[ti:'Palm Springs' and 'The Old Guard' - Movies Right for These Times]
[by:www.21voa.com]
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[00:00.04]COVID-19 has forced moviemakers away from traditional releases
[00:07.08]at theaters across the United States and in other countries.
[00:13.72]But two American media companies
[00:17.00]have captured the "summer blockbuster" tradition with new films.
[00:23.80]Netflix released The Old Guard, an action/superhero film
[00:29.84]from critically acclaimed director Gina Prince-Bythewood.
[00:35.68]And Hulu targeted the romantic-comedy market
[00:40.32]with the release of Palm Springs from director Max Barbakow.
[00:47.12]Both Hulu and Netflix report that large numbers of people
[00:52.48]have visited the media sites to watch the films since their release a week ago.
[01:00.64]The Old Guard stars Academy Award winner Charlize Theron
[01:06.08]and newcomer KiKi Layne as members of a team of "immortals"
[01:13.04]-- people who cannot die.
[01:16.68]The immortals have fought in many wars over the centuries to protect humanity.
[01:24.84]They have somehow kept their special power known only to themselves.
[01:31.68]But now their secret is out and under threat.
[01:37.96]Gina Prince-Bythewood is best known for her film Love & Basketball,
[01:44.48]which she wrote as well as directed.
[01:49.08]The Old Guard, however, is based on a comic book,
[01:53.84]a short story of few words with pictures on every page.
[02:00.48]Its writer, Greg Rucka, reworked the story for the film version.
[02:07.24]The superheroes of The Old Guard do not wear special clothing,
[02:13.04]fly through the air or possess x-ray eyesight.
[02:18.72]And unlike traditional heroes,
[02:21.68]they are not always sure their special power serves them well.
[02:27.96]In fact, Theron's character questions if immortality is a curse or a blessing.
[02:37.52]The Old Guard's superheroes are more real, more like normal human beings.
[02:44.60]They get tired. They feel hopeless. They fight on.
[02:51.00]In the age of COVID-19, that might be their appeal
[02:55.80]to critics and other movie watchers.
[03:00.64]Palm Springs seems to hit a similar note
[03:04.60]on the current health reality in our world today.
[03:09.68]Actors Cristin Milioti and Andy Samberg play guests
[03:15.68]at a wedding party in Palm Springs,
[03:18.64]a beautiful California town popular with travelers.
[03:24.72]But its appeal shrinks quickly for Milioti and Samberg's characters,
[03:31.16]who are stuck in a "time loop" experience together.
[03:37.08]They wake up on the same day over and over.
[03:42.64]The two characters in this dark comedy fall in love
[03:47.20]during their never-ending day of no responsibilities
[03:52.20]in the perfect vacation town.
[03:55.32]But the trap of the day-in, day-out repetitive nature
[04:01.20]of their experience is deeply trying and tiring.
[04:07.20]And that is something many people can relate to right now,
[04:13.24]trapped in their homes for months to avoid the new coronavirus.
[04:20.32]I'm Caty Weaver.
[04:22.00]更多听力请访问21VOA.COM