Ironman Thursday, May 8 2008

I have never heard of Ironman.  I know the basic superheroes, like Spiderman, Batman, Superman.  I even use to watch the Justice League cartoons as a kid, but not a true die hard comic book fan.  You know, because it is reading.  We had seen the previews where I saw my husband’s eyes glaze over and hear Black Sabbath hummed for the rest of the week.  Sadly, it has started up, again.

I went into this movie with no expectations, but only one direction: STAY UNTIL THE END OF THE CREDITS and a wonderful wealth of information will be opened up to you.  Okay, okay, can I have my popcorn, please.  I had mentioned to a couple of people that I thought it was strange that Robert Downey, Jr. was an odd choice for a superhero, but I was assured that he was perfect for this part.  I will agree, he was so very perfect for this role.

I love, love, love this movie.  I am sure we will have it in our DVD collection as soon as it comes out along with the Christian Bale Batman and Spiderman.  I came to this movie with very limited knowledge and walked away wanting more.  I have even foamed at the mouth to talk to someone about it and hit my husband’s arm repeatly when we got to the end of the credits.  All I can tell you is that my favorite actor of all times shows up.

I was shocked to learn that Jon Favreau directed the movie.  Who knew?  And I was very pleased that it all looked real.  Anything computerized or done after production was so seamless that you never had a second thought that there was really an Ironman out there saving the civilians of the Middle East.  Robert Downey, Jr. seemed very comfortable in this role and played it so well.  I had a few problems with Gweyth Paltrow, but nothing major.  I understood that she was suppose to be stiff, but there was scenes where she could have let loose on the emotions a little bit more.  However, that is real nit-picky stuff.

Everything was kept true to my vision of what a comic book story should be.  I am sure there will be the purest out there that had problems with this or that, but overall this is a great movie.  I am surprised that it wasn’t released in the summer, but I guess Ironman is the new kid on the block.  Honestly, I could go see this movie again.  It was that good and that is coming from a bored housewife that likes trashy reality TV and fart jokes.

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No Country for Old Men Thursday, May 8 2008

I have one word to describe this movie, HUH? I heard the hype and was ready for a violent, but good movie.  What did I get?  Sure I got the violence, a little on the unnecessary side, but I didn’t get a movie.  I thought all movies should have a beginning, middle and end.  That is what a good story should have and isn’t a movie a story with pictures? 

So there was a drug bust gone bad and this regular Joe finds a bag of money.  At the same time there is this mean looking large man that goes around shooting people in the head with compressed air for no real reason at all.  Sure the cop had to die for him to escape but did the guy he pulled over to steal his car?  *shrugs*  And everyone mumbles which doesn’t help in the whole understanding thing.

The rest of the movie we are taken on a ride where the regular Joe sets out to get away from the large man, but retain the money and get back to his wife.  Then there are characters introduce, but not formally, so if someone walks in and asked who is that, you sit there with a dumb look on your face.  Oh, and there is Tommy Lee Jones.  He is the crotchety old sheriff that just doesn’t understand the killing these young people do.  Yeah, well join the club Mr. Jones.  Then the movie ends and you shoot up from your comfy position on the sofa and scream, “What the hell?”.  I swear I have never been so angry in all my life.

I am sure this movie has some deep meaning and makes all kinds of sense, but if the general public, meaning me, can’t get it what is the point.  This will be a movie that will haunt me to my death bed where I exclaim what was that movie about and then kill over.

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Showtime vs HBO Tuesday, Mar 11 2008

Showtime has caught up with HBO with regards to series television.  I originally ignored their shows, thinking that no other premium cable channel could match HBO.  But with the death of the Sopranos and Sex and the City, I was in need of something else that satisfied that hunger for something more than network or even cable network programming.  Well, I had added Showtime’s’ shows to my watching list and am thoroughly impressed. 

I have, now, caught up with Weeds, Dexter and most recently the Tudors.  The Tudors have impressed me the most.  The other shows are quite interesting and push the envelope to certain extents, but the Tudors have taken history and served it up to the masses the only way television can.  This show has everything a good soap opera should, backstabbing, political intrigue, passion, mistresses, etc, but the one jewel of the show is that it is based in historical fact.  Like many have said, “No one can write anything better than reality”. 

I have only done minor research, as far as Henry VIII’s wives and children, and have some memory leftover from my History major, but so far the fact is there.  Now, one could argue that the show has rushed things, like Henry’ bastard son’s death, but one can suggest that liberty can be given for the better good.  If there wasn’t so much nudity and sex, I would suggest this series to be shown to high school students.  I am sure they would be able to understand History much better.  Alas, I think that would not be a suggestion most school districts would take up. 

I would strongly suggest that you check out these fine Showtime shows and if you are a history buff then definitely check out the Tudors.  I wonder how far this series will go.  The Tudors ruled England for over 187 years and left many great kings and queens in their path.  This is surely TV gold for many years.

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Gone Baby Gone Sunday, Mar 2 2008

First I would like to say, BRAVO, Mr. Affleck.  Second, I would like to say that I will not be travelling to Boston, anytime soon, if those extras are an example of the residents. 

I think this movie was a good thriller and brought up an interesting question at the end.  Patrick (Casey Affleck) and his girlfriend (sorry, I can’t remember her name, but the actress was very good) are private detectives that are brought in, against the mother and police’s wishes, on a case of a missing girl.  There are lots of twist and turns and I don’t want to give too much away, because you should see the movie.  At the end Patrick is faced with the choice of doing the right thing or the legal thing.  And don’t be mistaken they are not one in the same.  When I saw the movie I thought he did the right and legal thing, but after much thought I agree with his girlfriend, and the officiers involved, that he did not do the RIGHT THING.  I strongly suggest you see this movie and make the decision for yourself. 

Ben Affleck directed this movie and did a great job.  I have to commend him on handling the subject of child molestation and death in a not in your face kind of way.  He was able to let you know what happens without having it shown to you.  I think when directors and actors stick to an area they know the story they tell is that much more powerful.  So stay in one night and see this movie, you won’t regret it. 

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Lord of War Sunday, Mar 2 2008

I usually don’t go for these types of movies, especially when they are talking world politics, but this was pretty good.  Nicolas Cage plays an arms dealer who supplies some of the biggest Warlords across the world. 

I don’t remember ever seeing this movie being in theaters and I wonder why.  It was interesting, not hard to follow and is based on actual events.  There are some gruesome scenes, but nothing as bad as some horror movies out there.  I think the scenes are worst, because we know that these things are really happening across the world. 

Yuri (Nic Cage’s character) is a Russian immigrant, now an American citizen, who becomes involved in arms dealing after he witnesses his first Russian mob attack.  He believes there is more to life than his family’s restaurant and for whatever reason he chooses weapons and weapons dealing.  He brings his brother into it, who falls prey to the evils that can be found when dealing with the not so squeaky clean side of society.  The movie travels through time starting in the 80’s up to present day.  Yuri is proud that he can sell Israeli made weapons to the Palestine and, basically, war becomes his business.

Yuri ends up losing a lot because of his business, but he can’t seem to stop.  He tells his wife that it is not about the money; it is his passion.  If you have any interest in this topic, I strongly suggest you watch this movie.  There are some interesting situations that Yuri finds himself in and you will be surprised how he gets out of them.  The ending may or may not surprise you.  For me, it was a sad surprise.

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JUNO Saturday, Jan 26 2008

I fell into the hype of this one.  I had to see it, because everyone said it was the greatest movie, EVAH!  After several threats of phyiscal harm and many attempts of escape I dragged my husband to this movie. 

I liked the movie, but I wouldn’t go so far as say it is the greatest.  I guess from the hype I expected to walk out of the theater knowing all the answers to life’s mysteries.  I guess I should look to deeper sources for such answers.

I think the movie played it on the safe side.  All the characters are likable, which is not necessarily a good thing.  Every movie needs a villian and even the drop out adoptive husband, played by Jason Bateman, was nowhere near being a good candidate to really hate.  Jennifer Garner’s charater was too sympathic.  There was just no getting around her martyrdom, which just made me roll my eyes instead of understanding her plight. 

The stepmother was the best, especially when she explained the truth about doctors.  I totally agree and I would put nurses in the same category, as well.  I would hope that my father would have the same reaction if I would have told him I was pregnant as a teenager.  Just enough outrage, but nothing along the lines of calling his daughter a slut.  The perfect balance.

JUNO, of course, is the perfect picture of the self confident pregnant teenager, if such a creature existed.  As much as I liked her, it was hard to believe that any teenager could remain that calm going through pregnancy and then giving up their baby.  I don’t hold it against the film, because if we want reality then we should live life and stay out of the movie theaters. 

JUNO is definitely a flat line movie.  There were no big surprises and no big emotional reactions, but it was a good movie.  So if you haven’t jumped on the bandwagon, then maybe you should start jumping.  You won’t miss that 2 hours at all and you might learn how a happy ending can make you feel.

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Golden Compass Wednesday, Dec 26 2007

We saw this movie about 3 weeks ago and I was just going to leave it at that.  Generally, it is a good movie and I enjoyed.  However, there is that nasty little problem of the author of the book the movie is based on.  I don’t mind people having their opinions and I don’t mind that he is an atheist.  The author has proclaimed that he is using this medium to get children to his side of this debate.  I find it underhand, and odd that he is claiming that religon is not allowing people their free will, when it appears he is doing the same thing.  Oh well, these things tend to work themselves out.  Besides, you only have to look as far as your Internet to find his mission and do with it what you will.

The movie was well done.  The fantasy characters were real enough, especially the bears.  I do love the bears.  I had a few problems with the simplicity of some of the storylines, like the souls being animals outside the human’s bodies and the witches.  I didn’t really understand the witches.  I am sure if I read the book, all of this would be made all clear.  However, if you read my profile you know I would rather have moving pictures do my thinking for 90 minutes than actually move my eyes back and forth on a page.  That doesn’t mean that I am some feeble mind that I would let a movie determine my life. I will file this movie under nice, but not buying the message.  I am not sure if I will see the next in the series, but who knows I may forget all this burrowing into my brain and planting ideas stuff and be on the train like everyone else wondering where the snacks are. 

If you were wondering, I couldn’t get into the Chronicles of Narnia.  Maybe I am on the wrong side.  Mmmmm…..maybe the brainwashing has already taken place.  Is that Kool-Aid?

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American Gangster Thursday, Nov 8 2007

In my mind there is nothing better than a good old-fashioned mob movie.  I love the small look into the mob life as seen through TV and movies.  The hierarchy, the codes, and “rules” that surround this society is truly interesting.  When I saw the previews for American Gangster, I knew I had to see it.  It was a new twist on an old genre, an African American gangster doing things his way, but still along the lines of the original gangsters.   

Frank Lucas came into his own when he witnessed the death of his boss and then current ruler of Harlem.  I found the conversation in the appliance store interesting, but it would only become apparent at the end of the movie.  As we weave through the rise of Frank Lucas and the life of the cop that would bring him down, only to defend him later, it became a parallel of good being not so shiny and evil being all that glitters.  The cop, played by Russell Crowe, was honest but had many faults.  There is his casting out among cops when he turned in almost a million dollar of unmarked bills, but his ongoing battle for his son that would come to the realization that his life was not the life for a  child.  His life was plagued with a revolving door of women, but a quest to be the only honest cop in a sea of cops only out for themselves. On the contrast Frank Lucas was a very well dressed gentleman that would have appeared to be more of a Wall Street Broker than drug lord.  One can appreciate his business sense, if only it wasn’t supply junkies with their next fix.  Lucas would corner the market with his Blue Magic and become more powerful and richer than the mob bosses trying to corner the same market. 

I liked Lucas over the cop and who wouldn’t?  Sure he murdered people in cold blood, but his calm yet forceful presence shows the power that he possessed.  People are drawn to power and charm; Lucas had both.  Crowe’s character (which proven by the fact that I have forgotten his name) was just another cop on the street.  One can come to the conclusion that good goes unnoticed while evil is noticed and loved by everyone.  By the end of the film, I would be impressed with Crowe’s character and would have rathered seen the after story that was only told in words across the screen.  Lucas will show us a lesson, also.  Evil does fall and to save itself will turn against it’s own kind.  It is part of the world they live in and it is a reason it is so brutal.  Every man for himself with no love for their fellow criminal.  

Both Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe are great in this movie.  Washington has the presence and style to play such a charming character and Crowe has the sense of the every man just doing what needs to be done.  I have never been a big fan of Crowe’s, but I will say that he impressed me in this film.  You almost forget that he is an actor playing a role instead of getting a peek at someone’s life.  Washington was a presence on the screen and I could have watched him all day.  You knew that he was always watching and calculating his next move on his rise to power. 

I highly recommend this movie, even though I felt it dragged in places.  The ending is a great payoff and the majority of the beginning is needed to give you the information you need to understand the ending.  Pay close attention to the beginning of the movie, because the rant that Lucas’ boss gives before he dies is a precursor to Lucas’ life and downfall. 

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