Sunday, July 10, 2005

Inflight viewing: SWAT (1/4)

Just finished the inflight meal so I thought I'd start a post even if I can't send it until we land.

I picked another Samuel L film, SWAT. Yes, I knew it would be forgettable. SQ unfortunately has a rather lackluster lineup of new films for July. I'll get to that in a bit. SWAT has Colin Farrell playing Sam's sidekick, in a film that's essentially a training/big event formula movie. Even the climactic mission is boring. Yet another lackluster 80s TV to big screen failure.

These are the films for July - Sahara, Fever Pitch, Kung Fu Hustle, Miss Congeniality 2, Guess Who, Beauty Shop, Man of the House, Millions, In My Country, Million Dollar Baby, Hitch, Be Cool, Robots, The Pacifier, The Wedding Date, Melinda and Melinda, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Dear Frankie, Miss Congeniality, Two Weeks Notice, Speed, The Last Samurai, Vertical Limit, The Tailor of Panama, Secret Window, I,Robot, The Missing, SWAT, Finding Nemo, Monsters Inc., The Prince and the Showgirl, Rebel Without a Cause, The Maltese Falcon, Caddyshack, Dirty Harry, and a bunch of non-English films. Of those the notables are Maria Full of Grace, Mar Ardento, and Mumbai Express. Phew.

Inflight viewing: Hitch (2/4) and Coach Carter (1.5/4)

One of the cool things when flying Singapore Air is its inflight
entertainment system. It's got everything on demand - film, audio,
television and shorts, videogames. Last trip (two weeks ago) I chose Hitch
on the way to Sing. I actually was eyeing Mar Ardento (The Sea Inside) or A
Very Long Engagement, but I knew from the running times that I couldn't
complete the films before landing. So I had to step down in quality. Way
down.

At least I had fun with Hitch. My wife Chris and I enjoy The King of Queens,
if only because Carrie and Doug remind us of ourselves. Kevin James is still
entertaining on the big screen. Too bad that Will Smith mailed this one in.
Formula romantic comedy, inoffensive but unremarkable except for James.

My flight back found me choosing Coach Carter. It turner out to be no more
than expected - a formula sports-themed inspirational "based on a true
story" film that let's Samuel L. Jackson hit his tough guy riffs. Completely
forgettable.

Now that it's July, SQ will have a whole new set of films. I hope my choices
on this trip are a bit better.