Killers (2010)

I don't think this movie is brilliant. I probably never need see it again. BUT, I am baffled by the negative reviews. It's not bad. It's not even close to bad. It's a rom com. It's not any worse for women than any other movie. It's not an action movie, people, get over it. Most of the bad reviews simply refused to take the movie at face value. Take it for what it is--a rom com that happens to have some guns--and it's an average movie.

Shrek Ever After (2010)

See: all other Shrek movies

Iron Man 2 (2010)

I *love* the first Iron Man and went into this one with high expectations. I love Robert Downey Jr. and was on board with swapping out the personally creepy Terrence Howard for Don Cheadle. I'm not normally a fan of Scarlett Johansson but I was willing to give her a shot.

I enjoyed the film but it's not as much as I would have liked it to be.

First, I HATE when there are scenes in previews that are not in the movie. Downey jumping off the building saying "You complete me" was ALL over the previews but not in the film.

Second, if I can come up with a solution to the problem, it needs to be addressed and explained why it won't work otherwise I assume you're dumb and didn't think of it. Slight spoiler--if Scarlett can reboot War Machine, why can't she just reboot the bad robots? At least make her try and not quite get it done.

Third, Paltrow needs to stop walking as if she actually has a stick up her ass. I'm a fan of her but, Jesus, pencil skirts do not do that on their own--ask Scarlett.

Fourth, I'm gonna need some of those Buddha lamps he has in his workshop.

Robin Hood (2010)

Up front, I'm not the biggest Russel Crowe fan. I don't dislike him but I don't love him and rush out to see his films. In a pinch, I can't think of a movie of his I love. A few I can't stand--like Gladiator (which is important to note for this Scott/Crowe re-pairing)--but none I love. I do, however, adore Cate Blanchett. I'll be her when I grow up (shush, we're going to ignore that she's only 10 years older than me).

But, I adore Robin Hood. The Disney version is a favorite as is the Kevin Costner film (yeah, revel in that--you won't get me to say I like much Costner has done) and, um, yeah, Men in Tights rocks.

So, those are my biases. This film wasn't as bad as I thought it might be. But, when I go to a movie titled Robin Hood, I want to see a movie about Robin Hood, not a movie about how Robin Longstride became Robin Hood. We get very few precious moments at the very very end of Robin Hood.

If I can get past that, and the questionable historical poetic license taken, I can't quite get past the overly ambitious geography of the film. It tries to cover too much ground--literally--and quickly gets overwhelming.

And, while Mark Strong is super fun, Godfrey could have been cut as well as his entire subplot and that would have cleaned up the geography problem and tightened the plot.

More or less, eh. Could have been better. Could have been a lot worse.

Fame (2009)

I'm a sucker for dance movies. Most of them are bad. Most of them have the same plot. Same characters. Etc. All of that is ok with me. Because I love dance movies. I'll excuse them almost anything really.

ALMOST anything. What I can't excuse? Little to no dancing. I'm not going to compare this remake to the original because I'm not sure I've ever seen it and if I did it was over 20 years ago. But I can and will compare it to the genre. This film lacked dancing in general but also lacked the minimum requirement of character development, lacked interesting music, lacked dynamic performances (from dancers, singers, actors . . . even the seasoned actors playing teachers). Even in the realm of bad movies, this one is inexcusable. The flimsy love story is thinner than the pop tartlette of the week's sheer knickers. The professional growth story is beyond irony. And the coming into one's talent and owning one's identity story is worse than stereotypical and damned close to demeaning.

I was left with a strong desire for the mailperson to take away the disc immediately and bring me Center Stage.

The Keep by Jennifer Egan (2006)

I don't remember where I'd heard about this book. But, in Barnes and Noble looking for a book to take on the plane from LA to NC, I settled on this one. A story about a woman in a keep sounds fun, right?

No.

First, the narrator is off. We get through a few pages before we get to a physical description of him. I've never ever been so at odds with an author about what the main character looks like. Never.

Second, the narrative is split between that at the castle (and, thus, the keep) and a male prisoner who is ostensibly writing the castle narrative. Contrived? Anyone? It's also pretty clear who the prisoner is in relation to the castle story. From the beginning. And this split narrative is not savvy--it's only real result is preventing the reader from being invested in either narrative.

Third, the prisoner is writing the castle story as part of an in-prison writing program. The writing teacher praises the prisoner's writing unabashedly. So, Egan has written in a character who will praise her writing. Lovely.

Fourth, the woman in the keep. Not so big a part. Not all that interesting.

Fifth, the climax. Ha! Not so much.

Sixth, the most honest part of the book? The last chapter which is from the p.o.v. of the female writing teacher. Yeah.

Maybe this is a good book club book for those who don't so much read books. Maybe. I don't know because I read books and this one just isn't up to snuff.

Mata Hari (1931)

b.o.r.i.n.g.

Didn't even finish it.

Don't think I ever will.

Duplicity (2009)

Well, at least it wasn't The International.

Kick Ass (2010)

A few of the ways in which Kick Ass kicks ass:

1. It follows its own rules--no contrivances to explain away nonsense at the end of the movie.

2. Best use of Elvis' "An American Trilogy" that I'm aware of

3. Nic Cage. Yeah--it's hard for me to say, too, but he's awesome.

4. Hit. Girl.

5. Some of the goons are named after Spice Girls--seriously.

6. Craig Ferguson

Religulous (2008)

Sort of full disclosure: I recognized the opening scenes as somewhere near Raleigh, NC before the location was identified. You see, I grew up in North Carolina, went to undergrad and my MA program in the Triangle area, and went for my PhD in SC. Religiously--frightening.

Anyway, I agree with Maher on a lot of things regarding religion but I don't agree with his approach. In terms of religion, I'm more of a let it lie sort of girl (as long as you're not trying to preach to or convert me or belittle my opinions) whereas Maher thrives on stirring the pot.

The film jumps shark at the exact point Maher starts to talk about Islam. He's never professed tolerance of any sort really but his intolerance here is staggeringly close to ignorance. I'm a lover of snark but snark is not going to reform the world and it certainly won't rid the world of ancient religion.

Transsiberian (2008)

I'm never getting on a train in Russia. That seems like common sense, right?

Emily Mortimer was good. Woody Harrelson was good. I love Ben Kingsley. Kate Mara always intrigues me. The movie, however. For whatever reason I thought this was the movie to watch at home by myself one afternoon while catching up on quilting (yeah--I do that). Dear. Jesus. I had to cover my eyes for part of it. And I'm not that girl.

A Single Man (2009)

I watched this one on the plane back from the east coast for a few reasons. First, I'd heard it was good and love Colin Firth and Julianne Moore. Second, the woman beside me wouldn't stop talking to me. Third, the children on the plane were out. of. control.

A Single Man is VERY Tom Ford. I don't know the man, don't know much about him personally, and don't even know if he's made any other films but this one just oooooooozes Tom Ford.

Firth is wonderful as George, a Brit who has just lost his long time partner and is struggling to find his way in a homophobic 1962 LA. Moore is gorgeous as usual and really seems to settle into the desperate Charley, George's perpetually dumped lifelong friend. The film is also an interestingly honest look at an English prof. (George). The end, however. I don't dislike it per se but Jesus.

Date Night (2010)

Um. Hilarious.

An Education (2009)

T. was nice enough to take this out of the already-sealed Netflix envelope so I could watch it while at her house--she's nice like that ;)

I'd heard mixed reviews about this one--from "brilliant!" to "too creepy to watch." So, of course, I was intrigued but I am always slightly cautious about hyped movies. This one lived up to it's hype. I loved Carey Mulligan (in a way that I fear she will always be this character in my mind) and Peter Sarsgaard was appropriately, quietly creepy. Alfred Molina and Olivia Williams were other high notes in the acting department. The costuming was super fun--but, I could easily find myself wearing those clothes if I has enough initiative to "dress" everyday.

The plot itself managed to unfurl in a way that made it not so much predictable or obvious but in an "of course" way--as if we were Jenny coming not only into the realization that we'd engaged ourselves to a creepy lying thief but also coming into womanhood.

Looking on imdb to double check the year just now, I see that Lynne Barber is the author of the autobiography that Nick Hornby adapted. Barber is a British journalist with a host of traditional publications under her belt but . . . she wrote for Penthouse for 7 years and wrote a book titled How to Improve Your Man in Bed. So, we get a peek into the grown-up Jenny's life. Cheeky ;)

The Secret of Kells (2009)

I *REALLY* want to call this movie The Book of Kells. If you don't know why--Google people!

J and I saw this at a new-to-us theatre so that was interesting. Also interesting was the audience member who had to be called out so she'd be quiet--she was especially vocal during the Babies preview. Luckily, she shut up once told to.

I don't know how much this will make sense to anyone who isn't in her/his early thirties or anyone who didn't watch a lot of cartoon movies on tv in the 80s and 90s but Secret of Kells felt like a tv cartoon movie to me. And I can't quite expand on that. It's not Pixar or Disney or any other contemporary animated movie making look.

The animation is beautiful and simple and sweet as is the story. I loved the incorporation of the images from the Book of Kells and only wish those intricacies had been used more. Of course, the whole thing made me wish I could go back to Ireland asap. Worth seeing but expect a quiet movie instead of a flashy one.

Alice in Wonderland (2010)

To be a "new" Alice, this one felt remarkably traditional to me--not that that's a bad thing. J. and I saw it at Disney's El Capitan so we were treated to large painted roses in the balcony and a musical intro complete with tissue rose petal confetti --but that's about it which is kind of disappointing for El Capitan and their decorating capabilities. Regardless, the movie was largely enjoyable. I'm a huge Johnny fan (who in her right mind isn't?) and I love when he just dives in wholeheartedly and becomes a character. That said, there were lines that went completely over my head because I couldn't understand his accent/lisp/quick delivery. Everyone else was good but none perhaps remarkable. I liked Anne Hathaway's Queen but I also liked Enchanted. What I didn't like was the end--you'll notice a trend here, readers, in that I frequently have problems with endings. The end frame felt forced and too hoo-rah-wo-man! But, I'll forgive it that I suppose. This was not Burton's crowning glory--nor any of the other actors' (especially with Bonham Carter and Depp having been in the much much better Sweeney Todd with Burton's direction recently)--but it was a good enough movie. And, being at El Capitan, we got to see some of the props and costumes in the basement of the theatre which is always cool.

We're Going Live, People!!

In about a week I'm taking it public . . . scary ;)

In the meantime I'll catch up and blog about a loooooooong list of movies and books I've failed to write about thus far:

1. Alice in Wonderland (2010)

2. The Secret of Kells (2009)

3. An Education (2009)

4. Date Night (2010)

5. A Single Man (2009)

6. Religulous (2008)

7. Kick Ass (2o10)

8. Duplicity (2009)

9. Transsiberian (2008)

10. Mata Hari (1931)

11. The Keep by Jennifer Egan (2006)

12. Fame (2009)

13. Robin Hood (2010)

14. Iron Man 2 (2010)

15. Shrek Ever After (2010)

16. Killers (2010)

17. Day for Night by Frederick Reiken (2010)

18. A-Team (2010)

19. Citrus County by John Brandon (2010) AND the Rumpus Book Club

20. RocknRolla (2008)

21. Oscar and Lucinda (1997)

22. Man on Wire (2008)