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.