Posted by Erin
Mon, 28 Jul 2008 23:35:30 GMT
I'm all about taking the kids to the movies this summer, I guess.
I liked The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which we saw in a real movie theater right after it came out, but it didn't leave a lasting impression on me. When I've caught glimpses of it since then (one of the kids bought the DVD, so it's been viewed a few times), it seemed way too serious. So I wasn't all that excited about Prince Caspian. I enjoyed it, though.
Here's my take on the Chronicles of Narnia movies thus far: they're beautiful to look at, even stunning at times, and the action is exciting and intense (also strangely bloodless). I don't remember the books that well, but I suspect that what's getting glossed over in the movies is the thought processes of the characters as they make very important decisions. I also suspect that their choices and how they get there are the most important part of the stories, so maybe that's why the movies don't stick in my head.
Posted in Films | 2 comments
Posted by Erin
Mon, 28 Jul 2008 23:09:02 GMT
Oh, that Jack Black is a hoot, even as an overweight panda who dreams of being a ninja. Some great lines from the beginning: "Legend tells of a legendary warrior whose Kung Fu skills were the stuff of legend.... It is said that his enemies would go blind from over-exposure to pure awesomeness!"
It's not all about Jack Black, though. His awesomeness is actually somewhat restrained and totally appropriate for kids. I liked this movie a lot, and I think the kids did, too.
Posted in Films | 2 comments
Posted by Erin
Tue, 22 Jul 2008 04:36:06 GMT
Will Smith is really a good actor, and he's great in
this. I had some pretty disturbing and vivid dreams after watching it, though. I really need to read
the book someday. There are two other movie versions:
The Last Man on Earth (1964) with Vincent Price and
Omega Man (1971) with Charlton Heston. I've seen
Omega Man, and I think it was pretty corny, but I can't remember it that well. Anyway,
I Am Legend is very far from corny. It's suspenseful and scary.
Posted in Films | 4 comments
Posted by Erin
Mon, 21 Jul 2008 23:47:30 GMT
This is pretty good, but I had a surprisingly violent reaction to something in one of the special features. The director or writer or someone was talking about the movie (you know that every movie is special, right, and deserves its own thoughtful discussion about how they came upon their wonderful idea, how they found the perfect actors, etc.), and he said, "We wanted New York to be a character in the movie." I suddenly felt the urge to yell "Shut up!" and throw a pillow at the TV. Like 2/3 of all movies aren't set in New York!* Yawn. Or commit violence with throw pillows. Take your pick.
It was original as far as romantic comedies go, and the backdrop of the Clinton campaign and administration was pretty interesting. I had some problems with the movie (not just with the special features), but I think they might be considered spoilers, so I will leave it at that.
*This statistic is a fabrication. If anyone knows what the real statistic is, please tell me.
Posted in Films | 2 comments
Posted by Erin
Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:16:57 GMT
Maybe the Wachowski brothers only had one good story in them (
The Matrix), but they still make great-
looking movies.
Speed Racer is fun to watch, but there's not much else to it. It's also too long--over two hours. We saw it at our little drive-in, which I love. I think I've mentioned that before.
Posted in Films | no comments
Posted by Erin
Sun, 13 Jul 2008 01:43:27 GMT
I think my expectations were too high for
this movie, so it was a little disappointing. But it's good. The portrayal of humans 700 years in the future is especially funny and insightful, but not cynical or mean like it could have been. There's plenty of cleverness and humor, even with little dialog in some parts.
Posted in Films | 1 comment
Posted by Erin
Mon, 30 Jun 2008 02:21:41 GMT
I got kind of tired of seeing things from the ball's perspective, but
this was an okay movie. Jon said that the class issues made it an interesting story, and he was right.Otherwise it would have been pretty dull. I'm sure golf is exciting to some people, but not necessarily to me. It's a true story, though, and that made it more interesting.
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Posted by Erin
Sat, 21 Jun 2008 21:09:00 GMT
I discovered on our nine-hour flights between Denver and London that there are only certain movies that are suitable for viewing on the tiny, 5"x5" screen in the seat in front of you. They should be entertaining but not great, because you want to be entertained, but you don't want to watch anything that might become a classic on a tiny screen a foot from your face with mediocre headphones for the sound. Also, nothing with sweeping scenery or detailed costumes. In fact, maybe something you wouldn't go out of your way to watch otherwise. Here's what I watched:
Mad Money (2008): fit the in-flight entertainment requirements perfectly. I like Queen Latifah. I think I'd like to be called Queen something.
I Could Never Be Your Woman (2007): In spite of having one of the worst movie titles ever invented, this movie wasn't bad. I kind of enjoyed it. I had never heard of it before, and nobody else has ever heard of it either.
Later: I'm remembering more good stuff about this movie: good music, including "I Wish I Looked a Little Better" by Sparks; plentiful mockery of Hollywood; several hilarious moments; Jon Lovitz as the amusing ex-husband.
The Bucket List (2007): This was much better than I thought it would be.
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Posted by Erin
Sat, 21 Jun 2008 20:37:00 GMT
Jon hated
this movie from the other room, where he was trying to work while Ivy and I watched it. He kept yelling at us about how terrible the argumentative dialog was. Ivy and I enjoyed Jon's response to the movie more than we enjoyed the movie.
Posted in Films | 1 comment
Posted by Erin
Sat, 21 Jun 2008 20:32:17 GMT
The historical elements in
this movie are surprisingly good and informative. Good story, too.
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