I figure maybe updating my movie blog wouldn't be so time-intensive if I did it more than once every two months! Last entry was 21 days ago. Three weeks isn't too bad... Here goes!
"Easy A" (2010) - This movie was pretty fun to watch. With the curly red-head title character having high school problems, it reminded me of Mean Girls (2004). I enjoyed the references to the 1980's John Hughes movies and thought it was a cute homage to his work. Doesn't seem to have landed the same impact his movies did, but the movie's effort can't be faulted for that. I liked the wink at The Scarlet Letter novel and how the movie was no justification for the book. I find it hard to believe that a person so cute as the title character really had so many problems being noticed prior to the rumor. She was very cute and put together from the get-go and the only difference was she slutted up her appearance more. I found this to be a pretty fun movie and would watch it again.
"Nine to Five" (1980) - I will admit, I didn't watch this movie in its entirity, but I really enjoyed what I saw (the last hour?) and the statement it made about women in the workplace. The fact that at the end, the corporate boss was supportive of all the changes except equal pay, really speaks to the ridiculousness of women's injustices in the workplace. It doesn't hurt my battlecry that I just finished reading "Sex and Power" by Susan Estrich which highlights the disparging statistics of number of women in top corporate positions and the variance in their salaries from the men in equal or lower positions. As far as the film itself goes, it was fun to see these powerful ladies in these roles. Actually, it almost enforces stereotypes of women and how they choose to exert power and force because of the lengths they took to maintain civility when kidnapping their boss. But even so, that says much about the differences between men and women. Even when taking a victim, these women could be more civilized, although vulnerable. The end message though is that even though we have come so far, we still have a long ways to go and we need to work together to achieve it. This is the theme of Estrich's book, as well. Wow, a lot to say about a movie I didn't fully watch!! ;)
"Dark Habits"/"Entre Tinieblas" (1983) I am a big fan of Almodóvar and was thrilled to get a copy of his early movie, thanks to Facets. As a recovering Catholic, I'm okay with seeing religion mocked ;) And when you ask me if I want to watch a movie about a nightclub singer who goes into hiding in a convent of gay and/or drug-addicted nuns, I say, sure! Right away, you can tell no one is safe. Every character has his or her own secret, even the deceased nun that went to a missionary in Africa. The fact that the characters are so bizarre is underscored by the fact that they find themselves to be so normal. I mean, why shouldn't a nun harbor a pet tiger? The funny thing is that God didn't seem to be such a presence in their lives. It was in the lip-service aspect. That was the primary reason for being a nun, but they all found ways to cope with being there. It made the nightclub singer not so strange, really. And isn't that so Almodóvar to take the person that should be the outcast and make them 'normal'? Well, maybe it isn't typical of all his films, but he doesn't hold anything back. His goal is not to protect ego of the religious folk. The thing about these characters is that even though they were supposed to be so holy, they weren't but they weren't very abashed about it. I could appreciate the irreverance and I hope you can too! ;O)
"Napoleon Dynamite" (2004) - Can I just say I liked this movie before it received all the hype? It's always fun to watch a movie about bizarre characters because they help you free your mind and bit and not take yourself or everything else too seriously. And it has a bunch of ridiculous situations. What I like best is that it is supposed to take place in 2004-2005 school year in Ohio, but even the cool kids seem like they are stuck in the 80s. Ohio must really suck!! ;)
"Zoolander" (2001) - I do like Ben Stiller a lot and this movie is always fun to pop in. If you can't tell, I really like movies that don't take themselves too seriously.
"FernGully: The Last Rainforest" (1992) - I was thrilled to find a copy of this for $5 at Target and couldn't resist the chance to snatch up a movie from my childhood. In case you were wondering, Fern Gully IS the original Avatar, complete with tree spirits and creatures to fly on and destroying/saving the natural habitat. This one is more colorful though. Not just blue. ;0)
"Get Your Stuff" (2000) - This movie is a disgrace to the gay community if ever there was one (and I'm sure there's more than one). I was really disappointed with it. Not only did it seem like a film you were forced to watch because your friends made it, it relied heavily on stereotypes of gay life such as 'there's always a drag queen at a party' or 'you should beg your husband to come back to you even though he's cheating on you' and 'gay men always want to have sex, even if the door is open and there are kids in the house'. Not to mention the movie asked you to put aside issues of legality when it comes to foster children and a druggie mother who had her rights taken away but somehow manages to land herself in the gay mens' home so they can take care of her and her kids. And honestly, why the hell wouldn't they hide the liquor if there are troubled kids and women in the house?!?!? And if they are going to add the kids to the gym membership, why didn't they get them beds? This movie didn't sit well with me on many levels, obviously. I know the couple wanted 'a baby' but the fact that they apparently had no idea how to raise children and weren't ready to change their lifestyle made it absurd. And the social services lady wouldn't have done any of the shit she did. Gah, this movie. It could have been something great, but it was a terrible premise, terribly executed with terrible results. And terrible dialogue. but you should watch it! hahaha
"A Christmas Story" (1983) - T'would hardly be a Christmas without watching this flick. And I own it on VHS. :) This time I watched it with my rents. Mom reminisced about her childhood while Dad snoozed in and out (as usual). If you haven't watched it before, I'm ashamed you're reading this. No, I'm GLAD you're reading this. Isn't that the point of this blog? To get you into new movies? If you have some for me, leave a comment, please! Always need to broaden my horizons.
"Kiss Me Again" (2006) - Maybe not the typical Christmas movie, but it was available on Hulu. When I watched it, I was so very much reminded of "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" (2008) which I just watched tonight and will be discussed in duality with "Kiss Me Again". VCB was 2008, so that threw off my idea of KMA copying VCB. But maybe Woody Allen saw KMA and decided he could do better. And yes, KMA definitely needed improvements. Similarites: artists, dark room, threesome, Spanish woman that are or look like Penelope Cruz (Mirelly Taylor bears a striking resemblance). Differences: KMA relied on visuals to titulate the audience while VCB allowed the threesome between the lovers to be of a cerebral delicacy based upon the theme that love is so hard to define (Cristina's premise of her 12 minute movie). KMA is closer to soft-core while VCB shows the beauty of love in its complexities. KMA shows how emotional people get when they aren't prepared for the results of feelings of a threesome but VCB doesn't show a threesome destroying the lives of the people in it; in fact in VCB it was the threesome that brought harmony to a tortured couple. Obviously I enjoyed VCB (I had seen it before, on the plane on the way to India) and purchased it. Watching KMA was an impulse and another example of a poorly done movie (see "Get Your Stuff"). There are some movies that just have it and others that don't. The element of narrator in VCB could be a little annoying, but at least for once, it wasn't Woody Allen's voice.! ;) In fact, it didn't completely scream Woody Allen, the movie and that was very nice. VCB was a very charming movie with beautiful people, beautiful views and an attractive soundtrack, to which I am listening right now!
And, it only took me just a bit over an hour to write about these 10 movies I watched in 21 days. Not too bad all around! :)
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Sunday, December 05, 2010
Been a Long-A Time....
It really has been a while, so let's get down to business....
"Wristcutters: A Love Story" (2006) I have a dark sense of humor, so this movie was interesting. It's based on the idea for an afterlife for those who commit suicide. Worth a watch. Okay, I guess I can try to lure into it a little more. It has Shannyn Sossamon in it who starred opposite Heath Ledger in A Knight's Tale. Fun snippet is that the frontman of Gogol Bordello is in the movie and so is his music. Pretty fun actually.
"Definitely, Maybe" (2008) Can you believe it was a guy who made me watch this movie? I had been avoiding it, but conceded if only to ogle Ryan Reynolds for a little bit. It's kinda predictable and tries to make a guessing game out of love, which is exactly what we do anyway, isn't it? 'Who should I end up with?' Not much for me to say on this movie as it was two months ago that I watched it. Gee, I should really update this blog more often. But then you wouldn't have so many movies to choose from.
"Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" (2010) Not a huge fan of video games or Jake Gyllenhaal but I will concede to enjoying this movie. There is something about movies set in the desert with beefy, sweaty men that I find appealing (also a fun of The Mummy series and The Scorpion King for this very reason. rawr!) I did enjoy this flick, not because it was amazing in any regards, but it was fun escapism. And b/c of the sweaty beefy guy, even if he wasn't a preference of mine. It was odd to see Ben Kingsley in that movie. Although know that I look at his profile, his roles are kind of all over the place. Gemma Arterton is easy on the eyes too, and I always like a movie where the female isn't completely helpless. :)
"Scrooged" (1988) I will always love this movie. It's one of the ones we taped off of tv.... I mean. Uh, scratch that. I love it because it's a very entertaining twist on the Scrooge idea. It's different and cheeky (kinda like me, I guess) so it's fun to watch. And we all know I love Bill Murray. :0)
"Ghostbusters II" (1989) Speaking of Bill Murray..... don't blame me. My host during that time span had these movies, which I enjoy, or anime, which I don't even try to understand. What's not to love about The Ghostbusters? I'd call them.
"Get Smart" (2008) I do so love a movie in which the female is clearly smarter than the male. Oh, and the Rock was in it. HOT. (see Prince of Persia note about Scorpion King and my obsession with beefy, sweaty guys. Hmm, is it a healthy or unhealthy obsession?) I really would like to see the original movie/tv show so that I can appreciate the humor. I'm sure the original release was a little more appropriate/timely b/c of the then-contemporary James Bond movies.
"Bolt" (2008) I'm pretty sure I enjoyed the movie while watching it and that it was funny, but I can't remember anything right now. Good flick for kids with some fun jokes. I think that's probably safe to say...
"Japón" (2002) I have NO idea why this movie is called 'Japan', when it has absolutely nothing to do with Japan. It's a Spanish movie, filmed in Argentina by a Mexican. After watching the movie and then watching parts of the director talking about it, it just seemed to be pretentious, or at least the director did. He seemed to really get off on the movie. I couldn't say the same. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't terribly wondeful either. You could tell it was cheaply made. Apparently, the director filmed it out of pocket. For me to criticize him and conclude that he is a self-important person with enough cash to pay people to go along with his projects, probably isn't fair as it looks like he's earned some awards with this and other work. But I wasn't completely blown away. Not saying every movie has to be extravagently made, but this was very slow and left me waiting and waiting. What I noticed from this and another movie "Los Muertos" (2004), another Argentinian-made movie, is that there is animal killing. In Japón, a bird, in Los Muertos, a rabbit. I guess PETA can't really regulate other countries, eh? I think that is something interesting though. I mean if you are showing people in rural areas in Argentina, yes they will kill animals for food and not think anything of it. It is what it is.
"Hocus Pocus" (1993) "Witches? There be no witches here, sir." "Just three old spinster ladies spending a quiet evening at home." "Sucking the lives out of little children!" It's been a long-standing joke that the Sanderson sisters are my sisters and myself. I happen to be the big dumb one that cans sniff out children. Ironic, b/c of my choice towards no child-bearing. lol I have to watch this movie every Halloween anymore, so whenever I can find friends or family to enjoy it with me, I'm quite happy. It just helps to ring in my favorite season. I would like to have a re-do actually of Halloween, since I was a little ill. :(
"50 Ways of Saying Fabulous" (2005) I was jonesing for some subtitles for a bit of this New Zealand feature. But other than that, I really enjoyed the storyline and the characterization. What I most appreciated in the film is that the parents and other adult figures didn't completely seem negative towards the young boy's homosexuality. The aunt let him dress up in girl's clothing, even. I liked the suggestion at adults that can protect children by supporting them. I liked this story a lot. It was a gay-friendly movie that wasn't based arond the club-life and I thought it was a sentimental look at the 70s and self-discovery.
"Let the Right One In" (2008) Låt den rätte komma in (original title) The Swedish predecessor to 2010's "Let Me In" which I still have yet to see. I thought this foreign original was a fantastic additon to the vampire genre because it is distinctly different to what has been produced before. It is a more realistic portrayal to what vampiricism (is that a word) would entail in the modern world. And yes I just talked about a vampire movie being realistic. It wasn't overly romanticized or glorified as we've seen in other films. And it had to be pointed out to me the subtlty of gender in the film.
"Girls Will Be Girls " (2003) This movie is probably the definition of camp. Men dressed as women, playing women. And lots of sexual jokes. I did enjoy this movie. I think the intention was to put you on edge with some of the racy-ness, but I enjoyed it. If you are one who enjoys gender-bender movies, you will enjoy this one.
"The Visitor" (2007) I thought this was a beautiful movie that highlighed music and our interconnectedness on this planet. It also gave a window into the deportations that occur to good people. I urge anyone who has a hang-up about 'illegals' to watch this movie and open their hearts. It's one planet, we just created the borders. And Richard Jenkins is a doppelganger for a theatre teacher I had in college....and, after I looked at his page, in another movie I will be discussing in this post.
"Father of the Bride" (1991) Got to watch this on the big screen with producer Howard Rosenman. This movie makes me think of my own father, only because I remember him watching this and other Steve Martin movies. (As well as Chevy Chase and maybe a couple other actors). It's a sentimental movie that really holds up over time. It's almost 20 years old and a remake of a Spencer Tracy movie. It's always fun to see different generations of comedians try on roles, especially when they execute it so well. I can't help but see how young the actress is. Maybe I'm just new-fashioned, but I think people should wait a bit longer than their 20s to tie the knot. But that's neither here nor there! ;)
"El Norte" (1983) Oh boy... I know I mentioned in my words about 'The Visitor' that people with strong views on immigration should watch that, but this movie is incredibly powerful. You never know what immigrants are up against when you close your mind and just shout that they shouldn't be here. You never know what situations they are trying to avoid by leaving their country and what situations they live through to try to find a better life. Not saying all immigrants are holy, sin-less people, but there needs to be more understanding towards their dignity and humanity. The movie is nearly 30 years old, but very relevant and moving.
"The Taste of Tea" (2004) Cha no aji (original title) This bizarre movie quickly won over the hearts of me and my family members, due in part to The Mountain Song. It also happens to be a movie of interconnectedness, however random. Soooo many stories happen in this film and it's bizarre to watch them unravel. It is one of my family's favorites now, and we often find ourselves asking each other: "Why are you a triangle?"
"Agnes and His Brothers" (2004) Agnes und seine Brüder (original title) Quite a bit darker than I expected. In fact, I expected something 'fabulous!' but those Germans never give you what you want ;) It's the stories of three brothers and their messed-up lives. It definitely has very little happiness to it and left me with a weird feeling after watching it. I don't regret watching it, I just regret watching it alone and so close to bedtime. I had to completely disconnect myself and try to forget I'd seen it. It's striking, to say the least.
"Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" (2010) Yes, I enjoyed it, and yes, I made an avatar of myself, even though I watched the movie only after it was out on DVD. I'm a little slow/preoccupied with lots of other stuff (as if you couldn't tell by how long it takes me to update). I enjoyed the format of the story as unique and entertaining. I do so like Jason Schwartzman as well. Fun times to be had with this movie. I like the colorfulness of the characters and even though I'm not a gamer, I was pleased with that aspect and could appreciate it. It was a playful romp, for sure :)
"And the Band Played On" (TV 1993) Woo-wee, if you want a heavy movie that teaches you important stuff, that would be this one. It chronicles multiple characters at the discovery and classification of AIDS. It shows what the scientific community had to go to erase the stigma of it as a 'gay disease' and invoke sympathy from the hetero community. Powerful and truthful movie.
"Nothing But Trouble" (1991) After watching this movie, you will view Demi Moore differently. Fun flick but bizarre. I could have sworn my father and I had seen this movie on tv once, but a few years ago when I bought the DVD and watched it with him, he couldn't remember it. John Candy (RIP) and Dan Akroyd must have had tons of fun with their costumes :) And Chevy Chase is not silver-haired in this movie which is surprising to look at after watching him on TV recently. :(
"The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela" (2008) After spending a lot of time watching the glitterific world of RuPaul on his tv shows, it really is something to see the reality of being transgendered in other countries. It's described as such on the trivia page: "The film is inspired by actual people and events - was originally supposed to be a documentary but was changed to a semi-fiction feature." So I'm currently confused to know if it was really about Raquela's life or just a made up story. The style is a little off-putting as the acting isn't stellar when it comes to re-enacted segments, but there's something okay in the style of the piece. I liked the introspection and humanity it brought to a segment of the world population that is often ignored.
"Burlesque" (2010) Someone described it as a bunch of music videos and I can definitely see that. Prior to seeing it, I assumed it would be like Moulin Rouge and Chicago. I'm happy that most of the songs were done as part of the burlesque act, except for a song from each Cher and Christina Aguilera. Both of those songs, although done for dramatic purpose in the storyline, took me out of the movie and it's theme. I didn't really care for that. I couldn't see any other actresses but Cher and Xtina playing those parts, and I think they did pretty well. It seems like those parts were written for just them. The storyline was pretty predictable. I for one am glad it wasn't a 'true musical' but all the songs took place on stage. I may have grown up in the theatre, but I can only take musicals under special circumstances. Ya hear? Watching this movie DID make me wanna go out and shake it on the dance floor. Probably a good thing I didn't. Would have scandalized the place! ;)
"Keeping It Real: The Adventures of Greg Walloch" (2001) I've never understood why we have to always call things 'adventures' when there is nothing spectacular going on. Case in point: The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. There is nothing adventurous about a family so wholesome as that. Anyway, for this particular movie, the alternate title 'Fuck the Disabled' is more catchy, don't you agree? Gives a glimpse into the life of a comedian who is gay and disabled (cerbral pasly). This flick has a LOT of cameos. I didn't even recognize Stephen Baldwin until I just checked out the imdb page. I thought this movie was interesting. Seems like some of Greg's stand-up routine is/was less comedy and more relation of his thoughts on life. That was okay/interesting too, don't get me wrong. I thought it was very interesting to hear him speak on how he views his life and his art.
Okay, so that took 3THREE HOURS to type all this up. I get an award of $5 for doing this (money put to my travel fund) and you hopefully now have a few movies you want to watch! (23 in 2 months? not toooo shabby for a busy gal!)
"Wristcutters: A Love Story" (2006) I have a dark sense of humor, so this movie was interesting. It's based on the idea for an afterlife for those who commit suicide. Worth a watch. Okay, I guess I can try to lure into it a little more. It has Shannyn Sossamon in it who starred opposite Heath Ledger in A Knight's Tale. Fun snippet is that the frontman of Gogol Bordello is in the movie and so is his music. Pretty fun actually.
"Definitely, Maybe" (2008) Can you believe it was a guy who made me watch this movie? I had been avoiding it, but conceded if only to ogle Ryan Reynolds for a little bit. It's kinda predictable and tries to make a guessing game out of love, which is exactly what we do anyway, isn't it? 'Who should I end up with?' Not much for me to say on this movie as it was two months ago that I watched it. Gee, I should really update this blog more often. But then you wouldn't have so many movies to choose from.
"Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" (2010) Not a huge fan of video games or Jake Gyllenhaal but I will concede to enjoying this movie. There is something about movies set in the desert with beefy, sweaty men that I find appealing (also a fun of The Mummy series and The Scorpion King for this very reason. rawr!) I did enjoy this flick, not because it was amazing in any regards, but it was fun escapism. And b/c of the sweaty beefy guy, even if he wasn't a preference of mine. It was odd to see Ben Kingsley in that movie. Although know that I look at his profile, his roles are kind of all over the place. Gemma Arterton is easy on the eyes too, and I always like a movie where the female isn't completely helpless. :)
"Scrooged" (1988) I will always love this movie. It's one of the ones we taped off of tv.... I mean. Uh, scratch that. I love it because it's a very entertaining twist on the Scrooge idea. It's different and cheeky (kinda like me, I guess) so it's fun to watch. And we all know I love Bill Murray. :0)
"Ghostbusters II" (1989) Speaking of Bill Murray..... don't blame me. My host during that time span had these movies, which I enjoy, or anime, which I don't even try to understand. What's not to love about The Ghostbusters? I'd call them.
"Get Smart" (2008) I do so love a movie in which the female is clearly smarter than the male. Oh, and the Rock was in it. HOT. (see Prince of Persia note about Scorpion King and my obsession with beefy, sweaty guys. Hmm, is it a healthy or unhealthy obsession?) I really would like to see the original movie/tv show so that I can appreciate the humor. I'm sure the original release was a little more appropriate/timely b/c of the then-contemporary James Bond movies.
"Bolt" (2008) I'm pretty sure I enjoyed the movie while watching it and that it was funny, but I can't remember anything right now. Good flick for kids with some fun jokes. I think that's probably safe to say...
"Japón" (2002) I have NO idea why this movie is called 'Japan', when it has absolutely nothing to do with Japan. It's a Spanish movie, filmed in Argentina by a Mexican. After watching the movie and then watching parts of the director talking about it, it just seemed to be pretentious, or at least the director did. He seemed to really get off on the movie. I couldn't say the same. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't terribly wondeful either. You could tell it was cheaply made. Apparently, the director filmed it out of pocket. For me to criticize him and conclude that he is a self-important person with enough cash to pay people to go along with his projects, probably isn't fair as it looks like he's earned some awards with this and other work. But I wasn't completely blown away. Not saying every movie has to be extravagently made, but this was very slow and left me waiting and waiting. What I noticed from this and another movie "Los Muertos" (2004), another Argentinian-made movie, is that there is animal killing. In Japón, a bird, in Los Muertos, a rabbit. I guess PETA can't really regulate other countries, eh? I think that is something interesting though. I mean if you are showing people in rural areas in Argentina, yes they will kill animals for food and not think anything of it. It is what it is.
"Hocus Pocus" (1993) "Witches? There be no witches here, sir." "Just three old spinster ladies spending a quiet evening at home." "Sucking the lives out of little children!" It's been a long-standing joke that the Sanderson sisters are my sisters and myself. I happen to be the big dumb one that cans sniff out children. Ironic, b/c of my choice towards no child-bearing. lol I have to watch this movie every Halloween anymore, so whenever I can find friends or family to enjoy it with me, I'm quite happy. It just helps to ring in my favorite season. I would like to have a re-do actually of Halloween, since I was a little ill. :(
"50 Ways of Saying Fabulous" (2005) I was jonesing for some subtitles for a bit of this New Zealand feature. But other than that, I really enjoyed the storyline and the characterization. What I most appreciated in the film is that the parents and other adult figures didn't completely seem negative towards the young boy's homosexuality. The aunt let him dress up in girl's clothing, even. I liked the suggestion at adults that can protect children by supporting them. I liked this story a lot. It was a gay-friendly movie that wasn't based arond the club-life and I thought it was a sentimental look at the 70s and self-discovery.
"Let the Right One In" (2008) Låt den rätte komma in (original title) The Swedish predecessor to 2010's "Let Me In" which I still have yet to see. I thought this foreign original was a fantastic additon to the vampire genre because it is distinctly different to what has been produced before. It is a more realistic portrayal to what vampiricism (is that a word) would entail in the modern world. And yes I just talked about a vampire movie being realistic. It wasn't overly romanticized or glorified as we've seen in other films. And it had to be pointed out to me the subtlty of gender in the film.
"Girls Will Be Girls " (2003) This movie is probably the definition of camp. Men dressed as women, playing women. And lots of sexual jokes. I did enjoy this movie. I think the intention was to put you on edge with some of the racy-ness, but I enjoyed it. If you are one who enjoys gender-bender movies, you will enjoy this one.
"The Visitor" (2007) I thought this was a beautiful movie that highlighed music and our interconnectedness on this planet. It also gave a window into the deportations that occur to good people. I urge anyone who has a hang-up about 'illegals' to watch this movie and open their hearts. It's one planet, we just created the borders. And Richard Jenkins is a doppelganger for a theatre teacher I had in college....and, after I looked at his page, in another movie I will be discussing in this post.
"Father of the Bride" (1991) Got to watch this on the big screen with producer Howard Rosenman. This movie makes me think of my own father, only because I remember him watching this and other Steve Martin movies. (As well as Chevy Chase and maybe a couple other actors). It's a sentimental movie that really holds up over time. It's almost 20 years old and a remake of a Spencer Tracy movie. It's always fun to see different generations of comedians try on roles, especially when they execute it so well. I can't help but see how young the actress is. Maybe I'm just new-fashioned, but I think people should wait a bit longer than their 20s to tie the knot. But that's neither here nor there! ;)
"El Norte" (1983) Oh boy... I know I mentioned in my words about 'The Visitor' that people with strong views on immigration should watch that, but this movie is incredibly powerful. You never know what immigrants are up against when you close your mind and just shout that they shouldn't be here. You never know what situations they are trying to avoid by leaving their country and what situations they live through to try to find a better life. Not saying all immigrants are holy, sin-less people, but there needs to be more understanding towards their dignity and humanity. The movie is nearly 30 years old, but very relevant and moving.
"The Taste of Tea" (2004) Cha no aji (original title) This bizarre movie quickly won over the hearts of me and my family members, due in part to The Mountain Song. It also happens to be a movie of interconnectedness, however random. Soooo many stories happen in this film and it's bizarre to watch them unravel. It is one of my family's favorites now, and we often find ourselves asking each other: "Why are you a triangle?"
"Agnes and His Brothers" (2004) Agnes und seine Brüder (original title) Quite a bit darker than I expected. In fact, I expected something 'fabulous!' but those Germans never give you what you want ;) It's the stories of three brothers and their messed-up lives. It definitely has very little happiness to it and left me with a weird feeling after watching it. I don't regret watching it, I just regret watching it alone and so close to bedtime. I had to completely disconnect myself and try to forget I'd seen it. It's striking, to say the least.
"Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" (2010) Yes, I enjoyed it, and yes, I made an avatar of myself, even though I watched the movie only after it was out on DVD. I'm a little slow/preoccupied with lots of other stuff (as if you couldn't tell by how long it takes me to update). I enjoyed the format of the story as unique and entertaining. I do so like Jason Schwartzman as well. Fun times to be had with this movie. I like the colorfulness of the characters and even though I'm not a gamer, I was pleased with that aspect and could appreciate it. It was a playful romp, for sure :)
"And the Band Played On" (TV 1993) Woo-wee, if you want a heavy movie that teaches you important stuff, that would be this one. It chronicles multiple characters at the discovery and classification of AIDS. It shows what the scientific community had to go to erase the stigma of it as a 'gay disease' and invoke sympathy from the hetero community. Powerful and truthful movie.
"Nothing But Trouble" (1991) After watching this movie, you will view Demi Moore differently. Fun flick but bizarre. I could have sworn my father and I had seen this movie on tv once, but a few years ago when I bought the DVD and watched it with him, he couldn't remember it. John Candy (RIP) and Dan Akroyd must have had tons of fun with their costumes :) And Chevy Chase is not silver-haired in this movie which is surprising to look at after watching him on TV recently. :(
"The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela" (2008) After spending a lot of time watching the glitterific world of RuPaul on his tv shows, it really is something to see the reality of being transgendered in other countries. It's described as such on the trivia page: "The film is inspired by actual people and events - was originally supposed to be a documentary but was changed to a semi-fiction feature." So I'm currently confused to know if it was really about Raquela's life or just a made up story. The style is a little off-putting as the acting isn't stellar when it comes to re-enacted segments, but there's something okay in the style of the piece. I liked the introspection and humanity it brought to a segment of the world population that is often ignored.
"Burlesque" (2010) Someone described it as a bunch of music videos and I can definitely see that. Prior to seeing it, I assumed it would be like Moulin Rouge and Chicago. I'm happy that most of the songs were done as part of the burlesque act, except for a song from each Cher and Christina Aguilera. Both of those songs, although done for dramatic purpose in the storyline, took me out of the movie and it's theme. I didn't really care for that. I couldn't see any other actresses but Cher and Xtina playing those parts, and I think they did pretty well. It seems like those parts were written for just them. The storyline was pretty predictable. I for one am glad it wasn't a 'true musical' but all the songs took place on stage. I may have grown up in the theatre, but I can only take musicals under special circumstances. Ya hear? Watching this movie DID make me wanna go out and shake it on the dance floor. Probably a good thing I didn't. Would have scandalized the place! ;)
"Keeping It Real: The Adventures of Greg Walloch" (2001) I've never understood why we have to always call things 'adventures' when there is nothing spectacular going on. Case in point: The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. There is nothing adventurous about a family so wholesome as that. Anyway, for this particular movie, the alternate title 'Fuck the Disabled' is more catchy, don't you agree? Gives a glimpse into the life of a comedian who is gay and disabled (cerbral pasly). This flick has a LOT of cameos. I didn't even recognize Stephen Baldwin until I just checked out the imdb page. I thought this movie was interesting. Seems like some of Greg's stand-up routine is/was less comedy and more relation of his thoughts on life. That was okay/interesting too, don't get me wrong. I thought it was very interesting to hear him speak on how he views his life and his art.
Okay, so that took 3THREE HOURS to type all this up. I get an award of $5 for doing this (money put to my travel fund) and you hopefully now have a few movies you want to watch! (23 in 2 months? not toooo shabby for a busy gal!)
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Time Passes Quickly!
Okay, it has been quite a while since I updated my movie blog. Ooops. Please forgive me! ;) K, here goes!
"Brief Interviews With Hideous Men" (2009) - I was disappointed in this movie. It was obvious that it was a research journal of some sort and I would have loved to read it as such. It would have been more suited to a stage play and left me disappointed, cinematically speaking. There is something important about knowing one's social media and one's audience. One has to know the strengths and weaknesses of the method of presentation, and I would much rather read the book on which the movie was based. If not that, a stage play would take second place, but I feel that would come off just as smarmily. Sorry, John Krasinski.
"The 'burbs' "(1989) - I must admit, I love Tom Hanks and this film was just soooo much fun. I've loved it ever since the day we taped it off of T.V. This time around, I watched it with some family members and realized that the VHS copy had seen better days, so I bought the DVD (actually a 3 pack of Tom Hanks movies). This movie has a lot going for it. One thing I love is the subtly of some of the comedy. One has to pay attention to what's going on to really catch every grain of humor. It also encompasses an era that I find to be highly entertaining, what with Corey Feldman and all. (Goonies is one of my faves, so I can't pass up the opportunity, right?) All in all, I highly recommend watching The Burbs. ;)
" The Rainbow Warriors of Waiheke Island " (1992?) - This documentary is one of those that touched me deeply on a level and I'll try to explain why. I was born in the year the Greenpeace ship was bombed, but that barely touches on it. My mother said she didn't remember because she was busy trying to raise her four children (at the time). But these people belonged to an era that I can only dream about and study, and this is one of the 'textbooks' on which these studies can be based. These Greenpeace warriors put their lives on the line to protect wildlife and protect us against nuclear testing. It was a time when you could really stand for something and it was important. It's nothing like the protests of today because the current ones (not all of them, but prominent ones in the U.S.) are built on party lines, these falsehoods of humanity centered around politics. The Rainbow Warriors were defending life. I know this sounds trippy, but I can't help but admire these unsung heroes who put their lives on the line, not to gain dominance over another political party, but to encourage and support a healthier and safer way of life. I wish this documentary was more well-known, and highly encourage you to get your hands on a copy and soak up the history no one's talking about.
"Summer Hours" (2008) - This French flick was a very quiet film that let us witness how we as people develop attachments to material goods. And how we often never speak up when these things are threatened. I found it to be an interesting, albeit slow, movie. It also called to mind family dynamics and the secrets we might not know. I thought it was interesting how the parents acted in the "best interest" of the children/teens, but without ever really consulting the teens. At the end, we see the teenage daughter mourning the loss of what was taken away and her inability to do anything about it. It makes you question the worth of your own possessions and what memories they keep for you. Once the person with the memories is gone, the object is still just an object. What then? Does it have importance or are we silly to attach ourselves to these creations?
"My Life in Ruins" (2009) - This comedy is along the lines of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" not only because it stars Nia Vardalos and has to do with Greeks, but for the humor in the humiliated main character who has to learn to let go a little. I watched this film three times because my family and I enjoyed it so. If you give yourself over to the laughter and allow yourself to smile, this film can take you there. I can see some viewers not 'getting' it, but I do enjoy the actress, the type of comedy and the simple message. I also happen to know the director, but that's not enough to sway me! I'd intended to see it first-run, then second, but got my hands on a DVD and held onto it for at least 3 weeks. Ooops! But when a particular film hits your funny bone and your view of life, you can't help but appreciate it, right? I think this film, as well as Nia is quite underappreciated and of course I am a strong proponent of Poupi Kakas and all things potty humor. ;)
"My Bloody Wedding" (2010) - This is another case of knowing the director, however, I'm not as in love with it as the previously mentioned film. This film is definitely in the campy, kitschy humor zone and I think it was just a little off-mark. It seemed to be simultaneously poking fun at both horror films and the horror film satires as well, and I am uncertain if that was the intent. As a satire of a satire, we were witness to over the top acting from all the characters, but at least it had it's own unique monsters. The outtakes were pretty awesome, though ;) I do appreciate indie filmmaking and I this is it. I have seen another of the director's films "My Name is Jerry" which was mentioned in a previous post (March or April 2010?)
"The Triplets of Belleville" (2003) - I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that I may have previously written about this movie in one of my first blog entries. If not, I will just say, this cartoon is NOT for children. It would be a confusing story line for a child to understand and has some themes or nudity that might not be appreciated. But don't look to me to tell you what your children should watch! According to the imdb page, thie film is highly accredited/awarded and it's so absurd, it's highly lovable. It's French, for one, and while this might not be a good reason for some people, the humor is so out there that you can't help but laugh. The film is mainly without dialogue, so no worries to those of you who detest subtitles. Hopefully you are not the same that cannot watch a film that doesn't have a convoluted plot. It basically doesn't hold anyone or anything sacred and that's half the fun of it. It's irreverent humor and highly recommended.
"My Big Fat Greek Wedding" (2002) - Yes, I previously mentioned this film in this very post, but apparently it was on television when I was staying at Grandma's, and to my surprise, my parents were watching it at their house on television too, followed by the next movie I'll discuss. Anyway, this is one of my family's favorite movies and I've seen it many a time. I think we can relate to and appreciate it because of the makeup of our own family. We are a mix of course, but with a heavy Polish bloodline on one side. I think anyone who has chaos in a big number of family members can relate. I think the theme of this film is that sometimes we are too lost in what we think our role is a person that we surprise ourselves to find out that we are capable of more and that others won't be so surprised to accept us when we let ourselves bloom. It's a great film for those of us (the great majority of the world) that are not movie star quality all the time. It's a film that shows our inner character just may need extra time to get out! Feel good flick, if ever there was one. And brings a favorite one-liner for my family: "Why you want to leeeave me?"
"Runaway Bride" (1999) - Never saw it when it came out, but finally one night huddled in front of the television. It's an okay flick. Mo-def a predictable rom-com. I liked it on principle I suppose, for the message it tries to send about knowing oneself fully before committing to a relationship and expecting everything to fall together. I think many people rush into marriage without knowing who they are as an independent person and it's most important to know thyself. This film isn't anything mind-boggling or thought provoking of course, but if you want a fluff piece for a day in, sure, why not?
"How to Drain Your Dragon" (2010) - I'm 100% positive that I've discussed this film in a previous entry, quite possibly the most recent, but I figure it's worth another go. This time I actually saw it with an 11 year old and not someone in my own age range. Each time though, it was lots of fun. I love the message of this film and the characters are lots of fun. And of course, a strong supporting female character (who is stronger than several of the males, okay, they're Vikings, but still!) is always appreciated. The main message of the film is that we should sometimes question why things are done the way they are and whether it's the best way. In this case, yes I am telling you what to let your children watch! ;)
"Eat Pray Love" (2010) - I first read the book in Spanish, go me. The film was alright, of course, with many variations from the book, but that's to be expected. It really has to be, to condense a year plus and three countries into such a short time period. Wouldn't it be nice if we could all be paid to travel? I'm pretty sure I could handle that. It's basically a story about the luxurious rich who are the only ones who can afford to travel and search for spirituality, while the rest of us suckers have to find it while working our humdrum jobs and staying put when we can't afford a vacation to the next town over. Yes, I'm jealous in a way, but at the same point, I don't need to pretend that by traveling, all the answers come suddenly more clear. It helps, though, or is at most, a very good excuse! I suppose that if one is out of balance, something extreme might be the only answer, or at best, the most entertaining. I am currently reading a book that is a satire of her book. It's the male's fiction version: Drink, Play, F@#k! Boy, do I love it!
"Shrek Forever After" (2010) - Yet another children's movie meant for adults. It was fun and had a lot of laughs. Am I sad that Shrek is no more? No, not really. All empires must come to an end. I think I missed the third Shrek, but that's not really a biggie, right? Nope.
"Boy A" (2007) - Based on a true story and an interesting concept, but the execution, pardon the pun, was a little slow and painful. The main character, while naive and innocent was painfully female in his relation. It's hard to envision someone like that. I do like the idea, but don't know that it was done well enough. It was more painful and awkward. Good concept, unfortunate execution.
"Monsters Inc" (2001) - Okay, so maybe the point of this blog entry is that I didn't get out of the house much for new movies and actually watched a few that I've seen several times before, but still, I feel inclined to let you know! This has the same message of "How to Drain Your Dragon" in that we should question the status quo. The characters are fun to watch and the story is fun as well. Fun. There you have it. ;)
"The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" (2004) - You either like Wes Anderson and his posse, or you don't. I happen to do. ;) Yes, I've seen this before, but there isn't any harm in re-watching movies, right? I'm unsure if this one was mentioned in my blog entries previously, but here goes. It's goofy, irreverent and absurd. I'm beginning to think those are my qualifications for like liking a movie. I love me some Bill Murray (long before I knew he was roomies with a professor of mine!) and this movie lets him be the goofball we all know and love. Interestingly enough, the character is a bit similar to another film I will soon discuss... stay tuned for that one! This is interesting to watch in light of The Rainbow Warriors of Waiheke Island but this is definitely on the irreverent side of that. It's fun to see people acting absurdly and it being considered standard behavior.
"Connie and Carla" (2004) - This movie is right up my alley. Two girls have to dress up as drag queens. And one of them is my beloved Nia Vardalos. Thank you very much! The other is Toni Collette, who leads in another film I'll discuss in this post. It's campy and funny and I love me some gays, so dammit, this was the best find in a grocery store movie bin in a long time! Oh, and I kind of love dressing up as a tranny/drag queen, myself! Not a secret, really. Just a weird obsession. haha
"To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar" (1995) - Had I known at age 10 that this movie would mean so much to me, I would have not been allowed to see anyway. Lol. I'm sure that I've covered this film numerous times, but it's now been a year since our beloved Patrick Swayze has passed on to that stage show in the sky. =( This film reminds us to stay true to ourselves and to always leave the world a little more fabulous than we found it.
"9 Dead Gay Guys" (2002) - Just blame it on the UK for this irreverent flick about two Irish lads trying to navigate the gay scene in London. It's very out there and unabashed, so beware! I found it to be kind of fun, if not just a good use of characterization. Not for the weak of mind.
"Bend It Like Beckham" (2002) - Another flick with gay influence, making four in a row. This altered my mind apparently as a straight female. SIDE STORY: After watching these four gay-friendly movies, I was telling a friend who I was going to soon visit in his Northwestern state, that the joke at work is that I am a man. He then tried to get back to the subject at hand and asked: "What do you wanna do when you come out?" I replied, " Well, I'd like to have a stage show". He laughed. "I meant, when you come out to visit me". So, moral of the story is that my laugh has been made fabulous by so many gay flicks and I think I really would like a stage show! In another note, by checking out the imdb page for this flick, I've noticed that the lead, Parminder Nagra, is absolutely GORGEOUS and should get more work! I want to see more of her! (and less of Keira Knightley. BOO! Yes, I'm a hater)
"Muriel's Wedding" (1994) - As promised, another flick with Toni Collette. I liked what I saw of this flick, but it was a bit unnerving/disturbing since I'm basically the opposite of Muriel in as far as obsessions towards weddings. But she saw a wedding as a means to being someone important, which of course she has to unlearn. And Porpoise Spit seems like the ultimate drag! Poor girl! Although, staying with the rich swimmer might not have been so bad! ;)
"Get Low" (2009) - Bill Murray! My Man! So I mentioned previously that his role in Life Aquatic was very similar to that of this movie. Also starring: Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek and Lucas Black. This film was really really good. It was in the 1930s and Duvall played a hermit with a backstory who wanted to have a party instead of a funeral. And of couse, he wanted to be present, so I guess one could call it a FUN-eral, eh? This concept back then would have been absurd, and I'm sure it's not entirely commonplace even today, but I know my own father has mentioned he would rather have people celebrate his life than mourn his passing. I like this idea and would want a party too, so of course I would want to attend. Really, sounds like fun. I guess a birthday is a true celebration of an individual, but that's expected. Hmm, I think I have some thinking to do.
"The Kids are All Right" (2010) - I liked the concept of the lesbian moms and their two kids who wanted to find their sperm donor. The fact that the couple was demonstrated to have the same problems that hetero couples have is probably nice, but I would probably choose Mark Ruffalo. Yummy! ;) Although, love me some Julianne Moore. =D
"Away We Go" (2009) - This movie was not highly enjoyable. I get what they were were going for and I like all the actors (well most of them), but it was trying too hard and was a bit forced. I know that sounds like a generalized critique without much of a road map as to how to fix it, but that's just the impression I got. That and I'm always turned off by pregnancy movies. Ugh. Yeah, that's my own issue for sure. Still, the beginning of the movie was confusing as to where it was going and what was happening and how I was supposed to feel for the characters. Eh.
So 23 movies in over two and a half months. I do have valid excuses this time.... a life! =D
So those are the movies I've seen since my last update and my general thoughts on all of them. Hope you have found something to watch! :)
"Brief Interviews With Hideous Men" (2009) - I was disappointed in this movie. It was obvious that it was a research journal of some sort and I would have loved to read it as such. It would have been more suited to a stage play and left me disappointed, cinematically speaking. There is something important about knowing one's social media and one's audience. One has to know the strengths and weaknesses of the method of presentation, and I would much rather read the book on which the movie was based. If not that, a stage play would take second place, but I feel that would come off just as smarmily. Sorry, John Krasinski.
"The 'burbs' "(1989) - I must admit, I love Tom Hanks and this film was just soooo much fun. I've loved it ever since the day we taped it off of T.V. This time around, I watched it with some family members and realized that the VHS copy had seen better days, so I bought the DVD (actually a 3 pack of Tom Hanks movies). This movie has a lot going for it. One thing I love is the subtly of some of the comedy. One has to pay attention to what's going on to really catch every grain of humor. It also encompasses an era that I find to be highly entertaining, what with Corey Feldman and all. (Goonies is one of my faves, so I can't pass up the opportunity, right?) All in all, I highly recommend watching The Burbs. ;)
" The Rainbow Warriors of Waiheke Island " (1992?) - This documentary is one of those that touched me deeply on a level and I'll try to explain why. I was born in the year the Greenpeace ship was bombed, but that barely touches on it. My mother said she didn't remember because she was busy trying to raise her four children (at the time). But these people belonged to an era that I can only dream about and study, and this is one of the 'textbooks' on which these studies can be based. These Greenpeace warriors put their lives on the line to protect wildlife and protect us against nuclear testing. It was a time when you could really stand for something and it was important. It's nothing like the protests of today because the current ones (not all of them, but prominent ones in the U.S.) are built on party lines, these falsehoods of humanity centered around politics. The Rainbow Warriors were defending life. I know this sounds trippy, but I can't help but admire these unsung heroes who put their lives on the line, not to gain dominance over another political party, but to encourage and support a healthier and safer way of life. I wish this documentary was more well-known, and highly encourage you to get your hands on a copy and soak up the history no one's talking about.
"Summer Hours" (2008) - This French flick was a very quiet film that let us witness how we as people develop attachments to material goods. And how we often never speak up when these things are threatened. I found it to be an interesting, albeit slow, movie. It also called to mind family dynamics and the secrets we might not know. I thought it was interesting how the parents acted in the "best interest" of the children/teens, but without ever really consulting the teens. At the end, we see the teenage daughter mourning the loss of what was taken away and her inability to do anything about it. It makes you question the worth of your own possessions and what memories they keep for you. Once the person with the memories is gone, the object is still just an object. What then? Does it have importance or are we silly to attach ourselves to these creations?
"My Life in Ruins" (2009) - This comedy is along the lines of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" not only because it stars Nia Vardalos and has to do with Greeks, but for the humor in the humiliated main character who has to learn to let go a little. I watched this film three times because my family and I enjoyed it so. If you give yourself over to the laughter and allow yourself to smile, this film can take you there. I can see some viewers not 'getting' it, but I do enjoy the actress, the type of comedy and the simple message. I also happen to know the director, but that's not enough to sway me! I'd intended to see it first-run, then second, but got my hands on a DVD and held onto it for at least 3 weeks. Ooops! But when a particular film hits your funny bone and your view of life, you can't help but appreciate it, right? I think this film, as well as Nia is quite underappreciated and of course I am a strong proponent of Poupi Kakas and all things potty humor. ;)
"My Bloody Wedding" (2010) - This is another case of knowing the director, however, I'm not as in love with it as the previously mentioned film. This film is definitely in the campy, kitschy humor zone and I think it was just a little off-mark. It seemed to be simultaneously poking fun at both horror films and the horror film satires as well, and I am uncertain if that was the intent. As a satire of a satire, we were witness to over the top acting from all the characters, but at least it had it's own unique monsters. The outtakes were pretty awesome, though ;) I do appreciate indie filmmaking and I this is it. I have seen another of the director's films "My Name is Jerry" which was mentioned in a previous post (March or April 2010?)
"The Triplets of Belleville" (2003) - I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that I may have previously written about this movie in one of my first blog entries. If not, I will just say, this cartoon is NOT for children. It would be a confusing story line for a child to understand and has some themes or nudity that might not be appreciated. But don't look to me to tell you what your children should watch! According to the imdb page, thie film is highly accredited/awarded and it's so absurd, it's highly lovable. It's French, for one, and while this might not be a good reason for some people, the humor is so out there that you can't help but laugh. The film is mainly without dialogue, so no worries to those of you who detest subtitles. Hopefully you are not the same that cannot watch a film that doesn't have a convoluted plot. It basically doesn't hold anyone or anything sacred and that's half the fun of it. It's irreverent humor and highly recommended.
"My Big Fat Greek Wedding" (2002) - Yes, I previously mentioned this film in this very post, but apparently it was on television when I was staying at Grandma's, and to my surprise, my parents were watching it at their house on television too, followed by the next movie I'll discuss. Anyway, this is one of my family's favorite movies and I've seen it many a time. I think we can relate to and appreciate it because of the makeup of our own family. We are a mix of course, but with a heavy Polish bloodline on one side. I think anyone who has chaos in a big number of family members can relate. I think the theme of this film is that sometimes we are too lost in what we think our role is a person that we surprise ourselves to find out that we are capable of more and that others won't be so surprised to accept us when we let ourselves bloom. It's a great film for those of us (the great majority of the world) that are not movie star quality all the time. It's a film that shows our inner character just may need extra time to get out! Feel good flick, if ever there was one. And brings a favorite one-liner for my family: "Why you want to leeeave me?"
"Runaway Bride" (1999) - Never saw it when it came out, but finally one night huddled in front of the television. It's an okay flick. Mo-def a predictable rom-com. I liked it on principle I suppose, for the message it tries to send about knowing oneself fully before committing to a relationship and expecting everything to fall together. I think many people rush into marriage without knowing who they are as an independent person and it's most important to know thyself. This film isn't anything mind-boggling or thought provoking of course, but if you want a fluff piece for a day in, sure, why not?
"How to Drain Your Dragon" (2010) - I'm 100% positive that I've discussed this film in a previous entry, quite possibly the most recent, but I figure it's worth another go. This time I actually saw it with an 11 year old and not someone in my own age range. Each time though, it was lots of fun. I love the message of this film and the characters are lots of fun. And of course, a strong supporting female character (who is stronger than several of the males, okay, they're Vikings, but still!) is always appreciated. The main message of the film is that we should sometimes question why things are done the way they are and whether it's the best way. In this case, yes I am telling you what to let your children watch! ;)
"Eat Pray Love" (2010) - I first read the book in Spanish, go me. The film was alright, of course, with many variations from the book, but that's to be expected. It really has to be, to condense a year plus and three countries into such a short time period. Wouldn't it be nice if we could all be paid to travel? I'm pretty sure I could handle that. It's basically a story about the luxurious rich who are the only ones who can afford to travel and search for spirituality, while the rest of us suckers have to find it while working our humdrum jobs and staying put when we can't afford a vacation to the next town over. Yes, I'm jealous in a way, but at the same point, I don't need to pretend that by traveling, all the answers come suddenly more clear. It helps, though, or is at most, a very good excuse! I suppose that if one is out of balance, something extreme might be the only answer, or at best, the most entertaining. I am currently reading a book that is a satire of her book. It's the male's fiction version: Drink, Play, F@#k! Boy, do I love it!
"Shrek Forever After" (2010) - Yet another children's movie meant for adults. It was fun and had a lot of laughs. Am I sad that Shrek is no more? No, not really. All empires must come to an end. I think I missed the third Shrek, but that's not really a biggie, right? Nope.
"Boy A" (2007) - Based on a true story and an interesting concept, but the execution, pardon the pun, was a little slow and painful. The main character, while naive and innocent was painfully female in his relation. It's hard to envision someone like that. I do like the idea, but don't know that it was done well enough. It was more painful and awkward. Good concept, unfortunate execution.
"Monsters Inc" (2001) - Okay, so maybe the point of this blog entry is that I didn't get out of the house much for new movies and actually watched a few that I've seen several times before, but still, I feel inclined to let you know! This has the same message of "How to Drain Your Dragon" in that we should question the status quo. The characters are fun to watch and the story is fun as well. Fun. There you have it. ;)
"The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" (2004) - You either like Wes Anderson and his posse, or you don't. I happen to do. ;) Yes, I've seen this before, but there isn't any harm in re-watching movies, right? I'm unsure if this one was mentioned in my blog entries previously, but here goes. It's goofy, irreverent and absurd. I'm beginning to think those are my qualifications for like liking a movie. I love me some Bill Murray (long before I knew he was roomies with a professor of mine!) and this movie lets him be the goofball we all know and love. Interestingly enough, the character is a bit similar to another film I will soon discuss... stay tuned for that one! This is interesting to watch in light of The Rainbow Warriors of Waiheke Island but this is definitely on the irreverent side of that. It's fun to see people acting absurdly and it being considered standard behavior.
"Connie and Carla" (2004) - This movie is right up my alley. Two girls have to dress up as drag queens. And one of them is my beloved Nia Vardalos. Thank you very much! The other is Toni Collette, who leads in another film I'll discuss in this post. It's campy and funny and I love me some gays, so dammit, this was the best find in a grocery store movie bin in a long time! Oh, and I kind of love dressing up as a tranny/drag queen, myself! Not a secret, really. Just a weird obsession. haha
"To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar" (1995) - Had I known at age 10 that this movie would mean so much to me, I would have not been allowed to see anyway. Lol. I'm sure that I've covered this film numerous times, but it's now been a year since our beloved Patrick Swayze has passed on to that stage show in the sky. =( This film reminds us to stay true to ourselves and to always leave the world a little more fabulous than we found it.
"9 Dead Gay Guys" (2002) - Just blame it on the UK for this irreverent flick about two Irish lads trying to navigate the gay scene in London. It's very out there and unabashed, so beware! I found it to be kind of fun, if not just a good use of characterization. Not for the weak of mind.
"Bend It Like Beckham" (2002) - Another flick with gay influence, making four in a row. This altered my mind apparently as a straight female. SIDE STORY: After watching these four gay-friendly movies, I was telling a friend who I was going to soon visit in his Northwestern state, that the joke at work is that I am a man. He then tried to get back to the subject at hand and asked: "What do you wanna do when you come out?" I replied, " Well, I'd like to have a stage show". He laughed. "I meant, when you come out to visit me". So, moral of the story is that my laugh has been made fabulous by so many gay flicks and I think I really would like a stage show! In another note, by checking out the imdb page for this flick, I've noticed that the lead, Parminder Nagra, is absolutely GORGEOUS and should get more work! I want to see more of her! (and less of Keira Knightley. BOO! Yes, I'm a hater)
"Muriel's Wedding" (1994) - As promised, another flick with Toni Collette. I liked what I saw of this flick, but it was a bit unnerving/disturbing since I'm basically the opposite of Muriel in as far as obsessions towards weddings. But she saw a wedding as a means to being someone important, which of course she has to unlearn. And Porpoise Spit seems like the ultimate drag! Poor girl! Although, staying with the rich swimmer might not have been so bad! ;)
"Get Low" (2009) - Bill Murray! My Man! So I mentioned previously that his role in Life Aquatic was very similar to that of this movie. Also starring: Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek and Lucas Black. This film was really really good. It was in the 1930s and Duvall played a hermit with a backstory who wanted to have a party instead of a funeral. And of couse, he wanted to be present, so I guess one could call it a FUN-eral, eh? This concept back then would have been absurd, and I'm sure it's not entirely commonplace even today, but I know my own father has mentioned he would rather have people celebrate his life than mourn his passing. I like this idea and would want a party too, so of course I would want to attend. Really, sounds like fun. I guess a birthday is a true celebration of an individual, but that's expected. Hmm, I think I have some thinking to do.
"The Kids are All Right" (2010) - I liked the concept of the lesbian moms and their two kids who wanted to find their sperm donor. The fact that the couple was demonstrated to have the same problems that hetero couples have is probably nice, but I would probably choose Mark Ruffalo. Yummy! ;) Although, love me some Julianne Moore. =D
"Away We Go" (2009) - This movie was not highly enjoyable. I get what they were were going for and I like all the actors (well most of them), but it was trying too hard and was a bit forced. I know that sounds like a generalized critique without much of a road map as to how to fix it, but that's just the impression I got. That and I'm always turned off by pregnancy movies. Ugh. Yeah, that's my own issue for sure. Still, the beginning of the movie was confusing as to where it was going and what was happening and how I was supposed to feel for the characters. Eh.
So 23 movies in over two and a half months. I do have valid excuses this time.... a life! =D
So those are the movies I've seen since my last update and my general thoughts on all of them. Hope you have found something to watch! :)
Thursday, July 01, 2010
14 movies in a month.... Eh
I can't be blamed. My sister got married in June, so there wasn't as much time for movie watching. But I did okay for a working slob :)
Kites (2010) - This was my Bollywood with a hint of Latin fusion. My go-to Indian couple said it sucked. I'll have to agree that it was pretty ridiculous. It featured Hrithik Roshan who has an extra thumb on his right hand. If you're going to suffer through the movie, watch for that ;0) I will say that the most redeeming part of the movie was a joke in Spanish that only I understood. The rest of the theatre was made up of Indians. For ONCE it was I who got the first laugh!
A Mighty Wind (2003) - This was a Christopher Guest movie that was a tongue-in-cheek look at the folk music world of the 60s and 70s. Of course, it was a typical Guest movie and very enjoyable :)
Kandukondain Kandukondain (original title)/ I Have Found It (2000) - bollywood version of Sense and Sensibility with Ash Rai. You know the story: two sisters and their dudes, one of them old enough to date the mother. This movie is actually in Telugu, which will make mera Kalyan-ji happy :)
A Walk to Beautiful (2007) - This movie is heartbreaking. Women in other countries are suffering pain and disgrace because of a medical problem post-childbirth that is caused by their bodies formations in their culture's conditions. I'm taking about fistula obstetrics. You can actually watch this movie on line and I recommend you do. Watch here.
Prince Among Slaves (2007) - A PBS doc (narrated by Mos Def) about Abdul-Rahman an African prince forced into slavery in the U.S. Has a really cool montage of his descendents at the end! You can watch it in pieces on youtube here.
My Best Friend's Wedding (1997) - Only appropriate to watch the day after my sister's wedding, right? Haha. And I watched it on VHS. Word. Actually, if you click the link, it takes you to the imdb page and you can watch the movie online!
Casi Casi (2006) - I think the words "adorable" and "clever" sum this movie up pretty well! If you can manage to watch a Spanish-language movie, my bet is that you'll love this gem!
Little Britain USA (2008) - Okay, this is a TV show, but I watched the first season on DVD within a coule days. If you are a fun of crude British humor, you will love this. Some of the stuff is actually directed by David Schwimmer. Highly recommendable for the crass people I know! ;)
The Three Stooges Meet Hercules (1962) - Watch this gem online by clicking the link. The Three Stooges are wonderful, as usual! And it's quite humorous to see the characters that play against them. Really, you can't go wrong with the Stooges!
Hawaii, Oslo (2004) - This movie is one of those examples of great storytelling showing the interwoven lives of its characters. Takes place in Sweden and is definitely a must-see!!!
Wesele (The Wedding) (2004) - Do you love messed-up weddings and/or seeing Polish people in action? Then you'll love this one. Watched it with my parents a week after my sister's wedding and I'm VERY glad hers didn't end up like this! It's kinda twisted but an interesting ride for sure. It's kinda like watching a car wreck but not having to file a police report ;)
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009) - I know this one wasn't incredibly popular, but I enjoyed watching it. I always love the jokes that are put in there for the adults, because let's face it: good kids' movies are aimed towards the adults. Fact. I would like to point out that Mr. T did a great voiceover!
Monsoon Wedding (2001) - I just feel inclined to say that one of my besties met Mira Nair! AND had her sign a movie for me! HEART YOU, XAVS!! Oh, and Mira Nair of course. This movie is about more than just another Indian wedding, but digs into the personalities present. Having been blessed to attend an Indian wedding, I'm glad "ours" went smoother than this one. Gee, that seems to be the theme for this month! Three wedding movies?! Not too shabby for someone who doesn't care much for weddings! Haha
Blue Velvet (1986) - I just watched this movie tonight and am trying to forget that I did. It's a very disturbing movie, not only for the images you see, but for how you react to them. I wouldn't have known to pick it off the shelf at the library had my aunt and uncle not mentioned it when we wanted to watch a movie to honor the late Dennis Hopper. Heavy. Worth a watch, but dang!
So, there you have it, folks. If you can't find something to watch here, you're too picky! ;) If you have seen them or if you do watch them, leave me a comment and tell me what you think. AND if you have any suggestions, send them my way! Peace!
Kites (2010) - This was my Bollywood with a hint of Latin fusion. My go-to Indian couple said it sucked. I'll have to agree that it was pretty ridiculous. It featured Hrithik Roshan who has an extra thumb on his right hand. If you're going to suffer through the movie, watch for that ;0) I will say that the most redeeming part of the movie was a joke in Spanish that only I understood. The rest of the theatre was made up of Indians. For ONCE it was I who got the first laugh!
A Mighty Wind (2003) - This was a Christopher Guest movie that was a tongue-in-cheek look at the folk music world of the 60s and 70s. Of course, it was a typical Guest movie and very enjoyable :)
Kandukondain Kandukondain (original title)/ I Have Found It (2000) - bollywood version of Sense and Sensibility with Ash Rai. You know the story: two sisters and their dudes, one of them old enough to date the mother. This movie is actually in Telugu, which will make mera Kalyan-ji happy :)
A Walk to Beautiful (2007) - This movie is heartbreaking. Women in other countries are suffering pain and disgrace because of a medical problem post-childbirth that is caused by their bodies formations in their culture's conditions. I'm taking about fistula obstetrics. You can actually watch this movie on line and I recommend you do. Watch here.
Prince Among Slaves (2007) - A PBS doc (narrated by Mos Def) about Abdul-Rahman an African prince forced into slavery in the U.S. Has a really cool montage of his descendents at the end! You can watch it in pieces on youtube here.
My Best Friend's Wedding (1997) - Only appropriate to watch the day after my sister's wedding, right? Haha. And I watched it on VHS. Word. Actually, if you click the link, it takes you to the imdb page and you can watch the movie online!
Casi Casi (2006) - I think the words "adorable" and "clever" sum this movie up pretty well! If you can manage to watch a Spanish-language movie, my bet is that you'll love this gem!
Little Britain USA (2008) - Okay, this is a TV show, but I watched the first season on DVD within a coule days. If you are a fun of crude British humor, you will love this. Some of the stuff is actually directed by David Schwimmer. Highly recommendable for the crass people I know! ;)
The Three Stooges Meet Hercules (1962) - Watch this gem online by clicking the link. The Three Stooges are wonderful, as usual! And it's quite humorous to see the characters that play against them. Really, you can't go wrong with the Stooges!
Hawaii, Oslo (2004) - This movie is one of those examples of great storytelling showing the interwoven lives of its characters. Takes place in Sweden and is definitely a must-see!!!
Wesele (The Wedding) (2004) - Do you love messed-up weddings and/or seeing Polish people in action? Then you'll love this one. Watched it with my parents a week after my sister's wedding and I'm VERY glad hers didn't end up like this! It's kinda twisted but an interesting ride for sure. It's kinda like watching a car wreck but not having to file a police report ;)
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009) - I know this one wasn't incredibly popular, but I enjoyed watching it. I always love the jokes that are put in there for the adults, because let's face it: good kids' movies are aimed towards the adults. Fact. I would like to point out that Mr. T did a great voiceover!
Monsoon Wedding (2001) - I just feel inclined to say that one of my besties met Mira Nair! AND had her sign a movie for me! HEART YOU, XAVS!! Oh, and Mira Nair of course. This movie is about more than just another Indian wedding, but digs into the personalities present. Having been blessed to attend an Indian wedding, I'm glad "ours" went smoother than this one. Gee, that seems to be the theme for this month! Three wedding movies?! Not too shabby for someone who doesn't care much for weddings! Haha
Blue Velvet (1986) - I just watched this movie tonight and am trying to forget that I did. It's a very disturbing movie, not only for the images you see, but for how you react to them. I wouldn't have known to pick it off the shelf at the library had my aunt and uncle not mentioned it when we wanted to watch a movie to honor the late Dennis Hopper. Heavy. Worth a watch, but dang!
So, there you have it, folks. If you can't find something to watch here, you're too picky! ;) If you have seen them or if you do watch them, leave me a comment and tell me what you think. AND if you have any suggestions, send them my way! Peace!
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
a new low
Wow, I think I only watched 8 movies since last post. BOO! Very bad!
Dialogues of the Exiled - a 70's look at the Chilean exiles living in France. storyline is hard to follow, since there isn't much of one. Very 70's filmmaking style.
Percy Jackson & the Lightning Thief - I'm kind of a sucker for the movies that play with old myths. I enjoyed this flick.
The Wild Hunt - WIN! LOVED this film! Highly recommendable.
Summer Camp! - As a former camper AND camp counselor, I can completely relate to this flick. Enjoyable for sure.
Chris & Don - Pretty interesting look into a gay couple that was separated by 30 years!
How to Train Your Dragon - Wish I would have seen it in 3-D. I always like the movies that challenge us to re-think what we were taught. :)
Good Hair - Really liked this movie. Right amount of comedy and truth w/o making a stance. Left that up to the audience.
Precious - Finally got around to seeing it. Didn't cry, thankfully, but was very glad for my blessings of a healthy childhood :(
A Jihad for Love - Another movie that makes me count my blessings. Shows the difficulty of gays that have to reconile their sexuality with their Islamic religion. If you didn't know, in some countries, homosexuality is illegal and is "just cause" for murder. :(
Okay, so that's 9. Still. Not a lot of film watching, but I'm a busy gal! Peace!
Dialogues of the Exiled - a 70's look at the Chilean exiles living in France. storyline is hard to follow, since there isn't much of one. Very 70's filmmaking style.
Percy Jackson & the Lightning Thief - I'm kind of a sucker for the movies that play with old myths. I enjoyed this flick.
The Wild Hunt - WIN! LOVED this film! Highly recommendable.
Summer Camp! - As a former camper AND camp counselor, I can completely relate to this flick. Enjoyable for sure.
Chris & Don - Pretty interesting look into a gay couple that was separated by 30 years!
How to Train Your Dragon - Wish I would have seen it in 3-D. I always like the movies that challenge us to re-think what we were taught. :)
Good Hair - Really liked this movie. Right amount of comedy and truth w/o making a stance. Left that up to the audience.
Precious - Finally got around to seeing it. Didn't cry, thankfully, but was very glad for my blessings of a healthy childhood :(
A Jihad for Love - Another movie that makes me count my blessings. Shows the difficulty of gays that have to reconile their sexuality with their Islamic religion. If you didn't know, in some countries, homosexuality is illegal and is "just cause" for murder. :(
Okay, so that's 9. Still. Not a lot of film watching, but I'm a busy gal! Peace!
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
Only 12 movies?! For shame!
Okay, I'll admit. 12 movies in just over a month's time is pretty pathetic for someone who used to watch 2 or 3 movies every day for school. I should be ashamed and kind of am, except maybe this indicates I was actually a productive member of society since I wasn't watching so many movies. But I'm not sure that's true!
It's Winter: Iranian film that shows the plight of the working class and what happens when one has to make hard choices. Interesting to see life in a world which is so often obscured from our understanding.
Have Rocket, Will Travel :
Three Stooges are always a good time! If you don't laugh, your face is too tight! ;) This one you can watch online, so don't worry about searching through your rental queue.
Hud: Paul Newman, may he rest in peace. Yet another flick where a good man plays a bad boy. Interesting look at the cattle world and the family dynamics for this particular ranch. Besides being a good character study, I learned a bit about cattle ranching ;) AND about how good Paul looks! Ha cha cha! (but I already knew that!)
Secret of the Mountain: If it looks like a made-for-TV movie... Definitely safe for the kids. The little girl was pretty cute! Fun adventure story. Not the best movie ever, but fun.
Confessions of a Superhero: Available to watch online! Yay! A very intersting look at the characters in Hollywood and what it means to them to stand around and take pictures for tips.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Secret of the Ooze: Okay, okay, I know. Not a very film scholar-esque movie to see. But it's a childhood favorite and since it was playing in a local theatre at a midnight show... I just had to indulge. All I can say is "Go, ninja, go, ninja, go!" ;)
Peacock: Very talented cast here, especially Cillian Murphy. For those Juno fans, check out Ellen Page in a more dramatic role. Also Susan Sarrandon and Bill Pullman. Dark film and look at cross-dressing.
Beauty Academy of Kabul: I saw this title on the movie rental shelf years ago but only just got around to watching it. Interesting look at Afghanistan for anyone, whether interested in beauty or the human plight.
Avatar: I'm a little disappointed I didn't see it in 3-D and that it took me this long to get around to it. The creatures were cool and of course, being a Mother Nature fan, the storyline was right up my alley. It wasn't the most amazing movie ever, but the visual effects were cool. I like the fantasy of it but the story is one of the basics.
Bull: This one you will not find on IMDB. Believe me. It's a short my aunt and some of her friends made in 1999. No, no the one listed on imdb. It's a sentimental flick for the fact that I have family in it. And was surprised to find this time, that a film friend that has passed, was also in it. Wish I would have watched it between meeting him and his passing. I'm sure that would have been an intersting convo. :(
Hercules: Although phsyically too skinny, I've always loved Meg's saucy-ness! Who put the glad in gladiator? Hercules! Sometimes you just have to watch a Disney flick and release your inner child :)
Pageant: Several gay men compete for the title of Miss Gay America. Had a lot of fun watching this one. I don't care what your opinion is of homosexuality. It takes a lot of talent to dress in drag and entertain a crowd. More power to them!
So, there you have it. My movies watched, mostly in April. Hopefully I'll be watching more soon and more regularly. Hope you found at least one or two to check out soon :) Peace!
It's Winter: Iranian film that shows the plight of the working class and what happens when one has to make hard choices. Interesting to see life in a world which is so often obscured from our understanding.
Have Rocket, Will Travel :
Three Stooges are always a good time! If you don't laugh, your face is too tight! ;) This one you can watch online, so don't worry about searching through your rental queue.
Hud: Paul Newman, may he rest in peace. Yet another flick where a good man plays a bad boy. Interesting look at the cattle world and the family dynamics for this particular ranch. Besides being a good character study, I learned a bit about cattle ranching ;) AND about how good Paul looks! Ha cha cha! (but I already knew that!)
Secret of the Mountain: If it looks like a made-for-TV movie... Definitely safe for the kids. The little girl was pretty cute! Fun adventure story. Not the best movie ever, but fun.
Confessions of a Superhero: Available to watch online! Yay! A very intersting look at the characters in Hollywood and what it means to them to stand around and take pictures for tips.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Secret of the Ooze: Okay, okay, I know. Not a very film scholar-esque movie to see. But it's a childhood favorite and since it was playing in a local theatre at a midnight show... I just had to indulge. All I can say is "Go, ninja, go, ninja, go!" ;)
Peacock: Very talented cast here, especially Cillian Murphy. For those Juno fans, check out Ellen Page in a more dramatic role. Also Susan Sarrandon and Bill Pullman. Dark film and look at cross-dressing.
Beauty Academy of Kabul: I saw this title on the movie rental shelf years ago but only just got around to watching it. Interesting look at Afghanistan for anyone, whether interested in beauty or the human plight.
Avatar: I'm a little disappointed I didn't see it in 3-D and that it took me this long to get around to it. The creatures were cool and of course, being a Mother Nature fan, the storyline was right up my alley. It wasn't the most amazing movie ever, but the visual effects were cool. I like the fantasy of it but the story is one of the basics.
Bull: This one you will not find on IMDB. Believe me. It's a short my aunt and some of her friends made in 1999. No, no the one listed on imdb. It's a sentimental flick for the fact that I have family in it. And was surprised to find this time, that a film friend that has passed, was also in it. Wish I would have watched it between meeting him and his passing. I'm sure that would have been an intersting convo. :(
Hercules: Although phsyically too skinny, I've always loved Meg's saucy-ness! Who put the glad in gladiator? Hercules! Sometimes you just have to watch a Disney flick and release your inner child :)
Pageant: Several gay men compete for the title of Miss Gay America. Had a lot of fun watching this one. I don't care what your opinion is of homosexuality. It takes a lot of talent to dress in drag and entertain a crowd. More power to them!
So, there you have it. My movies watched, mostly in April. Hopefully I'll be watching more soon and more regularly. Hope you found at least one or two to check out soon :) Peace!
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Two Months Later....
Wow, I surprise myself at how long it's been. Since Jan 3rd to be exact. Well let's see how many movies I've seen!
Miss Congeniality 2: It's true. I love Sandra Bullock. And the first one was lots of fun. So I had to watch the second one. And I like it well enough. :)
Big Nothing: This one has David Schwimmer and Simon Pegg in it. Great dark comedy. Don't think it ever got too much notice, but it's worth a watch or two :)
Volcano: Hollywood Story about a Volcano under L.A. Freaky when one things about all the crazy things Mother Nature has been doing lately.
3 Idiots: Fun Hindi-language movie. Good twists and turns. A little far-fetched at times, but come on people, this is Bollywood. Far-fetched is a requirement!
Couple's Retreat: Typical romantic comedy. Provided some good laughs and some pretty scenery.
Los Muertos: Very interesting and slowly played out film. A freed convict returns home, through the Argentinian jungle. Was interesting to see a different lifestyle for sure.
Where the Wild Things Are: This one was a disappointment for me in so many ways. Definitely not a kid's movie as there were some borderline-abusive characters in the film. It was disturbing to see all the ugly sides of people's personalities played out in monster form. This was supposed to be a kid's dreamworld and escape. Instead, it was a scarier place than what he left behind. But I wonder if that is part of the point.
My Dinner with Andre: This is one of those talking heads movies that screenwriters are always told to avoid. Generally it is very interesting to watch two people sit and eat. But in this case, I was okay with it. Maybe it's because I love Wallace Shawn (Cliffs of Insanity!). The topic of conversation might have been viewed as more pretentious if I didn't like him. Give it a try if you dare!
Princess and the Frog: Sad that it's taken until 2010 for Disney to give us a black princess. I really liked this flick. Maybe it's b/c of my love affair with New Orleans? I thought the film had flair.
Planet 51: Thought this was cute and fun. I liked seeing aliens reacting to a human. B/c alien is such a subjective term!
Boondock Saints: Yes, I watched it in my last entry too. But come on, the movie is a cult classic. I also watched the 2nd one in this go round... look below for my thoughts on that....
Religulous: I am not a religious person anymore and liked the basic theme... Bill Maher basically concludes that there is no way to know the truth, so why waste time on all the details when doing so tears humans apart. Valid point. Others of the religious vein may not like this film, but to each his/her own. To me, it makes sense.
Muppets Take Manhatten: I just love the Muppets. They can do no wrong in my eyes! I hear there will be anothe Muppet movie coming soon. I await it with baited breath!
Addams Family: The morbid little gal in me loves this classic.
Addams Family Values: The only loophole you are asked to overlook is that Uncle Fester, in the first film, was a natural with the ladies. In this film, he is shy with the ladies. I LOVE the scene of the Thanksgiving play with Wednesday and Pugsley. And it was mind-blowing to see Joan Cusack as a busty blonde!
My Name is Khan: another Bollywood flick. This one was pretty good but got really ridiculous when Khan went to Georgia to help with a hurricane. Bit of a stretch, but yet again, it's a Bollywood tearjerker. I had a good time. But yes, I have a thing for Shah Rukh Khan. aka SRK
Tambourine: I LOVED this Iranian film. Check it out! Most recommended on my list!
The Scientist: This flick attempts to cover the idea of being in more than one place at a time. Physics on film. It was okay, but there were some issues I had with it. Played very loudly and b/c of the loud sound effects, that got to be disturbing and took me out of the film.
Lovely Still: This film was soft and pretty. Was nice to see such prolific actors in those roles.
The Greatest: Good flick with Pierce Brosnan and Susan Sarrandon (sp). Touches on the death of a son and how they deal. The whole time I was watching this, I just wanted to get them in therapy! Good flick.
My Name is Jerry: Really fun flick. Was fun to see Doug Jones outside of a costume. You've seen him as the Silver Surfer and as Pan from Pan's Labyrinth. Fun twist on 'mid-life crisis'.
Princess Ka'iulani: Nice narrative feature about the annexation of Hawaii and the foreign education and homecoming of the last Hawaiian Princess. Slow film, but interesting and worth the watch.
Alabama Moon: GREAT kids flick! What kid hasn't wanted to a bit of a rogue in the forest? John Goodman appears too and it's always fun to see him :) Highly recommend it.
The Jonses: Liked this flick with Demi Moore and David Duchovny. Makes you think about the rat race and materialism and how it infiltrates into our lives.
65_Red Roses: Very touching story about a young woman with Cystic Fribrosis who underwent a double lung transplant. Unfortunately, I was informed today that she has lost her fight with CF. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of this wonderful, inspirational woman.
Note: The movies from "The Greatest" through "65_Red Roses" were seen as part of the Omaha Film Festival. I also show three blocks of shorts (about 30), but for the sake of time, will not mention them.
Boondock Saints 2: All Saints Day: Disappointing. Of course, sequels rarely outshine the original, but this movie was ridiculous even on a stand along basis. It tried so hard to meet the original that it failed in all other aspects. Fail.
Farewell My Concubine: This movie was a wonderful look at Chinese Opera through the political changes of the the past century. Was informative and entertaining that it yanked your emotions around.
It's Complicated: Very well done flick. Liked the story, the message and most of the characters. Thumbs up.
BOOM. 29 films in 2 months. 8 of which (and 30ish unmentioned shorts) were due to the Omaha Film Festival
As previously mentioned I would highly recommend "Tambourine" if you can only choose one to watch from this list. Followed by "65_Red Roses".
Happy Watching!
Miss Congeniality 2: It's true. I love Sandra Bullock. And the first one was lots of fun. So I had to watch the second one. And I like it well enough. :)
Big Nothing: This one has David Schwimmer and Simon Pegg in it. Great dark comedy. Don't think it ever got too much notice, but it's worth a watch or two :)
Volcano: Hollywood Story about a Volcano under L.A. Freaky when one things about all the crazy things Mother Nature has been doing lately.
3 Idiots: Fun Hindi-language movie. Good twists and turns. A little far-fetched at times, but come on people, this is Bollywood. Far-fetched is a requirement!
Couple's Retreat: Typical romantic comedy. Provided some good laughs and some pretty scenery.
Los Muertos: Very interesting and slowly played out film. A freed convict returns home, through the Argentinian jungle. Was interesting to see a different lifestyle for sure.
Where the Wild Things Are: This one was a disappointment for me in so many ways. Definitely not a kid's movie as there were some borderline-abusive characters in the film. It was disturbing to see all the ugly sides of people's personalities played out in monster form. This was supposed to be a kid's dreamworld and escape. Instead, it was a scarier place than what he left behind. But I wonder if that is part of the point.
My Dinner with Andre: This is one of those talking heads movies that screenwriters are always told to avoid. Generally it is very interesting to watch two people sit and eat. But in this case, I was okay with it. Maybe it's because I love Wallace Shawn (Cliffs of Insanity!). The topic of conversation might have been viewed as more pretentious if I didn't like him. Give it a try if you dare!
Princess and the Frog: Sad that it's taken until 2010 for Disney to give us a black princess. I really liked this flick. Maybe it's b/c of my love affair with New Orleans? I thought the film had flair.
Planet 51: Thought this was cute and fun. I liked seeing aliens reacting to a human. B/c alien is such a subjective term!
Boondock Saints: Yes, I watched it in my last entry too. But come on, the movie is a cult classic. I also watched the 2nd one in this go round... look below for my thoughts on that....
Religulous: I am not a religious person anymore and liked the basic theme... Bill Maher basically concludes that there is no way to know the truth, so why waste time on all the details when doing so tears humans apart. Valid point. Others of the religious vein may not like this film, but to each his/her own. To me, it makes sense.
Muppets Take Manhatten: I just love the Muppets. They can do no wrong in my eyes! I hear there will be anothe Muppet movie coming soon. I await it with baited breath!
Addams Family: The morbid little gal in me loves this classic.
Addams Family Values: The only loophole you are asked to overlook is that Uncle Fester, in the first film, was a natural with the ladies. In this film, he is shy with the ladies. I LOVE the scene of the Thanksgiving play with Wednesday and Pugsley. And it was mind-blowing to see Joan Cusack as a busty blonde!
My Name is Khan: another Bollywood flick. This one was pretty good but got really ridiculous when Khan went to Georgia to help with a hurricane. Bit of a stretch, but yet again, it's a Bollywood tearjerker. I had a good time. But yes, I have a thing for Shah Rukh Khan. aka SRK
Tambourine: I LOVED this Iranian film. Check it out! Most recommended on my list!
The Scientist: This flick attempts to cover the idea of being in more than one place at a time. Physics on film. It was okay, but there were some issues I had with it. Played very loudly and b/c of the loud sound effects, that got to be disturbing and took me out of the film.
Lovely Still: This film was soft and pretty. Was nice to see such prolific actors in those roles.
The Greatest: Good flick with Pierce Brosnan and Susan Sarrandon (sp). Touches on the death of a son and how they deal. The whole time I was watching this, I just wanted to get them in therapy! Good flick.
My Name is Jerry: Really fun flick. Was fun to see Doug Jones outside of a costume. You've seen him as the Silver Surfer and as Pan from Pan's Labyrinth. Fun twist on 'mid-life crisis'.
Princess Ka'iulani: Nice narrative feature about the annexation of Hawaii and the foreign education and homecoming of the last Hawaiian Princess. Slow film, but interesting and worth the watch.
Alabama Moon: GREAT kids flick! What kid hasn't wanted to a bit of a rogue in the forest? John Goodman appears too and it's always fun to see him :) Highly recommend it.
The Jonses: Liked this flick with Demi Moore and David Duchovny. Makes you think about the rat race and materialism and how it infiltrates into our lives.
65_Red Roses: Very touching story about a young woman with Cystic Fribrosis who underwent a double lung transplant. Unfortunately, I was informed today that she has lost her fight with CF. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of this wonderful, inspirational woman.
Note: The movies from "The Greatest" through "65_Red Roses" were seen as part of the Omaha Film Festival. I also show three blocks of shorts (about 30), but for the sake of time, will not mention them.
Boondock Saints 2: All Saints Day: Disappointing. Of course, sequels rarely outshine the original, but this movie was ridiculous even on a stand along basis. It tried so hard to meet the original that it failed in all other aspects. Fail.
Farewell My Concubine: This movie was a wonderful look at Chinese Opera through the political changes of the the past century. Was informative and entertaining that it yanked your emotions around.
It's Complicated: Very well done flick. Liked the story, the message and most of the characters. Thumbs up.
BOOM. 29 films in 2 months. 8 of which (and 30ish unmentioned shorts) were due to the Omaha Film Festival
As previously mentioned I would highly recommend "Tambourine" if you can only choose one to watch from this list. Followed by "65_Red Roses".
Happy Watching!
Sunday, January 03, 2010
Catch up
Well, with the holiday season, I watched a few movies:
Young at Heart: This movie is adorable! It's about a bunch of senior citizens that learn more current songs...
3 Iron: Korean movie... not a lot of speaking, but dialogue wasn't needed as it relied on the romance aspect. You know, you don't need to say anything when your true love sees your heart! ;) lol It was really cool.
Boondock Saints: Have yet to see the new one. Is it out yet? This one will make it hard for the other one to live up to the expectations set... We shall see....
Star Trek: the Movie: Saw it in the theater and it was pretty good, even if you don't know the rest of the ST legacy.
Chaahat Ek Nasha: Okay, this movie was over the top even for Bollywood... I don't think I'm ruining it for you when I tell you that at the end one of the characters shoots herself in the head AND there is NO exit nor entry wound, no blood AND she reaches up to stroke the hero's face before she dies. Sometimes there is just too much non-reality to even seem credible.
Hairspray: own it, watched it in passing while helping Mom clean.
Julie and Julia: Missed the first 20 minutes due to ordering problems, but it was okay. I was a little annoyed by Amy Adams' character... and I still can't cook after watching it, nor do I feel inspired to do so. lol
Blind Side: I have a crush on Sandra Bullock. What can I say? She is amazing on and off screen. This movie was good b/c it didnt'have too much football to bore me. My question is did the sister end up with Michael? It seemed a little unsure... I mean in real life. I know he only was just drafted so it's not an old story or anything....And their personal life is none of my business but hey.
Poil de Carotte: means Carrot Top. French Film from the 20s I think. Kind of dramatic... like Bollywood... hmmm ;)
Dostana: the recent one with Abhishek, John Abrahams, and Priyanka Chopra.... eye candy all the way! I love this movie no matter how goofy it is... if I ever need a lenghty pick-me-up, it's this... and seeing how I'm under the weather and at home, Dostana was just what I needed! :)
So 10 movies in 17 days... seems someone is falling down on her movie watching ;)
Young at Heart: This movie is adorable! It's about a bunch of senior citizens that learn more current songs...
3 Iron: Korean movie... not a lot of speaking, but dialogue wasn't needed as it relied on the romance aspect. You know, you don't need to say anything when your true love sees your heart! ;) lol It was really cool.
Boondock Saints: Have yet to see the new one. Is it out yet? This one will make it hard for the other one to live up to the expectations set... We shall see....
Star Trek: the Movie: Saw it in the theater and it was pretty good, even if you don't know the rest of the ST legacy.
Chaahat Ek Nasha: Okay, this movie was over the top even for Bollywood... I don't think I'm ruining it for you when I tell you that at the end one of the characters shoots herself in the head AND there is NO exit nor entry wound, no blood AND she reaches up to stroke the hero's face before she dies. Sometimes there is just too much non-reality to even seem credible.
Hairspray: own it, watched it in passing while helping Mom clean.
Julie and Julia: Missed the first 20 minutes due to ordering problems, but it was okay. I was a little annoyed by Amy Adams' character... and I still can't cook after watching it, nor do I feel inspired to do so. lol
Blind Side: I have a crush on Sandra Bullock. What can I say? She is amazing on and off screen. This movie was good b/c it didnt'have too much football to bore me. My question is did the sister end up with Michael? It seemed a little unsure... I mean in real life. I know he only was just drafted so it's not an old story or anything....And their personal life is none of my business but hey.
Poil de Carotte: means Carrot Top. French Film from the 20s I think. Kind of dramatic... like Bollywood... hmmm ;)
Dostana: the recent one with Abhishek, John Abrahams, and Priyanka Chopra.... eye candy all the way! I love this movie no matter how goofy it is... if I ever need a lenghty pick-me-up, it's this... and seeing how I'm under the weather and at home, Dostana was just what I needed! :)
So 10 movies in 17 days... seems someone is falling down on her movie watching ;)
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