Thursday, March 25, 2010
No Dolla Dolla Bills
Sorry all, I did not anticipate some extra repairs on my home in Columbus, so funds are a little low for the $10.50/week Honolulu ticket prices. I hope to get this movie blog back up and running soon. Thanks for your patience!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Chick Flicks for All Ages
I must confess it’s hard to write these reviews this week because I’m very focused on another media event: the Hawaii beachside premiere of hit TV show Lost tomorrow! What a great experience that show has been—a tremendous 6-year-ride of mind-boggling mystery, compelling characterization, and philosophical pondering. But I digress.
This is the week of the chick flick, as I went to see It’s Complicated and When in Rome.
It’s Complicated stars Alec Baldwin, Meryl Streep, and Steve Martin in the story of a woman who must juggle strange relationships with her ex and a new man at the same time. Streep is as captivating as ever, and Baldwin gets a lot of laughs mostly because people are picturing his 30 Rock character. And, it is a movie that glorifies beauty in old age—I do have to give it that. But it was ultimately unmemorable and it made me squirm to see adults acting so immature.
When in Rome could have starred anyone and been about anything. It is the color-by-numbers of romantic comedies and should definitely be skipped. I would describe watching it as taking a long soak in a hot tub while having needles shoved up under your fingernails. In other words, any time you tried to give the movie the benefit of the doubt and sink into a moment, it would jar you awake with a pratfall or cliché.
If you want to see a slightly deeper, wiser chick flick, try Stepmom or The Family Stone or When a Man Loves a Woman.
For sheer fun, try Mean Girls or Clueless.
And for the well-made romantic comedy or “rom-com,” try The Proposal, Maverick, or My Best Friend’s Wedding.
This is the week of the chick flick, as I went to see It’s Complicated and When in Rome.
It’s Complicated stars Alec Baldwin, Meryl Streep, and Steve Martin in the story of a woman who must juggle strange relationships with her ex and a new man at the same time. Streep is as captivating as ever, and Baldwin gets a lot of laughs mostly because people are picturing his 30 Rock character. And, it is a movie that glorifies beauty in old age—I do have to give it that. But it was ultimately unmemorable and it made me squirm to see adults acting so immature.
When in Rome could have starred anyone and been about anything. It is the color-by-numbers of romantic comedies and should definitely be skipped. I would describe watching it as taking a long soak in a hot tub while having needles shoved up under your fingernails. In other words, any time you tried to give the movie the benefit of the doubt and sink into a moment, it would jar you awake with a pratfall or cliché.
If you want to see a slightly deeper, wiser chick flick, try Stepmom or The Family Stone or When a Man Loves a Woman.
For sheer fun, try Mean Girls or Clueless.
And for the well-made romantic comedy or “rom-com,” try The Proposal, Maverick, or My Best Friend’s Wedding.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Up in the Air
It’s a popular favorite and a critic’s darling. George Clooney is lauded for playing, well, himself, and he’s given a worthy foil in Vera Farmiga (The Departed), although his strongest chemistry and most interesting relationship is that with young Anna Kendrick (Twilight). However, I’m going to have to disagree with the critics and the general public on this one. It left me feeling cold. But if you don’t mind feeling a little cold, you might still try it out. It will hold your interest and after all, “everyone” is going to be talking about it so you might as well be able to add your opinion.
The one place the critics get it right is when they say it’s a commentary on our times. The mobile, wired, emotionally disconnected life is ever-present. The carefree single life isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be, while married life isn’t always a chain holding us down. If you do see this movie, see it not for the acting, star power, or escapism, but for what it has to say about life. It’s the coming of age story for the middle-aged and it just may have something to say to you.
The one place the critics get it right is when they say it’s a commentary on our times. The mobile, wired, emotionally disconnected life is ever-present. The carefree single life isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be, while married life isn’t always a chain holding us down. If you do see this movie, see it not for the acting, star power, or escapism, but for what it has to say about life. It’s the coming of age story for the middle-aged and it just may have something to say to you.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Sherlock Holmes
Things I deduced while watching Sherlock Holmes:
1. I was not greatly disappointed in any of my original reasons to watch the movie: it was set in London, it was essentially a “buddy cop” movie with lots of witty repartee, and it was part of a long and storied legend. However, they could have done better in each area—more shots of London, more time on characterization, and a closer interpretation of Doyle’s beloved detective.
2. Casting Jude Law against type was a great idea. It made me laugh just to see him in the grimy, crime-filled streets instead of lounging around in a sweater wooing some woman.
3. Director Guy Ritchie clearly likes his fisticuffs.
4. Rachel McAdams brought her usual scintillating presence but finally she has been given a male lead capable of upstaging her (though admittedly I haven’t seen The Wedding Crashers, and Owen Wilson has stolen every scene he’s ever been in).
5. The popular medical drama House is based on the Sherlock Holmes character. I may be the last person on earth to realize this. However, it only took me about fifteen minutes of watching how Holmes (or should I say “House”) and Watson (or should I say “Wilson”) acted and interacted to realize the many parallels. Brilliant deductions, codependence, sabotaged relationships, drug dependence, and Florence Nightingale syndrome—it all makes sense now. I wondered where they got the last name “House.”
6. The movie is entertaining, fun, action-packed, and witty. Give it a go.
1. I was not greatly disappointed in any of my original reasons to watch the movie: it was set in London, it was essentially a “buddy cop” movie with lots of witty repartee, and it was part of a long and storied legend. However, they could have done better in each area—more shots of London, more time on characterization, and a closer interpretation of Doyle’s beloved detective.
2. Casting Jude Law against type was a great idea. It made me laugh just to see him in the grimy, crime-filled streets instead of lounging around in a sweater wooing some woman.
3. Director Guy Ritchie clearly likes his fisticuffs.
4. Rachel McAdams brought her usual scintillating presence but finally she has been given a male lead capable of upstaging her (though admittedly I haven’t seen The Wedding Crashers, and Owen Wilson has stolen every scene he’s ever been in).
5. The popular medical drama House is based on the Sherlock Holmes character. I may be the last person on earth to realize this. However, it only took me about fifteen minutes of watching how Holmes (or should I say “House”) and Watson (or should I say “Wilson”) acted and interacted to realize the many parallels. Brilliant deductions, codependence, sabotaged relationships, drug dependence, and Florence Nightingale syndrome—it all makes sense now. I wondered where they got the last name “House.”
6. The movie is entertaining, fun, action-packed, and witty. Give it a go.
Avatar
James Cameron has boldly gone where no man has gone before. Go and see this movie, in 3D if possible (worth the extra charge). It is a memorable new sensory experience—as close to being there as is possible with today’s media.
I have to admit it, I was worried for James Cameron. I heard that after making generation-defining, box office record busting Terminator and Titanic, he was holing up for years to make this movie about blue video game creatures. “Oh, you poor, poor man,” I groaned inwardly, picturing another Waterworld. “You’re so out of touch with what people care about today.” But I am glad to be proven wrong. He touches so closely on the key issues of today that it is difficult to believe he started making this movie TEN YEARS AGO. I must remind myself to stop worrying about the possible misfortunes of world-famous millionaires.
Another person I worried about for no reason: Sam Worthington. “That guy’s kind of cute and he’s doing a great job. I hope he’s ready for the gigantic leap from nobody to superstardom. He has no idea what he’s in for,” I thought innocently, not realizing that this was Sam Worthington of Terminator: Salvation and thus no stranger to fame.
I am blathering on about technicalities because the movie is, as it should be, indescribable. The night scenes in the forest, the flying scenes, and the tree scenes are as captivating as any of the characters and as memorable as a trip to a new country.
Enjoy the film.
I have to admit it, I was worried for James Cameron. I heard that after making generation-defining, box office record busting Terminator and Titanic, he was holing up for years to make this movie about blue video game creatures. “Oh, you poor, poor man,” I groaned inwardly, picturing another Waterworld. “You’re so out of touch with what people care about today.” But I am glad to be proven wrong. He touches so closely on the key issues of today that it is difficult to believe he started making this movie TEN YEARS AGO. I must remind myself to stop worrying about the possible misfortunes of world-famous millionaires.
Another person I worried about for no reason: Sam Worthington. “That guy’s kind of cute and he’s doing a great job. I hope he’s ready for the gigantic leap from nobody to superstardom. He has no idea what he’s in for,” I thought innocently, not realizing that this was Sam Worthington of Terminator: Salvation and thus no stranger to fame.
I am blathering on about technicalities because the movie is, as it should be, indescribable. The night scenes in the forest, the flying scenes, and the tree scenes are as captivating as any of the characters and as memorable as a trip to a new country.
Enjoy the film.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Brothers
Tobey Maguire has some serious acting chops. Natalie Portman can act when she has a better script than Star Wars: Episode I—The Phantom Menace. I think the last Jake Gyllenhaal film I saw was The Day After Tomorrow, so I wasn’t too sure about him. But I expected to see some stellar acting in this movie, and I wasn’t disappointed. Portman’s understated expression of a wife and mother grieving was masterful, and Maguire and Gyllenhaal embodied the desire for redemption with haunted gazes and agitated movements. But in the end they were all out-acted by a ten-year-old! Bailee Madison stole every scene she was in, squeezing raw emotions past her chubby, childlike features.
The movie is shot in a washed-out sort of style that conveys the coldness of a Midwestern winter even as it aids the stark portrayal of the characters’ emotions. This movie somehow manages not to be a “downer” even as it deals with serious issues. More than anything, I felt it was a brief window of time letting us see into a real family’s life.
Brothers won’t set any box office records, nor does it push the envelope of originality or epic drama. Yet with its spot-on acting and its powerful themes of familial love, familial dysfunction, infidelity, redemption, war, aggression, and love, this movie is worthwhile for those of you who are interested in psychology, character studies, or family relationships.
NOTE: Brothers is not a “chick flick.” Both guys and girls will like it.
The movie is shot in a washed-out sort of style that conveys the coldness of a Midwestern winter even as it aids the stark portrayal of the characters’ emotions. This movie somehow manages not to be a “downer” even as it deals with serious issues. More than anything, I felt it was a brief window of time letting us see into a real family’s life.
Brothers won’t set any box office records, nor does it push the envelope of originality or epic drama. Yet with its spot-on acting and its powerful themes of familial love, familial dysfunction, infidelity, redemption, war, aggression, and love, this movie is worthwhile for those of you who are interested in psychology, character studies, or family relationships.
NOTE: Brothers is not a “chick flick.” Both guys and girls will like it.
Planet 51
The makers of the animated flick Planet 51 could have aimed for thoughtful social commentary (Wall-E), groundbreaking animation styles (Finding Nemo), or parent-pandering jokes (The Incredibles). On second thought, maybe they did aim for all three of those. However, they fell far short, landing on mediocre entertainment instead. Adults won’t be bored, but they won’t be wowed either.
As the preview showed us, the film focuses on an astronaut who lands on a planet full of –gasp—aliens! Things quickly go haywire from there. Captain Chuck Baker, the astronaut, is not the true protagonist of the story; instead the storyline follows the suddenly interrupted life of Lem, a teenage “sci fi” geek. The setting is reminiscent of Back to the Future and the animation style reminded me of Toy Story.
The bottom line is, if you have kids, go ahead and take them because there are few truly family-friendly movies any more. They will enjoy the dog-like antics of a certain little robot. Or better yet, pull these old animated movies out of the closet. They still rank #1 and 2 on my list of best cartoons of all time, for their soaring scores, mature, heartbreaking themes, and memorable characters: Lion King and The Land Before Time.
As the preview showed us, the film focuses on an astronaut who lands on a planet full of –gasp—aliens! Things quickly go haywire from there. Captain Chuck Baker, the astronaut, is not the true protagonist of the story; instead the storyline follows the suddenly interrupted life of Lem, a teenage “sci fi” geek. The setting is reminiscent of Back to the Future and the animation style reminded me of Toy Story.
The bottom line is, if you have kids, go ahead and take them because there are few truly family-friendly movies any more. They will enjoy the dog-like antics of a certain little robot. Or better yet, pull these old animated movies out of the closet. They still rank #1 and 2 on my list of best cartoons of all time, for their soaring scores, mature, heartbreaking themes, and memorable characters: Lion King and The Land Before Time.
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