My favorite of 2008 - Wall-E and Gran Torino
Worst: The Women
The winners:
Eagle Eye
Secret Life of Bees
Mamma Mia!
Kung Fu Panda
Nim's Island
Iron Man
Wall-E
Yes Man (I saw this one in 2009, but had a great time! a bit long but fun, and funny ending!)
Gran Torino (I saw it in 2009, thought it was a very good movie.)
Honorable Mention:
Horton Hears a Who
Dark Knight
Henry Poole is Here
Bedtime Stories
The mediocrity pool:
Jumper
Drillbit Taylor
Be Kind Rewind
Madagascar 2
The Big time losers:
Four Christmases
My Best Friend's Girl
The Women
Don't Mess with the Zohan
every romantic comedy made in 2008 as far as I could tell
The favorites are in bold!
Marley and Me - good, but I don't like crying at movies. About a family and their difficult dog.
Jumper - forgettable, weak, but okay. About a young man who can instantly transport to any location and people trying to kill anyone with his ability.
Ghost Town - nice, a bit slow now and then, and a bit understated, but kind of refreshing even though it is predictable. About a man who has a near-death experience and sees ghosts who needs his help afterward.
Seven Pounds - good, although we had the whole plot worked out before we sat down. About a man who goes to extremes to try to atone for his role in an accident.
Drillbit Taylor - so-so. About kids who hire a bum as a bodyguard at their school.
Be Kind Rewind - I didn't like it. About guys who film their own short versions of movies after they accidentally erase the entire store stock of VHS videos.
Bedtime Stories - Adam Sandler stars in a movie in which he plays an uncle who tells bedtime stories to his niece and nephew while their mom is away and the stories start coming true. Very nice.
Australia - not bad, a bit too long. About a woman who goes to Australia and takes over her husband's cattle business and falls in love.
Tropic Thunder - okay. About difficult movie stars who are filming a Vietnam war movie and are tricked by being put in real situations to make a better film.
Four Christmases - I thought it was too adult and mean-spirited. About a couple visiting their families for the holidays and deciding to change their relationship.
Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden? - okay. Morgan Spurlock goes to the Middle East and asks a bunch of people if they know where Osama is.
Bolt - Good - see it in 3D Sweet story about a dog who plays a superhero on TV but thinks it is real.
Quantum of Solace - good, not as much as Daniel Craig's first, but still good. About Bond dealing with the aftermath of his love's death and the organization behind it all.
Madagascar 2 - take it or leave it. About the animals trying to go back home but finding love instead.
High School Musical 3 - okay for what it is. A musical about their senior year.
Secret Life of Bees - wonderful movie About a girl who runs away to learn about her mother and finds a new home.
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist - not as good as I hoped. About two teenagers who fall for each other while pretending to be a couple.
Eagle Eye - good, unrealistic but done well enough you can buy-in. Alien is too much like Hal from 2001. About a man and women who are forced into service in a "Big Brother" type scenario, but they discover what is going on and try to set things right.
My Best Friend's Girl - Having trouble remembering it, I think it was very nasty, mean, bad. About a guy who earns money by dating girls after they dump a guy and behaves horribly with them so they will want to go back to the other guy.
The Women - Just a horrible movie, stay away. About a woman who discovers her husband is cheating on her with a beautiful make-up counter girl at a department store.
The Longshots - Nice sweet story about a girl's relationship with her father and uncle and how she becomes a football quarterback.
The House Bunny - Lame. About a playboy bunny ditzo who becomes a house mother at the most cliche nerdy sorority ever.
Henry Poole Is Here - Very different, good. About a depressed man who moves into a home where people think they see a stain on the side of the house in the image of Jesus Christ and keep coming to his house for miracles, much to his consternation.
Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D - Fun. A take on the Jules Verne novel.
Mamma Mia! - Most fun and ridiculousless I had at a movie in years - a guilty pleasure - and no, it doesn't make much sense About a young woman of unknown paternity who is planning to get married and invites all potential fathers to her wedding to try to find out who her father is.
The X Files: I Want to Believe - I hoped for so much more being an X-Files fan. Nothing really paranormal here, really about serial killers and a person surviving by "extreme" organ transplantation.
The Dark Knight - good, of course. About the joker and Two-Face.
Hancock - good movie, but the "plot twist" kind of ruined it for me. About a superhero who doesn't want to be one.
Wall-E - Must see this. About a robot alone on an abandoned Earth until he meets a probe sent to look for life on Earth, falls in love with her, and then follows her back to the mother ship where all remaining humans reside in naive, unhealthy lifestyles.
Get Smart - Enjoyable, nothing Oscar worthy but who cares. A Maxwell Smart and Agent 99 caper.
You Don't Mess with the Zohan - Ugh, stay away from the vulgarity. About an Israeli super soldier/agent who runs away to the U.S. to become a hair-stylist and something much more vulgar.
Kung Fu Panda - Very nice! About a panda who wants to be an elite martial arts expert that is needed to save his village.
What Happens in Vegas - okay, mean-spirited, not as funny as I think the writers hoped, no real chemistry. About two people who get drunk in Vegas, get married on their first meeting, and upon splitting up the next day with plans to divorce win a large jackpot. The judge forces them to live together as man and wife as part of the settlement over the money.
The Andromeda Strain - good TV movie. About a very dangerous pathogen and efforts to save humanity from it.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - okay, a bit disappointing but is similar to previous Indys, just not as fresh. About aliens and Nazis.
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian - Fine. Based on the novel.
Speed Racer - A bit slow at times, but I loved this movie - you have to watch it understanding it is live-action anime. Based on the old cartoon.
Iron Man - best superhero movie I've seen in a long time Based on the comic book.
The Forbidden Kingdom - nice movie for the family to see About a young man brought to an alternate reality to be a martial arts hero and fix his own life, too.
Leatherheads - I do not like the girl! About the beginnings of a football league in the 1920's or so, when it is a dirty sport with few rules that are adhered to.
Nim's Island - Delightful! Based on the children's book, about a girl left alone on an island when her father goes missing and the neurotic author who tries to save her but is not up to the role.
Horton Hears a Who! - I loved this, too! Based on the Dr. Seuss story.
Penelope - Nice. About a girl with a piggish nose from a curse that only true love can break, in modern fairy-tale style.
Definitely, Maybe - Very nice. About a man trying to explain to his daughter the story of how he and her mother met at a time when they are divorcing.
27 Dresses - so-so. About a woman who has been the maid of honor for 27 weddings but remains single.
Fool's Gold - so-so. About a couple whose relationship and lives are endangered by the pursuit for lost treasure at sea.
Over Her Dead Body - pretty bad. About a ghost-woman who tries to interfere with her fiance's fledgling relationship after she dies.
Late additions:
Babylon A.D. - the story itself is not much of a story - disappointing plot or lack thereof. But there is still Vin Diesel.
Wanted - Lame - they try to make it really cool but the story/writing/plot can't support it. The idea could be cool, but the movie is a waste. The main character is alright, but no one else is - they aren't even characters - not developed enough.
War Inc. - This got some bad reviews but I liked it. I really enjoy John Cusack in just about everything I've seen him in. The satirical message was not lost in the entertainment.
21 - Forgettable film about an MIT genius who is recruited by a slimy professor to count cards in Vegas. I wouldn't give him the Harvard scholarship.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Friday, January 11, 2008
The Great Debaters
I just wanted to encourage people to get out and see this film. Yes, its overall http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifstoryline is predictable and the debates are a bit canned, but this is a truly important, well-made story. This movie puts you in the shoes of racism and in the cradle of the civil rights movement with very real, human, interesting characters. You'll see some real courage and real horror in this film.
Here's a link to the review.
Here's a link to the review.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
What was good in 2007?
I will probably, insha'allah, see one more movie this year - I think my family will see National Treasure 2 next weekend.
I have seen a lot of movies as mom and I go most weekends, but still missed some I would've like to have seen and of course saw some I wish I hadn't.
I believe this is a complete list of what I've seen, in no particular order:
I Am Legend - saw this last weekend. It was well-acted, but the whole zombie thing just isn't my favorite.
Golden Compass - This movie was totally lame, and the agenda of the text author shows.
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium - I actually really liked this movie, but didn't think I would up front. Very charming, clean.
Enchanted - I liked this, but not quite as much as I wanted to like it.
Fred Claus - Completely forgettable.
Bee Movie - Another forgettable movie.
Dan in Real Life - I liked this much more than I expected to. Most of it is quite awkward but somehow appealing.
Disturbia - Not bad at all for the type of movie it is.
1408 - If you want to see a thriller, this is a great one.
The Simpson's Movie - I didn't have high expectations, but I laughed more at this movie than any I can remember.
Shooter - I liked it.
Spiderman 3 - I thought it was kind of over done, but I still have to like Spidey.
Freedom Writers - I disliked this movie, the teacher made me quite angry from a teacher's perspective. Good idea, but didn't come out well in my eyes.
Stomp the Yard - Okay, not so great.
Ocean's Thirteen - Fine.
The Astronaut Farmer - I really liked this movie.
Wild Hogs - This was enjoyable overall.
Premonition - I hardly remember it, it wasn't that great.
Reign Over Me - This was pretty good.
TMNT - Okay, my nephew wanted to see it. Not easy for an adult to stay awake, but okay.
Blades of Glory - Not bad, totally stupid.
Firehouse Dog - Charming. No great plot, forgettable, but nice.
The Invisible - Okay, kind've hard to remember now.
Georgia Rule - The topic of this movie was unexpected and totally shocking, awful.
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer - I like superhero movies, but of course it isn't one of the best.
Michael Clayton - Well made movie, but soooooooo slow.
The Seeker: The Dark is Rising - Ummmm, plot anyone? Totally a waste of film - too bad because I really wanted to like this.
The Game Plan - Very cute, fun.
Sydney White - I liked the allegory with Snow White, better than I thought but totally typical teen/college movie lame.
The Brave One - My mom really liked this. It is well-made, but honestly I just hated the whole story, it made me too uncomfortable.
Superbad - Embarrassed I saw this one, it was sooooooo raunchy and bad, we didn't realize how bad it was. I did laugh sometimes but mostly I was just ashamed to be there and keeping my eyes and ears closed.
Transformers - A little light on plot but very cool.
The 300 - Much better than I thought, I kind of liked this.
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End - I think most of these trilogies become a bit too big by the end, compromising some of the fun and charm. True here, but still not bad.
Norbit - One of the worst, most mean-spirited movies I have ever seen. Nothing that was supposed to be funny was funny, it was just sick!
Ghost Rider - Okay.
Music and Lyrics - Better than expected, it was a good girl's evening out movie.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - Pretty good, but completely flat compared to the books.
Hairspray - Not bad.
The Bourne Ultimatum - For a third of three, it came off well. I love the whole trilogy even though it deviated much from the books.
Rush Hour 3 - We love Jackie Chan, we loved the first Rush Hour. This just should not have been made.
Because I Said So - mediocre, annoying, but moderately satisfying on the chick flick level - only if you don't think too much.
National Treasure 2 - very implausible, but totally fun
The Great Debaters - wonderful and important
The Lookout - very good story, well-written and well-acted, beautiful too
Here are the year's favorites from my perspective:
Bourne Ultimatum
Transformers
Astronaut Farmer
The Great Debaters
The Lookout
And the least favorite:
Norbit
Superbad
Georgia Rule
I have seen a lot of movies as mom and I go most weekends, but still missed some I would've like to have seen and of course saw some I wish I hadn't.
I believe this is a complete list of what I've seen, in no particular order:
I Am Legend - saw this last weekend. It was well-acted, but the whole zombie thing just isn't my favorite.
Golden Compass - This movie was totally lame, and the agenda of the text author shows.
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium - I actually really liked this movie, but didn't think I would up front. Very charming, clean.
Enchanted - I liked this, but not quite as much as I wanted to like it.
Fred Claus - Completely forgettable.
Bee Movie - Another forgettable movie.
Dan in Real Life - I liked this much more than I expected to. Most of it is quite awkward but somehow appealing.
Disturbia - Not bad at all for the type of movie it is.
1408 - If you want to see a thriller, this is a great one.
The Simpson's Movie - I didn't have high expectations, but I laughed more at this movie than any I can remember.
Shooter - I liked it.
Spiderman 3 - I thought it was kind of over done, but I still have to like Spidey.
Freedom Writers - I disliked this movie, the teacher made me quite angry from a teacher's perspective. Good idea, but didn't come out well in my eyes.
Stomp the Yard - Okay, not so great.
Ocean's Thirteen - Fine.
The Astronaut Farmer - I really liked this movie.
Wild Hogs - This was enjoyable overall.
Premonition - I hardly remember it, it wasn't that great.
Reign Over Me - This was pretty good.
TMNT - Okay, my nephew wanted to see it. Not easy for an adult to stay awake, but okay.
Blades of Glory - Not bad, totally stupid.
Firehouse Dog - Charming. No great plot, forgettable, but nice.
The Invisible - Okay, kind've hard to remember now.
Georgia Rule - The topic of this movie was unexpected and totally shocking, awful.
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer - I like superhero movies, but of course it isn't one of the best.
Michael Clayton - Well made movie, but soooooooo slow.
The Seeker: The Dark is Rising - Ummmm, plot anyone? Totally a waste of film - too bad because I really wanted to like this.
The Game Plan - Very cute, fun.
Sydney White - I liked the allegory with Snow White, better than I thought but totally typical teen/college movie lame.
The Brave One - My mom really liked this. It is well-made, but honestly I just hated the whole story, it made me too uncomfortable.
Superbad - Embarrassed I saw this one, it was sooooooo raunchy and bad, we didn't realize how bad it was. I did laugh sometimes but mostly I was just ashamed to be there and keeping my eyes and ears closed.
Transformers - A little light on plot but very cool.
The 300 - Much better than I thought, I kind of liked this.
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End - I think most of these trilogies become a bit too big by the end, compromising some of the fun and charm. True here, but still not bad.
Norbit - One of the worst, most mean-spirited movies I have ever seen. Nothing that was supposed to be funny was funny, it was just sick!
Ghost Rider - Okay.
Music and Lyrics - Better than expected, it was a good girl's evening out movie.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - Pretty good, but completely flat compared to the books.
Hairspray - Not bad.
The Bourne Ultimatum - For a third of three, it came off well. I love the whole trilogy even though it deviated much from the books.
Rush Hour 3 - We love Jackie Chan, we loved the first Rush Hour. This just should not have been made.
Because I Said So - mediocre, annoying, but moderately satisfying on the chick flick level - only if you don't think too much.
National Treasure 2 - very implausible, but totally fun
The Great Debaters - wonderful and important
The Lookout - very good story, well-written and well-acted, beautiful too
Here are the year's favorites from my perspective:
Bourne Ultimatum
Transformers
Astronaut Farmer
The Great Debaters
The Lookout
And the least favorite:
Norbit
Superbad
Georgia Rule
Sunday, December 09, 2007
The Golden Compass
So I went with mom and nephew this weekend to see The Golden Compass. As with most fantasy, I don't think the movie is as good as the books it is based on.
But for me, there was a bigger problem. This fantasy series by Pullman has some not-so-hidden-agenda to it, but done in a way to apparently attempt to sugar-coat and influence the minds of children who read the books.
Snopes.com verifies my perceptions.
Pullman is an atheist who cannot understand or believe in God and has problems with organized religion.
So, his whole book series is a fantasy about a universe in which organized religion is evil, witches and demons are good, and religion is against reason and free-will. The culmination of the series is when the children destroy the fake God created by the church to control people. In this installment, the church (called the Magisterium) is kidnapping children and torturing them, trying to separate them from their animal-soul-demons so they can be good adults, free from the influences of dust, which connects all the universe together.
I wouldn't mind so much if this were just a genuine fantasy without an agenda. But as blue as Daniel Craig's eyes are and as cool as computer-generated warrior polar bears are, I find myself totally turned off by the veiled promotion of personal anti-religious agendas to the youth through fiction literature.
But for me, there was a bigger problem. This fantasy series by Pullman has some not-so-hidden-agenda to it, but done in a way to apparently attempt to sugar-coat and influence the minds of children who read the books.
Snopes.com verifies my perceptions.
Pullman is an atheist who cannot understand or believe in God and has problems with organized religion.
So, his whole book series is a fantasy about a universe in which organized religion is evil, witches and demons are good, and religion is against reason and free-will. The culmination of the series is when the children destroy the fake God created by the church to control people. In this installment, the church (called the Magisterium) is kidnapping children and torturing them, trying to separate them from their animal-soul-demons so they can be good adults, free from the influences of dust, which connects all the universe together.
I wouldn't mind so much if this were just a genuine fantasy without an agenda. But as blue as Daniel Craig's eyes are and as cool as computer-generated warrior polar bears are, I find myself totally turned off by the veiled promotion of personal anti-religious agendas to the youth through fiction literature.
Friday, October 05, 2007
Sorry
Well, I've seen lots of movies with my mom but just haven't felt like posting a review, and I see others haven't also. I guess I won't delete the blog for now, because maybe it will be active again. Did anyone see The Kingdom? I'm really not interested in any of those kind of movies.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Alpha Dog
This movie is split down the middle in terms of critical reviews but I really liked it. Firstly, the story is true and dramatised a bit, but it shows the mindset of "kids" today. I say this because of the current culture of instant gratification and getting things NOW and getting a lot of it. What I kept needing to remind myself during the movie was that these guys were acting all big and mob-like, but they were just kids.
The movie does tend to get a tense toward the end, and I mean really tense if you get involved in it. But the point is made clearly as to where the mindset and the lifestyle may lead, and people can screw up the rest of their lives even if this movie portrays only one example and consequence of it. If you see the movie at the ned you can think of a million other things that could go wrong just from the lifestyle these kids lead.
It is definitely not for kids, but the message is important especially for the 16-30 year old crowd. It is one of the important stories to tell of how modern culture can poison a society.
Peace,
M.
Technorati Tags: Alpha Dog, Movie, Review
The movie does tend to get a tense toward the end, and I mean really tense if you get involved in it. But the point is made clearly as to where the mindset and the lifestyle may lead, and people can screw up the rest of their lives even if this movie portrays only one example and consequence of it. If you see the movie at the ned you can think of a million other things that could go wrong just from the lifestyle these kids lead.
It is definitely not for kids, but the message is important especially for the 16-30 year old crowd. It is one of the important stories to tell of how modern culture can poison a society.
Peace,
M.
Technorati Tags: Alpha Dog, Movie, Review
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
A Wonderful Fairytale intertwined with harsh reality. This is not the light-hearted Tinkerbell fairytale you might hink it is... It's dark, Tim Burtonish type stuff, and it's beautiful. It isa bit scary at times, defitniely not for children, might scare the hell out of them, but it has really interesting characters and a really interesting story, like a much darker "Chronicles of Narnia".
The fairytale is intertwined with a story of the Spanish Resistance in Red Spain during WWII. The themes in the story cover resistance, rebellion, Trust, Ethics of warfare, Parent-Child Relationships, Imagination.
I highly recommend it, it is VERY Cool. A sort of Alice in Wonderland for grown-ups. It is very captivating and I was enthralled for the entire time I watched it. A Search for something greater amongst the obstacles of Darkness and Evil... and standing for something greater than yourself. I loved the juxtaposition of the evils of torture and war set against the imagination of a child.
The movie is Spanish with English Subtitles and it got a 96% rating at Rotten Tomatoes.
I highly recommend it. :)
Peace,
M.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Reign on Me
This movie stars Adam Sandler and Don Cheadle.
Don Cheadle's character runs into his old college roommate, played by Adam Sandler. Adam Sandler's character had lost his wife and daughters in the 9/11 tragedy and has suffered mental illness ever since. He has no family left, and has cut himself off from everyone. But, he welcomes Don's character back into his life because he had known him before the tragedy, not after.
We find in this movie that everyone has issues, not just the "mentally ill". It is a beautiful movie, one of Adam Sandler's best roles to date, and another great job by Don Cheadle. Don Cheadle plays one of the nicest characters in movie history in this story, I think.
Even though this is a beautiful and good movie, I doubt I would want to see it again, because some movies are too "real" for me, even if they're not exactly real.
As a whole, the movie did not dwell on the terrorism of 9/11. However, there was one tiny scene that bugged me. When Adam's character is finally starting to talk about his family again for the first time in years, he turns on the news and they elevating the terror alert for something, and then he turns the channel and they are showing young girls in hijab cheering while people burn the American flag. I know that stuff can really happen but I found it so cliche and giving the same stereotype of Islam and Muslims all over again. I forgave it however because the rest of the movie did not disparage Muslims or bring them up in anyway.
This is not a comedy and not for kids due to the serious nature of the content and some foul language.
Don Cheadle's character runs into his old college roommate, played by Adam Sandler. Adam Sandler's character had lost his wife and daughters in the 9/11 tragedy and has suffered mental illness ever since. He has no family left, and has cut himself off from everyone. But, he welcomes Don's character back into his life because he had known him before the tragedy, not after.
We find in this movie that everyone has issues, not just the "mentally ill". It is a beautiful movie, one of Adam Sandler's best roles to date, and another great job by Don Cheadle. Don Cheadle plays one of the nicest characters in movie history in this story, I think.
Even though this is a beautiful and good movie, I doubt I would want to see it again, because some movies are too "real" for me, even if they're not exactly real.
As a whole, the movie did not dwell on the terrorism of 9/11. However, there was one tiny scene that bugged me. When Adam's character is finally starting to talk about his family again for the first time in years, he turns on the news and they elevating the terror alert for something, and then he turns the channel and they are showing young girls in hijab cheering while people burn the American flag. I know that stuff can really happen but I found it so cliche and giving the same stereotype of Islam and Muslims all over again. I forgave it however because the rest of the movie did not disparage Muslims or bring them up in anyway.
This is not a comedy and not for kids due to the serious nature of the content and some foul language.
Babel
I liked this movie simply because it showed the dynamics of humanity, regardless of how far apart we are, we are all fundamentally the same. The movie covers a Moroccan family, focusing on the actions of the two sons who have just learnt to use a rifle for the purposes of shooting jackal which attack their sheep; An American husband and wife touring Morocco trying to overcome a family tragedy; A South American nanny who needs to get to her sons wedding; and a Japanese father and he's deaf daughter who's finding it hard living life deaf.
All these different families, having their own problems unfurl, and all of them inextricably linked together by a single action. The dynamics of humanity are covered both intimately and explored from a larger social perspective as well.
It does contain some bad language and nudity, not for kids, but very interesting in subject matter for adults.
M.
All these different families, having their own problems unfurl, and all of them inextricably linked together by a single action. The dynamics of humanity are covered both intimately and explored from a larger social perspective as well.
It does contain some bad language and nudity, not for kids, but very interesting in subject matter for adults.
M.
Notes on a Scandal
This movie stars Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett. The acting is the best I have ever seen with both of these stars giving really really good performances. In terms of the story line, it's about an average woman who decides to become a school teacher and becomes sexually involved with one of her students. Another teacher, whom she has befriended finds out about this and uses it to her advantage.
Judi Dench plays a great part here as the social parasite posing as a friend. The subject matter is definitely not for kids though, but explores adult themes of friendship and boundaries in our lives.
M.
Judi Dench plays a great part here as the social parasite posing as a friend. The subject matter is definitely not for kids though, but explores adult themes of friendship and boundaries in our lives.
M.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Wild Hogs
This movie stars a set of popular actors including John Travolta, Tim Allen, Martin Lawrence, and William H. Macy as men who are life-long friends having simultaneous mid-life crises. They've always rode motorcycles together as a hobby and decide to go on a road trip to the Pacific coast and back.
Along the way, they run into troubles with a hoodlum motorcycle gang, become heroes of a small town, and work out some of their mid-life issues.
There are several hijinx jokes throughout the story.
This movie is pretty funny, but it would've been a lot funnier if I hadn't already seen at least half of the good jokes in previews. It is not very memorable or important and I would recommend it as a DVD more so than a night at the theater.
Content - there are some foul language scenes, fighting scenes, and some sexual situations in the movie.
Along the way, they run into troubles with a hoodlum motorcycle gang, become heroes of a small town, and work out some of their mid-life issues.
There are several hijinx jokes throughout the story.
This movie is pretty funny, but it would've been a lot funnier if I hadn't already seen at least half of the good jokes in previews. It is not very memorable or important and I would recommend it as a DVD more so than a night at the theater.
Content - there are some foul language scenes, fighting scenes, and some sexual situations in the movie.
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Ghost Rider
This is a Marvel Comics movie on the character The Ghost Rider, starring Nicolas Cage.
It has a very Catholic view of good vs. evil in the same vein as movies like The Order: The Sin Eater (with Heath Ledger).
It is also very much a comic book movie - totally implausible, silly-but-taking-itself-seriously and over the top in animation of the evil faces, etc.
Aside from the fact that he never really willingly sold his soul to the Devil and that the Devil does not seem to be as evil as his son, Mephestopheles (a bit blasphemous there!), the story is about a boy who makes a deal to try to save his father's life and ends up being the Devil's Bounty Hunter. He behaves very recklessly as a stunt motorcycle rider, trying to find out if he has any control over his own fate or if the Devil keeps him alive. Then, the Devil calls on him to get rid of his son and his son's buddies, apparently a challenge to his power - or something like that - it didn't make complete sense.
From a religious stand point, I think there is some objection to the personification of Satan and these ridiculous notions of how evil works, etc. But it is after all, a ridiculous comic book fantasy. 10-year-old boys like my nephew will like it, but is it good for them? Harmless? I don't know.
At least Nicolas Cage showed that his character was wanting to find the right path and regretted any past 'mistakes'.
It has a very Catholic view of good vs. evil in the same vein as movies like The Order: The Sin Eater (with Heath Ledger).
It is also very much a comic book movie - totally implausible, silly-but-taking-itself-seriously and over the top in animation of the evil faces, etc.
Aside from the fact that he never really willingly sold his soul to the Devil and that the Devil does not seem to be as evil as his son, Mephestopheles (a bit blasphemous there!), the story is about a boy who makes a deal to try to save his father's life and ends up being the Devil's Bounty Hunter. He behaves very recklessly as a stunt motorcycle rider, trying to find out if he has any control over his own fate or if the Devil keeps him alive. Then, the Devil calls on him to get rid of his son and his son's buddies, apparently a challenge to his power - or something like that - it didn't make complete sense.
From a religious stand point, I think there is some objection to the personification of Satan and these ridiculous notions of how evil works, etc. But it is after all, a ridiculous comic book fantasy. 10-year-old boys like my nephew will like it, but is it good for them? Harmless? I don't know.
At least Nicolas Cage showed that his character was wanting to find the right path and regretted any past 'mistakes'.
The Astronaut Farmer
Last weekend we saw The Astronaut Farmer. The basic premise is an ex-astronaut-contender rancher builds a rocket in his shed and decides to launch himself into space with the help of his loyal and charming family but against the wishes of the government.
The story runs a bit slow at time but is overall a very nice tale and the movie contains nothing particularly objectionable in content aside from seeing people drink beer. Billy Bob Thornton does a very good job deadpanning this role. And the two little girls playing his very young daughters are cute as buttons.
A few thoughts that ran through my mind while watching this movie, aside from the implausibility of this fantasy (but that's okay), were thoughts about how his family worked together. Here was a man who was quite possibly insane and on the verge of destroying his family over an obsession to go into space. Yet his family loved him very much and supported him in his obsession/dream because they believed in him when no one else did.
The story runs a bit slow at time but is overall a very nice tale and the movie contains nothing particularly objectionable in content aside from seeing people drink beer. Billy Bob Thornton does a very good job deadpanning this role. And the two little girls playing his very young daughters are cute as buttons.
A few thoughts that ran through my mind while watching this movie, aside from the implausibility of this fantasy (but that's okay), were thoughts about how his family worked together. Here was a man who was quite possibly insane and on the verge of destroying his family over an obsession to go into space. Yet his family loved him very much and supported him in his obsession/dream because they believed in him when no one else did.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Music and Lyrics
This movie stars Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore.
It is a non-memorable but cute romantic comedy. Hugh Grant is a has-been 80's band pop-star (think Wham!) doing gigs like state fairs. Drew Barrymore is a lady hired to water his plants. Hugh Grant gets an offer to write a duet with a Christina Aguilera or Britney Spears type, and while he is working on it Drew shows up and shows an aptitude for creating lyrics. So, the two end up writing the song together and falling in love, so on and so forth.
I did laugh at the 80's pop song video done VH1 pop-up video style. My 4th grade nephew, who had had his heart set on watching Ghost Rider (which was sold out), apparently liked this movie well enough anyway because in the car ride on the way home he was overheard singing and humming the two main songs from the movie.
The major moral downfalls of the movie are the Hollywood typical fall in love in one night and have sex right away stuff. But at least they spared showing all the details. And the Christina Aguilera type girl walks around half-naked. And then there is the whole Islamic take on music itself which there are lots of different opinions on. But compared to some of the fare I've seen recently, this movie comes off as mostly harmless albeit not very memorable.
It is a non-memorable but cute romantic comedy. Hugh Grant is a has-been 80's band pop-star (think Wham!) doing gigs like state fairs. Drew Barrymore is a lady hired to water his plants. Hugh Grant gets an offer to write a duet with a Christina Aguilera or Britney Spears type, and while he is working on it Drew shows up and shows an aptitude for creating lyrics. So, the two end up writing the song together and falling in love, so on and so forth.
I did laugh at the 80's pop song video done VH1 pop-up video style. My 4th grade nephew, who had had his heart set on watching Ghost Rider (which was sold out), apparently liked this movie well enough anyway because in the car ride on the way home he was overheard singing and humming the two main songs from the movie.
The major moral downfalls of the movie are the Hollywood typical fall in love in one night and have sex right away stuff. But at least they spared showing all the details. And the Christina Aguilera type girl walks around half-naked. And then there is the whole Islamic take on music itself which there are lots of different opinions on. But compared to some of the fare I've seen recently, this movie comes off as mostly harmless albeit not very memorable.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Norbit
This story is about an innocent orphan who ends up married to a very large, mean woman whose brothers are crime thugs. They use him to try to take over the orphanage where he and his childhood sweetheart grew up, preventing her from taking it over and turning it into a strip joint/bar.
This is supposed to be a comedy, but mainly it is just disgusting. There is excessive bad language in this movie. Every gag is about sex or racism or a fat joke. It is isn't funny most of the time, just gross and sad, and it is too raunchy and mean to be rated PG-13.
Yes, Eddie Murphy is talented, but this movie is nasty.
This is supposed to be a comedy, but mainly it is just disgusting. There is excessive bad language in this movie. Every gag is about sex or racism or a fat joke. It is isn't funny most of the time, just gross and sad, and it is too raunchy and mean to be rated PG-13.
Yes, Eddie Murphy is talented, but this movie is nasty.
Monday, February 05, 2007
Because I Said So
This movie starring Mandy Moore and Diane Keaton is about a single mother's attempt to set up her daughter with a intended-future-spouse without her knowing, to keep the daughter from becoming like the mother - alone in old age.
This is definitely a comedy, but it seemed to me it should've been rated R for highly suggestive sexual content. My nephew and nieces were at the movie with me and mom when we saw this and we were totally embarrassed that they were there, although we still laughed hysterically at times. There are references to private parts by name, simulated sex (with clothes on), and frank discussion about sexual topics like orgasms.
This is definitely a comedy, but it seemed to me it should've been rated R for highly suggestive sexual content. My nephew and nieces were at the movie with me and mom when we saw this and we were totally embarrassed that they were there, although we still laughed hysterically at times. There are references to private parts by name, simulated sex (with clothes on), and frank discussion about sexual topics like orgasms.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
The Freedom Writers
This movie is based on a true story. It is about students under forced integration living in desperate circumstances in a time and place of poverty and gang violence. Racism strongly divides the students and education is the least of their concerns. Teachers have given up on them and strive mainly to warehouse them.
A naive optimistic teacher finds ways to inspire the students and give them hope along with genuine opportunity for education through journaling and reading that they relate to, and building classroom community. She gives her whole life to the class at the expense of her marriage and two part time jobs to support her supply needs for her day job.
Union teachers are given a bad rap here as anti-reform and out of touch - not an accurate depiction as a generalization.
There is a strong anti-racism message. The movie has a good overall message but is a bit sappy and yes, I do think unrealistic in terms of mass application.
A naive optimistic teacher finds ways to inspire the students and give them hope along with genuine opportunity for education through journaling and reading that they relate to, and building classroom community. She gives her whole life to the class at the expense of her marriage and two part time jobs to support her supply needs for her day job.
Union teachers are given a bad rap here as anti-reform and out of touch - not an accurate depiction as a generalization.
There is a strong anti-racism message. The movie has a good overall message but is a bit sappy and yes, I do think unrealistic in terms of mass application.
Monday, January 08, 2007
The Departed
I've always loved Scorses flicks and why he still hasn't won an Oscar is beyond me, I wouldn't put it passed petty politics though.
The movie plays out in typical Scorsese style, but this time it's Boston, not his native New York where he bases most of this work. The movie is SO Gangster... and it has all the usual elements, love, betrayal, confrontation, deception all beautifully put together like an orchestral masterpiece and so reminiscent of a Shakesperean tragedy.
The acting is superb, all the players: Leonardo Di Caprio, Jack Nicholson and Matt Damon, work extremely well together as well as on their own. The direction is a brilliant mix of old and new, making it typically Scorsese but very refreshing, very different.
The movie isn't anything you would expect. The learnings however are interesting because the story line mostly revolves around deception and infiltration of the good guys by the bad guys and vice versa. Inevitably the entanglement and complex nature of all the characters makes you sometimes root for the bad guy and sometimes question the good guys... All in all it leaves you questioning around the nature of loyalty and how far a person would go to keep their loyalty to someone else.
It's something definitlely adult, not in the sense of nudity, but in the nature of the story, the violence, the language and the subject matter at hand. You have to note that all these elements, however, are only there to reflect the reality of the context the movie is set in.
Utter Brilliance.
M.
The movie plays out in typical Scorsese style, but this time it's Boston, not his native New York where he bases most of this work. The movie is SO Gangster... and it has all the usual elements, love, betrayal, confrontation, deception all beautifully put together like an orchestral masterpiece and so reminiscent of a Shakesperean tragedy.
The acting is superb, all the players: Leonardo Di Caprio, Jack Nicholson and Matt Damon, work extremely well together as well as on their own. The direction is a brilliant mix of old and new, making it typically Scorsese but very refreshing, very different.
The movie isn't anything you would expect. The learnings however are interesting because the story line mostly revolves around deception and infiltration of the good guys by the bad guys and vice versa. Inevitably the entanglement and complex nature of all the characters makes you sometimes root for the bad guy and sometimes question the good guys... All in all it leaves you questioning around the nature of loyalty and how far a person would go to keep their loyalty to someone else.
It's something definitlely adult, not in the sense of nudity, but in the nature of the story, the violence, the language and the subject matter at hand. You have to note that all these elements, however, are only there to reflect the reality of the context the movie is set in.
Utter Brilliance.
M.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Monday, January 01, 2007
Best and Worst of 2006
This site has a list of most of the movies released (not counting foreign films, some of the smaller Indys, etc.): MovieWeb
There were several movies I liked in 2006, several that were okay or mediocre and one that I hated. There are sure to be both better and worse movies in '06 that I just didn't see.
My #1 favorite movie of 2006 is
1. The Prestige
Runners up are, in order:
2. Invincible
3. Casino Royale
4. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
5. Akeelah and the Bee
And the worst movie I saw this year:
1. Little Miss Sunshine
I'll refrain from talking about each for now, aside from saying critics loved Little Miss Sunshine but I thought it was awful. I don't see a lot of movies that I pretty much have a miserable time watching because I usually can pick them out first and avoid them, but I went to see this one without having heard much about it except that critics liked it but yuck!
And The Prestige, it isn't perfect, but it was something different, dark, and thrilling, with a nod in it to my home town and my favorite insane scientist Nikola Tesla. Invincible is a Disney movie but tells a great true story, Pirates of the Carribean is exciting and fun, and Akeelah and the Bee is light but delightful.
Chime in - what are your favorites and least favorites?
There were several movies I liked in 2006, several that were okay or mediocre and one that I hated. There are sure to be both better and worse movies in '06 that I just didn't see.
My #1 favorite movie of 2006 is
1. The Prestige
Runners up are, in order:
2. Invincible
3. Casino Royale
4. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
5. Akeelah and the Bee
And the worst movie I saw this year:
1. Little Miss Sunshine
I'll refrain from talking about each for now, aside from saying critics loved Little Miss Sunshine but I thought it was awful. I don't see a lot of movies that I pretty much have a miserable time watching because I usually can pick them out first and avoid them, but I went to see this one without having heard much about it except that critics liked it but yuck!
And The Prestige, it isn't perfect, but it was something different, dark, and thrilling, with a nod in it to my home town and my favorite insane scientist Nikola Tesla. Invincible is a Disney movie but tells a great true story, Pirates of the Carribean is exciting and fun, and Akeelah and the Bee is light but delightful.
Chime in - what are your favorites and least favorites?
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