Aimless

   I'll admit, I've sort of lost my inspiration to write in here these past few weeks.  Maybe it's that I've been sick for the past week (damn flu got me).  Maybe it's that I haven't had enough time to really really pay attention to stuff that's going on, or maybe I hit on issues too early, and while those issues are still big in the news my opinions of them haven't changed.  Whatever the reason, I'm staring at a blank page with nothing to write except a couple of movie reviews.  I guess it's fitting though, since that's what got me started on this whole thing to begin with.  So that's all you get this week.  Sorry.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows

   From Netflix:  Robert Downey Jr. returns as the brilliant sleuth and Jude Law is back as Dr. Watson in this atmospheric sequel to 2009's Sherlock Holmes. Holmes resorts to occult theories and more to defeat the plans of his nemesis, the evil Professor Moriarty.

   My Take:  Here's a sequel to the original and highly successful Sherlock Holmes movie starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law... and yet it's not until now that we are introduced to his nemesis, the great Dr. Moriarty.  Honestly I think this was the right way to play it.  Use the first movie to establish your main characters, develop a love for them, and then risk it all in a high-stakes sequel.  Unfortunately, "Game of Shadows" doesn't quite live up to the expectations set by the first movie.

   I think the problem was that the first one was just too damn good.  It introduced all of these new features, like Holmes being able to predict how a fight will turn out.  It also had great music, and was incredibly well acted on all fronts.  The second movie it's like they just sat around a table and said "more more more."  I guess that's not particularly a bad thing, and "Game of Shadows" was still very entertaining.  It was also well acted, well directed, it moved along well (though I'll admit I did feel like it was dragging on a bit towards the end)... it just didn't quite reach the same level of magic as the original.

   Maybe this movie is destined to the same fate as the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies.  The first one of those was awesome, but after that they almost became a farce of themselves.  I won't go that far with Sherlock Holmes... this second movie was still pretty damn good.  But I think they peaked with the first one and it's all downhill from there.

   If you haven't seen this movie, but you enjoyed the original Sherlock Holmes, then I think this one is worth watching.  But if you weren't really feeling the vibe of the first one, or if you feel like you got your fill, then I wouldn't waste my time if I were you.

The Box

   From Netflix:  In this eerie thriller, a disfigured man informs a couple that they have 24 hours to decide whether to push a button inside a box that will net them a million dollars but that will also cause the death of a complete stranger.

   My Take:  Here's a question: how do you top a movie like "Donnie Darko?"  Well, I don't think Richard Kelley (who directed that and this movie) knows the answer, because "The Box" doesn't even come close.  Don't get me wrong, the concept is intriguing.  Push the button, get rich... but someone you don't know will die.  I think that's a question we all might believe we know the answer to, but when we were actually presented with it we might think a little differently.  There's a great commentary here on the human condition, but unfortunately "The Box" never reaches its full potential.

   Maybe it was the producers... maybe there was a lot of material left on the cutting room floor... but judging by the mysterious nature of "Donnie Darko," I doubt that's the case.  "The Box" weaves this web of mysterious happenings, all of them seemingly tied together, but then it just ends.  And unless I missed some huge underlying meaning (which has happened before), it doesn't really resolve any of the problems that it opened the door to throughout its run.

   Who knows, maybe that was the point.  Maybe the whole idea here is that we as humans are stuck in a loop, and so far there's no one who has been willing to break that loop.  I seriously hope that's not the case though, because that would tell me this Kelley guy is a socialist.  Don't do that, man.  Just don't.

   I'm gonna give this movie an "ehhhhh" at best.  If you're looking for intrigue, there are a lot of better movies out there.  They move better, they're acted better, and they have a better idea behind them.  Hell, see "Donnie Darko" again... I think you'll be happy you did.

   Alright folks, here's hoping I can find some inspiration for next week.  As always, I am taking requests!