Dear Friends and Fans of the movie mommy,
I will be taking a short break from my blogging. Life has, inevitably, caught up with me. School, kids, husband, work, drama, etc. has taken its toll and I am afraid that toll is on this blog.
I will return with reviews, on occasion, but not as often as I used to. I need to get some things under control here at home.
I can recommend 9 and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs - all day long.
Please check this blog and when you see activity that is less than a month apart...you will know I am active again.
Keep checking in...I will post when I can. There are some movies coming out this fall I want to see.
Stay in touch!
Love,
the movie mommy
xoxoxo
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Inglourious Basterds
I will admit - I am not a fan. I am not a Quentin Tarantino fan. But the wacky previews for this movie and the excitement of my co-workers over this release inspired me to go see it.
I guess I never got Tarantino. I saw Pulp Fiction *yawn* and part of the Kill Bill series *whatever* and was not impressed. I guess I was waiting for something to happen. I think I have found it.
Inglourious Basterds is a movie that has several feels to it. Tarantino's inspirations for his film style is always obvious and in this movie even more so. The opening of this movie segues from Spaghetti Western to Unforgiven very seamlessly and sets up the movie as going from cheesy to quality in just a conversation. He also draws on old war movies and elements of the foreign cinema. The movie is in 3 languages and some segments have no English in them at all (be warned if you don't like subtitles) which leads to the foreign cinema feel.
The movie is broken into chapters where we meet the various characters and, in Tarantino style, we know that these characters will somehow intersect later in the movie. In the second chapter we actually meet the Inglourious Basterds lead by Brad Pitt, who is having much to good a time, as the leader of the Basterds - the previews for this movie give much of that away. But you should know that the Basterds are only one part of the movie. There are much more interesting characters like the Nazi Jew hunter played by Cannes Film Festival winner Christoph Waltz. Waltz is an absolute delight to watch as he maneuvers flawlessly through all 3 languages and in his even speaking tone invokes terror into whomever he is speaking to - he even makes his fellow Nazi's uncomfortable. Waltz's career has been 99% German cinema but I now have a feeling we will be seeing a lot more of him.
Unlike Pulp Fiction which seemed to linger and plod along too long on a character's exploits, Basterds moves through each chapter with skill and agility. When each chapter is over you will be wondering when you will see another chapter about those characters.
Another stand out is Melanie Laurent as the French Jew who has been in hiding as a cinema owner in Paris since Waltz's character killed her family 3 years earlier. Her life intersects with the Nazi, the Basterds and even the Fuhrer as the movie comes to a climax.
I have to confess, this is big, I did not see the end of the movie! I know, I know, I should have not even written the review but I had to anyway.
I watched it up until the final chapter when all the elements were coming together and I got a call from my daughter's school that her ears hurt and she was crying.
I did read the ending and it was not what I expected. But that is Tarantino. I might have to change my mind about his movies...nah.
But I do recommend this one.
MMM1/2M (out of 5 M's)
I guess I never got Tarantino. I saw Pulp Fiction *yawn* and part of the Kill Bill series *whatever* and was not impressed. I guess I was waiting for something to happen. I think I have found it.
Inglourious Basterds is a movie that has several feels to it. Tarantino's inspirations for his film style is always obvious and in this movie even more so. The opening of this movie segues from Spaghetti Western to Unforgiven very seamlessly and sets up the movie as going from cheesy to quality in just a conversation. He also draws on old war movies and elements of the foreign cinema. The movie is in 3 languages and some segments have no English in them at all (be warned if you don't like subtitles) which leads to the foreign cinema feel.
The movie is broken into chapters where we meet the various characters and, in Tarantino style, we know that these characters will somehow intersect later in the movie. In the second chapter we actually meet the Inglourious Basterds lead by Brad Pitt, who is having much to good a time, as the leader of the Basterds - the previews for this movie give much of that away. But you should know that the Basterds are only one part of the movie. There are much more interesting characters like the Nazi Jew hunter played by Cannes Film Festival winner Christoph Waltz. Waltz is an absolute delight to watch as he maneuvers flawlessly through all 3 languages and in his even speaking tone invokes terror into whomever he is speaking to - he even makes his fellow Nazi's uncomfortable. Waltz's career has been 99% German cinema but I now have a feeling we will be seeing a lot more of him.
Unlike Pulp Fiction which seemed to linger and plod along too long on a character's exploits, Basterds moves through each chapter with skill and agility. When each chapter is over you will be wondering when you will see another chapter about those characters.
Another stand out is Melanie Laurent as the French Jew who has been in hiding as a cinema owner in Paris since Waltz's character killed her family 3 years earlier. Her life intersects with the Nazi, the Basterds and even the Fuhrer as the movie comes to a climax.
I have to confess, this is big, I did not see the end of the movie! I know, I know, I should have not even written the review but I had to anyway.
I watched it up until the final chapter when all the elements were coming together and I got a call from my daughter's school that her ears hurt and she was crying.
I did read the ending and it was not what I expected. But that is Tarantino. I might have to change my mind about his movies...nah.
But I do recommend this one.
MMM1/2M (out of 5 M's)
Monday, July 20, 2009
Harry Potter
Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince is a fans only movie. If you have never seen any of the Harry Potter movies and suddenly decide to see what the fuss is about...this is not the movie to start with. Don't get me wrong - the movie is terrific! But you need to be following the story. AND it would help if you reviewed the last movie, The Order of the Phoenix, before seeing this one.
Once again the movie can stand on it's own for someone who has not read the book but just barely. You know the movie mommy rule about movies made from books - the movie has to be enjoyed without reading the book. Since I did read the books it is hard to separate myself from that BUT it has been a while since I read The Half Blood Prince and much of the narrative seemed new to me.
I would call this movie the Empire Strikes Back of the Harry Potter movies. If you saw Empire in the movies and felt that pang in your stomach of, "WHAT?!?!" when it ended, that is, with no real ending to speak of. What about Han frozen in carbonite? What about Darth Vader being Luke's father? WTF?! Well, we didn't have that last acronym back then but you get the point.
However, if you read the books, The Half Blood Prince is kind of anti-climactic. You know what happens next! Dumbledore? Harry and Ginny? Raging hormones? Ron and Hermione? Snape? Malfoy? WTF?! Well, you get the point!
This movie has all the darkness you expect plus some things you have been looking forward to seeing. Like we finally see the Weasley twin's joke shop and more cool places in Hogwarts. The set designers like to keep Hogwarts changing and that is fine with me. Plus, a great Quiddith match, wand duels, dark magic, a new teacher and excellent effects.
No, I am not going to go into the plot because you will have to go and enjoy!
As a fan of the books, you will want to read the final book again after watching this movie. As a fan of the movies - you are just going to have to wait until the next movie (which I heard will actually be two movies) to finish the final story for you.
You are just going to have to live with that Empire feeling in your stomach.
MMMM1/2Ms (out of 5 M's)
Once again the movie can stand on it's own for someone who has not read the book but just barely. You know the movie mommy rule about movies made from books - the movie has to be enjoyed without reading the book. Since I did read the books it is hard to separate myself from that BUT it has been a while since I read The Half Blood Prince and much of the narrative seemed new to me.
I would call this movie the Empire Strikes Back of the Harry Potter movies. If you saw Empire in the movies and felt that pang in your stomach of, "WHAT?!?!" when it ended, that is, with no real ending to speak of. What about Han frozen in carbonite? What about Darth Vader being Luke's father? WTF?! Well, we didn't have that last acronym back then but you get the point.
However, if you read the books, The Half Blood Prince is kind of anti-climactic. You know what happens next! Dumbledore? Harry and Ginny? Raging hormones? Ron and Hermione? Snape? Malfoy? WTF?! Well, you get the point!
This movie has all the darkness you expect plus some things you have been looking forward to seeing. Like we finally see the Weasley twin's joke shop and more cool places in Hogwarts. The set designers like to keep Hogwarts changing and that is fine with me. Plus, a great Quiddith match, wand duels, dark magic, a new teacher and excellent effects.
No, I am not going to go into the plot because you will have to go and enjoy!
As a fan of the books, you will want to read the final book again after watching this movie. As a fan of the movies - you are just going to have to wait until the next movie (which I heard will actually be two movies) to finish the final story for you.
You are just going to have to live with that Empire feeling in your stomach.
MMMM1/2Ms (out of 5 M's)
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Transformers 2
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: I don't ask a lot from a movie. I like to leave my brain at the door and be entertained. BUT I don't need the film maker to assume I did leave my brain at the door and make a movie that is well...brainless.
This movie suffers from the same problem the first Transformers movie did - The Transformers are more interesting and well thought out characters than the flesh and blood ones.
Shia LaBeouf had some obvious potential in The Greatest Game Ever Played but has since squandered any talent in material such as this and the last Indiana Jones installment. I know it isn't easy talking to a character that isn't there (special effects) but at least give it some effort. The rest of the cast are well known and reliable character actors but seem to wince their way through this lame material.
The Transformer thing never gets old, I have to admit. I totally dig those guys going from cars, planes and truck to being big bad ass robots. Maybe that is a problem as well. I would rather see a movie of just the Transformers doing their thing. It is certainly more entertaining than anything else in the movie.
In any case, Transformers 2 follows our hero, Sam, off to college where he has some post-pubescent antics and finds out he has acquired some kind of special knowledge and now the bad guy robots, Decepticons, are after it. I can't believe it would be hard to find what is in this guy's brain, anything extra would stand out. Yawn. The military now has a special unit that is dedicated to finding these Decepticons, since the last movie, and end up bumbling through a major city and tearing it up a bit. The unit is shut down and the good robots, Autobots, are mothballed. Of course, the Decepticons stir things up and our Autobots are called on again. Big battle scenes, etc. There are some references to some old time Autobots and shows pictures of them as model T's and bi-planes. I really thought they were going to resurrect some of those. Now, that would have been cool but not to be. Please hurry up and end this 2 and half hour movie!
Another problem I have with this movie, which I also had with the first one, are the amount of US military casualties. Maybe it is because we are at war and maybe it is because much of the military bloodletting is in the desert scenes of this movie but I find it disturbing. Sure the scene with a Decepticon crashing through the deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt is a stunning effect but it is also hard to watch. The ship sinks with all hands lost. We see people and planes sinking to the bottom of the ocean. I heard that kids in my son's class at school (4 and 5 year olds) were talking about seeing this movie. I cannot imagine how they felt watching a ship, much like one of their parents could be on, being destroyed. I know, I know, in most sci fi movies, such as Independence Day, the military is being obliterated left and right but something about the way this movie goes about it is different. At least for me. It also shows the military being heroic but we know this already.
This movie is not for kids. I don't want to sound like a fuddy duddy but there is some cursing (by parental types), drug references (once again by a parent) and even a reference to "cherry popping" (by a parent!). They could have called this movie, "Parents Behaving Badly."
The movie suffers on many levels and that includes - Who is the intended audience?
Yes, I am being harsh. I know it's only comic book sci fi stuff BUT after movies such as Iron Man and most recently Terminator Salvation and Star Trek - we, the fans, want more. Maybe that is my problem, the last movie I saw was Star Trek and was superior quality for sci fi and well, any movie. My suggestion is see if Star Trek is still playing and go see that.
MM (out of 5 M's) because the Transformer effects are so cool.
This movie suffers from the same problem the first Transformers movie did - The Transformers are more interesting and well thought out characters than the flesh and blood ones.
Shia LaBeouf had some obvious potential in The Greatest Game Ever Played but has since squandered any talent in material such as this and the last Indiana Jones installment. I know it isn't easy talking to a character that isn't there (special effects) but at least give it some effort. The rest of the cast are well known and reliable character actors but seem to wince their way through this lame material.
The Transformer thing never gets old, I have to admit. I totally dig those guys going from cars, planes and truck to being big bad ass robots. Maybe that is a problem as well. I would rather see a movie of just the Transformers doing their thing. It is certainly more entertaining than anything else in the movie.
In any case, Transformers 2 follows our hero, Sam, off to college where he has some post-pubescent antics and finds out he has acquired some kind of special knowledge and now the bad guy robots, Decepticons, are after it. I can't believe it would be hard to find what is in this guy's brain, anything extra would stand out. Yawn. The military now has a special unit that is dedicated to finding these Decepticons, since the last movie, and end up bumbling through a major city and tearing it up a bit. The unit is shut down and the good robots, Autobots, are mothballed. Of course, the Decepticons stir things up and our Autobots are called on again. Big battle scenes, etc. There are some references to some old time Autobots and shows pictures of them as model T's and bi-planes. I really thought they were going to resurrect some of those. Now, that would have been cool but not to be. Please hurry up and end this 2 and half hour movie!
Another problem I have with this movie, which I also had with the first one, are the amount of US military casualties. Maybe it is because we are at war and maybe it is because much of the military bloodletting is in the desert scenes of this movie but I find it disturbing. Sure the scene with a Decepticon crashing through the deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt is a stunning effect but it is also hard to watch. The ship sinks with all hands lost. We see people and planes sinking to the bottom of the ocean. I heard that kids in my son's class at school (4 and 5 year olds) were talking about seeing this movie. I cannot imagine how they felt watching a ship, much like one of their parents could be on, being destroyed. I know, I know, in most sci fi movies, such as Independence Day, the military is being obliterated left and right but something about the way this movie goes about it is different. At least for me. It also shows the military being heroic but we know this already.
This movie is not for kids. I don't want to sound like a fuddy duddy but there is some cursing (by parental types), drug references (once again by a parent) and even a reference to "cherry popping" (by a parent!). They could have called this movie, "Parents Behaving Badly."
The movie suffers on many levels and that includes - Who is the intended audience?
Yes, I am being harsh. I know it's only comic book sci fi stuff BUT after movies such as Iron Man and most recently Terminator Salvation and Star Trek - we, the fans, want more. Maybe that is my problem, the last movie I saw was Star Trek and was superior quality for sci fi and well, any movie. My suggestion is see if Star Trek is still playing and go see that.
MM (out of 5 M's) because the Transformer effects are so cool.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
The Graduate
Last night about 30 children marched in their white caps and gowns to collect their diplomas and graduated...from preschool. Perhaps it is not the most monumental event in their lives. I would say it is more monumental for the parents.
My son graduated.
He did not stand still, sit still or do anything else still. He used his diploma like a sword with a girl next to him. When the music didn't come on for their little number they were doing, my son decided it was time for entertainment. He stood in the back doing his own thing, which whatever it was, had him ending up in a ball on the stage. The teacher kept coming over and picking him up off the floor. The guy sitting behind me commented to his wife, "Look at that kid up there! He's a riot! He doesn't care that there is no music. He is just doing it anyway." I turned around and asked which kid they were referring to and they pointed out my son. I said, sheepishly, that was my son. And they thought he was great. I was surprised. They didn't see a little boy out of control. They saw a kid...being a kid.
My husband was mortified that my son wasn't doing what he was supposed to and sulked about it afterwards. He was proud but didn't know what happened. The teachers all told him how wonderfully our son did. I pointed out that most of the kids were rammy and not behaving. My son was the one that a teacher had to hold the hand of all the time. He has some energy. He also has autism spectrum disorder.
I thought my son did wonderfully at graduation, not just for his challenges, but compared to his peers. Most people don't know there is anything wrong with him. And for the most part, I don't think so either.
He is beautiful and smart and I watched him graduate. I was so proud!
He starts kindergarten in the fall and the world of mainstream academics. Yikes! He will be put in the cookie cutter pipeline and start his journey through school. That anyone comes out unscathed would be amazing. I hope he maintains some of his uniqueness.
He is already ahead of his peers, I feel, in regards to many things. He can count to 100 and can ad complex amounts. He can build things from the picture directions (I can hardly do that) and knows how a calendar works. He can write all his letters upper case and lower. I think he is gifted.
He does his own dance, marches to a different drummer and sees the world in his own sweet way. He dances in 3/4 time, 5/4 time and probably a Samba now and then. He is a big boy and sees the world with all it's wonder - intact.
And so, my son graduated. And as I looked at him up on stage I wondered what he would look like in 13 years graduating from high school. Will he still use his diploma as a sword, dance to his own music, see the world with wonder and stretch his arms out to his side and say, "Look at me!"?
I sure hope so.
My son graduated.
He did not stand still, sit still or do anything else still. He used his diploma like a sword with a girl next to him. When the music didn't come on for their little number they were doing, my son decided it was time for entertainment. He stood in the back doing his own thing, which whatever it was, had him ending up in a ball on the stage. The teacher kept coming over and picking him up off the floor. The guy sitting behind me commented to his wife, "Look at that kid up there! He's a riot! He doesn't care that there is no music. He is just doing it anyway." I turned around and asked which kid they were referring to and they pointed out my son. I said, sheepishly, that was my son. And they thought he was great. I was surprised. They didn't see a little boy out of control. They saw a kid...being a kid.
My husband was mortified that my son wasn't doing what he was supposed to and sulked about it afterwards. He was proud but didn't know what happened. The teachers all told him how wonderfully our son did. I pointed out that most of the kids were rammy and not behaving. My son was the one that a teacher had to hold the hand of all the time. He has some energy. He also has autism spectrum disorder.
I thought my son did wonderfully at graduation, not just for his challenges, but compared to his peers. Most people don't know there is anything wrong with him. And for the most part, I don't think so either.
He is beautiful and smart and I watched him graduate. I was so proud!
He starts kindergarten in the fall and the world of mainstream academics. Yikes! He will be put in the cookie cutter pipeline and start his journey through school. That anyone comes out unscathed would be amazing. I hope he maintains some of his uniqueness.
He is already ahead of his peers, I feel, in regards to many things. He can count to 100 and can ad complex amounts. He can build things from the picture directions (I can hardly do that) and knows how a calendar works. He can write all his letters upper case and lower. I think he is gifted.
He does his own dance, marches to a different drummer and sees the world in his own sweet way. He dances in 3/4 time, 5/4 time and probably a Samba now and then. He is a big boy and sees the world with all it's wonder - intact.
And so, my son graduated. And as I looked at him up on stage I wondered what he would look like in 13 years graduating from high school. Will he still use his diploma as a sword, dance to his own music, see the world with wonder and stretch his arms out to his side and say, "Look at me!"?
I sure hope so.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Terminator Salvation Review
The Terminator series of movies has always seemed to find itself in a time travel conundrum. Is each movie moving forward or moving back? Because the first Terminator machine was sent back in time from the future by John Connor - whom we meet in subsequent movies but isn't even born yet in Terminator (1984) but sends his father back in time to save his own mother from the Terminator. Hmmmm...and so begs the question: Is Terminator Salvation a prequel or sequel? The way it ties all the movies together - it is both.
Terminator (1984) was a sci fi movie that bordered horror (like Alien). And the violence in the movie was extreme, for it's day. There were no super special effects, as computer graphics were in the infant stage. With the debut of Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991) we see the incredible groundbreaking special effects that became what people wanted from all movies, as well as good old fashioned action and John Connor. Let's not forget mega-blockbuster movie. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines(2003) goes back to the budget of the first movie but gives us more of John Connor and how his future came to be. Yes, more John Connor. It seems from the first Terminator movie, when we first see John Connor standing in the post-apocalyptic landscape, we want more! We want a movie about John Connor and future he sent the Terminators from. And, of course, more Terminators.
Well, we got our movie!
In Terminator Salvation we see a lot of John Connor (Christian Bale). He is the voice of human resistance against the Terminators, machines and Skynet. He is just another soldier at this point but we know from the other movies, and he knows, he will be the future leaderof the human race. John Connor's character is in a strange position of knowing the past and future at the same time. He listens to tapes his mother made him and she explains the things about himself that she learned from his father, whom he sent from the future - in his own future. In any case, John Connor is leading a fight against the machines and the resistance is going to make a big move against Skynet but Connor sees something isn't right about what is happening. Little known Australian actor Sam Worthington makes a stunning debut in this movie. He plays, as we know from the previews, a Terminator that doesn't know he is a Terminator. This puts his character in an interesting position to help or hurt John Connor.
I won't give much more away except that the special effects and story will be a treat for any Terminator series fans out there. And it does bring the story arch full circle - as a prequel and sequel.
The only thing that surprised me about this movie was all the fire power the humans had. They even had jets and a submarine. I guess I expected the humans to be a little more low tech. But not at all detracting from the movie. Humans kicking Terminator butt is always fun.
I recommend this movie! It IS a big screener, so please go see it at the movies.
MMMM (out of 5 M's)
Terminator (1984) was a sci fi movie that bordered horror (like Alien). And the violence in the movie was extreme, for it's day. There were no super special effects, as computer graphics were in the infant stage. With the debut of Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991) we see the incredible groundbreaking special effects that became what people wanted from all movies, as well as good old fashioned action and John Connor. Let's not forget mega-blockbuster movie. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines(2003) goes back to the budget of the first movie but gives us more of John Connor and how his future came to be. Yes, more John Connor. It seems from the first Terminator movie, when we first see John Connor standing in the post-apocalyptic landscape, we want more! We want a movie about John Connor and future he sent the Terminators from. And, of course, more Terminators.
Well, we got our movie!
In Terminator Salvation we see a lot of John Connor (Christian Bale). He is the voice of human resistance against the Terminators, machines and Skynet. He is just another soldier at this point but we know from the other movies, and he knows, he will be the future leaderof the human race. John Connor's character is in a strange position of knowing the past and future at the same time. He listens to tapes his mother made him and she explains the things about himself that she learned from his father, whom he sent from the future - in his own future. In any case, John Connor is leading a fight against the machines and the resistance is going to make a big move against Skynet but Connor sees something isn't right about what is happening. Little known Australian actor Sam Worthington makes a stunning debut in this movie. He plays, as we know from the previews, a Terminator that doesn't know he is a Terminator. This puts his character in an interesting position to help or hurt John Connor.
I won't give much more away except that the special effects and story will be a treat for any Terminator series fans out there. And it does bring the story arch full circle - as a prequel and sequel.
The only thing that surprised me about this movie was all the fire power the humans had. They even had jets and a submarine. I guess I expected the humans to be a little more low tech. But not at all detracting from the movie. Humans kicking Terminator butt is always fun.
I recommend this movie! It IS a big screener, so please go see it at the movies.
MMMM (out of 5 M's)
Friday, May 8, 2009
STAR TREK
Star Trek is, in a word, GREAT! Okay, end of review. Just kidding! About the end of review part.
I am sure there are some Star Trek purists out there who are just looking for something to poo poo on about this movie. I really couldn't find anything.
I have to admit, it took me a bit to get used to it all...new Kirk, Spock, etc. But you will find yourself more than pleasantly surprised with how the movie unfolds. I was looking for more of the morality play that the usual Star Trek episode would bring - Gene Roddenberry's trademark. But there was enough story and action to cover anything I was expecting the movie to be.
I really can't say much about the movie with out giving away the whole thing. The beginning seems strained and searching for where the movie is heading but that is like that for a reason and you just gotta hang in there to find out.
We meet Kirk and Spock as children and then as young men both searching for where they belong. The rest of the crew is introduced and we are happy when the entire "family" is together. The actors do a good job with some of the biggest and hardest shoes to fill. And you will find out why Zachary Quinto had the hardest job and had to look the most like his character of Spock. Everyone knows that Leonard Nimoy is in this movie but I was surprised by how much he was in the movie and how his pivotal role is. That is all I will say about that!
I look forward to perhaps a director's cut because I have a feeling there was quite a bit cut out. I find it hard to believe that Winona Ryder would appear only in age make up as Spock's mother. We will have to wait and see.
The action is terrific and effects are right on. And there is more than a nod to the original Star Trek series to give tribute and well, accept the torch that has been passed to them. Leonard Nimoy appearing in this movie is indeed an endorsement and a torch passing.
When the cast of Star Trek: Next Generation made their first movie there was a tie in with the original series. Kirk and Picard even met, have an exchange and even fight the bad guy together. Not the best Star Trek movie but it was the end of the original series being the headliners. Leonard Nimoy had a large part in a two part Next Generation episode and even James "Scotty" Doohan appeared in an different episode (DeForest "Bones" Kelley also appeared in the Next Generation pilot but that was forgettable).
I am a die hard Trekkie and I accept that fact that in order for the Star Trek franchise to survive into another generation it must be taken over by another generation.
I look forward to the next movie!
MMMMM (out of 5 M's)
I am sure there are some Star Trek purists out there who are just looking for something to poo poo on about this movie. I really couldn't find anything.
I have to admit, it took me a bit to get used to it all...new Kirk, Spock, etc. But you will find yourself more than pleasantly surprised with how the movie unfolds. I was looking for more of the morality play that the usual Star Trek episode would bring - Gene Roddenberry's trademark. But there was enough story and action to cover anything I was expecting the movie to be.
I really can't say much about the movie with out giving away the whole thing. The beginning seems strained and searching for where the movie is heading but that is like that for a reason and you just gotta hang in there to find out.
We meet Kirk and Spock as children and then as young men both searching for where they belong. The rest of the crew is introduced and we are happy when the entire "family" is together. The actors do a good job with some of the biggest and hardest shoes to fill. And you will find out why Zachary Quinto had the hardest job and had to look the most like his character of Spock. Everyone knows that Leonard Nimoy is in this movie but I was surprised by how much he was in the movie and how his pivotal role is. That is all I will say about that!
I look forward to perhaps a director's cut because I have a feeling there was quite a bit cut out. I find it hard to believe that Winona Ryder would appear only in age make up as Spock's mother. We will have to wait and see.
The action is terrific and effects are right on. And there is more than a nod to the original Star Trek series to give tribute and well, accept the torch that has been passed to them. Leonard Nimoy appearing in this movie is indeed an endorsement and a torch passing.
When the cast of Star Trek: Next Generation made their first movie there was a tie in with the original series. Kirk and Picard even met, have an exchange and even fight the bad guy together. Not the best Star Trek movie but it was the end of the original series being the headliners. Leonard Nimoy had a large part in a two part Next Generation episode and even James "Scotty" Doohan appeared in an different episode (DeForest "Bones" Kelley also appeared in the Next Generation pilot but that was forgettable).
I am a die hard Trekkie and I accept that fact that in order for the Star Trek franchise to survive into another generation it must be taken over by another generation.
I look forward to the next movie!
MMMMM (out of 5 M's)
Monday, May 4, 2009
Wolverine
X-Men Origins: Wolverine: The title of this movie implies there will be other "Origins" movies but to tell you the truth, I am not really interested in any of the other mutants origins. We learn that most develop their mutant powers as adolescents. But in the first X-Men movie we meet Logan/Wolverine and he is intriguing because he does not know his own past and he is a man with mutant powers that has also been tampered with. We don't know by whom. There is some information given in the second X-Men movie but not enough to satisfy Logan or the audience.
Wolverine is supposed to answer those questions - who is Wolverine and how and why did he get experimented on?
The movie opens with us meeting young Logan and his older brother and after an unfortunate claw incident go on the run together. We see them going on the run together through time and through every major conflict up through Vietnam. This is when it is discovered that the brothers both have healing abilities and appear to be immortal. Oh, Logan's claws are not metal, they are long spiny bones - actually kind of gross looking. Logan's brother, Victor, has vampire like teeth and his already long fingernails grow into claws. After working in black ops for the government with other mutants, Logan has had enough and wants a "normal" life. Little does he know that the same nefarious government agency that used him for black ops also has other designs on mutants. Logan agrees to an experiment that will give him limitless killing powers. He wants to this to kill Victor because Victor has been doing some bad things (can't give it all away!). After Logan has his skeleton fused with metal he decides he doesn't want to be in the service of the government and just wants to hunt Victor. He finds some unpleasant things out along the way and has his eyes opened to what is happening to other mutants. I don't want to give it all away because I want you to see this movie. By the way, Victor is Sabertooth (for those of you in the know).
There are some unnecessary killing of some civilians and some unfortunate killing of some mutants we get to know and that are played by decent actors. That is what I would say are any faults to this movie.
I don't know anything about who all the mutants were in the movie and anything about the origins of X-Men characters from the comic books. I just know about the X-Men trilogy and what is introduced by those characters. Keep that in mind when I say that I really enjoyed this movie. And no, it wasn't just because Hugh Jackman has some naked butt scenes (it doesn't hurt).
What I was looking for in this movie was a worthy prequel to a perfectly established franchise. Remember the disappointment we all had with The Phantom Menace? I really didn't want to see that again with this movie. AND I didn't!
Hugh Jackman as Wolverine and Liev Schreiber as Sabertooth definitely make this movie. Talented or at least name actors were not always in sci-fi or fantasy movies but with the dawn of 1987's Batman, the Spiderman trilogy, Men in Black, X-Men trilogy, The Hulk and Iron Man, these ARE the kinds of movies that, what I call, real actors are going for. Jackman and Schrieber are excellent actors and they certainly chew up the scenery with their acting in what is seemingly an effects driven movie.
Great fun and worth the price of admission!
MMMM (out of 5 M's)
Wolverine is supposed to answer those questions - who is Wolverine and how and why did he get experimented on?
The movie opens with us meeting young Logan and his older brother and after an unfortunate claw incident go on the run together. We see them going on the run together through time and through every major conflict up through Vietnam. This is when it is discovered that the brothers both have healing abilities and appear to be immortal. Oh, Logan's claws are not metal, they are long spiny bones - actually kind of gross looking. Logan's brother, Victor, has vampire like teeth and his already long fingernails grow into claws. After working in black ops for the government with other mutants, Logan has had enough and wants a "normal" life. Little does he know that the same nefarious government agency that used him for black ops also has other designs on mutants. Logan agrees to an experiment that will give him limitless killing powers. He wants to this to kill Victor because Victor has been doing some bad things (can't give it all away!). After Logan has his skeleton fused with metal he decides he doesn't want to be in the service of the government and just wants to hunt Victor. He finds some unpleasant things out along the way and has his eyes opened to what is happening to other mutants. I don't want to give it all away because I want you to see this movie. By the way, Victor is Sabertooth (for those of you in the know).
There are some unnecessary killing of some civilians and some unfortunate killing of some mutants we get to know and that are played by decent actors. That is what I would say are any faults to this movie.
I don't know anything about who all the mutants were in the movie and anything about the origins of X-Men characters from the comic books. I just know about the X-Men trilogy and what is introduced by those characters. Keep that in mind when I say that I really enjoyed this movie. And no, it wasn't just because Hugh Jackman has some naked butt scenes (it doesn't hurt).
What I was looking for in this movie was a worthy prequel to a perfectly established franchise. Remember the disappointment we all had with The Phantom Menace? I really didn't want to see that again with this movie. AND I didn't!
Hugh Jackman as Wolverine and Liev Schreiber as Sabertooth definitely make this movie. Talented or at least name actors were not always in sci-fi or fantasy movies but with the dawn of 1987's Batman, the Spiderman trilogy, Men in Black, X-Men trilogy, The Hulk and Iron Man, these ARE the kinds of movies that, what I call, real actors are going for. Jackman and Schrieber are excellent actors and they certainly chew up the scenery with their acting in what is seemingly an effects driven movie.
Great fun and worth the price of admission!
MMMM (out of 5 M's)
Sunday, April 26, 2009
The Wrestler
The Wrestler is not what I expected or what other people had said about it. I think it is one of those movies that is really something different to everyone. I know that is vague but I think this movie will hit you differently depending on your experiences in life. One could say that about any movie but this movie has some elements that work on emotions that are raw - much like the wrestler himself.
Mickey Rourke does do an amazing and impressive job of playing an aging professional wrestler who still works the wrestling circuit. He used to be as big as Hulk Hogan but not works in the semi-pro, small arena or high gym shows. I would disagree with someone who would say his character, Randy "The Ram" Robinson, was "washed up." I don't think the movie portrays that. He doesn't wrestle because he needs the money. A washed up wrestler would be a character like in the 1962 classic Requiem for a Heavyweight who has to become something ridiculous to make the money. The Ram doesn't see himself as ridiculous. The young wrestlers he meets respect him because he is an old pro they grew up with and can learn from. They all clap for him when he comes into the dressing room.
After going through a bypass operation, The Ram must hang it up or risk his own life in the ring. He wonders what he is going to do and at the suggestion of a stripper he frequents (Marisa Tomei in a total throw away and useless part), he decides to try and reconcile with his estranged daughter. He tries but screws it up. He also tries having a regular job and a possible relationship with the stripper but he can't.
He can only do one thing and that is wrestle. I don't find much about the movie depressing. Here is the The Ram and he loves to wrestle. If you have never heard the sound of applause for your performance then you won't get why he has to keep doing it. Applause is the most intoxicating and addictive drug there is. In the ring he is not some old dude that used to be famous - he still is famous and still The Ram that gets the cheers. The Ram looks for love in all the wrong places - except in the ring. There he finds the purist love of all and people who love him for who he really is - the wrestler.
MMM (out of 5 M's)
Mickey Rourke does do an amazing and impressive job of playing an aging professional wrestler who still works the wrestling circuit. He used to be as big as Hulk Hogan but not works in the semi-pro, small arena or high gym shows. I would disagree with someone who would say his character, Randy "The Ram" Robinson, was "washed up." I don't think the movie portrays that. He doesn't wrestle because he needs the money. A washed up wrestler would be a character like in the 1962 classic Requiem for a Heavyweight who has to become something ridiculous to make the money. The Ram doesn't see himself as ridiculous. The young wrestlers he meets respect him because he is an old pro they grew up with and can learn from. They all clap for him when he comes into the dressing room.
After going through a bypass operation, The Ram must hang it up or risk his own life in the ring. He wonders what he is going to do and at the suggestion of a stripper he frequents (Marisa Tomei in a total throw away and useless part), he decides to try and reconcile with his estranged daughter. He tries but screws it up. He also tries having a regular job and a possible relationship with the stripper but he can't.
He can only do one thing and that is wrestle. I don't find much about the movie depressing. Here is the The Ram and he loves to wrestle. If you have never heard the sound of applause for your performance then you won't get why he has to keep doing it. Applause is the most intoxicating and addictive drug there is. In the ring he is not some old dude that used to be famous - he still is famous and still The Ram that gets the cheers. The Ram looks for love in all the wrong places - except in the ring. There he finds the purist love of all and people who love him for who he really is - the wrestler.
MMM (out of 5 M's)
Friday, April 10, 2009
Double Features
I have put together in this post some fun combinations of movies. You could watch one on Friday night and one on Saturday or have the traditional double feature. I find my combinations compliment each other nicely. I have some comedy with drama and even animation paired with live action and even some remakes. You have probably already seen some of the older films but consider a re-viewing with my match. Of course, these choices depend on the genre of movie you like. I will leave it up to you in which order you watch them. Happy viewing!
Cars (2006) and Talladega Nights (2006)
Galaxy Quest (1999) and Trekkies (1997)
Cutting Edge (1992) and Blades of Glory (2007)
Emma (1996) and Clueless (1995)
Twilight (2008) and Lost Boys (1987)
Any Given Sunday (1999) and The Replacements (2000)
The Princess Bride (1987) and Enchanted (2007)
Soapdish (1991) and Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Nim's Island (2008) and The Last Mimzy (2007)
Bridget Jones Diary (2001) and About A Boy (2002)
Sunshine (2007) and Babylon 5: The Lost Tales (2007)
Ironman (2008) and Superman Returns (2006)
Spiderman (2002) and Batman (1989)
Open Range (2003) and Tombstone (1993)
Manhunter (1986) and Red Dragon (2002)
There are some genres I am not familiar with like horror/gore and the recent crop of comedy parody movies (like Scary Movie). If you have some suggestions to add to this list - let me know!
Cars (2006) and Talladega Nights (2006)
Galaxy Quest (1999) and Trekkies (1997)
Cutting Edge (1992) and Blades of Glory (2007)
Emma (1996) and Clueless (1995)
Twilight (2008) and Lost Boys (1987)
Any Given Sunday (1999) and The Replacements (2000)
The Princess Bride (1987) and Enchanted (2007)
Soapdish (1991) and Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Nim's Island (2008) and The Last Mimzy (2007)
Bridget Jones Diary (2001) and About A Boy (2002)
Sunshine (2007) and Babylon 5: The Lost Tales (2007)
Ironman (2008) and Superman Returns (2006)
Spiderman (2002) and Batman (1989)
Open Range (2003) and Tombstone (1993)
Manhunter (1986) and Red Dragon (2002)
There are some genres I am not familiar with like horror/gore and the recent crop of comedy parody movies (like Scary Movie). If you have some suggestions to add to this list - let me know!
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Vampire Rentals
Let the Right One In: This Norwegian import is being heralded as the "best vampire movie ever!" and I have to agree it is one of the most creative uses of the vampire legend I have ever seen.
It falls into the "best" category because it is not your classic vampire tale. The fact the vampire in question is a little girl brings the creep factor way up.
The story focuses on a very blond boy named Oskar and a strange dark haired girl named Eli that moves into his apartment complex. The fact that the windows are boarded over and he only sees her at night makes it evident that she is the vampire of the movie. Oskar is an often bullied boy who dreams and even practices how he would enact his revenge but doesn't appear to act on it. When he befriends Eli it seems to boost his confidence. It doesn't matter that she is barefoot out in the snow or that she smells bad - a girl is interested in him. Eli stays in the apartment while her apparent caregiver goes on the hunt for her to bring back blood. This is wise because a vampire in town would cause unwanted attention. However her care giver's growing carelessness with is blood letting has already drawn suspicion. I cannot go into much detail other than that because it would give away too much of the movie.
Just a note on the title: Anyone that knows vampire lore knows what the title means - when you invite a vampire in, you are willingly inviting in the danger.
To your average American audience this movie would no doubt seem to be filmed in a cheesy manner and the dubbing is atrocious. I normally like to watch any foreign film in it's original version. I watched it in the English dub and the original Norwegian. If you can handle subtitles go with the Norwegian. This isn't stellar acting but any acting is removed by the English dubbing. I also suggest watching it twice. And it will bring it together for you even more.
The quiet and stark nature of the movie will make you feel uncomfortable and suitably spooked.
MMMM (out of 5 M's)
Twilight: Chick flick alert! Yes, this is one for the ladies. My husband did like it but admitted he can see why the guys I work with were not that impressed.
Twilight is based on a wildly popular (among tween and teen girls) series of books about a vampire high school hunk named Edward Cullen. I have not read the books so I don't know if any of the other characters are even in the books.
The movie is about a teenage girl, Bella, that moves in with her dad, the local sheriff, after her mom goes on the road with her new husband, a minor league baseball player. She moves from sunny Phoenix to middle of nowhere Forks, Washington. This only adds to some of her misery. She doesn't have it that bad - she is eagerly welcomed to her new high school and has the attention of all the popular boys. Her sights get set on a seriously dark and brooding young man named Edward Cullen. He is the foster child of a local doctor, who has several adopted kids that are coupled off with each other. The other kids in the school think that is weird and it definitely could have been a story line full of twisted perverted avenues which isn't part of this story but would have made it interesting. He looks longingly at her and she is just determined to find out why he is so weird around her. After several instances she figures out that he is indeed a vampire and so are the rest of the Cullens.
The movie had so many interesting ways to go. For example there is an Indian reservation nearby and there is a legend about the Indians, who are descended from wolves, and the strange clan (possibly the Cullens) that make a truce. The clan is not to hunt for anything on their land and they will keep their strange hunting practices a secret from the "pale faces." To see the Native Americans and Cullens interact would have also made and interesting story line as well. Instead a group of bad vampires are introduced (they look like members of the Black Eyed Peas) and from there the movie just becomes a save the human girlfriend story.
The movie is surprisingly well acted and does not rely on over stereotyping the teenagers, Native Americans or the other adults in the movie. Kristen Stewart, who plays Bella, brings a wonderful maturity to a role that could have been a throw away in a teenage movie. At 19 she has a good resume of movies and will soon be starring as rocker Joan Jett. I say keep an eye on this one!
I really liked this movie and watched it twice. The reason I call this a chick flick is because it is about romance and not sex. Lots of longing looks, almost kissing, etc. Sigh!
Oh, and the soundtrack is one of the best I have heard in a while.
MMM1/2M (out of 5 M's)
Other vampire favorites!
Lost Boys (1987): Hands down the best teenage vampire movie ever! If you have never seen it...you are way out of the loop. Totally 80's, funny and vamp camp!
Blade (1998): Hard to beat Wesley Snipes as the original "day walker," a vampire hybrid that hunts vampires just for fun. Lots of teeth and blood.
Underworld (2003) and Underworld: Evolution (2004): Fun and brainless gore that will keep you entertained. Vampires vs. Werewolves...how can that not be fun? Oh, I guess you wanted acting.
Shadow of the Vampire (2000): Turn creep meter way up! Mixed reviews but I liked it. Fun for film buffs who know the first vampire movie, Nosferatu.
Dracula (1979): Frank Langella was, in my opinion, the first actor to make a vampire sexy! It might look a tad dated to an audience today but still one of my favs. And any vampire movie that makes you pull the night time covers up over your neck for months, is a great vampire movie!
Dracula (1931): This is the one that started it all folks. The movie that put the cape, accent, Renfield and anything else we dream up at Halloween to mean a "vampire." Bela Lugosi's portrayal of Count Dracula brings it all home. No other movie on this list should be seen without seeing this one first. AND Martin Landau's tribute (and Oscar winning) performance as Bela Lugosi in Ed Wood will bring even more of an appreciation to the master of fright.
Nosferatu (1922): Grainy, black & white, silent but scary, this movie has the most frightening physical appearance of the old blood sucker. This movie is the inspiration for all vampire movies and lore. Watch it with all the lights out and clutch your popcorn.
Sweet dreams!
It falls into the "best" category because it is not your classic vampire tale. The fact the vampire in question is a little girl brings the creep factor way up.
The story focuses on a very blond boy named Oskar and a strange dark haired girl named Eli that moves into his apartment complex. The fact that the windows are boarded over and he only sees her at night makes it evident that she is the vampire of the movie. Oskar is an often bullied boy who dreams and even practices how he would enact his revenge but doesn't appear to act on it. When he befriends Eli it seems to boost his confidence. It doesn't matter that she is barefoot out in the snow or that she smells bad - a girl is interested in him. Eli stays in the apartment while her apparent caregiver goes on the hunt for her to bring back blood. This is wise because a vampire in town would cause unwanted attention. However her care giver's growing carelessness with is blood letting has already drawn suspicion. I cannot go into much detail other than that because it would give away too much of the movie.
Just a note on the title: Anyone that knows vampire lore knows what the title means - when you invite a vampire in, you are willingly inviting in the danger.
To your average American audience this movie would no doubt seem to be filmed in a cheesy manner and the dubbing is atrocious. I normally like to watch any foreign film in it's original version. I watched it in the English dub and the original Norwegian. If you can handle subtitles go with the Norwegian. This isn't stellar acting but any acting is removed by the English dubbing. I also suggest watching it twice. And it will bring it together for you even more.
The quiet and stark nature of the movie will make you feel uncomfortable and suitably spooked.
MMMM (out of 5 M's)
Twilight: Chick flick alert! Yes, this is one for the ladies. My husband did like it but admitted he can see why the guys I work with were not that impressed.
Twilight is based on a wildly popular (among tween and teen girls) series of books about a vampire high school hunk named Edward Cullen. I have not read the books so I don't know if any of the other characters are even in the books.
The movie is about a teenage girl, Bella, that moves in with her dad, the local sheriff, after her mom goes on the road with her new husband, a minor league baseball player. She moves from sunny Phoenix to middle of nowhere Forks, Washington. This only adds to some of her misery. She doesn't have it that bad - she is eagerly welcomed to her new high school and has the attention of all the popular boys. Her sights get set on a seriously dark and brooding young man named Edward Cullen. He is the foster child of a local doctor, who has several adopted kids that are coupled off with each other. The other kids in the school think that is weird and it definitely could have been a story line full of twisted perverted avenues which isn't part of this story but would have made it interesting. He looks longingly at her and she is just determined to find out why he is so weird around her. After several instances she figures out that he is indeed a vampire and so are the rest of the Cullens.
The movie had so many interesting ways to go. For example there is an Indian reservation nearby and there is a legend about the Indians, who are descended from wolves, and the strange clan (possibly the Cullens) that make a truce. The clan is not to hunt for anything on their land and they will keep their strange hunting practices a secret from the "pale faces." To see the Native Americans and Cullens interact would have also made and interesting story line as well. Instead a group of bad vampires are introduced (they look like members of the Black Eyed Peas) and from there the movie just becomes a save the human girlfriend story.
The movie is surprisingly well acted and does not rely on over stereotyping the teenagers, Native Americans or the other adults in the movie. Kristen Stewart, who plays Bella, brings a wonderful maturity to a role that could have been a throw away in a teenage movie. At 19 she has a good resume of movies and will soon be starring as rocker Joan Jett. I say keep an eye on this one!
I really liked this movie and watched it twice. The reason I call this a chick flick is because it is about romance and not sex. Lots of longing looks, almost kissing, etc. Sigh!
Oh, and the soundtrack is one of the best I have heard in a while.
MMM1/2M (out of 5 M's)
Other vampire favorites!
Lost Boys (1987): Hands down the best teenage vampire movie ever! If you have never seen it...you are way out of the loop. Totally 80's, funny and vamp camp!
Blade (1998): Hard to beat Wesley Snipes as the original "day walker," a vampire hybrid that hunts vampires just for fun. Lots of teeth and blood.
Underworld (2003) and Underworld: Evolution (2004): Fun and brainless gore that will keep you entertained. Vampires vs. Werewolves...how can that not be fun? Oh, I guess you wanted acting.
Shadow of the Vampire (2000): Turn creep meter way up! Mixed reviews but I liked it. Fun for film buffs who know the first vampire movie, Nosferatu.
Dracula (1979): Frank Langella was, in my opinion, the first actor to make a vampire sexy! It might look a tad dated to an audience today but still one of my favs. And any vampire movie that makes you pull the night time covers up over your neck for months, is a great vampire movie!
Dracula (1931): This is the one that started it all folks. The movie that put the cape, accent, Renfield and anything else we dream up at Halloween to mean a "vampire." Bela Lugosi's portrayal of Count Dracula brings it all home. No other movie on this list should be seen without seeing this one first. AND Martin Landau's tribute (and Oscar winning) performance as Bela Lugosi in Ed Wood will bring even more of an appreciation to the master of fright.
Nosferatu (1922): Grainy, black & white, silent but scary, this movie has the most frightening physical appearance of the old blood sucker. This movie is the inspiration for all vampire movies and lore. Watch it with all the lights out and clutch your popcorn.
Sweet dreams!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Am I Worth It?
This blog entry was first posted in February 2008. We must never forget.
"Dear Lord, lest I continue my complacent way, help me to remember that somewhere, somehow out there a man died for me today. As long as there be war, I then must ask and answer, 'Am I worth dying for?'" - A wartime prayer by Eleanor Roosevelt
When this Global War on Terrorism started the front page of every paper in America would have news of a soldier dying. Now, try and find it. Go ahead. Leaf through your paper and see if you can find their names. If it was someone that lived or graduated high school in your newspaper's readership area, then yes, you will find it on the front page. "Local Soldier Dies."
I live near a major Navy base that employs young men that do the most dangerous job in the Navy. The are Navy SEALS. Even among those of us that are also in the Navy - they stand out. They carry themselves differently, look differently and are respected differently. They are respected greatly. Because of this, the front page news is that someone that served on my base was killed. They are from this base which makes them from here. In the past month we lost three SEALS. Two of them were Chiefs. All under 30 years old. I might have known them. Seen them at the bowling alley with their family, the commissary (grocery store) or in line at the personnel department getting an ID card. It didn't hit really hard until last week.
Last Friday, a dreary drizzly day, I saw a sign that said "SEAL Memorial." I thought it was a memorial service at the Chapel. It was more than that - it was a funeral. I drove by the base Chapel on my way to work out at the gym and I saw something I will never forget. Even now I tear up at the thought.
There in front of the Chapel was a hearse and behind the hearse were eight Navy Chiefs lined up on either side of the gurney for the casket. They stood there in the steady rain, waiting. They were wearing their dress blues which looks like a black double breasted suit with a white shirt and black tie. They wore their white dress hats with black brims. In the rain. On the sleeves of their jackets were their rating badges (rank insignia patch) and they were gold. To wear gold means they have over 12 years of good conduct. On their sleeves were the gold hash marks indicating years of service. Most of them had over 4 hash marks (16 years of service). They stood in the rain doing what SEALS do. The job that no one else wants to do. The hard job.
Navy SEALS don't see the signs that say, "Bring Our Troops Home!" and think the signs refer to them. For the SEAL it's about the mission. Everyone in the Navy has a mission. But not like the SEALS. They train, eat, drink, live and die the mission. They are totally focused and doing a job. They volunteered to be SEALS and went through the hardest training the military has to offer. Most don't make through the training. Those that do - wanted it more.
Last week three Navy SEALS were remembered for their final mission. And there will be more.
We need to remember them and remain worthy.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Watchmen
The question that keeps cropping up in the movie Watchmen is "Who watches the Watchmen?" To the average viewer it might be, "Who watches the Watchmen movie?" I can see why that question might come up.
Watchmen is based solely on the 12 issue comic book series (put in one volume as a graphic novel). This isn't like Spiderman, Superman, Hulk or Iron Man that you can enjoy without ever having read the comic - those heroes are part of a collective cultural consciousness. Watchmen is not like one of those hero series of which we know so much. Watchmen was a comic epic of a complicated, violent, sexual, apocalyptic nature - something that, up to the point it was published, was never seen in comics before. Watchmen is what started such a series being called a "graphic novel." Movies like Constantine, From Hell, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and V for Vendetta were also of this graphic novel vein. The last three mentioned were from the creator of the Watchmen.
Unlike Spidey, it seemed impossible to comic readers that such an ambitious project of Watchmen being brought to screen could even be done. It's not just the complicated, intertwined and, dare I say, convoluted story, it was also the effects. You see there is this bright blue atomic dude named Dr. Manhattan that elaborately moves around through time and space.
Back to the movie.
Watchmen takes place in 1985 in an alternate reality. Nixon is on his third term as President and we won the Vietnam war, just to name a few odd things that are out of place in this time line. We learn through the opening credits and flashbacks that there were two groups of costume heroes (not with super powers, per se, but vigilantes) that have existed. One group, known as the Minutemen, were around in the 1940s. The second group of costume vigilantes was in the 1970s and was known as the Watchmen. One character is in both groups, the Comedian. The death of the Comedian is what drives the story. We find out that the Minutemen, through personal circumstances and cultural changes, was disbanded on their own but the Watchmen was disbanded by the government. One Watchmen, Rorschach, has never given up his mask. He figures that someone is killing off costume vigilantes and decides to warn them all. Through this we find out what they are all doing after the masks came off. There is also this odd character of Dr. Manhattan, or John, that keeps cropping up. He is pivotal to the story. He once was human but through an experiment gone wrong he is transformed into something else. Something that defies time, space and reality. There is the threat of nuclear war looming in the news during this story as well. Nixon and the USSR are poised for war and the Watchmen are left wondering what they can still do to save the world.
This movie is completely based on the comic. The story board for this movie was the comic, as was the script. It would have been too much to film the entire graphic novel. But if you are a fan, there is enough of the story to keep you delighted.
I am not sure about those that have not.
As I said earlier, you can go see Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings without reading the books.
Normally, I can say that kind of thing with certainty about most movies based on books that I have seen (read the book or not). But in the case of Watchmen, I can't. It is movie mommy policy that any movie made from a book must stand on it's own.
My husband saw Watchmen and liked it. There was enough violence, sex, fight scenes, gore and special effects to keep him interested.
I feel I can only recommend this movie to people that have either read the comic/graphic novel, really dig any kind of superhero movie, pulp fiction story telling or off the norm stuff like V for Vendetta. Or just want to fly their movie freak flag.
By the way, the soundtrack kicks total butt!
MMM (3 Ms out of 5 Ms) based on the normal movie mommy criteria.
MMMM1/2M (4.5 Ms out of 5 Ms) for a movie based on a comic/graphic novel that I have read.
Watchmen is based solely on the 12 issue comic book series (put in one volume as a graphic novel). This isn't like Spiderman, Superman, Hulk or Iron Man that you can enjoy without ever having read the comic - those heroes are part of a collective cultural consciousness. Watchmen is not like one of those hero series of which we know so much. Watchmen was a comic epic of a complicated, violent, sexual, apocalyptic nature - something that, up to the point it was published, was never seen in comics before. Watchmen is what started such a series being called a "graphic novel." Movies like Constantine, From Hell, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and V for Vendetta were also of this graphic novel vein. The last three mentioned were from the creator of the Watchmen.
Unlike Spidey, it seemed impossible to comic readers that such an ambitious project of Watchmen being brought to screen could even be done. It's not just the complicated, intertwined and, dare I say, convoluted story, it was also the effects. You see there is this bright blue atomic dude named Dr. Manhattan that elaborately moves around through time and space.
Back to the movie.
Watchmen takes place in 1985 in an alternate reality. Nixon is on his third term as President and we won the Vietnam war, just to name a few odd things that are out of place in this time line. We learn through the opening credits and flashbacks that there were two groups of costume heroes (not with super powers, per se, but vigilantes) that have existed. One group, known as the Minutemen, were around in the 1940s. The second group of costume vigilantes was in the 1970s and was known as the Watchmen. One character is in both groups, the Comedian. The death of the Comedian is what drives the story. We find out that the Minutemen, through personal circumstances and cultural changes, was disbanded on their own but the Watchmen was disbanded by the government. One Watchmen, Rorschach, has never given up his mask. He figures that someone is killing off costume vigilantes and decides to warn them all. Through this we find out what they are all doing after the masks came off. There is also this odd character of Dr. Manhattan, or John, that keeps cropping up. He is pivotal to the story. He once was human but through an experiment gone wrong he is transformed into something else. Something that defies time, space and reality. There is the threat of nuclear war looming in the news during this story as well. Nixon and the USSR are poised for war and the Watchmen are left wondering what they can still do to save the world.
This movie is completely based on the comic. The story board for this movie was the comic, as was the script. It would have been too much to film the entire graphic novel. But if you are a fan, there is enough of the story to keep you delighted.
I am not sure about those that have not.
As I said earlier, you can go see Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings without reading the books.
Normally, I can say that kind of thing with certainty about most movies based on books that I have seen (read the book or not). But in the case of Watchmen, I can't. It is movie mommy policy that any movie made from a book must stand on it's own.
My husband saw Watchmen and liked it. There was enough violence, sex, fight scenes, gore and special effects to keep him interested.
I feel I can only recommend this movie to people that have either read the comic/graphic novel, really dig any kind of superhero movie, pulp fiction story telling or off the norm stuff like V for Vendetta. Or just want to fly their movie freak flag.
By the way, the soundtrack kicks total butt!
MMM (3 Ms out of 5 Ms) based on the normal movie mommy criteria.
MMMM1/2M (4.5 Ms out of 5 Ms) for a movie based on a comic/graphic novel that I have read.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Entertainment with Oscar!
Finally! An Oscar show that was actually entertaining! I am sure there were some of you out there that were stunned by Hugh Jackman bursting into song and dance and good song and very good dance at that.
Sure, we have had the comics. Some good, some bad and some just tired. BUT this year there was something different. I watched the pre-show stuff and they talked about making these Oscars a tribute to old time Hollywood and with the musical numbers it was right on.
Hugh Jackman has been hosting the Tony awards for several years now and I am glad that Hollywood has picked up on the fact that the audience doesn't need to see year after year of mindless comedy. Entertainment is back!
Hugh Jackman tore up the stage with high energy dance numbers and his singing, though it was good, was not the highlight of his routines. He is a hoofer at heart!
I also liked the way the Oscar ceremony presented the acting awards. Instead of having one presenter, they had 5 winners from the past in that category each introduce the nominee and congratulate the winner. I thought that was classy.
I hadn't seen any of the movies nominated but I was glad Slumdog Millionaire won. It looks like a wonderful inspiring movie and after last year's highly violent winner, it was nice to see a movie that makes people smile - win.
I look forward to seeing Hugh Jackman back next year. Truth be told, I am looking forward to seeing Hugh Jackman anytime!
Sure, we have had the comics. Some good, some bad and some just tired. BUT this year there was something different. I watched the pre-show stuff and they talked about making these Oscars a tribute to old time Hollywood and with the musical numbers it was right on.
Hugh Jackman has been hosting the Tony awards for several years now and I am glad that Hollywood has picked up on the fact that the audience doesn't need to see year after year of mindless comedy. Entertainment is back!
Hugh Jackman tore up the stage with high energy dance numbers and his singing, though it was good, was not the highlight of his routines. He is a hoofer at heart!
I also liked the way the Oscar ceremony presented the acting awards. Instead of having one presenter, they had 5 winners from the past in that category each introduce the nominee and congratulate the winner. I thought that was classy.
I hadn't seen any of the movies nominated but I was glad Slumdog Millionaire won. It looks like a wonderful inspiring movie and after last year's highly violent winner, it was nice to see a movie that makes people smile - win.
I look forward to seeing Hugh Jackman back next year. Truth be told, I am looking forward to seeing Hugh Jackman anytime!
Monday, February 16, 2009
My Son has Autism
My son was diagnosed last month with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (or ASD) and ADHD. Basically, Autistic. It took a lot for me to write these words on this blog. An obviously private family matter that I have basically outed for the cyberworld to see. I would rather just tell everyone than not...then it is found out and it looks like I am hiding something...ashamed...embarrased. But, you see, that is not the case.
My son is smart, beautiful, funny, clever and one of the two greatest loves of my life. To me he is perfect in every way.
He has done everything at his own pace - crawled, walked, talked, etc. And he never wanted much help. Now, he doesn't have much of a choice. We're helping him.
I should have been more alert to things but I wasn't. I can't go back. Only go forward.
We are starting to get him help and when he starts kindergarten in the fall we hope is where he should be. Intellectually he is ahead of the game...we just have some other stuff to work on.
If you don't know what it is, really, join the club. I have learned a lot and learned I am definitely not alone.
I could use all the support I can get at this point.
My son has Autism and he is perfect.
My son is smart, beautiful, funny, clever and one of the two greatest loves of my life. To me he is perfect in every way.
He has done everything at his own pace - crawled, walked, talked, etc. And he never wanted much help. Now, he doesn't have much of a choice. We're helping him.
I should have been more alert to things but I wasn't. I can't go back. Only go forward.
We are starting to get him help and when he starts kindergarten in the fall we hope is where he should be. Intellectually he is ahead of the game...we just have some other stuff to work on.
If you don't know what it is, really, join the club. I have learned a lot and learned I am definitely not alone.
I could use all the support I can get at this point.
My son has Autism and he is perfect.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
TV Sucks
And so another mid-season TV restructuring (before February sweeps) brings the axe to another show. Most shows that are axed are crap. But not one, not Pushing Daisies.
Pushing Daisies was, shall we say, and acquired taste. It wasn't conventional in any way. The bright colors, quirky characters, the script, the quips and brilliant acting made me want to stick with this show from the beginning.
For those that came in last: Ned learned at an early age that if he touched something dead it would come back to life. Unfortunately, this meant something or someone else had to die in it's place. He discovered he had a two minute window of bringing someone back before someone else had to die. Then he could touch the same person again and they would die. Following, so far? Ned's childhood sweetheart, Chuck, is murdered on a cruise ship. Ned finds out, goes to the funeral and brings her back to life. The catch is that he can't touch her again, ever, or she will die again. Meanwhile, a private eye is using Ned's talent to find out from murder victims who killed them and then collecting the rewards from the grieving families. There are spinster aunts of Chuck, a crazy waitress in love with Ned and all this activity is centered around Ned's restaurant, "The Pie Hole." What's not to love? I would giggle every time I saw the marque of the restaurant.
The story lines were crazy and right out of the mind of someone like Tim Burton.
This magical show had some of the best actors in the biz and for my money were the only ones that could pull off such a wild concept show.
I am sure some stellar piece of television artistry is what did the show in like some mindless reality show. I feel the main suspect was the writers' strike and afterwards, lack of support from the network. When Pushing Daisies premiered in the fall of 2007, it was preceded by a huge advertising campaign including full length trailers in the movie theaters. When it returned in the fall of 2008 it arrived without a peep. I think the network did a disservice by not having a "re-launch" (as The Beauty Alchemist would say). Another big media blitz would have helped.
I now mourn my show. There was absolutely nothing like it on TV. The only thing that comes close would be Ugly Betty and I am sure that show is not long for TV either.
Bring on the reality shows by all means! We need more celebrity cat fight! Are you smarter than a Senator! Survivor Toledo! Real World: Richmond! Amazing Strolls!
I am sorry that Pushing Daisies was smarter than 99% of the viewing audience. Well, not really sorry because it was a bright light in TV blight - for a moment.
Mediocrity reigns on TV...as it always has.
Pushing Daisies was, shall we say, and acquired taste. It wasn't conventional in any way. The bright colors, quirky characters, the script, the quips and brilliant acting made me want to stick with this show from the beginning.
For those that came in last: Ned learned at an early age that if he touched something dead it would come back to life. Unfortunately, this meant something or someone else had to die in it's place. He discovered he had a two minute window of bringing someone back before someone else had to die. Then he could touch the same person again and they would die. Following, so far? Ned's childhood sweetheart, Chuck, is murdered on a cruise ship. Ned finds out, goes to the funeral and brings her back to life. The catch is that he can't touch her again, ever, or she will die again. Meanwhile, a private eye is using Ned's talent to find out from murder victims who killed them and then collecting the rewards from the grieving families. There are spinster aunts of Chuck, a crazy waitress in love with Ned and all this activity is centered around Ned's restaurant, "The Pie Hole." What's not to love? I would giggle every time I saw the marque of the restaurant.
The story lines were crazy and right out of the mind of someone like Tim Burton.
This magical show had some of the best actors in the biz and for my money were the only ones that could pull off such a wild concept show.
I am sure some stellar piece of television artistry is what did the show in like some mindless reality show. I feel the main suspect was the writers' strike and afterwards, lack of support from the network. When Pushing Daisies premiered in the fall of 2007, it was preceded by a huge advertising campaign including full length trailers in the movie theaters. When it returned in the fall of 2008 it arrived without a peep. I think the network did a disservice by not having a "re-launch" (as The Beauty Alchemist would say). Another big media blitz would have helped.
I now mourn my show. There was absolutely nothing like it on TV. The only thing that comes close would be Ugly Betty and I am sure that show is not long for TV either.
Bring on the reality shows by all means! We need more celebrity cat fight! Are you smarter than a Senator! Survivor Toledo! Real World: Richmond! Amazing Strolls!
I am sorry that Pushing Daisies was smarter than 99% of the viewing audience. Well, not really sorry because it was a bright light in TV blight - for a moment.
Mediocrity reigns on TV...as it always has.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Gran Torino is a Smart, Funny Ride
The following review is by the Super Mommy,
a regular contributor to the movie mommy blog!
In “Gran Torino,” a VERY old-looking Eastwood plays Walt Kowalski, an unrepentant bigot who is incensed at the degeneration he sees taking place around him as poverty, immigrants and drug-dealers move into his once-bucolic, middle-class suburban Michigan neighborhood. A former Ford factory worker and Korean War vet, Walt lives alone after the death of his wife, with a dog, lots of beer and his classic Gran Torino as his only comforts. His family – two sons, two trophy wives and three spoiled grandchildren – are distant, disinterested and just waiting for the old man to kick the bucket so they can get their hands on what few possessions he has left.
Haunted by memories of the war, isolated from anyone who really cares about him, Walt is understandably abrasive and verbally abusive to almost anyone who tries to reach out to him, including the young Catholic priest who ministered to Walt’s wife in her final days. But at heart, Kowalski is a man who believes in right and wrong, and he reluctantly finds himself drawn into the lives of his Hmong neighbors when he sees them trying to valiantly face down evil within their community.
With Eastwood as director and star, I expected great drama, some excitement and enough action to keep me in my seat. I was surprised by the amount of humor laced throughout “Gran Torino.” Yes, it’s a great thrill ride and some intense drama, but it’s also funny as hell. Most of the humor is racially motivated, but it works because it reveals the absurdity of racism without making Walt look like a fool. I actually laughed more during this movie than when I watched “Pineapple Express.”
While the supporting cast does a credible job, Eastwood is really the star of the show and it’s his performance that makes it work. He proves he can still be a hard-ass with heart, an anti-hero who is noble and heroic to the core, in spite of himself. You may think you know were “Gran Torino” is going, but the twist at the end (although somewhat predictable) will still feel gratifying and right.
After all these years, Eastwood is still awesome. Gran Torino is a ride well worth taking!
MMMMM (and I wish I could give it more!) out of 5 M's
The movie mommy thanks the Super Mommy for,
once again, writing a super review!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Defiance
Defiance: I went to see Defiance on opening day at the first show of the day. This was not on purpose it just worked out that we had a free afternoon at our disposal. The interesting thing about seeing the movie at this time was the audience. There were a few couples and a small group but there was also a very elderly man with a cane (by himself), some other very elderly couples and young men and women who were obviously Jewish (I recognized this by their apparel). Not a big crowd at the movies but one I took note of considering the subject of the movie.
Defiance follows a group of Jewish resistance fighters, lead by two brothers Tuvia (Daniel Craig) and Zus (Liev Schreiber), and the community they built in the forests of Russia during WW II. The Nazis invaded Russia with a vengeance and held nothing back when it came to it's attack on the common people. The Jewish fighters were made by neccesity as these were not men of violence and made up of mostly Jewish farmers but the majority of the community was made up of educators, intellectuals, students, aristocrats and tradesmen. As Zus put it - they are protecting people that would not let them touch their daughters with their "dirty hands." But a time of war against an entire people - the Jewish people seemed to negate any propriety and instead the need for survival was paramount.
The movie is remarkable in the sense that you get to see Jews fighting. Normally, Jews are portrayed as passive, as they line up to be slaughtered. Apparently, this was not the case and there was a need for this story to be told. The movie is based on a true story that was not known by all the descendants of those that hid in the woods (for over three years). But they didn't just hide they literally built a new community and kept their traditions.
Being a Theological Studies major, I have studied the Old Testament and I feel that gave me some insight into the struggle and decisions these people had to make. They were bound by their religious beliefs and the need to survive. And, as it is pointed out in the movie, to maintain their humanity and not become like their enemy.
I am not telling you much about the movie because you need to go see it. The cast is excellent and is the best performances of Craig and Schreiber to date.
MMMMM (out of 5 M's)
Defiance follows a group of Jewish resistance fighters, lead by two brothers Tuvia (Daniel Craig) and Zus (Liev Schreiber), and the community they built in the forests of Russia during WW II. The Nazis invaded Russia with a vengeance and held nothing back when it came to it's attack on the common people. The Jewish fighters were made by neccesity as these were not men of violence and made up of mostly Jewish farmers but the majority of the community was made up of educators, intellectuals, students, aristocrats and tradesmen. As Zus put it - they are protecting people that would not let them touch their daughters with their "dirty hands." But a time of war against an entire people - the Jewish people seemed to negate any propriety and instead the need for survival was paramount.
The movie is remarkable in the sense that you get to see Jews fighting. Normally, Jews are portrayed as passive, as they line up to be slaughtered. Apparently, this was not the case and there was a need for this story to be told. The movie is based on a true story that was not known by all the descendants of those that hid in the woods (for over three years). But they didn't just hide they literally built a new community and kept their traditions.
Being a Theological Studies major, I have studied the Old Testament and I feel that gave me some insight into the struggle and decisions these people had to make. They were bound by their religious beliefs and the need to survive. And, as it is pointed out in the movie, to maintain their humanity and not become like their enemy.
I am not telling you much about the movie because you need to go see it. The cast is excellent and is the best performances of Craig and Schreiber to date.
MMMMM (out of 5 M's)
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Valkyrie
Valkyrie: Often times I have a seen a movie with an all star cast that falls flat (Silverado to name just one) and that is a true waste of talent and resources. You will be happy to know that Valkyrie is not one of them! Tom Cruise leads a true all star (I should say all acting cast) including Tom Wilkinson, Bill Nighy, Kenneth Branaugh, Terrance Stamp and Eddie Izzard through this fascinating true story.
Valkyrie is the name given to a set of orders that would go into effect if the Chancellor (Hitler) were killed. The order mobilizes the reserve army and the SS to secure Berlin and end any impending civil unrest. After several failed attempts to assassinate Hitler, the anti-Hitler movement enlists Colonel Claus von Stauffenburg. Stauffenburg is introduced as an outspoken officer in a war that he knows Germany will lose. He comes up with the idea of re-writing Valkyrie to exclude the SS. This frees up Stauffenburg and his cohorts to blame the SS for Hitler's death and therefore gain control of the reserve army and the central government.
Even though it is a true story and we know that Stauffenburg and his crew were not successful (Hitler killed himself 9 months after the Valkyrie story takes place), you will still be glued to the screen waiting to see how they plan on pulling it off and how close they came to succeeding.
It is hard to root for somewhere wearing a Nazi uniform but I suppose that one of the points is that not all Germans were Nazi's. That much is certain. The group that Stauffenburg is enlisted into is not only high ranking military officers but elder statesmen that just couldn't stomach what Hitler was doing and violence was the only option they were left with. Eliminate Hitler and make peace with the allies.
One actor that has a small part but seems to really stand out in a movie is the German actor Thomas Kretschmann(he is the field commander of the reserve army) who has appeared in Next, King Kong, The Pianist, U-571 and Blade II. His resume is made, for the most part, of German and foreign films. His is not well known to American audiences and that is a shame. He brings a screen presence to the screen similar to that of Paul Henried (Casablanca) - suave and intense.
Even if you are not a Tom Cruise fan (I have trouble finding any these days), you cannot deny he often makes great movie choices and churns out some quality work. Like him or not, he can carry this kind of movie easily. Don't let him keep you from seeing this movie.
MMMM (out of 5 M's)
Valkyrie is the name given to a set of orders that would go into effect if the Chancellor (Hitler) were killed. The order mobilizes the reserve army and the SS to secure Berlin and end any impending civil unrest. After several failed attempts to assassinate Hitler, the anti-Hitler movement enlists Colonel Claus von Stauffenburg. Stauffenburg is introduced as an outspoken officer in a war that he knows Germany will lose. He comes up with the idea of re-writing Valkyrie to exclude the SS. This frees up Stauffenburg and his cohorts to blame the SS for Hitler's death and therefore gain control of the reserve army and the central government.
Even though it is a true story and we know that Stauffenburg and his crew were not successful (Hitler killed himself 9 months after the Valkyrie story takes place), you will still be glued to the screen waiting to see how they plan on pulling it off and how close they came to succeeding.
It is hard to root for somewhere wearing a Nazi uniform but I suppose that one of the points is that not all Germans were Nazi's. That much is certain. The group that Stauffenburg is enlisted into is not only high ranking military officers but elder statesmen that just couldn't stomach what Hitler was doing and violence was the only option they were left with. Eliminate Hitler and make peace with the allies.
One actor that has a small part but seems to really stand out in a movie is the German actor Thomas Kretschmann(he is the field commander of the reserve army) who has appeared in Next, King Kong, The Pianist, U-571 and Blade II. His resume is made, for the most part, of German and foreign films. His is not well known to American audiences and that is a shame. He brings a screen presence to the screen similar to that of Paul Henried (Casablanca) - suave and intense.
Even if you are not a Tom Cruise fan (I have trouble finding any these days), you cannot deny he often makes great movie choices and churns out some quality work. Like him or not, he can carry this kind of movie easily. Don't let him keep you from seeing this movie.
MMMM (out of 5 M's)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
