a big old yenta.

In conclusion: good movie. Nothing groundbreaking, but a well-acted piece of sci-fi lite. The one thing I would've wanted was a bit more from the ending - what happens in my head is that David does go on to become president and Elise does become a world-famous choreographer. The whole ordeal is a test not just of their love but of their convictions. By passing it, they can move forward knowing the risks and overcoming them together because of that knowledge, not despite it. It doesn't have to be a choice between personal and professional fulfillment. Unsurprisingly, this is a sentiment I like in my fic as well.


Rango - went to see this yesterday with Ingrid. It is a weird, wonderful little film from ILM and Nickelodeon, directed by Gore Verbinski, starring Johnny Depp as the title lizard. I spent the whole thing being delighted by the animation (beautiful, with the same use of space you get from a good live-action Western), character design (truly unique), script (clever but not self-indulgent in the way Dreamworks can sometimes be), and the winks to ALL the movies (High Noon! Chinatown! Star Wars! Blazing Saddles! Indiana Jones!) I loved it, I really did. Wouldn't take small children, though - Rattlesnake Jake scared the shit out of me (and I'm somebody whose favorite childhood movie was "Return to Oz," which I have since been assured by well-meaning adults is completely fucked up).

And guess what? IT'S NOT IN FUCKING 3D. Thanks, ILM!


So! If you're venturing out into the post-awards-season cinematic desert, I'd recommend either of these.