Some Very Good Advice

Theatrical Release Poster

This was a good movie.  It is a slow movie; mostly characterization but it kept my interest and I liked it.

It is about how Queen Victoria came to be queen and her struggles with being queen at such a young age.  It is also a love story and a very sweet one.

Details

The casting and acting were perfect.  I could hardly recognize Paul Bettany his hair and makeup looked great.  The script was well written and for a slow movie it moved at an even pace with no lulls.  The costumes were extremely well done and won a the Oscar for costume design.  Victoria’s aunt had the most beautiful clothes and hats.

I suggest you see it.  It is available to rent.

Lead:  Emily Blunt, Rupert Friend, Paul Bettany
Supporting:  Miranda Richardson, Jim Broadbent, Thomas Kretschmann, Mark Strong, Harriet Walter

Logo and screenshot during the opening

Saturday Night Live spoof on MacGyver made into a movie.

I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS MOVIE TO ANYONE!!!!

Details

This is a very stupid movie and I walked out because it was so vulgar and gross.  I think it shows lack of talent if you have to be vulgar to try to get a laugh and everyone involved in making this movie has absolutely no talent.  It is really too bad that Val Kilmer and Ryan Phillipe are a part of this movie because I really thought they were better than this and it makes me wonder if ever half way through making a movie actors wonder what the hell they were thinking signing on to it.  DOES ANYONE ACTUALLY READ A SCRIPT BEFORE THEY MAKE A MOVIE OR DO THEY JUST LOOK AT THE MONEY OFFERED?  Everyone a part of this sold out and I don’t feel the least bit sorry for them.  The bummer is that it could have been a funny movie had they had some clever writers because everyone loved MacGyver.

Anyways, seriously don’t waste your time.  I have images burned into my brain that I really wish were not there.

Thanks to Century Theatres I got a refund so my money did not have to go to supporting this stupid film.

Lead: Will Forte, Kristen Wiig, Ryan Phillipe, Val Kilmer
Supporting: Powers Booth

Theatrical Release Poster

This is the story of how Robin Longstride became Robin the Hood and how Marion and Robin met and fell in love and how everyone we know in the Robin Hood story came to be.

I liked this movie but had some issues with it hence the 6.5.

Details

The casting and acting were well done but I have a feeling that I have seen Russell Crowe with that same haircut giving motivational speeches before and in a way cooler movie.

So Cate Blanchett is one of my all time favorite actors.  She is amazing of course and I wish there was more of her.  I liked that her character was a strong, independent woman but I wanted more on the development of her and Robin’s relationship.  And I’m not talking sex but I am talking more than just a kiss.  Come on!  Although you do get to see her help him out of his chain mail which is very nice; thank you Russell for working out so hard for this movie.  I totally caught myself with a big smile on my face during this scene but also made me reminisce of another scene where Russell is in chains.  Well, anyways moving on, moving on.

So the story is very predictable since we all know where all the characters end up so you aren’t really worried about anyone dying.  I absolutely hated when Marion arrived at the battle dressed to fight with the orphans on ponies and when Robin comes out of the water in slow motion yelling to save his love since of course she is in some trouble.

The cinematography also reminded me of that other movie where everything is fast moving so you will want to sit on the very back row for this one so as not to get a headache.  There were also some editing glitches where all of a sudden the color and tone of the scene look different, see if you can notice them.

So it a fun movie and perfect for a date since there is action and love and Russell with his shirt off.

BTW:  The “other movie” is Gladiator.

Lead:  Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett
Supporting:  William Hurt, Max von Sydow, Mark Strong, Oscar Issacc, Danny Huston, Mark Addy, Kevin Durand, Scott Grimes, Matthew McFadyen

Theatrical Teaser Poster

A married couple goes out for a fun and different date night rather than their regular boring date night and find themselves in a case of mistaken identity and running from crooked cops.

This movie was funny and entertaining and the parts in the script about the different roles of husband, wife and marriage were incredibly accurate. Tina and Steve work really well together and their marriage was believable.

Funny Details

The lead casting and acting for this movie was perfect. The supporting was ok except for Mark Walberg of course; he did a great job being the shirtless, confident , sex pot.

I loved the script and plot. The characters were true to themselves the whole time which I liked a lot. Tina and Steve didn’t suddenly turn into amazing fighters or dancers for that matter. They were relateable to probably most of the married couples out there in the world. Their conversations about marriage were dead on. I loved it. I laughed and laughed. What I really loved is how at the end of the night they still were happy to be married and still their normal selves. It didn’t show them neglecting their kids and becoming spies or something now that they had found this new adventurous life.  All the adventure made them realize how great their lives were. At the beginning of the movie I was a little worried because it really makes marriage look boring and lame and I know sometimes marriage is boring but so is everything else. Everyone gets in a boring pattern doing the same things not just married couples. I loved how it ended with marriage looking good.  So anyways, did I mention that I liked this movie?

James Franco and Mila Kunis were pretty funny but if you see it check out Ray Liotta’s eye makeup because it looks really bad.

So it is ultimately a good time movie with some great laughs and action.  I suggest you see it.

Lead: Tina Fey, Steve Carell

Supporting: James Franco, Mila Kunis, Ray Liotta, Mark Wahlberg, Taraji Henson, William Fichtner

Theatrical Release Poster

Based on a true story about how a family takes in a virtually homeless and very large black boy and adopts him and he becomes an NFL star.

I really liked this movie and it was even better since it is a true story.

Details

The casting and acting were good.  Obviously the worst actors were the real college coaches that had a small part in the film.  Sandra Bullock did a really good job and her performance was worthy of her Oscar.  I thought that Tim McGraw did a good job as the dad although I heard he got some bad reviews but I don’t know why.

There were some parts in the script that made me wonder if they were just added to make the movie a little more dramatic like when the lone Sandra tells a group of black guys that she is packing and they just shut up.  Maybe it really happened and maybe not; it just seemed farfetched.

This movie is definitely inspirational and moving.  I loved at the end how actual pictures and footage of the real family were shown.  I loved how it made me want to help someone and change their life for the better.  I also loved how everyone in the family was accepting and loving immediately, even the kids.  It reminded me that I need to make sure I raise my kids’ right and make sure they love those around them and help others and not make judgments.  So yes, it had a great message.

Lead: Sandra Bullock, Quinton Aaron
Supporting: Tim McGraw, Kathy Bates, Lily Collins, Jae Head

Theatrical Release Poster

I did not like this movie.  It was very stupid.

Synopsis:  The Mayans were right and the world as we know it comes to an end and is flooded again.  All the countries met years ago to build big arks to prepare but kept the secret from the major population and killed off people who were going to spill the beans.  Only dignitaries, old people, scientists and billionaires are given luxurious rooms on the arks and of course animals 2 by 2.

The Ridiculous Details

This movie is one of the stupidest movies.  The whole time I was thinking and saying out loud “You have got to be kidding!”  The only reason I even gave it a 2.5 was because the special effects, though very farfetched, were not too bad and if it would have been made as a comedy it would have been pretty good.  Actually when I first met Woody Harrelson’s character I thought, “This has to be a comedy”.  Woody plays a crazy hippie and his look fit the part though he was a bit over the top hence I thought it was a comedy.  Also when the giraffe and elephant are being carried by a big harness attached to a helicopter and flown through Tibet I thought it had to be a comedy.

The movie is so poorly cast and I have no idea what Amanda Peet was thinking when she signed on because in my opinion she is way too good for it.  John Cusack as an action hero just doesn’t work plus he just did a bad job and Danny Glover just didn’t work for the president and was only cast because they had to find a black guy and apparently any black guy would do.  Also they threw in these two good looking black characters only to add some sort of love story because for some reason in 2012 there is no jungle love.  Oh, and of course they had to kill of Amanda’ s husband so that the divorced Amanda and Jon could get back together; Amanda forgot about her husband’s death about 5 minutes later and then made out with Jon.

OK, so enough.  It was a stupid movie, with completely unrealistic happenings and rescue attempts and you should only watch it if there is absolutely nothing else to watch.

You were warned.

Lead: John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt
Supporting: Woody Harrelson, Danny Glover, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton

Theatrical Release Poster

I liked this movie a lot.  I saw it twice and I think I laughed even more the second time.  It is an all around good time and I recommend it.

Mushy Details

The lead casting and acting were great.  I love the way Alec Baldwin delivers lines, of course Meryl is amazing and plays her part perfectly and Steve Martin plays the perfect nice guy.  I had issues with the casting and acting of the children.  They were not believable and seemed very immature.  There was no depth to them.  The biggest issue I had with them was when they found out their parents were having sex they cried and all got in the same bed together to snuggle.  Yes I am serious, there were two daughters and a son and all over the age of 20 and they were crying and snuggling in a bed because their parents were having sex again.  If I found out my divorced parents were having sex it would be shocking and hilarious to me.  I don’t think I would be mad or cry and definitely not stay in bed with my siblings.  OK, enough about that.

I loved the script.  I liked it mainly because I could relate a little since my parents are divorced and how it ended I was a bit conflicted; but don’t worry I won’t ruin it for you.  I am still undecided about how I feel about who Meryl decided to end up with even though she had good reasons for her decision.  I especially loved the pot smoking scene.  I could also relate to this and it sure made me laugh.

Jon Krasinski also costars in this movie as the older daughter’s fiance and he was funny.  It is really too bad that the writers missed the mark on the kids.  There could have been so much more added to this movie had those characters been written better.

Lead: Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin

Costars: Jon Krasinski, Lake Bell, Hunter Parrish, Zoe Kazan, Caitlin Fitzgerald

Theatrical Release Poster

I liked it but the reason to see this movie is because of the special effects.  If you like originality (besides the special effects) and unpredictability then don’t see this movie.

I have no desire or need to see this movie again and I probably will not own it.

Some Serious Details

Casting and acting were good.  I liked that they used some relatively unknown actors; I assume they needed to since this was a James Cameron film and they couldn’t afford a top heavy lead cast.  I like Sigourney; I think she is a good actor although I didn’t love her avatar.

So let’s get to it.  Basically it was Dances with Wolves set in the future except Avatar was go, go, go with little character development.  It also had a small bit of Matrix thrown in for a sure hit.  The script was unoriginal and predictable. I knew Sigourney would die, I knew that the crippled guy would get his legs back, I knew that the two main characters would fall in love and that a rift would appear between them and he would have to win her back and I knew that all the bad guys would die but only after a great tragedy that justified it.  To make it even more like Dances with Wolves Wes Studi is in Avatar it who is the really bad Indian in Dances with Wolves.

The climax was again predictable and not surprising though it was full of adventure.  It is basically a blue African tribe and there is so little character development that when the climax arrived and the tribe got hurt or died there was not as much emotional pull as Dances had.  There was not a lot of originality to this alien tribe except that they could actually physically connect themselves to animals and trees and things which I found intriguing but made me wonder what happens if they cut their hair.

The cinematography was very good and the special effects were very good.  I saw this movie in IMAX 3D and can’t imagine it will be as good on a regular screen or even my TV but I guess the we will have to see if I want to actually sit through this movie again because right now I don’t.

Obviously I need to review Dances with Wolves.

Lead: Sam Worthington, Sigorney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Supporting: Stephen Lang, Joel Moore, Giovanni Ribisi, Michelle Rodriguez, Wes Studi

Theatrical Release Poster

I loved this movie, hence the 10.  I realize I might be slightly biased because I am a big Alice fan but there was nothing about this movie that was bothersome or stupid.  It has all you could ask for in a movie: comedy, drama, action, adventure, great characters, silliness and beauty.

FYI – I saw this movie in IMAX 3D

Details

Casting and acting were both great.  I loved the script and plot and the twist that was added to the original books by Lewis Carroll.  The important thing to me was to stay true to the spirit of the books which I think was done perfectly.  The climax was great when Alice fought the Jabberwocky.  It was intense and scary and not too long and drawn out.  The little things were a huge part of the movie and I have a feeling each time I watch it I will catch something new.  I loved the little monkeys holding all the Red Queen’s furniture and I loved the birds holding the chandelier.  Helena Bonham Carter did such a great job!  She was so funny and all the little things she added to this character made the Red Queen so hateful yet at times I wanted to grab her and hug her.  Anne Hathaway as the White Queen was also very funny.  Her little hand gestures and the way she had to stay sweet and perfect and graceful was such a play on what society expects of royalty.  And of course Johnny Depp; I could barely tell it was him.  He was a comic relief and hero all wrapped into a silly package that had a depth you want to learn more about and a madness you wanted to save him from.

The costuming was a treat.  I enjoyed watching Alice’s wardrobe changes when she grew tall and small; the creativity there was wonderful.  Hair and makeup were perfect for the characters and for Johnny I forgot I was looking at makeup.  Special effects were great.  I, again, saw it in 3D so I am interested what it all looks like in 2D; But from my perspective the special effects were exactly what they meant to be which was dreamlike with vibrant colors and funhouse mirror effects.  And goodness Tim Burton added his charm when Alice had to cross the moat leaping onto severed heads.  She would land on eyes and noses, it was pretty gross but not over the top.

I highly recommend this movie but not for young kids; maybe 8 and up.  If you get a chance to see it in 3D then do it.

Lead: Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway
Supporting: Matt Lucas, Stephen Fry, Michael Sheen, and Alan Rickman, Crispin Glover

Theatrical Release Poster

First off the advertisement for this movie is completely misleading.  It looks like it is a comedy when it is absolutely not. It is a pretty sad family drama.

De Niro plays Frank Goode whose wife has died and who is trying to connect with his kids who don’t really feel connected to him.

This is not a movie to hurry and see unless you like slow dramas with some characterization.

Details

Though I like Robert De Niro and think he is a great actor I did not think he was cast well for this movie. He did not seem old enough or look sick enough.  Watching him in the opening scene he seemed really healthy and fit.  Also for some reason I couldn’t get Cape Fear out of my mind during this movie and that hasn’t happened for me in his previous films.  That movie was scary!  Anyways for supporting I didn’t really think Drew Barrymore was great for this role.  Acting was of course excellent by De Niro but lacking by the supporting cast.  By the time the climax came nothing was a surprise.  All the twists were extremely predictable but maybe that was done on purpose but it is hard to tell.  Little things are added to help us get to know De Niro’s character that makes him endearing and sweet.  I did like it when he saw his children he actually saw them as children for a second.  I can imagine it is hard to watch your kids grow up and become adults and not see them as your sweet little kids anymore.  That tugged at my heartstrings.

The end of the movie wraps things up pretty quick with a happy family reunion.  Most everyone can relate to this movie because most people have an odd relationship with their parents once they become adults and this movie shows how parents think you are the best when you are just average.

Lead: Robert De Niro
Supporting: Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale, Sam Rockwell