Sean’s movie thoughts

 Tom Hardy is going to be the new James Bond according to some sources. It is still somewhat unofficial. Good for him. Hardy will be good. I guess Daniel Craig is really done (which is okay). I was not worried about who would be the next James Bond because I have liked all the James Bonds but George Lazenby, so I figured the producers would find someone good. I am tempted to watch some bad romantic comedies to see if they are as bad as their reputations suggest.  I was thinking of the Ugly Truth and How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days, both have bad reputations. The Ugly Truth has been called the worst romantic comedy ever. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is one of the romantic comedies that started critics wondering if they overrated Matthew McConaughey. If I do watch these films, I will say if they live down to their reputations. I could add Failure to Launch to this watching but maybe it might be best to go slowly.

I decided to see Venom. I did not feel interested in A Star is Born today. (I don’t know exactly but I might check up with a Star is Born later.) Venom is not bad, it is not great. It is nice to see Michelle Williams on screen and I like Tom Hardy. Upgrade might be a lot better. That is a subject for another time. I guess Venom can work without a connection to Spider-man. I enjoyed it and don’t regret seeing it at theaters but within a few weeks I will just remember that I liked. This is not a strong endorsement and I admit that. However if anyone tells this movie is as bad as Catwoman, I think that person might not have seen Catwoman in a while. (I haven’t.) The plot such as it is, has Eddie Brock working as a reporter investigating an organization called the Life Foundation. He gets fired but he was right, there were sinister things happening at the Life Foundation and he gets bonded with an alien symbiot. Together they are Venom.

I watched the third Venom trailer. I am still not convinced that I want a Venom movie without Spider-man. I think of Venom as an enemy of Spider-man first and foremost. I probably always will. Sort like I think of the Joker as an enemy of Batman and I am not sure if I want a Joker movie without Batman. The trailer looks good though. Tom Hardy seems a better choice for Venom than Topher Grace did back in the day. (I am not going to start a rant about how bad Spider-man 3 is.) Topher Grace has his talents but menacing might be beyond him.  This trailer looks like like Upgrade.  (Heh.) Well, I am considering seeing this. That is something.

I am not sure about the Venom movie. Previews have been decent and Tom Hardy is usually good. If Venom is not fighting Spider-man, why the heck would I care? I guess if the story and performances are good, I will care. Venom did move beyond his role as Spider-man’s enemy in the comics. However, these are not the comics. I see Venom first and foremost as a foe for Spider-man. I have no interest in a Joker movie without Batman but the studio reportedly thinks people do and is a planning one. We will see but Venom’s origin involves Spider-man and also Eddie Brock’s previous history with Spider-man. I am not sure who Venom is without a relationship to Spider-man.  I could be overthinking this.