'Palm Springs' and 'The Old Guard' - Movies Right for These Times

COVID-19 has forced moviemakers away from traditional releases at theaters across the United States and in other countries. But two American media companies have captured the "summer blockbuster" tradition with new films.

Netflix released The Old Guard, an action/superhero film from critically acclaimed¹ director Gina Prince-Bythewood. And Hulu targeted the romantic-comedy market with the release of Palm Springs from director Max Barbakow.

Both Hulu and Netflix report that large numbers of people have visited the media sites to watch the films since their release a week ago.

The Old Guard stars Academy Award winner Charlize Theron and newcomer KiKi Layne as members of a team of "immortals²" -- people who cannot die. The immortals have fought in many wars over the centuries to protect humanity³. They have somehow kept their special power known only to themselves. But now their secret is out and under threat.

Gina Prince-Bythewood is best known for her film Love & Basketball, which she wrote as well as directed. The Old Guard, however, is based on a comic book, a short story of few words with pictures on every page. Its writer, Greg Rucka, reworked the story for the film version.

The superheroes of The Old Guard do not wear special clothing, fly through the air or possess x-ray eyesight. And unlike traditional heroes, they are not always sure their special power serves them well. In fact, Theron's character questions if immortality⁴ is a curse or a blessing⁵.

The Old Guard's superheroes are more real, more like normal human beings. They get tired. They feel hopeless. They fight on. In the age of COVID-19, that might be their appeal to critics and other movie watchers.

Palm Springs seems to hit a similar note on the current health reality in our world today.

Actors Cristin Milioti and Andy Samberg play guests at a wedding party in Palm Springs, a beautiful California town popular with travelers.

But its appeal shrinks quickly for Milioti and Samberg's characters, who are stuck in a "time loop" experience together. They wake up on the same day over and over.

The two characters in this dark comedy fall in love during their never-ending day of no responsibilities in the perfect vacation town. But the trap of the day-in, day-out repetitive nature of their experience is deeply trying and tiring.

And that is something many people can relate to right now, trapped in their homes for months to avoid the new coronavirus.

I'm Caty Weaver⁶.

Words in This Story

blockbuster – n. something that is very large, expensive, or successful

romantic-comedy – n. a funny love story

character – n. a person who appears in a story, book, play, movie, or television show

curse – n. a cause of trouble or bad luck

blessing – n. something that helps you or brings happiness

1 acclaimed   

adj.受人欢迎的

参考例句：

• They acclaimed him as the best writer of the year. 他们称赞他为当年的最佳作者。
• Confuscius is acclaimed as a great thinker. 孔子被赞誉为伟大的思想家。

2 immortals   

不朽的人物( immortal的名词复数 )； 永生不朽者

参考例句：

• Nobody believes in the myth about human beings becoming immortals. 谁也不相信人能成仙的神话。
• Shakespeare is one of the immortals. 莎士比亚是不朽的人物之一。

3 humanity   

n.人类，[总称]人(性)，人道[pl.]人文学科

参考例句：

• Such an act is a disgrace to humanity.这种行为是人类的耻辱。
• We should treat animals with humanity.我们应该以仁慈之心对待动物。

4 immortality   

n.不死，不朽

参考例句：

• belief in the immortality of the soul 灵魂不灭的信念
• It was like having immortality while you were still alive. 仿佛是当你仍然活着的时候就得到了永生。

5 blessing   

n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿

参考例句：

• The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
• A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。

6 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。