Since I'm being a nanny this summer, I have the divine privilege of seeing kids movies. This won't be long, but here goes:
1) Kung Fu Panda 2
Right, I had no idea what the original Kung Fu panda was about, so the sequel part of this was lost on me. I thought it was hilarious that a Panda just figured out a goose wasn't his birth father, and the way in which the panda were exterminated because of a turkey's premonition was a bit reminiscent of the moses story in the bible, but don't mind me screenwriters. Mehhh.....
2) Cars 2
SO CUTE! I liked it a lot, was a little scared by the "biofuel is the enemy" story line, but what a surprise, Disney probably owns all of the oil reserves anyways. The new spy cars were awesome, and there were some funny lines from Mater. The boys loved it, which says a lot, so I liked it too. GO for sure!
3) Rio
So freaking adorable! I loved little Rio! The music was awesome, and all the celeb voice appearances were great! It was a cute story, and I loved the thug gangsters! Definitely a precious classic with love all around! Loved it!
4) The Princess and the Frog
Thank goodness Disney brought back the old school animation! However, if I was from the state of Louisiana I would be insanely offended by this movie. The creole and cajun stereotypes were just ridiculous. It was a cute story, and one of the first with a positive mother figure from Disney. Regardless, I appreciate what they are trying to do with the racially diverse princess, but it seems almost like they created it in 1988, and just found the reel and decided to release it.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
DVD Releases
Okay, while I was at home, I had some time to watch movies with my mom, which means movies I missed in theaters. Quick run-down of some of these.
1) You Again
Actually a pretty cute movie. A cute premise that I don't think has been done before, and of course any movie with Betty White is destined to be a cute one! Definitely implausible, but cute non the less. I really liked Kristin Bell in this, she was cute and quirky, which isn't really a surprise for her. Regardless I liked it, definitely a good one for mom/daughter day.
2) The Town
This was really good. I figured it would be because of Jeremy Renner's nomination, but I was pleasantly affirmed in how good it was! There were several instances where I said, wait what?? And I don't really like Ben Affleck that much, so he brought his A game for sure. I was a bit distracted by Blake Lively, for some reason I just can't buy her as a cracked out NJ teen mom, but good for her trying to expand her acting portfolio. Definitely go redbox this one.
3) I Am Number Four
This movie got a fair amount of coverage, but I never heard of anyone actually seeing it. I figured it would be super cinematic cheesy and not very good, but I actually liked it! It was an interesting premise, and the nerd kid factor made me happy. Some of the super natural creatures were a bit much, but it was a different plot line and something I found interesting and engaging. I would rent it if you don't have anything to do, or want a simple action movie. Not to shabby.
1) You Again
Actually a pretty cute movie. A cute premise that I don't think has been done before, and of course any movie with Betty White is destined to be a cute one! Definitely implausible, but cute non the less. I really liked Kristin Bell in this, she was cute and quirky, which isn't really a surprise for her. Regardless I liked it, definitely a good one for mom/daughter day.
2) The Town
This was really good. I figured it would be because of Jeremy Renner's nomination, but I was pleasantly affirmed in how good it was! There were several instances where I said, wait what?? And I don't really like Ben Affleck that much, so he brought his A game for sure. I was a bit distracted by Blake Lively, for some reason I just can't buy her as a cracked out NJ teen mom, but good for her trying to expand her acting portfolio. Definitely go redbox this one.
3) I Am Number Four
This movie got a fair amount of coverage, but I never heard of anyone actually seeing it. I figured it would be super cinematic cheesy and not very good, but I actually liked it! It was an interesting premise, and the nerd kid factor made me happy. Some of the super natural creatures were a bit much, but it was a different plot line and something I found interesting and engaging. I would rent it if you don't have anything to do, or want a simple action movie. Not to shabby.
Better Late Than Never.
So life has been a bit hectic lately, and I've neglected my blogging duties. Here are just a few of the (older) new releases I've seen:
1) THOR
Okay, so I went into this one a bit skeptical, and wasn't too sure about the whole Norse-God Superhero storyline. I LOVED it! Natalie Portman was strangely believable as the nerdy, unsure of herself scientist who falls in love with a mythical god. Chris Hemsworth is also really freaking hott. The story was nicely woven between the mythical world and earth, and the visual effects were seriously cool. I don't think I would have liked this one in 3D, but there were some quality explosions and pyrotechnics. Also, the fight scene where Thor dominates the secret government agents seriously made me want to beat somebody...it was that good.
2) BRIDESMAIDS
The more I think about this, the funnier I think it is. At the time, I was a little pissed off at the story line, "whack job best friend completely looses it as her life falls apart and her successful best friend gets married and leaves her alone". I somewhat resonate with this story line (surprising I know, I have a blog that only my mother occasionally reads). After the credits and some personal soul searching however, I thought it was a clever plot line that guys and girls could both identify with. Apparently guys thought this movie was way funnier than girls did, which makes me laugh. Everyone dreads their best friends wedding; whether it be their taste in fashion or their impending bridezilla phase, everyone knows something bad will happen. I loved the combination of her bridal party, and the competition for spaces in the female hierarchy. See it, and watch it with your girlfriends. And if someone is getting married, watch it as a guide of what NOT to do.
3) X-MEN FIRST CLASS
Um, duh. This was awesome. I love the entire x-men collection, and it was awesome to see where the original cast came from, and the awesome mutants that were lost along the way. The effects were awesome, and as usual the mutant powers were extremely inventive. It was sad to see a movie without Hugh Jackman, but James McAvoy almost made up for his hotness. It was a good story, and it completed the story that has been unfolding for years. I also like that sometimes they tie the story in with history, holla atcha girl cuban missle crisis! See it for sure, and if you haven't seen the entire x-men saga...I might even suggest that you start with this one!!
1) THOR
Okay, so I went into this one a bit skeptical, and wasn't too sure about the whole Norse-God Superhero storyline. I LOVED it! Natalie Portman was strangely believable as the nerdy, unsure of herself scientist who falls in love with a mythical god. Chris Hemsworth is also really freaking hott. The story was nicely woven between the mythical world and earth, and the visual effects were seriously cool. I don't think I would have liked this one in 3D, but there were some quality explosions and pyrotechnics. Also, the fight scene where Thor dominates the secret government agents seriously made me want to beat somebody...it was that good.
2) BRIDESMAIDS
The more I think about this, the funnier I think it is. At the time, I was a little pissed off at the story line, "whack job best friend completely looses it as her life falls apart and her successful best friend gets married and leaves her alone". I somewhat resonate with this story line (surprising I know, I have a blog that only my mother occasionally reads). After the credits and some personal soul searching however, I thought it was a clever plot line that guys and girls could both identify with. Apparently guys thought this movie was way funnier than girls did, which makes me laugh. Everyone dreads their best friends wedding; whether it be their taste in fashion or their impending bridezilla phase, everyone knows something bad will happen. I loved the combination of her bridal party, and the competition for spaces in the female hierarchy. See it, and watch it with your girlfriends. And if someone is getting married, watch it as a guide of what NOT to do.
3) X-MEN FIRST CLASS
Um, duh. This was awesome. I love the entire x-men collection, and it was awesome to see where the original cast came from, and the awesome mutants that were lost along the way. The effects were awesome, and as usual the mutant powers were extremely inventive. It was sad to see a movie without Hugh Jackman, but James McAvoy almost made up for his hotness. It was a good story, and it completed the story that has been unfolding for years. I also like that sometimes they tie the story in with history, holla atcha girl cuban missle crisis! See it for sure, and if you haven't seen the entire x-men saga...I might even suggest that you start with this one!!
Thursday, May 26, 2011
throwback(s) thursday
I've been watching a lot of throwbacks lately, so bear with me here.
1) The Last King of Scotland
Loved it! Forrest Whitaker was phenomenal, and so was James McAvoy (quickly becoming one of my new faves). It was really dark and a little bit brutal, but pretty much any story out of Africa is going to be that way. I liked it because it wasn't like most of the genocide in Africa movies you run into. Definitely worth seeing, just be mentally prepared for it.
2) Groundhog Day
I was trying to stay on my Bill Murray kick, and I concreted my opinion that I don't really like him. I guess the premise was sort of clever, but I got a bit tired of it by the end, and I didn't really believe that he had changed as a person. Funny enough I guess, but I won't be watching this one again, and again, and again, and again.
3) Reservoir Dogs
No matter how hard I try, I still can't quite understand Quentin Tarantino. It was good, good plot twist and surprise/gasp moments, but I don't always get his symbolism and plot details. Definitely very bloody, a boy movie for sure. Basically just saw it to mark it off the list. See it for the same purpose I guess.
4) The Big Lebowski
Again, the early 90s comedy is lost on me. I loved Jeff Bridges in this just because it was absolutely ridiculous. I liked the convoluted stories, and Tara Reid being the dumb slut wife (type-cast much) I also loved how bowling was integral to another movie. Weird. See it for Jeff Bridges as "the dude" oh and John Goodman was good too, as the overly sensitive Nam vet.
1) The Last King of Scotland
Loved it! Forrest Whitaker was phenomenal, and so was James McAvoy (quickly becoming one of my new faves). It was really dark and a little bit brutal, but pretty much any story out of Africa is going to be that way. I liked it because it wasn't like most of the genocide in Africa movies you run into. Definitely worth seeing, just be mentally prepared for it.
2) Groundhog Day
I was trying to stay on my Bill Murray kick, and I concreted my opinion that I don't really like him. I guess the premise was sort of clever, but I got a bit tired of it by the end, and I didn't really believe that he had changed as a person. Funny enough I guess, but I won't be watching this one again, and again, and again, and again.
3) Reservoir Dogs
No matter how hard I try, I still can't quite understand Quentin Tarantino. It was good, good plot twist and surprise/gasp moments, but I don't always get his symbolism and plot details. Definitely very bloody, a boy movie for sure. Basically just saw it to mark it off the list. See it for the same purpose I guess.
4) The Big Lebowski
Again, the early 90s comedy is lost on me. I loved Jeff Bridges in this just because it was absolutely ridiculous. I liked the convoluted stories, and Tara Reid being the dumb slut wife (type-cast much) I also loved how bowling was integral to another movie. Weird. See it for Jeff Bridges as "the dude" oh and John Goodman was good too, as the overly sensitive Nam vet.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
All I Do Is "Win-Win"
(sorry, I'm really feeling clever today)
"Win-Win" is an incredible movie about a lawyer on the brink of bankruptcy who makes some interesting choices to save his family. These choices turn out to be way more complicated than he ever expected, but he reaps the benefits of the situation regardless. Taking a troubled kid under his wing turns out to be an incredible situation for his after-school wrestling team.
Let me say this: I love Paul Giamatti. I think he has really evolved as an actor, and is getting better with age and has consistently been finding incredible roles.
I really wanted this movie to be awesome. Since I've been blogging, I've realized that I want a movie to be awesome, so I see it and think it is awesome, come home and blog about how awesome it is, and then realize it may not have been that awesome. So, I hesitated a lot before writing this post. That being said, this movie really was awesome. I loved the story line and thought the acting was phenomenal. A big shout out goes to the writers who, I felt, really made the script like a family speaks. There is one really intense, pivotal moment, and the mom (Amy Ryan, Holly from The Office) says, "I just want you to know, We love you". And it just broke my heart and made me so happy at the same time. It seemed so real, and I really was cheering in my seat for everything to go the way I wanted.
This was seriously a great movie, I've offered to go see it again with anyone who doesn't want to be lonely thumbs.
But two of my thumbs are way, way up for this one!
"Win-Win" is an incredible movie about a lawyer on the brink of bankruptcy who makes some interesting choices to save his family. These choices turn out to be way more complicated than he ever expected, but he reaps the benefits of the situation regardless. Taking a troubled kid under his wing turns out to be an incredible situation for his after-school wrestling team.
Let me say this: I love Paul Giamatti. I think he has really evolved as an actor, and is getting better with age and has consistently been finding incredible roles.
I really wanted this movie to be awesome. Since I've been blogging, I've realized that I want a movie to be awesome, so I see it and think it is awesome, come home and blog about how awesome it is, and then realize it may not have been that awesome. So, I hesitated a lot before writing this post. That being said, this movie really was awesome. I loved the story line and thought the acting was phenomenal. A big shout out goes to the writers who, I felt, really made the script like a family speaks. There is one really intense, pivotal moment, and the mom (Amy Ryan, Holly from The Office) says, "I just want you to know, We love you". And it just broke my heart and made me so happy at the same time. It seemed so real, and I really was cheering in my seat for everything to go the way I wanted.
This was seriously a great movie, I've offered to go see it again with anyone who doesn't want to be lonely thumbs.
But two of my thumbs are way, way up for this one!
the elephants were thirsty.
So, they needed some water!!
Water for Elephants, the new romantic/animal-cruelty/circus story starring everyone's favorite vampire was surprisingly good. As a disclaimer, I didn't read the book, so I may be full of crock and have no idea what I'm talking about.
The story line was original, sweet, inspiring, and a little bit "edge-of-your-seat" thrilling. By the end I really felt that I knew the characters, and I was super invested in what was going to happen to them. The generally consensus was that Reese Witherspoon was too old (sorry Elle) and that it made it a little harder to believe. I was pleasantly surprised with Robert Pattinson (he didn't even sparkle!) and the fact that he could in fact act, and didn't just look sexy and tormented for 2 hours. I loved all the animals, Hal Holbrook was a precious old man (shocker) and Christoph Waltz was superb! I didn't expect anything less from him, but it is always good to have your suspicions reinforced!
Go see this one! It will make you want a pet elephant and want to run away and join the circus. Which, in my opinion, doesn't seem like a bad side effect.
Water for Elephants, the new romantic/animal-cruelty/circus story starring everyone's favorite vampire was surprisingly good. As a disclaimer, I didn't read the book, so I may be full of crock and have no idea what I'm talking about.
The story line was original, sweet, inspiring, and a little bit "edge-of-your-seat" thrilling. By the end I really felt that I knew the characters, and I was super invested in what was going to happen to them. The generally consensus was that Reese Witherspoon was too old (sorry Elle) and that it made it a little harder to believe. I was pleasantly surprised with Robert Pattinson (he didn't even sparkle!) and the fact that he could in fact act, and didn't just look sexy and tormented for 2 hours. I loved all the animals, Hal Holbrook was a precious old man (shocker) and Christoph Waltz was superb! I didn't expect anything less from him, but it is always good to have your suspicions reinforced!
Go see this one! It will make you want a pet elephant and want to run away and join the circus. Which, in my opinion, doesn't seem like a bad side effect.
Monday, May 9, 2011
throwback thursday(s)
Okay, in the interest of space, here comes another double action post! Not one but 2 throwback thursdays!
Apocalypse Now: I'm not the biggest fan of FF Coppola, normally because I just don't get it. I had to watch this movie for a class, and the first viewing left me extremely annoyed. After doing a little more research, and understanding it was from the 70s (not as I expected, a 90s cheap filming) and hearing the infamous quote "I love the smell of Napalm in the morning" I was a little more into it. It doesn't change the fact that I think Martin Sheen is the redheaded step child of the family, and thus a terrible human. But it did make me think, and sort of made me want to watch it again in order to get all of the deep psychological understanding. Apparently it is based on Conrad's, Heart of Darkness (thus why we watched it in class), but it seemed like this movie was much better than that book.
Kingpin: This was freaking hilarious. I've always wanted to see it, and LUCKILY it came on tv and I had time to DVR it (i'm a genius, I know). Anyways, the plot was silly and many of the jokes blew past me, but I loved bill murray in an actually funny role, and it was nice to see woody harrelson not acting like a mentally challenged character. Definitely a good 90s comedy, that I wouldn't have understood until this point in my life. I also loved that the sport of bowling was taken so seriously, and I'm now really scared of the air vents at the bowling alley.
Apocalypse Now: I'm not the biggest fan of FF Coppola, normally because I just don't get it. I had to watch this movie for a class, and the first viewing left me extremely annoyed. After doing a little more research, and understanding it was from the 70s (not as I expected, a 90s cheap filming) and hearing the infamous quote "I love the smell of Napalm in the morning" I was a little more into it. It doesn't change the fact that I think Martin Sheen is the redheaded step child of the family, and thus a terrible human. But it did make me think, and sort of made me want to watch it again in order to get all of the deep psychological understanding. Apparently it is based on Conrad's, Heart of Darkness (thus why we watched it in class), but it seemed like this movie was much better than that book.
Kingpin: This was freaking hilarious. I've always wanted to see it, and LUCKILY it came on tv and I had time to DVR it (i'm a genius, I know). Anyways, the plot was silly and many of the jokes blew past me, but I loved bill murray in an actually funny role, and it was nice to see woody harrelson not acting like a mentally challenged character. Definitely a good 90s comedy, that I wouldn't have understood until this point in my life. I also loved that the sport of bowling was taken so seriously, and I'm now really scared of the air vents at the bowling alley.
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