Linkers Assemble!
Sunday, April 22, 2012 at 11:21PM The Guardian Loki himself Tom Hiddleston wrote a piece defending the superhero movie genre which he thinks ought to be taken more seriously. Well written and impassioned but let's play devil's advocate for a moment. Isn't the money enough? Wouldn't it be nice if people could respond to dramas about the human condition without the comforting distance of genre?
Slant 15 famous movie monkeys in honor of the just released Chimpanzee
Ultra Culture makes a funny re: "exclusive image" of Katy Perry. Honestly I rarely open emails with the word "exclusive" in the header. They'll have to drop it from Websters soon since it lost its meaning somewhere at the tail end of the 20th century.
Pajiba screw context. Just appreciate the Jennifer Lawrenceness of it all
IndieWire somehow in the midst of my manic schedule, I missed the news that Eytan Fox had made a sequel to the wonderful Yossi & Jagger (2003) called simply Yossi with Ohad Knoller reprising his role as the closeted gay soldier (this time back in civilian life)
Insanely Gaming popular websites as dresses. This is quite awesome. I vote Facebook 'best dressed'
IndieWire the controversies surrounding HBO's Girls. I liked the debut episode but it really did feel like Tiny Furniture Redux (without the fun visuals that came with the title territory)
Low Resolution did you ever read Joe's awards for the film year? Yes, I know I still have to finish mine. Ugh.
Monkey See terrific piece on Zac Efron's transition (possibly) to full grown adult movie actor
Finally... Odin's Boys Loki (Tom Hiddleson) & Thor (Chris Hemsworth) are having some serious giggles at one of many premieres for The Avengers.
Or maybe they're laughing about Joss Whedon's evil robot from the future sketch for Equality Now?
Reader Comments (5)
Katniss Everdeen notwithstanding, aren't these guys laughing at the guy who brought a bow and arrow to the Apocalypse?
I can't believe Eytan Fox's new movie was completely under my radar until just now! Granted, it probably won't play in any theater within 1,000 miles, but there's always Netflix, I suppose. I've got to seek it out in one way or another--gay, Israeli military dramas check way too many of my random film-interest boxes to pass it up.
It's off-topic, but what's happened to In Contention. They haven't posted in almost a month! I know Kris was getting married, but Guy and the rest of the gang are completely silent too.
@ Nathaniel: In terms of Hiddleton's article, I think the snobbishness that certain people - within the industry and out of it - have towards genre films undermines those that enjoy them. We're told what we like isn't good enough simply because it fits in a certain box, which some of us can ignore but shouldn't have to endure. I'm not saying everyone should like the same thing - impossible to do - but there is a respectful way to dislike something.
As for the money thing, people complain about the focus on box office. When articles/topics like this come up, though, they say "isn't the money enough". If it's not enough to mask the lack of artistic merit for a bad film, is it really enough to award the artistic merit of the great ones (when they do come around)?
Lastly, it would be nice if people could embrace all types of films but you're ultimately holding them to a standard that you think they should live by. Most people don't look at film the way a lot of us do and to expect them to change would be like some expecting you to watch sports: It's not a part of who you are and it shouldn't have to be.
I'm sorry Nat, but I HATE this question:
Wouldn't it be nice if people could respond to dramas about the human condition without the comforting distance of genre?
Superheroes are mythology. They are primal and primordial storytelling. That's nto "comforting distance," that's something like the core of who we are. Sure, it's done wrong more often than it's done right, but so's every drama, including art films.