10 years of Flick Filosopher: pulp fiction

Oh, everyone’s making intellectual comic book movies these days. From my review of Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World:

This isn't what I was expecting. I figured on clanging swords and thundering cannons and lots of swashbuckling, but this buckles far less swash than I imagined it would. I was expecting pulpy action adventure that was a whole lot of movie fun -- I wasn't expecting pulpy action adventure with real smarts and genuine heart and a grounding in reality. I was expecting that I would be reminded most of Pirates of the Caribbean that it would just be rollicking and jaunty and a great ride. But in fact I'm reminded most, of all movies, of Hulk -- as Ang Lee did earlier this year, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World elevates pulp fiction to art. I don't have to qualify my praise for this all-around thrilling film -- it's not merely a terrific adventure movie, it's a terrific movie. It's a great and wonderful and glorious film, period.

• review of Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, posted 11.14.03

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