SlowpokeBlog

Lately I've been catching up on some movies I haven't seen. I go to the theater very infrequently, which means I'm usually at a loss whenever the latest flick comes up in conversation. (I can't stand the thought of paying $8.50 for what typically turns out to be two hours of tedium.)

At risk of sounding totally out-of-it, I've recently seen Napoleon Dynamite, The Virgin Suicides, and Kill Bill, Vol. 1, among other things. I've been struck by a recurring trend in filmmaking: overwhelming attention paid to visual details like retro fashions and kitschy decor, accompanied by the total absence of meaningful plot. It's as though MTV has attenuated an entire generation's higher brain functions. Or maybe people have become so jaded by reality TV that they can no longer take plot or characters or ideas seriously. I've noticed a similar elevation of form over content in many indie comics. Don't get me wrong; I like eye candy -- but there has to be a message, too.

I am also weary of gratuitous ninjas. Note to Hollywood: ninjas do not equal automatic hilarity or coolness. Although I must admit, the second half of Kill Bill, vol. 1 pleasantly surprised me with its visual gags and stunning sets. The first half, however, was a total hodgepodge.

Those "Vote for Pedro" t-shirts should read on the back: "Just another viral marketer for Viacom." At the MOCCA festival in New York, I saw someone with a "Pedro lacks political experience" t-shirt, which made me chuckle momentarily. But better not to advertise Napoleon Dynamite at all. Now, a "My Dinner With Andre" t-shirt -- that might be cool.