Redbox is cool

We returned to the U.S., and one of the wonders that awaited us was Redbox. DVD/Blu-ray vending machines positioned at all sorts of places around town offering a significant selection of movies for $1 per night, and which are returnable to any other Redbox machine of your choosing. This is pretty slick stuff, so I can only assume the rest of the civilized world has had it for years. ;-)

One such movie that burst forth from the bowels of the machine was Secretariat. This is quite possibly the most incredible true story of one secretary making a name for herself in the secretary pool at work amidst unimaginable odds… one second… I’m being told that was a different film.

Right. This one’s about a horse. Not just any horse either, but the movie’s namesake who, in 1973 won the triple crown of horseracing, setting a record unbeaten to this day. More importantly, it’s the true story of Penny Chenery Tweedy (Diane Lane…ooolala), the woman who believed in herself and her horse in the face of overwhelming odds. In terms of surprise, this film has the plotline of Titanic. You can read the results on the DVD case or look up the records of the horse. I’m not spoiling anything to say that he does indeed win. What’s wonderful about this film is the journey. The telling of Penny’s amazing story of conviction, even when support from those closest to her was absent. It’s a wonderful family film to watch (with performances by John Malkovich, Dylan Walsh, and James Cromwell to mention a few), and I’d recommend it.

With this next one, I’d ideally modify the title to The Last Airbender Movie Ever to be Made. It was mildly entertaining for the kids, but even they were on the edge of boredom here.

The story is roughly this. The kingdom of the Firebenders has waged war against the other people (specifically the Earth and Waterbenders). What’s a bender? They’re someone who can manipulate a particular element. The last Airbender is also coincidentally the Avatar; a person who can manipulate not just one element, but all four. It’s a can’t-miss idea.

The cartoon on Nickelodeon is quite popular and fairly well thought of. This live-action M. Night Shyamalan production was neither. The acting, such that it is, is of pretty amateurish quality (much like certain unnamed movie review blogs). The dialog and pacing are painful. You want to know what the characters are doing? You’re in luck, because they often do something, then tell you what they did, or tell you what they’re going to do and then do it, or sometimes mix things up and tell you what they’re doing while they’re doing it, usually with all of the craft involved in a kid talking to their parents’ video camera.

M. Night apparently planned on this being much more awesome, as this installment really only gets us through “water,” with earth and fire presumably slated for the sequels which may not get made given how this one went. In all fairness, the concept is solid enough that, properly done, the sequels COULD be good. Much work would need to be done, much studying of what went wrong with the first installment would need to be taken, and then maybe. Just maybe. As it is, I really wouldn’t recommend this one, unless you’re taking a Mystery Science Theater 3000 approach to viewing.