Review of movie: “ROCK OF AGES” = No matter your “Age”, TOO MUCH “ROLL” with ineffective “ROCK”

2012, 06-20: 

Review of movie:  “ROCK OF AGES” =  No matter your “Age”, TOO MUCH “ROLL” with ineffective “ROCK”

COMMENTS on some RECENTLY-seen films

As mentioned previously, since the end of 2011, I’ve been involved in a number of “SPECIAL” projects which have taken a great deal of time & effort…  That work has been interrupted by things such as a “CRASHED” computer with various defects that required “rebuilding” & renovating, etc.…

…  Recently, because it’s so extensive, I’ve “divided-up” part of my already-written work on the HISTORY of FILM FESTIVALS, & posted a “Section 1” on that subject at = http://voice-of-film.blogspot.com/2012/06/report-on-history-part-2-re-history-of.html ... 

…  In time, I want to post the OTHER sections on the subject, along with an in-process follow-up to my previously-posted info on “How” to be an “EXTRA” in films (which can be seen at = http://voice-of-film.blogspot.com/2012/06/report-on-how-to-be-extra-in-films.html ...  )…

…  At this point, because of limited TIME to finish things, I’m going to make some “THUMBNAIL” type of “commentaries” re some recently-seen (& in some cases purposely-avoided) movie / TV projects…  The FIRST of those thumbnails is below, concerning “ROCK OF AGES” :

This is a movie I found sadly DISAPPOINTING:

…  The film had some to-me GOOD elements, such as:

…  The unusual & periodically-impressive (tho admittedly purposely-“limited” characterization) by TOM CRUISE as an old-time rock “god” Stacee Jaxx;  a strong performance by the “up-&-coming” rock-star character played by DIEGO BONETA (currently filming the TV series “UNDEREMPLOYED” in Chicago);  & some good MUSICAL numbers from the 1980’s (generally by the guys;  JULIANNE HOUGH’s numbers are UNFORTUNATELY recorded in a “wispy” way making it so she usually comes across as “actively” LIP-SYNCHING)…

…  The film is (in my opinion) crippled by a series of HORRIBLE choices: 

…  Its writing & “set-up” is often POORLY done:  while her acting is OK, having CATHERINE ZETA-JONES play a character (a mayor’s wife named Patricia Whitmore) “railing” against the “evils” of rock ‘n roll in 1987 --  which is like 20-30 years “TOO LATE” historically – makes her come across as way “out-of-place”, extreme & UNBELIEVABLE… 

…  Using periodic musical numbers as “introductions” to plot “points” also comes across as “OLD-fashioned” & ineffective;  it would’ve been “smoother” to use plain DIALOGUE in many of those spots…

…  It may’ve been a “lark” for ALEX BALDWIN & RUSSELL BRAND to PLAY their characters involved with running the night-club.  But, using such “well-known” people in OVER-THE-TOP & dreadfully-written characters with a plot “twist” makes their personalities especially IMPLAUSIBLE & a (“pardon”-the-pun) DRAG on what there is of the story-line…

…  I’m one of those “rare” people who tends to LIKE musicals in general.  The director of this (ADAM SHANKMAN) did a FINE job with the energetic & enjoyable “HAIRSPRAY” in 2007--  but THIS movie is a MISH-MOSH, & I’m being quite generous in rating it 5.50 out of 10 stars (tho lovers of ‘80’s music might rate it a point or so higher)…

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