I’ve been interested in seeing Burlesque for a long time. It did take me longer than I originally intended to see the movie.
The plot for Burlesque, dealing with a young woman from a tiny town in the middle of nowhere going to Los Angeles with dreams of becoming famous, isn’t the most original. Despite that, the movie is still very entertaining and I think it is worth watching. Things are a little different since Ali, the woman with dreams of being famous, is happy performing in The Burlesque Lounge. She isn’t trying to break into movies or anything like that, though she is determined to get on stage though. Her determination ends up helping later in the movie as well.
Ali, played by Christina Aguilera, has a beautiful and powerful singing voice. It makes sense that she would become a popular performer at the club. Burlesque is a musical, with all the songs being numbers performed at the club. Characters don’t just break out into song like happens in a lot of other musicals. The songs are done well and help to make the move more entertaining. The women do wear some revealing outfits while performing, though they are never naked. I loved all the singing, but some people may not care for that aspect of the movie. People who don’t care for musicals may want to pick a different movie.
Most of what happens in Burlesque is tied to the club in some way. There is an attempt to add one or two complications. The movie isn’t exactly serious, but it really isn’t a comedy either even though there is humor in the movie. Romance turns up as well without being the main focus.
The characters in Burlesque are interesting, though many of them are rather flat. Ali receives the most attention. She is likable and Christina Aguilera does a very good job in the part. Tess is the woman who owns the club. She acts tough at times, but she has a nicer side as well. She is protective of the women who work at the club. Cher does really well with the part and she also performs a few new songs. Most of the other characters are the other performers. Nikki stands out the most because of her attitude, but Kristen Bell is kind of wasted in the part.
Overall I really enjoyed Burlesque and think it is worth watching. Cher and Christina Aguilera are wonderful in their parts and there are some great songs in it.
I did get a longer review posted on Epinions.
Burlesque
Showing posts with label Epinions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Epinions. Show all posts
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Tangled
I still love animated movies and many of the Disney animated movies I saw when I was younger are still among my favorites. I have been interested in seeing Tangled since I first saw a trailer for the movie.
Tangled adds Rapunzel to the line of Disney princesses. I’ve thought that Disney should do a Rapunzel movie for years, so I was happy when I found out they were making out. The title was changed and I have read that it was in an attempt to attract more boys to watch the movie. I don’t know if that is why or not. The main male character, Flynn Rider, receives more attention than the male characters have in many of the other Disney princess movies. That does make it a little different. In other ways, it is more like the earlier Disney princess movies. The characters are interesting and the voices fit them all very well.
It has been years since I last heard or read the Rapunzel fairytale and I had forgotten most of it before seeing the movie. Really all I could remember was that she had really long hair and was stuck in a tower for some reason. After seeing the movie, I did look some things up and know what was changed for this version of the story. The main story is pretty much the same, though some of the details are different. I really like this version of the story and think it works very well to make an entertaining movie.
Tangled is in 3D in some theaters. I did end up seeing the 3D version, mostly because of the timing. The 3D effects are well done, though mostly subtle. The effect is done amazingly well in a later sequence involving floating items. The movie has a beautiful look for the settings. Rapunzel’s hair is very impressive. She utilizes it in some unique ways that help make the movie more entertaining.
The plot for Tangled is interesting and entertaining even though it is somewhat simple. I was surprised by a few things that happened. I may not have been surprised by those few things if I remembered more from the original story. I do think there is a good amount of humor in the movie, much of which is provided by Rapunzel’s pet chameleon Pascal and Maximus, a horse who acts like a dog. In addition to the humor, there are a few more serious moments in the movie as well. There are songs, and while they are done well, none of them are as strong as ones from earlier Disney movies. A bit of romance turns up without it being the driving force of the movie.
Tangled is another wonderful Disney animated movie. It is one of the better animated movies I’ve seen in a while. It is definitely worth seeing. I know I’ll be adding it to my movie collection.
I did get a review posted on Epinions.
Tangled
Tangled adds Rapunzel to the line of Disney princesses. I’ve thought that Disney should do a Rapunzel movie for years, so I was happy when I found out they were making out. The title was changed and I have read that it was in an attempt to attract more boys to watch the movie. I don’t know if that is why or not. The main male character, Flynn Rider, receives more attention than the male characters have in many of the other Disney princess movies. That does make it a little different. In other ways, it is more like the earlier Disney princess movies. The characters are interesting and the voices fit them all very well.
It has been years since I last heard or read the Rapunzel fairytale and I had forgotten most of it before seeing the movie. Really all I could remember was that she had really long hair and was stuck in a tower for some reason. After seeing the movie, I did look some things up and know what was changed for this version of the story. The main story is pretty much the same, though some of the details are different. I really like this version of the story and think it works very well to make an entertaining movie.
Tangled is in 3D in some theaters. I did end up seeing the 3D version, mostly because of the timing. The 3D effects are well done, though mostly subtle. The effect is done amazingly well in a later sequence involving floating items. The movie has a beautiful look for the settings. Rapunzel’s hair is very impressive. She utilizes it in some unique ways that help make the movie more entertaining.
The plot for Tangled is interesting and entertaining even though it is somewhat simple. I was surprised by a few things that happened. I may not have been surprised by those few things if I remembered more from the original story. I do think there is a good amount of humor in the movie, much of which is provided by Rapunzel’s pet chameleon Pascal and Maximus, a horse who acts like a dog. In addition to the humor, there are a few more serious moments in the movie as well. There are songs, and while they are done well, none of them are as strong as ones from earlier Disney movies. A bit of romance turns up without it being the driving force of the movie.
Tangled is another wonderful Disney animated movie. It is one of the better animated movies I’ve seen in a while. It is definitely worth seeing. I know I’ll be adding it to my movie collection.
I did get a review posted on Epinions.
Tangled
Faster
Since I usually like Dwayne Johnson movies, I decided to see Faster. Based on the previews, I wasn’t expecting a lot from the movie, but I was entertained.
A man gets out of prison and starts killing the people involved with the murder of his brother. The police investigate the murders and someone hires a hitman to go after the killer. That is really it for the plot. The name of the main character and one of the cops is used during the movie, but they are only identified as Driver and Cop in the credits and the hitman is listed as Killer.
The plot for Faster is very, very simple and thin, even for a revenge type movie. The motivation is shared for why Driver is killing. He kills several people, but since he is only targeting certain people, I don’t really think of it as a killing spree. I was entertained by the movie, but it would have been nice if there had been a little more substance to the plot. A few attempts to add complications by sharing some information about Killer and a bit of backstory for Cop just don’t work that well. One development was probably intended to be a surprise, but I saw it coming way in advance.
There really isn’t any mystery or suspense to what is going on in Faster, but there is a lot of violence. It doesn’t take long for Driver to start killing. The deaths he is responsible for are violent and bloody. At one point, there is a flashback that shows the murder of his brother, another scene that is violent. Things aren’t that gory, but they are probably too graphic for some viewers.
Faster has minimal character development, one of the things that makes the story weaker overall. A little bit of background is shared about Driver, Cop, and Killer, and that is really it. Most of the characters are rather flat, and not as interesting as they could have been. The acting is fine, but nothing special. Dwayne Johnson doesn’t even have that many lines. He just goes from place to place killing with a ticked off look on his face.
Overall, Faster is a fairly simple movie that does manage to be entertaining. It isn’t a favorite, but I have seen worse.
I did get a longer review posted on Epinions.
Faster
A man gets out of prison and starts killing the people involved with the murder of his brother. The police investigate the murders and someone hires a hitman to go after the killer. That is really it for the plot. The name of the main character and one of the cops is used during the movie, but they are only identified as Driver and Cop in the credits and the hitman is listed as Killer.
The plot for Faster is very, very simple and thin, even for a revenge type movie. The motivation is shared for why Driver is killing. He kills several people, but since he is only targeting certain people, I don’t really think of it as a killing spree. I was entertained by the movie, but it would have been nice if there had been a little more substance to the plot. A few attempts to add complications by sharing some information about Killer and a bit of backstory for Cop just don’t work that well. One development was probably intended to be a surprise, but I saw it coming way in advance.
There really isn’t any mystery or suspense to what is going on in Faster, but there is a lot of violence. It doesn’t take long for Driver to start killing. The deaths he is responsible for are violent and bloody. At one point, there is a flashback that shows the murder of his brother, another scene that is violent. Things aren’t that gory, but they are probably too graphic for some viewers.
Faster has minimal character development, one of the things that makes the story weaker overall. A little bit of background is shared about Driver, Cop, and Killer, and that is really it. Most of the characters are rather flat, and not as interesting as they could have been. The acting is fine, but nothing special. Dwayne Johnson doesn’t even have that many lines. He just goes from place to place killing with a ticked off look on his face.
Overall, Faster is a fairly simple movie that does manage to be entertaining. It isn’t a favorite, but I have seen worse.
I did get a longer review posted on Epinions.
Faster
Megamind
I was interested in seeing Megamind after I first saw the trailers for the movie. It is a fun entertaining animated movie. Some theaters did show the movie in 3D. I did see that version, mainly because that is the one that was showing when I was able to go see the movie.
Megamind lands on Earth when he is sent away from his home planet by his parents when he is eight days old. The planet is being destroyed. Another baby leaves a near by planet. The other baby has a good life and becomes Metro Man when he is older. Megamind grows up in a prison and it basically Metro Man’s enemy. After years of facing Metro Man and failing, Megamind comes out on top. He is happy for a while, but he ends up deciding that he needs someone to face off against and comes up with the idea to create a new hero to battle. While doing that, he also starts spending time with reporter Roxanne while disguised.
Megamind is a fun, entertaining animated movie that I do think is worth seeing. The plot is interesting enough, though it isn’t the most original. There are definite similarities to Superman. While it would have been nice if the story was more original, the movie is still very entertaining. Children may end up enjoying the movie more than adults, though there are a few things tossed in for adults to enjoy as well. The biggest is probably the music. There is a good amount of humor to what is going on. Much of the humor comes from how Megamind’s various plots go wrong.
Megamind is an interesting and entertaining character. It seems like he is intelligent, but he doesn’t manage to accomplish anything with his intelligence. Things keep going wrong for him. Even though he is a super villain, he does have a good side and isn’t all bad. Will Ferrell does fine with the voice of the character. Metro Man isn’t around as much, so Brad Pitt doesn’t get as much to do. Roxanne is also an interesting character and Tina Fey’s voice works well for her.
The animation is done well and looks good, though it isn’t as good as what Pixar does.
It would have been nice if Megamind had a more original plot, but the movie is still very fun and entertaining. I do think it is worth watching and I’ll more than likely add it to my movie collection.
I did get a longer review posted on Epinions after I saw the movie.
Megamind
Megamind lands on Earth when he is sent away from his home planet by his parents when he is eight days old. The planet is being destroyed. Another baby leaves a near by planet. The other baby has a good life and becomes Metro Man when he is older. Megamind grows up in a prison and it basically Metro Man’s enemy. After years of facing Metro Man and failing, Megamind comes out on top. He is happy for a while, but he ends up deciding that he needs someone to face off against and comes up with the idea to create a new hero to battle. While doing that, he also starts spending time with reporter Roxanne while disguised.
Megamind is a fun, entertaining animated movie that I do think is worth seeing. The plot is interesting enough, though it isn’t the most original. There are definite similarities to Superman. While it would have been nice if the story was more original, the movie is still very entertaining. Children may end up enjoying the movie more than adults, though there are a few things tossed in for adults to enjoy as well. The biggest is probably the music. There is a good amount of humor to what is going on. Much of the humor comes from how Megamind’s various plots go wrong.
Megamind is an interesting and entertaining character. It seems like he is intelligent, but he doesn’t manage to accomplish anything with his intelligence. Things keep going wrong for him. Even though he is a super villain, he does have a good side and isn’t all bad. Will Ferrell does fine with the voice of the character. Metro Man isn’t around as much, so Brad Pitt doesn’t get as much to do. Roxanne is also an interesting character and Tina Fey’s voice works well for her.
The animation is done well and looks good, though it isn’t as good as what Pixar does.
It would have been nice if Megamind had a more original plot, but the movie is still very fun and entertaining. I do think it is worth watching and I’ll more than likely add it to my movie collection.
I did get a longer review posted on Epinions after I saw the movie.
Megamind
Harry Potter Film Wizardry
I love the Harry Potter books and movies. I also enjoy books that are about the making of movies. I have been watching for one about the Harry Potter movies for years. When I found Harry Potter Film Wizardry by Brian Sibley, I quickly got it.
Harry Potter Film Wizardry is a little different form other books. It is the only book I’ve ever bought that was come wrapped in shrink wrap. Something else that makes the book different is the fact that it includes replicas of different props from the Harry Potter movies. It does have a higher list price, but I was able to get it for about half off by ordering it online, so I do suggest comparing prices.
Harry Potter Film Wizardry shares information about the making of the Harry Potter movies up through Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 as well as sharing a little general information about the plots of the movies. The last few pages have pictures of a few things from the last movie without any details being shared. There aren’t technically plot summaries in the book, though certain things are mentioned that will be spoilers for people who haven’t seen the movies or read the books. The information is shared mostly in order, though a few things are briefly mentioned out of order. The organization could have been slightly better, but the book is still very entertaining and worth picking up for fans of the series.
There are several replicas of various props in Harry Potter Film Wizardry. I have several books tied to the making of movies, but this is the only one that has props. I love the prop replicas. They are included in the book where the object is being discussed. The replicas look like the different things from the movie. Most of them are in a sort of clear envelope that protects them. Some of the items include the letter that Harry receives about going to Hogwarts in the first movie, some of the educational decrees, a flyer from the Quidditch World Cup, and a sales flyer from the store that Fred and George open. Some of the items were only briefly seen in the various movies, but they are incredibly detailed. I love the prop replicas.
Harry Potter Film Wizardry has all sorts of information about the movies. The book is really aimed at people who are fans of the movies. There are sections for each of the movies, which helps the organization. A few items aren’t brought up until later for some reason. There are illustrations throughout the book tied to different things as well as pictures taken during filming and pictures that look like they were pulled from the movies.
Overall Harry Potter Film Wizardry is a wonderful book for fans of Harry Potter. It is definitely worth getting for fans Potter fans.
I did get a review posted at Epinions.
Harry Potter Film Wizardry
Harry Potter Film Wizardry is a little different form other books. It is the only book I’ve ever bought that was come wrapped in shrink wrap. Something else that makes the book different is the fact that it includes replicas of different props from the Harry Potter movies. It does have a higher list price, but I was able to get it for about half off by ordering it online, so I do suggest comparing prices.
Harry Potter Film Wizardry shares information about the making of the Harry Potter movies up through Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 as well as sharing a little general information about the plots of the movies. The last few pages have pictures of a few things from the last movie without any details being shared. There aren’t technically plot summaries in the book, though certain things are mentioned that will be spoilers for people who haven’t seen the movies or read the books. The information is shared mostly in order, though a few things are briefly mentioned out of order. The organization could have been slightly better, but the book is still very entertaining and worth picking up for fans of the series.
There are several replicas of various props in Harry Potter Film Wizardry. I have several books tied to the making of movies, but this is the only one that has props. I love the prop replicas. They are included in the book where the object is being discussed. The replicas look like the different things from the movie. Most of them are in a sort of clear envelope that protects them. Some of the items include the letter that Harry receives about going to Hogwarts in the first movie, some of the educational decrees, a flyer from the Quidditch World Cup, and a sales flyer from the store that Fred and George open. Some of the items were only briefly seen in the various movies, but they are incredibly detailed. I love the prop replicas.
Harry Potter Film Wizardry has all sorts of information about the movies. The book is really aimed at people who are fans of the movies. There are sections for each of the movies, which helps the organization. A few items aren’t brought up until later for some reason. There are illustrations throughout the book tied to different things as well as pictures taken during filming and pictures that look like they were pulled from the movies.
Overall Harry Potter Film Wizardry is a wonderful book for fans of Harry Potter. It is definitely worth getting for fans Potter fans.
I did get a review posted at Epinions.
Harry Potter Film Wizardry
Friday, December 3, 2010
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
I love Harry Potter and have been hooked on the series since I read the first book in November of 2001. I was a little late starting the books, but I was quickly hooked on them and read them all several times since. I have all of the movies on DVD and I even picked up the Ultimate Editions of the first four movies on Blu-ray. While I have felt the movies have had issues, I still go see them. I saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 on opening day.
This is not the movie to start with. This movies - like the books - really build on what has been established earlier in the series. The movies should be watched in order. I also think that people should read the books since they are much better.
I’ve had issues with some of the previous Harry Potter movies because of things that have been left out. I really had problems with the last two movies because of explanations being left out that really are needed for things to be set up properly. There are still a few things left out of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, but I do think the adaptation is pretty good. This movie does seem to be aimed more at fans of the books. Things that were left out of previous movies are mentioned or even shown. I could see people who haven’t read the books being confused about a few things.
The plot has Harry, Ron, and Hermione going off to try to track down the horcruxes while Voldemort and his followers take over the magical world. This is one of the longer movies, but that was necessary to deal with everything properly. A lot happens in the book, and it would have been a huge mess if it had been cut down into one movie. I do think the pace moves along fairly quick, though it slows down every so often when certain things happen. There is a decent amount of action, mostly provided by magical fights. It does seem like some of the little magical things that have been done in the previous movies are missing, and that is disappointing for me. I like those things.
The characters of Harry, Ron, and Hermione have really grown and developed over the course of the series. They face very different things in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1. They are older now and facing more danger. Their friendship is strained in ways it never has been before. I really like these characters and am very happy with how things have been handled for them. I love that the cast has stayed the same for all the movies. They just wouldn’t have worked as well if the parts had been recast. Rupert Grint gets a bit more to do in this one which is nice.
I am wondering how a few things will be handled in the last movie, but overall, I really enjoyed Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1. Fans of the movies and books should give it a chance.
I did get a review posted on Epinions after seeing the movie in the theater.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
This is not the movie to start with. This movies - like the books - really build on what has been established earlier in the series. The movies should be watched in order. I also think that people should read the books since they are much better.
I’ve had issues with some of the previous Harry Potter movies because of things that have been left out. I really had problems with the last two movies because of explanations being left out that really are needed for things to be set up properly. There are still a few things left out of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, but I do think the adaptation is pretty good. This movie does seem to be aimed more at fans of the books. Things that were left out of previous movies are mentioned or even shown. I could see people who haven’t read the books being confused about a few things.
The plot has Harry, Ron, and Hermione going off to try to track down the horcruxes while Voldemort and his followers take over the magical world. This is one of the longer movies, but that was necessary to deal with everything properly. A lot happens in the book, and it would have been a huge mess if it had been cut down into one movie. I do think the pace moves along fairly quick, though it slows down every so often when certain things happen. There is a decent amount of action, mostly provided by magical fights. It does seem like some of the little magical things that have been done in the previous movies are missing, and that is disappointing for me. I like those things.
The characters of Harry, Ron, and Hermione have really grown and developed over the course of the series. They face very different things in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1. They are older now and facing more danger. Their friendship is strained in ways it never has been before. I really like these characters and am very happy with how things have been handled for them. I love that the cast has stayed the same for all the movies. They just wouldn’t have worked as well if the parts had been recast. Rupert Grint gets a bit more to do in this one which is nice.
I am wondering how a few things will be handled in the last movie, but overall, I really enjoyed Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1. Fans of the movies and books should give it a chance.
I did get a review posted on Epinions after seeing the movie in the theater.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Unstoppable
I became interested in seeing Unstoppable after seeing the trailers for the movie. The movie looked interesting and I do usually like Denzil Washington.
Unstoppable is actually inspired by true events that happened in Ohio in 2001. I did read some about the real incident after seeing the movie and it seems like several things have been changed for the movie. I’m sure that was done to make things more exciting. The setting was also changed to Pennsylvania.
At a rail yard, a worker is moving a train. He jumps off to change a switch and then is unable to reboard the train. It is assumed at that point that the train is just coasting. It turns out that some lever slipped, allowing the train to build up speed. Connie Hooper is in charge at the rail yard and she starts trying to find a way to deal with the train. Conductor Will Colson and engineer Frank Barnes are working together for the first time that day. Will hasn’t been out of training that long and he does make a few mistakes. They barely miss a collision with the runaway train. When other ideas to stop the train fail, Frank and Will put their own plan into motion.
I really enjoyed Unstoppable and found it to be a very entertaining movie. The pace moves pretty fast after a slower start, though that is expected since the movie only covers a matter of hours. The runaway train provides a decent amount of action for the movie and there are some suspenseful scenes as well. The way that things work out is somewhat predictable, but that doesn’t keep the movie from being entertaining. During some scenes, usually ones involving some kind of action, jerky camera work turns up. I hate that and don’t think it adds anything to a movie other than making it harder to tell what is going on.
There are several characters in Unstoppable and the movie does jump back and forth between them throughout the movie. There really isn’t much character development, but that doesn’t bother me since the movie is entertaining. Will and Frank probably are developed a bit more than the others. They have a few issues at first, but they end up working well together. Denzil Washington and Chris Pine do well with their parts. Connie is trying everything she can think of to deal with the situation. Rosario Dawson is fine in the part. Other workers for the railroad turn up every so often, though none of them are really that developed.
Overall, Unstoppable is a well done, entertaining movie. It has a decent amount of action and I think it deserves to be seen. Fans of Denzil Washington should definitely check it out.
I did get a review posted on Epinions.
Unstoppable
Unstoppable is actually inspired by true events that happened in Ohio in 2001. I did read some about the real incident after seeing the movie and it seems like several things have been changed for the movie. I’m sure that was done to make things more exciting. The setting was also changed to Pennsylvania.
At a rail yard, a worker is moving a train. He jumps off to change a switch and then is unable to reboard the train. It is assumed at that point that the train is just coasting. It turns out that some lever slipped, allowing the train to build up speed. Connie Hooper is in charge at the rail yard and she starts trying to find a way to deal with the train. Conductor Will Colson and engineer Frank Barnes are working together for the first time that day. Will hasn’t been out of training that long and he does make a few mistakes. They barely miss a collision with the runaway train. When other ideas to stop the train fail, Frank and Will put their own plan into motion.
I really enjoyed Unstoppable and found it to be a very entertaining movie. The pace moves pretty fast after a slower start, though that is expected since the movie only covers a matter of hours. The runaway train provides a decent amount of action for the movie and there are some suspenseful scenes as well. The way that things work out is somewhat predictable, but that doesn’t keep the movie from being entertaining. During some scenes, usually ones involving some kind of action, jerky camera work turns up. I hate that and don’t think it adds anything to a movie other than making it harder to tell what is going on.
There are several characters in Unstoppable and the movie does jump back and forth between them throughout the movie. There really isn’t much character development, but that doesn’t bother me since the movie is entertaining. Will and Frank probably are developed a bit more than the others. They have a few issues at first, but they end up working well together. Denzil Washington and Chris Pine do well with their parts. Connie is trying everything she can think of to deal with the situation. Rosario Dawson is fine in the part. Other workers for the railroad turn up every so often, though none of them are really that developed.
Overall, Unstoppable is a well done, entertaining movie. It has a decent amount of action and I think it deserves to be seen. Fans of Denzil Washington should definitely check it out.
I did get a review posted on Epinions.
Unstoppable
Kiss the Girls
I have seen Kiss the Girls several times since it first came out to rent. I had it on VHS and I now have it on DVD. I have also read the book by James Patterson that the movie is based on. I really enjoy the movie and think it is worth watching.
Police detective and psychologist Alex Cross travels to Durham, North Carolina after he niece goes missing. It turns out that several young women have vanished in the area and the local cops are basically clueless. Soon after Alex arrives, Kate, a young doctor, is taken from her home by a man who calls himself Casanova. Kate is able to escape and she ends up working with Alex to find the other women and stop Casanova.
I did read the book before seeing the movie originally. It has been a long time since I last read the book, but from what I remember, the movie stays fairly close to the book. The book is actually the second to feature the character of Alex. The first book, Along Came a Spider, has also been turned into a movie, but it was done after this one. I have lost track of how many Alex Cross books there are. I gave up reading them several years ago.
I do think that Kiss the Girls has a decent mystery. There is some suspense to several scenes. The subject, dealing with women being abducted and held against their will, is a bit upsetting. The book goes into way more details about what is done to the women. Some of the things are just hinted at in the movie. Violence does turn up in some scenes, like when Kate is attacked and taken. Some of what happens may be disturbing to some viewers.
The characters in Kiss the Girls are interesting, though several of them aren’t that developed. Alex is likable and Morgan Freeman does well with the part, though I did picture Alex younger when I read the book. Kate is a very strong, determined woman and I did think that Ashley Judd did well with the part. If I remember right, this was one of her first big parts. Casanova is just seen in shadows and wearing a mask for much of the movie. He is heard speaking, and he has a creepy voice.
The DVD that I have of Kiss the Girls doesn’t have any extras. I don’t know if there is another version with extras. I also don’t know if the movie has been released on Blu-ray.
Kiss the Girls has a few issues, but it works well overall as a decent suspense thriller. Fans of Morgan Freeman should check it out.
I did get a review posted on Epinions.
Kiss the Girls
Police detective and psychologist Alex Cross travels to Durham, North Carolina after he niece goes missing. It turns out that several young women have vanished in the area and the local cops are basically clueless. Soon after Alex arrives, Kate, a young doctor, is taken from her home by a man who calls himself Casanova. Kate is able to escape and she ends up working with Alex to find the other women and stop Casanova.
I did read the book before seeing the movie originally. It has been a long time since I last read the book, but from what I remember, the movie stays fairly close to the book. The book is actually the second to feature the character of Alex. The first book, Along Came a Spider, has also been turned into a movie, but it was done after this one. I have lost track of how many Alex Cross books there are. I gave up reading them several years ago.
I do think that Kiss the Girls has a decent mystery. There is some suspense to several scenes. The subject, dealing with women being abducted and held against their will, is a bit upsetting. The book goes into way more details about what is done to the women. Some of the things are just hinted at in the movie. Violence does turn up in some scenes, like when Kate is attacked and taken. Some of what happens may be disturbing to some viewers.
The characters in Kiss the Girls are interesting, though several of them aren’t that developed. Alex is likable and Morgan Freeman does well with the part, though I did picture Alex younger when I read the book. Kate is a very strong, determined woman and I did think that Ashley Judd did well with the part. If I remember right, this was one of her first big parts. Casanova is just seen in shadows and wearing a mask for much of the movie. He is heard speaking, and he has a creepy voice.
The DVD that I have of Kiss the Girls doesn’t have any extras. I don’t know if there is another version with extras. I also don’t know if the movie has been released on Blu-ray.
Kiss the Girls has a few issues, but it works well overall as a decent suspense thriller. Fans of Morgan Freeman should check it out.
I did get a review posted on Epinions.
Kiss the Girls
Indulgence in Death by J.D. Robb
I continue to pick up the new In Death books by J.D. Robb when they come out. The series is now up to 31 books. The series is set in the future in New York City and follows homicide detective Eve Dallas on her various investigations. Things tied to her personal life, like her marriage to Roarke, also turn up. I just finished Indulgence in Death, the newest book.
Eve and Roarke are celebrating their second anniversary with a trip to Ireland when the book begins. Unfortunately, Eve can’t avoid death even on vacation since a dead body is found. She doesn’t investigate, but she does offer some help since the local cops aren’t very experienced with murder investigations. Once back home, Eve quickly gets a new murder case that is a bit odd. The first murder is followed by others that are also at least somewhat bizarre.
Indulgence in Death follows the murder investigations. It doesn’t take Eve long to tied the murders together since there are similarities. The mystery is interesting, though some of the previous books in the series have had stronger mysteries. Some violence pops up every so often, but the book isn’t as violent as many of the previous books have been. The plot is interesting and very entertaining. People who have enjoyed the previous books in the series will more than likely enjoy this one as well.
Since this is the thirty first book in a series, the characters are very well developed by this point. The main story does stand alone very well, but there are a few references back to events from earlier books. One case in particular is mentioned several times, mostly because a book about it has just been released. I do think it is best to read these books in order so that everything will make the most sense.
J.D. Robb is Nora Roberts, so people who like books by Nora Roberts may also like the In Death series. The mystery tends to be stronger in the In Death books and they are more violent at times.
Indulgence in Death is another very entertaining book in the In Death series. Fans of the series should definitely pick it up.
I did get a review posted on Epinions.
Indulgence in Death by J.D. Robb
Eve and Roarke are celebrating their second anniversary with a trip to Ireland when the book begins. Unfortunately, Eve can’t avoid death even on vacation since a dead body is found. She doesn’t investigate, but she does offer some help since the local cops aren’t very experienced with murder investigations. Once back home, Eve quickly gets a new murder case that is a bit odd. The first murder is followed by others that are also at least somewhat bizarre.
Indulgence in Death follows the murder investigations. It doesn’t take Eve long to tied the murders together since there are similarities. The mystery is interesting, though some of the previous books in the series have had stronger mysteries. Some violence pops up every so often, but the book isn’t as violent as many of the previous books have been. The plot is interesting and very entertaining. People who have enjoyed the previous books in the series will more than likely enjoy this one as well.
Since this is the thirty first book in a series, the characters are very well developed by this point. The main story does stand alone very well, but there are a few references back to events from earlier books. One case in particular is mentioned several times, mostly because a book about it has just been released. I do think it is best to read these books in order so that everything will make the most sense.
J.D. Robb is Nora Roberts, so people who like books by Nora Roberts may also like the In Death series. The mystery tends to be stronger in the In Death books and they are more violent at times.
Indulgence in Death is another very entertaining book in the In Death series. Fans of the series should definitely pick it up.
I did get a review posted on Epinions.
Indulgence in Death by J.D. Robb
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Due Date
I really like Robert Downey Jr. and I’ve been seeing more of his movies in the last few years. I wanted to see Due Date after the first time I saw the trailer. While the movie isn’t going to appeal to everyone, it is really funny and entertaining.
Due Date gets rather crude and rude at times, and it definitely deserves the R rating. That is going to turn a lot of viewers off. This is not a family friendly movie by any stretch of the imagination, but it is really entertaining.
Peter is flying home from Atlanta after being in town for business. His wife is very pregnant and the due date is just a few days away. Peter first encounters Ethan outside the airport. That brief meeting causes Peter some trouble. Things only get once one the plane and the men end up thrown off and put on a no fly list. Since his identification and money are left behind on the plane, Peter can’t rent a car and is stuck driving across the country with Ethan. The men face several complications while Peter remains determined to get home before the baby is born.
There are definitely similarities to Planes, Trains, and Automobiles in Due Date. I can also see a few similarities to National Lampoon’s Vacation. I don’t mind the similarities because there are other things that are different and help to make the movie more unique. The main plot isn’t the most original, but some unique situations pop up every so often. I think the movie ends up being very funny and entertaining. Other people may feel differently.
Several things that happen in Due Date are crude or twisted in some way. Some of those things are funny in a twisted way. I could see some viewers being turned off by things that happen during the movie. This one definitely isn’t for everyone. People that don’t mind crude humor should give the movie a chance.
The characters, while not as developed as they could have been, are really entertaining. The way that Peter and Ethan interact is wonderful. That dynamic drives the whole movie, and it if hadn’t worked, the movie wouldn’t have worked. Robert Downy Jr. and Zack Galifianakis are wonderful in their parts. They work really well together.
Due Date works as a funny, entertaining movie, though it isn’t for everyone. Fans of the cast should give it a chance.
I did get a longer review posted on Epinions.
Due Date
Due Date gets rather crude and rude at times, and it definitely deserves the R rating. That is going to turn a lot of viewers off. This is not a family friendly movie by any stretch of the imagination, but it is really entertaining.
Peter is flying home from Atlanta after being in town for business. His wife is very pregnant and the due date is just a few days away. Peter first encounters Ethan outside the airport. That brief meeting causes Peter some trouble. Things only get once one the plane and the men end up thrown off and put on a no fly list. Since his identification and money are left behind on the plane, Peter can’t rent a car and is stuck driving across the country with Ethan. The men face several complications while Peter remains determined to get home before the baby is born.
There are definitely similarities to Planes, Trains, and Automobiles in Due Date. I can also see a few similarities to National Lampoon’s Vacation. I don’t mind the similarities because there are other things that are different and help to make the movie more unique. The main plot isn’t the most original, but some unique situations pop up every so often. I think the movie ends up being very funny and entertaining. Other people may feel differently.
Several things that happen in Due Date are crude or twisted in some way. Some of those things are funny in a twisted way. I could see some viewers being turned off by things that happen during the movie. This one definitely isn’t for everyone. People that don’t mind crude humor should give the movie a chance.
The characters, while not as developed as they could have been, are really entertaining. The way that Peter and Ethan interact is wonderful. That dynamic drives the whole movie, and it if hadn’t worked, the movie wouldn’t have worked. Robert Downy Jr. and Zack Galifianakis are wonderful in their parts. They work really well together.
Due Date works as a funny, entertaining movie, though it isn’t for everyone. Fans of the cast should give it a chance.
I did get a longer review posted on Epinions.
Due Date
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Happy Ever After
Nora Roberts is one of my favorite authors and I pick up her new books as they are released. I recently read Happy Ever After, the final book in her Bride Quartet series.
The Bride Quartet is about four friends who run a wedding planning business together. Each book has been focused on a different one of the friends and a relationship they have started. Every Nora Roberts book that I’ve read has had some romance in it, but most of them have also had a mystery of some kind. The books in this series don’t. They are straight romance, like the first books she wrote. Since there isn’t any mystery, some people could be disappointed.
Parker serves as the wedding planner for the clients of Vows, juggling all sorts of things for the brides. She is always taking calls from them, even in the middle of the night at times. Work has been the main focus of her life for a long time. She starts to go out with Malcolm, a mechanic who is also one of her older brother’s best friends.
Happy Ever After does build on what has happened in the previous three books. Some things from those books are brought up again, so I do think people should read the books in order. The plot is more simple and straightforward and that might bother some readers. I didn’t bother me since the story is still entertaining.
Weddings come up a lot in Happy Ever After since the women have a wedding planning business. A few different weddings take place during the book, and a few complications do pop up. The complications are entertaining at times. All kinds of details about running a wedding planning business come up and it is easy to see that Nora Roberts did a lot of research for the book.
The characters are interesting and likable overall. Parker has been in the first three books, though not as much since other characters were the main characters in those books. I really like the characters overall, though a few of them can be a little annoying every so often.
Happy Ever After is a very entertaining book and it makes a strong conclusion to the Bride Quartet series. Fans of Nora Roberts should give this book, and the series, a chance.
I did get a review posted on Epinions.
Happy Ever After
The Bride Quartet is about four friends who run a wedding planning business together. Each book has been focused on a different one of the friends and a relationship they have started. Every Nora Roberts book that I’ve read has had some romance in it, but most of them have also had a mystery of some kind. The books in this series don’t. They are straight romance, like the first books she wrote. Since there isn’t any mystery, some people could be disappointed.
Parker serves as the wedding planner for the clients of Vows, juggling all sorts of things for the brides. She is always taking calls from them, even in the middle of the night at times. Work has been the main focus of her life for a long time. She starts to go out with Malcolm, a mechanic who is also one of her older brother’s best friends.
Happy Ever After does build on what has happened in the previous three books. Some things from those books are brought up again, so I do think people should read the books in order. The plot is more simple and straightforward and that might bother some readers. I didn’t bother me since the story is still entertaining.
Weddings come up a lot in Happy Ever After since the women have a wedding planning business. A few different weddings take place during the book, and a few complications do pop up. The complications are entertaining at times. All kinds of details about running a wedding planning business come up and it is easy to see that Nora Roberts did a lot of research for the book.
The characters are interesting and likable overall. Parker has been in the first three books, though not as much since other characters were the main characters in those books. I really like the characters overall, though a few of them can be a little annoying every so often.
Happy Ever After is a very entertaining book and it makes a strong conclusion to the Bride Quartet series. Fans of Nora Roberts should give this book, and the series, a chance.
I did get a review posted on Epinions.
Happy Ever After
Airplane!
I like spoof movies when they are done well. Unfortunately, many of them aren’t that great. Airplane! is probably the best spoof movie I’ve seen.
Ted Striker is a former pilot who is still trying to get over his experience in the war. His girlfriend Elaine can’t handle his problems any more and tells him she is leaving him. She is a flight attendant, and Ted over comes his fear of flying to get a seat on her flight. She tries to ignore him, but once passengers and members of the crew get sick, Ted has to try to land the plane.
Airplane! is definitely spoofing disaster movies. I did read that it was basically a remake of the movie Zero Hour!. I’ve never seen that one, so I have no idea what has been changed for this movie. The plot of Airplane! is fairly simple, though it makes for an entertaining movie. The things that happen may be a bit silly or over the top, but they manage to work overall for the movie. There is a decent reason for why Ted has to take over flying the plane. There is a hint of believability to what is going on.
There really isn’t any mystery to the plot of Airplane! and most of what happens is predictable. The plot could have been a little stronger, but it still makes for an entertaining movie. Most of what happens is silly. Those silly things add humor to the movie. Some of the humor is a bit dated now, but the movie is still really funny. The humor works much better than what is done in most of the newer spoof movies.
The characters aren’t developed a lot, though they still manage to be entertaining. The cast does well with their parts. This is one of the few movies that I’ve seen Robert Stack in.
Airplane! is a bit silly, so it won’t appeal to some people. The movie is really funny and I do think it is worth watching.
I did get a review posted on Epinions.
Airplane!
Ted Striker is a former pilot who is still trying to get over his experience in the war. His girlfriend Elaine can’t handle his problems any more and tells him she is leaving him. She is a flight attendant, and Ted over comes his fear of flying to get a seat on her flight. She tries to ignore him, but once passengers and members of the crew get sick, Ted has to try to land the plane.
Airplane! is definitely spoofing disaster movies. I did read that it was basically a remake of the movie Zero Hour!. I’ve never seen that one, so I have no idea what has been changed for this movie. The plot of Airplane! is fairly simple, though it makes for an entertaining movie. The things that happen may be a bit silly or over the top, but they manage to work overall for the movie. There is a decent reason for why Ted has to take over flying the plane. There is a hint of believability to what is going on.
There really isn’t any mystery to the plot of Airplane! and most of what happens is predictable. The plot could have been a little stronger, but it still makes for an entertaining movie. Most of what happens is silly. Those silly things add humor to the movie. Some of the humor is a bit dated now, but the movie is still really funny. The humor works much better than what is done in most of the newer spoof movies.
The characters aren’t developed a lot, though they still manage to be entertaining. The cast does well with their parts. This is one of the few movies that I’ve seen Robert Stack in.
Airplane! is a bit silly, so it won’t appeal to some people. The movie is really funny and I do think it is worth watching.
I did get a review posted on Epinions.
Airplane!
Time After Time
I first saw Time After Time on tv several years ago. Since I remembered liking the movie, I decided to pick up the DVD when I found it on sale.
H.G. Wells has some friends over, including doctor John Stevenson. He shows them his new invention, a time machine. The police arrive because Jack the Ripper just killed someone in the area and they are checking all the houses. Everyone is shocked when evidence is found that shows that John is the killer. John disappears and H.G. figures out that John used the time machine. H.G. was able to follow after him, and he ends up in San Francisco in 1979. He meets Amy, a woman he develops feelings for and who ends up trying to help him deal with the situation with John.
From what I read about the movie after watching it recently, I learned that Time After Time is sort of based on a book and a short story. The character of Amy was given the same name as H.G.’s second wife. While it is clear that the story if fictional, it is interesting that a real person is one of the main characters. The idea that H.G. would build a time machine and use it is intriguing.
There isn’t much mystery to what is going on in Time After Time since it comes out fairly early that John is Jack the Ripper. H.G. does struggle to find John in the future and the police are stumped by the murders. A few women are murdered during the movie, though not much is shown and the movie really isn’t that violent. There are a few surprises and a little bit of suspense in a few scenes.
The characters don’t receive a lot of development in Time After Time, though I still think they are interesting. This is one of the few parts I’ve seen Malcolm McDowell play that wasn’t at least somewhat twisted. I didn’t recognize him at first.
Time After Time is very entertaining and I think it is still worth watching. The effects are dated looking, though not that bad considering when the movie was made. Some of what happens is a bit odd, but it makes for an entertaining movie.
I did get a review posted on Epinions.
Time After Time
H.G. Wells has some friends over, including doctor John Stevenson. He shows them his new invention, a time machine. The police arrive because Jack the Ripper just killed someone in the area and they are checking all the houses. Everyone is shocked when evidence is found that shows that John is the killer. John disappears and H.G. figures out that John used the time machine. H.G. was able to follow after him, and he ends up in San Francisco in 1979. He meets Amy, a woman he develops feelings for and who ends up trying to help him deal with the situation with John.
From what I read about the movie after watching it recently, I learned that Time After Time is sort of based on a book and a short story. The character of Amy was given the same name as H.G.’s second wife. While it is clear that the story if fictional, it is interesting that a real person is one of the main characters. The idea that H.G. would build a time machine and use it is intriguing.
There isn’t much mystery to what is going on in Time After Time since it comes out fairly early that John is Jack the Ripper. H.G. does struggle to find John in the future and the police are stumped by the murders. A few women are murdered during the movie, though not much is shown and the movie really isn’t that violent. There are a few surprises and a little bit of suspense in a few scenes.
The characters don’t receive a lot of development in Time After Time, though I still think they are interesting. This is one of the few parts I’ve seen Malcolm McDowell play that wasn’t at least somewhat twisted. I didn’t recognize him at first.
Time After Time is very entertaining and I think it is still worth watching. The effects are dated looking, though not that bad considering when the movie was made. Some of what happens is a bit odd, but it makes for an entertaining movie.
I did get a review posted on Epinions.
Time After Time
Red
I have liked Bruce Willis for years, so I do tend to check out his new movies. I first got interested in seeing Red a few months ago when I saw the trailer.
Frank Moses is a retired CIA agent who seems to be having a little trouble fitting in with a normal life. He only decorates for Christmas once he realizes that all his neighbors have decorations out. Sarah Ross works for the company that handles his pension and he keeps finding excuses to call her. Late one night Frank wakes up and discovers that a hit squad is there to kill him. After handling the men, Frank goes to see Sarah, convinced that she is in danger because of his contact with her. He basically kidnaps her, though she ends up helping him. Frank also gets in contact with Joe and Marvin, men he’s worked with before. They come up with a plan that involves former MI6 agent Victoria.
Red is based on a short series of comic books. I haven’t read them, so I don’t know for sure how much has been changed.
The plot of Red is interesting and it makes for an entertaining movie. Things do start off a little slow while things are set up, but it really doesn’t take that long for more to start happening. There are a lot of action scenes in the movie. Those scenes do go a bit over board, but they are entertaining. The pace is fairly fast, though things aren’t rushed. Violence is in several scenes as well, though it isn’t as graphic as it could have been. I do think there is a good amount of humor, mostly added by things characters say and do. Marvin adds the most humor. The man is clearly missing most of his marbles.
I like the characters in Red and find them to be very entertaining and interesting. None of them are that developed, but they are interesting. The cast is wonderful, though Bruce Willis has played similar characters before. Helen Mirren is wonderful as Victoria. She does really well as a tough character who is really good at killing people.
Red is a little over the top, but it is fun and entertaining. Fans of the cast should give it a chance.
I did get a review posted at Epinions.
Red
Frank Moses is a retired CIA agent who seems to be having a little trouble fitting in with a normal life. He only decorates for Christmas once he realizes that all his neighbors have decorations out. Sarah Ross works for the company that handles his pension and he keeps finding excuses to call her. Late one night Frank wakes up and discovers that a hit squad is there to kill him. After handling the men, Frank goes to see Sarah, convinced that she is in danger because of his contact with her. He basically kidnaps her, though she ends up helping him. Frank also gets in contact with Joe and Marvin, men he’s worked with before. They come up with a plan that involves former MI6 agent Victoria.
Red is based on a short series of comic books. I haven’t read them, so I don’t know for sure how much has been changed.
The plot of Red is interesting and it makes for an entertaining movie. Things do start off a little slow while things are set up, but it really doesn’t take that long for more to start happening. There are a lot of action scenes in the movie. Those scenes do go a bit over board, but they are entertaining. The pace is fairly fast, though things aren’t rushed. Violence is in several scenes as well, though it isn’t as graphic as it could have been. I do think there is a good amount of humor, mostly added by things characters say and do. Marvin adds the most humor. The man is clearly missing most of his marbles.
I like the characters in Red and find them to be very entertaining and interesting. None of them are that developed, but they are interesting. The cast is wonderful, though Bruce Willis has played similar characters before. Helen Mirren is wonderful as Victoria. She does really well as a tough character who is really good at killing people.
Red is a little over the top, but it is fun and entertaining. Fans of the cast should give it a chance.
I did get a review posted at Epinions.
Red
Monday, October 25, 2010
You Again
I’ve come to like Kristen Bell in the last few years, especially after I started watching Veronica Mars. I was interested in her new movie, You Again, after seeing previews and seeing who else is in the movie.
Marni was the target of a bully in high school that made her life miserable. After high school, Marni made some changes and how has a successful career. She is horrified when she learns that her older brother is marrying Joanna, the girl who bullied her in high school. It gets worse when Joanna acts like she doesn’t know Marni. Convinced that Joanna is wrong for her brother, Marni decides to try to stop the wedding. Marni’s mother Gail and Joanna’s aunt Ramona went to high school together, but they haven’t seen each other in years. It seems they have lingering issues as well.
I managed to enjoy You Again overall, though it isn’t going to appeal to everyone. Some people will be turned off by the fact that the movie deals with bullying. Some flashbacks are used to show what happened when Marni was in high school and some of those scenes aren’t that pleasant. Joanna was downright cruel, which unfortunately, I think is fairly accurate with how some teenagers act. The movie chooses to deal with the serious subject of bullying in a more humorous and lighthearted way. That may bother some people, especially with the real life bullying incidents that have happened recently.
You Again ends up having the female characters act like unreasonable idiots with how they deal with things. It makes sense that Marni isn’t happy about her brother marrying Joanna or the fact that Joanna acts like she doesn’t remember her. The way that Marni chooses to deal with that makes her look like a manipulative witch. Joanna handles things badly, deciding to make little digs to try to put Marni down instead of dealing with things like an adult. Gail and Ramona don’t deal with their issues any better, ending up in a fight that puts them both in a swimming pool. Instead of trying to deal with problems, the woman act like jealous idiots. The men, even though they are in much less of the movie, are made to look like the only calm, rational people around. At one point, Marni’s father actually sends her and her mother to their rooms. The movie does not portray women in a good way, and that is bound to upset some people.
Even though the women act like idiots, they still manage to be entertaining. Their antics do add some humor to You Again. Much of the humor is more silly in nature, but I do think it manages to work overall. There are a few really funny moments in the movie, though other things that are intended to be funny don’t really work. The plot isn’t the most original since other movies have featured characters that have been miserable in high school. Having Marni’s tormentor marry her brother is a bit different, but the movie is still very predictable overall.
There really isn’t much development for any of the characters in You Again. The characters are interesting enough, though it is a bit hard to like many of them. I did think the cast did a good job with what they had to work with.
Overall, You Again has issues, but it can be entertaining overall if it isn’t taken seriously. Fans of the cast may find something to like about the movie.
I did get a longer review posted on Epinions.
You Again
You Again
Marni was the target of a bully in high school that made her life miserable. After high school, Marni made some changes and how has a successful career. She is horrified when she learns that her older brother is marrying Joanna, the girl who bullied her in high school. It gets worse when Joanna acts like she doesn’t know Marni. Convinced that Joanna is wrong for her brother, Marni decides to try to stop the wedding. Marni’s mother Gail and Joanna’s aunt Ramona went to high school together, but they haven’t seen each other in years. It seems they have lingering issues as well.
I managed to enjoy You Again overall, though it isn’t going to appeal to everyone. Some people will be turned off by the fact that the movie deals with bullying. Some flashbacks are used to show what happened when Marni was in high school and some of those scenes aren’t that pleasant. Joanna was downright cruel, which unfortunately, I think is fairly accurate with how some teenagers act. The movie chooses to deal with the serious subject of bullying in a more humorous and lighthearted way. That may bother some people, especially with the real life bullying incidents that have happened recently.
You Again ends up having the female characters act like unreasonable idiots with how they deal with things. It makes sense that Marni isn’t happy about her brother marrying Joanna or the fact that Joanna acts like she doesn’t remember her. The way that Marni chooses to deal with that makes her look like a manipulative witch. Joanna handles things badly, deciding to make little digs to try to put Marni down instead of dealing with things like an adult. Gail and Ramona don’t deal with their issues any better, ending up in a fight that puts them both in a swimming pool. Instead of trying to deal with problems, the woman act like jealous idiots. The men, even though they are in much less of the movie, are made to look like the only calm, rational people around. At one point, Marni’s father actually sends her and her mother to their rooms. The movie does not portray women in a good way, and that is bound to upset some people.
Even though the women act like idiots, they still manage to be entertaining. Their antics do add some humor to You Again. Much of the humor is more silly in nature, but I do think it manages to work overall. There are a few really funny moments in the movie, though other things that are intended to be funny don’t really work. The plot isn’t the most original since other movies have featured characters that have been miserable in high school. Having Marni’s tormentor marry her brother is a bit different, but the movie is still very predictable overall.
There really isn’t much development for any of the characters in You Again. The characters are interesting enough, though it is a bit hard to like many of them. I did think the cast did a good job with what they had to work with.
Overall, You Again has issues, but it can be entertaining overall if it isn’t taken seriously. Fans of the cast may find something to like about the movie.
I did get a longer review posted on Epinions.
You Again
You Again
Associated Content
I first heard about Associated Content, a website where people can post articles or reviews about all sorts of things, several years ago. I did look at the site a bit at that point, but I didn’t join. I’ve thought about joining off and on over the years. As part of my effort to expand my writing a bit, I finally decided to go ahead and join Associated Content at the end of September.
I write as Marie Dragonfire as Associated Content. I am still getting started there, so I only have three articles published at this point, with another waiting to be published. I had hoped to have more published there by now, but an illness in my family did cut into the time I had for writing this month. I do have ideas for more things to write about there and I want to get to where I post several new articles there a week. I’ll probably have to work up to that, especially since I’ll be getting busier in the next several months, but that is my plan.
So far I have posted articles about a few television shows on Associated Content. I think I will continue to do that. I like that I can post about individual episodes or the show in general there. I also want to try to post other entertainment type articles, probably with movies since that is what I am most comfortable writing about. I may branch out into other things every so often, though I haven’t decided what just yet. From what I have seen there so far, it does look like it is possible to write on just about anything there which is nice.
Even though I have decided to join Associated Content and I hope to publish new content there regularly, I am still a member of Epinions - dragonfire88 - and have no plans to stop posting reviews there.
Feel free to visit my Associated Content page or Epinions page.
Marie Dragonfire at Associated Content
dragonfire88 at Epinions
I write as Marie Dragonfire as Associated Content. I am still getting started there, so I only have three articles published at this point, with another waiting to be published. I had hoped to have more published there by now, but an illness in my family did cut into the time I had for writing this month. I do have ideas for more things to write about there and I want to get to where I post several new articles there a week. I’ll probably have to work up to that, especially since I’ll be getting busier in the next several months, but that is my plan.
So far I have posted articles about a few television shows on Associated Content. I think I will continue to do that. I like that I can post about individual episodes or the show in general there. I also want to try to post other entertainment type articles, probably with movies since that is what I am most comfortable writing about. I may branch out into other things every so often, though I haven’t decided what just yet. From what I have seen there so far, it does look like it is possible to write on just about anything there which is nice.
Even though I have decided to join Associated Content and I hope to publish new content there regularly, I am still a member of Epinions - dragonfire88 - and have no plans to stop posting reviews there.
Feel free to visit my Associated Content page or Epinions page.
Marie Dragonfire at Associated Content
dragonfire88 at Epinions
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Naked Heat by Richard Castle
Naked Heat is the second book by Richard Castle featuring the character of Nikki Heat. This book, along with Heat Wave, are a bit unique because they are closely tied to the tv show Castle. Richard Castle is actually one of the main characters on the show. After meeting detective Kate Beckett during an investigation, Rick decides to base a new character on her and gets to tag along on her cases. So far in the show and real life, two books have been released.
The main characters in Naked Heat and Heat Wave are definitely versions of the characters in Castle and some of the situations from the books have been pulled from the episodes of the show as well. I love that aspect of the book and think it makes it more entertaining.
Naked Heat picks up a few months after the first book ended. Nikki and Jameson Rook, the reporter who followed her around to write an article, haven’t seen each other in a while. Nikki is less than pleased with the article and that is why she ends the relationship they had started. Nikki starts investigating the murder of a gossip columnist and Jameson is involved because he was working on an article about her. Jameson convinces Nikki to let him work with her again. While working on the case, they also deal with their issues.
The main focus of Naked Heat is the murder investigation. The mystery in the book is interesting even though it could be a tad stronger. There is a bit of suspense in some scenes and while a few things that happen are predictable, there are surprises as well. Since the victim isn’t that well liked, there are a lot of suspects at first. The case ends up a bit more complicated as more things happen.
Nikki and Jameson are the main characters in Naked Heat. They are clearly versions of Kate and Rick from Castle. They are likable, interesting characters and I really enjoy reading about them. Some of the other characters have also been based on characters from the show. There isn’t a version of Alexis though. Several other minor characters turn up over the course of the book through the investigation.
Naked Heat is a very entertaining book that is worth reading, especially for fans of Castle.
I did get a longer review posted on Epinions.
Naked Heat
The main characters in Naked Heat and Heat Wave are definitely versions of the characters in Castle and some of the situations from the books have been pulled from the episodes of the show as well. I love that aspect of the book and think it makes it more entertaining.
Naked Heat picks up a few months after the first book ended. Nikki and Jameson Rook, the reporter who followed her around to write an article, haven’t seen each other in a while. Nikki is less than pleased with the article and that is why she ends the relationship they had started. Nikki starts investigating the murder of a gossip columnist and Jameson is involved because he was working on an article about her. Jameson convinces Nikki to let him work with her again. While working on the case, they also deal with their issues.
The main focus of Naked Heat is the murder investigation. The mystery in the book is interesting even though it could be a tad stronger. There is a bit of suspense in some scenes and while a few things that happen are predictable, there are surprises as well. Since the victim isn’t that well liked, there are a lot of suspects at first. The case ends up a bit more complicated as more things happen.
Nikki and Jameson are the main characters in Naked Heat. They are clearly versions of Kate and Rick from Castle. They are likable, interesting characters and I really enjoy reading about them. Some of the other characters have also been based on characters from the show. There isn’t a version of Alexis though. Several other minor characters turn up over the course of the book through the investigation.
Naked Heat is a very entertaining book that is worth reading, especially for fans of Castle.
I did get a longer review posted on Epinions.
Naked Heat
Castle - The Complete Second Season
I started watching Castle in the spring of 2009 when the show began airing. I was quickly hooked on the show and continue to watch it. I have the first season on DVD and I picked up Castle - The Complete Second Season when it was released.
Castle is an hour long show that airs on ABC. It is about an author, Richard Castle, who ends up tagging along with homicide detective Kate Beckett. They first meet when someone starts killing in ways that Rick used in his different books. Once the case is solved, Rick manages to arrange things so that he can keep going along with Kate and he intends to base a new character, police detective Nikki Heat, on her. Kate is really annoyed, but they end up working well together.
When Castle - The Complete Second Season starts, Rick’s book Heat Wave is about to be released. The book actually did come out in September of 2009. Kate is really upset with Rick during the first episode of the season, but she gets over it and they continue working together. Every episode features a different case that Kate investigates. Many of the murders are somewhat bizarre or twisted, like a person dressed as a vampire being stabbed with a wooden stake. The murders do add some mystery to the show, though the mysteries aren’t overly complex. They are highly entertaining. Some violence turns up every so often, but it generally isn’t that graphic. Humor is used in every episode, usually through something that Rick says or does. I think the humor works to make things more entertaining.
The main characters remain the same in Castle - The Complete Second Season. The characters are definitely one of the strong points for the show and one of the reasons why it is so entertaining. I especially love Rick’s daughter Alexis and his mother Martha. Alexis is delightful and it is so nice to seen a teenager in a series that isn’t a brat or highly annoying. The cast is wonderful, especially Nathan Fillion. I started watching the show just because of him since I adored him on Firefly. There are a few little references to Firefly during the second season. The best one is during the Halloween episode when Rick is trying out a costume he claims is a space cowboy. It is Mal’s outfit.
Castle - The Complete Second Season has a few interesting extras, including a blooper reel that is pretty funny. The DVD set is great for fans of the show.
I did get a longer review posted on Epinions.
Castle - The Complete Second Season
Castle is an hour long show that airs on ABC. It is about an author, Richard Castle, who ends up tagging along with homicide detective Kate Beckett. They first meet when someone starts killing in ways that Rick used in his different books. Once the case is solved, Rick manages to arrange things so that he can keep going along with Kate and he intends to base a new character, police detective Nikki Heat, on her. Kate is really annoyed, but they end up working well together.
When Castle - The Complete Second Season starts, Rick’s book Heat Wave is about to be released. The book actually did come out in September of 2009. Kate is really upset with Rick during the first episode of the season, but she gets over it and they continue working together. Every episode features a different case that Kate investigates. Many of the murders are somewhat bizarre or twisted, like a person dressed as a vampire being stabbed with a wooden stake. The murders do add some mystery to the show, though the mysteries aren’t overly complex. They are highly entertaining. Some violence turns up every so often, but it generally isn’t that graphic. Humor is used in every episode, usually through something that Rick says or does. I think the humor works to make things more entertaining.
The main characters remain the same in Castle - The Complete Second Season. The characters are definitely one of the strong points for the show and one of the reasons why it is so entertaining. I especially love Rick’s daughter Alexis and his mother Martha. Alexis is delightful and it is so nice to seen a teenager in a series that isn’t a brat or highly annoying. The cast is wonderful, especially Nathan Fillion. I started watching the show just because of him since I adored him on Firefly. There are a few little references to Firefly during the second season. The best one is during the Halloween episode when Rick is trying out a costume he claims is a space cowboy. It is Mal’s outfit.
Castle - The Complete Second Season has a few interesting extras, including a blooper reel that is pretty funny. The DVD set is great for fans of the show.
I did get a longer review posted on Epinions.
Castle - The Complete Second Season
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Mork & Mindy - The Complete Third Season
Mork & Mindy is one of my favorite shows even though it has been off the air for years. Unfortunately, the episodes don’t air on any stations and the final season still hasn’t been released on DVD. I do have the first three seasons on DVD. I recently watched the episodes in Mork & Mindy - The Complete Third Season.
Mork & Mindy is basically about an alien named Mork from the planet Ork. He comes to earth to observe and makes friends with Mindy and ends up living with her. Most of what happens in the episodes is tied to Mork learning something new about humans. He knows more by the third season, but he still has a lot to learn.
The fact that Mork still ends up in some rather odd situations is a big part of what makes Mork & Mindy so entertaining. The show is hilarious and I think the humor has held up well. I was laughing out loud during every episode when I watched this set. Most of the humor comes from the odd things that Mork does. This show is what really launched Robin Williams’s career. I’ve read before that he was allowed to improvise a lot of stuff and I noticed things in almost every episode that he probably did improvise. That works really well for the episodes and helps to make things more entertaining.
The cast changes slightly in the third season of Mork & Mindy again. Mindy’s dad is bad more often, which I think is a good thing. I missed him when he wasn’t around more in the second season. Remo and Jeanie aren’t around as much, but that doesn’t bother me since they weren’t my favorite characters anyway.
Mork & Mindy - The Complete Third Season doesn’t have any extras, which is disappointing. Despite that, the DVD set is still a must own for fans of the show. I just wish the fourth and final season would be released.
I did get a longer review posted on Epinions.
Mork & Mindy - The Complete Third Season
Mork & Mindy is basically about an alien named Mork from the planet Ork. He comes to earth to observe and makes friends with Mindy and ends up living with her. Most of what happens in the episodes is tied to Mork learning something new about humans. He knows more by the third season, but he still has a lot to learn.
The fact that Mork still ends up in some rather odd situations is a big part of what makes Mork & Mindy so entertaining. The show is hilarious and I think the humor has held up well. I was laughing out loud during every episode when I watched this set. Most of the humor comes from the odd things that Mork does. This show is what really launched Robin Williams’s career. I’ve read before that he was allowed to improvise a lot of stuff and I noticed things in almost every episode that he probably did improvise. That works really well for the episodes and helps to make things more entertaining.
The cast changes slightly in the third season of Mork & Mindy again. Mindy’s dad is bad more often, which I think is a good thing. I missed him when he wasn’t around more in the second season. Remo and Jeanie aren’t around as much, but that doesn’t bother me since they weren’t my favorite characters anyway.
Mork & Mindy - The Complete Third Season doesn’t have any extras, which is disappointing. Despite that, the DVD set is still a must own for fans of the show. I just wish the fourth and final season would be released.
I did get a longer review posted on Epinions.
Mork & Mindy - The Complete Third Season
The Town
I recently went to see The Town, the newest movie directed by Ben Affleck. I really enjoyed it and do think it is one of the best movies of the year. It is definitely worth watching.
The plot for The Town may not be the most original overall, but there are surprises here and there throughout it. Several things happen that I didn’t expect, so I don’t think the movie is predictable at all. The plot is interesting and ends up making for a highly entertaining movie about a group of men in a Boston neighborhood who rob banks and armored cars. Things do get a little complicated as the movie progress.
There is a good amount of action to what happens in The Town that includes a few very well done chases. The action scenes are done well and help to keep things interesting. Violence does turn up in a few scenes, and some of the violence does get more graphic. The violence might be too much for some people. A bit of romance is added in as well through a developing relationship between two of the characters. There are a few brief sex scenes that don’t really show much. This isn’t a family friendly movie.
The Town is the second movie that Ben Affleck has directed. He did a wonderful job, just like he did with Gone Baby Gone. I think he should have a long career ahead of his as a director. I really do believe that if he keeps making movies this good, he’ll get a best director Oscar someday. In addition to directing, Affleck also wrote the screen play and stars in the movie. He has gotten a lot of flack over the years for some of the movies he’s been in, but I think he has started turning that around with the roles he’s had in the last few years. He does very well in this one.
The Town is based on the book The Prince of Thieves. I haven’t read it, so I don’t know how close to the book the movie stays.
The Town truly is one of the best movies I’ve seen this year. It is definitely worth seeing. I am pretty sure that I’ll eventually add it to my movie collection.
I did get a longer review posted on Epinions.
The Town
The plot for The Town may not be the most original overall, but there are surprises here and there throughout it. Several things happen that I didn’t expect, so I don’t think the movie is predictable at all. The plot is interesting and ends up making for a highly entertaining movie about a group of men in a Boston neighborhood who rob banks and armored cars. Things do get a little complicated as the movie progress.
There is a good amount of action to what happens in The Town that includes a few very well done chases. The action scenes are done well and help to keep things interesting. Violence does turn up in a few scenes, and some of the violence does get more graphic. The violence might be too much for some people. A bit of romance is added in as well through a developing relationship between two of the characters. There are a few brief sex scenes that don’t really show much. This isn’t a family friendly movie.
The Town is the second movie that Ben Affleck has directed. He did a wonderful job, just like he did with Gone Baby Gone. I think he should have a long career ahead of his as a director. I really do believe that if he keeps making movies this good, he’ll get a best director Oscar someday. In addition to directing, Affleck also wrote the screen play and stars in the movie. He has gotten a lot of flack over the years for some of the movies he’s been in, but I think he has started turning that around with the roles he’s had in the last few years. He does very well in this one.
The Town is based on the book The Prince of Thieves. I haven’t read it, so I don’t know how close to the book the movie stays.
The Town truly is one of the best movies I’ve seen this year. It is definitely worth seeing. I am pretty sure that I’ll eventually add it to my movie collection.
I did get a longer review posted on Epinions.
The Town
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