Review: The Tourist

Review:

3 out of 5 stars

This could have been a great film but it is definitely one of the most fun to watch I have seen this past year. The problem is it tried too hard to have too many twists. Just like Jolie's last film-- Salt-- if they had just had 1 or 2 major plot twists that would have been enough but I stopped counting around 5 and realized I wasn't invested in it.

Now the ENDING-- OH THE ENDING!!! That was what they should have focused the entire film around was leading to that brilliant ending. Half way through I decided about two possible endings and one of them was the correct ending but they did it in a beautiful way that I loved and helped me to forgive all the past issues I had with it.

The movie is about a man (Johnny Depp) that is purposefully mistaken for another man by most criminals and cops by the great lover of a man that stole from very powerful men (Angelina Jolie). They eventually begin to fall in love but Jolie's character is in love with the other man and instead tries to help this man get away.

It is a very good thriller--- nothing like a hitchcock film or like The Ghost Writer I just wrote about. But it is a good thriller (personally I enjoyed Salt more, Jolie's previous film).

I do recommend this movie but suggest you wait until it is out of DVD to rent (it is not one to buy). It was nominated for 3 Golden Globes-- personally I am not sure why. This is not a great movie-- it could have been but failed to create that great factor.

See it for yourself and let me know what you think-- love it? hate it?

Review: Kick-Ass

Review:

4 out of 5 stars

One of my favorite movies of the year (and yes I realize it has a lot of swearing and a TON of violence). What I loved so much about this movie is that it didn't shy away from the swearing and violence but embraced it. I am also a sucker for a comic-book movie and this is one of the best (up there with V for Vendetta one of my favorite of all time).

This movie does involve a girl swearing and doing unspeakable violence but that was fine with me because as part of the character she grew up with no childhood and was groomed for this. That does not make it right but makes it a reality that is sadly true for most today. Most children do not get a childhood but instead have a ton of things they are forced to do and things that take up most of their time.

This movie is about a boy who wants to be a superhero and creates a costume because he thinks that will make him one. When it doesn't he begins to fight crime, rather badly but people notice and some embrace it while others try to destroy it. He crosses paths with a girl and her father who are fighting the mob and trying to bring them down.

The ending is poetic, sad and uplifting all in one. I highly recommend this movie BUT if you have a problem with too much violence or too much swearing then this is NOT for you! But it is definitely a fun watch and one that I believe you will enjoy in the end.

Let me know what you think-- love it? hate it?

Review: The Towering Inferno

Review:

4.5 out of 5 stars

There used to be a time when the Oscars loved these big epic disaster movies like this one. The Towering Inferno is about a high rise building that goes up in flames with a big party on the top floor. The rest of the movie is about trying to get those people to safety. I loved this movie because it didn't try to show that people didn't die-- instead it showed how death was a reality.

I love big epic movies-- one of my guilty pleasures just like horror movies. The acting in this movie was great: Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, Wilt Chamberlain, Faye Dunaway, Fred Astair, and William Holden. With all of those great actors this was bond to be a great movie-- which it was. The character development was great because you fell in love with the characters and really cared about what happened to them.

That is what is missing from most disaster movies nowadays-- you don't develop relationships with the characters (like the new Poseidon from a few years ago). This movie showed the point of view of the fire from different points of view-- like the firemen, the party goers, different residents, which helped to create a great movie.

It also shows what people do when they are pushed to the point of death-- which I love, seeing what characters are pushed to do. It is also great to see characters overcome so much and how the human spirit helps people survive and help each other. I love seeing characters work together for the common good (I know that is cheesy but hey I love it).

I definitely recommend this movie back from the hey day of disaster movies in the 1960s-1970s! They make some good ones nowadays (Titanic and Day After Tomorrow) but they cannot compare to those back in the hey day!

Let me know what you think of this movie-- do you love it as much as me? or do you hate it?

Review: The Ghost Writer

Review:

4 out of 5 stars

I was hesitant to see this film because I thought it was just Hollywood's love of Roman Polanski that critics were in love with this. Well I regret it took me so long to see it because I actually loved this movie. Ewan McGregor at his very best in my opinion in this gripping thriller.

The movie is about a writer (Ewan) is called upon to finish the biography of the former Prime Minister of England (Pierce Brosnan who is just as amazing as in the 007 movies). The former writer is found murdered but than the PM is brought into a scandle and the writer becomes closer to the PM's wife who is brilliant in this movie.

Honestly from the very beginning I was in love with the wife's character-- she was great and then the ending helped to prove just how important I felt she was. The ending is only stuff that Hollywood could be and it was brilliant how it was all done off screen which I loved. The ending is essential to movies like I have said before and this one helped to bring it up to greatness in my book.

I recommend watching this movie just so you can watch this Hitchcock type movie and see the brilliance that is the acting and the ending. I want to see if you have the same opinion as I do. It is winning a lot of awards in Europe but surprising not getting me traction here in the US's awards circuit. This is surprising because Roman Polanski is much loved in the US despite his legal problems. This is a great follow up to his previous masterpiece-- The Pianist (highly recommend)!

Well let me know what you think of it! Love it? Hate it?

Review-- Night at the Museum: Smithsonian

Review:

3.5 out of 5

I know this is shocking that I haven't seen this movie because I am a Washington DC freak and I have been to almost all the Smithsonian museums but that is the exact reason why I didn't want to see this movie. I love the museums so much and the characters that are in the museums that I didn't want that all to be ruined by this movie.

Granted the movie was not as good as the first because in my opinion nothing could recapture that fun and excitement the first had but this movie was not horrible. Amy Adams was a great addition to the cast and I hope if they decide to make another movie they find a way to bring her back.

Part of the brilliance of the first movie is the older night guards so not being able to have them around is part of the reason this movie wasn't great. But bringing it to DC was a great choice because it gave so many more characters to have fun with which it did.

The special effects were great in this movie and having the octopus go into the reflecting pool was one of my personal favorite. I didn't necessarily like having so many bad guys-- it didn't make sense. I am a person who likes to have one major bad guy to hate and needing to have a lot of heros to gang up on that one person.

Ben Stiller is in his element in these comedy roles which I love and wish he did more of. He can definitely carry a movie on his own but I like him in these kids movies more than the adult films like Meet the Parents and the sequels. He is like Adam Sandler in my opinion but better! (for instance with There is Something About Mary-- BRILLIANCE!!!!!!!)

Let me know what you think-- like it? love it? hate it?

Review: The Town

Review:

3.5 out of 5 stars

Ben Affleck has been a guilty pleasure actor of mine for probably forever (more so than Ryan Reynolds and yes Jennifer Lopez). Guilty pleasure actors are those that are fun to watch but aren't always at their best, they have potential but haven't reached it yet. Well Ben Affleck has found his calling with directing, this is his second directing gig and personally this is his best yet. The first was Gone Baby Gone which was good but Amy Ryan overshown his directing skills.

This movie is about a group of people who rob banks but one time Ben's character falls for the one they take hostage and begins to see her in the outside world. There is also a FBI agent, played by the brilliant Jon Hamm, who is dead set to catch the bank robbers and begins to get clues to finding them. The woman eventually finds out, as everyone knows she would and has a near nervous breakdown. At that point is where I kind of fall out of love with the movie until the ending. I do not like the parts with just the bank robbers.

Instead I love the parts with the guy and girl together and their troubled relationship. But the ending is the controversial part where you either love it or hate it. I personally LOVE IT!!! The ending is brilliant because it is both a sad and happy ending all rolled into one and it leaves room for the future which is so much fun. The possibility of what may come is where the mind loves to go-- I do not like to be told what happens instead I like to invent that myself. So I personally love the ending and love how love is such a major part of it. But it does show the consequences to ones actions-- which is so much needed in movies today.

Jeremy Renner is getting a lot of acting buzz for this movie and it is deserved but the one I would love to see get an acting nod is Rebecca Hall as the girlfriend and victim. She is brilliant in this movie just like she was two years ago with Vicky Christina Barcelona which she was just as amazing in!

This will probably get Oscar nominations and it will be well deserved as long as it is not in Best Picture (in my opinion there were better overall movies-- but writing and acting is top notch) if that makes sense.

Let me know what you think of the movie. Love it? Hate it?

Review: Trouble the Water

Review:

2.5 out of 5 stars

I did not care for this documentary about Hurricane Katrina because it mainly was not what I expected. I was curious why there wasn't a documentary out there about the aftermath or the tragedy. Instead we got this movie which is about how people tried to overcome and find the job in New Orleans.

It was Oscar nominated for Best Documentary which in my opinion does not say much for the documentaries from that year (lol). At one point I watched people rap about their troubles, oh no wait I watched that twice. I can never get that time back in my life.

I guess it is not as bad as I am making it out to be because it was boring, it did not focus on the government problems but instead of the people it affected. It told their story and how they survived and how they are still fighting to survive. It was a good story that needed to be told but not for the length of time it took to tell it.

I do not necessarily recommend this or not recommend this instead if you like documentaries you might like this movie. If you don't like them do not waste your money on renting it because you probably won't like it.

If you have seen it, let me know what you think! Love it? Hate it?

Review: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Review:

3 out of 5 stars

I first want to state that this book series by C.S. Lewis is one of my favorite of all time!! Up there with The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and Twilight (yes I know this is not a great work from a literacy mastermind but it sure is addicting and fun to read). So to bring it to screen could either be amazing or horrible.

My favorite movie of all of them was the first-- The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. That was literally so much fun to watch and amazing because it was the first time I saw the world beyond my imagination. The second movie-- Prince Caspian was not as compelling or fun to watch. I think I missed the White Witch who was so deliciously evil in the first one.

This movie was good but not as great as the first one. It got back to a lot of the original greatness because it focused on a few of the characters and we got to see development of them. Plus it introduced new characters with great young actors. The special effects were just as amazing and the ending was brilliantly adapted. I literally wanted to go to Aslen's land so much!!!

I loved how everyone was tempted which shows this movie was not scared of the Christianity themes like the second one was. This movie embraced them and you got to see the relationships to Jesus and the disciples which was a great parallel.

I definitely recommend seeing this movie-- I did not see it in 3D because I am cheap and the reviews said besides the beginning part it was not worth it. I tend not to see them in 3D until they become cheaper which will happen in time.

Let me know what you think if you saw this movie! Love it? Hate it?

Review: The Secret in their Eyes

Review:

4 out of 5 stars

I will admit I went into watching this Argentina film with a bias of already disliking it. It won best foreign language picture at the Oscars and I didn't see how anything could beat The Prophet which I was in love with! Just like the previous year when Departures won and I felt two others should have but once I saw Departures I loved it just as much.

This movie was really good and really addicting to watch. It is a crime film that is shown through flashbacks. The movie is about a man who tried to solve a film but was stopped by the powers that be so many years later he writes a book about the film and the case is reopened and justice is served in a very unique way. He is also in love with someone he is not allowed to be which plays a pivotal role in how the crime is solved.

The acting is great but what I enjoyed the most was the script and how the story unfolded. I am a sucker for movies with flashbacks-- I enjoy them and how they provide a different way of seeing the story. This is why I love movies like Meminto so much (if you haven't seen that movie-- I highly recommend that too).

This movie definitely deserved to win Best Foreign Language film at the Oscars and if foreign language films were taken more serious at the Oscars it would have been nominated for more (trust me on this one). It won quite a few awards in Spanish speaking countries and made a lot of money in those countries.

Yes you do have to read the subtitles but that doesn't make a movie a bad one-- it just involves a little bit more thinking. The movie helps one to discover what justice is-- and how it is not always kind or just but is usually received in some way.

If you end up seeing this-- let me know what you think! Love it? Hate it?

Review: Alice in Wonderland

Review:

3/5 out of 5 stars

I didn't see this in theater out of protest of 3D movies and how everything was being made in it. Plus the trailers made it look darn right STUPID. Well whoever did those trailers should be FIRED.

I actually enjoyed the movie. I only was convinced to rent it because it was getting award notice, especially by the Golden Globes and because of being the awards junkie (or whore depending on who you ask) I wanted to see it before January. I actually really really enjoyed it.

The actors did a great job of being insane and crazy and creating the 'Wonderland' world as an alternate universe for Alice to learn a lot about herself. I love the heart each character had and how it was at simplistic a movie about good versus evil and standing up for what you believe in like the Mad Hatter.

I also love how the characters were each aware of their flaws and even embraced them like the Red Queen who knew she was like a little kid and loved it so much!

The movie surprised me at how 'dark' it was with the heads floating in the moat and yet it was so child like. The war scenes at the end made the entire move to me and I LOVED when Alice shouted off with your head, it was so ironic and so poetic.

On a side note-- I loved how the movie did not try to recreate the previous movies of Alice in Wonderland but instead created a world that is 19 years into the future from the previous tales that most people know of. This allowed them to use the same universe but have a different story. If this had been mentioned in the trailer I so would have been there!

I definitely recommend this movie, it is a great rent for the family (as long as there are no young children). I can definitely see how it made so much money.

I know most of you saw it-- let me know what you thought of it!

Review: Winter's Bone

Review:

3 out of 5 stars

This is one of those independent films that critic's have fallen in love with but the general population hasn't heard of. With all of my obsessive checking of different film blogs I heard of this movie over the summer but never got to see it until it was released on DVD a few weeks ago.

It is a fairly dark and gritty film about a 17 year old girl who has to go find her father who skipped bail or she and her family will lose their house that he put up as collateral. As a result this takes her through the slums of the area and she encounters people that no one would ever want to come across. She is the entire reason to see the film because I predict she will be around for a while (she reminds me of a younger Kiera Knightly so I LOVE)!!!

The main character portrayed by newcomer Jennifer Lawrence is the entire movie and she deserves every Best Actress nomination she earns. She is a force to be had on screen but in my opinion that is about it. I thought it was almost too cliche how everyone was against her discovering the truth and her father. I did love the ending, very poetic but you see it coming from the beginning when everyone tells her what happened to him.

I always find it interesting how they find actors and actresses for these type movies that just looks so small town area, they are not glamorous or drop dead gorgeous. Instead they look like everyday people you would see if you went to Walmart and yet they can act almost better than Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt (whom I both love).

This movie has a very good chance of being nominated for Oscars so if you are an awards junkie like myself I recommend seeing this movie otherwise it will probably not be your piece of pie. It is a movie that most people will not like (at times it is not gory but very close-- they cut off someone's hand with a chainsaw) so be prepared and you have been warned.

Review: Love and Other Drugs

Review:

4.5 out of 5 stars

Honestly-- WOW!!! This movie blew me away with how much I loved it. The acting and chemistry between Anne Hathway and Jake Gyllenhal was amazing! They are two of the best actors of their generation because they have such a screen presence that keeps people from not being able to look away from them.

The story revolves around the chance meeting of Jake's character who is a drug representative trying to sell two drugs to doctor's offices while Anne's character has Parkinson's Disease. They start a casual sex relationship that begins to develop into more before they break it off because she doesn't want to make him stay with her when she gets sicker since she has the disease so young.

The ending is enough to make the most cold-hearted person become a pile of mush because it is so well acted. It is beyond cliche but THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT!!

I live for the cliches in life! I want my life to be one big cliche!! hahaha.

The movie is very well written and is very witty-- honestly you begin to laugh whenever Jake's character is given Viagra to begin selling because he was such a lady's man who had sex with almost anyone at the beginning. It was very ironic how he became an overnight sensation!!

I recommend this as a date night movie because it has things for everyone (definitely not suitable for children-- just saying incase it was not clear from above mention of sex). As much as they say that Jake and Anne are coleads in this movie-- it is Jake's movie and Anne is supporting him but she does an AMAZING job in that role.

You actually feel like you just watched two people fall in love and it is absolutely gorgeous and beautiful and amazing and every other term you can come up with!!

See it and let me know what you think!!

Review: Tangled

Review:

5 out of 5 stars

I loved this just as much as Toy Story 3 but in a very different want. Toy Story 3 really went for my heart strings and it sure did pull. This one instead went for my love of music and musicals and really created a great movie.

But for me this movie was a little depressing after reading this is probably Disney's last animated musical for a while because there is not a true market out there anymore. Girls have become so much driven by their looks at a younger age that by the age of 5 they no longer think princesses are cool. Instead they are trying to be 'hot' which is a real shame, they are losing their childhood.

I thought the songs in this movie were absolutely brilliant and I found myself crying at one point when Rupezel is watching the lights that she has been waiting all her life to see.

It is a typical Disney movie-- Boy meets girl. Girl and boy hate each other. Girl and boy go on a quest together and begin to realize they like each other but deny it. Girl and boy have a problem and are separated. Girl and boy are reunited and profess their undying love for each other. But even knowing that you go into it and are 'shocked' each time.

The movie is also like a Disney movie because it has a dark character that surprised me how 'dark' she really is because she was a little scary (especially considering I was probably one of the older people in the theater-- ugh).

I highly recommend this!! Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi were brilliant and have amazing voices. The humor and sarcasm is enough to keep adults laughing almost more than the kids. In my opinion this deserves an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature even though I fear it will not get one over the not as superior How to Train Your Dragon (which I enjoyed don't get me wrong).

See it and let me know what you think (I saw this over Thanksgiving break and the movie has stuck with me this long so it really is good!!!)

Review: The Secret of Kells

Review:

3.5 out of 5

The Secret of Kells is an animated movie that was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars last year. It was a surprise nomination that most people did not expect. It is an Irish and French film but it is entirely done in English (so no need for subtitles).

At best it is a beautiful film-- absolutely gorgeous shots and the animation is very different from the computer generated things we see today. This is the type of animation I LOVE!!! The story was hard to follow at times but mainly because I did not understand the Irish story it came from. I like to consider myself a history buff but I am definitely not up on my Irish history from the 900s-- go figure.

It is about a town trying to protect a secret book and keep it going from one generation to another. But in that process a group of people (the Vikings I think) come in and start to burn the town down and they might just capture the book. The story became easier to follow as I started to realize those parts of the plot.

The voicing was amazing and very convincing and the characters were people I could connect with. The ending was my favorite part because of seeing the boy return to the town he once lived in and the final revelation was amazingly well written and voiced.

I do recommend this movie and it is fairly appropriate for children-- in terms of the USA standard of rating movies this is rated PG because of some of the violence themes. It was a fun movie to watch-- even if it would not have been in my top 5 animated movies from last year. But it definitely would have been in the top 10 animated movies (considering only 16 came out last year- haha).

Let me know what you think if you end up renting this!

Review: The Kids Are All Right

Review:

4.5 out of 5 stars

Honestly an amazing movie for the sarcastic person-- literally this was OOZING with sarcasm in every line and every character. It is a definite Oscar contender this year-- especially for Annette Benning who is amazing as always. She is the scorned lover an does an amazing job. She also shows was true love is and that love can overcome even the most horrible things.

But what I love MOST about this film is how it made a lesbian relationship seem so normal. They did not focus on the fact they were lesbian but focused on them as just another married couple. I know there are many people who would say this idealized gay marriage but honestly they are two women who happen to be in love with each other. The movie also showed how they have the exact same problems as regular couples with infidelity and children rebellion.

I love the two children-- they were amazing. Mia W. (the girl) and Josh H. (the boy)--- I am unsure of their last names were amazing and showed how children would react to finding their biological parents and one of their parents having an affair. I absolutely loved how they reacted and you got to see a family go through the pain and heart ache but come out stronger than before. The boy was just so sarcastic and was definitely the rebelling teenager which was hysterical.

My biggest issue with this movie is that there is not one big scene instead it is a bunch of little ones. I love when movies have this big scene where everything comes together -- usually a big fight scene. But in this case there was not one big moment when everything comes together-- instead there is little resolution-- even though it makes sense because in a real family everything is not perfect at the end of two hours- haha.

I definitely recommend this because it will likely be a major Oscar contender this year in Best Picture, Best Actress (with two possible nominees) and Best Screenplay along with other possible ones. But those three are its best possible shot at a nomination.

I definitely want to hear the reaction people have to this movie-- so rent it and let me know what you think!

Review: They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

Review:

5 out of 5

Honestly I have not felt this way about a movie in a long time. It was heartbreaking and uplifting and then that ending. Honestly I am still in shock and still cry whenever I think of it. I had to rewatch it 3 times before I truly grasped it.

I wish I could help you to understand the title but it is not until the very last line of the movie that you can grasp the title of the movie. It is the very last line of the movie and that pivotal scene between the two main characters helps one to understand the title.

Just because I gave it a perfect rating does not mean I like the subject matter. I personally think it is horrible and is borderline illegal. The two characters are entered into a dancing contest to see which couple can dance the longest. The two that do get $1500 which during the movie is a large amount of money and they need it. They are both homeless from the way it sounds and they are written off as the underdogs who have no change of winning.

The part that is horrible in my opinion is that it goes on for WEEKS (not hours-- but weeks). At one point they hit the 1000 hour mark. That is unreal and the one contestant has a heart attack (the one of many parts I cry), another person has a nervous breakdown, and another is PREGNANT!!! This shows the lengths that people will go through for money.

There are flashbacks throughout the entire movie and they are not truly something I understood until the end. It shows the main character male going through a trial that has happened and it helps us to realize why he is the way he is.

Jane Fonda is the female lead and carries the movie on her shoulders. She earned her first of many Oscar nominations and was amazing. She shows someone that has so much determination and will power. But it isn't until the end when you realize how amazing she is when she finally loses all hope and needs to reach out to someone. She is a true feminist who had issues asking for help so it took a lot for her. That moment is the true scene to watch for. It is in the last 5 minutes and it makes the entire movie.

I highly recommend this movie-- but beware the movie is not for the faint of heart. You will become invested and probably cry along with laugh and learn to love this movie.

Let me know what you think!

Review: Did You Hear About the Morgans?

Review:

3 out of 5 stars

This was by far not a great movie but it was not a horrible movie like I was expecting. These are two actors who I just do not get. I am not a fan of Sarah Jessica Parker. I love most of her movies but I find her voice very annoying-- and I am not a fan of the voice overs that she does in the Sex and the City series. I know that is not her fault but it just annoys me. Hugh Grant is good at one type of acting --- sarcasm (granted that is enough for me-- but when he tries serious he does not nail it too well).

Because of not liking the two actors going into the movie I was expecting to actually dislike this movie but everything I dislike about them in other movies actually works in this movie. Sarah Jessica Parker embraces her inner-self centeredness in this movie and makes it work so well and actually I began to feel sorry for the character. This was because Hugh Grant's character is so dislikeable and honestly I did not like him at all. But he nailed the sarcastic line EVERY TIME!!

The movie is about the two characters going through a separation which was probably going to lead to a divorce. But they witness a crime and have to go into witness protection (which is hysterical). As a result they begin to reconnect like only people in a movie would. As much as I did not like the actors too much I loved the supporting players of Sam Elliott and Mary Steenburgen as the couple in charge of protecting them. But even more so Elisabeth Moss and Wilford Brimley as the main character's personal assistants. They are HYSTERICAL!!! and personally they are the entire reason to see the movie. LOVE THEM!!

I recommend this as a great movie to watch on a date night in-- rent it and enjoy it. The likelihood of being unavailable at the rental place is not likely because this is not extremely popular. But it would be fun to watch.

It will make you laugh and cry and believe that love is possible-- which is what everyone loves to watch (including guys-- don't let them lie to you)!

Let me know what you think!

Review: Bicycle Thieves

Review:

4 out of 5 stars

This movie is one that is growing on me the longer since I watched it. It is a foreign language film from the 1940s. It is on a lot of lists of the best movies ever made. Oddly, I did not feel the language barrier was a problem (there were subtitles) because the raw emotion on the actors' faces was enough for me to realize how much pain they were in.

The movie is about a man who needs a bicycle in order to get a certain job during hard times in Italy. His wife pawns some items in order to get the money to buy the bicycle. He finally gets it and the family is so happy but then a thief steals it and all the hopes are ruined. The man goes around to try and find the bicycle and finally thinks he found the thief. This leads to a big climatic scene that does not disappoint. The ending is heart breaking and yet gives hope for the future.

I love how raw the movie was and how much emotion was in it. You begin to care for the characters and want the man to find the bike. You realize if he does not find the bike he will not get the job and the family will starve to death.

I believe in watching movies from all parts of the world because American Cinema might be one of the best in the world but other countries have great movies. This movie is one of the best Italian films I have scene.

At times the subtitles were hard to follow because I would get bored reading but I would just pay attention to the characters and what I was seeing and I made up my own dialogue which usually want to what was being written.

I do recommend this movie and it is suitable for children if they are into reading subtitles. It is a great movie which can teach you about not stealing and seeing the consequences to ones actions.

If you ever see this let me know what you think!

Review: Morning Glory

Review:

3 out of 5 stars

This movie could have earned a higher rating if it were not for the ending. If you are a frequent reader of this blog you know-- the ending is EVERYTHING. It can make it or break it-- well for this movie it broke it!!!

It could have been like the great journalism movies-- Broadcast News, All the President's Men, Network but instead it is a dud-- ugh.

AND ALL BECAUSE OF A STUPID DRESS!!! I can overlook a lot in a movies but for a professional woman to wear a fluffy dress to a job interview-- I CANNOT FORGIVE THAT!! I understand why the director had her wear that, it was so when she ran outside she would look like she was floating through the ear. It was a beautiful sequence-- BUT A GIRL WOULD NOT WEAR A DRESS LIKE THAT TO A PROFESSIONAL INTERVIEW. That was a dress you wear to a club to get drunk in and have some fun.

The movie was advertised as a Diane Keaton and Harrison Ford with Rachel McAdams in it. Well that was deceiving-- it was the Rachel McAdams show and boy did she deliver. I do not understand why she is not a bigger star-- she is amazing and this role was made for her. Diane Keaton was wasted but she ate up every scene she was in. Harrison Ford had a very rocky start in the movie but by the end he was amazing.

There is a scene where he is making a frittata and I would listen to him make one of those everyday. Personally the writers needed to have more of these scenes.

I am not sure how this movie could have been saved-- personally show me more of the romance between Rachel McAdams and Patrick Wilson (who was also wasted) or just take the relationship out all together if you are not going to do it justice. Also you could have let Diane Keaton and Harrison Ford's characters fight more-- those were highlights because they banter so well.

It was fun to watch her try to save the show which you knew from the very beginning she would some how do-- you weren't sure how but you knew the leading lady would not fail. The movie was one big cliche and if it were not for the ending I would have LOVED it even more.

It is one I did not stop laughing the entire way through and I would recommend it as a date movie-- even though most of the theater was woman (I actually think I was the only guy in the theater).

Let me know what you think about this movie? or are you not interested?

Review: Burlesque

Review:

6 out of 5 (heart)

4 out of 5 (head)

So I went into this movie with very very very very high expectations-- I mean Cher AND Christina Aguilera in ONE MOVIE!!! That just screams AWESOME!! And for me it did not disappoint. I realize that critics hate this movie but come on it was just one big barrel of monkey fun!!

This is by far one of my favorite movies of the year because I left smiling and taping my foot. Now this is a movie I should not have seen because they showed city life out to be so glamorous and I already have been wanting to move to Washington DC. This movie just screamed-- YOU CAN DO IT ERIC!!! It also really made me want to be a bartender (go see the movie and you will understand why).

Christina Aguilera is one AMAZING singer and she has been called one of the best of her generation and they are definitely correct. She is better than Brittany Spears (and I do love her singing) and she is right up there with Justin Timberlake (who is AMAZING). Her voice is one of those powerhouse kind that is rare for someone so young. Her acting was not great, but definitely not horrible considering this was her first movie. She was able to use her voice to portray her feelings which I personally loved.

Plus she had AMAZING chemistry with Cam Gigandet who was WOWZER, actually funny. I just thought he was another pretty boy but he was actually a very good actor. He had the comedic timing that is rather rare. His bedroom scene where he strips naked for Christina was hysterical and well done!! BRAVO BRAVO!!!

Now lets get to Cher-- she did not disappoint. She is Hollywood royalty in my opinion. She can do NO WRONG-- but even if she could I could forgive her after a movie like this. She was acting and stealing every scene she was in and she was allowed to sing and give the world her amazing voice.

The other actors were ok--- Kristin Bell and Julianne Hough were good but not given enough material to be amazing. I was so disappointed with the material Alan Cummings was given. He is a talented and gifted actor and singer and to basically be given nothing was a shame!!

But then there was Stanley Tucci-- who I love as a comedic actor. He is good in dramas like last year's The Lovely Bones but his glory is in comedies-- like Shall We Dance, The Devil Wears Prada and Julie and Julia. Allow of which he was amazing in. But in this movie he out does himself-- he made acting look so simple even though it isn't. I recommend the movie just to see him!!!

The songs were just up my alley along with everyone else in the theater because you could hear the toes tapping. They were vaudeville type songs. The writing was not perfect but that was easily forgiven. The cliches were everywhere but it was ok-- you knew how it would end from the very beginning but it was a fun ride to go on.

I will be seeing this movie again and buying it because it just makes you feel special. It makes you realize that everyone has their own place in the world and you need to enjoy life!

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU STOP READING THIS AND GO SEE THIS MOVIE!!!!!!!

Once you are back, let me know what you think!

Review: Mr. Majestyk

Review:

3 out of 5 stars

This is one of the movies that the book that got me to start this blog highly recommended. The son in the book watched this movie at least 100 times and it was easily one of his favorite movies. With such a glowing recommendation I shot it to the top of my list on blockbuster.com.

The movie is about a watermelon farm owner who is arrested and then escapes from the police whenever a criminal he is with is broken out. He then tries to capture the criminal to exchange for his freedom but in the process really upsets that man and he wants revenge. But the farmer does not let him scare him and decides to fight back.

I personally did not hate this movie but I did not become passionate about it. It was a fun watch because of the 1970s type story and acting. I started laughing quite a bit while watching it. It doesn't have anyone extremely famous in it. It doesn't have great writing or directing. But it did not disappoint thus it didn't earn a horrible review. I just can't give it a glowing one either.

It was definitely fun to watch a criminal have the tables turned on him and it is actually hard to believe the movie was made in the 1970s because the story is actually relevant today with the migrant workers.

I would say if you have the opportunity rent this and let mw know what you think. Do you agree? disagree?

Number 13-- Favorite Movies of All Time

I realize it has been a while since my last post-- but I haven't been thinking about movies recently. I have been working on a major grad project, report cards and conferences. I actually didn't go to the movies for almost three weeks-- I was that busy.

Number 13-- It's a Wonderful Life

This is one of my favorite movies to watch around Christmas time because it helps me to realize that no matter what you need to be thankful for what you have and help others. There is no greater feeling than that feeling you get from helping others.

I like to believe we have a little George Bailey in each of us that shines bright when we make a donation to a charity or help others paint their house or movie or open the door for someone. Those are things you do not have to do but you do them because it is the right thing to do.

I love reading history about different movies and was shocked to find out this movie was not well received when it first came out-- it was actually considered a box office flop because it did not make as much money as people expected. It did make a slight profit but today this could possibly become a major hit is advertised correctly. It was nominated Oscars for actor and best picture along with director but the American public didn't spend money to go see this movie. People are not really sure why-- it did come out after World War II when people just wanted to be happy and this movie is not really a feel good movie until the ending (which is one of my favorite endings of ALL TIME)!!

It wasn't until the 1980s it became a holiday favorite because of being played on TV multiple times. Now I cannot imagine Christmas without Clarence and George Bailey!! I also think of an angel being given wings each time I hear a bell right-- and a little tear comes to my eye.

It is hard to imagine that anyone has not scene this movie. I know because of this movie I like to think I have made a difference in the world that if I had not been here the world would be drastically different. I believe we are all here for a reason and this movie helps me to believe in that-- along with the power of giving and the CHRISTMAS SPIRIT!!!

Let me know what you think-- would this even be on your all-time favorite movies list!!

CLUE for Number 12--- This is my personal pick for the BEST criminal crime spree and chase movie of all time. It is absolutely brilliant and is amazing to think how it is based off of real people. It was made in the 1960s and is about a man and woman robbing banks but in a way that people immortalized them as Robin Hood wannabes. I would tell you the stars but then it would give it away-- but I will tell you it was nominated for Oscars which is hard to believe back in a time when they did not like violence like today's audience does!

Review: Prom Night (1980 and 2008 versions)

Review:

3 out of 5 stars (original)

3.5 out of stars (2008 version)

I decided to do my first review of an original movie and a remake of a movie. I recently watched the 1980 version (I bought it on VHS this summer and finally had time to watch it). I must say I have a guilty pleasure for horror movies-- ESPECIALLY 1980s horror movies because they are so deliciously horrible.

Before the 2000s horror movies were so predictable and not really graphic in a scary way. But the modern ones use so much digital technology and are just plain SCARY (which is ok with me-- I blame or thank -- however you want to think of it-- SAW!!!!)!!!!!

The original version is not too bad and it has the queen of 1980s horror movies-- Jamie Lee Curtis. She is not too bad and I really enjoyed watching her try to save the day from the masked killer. The back story is amazing and I loved the flashback scenes as we slowly learned more about the original event that caused all of the events.

The modern version has a much more believable plot with the stalking teacher coming back to get the girl who he is obsessed with. I really enjoyed it, maybe because I really like Brittany Snow, she has the cute factor but actually has the acting chops to back it up. Her character does not like playing the victim and balances the need of help from others and getting her own revenge.

The ending in the original version is much more fun with the big reveal of who the killer was and I LOVED Jamie Lee Curtis's face--- so funny (which I know it isn't supposed to be). I also loved how one of the original 4 people who covered up a killing got away with it.

It actually wasn't till afterwards when I was trying to think of how to write this up I realized another movie I watched recently-- Sorority Row-- is a remake of this idea of people accidently killing someone and covering it up but someone saw it and decides to get their own revenge.

Also once deciding to do a double review I realized decides the name and the idea of a prom night they movies have NOTHING in common-- which is ok with me. I enjoyed both because in reality I did not know how either would end. I was actually surprised when I watched the original and realized they were not similar and thus I was genuinely surprised while watching it.

Let me know if you saw either-- I do highly recommend watching both. Maybe have a PROM NIGHT marathon with Prom Night (1980), Prom Night (2008) and Sorority Row (2009). I would LOVE to hear what you think!!

Review: Unstoppable

**Note-- this movie was made quite close to where my parents live up in north central PA!!!

Review:

3.5 out of 5 stars

First off-- WOW!! I am pretty sure I have large clumps of hair missing from my head and left hand impression marks on the seat at the movie theater. Who knew a run away train movie could be so intense. Literally I had my eyes close as the runaway train was going full speed right into a train with children. During that point the person I went with started to scream and you could hear a gasp in the theater. It is very rare to get that much of a response from a movie theater crowd. People will do that in their own home but in public they try to keep face.

The movie is about a man who is helping to train another guy on one of his first days after train school. While they are out another train starts to move after the stupidity of a person (who should definitely NOT be working with trains) and it becomes a runaway train.

The movie shows how red tape can get in the way of simply trying to solve a problem. I love how this movie is based on real events which means I have no heros in my life- haha. The sarcasm some of the people have is amazing (yes I realize that the writers of the movie-- but I can believe that is how they are in real life- hehe).

The movie did a great job of creating a suspenseful movie. That can be hard to do at times, but this movie made me want to scream and cry at the same time. The acting was not especially great-- Denzel Washington was better (like in Glory-- highly recommend) and Chris Pine was amazing in Star Trek last year. Rosario Dawson was to DIE FOR in Rent as Mimi!!! Go see that. But all three were ok here-- but the true star of the movie was the train!!! No pun intended!!

I do recommend the movie because it is fun!! It is one that everyone can love and it is not horribly dark or not family friendly. I would say you could wait to rent this movie in a few months since there are so many great movies out around the holiday season!!

Let me know what you thought of this movie or if you plan on seeing it!!

Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

Rating:

4 out of 5 stars

First off, I was not necessarily disappointed by this movie. The problem is my favorite scene from this book is from the second half of the book. I was really really looking forward to that (yes I did know it would not be in this movie). As a result I left super excited about Part 2.

I felt the director did a great job telling the story of the first part-- showing how the characters have grown up and how they are becoming frustrated and torn down because of the war between Lord Voldamort and his people versus Harry Potter and his people. It shows how desperate both sides are getting.

I especially love the wedding because I felt that was essential to the book because it shows that you cannot let the little things in life stop just because a war is going on. You need to keep on living or else the other side has already won and you might as well give up.

I love these books and movies not just because the fantasy elements and magical powers. I love them because I grew up with these characters and got to know them. The characters grew up and become adults and yet they became closer. They show how friendship can become more which is very realistic. I love how the author JK Rowling and the directors allowed the characters to be children and yet give them big problems to overcome. I love how action and drama are used together instead of just one.

This movie personally could have used more action because it was very heavy on the drama. I also LOVED how this movie was darker but most of those elements were actually never shown on screen-- instead it was insinuated that the events happened.

I am SUPER excited to see Part 2-- like literally I am so close to counting down the days. And I WILL BE at the midnight showing with my movie partner in crime. We are DEDICATED movie goers-- we did the midnight showing of this movie and then had conferences at 7:30am!!!

We are HARRY POTTER FREAKS!!! Let me know what you thought of this movie-- I know most people loved this movie more than I did, so let me know.

Review: The Dreamer

As one can tell I am back to writing reviews-- school and grad work took the place of movie watching. But since both have started to come down it is time for me to get back to the movies. Especially since the holiday season brings so many great movies to theaters!! Expect a lot more reviews in the coming days and weeks-- WOOT WOOT!!!

Rating:

3 out of 5 stars

Once again this is one of the movies the book that originally started this blog wrote about and somewhat recommended. But WOW was I surprised as I watched this and learned what it was really about.

The best movie comparison I could come up with was-- Last Tango in Paris. It is very gritty, sexy and definitely earned its NC-17 rating. I did not know it had that rating until I started watching it and realized I had no idea what it was about and did some research online.

It takes place in Paris, France during the Vietnam War era where there were student riots going on. An American boy discovers a brother and sister at a movie theater and realized they had a lot in common. At that point they start a very interesting relationship and discover many things about each other. It is best described as a coming of age story.

I did not particularly like the movie until the ending-- that is the best part because it is so poignant. It appears that all hope is lost as the three forget about the outside world but an event happens that brings them back to reality of the student riots happening outside their apartment.

The acting is not especially great but it is interesting to note that Eva Green (eventually a Bond Girl in Casino Royale) is in the movie as one of her first American roles in 2003.

I do not especially recommend this movie but thought I would write about it just because the ending has really stuck with me.

Number 14-- Favorite Movies of All Time

One of my good friends guessed the NUMBER 14 correctly-- it is Finding Neverland.

Finding Neverland

Honestly this movie makes me feel so good because it brings back memories of watching Peter Pan and wishing I could fly. As a history buff it gives me the background in the life of the author and what he was thinking as he creates it.

Some have called the story boring but I enjoy it because life is not always about a car chase or gun show. Instead life is about the little moments that bring people together. It was a sweet love story of Jonny Depp's character and Kate Winslet's character. They fall in love but it becomes a tragic type love story.

I am a HUGE Kate Winslet fan-- the only other actresses I love more are Meryl Streept, Bette Davis and Kathrine Hepburn. Winslet just has a way of making the acting look so easy and yet so complex. She made me cry so many times throughout this movie-- but especially at the end when her children created Neverland and they went for a visit. I was a mess during that scene the first time, and every time since them.

An unsung hero in the movie, Julie Christie--- she was beautiful as Kate Winslet's mother. She gives the perfect among of worrying and motherly love. She loves her daughter no matter what!

I highly recommend this simple movie! Let me know what you think.

CLUE-- Number 13 is a Christmas time favorite that I have to watch every year. There are so many clues I could give but then you would know the movie right away. It is black and white and when it was originally in theaters it was a FLOP!!! It wasn't until NBC (I believe) got the rights to show it on TV that it became a favorite of America. It shows how one person affects the futures of so many people.

Put your guess in the comments section!

Review: Secretariat

Review:

4.5 out of 5 stars

I have a guilty pleasures-- those movies that don't try to hide the sentimental feelings they want you to feel. They go for broke and want you to cry. This is one of those movies. You know how it ends-- the horse becomes the first horse in 25 years to win all three major horse races in the United States and yet I was on the edge of my sit leaning over to my mom going--- OH NO HE IS GOING TO LOSE!!!

That is a true great movie, you know how it ends and yet you get sucked into it and fall in love. It is a truly uplifting story about how a woman risks everything to keep her father's dream alive. Diane Lane does a FABULOUS job playing the part. She is one of my favorite actresses (since Unfaithful-- another WOW great movie and Under the Tuscan Sun). She places the woman so well she overshadows the horse who is the true star.

What I wonder why I watch these movies about animals is how they make the animals do such a good job acting because in reality the horse was acting (he posed at times-- which was hysterical).

People are comparing this movie to The Blind Side and I see parallels but personally this movie was better. I was not a huge fan of The Blind Side and I didn't think Sandra Bullock deserved the Oscar (maybe a nomination but not a win). I think Diane Lane deserves a nomination but not a win for this movie. People are also calling this the next big movie for the Conservative Family Values (like the Blind Side) and once again I do not see it. The woman ditched her family in Colorado to virtually move to Virginia for three-four years to train the horse and take care of the farm. How is that good family values? It makes for a great movie but not a good family values.

I do recommend this movie and kids would love it too-- it is a good Disney film.

Let me know what you think!

Number 15-- Favorite Movies of All Time

This is literally the number one movie I watch when I am upset and need a pick me up. Of course someone borrowed this movie and never gave it back-- VERY VERY UPSET!!!

Number 15---- Love Actually

This is a movie that you either heard of and have seen or never even heard of. It came out in 2004 with little fanfare and little buzz but ended up being on a lot of critic's top ten lists that year. It is a brilliant movie about how love is not perfect but you need it.

It shows about 10 different stories at once (like Crash) and each character is in another story line for a little bit. It has a 10 year old kid coming to grips with his mother dying and falling in love for the first time, a middle age couple drifting apart as the husband has an affair, the prime minister falling for his secretary and learning to stand up for himself, a couple meeting while making porn, along with many more couples.

It is a Christmas type movie-- or at least it is set around that time and it has an hysterical plot about a horrible song becoming the most listened to song of the holiday season and the perform will perform it naked.

What I love about the movie (besides the British humor and sarcasm) is that it shows love for what it really is. It shows love as this thing that controls people and makes me do stupid things. It shows how love can hurt and blind you. But love is something you cannot live without. It is something that you need right up there with air, water and food. Without it there is no reason to love.

I highly recommend watching this movie, but be ware I believe it is rated R (or at least PG-13)--- for language and sexual content. But it is worth it, just make it a date night with the person you love.

Let me know what you think about !! This is one I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!

Clue for Number 14--- This is a movie also from 2004 like Love Actually. It was in most people's top ten list for the year and it is about the creation of a beloved animated movie from the 60s about children traveling to a far off land. It shows how the author created the book (which eventually became the movie). It stars Kate Winset in one of her BEST performances and Jonny Depp (who doesn't love him). Let me know your guesses!

Review: Showgirls

The only reason I saw this is because it won the Razzie for worst movie of the year it came out, the worst movie of the decade (1990s) and then worst movie of the last quarter century. That must mean it is a pretty bad movie and of course I had to see it.

Review:

3 out of 5 stars

As you can see from my review-- I did not hate it, actually I loved it compared to what I thought I would think. The biggest problem I had with this movie was the overuse of nudity-- honestly I felt like someone was naked in every scene. I understand it went with the topic of showgirls but still it was a tad overdone for a Hollywood mainstream film.

It did receive a NC-17 rating and it deserved that. There was drug use and nudity in most of the film. But the reason I enjoyed it is because it did not try to be a different film, it embraced the topic and went for it. It was a parody that was not to be taken seriously like many critics hoped for.

It also had a lot of comparisons with one of my favorite movies-- All About Eve. Both films involve a younger character trying to overtake an older character who is on top of their career. They overtake them and become the top dog only to be taken done by their need for fame and fortune. I love that it showed the dog-eat-dog world that is Hollywood, fame and fortune.

The movie did go for broke and in the end most people hated it. But since then it has become one of the top selling movie in rental and buying for Sony and it has become a true cult classic. People love to hate it (I am in that category too).

I am not necessarily recommending the movie because of the content but it was a very fun watch, just be prepared.

Review: For the Bible Tells Me So

Disclosure: I have very liberal views when it comes to social issues (like the one discussed in this film).

Review:

4 out of 5 stars

This movie is about homosexuality and how it is perceived by the right and left side of the political spectrum. It showed the differences the Bible mentions when discussing the topic along with others. It shows how people tend to believe the passages that say homosexuality is evil and a sin but overlook the parts that say it is an abomination to eat shrimp.

The movie had about 4 families where there is a child that comes out as homosexual and the consequences that follow. Each family came to terms with the revelation in different ways. It was a very uplifting and heartbreaking movie at the same time. One mother came to terms with it too late, after her daughter committed suicide. It was a very poignant film to be watching at this time.

I heard of the movie from www.ew.com that had a posting of 10 documentaries that changed the world. I have seen most of the documentaries but not this one. So I rented it with my Blockbuster Online membership.

The ending brought me to tears --- the song they are playing over the background was amazing. The reason I did not give it a 5 out of 5 rating is because they through the gay Episcopal priest drama. I thought because of adding that in, the movie lost focus. It is just my point of view but the documentary was very well done.

I definitely recommend it, it is unlikely to change your views but it is always fun to see another side of a controversial story.

Review: Crimes and Misdemeanors

I rented this for the sole reason of it being called one of Woody Allen's best films. I want to start out by saying, I am not a Woody Allen fan. I do not get his unique style of directing. I love his modern films (from Match Point, Scope or Vicky Christina Barcelona) but not the ones from his apparent great period (Hannah and Her Sisters, Annie Hall, ect...)

Review:

3 out of 5 stars

I will admit this is one of his better films, but maybe I just liked it because of the actors who were in it. I love Mia Farrow, Anjelica Huston, Jerry Orbach, Alan Alda, Sam Waterston, and Martin Landau. It is amazing to watch all of them in one film. The writing was amazing, like most of Woody Allen's films. He is a great writer and director. The only reason I enjoy him as an actor is because he is hysterical at delivering lines with such sarcasm.

The reason I am always against seeing his films is I do not like him as a person, he is a great artist but as a person I do not like his choices. There are so many stars that I think are brilliant actors, actresses and directors but they make choices I cannot condone. Woody Allen is one, Jane Fanda and Roman Polanski are two more. They are great artists but they have made horrible choices.

But back to this movie, it is about choices people make and the consequences that follow. It is also about the consequences and the choices that follow those. There are really two stories, one where Martin Landau has an affair and then it goes horribly wrong. I did not care for this part of the story. I liked the Woody Allen one where he is making a documentary with Mia Farrow and he falls for her.

This movie dealt a lot with martial indiscretions and what happens as a result. I LOVED that at the end the two stories come together and we see how they learned to deal with the choices they made throughout the movie.

The MVP was Alan Alda in my opinion because he went for over the top and then went times ten. He truly was a caricature of Hollywood and being famous and he did a brilliant job.

I will admit this is one of my favorite Woody Allen films because it goes for broke. I recommend this.

What is your favorite Woody Allen film? Did you like this one?

Let me know!

Review: The Social Network

I always try and see movies that have the possibility of being nominated for Oscars but my budget keeps that from happening. This is one movie I needed to see because I LOVE facebook!!

Review:

5 out of 5 stars

Honestly, one of the best movies of the DECADE!! It is a socially relevant movie about something that is a part of almost everyone's life. My parents even have a facebook. I have had a facebook since May 2005-- just like the people in the movie, I started receiving spam from all of my friends which turned out to be an invitation. I joined it within the first year facebook went public!

The writing was so witty and sarcastic but still very smart. The movie is about geeks and yet I didn't feel stupid, everything was explained so thoroughly. One of my favorite quotes come from the first ten minutes when Mark Zuckerberg's girlfriend, Erica Albright, breaks up with him and says, "Mark I want you to know that when you look back you might think girls don't give you a chance because you are a geek but that is not true. I want you to know it is because you are an asshole." Honestly brilliant writing and I caught myself laughing out of loud a few times.

The writing was not the only strong part of the movie, the acting was amazing! Who knew some of these people could actually act. Jesse Eisenberg was so great I completely forgot he was acting, I thought I was watching a documentary. He was so sarcastic and antisocial it was great. Then there was Andrew Garfield who played his best friend that eventually sued him. He was able to show the naive side along with the money hungry side. He actually cared for his friend.

Thus why this movie has been described as a movie about friendship and betrayl.

The biggest shocker was Justin Timberlake can actually act!!! Yes it is true!! He played Sean Parker who was the inventor of Napster. He is a slimball, sleezeball, just a plain asshole and Justin Timberlake did a brilliant job! He had some of the best scenes in the whole movie.

Armie Hammer was also brilliant as the twins who sue Mark Zuckerberg, they had good scenes. All of these guys could end up with Oscar nominations if they play their cards right. But the guys aren't the only ones with great acting, Brenda Song from the Disney channel did an amazing job and was honestly shocked she could act so well. She went from a nice character to crazy (it was a bit of a stretch but I loved watching it happen)!

I highly recommend this movie because it is a lot of fun and you will love the movie. From what I am hearing, anyone will love it-- young and old, men or women. Just go and see it!! It is a lot of fun and I NEVER checked my cellphone for a time. That is very very rare, especially for a two hour plus movie.

David Fincher, as director, create an amazing movie from the screenplay by Aaron Sorken. They are very respected artists in Hollywood. They create movies that are amazing! And this is no different.

Let me know what you think!

Review: Mommie Dearest

I am a huge Joan Crawford and Faye Dunaway fan so a movie about the one and staring the other is absolutely amazing!!

Review:

3 out of 5 stars

First off I have NO idea why this was nominated and won so many Razzies! I absolutely loved it. I think part of the reason is the movie was not understood. It is a parody of an amazing actress based on a book by her daughter who has mommy issues. The movie was suppose to be how one person saw her and not necessarily the truth.

Faye Dunaway was amazing as Joan Crawford-- she brought the right amount of crazy and then went a little extra which is needed to make crazy believable. I loved the actresses who played her daughter Christina as a child and young woman-- they were both great and very cute!

The plot was the life of Joan Crawford as seen through her daughter. Apparently Joan Crawford is a bit of a nutcase and likes everything to go her way-- personally WHO DOESN'T. It just seems Joan Crawford made it go her way or else.

I loved the ending where she left her children out of her will as one final FU!!! But the daughter did not let her mother get the final say-- she wrote a tell all book that became a best seller.

The acting wasn't great but it was not Razzie worthy, I just think Hollywood wasn't ready to accept the movie. And that can be seen through the years as it became a cult classic (and rightfully so).

It is for anyone that has issues with their parents (not that I do-- but I would have loved it more if I did) and for anyone that loves watching someone go crazy!!

Let me know if you have seen it!

Review: The Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole

The first time I saw ads for this movie a few months ago I swore this looked horrible and I wouldn't want to see it. But the more I saw trailers the more it looked appealing. Boy am I glad that I ended up going to see this movie-- I truly enjoyed it.

Review:

4 out of 5 stars

It was a visually stunning film and I bet it would have been amazing in 3D (I saw it in 2D-- 3D is just too expensive). The one scene I bet that would have been amazing is when the owls are caught in a hurricane type storm-- it was gorgeous and absolutely amazing to watch. The animation is some of the best I have seen in a while.

Personally I cannot believe I actually sat through a movie about warring owls but the source material must have been very good because the movie was amazing. It moved very fast and before you know it the 90 minutes is up.

I absolutely loved that all of the actors and actresses were British or Australian and their accents were amazing. I absolutely loved trying to pick out all of the actors (I knew quite a few).

The plot of good and evil owls is a very generic form for a movie (imagine The Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings) but it works so well. They added their own twist and I absolutely loved the evil owls. Also one of the greatest parts is the use of moon-blink an owl-- it is a kind of possession and control over an owl.

I love fantasy movies so this is a common movie I would love. But if you do not like fantasy movies this might not be for you (unless you love British accents-- then you would love it).

Beware!!! It is very scary at times (it is PG -- but at times it pushes that PG label. There really should be something between PG and PG-13). Some young kids might be scared while watching this movie.

Let me know what you think!

Number 16-- Favorite Movie of All Time

So I know I said I would be better about getting movies up here but what can I say, it is part of my charm to be behind- hehe.

Last time I gave you quite a few clues and no one guessed but it is a very simple movie that probably everyone has seen. But it is such a feel good movie I always watch it when it is on TBS (which it is a lot).

Pretty Woman

It is one of my favorite Julia Roberts movies and probably my favorite Richard Gere movie (and I LOVED Chicago).

Even though this is not Julia Robert's first movie (Mystic Pizza and Steel Magnolias came before this one) it is the movie that made her a star. She will always be a high class whore in many people's minds (hehe). Honestly this movie is not very believable because she doesn't come off as a prostitute very well and she has such a sweet naive feeling in the movie that makes me feel like she belongs to be a rich woman.

I love how she plays this character and absolutely believe she deserved the Oscar nomination-- she was brilliant. Richard Gere is one of the most undervalued actors in Hollywood and it is a sin he doesn't have an Oscar nomination for a movie. He has had so many great roles and this is one that he did very well but he makes it look so easy for him.

I highly recommend seeing this incase you are one of the few that has never seen it. Let me know what you think!

Clue for Number 15--- It is probably one of the greatest romantic comedies of all time. It has one of my FAVORITE scenes from any movie. A man is marrying a woman and during the giving of the vows a band begins to sing a song that brings me to tears almost every time. I love how this movie brings so many characters together (like Crash) and they are all connected. There are so many amazing scenes that some of my favorite were cut. It is a purely British film with the only American being the President played by Billy Bob Thorton.

Let me know if you think you can guess it!

Review: Alpha and Omega 3D

This is the most recent movie I saw (literally hours ago) so I am finally caught up with all the movies I have seen. I didn't think this would actually happen. Hopefully sometime this week I can get back to My Favorite Movies of All Time-- I believe I am on number 16.

Rating:

3.5 out of 5 stars

Honestly I wanted to give this movie higher of a rating because I was laughing out loud the entire time but I cannot overlook some major flaws.

The movie is about a pack of wolves who are made up of Alphas (the hunters) and Omegas (the fun loving ones). They can live and eat together but they cannot mate. Two packs are having a marriage to bring them together but people take two of the wolves away to mate in another state park. The wolves must find their way back to the packs before they fight to the death.

It was definitely not a fluff type movie and it has a lot of heavy political agenda in it (which I love). It is all about being able to marry the person you want to and it seems to be made with the whole gay marriage thing in mind (GOOD FOR IT!!!)!!!! The kids and probably most adults do not see this but if you pay attention it is there.

One of my favorite lines is from two hippy wolves who shout, "Stop the insanity, go organic!" Honestly this made me howl like a wolf because it was so hysterical and is something I believe strongly in too.

One of the major flaws of the movie is the predictability of the movie because you knew in the first five minutes how it was going to progress and how it would end. A great kids' movie is one that adults can love along with the kids-- this was created for kids and they tried to force humor too much to please the adults.

Another flaw is the howling-- honestly it did not sound like wolf howls instead it sounded like poetic music and every time they howled I laughed because it was very unrealistic. It was just a create big joke personally. One of the people I went with (a kid) actually started to howl because it was infectious!

I do recommend seeing this movie but DO NOT waste your money on 3D instead try to see it in plain 2D because the 3D effects were not that great. The people I were with and myself found ourselves getting dizzy. We had fun and were glad we saw it but see it in 2D if possible.

Let me know what you think of it!

Review: Easy A

Rating:

5 out of 5 stars

Easily one of the BEST movies I have seen all year and I have no doubt it will be in my top ten at the end of the year. It is a brilliant movie-- absolutely amazing high school satire up there with Mean Girls (another brilliant movie with amazing writing).

Unlike Mean Girls which was amazing because of Tina Fey's writing, this movie is brilliant because of the actress Emma Stone who plays the lead Olive. I honestly think she is the female version of me because I have been told I do sarcasm very well and she is able to deliver sarcastic lines better than any actress I have ever seen.

The movie is version of Nathanial Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter. Olive is forced to tell a lie about losing her virginity and it starts to snowball out of control where guys pay her to say that she slept with them even though she did not. The movie becomes so unrealistic that it actually seems realistic. There is only one small part of the story that seems unrealistic and it involves Lisa Kudrow's character, the guidance counselor but because of how much fun I was having I can overlook that.

The parents of Olive are played by the amazing Stanley Tucci (in one of his FINEST comedic performances) and Patricia Clarkson. They have such great chemistry and they are so laid back but never once did I not believe they didn't care for their daughter.

I loved the concept of using a video blog to narrate the entire movie-- it brings a modern twist to the premise of the Scarlet Letter. I also love how they do not shy away from the act it is based on the book, it even talks about the two movies and how the original is amazing and the Demi Moore version is crap (which it is).

I recommend everyone reading this drop what they are doing and go to the theaters to see this. It is an amazing movie and you will not stop laughing the entire time you are watching.

Let me know what you think after you see this. Do you love it as much I do?!?!?!?! Or do you hate it (GASP)!!!!!

Review: Chungking Express

This is one of the movies I discovered through the book I read on the trip out west that inspired me to start this blog. The boy in the book loved this movie so much I just had to watch it.

Rating:

3 out of 5 stars

The movie consists of two stories that are told one after the other. The first story I did not like was much, it was slow and I did not understand it. A man is dumped by a girl and buys a can of pineapple each day that will expire on May 1st. If the girl does not come back to him by then he knows it is not meant to be. Over the course of the time he meets another girl who is not interested in him but he is still pursuing her.

The second story is of a woman who works at a restaurant and a man that comes to the restaurant each day. They gradually fall in love-- it was beautiful to watch happen over the course of the movie.

It is a foreign language film from Hong Kong from the 1990s but it was a very good movie. The director originally had three parts but felt that it was getting too long so he made the third part a stand alone movie that came out later. The part I really liked is how the two parts were connected-- the couple from the second part made a brief appearance in the first part.

I definitely recommend renting this movie, it was a lot of fun to watch and the music in it brings back a lot of memories and was fun to listen to.

Let me know what you think.

Review--- Resident Evil: Afterlife 3D

I want to just say I am a HUGE fan of the Resident Evil series, a good friend from college got me hooked on them and I have seen every single one at least 3 times but this was my first one in theater.

Review:

3 out of 5

I must say I was disappointed, not by the movie but by the 3D effects-- I really wish I would have just went to the regular movie instead of the 3D version. It was not like the other movies I saw in 3D-- it didn't jump out at me and scare me like I expected.

It basically followed the same formula as the other 4 movies--- a team of survivors tries to battle the Umbrella Corporation in some way along with A LOT of zombies. The zombies were created by the T-Virus the Umbrella Corporation created and released by accident.

It is by no means a great movie but it is a lot of fun to watch because you always know how it will end-- the endings are happy but always leave room for a sequel (like the SAW franchise)-- I honestly do not see an end point because you can never get rid of all the zombies- haha.

I recommend it if you are a fan of the Resident Evil series (movie or video game) or enjoy the genre that has been created of zombies that were formed by a virus. Honestly these movies are a lot of fun-- but do not waste your money on the 3D effects (not worth it).

Let me know what you think if you have seen it! Also if you have specific questions-- comment on the blog and I will try to respond.

Review: Revanche

This is a Best Foreign Language Oscar nominee from two years ago-- it took me until now to be able to rent it. My lovely Blockbuster store does not carry it (surprise surprise) so I had to get it online.

Review:

4 out of 5 stars

After the first thirty minutes I thought I was going to give this a terrible rating but as the movie progressed I fell in love with it. I still think the best movie that year one (Departures-- truly amazing movie) but this definitely deserved to be nominated.

The movie is about a couple who rob a bank and in the process one of them is killed. The survivor goes home to his father to help out around the house and without meaning too has an affair with the wife of the guy that shot the other. Going through all the dynamics shows how different people handle grief and eventually overcome it.

Reading the subtitles allowed me to become invested in the movie which I loved. It made me concentrate and truly enjoy the movie. The acting is what made this movie great-- it was subtle but well done. The directing and writing were ok (I did have some problems with some of the script and writing but it some of that might have been lost in translation).

I definitely recommend this foreign language film. It will be worth all of the effort you need to put into reading the subtitles but I think you will enjoy it. (Granted the only foreign language films I watch are Oscar nominated ones which means they are usually good or they are horror films- haha-- amazing ones.)

Let me know what you think!

Review: When in Rome

Review:

3 out of 5 stars

This is just a plain old fun romantic comedy. It is not one I would go see in theaters unless someone invited me but it is a very fun movie. Romantic comedies can be a lot of fun but you need to be in the right state of mind to go to them because you have to throw away a lot of beliefs in order to enjoy it.

In order to enjoy this movie you have to believe in true love, magic and fate. I believe in all three to a point (probably magic more than the other two) but even this movie asked a lot of me as a watched.

The premise is a woman who is so fed up with love that she takes coins out of a fountain in Rome. By doing this those men who threw their coins into the fountain have fallen in love with her. My first problem with the movie--- men usually do not throw coins into fountains, women do so why didn't any women fall in love with her?!?! Men have a tendency of not believing in true love's magic or the Greek Goddess of love who watches over people. So I found that weird that those men did that (even though they were VERY weird men).

During this time of them falling in love with her she falls in love with a guy she met at the wedding, which is the reason she was in Rome. She became worried that he might be under the spell they others are so she tries to fix her problem.

It was fun to watch and I am a fan of Kristen Bell and Josh Duhamel. Both were very good! Josh Duhamel is made for two things-- romantic comedies and TV (he has done both), I do not see him as a serious actor in serious roles. Maybe he will surprise me someday but I hope he sticks with romantic comedies.

I do recommend watching this one-- with someone or alone, it doesn't matter.

Let me know what you think!

Review: White Heat

In trying to keep with the tradition of my blog and reviewing movies from all genres and all decades, here is White Heat from 1949.

Review:

3.5 out of 5 stars

This is a gangster type movie staring the GREAT James Cagney (if you don't know who this is SHAME on you-- highly recommend his great Yankee Doodle Dandy). The movie is about a gangster man who is sent to jail and has to deal with the consequences of his actions while also realizing he does not have any control over what happens on the outside.

His mother is one of the highlights of the movie because she is so deliciously evil and realize how the character became so corrupt. James Cagney's character is so evil that you love to hate him and even begin to route for him. The middle of the movie goes a little slow but whenever he breaks out it begins to get interesting. Especially when he finds out his mother was murdered (the murderer is a brilliant twist in the movie).

The movie is famous for the last scene and honestly made the entire movie for me. It gives new meaning of a character going down in a blaze of glory!! It is as happy ending as a gangster movie can give you but it was very very poetic!!

I highly recommend renting it but be warned, it is black and white but I do not think that should stop you from getting it. It is heavy on the violence but it is fun to watch how the characters turn on each other and try to gain more power!!

Let me know what you think if you rent it! Do you love it? hate it?

Review: The Backup Plan

This is a movie I desperately wanted to see in theaters but did not have the opportunity to see. It looked like my type of chick flick and it had Jennifer Lopez!!

Rating:

3.5 out of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this movie because it was well written with lots of jokes and it had Jennifer Lopez. This is an actress who knows the type of movie she does well in--- romantic comedies!! Maid in Manhattan is one of my favorite movies to watch when I am upset because it gives me hope there is love out there for me. She is a wonderful actress but she doesn't stray too far from romantic comedies which I love!!

The premise of the movie is a woman cannot wait any longer to have a baby so she goes and gets a doctor to help her out. After she had the procedure done she meets her soul mate played by the amazingly good looking Alex O'Loughlin. Honestly why is that guy not any more famous than he is. He is one of the best looking men in Hollywood (if you don't know who is he SEE THIS MOVIE!!!!). They fall in love and then he realizes she is pregnant. The rest of the movie deals with the hysterics of what happens after he realizes.

The reason the rating is not higher for this movie is the ending and other parts are very unrealistic. The reason I love romantic comedies is they seem like they could really happen. A great romantic comedy makes you believe that it could happen to you, even if it is totally unrealistic. Look at Maid in Manhattan--- how many women out there honestly thought they could find a rich good looking man and fall in love!! How about Enchanted!! I for one was looking down sewer drains trying to find a portal to another world, because it seemed to realistic!!

This movie did not seem realistic AFTER the guy found out she was pregnant. Everything before that totally seemed like it could happen (and probably did happen) at some point in the world.

But I definitely think you should rent this for a good date night with your lover or by yourself (like me). Guys will find it hysterical and girls will love to watch the male lead!!

Let me know what you think!

Review: A Prophet

Review:

4 out of 5 stars

This is a foreign language film from France from last year. It was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film alongside another film I reviewed earlier: The White Ribbon. It was considered a front runner to win but ended up losing.

I loved this film compared to The White Ribbon--- but then again I tend to like action films and this was definitely an action movie but it was also very symbolic if you know what is happening in France right now with immigration (like in the United States).

The movie is about a Muslim man who is sent to jail and is guarded by the Italian type people in jail because he does their dirty work and is like a servant. He does not hang around his own people so the other Muslims look at him like dirt. Throughout the film you see what French prisons are like and how people take advantage of the guards by bribing them. The man is eventually sent out on work release and does drug runs. He eventually makes a Muslim friend and becomes like a part of his family. It all comes together for a climatic end where a few surprising twists take place.

The acting is brilliant, it is definitely rated R because of the violence but it is definitely worth the money to rent it. It is one of the best foreign language films I saw from last year. Before you know it the two hours is up and you are wanting more.

I highly recommend renting this movie-- very worth the time it will take to read the subtitles.

Let me know what you think if you rent it or have seen it!

Review: The Box

Still trying to get caught up on movie reviews, I am finding that I can only write reviews over the weekend. During the week I am just too busy, it is something I hope to work on because I enjoy writing them so much. The problem is I watch entirely too many movies- haha.

Review:

1.5 out of 5 stars

Honestly, this movie was just plain stupid. I am huge Cameron Diaz and James Marsden fans but why in the world did they attach themselves to a movie like this.

The premise of the movie is that different couples are offered a chance for 1 million dollars by pressing a button in a box. But if they press it someone they do not know will die. It is a very interesting premise but the rest of the movie starts to get into the supernatural and brings NASA into it. That is where I got very confused, which is VERY hard for a movie to do.

The beginning and the ending were very good but the middle is the part of the movie that I hated and honestly it lost me half way through it. By the time the movie finally caught my attention again, it was almost over. The ending helped the tie up all the lose ends of the movie and it was actually quite brilliant.

The movie is based off of a short story called "The Button" and I would love to read it to see how the writer and director of the movie might have taken it in a different way.

I recommend renting a different movie instead of this one, it is just too far fetched and confusion to truly enjoy and there are so many other movies out there to rent and love.

Let me know what you think if you have seen it!

Review: Wolfman

Rating:

2.5 out of 5 stars

This was not your typical thriller/horror movie but it definitely was. There was more than enough gore to go around and when the wolf was released it would go tearing through people like a tiger tears through its prey.

Honestly I expected so much more from this movie considering it had three amazing actors Benicio del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, and Emily Blunt. Two have Oscars and the third will one day, I know it (especially after her AMAZING turn in The Devil Wear's Prada-- highly highly highly recommend that movie).

My issue with this movie is they tried to make it into a stupid love story. A horror movie has no place for a love story. Now if they had marketed it and made it as a love story it could have worked but instead they marketed it as a thriller and wondered why no one went to the movie.

These three amazing actors could not save the movie and as a result it was horrible. But if you do want to see it, go see it for the special effects-- AMAZING!! Watching the man turn into a wolf was the only reason this was not 1 out of 5 stars (I am serious). I would watch it again but fast forward to the scenes when he changes because they are so much fun to watch.

Overall do not rent this movie!! Watch the original 1941 version instead!! Let me know what you think!

Review: Swing Time

I rent all types of movies and this movie from 1936 is one I had been wanting to see (not just because it involves music and dance) but couldn't because my Queue on blockbuster showed it was always out.

Rating:

4.5 out of 5 stars

Honestly loved this movie, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers should be national treasures more than they are. Their movies together are masterpieces and so much fun to watch. Their chemistry describes what modern day actors and actresses should want. It is so much fun to watch them on screen together.

The dance sequences, from the first one in the dance studio, are masterfully created and they just glide on the dance floor. The song numbers are brilliant. Honestly I felt a little bad for anyone who is against Fred Astaire because you know they will lose.

Victor Moore and Helen Broderick got some of the biggest laughs for playing idiots of a character- haha. But they did it brilliantly. The ending is amazing and is definitely a true love story-- worth every penny to rent it.

Even if you are not a fan of musicals or dance I recommend this movie because you should be a fan of love!!

Let me know what you think!

Review: Jennifer's Body

So I am slowly catching up on a lot of the DVD's I rented before my internet decided to play funny games. Luckily I was compiling a list of movies I was watching that I wanted to review. Most of them came out onto DVD within the last 6 months.

Review:

3 out of 5 stars

Everyone should know by now I love a good horror movie-- they are just so much fun because you know that everyone will likely die by the end. This was rare because you knew the twist going into the movie because of the title-- something is in Jennifer's body.

The movie is about a girl Jennifer that becomes possessed and starts to eat boys during a sexual act--- honestly LOVED the concept but did not enjoy the movie as much as I wanted.

I think it came down to the writing (can you believe I am not blaming Megan Fox's acting- haha). I am not a fan of the writer, Diablo Cody (she wrote Juno-- I hated that movie). I just thought the writing skipped around so much and actually gave away much of the big scenes before she needed to. The movie had so much potential to be the next Exorcist but instead it fell flat on its face.

Personally I recommend skipping this movie unless you like horror type movies-- if you do this will be a fun movie then. Otherwise rent something else.

Let me know what you think!