Batman vs Superman trailer: I kinda liked it

As I briefly mentioned in my recommendation of The Man from U. N. C. L. E., I thought Man of Steel was awful. I actually watched both movies with the same friend and I remember that neither of us was particularly energized after sitting through MoS.

So my expectations for BvS are less than enthusiastic (is that how Batman vs Superman is being abbreviated? I like it.) The trailer has made me cautiously . . . less pessimistic than I was before. I mean, I'm still burned from the disappointment that was Age of Ultron, especially after the great trailer.

Henry Cavill still looks constipated but I'm going to be lenient about that. After UNCLE, I know that's just the demeanor he's been instructed to adopt for Clark Kent. His face is still a work of art, for what it's worth. I can only pray he's allowed a moment of levity in the film. I'm not even asking for Marvel-esque Tony Stark quirks, but a moment of cleverness and sarcasm from Clark Kent would be appreciated.

I'm rooting for Batfleck. I've been rooting for him since the internet flipped out about his casting, as if this is more serious than a freaking superhero movie. He looks cool in the trailer. Good for him.

Wonder Woman has like a couple of shots and doesn't say anything. Lois Lane reassures Kent's constipated mug about his significance to the world. Whatever. This is a superhero movie. Female characters take the backstage, certainly during the promotional period.

The character who really grabbed my attention is Lex Luthor . . . who has been re-imagined as a scraggly millennial?

TVTropes tells me that the actor, Jesse Eisenberg, is known for playing obnoxious, socially awkward, genius types. He was in the Facebook movie that I didn't watch because there's nothing I care less about than Facebook.

Anyway, TVTropes also tells me that "fans" weren't happy with his casting because . . . who cares? Comic book fans are never happy about anything.

Personally though, I'm intrigued. What focus group, or which individual creative entity (I mean obviously, it was a focus group) decided that Lex Luthor, the embodiment of anti-corrupt corporate billionaire abuse and excess, should be played by a skinny, long-haired pretty boy?

I'm only a casual comic book fan (a fake geek girl, if you will), and even I picture a vaguely attractive but creepy looking middle aged white dude as Lex Luthor. And this kid looks like some English grad student stepping out of Starbucks in skinny jeans. I'm sure he's still a mogul of some type in the film itself, but the image that make up and costumes created for his character is fascinating. He's undoubtedly going to go bald in the movie itself, but I almost wish they'd let the character keep the messy hair.  

The Man from U.N.C.L.E: it exceeded my admittedly low expectations

I don't go to the movies often. Part of it is my general dislike of going outside; another part is my reluctance to spend money on anything that isn't legible or edible, and the rest is just laziness. I know that seeing a film on the big screen, especially an action or sci fi film, can be incredibly satisfying. But actually getting to the theater can be such a hassle.

Last weekend, I wanted to celebrate finishing my odious rotation in the ER. I also wanted to catch up with an old friend who asked that I pick between this movie, some new Mission Impossible nonsense, and a videogame film. The choice was obvious.

I could analyze this flick in terms of plot, characterization, pacing, costume, score, social context, history, etc., but I think the best way to summarize its quality is much simpler. My friend and I were both in a sour mood when we sat down at the theater, and we both left smiling and joking.

Verdict: this is a movie worth watching.

I do have more to add, though. The three leads had great chemistry and they were all relatable, insofar as action film wish-fulfillment characters can be. Gabby stayed within the constraints of an action film damsel in distress (I didn't claim this movie is trying to be progressive), but at least she had her own agenda in the plot, and was allowed to make choices to achieve that agenda. She spent the last act of the movie as a hostage, and her agenda did revolve around a man (her father), but still. At least she's someone I'd like to go for lunch with.

The most surprising part of the film was Henry Cavill, who played the suave American spy Napoleon Solo. The only other film of his I've seen is the tragedy that was Man of Steel. I walked out of that movie convinced that this gentleman was no more than a pretty face with the charisma of a soggy napkin, but it looks like the director of Man of Steel is to blame for that travesty.

Henry Cavill was charming throughout the movie. He managed to make utterly ridiculous scenes (like the one where he eats a sandwich while his partner spy is gunned down by armed boats) seem more fun than silly. Though he portrayed the character as a flirt who robbed old ladies blind, I never got the feeling he was sleazy. Whoever directed this allowed him to make facial expressions that conveyed more than mild constipation. Good for him.

The Russian spy was played by Armie Hammer, who Google informs me is some American actor who's been trying to make it in Hollywood for some years. I have no way to asses the accuracy of his "Russian" accent, but I can report that he was also a fairly likable character. His anger issues and "emotional disturbance" were shoved in the audience's face with a shameless lack of subtlety (the ever original shaking hand thing), but Hammer managed to imbue his supposed brute with plenty of depth and vulnerability.

All in all, I recommend the movie. It seems to have earned itself a respectable fandom that's producing lots of cool material to keep people entertained. More of that in this tumblr.