Here are a few weeks worth of thoughts on movies I have watched. I decided not to label them reviews as they aren't really reviews as much as my little paragraph of thoughts. There are a few hints at what could end up on my favorites list, as well as some that many have loved and I found disappointing and a waste of time.
13 Assassins
Such a heavy film solely based on revenge. It's intense straight across the board from the visuals presented, to the dialogue, to the facial expressions and the physicality in the violence. It has some tough stuff to stomach, but when you make it through to the end, it is rewarding. It is currently streaming on Netflix and is worth a watch without the kiddies around. Could possibly end up on my favorites list, but there are still plenty of films to see. Buy it.
Crazy, Stupid, Love
There is always that one movie that in its own unique way tends to get under my skin and make me think about things in a way I normally wouldn't. Carrell is hit and miss with me, but he shines in this one. Throw in a few of my favorite actors in Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, some serious topics tackled with humor and one of the most real portrayals of a marriage on the rocks I have seen. It doesn't end up in a tidy fix it all conclusion. There are things left unsaid, issues left untouched, but there is hope, and that is a powerful thing. I connected with this movie on a deep level and it immediately shot up into my favorites list. It was this years "500 Days of Summer" for me. It ended up on my number 10 spot for favorite films of 2011. Buy it.
Conan the Barbarian
Garbage. Rent the original and enjoy Arnold in all his muscular glory. This is just a complete waste of time. Skip it.
Winnie the Pooh
After filling my time and mind with horrible raunchy comedies listed below, we thought we should try a family flick. I've never been a Winnie the Pooh fan, but I knew this would be a wholesome show and honestly it was a beautiful modern telling of a classic crew of characters. There were some strange parts to it, but overall it was enjoyable and my kids loved it which made it worth our time. Rent it.
Horrible Bosses
Watched 10 minutes and turned it off. Way too vulgar for my taste. Skip it.
Bridesmaids
It was compared to The Hangover, and The Hangover it was not. I actually enjoyed The Hangover, and while I snickered a few times in this one, I didn't finish it. I watched most of it, but didn't find it the hilarious romp everyone was making it out to be, although Melissa McCarthy was definitely the show stealer. Skip it and watch The Hangover.
Bad Teacher
Bad teacher was a bad movie. I didn't find anything valuable in it at all. Definitely Diaz's worst movie I can think of. Skip it.
Kung Fu Panda 2
It took me a while to get into the plot, but by the end it had me smiling from ear to ear and was put in my Amazon wishlist. It was just as great as the first one and with the addition of a few new characters and a ruthless villain who was awesome, it was a great sequel. The movie was a fun popcorn flick and had some great visuals to it. I immediately wanted to watch it again, but had to go to return it. Buy it.
Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame
Such a strange movie, yet utterly fun. It was promoted as a Sherlock Holmes meets Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon so I thought I would spend a buck and see how it turns out. It was fun. I can see where they came up with the comparison, but don't get too excited. The CGI is cheap and shaky, and the plot is pretty lame, but there are some great fighting sequences in it and that alone is worth renting it for a buck. Not sure I would ever watch it again, but it made for a great afternoon flick. It is a foreign film so be ready for lots of subtitles. Rent it.
Cowboys and Aliens
After reading all of the horrible press this got I was expecting a B level Sy Fy made for TV flick, but it was much better than the snobby critics made it out to be. It left something to be desired, but I thought Craig and Ford made a great duo. If it would have stuck to the western genre, it would have been one kickin film, but I did enjoy the sci fi elements and watched it three times in one day. Favreau could have done better, but it is one of those precious films that I think will end up on my screen quite often. Buy it.
Batman: Year One
It was pretty boring. I'm not much of an animated fan anyway, and the story wasn't as gripping as everyone made it out to be. I didn't finish it and don't plan to. Skip it.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
What a terrific ending to the one of the greatest stories ever told in literature. The series of films got better as they went deeper into the story. Some of that was due to the actors maturing, and the content of the books, but a lot of it can be contributed to the style of the directors, and I thought DH2 was the crowning achievement of the series, although I enjoyed DH1 just as much. The whole series of films are fantastic and they are definitely ones I will revisit with time. I plan on getting the collection on blu and enjoying Harry in hi def.! Buy it!
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Wow. This film was top notch grade A from start to bottom. It ended up number 6 on my favorite films list of 2011. James Franco is one of my favorite actors, and if Andy Serkis doesn't win an Oscar for his portrayal of Caesar, its a shame. This is one of my favorite films of the year, and it is the model film for what a reboot should be. The storyline is great, the CGI is great, and the film lived up to the hype. I am a fan of the original series and even the Wahlberg remake, but this is my type of flick. If you haven't seen it, rent it before you make your favorites list. Buy it.
Midnight in Paris
My wife and I enjoyed the film for what it is. I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but if you are a lover of literature I think you might just enjoy the film. There is romance to the film and the settings throughout the plot are gorgeous, but the ending leaves much to be desired. We definitely thought it was worth a rent.
Colombiana
Another film on the list that I didn't finish simply because it was boring. Much like her The Losers, Zoe Saldana isn't an action star. Great eye candy, but just can't carry a movie as the lead. Skip it.
Warrior
Smurfs
Fell asleep halfway through it. I knew I wouldn't like it but rented it for the kids. Skip it.
Mr. Poppers Penguins
Fell asleep ten minutes in with this one. My boys loved it, but again, not my cup of tea. Skip it.
The Adventures of Tin Tin
An all around joy to experience in the theater. Spielberg and Jackson brought me back to my childhood and loaded up on the action much like Indiana Jones films of past. I was glad that I ended my film viewing for the year with it as it was just a joy to go out on after watching such garbage for most of the year. It was cool to catch in 3D, and my boys and I laughed, cheered and smiled all the way through. It ended up on my number 2 favorite film of 2011. Buy it.
0 comments:
Post a Comment