Movies 'n Books

Movie #213 - Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey

2007-12-04T15:20:00.000-05:00

Title: Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey

Director: Peter Hewitt

Release Year: 1991

Plot Summary: A tyrant from the future creates evil android doubles of Bill and Ted and sends them back to eliminate the originals.

Thoughts: It's a goofy little movie, and it took me a little while to get into it honestly - it's pretty damn dated, and nowhere near as good as the original (not that this should be particularly surprising to anybody). That said, once it gets rolling - i.e., once Bill and Ted kick the bucket - it's a fun ride.

For me, the high point of the whole film is Death. It would have been so easy for him to fall into the same utterly-cheesy-humour category as mostly everything else in the movie does - instead, he goes from "grim" to "long-suffering" to "just along for the ride and having fun," and I just found myself smiling whenever he popped up. As the saying goes, "don't fear the Reaper!" ~grin~

It's too bad this movie demonstrates pretty much the entire range of Keanu Reeves' acting abilities. Not surprising really, but too bad.

Recommendations: If you're in a goofy mood, this is a surprisingly entertaining one to throw in every once in a great while.

Movie #187 - Superbad

2007-08-16T02:14:00.001-04:00

Title: Superbad

Director: Greg Mottola

Release Year: 2007

Plot Summary: Two co-dependent high school seniors are forced to deal with separation anxiety after their plan to stage a booze-soaked party goes terribly awry.

Thoughts: Oh man. I was lukewarm when I first saw the trailer for this one, but it steadily grew on me, to the point where I was actually interested in seeing it despite myself - generally this sort of "lowbrow" comedy is, shall we say, not overly appealing to me.

That said - I laughed my ass off through the whole thing.

It was rude, it was crude, it was gross, it was utterly ridiculous... and yet, it was hilarious. Jonah Hill and Michael Cera are absolutely perfect as the typical high school "odd couple" best buds; and everyone actually looked and acted like high-schoolers rather than twentysomethings trying to pretend to be high-schoolers. However, I really think Bill Hader and Seth Rogen stole the show as probably the two worst cops in the history of the force.

In short, the story was pretty bare-bones, but it was probably behind only Hot Fuzz as the funniest movie of the year.

Recommendations: If you're not easily offended or grossed-out or what have you, you'll enjoy this movie. It's not for everyone, but if it's for you, you should get quite a kick out of it.

Movie #180 - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

2007-07-09T02:49:00.000-04:00

Title: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Director: David Yates

Release Year: 2007

Plot Summary: With their warning about Lord Voldemort's return scoffed at, Harry and Dumbledore are targeted by the Wizard authorities as an authoritarian bureaucrat slowly seizes power at Hogwarts.

Thoughts: I'm a pretty big fan of the Potter movies, but if you had asked me in advance, I seriously doubt I would have pegged any of them for being one of the best films of the year.

Well, so much for foresight... ;)

First off, I really liked the atmosphere. It's not a light and fluffy story anymore, not like it was in the very beginning, and I feel like Phoenix kicked off with even more of a bang than Goblet, in terms of a more immediate and direct sense of danger to our protagonists. It's still a magical world, but it's turning a lot darker and more sinister, and I think David Yates does a very good job of establishing that sort of ambience without losing a sense of wonder about the whole thing.

Second off, new characters. Imelda Staunton quite easily steals the show as Dolores Umbridge, the most saccharine-sweet character you'll ever loathe with the entire core of your being. "Loony" Luna Lovegood and Tonks are both quirky and fun little additions, in their own ways, and both brought a smile to my face with each scene they popped up in. And Helena Bonham Carter is downright creepy (and hot!) as the insane Bellatrix Lestrange. Of course the returning cast members all turn in fantastic performances as well - my personal favorites in this particular film would probably be Mad-Eye Moody and a delightfully malicious Lucius Malfoy.

Thirdly, special effects. All's I can say is - the fight scene in the Ministry at the end of the movie had me, quite literally, on the edge of my seat. Just... wow.

And I can't in good conscience go without mentioning the music. This is the first Potter movie that I've actually decided to pick up the score. It's grand and sweeping and there are a couple of amazing parts - the scene at the beginning with Harry and the others riding their broomsticks through London comes especially to mind. It's quite epic.

So, I think it's safe to say that I liked this movie a whole lot.

Recommendations: Easily the best of the five so far. If you made it past the third movie, there's no way you won't enjoy this one. ;)

Movie #179 - Transformers

2007-07-05T17:12:00.000-04:00

Title: Transformers

Director: Michael Bay

Release Year: 2007

Plot Summary: A war re-erupts on Earth between two robotic factions, the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons, leaving the fate of mankind hanging in the balance.

Thoughts: Whenever anyone asked me if I was excited about this movie, my unchanging response was "cautiously optimistic." I've been a Transformers nut since I was about four years old, so knowing that Michael Bay was turning it into a huge explosive Fourth-of-July epic definitely left me feeling more than a bit leery.

Now, with that said, I have to admit that it's a fun film. If you remind yourself that this is pretty much a rebooting of the concept, and ignore the gaping plotholes that are inherent in any Michael Bay movie, there's not much room for more than nitpicking. Even Shia LeBeouf is surprisingly non-annoying - though it must be said that John Turturro's character (uncharacteristically) more that makes up for it. Blessedly, Turturro isn't in nearly as much of the movie, though. And the other actors are, if not amazing, at least inoffensive.

Voice acting: Peter Cullen is, if not God, at least vaguely Goddish. I can't imagine anyone else as the voice of Optimus Prime, and thank goodness I didn't have to. And Hugo Weaving as Megatron? Turned out amazingly perfect. None of the other ones really jumped out at me.

So, you knew it was coming: my two major complaints. One, Frenzy. Ye gods that little robot was so abysmally unfunny. I guess other people really liked him, but I thought that playing him for comedic value just flat Didn't Work. My other major issue was actually special-effects related; I know most people seemed to be in utter awe of the CGI, but I found that the character design for the Transformers occasionally made it very difficult to distinguish them from their surroundings and especially from each other. Visually it made the big climactic fight scenes rather hard to follow, at least in my opinion.

Anyways, all that aside - I liked it. Surprising, to me most of all, but I liked it.

Recommendations: A more-than-suitable summer blockbuster. Don't go into it with unreasonably high expectations, and you should enjoy yourself immensely.

Movie #178 - 1408

2007-06-21T02:02:00.000-04:00

Title: 1408

Director: Mikael Håfström

Release Year: 2007

Plot Summary: A man who specializes in debunking paranormal occurrences checks into the fabled room 1408 in the Dolphin Hotel. Soon after settling in, he confronts genuine terror.

Thoughts: I really wasn't particularly enthused about going to see this one, but as is more and more often the case, I was lured in with the promise of candy to munch on. So I soldiered on, and while I can't say I ended up blown away, I at least didn't feel like my time had been overly wasted.

In terms of story, there's nothing all that new here - ghost skeptic stays in haunted hotel room, and find out just how wrong he is. In terms of execution... well, let's just say that the first hour is suitably creepy, but there's a "twist" about an hour in that just left me cold for the rest of the movie. Don't get me wrong, the mood stays creepy, but I was quite unenthused with the direction the story took. Maybe that's just me though.

Usually I make some sort of comment about the acting, but in this particular case I can't say anyone really jumped out at me. Don't get me wrong, John Cusack was perfectly good, but he didn't really impress me overmuch. And since he is pretty much the only person in a good deal of the movie, that isn't really a good thing. Ah well, they can't all be Oscar-worthy performances, right?

Recommendations: Not particularly bad for a horror flick, but it doesn't really pull together very well in the end. Don't avoid it, but don't go out of your way either.

Movie #177 - The Last King of Scotland

2007-06-16T01:37:00.001-04:00

Title: The Last King of Scotland

Director: Kevin Macdonald

Release Year: 2006

Plot Summary: Based on the events of the brutal Ugandan dictator Idi Amin's regime as seen by his (fictional) personal physician during the 1970s.

Thoughts: Wow. I don't really know what precisely I was expecting, but it certainly wasn't anything this good. Forest Whitaker got an Oscar for his performance as the alternately charismatic and terrifying Idi Amin, and in my humble opinion it was one hundred and ten percent deserved.

As far as story, the physician Nicholas Garrigan (ably played by James McAvoy) is completely fictional, but the events he bears witness to are terrifyingly real and (more or less) historically accurate. It's more than a little scary to watch, and heartbreaking to realize that Idi Amin isn't even that much of a special case in that region's history, not really...

Recommendations: Forest Whitaker steals the show and makes it entirely his. Unless you have an inexplicable hatred for him as an actor, you should definitely go out of your way to see this movie.

Movie #176 - Ratatouille

2007-06-15T19:50:00.000-04:00

Title: Ratatouille

Director: Brad Bird

Release Year: 2007

Plot Summary: A young rat living within the walls of a famous Paris bistro wishes to become a chef, but is hindered by his family's skepticism and the rat-despising staff and patrons.

Thoughts: Well in my book Cars was a nigh-impossible act to follow. With that mindset, I definitely don't think Ratatouille exceeded it in any way - but it's yet another amazing addition to the perfect streak that Pixar has kept going, if you ask me. ~grin~

My favorite character by far isn't Remy the rat, but rather Linguini the hapless kitchen boy. He's a clumsy, rather bumbling, hopeless case, even though he gains some confidence throughout the film... but it's starting to become pretty rare to find a well-done "loveable loser" character, and I'm all about that!

I think one of the things I like best about Ratatouille is the fact that the ending isn't your traditional idyllic "everything magically works out" variety. Instead it's more of a "this is what really probably would happen if a rat was running a fancy French kitchen" - but still everything ends up working out for the best. =)

Recommendations: Pixar hits another one out of the park. Fun for everyone!

Movie #175 - My Neighbor Totoro

2007-06-13T22:59:00.000-04:00

Title: Tonari no Totoro

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Release Year: 1988 (Japan)

Plot Summary: When two girls move to the country to be near their ailing mother, they have adventures with the wonderous forest spirits who live nearby.

Thoughts: I don't feel like I have a great amount to say about this one. It was definitely cute, and gorgeously animated like all of Murasaki's films are, without exception. The story was a little on the light side - the above plot summary mostly says it all, though of course there are some subthreads and subtexts and whatnot - but then I don't feel like it was really meant to be more than a children's fable, and taking it on that basis, it's really quite topnotch.

Recommendations: Worth watching, but perhaps your kids would enjoy it a little more. If you're a Murasaki fan, though, obviously you'll want to catch this one eventually. =)

Movie #174 - Apocalypse Now

2007-06-08T20:11:00.000-04:00

Title: Apocalypse Now

Director: Francis Ford Coppola

Release Year: 1979

Plot Summary: During the on-going Vietnam War, Captain Willard is sent on a dangerous mission into Cambodia to assassinate a renegade Green Beret who has set himself up as a God among a local tribe.

Thoughts: Man, I love the book Heart of Darkness. With that in mind - coupled with the fact that this is probably one of the best-known war films of all time - I was really really ready to love this movie too. Damn, what a disappointment.

It started out well enough, I suppose. Guy gets sent on mission that will take him to the "heart of darkness," in this case the heart of the Vietnam War, and things get progressively more horrific and viscerally disturbing. Unfortunately, by the time Martin Sheen actually reaches his objective, the movie has devolved into a disjointed, inexplicable mess that I found pretty well impossible to care about. Which I suppose is sort of the point of the whole metaphor, when it comes down to it. I just thought it was poorly done, is all. ~shrug~

Recommendations: Meh. I'd go with Full Metal Jacket over this one, hands down.

Movie #173 - A Bug's Life

2007-06-08T20:10:00.000-04:00

Title: A Bug's Life

Director: John Lasseter & Andrew Stanton

Release Year: 1998

Plot Summary: A misfit ant, looking for warriors to save his colony from grasshoppers, recruits a group of bugs that turn out to be an inept circus troupe.

Thoughts: Ah, the forgotten Pixar movie of the bunch - inevitably the one that people either haven't seen, don't own, or just plain didn't think was all that great. As for me, I'd probably rank it around the bottom of the Pixar pile... but that leaves it miles above the vast majority of the competition.

I don't think you can help but cheer for Flik, the little ant with big ideas who just wants to help, but usually ends up bungling things somehow or other. But to me the star of the show is Hopper, the leader of the grasshoppers, who manages to emanate this aura of menace and total command - no mean feat for an animated bug. (Of course Kevin Spacey's voice doesn't hurt much... ~wink!~) Everyone else is pretty forgettable, though, which is probably the main reason this film suffers in comparison to other Pixar offerings.

All that said, I quite enjoy A Bug's Life whenever I sit down to watch it - it's just not one I feel compelled to return to with any regularity.

Recommendations: It's Pixar! You gotta watch it at least once. You'll probably enjoy it more than you remember.

Movie #172 - Waitress

2007-06-02T14:26:00.000-04:00

Title: Waitress

Director: Adrienne Shelley

Release Year: 2007

Plot Summary: Jenna is a pregnant, unhappily married waitress in the deep south. She meets a newcomer to her town and falls into an unlikely relationship as a last attempt at happiness.

Thoughts: Keri Russell is cute as a button no matter what she's in, and that is definitely true for this film as well. Nathan Fillion (of "Firefly" fame) is always fun to watch, of course. And Jeremy Sisto is delightfully hateful as the spitefully childish, emotionally abusive husband. Anyways, it's an alright film, but nothing that's particularly going to stick in your mind I don't think.

Recommendations: Fairly saccharine-sweet for a chick flick.

Movie #171 - Mystery Men

2007-05-30T19:27:00.000-04:00

Title: Mystery Men

Director: Kinka Usher

Release Year: 1999

Plot Summary: A group of inept amateur superheroes must try to save the day when a supervillian threatens to destroy a major superhero and the city.

Thoughts: I think Mystery Men works because it's just sort of fun. It doesn't take itself even remotely seriously, and honestly, why should it? Also it's chock full of pithy one-liners, and anyone who knows me even a little knows that I pretty much thrive on pithy one-liners.

Recommendations: If you can appreciate the absurd, and you have even the slightest warm fuzzy feeling towards superheroes, you should get a kick out of this one.

Movie #170 - Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

2007-05-29T00:25:00.000-04:00

Title: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

Director: Gore Verbinski

Release Year: 2007

Plot Summary: Captain Barbossa, Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann must sail off the edge of the map, navigate treachery and betrayal, and make their final alliances for one last decisive battle.

Thoughts: Man, when they talk about "treachery and betrayal," they're not kidding in the slightest. Everyone ended up being double-crossed, then triple-crossed, then quadruple-crossed for good measure. Really it was more than a bit ridiculous - I don't think even a scorecard would have been enough to keep track.

I suppose it wasn't a terrible movie - there were a couple of good parts, like the journey to World's End, and Jack's madness in Davy Jones' Locker - but overall it just left me sort of lukewarm. The plot pretty much dissolved into a morass of "cool moments" in place of making any sense, and even the few hints of what I thought were going to be character development ended up falling to the wayside. Also, final battle? Much lamer than expected, in a "what the hell? that doesn't make any sense" sort of way.

I will freely admit that At World's End was a much better (or at least more satisfying) movie than Dead Man's Chest. That said, I wasn't terifically impressed.

Recommendations: ~shrug~ In the grand tradition of the Matrix movies, I think it's probably more satisfying to pretend they just stopped after the first one.

Movie #169 - Shrek the Third

2007-05-17T18:55:00.000-04:00

Title: Shrek the Third

Director: Chris Miller & Raman Hui

Release Year: 2007

Plot Summary: When his new father-in-law, King Harold falls ill, Shrek is looked at as the heir to the land of Far, Far Away. Not one to give up his beloved swamp, Shrek recruits his friends Donkey and Puss in Boots to install the rebellious Artie as the new king. Princess Fiona, however, rallies a band of royal girlfriends to fend off a coup d'etat by the jilted Prince Charming.

Thoughts: A resounding "meh." The story was dull, the new characters were flat and uninteresting, ninety percent of the jokes weren't funny. And I say that as someone who friggin' loved Shrek 2.

I guess there were a few plusses. The baby dronkeys, f'rinstance. One or two jokes. But I think the most telling part is that, throughout the movie, I was consistently more excited about the musical choices than I was about what was going on in the plot.

Recommendations: Just pretend Shrek 2 was the last one in the series. You'll be better off, honestly.

Movie #168 - 28 Weeks Later...

2007-05-11T22:05:00.000-04:00

Title: 28 Weeks Later...

Director: Juan Carlos Fresnadilla

Release Year: 2007

Plot Summary: Six months after the rage virus was inflicted on the population of the British Isles, the US Army helps to secure a small area of London for the survivors to repopulate and start again. But not everything goes to plan...

Thoughts: I had seen 28 Days Later a while back, and while I'm not usually a huge fan of the whole horror/zombie genre, I was surprised to really enjoy it. So, I was interested in seeing the sequel, even though it's got none of the same characters - it's just a continuation of the idea, not of the plot, if that makes sense. And I was not disappointed.

The acting was very solid throughout - not a bunch of big names, but I think that's sometimes a good thing. I honestly can't think of anyone who turned out a less-than-solid performance, if not stellar. As for the story, I think it was actually a lot tighter than the first film, which sort of had this strange and unexpected change-of-direction in the middle. There's no unnecessary digressions, and it makes for a much smoother ride I think.

Two things really made this movie stick out for me. First, I couldn't exactly say why but I absolutely love the score. It's intense and creepy and techno and weird, but for some reason I felt it fits the movie like a glove. And finally, unlike in a lot of horror movies, I felt like almost nothing in the plot happened just because someone was a total moron. Usually you'll have a new outbreak, or zombies will get in the building, or something or other, because one of the characters does something that doesn't make any bloody sense - and I really like the fact that there's none of that in this movie. Everything that happens, the characters really couldn't have anticipated, and I think that makes it more satisfying in the end.

Recommendations: If you liked the first one, I really think you'll like this one. I'm not sure how well it would stand on its own though - they don't really explain too much about where the Rage virus came from in the first place, which I imagine might be a bit confusing. But I definitely think it's good stuff.

Movie #167 - Contact

2007-05-09T01:08:00.000-04:00

Title: Contact

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Release Year: 1997

Plot Summary: Dr. Eleanor Arroway has spent her life searching for truth in the study of radio astronomy. Palmer Joss has spent his searching for truth through faith in God. When Ellie discovers a stunning message from an extraterrestrial intelligence, they and everyone on Earth will be forced to challenge their own assumptions. In the inevitable first contact, will humankind be able to find a compromise between science and belief?

Thoughts: I'm really not entirely sure why this one strikes all the right chords with me. It's beautifully filmed, and I love the subject matter... and I'm just enough of a sap that it pulls the ol' heartstrings in just the right way. I'm not someone who would describe himself as having a lot of faith - but Contact is about believing in something bigger than yourself, and for whatever reason, that resonates with me.

Recommendations: This is a beautiful film. One of my top ten of all time. You should watch it sometime.

Movie #166 - Spider-Man 3

2007-05-03T01:01:00.000-04:00

Title: Spider-Man 3

Director: Sam Raimi

Release Year: 2007

Plot Summary: A strange black entity from another world bonds with Peter Parker and causes inner turmoil as he contends with new villains, temptations, and revenge.

Thoughts: Well normally I like to sit on these things for a day or so to figure out my impressions, but sometimes I just like to brag that I've seen them early... ;)

I have to admit I was worried at first about the "too many villains" syndrome, but I think they were spaced out (or maybe interspersed is more accurate) well enough that it never became a problem. I do think they amped up Sandman's powers a little too much, and likewise diminished Venom's excessively, though.

As for acting... I think everyone did an excellent job on this front. Though Black-Costume Emo Pete was a little too silly for my liking to be frank. I don't even think I can think of too much negative to say about Kirsten Dunst in this one, and she's always been the weakest link in my book.

*EDIT FOR MORE THOUGHTS!* Having watched it a second time, I think the only really serious flaw is the inclusion of Venom in the movie. I know Sam Raimi didn't want him in there originally and got talked into it, and it shows. (Oddly enough I loved Eddie Brock though.) If you mentally excise the Venom parts from the movie whilst watching, I think it comes together a lot better.

Recommendations: It's not as good as 2, but then, I didn't expect it to be. Definitely very worth seeing I think.

Movie #165 - Being John Malkovich

2007-05-01T23:46:00.000-04:00

Title: Being John Malkovich

Director: Spike Jonze

Release Year: 1999

Plot Summary: A puppeteer discovers a portal that leads literally into the head of the movie star, John Malkovich. Things just get weirder from there...

Thoughts: I love Charlie Kaufman - I think he's one of the very few storytellers in Hollywood who's not afraid to tell an original story. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is, of course, one of my favorite movies of all time. Being John Malkovich isn't quite as much a masterpiece, but it is still pretty damn spiffy.

All of the actors in this movie are amazing. John Cusack and Cameron Diaz, in particular, completely submerge themselves in their roles, nearly to the point of being unrecognizable. And of course John Malkovich playing John Malkovich - honestly it's difficult to picture this movie being made around anyone else, even if it were designed around them.

I think you have to have an appreciation for the offbeat to enjoy this one. But if you have that, it's a wild ride.

Recommendations: If you're in the mood for something completely different, introspective, and more than a little melancholy, this is the movie for you.

Movie #164 - The Emperor's New Groove

2007-05-01T23:44:00.000-04:00

Title: The Emperor's New Groove

Director: Mark Dindal

Release Year: 2000

Plot Summary: Emperor Kuzco is turned into a llama by his ex-administrator Yzma, and must now regain his throne with the help of Pacha, the gentle llama herder.

Thoughts: Took me seven years to get around to seeing this one, and I can't say I would have been too sad if I hadn't. It wasn't bad at all, really, it just wasn't anything I particularly cared too much about. Actually I'd say it's pretty much just mental popcorn - something to munch on, you'll enjoy it while you're eating it, but you're not very likely to look back afterwards and dwell on how wonderful that popcorn was.

I think my main problem with it was that there just wasn't enough story to justify a feature-length film. Honestly, thinking back, I can't even remember enough of the plot to fill more than half an hour.

Recommendations: ~shrug~ Apparently if you liked it, you really liked it. I just wasn't one of those folks.

Movie #163 - Memento

2007-05-01T23:43:00.000-04:00

Title: Memento

Director: Christopher Nolan

Release Year: 2000

Plot Summary: A man, suffering from short-term memory loss, uses notes and tattoos to hunt for the man who killed his wife.

Thoughts: There are two overwhelming reasons why this movie works as well as it does, and the first is the acting. Guy Pearce's portrayal of Leonard, the aforementioned amnesia sufferer, is nothing short of heartbreaking; Joe Pantoliano is perfectly sleazy; and Carrie-Anne Moss, well, let's just say that this movie proves that she can pull off so much more than the cookie-cutter action heroine she played in the Matrix movies.

But of course what really makes this movie unique is the structure. I suppose you could sort of sum it up by saying the movie runs "backwards," but that's really oversimplifying it, to a nearly criminal degree. Really I can't think of a way to explain it without being terribly confusing... Suffice it to say that the non-linear storytelling helps to put you into Leonard's head, to feel as disoriented as he feels on a constant daily basis. And makes for a hell of a suspenseful movie, to boot.

Basically, this movie probably won't be quite what you expect, and almost certainly won't be like any other movie you've watched. If you're confused at first, don't worry - that's sort of the point... ;)

Recommendations: I love this movie. You should love it too. But it's definitely not one you can shut off your brain to watch.

Movie #162 - Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

2007-05-01T23:40:00.000-04:00

Title: Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

Director: Shane Black

Release Year: 2005

Plot Summary: A petty thief posing as an actor is brought to Los Angeles for an unlikely audition and finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation, along with his high school dream girl and a detective who's been training him for his upcoming role.

Thoughts: I admit I didn't really know what to think going in - I remember hearing that this movie was coming out, and I'm pretty sure I remember some people saying they liked it, but honestly it didn't make that big of an impression when it was in theatres.

That said, I think it's pretty sad that more people didn't get to see it, because Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is quite an enjoyable little flick. It's got this wonderful goofy frenetic energy throughout; it seems somewhat cliché to say it but there really is never a dull moment. Robert Downey Jr, Val Kilmer, and Michelle Monaghan all do excellent jobs with their characters and play extremely well off each other. As for the "murder mystery" - I wouldn't say it's one hundred percent unpredictable, but it's over-the-top without feeling forced, which just makes it fun.

Oh, always a plus for me: very very quotable: "No, my question. I get to go first. Why in pluperfect hell would you pee on the corpse?"

Recommendations: Good times all around. Not something you will die without seeing, I don't think, but I'd definitely recommend catching this one sooner or later. =)

Movie #161 - The Invisible

2007-04-27T01:26:00.000-04:00

Title: The Invisible

Director: David Goyer

Release Year: 2007

Plot Summary: Two young teens' real selves are invisible to others, one due to his untimely (near-)death and the other due to the neglect she's endured since the death of her mother.

Thoughts: Meh. I have to admit, at first I thought it was going to be better than I was anticipating... but it was just mediocre all around. Margarita Levieva did a great job as Annie, I must admit - but Justin Chatwin as Nick... I spent at least half of the movie trying to figure out if he was attempting to have or hide a Southern accent, because there really wasn't anything in his acting to keep my interest. As for the story - nope, no original thought there either. Sigh.

Recommendations: Just watch Ghost instead. It's got shadow-demons and Demi Moore. This one's just got whiny rich kids.

Movie #160 - Hot Fuzz

2007-04-23T03:25:00.000-04:00

Title: Hot Fuzz

Director: Edgar Wright

Release Year: 2007

Plot Summary: Jealous colleagues conspire to get a top London cop transferred to a small town and paired with a witless new partner. On the beat, the pair stumble upon a series of suspicious accidents and events.

Thoughts: To quote, this movie was "off the f---ing chains!" Laugh-out-loud hilarious throughout, and it takes quite a bit for a movie to make me smile that much. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost were once again absolutely perfect in their roles, but I have to say I don't think a single person in the film was even remotely miscast. The plot, I'd say, was pretty much a healthy mix of every action/police/big-budget-shoot-up movie ever made - but it also had a bit of a creepy Stepford Wives vibe, which I wasn't expecting but I think worked for the most part. All in all, I was anticipating really good things from this movie, and I was still impressed.

Recommendations: Did you like Shaun of the Dead? You'll love this movie. Did you not really like Shaun of the Dead? You'll probably still love this movie. Do you not possess a funny bone? ... Then maybe you won't love it, I guess.

Movie #159 - Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector

2006-12-26T23:52:00.000-05:00

Title: Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector

Director: Trent Cooper

Release Year: 2006

Plot Summary: A redneck health inspector investigates an outbreak of mysterious food poisonings at the city's swankiest restaurants.

Thoughts: Let me start out by saying this was emphatically not my pick of something to watch. I was all set to sit down to a nice, happy evening of seeing Cars for the twentieith time, but I was overruled by a thirteen-year-old.

Gad, this movie was horrible. It was stupid, it was clichéd, and it wasn't even remotely humorous. I actually feel dumber for having viewed it. I wish I'd had the option of just turning it off and finding something better to do. Like cut my toenails. Or write Christmas thank-yous. Or anything really.

Recommendations: Ye Gods no. To be avoided at most costs.

Movie #158 - Eragon

2006-12-17T23:55:00.000-05:00

Title: Eragon

Director: Stefen Fangmeier

Release Year: 2006

Plot Summary: In his homeland of Alagaesia, a farm boy happens upon a dragon's egg -- a discovery that leads him on a predestined journey where he realized he's the one person who can defend his home against an evil king.

Thoughts: Take Star Wars. Replace all the actors with crappier actors. Take away Chewie and the droids. Replace the Millennium Falcon with a dragon.

Violà! You have Eragon.

Really, that's all that needs to be said. ;)

Recommendations: Take some people to laugh along with you, and you should have a lot of fun. I wouldn't pay to see it, but I enjoyed myself immensely.

Movie #157 - Charlotte's Web

2006-12-15T22:48:00.000-05:00

Title: Charlotte's Web

Director: Gary Winick

Release Year: 2006

Plot Summary: A spider with a flair for promotion pledges to save a young pig from slaughter.

Thoughts: I think probably I would have enjoyed this movie a lot more if I didn't know the story by heart. As it was, it was very pretty, very sad and yet uplifting at the end, and I can see children loving it - but there wasn't anything new there to make it all that worthwhile. I found myself getting bored about halfway through, simply because there weren't any surprises forthcoming. Maybe that's my own fault, I don't know.

Recommendations: If you've got kids who don't know the story, it's definitely a cute little holiday film. If you've read the book a million times and seen the original animated movie, it's probably not worth paying to see this one.

Movie #156 - The Holiday

2006-12-15T22:38:00.000-05:00

Title: The Holiday

Director: Nancy Meyers

Release Year: 2006

Plot Summary: Two women with guy problems swap homes in each other's countries, where they each meet a local guy and fall in love.

Thoughts: It was a chick-flick, but I went with chicks, so it was alright. ;) Anyways it was a really cute movie, and while it didn't so much avoid most of the clichés of the genre, it handled them in such a way that you don't feel like you're being beaten over the head with them. Well, there's one notable exception, but the fact that it jumped out at me made me realize that none of the rest of them had. Definitely a good thing.

All of the actors did fantastic jobs, even Jack Black, whom I usually feel ends up just looking goofier than the role demands. He managed to tone it down to more muted levels for this one, and it definitely worked a lot better that way.

One absolutely minor quibble - didn't really feel like the movie actually took place at Christmastime, which was (at least in theory) one of the points of the whole thing. However, if you take "holiday" in the sense that the two main characters decided to "get away from it all" and just ignore the Christmasy aspect of it, it works out just fine.

All in all, nothing particularly new or surprising here, but it was handled extremely well. Probably this would be quite a good date movie, or at least not as painful as some of the options out there.

Recommendations: Not something I'd go and see by myself, but I enjoyed it quite a lot.

Movie #155 - The Fountain

2006-11-30T20:14:00.000-05:00

Title: The Fountain

Director: Darren Aronofsky

Release Year: 2006

Plot Summary Three parallel stories - about love, death, spirituality, and the fragility of existence - as told through the odyssey taken on by one man in his thousand-year struggle to save the woman he loves.

Thoughts: What an incoherent mess. I honestly couldn't articulate anything I felt about this movie when I came out of the theater, and that's the best I've come up with so far. The acting was all very good... and I understood what it was getting at... but that's about all I can say for it. Very, very disappointing.

Recommendations: Don't bother.

Movie #154 - Stranger than Fiction

2006-11-11T13:59:00.000-05:00

Title: Stranger than Fiction

Director: Marc Forster

Release Year: 2006

Plot Summary: An IRS auditor suddenly finds himself the subject of narration only he can hear: narration that begins to affect his entire life, from his work, to his love-interest, to his death.

Thoughts: Let me preface this with the following statement:

Historically speaking, I can't stand Will Farrell.

Good, that's out of the way. That said, Farrell's character of Harold Crick was very good. Just the right mixture of quiet, withdrawn, lacking in any sense of social interaction, and just sort of seeping sadness instead of whacking you over the head with it. As much as it pains me to say this... Will Farrell was the best part of this movie. As for the rest... well, the acting was all good, especially Emma Thompson as the completely neurotic author of Harold Crick's life. Really didn't understand the point of Queen Latifah's character, as she didn't actually seem to do anything to justify her inclusion in the film, but whatever. Maybe it got cut.

Anywho. While the story idea was quite intriguing, I was less than enthralled with its execution. I think my main problem with it was that there were too many times when the "narration" was forgotten for long stretches at a time. On the bright side, Farrell was able to carry his character forward without this "outside help" - but it doesn't strike me as good form to have a story about a narrated life and then go thirty minutes or more without said narration.

All in all, the character was good, but the story was lacking. I would have been very interested to see Charlie Kaufman's execution of this idea - it seems like something that would have been right up his alley.

Recommendations: Probably you should go see it just to convince yourself that Will Farrell can actually act. :)

Movie #153 - The Prestige

2006-10-24T01:17:00.000-04:00

Title: The Prestige

Director: Christopher Nolan

Release Year: 2006

Plot Summary: Rupert Angier and Alfred Borden are rival magicians. When Alfred performs the ultimate magic trick, Rupert tries desperately to find out the secret to the trick.

Thoughts: This is an amazing movie. That's really all there is to it. I've seen it three times, and I'll keep going to see it as long as I have friends who haven't seen it yet.

Acting - superb. Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman were really amazing in their obsessions over each others' secrets, and the lengths they would go to acquire them. Michael Caine is always a pleasure, of course, and he lent sort of a moral center that neither of the "main" characters was able to supply. Scarlett Johanssen was nothing more than eye candy really, but then that was the point of her character... Oh, and can't forget David Bowie as Nikola Tesla. Crazy! In the best possible way.

As for story - I can't say anything. Just go in not knowing anything but the above plot summary, it's more than enough. In the vein of Memento, everything makes even more sense once you already know what's going on - but the first viewing is going to be unlike any of your subsequent viewings, and you don't want to spoil that. Trust me.

Recommendations: See it at least twice. Once you see it the first time, you'll understand why.

Movie #152 - The Last Kiss

2006-09-25T18:08:00.000-04:00

Title: The Last Kiss

Director: Tony Goldwyn

Release Year: 2006

Plot Summary: A group of 30-year-olds struggle to adapt to adulthood while their aging parents face middle age. (Gods, that's a horrible summary. I'll do better next time, promise.)

Thoughts: At least from the previews this seemed like a fairly linear story, but it ended up being (more or less) the stories of four old school buddies who all hit that point of their lives where you think "where the hell do I go from here?" The annoying part is that we are left with the "main" Zach Braff story and a handful of "auxiliary" stories, and the mixture is just way off. They should have either focused more on the main story, or fleshed out the rest of the stories more. All in all, I wasn't terribly impressed.

Recommendations: It was alright, but it was no Garden State. Honestly I'm not sure I could really "recommend" it per se, but I wouldn't warn anyone away from it either.

"What you feel only matters to you. It's what you do to the people you say you love thats what matters. That's the only thing that counts."

Movie #151 - Lady in the Water

2006-08-13T23:55:00.000-04:00

Title: Lady in the Water

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Release Year: 2006

Plot Summary: Apartment building superintendent Cleveland Heep rescues what he thinks is a young woman from the pool he maintains. When he discovers that she is actually a character from a bedtime story who is trying to make the journey back to her home, he works with his tenants to protect his new friend from the creatures that are determined to keep her in our world.

Thoughts: When I liked this movie, I loved this movie. The mood was right, the emotion was right, everything was just so right for most of the film. I think that's what makes my problems with it even more annoying, because it was just this close to great...

First thing that bugged me was the grandmother who tells Heep the story of the narfs and the skrunts. That she knew the basic outline of the story, I had no problem with - but the fact that she keeps on adding important plot information throughout the duration of the story, all of it one hundred percent accurate, pulled me right out of the movie. Same thing with the film critic and his "clever" little "this is the part of the story when..." Other than that, I really had a hard time with the fact that this is supposed to be a "fairy tale enters the real world" story, and yet nobody seems to have a problem believing in (pretty much) everything that's going on. I mean, honestly, would a little bit of skepticism from someone have hurt...?

And yet... whenever one of these things wasn't happening, I loved it. Paul Giamatti was heartbreaking in his role, and Bryce Dallas Howard was nothing short of otherworldly as Story, the girl from the Blue World. The vast majority of the tenants of the apartment complex were also quite likeable, though some were definitely more fleshed-out than others.

And I have fallen in love with the score. I will own it as soon as possible. It's gorgeous.

Recommendations: It has some pretty serious flaws, but when it works, it works. I'd suggest you see it for yourself and draw your own conclusions.

Movie #150 - Last of the Mohicans

2006-08-12T01:51:00.000-04:00

Title: The Last of the Mohicans

Director: Michael Mann

Release Year: 1992

Plot Summary: Three trappers protect a British Colonel's daughters in the midst of the French and Indian War.

Thoughts: Reckon I'd have to sit down and watch it again in order to get a more accurate impression of the whole thing. I dunno, for some reason it didn't really draw me in at all.

The areas they filmed were gorgeous, though, I gotta give them that.

Recommendations: Eh. ~shrug~ It's okay, I guess.

Movie #149 - Superman Returns

2006-07-04T14:57:00.000-04:00

Title: Superman Returns

Director: Bryan Singer

Release Year: 2006

Plot Summary: After a long visit to the lost remains of the planet Krypton, the Man of Steel returns to earth to become the peoples' savior once again and reclaim the love of Lois Lane.

Thoughts: Lots of people didn't like it. I liked it. The ending was way too long, though.

I think probably a lot of people were expecting non-stop action and the like, but Bryan Singer made a much more introspective film, and I think that's a strength personally. Superman is the last of his race - loneliness is at the core of who he is. I think the film did a fantastic job of exploring Superman's motivations and emotions; but then, that's probably why people got bored with it. ;)

Also: love Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor. He was perhaps a bit nuttier and less "together" than I expected, but his obvious disdain and contempt for the idiots he had to work with just brought a smile to my face.

I really wish I'd seen the first two Superman movies sometime more recently than the last fifteen or twenty years - I didn't really realize going in that this was meant to be a more-or-less-literal "sequel." For some reason I was expecting something more along the lines of Batman Begins. That said, I don't really feel like I suffered too much from not knowing what was going on - it just piqued my curiosity more than anything.

Recommendations: I think it's worth seeing. Just don't go into it expecting an action tour de force like X-Men or Spider-Man. Well, maybe a bit like Spider-Man actually.

Movie #148 -- Fever Pitch

2006-06-26T15:56:00.000-04:00

Title: Fever Pitch

Director: Bobby and Peter Farrelly

Release Year: 2005

Plot Summary: A young thirtysomething man has an unhealthy obsession with the Boston Red Sox. He also has a relationship with Drew Barrymore. Which one will win out?

Thoughts: You know, if you were to take two of my least favorite actors and some... hmm... marginal directors and put them altogether, you'd get this movie. But it's a very good movie. Yeah... I don't get it either.

Gone are the Farrelly brother's traditional gross-out humor, replaced by genuine emotion. Drew Barrymore still talks out of the side of her mouth and really doesn't add a whole lot of "cute" to the movie. But Jimmy Fallon... He, despite his ability to muss every single Saturday Night Live sketch he was ever in, is both charming and funny in this movie. This role was built for him.

Oh, and it doesn't hurt that Nick Hornby (he of About a Boy and High Fidelity fame) wrote the novel upon which this movie is based.

Rating (0-10): 7.0

Recommendations: Charming, winning, funny, and surprisingly touching. Highly recommended viewing.

Movie #147 -- Nacho Libre

2006-06-17T09:59:00.000-04:00

Title: Nacho Libre

Director: Jared Hess

Release Year: 2006

Plot Summary: Jack Black plays Nacho: the son of a Catholic Deacon and a Lutheran Missionary. In Mexico. He likes to wrestle and dress up an awful lot like Strong Bad. He has a crush on a nun. Oh... and corn on the cob. Lots of corn on the cob.

Thoughts: Okay... Imagine all that stuff that I just typed and then imagine Napoleon Dynamite. With me? Good. This movie will invariably be compared to writer/director Hess' previous work and rightfully so: same quirky storytelling, same off-beat humor, same strange directing.

That being said, it's not as funny or as endearing as Napoleon Dynamite. Part of the charm of that movie was the unknown actors and their wildly imaginative parts. Part of that charm is lost here with Jack Black -- he is his usual over-the-top self, which seems to work for most of the film. I can't wait to see the out-takes and deleted scenes in a few months when this is out on DVD. And the song he sings about Encarnacion is GENIUS.

Rating (0-10): 6.5

Recommendations: If you liked Napoleon Dynamite or you like Wes Anderson's work, you'll like this. Otherwise, save your money.

Movie #146 - Cars

2006-06-10T16:33:00.000-04:00

Title: Cars

Director: John Lasseter

Release Year: 2006

Plot Summary: En route to a big race, cocky race car Lightning McQueen gets waylaid in Radiator Springs, where he finds the true meaning of friendship and family.

Thoughts: I love this movie. How much do I love this movie? As of this edit (6/26/06), I've seen it four times now. I think it's safe to say I love this movie.

Pixar always does a great job of making their movies about the characters instead of the story (though never at the expense of the story), and Cars is no exception. Hell - the country-bumpkin tow truck, which my sister and I were both prepared to hate, ended up being my favorite character in the whole thing, just because he's so genuinely good-hearted that you can't help but love him. =)

As for animation - GORGEOUS. Seriously I've never seen anything like it. Makes me just want to get into my car and drive cross-country. A few dozen times. In a row. I don't know how they manage it, but it's obvious why it takes three to five years for Pixar to finish a movie...

And of course, the little humorous touches and easter eggs will keep you in stitches the whole time. If you keep a sharp eye out, you'll find something new every time you watch.

Storywise, there's nothing particularly new here - big-city boy ends up in the middle of nowhere, where he meets some good folks and learns that fast driving and big bucks don't mean a thing if you don't have friends. Despite the clichés, though, this movie is all heart.

Recommendations: I don't care if the previews didn't interest you (they didn't really interest me). I don't care if you don't like NASCAR (never saw the point at all personally). I don't care if you have the bubonic plague and aren't allowed to come in contact with other human beings. Bring your own bubble, for pity's sake! It is fantastic. :D

Book #17 - Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

2006-06-10T11:28:00.000-04:00

Title: Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

Author: Gregory Maguire

Release Year: 1996

Plot Summary: This tradegy introduces the reader to Elphaba, otherwise known as The Wicked Witch of the West, and brilliantly portrays her doomed life. From birth to her unavoidable death, Elphaba lives amoung the inhabitants of the Land of Oz who include humans of various traits, dwarfs, tiktoks, animals, Animals, witches, and of course, the Wizard. Political tensions and religious inclanations affect Elphaba and act as a life guide.

Thoughts: I loved it!

Rating (0-10): 10

Recommendations: You will never look at the Wicked Witch of the West the same again!

Movie #145 -- Godzilla

2006-06-02T12:02:00.000-04:00

Title: Godzilla

Director: Roland Emmerich

Release Year: 1998

Plot Summary: Godzilla visits New York, hangs out, gets his picture taken, eats Sushi, hides in the sewers... you know... what any good Asian tourist in NYC would do.

Thoughts: I didn't watch this movie until a few weeks ago. I remember 8 years ago when this movie came out and there were ads for it all over the place: on the side of buses that read "his foot is as big as this bus" for instance. I remember that Taco Bell had a massive ad campaign for this, too.

Only now do I realize what I was missing. Forget X-men 3 or either of the Jurassic Park sequels in terms of crappiness... THIS is the movie that sets the standard for big-budget films gone horrible, horribly wrong.

Hit (The Patriot, Independence Day) and Miss (The Day After Tomorrow, Universal Soldier) director Roland Emmerich released a bomb of a film with this one. Screenwriters Ted Elliott and Terry Rosio (who's work is usually MONEY -- Pirates of the Caribbean, Shrek, Aladdin, etc...) blew it huge on this one. Even Matthew Broderick (whom I usually like) can't save this one. Of course, he's forever doomed to be Ferris Bueller. And Maria Pittilo is AWFUL. The lone bright spot of this movie is Hank Azaria. Of course, I feel bad for him in this flick, though.

Rating (0-10): Oh, God... 2.8

Recommendations: To quote Terry Zwigoff's Ghost World: "This is so bad it's good and then back to bad again." I recommend that you not watch this movie, basically.

Movie #144 -- Kicking and Screaming

2006-05-31T12:14:00.000-04:00

Title: Kicking and Screaming

Director: Jesse Dylan

Release Year: 2005

Plot Summary: Phil (Will Ferrell) takes over the coaching duties for his son's soccer team. Inevitably, that teams ends up pitted against Phil's father's team.

Thoughts: I don't know why this movie was such a 'disappointment' at the box office. It's actually quite pleasant and probably much funnier than you're going to give it credit for being.

Sure, the plot is nothing new and the story is VERY jumpy (sometimes to the point where you wonder "Wait... What the hell?") but it's not unbearable. Mike Ditka is surprisingly funny as, well, Mike Ditka.

The real winner here is not character development or plot, but the snappy dialogue. The 'juicebox' bit will have you laughing in a typical damnit-Will-Ferrell-is-funny kinda way. In fact, I think that this may be Will Ferrell's most engaging role to date.

Rating (0-10): 6.6 -- Worth renting, for sure.

Recommendations: I'd watch it again, just to pick up some funny movie quotes. Probably wouldn't buy it, though.

Movie #143 -- Batman and Robin

2006-05-31T11:50:00.000-04:00

Title: Batman and Robin

Director: Joel Schumacher

Release Year: 1997

Plot Summary: Batman (George Clooney), Robin (Chris O'Donnell) and Batgirl (Alicia Silverstone -- back when she was still hot) team up to stop Mr. Freeze (Arnold Schwarzenegger) from stealing diamonds for his ice suit. Poison Ivy (Uma Thurman) plays a semi-ambiguous plant lady. Oh, and Alfred is sick with the same... ahh, hell... are you still reading this after "stealing diamonds for his suit"?

Thoughts: There's a reason why most successful trilogies stop at movie number three. Yes, I meant to type that. From the rediculous opening sequence which finds Batman and Robin clicking their heels together to have ice skate blades pop out of the bottom of their boots to play hockey against Mr. Freeze's thugs with a gigantic diamond (not kidding) to [later in the same sequence] SURFING on rocket doors six miles down to earth and then suffering no injuries whatsoever, we know we're in for a bad ride with this one.

Rightfully so, Hollywood was scared to release any more Batman movies for nearly a decade after this piece of crap came out. Although, I will say that there is eye-candy a-plenty in this film in the form of Uma Thurman (who has gone on to bigger and better things), Alicia Silverstone, and a pre-geriatric George Clooney. The action sequences (although completely and utterly rediculous) are shot with care and craft.

The dialogue is awful. I mean INCREDIBLY bad... some of my favorite lines include "I hate to disappoint you, but my rubber lips are immune to your charms." And "You get the ice... I'll get the Ice-Man." And "I call this little number... Bane. Bane of humanity!" And anything that Mr. Freeze says. You know, I think that he could have done really well with a pun machine, because Schwarzenegger uses them all in this movie.

Clooney has been quoted as saying that he "played Batman gay" in this movie. I don't know about that, but I think it's safe to say that Schumacher directed this movie retarded.

Rating (0-10): IMDB has it right on the money with this one -- 3.5

Recommendations: If you like watching movies on drugs or while really drunk, you'll probably like this 'cause it's pretty. If you wanna shoot your television, you should watch it. If yow want to see batnipples, you should watch it.

Movie #142 - Over the Hedge

2006-05-30T01:36:00.000-04:00

Title: Over the Hedge

Director: Tim Johnson & Karey Kirkpatrick

Release Year: 2006

Plot Summary: A con-artist raccoon tries to introduce a sensitive turtle, along with other forest creatures, to the temptations of encroaching suburbia.

Thoughts: It was cute, light and fluffy but not in a bad way. Of course they have to have the ubiquitous "really obnoxious twitchy spastic animal for comic relief," but I suppose perfection is more or less unobtainable. RJ the raccoon and Verne the turtle were definitely the stand-out characters, and I really liked them both a lot - heck, I managed to swipe 'em from the giant cardboard standee in the lobby. :P

Recommendations: Dreamworks is no Pixar, but they do good stuff on occasion. This one is worth a view or three.

Movie #141 - X-Men: The Last Stand

2006-05-30T01:33:00.000-04:00

Title: X-Men: The Last Stand

Director: Brett Ratner

Release Year: 2006

Plot Summary: When a cure is found to treat mutations, lines are drawn amongst the X-Men, led by Professor Charles Xavier, and the Brotherhood, a band of powerful mutants organized under Xavier's former ally, Magneto.

Thoughts: What a mess. Two different storylines thrown together with nary a thought as to how they can (or even if they should) be reconciled. Honestly, what's the Cure got to do with the Phoenix? Nothing, nada, zilch. They should have just picked one story (preferably the Cure one) and stuck with it. Even though the Cure one was pretty darn nonsensical.

Characters: three main new good guys. Kitty was pretty decent, spunky yet still really young and unexperienced. I think Kelsey Grammar did a good job as Beast, though moreso during "peacetime" - his fighting style left something to be desired, to me at any rate. And Angel was just pointless, since they didn't bother to actually use him for anything. Though at least he got more development than Colossus, who had one line in the entire movie... As for bad guys, honestly the only one worth writing home for was Jamie Madrox, the Multiple Man. He made me chuckle lots. :P

Anyway, without giving away any important plot points, it's pretty obvious that this is at least intended as a stopping point in the franchise. To the degree that I ended up saying "what the hell?!" a few times whilst watching.

Blah. I sure wish Bryan Singer would have finished out the trilogy.

Recommendations: At this point in the franchise, people will have already made up their minds whether or not to see it. Honestly it was just sort of tolerable.

Movie #140 - The Da Vinci Code

2006-05-18T02:07:00.000-04:00

Title: The Da Vinci Code

Director: Ron Howard

Release Year: 2006

Plot Summary: A murder inside the Louvre and clues in Da Vinci paintings lead to the discovery of a religious mystery protected by a secret society for two thousand years - which could shake the foundations of Christianity.

Thoughts: I really wasn't expecting much of this movie, so I suppose it surpassed my expectations. In terms of acting, really the only standout was Sir Ian McKellan, but he was really a standout. For a movie with such a recognizable cast, that's actually sort of a disappointment though. Tom Hanks, I have to say, was not terribly charismatic or even interesting as the main character; but then again, Robert Langdon was never a terribly interesting main character to begin with...

As for story... well, I'd be quite surprised if the vast majority of people in the world don't know the basic story by now. I'd say the movie does a decent job of conveying the plotline in a relatively straightforward way. There were a couple points which were poorly explained, but I can't remember anything particularly grievous.

One unreservedly positive thing I can say about this film is that it's quite pretty. The story wanders around in some quite picturesque places, and I enjoyed seeing such various locations as the Louvre, a really spiffy Swiss bank, medieval chapels in London, and so on. Of course I'd really love to travel around Europe amongst other places, so perhaps I'm a bit biased about such things.

Recommendations: Not bad. I'd probably recommend it over the book, just because it's not written nearly as painfully. ;) Anyway it's a fairly enjoyable popcorn flick. Just give it a miss if you're really afraid of being offended by the "message" of the movie, I guess.

Movie #139 - King Kong

2006-05-12T23:22:00.000-04:00

Title: King Kong

Director: Peter Jackson

Release Year: 2005

Plot Summary: In 1933 New York, an overly ambitious movie producer coerces his cast and hired ship crew to travel to mysterious Skull Island, where they encounter Kong, a giant ape who is immediately smitten with leading lady Ann Darrow.

Thoughts: It was alright. I guess. Certainly not the OMGBESTMOVIEEVERPETERJACKSONISGODWTFBBQ! I was expecting. I dunno, perhaps it was just built up so much and I waited too long to see it... or maybe it was the fact that I didn't watch it all in one sitting? Regardless. It was just okay.

Special effects? Eh. Maybe I'm just pickier than your average moviegoer, but it's pretty obvious to me that the vast majority of this movie was filmed in front of a green-screen - I can pick out the false backgrounds a mile away, and they definitely jar me out of the movie just enough to be noticeable. I must say the big ape himself was very well-done, though.

Acting? Eh. I really didn't find myself giving much of a damn about any of these characters. As much as I really wanted to like Jack Black in a serious role, I just kept expecting him to bust out in some cartoony antics at any moment. Probably it doesn't help that his "serious" look seems just a little pop-eyed and over-the-top intense for me to take it seriously. Naomi Watts doesn't really affect me either way, but I was really sad that I didn't like Adrien Brody better. What a waste of a great actor.

Stupid plot moments? Oh, it had those in spades. I don't want to spoil anything particularly, but those were some of the dumbest dinosaurs I've ever seen. It didn't make sense, dammit.

Pacing? Eh. This certainly felt like a three-hour movie. And jeezum crow the final scene lasted forever.

Overall? I really don't see what all the fuss was about. Lord of the Rings it ain't.

Recommendations: It's really not that exciting. You could really spend your three hours watching something that's more worth dedicating three hours to.

Movie #138 - Mission: Impossible III

2006-05-04T02:01:00.000-04:00

Title: Mission: Impossible III

Director: JJ Abrams

Release Year: 2006

Plot Summary: IMF leader Ethan Hunt comes face to face with a dangerous and sadistic arms dealer while trying to keep his identity secret in order to protect his girlfriend.

Thoughts: Apparently it's the new cool thing to despise Tom Cruise. Well, I dare anyone to say that I've ever been cool! Ha. Regardless, I didn't think M:I:III was half-bad for what it was. The plot was pretty cliché and not awfully interesting, but who goes to an action movie for the plot anyway?

In terms of performances, I thought Cruise, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Billy Crudup were top-notch all the way. Hoffman especially - he was the whole reason I even was interested in seeing the movie, and I can emphatically say that he did not disappoint as a villain. (Also kudos to Keri Russell for the short time she was on-screen.)

Recommendations: If you like Hoffman, you'll love him in this one. Other than that, it's just your typical mindless action movie. Not that there's anything wrong with that!

Movie #137 - American Dreamz

2006-04-30T09:03:00.000-04:00

Title: American Dreamz

Director: Paul Weitz

Release Year: 2006

Plot Summary: Imagine a country where the President never reads the newspaper, where the government goes to war for all the wrong reasons, and more people vote for a pop idol than their next President.

Thoughts: First off - you have no idea how much it pains me to type that word with a "z." Ugh.

Anyway this one was amusing, but nothing to write home about. Almost all the characters fell pretty flat, though I did like Omer and his "uncles." All in all, I think my main problem was that the story was - hell, I'll say it, pretty damn stupid. I have never been even remotely interested in all these American Idol thingummies, and I might be assuming a lot here but it didn't actually seem like a "parody" so much as an accurate assessment of the whole debacle.

Poor Willem Dafoe. ~shakes head sadly~

Recommendations: Meh, you ain't missing anything.

Movie #136 - Chicken Run

2006-04-30T09:02:00.000-04:00

Title: Chicken Run

Director: Peter Lord & Nick Park

Release Year: 2000

Plot Summary: A comedy escape drama with a touch of passion set on a sinister Yorks chicken farm in 1950's England.

Thoughts: It's got chickens. What's not to love! Seriously it's a bit of a kiddie movie, but it's very enjoyable for all ages - leastways that's the impression I get after watching it again with a group of twentysomethings who all liked it as much as I do.

Recommendations: Great for when you're in the mood for something lighthearted.

Movie #135 - Thank You For Smoking

2006-04-20T00:22:00.000-04:00

Title: Thank You For Smoking

Director: Jason Reitman

Release Year: 2005

Plot Summary: A satirical comedy which follows the machinations of Big Tobacco's chief spokesman, Nick Naylor, who spins on behalf of cigarettes while trying to remain a role model for his twelve-year-old son.

Thoughts: It was funny, but I'm not quite sure that it was good. If that makes any sense. There were many parts that made me laugh out loud, but overall the story just left me sort of "meh."

On the bright side, Aaron Eckhart was pretty good at being simultaneously sort-of-slimy and charmingly disarming. Even as you're thinking "I can't believe he just said that!" you can't help but like the guy. Also I thought Christopher Bright was quite good as the son of a guy who, pretty much, lies for a living. Oh, and I loved William H. Macy's character, but then again I am seldom disappointed with him.

Recommendations: I dunno. Looking back, it just seems like so much fluff, sort of semi-disguised as a "movie with a message." But it was enjoyable fluff. So I'm sorta torn.

Movie #134 -- Pride and Prejudice

2006-04-13T16:10:00.000-04:00

Title: Pride and Prejudice

Director: Joe Wright

Release Year: 2005

Plot Summary: Elizabeth Bennet has spunk. She likes this dude, Mr. Darcy, and he may or may not like her back.

Thoughts: ANYTHING Keira Knightley. Put her anywhere on the screen and I'll watch. You could probably put my infront of a black screen for a while and tell me that it was a movie about her and I'd sit there for at least fifteen minutes before feeling like an idiot. That being said, this is a really good movie. Of course, you'd have to be a collosal idiot to mess up the source material.

My first impression of this movie (other the fact that Keira Knightley is really, really hot) was that Keira Knightley can actually act as she earned a well-deserved Oscar nod. The sets are fantastic, the costuming is perfect, and the direction of Joe Wright (who?) is above par. Donald Sutherland is terrific as Mr. Bennet and it would have been nice to see an Academy Award nomination thrown his way (I would have taken it over George Clooney's performance in Syrriana any day). My only complaints with the casting are Jenna Malone and Judy Dench, who I usually like. I don't know... they were just kind of annoying.

Sure, the language is a little too flowery for some (it was a bit annoying at first, "It's a very well-to-do family, sir." and shit like that). And sure, you're not really sure why Elizabeth Bennet falls in love with Mr. Darcy, because he is, let's face it, kind of a douchebag.

That being said, I would like to see the BBC mini-series of this that came out some ten years ago, as I understand that it is fantastic. This version was too short, but I understand the limitations placed on movies... You really can't have a 4 hour movie like this and expect most people to stay with it the whole time.

Rating (0-10): 7.6. Sure, there's a "Knightley" factor involved, I'm not gonna lie, but it is a fantastic movie in and of itself.

Recommendations: Highly recommended. Rent it, indeed. Does it bear repeated viewings? Only if you're obsessed like I am.

Movie #133 -- Ice Age: The Meltdown

2006-04-13T15:54:00.000-04:00

Title: Ice Age: The Meltdown

Director: Carlos Saldanha

Release Year: 2006

Plot Summary: Ice is melting. Animals who like ice are scared.

Thoughts: I never saw the first Ice Age movie. But, as the rule of thumb goes, very few sequels are as good as the first. Having seen this movie, I don't have much of a desire to see the first one. "Why did you go see this then?" you ask. I was on a date, she wanted to see it, and I thought that if I took her to see this movie we'd get to makeout later.

Anyway, a wooly mammoth named Manny (voiced by Ray Romano), a sabretooth tiger named Diego (voiced by Denis Leary), and a thing named Sid (voiced by John Leguizamo) are made aware of their precious ice age coming to an end. They travel across treacherous terrain to get on a large boat so that they can survive the oncoming flood. Seriously. And also... Queen Latifah as a strange mammoth/sloth combination? Yeah...

Now, there were a few parts that did make me laugh out loud... I'm thinking Sid and his meeting with the crazy Sid worshippers and anytime that the squirrel was on screen.

As far as buddy/trip comedies go, you can do better... Sideways, Dumb and Dumber, hell... even EuroTrip. But as far as for inoffensive buddy comedies involving this much animation, it wasn't bad.

Rating (0-10): The movie on it's own = 6.5. Not essential to life and yes, this means I liked it more than Brokeback Mountain. The movie based on the fact that I later in the evening got to makeout = four trillion.

Recommendations: If you catch it on ABC or Disney or something in a few years or have to watch it, while babysitting or something, it's not bad.

Movie #132 -- Brokeback Mountain

2006-04-13T15:45:00.000-04:00

Title: Brokeback Mountain

Director: Ang Lee

Release Year: 2005

Plot Summary: Two young men fall in love on a mountainside while herding sheep in Wyoming.

Thoughts: Easily, the most talked about movie of 2005. Easily, the most socially relevant movie since Napoleon Dynamite (tell me I'm wrong). Easily, the most self-indulgent movie of the year.

brodude mountain was just alright. it left me with a hollow feeling... similar to the one that gladiator left me with five years ago after everyone had been saying, "oh! it was so good." i thought it was just alright... jake gyllenhal (sp?) was pretty good and so was michelle williams, but heath ledger sounded like he had a cotton swabs stuffed in his cheeks the whole fucking time. his performance got really annoying. props to the casters for putting randy quaid and anne hathaway in the movie: inspired but maybe a little misguided. seriously, all i could think of the first few times either of them were on screen was national lampoon's Christmas Vacation and ella enchanted, respectively. the music got kind of annoying, too. i don't know how much more dueling acoustic guitars laced with reverb i could take. i did, however, think that the directing and cinematography were fantastic.

and also... the whole "gay cowboy" thing... WRONG. there was nary a cow herded that whole movie. these dudes were shepherds. yeah... hangin out with sheep. not cows. now, when i think of shepherds, i think of apostles and guys with white beards and crooks and relaxing on the hillside. this movie shattered that apparent misconception... shepherds are, according to ang lee's vision, dudes who eat beans, drink whiskey and wear carhart clothing.

think about it, though... had this movie been about a man and and a woman that fall in love in the rustic wilderness, it probably would have been written off as schmaltz... or we could have called it coal miner's daughter 2: in the shaft. [i totally just wrote a porno title, didn't i? ha! totally my intention -- more or less to see if i could get away with it. s-u-c-c-e-s-s.] or jerry mcguire 2: extreme outdoor sports challenge. you get the idea. it would have taken one hell of a better script for me to buy the closing scene where ennis is playing with jack twist's shirt. now, imagine if kate winslett had an article of leonardo dicaprio's clothing at the end of titanic and hung it in her closet like some sort of shrine. it would have been written off as hollywood drivel and nothing more. despite all of this movie's imperfections and constituions afforded to it because it is a love story between two men, certain scenes just work and others just don't.

i am glad that i saw the movie, though. i've now seen what all the hype was for... "full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." don't deride me as a homophobe -- if you do, i think you may have missed the point of this entry: tongue-in-cheek, a little. scathing and honest, always.

so, in conclusion, what we have here is a movie born and bred for the arthouse [eternal sunshine..., anyone?] that because of it's subject matter was afforded a certain manner of leeway.

Rating (0-10): 6.2

Recommendations: Nominated for Best Picture? Are you kidding me? Seriously. I guess see it to say, "oh, yeah... i saw that." oh, and then, you'll get all the of the jokes that everyone told 3 months ago.

Movie #131 - The Warriors

2006-04-09T02:59:00.000-04:00

Title: The Warriors

Director: Walter Hill

Release Year: 1979

Plot Summary: A gang called The Warriors are framed for killing a gang leader trying to unite all the gangs in the area. With other gangs gunning for them they must get back to the home turf of Coney Island... Alive.

Thoughts: I really think I need to completely stop watching Director's Cuts before watching the original theatrical release. The Warriors seems like it would be a very good movie if it was tightened up - as is, it's just a good movie. ;)

I have to admit that the characters were pretty one-dimensional. Even the de facto leader, Swan, really didn't resonate with me at all. I really think the film is more about the journey, the battle, than it is about the individuals who made that journey - I just wish that I'd actually cared about the characters, too.

Two more points:

1) "Themed" gangs are very funny. Mimes with facepaint and baseball uniforms, running around beating the shit out of people with bats? Comedy gold, man.

2) The comic book framing didn't really work. Actually it worked about as poorly as it did in Ang Lee's Hulk.

Recommendations: This seems like one of those movies that's often talked about but seldom actually seen. I think it's worth seeing. But it's definitely a guy movie.

Book# 16 The Grand Inquisitor

2006-04-01T17:31:00.000-05:00

Title: The Grand Inquisitor

Author: Fyodor Dostoevsky

Translator: Constance Garnett

Release Year: 1821

Plot Summary: Portions of the longer text The Brother's Karamazov, this text describes the life of a a young man who eventually becomes a monk. Effectively compares securar/pessimistic and christian/optimistic views of the world.

Thoughts: I love this book! Sure it leans towards a christian belief, but both sides are argued by using two seperate stories. In the first story, brothers Ivan and Alyosha discuss Ivan's belief that God, if He exists, is a terrible being because he knowingly allows use to destroy ourselves. In the second, story, the Monk teaches about his life and that of his brother Markel, who changed his view of life upon facing death. This text sure opened up my eyes! I plan on getting The Brother's Karamazov.

Rating (0-10): 10

Recommendations: Hell yeah!

Movie #130 - V For Vendetta

2006-03-25T22:44:00.000-05:00

Title: V For Vendetta

Director: James McTiegue

Release Year: 2006

Plot Summary: A shadowy freedom fighter known only as "V" uses terrorist tactics to fight against his totalitarian society. Upon rescuing a girl from the secret police, he also finds his best chance at having an ally.

Thoughts: I really feel like I need to see this movie again in order to wring out my true feelings about it. Perhaps I'll update this once I do.

Recommendations: Worth watching. Must-see? Haven't decided yet.

Movie #129 - Aliens

2006-03-09T03:08:00.000-05:00

Title: Aliens

Director: James Cameron

Release Year: 1986

Plot Summary: The planet from Alien has been colonized, but contact is lost. This time, Ripley finds herself sent back to the planet along with a team of warriors bent on destroying the alien menace forever, and saving any survivors -- if any remain.

Thoughts: Call me uncultured, but I vastly preferred Aliens over Alien. The overall pacing was a lot better, and I actually halfway gave a damn about some of the characters (the little girl was just spectacular). The cockiness of the Colonial Marines, which spirals down into terror and insanity, provides a nice counterpoint to Ripley, who's after all seen this all before...

I did prefer Ash to Bishop, though.

Recommendations: Definitely you should watch Alien first. If you though that one was at least okay, you will probably quite enjoy Aliens. Unless of course you take your films way too seriously. ;)

Movie #128 - Alien

2006-03-06T00:43:00.000-05:00

Title: Alien

Director: Ridley Scott

Release Year: 1979

Plot Summary: A mining ship, investigating a suspected SOS, lands on a distant planet. The crew discovers some strange creatures and investigates.

Thoughts: OH MY GOD STUPIDEST CREW EVER!!

(deep breath)

Eh. I think this movie was a bit too much of a "slow burner" for me - although that might be because I watched the Director's Cut, which these days seems to just mean "longer version." If I watch it again I'm going to try the original theatrical release, and see if that does more for me.

All in all, I liked the characters (especially Ian Holm!!), but DEAR GOD were they all MORONS. It was practically unwatchable for that reason only.

Honestly I preferred Blade Runner.

Rating (0-10): I'm giving up on numerical ratings. I feel like it's too arbitrary when I do it.

Recommendations: I'm well aware that this is pretty much required viewing for any sci-fi aficionado. But frankly, I don't think you'd be missing too much if you just watched the 30-Second Bunnies version.

Movie #127 - Mothra

2006-02-20T02:05:00.000-05:00

Title: Mosura

Director: Ishirô Honda

Release Year: 1961

Plot Summary: Mightiest monster in all creation! Ravishing a universe for love! (okay so that's the tagline not the plot summary, I like it dammit.)

Thoughts: It was everything Drew promised and more! A shipwreck on a mysterious island! Tiny women who finish each others' sentences, and can control Mothra with the power of song! A giant caterpillar swimming through the ocean! And he didn't even mention the painted aborigines who bang coconuts together! This was very possibly the best movie ever.

Rating (0-10): 9.9

Recommendations: How can you resist?!

Movie #126 - The Bodyguard

2006-02-20T01:58:00.000-05:00

Title: The Bodyguard

Director: Mick Jackson

Release Year: 1992

Plot Summary: A former Secret Service agent takes on the job of bodyguard to a pop singer, whose lifestyle is most unlike a President's.

Thoughts: Yeah, I'll admit it, I scoffed and rolled my eyes when the girls chose this one to watch. But damn it all if it wasn't actually pretty good. Kevin Costner did a solid job, and Whitney Houston surprisingly didn't come off as a singer-slash-wannabe-actress. Really I have to say there wasn't a disappointing performance in the bunch.

I have to say I was a bit disappointed in the Macguffin in the plot, but I suppose it actually led to some interesting character development, so I'll let it slide. Overall a pretty solid film, and I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would.

Rating (0-10): 7

Secommendations: If you are being forced to watch a chick-flick, this is definitely one of your more painless options. ;)

Movie #125 - Deconstructing Harry

2006-02-20T01:47:00.000-05:00

Title: Deconstructing Harry

Director: Woody Allen

Release Year: 1997

Plot Summary: Suffering from writer's block and eagerly awaiting his writing award, Harry Block remembers events from his past and scenes from his best-selling books as characters, real and fictional, come back to haunt him.

Thoughts: Apparently I was caught up in Andrea's whirlwind Woody Allen movie streak, and I can't honestly say I was disappointed in my first experience with the guy. Harry was wicked as hell, and just as funny. Harry is a narcissistic bastard with a whole slew of problems and issues, and yet even as you see more and more how much of a prick he is, the more "likeable" he becomes. :)

Rating (0-10): 8.7

Recommendations: If all of Woody Allen's movies are this good, I guess he really is as much of a genius as the critics have been telling me. If it means anything, now I'm interested in seeing more of his work.

Movie #124 - A River Runs Through It

2006-02-20T01:40:00.000-05:00

Title: A River Runs Through It

Director: Robert Redford

Release Year: 1992

Plot Summary: Two fly-fishing sons of a Presbyterian minister--one reserved, one rebellious--grow up in rural Montana.

Thoughts: I'm not really sure what I was expecting out of this movie, but it wasn't what I ended up getting. It was quiet, thought-provoking, beautifully photographed, and just sort of tranquil, maybe. I'm not really much for religious themes and messages, but to me that wasn't even the important part - it's a story about a family.

Rating (0-10): 6.8

Recommendations: I was surprised I ended up liking it well enough, but it's still not something I'd be terribly sad if I hadn't seen.

Book #15 Shopgirl

2006-02-17T23:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Shopgirl

Author: Steve Martin

Release Year: 2000

Plot Summary: An unstable and lonely Mirabelle falls into a relationship with a much older man, while another man, one her age, battles for her heart.

Thoughts: This narrative revolves around relationships and the failures of maintaining them when there are conflicts of interest. The relationship between Mirabell and the older man Ray is akin with the relationship between Maggie and Frankie on the movie Million Dollar Baby. And this change in the relationship comes as a sweet surprise.

Rating (0-10): 7

recommendations: I'm glad the novella is short, being there simply isn't much to write about besides the maturing of two relationships. I do recommend it the read. But don't miss out on Steve Martins followup Novella, The Company of My Pleasure.

Movie #123 - Rumor Has It...

2006-01-09T22:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Rumor Has It...

Director: Rob Reiner

Release Year: 2005

Plot Summary: A woman learns that her family was the inspiration for the book and film "The Graduate" -- and that she just might be the offspring of the well-documented event.

Thoughts: I wasn't expecting much from this movie, and I ended up enjoying it well enough. I've always had a soft spot for Jennifer Aniston, and Mark Ruffalo and Kevin Costner were quite good as well. Overall, I think the "gimmick" of treating The Graduate as an actual event wasn't really enough to base an entire movie around.

Rating (0-10): 6.5

Recommendations: Wasn't bad. Not really worth watching more than once, but not bad.

Movie #122 - The Pianist

2006-01-09T21:44:00.000-05:00

Title: The Pianist

Director: Roman Polanski

Release Year: 2002

Plot Summary: A Polish Jewish musician struggles to survive the destruction of the Warsaw ghetto of World War II.

Thoughts: It was alright. I was expecting great things from this film, from everything I'd heard about it, but I think I'm getting burnt out on WWII survivor movies, if not WWII movies in general. Maybe with another viewing I'll have more coherent things to say, but it just struck me as kind of a vanilla sort of experience.

Rating (0-10): 6

Recommendations: Dunno. Schindler's List was pretty definitive for me, and I don't think this one is a serious contender compared to that.

Book #14 - Four Past Midnight

2006-01-01T14:49:00.000-05:00

Title: Four Past Midnight

Author: Stephen King

Release Year: 1990

Plot Summary:
This book is a collection of four horror novellas: The Langoliers; Secret Window, Secret Garden; The Library Policeman; The Sun Dog.

The Langoliers is a story about several airplane passengers that get stranded. But stranded in a rather strange and interesting way. There they meet the Langoliers, and they are not friendly. There goal becomes (obviously) to get back home.

Secret Window, Secret Garden is about a couple going through a divorce which was caused by an affair. And ontop of that, freelance writer John Shooter accuses a well-known author Mort Rainey is plagirism. The story is driven by John Shooter's manipulation of Mort.

The Library Policeman is about a mysterious library and it's even stranger librarian. Sam, an insurance... person borrows several books from the Library, and then is unable to return them because they dissapear. Being unaceptable conduct, the librarian calls on the Library Policeman.

The Sun Dog is about a camera that takes pictures of the same thing, instead of the object in the viewfinder. As the story develops, it becomes apperant the camera is taking pictures of a scene much like a video camera records a scene.

Thoughts: The Langoliers and Secret Window, Secret Garden are very engaging novellas, while The Library Policeman and The Sun Dog leave something to be desired. The Library Policeman reminded me of something you might see in the Television show Outer Limits. And The Sun Dog got boring rather quickly. I got to the last few chapters, but I found no reason to complete it. I just skipped to the last chapter to get an idea of what happened.

Rating (0-10): 6

recommendations: If you find this book at a library, go ahead and read the first two novellas. If you have time, see if you can swallow the remaining two.

Movie #121 - The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

2005-12-14T23:05:00.000-05:00

Title: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Director: Andrew Adamson

Release Year: 2005

Plot Summary: Four children travel through a wardrobe to the land of Narnia...

Thoughts: Great film. This is probably the most faithful adaptation of a book I've ever seen - it's not word- and scene-perfect by any means, but it still manages to feel like it is, which is quite an impressive feat. Beautifully filmed and scored, great cast all around.

Rating (0-10): 9.3

Recommendations: I'd say this is the movie to see with your family this holiday season. But then, I've not seen King Kong yet.

Movie #120 - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

2005-12-14T22:55:00.000-05:00

Title: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Director: Mike Newell

Release Year: 2005

Plot Summary: Harry finds himself selected as an underaged competitor in a dangerous multi-wizardary school competition.

Thoughts:

Likes

~ Mad-Eye Moody
~ Madame Maxine
~ Rita Skeeter
~ Barty Crouch, Jr.
~ all of the trials kicked ass

Dislikes

~ Dumbledore
~ Voldemort
~ a very rushed beginning

Rating (0-10): 7.8

Recommendations: A more-than-worthy addition to the series. Unless you're hideously nitpicky, you shan't be even remotely disappointed.

Movie #119 -- Walk the Line

2005-11-30T20:58:00.000-05:00

Title: Walk the Line

Director: James Mangold

Release Year: 2005

Plot Summary: A nice biopic of Johnny Cash.

Thoughts: I'm not much of one for hero worship, but if I was, it would probably be about Johnny Cash. There wasn't much he hadn't seen or done.

Joaquin Pheonix does a good job at imitating The Man in Black. He's not as good as Jamie Foxx was in 'Ray' but he's still pretty good. He'll probably get nominated for an Oscar. Reese Witherspoon, of whose movies (save 'Pleasantville') I am often skeptical is PERFECT as June Carter -- Best Actress Oscar, hands down. I can't say enough good things about her performance in this film.

Fantastic performances aside, Mangold's direction is par and nothing to write home about. Every once in a while, when a new character has been introduced, it isn't always clear who it is for a bit. The ending is kind of abrupt... That is, it doesn't end the way I thought it would and I don't know if that works in the film's favor.

Rating (0-10): 7.8

recommendations: Go see this film Johnny Cash was the man. Rest in Peace.

Book #13.5 - The War of the Worlds

2005-11-07T14:47:00.000-05:00

Title: War of The Worlds

Author: H.G. Wells

Publication Year: 1898

Plot Summary: Martians invade the earth destroying everything in their path but eventually succum to a simple Earth disease.

Thoughts: I was more comfortable reading this book then most other works published in the same time period. I think this is because Wells wrote like SF authors still do today. Or more correctly almost every SF author that followed emulated his style in some form.

The book was well thought out and the only signs that it is set in 19th centuary England is the lack of cars and the occasional mention of horses and telegraphs. It is unfair to say it was planned as such. I believe it is simply that if the kind of destruction that took place in the book really did take place then mankind would be reduced to pretty much te same level reguardless.

The only thing I didn't like was how Englo-Centric (ouuu a new word?) it was. All ten of the Martian cylinders land in close proximity to London. Had this book been writen today they would have landed scattered across the globe. For Aliens to aim their "gun" at a tiny island across millions of miles and ignore the rest of the planet is just a little odd. Not to say that todays works arn't equally Ameri-centric but still, logically it didn't make a lot of sense.

Other then that? It was amazing.

Rating (0-10): 9.5

recommendations: Read it and understand today's SF with much more clairity.

(The spell check isn't working so forgive my rather grevious mistakes)

Movie #118 - Capote

2005-11-06T23:34:00.000-05:00

Title: Capote

Director: Bennett Miller

Release Year: 2005

Plot Summary: During his research for his book In Cold Blood, an account of the murder of a Kansas family, Truman Capote develops a close relationship with Perry Smith, one of the killers.

Thoughts: I've long been a fan of Philip Seymour Hoffman, and this movie really exemplifies why. I didn't really know much of anything about Truman Capote going into the film, but I came away feeling like I really had a handle on who the guy was and what motivated him in his writing and his life. Now, this is Hollywood, and so this might be a completely false impression of the "true" man; but still, Hoffman's portrayal is nothing short of extraordinary.

As for the story itself - I really don't know what to think of it, and I mean that in the most positive light possible. We, like Capote, are shown two killers who are also real people, and it really is nearly impossible to reconcile the two viewpoints. I mean, how do you do it? I don't know. And it's a powerful question.

Rating (0-10): 8

Recommendations: A challenging film, but I think one of the best this year. Greatly worth seeing, and I've a feeling it's going to be winning awards.

Movie #117 - Good Night, and Good Luck.

2005-11-06T23:33:00.000-05:00

Title: Good Night, and Good Luck.

Director: George Clooney

Release Year: 2005

Plot Summary: Broadcast journalist Edward Murrow looks to bring down Senator Joseph McCarthy.

Thoughts: First off - beautifully photographed. Don't recall the last time I saw a black-and-white film look so gorgeous.

Unfortunately, that's the best I have to say about it. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a bad movie, it just wasn't what I thought it should be. Good Night focuses pretty much exclusively on the time-window encapsulating the Murrow/McCarthy confrontation, and dispenses with such niceties as background information, complete subplots, an interesting supporting cast, or any sort of satisfying ending. The end result is a pretty good indictment of the current state of our media, but it doesn't really stand alone as a compelling story.

Summing up, I think I would have felt a lot more informed watching a biopic about Murrow on the History Channel than I was by the movie.

Beautifully photographed, though.

Rating (0-10): 6

Recommendations: Worth taking a look at, and an interesting peek at one moment in history. But I don't think it has much replay value.

Movie # 116: October Sky

2005-11-06T21:56:00.000-05:00

Title: October Sky

Director: Joe Johnston

Release Year: 1999

Plot Summary: The true story of Homer Hickam, a coal miner's son who was inspired by the first Sputnik launch to take up rocketry against his father's wishes.

Thoughts: Nice movie, though I don't think i'd pay money for it. Good movie to watch with your mother.

Rating (0-10): 6

recommendations: If you're bored and with a group of people, go for it. Of if you're really looking for an up-and-down feel-good flick.

Movie #115 -- Jarhead

2005-11-06T13:12:00.000-05:00

Title: Jarhead

Director: Sam Mendes

Release Year: 2005

Plot Summary: The Operation Desert Storm chronicles of a United States Marine.

Thoughts: the first thing that i thought of when i saw the opening scene was full metal jacket. i don't like full metal jacket. but sam mendes does something that most all of kubrick's movies lacked: an element of humanity. and that's what sets these films apart.

the story follows swofford, a u.s. marine from basic training through to the end of the first gulf war. jake gyllenhall (who's resume is just becoming more and more impressive with each passing film) is fantastic as swofford, even though his character is a bit hard to figure out from time to time. maybe that was his character: a young man on the verge of something, but never really quite sure what. peter sarsgaard is quite good as troy. and jamie foxx proved that his work in 2004 was not a fluke with a fantastic performance as staff sgt sykes.

come oscar time, this film will surely be nominated for a bevy of those little gold statues. it has oscar bait written all over it and that's not a bad thing. probably the best american war movie this decade.

Rating (0-10): 8.2

recommendations: if you like the deer hunter you'll probably like this movie. not for the squeamish or the young, though.

Movie #114: Flatliners

2005-10-30T14:56:00.000-05:00

Title: Flatliners

Director: Joel Schumacher

Release Year: 1990

Plot Summary: How can you go wrong with Julia Roberts and Kevin Bacon? lol It's about five medical students who want to know about near-death experiences. They take turns killing each other and bring each other back. And as you can imagine, things go wrong.

Thoughts: Not brillant, but a fun movie. The plot is interesting and rather unique. There are some really creepy parts. Good for Halloween.

Rating (0-10): 7

recommendations: I would watch it again. Worth sitting down and watching if it's on TV. I might even pick it up if it's on the $10 or under DVDs at Target.

Movie #113 - Hook

2005-10-25T02:27:00.000-04:00

Title: Hook

Director: Steven Spielberg

Release Year: 1991

Plot Summary: When Captain Hook kidnaps his children, an adult Peter Pan must return to Neverland and reclaim his youthful spirit in order to challenge his old enemy.

Thoughts: From what I've been able to determine, there's two schools of thought on Hook; folks either feel it's a masterful continuation of the Peter Pan legend, or a hideous corruption of everything Peter Pan stands for.

If you know me at all, I think it's fairly obvious which camp I'm in. ;)

All I can say is, anyone who thinks that the writers didn't know anything about Peter Pan should read the book (or play) immediately before watching Hook. There's simply so many little quirks and nuggets and tidbits that come straight from the book, it's a joy to watch. And of course Robin Williams is the quintessential "boy who never grew up," and Dustin Hoffman's portrayal of the dastardly Captain Hook is nothing short of brilliant.

(I may be a bit biased.)

Rating (0-10): 9

Recommendations: I can't understand how anyone can not love this movie. From previous experience, though, I'd have to say that if you're a Peter Pan fan, there's only about a fifty percent chance you'll enjoy it.

Movie #112 - Finding Neverland

2005-10-25T02:20:00.000-04:00

Title: Finding Neverland

Director: Marc Forster

Release Year: 2004

Plot Summary: The story of J.M. Barrie's friendship with a family who inspired him to create Peter Pan.

Thoughts: I've always loved the story of Peter Pan, and I found the "real-life" story of how it came to be just as captivating. I'm sure the film takes great creative liberties with the "true" life of J.M. Barrie, but I particularly enjoyed getting to peek into Barrie's head, so to speak, and see all the little things that inspired facets of the original play. Also fell in love with the score, which I now own.

You know I like it when I screened it three times before it was even released. ;)

Rating (0-10): 8

Recommendations: If you like Peter Pan, you'll love this film.

Movie #111 - Elizabethtown

2005-10-20T00:58:00.000-04:00

Title: Elizabethtown

Director: Cameron Crowe

Release Year: 2005

Plot Summary: Hours after a ruinous product debut, suicidal industrial designer Drew Baylor (Orlando Bloom) learns of his father's sudden death. As the only son, Drew must travel to their small hometown of Elizabethtown, Kentucky to attend to his father's memorial.

Thoughts: Between this movie and Almost Famous, I'm running the risk of turning into a Cameron Crowe fanboy, I fear. I'm not really sure the film holds together really well - the plot sort of meanders, and there are dramatic differences in tone and feeling in different parts - and yet somehow, looking back, it all just seems to work. I'm not really sure how it happened, but that's the beauty of it, right?

Two points on music: number one, I absolutely love Cameron Crowe's musical choices. Every damn one of them. And there are a ton. Number two, they need to release the score as well as the soundtrack, because I adore Nancy Wilson's work.

All in all, I think this one has the potential to become one of my favorites. But I'll have to watch it a couple more times to decide if it works as well as I'm remembering after one viewing.

Rating (0-10): 7.5

Recommendations: Maybe a bit long and seemingly disconnected for most people. I think it's safe to say that if you loved Almost Famous, you'll like this movie.

Movie #110 - My Little Pony: the Movie

2005-10-18T02:51:00.000-04:00

Title: My Little Pony: the Movie

Director: Michael Joens

Release Year: 1986

Plot Summary: While the ponies enjoy their festive spring party, the evil witch Hydia is up in her gloomy home, the Volcano of Doom, plotting to turn Ponyland into a wasteland. When her first attempt fails, she decides to cover Ponyland with a purple ooze called the "Smooze". It looks like the end of Ponyland, unless all the magical creatures of Dream Valley answer the Ponies' call for help!

Thoughts: My only defense is that we were having an Ooze Night. Although the Smooze is pretty cool.

"Nothing can stop the Smoooooooze!"

Rating (0-10): 5

Recommendations: Um.... yeah. :P

Movie #109 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II

2005-10-18T02:41:00.000-04:00

Title: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II - The Secret of the Ooze

Director: Michael Pressman

Release Year: 1991

Plot Summary: The turtles find out where the Ooze, the substance which made them mutate, came from. Unfortunately Shredder learns about it too...

Thoughts: Man, I still love these movies. They're just such cheesy, goofy fun. I can't even pretend to be objective about it, so I won't try.

Rating (0-10): 7.5

Recommendations: Go Ninja, Go Ninja, Go! :D

Book #13

2005-10-14T12:30:00.000-04:00

Title:Memoirs of a Geisha

Director: Author? Arthur Golden

Release Year:1997

Plot Summary: A young girl with eyes very unusual for a Japanese girl who lives in a nowhere, rickity ass town is stripped from her life and sold into slavery shortly after her parents grow ill. She is split from her sister and forced to work as a slave in hopes of becoming one of the famous Gion District Geisha. Many hardships and people stand in her way of every goal she ever seems to have. How will she rise to the challenges presented before her when push comes to shove? You have to read to find out as young Chiyo becomes the woman Sayuri, a geisha listed as one of Gion's top twenty geisha of ALL TIME. Really.

Thoughts: This book is great. It is very well written grammatically, poetically, and flowingly. I always found myself wanting to know what would happen next because, as I would not settle for a plateau in the plot, Chiyo would not settle for a plateau in her life. Set in Kyoto, only 20 minutes from where I live, I know the streets and even some buildings mentioned in this book. I can still actually see them. Whats more, very soon I intend on trying to catch a glimpse of what today has become the very elusive Gion Geisha. Please just read it, even if you don't know the area as I do, the story is something brilliant that stands completely independant of any other factor. Not to mention that the book will paint a picture of the surroundings in your head. Not to mention that I highly doubt any of you ACTUALLY know what a geisha is and does. Hell, I sure didn't know much.

Rating (0-10):9.5

recommendations:I recommend that you read this book and tell others to.

Movie #108 - MirrorMask

2005-10-09T10:24:00.000-04:00

Title: MirrorMask

Director: Dave McKean

Release Year: 2005

Plot Summary: In a fantasyland of opposing kingdoms, a 15-year old girl must find the fabled MIRRORMASK in order to save the kingdom and get home.

Thoughts: I enjoyed how the movie tied Helena's real life into her dream world. The actually search for the MIRRORMASK was a little cliche, but the two worlds and how they interacted was really sweet. I liked it a lot.

Rating (0-10): 7.5

recommendations: Younger kids would definatley like it, but it might be too scary for really little kids. If you don't like wierd movies, then don't bother. I would recomend it to my friends.

Book #12 - Little Children

2005-10-04T21:41:00.000-04:00

Title: Little Children

Author: Tom Perrotta

Release Year: 2004

Plot Summary: Sarah and Tom, spouses of struggling marriages find a love interest in each other and have an affair. As the summer progresses, so does their relationship, and the closer they get to their final decision.

Thoughts: What keeps the story going is how Sarah and Tom try to determine whether they should leave their spouses behind and start a new life together. I don't think Tom is an interesting character, and his midnight football games are kinda... lame. But Sarah on the other hand, kept me interested in the story. I don't think the child molester was very important in the story, and often got in the way instead. The best parts are the Sarah and Tom encounters. Are readers supposed to take lessons here?

Rating (0-10): 8.7

recommendations: I have to admit, it is an interesting plot. Well, part of it. But I think that may be just a guy thing.

Book #11 - Simon Lazarus

2005-10-04T21:24:00.000-04:00

Title: Simon Lazarus

Author: M.A. Kirkwood

Release Year: 2003

Plot Summary: A college freshman disgusted with his family, particularly his dad, leaves his education and sweetheart behind in search for the great-grandfather he never met. Narrarated by Simon Strayhorn, the story covers his journey to Louisiana where he discovers the answers to the questions that trouble him.

Thoughts: As stated in the back cover, this novel is similar to J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye. Simon is simply a bit older, and the story is set in the ... mid nineties? Overall, it's a good read, although I did find myself bored a few times because the plot was getting nowhere fast. Particularly when he arrives in Louisiana. Often humorous and philosophical.

Rating (0-10): 8.0

recommendations: I recommend it if you like J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye, and don't mind reading something similar. Although I wish so much time wasn't spend running around in Louisiana.

Movie # 107 -- Miracle

2005-09-29T23:38:00.000-04:00

Title: Miracle

Director: Gavin O'Connor

Release Year: 2004

Plot Summary: The trials and tribulations of the USA Olympic Hockey Team leading up to and including the 1980 Olympics.

Thoughts: I don't much like Kurt Russel, in general, except for 'Tombstone' and 'Breakdown'. Come on, he was in 'Big Trouble in Little China' for pete's sake. anyway, i don't find him to be much of an actor. But his portrayal of hockey coach Herb Brooks is surprisingly effective.

Sure, it's a Disney movie. But the thing is, even though Disney has already covered this ground 3 times with 'The Mighty Ducks' franchise, the story just feels good, feels fresh, feels alive. And why? Well, because this story actually happened. Don't believe me? Do yourself a favor and get ahold of a copy of the 1980
medal round game between the US and the USSR.

There was a very fine balance to be walked between schmaltz and quality filmmaking and director Gavin O'Connor (whose resume is otherwise spotty at best) walks that line with gusto. The rest of the relatively unknown cast does a fair job in as much as they are all immediately loveable and forgetable: much like most of the real men of the 1980 US Olympic hockey team.

Rating (0-10): 7.25

recommendations: A good "feel-good" movie. Not worth owning, but worth renting or watching on cable. Oh, and go dig up a copy of the real US-USSR game. You can thank me later for that.

Movie #106 - Serenity

2005-09-29T01:23:00.000-04:00

Title: Serenity

Director: Joss Whedon

Release Year: 2005

Plot Summary: The feature-length adaptation of Joss Whedon's TV show "Firefly", set five hundred years in the future, aboard Serenity, a transport ship captained by Capt. Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds.

Thoughts: I am blown away. It was everything Firefly was, only about ten times more - and if you've seen Firefly, then you know exactly what I mean. Seriously, I can't even process this yet - mebbe I'll add more once I see it again.

Rating (0-10): 9.8

Recommendations: I don't care if you're a fan of the series or have never seen a single episode. You owe it to yourself to watch this movie. I'm not even remotely kidding.

Movie #106 - Corpse Bride

2005-09-28T19:40:00.000-04:00

Title: Corpse Bride

Director: Tim Burton, Mike Johnson

Release Year: 2005

Plot Summary: A man who puts a wedding ring on the finger of a woman's skeleton as a joke gets more than he bargained for, when she comes back as a ghost and claims that she is now legally his bride.

Thoughts: Disappointingly lackluster - the biggest impression I got, though it took me awhile to figure this out, was that it was much more kid-oriented than I had expected. Maybe I shouldn't be surprised at this, but I was. The songs especially seemed really juvenile compared to a lot of Elfman's previous word with Burton.

That said, the story wasn't too terrible, and wasn't particularly a ripoff of The Nightmare Before Christmas like I'd feared. It just wasn't anything that I feel I ever need to see again. Meh.

Rating (0-10): 5

Recommendations: See it or don't, you probably won't regret it either way.

Movie #105 - Red Eye

2005-09-17T15:18:00.000-04:00

Title: Red Eye

Director: Wes Craven

Release Year: 2005

Plot Summary: A woman is kidnapped by a stranger on a routine flight. Threatened by the potential murder of her father, she is pulled into a plot to assist her captor in offing a wealthy executive.

Thoughts: I didn't expect much of this one going in, and I was pleasantly surprised. Rachel McAdams and Cillian Murphy definitely managed to carry the film - I'm especially becoming a fan of Murphy, who was one of the bright spots in Batman Begins. The story really wasn't anything terribly new or original, but the two leads were captivating enough to lend it a real tension and gravity.

Rating (0-10): 7

Recommendations: It's no A Sound of Thunder, but it ain't half-bad.

Movie #104 - A Sound of Thunder

2005-09-17T15:13:00.000-04:00

Title: A Sound of Thunder

Director: Peter Hyams

Release Year: 2005

Plot Summary: When a hunter sent back to the prehistoric era runs off the path he must not leave, he causes a chain reaction that alters history in disastrous ways.

Thoughts: I've seen this one described as "the most unintentionally hilarious movie of the year," and that was precisely my reaction after seeing it. The plot had holes you could drive an entire convoy through, the special effects were worse than anything you'd ever find on Hercules or Xena, and Lord only knows what the actors were doing throughout the whole mess.

I loved it. It was everything I was expecting, and so much more. :D

Rating (0-10): 1.2

Recommendations: The most fun you can have at the movies and not get kicked out!

Movie #103 - The Constant Gardener

2005-09-17T15:06:00.000-04:00

Title: The Constant Gardener

Director: Fernando Mierelles

Release Year: 2005

Plot Summary: In a remote area of Northern Kenya, activist Tessa Quayle (Rachel Weisz) is found brutally murdered. Members of the British High Commission in Nairobi assume that Tessa's widower, their mild-mannered and unambitious colleague Justin Quayle (Ralph Fiennes), will leave the matter to them. They could not be more wrong.

Thoughts: Wow, every movie critic on the planet seems to love this movie, and I have no friggin' idea why. All I can say is, if you're looking for a thrilling and action-packed movie about a global pharmaceutical conspiracy, just keep waitin'. Rachel Weisz was the only reason I was even remotely tempted to go see the movie, and I have to say it wasn't particularly worth it.

It wasn't particularly bad, don't get me wrong. What it was is boring.

Rating (0-10): 2.5

Recommendations: Give this one a miss.

Movie #102 - March of the Penguins

2005-09-17T15:00:00.000-04:00

Title: La Marche de l'empereur (March of the Penguins)

Director: Luc Jacquet

Release Year: 2005

Plot Summary: A look at the annual journey of Emperor penguins as they march -- single file -- to their traditional breeding ground.

Thoughts: Really this could just as easily been cut down to an hour and made into a National Geographic documentary. It was quite interesting and I liked it well enough, it just felt too darn long. Penguins kick all sorts of ass, though, I have to say.

Rating (0-10): 6.5

Recommendations: If there's a shorter version, watch that one.

Movie #101 - The Brothers Grimm

2005-09-17T14:45:00.000-04:00

Title: The Brothers Grimm

Director: Terry Gilliam

Release Year: 2005

Plot Summary: Will and Jake Grimm are travelling con-artists who encounter a genuine fairy-tale curse which requires genuine courage instead of their usual bogus exorcisms.

Thoughts: When I first saw the poster for this movie, I wasn't even remotely interested - until I saw that it was directed by Terry Gilliam. Hey, I thought, he'll put an interesting spin on things, I guess I'll give it a go after all!

Sadly, I never really found that "interesting spin" I was looking for. The whole thing struck me as a combination of the concept from Van Helsing (throw a bunch of classic monsters into one film) and the ambience of Sleepy Hollow. While that doesn't necessarily make it a bad thing, it just didn't twist things around enough to justify the project to me.

Rating (0-10): 4.5

Recommendations: Go rent 12 Monkeys instead. Now that's a good Gilliam film.

Book #10 East of Eden

2005-09-07T22:17:00.000-04:00

Title: East of Eden

Author: John Steinbeck

Release Year: 1952

Plot Summary: A story spread across two generations of the Trasks, a wealthy familily who live in the Salinas Valley of Northern California. The story often highlights the special yet not always pleasant relationship between father and son.

Thoughts: Originally, I decided not to purchase this book because I thought the acclaimed similarities with the Bible's Adam and Eve story would make for a boring read. Boy was I ever wrong. Although the story is very long, (hey it covers two generations) it's nothing short of interesting. It has enough of a plot to cover all the human emotions. The characters were so realistically crafted you have no choice but to think of them as living in the present. I have to admit, some parts, though very few, were very confusing. I just couldn't follow. But regardless, I love this novel!

Rating (0-10): 9.0

recommendations:
I knocked off a point because of the few confusing passages.

Book #9 - Vacuum Diagrams

2005-09-05T11:04:00.000-04:00

Title: Vacuum Diagrams

Author: Stephen Baxter

Release Year: 2001

Plot Summary: It's a collection of short stories that detail mankinds next 4,000,000 years or so of history.

Thoughts: Some of the stories were good others were a little lacking. Apparently there's some novels that tie into these stories I'll have to check out.

Rating (0-10): 7.00

recommendations: If you like sci fi but not long involved plots this is for you!

Movie #100 -- The Grudge

2005-09-01T20:47:00.000-04:00

Title: The Grudge

Director: Takashi Shimizu

Release Year: 2004

Plot Summary: An American nurse (Sarah Michelle Gellar) in Japan "discovers" a haunted house.

Thoughts: The first 10 minutes of this movie are genuinely creepy. I mean... GENUINELY creepy. It all goes downhill from there... Except the part where Sarah Michelle Gellar's character (Karen Davis) has a hand coming out of the back of her head.

The cast is B-List at best... Sarah Michelle Gellar, Bill Pullman, William Mapother, Ted Raimi. Seriously. And it's hard to complain that any one particular actor gets outdone in any scene, because none of them are all that good. The kids who play the haunted children are kinda creepy, but more or less you just want to punch them in the face any time either one of them is on screen.

Sam Raimi (director of both Spider-Man movies and all three Evil Deads) produced this movie, which is the only reason that I gave it a shot. It wasn't really worth it. The directing is affecting, but the way that the story is told is too jumpy and there are waaaaaaaaaaaaay too many flashbacks. Still, there were enough 'make-you-jump-out-of-your-seat-parts' to keep me from changing the channel.

Rating (0-10): 6.25

recommendations: As far as horror films go, you could do much, much better. If you liked The Ring you'll probably like this. If you liked the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre you probably won't.

Book # 8 -- Old School

2005-08-21T01:25:00.000-04:00

Title: Old School

Author: Tobias Wolff

Release Year:

Plot Summary: A young man at a New England prep school tries year in and year out to win the school's writing contest.

Thoughts: This book came highly recommended to me by a good friend who's opinion on books I well respect. It's about a young man who struggles with his writing (which is his true passion). His desire to write so well leads to inner corruption and this plays out throughout the rest of the book and the rest of his life.

There are a couple of levels to this book. The first and most obvious is the actual narrative itself. The story itself starts out strong, but about two thirds of the way through the book gets really boring and starts to wander aimlessly. The next level, the verbage, is fantastic. However, no matter how fantastic the language may be, it gets to be too overbearing. Wolff conveys a sense of perpetual winter and amazing ambience in his novel. Thirdly, the story seems somewhat autobiographical -- and Wolff leaves that up to the reader as to whether or not it may or may not be. But the last few chapters of the book just just kill the book -- they take a (until that point in time) really good novel and pretty much kill it.

I had trouble relating to the main character. I can empathize with writer's block, but not to the extent contained herein. The narrator also seemed like a poor little rich boy to me... one that I felt no empathy towards, especially at the turning point in the book (which I will not reveal here).

Rating (0-10): 6.2

recommendations: For 200 pages, this book read more like 500. It's a laborious read because of all of the fantastic words used but it gets to be too much.

Movie #99 - The Skeleton Key

2005-08-16T00:31:00.000-04:00

Title: The Skeleton Key

Director: Iain Softley

Release Year: 2005

Plot Summary: A young woman helping care for an invalid in New Orleans finds herself caught in the middle of morbid going-ons centered around a group of Voodoo practitioners.

Thoughts: Another one that surprised me. The back-story might have been a wee bit on the lame side ("hoodoo" v. "voodoo"? Huh?), but Kate Hudson pulled off the role of a woman who's fighting her gradually-increasing belief quite well. Also, the end is not quite what I expected, and definitely in a good way.

Rating (0-10): 7.5

Recommendations: One of the better horror/suspense thrillers I've seen in a while. Worth a look.

Movie #98 - Four Brothers

2005-08-16T00:28:00.000-04:00

Title: Four Brothers

Director: John Singleton

Release Year: 2005

Plot Summary: Four brothers look to avenge their mother's death.

Thoughts: I went into this movie not expecting much of anything, and was quite pleasantly surprised. The plot never really progresses much beyond the "let's beat the shit out of some guys who have information for us" stage, but it's a fairly enjoyable stage, so I'm willing to let that go. ~grin~ Also, I really thought the four "brothers" meshed pretty well as an adopted family, and that's really good to see.

Rating (0-10): 7.5

Recommendations: If you can't decide on anything else to see, you could do a lot worse than seeing this one.

Movie #97 - The Dukes of Hazzard

2005-08-16T00:12:00.000-04:00

Title: The Dukes of Hazzard

Director: Jay Chandrasekhar

Release Year: 2005

Plot Summary: Cousins Bo and Luke Duke, with a little help from their cousin Daisy and Uncle Jesse, egg on the authorities of Hazzard County, Boss Hogg and Sheriff Coltrane.

Thoughts: I'm told I liked watching the show when I was a little tyke, but can honestly say I have no real memory of what it was like. That said, and I'm pretty sure I'm in a minority here, I found the movie to be rather amusing and fun to watch. It really looked like Scott and Knoxville were having a great time filming, and it gave the film a positive energy that I really liked.

Rating (0-10): 7

Recommendations: If you're a huge fan of the original TV series, I hear you'll hate this. I wouldn't buy it, but I'd easily watch it again.

Movie #96 - The Island

2005-08-16T00:04:00.000-04:00

Title: The Island

Director: Michael Bay

Release Year: 2005

Plot Summary: A man goes on the run after he discovers that he is actually a "harvested being", and is being kept along with others in a utopian facility.

Thoughts: The whole concept of "one guy figuring out that his reality is a lie" was a little too Matrix-y for my liking, in all honesty. Mildly entertaining, but really nothing to write home about.

Rating (0-10): 5

Recommendations: Eh, I can't really encourage anyone to watch it, but I wouldn't warn anyone away from it either. ~shrug~

Movie #95 -- Man On Fire

2005-08-15T14:20:00.000-04:00

Title: Man On Fire

Director: Tony Scott

Release Year: 2004

Plot Summary: Creasy (Denzel Washington) is an alcoholic ex-assassin hired to protect Pita (Dakota Fanning), the daughter of the wealthy Samuel (Marc Anthony).

Thoughts: Tony Scott is a fabulous director. Seriously... one of the best in the biz. And the direction of this film is top notch. Lots of crisp and quick cuts and interesting camera angles. The cast is fantastic: two-time Oscar winner Denzel Washington is good in his role as the alcoholic bodyguard; Marc Anthony (yes... THAT Marc Anthony) is outstanding as the corrupt Samuel; Radha Mitchel's character blends seemlessly into the film; and what more can be said about young Dakota Fanning?

All that in mind, this sum of the parts of this movie is less than it should be. Christopher Walken and Mickey Rourke's charcaters (see... awesome cast) are not given enough meat. The use of Trent Reznor's music gets extremely annoying about halfway through the movie. Denzel's character doesn't really make a whole lot of sense either (as wonderful as his performance is in this film). The ending sucks. Oh, and I'm convinced that somewhere in this 146 minute movie is a very good 120 minute movie just waiting to break out.

Rating (0-10): 6.8

recommendations: Worth watching for the acting performances and the kick-ass directing. I'd catch it on cable, but this certainly isn't the kind of film that bears repeat viewing.