I'm not going to see this movie. I saw this skit on Saturday Night Live where they had snakes on a plane and it was hilarious for 15 minutes with Wil Farrell like years ago. So look for it on re-runs of the show.
I do like Samuel L., so I know this movie is entertaining but shouldn't be dragged on for an hour and 1/2 with this premis. But probably some good action scenes and CGI snakes. Without seeing the movie I'd like to say, hey he should re-do his Pulp Fiction speech: The path of the righteous man... and blow some snakes away.
Anyway, I'll see it on the movie channel in about 6 months.
Worth the money rating: $$$ (for almost novelty but a great title)
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Million Dollar Baby
Yes, I know I should have seen this movie a few years ago but I just saw it on one of the movie channels the other night.
Hillary Swank isn't my favorite actress based on the types of roles she chooses (I tend to like more fun or edgier stuff not just plain drama and struggle) but I met her once at a US Open Tennis match and she was very kind and gave me an autograph. Chad was a little more reluctant but she had a very big smile and a very pleasant, down-to-earth dimeanor.
I'm not sure why she always plays these gut-wrenching characters with major issues but she does. I didn't see Boys Don't Cry either and doubt I will.
But I do like Morgan Freeman, so I decided to watch this. I remember my roommate a few years ago said this was a real tear-jerker so I grabbed the kleenex and sat down in my big chair to watch the show. All prepared for what was to come.
Hillary wants to be a boxer and she bugs Clint until he says yes to training her. Clint has an estranged relationship with his very own daughter and so he treats Hillary as his daughter and takes care of her through thick and thin. Hillary under his tutiledge does well as a female boxer and is faced with a tough match that changes her life. This is where the kleenex would come in. Hillary was trying to prove herself to her mother and her family and to herself and through it all finds a lasting bond and friendship with her trainer, Clint. And the two become a family- father/daughter relationship.
I won't ruin the story for you, but I didn't cry. I just wanted the movie to be over but I did want to see how it ended. It wasn't horrible but you knew what was coming pretty much- all the drama.
But I think it was well acted on Eastwood, Swank and Freeman's part. And well shot. So if you're in the mood for a drama-filled movie, this is for you. Or perhaps you could do back to back Hillary movies and then watch an old episode of Melrose Place for a pick-me-up.
Worth the money: $$$
Hillary Swank isn't my favorite actress based on the types of roles she chooses (I tend to like more fun or edgier stuff not just plain drama and struggle) but I met her once at a US Open Tennis match and she was very kind and gave me an autograph. Chad was a little more reluctant but she had a very big smile and a very pleasant, down-to-earth dimeanor.
I'm not sure why she always plays these gut-wrenching characters with major issues but she does. I didn't see Boys Don't Cry either and doubt I will.
But I do like Morgan Freeman, so I decided to watch this. I remember my roommate a few years ago said this was a real tear-jerker so I grabbed the kleenex and sat down in my big chair to watch the show. All prepared for what was to come.
Hillary wants to be a boxer and she bugs Clint until he says yes to training her. Clint has an estranged relationship with his very own daughter and so he treats Hillary as his daughter and takes care of her through thick and thin. Hillary under his tutiledge does well as a female boxer and is faced with a tough match that changes her life. This is where the kleenex would come in. Hillary was trying to prove herself to her mother and her family and to herself and through it all finds a lasting bond and friendship with her trainer, Clint. And the two become a family- father/daughter relationship.
I won't ruin the story for you, but I didn't cry. I just wanted the movie to be over but I did want to see how it ended. It wasn't horrible but you knew what was coming pretty much- all the drama.
But I think it was well acted on Eastwood, Swank and Freeman's part. And well shot. So if you're in the mood for a drama-filled movie, this is for you. Or perhaps you could do back to back Hillary movies and then watch an old episode of Melrose Place for a pick-me-up.
Worth the money: $$$
Superman Returns
Four friends tried to decide on a movie to see and through the process of elimination we picked this movie, since 3 out of the 4 hadn't seen it yet. They like me waited to see the movie because we couldn't imaging how this Superman movie could be any better than the original with Chrisopher Reeve or better than Smallville on the WB? Did it have a new story to tell?
Well, this movie wasn't better but it was entertaining. Kate Bozeworth was too young to be playing Lois Lane and the whole cast was too young compared to the villian, Lex Luthor. So that irritated me. Kevin Spacey didn't have enough good lines and I think his acting abilities were wasted in this movie. But I do love Parker Posey and she was right on funny somewhat like her character in Scream III.
However, I did like the special effects and the retelling of the same storyline was interesting with the new villianous plot to hold new land up to the highest bidder. But superman looked flawless on screen and even for a superhero his face looked too perfect like he was a 3D creation and not a person- well not an actor playing a hero anyway.
So basically, Lois has moved on from her love of Superman into the arms of the newphew of her boss at the Daily Planet. He's a good guy. One of my friends said, he was too nice, it was irritating. Yeah, I guess men being irritatingly nice would be a turn off compared to a superhero who saves you from a sinking ship or from being squashed from a building- where's the excitement? Hmmm. Well, anyway Lois has a normal life and with superman in her life again (thus the superman returns) she asks, where were you? Have we all been wondering where Superman has been? With everything going on in the world? It's nice to know Superman hasn't forgotten about all us little people and has returned because we all need our own heros to believe in to get through the bad stuff. But Lois struggles with her feelings and whether or not she needs Superman in her life again.
There's drama and action and if you're emotional, some sentiment and tears. But in the end, we were all surprised this was a good movie for it's gendre. My friend who really wasn't into seeing the movie at all said with enthusiasm and awe, "THAT was a GOOD movie." My other friend said, "I really enjoyed it!" And the third, who saw it for the second time said, "Still okay this time around." And I say, "Everytime is like the first time- when it comes to Superman."
Worth the money: $$$
Well, this movie wasn't better but it was entertaining. Kate Bozeworth was too young to be playing Lois Lane and the whole cast was too young compared to the villian, Lex Luthor. So that irritated me. Kevin Spacey didn't have enough good lines and I think his acting abilities were wasted in this movie. But I do love Parker Posey and she was right on funny somewhat like her character in Scream III.
However, I did like the special effects and the retelling of the same storyline was interesting with the new villianous plot to hold new land up to the highest bidder. But superman looked flawless on screen and even for a superhero his face looked too perfect like he was a 3D creation and not a person- well not an actor playing a hero anyway.
So basically, Lois has moved on from her love of Superman into the arms of the newphew of her boss at the Daily Planet. He's a good guy. One of my friends said, he was too nice, it was irritating. Yeah, I guess men being irritatingly nice would be a turn off compared to a superhero who saves you from a sinking ship or from being squashed from a building- where's the excitement? Hmmm. Well, anyway Lois has a normal life and with superman in her life again (thus the superman returns) she asks, where were you? Have we all been wondering where Superman has been? With everything going on in the world? It's nice to know Superman hasn't forgotten about all us little people and has returned because we all need our own heros to believe in to get through the bad stuff. But Lois struggles with her feelings and whether or not she needs Superman in her life again.
There's drama and action and if you're emotional, some sentiment and tears. But in the end, we were all surprised this was a good movie for it's gendre. My friend who really wasn't into seeing the movie at all said with enthusiasm and awe, "THAT was a GOOD movie." My other friend said, "I really enjoyed it!" And the third, who saw it for the second time said, "Still okay this time around." And I say, "Everytime is like the first time- when it comes to Superman."
Worth the money: $$$
Thursday, August 10, 2006
The Devil Wears Prada
How cute was this movie?! Ann Hathaway is charming and fun in this adaptation of the book, that I didn't read. Meryll Streep is a convincing Editor at a voguesque mag and the cast is entertaining- though I would have liked to see more of Stanley Tucci.
Basically the story is about a girl who graduated from Northwestern with a degree in journalism who goes through the assistant pool and ends up in an interview with the devil herself, Amanda Priestly. Hathaway shows some pinache and ends up with the job as second assistant. She struggles to meet Amanda Priestly's expectations and loses herself in the world of fashion and experiences the heartlessness of the industry. In the end she has to choose between her career goals and her current job and her sanity.
The fashion is fun in the movie but not outrageous enough for this Voguesque lover- well conceptually I mean. I wanted it to be more off the pages of Vogue and it's cutting edge style but there wasn't a lot of that. I guess I wanted it to be more out of the box as a backdrop for the storyline. There were some cameos from models such as Giselle that were fun. But for the most part, it's Hathaway in a role somewhat like her character in the Princess Diaries, only here, she has a boyfriend ,and yes, she does have implied sex with him in the movie.
As far as the movie goes, I'm glad there weren't a ton of sex scenes or naked women, etc. But then again, it's about a fashion magazine so why weren't there naked models around?
It was entertaining but I felt it lacked something which made it come off a bit cliche and it so could have been fabulous. Oh well.
For a fun time passer this movie is cute. Oh and it has Entourage's Adrian in it. So it has some eye candy for everyone.
Worth the money: $$$ 1/2
Basically the story is about a girl who graduated from Northwestern with a degree in journalism who goes through the assistant pool and ends up in an interview with the devil herself, Amanda Priestly. Hathaway shows some pinache and ends up with the job as second assistant. She struggles to meet Amanda Priestly's expectations and loses herself in the world of fashion and experiences the heartlessness of the industry. In the end she has to choose between her career goals and her current job and her sanity.
The fashion is fun in the movie but not outrageous enough for this Voguesque lover- well conceptually I mean. I wanted it to be more off the pages of Vogue and it's cutting edge style but there wasn't a lot of that. I guess I wanted it to be more out of the box as a backdrop for the storyline. There were some cameos from models such as Giselle that were fun. But for the most part, it's Hathaway in a role somewhat like her character in the Princess Diaries, only here, she has a boyfriend ,and yes, she does have implied sex with him in the movie.
As far as the movie goes, I'm glad there weren't a ton of sex scenes or naked women, etc. But then again, it's about a fashion magazine so why weren't there naked models around?
It was entertaining but I felt it lacked something which made it come off a bit cliche and it so could have been fabulous. Oh well.
For a fun time passer this movie is cute. Oh and it has Entourage's Adrian in it. So it has some eye candy for everyone.
Worth the money: $$$ 1/2
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Pirates of the Carribean, Dead Man's Chest
2 hours and 45 minutes. Way too long for an action movie that was B-O-R-I-N-G. I don't know where the storyline was, well, okay I do know what the storyline was but it was clear that this movie only cared about the action scenes and we're not talking inventive Crouching Tiger-like quality here. Okay, maybe one scene was cool involving a water wheel.
The first movie was great because it was a good mix of action, romance, discovery , comedy and, of course, pirates. One cool pirate in particular brilliantly acted by Johnny Depp. Unlike the first film, Orlando and Kiera just didn't seem to sizzle together, probably because of the lack of good lines and good plot to begin with. I felt very passive watching this film. I wanted to cheer or really laugh or really get excited but it was a flat line- lots of them.
I think this is just a typical case of why there's no need to make a sequel. A winner is a winner because it is original. It's just Hollywood's greed that keeps them churning out movies this lame. And they wonder why people don't want to spend money to go see movies outside of Blockbuster anymore.
The previews just said- pirates, pirates, pirates. I guess they did deliver on that, sort of. And dead man's chest wasn't a lie either. Guess you'll have to watch to know what I mean.
So I guess if you want something to pass the time, it certainlly does. If you're looking for something better to watch, wait for Miami Vice. (just kidding)
Worth the money rating: $$
The first movie was great because it was a good mix of action, romance, discovery , comedy and, of course, pirates. One cool pirate in particular brilliantly acted by Johnny Depp. Unlike the first film, Orlando and Kiera just didn't seem to sizzle together, probably because of the lack of good lines and good plot to begin with. I felt very passive watching this film. I wanted to cheer or really laugh or really get excited but it was a flat line- lots of them.
I think this is just a typical case of why there's no need to make a sequel. A winner is a winner because it is original. It's just Hollywood's greed that keeps them churning out movies this lame. And they wonder why people don't want to spend money to go see movies outside of Blockbuster anymore.
The previews just said- pirates, pirates, pirates. I guess they did deliver on that, sort of. And dead man's chest wasn't a lie either. Guess you'll have to watch to know what I mean.
So I guess if you want something to pass the time, it certainlly does. If you're looking for something better to watch, wait for Miami Vice. (just kidding)
Worth the money rating: $$
Sunday, June 18, 2006
The Break Up
Jennifer looks great in this film. Vince looks very chubby and I have no idea how this type of guy would have attracted this type of girl. Age-old mystery I guess. From the previews, this movie looks like it would be funny but those moments are few and far between. Unfortunately watching this movie is really like an hour and half of concentrated relationship arguments everyone has had in one or more of their relationships; only you can't walk away from it and play tennis or something to de-stress. So if you're not in the mood to feel lousy, don't go see this movie.
The ending is realistic in a way. It shows how really hard being in a relationship is and how most of us don't communicate things in ways the other person in our relationship understands. I did like seeing Jason Bateman in this movie vs. The Sweetest Thing. Keep picking better roles Jason.
Parts of the movie were really boring. No music or too much dialogue and not enough comedic breaks.
But if you want to stay in your current relationship, go see this movie with that person. The consequences for unclear communication are in technicolor and will make both of you think maybe the stuff you argue about is or isn't stupid.
Worth the money rating: $$$
The ending is realistic in a way. It shows how really hard being in a relationship is and how most of us don't communicate things in ways the other person in our relationship understands. I did like seeing Jason Bateman in this movie vs. The Sweetest Thing. Keep picking better roles Jason.
Parts of the movie were really boring. No music or too much dialogue and not enough comedic breaks.
But if you want to stay in your current relationship, go see this movie with that person. The consequences for unclear communication are in technicolor and will make both of you think maybe the stuff you argue about is or isn't stupid.
Worth the money rating: $$$
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Friends with Money
Okay, so it's another Jennifer Aniston movie. Her character reminds me of the one in The Good Girl. She's dowdy, weird and has no personality in this movie.
Someone said to me that no matter what they do to her, Jen will never look bad. I thought she looked like crap. As she was supposed to. So good going girl.
Anyway, the movie was interesting. It was more about relationships and not really about money. But I suppose the title wasn't just about money.
There's three very different married couples and then there's Jennifer who's alone; she's a maid because she quit her job as a teacher. She's struggling emotionally and wants a no-brainer job. Her friends try to justify her maid status by making excuses for her but wonder whether they'd be friends with her if they hadn't met her in their early less successful years.
All the couples struggle with their own issues. Some problems gets resolved, some don't- true to life.
It wasn't a depressing movie but it wasn't uplifting either. It was kind of - yeah that's life and there are parts that are good and parts that are bad. But in the end we have our friends or hope to have our friends.
I'm not sure it should have won any awards but it was an interesting movie. And it had a good cast.
Worth the money rating: $$$
Someone said to me that no matter what they do to her, Jen will never look bad. I thought she looked like crap. As she was supposed to. So good going girl.
Anyway, the movie was interesting. It was more about relationships and not really about money. But I suppose the title wasn't just about money.
There's three very different married couples and then there's Jennifer who's alone; she's a maid because she quit her job as a teacher. She's struggling emotionally and wants a no-brainer job. Her friends try to justify her maid status by making excuses for her but wonder whether they'd be friends with her if they hadn't met her in their early less successful years.
All the couples struggle with their own issues. Some problems gets resolved, some don't- true to life.
It wasn't a depressing movie but it wasn't uplifting either. It was kind of - yeah that's life and there are parts that are good and parts that are bad. But in the end we have our friends or hope to have our friends.
I'm not sure it should have won any awards but it was an interesting movie. And it had a good cast.
Worth the money rating: $$$
X-Men- The Last Stand
This was a summer blockbuster. I was at Kinkos and I said I'd come back to pick up my stuff after the movie and the guy said, "You're going to go see X-men, right?" And I said, "Yeah, how did you know?" And he said, "Everyone wants to see that movie." I agreed.
I was excited watching a screen of mutants. The powers were cool and you wanted to know what happened to Jean and the Phoenix.
The storyline made you think, "Is it better to fit in or be happy that you're special and have unique powers?" Seems when you're different from the masses, you're persecuted. I guess all of us have had times when we were ridiculed for being different or thinking different- like high school.
I'm glad the mutants in this movie were humane. It is insane to wipe out differences. That's what creates progress.
As for the actors in this movie, they looked like they were having fun and they made you care about them. The screen was action-packed and you couldn't help but route for the mutant guys with the battle they were about to face.
Even if you're not a pure entertainment junkie, be a mutant and see it anyway.
Worth the money rating: $$$$
I was excited watching a screen of mutants. The powers were cool and you wanted to know what happened to Jean and the Phoenix.
The storyline made you think, "Is it better to fit in or be happy that you're special and have unique powers?" Seems when you're different from the masses, you're persecuted. I guess all of us have had times when we were ridiculed for being different or thinking different- like high school.
I'm glad the mutants in this movie were humane. It is insane to wipe out differences. That's what creates progress.
As for the actors in this movie, they looked like they were having fun and they made you care about them. The screen was action-packed and you couldn't help but route for the mutant guys with the battle they were about to face.
Even if you're not a pure entertainment junkie, be a mutant and see it anyway.
Worth the money rating: $$$$
The Da Vinci Code
Just saw this movie. It was boring. I read the book knowing nothing about it but the book was worth it. I'm a huge fan of Ron Howard and for the most part the cinematography was really good. Obviously the locations were beautiful but the chemistry between actors was not.
Tom Hanks played the scholar, Langdon, but with little emotion. In tune with the character, but I wish he would have shown more charisma or machismo or something throughout the movie. His counterpart's character, Princess Sophie, was cute but not convincing as a problem code-deciphering heorine . I don't know why really, she just didn't make me feel anything one way or the other.
This movie seemed flat in general. I heard through the grape vine that it wasn't very good. But I wanted to see the locations and how the cripple actually explained the holy grail on the big screen. I preferred Ian M's character more in X-men as Magnito but he clearly outdid his co-stars in this movie. Perhaps he had the more interesting role. Playing the villian is always more fun and interesting, so the actors say on Inside the Actors Studio.
I suppose the hype for a movie and the controversy probably made expectations high for most people. I didn't have high expections going in but I was still bored. About 4 or 5 people walked out of the movie, they were so bored. I haven't seen that since Moulin Rouge; I think 1/2 the crowd walked out in the first 1/2 an hour of that movie. This one, they waited till the middle and packed it in.
I give Ron Howard kudos for making the movie. He knew it would be judged harshly by religious critics as well as movie critics and book buffs. Perhaps he should try making Angels and Demons into a movie. I'd like to see the Vatican diamond burning on the big screen.
The movie does make you want to see Paris though, so maybe they could re-edit it and use it for a tourism video.
Worth the money rating: $$$
Tom Hanks played the scholar, Langdon, but with little emotion. In tune with the character, but I wish he would have shown more charisma or machismo or something throughout the movie. His counterpart's character, Princess Sophie, was cute but not convincing as a problem code-deciphering heorine . I don't know why really, she just didn't make me feel anything one way or the other.
This movie seemed flat in general. I heard through the grape vine that it wasn't very good. But I wanted to see the locations and how the cripple actually explained the holy grail on the big screen. I preferred Ian M's character more in X-men as Magnito but he clearly outdid his co-stars in this movie. Perhaps he had the more interesting role. Playing the villian is always more fun and interesting, so the actors say on Inside the Actors Studio.
I suppose the hype for a movie and the controversy probably made expectations high for most people. I didn't have high expections going in but I was still bored. About 4 or 5 people walked out of the movie, they were so bored. I haven't seen that since Moulin Rouge; I think 1/2 the crowd walked out in the first 1/2 an hour of that movie. This one, they waited till the middle and packed it in.
I give Ron Howard kudos for making the movie. He knew it would be judged harshly by religious critics as well as movie critics and book buffs. Perhaps he should try making Angels and Demons into a movie. I'd like to see the Vatican diamond burning on the big screen.
The movie does make you want to see Paris though, so maybe they could re-edit it and use it for a tourism video.
Worth the money rating: $$$
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Annapolis
It was a few months ago when I saw this, I think. This movie wasn't memorable. It had some fatal flaws. It tried to be too much like An Officer and a Gentleman. And who can really be better than Richard Gere? The acting was horrible, not sure if it was the material or the lack of emotion on screen. Sure army life is tough everyone knows that. But where' the human story we can all route for?
The actor from Spiderman and the girl from Fast and the Furious co-star. There wasn't much chemistry between the two and there was no sex scene so wasn't sure why this attraction element was added to the film, well maybe I do. I think it's just so they could rip off the pick up scene from Top Gun where Maverick doesn't know who his teacher is and tries to pick her up in a bar. Only Top Gun had that singing and it was 1000 times better.
Okay, unless you want to waste $11 bucks. Skip it altogether.
Worth the money: $ 1/2
The actor from Spiderman and the girl from Fast and the Furious co-star. There wasn't much chemistry between the two and there was no sex scene so wasn't sure why this attraction element was added to the film, well maybe I do. I think it's just so they could rip off the pick up scene from Top Gun where Maverick doesn't know who his teacher is and tries to pick her up in a bar. Only Top Gun had that singing and it was 1000 times better.
Okay, unless you want to waste $11 bucks. Skip it altogether.
Worth the money: $ 1/2
Glory Road
Not sure what the guy's name is who plays the lead, Joshua something from Sweet Home Alabama. He plays a basketball coach who wants to lead a AA school to victory. In order to coach in this premium league he has to go to a HS that offers very little money and conviences. What he finds is something money can't buy - heart. He takes a group of rough players and teaches them the skills to be better men on and off the court. It's based on a true story and offers some good excitement and lots of mellodrama including racial tension.
It's an uplifting story. Just as in life, in the movies, you want to see people who've worked for success obtain it. You already know the ending but it's entertaining to get there. You may cry a little, and laugh a little, just the kind of stuff a movie should have you do every once in awhile.
Worth the money: $$$$
It's an uplifting story. Just as in life, in the movies, you want to see people who've worked for success obtain it. You already know the ending but it's entertaining to get there. You may cry a little, and laugh a little, just the kind of stuff a movie should have you do every once in awhile.
Worth the money: $$$$
Inside Man
Clive Owen is sexy in this new bank robbing film. He plays your not so typical head bank robber who takes on Denzel Washington, a negotiater with the NYPD, who wants to make Detective 1st grade. What I like about this film is that there's no sex scenes to break up the momentum of the movie. And it's about two things, what are they robbing from the bank? And how is a past wrong, righted? What kind of guy is Clive Owen's character? You have to watch to find out. Can a bank robber be good and bad?
Jodi Foster is in this movie for like 10 minutes. I could have lived without her role because I don't feel her reason for being in the film isn't what made the movie compelling. It's a guessing game at a leisure but sort of tense pace. It's entertainig enough to have you watch till the very end but you may guess the ending before it comes.
If you're a Denzel fan or Clive or even Jodi, you'll enjoy it.
Worth the money rating: $$$$
Jodi Foster is in this movie for like 10 minutes. I could have lived without her role because I don't feel her reason for being in the film isn't what made the movie compelling. It's a guessing game at a leisure but sort of tense pace. It's entertainig enough to have you watch till the very end but you may guess the ending before it comes.
If you're a Denzel fan or Clive or even Jodi, you'll enjoy it.
Worth the money rating: $$$$
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Harry Potter
Well, we're on movie 3? or is it 4? I've seen them all, and this one wasn't my favorite. Not sure if it's because the actors are older or that the story lacked in places.
Sorry, but I haven't read any of these books but I'm sure there is a debate as to which is better. But I'm sure the book was great compared to the movie.
In the Goblet of Fire, Harry finds himself in the Tri-Wizard Tournament which is a skills competition between a school of girls, a school of rough boys and Hogwarts. The challenges faced at the different stages of the tournament bring out Harry's virtues and fears. He faces Lord Voldemort again. Lives are lost. And Harry gets his first crush.
I would have liked to have seen more of the romance but I guess at 14, what is there to tell?
The adults in this film like Alan Rickman as Professor Snape are great. Although I do miss the old Dumbledor. The special effects are fun and well done.
The ending was flat.
Worth the money: $$$
Sorry, but I haven't read any of these books but I'm sure there is a debate as to which is better. But I'm sure the book was great compared to the movie.
In the Goblet of Fire, Harry finds himself in the Tri-Wizard Tournament which is a skills competition between a school of girls, a school of rough boys and Hogwarts. The challenges faced at the different stages of the tournament bring out Harry's virtues and fears. He faces Lord Voldemort again. Lives are lost. And Harry gets his first crush.
I would have liked to have seen more of the romance but I guess at 14, what is there to tell?
The adults in this film like Alan Rickman as Professor Snape are great. Although I do miss the old Dumbledor. The special effects are fun and well done.
The ending was flat.
Worth the money: $$$
Pride and Prejudice
This movie was awesome. Jane Austen's novel was brought to life on the big screen, exactly as it should be. Keira Knightley was a believable "Lizzy" and Mr. Darcy, Mathew Macfadyen or "MM" was Mr. YuMMy- well in a brooding, dark sort of way. His eyes gave way to his soul- a bitter-sweet guy. Just the kind we all want to be our Mr. Darcy in real life.
Anyway, it's sad to think that's all women had to think about was finding a husband but this tale is certainly entertaiing. The time period costumes were fun and I liked hearing Knightley banter with her quick wit, hurried speech and that twinkle in her eye. This is probably the best role I've seen her in. Much preferred to her Excalibur role, though Clive Owen was one hot Arthur. Which would have motivated me to be in that film as well.
It's a fun tale of love for the holiday season. Eat it up, but remember you can always purge after the holidays are over if you're not of that sort.
Worth the money: $$$$
Anyway, it's sad to think that's all women had to think about was finding a husband but this tale is certainly entertaiing. The time period costumes were fun and I liked hearing Knightley banter with her quick wit, hurried speech and that twinkle in her eye. This is probably the best role I've seen her in. Much preferred to her Excalibur role, though Clive Owen was one hot Arthur. Which would have motivated me to be in that film as well.
It's a fun tale of love for the holiday season. Eat it up, but remember you can always purge after the holidays are over if you're not of that sort.
Worth the money: $$$$
King Kong
It was 11p.m. Friday night when I went to see this movie. Who knew it was 3 hours long? Needless to say, it wasn't worth staying awake for.
I didn't see the original King Kong. But the famous scene of him being on the Empire State Building everyone knows. This movie was laughable. I say that because Naiomi Watts was over the top as the "beauty" in this movie. The scenes she shares with King Kong seem somewhere out of a storybook Disney movie while the others seem like a Jurassic Park re-do.
The special effects are quite good in areas, and unbelievable (being bad) in other area. I found myself laughing through the island scenes and the savages found on Kong's island were from yet another movie it seemed.
The ending was flat and overdramatized. It all seemed like a bad silent film and the dialogue made it worse.
This is the first time I've seen Jack Black cast in a more serious role but I'd rather watch him again in School of Rock.
This movie is a loser. And not worth your attention for 3 hours no matter what hour you start.
Worth the money rating: $$ 1/2
I didn't see the original King Kong. But the famous scene of him being on the Empire State Building everyone knows. This movie was laughable. I say that because Naiomi Watts was over the top as the "beauty" in this movie. The scenes she shares with King Kong seem somewhere out of a storybook Disney movie while the others seem like a Jurassic Park re-do.
The special effects are quite good in areas, and unbelievable (being bad) in other area. I found myself laughing through the island scenes and the savages found on Kong's island were from yet another movie it seemed.
The ending was flat and overdramatized. It all seemed like a bad silent film and the dialogue made it worse.
This is the first time I've seen Jack Black cast in a more serious role but I'd rather watch him again in School of Rock.
This movie is a loser. And not worth your attention for 3 hours no matter what hour you start.
Worth the money rating: $$ 1/2
Monday, October 03, 2005
Flightplan
Jody Foster's character reminds me of the character she played in "Panic Room". An over-protective mother. We don't know if she's crazy and imagining her daughter on board the plane or not. So the set up of the movie for 3/4 is only about that. Everyone looks suspicious. Then the truth comes out. For a blah ending at best.
This is a boring movie though Foster tries to make it believable. And the script lacks dialogue as well as action. It's just Foster yelling at everyone and panicking.
There are some good actors here, not to mention Christianson from Traffic and the guy from Garden State who's one of Braf's friends. Can't remember his name. But their roles were just not at all interesting as support actors.
It did pass the time but I'd wait for this on rental. It's not worth 11 bucks to see it.
Worth the money rating: $$$
This is a boring movie though Foster tries to make it believable. And the script lacks dialogue as well as action. It's just Foster yelling at everyone and panicking.
There are some good actors here, not to mention Christianson from Traffic and the guy from Garden State who's one of Braf's friends. Can't remember his name. But their roles were just not at all interesting as support actors.
It did pass the time but I'd wait for this on rental. It's not worth 11 bucks to see it.
Worth the money rating: $$$
Saturday, October 01, 2005
Two For the Money
Matt fans will love this movie. So will Pacino fans.
Two for the money is about Brandon (McConnahey) an X-college football star that needs a new occupation due to a bad injury, so he gets a part time gig placing bets for people at a small company. Due to his success, Pacino offers him the big time and he brings him to NY. Pacino's character is very much like the one in THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE. He gives McConnahey choices that lead him down a dark path and in the end McConnahey has to choose between his soul and money.
Rene Russo is in this film for a short time. Luckily she's not naked like in THE THOMAS CROWNE AFFAIR. Though that was a good movie for obviously other reasons. Her role is less than secondary. I don't know why she's really in the movie at all. I am glad this movie has no sex scenes at all. What it does have is lots of football and not so surprising insights on the gambling game.
This movie plays a formula with some fun witty words. When you're up you're up, when you're down, you're really down.
I like Matt and Al too much to be down on this film. It's not the most original story I've ever seen but I'm a betting kind of gal, so I say, take a chance.
Worth the money rating: $$$ 1/2
Two for the money is about Brandon (McConnahey) an X-college football star that needs a new occupation due to a bad injury, so he gets a part time gig placing bets for people at a small company. Due to his success, Pacino offers him the big time and he brings him to NY. Pacino's character is very much like the one in THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE. He gives McConnahey choices that lead him down a dark path and in the end McConnahey has to choose between his soul and money.
Rene Russo is in this film for a short time. Luckily she's not naked like in THE THOMAS CROWNE AFFAIR. Though that was a good movie for obviously other reasons. Her role is less than secondary. I don't know why she's really in the movie at all. I am glad this movie has no sex scenes at all. What it does have is lots of football and not so surprising insights on the gambling game.
This movie plays a formula with some fun witty words. When you're up you're up, when you're down, you're really down.
I like Matt and Al too much to be down on this film. It's not the most original story I've ever seen but I'm a betting kind of gal, so I say, take a chance.
Worth the money rating: $$$ 1/2
Friday, September 23, 2005
Red Eye
Wes Craven's Red Eye was not so great. I wanted to like this movie because I loved his Scream movies but here's wasn't a ton of gore in this movie or enough suspense to make it very engaging or scary. I thought Rachel McAdams wasn't bad but there wasn't enough of the storyline for her to work with to make it interesting. I didn't expect it to be Nightmare on Elmstreet but it was too cutsie for me.
McAdams plays a woman who works at a five star hotel in Miami who goes to Dallas for her grandmother's funeral. There she runs into a nice guy (the psych doctor in Batman Begins) in the line waiting for a delayed red eye flight. They chat for awhile and end up sitting next to each other on the plane. Nicities turn into an assassination plot with her father as collateral. McAdams has to choose between her father's life or someone else's. On the plane she tries more than once to get away but is stopped by her tormentor and counts the minutes before the flight lands.
The ending is somewhat reminscent of Scream where Sydney says, "Not in my movie." But not as good. No surprises or intricate plot twists. Way too predictable.
I don't feel as though any of the characters were developed enough for me to care. The man who plays McAdams' father is flat. Previously he was King Agamemnon in TROY. I can only imagine that this actor didn't have enough lines or scenes for us to really care about him.
Anyway, you can wait for this one on rental. And if you fall asleep before you finish, you don't have to worry about missing anything.
Worth the money rating: $$ 1/2
McAdams plays a woman who works at a five star hotel in Miami who goes to Dallas for her grandmother's funeral. There she runs into a nice guy (the psych doctor in Batman Begins) in the line waiting for a delayed red eye flight. They chat for awhile and end up sitting next to each other on the plane. Nicities turn into an assassination plot with her father as collateral. McAdams has to choose between her father's life or someone else's. On the plane she tries more than once to get away but is stopped by her tormentor and counts the minutes before the flight lands.
The ending is somewhat reminscent of Scream where Sydney says, "Not in my movie." But not as good. No surprises or intricate plot twists. Way too predictable.
I don't feel as though any of the characters were developed enough for me to care. The man who plays McAdams' father is flat. Previously he was King Agamemnon in TROY. I can only imagine that this actor didn't have enough lines or scenes for us to really care about him.
Anyway, you can wait for this one on rental. And if you fall asleep before you finish, you don't have to worry about missing anything.
Worth the money rating: $$ 1/2
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Peace One Day
Tuesday September 20th is the eve of a day of peace that the whole world celebrates. Jeremy Gilley (Dir./Prod./Writer Peace
One Day) chronicles his mission to get the world to agree to observe one day a year without fighting and bloodshed.
I saw this documentary last year and it was a moving film. It was amazing how much he had to go through to get governments and leaders to agree on one date in Sept. I recommend everyone to see it if they can this year.
Learn more at www.peaceoneday.org
e-mail: info@peaceoneday.org
One Day) chronicles his mission to get the world to agree to observe one day a year without fighting and bloodshed.
I saw this documentary last year and it was a moving film. It was amazing how much he had to go through to get governments and leaders to agree on one date in Sept. I recommend everyone to see it if they can this year.
Learn more at www.peaceoneday.org
e-mail: info@peaceoneday.org
Monday, September 19, 2005
God of War
I probably wouldn't have gone to see this movie but one of my friends wanted to go. It ended up being pretty darn good.
In the war-filled times we live in, this storyline really hits home and leaves you to wonder who the War Lords really are- those that sell guns or those that direct people to sell guns.
Nicolas Cage plays a second generation Russian from Little Odessa in NY who wants to do more with his life than live in his neighborhood, so he sells his first gun. This opens him up to selling to bigger players- Russian mafia- and ultimately to rulers of nations to meet their political agendas.
My friend who saw this with me said the movie felt like a documentary. I agree it had that quality. It literally takes you through a decade of political upheaval and truck/plane-loads of guns in remote locations. It's crazy how the selling of weapons was always a constant whether countries were at war or not at war. That's a frightening thought.
Cage marries his dream girl and has a cute as a button kid. But can't seem to keep it all together but enjoys the game so much he's willing to sacrifice them. He's also pursued by a law-abiding, rule-following detective played by Ethan Hawke. Although Hawke is only in the movie for short periods of time, I thought his performance was good. Much like his character gone hard in Training Day. He also symbolizes the futility of stopping corruption when it is so ramped and backed by governments.
This movie portrays what a man that sells weapons has to give up and what he has to gain. And how can he justify selling weapons to countries that will kill women, children and even themselves?
This movie was well shot with gritty scenes reminiscent of Traffic without the wobbly hand-held style camera work. I also liked how beautifully, corrupt the locations looked and how all of it seemed unbelievably real. Probably because war is real and whether it's a movie or not, the truth about its effects can't be hidden.
Worth the money rating: $$$$
In the war-filled times we live in, this storyline really hits home and leaves you to wonder who the War Lords really are- those that sell guns or those that direct people to sell guns.
Nicolas Cage plays a second generation Russian from Little Odessa in NY who wants to do more with his life than live in his neighborhood, so he sells his first gun. This opens him up to selling to bigger players- Russian mafia- and ultimately to rulers of nations to meet their political agendas.
My friend who saw this with me said the movie felt like a documentary. I agree it had that quality. It literally takes you through a decade of political upheaval and truck/plane-loads of guns in remote locations. It's crazy how the selling of weapons was always a constant whether countries were at war or not at war. That's a frightening thought.
Cage marries his dream girl and has a cute as a button kid. But can't seem to keep it all together but enjoys the game so much he's willing to sacrifice them. He's also pursued by a law-abiding, rule-following detective played by Ethan Hawke. Although Hawke is only in the movie for short periods of time, I thought his performance was good. Much like his character gone hard in Training Day. He also symbolizes the futility of stopping corruption when it is so ramped and backed by governments.
This movie portrays what a man that sells weapons has to give up and what he has to gain. And how can he justify selling weapons to countries that will kill women, children and even themselves?
This movie was well shot with gritty scenes reminiscent of Traffic without the wobbly hand-held style camera work. I also liked how beautifully, corrupt the locations looked and how all of it seemed unbelievably real. Probably because war is real and whether it's a movie or not, the truth about its effects can't be hidden.
Worth the money rating: $$$$
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