Movie #92 - Somewhere in Time

Title: Somewhere in Time

Director: Jeannot Szwarc

Release Year: 1980

Plot Summary: Guy goes back in time to find the love of his life. Guy accidently goes forward in time. Oops.

Thoughts: I'll be honest, it was better then I thought. But the logistics of it don't exist. He goes to this hotel sees a picture of the chick and somehow feels feelings that he had apprently felt for her in the past. But he had not yet met her so for him to have residual feelings makes zero sense. Also she gave him the watch, then he goes back and gives it to her who gives it to him. But where did the watch come from?? I mean who made it?? REALLY.

The total lack of time travel logic killed this film.

Rating (0-10): 5.8

recommendations: Eh. Chicks dig it.

Movie # 90 -- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Title: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Director: Tim Burton

Release Year: 2005

Plot Summary: A young boy named Charlie (Freddie Highmore) wins a trip to the most magical candy factory in the world, run by mad genius Willy Wonka (Johnny Depp).

Thoughts: My friend Bart Maas and I used to talk about how sweet it would be if this movie ever got made with Tim Burton (Big Fish, Edward Scissorhands, Batman...) directing and Johnny Depp as WIlly Wonka. Ladies and Gentlemen, we got our wish.

Johnny Depp is absolutely bizzare and endearing as the child-like Willy Wonka. Precious few other actors working today could have provided such a performance (maybe Jim Carrey, and that's about it). To say that his performance is more characture than character is not an understatement, but it works here. And what more can be said about the talent of young Freddie Highmore? You forget that this kid is acting: that's how good he is and among such giants as Christopher Lee and Helena Bonham Carter, that is no small feat. Each one of the other children is also fabulously cast, but Julia Winter is most fantastic as Veruca Salt. She (eerily) even looks the part.

The only complaints that I have (and they are small) are the musical numbers (they aren't as endearing as the ones in the 1971 version starring Gene Wilder) and how "reeled-in" the dialogue felt from time to time. But that's just nitpicking.

Rating (0-10): 8.6

recommendations: Easily 2005's best "family film". See it.

Movie #89 - The Fantastic Four

Title: The Fantastic Four

Director: Tim Story

Release Year: 2005

Plot Summary: "I've got a great idea! There's a solar flare coming that may or may not have created all life on earth with it's incredible energy! Let's go on up to the space station and watch! What could go wrong!? Woo!" --- Superhero craziness ensues.

Thoughts: Eh. It was a middle of the road film. Entertaining but lacking any emotional connection or true though in the plot. The only character that turned out good was the Human Torch. Other then that the acting was mediocre at best, and the plot was unimaginative.

Side notes:

1) "Apparently if space stations now have gravity!"

2) "We can duplicate the super energy wave on earth but we'll go into space instead because it's.... easier? Safer? Leads right into a lame superhero plot? I don't know."

3) "We should have tried to get Kevin Spacey and Scarlett Johansson but we were too lazy, so we settled for one person who could act"

Rating (0-10): 5

recommendations: Eh it was fun. If you paid for Alien vs. Predator then you won't mind paying for this too.

Movie #88 - Almost Famous

Title: Almost Famous

Director: Cameron Crowe

Release Year: 2000

Plot Summary: Young William follows a rock band around to write a story for Rolling Stone. Real life ensues.

Thoughts: Here I am sorting music while watching this movie and I am reminded of how much I love it. It's brillant and for whatever reason I feel a connection with William. Just that young, idolistic, flustered look strikes to the heart of so many different things that I think anyone can relate to him.

The charchters are utterly believeable and fit their place in time perfectly. There is no sense that they are pretending they are a 70's up-and-comming rock band, they simply are. Between the music (both in film and soundtrack) and the acting this is far and away one of the best films I have ever seen.

Rating (0-10): 9.8

Recomendations: Go see it. Now. I'll let you borrow it. Go.

Movie #86 - War of the Worlds

Title: War of the Worlds

Director: Steven Spielberg

Release Year: 2005

Plot Summary: Aliens (Martians?) plan to take over the Earth. Presumably before the existance of humans. They for the most part succeed then die.

Thoughts: I 100% support and loved how well it followed the book. The voice over at the beginning and end were perfect. I don't think there was any other way the story could have ended without sounding repeating things that have been done a thousand times. I mean come on the book was written in 1898; you cannot hold it to 2005 standards. It's just not possible.

Now for the Quirks (one of which Rob noticed first so I hope he dosn't mind me mentioning it):

1) The Electromagnetic Pulse that shuts down all electronics.... except the picture camera and palm camera people were using to document the Aliens killing people moments after they emerged.

2) His son survived?? I mean really.

3) Boston is apparently immune to Alien lazer attacks? (Yes I meant Lazer)

4) They planned for "millions of years" but apparently didn't notice microbes while burying GIANT FUCKING ROBOTS under the ground.

Feel free to post more quirks. It'll be FUN *says fun like Strongbad says fun in "I make drawing FUN"*


Rating (0-10): 8 (What? I still liked it. :P )

Recomendations: If you're in the mood for somthing relatively... primitive?

Book #5 - Eternity

Author: Greg Bear

Release Year: 1990

Plot Summary: The charchters from "Eon" find themselves struggling with existance in a post WWIII Earth. Others find themselves wanting to return to "The Way" from which they severed all connections at the end of "Eon". In addition to all this potential civil strife, a messanger from the end of time tells them that they're potentially stopping the benevilent goals of the sum of all intelegences in the universe. (That'd ruin my day too)

Thoughts: A worthy sequal. I thughoughly enjoyed this read. Also all the Cold War Soviet references are moot and therefore don't make it seem as dated. I also like the speculations on the nature of the universe itself and the destiny of life in the universe.

Rating (0-10): 8.5

Recomendations: I highly recomend. :) But read Eon first.