Sci-Fi, Action
3.5 stars
Interesting concept. Futuristic story where an oppressive government forces 2 teens from each of 12 districts to go on a Survivor-like reality TV show where they fight to the death. Stars include Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutchinson as the District 12 participants, with Woody Harrelson as their mentor and Stanley Tucci as the TV host. Elizabeth Banks was fun to watch with her crazy hair, makeup and bejeweled manicures. Liam Hemsworth recieves top billing but his role is quite small as Lawrence’s boyfriend. I did not read the book. So, as a nonreader going into this highly anticipated film, I thought it moved along too slowly and I am left with a few questions that were not answered in the film. I also thought the outcome was predictable. But, I can say my normally quiet afternoon matinee was jam packed with teens and 20-somethings who all seemed to enjoy it. Although, these members of the ADHD Generation weren’t entranced enough with the film to stop playing with their phones. Only for fans of the book.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Friday, March 23, 2012
Salmon Fishing at the Yemen
British, Comedy
4.5 stars
Loved it. In this light comedy/drama, Ewan McGregor plays an expert in the fishing industry who is pressured by the Prime Minister’s press secretary (Kristen Scott Thomas) to create a habitat in the Yemen for salmon to swim upstream. Of course he finds the notion completely absurd. Emily Blunt co-stars as a representative to the sheik (Amr Waked) who has the vision and unlimited funding to realize this dream. Great character development, great acting, and great story; from the characters’ complicated love lives, to the politics involved, to the sheik’s philosophical and insightful wisdom. Loved it!
I am calling this the best movie so far this year. No crazy action scenes, no special effects, no gimmicks. It's not too deep either, otherwise I would have given it a "5". It's just an original story with great actors playing interesting characters. What a concept!
4.5 stars
Loved it. In this light comedy/drama, Ewan McGregor plays an expert in the fishing industry who is pressured by the Prime Minister’s press secretary (Kristen Scott Thomas) to create a habitat in the Yemen for salmon to swim upstream. Of course he finds the notion completely absurd. Emily Blunt co-stars as a representative to the sheik (Amr Waked) who has the vision and unlimited funding to realize this dream. Great character development, great acting, and great story; from the characters’ complicated love lives, to the politics involved, to the sheik’s philosophical and insightful wisdom. Loved it!
I am calling this the best movie so far this year. No crazy action scenes, no special effects, no gimmicks. It's not too deep either, otherwise I would have given it a "5". It's just an original story with great actors playing interesting characters. What a concept!
Monday, March 19, 2012
21 Jump Street
Comedy, Action
4 stars
Dumb, but very funny. Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum play cops who go undercover as high school students to expose a drug dealer. Ice Cube costars as the Captain in charge of the 21 Jump Street unit. Dave Franco (James Franco’s little brother) plays the cool, popular kid. The first third of the film you’ve already seen in the previews. The middle third of the film is cute and very reminiscent of Drew Barrymore’s Never Been Kissed. The final third of the film is freaking hilarious! Plenty of action towards the end, as well as a surprise character twist that everyone in the theater loved. The film (and especially Ice Cube) is hilariously politically incorrect, but never offensive or raunchy. I’ve always thought of Channing Tatum as a handsome, but very stiff, dolt of an actor, but he’s perfect in this role. Very funny.
4 stars
Dumb, but very funny. Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum play cops who go undercover as high school students to expose a drug dealer. Ice Cube costars as the Captain in charge of the 21 Jump Street unit. Dave Franco (James Franco’s little brother) plays the cool, popular kid. The first third of the film you’ve already seen in the previews. The middle third of the film is cute and very reminiscent of Drew Barrymore’s Never Been Kissed. The final third of the film is freaking hilarious! Plenty of action towards the end, as well as a surprise character twist that everyone in the theater loved. The film (and especially Ice Cube) is hilariously politically incorrect, but never offensive or raunchy. I’ve always thought of Channing Tatum as a handsome, but very stiff, dolt of an actor, but he’s perfect in this role. Very funny.
Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax
Family, Animation
4.5 stars
Very cute! Based on Dr. Seuss’ classic tale, a boy (Zac Efron) living in a completely plastic, artificial world wants to impress a girl (Taylor Swift) by finding a real tree to plant. His grandmother (Betty White) tells him the only person who would know anything about trees (Ed Helms) lives far outside of town, where no one ever goes. And so the adventure begins. Danny DeVito voices the title character who is the keeper of the forest. I absolutely loved the adorable little forest creatures. The only thing I didn’t care for was the musical number about greed, but it was a necessary part of the story. The animation didn’t take advantage of the 3D effects, so save your money and go to the 2D version. Really cute film.
4.5 stars
Very cute! Based on Dr. Seuss’ classic tale, a boy (Zac Efron) living in a completely plastic, artificial world wants to impress a girl (Taylor Swift) by finding a real tree to plant. His grandmother (Betty White) tells him the only person who would know anything about trees (Ed Helms) lives far outside of town, where no one ever goes. And so the adventure begins. Danny DeVito voices the title character who is the keeper of the forest. I absolutely loved the adorable little forest creatures. The only thing I didn’t care for was the musical number about greed, but it was a necessary part of the story. The animation didn’t take advantage of the 3D effects, so save your money and go to the 2D version. Really cute film.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Friends With Kids
Drama, Dry Comedy
3 stars
Kinda depressing – don’t be fooled by the fact that four of the main characters were in Bridesmaids, this is not at all as funny. Jennifer Westfeldt (24) and Adam Scott (Step Brothers and Our Idiot Brother) are life long best friends who decide to have a baby together, while still leading separate dating lives. It’s a cute concept, and a no brainer how it will turn out, but there is way too much couples-infighting. As for all those funny Bridesmaid actors, they play very unfunny roles: Kristen Wiig and Jon Hamm play a miserable squabbling couple, and Maya Rudolph and Chris O’Dowd play another cranky, dysfunctional couple overwhelmed by their kids. Wait for cable, or just plain skip it completely.
3 stars
Kinda depressing – don’t be fooled by the fact that four of the main characters were in Bridesmaids, this is not at all as funny. Jennifer Westfeldt (24) and Adam Scott (Step Brothers and Our Idiot Brother) are life long best friends who decide to have a baby together, while still leading separate dating lives. It’s a cute concept, and a no brainer how it will turn out, but there is way too much couples-infighting. As for all those funny Bridesmaid actors, they play very unfunny roles: Kristen Wiig and Jon Hamm play a miserable squabbling couple, and Maya Rudolph and Chris O’Dowd play another cranky, dysfunctional couple overwhelmed by their kids. Wait for cable, or just plain skip it completely.
John Carter
Sci-Fi, Action
4 stars
Fun movie. A Civil War vet (Taylor Kitsch) who is trying to escape being forced into serving again, finds himself magically transported to another planet where they also want to recruit him into fighting their own Civil War. Lynn Collins stars as his warrior-princess love interest. The film really tries for an epic scale like Star Wars and almost makes it. It is not hard to follow, but trying to keep up with the strange language and all the strange names, places, tribes, gods, mythology, etc, is a lot to swallow. Jim and I loved the “dog” the most, and we’d probably check out the sequel if they make one.
4 stars
Fun movie. A Civil War vet (Taylor Kitsch) who is trying to escape being forced into serving again, finds himself magically transported to another planet where they also want to recruit him into fighting their own Civil War. Lynn Collins stars as his warrior-princess love interest. The film really tries for an epic scale like Star Wars and almost makes it. It is not hard to follow, but trying to keep up with the strange language and all the strange names, places, tribes, gods, mythology, etc, is a lot to swallow. Jim and I loved the “dog” the most, and we’d probably check out the sequel if they make one.
Gone
Drama, Suspense
3.5 stars
Interesting concept of a girl (Amanda Seyfried) who claims she escaped a kidnapper and now the same kidnapper has her sister, only the police don’t believe her. Daniel Sunjata (One for the Money) co-stars as the cop who believes she is mentally unbalanced. Seyfried’s lack of driving skills and risky decisions may incline you to agree. This film has the same sort of feel/ambience to it as the Ashley Judd/Morgan Freeman film Kiss the Girls. I liked it.
3.5 stars
Interesting concept of a girl (Amanda Seyfried) who claims she escaped a kidnapper and now the same kidnapper has her sister, only the police don’t believe her. Daniel Sunjata (One for the Money) co-stars as the cop who believes she is mentally unbalanced. Seyfried’s lack of driving skills and risky decisions may incline you to agree. This film has the same sort of feel/ambience to it as the Ashley Judd/Morgan Freeman film Kiss the Girls. I liked it.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Wanderlust
Comedy, Raunchy
3 stars
So-so. Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston tryout living in a hippy commune setting. Some scenes were really funny – I loved Linda Lavin as their NYC realtor – but some scenes were groan-worthy, especially when Rudd preps himself for his first extramarital tryst. I liked Kathryn Hahn as the mean hippy, and Alan Alda’s character was fun. Justin Theroux plays the creepy leader of the group and Malin Akerman is good as the dippy free love advocate. As with all Judd Apatow films there is a lot of raunch. If you like Judd Apatow films, then this is for you; for everyone else, skip it.
3 stars
So-so. Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston tryout living in a hippy commune setting. Some scenes were really funny – I loved Linda Lavin as their NYC realtor – but some scenes were groan-worthy, especially when Rudd preps himself for his first extramarital tryst. I liked Kathryn Hahn as the mean hippy, and Alan Alda’s character was fun. Justin Theroux plays the creepy leader of the group and Malin Akerman is good as the dippy free love advocate. As with all Judd Apatow films there is a lot of raunch. If you like Judd Apatow films, then this is for you; for everyone else, skip it.
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