Category Archives: films

Aug2

The Movie That I Love and Could Watch Over and Over

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A wonderful, heart moving movie

I loved this movie for the reversal of roles of the sisters, Marianne and Eleanor. Eleanor was always staid and reserved and Marianne wanted to “die for love” and was passionate about everything. By the end of the movie, Marianne, who DID almost die over love, found her happiness with a stable man that she previously thought boring but who was actually better suited to her than the one that almost ruined her.

Eleanor changed as well when she thought her love was to marry another woman. She held in her hurt over his engagement and let no one know her heart was broken. When she found out he was not married, she became very emotional and let her feelings shine through, even to the extent of bursting into tears. That was completely out of character for her.

Each sister found true love.

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Jul6

“Knight and Day”

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Being a movie hound and having been busy with the day job, I took advantage of the long weekend and took in another movie on the 5th. I saw Knight and Day with Cameron Diaz and Tom Cruise.  Not normally a fan of either one of them but two of my friends had seen it and highly recommended it.  So I put aside my reservations and went.  I actually thought it was quite funny and appealing.  Both of the stars were spot on in their roles. I’m not sure but I think Tom Cruise might not have been acting.  I think his true personality was on display in this role. Except for the parts where he administered drugs- which we all know, based on the debacle with Brooke Shields, that he’d never do in real life.

One really cool part (yes, I’m showing my geek side) was that the celestial blue Volvo C-70 with calcite white leather interior was exactly like my car.  It was awesome to watch it being driven in such a wild manner.  I was happy that they abandoned it in pristine condition.  So funny that I’d be worried about such a dumb thing,  huh?

The other thing I liked was the scenery- Austria was the loveliest.  This was a fun flick and a good summer, light fare, movie.

They only used the Volvo with the top up in the movie.  Here it is with the top up (and in white, not blue).

Jul5

“I Love it When a Plan Comes Together”

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The title to this blog post was  my favorite line from the television series, The A Team. I adored that show. It was always a lot of fun and George Peppard was completely cool under pressure.  The whole premise of the show was fun- the way the story lines allowed for reality to be suspended was a great escape. Some people thought the original series was cheesy but I really, really had a thing for Hannibal.  I guess I was in the minority because most of my girlfriends were all about Face. He was cute but he couldn’t compete with Hannibal in my book.

I finally got the time to go see the new  The A Team on the 4th of July. What better way to spend the day than dinner with the parents and then a movie about Federal fugitives?  I really enjoyed this movie. It was a lot of fun and I found myself grinning through the whole thing.  It was over the top.  Liam Neeson was great as Hannibal and the other actors were amazing, too. This movie stayed true to the spirit of the series. The bad guys were uber-bad. The good guys were very, very good and very, very sexy.  All in all, I recommend this one for laughs and escapism.  Just like the original show. A great escape.  Literally and figuratively.

I hope they have a “plan to come together” again. I’ll be there.

Jun30

Edward Norton vs. Ed Norton

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I’m watching The Italian Job where Mark Wahlberg plays the protagonist and Edward Norton plays the antagonist.  There are lots of actors to like in this movie.  Mos Def is most definitely cute with his dimples.  Jason Statham and Seth Green are also awesome.  And of course, it features the inimitable Donald Sutherland.

 Mr. Norton is excellent in evil roles (remember Primal Fear?)- He’s also good as a hero-type. I watched him in The Incredible Hulk last week- not because I’m a fan of comic book characters but because I like the actor. 

Anyway, as I watch this movie tonight, the other Ed Norton came to mind. Remember? The one from The Honeymooners? The  tv show from the 1950s?  I never saw  it on regular tv as it was on air before I was born but I have seen some re-runs on cable and some episodes on DVD.  It was funny- for 50s humor, that is. 

So, which Ed is your favorite? I know my choice. Bet you do, too.

May22

Letters to Juliet

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Went to see Letters to Juliet yesterday after work.  I mostly wanted to see it because of the scenery of Italy.  Love Italy.  It was an ok movie. Not spectacular but a nice escape.  The best part of the whole thing was the inimitable Vanessa Redgrave and her real life husband, Franco Nero.  Their true love for each other shone through. It was lovely to see the way they look at each other, even after being together for so many years.

Poor Vanessa Redgrave has had such a hard year- first her daughter, Natasha, died and just recently she lost both her brother and sister. It did my heart good to see that she has a man beside her that clearly adores her. I’m sure he’s helping her though all her pain.

The younger male lead, Chris Egan, was a bit reminiscent of Heath Ledger- not in body type but in some of his facial expressions.  He is Australian, too. Hope to see him  in more. 

Amanda Seyfried did a nice job.  One thing that annoyed me though, was the director’s insistence  in showing her in close up, over and over, with a soulful look on her face.  Once was enough, already. 

So, overall, I recommend this one.  Enjoy for a quick escape.

May14

Rock Em, Sock Em Robots vs. Iron Man II

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Went to see Iron Man II last night.  It was a fun movie.  Not nearly as good as the first one but it was a diversion, anyway. Robert Downey, Jr. oozes charm and charisma as always.  He is just adorable and very sexy as well. Gotta love the arms he shows off in that  wife beater tee shirt.  He is such a spectacularly gifted actor, it is a joy to watch him.

Now, let’s talk about the great unwashed.  Yes. I mean Mickey Roarke.  Now, if I thought he was only dirty for the movie, that’d be one thing but I think it is his natural state of being.  Loved the line where Downey told him he was gonna bring him some soap.  I think he meant it for the real man, not the character.   Anyway, every time Mickey came on screen, I was revolted – he is disgusting. Yuck.

Now, to the Rock Em, Sock Em Robots:  There is a scene where Downey and Cheadle are fighting each other- reminded me of that old toy- I kept waiting for one of their heads to pop up like they do!  It was kind of funny. 

AND then there was the fight scene where Scarlett Johansson fought like 72 men.  That was waaaaaay to video game like for my taste. The movements were jerky and rushed and totally fake.  Could’ve left all that out.  Or done it much better.

So, I recommend this as a fun romp but don’t expect great things (other than from the star, Robert Downey, Jr as this role seems to fit him very well).  Suspend reality for two hours and enjoy.

Dec26

Sherlock Holmes; the Guy Ritchie version

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So, I went with #1 son to see Sherlock Holmes.  It was awesome.  Now, I am a MAJOR fan of the Arthur Conan Doyle stories.  Read them all over and over as a kid.  Love Basil Rathbone as Sherlock- to me he was the epitome of the character-  No Jeremy Brett for  this gal-  now, I DID watch the Jeremy Brett ones and they were ok but he  just wasn’t Rathbone.   I also enjoyed the one that was called The Young Sherlock Holmes.  He was a teen in that one and it was an action adventure almost reminiscent of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom at the end.   AND who could forget Gene Wilder in the crazy Sherlock Holmes’ Smarter Brother.  

I say all this because I have read some of the on line reviews that talk about how unrealistic this new adaptation is.  Seems to me that the “Sherlock snobs” didn’t realize that they were going to see a GUY RITCHIE film.   If they wanted a true adaptation, they should have rented a Basil Rathbone or Jeremy Brett movie.  THIS WAS GUY RITCHIE, People!   You won’t get a staid drawing room flick from this man-  Know your director before you go and then grouse all over the internet that you didn’t like it.  Please!   Geez.   Anyway, the only thing I didn’t really care for was the casting of Rachel McAdams as Irene Adler.  She just didn’t fit.  The actress that played Mary, Watson’s future wife, was spot on.   All in all, a good, fun picture. 

When Holmes meets Mary, she talks about liking detective stories.  She mentions Wilkie Collins and Poe.   The detective story was new in that era and Edgar Allen Poe actually wrote the first-  The Murders in the Rue Morgue.  The Moonstone was by Wilkie Collins and was one of the first, if not the first, to be written in London.  My son said I was probably the only one to catch that line in the film.   I hope not.   But, after all, I am the queen of arcane facts.  

Here’s a pic of our boy:  The  irrepressible Robert Downey Jr as Sherlock Holmes,  a fun romp of a flick.