Ahh today. The "holiday" which actually has less meaning than say, Arbor Day. At least I'm all for trees.
I'm sure I could wiki it, but I'm too lazy to really care. It won't stop me from asking the question though:
How the HELL did this come to be? Groundhog Day, that is. PUHL-EESE (say it like Squidward!)
Having an over-grown rodent predict the end of winter and/or if we'll have more of it.
OF COURSE, we'll have more of it. You're in frickin' Pennsylvania in early February. Guess what? You're going to have more winter. A lot more. Not six more weeks. Try 12.
C'mon, yeah it's a little lot sophomoric, but it totally works - even with Andie MacDowell. So in fact, the day is not a total loss, because you can expect that some cable station will be playing this over and over and over today.
Apparently, Avatar wasn't about me and my Yahoo-like drawing. It should have been, it wouldn't have been as predictable.
Visually, the film was pretty cool - and we saw it in 3-D. And we saw it in a renovated theater, which was also pretty cool. I love that they are spiffying up a part of town on the rebound. The best part? They didn't show crappy ads or play bad music while you waited for the movie to start. Unheard of!
The seats were older but redone, which was cool too, for authenticity, but my butt hurt in them. Actually, my butt hurt before we got there. Big time. While cleaning off the driveway with the snow blower, my feet hit a patch of ice and I went down. I went down hard. I took the snow blower down with me too. With them blades and all - it could have been a Fargo moment.
But yes, I landed hard and there I lay in some serious pain. No one was home and clearly the neighbors didn't hear or ignored my loud scream that was filled with expletives. So, yeah, I was in pain - but nothing that sitting in a movie theater for three hours wouldn't cure! NOT!
So, perhaps I went in with the wrong state of mind, but I really don't think so. I mean I had Milk Duds. All was right with the world.
Yes, the movie was long, but that wasn't an issue. The visuals were great and as we all discussed afterwards (we went with friends), you really don't weigh in that the avatars were, well....avatars and not real characters. So with that, James Cameron did ok. The 3-D effects were not essential to the viewing, but they were done very well. And now I have a second pair of dorky glasses I can use nowhere else.
Unfortunately, it seemed the story was built around visuals. I'm not psychic, but it is safe to say 15 minutes in, I knew how the entire story would go, save a few lives and deaths.
From here, I'm putting in a Spoiler Alert thingy, because I'll probably say something to ruin the movie for you. But since it has been out for three weeks, most of you have probably seen it.
First - I love that Cameron cast Michelle Rodriguez in it. She was the best thing in Lost and she was probably signed before that whole drunk driving incident that got her booted from the show. Hell, this movie has been in production for a half-decade. It's possible. But I knew what her character would do and where she'd end up.
Hell, I love that a 60 year old Sigourney Weaver was in it at all. Always good to see her.
As for some of the movie: I never thought the tree falling down was so Twin Towers, but the other three with me did. I did, however, find the entire movie an allegory for the Iraq war. The brute force of the military to assimilate (and/or kill) the people they invaded. The war-mongering of the Blackwater/Bechtel types. The precious material these forces mongers and military are after. So maybe the 9/11 or twin towers thing was intended and I just missed that piece.
I do think the rest of the guys liked it more than I did - and I didn't think it was bad, just predictable. I wanted to see it. I'm glad I saw it. I cannot imagine this transferring well to cable or DVD. I would think you need the big screen for this - if you see it in 3-D or not.
Oh - and there is also a shiteous theme not sung by Celine Dion, but the song and the voice isn't all that different than the Titanic theme.
On a positive note: day one of 2010 and the first of 12 movies are under my belt. You know, where my sore butt is.
It is possible we will make our movie goal for 2009. But at what cost? ....at what cost?
When given a choice between a number of movies, for some reason I picked Nine. Avatar wasn't a choice, since we have plans to see that with friends later.
So remember when a few days ago, I said getting a Kelly Clarkson download might be the gayest thing I have done? Scratch that. Seeing Nine might....ummm....top that. It also challenges Angels & Demons as the worst movie of 2009. It should be noted that Denton does not agree with this assessment.
"Felliniesque" is the best way to describe the style, I suppose since it was adapted from a Fellini film. The film boasts star quality - as most of the "stars" have Oscars......but you know my feeling on that.
Save the two who do not have Academy Awards (Fergie and Kate Hudson), no one is really awful - it just just seem to fire on any cylinders or gel in any kind of way. I know Fellini is supposed to give that impression, while ending up being able to do those things. The 'esque' part of this doesn't seem to get that.
Daniel Day-Lewis is always going to be a standout, but he seems to struggle with what he's been given. Marion Cotillard seems to be the best of the females (save maybe Judi Dench). She has the best role with the most depth (yes, even more than Day-Lewis) and the better singing voice. Ironically, she did not do her own singing in La Vie en Rose. I didn't mind Nicole Kidman either - speaking or singing.
But - ugh, Kate Hudson? Is there anyone on earth in this movie with less talent than she? Denton enjoyed her part and her number, but to me it looked like an outtake from the third Austin Powers movie (yes, I am inferring it wasn't good enough for even the first two!).
And - ugh, Fergie! Is there anyone else in this movie on earth with less talent than she? It's bad enough in the music world she's a white chick who thinks she is in some way black. She ain't. And her acting/pretending to be Italian here is no better. "Acting" is a strong word. She has no lines at all. Not one. Just a singing role.
I have seen Penelope Cruz in any number of things, and I'm not getting her appeal. I just don't get it. Pedro Almodovar might, but I do not. Sure, she's limber (see above image), but it just means she is really really good at yoga......or kind of a slut. I suppose there is no reason she can't be both.
At least with Chicago, I somewhat enjoyed the music. Not so much here. And you have to endure two or three of the songs a second time during the ending credits. Sure, I could have left, but I kind of like to see the credits.
I noticed everyone, except maybe Day-Lewis, cries during their songs or in their dialogue. For the life of me, I can't figure out why he didn't - maybe it is because he is such a great actor. I was on the verge of tears - and not because of emotion.
So we've made it to #11 in the quest. I'm thinking that seeing Alvin and the Chipmunks Squeakquel with Becky over the weekend wouldn't have been such a bad idea at this point.
Yes, the holiday was nice. There will probably be a post in the next day or so - avec images, but for now, you get what you get.
What better way to get off our lazy asses on a major holiday than to go see a movie. Our 10th of the year. I know, I know - I only have six more days to see two more films to meet my self-imposed goal.
Somewhere in my warped mind, I feel I can still achieve this - all the while trying to wrap up work, start a new job, have house guests (potentially), go to a dinner party, go to a possible concert and another major holiday eve before year's end. Yowza.
First off, it was well attended for a late afternoon movie on xmas. And I don't know how we do it, but considering we are both pushing a half-century each, how is it that we were the youngest people in the frickin' audience?
Made by Jason Reitman (Ivan's son), the director of Juno, I had high expectations. While they weren't quite met, it hit all its marks, as predictable as they were. Geo Clooney was fine. More than fine, actually - but Oscar buzz? Really?
On the other hand - why not? Everyone else seemingly has an Oscar: Jamie Foxx. Robin Williams. Marisa Tomei. Even Whoopi Fuckin' Goldberg. I suppose Clooney's put in his time somewhere that someone should hand him one. Affleck got one easier.
Not that they should really be compared, but Juno had more humour, more heart. And less predictability. It was fine and not all that deep. Is it the best movie of the year? No - not even in my top 5 - and I still have two more to see!
Still, it was on my list and now I can cross it off. It was a good afternoon distraction.
Ok - just a dumb little thing in College Humour. But it speaks to me as a Star Wars geek.....and a somewhat newish Facebook member.
....and it keeps this blog going past those 365 blog posts (ok, I've got to stop with this entire year reference, right?).
Of course, not to be outdone by just one social networking site, it seems Darth Vader posts on Twitter. I'm not a follower, but I was amused at some re-tweets people posted on or around Thanksgivng: Darth Vader: Will be celebrating Thanksgiving this year with my son & his friends on Cloud City. I just know they'll be dying to meet me.1:49 PM Nov 25thfrom Twitterrific
Oddly enough, I have some drafted already for end of the week, but nothing mid. Go figure. Someone tagged him for a meme, and he did it. No one tagged me, but I'm just picking up on it because.....well.........as I said, I need rescuing today.
What movie star (past or present) would you have to dinner and why.
I went with the first person I thought of: Meryl Streep.
The why is pretty obvious - she's brilliant at what she does, even when she's in crap. And let's make no bones about the most Oscar nominated female in history - she has been in plenty of crap.
But she floats effortlessly through drama to comedy - and yet most people would never see her as a comedic actor. If you've seen her in real-life, or in an interview, she is frickin' hilarious and very quick on her feet. It's why I'd like to have dinner with her - forget her body of work, she'd be fun company.
I first saw her in The Deer Hunter, which is a small small role, but pivotal for her career - and a movie I love (which is odd to say if you know it). The same year, I saw her in Wendy Wasserstein's Uncommon Women on PBS. I remember it more for Swoozie Kurtz, but Streep was there.
Then there were the succession of down, but great films: Sophie's Choice and Ironweed pop to mind. I saw but wasn't a fan of the French Lieutenant's Women, Falling in Love or Silkwood(one of only two films I've walked out of). Out of Africa bored me except for the cinematography.
But that's where she kind of got interesting. What possessed her to do She-Devil? Overall, it was a horrid movie, but you know what - she was fun to watch. Honestly. And then Postcards from the Edge? Still an all-time favourite. It's part her, part Carrie Fisher, of course, but Streep does it so well.
Comedy is hard though. Death Becomes Her? There's only so much you can do when working with Bruce Willis and Goldie Hawn. Then there's lots of mediocre crud: Bridges of Madison County, the River Wild and don't get me started on Mama Mia.
But other things I've mentioned here lately are still great and good: Angels in America and yes, even the Devil Wears Prada. If you have a chance to see the latter, there is one scene that just encapsulates Streep - and it's the last one she's in during the movie. She goes from indifference to reflection to almost joy to complete bitch in less than 10 seconds. It truly fascinates me.
So yeah - I'd go to dinner with her.
....or Jason Stratham. That wouldn't be for the conversation. Trust me.
I*I*I*I*I have been watching replays of Angels in America lately. It's been showing again on HBO.
It is not like I haven't seen it a dozen times before, as when it originally aired, I couldn't ever turn away whenever I caught it.
Six years later, the same can be said.
Tony Kushner is a frickin' genius with the pen. Or word-processor or typewriter, as the case may be. His flow, his words, his imagination are just amazing.
The cast is pretty incredible too. I mean - I can't say I am or was thrilled with Al Pacino. He seems to be playing every character he's played in the last 20 years.....or he's just playing Al Pacino and getting a check for it. There are a few actors who only play one character, but the same amount will play two, three or four different ones.
Years ago, I would have said my would-be beard, Mary-Louise Parker, was the best thing about the play turned into tv movie. But I don't know that's really the case. With a very interwoven storyline, I don't know that anyone works without the other character/actor.
Patrick Wilson, Ben Shenkman, Justin Kirk and Jeffrey Wright are as much the stars of Angels, as Streep, Pacino and Emma Thompson. Hell, I love how Vanessa Redgrave is thrown in near the end, just sitting there with nary a line to utter.
But it comes back to Kushner. Without his words, there'd be no one clamoring for a role in this thing in the first place.
If you haven't seen it, you really should - via HBO or NetFlix. It's dark, heavy, light, funny and poignant - all at the same time. Some it can be very difficult to watch, at least for me. Clearly, it is something I watch over and over again, so it can't be all bad, right?
Going by my blog and the pictures I post of me on here, I'm guessing you can assume I'm not all that into fashion. I'm certainly not Becky or Jon who like watching stuff like Project Runway. Hell, I even hate shopping. Hate it!
The irony was not lost on me that during a movie on fashion, I was wearing Eddie Bauer jeans, an LL Bean flannel shirt and Wolverine workboots. ...and no, I am not a lesbian.
Anyway, the movie is about putting together what is the biggest annual issue of Vogue. Again, I don't really give a hoot about fashion, or Anna Wintour. However, I am interested in process - how a book makes it from author to store, how a record is made and even how a magazine is put together...even one like Vogue.
It is a documentary, clearly, but it is like The Devil Wears Prada meets a documentary. And it shows you how eerily close Prada was to reality. But I liked Prada.....well, at least Meryl Streep.
So it was a fun way and almost funny to watch the similarities between the two. And with The September Issue you don't have to watch that douche who is/was in Entourage.
But really it was the process I liked - the one of creativity and decisiveness, the art and product, even though you never really see the final product. On that level, the movie delivered.
It is an A&E production, so it's probably only a matter of time before it hits that cable station. It's only 90 minutes - and there were zero previews. What's up with that?
...and for the record, we're up to movie #9 for the year. I still think we can make the goal of 12.
On Friday night - date night - we went out with our friends to see Julie & Julia.
I've always been fond of Meryl, what can I say? She is fun to watch work - even when, or if, it's a throwaway role.
Make no mistake, while she was good at her homage to Julia Child, and will no doubt get another Academy Award nomination for her portrayal, the movie was kind of fluff. I mean, it is Nora Ephron.
I wish I were a bigger fan of Amy Adams, but I'm not. I think she peaked playing Jim's girlfriend in a few episodes of The Office. Chris Messina did a good job, but he's just easy on the eyes - so who cares how he can or can't act. You might remember (or know) him from the last half of the last season of Six Feet Under, playing Claire's boyfriend. Jane Lynch was in it, playing Child's sister. She was great for the five minutes she appeared in it. She is clearly the go-to gal in movies and tv anymore. I swear, she's in everything. And rightfully so.
The movie is as much about Julie and it is about Julia. It's as much about relationships as it is about cooking. It's as much about food as it is about blogging. It made bloggers seem a little self-absorbed, vapid and all chasing some book deal. I can only identify with one of those traits.
Ironically enough, we went to a newish restaurant after the show. We had done both with our friends David & James - who seem to be our movie-going partners this year.
The irony comes in the way of the food. For a movie which talked so much about, and made it so important - Taste didn't really subscribe to that theory. The setting was nice, the owner was effusive, but the server was kind of full of himself (with no good reason) and the food was fair - at best.
Neither David or James finished their vichyssoise. They barely started it. My food was blah, but not horrible. David and I split the peach ice cream for dessert. But it seems they forgot the sugar....the cream....and the peaches. Or as David said, it was like cold cardboard - without the zing!
It would have been nice to finish up the movie night/date night/friend night with a good meal - but alas, that was not to happen. Live and learn.
For those of you counting.....this makes movie #8. I'm only one behind and if we hit a movie next week, I can totally keep on track for my 2009 goal.
I don't even have a song title for this one. Sue me.
I'm off track for my movie goal of 2009. Same unrealized goal as 2006, 2007 and 2008. But I think we can get back on board. I certainly hope.
But yesterday we went to see Extract, which makes film #7 for the year.
I don't have much to say for it. My nephew really wanted to go, and now I'm assuming he played me to get into an R-rated movie without his parents permission. Just a hunch. Good for him. Clever kid.
The movie was so-so, at best. It is possible it is one of those that is better upon repeated viewings, like its predecessor, Office Space, it might be funnier. But at the cost of the theater, it makes it that less funny. It's why you get the McCormick's image as opposed to the good stuff that an Ina Garten will tell you to use. You get sub-par.....just like I did.
Jason Bateman is ok, but he is basically playing Michael Bluth (his Arrested Developmentcharacter). He's a go-to guy anymore, but he can be so much better than the stuff he's in. Like this movie. Christen Wiig is possibly the most underused person. She is way too funny to be playing the straight woman. What were they thinking? A total missed opportunity.
Oh - and Gene Simmons? UGLY. There is a reason the man wears make-up in Kiss - to cover his ugly. I'm surprised there is enough make-up in the world. Oh, and he's no actor.
Speaking of "actors" - Ben Affleck? Denton said, "oh he's ok". Sorry, but for someone who has done a few dozen movies, shouldn't he be better than "ok"? He was actually pretty bad.
My suggestion was going to be for you to wait to see it on DVD, but then thought you might just want to wait till it hits Starz (it's not HBO or Showtime material). Or, for that matter, just wait till it hits Comedy Central in four years.
How can John Hughes be dead? That's just impossible.
That is how I found out that John Hughes was indeed dead. Well, that and a quick confirmation from CNN.com. No offense to Rebecca, but even her sources need to be verified. (and my, someone updates wikipedia immediately!)
Whether you liked his stuff or not - and it was very very hit or miss - for a long time, Hughes defined teen and family movies. Even if you're not of my cohort, the movies that are of today are direct descendants of his work in the 80s.
Just last week (?), I posted his Sixteen Candles done in 30 seconds by Bunnies. It was fun, but not as great as the real thing. That ranks in my top 10 movies of all time. Yes, it's not Citizen Kane(which is also in my top 10), but it's a great 100 minutes of film fun. Every line a great quote. Seriously.
I wanted to like Breakfast Club so much, but I could never buy into it. Did anyone buy a 33 year old Judd Nelson as a high school student? I liked the concept, just not the execution.
I didn't even like either the concept or execution of Pretty in Pink. Ok - I liked the fact that Annie Potts got work. And who doesn't like it when Duckie sings and dances to "Try a Little Tenderness"? Maybe if she ended up with Duckie and blew off 33 year old high school student Andrew McCarthy, I could have bought into it.
What I really don't get is why I liked the exact same story so much better when it was repackaged a few years later in Hughes' own Some Kind of Wonderful. (Morty will now deny it, but eons ago we claimed it as a guilty pleasure.)
Oh - and in Pretty in Pink, we had to endure OMD's "If You Leave"....and more than once!
Of course I don't know anyone who doesn't like Ferris Bueller.
I will cop to not knowing he wrote National Lampoon's Vacation. As funny as that was - and let's face it, it was - you still had to endure three (three!) Home Alones.
They cannot all be masterpieces. And if nothing else - we have Sixteen Candles.
Maybe when Rebecca is in town this weekend, she'll come over and we'll just get some beer, and Rainbow Chips Deluxe (yes, it is as gross as it sounds) and kick back and watch it - and have some good laughs.
I've gone 8 months without a day break in blogging and I'm not about stop now. I currently have a goal to do a complete year with one entry per day. A few months ago I thought it would be unachievable, but I no longer think this.
But I've lagged too long to get a meaningful post going today (ok - not like most of my posts are 'meaningful', yes, I get that!).
So ruckiry (not Jon's boss), Rebecca gave me this last week and it made me smile. Not laugh out loud, but it was a toothy grin. See, Becky, Jon, Morty and Dity can quote every line and scene from Sixteen Candles.
It's not like we've made it our life's work - it's just come very naturally to us. Every word, every pause, every inflection. Ok - that might be stretching it a bit.
So anyway, Becky provided me Sixteen Candles, as re-enacted by Bunnies in 30 Seconds. I LOVE the disclaimer: VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED! Contains bunnies cursing, and bunnies in humiliating teen/tween situations.
I love it mostly for the 'humiliating for teen/tween situations'. Score. A direct hit!
I couldn't find a way to embed it into my blog, so I'll just direct you to go here.
No - my name is not Jonny, but it is the only song I had in my music liberry with the word "uncle" in it. Sue me.
I'm not a complete geek, but I am a great uncle, if I say so myself. I saw the new Harry Potter twice this last weekend. Yes, twice.
It is not because I was looking for subtle nuances in the character development or seeing if there were any shots that were glaring mistakes. No, I went because my nephew asked me to take him.
Matt is 16 and was possibly the first person I knew to read the Harry Potter books. I'm not sure I ever heard of them before him. He devoured them. I saw the first three movies with him (and his parents) on their respective opening nights. After that, he wanted to see them with his friends - who could blame him?
And while he is an outgoing kid with lots of friends, he wanted to see the movie w/Denton and myself. The problem was, we had already made plans to see it with others. And while I love Matt, I wasn't sure how he'd feel about going with new people, and those folks being another gay couple.
He's 16. And while the world is much more progressive, 16 year old boys tend to be 16 year old boys. Uncomfortable in any number of situations - especially like that.
So I did what any good uncle would do - I told a white lie. Yes, we'd take him to see it, and no, we had not seen it yet. Had I told him we had, he would have said not to bother going again. But I wanted to do it with him.
I love doing stuff like this with him. I love the fact that he wants to do it with me or us. Not only was it never offered by any of my uncles while I was growing up, I think I would have prayed that I'd get ill if things like this were ever even suggested. I never had that kind of relationship with my uncles (or aunts).
Though I have no idea what my older nieces and nephews think of theirs and my relationship, I am constantly amazed they don't mind being around us. Maybe my sisters helped cultivate a different kind of relationship because of the ones we had with our relatives. Or didn't have. Who knows.
Anyway, it was just the three guys watching Harry Potter - and eating popcorn....and Milk Duds. Matt only gave it a B. I told him he was crazy.
But now, more on the movie. Ok....yes, I'm a little geeky. Seeing a second time was good. For the movie, not the experience.
No matter how many glares I have the family behind us, they would not shut-up. Not whispering either. It's like they were watching television in their own house. Finally, for the last 30 or so minutes, Mr. Talky (the probable dad) kept his mouth shut. Wanna know why? Huh? Do ya? Because.he.fell.asleep!!! He completely missed the ending. They should have stayed at home.
The audiences for each night could not have been more different. Age, gender and most strikingly, what they reacted to - or did not. Polar opposites. Weird. And there was no one there. Maybe 30 people in the entire theater. Did everyone see it on day one and two?
I did pick up on some stuff I completely missed in the first movie - things not many would have seen on first showing, just due to sequencing. And how suggestive was Ginny Weasley's shoe-lace tying scene? And what was up with Ron's broomstick during Quidditch try-outs (droopy) when he was floundering and then during the match (upward pointing) when he was succeeding? Yes - we get it!
And I really loved some of the edits - like the showdown out in the field between some Death Eaters at the Weasley's house. It was so well done. There were similar edits while looking for the Horcrux (well, one of them) too.
Oh, and I also mentioned in my initial post about Alan Rickman's answering machine during a Family Guy episode. I still kept snickering to myself during the movie thinking about it. So I thought I'd share it with all of you.
All I can say is 'well done'. I'm sure I can say more. I'm 100% certain I will.
Almost each one has been better than the last. I say 'almost' because I thought The Chamber of Secrets was the worst one. But from Prisoner of Azkaban and on, they've done a phenomenal job.
We went with our friends, David & James. They are possibly bigger HP geeks than anyone I know - over the age of 15 that is.
I have to say, I fought reading the books for a long time, but I succumbed and finished them all. And I was quite surprised how much I enjoyed them. I even read the Half-Blood Prince twice, mainly because we only bought one copy of The Deathly Hallows and while Denton started that, I reacclimated to where we had left off.
The movie was fast-paced, darker than the others, and yet also had more humorous moments than the others as well. The darker part shouldn't come as a surprise - as these are troubled times they are living in, as you well know, whether you read the books or just saw the movies.
The film also had some visually stunning moments. But I've thought all of the last four have. But you get four homos in a restaurant after the movie and watch out!
We didn't really pick it apart. We tried to figure out what had been cut from the book and sometimes if we weren't getting our books mixed up with all the backstorying they can do to fill in missing gaps. Oh and commented on set and costume design. Hey! We're gay!
The four of us really liked how the "kids" have developed so well as actors - and amazed in this day and age how they all stayed with the series without once replacement (save Dumbledore's Richard Harris who died after the second film). All three were particularly good in different scenes of the film - especially Ron and Harry.
We all agreed that everyone wants to see Helena Bonham-Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange (she's come a long way since her debut in Room with a View) and my personal favourite: Luna Lovegood. And yes, I love Snape. Always have. (I started laughing to myself thinking of a Family Guy episode where you kept having to hear Alan Rickman's answering machine.)
Half-Blood Prince might be the longest of the movies so far. Over 2.5 hours.
I am actually glad they are breaking up The Deathly Hallows into two movies. I think they have to if they do not want to cut too much out. This film actually omitted quite a bit without losing too much of its flavour.
Blobby gives it two thumbs up.
Oh - the previews for the upcoming movies they show at this are horrid. Clearly they still think that 9 year olds are going to see Harry Potter. ...and they do, but everyone in our sparsely filled theatre was over the age of 20. So movies about gerbils (yes, you heard right - and no, it does not star Richard Gere) and a magic rock really did not appeal to any of us.
Hard to believe I haven't used this title before, but I did a quick search over the last two years of posts and at least didn't see it. It's not to say I didn't, but it was a quick once-over. And, if I can't remember, then I'm sure you can't be bothered to remember either. Am I right?
It seems I have to be one of the last people to take in The Hangover.
Given great reviews, and it sounded like a 'guy movie', I figured I should see it. And yes, technically I am a guy - regardless of what others might say about me. So we saw it yesterday. (that makes movie #5 for the year, in case anyone is counting!)
My one word review? Eh.
It was certainly a serviceable movie and it definitely had its moments, but maybe the build up was too big.
The Hangover was a non-Judd Apatow, Judd Apatow movie. It had some of his elements and some of his casting regulars - but you had to believe Apatow would have done it a little better and a little smarter while keeping it raunchy.
All the actors are just fine in it, yet sometimes it just didn't click - at least not all the time. Half the cast seemingly came from The Daily Show roster: Ed Helms, Rob Riggle, Matt Walsh, Rachel Harris. Probably others I missed. Don't get me wrong - they all did fine.
Oh, Heather Graham was in it too - playing the exact same role she plays in everything she has ever been in - maybe minus the rollerskates, but she seems so damned likeable, doesn't she? At least the weakest cast member (the groom) was only in the beginning and the end of it all.
To me, the funniest thing in the entire flick was the wedding singer at the end. An all white wedding band doing a cover of "Candy Shop" by 50 Cent was hilarious. I was DYING.
Yeah, I'd heard of him, but never seen him in anything - at least as I scrolled through his IMBD credits.
To be truthful, he looks a little lot better unshowered, unshaven and a little roughed up. But there are so many guys I can say that about. He should do all his movies this way.
I'm so on track for making the quest of one movie per month this year. I know it seems like a small goal - but so far, it is one that has not been achievable.
I guess it's really an average of one movie per month, considering we've seen three this month alone and I'm still falling one short year to date. But with Harry Potter and Julie & Julia on the way, I should make it.
Except for Honey, I Blew Up the Kids down at Animal Kingdom, I'm not sure I've ever seen a three dimensional movie.
Aren't the glasses fabu? Aren't I? I look so very European.
For all of Pixar's releases, we've made most of them on their opening weekend. Up has gotten rave reviews. And maybe it works on multiple levels, but I have to say, I didn't see it from a kid's perspective. I found it to be extremely kid-unfriendly for the first two-thirds. VERY.
Much like Wall-E, the first half-hour is a poignant movie on its own, but obviously goes on longer and with other or extended story lines. But still, I wondered (aloud) why the kids in the audience weren't in tears or scared. Again, Disney is the master of making movies work on multiple levels, so maybe I can't see it through a child's eyes.
The story is ok, but it didn't WOW me. As always, the visuals were great - though I can't say the scenery shots were better than Cars or the Incredibles. Those were outstanding. Some of the 3D stuff was good, but I'm not sure the movie wouldn't have worked without it. Visuals have always been Pixar's strong suit, so I'm not sure that 3D is necessary.
Up is a decent 90 minute or so flick. I wouldn't say you need to rush out to see it, but it's something to do on an uneventful afternoon.
Oh, how I wish this were a post about at least a half-nekkid David Boreanaz. You know Angel, from Buffy.....or, I guess Angel. .....but mostly I care about Buffy.
Even with the bumps on his left shoulder (go ahead, enlarge the image and look), he's still dreamy.
No, this is about going to see Angels & Demons yesterday. I know, I know - it goes against most everything I stand for: catholicism and Tom Hanks. But short of being rude - what could I do? I was out-voted 3-1.
We rarely see our friends David and James, and they really wanted to go. For full-disclosure, they'll see almost anything and everything. David worked in film (in a way) and has an appreciation for most everything - though it is not to say he likes everything.
Denton wanted to go too, so what's a good bf to do? I went.
I never read the book and I think I'm one of 18 people in the U.S. who did not read The DaVinci Code. I tried. Honest. I could not get past page 104. I'm not estimating here.....it is not an approximation. I distinctly remember the page I gave up on the book, even years later.
Clearly, I didn't see that movie either.
But we went. It was exactly what I expected, though with a few twists I didn't quite see - but the end result was how I figured it, about 25 minutes into the picture.
One twist was that Ewan MacGregor was in it! Who knew? Probably anyone who read an ad or the movie poster. I wasn't one of those people.
I don't care that Hanks has two Oscars to his credit and one is a Jonathan Demme movie about a person with AIDS. It could be argued, he peaked with Bachelor Party. But once he went down the road to Big, I started to find him insufferable. Ok, maybe that's a bit harsh, but the schmaltz with Forrest Gump and that FedEx movie......oy.
I'd say 70% of the movie is background information. Them walking and talking and explaining a few millennia of history, but just enough to end up fitting very very very neatly in the the jigsaw puzzle of a movie was annoying to me. Yeah, lots of movies and TV shows do it - but they do it better. Raiders of the Lost Ark comes to mind, or something a little more didactic like The West Wing.
For the blockbuster it was supposed to be, I doubt there were more than 25 people in the theater. ...and it was a rainy Saturday.
...oh and the music. The overreaching score. The Gregorian chants in the background. And bombastic approach to the final credit music. Way too much, Opie.
As it turns out, no one thought it was a great movie, so I wasn't the cheese standing alone. I doubt that Dan Brown or Ron Howard even scraped the surface of how evil the catholic church is, but it's not exploding anti-matter.
On a positive note - I'm up to my third of at least 12 movies for the year (you all remember my never-achieved goal, right?). And with a few movies slated for summer release, I honestly think I'll make it.
But at least for this, I got a really really cute image of Mr. Boreanaz.
You might look at this title and the accompanying image and assume that I went to go see the new Star Trek movie and didn't like it.
You'd be wrong.
I mean, I did go see it. But I more than liked it.
The reason for the song title - which is about a decade old or more - is because it contains lyrical references to Jean-Luc Picard and the United Federation of Planets.
See, I was never ever a fan of the original Star Trek series or their movies. I saw Wrath of Kahn. I saw Search for Spock. I saw the one that was #V - whichever one that was. You know, the one where they were going to Shakaree or something. Of course, Jon and I would substitute Chaka Kahn just for our own giggles. Awful!
I remember seeing that last one with Jon in that old Grandview theatre and successfully (?) quoting dialogue that had yet to happen. THAT is how predictable it was. I remember turning to him and saying, "hell! I could have written this", to which his quick reply was "thank g-d you didn't!!!" Oh how we laughed. The movie cost us a dollar and I still wanted a refund when it was over.
I really enjoyed The Next Generation series though, but not so much their movies. I could never get into Deep Space Nine, Enterprise or Voyager. TNG was an anomaly.
Anyway - back to the movie. Yes, we saw it on day two, so the place was packed. They even had an 'event coordinator' to make sure all seating was utilized. They tried to get me to move to the center to make it easier for others to get in. Tough cookies, babe, I got here early, I scoped out my seat. I'm keeping it.
JJ Abrams did a great job with it. Better than he's done with Lost or Felicity(insert laughing here). The effects, the storyline and the acting. Except for two or three lines they had to throw in (c'mon - did anyone think Scottie wasn't going to say his frickin' trademark line?). I was annoyed at a few product placements that clearly every movie has to do anymore to off-set financing. The Nokia ringtones are a blatant display was just crappy.
And then there was Lenord Nimoy talking around his new dentures. It was a distraction.
Oh oh oh.....and Winona Ryder!!! She didn't take anything away from the flick, but she certianly didn't add anything to it either. It could have been played by anyone. But it probably keeps her in Actor's Equity for another 3-5 years. Denton didn't even recognize her.
The cast was actually really good. I don't know why all the gays pine for Chris Pine. He's a better actor than he is a looker - but that could be my opinion. But Zachary Quinto was great as Spock. And of course Harold (or was it Kumar?) as Sulu. Even Uhura was good - though she a bit of a space slut.
And is there anything that Eric Bana is in where he isn't totally hot? Even as a Romulan?
Don't get me wrong, there are great scenes but little suspense. It's not quite a spoiler alert when you know none of the main characters are in complete danger - as they all live for another 6o years....or 60 films. Whichever comes first. (flash on the Simpsons: Star Trek XII: So Very Tired!)
You know we don't go out to tons of movies, mostly because I'm picky....and cheap, so I heartily recommend it.
He'll be missed - not that he's really been seen in the last decade. At least not by me. Unless of course, I'm watching Blazing Saddles - which can be a frequent occurrence.
It is such a great movie and so could not be done now-a-days. I think it was my first R-rated movie. My mother would have said 'no', so of course I went to my father who was clueless about these things and gave me his permission.
Naturally, it was the bean/fart scene that had 12 year olds just rolling in the aisles - me being one of them. There were so many other jokes that were so much funnier, but you needed some age and wisdom behind you to catch on. It's not like the entire movie isn't quotable. My man-date, Scott, and I do it all the time.
Of course, I distinctly remember the entire two minutes or so "Buddy" was in the movie - right near the end. It's still funny when he says, "watch. me. faggots!" Like I said, I'm not sure they could pull off some of this shit anymore.
Shadows
