Movie Reviews

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted wasn't as good or as funny as the first two movies but I still liked it. The penguins should have had more screen time!

Hatfields & McCoys was very good. Sad that they allowed it to escalate to such a degree, but the production and acting was top-notch.

Being from that area and having seen what has rocked through my family I can
understand it. I really can.

I rented the 2006 fantasy comedy Aquamarine. Two teen girls befriend a mermaid who washes ashore after a huge storm. Aquamarine has legs during the day...if she does not get them wet. I thought it was a cute movie...but I did not find that so-called "cute" lifeguard attractive at all.

1/2

Ah, the age-old (well, since 1837) "little mermaid" story. I think Splash was the most fun one I've ever seen, Disney notwithstanding. The original Hans Christian Anderson is pretty danged hairy!

I have Harry Crowne from the library for this weekend. I do love Tom Hanks, but this one has mixed reviews. We shall see.

That reminds me a I need to get a movie for this weekend.

Watched two good ones so far this weekend.

Last night it was The Secret World of Arrietty, Studio Ghibli's take on Mary Norton's The Borrowers. It was very anime, of course, and thus wasn't really my Old English vision of The Borrowers from when I read it as a kid, but it kept essentially true to the story and was delightful to look at. Ghibli can't take credit for the story, but they did do a beautiful job of making it come alive visually.
1/2

Tonight was Larry Crowne, Tom Hanks' latest. I honestly didn't have high hopes for it --- guy down on his luck, finds a new way of looking at life, blah blah blah. But Hanks pulled it off. Light, sweet and utterly charming.

3 more good ones:

Albert Nobbs, the newish movie where Glenn Close plays a woman in 1800s Ireland who passed as a man for 30 years in order to work.



Erin Brockovich, the true story (well, based on) of an untrained legal clerk who was instrumental in bringing a lawsuit against a major power company in CA in the 1990s that won one of the biggest damages awards ever for the victims of the company's rampant toxic pollution. (The real Erin is still at it as an environmental activist and consultant, BTW.) Best film I've ever seen Julia Roberts do.



The Straight Story, also based on a true story, about an old geezer who'd quarreled with his brother 10 years before, finds out he's had a stroke, and travels 240 miles on a tractor to see him and try to make things right between them. Warning: it's as slow as that tractor, but once you relax and accept the pace, it blossoms oh so beautifully.

I rented the 2007 family drama Bridge to Terabithia. I read the book and it was very faithful to it.



This movie was promoted as a fantasy adventure when the CGI stuff had barely five minues total...out of a 96 mintue running time. Shame on them for such a misleading marketing campaign!

I've seen that. I really enjoyed it. Since I've never read the book I can't speak
to that angle of it. Still it was a great movie.

Watched Woody Allen's latest (from the library) Midnight in Paris. I've grown weary of late with Woody Allen and his constant exposition of his own personal angst, but this one was surprisingly charming and engaging, even if his protagonist did (as always), talk just like Woody. Plenty of unusual fun, and gave me things to think about.

3/4

Just finished watching The Bishops Wife. This is the original with David Niven, Loretta Young,
Cary Grant. Also Elsa Lancaster. This is a sweet movie, I've never seen the remake with Whitney
Houston. Then again I've never been a fan of Whitney Houston. The original is sweet and kind.

Oh! That's one of my favorite movies! I first saw it on a late-night movie, then taped it from TV, then bought it on VHS and now own it on DVD. I try not to watch it too often lest I get tired of it, but somehow I never do. Rather like the Professor and his magic bottle.

I know how you feel Suzzz. It's such a delightful movie with a powerful message. Niven
and Grant are such debanoir gentlemen. Loretta Young is so touchingly kind and gentle.

Tonight I watched Casino Jack, the fictionalized story of Jack Abramoff, the Washington lobbyist who was brought down (and others with him) by his own greed and delusions of power. Fascinating movie. Politics makes my head hurt, but I have no doubt that the way Abramoff operated still goes on (and on and on) in Washington. He went too far, and got noticed and caught. Tons of other snakes are still on that plane, though, lobbyists and politicians.

Johnny English Reborn..........if you like spy spoofs this one was pretty good. They pair him up with a gungho clueless young guy and of course mayhem soon follows them everywhere. Brad was laughing so hard I thought he was going to fall out of his wheelchair.

Caught most of Now Voyager yesterday while visiting my mom. I'm not a real fan of Bette Davis, but I love that era, with all the lovely evening gowns and fancy hairdos. I'll give it

Just finished watching the Da Vinci Code. This is a grail story, so if you like things like
that you will enjoy this movie. Well done great cast and I think somewhere along the line
I've already reviewed it. Still worth the revisit. For those who are just checking it out, look up
the people that are not only quoted but referred too.

Nothing to watch for tonight, so browsed the library and lit on Good Will Hunting. Remember that? Tough kid from the south side who's also a math savant. Gets noticed by an MIT prof who saves him from jail if he'll work with him and see a psychologist. The psychologist (Robin Williams in one of his great roles, IMO) basically saves his life. Actually, they save each other's lives. Damned fine psychological drama.

The Pirates! Band of Misfits wasn't as good or as funny as Aardman's other movies.

1/2

Suzzz, have you seen Robin Williams in Dead Poet's Society. Dark but good.

Just finished Cars. This is a Pixar/Disney. It ran on t.v. during the summer and I couldn't
decide whether I was watching an informercial on the new theme park Disney just opened based
on the movie or a movie. Well worth the revisit. Well animated, great voice over work by all concerned.
Even worth watching the credits.

I only vaguely remember the details of Dead Poets Society, or even that Robin Williams was in it. I wouldn't re-watch it; too tragic. In a way that's a tribute to him, that what I remember is the feeling, not the star. Same sort of thing with The Fisher King. I guess what's hard to fathom is how he can go completely, insanely, wickedly, hilariously NUTS on stage, yet also give such controlled and intense performances in these serious roles. 2 sides to the same coin, I suppose. He probably couldn't be as good as he is without having those depths.

On a lighter note, watched Mirror Mirror tonight, the Snow White story with Julia Roberts as the Evil Queen and Nathan Lane as her reluctant henchman. It was light fare, for sure, but that's all I expected or wanted. Silly and snarky enough to hold my interest!

I've got to see that I love silly and snarky.

Watched Salmon Fishing in the Yemen tonight. Sweet, gently dramatic & funny (with a fair bit of snark sprinkled in), heartfelt, and amazingly non-political given the circs. Highly recommended if you want a decent, intelligent movie where nothing irrevocably bad happens.