Tag: movies

July’s 5 Word Movie Reviews – Join in and win $ for Charity

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Jason’s reign as theater king as ended.  He chose 5 movies per his March Madness win so the next one is mine.  Any good romantic comedies coming out?

Every time you add 5 words of your own to one of my reviews then you donate $1 to charity.  What charity, you ask?  The charity is chosen by the person who has the most reviews once we reach 100. (Last charity here)  PLEASE leave a clear 5 word comment so I can give credit for it.

You can add reviews to any of my past movie posts AND see who is in the contributing lead here.

Dark knight rises poster.jpgBatman Dark Knight Rises, 2012 (Cast-Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Anne Hathaway, Joseph-Gordon-Levitt)   Grade B

Very Dark But Satisfying Conclusion

Totally epic loved every minute (Teddyree)

Amazing ending to fave series. (Kay)

 Intense, dark, fitting series end.  (Heather)

Tom Hardy outsmarts a gag.  (Tony)

War and Peace, 1956 (Cast-Audrey Hepburn, Henry Fonda, Mel Ferrer)   Grade C+

Better Choice to Read Book.

Ted, 2012 (cast-Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis)    Grade D

Druggie Teddy Bear Funny? Nope.

 The best part was trailer. (Kathy)

Great Animation. Amusing but vulgar. (Leslie)

I am Number Four, 2011 (Cast-Alex Pettyfer, Timothy Olyphant, Teresa Palmer)                   Grade D

Tiresome, Laughable and For Teens.

Save money read the book (Teddyree)

Just another lame fantasy movie.  (Heather)

Friday Movie Talk – Are some books just too long to be good movies?

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I love last week’s discussion about Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher.  There is an overwhelming dislike for this casting and I’m happy to be validated on at least one of my choices for a recast.  Several of you thought Hugh Jackman could pull it off and two of you were on board with Shemar Moore.  Any other suggestions for the perfect Jack Reacher?

Over the past week Jason and I have watched War & Peace – all 209 minutes of it.  I had planned to do a book vs. movie post about it, but even just thinking about comparing the two gave me a headache.  War and Peace by Tolstoy is a powerhouse of a book.  It takes time, reflection, some notes, and a great deal of concentration.  It’s a worthwhile endeavor and one best tackled with a friend (thanks Molly!).  The movie starring Audrey Hepburn and Henry Fonda is fine, but surely a watered down version of the novel. It was good, but not a powerhouse by any means.  Jason hasn’t read the book but he still enjoyed the movie, especially the war parts 🙂

What I’m wondering is if some books are just too long and involved to make good movies.  I checked out Pillars of the Earth the miniseries from the library and am thinking that a miniseries has a better chance of being faithful to at least the spirit of the book.   As much as I love the Outlander series by Gabaldon I can see it failing as a movie.  Same for Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts.

Any other books that are just too long or complex to make a good movie?

Junes 5 Word Movie Reviews – Join in and win $ for Charity

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A slow movie month!

Every time you add 5 words of your own to one of my reviews then you donate $1 to charity.  What charity, you ask?  The charity is chosen by the person who has the most reviews once we reach 100. (Last charity here)  PLEASE leave a clear 5 word comment so I can give credit for it.

You can add reviews to any of my past movie posts AND see who is in the contributing lead here.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2, 2011 (Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint)     Grade A-

Fitting end to remarkable series.

Filled with action, drama, humor. (Kathy)

My Harry Potter life complete!   (Kay)

Ricochet, 1991 (Denzel Washington. John Lithgow, Kevin Pollak, Ice-T)  Grade C

Ridiculous but two great leads.

A female figure in silhouette stands before an enormous statue of a humanoid head. Text at the middle of the poster reveals the tagline "The Search For Our Beginning Could Lead To Our End". Text at the bottom of the poster reveals the title, production credits and rating.Prometheus,2012 (Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Guy Pearce, Charlize Theron)   Grade D

Laughable search for life’s beginning.

Humans deserving alien body invasion. (Teddyree)

Best Fathers in Film

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It’s the weekend to celebrate fathers so I thought I’d share my favorite dads on the big screen and hope you’ll share yours in the comments (or write your own post and I’ll link it to this one).  And yes, I did cheat with #6, but it’s my list so you’ll have to live with it 🙂

#1 Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird)  I don’t think too many people will disagree that this widower was evrything a father should be.  He loved his children and wanted to instill good values.  He didn’t just tell his kids how to be a good human being, he showed them in everything he did.  He wasn’t perfect, but as close as you can get.

#2 George Banks (Father of the Bride)  I have a soft spot for poor George.  He’s trying to come to terms with his little girl all grown up and ready to marry and his love for her is so obvious.  Every girl wants a dad who loves her so much.

#3 Daniel (Crash) Who didn’t fall in love with this dad who played a game with his daughter at night to make her feel safe in a city that wasn’t.  His devotion to her was tear worthy.

#4 Chris Gardner (Pursuit of Happyness) You don’t need a home or money to have the most important thing in life, the love of a parent struggling to do right.

#5 Richard Hoover (Little Miss Sunshine) Putting his daughter’s dream first, no matter the circumstances or motivations, makes this dad an easy pick.

#6 Leon (The Professional) Okay, so this assassin wasn’t really Mathilda’s dad, but he was better than her dad.  He was willing to protect her life with his own.

#7 Daniel (Love Actually) A stepdad becomes sole provider when his wife dies and his grace and humor win the boy, and us, over.

#8 Furious Styles (Boyz ‘N the Hood) Furious is trying to keep his son on the straight and narrow in a neighborhood that can be anything but.  I loved his devotion to raising his son, and any other boy, well.

So tell me, who are your favorite movie dads?

May’s 5 Word Movie Reviews – Join in and Win $ for Charity

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Every time you add 5 words of your own to one of my reviews then you donate $1 to charity.  What charity, you ask?  The charity is chosen by the person who has the most reviews once we reach 100. (Last charity here)  PLEASE leave a clear 5 word comment so I can give credit for it.

You can add reviews to any of my past movie posts AND see who is in the contributing lead here.

The Avengers, 2012. (Cast-Robert Downey Jr., Samuel L Jackson, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson)                                Grade B+

Mindless superhero fun. Yummy cast.

The Hulk steals the show. (Jenners)
The best super-hero movie ever! (Heather)
Maybe my favorite superhero movie…ever! (Kay) (Yes, I allowed 6 words, but only for Kay and only this once!)
 Hot bods save the day (Teddyree)
Good for quips, at least.  (Tony)

Dark Shadows, 2012 Cast-Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bohnam Carter Grade C

Stupidly entertaining vampire. Too long.

Not bad but not great. (Jenners)

Ughh rather watch paint dry (Teddyree)

Funny in parts…lost its way.  (Heather)

 

The Chang-Up, 2011 (Cast-Ryan Reynolds, Jason Bateman)    Grade D–

What were they thinking? Asinine.

Sexist, not funny, and bleh.  (Heather)

Mark Ruffalo was in that? Quiz

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We saw The Avengers last weekend and really liked it.  It had a great cast, including a few of my favorite actors, like Robert Downey Jr., Samuel L Jackson, and Mark Ruffalo.   I’ve listed Ruffalo’s characters in the order that I like the movies best with the name of a co-star or two. These are only movies I’ve seen.  Can you identify the movie?

You have until noon Sunday to submit your answers as a comment.  Comment will be hidden until I post the answers.  No Googling!

This round will last til August.  The person with the most points will win a B&N gift card (total $ based on # of total participants, so please play) and a randomly selected participant will win a fun prize from me.

Have fun and Good Luck!  Last week’s Mom Quiz here.  Leaderboard and rules here.

 1. Paul (2010)- Annette Bening and Julianne Moore couldn’t have had their 2 kids without him. The Kids Are All Right (2010)

2. Fanning (2004)- Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx are the leads of this thriller. Collateral (2004)

3. Matt Flamhaff (2004) – Jennifer Garner was the timeless love interest. 13 Going on 30 (2004)

4. Brad Sullivan (2010)- Tina Fey and Steve Carrell were having a bad night. Date Night (2010)

5. Chuck Aule (2010)- Leo DiCaprio helped make this movie based on a Dennis Lehane novel a good one. Shutter Island (2010)

6. Inspector David Toschl (2007)- Based on a non-fiction book by Robert Graysmith about the hunt for a serial killer.  Also starred Jake Gyllenhaal and Robert Downey Jr.  Zodiac (2007)

7. Bruce Banner/The Hulk (2012) – no description necessary. The Avengers (2012)

8. David (2005) – a very unreal/real Reese Witherspoon played his love interest. Just Like Heaven (2005)

9. Yates (2001) – Robert Redford goes to prison. The Last Castle (2001)

10. Stan (2004) – Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet had a few problems.  Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Fave Film #67 – Speed

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Speed1994

Cast-Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock, Dennis Hopper, Jeff Daniels.

LA SWAT officers, Jack and Harry are called to a downtown highrise when a bomber calls in a ransom demand, holding an elevator full of hostages.  When they are able to thwart him, the bomber disappears, presumed dead.  It’s hard to keep a good villain dead in an action movie and the bomber shows up again, only this time he’s holding a bus hostage and Jack is the only one who can save them.  Well, and Annie, as long as she keeps the bus going over 50 miles per hour.

Why I love it – I’ll start with two of the leads, both of which I love.  Keanu has never been better as the tough and buff hero.  If I were in a hostage situation I’d love Jack/Keanu to save me.  And then kiss me at the end like he did Annie/Sandy.  And Sandra was perfection in the role of Annie.  She drove that bus over that large gap in the overpass like a professional bus racer.  She was rattled but never lost her sparkle.  They both had excellent chemistry.  Dennis Hopper was a great villain with just enough angst and crazy to make it work.  Jeff Daniels was perfect as the long suffering partner trying to impart his years of wisdom to the instinctual driven Jack.  Their friendship was a real bright spot for me.

In many action movies like this there are parts (usually extended car chases or fist fights) that leave me bored and my mind wandering, but this movie never had a dull moment.  From the excitement of the elevator dropping in the first scene to the careening subway at the end this was non-stop excitement.   Perfectly paced and just enough special effects to make it fun.

Yes, as with most thrillers like this, you have to leave your common sense at the play button, but if you do you’re in for a treat.

Check out the rest of my 100 favorite movies

Book vs. Movie- Carrie

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I read the Stephen King novel last year (my review here) and I finally got around to seeing the movie.  I don’t remember particularly liking the book, but I thought it was worthwhile because of all of the pop references I now understand.  This was Stephen King’s first published book and first movie adaptation of his work.  He received a $2,500 advance for the novel and $2,500 for the film rights.  Must have been a popular number.

King said of Carrie, “I’m not saying that Carrie is shit and I’m not repudiating it. She made me a star, but it was a young book by a young writer. In retrospect it reminds me of a cookie baked by a first grader — tasty enough, but kind of lumpy and burned on the bottom.”

The paperback sold over a million copies the first year it was released.  The movie made $33.8 million in 1976 when it came out.

On with the comparison…

The Story/ Plot  Carrie is an odd high school girl raised by her very religious mother.  Carrie has telekinetic powers and can move things with her mind, when she’s upset it is unintentional.  She is an outcast at school and is ostracized even more after starting her period in the gym shower.  Sue feels guilty for her role in Carrie’s meltdown and offers up her popular boyfriend, Tommy, to take Carrie to prom.

There are many differences between the book and movie, but the idea remains the same.  Carrie has a crazy mother, can do crazy things with her mind, and goes completely crazy at the prom.

For me, the book’s documentary style telling, using interviews and police reports after the fact, was much more interesting than the straightforward way of the film.  Thumbs Up– Book

The Visual Although I preferred what actually happened in the book, the visual of the movie was cool to see and did a pretty good service to the novel.  It was like stepping back into the 1970’s.  I was completely distracted by Tommy’s hair every time he was in a scene.

It was large and shiny and blonde.  And the shower scene totally worked on film (although having girls frolic and chat while naked was not my high school gym experience).  The actual prom scene was cool, but I was expecting more.  Thumbs Up- Tie

Characters vs. Actors  I did not really connect with Carrie in the book, but in the movie I was able to see her in a more positive light thanks to Sissy Spacek.  She saved the character for me.  I was a little miffed at what they did to the character of Sue in the movie, but actress Amy Irving can’t be held responsible for the screenplay.  Thumbs up – Movie

(SPOILERS) The Ending  The end of the book was a firestorm that brought down a town.  In the movie Carrie gets a little knock on the head and she’s dead.  There’s really no comparison.  I will give a shout out to the movie for its VERY different ending – I jumped and was a bit freaked out, so it’s not all bad.  Thumbs Up- Book

And the winner is… the book.  I’m not taking anything away from the movie but when compared side by side it was an easy call.

Now it’s your turn to vote

Other book vs. movie polls you can still vote on: (It Ends With Us) (Perfume: The Story of a Murderer) (The Sun is Also a Star) (We Have Always Lived in the Castle) (Good Morning, Midnight/The Midnight Sky) (Before I Go To Sleep) (The Little Prince) (Charlie St. Cloud) (Far From the Madding Crowd) (The Girl on the Train) (Tuck Everlasting)  (Northanger Abbey) (Me Before You) (And Then There Were None) (Still Alice) (The Blind Side) (The Fault in Our Stars) (The Hound of the Baskervilles) (Gone Girl) (Jack Reacher) (Ender’s Game) (Carrie, the original) (Under the Tuscan Sun) (The Secret Life of Bees) (The Shining, the original)

March’s 5 Word Movie Reviews – Join in and win $ for charity

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For the record, I have not read The Hunger Games series.

Every time you add 5 words of your own to one of my reviews then you donate $1 to charity.  What charity, you ask?  The charity is chosen by the person who has the most reviews once we reach 100. (Last charity here)  PLEASE leave a clear 5 word comment so I can give credit for it.

You can add reviews to any of my past movie posts AND see who is in the contributing lead here.

The Hunger Games, 2012(Cast-Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hewsworth)Grade A-

Totally Captivated By Badass Katniss

Can’t wait for next movie! (Jenners)

Great book adaptation, want more! (Teddyree)

Cesar Flickerman for the win!  (Softdrink)

Wow!  Ready for Catching Fire? (Kay)

Love Lawrence, Peeta not great.  (Heather)

Jennifer Lawrence is really grim.  (Tony)

Not Lawrence’s best. Harrelson rocks.  (Brendan)

A film poster showing two men framing a large, ornate window looking out onto London. Colin Firth, on the left, is wearing as naval uniform as King George VI, staring at the viewer. Geoffrey Rush, on the right, is wearing a suit and facing out the window, his back to the reader. The picture is overlaid with names and critical praise for the film.The King’s Speech, 2010 (Cast-Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter       Grade B

Wish Triumph Wasn’t War Speech.

Amazing acting – Firth and Rush (Kay)

Funny, delightful, touching. Love it! (Heather)

Fascinating true story; superb acting. (Kathy)

Brilliant, emotional, surprising, loved it!  (Teddyree)

It’s not really worth it.  (Tony)

Safe House, 2012 (Cast-Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds)         Grade B-

Feels Like Jason Bourne Thriller

Guy’s thriller, girl’s eye candy! (Kay)

Red Riding Hood, 2011 (Cast-Amanda Seyfried, Gary Oldman, Billy Burke, Julie Christie)   Grade C+

Silly Story but Visually Stunning.

 Silly, visually pretty, and silly. (Heather)

Boring, poorly acted, visually good (Caspette)

A blast from the past…see what I said about The Kids Are All Right (2010) and add your review.  Peeta from the Hunger Games (Josh Hutcherson) was excellent in this one.