I like superhero movies and movies based on comic book characters, so over the years, I have seen just about all of them at least once. Some have been better than others. I don’t always know much background about the characters before I see a movie. In 2016, I did see Suicide Squad (2016) without really knowing anything about the comic books it was based on. Harley Quinn was the only character I knew anything about. The movie was alright overall - I have definitely seen much worse - but it isn’t one of my favorite movies. When I heard about another one being made, I figured I would see it at some point. Then I found out that James Gunn would be writing and directing it, making my interest in it go up. I very much enjoyed The Suicide Squad (2021) and think it is definitely worth watching.
The Suicide Squad (2021) was released to theaters and on HBO Max in the United States on August 5, 2021. The movie will be available on HBO Max for a month. I’m guessing it will be back on HBO Max a few months after that like the other movies that have had same day streaming releases earlier this year. I don’t know if the movie is available legally on any streaming services in other countries or not. I watched the movie with HBO Max. There was a bit of buffering later in the movie that did get on my nerves. That has happened when I’ve watched some of the other same day release movies too. I don’t know if it was some kind of issue with HBO Max or my Wifi. I have also had a few other issues watching other things on HBO Max at times.
I am not sharing any spoilers for The Suicide Squad (2021). I went into watching this movie really knowing nothing about what would be happening.
**Minor Plot Discussion**
Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) is still using Task Force X for certain highly classified missions. The terms remain the same for the Belle Reve inmates. They will get a reduced sentence if they survive and the mission is a success. Harley Quinn (Margo Robbie), Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney), and Colonel Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman) are joined by several new teammates for a mission that has them traveling to the island of Corto Maltese. The government there was recently overthrown by a regime that is anti American. The team is to deal with a lab that holds something that could be used as a weapon against the United States and the rest of the world. Unfortunately, things don’t go as originally planned and the team has to deal with new complications.
**End of Minor Plot Discussion**
There are two short scenes in the credits, one of which seems to be setting up a new series that will start airing on HBO Max in 2022. James Gunn is also involved in that series, writing the episodes and directing most of them.
The Suicide Squad (2021) is over the top, ridiculous, and bonkers. All of those are good things and made the movie fun and entertaining. It probably is too ridiculous and bonkers for some people. Even the ultimate Big Bad of the movie is ridiculous, while also somehow terrifying. After watching the movie, I did do a little research to discover that yes that villain was in DC comic books and even some DC cartoons. I really don’t remember seeing or hearing anything about that villain before. I can’t think of any other movies to compare it to because I’ve never seen any quite like it before. It shares a few characters with the previous movie, Suicide Squad (2016), has almost the same name, and has the same basic idea for the plot of a group of super villains being sent out on secret missions in exchange for reductions to their prison sentences, but it is a very different movie. It did seem like the first one was trying to be too serious, which didn’t work overall for me. This movie, while it does have a few moments that are more serious or even a bit poignant, does not try to be serious. It is full out over the top ridiculous and bonkers, and that is what makes it so good. I still haven’t seen or read any of the comics, so I don’t know if that is more true to them or not. I just know it works in this movie. There were a times when I was thinking “Did that really just happen?” while watching the movie. I had similar reactions to a few things the first time I watched Slither, the first James Gunn movie I saw. Gunn wrote and directed this movie and he is a very good fit for it. It does have a similar feel at times to some of his other movies without being carbon copies of those earlier movies.
The violence is just as over the top as everything else in the movie, so it definitely deserves the R rating. This is not a movie for everyone and absolutely not a movie for children. Several characters die (no I’m not saying who) over the course of the movie in a variety of graphically violent ways, with blood splatters galore. Since it is so exaggerated and over the top, it isn’t realistic in anyway, which works for this movie. Even with the extreme violence, there are absolutely beautiful visuals throughout the movie. It starts with the amazing opening shot and continues though the entire movie. It does seem a tad odd to say a movie this violent is beautiful, but it truly is a beautiful movie. I haven’t seen a movie this visually beautiful in a long time. There are some scenes and shots that I’m sure are amazing in the theater. James Gunn is an amazing director to have created this movie. I have heard that Warner Brothers did not interfere with this movie like they have with some others in the past. It really does work better when the studio lets the directors make the decisions. There is a lot of swearing in the movie, including the word that rhymes with luck. It does said that the movie includes brief graphic nudity. At one point, kind of in the background of a scene, there is frontal male nudity very briefly.
I still don’t know much about the characters in The Suicide Squad (2021). They are all from DC comic books, some more obscure than others. I probably know the most about Harley from other movies and shows, starting with Batman The Animated Series, one of the best versions of Batman ever. She has evolved some since the first movie and that makes her more interesting here, though she still has lingering issues. She also gets a bit of a different look that I liked. Margot Robbie is great in the part. Joker does not turn up at all during this movie and I’m fine with that. I don’t really like Jared Leto’s version of Joker, so I kind like that he isn’t around this time. I honestly don’t think Leto’s version of the character would fit in this movie very well. There are one or two small references to him without him being identified by name. Harley has moved on from that extremely toxic relationship and she does seem slightly less psychotic while still being violently unpredictable. There has definitely been some changes and growth with her character, but she is still clearly Harley.
Originally, Deadshot, the character Will Smith played in the first movie, was supposed to be in this one as well. When Smith could not do this movie because of a schedule conflict, Eldris Elba was cast and then the decision was made to change the character to Bloodsport so Smith could return in a later movie. Bloodsport does fit in well with the story.
Viola Davis does a good job with the role of Amanda, a character I may dislike more than any other in the DC universe. She goes to even more extreme measures to get someone on the team. The movie has a large cast and they all do great with their parts, even the ones that have smaller parts. Some of them, like Michael Rooker, I didn’t realize they were in the movie until I was watching it and say them or saw their name in the credits. I should have expected Rooker to turn up since he is in just about everything Gunn does. Sean Gunn, Gunn’s brother who also turns up in all of his brothers movies, also makes an appearance. Nathan Fillion, Pete Davidson, Sylvester Stallone, Peter Capaldi, and John Cena also appear in the movie. I had multiple moments of wondering if a character had actually been in the DC Comics while watching the movie and the answer was yes every time. Gunn picked some very obscure characters that end up working for the movie.
The Suicide Squad (2021) is ridiculous, bonkers, and wonderfully entertaining. It is definitely worth seeing, though it isn’t a movie for everyone. It would be a good choice to see in the theater for people that feel comfortable doing that now.
Showing posts with label Movie theater. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Movie theater. Show all posts
Monday, August 9, 2021
The Suicide Squad (2021) is Ridiculously Bonkers and That’s a Good Thing
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Guardians of the Galaxy is Still Awesome on Second Viewing
When I really enjoy a movie, I will watch it multiple times. That is why I have as many movies on DVD and Blu-ray as I do. I usually only see a movie in the theater once, but I am willing to see some movies more than once while in the theater. So far, the most I have gone to the theater to see a movie is four times for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. Over the years, I have seen several movies twice at the theater. I haven’t done it as often in the last few years, partly because of opportunity and partly because there weren’t as many movies I was interested in seeing at the theater twice. Earlier in the week, I decided to see Guardians of the Galaxy again.
I absolutely loved Guardians of the Galaxy when I saw it on opening day. The movie is fun and entertaining with a great soundtrack. Probably within a day of seeing the movie, I was thinking about trying to go see it again. I ended up waiting until Tuesday because I was going to have several hours in between two work related classes and I didn’t want to make two trips into the office. If that hadn’t been happening, I think I would have gone again on Monday.
There weren’t as many people there the second time, but it was a decent amount for early afternoon, especially considering it was a 3D showing. For whatever reason, there are only two show times at the local theater for Guardians of the Galaxy that aren’t in 3D. The very first showing every day is discounted even more on top of the matinee price, so there could have been more at that time - I missed that showing because of the first class. Everyone in the theater seemed to really enjoy the movie - all of us stayed through the credits for the extra scene. Yes I had already seen it, but I wanted to see it again too.
I noticed a few more things here and there that I had missed the first time I saw the movie. I noticed how Yondu’s mohawk turns red at times, especially when he is using his whistle controlled arrow. I paid more attention to one character when he turned up because I figured out from reading the credits the first time that Nathan Fillion did the voice for that character. The voice really sounds nothing like Fillion. I noticed more cool things with the special effects, including with the 3D. Since there weren’t as many people there, I was able to hear a few lines that I had missed previously thanks to the laughter of the audience. I did notice the one character from the scene after the credits earlier in the movie - no I’m not saying who it is. The character in question can be seen in the background when the main characters go to see the Collector. There isn’t a closeup of the character or anything like that. It is really just a silhouette, but that is enough to make it clear who it is.
Guardians of the Galaxy holds up very well on a second viewing. I enjoyed the movie just as much as I did the first time. Honestly, I would be see it in the theater again if I got the chance. I would even pay the higher price for a 3D showing again. This is one of the most entertaining movies I’ve seen in a long time. I will definitely be adding this to my movie collection.
This review is part of elvisdo’s 7th Annual Funny Pages Write off.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
The King's Speech
I became interested in seeing The King’s Speech after seeing some of the previews for the movie. Unfortunately, it did take a while before the movie came to the theater here. It wasn’t here that long, so I’m glad that I was able to see it.
The King’s Speech is focused on how King George VI of England managed to deal with a stutter and be able to make speeches on the radio during World War II. As the second son, he only became king when his older brother, Edward VIII, abdicated the throne to marry a twice divorced American woman. I remember learning about Edward VIII abdicating, but I don’t remember learning that much about King George VI. I found the movie to be very interesting and entertaining, though I know some people who thought it was boring. It isn’t going to appeal to everyone.
The King’s Speech is serious for the most part, though there are moments of humor in it as well. Some of the sessions with Lionel Logue, the speech therapist, are shown. Lionel uses some unique methods to try to help his patients. One of the funnier moments has the then Prince Albert swearing after it is discovered that he doesn’t stutter when angry or swearing. He uses one particular word several times in a very short time. The use of that particular word is why the movie was rated R. I didn’t think the word was offensive with how it was used, but some people may disagree. I’ve heard that an edited version of the movie has been released with a PG-13 rating.
The cast for The King’s Speech is wonderful, especially Colin Firth. He does an amazing job with the part of King George VI. He definitely deserved all the awards he’s won for the part. Helena Bonham Carter does very well as Queen Elizabeth, George VI’s wife. I think this is the most normal part I’ve seen her play. Geoffrey Rush does really well as Lionel.
The King’s Speech may not appeal to everyone, but it is a very well done, entertaining movie that is worth watching.
I did get a review posted on Epinions.
The King’s Speech
The King’s Speech is focused on how King George VI of England managed to deal with a stutter and be able to make speeches on the radio during World War II. As the second son, he only became king when his older brother, Edward VIII, abdicated the throne to marry a twice divorced American woman. I remember learning about Edward VIII abdicating, but I don’t remember learning that much about King George VI. I found the movie to be very interesting and entertaining, though I know some people who thought it was boring. It isn’t going to appeal to everyone.
The King’s Speech is serious for the most part, though there are moments of humor in it as well. Some of the sessions with Lionel Logue, the speech therapist, are shown. Lionel uses some unique methods to try to help his patients. One of the funnier moments has the then Prince Albert swearing after it is discovered that he doesn’t stutter when angry or swearing. He uses one particular word several times in a very short time. The use of that particular word is why the movie was rated R. I didn’t think the word was offensive with how it was used, but some people may disagree. I’ve heard that an edited version of the movie has been released with a PG-13 rating.
The cast for The King’s Speech is wonderful, especially Colin Firth. He does an amazing job with the part of King George VI. He definitely deserved all the awards he’s won for the part. Helena Bonham Carter does very well as Queen Elizabeth, George VI’s wife. I think this is the most normal part I’ve seen her play. Geoffrey Rush does really well as Lionel.
The King’s Speech may not appeal to everyone, but it is a very well done, entertaining movie that is worth watching.
I did get a review posted on Epinions.
The King’s Speech
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Black Swan
I honestly can’t remember when I first heard about Black Swan. Really all I knew about the movie at first was that Natalie Portman was in it and ballet was involved in some way. Even after I started to see some trailers and read some things about the movie, I still wasn’t that sure what the movie was about.
Black Swan isn’t one of the big budget movies. It first opened in limited release and then spread out to more theaters. Many times, the theater around here doesn’t get the movies that open in limited release. Sometimes they eventually turn up months later, usually if they are nominated for an Oscar or two. I was a little surprised that Black Swan showed up at the theater here in town not long after it had a wider release. I ultimately decided that I wanted to see the movie.
Black Swan is definitely different and it isn’t a movie for everyone. A lot of people will probably be turned off by different things that happen in this movie. It is dark and twisted, sometimes extremely so. I do think it is a very well done movie and it is entertaining. I’m still not sure exactly how much I really liked it though. Right now I don’t think I want to see it again, but that doesn’t mean I think it is a bad movie. It is just one of the movies that seeing once will probably be enough for me.
Black Swan is described as a psychological thriller and I definitely see those elements in the movie. It is interesting to watch Nina slowly crack up and spiral into insanity. With the way things are presented in the movie, it isn’t always clear what is really happening and what is a hallucination. Since things aren’t clear cut with this movie, that might bother some viewers. A few scenes have violence in them, one or two of which are rather gory. Some shocking things happen and there is a decent amount of suspense to what is going on.
Ballet plays a huge part in Black Swan. The main characters are all connected to ballet in some way and the movie is focused on a new production of Swan Lake. I have heard some of the music before and seen little bits in other things, but I am not familiar with the story of that ballet. I’m not sure how accurate the dancing is in the movie, though some of it does look accurate from what I’ve seen in other movies. It does sort of downplay ballet related injuries, like how badly a ballet dancer’s feet can be hurt.
A lot of the talk about Black Swan has been focused on one particular scene involving Nina and Lily, a ballet dancer who has just joined the company. The scene in question is a lesbian sex scene that involves oral sex. The scene doesn’t last that long and it really doesn’t show that much, but it is very clear what is going on. The scene probably makes some people uncomfortable. In some ways, I see the scene as part of Nina’s character growth, but in other ways, it sort of seems like it is just there to shock and titillate. Nina is rather repressed and she is pushed by Thomas, the director of the ballet company, to let go. So it sort so of makes sense that she would be more open to exploring with Lily.
The acting is amazing in Black Swan, especially by Natalie Portman. I’ve liked her in other movies, but I’ve never see her in a part like this before. She is completely believable as the troubled Nina and I do think she deserved to win the Golden Globe. The movie only has a few characters. Each one of them has some kind of issue. The cast all does a wonderful job.
Overall, Black Swan is an interesting, entertaining movie that is probably too dark and twisted for some people.
I did get a review posted on Epinions.
Black Swan
Black Swan isn’t one of the big budget movies. It first opened in limited release and then spread out to more theaters. Many times, the theater around here doesn’t get the movies that open in limited release. Sometimes they eventually turn up months later, usually if they are nominated for an Oscar or two. I was a little surprised that Black Swan showed up at the theater here in town not long after it had a wider release. I ultimately decided that I wanted to see the movie.
Black Swan is definitely different and it isn’t a movie for everyone. A lot of people will probably be turned off by different things that happen in this movie. It is dark and twisted, sometimes extremely so. I do think it is a very well done movie and it is entertaining. I’m still not sure exactly how much I really liked it though. Right now I don’t think I want to see it again, but that doesn’t mean I think it is a bad movie. It is just one of the movies that seeing once will probably be enough for me.
Black Swan is described as a psychological thriller and I definitely see those elements in the movie. It is interesting to watch Nina slowly crack up and spiral into insanity. With the way things are presented in the movie, it isn’t always clear what is really happening and what is a hallucination. Since things aren’t clear cut with this movie, that might bother some viewers. A few scenes have violence in them, one or two of which are rather gory. Some shocking things happen and there is a decent amount of suspense to what is going on.
Ballet plays a huge part in Black Swan. The main characters are all connected to ballet in some way and the movie is focused on a new production of Swan Lake. I have heard some of the music before and seen little bits in other things, but I am not familiar with the story of that ballet. I’m not sure how accurate the dancing is in the movie, though some of it does look accurate from what I’ve seen in other movies. It does sort of downplay ballet related injuries, like how badly a ballet dancer’s feet can be hurt.
A lot of the talk about Black Swan has been focused on one particular scene involving Nina and Lily, a ballet dancer who has just joined the company. The scene in question is a lesbian sex scene that involves oral sex. The scene doesn’t last that long and it really doesn’t show that much, but it is very clear what is going on. The scene probably makes some people uncomfortable. In some ways, I see the scene as part of Nina’s character growth, but in other ways, it sort of seems like it is just there to shock and titillate. Nina is rather repressed and she is pushed by Thomas, the director of the ballet company, to let go. So it sort so of makes sense that she would be more open to exploring with Lily.
The acting is amazing in Black Swan, especially by Natalie Portman. I’ve liked her in other movies, but I’ve never see her in a part like this before. She is completely believable as the troubled Nina and I do think she deserved to win the Golden Globe. The movie only has a few characters. Each one of them has some kind of issue. The cast all does a wonderful job.
Overall, Black Swan is an interesting, entertaining movie that is probably too dark and twisted for some people.
I did get a review posted on Epinions.
Black Swan
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Little Fockers
Even though Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers were popular movies, there wasn’t any reason for a third movie to be made. I wasn’t surprised when I found out that Little Fockers was coming out though.
I was ambivalent about seeing Little Fockers. I liked Meet the Parents all right when I first saw it, but it was much less entertaining to me when I saw it a second time. It just doesn’t hold up that well. I haven’t watched it again in years and haven’t wanted to watch it. Meet the Fockers was somewhat entertaining, but once was plenty for me. It was just too much of a rehash of the first movie. Given how I felt about the first two movies, I wasn’t expecting a lot from Little Fockers.
It has been six years since Meet the Fockers came out. There really wasn’t any need to make Little Fockers after so long. It seems to be more of an attempt to grab cash than anything. The name is very misleading since the kids - the little Fockers - really don’t do much of anything. They just turn up briefly in a few scenes and then fade away while all the focus is put on the antics of Jack and Greg again. If the movie had truly been about the kids, it could have been something a bit different. Instead, we just have Jack spying on Greg while he acts like a bafoon again.
The plot is paper thin and really nothing interesting happens. Jack wants Greg to take over as the head of the family. Jack and Dina arrive for the twins’ birthday and Greg is asked to do some sort of promotion work for an erectile dysfunction drug by a beautiful, but dumb, woman. The humor is very crude and downright gross at times. Much of what is done to add humor just falls flat. Seeing Greg get puked on or Jack going off the deep end just isn’t funny.
Jack has not evolved as a character in any way since the first movie. He’s still a control freak who goes way to far with things. Greg is no better, acting like an idiot when Jack is around. Pam and Dina are barely in the movie. It is like they are tossed in just to observe the insanity between Greg and Jack. Roz and Bernie, Greg’s parents, are barely in the movie, so Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand are horribly under used. There was no point to them even being in this movie. Jessica Alba is the main new addition to the cast. Her character, Andi, is one of the worst characters I’ve seen in a movie in a long time. She comes across as a sex obsessed dingbat. It isn’t believable at all that the character is a former nurse.
Little Fockers has a few amusing moments, but the movie is a huge waste of time overall. It is pointless and unnecessary. People should go see True Grit instead.
I did get a review posted on Epinions.
Little Fockers
I was ambivalent about seeing Little Fockers. I liked Meet the Parents all right when I first saw it, but it was much less entertaining to me when I saw it a second time. It just doesn’t hold up that well. I haven’t watched it again in years and haven’t wanted to watch it. Meet the Fockers was somewhat entertaining, but once was plenty for me. It was just too much of a rehash of the first movie. Given how I felt about the first two movies, I wasn’t expecting a lot from Little Fockers.
It has been six years since Meet the Fockers came out. There really wasn’t any need to make Little Fockers after so long. It seems to be more of an attempt to grab cash than anything. The name is very misleading since the kids - the little Fockers - really don’t do much of anything. They just turn up briefly in a few scenes and then fade away while all the focus is put on the antics of Jack and Greg again. If the movie had truly been about the kids, it could have been something a bit different. Instead, we just have Jack spying on Greg while he acts like a bafoon again.
The plot is paper thin and really nothing interesting happens. Jack wants Greg to take over as the head of the family. Jack and Dina arrive for the twins’ birthday and Greg is asked to do some sort of promotion work for an erectile dysfunction drug by a beautiful, but dumb, woman. The humor is very crude and downright gross at times. Much of what is done to add humor just falls flat. Seeing Greg get puked on or Jack going off the deep end just isn’t funny.
Jack has not evolved as a character in any way since the first movie. He’s still a control freak who goes way to far with things. Greg is no better, acting like an idiot when Jack is around. Pam and Dina are barely in the movie. It is like they are tossed in just to observe the insanity between Greg and Jack. Roz and Bernie, Greg’s parents, are barely in the movie, so Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand are horribly under used. There was no point to them even being in this movie. Jessica Alba is the main new addition to the cast. Her character, Andi, is one of the worst characters I’ve seen in a movie in a long time. She comes across as a sex obsessed dingbat. It isn’t believable at all that the character is a former nurse.
Little Fockers has a few amusing moments, but the movie is a huge waste of time overall. It is pointless and unnecessary. People should go see True Grit instead.
I did get a review posted on Epinions.
Little Fockers
Sunday, January 2, 2011
The Fighter
I don’t know much about boxing, but I decided to see The Fighter, a movie about real life boxers Micky Ward and Dickie Eklund. The movie is really well done and entertaining, though a few scenes are more difficult to watch.
I am not familiar with Micky or Dickie, so I have no idea how accurate The Fighter is. The movie only covers a specific time period in the lives of the brothers. For me, since I didn’t know anything about the real men, it was hard for me to know for sure how much time passed over the course of the movie. It does seem like some things receive more attention than others.
Much of The Fighter is focused on Micky’s training. That does add some violence to the movie. A few scenes are more graphic than others, though the movie isn’t overly gory. The plot does sort of follow a formula, but it is done well and ends up being entertaining. Some of what happens is predictable, but that didn’t bother me. Some complications are added, mostly through how the family deals with each other. That family - at least the movie version of them - has a lot of issues.
A lot of time in The Fighter shows things tied to Dickie and how his life has spiraled out of control. He once fought Sugar Ray Leonard, and he is still living off that former glory. After that fight, nothing much happened with his boxing career. By the time the movie is set, he is a drug addict with delusions of staging a comeback. Their mother ignores the problems that Dickie has, while praising him and not really supporting Micky.
The acting in The Fighter is wonderful. Mark Wahlberg does a really good job as Micky. He spent several years training for the part, even before he knew for sure it was going to be made. Christian Bale is the real stand out as Dickie. Bale lost a lot of weight for the part. That does give him a more realistic drug addict look, but he’s also creepy looking. Bale just doesn’t look good that thin. The freaky, creepy look works for the character. Amy Adams turns up as Charlene, Micky’s girlfriend. It is a different sort of role for Adams, but I think she does well with it.
The Fighter is a very good movie and definitely worth watching. The cast is outstanding and I can see why they have been receiving award nominations. Fans of the cast should give it a chance.
I did get a review posted on Epinions after seeing the movie in the theater.
The Fighter
I am not familiar with Micky or Dickie, so I have no idea how accurate The Fighter is. The movie only covers a specific time period in the lives of the brothers. For me, since I didn’t know anything about the real men, it was hard for me to know for sure how much time passed over the course of the movie. It does seem like some things receive more attention than others.
Much of The Fighter is focused on Micky’s training. That does add some violence to the movie. A few scenes are more graphic than others, though the movie isn’t overly gory. The plot does sort of follow a formula, but it is done well and ends up being entertaining. Some of what happens is predictable, but that didn’t bother me. Some complications are added, mostly through how the family deals with each other. That family - at least the movie version of them - has a lot of issues.
A lot of time in The Fighter shows things tied to Dickie and how his life has spiraled out of control. He once fought Sugar Ray Leonard, and he is still living off that former glory. After that fight, nothing much happened with his boxing career. By the time the movie is set, he is a drug addict with delusions of staging a comeback. Their mother ignores the problems that Dickie has, while praising him and not really supporting Micky.
The acting in The Fighter is wonderful. Mark Wahlberg does a really good job as Micky. He spent several years training for the part, even before he knew for sure it was going to be made. Christian Bale is the real stand out as Dickie. Bale lost a lot of weight for the part. That does give him a more realistic drug addict look, but he’s also creepy looking. Bale just doesn’t look good that thin. The freaky, creepy look works for the character. Amy Adams turns up as Charlene, Micky’s girlfriend. It is a different sort of role for Adams, but I think she does well with it.
The Fighter is a very good movie and definitely worth watching. The cast is outstanding and I can see why they have been receiving award nominations. Fans of the cast should give it a chance.
I did get a review posted on Epinions after seeing the movie in the theater.
The Fighter
The Tourist
Johnny Depp is one of my favorite actors. I will usually make an effort to see his new movies. I have also liked several movies that I’ve seen Angelina Jolie in. When I saw the trailers for The Tourist, the first movie they’ve made together, I thought the movie looked interesting.
The Tourist hasn’t made a lot of money, and I know that some people have said it is a really bad movie. I don’t agree with that. It isn’t exactly what I expected from the trailers, but I do think that the movie is entertaining and worth watching. I really enjoyed it.
The plot for The Tourist is interesting, though it could have been a bit more original. I do think there are a few surprises to what happens. Things are slightly more complicated than they seem at first. After seeing the movie, I discovered that it was based on a book. I have no idea what has been changed for the movie.
I’ve read that some people have felt that the pacing is too slow in The Tourist. I didn’t feel that way at all. The movie has been promoted as a thriller and I can see some thriller elements in it even though the movie isn’t that suspenseful overall. For some reason, the movie has been nominated in the comedy/musical category for the Golden Globes. While there are some funny lines and moments, the movie is far from being a comedy and it definitely isn’t a musical. There is some action in a few scenes, though the movie really isn’t action packed.
There are only three main characters in The Tourist. Frank, a math teacher on vacation, probably receives a bit more attention than the others. He ends up in a somewhat odd situation that he manages to deal with fairly well. I think Johnny Depp did a very good job with the part. Elise is a mysterious woman who pulls Frank into the mess he ends up in. She looks elegant and refined, but it is quickly clear that she can take care of herself. Inspector Acheson is the last character that receives much attention. He is a detective with Scotland Yard and he’s investigating something that is tied to Elise and Frank. Paul Bettany does fine with the part. Timothy Dalton has a small part as Acheson’s boss.
I really enjoyed The Tourist and think it is better than a lot of people have said. Fans of Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie may find something to like about the movie.
I did get a review posted on Epinions after seeing the movie in the theater.
The Tourist
The Tourist hasn’t made a lot of money, and I know that some people have said it is a really bad movie. I don’t agree with that. It isn’t exactly what I expected from the trailers, but I do think that the movie is entertaining and worth watching. I really enjoyed it.
The plot for The Tourist is interesting, though it could have been a bit more original. I do think there are a few surprises to what happens. Things are slightly more complicated than they seem at first. After seeing the movie, I discovered that it was based on a book. I have no idea what has been changed for the movie.
I’ve read that some people have felt that the pacing is too slow in The Tourist. I didn’t feel that way at all. The movie has been promoted as a thriller and I can see some thriller elements in it even though the movie isn’t that suspenseful overall. For some reason, the movie has been nominated in the comedy/musical category for the Golden Globes. While there are some funny lines and moments, the movie is far from being a comedy and it definitely isn’t a musical. There is some action in a few scenes, though the movie really isn’t action packed.
There are only three main characters in The Tourist. Frank, a math teacher on vacation, probably receives a bit more attention than the others. He ends up in a somewhat odd situation that he manages to deal with fairly well. I think Johnny Depp did a very good job with the part. Elise is a mysterious woman who pulls Frank into the mess he ends up in. She looks elegant and refined, but it is quickly clear that she can take care of herself. Inspector Acheson is the last character that receives much attention. He is a detective with Scotland Yard and he’s investigating something that is tied to Elise and Frank. Paul Bettany does fine with the part. Timothy Dalton has a small part as Acheson’s boss.
I really enjoyed The Tourist and think it is better than a lot of people have said. Fans of Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie may find something to like about the movie.
I did get a review posted on Epinions after seeing the movie in the theater.
The Tourist
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
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Movie Theater Experience
I watch a lot of movies in different ways. Some I watch on television on the various channels I get and some on DVD from my ever growing DVD collection. I also see many movies in the theater. I'm lucky that the theater here that I go to still has fairly low prices, though they have been slowly creeping up in the last couple of years. There is just something about seeing a movie on the big screen that I like despite the drawbacks.
For me, the biggest drawback is having to put up with all the other people in the theater, many of whom are rude idiots who disrupt everyone even remotely near them. When did it become acceptable for people to talk all through a movie or send a gazillion text messages, disrupting anyone who has the misfortune to be sitting anywhere near them? I just don't get people who do this and I find them horribly irritating. Why pay to see a movie if you are going to do nothing but talk or send text messages through the whole thing? I fail to see the point of that and it seems like a huge waste of money. Rudeness seems to be accepted anymore and I for one am tired of that. When I go to the theater, I'm paying to see a movie, not over hear conversations or be blinded by cell phone screens. People who can't be quiet or can't go a few hours without sending a text need to stay out of movie theaters and stop ruining the movie theater experience for others.
I am frequently annoyed by people talking in the theater. I don't mean someone who whispers something to the person they are with a few times. That doesn't bother me. I'm talking about people who carry on full conversations in loud voices. I've had the misfortune to be in a theater with people who are practically yelling to the person next to them to be heard over the movie. Theaters are not the place to have conversations. Theaters are not the place to talk loudly on a cell phone about what you want to eat for dinner. Theaters are not the place to send numerous text messages or go online using a cell phone. Some people may not agree with me on this, but I also feel that theaters aren't the place for young children who can't sit still and watch a movie without talking constantly or running up and down the aisles. When I was a child, my mom didn't take me to a movie in the theater until I was 6 or so. By that time, I had the attention span to watch a movie without disrupting everyone else in the theater and I knew to be quiet. Children that are allowed to talk constantly through an entire movie in the theater grow up to be adults who refuse to be quiet in the theater. It is just common courtesy, which is severely lacking in all aspects of life, to be quiet in a theater.
I still love going to see movies and I'm trying not to let the rude idiots ruin things for me. I'll still be going to the theater and giving my movie theater evil eye to people who won't be quiet. Unfortunately, that doesn't work that often, but I still do it.
To quote Shepherd Book from the wonderful Firefly, there is a special hell for people who talk in the theater. People who tend to talk during movies may want to stop and think about that next time..and zip the lip.
For me, the biggest drawback is having to put up with all the other people in the theater, many of whom are rude idiots who disrupt everyone even remotely near them. When did it become acceptable for people to talk all through a movie or send a gazillion text messages, disrupting anyone who has the misfortune to be sitting anywhere near them? I just don't get people who do this and I find them horribly irritating. Why pay to see a movie if you are going to do nothing but talk or send text messages through the whole thing? I fail to see the point of that and it seems like a huge waste of money. Rudeness seems to be accepted anymore and I for one am tired of that. When I go to the theater, I'm paying to see a movie, not over hear conversations or be blinded by cell phone screens. People who can't be quiet or can't go a few hours without sending a text need to stay out of movie theaters and stop ruining the movie theater experience for others.
I am frequently annoyed by people talking in the theater. I don't mean someone who whispers something to the person they are with a few times. That doesn't bother me. I'm talking about people who carry on full conversations in loud voices. I've had the misfortune to be in a theater with people who are practically yelling to the person next to them to be heard over the movie. Theaters are not the place to have conversations. Theaters are not the place to talk loudly on a cell phone about what you want to eat for dinner. Theaters are not the place to send numerous text messages or go online using a cell phone. Some people may not agree with me on this, but I also feel that theaters aren't the place for young children who can't sit still and watch a movie without talking constantly or running up and down the aisles. When I was a child, my mom didn't take me to a movie in the theater until I was 6 or so. By that time, I had the attention span to watch a movie without disrupting everyone else in the theater and I knew to be quiet. Children that are allowed to talk constantly through an entire movie in the theater grow up to be adults who refuse to be quiet in the theater. It is just common courtesy, which is severely lacking in all aspects of life, to be quiet in a theater.
I still love going to see movies and I'm trying not to let the rude idiots ruin things for me. I'll still be going to the theater and giving my movie theater evil eye to people who won't be quiet. Unfortunately, that doesn't work that often, but I still do it.
To quote Shepherd Book from the wonderful Firefly, there is a special hell for people who talk in the theater. People who tend to talk during movies may want to stop and think about that next time..and zip the lip.
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