I quickly got hooked on the Harry Potter books after I received the first one for my birthday in October of 2001. I picked up the other books that were out at the time and went to see the first movie within days of it being released. I have all of the books and have read them multiple times. I recently decided to read them again, the first time in just over two years.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone - Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is the original title in England - is the first book in the seven book series. It gets off to a good start, setting up things well and it does a good job of introducing the main characters. The story is interesting, and while it may not seem like it on a first reading, there are little hints and things being introduced that will be important later in the series.
While I love the movies overall - though there are things about them I don’t like - I like the books more and think they are better. I know many people have only seen the movies. It is definitely worth it to read the books for those people, and they should definitely start with this book. It is wonderfully detailed and very magical. The story ends up being very interesting and entertaining.
Reading the book again, I rediscovered some little details I had forgotten about, and some other things I just hadn’t thought about in a while, like Peeves. He would have been a very interesting addition to the movies, especially since he was frequently turning up to cause some mischief or complications. For the most part, I think the movie version of this book was done very well and stayed very true to the book. I remember some people complaining about that when the movie came out, saying it wasn’t different enough, something I don’t agree with. In this book, Neville was a little more involved in a few things, which ties into his overall development and it helps to set the foundation for what he ultimately does in the final book.
I feel that the books have more of a sense of magic and they definitely deserve to be read. I still love them and I really enjoyed reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone again. I will not let so much time pass before I read them again.
I did post a longer review on Epinions in 2003 that has been updated.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Showing posts with label Review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Review. Show all posts
Monday, August 19, 2013
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Green Hornet
Since I have at least somewhat liked most of the movies I’ve seen about superheroes, I wanted to see Green Hornet even though I didn’t know much about the character and I don’t care that much for Seth Rogen.
There was a Green Hornet television show and the characters has been featured in comic books as well. I sort of remember seeing some of the television show, but I don’t remember much of anything about it. Even without remembering much, I’m sure that the movie is a lot sillier. I also don’t think that the main character, Britt, was such an obnoxious jerk, in the television show.
Green Hornet manages to be an entertaining movie overall. It has a decent origin story for how Britt decides to fight crime as the Green Hornet. The plot isn’t overly complicated, and some of the developments are rather weak. The subplot that I didn’t care for the most deals with Lenore, the attractive woman that Britt hires as his assistant. Britt and Kato are both interested in her and sort of chase after her, with Britt acting like a big idiot about it. That aspect of the movie just didn’t work well for me. I also felt like Cameron Diaz didn’t really fit the part either.
There is a decent amount of action in Green Hornet and a few scenes get rather violent. The action scenes are done well, though there is some slow motion and other odd effects in a few of the scenes. I think the odd effects were somehow tied to the movie being released in 3D as well.
Britt and Kato are interesting, though Britt is such a jerk, it is hard to like him or be interested in him at times. He’s rude and obnoxious much of the time. I think a big reason for that is that Seth Rogen played the part. He is also one of the writers of the movie. Rogen’s characters have seemed like jerks to me in some of his other movies as well. In interviews that I’ve seen of Rogen, he comes across the same way. He acts like a self absorbed jerk with a very high opinion of himself and his acting abilities. Britt just seems to be a thinly veiled version of Rogen.
While I have issues with how Britt acts and certain plot elements, I did enjoy Green Hornet overall. It manages to work as an entertaining superhero type movie.
I did get a review posted on Epinions after seeing the movie in the theater.
Green Hornet
There was a Green Hornet television show and the characters has been featured in comic books as well. I sort of remember seeing some of the television show, but I don’t remember much of anything about it. Even without remembering much, I’m sure that the movie is a lot sillier. I also don’t think that the main character, Britt, was such an obnoxious jerk, in the television show.
Green Hornet manages to be an entertaining movie overall. It has a decent origin story for how Britt decides to fight crime as the Green Hornet. The plot isn’t overly complicated, and some of the developments are rather weak. The subplot that I didn’t care for the most deals with Lenore, the attractive woman that Britt hires as his assistant. Britt and Kato are both interested in her and sort of chase after her, with Britt acting like a big idiot about it. That aspect of the movie just didn’t work well for me. I also felt like Cameron Diaz didn’t really fit the part either.
There is a decent amount of action in Green Hornet and a few scenes get rather violent. The action scenes are done well, though there is some slow motion and other odd effects in a few of the scenes. I think the odd effects were somehow tied to the movie being released in 3D as well.
Britt and Kato are interesting, though Britt is such a jerk, it is hard to like him or be interested in him at times. He’s rude and obnoxious much of the time. I think a big reason for that is that Seth Rogen played the part. He is also one of the writers of the movie. Rogen’s characters have seemed like jerks to me in some of his other movies as well. In interviews that I’ve seen of Rogen, he comes across the same way. He acts like a self absorbed jerk with a very high opinion of himself and his acting abilities. Britt just seems to be a thinly veiled version of Rogen.
While I have issues with how Britt acts and certain plot elements, I did enjoy Green Hornet overall. It manages to work as an entertaining superhero type movie.
I did get a review posted on Epinions after seeing the movie in the theater.
Green Hornet
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
Monday, January 17, 2011
True Grit (1969)
I can’t remember for sure now, but I think I saw the 1969 version of True Grit years ago. After seeing and enjoying the new version of the movie, I ended up watching the 1969 version again.
The plot for True Grit is fairly simple even though a few complications pop up. There is a tiny bit of mystery tied to what is going on. Some suspense does turn up in a few scenes without making the movie suspenseful overall. Action is in a couple of scenes, mostly from some shootings that happen. Those parts do add a bit of violence to what is going on. The violence is slightly more extreme in one scene, though it isn’t that graphic overall. I could have done without the snake that turns up later in the movie.
True Grit (1969) is based on the book of the same name by Charles Portis. The 2010 version of the movie is based on the same book. Both movies tell the same main story, though there are a few minor changes here and there. Mattie, while still important to what is going on, ends up having a slightly smaller part in this version.
The characters are still very entertaining, though they are slightly different. Rooster is still more likely to shoot someone than arrest them and he likes to drink a lot. His drunken antics do add some humor to a few scenes. Those humorous moments do help to lighten the mood a bit. I do like John Wayne in the part. Mattie is still very determined to get things done, though I like her better in the 2010 version of the movie. La Boeuf and Rooster still have issues and conflicts. The cast is very good in their parts.
True Grit (1969) has been released on DVD a few times and was recently released on Blu-ray. I know there are some new special features on the Blu-ray since I looked at it in the store, but I can’t remember what those features are. The DVD that I watched doesn’t have any extras.
True Grit (1969) is an entertaining movie that has held up well. Fans of westerns or who enjoyed the new version of the movie should check it out.
I did get a longer review posted on Epinions.
True Grit (1969)
The plot for True Grit is fairly simple even though a few complications pop up. There is a tiny bit of mystery tied to what is going on. Some suspense does turn up in a few scenes without making the movie suspenseful overall. Action is in a couple of scenes, mostly from some shootings that happen. Those parts do add a bit of violence to what is going on. The violence is slightly more extreme in one scene, though it isn’t that graphic overall. I could have done without the snake that turns up later in the movie.
True Grit (1969) is based on the book of the same name by Charles Portis. The 2010 version of the movie is based on the same book. Both movies tell the same main story, though there are a few minor changes here and there. Mattie, while still important to what is going on, ends up having a slightly smaller part in this version.
The characters are still very entertaining, though they are slightly different. Rooster is still more likely to shoot someone than arrest them and he likes to drink a lot. His drunken antics do add some humor to a few scenes. Those humorous moments do help to lighten the mood a bit. I do like John Wayne in the part. Mattie is still very determined to get things done, though I like her better in the 2010 version of the movie. La Boeuf and Rooster still have issues and conflicts. The cast is very good in their parts.
True Grit (1969) has been released on DVD a few times and was recently released on Blu-ray. I know there are some new special features on the Blu-ray since I looked at it in the store, but I can’t remember what those features are. The DVD that I watched doesn’t have any extras.
True Grit (1969) is an entertaining movie that has held up well. Fans of westerns or who enjoyed the new version of the movie should check it out.
I did get a longer review posted on Epinions.
True Grit (1969)
True Grit by Charles Portis
It was only sometime within the last few months that I learned that both True Grit movies were based on the book of the same name by Charles Portis. Seeing and loving the 2010 version of the movie caused me to watch the 1969 version, which I also really enjoyed. One day I happened to spot the book when I was out shopping and I bought it on a whim.
The plot for True Grit is the same basic plot that the movies have. The plot is fairly straightforward and really not that complicated, but it is still a good, entertaining book. A little bit of suspense does turn up in a few spots. There are things that happen in the book that didn’t make it into either movie. I don’t think there was a drastic change for anything in either movie. The book is a bit bleak at times, but I think that fits for the story and everything going on. I don’t consider the book to be that violent, but there is violence in a few scenes.
True Grit is told in a way so that it seems like Mattie, the young girl at the heart of the story, is retelling what happened later in life. That is what was done with the 2010 movie. I like that Mattie is such an important part of the story. Cogburn is another strong character. The fact that he and Mattie are such strong characters helps to make the book stronger and more entertaining.
True Grit is a well done, entertaining book that is definitely worth reading. People who have enjoyed either movie version should give the book a chance.
I did post a review on Epinions.
True Grit
The book is available to buy at different places, including Amazon.com.
True Grit
The plot for True Grit is the same basic plot that the movies have. The plot is fairly straightforward and really not that complicated, but it is still a good, entertaining book. A little bit of suspense does turn up in a few spots. There are things that happen in the book that didn’t make it into either movie. I don’t think there was a drastic change for anything in either movie. The book is a bit bleak at times, but I think that fits for the story and everything going on. I don’t consider the book to be that violent, but there is violence in a few scenes.
True Grit is told in a way so that it seems like Mattie, the young girl at the heart of the story, is retelling what happened later in life. That is what was done with the 2010 movie. I like that Mattie is such an important part of the story. Cogburn is another strong character. The fact that he and Mattie are such strong characters helps to make the book stronger and more entertaining.
True Grit is a well done, entertaining book that is definitely worth reading. People who have enjoyed either movie version should give the book a chance.
I did post a review on Epinions.
True Grit
The book is available to buy at different places, including Amazon.com.
True Grit
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Sherlock - Season One
Sherlock Holmes is a very popular character. In the last few years, I have started to pick up more movies featuring the character. I have also picked up a collection of the stories. When I heard about Sherlock, a new show from England featuring the character in modern times, I was intrigued. I eventually decided to pick up the first season on Blu-ray.
Sherlock is based on the stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, though they are updated to work in modern times. I think that does add an interesting element to the series. The first episode of the series does seem to be based on the one story featuring Sherlock that I’ve read. Sherlock still relies on his observation skills and deduction ability, but he also uses modern things like computers, cell phones, and the internet. John Watson is also around, helping on the cases. He does end up doing some odd jobs for Sherlock, but he isn’t a bumbling idiot like the character has been portrayed in other movies. John is writing about the cases on a blog.
The episodes in Sherlock each feature a different case that he works on. By the last episode - there are only three in the first season - things from the first case are mentioned again. The mysteries are interesting and done well. Suspense does turn up in various scenes, including the final scene of the last episode of the season. I have read that a second season is planned. I’m sure I’ll add it to my collection once it is released to own since I enjoyed the first season so much.
Sherlock originally aired on BBC. I knew it was a BBC show when I ordered it, so I did expect the season to be short. I just didn’t expect it to only be three episodes. They are 90 minutes long though. While it would be nice if there were more episodes in the season, they are all very interesting and entertaining. The characters are a lot like they have been in movies, though they are each tweaked a bit. I like that John is more of a partner than comic relief.
Sherlock - Season One is available on DVD and Blu-ray. Since it was only a few dollars more than the DVD, I decided to get the Blu-ray. The first two episodes are on one disc and the last episode as well as a few extras are on the second disc. The extras, which are focused on the making of the show, are interesting and worth watching.
Sherlock is a great show that deserves to be seen. Fans of the character should definitely give it a chance. Sherlock - Season One is a good choice for fans of the show.
I did get a longer review posted on Epinions.
Sherlock - Season One
Sherlock is based on the stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, though they are updated to work in modern times. I think that does add an interesting element to the series. The first episode of the series does seem to be based on the one story featuring Sherlock that I’ve read. Sherlock still relies on his observation skills and deduction ability, but he also uses modern things like computers, cell phones, and the internet. John Watson is also around, helping on the cases. He does end up doing some odd jobs for Sherlock, but he isn’t a bumbling idiot like the character has been portrayed in other movies. John is writing about the cases on a blog.
The episodes in Sherlock each feature a different case that he works on. By the last episode - there are only three in the first season - things from the first case are mentioned again. The mysteries are interesting and done well. Suspense does turn up in various scenes, including the final scene of the last episode of the season. I have read that a second season is planned. I’m sure I’ll add it to my collection once it is released to own since I enjoyed the first season so much.
Sherlock originally aired on BBC. I knew it was a BBC show when I ordered it, so I did expect the season to be short. I just didn’t expect it to only be three episodes. They are 90 minutes long though. While it would be nice if there were more episodes in the season, they are all very interesting and entertaining. The characters are a lot like they have been in movies, though they are each tweaked a bit. I like that John is more of a partner than comic relief.
Sherlock - Season One is available on DVD and Blu-ray. Since it was only a few dollars more than the DVD, I decided to get the Blu-ray. The first two episodes are on one disc and the last episode as well as a few extras are on the second disc. The extras, which are focused on the making of the show, are interesting and worth watching.
Sherlock is a great show that deserves to be seen. Fans of the character should definitely give it a chance. Sherlock - Season One is a good choice for fans of the show.
I did get a longer review posted on Epinions.
Sherlock - Season One
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
True Grit
I haven’t liked that many westerns, though I haven’t watched many in recent years. I will still give them a chance if I think they look interesting, which is what I did with True Grit. I really liked the movie.
I probably saw the John Wayne version of True Grit at some point, but I honestly couldn’t remember anything about it before seeing the new version. Once I saw this one, I ended up watching the older version. The main plot is the same, though a few little things have been changed here and there. Both movies are based on the book by Charles Portis. I haven’t read the book, though I’ve heard that this version stays closer to the book.
True Grit begins by setting up the situation and explaining how Mattie Ross decides to deal with her father’s killer herself. The pace is a little slower while that is going on and the characters are introduced, but it doesn’t take that long for more to start happening. The plot is very interesting and I was surprised by several things. I’m thinking that I wouldn’t have been as surprised by a few things if I had seen the previous movie. The plot is very entertaining and it is definitely worth watching.
Most of what happens in True Grit is more serious. Mattie’s father has been murdered and Mattie decides to track him down herself since the authorities don’t seem to be doing much. She hires Marshal Cogburn because she hears he is the most ruthless. He isn’t interested at first, but she keeps after him and gets her way. There is violence in the movie, though it isn’t too graphic. There are just one or two scenes that are a bit disturbing. There is a decent amount of humor in the movie, mostly from things that Cogburn says at times.
A lot of True Grit takes place when Cogburn and Mattie are on the trail, searching for her father’s killer. The landscape is a bit bleak and colorless, but that fits in well with the movie. Things look wonderful. There are a few gorgeous, and even powerful, shots in the movie.
Mattie is a wonderful character. She is a very determined young woman. She takes on something that many adults wouldn’t in deciding to go after her father’s killer. She is very intelligent, and she is frequently able to get her way. I love how she deals with a merchant early in the movie. Rooster Cogburn is a complicated character. He isn’t fully a hero type character, though he isn’t really a bad guy either. He does use questionable methods at times, and he tends to get drunk. Jeff Bridges is wonderful in the part. Le Boeuf is a Texas Ranger also looking for the same man. He teams up with Cogburn, though the men don’t get along that well. Matt Damon does really well with the part.
True Grit is a wonderful movie. I do think it is one of the best of the year and it is definitely the better than many of the other movies currently in theaters now. Fans of the cast or of westerns should give it a chance.
I did get a review posted on Epinions after seeing the movie in the theater.
True Grit
I probably saw the John Wayne version of True Grit at some point, but I honestly couldn’t remember anything about it before seeing the new version. Once I saw this one, I ended up watching the older version. The main plot is the same, though a few little things have been changed here and there. Both movies are based on the book by Charles Portis. I haven’t read the book, though I’ve heard that this version stays closer to the book.
True Grit begins by setting up the situation and explaining how Mattie Ross decides to deal with her father’s killer herself. The pace is a little slower while that is going on and the characters are introduced, but it doesn’t take that long for more to start happening. The plot is very interesting and I was surprised by several things. I’m thinking that I wouldn’t have been as surprised by a few things if I had seen the previous movie. The plot is very entertaining and it is definitely worth watching.
Most of what happens in True Grit is more serious. Mattie’s father has been murdered and Mattie decides to track him down herself since the authorities don’t seem to be doing much. She hires Marshal Cogburn because she hears he is the most ruthless. He isn’t interested at first, but she keeps after him and gets her way. There is violence in the movie, though it isn’t too graphic. There are just one or two scenes that are a bit disturbing. There is a decent amount of humor in the movie, mostly from things that Cogburn says at times.
A lot of True Grit takes place when Cogburn and Mattie are on the trail, searching for her father’s killer. The landscape is a bit bleak and colorless, but that fits in well with the movie. Things look wonderful. There are a few gorgeous, and even powerful, shots in the movie.
Mattie is a wonderful character. She is a very determined young woman. She takes on something that many adults wouldn’t in deciding to go after her father’s killer. She is very intelligent, and she is frequently able to get her way. I love how she deals with a merchant early in the movie. Rooster Cogburn is a complicated character. He isn’t fully a hero type character, though he isn’t really a bad guy either. He does use questionable methods at times, and he tends to get drunk. Jeff Bridges is wonderful in the part. Le Boeuf is a Texas Ranger also looking for the same man. He teams up with Cogburn, though the men don’t get along that well. Matt Damon does really well with the part.
True Grit is a wonderful movie. I do think it is one of the best of the year and it is definitely the better than many of the other movies currently in theaters now. Fans of the cast or of westerns should give it a chance.
I did get a review posted on Epinions after seeing the movie in the theater.
True Grit
Burlesque
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
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
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
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
The Big Bang Theory - The Complete Third Season
The Big Bang Theory has been one of my favorite shows since it began airing. I was quickly hooked on it and I’ve picked up the DVD sets as they have been released. I pre-ordered The Big Bang Theory - The Complete Third Season and I watched all the episodes in just a few days even though I’d already seen them a few times.
The Big Bang Theory is my favorite show on now and I think it is the funniest show on as well. I enjoy other comedies, but none are as consistently funny and entertaining as The Big Bang Theory. Yes some of what happens is rather bizarre, but I think it works for the show and helps make things more entertaining. Every episode makes me laugh numerous times.
The Big Bang Theory is about a group of friends, four of which are intelligent scientists and nerds. The fifth friend is Penny, the pretty waitress living across the hall from Leonard and Sheldon. The guys have set times to play certain video games and go to the comic book store. They can have long conversations about movies and movie characters. Science stuff comes up at times as well. It sounds believable, but I have no clue how accurate it is.
The characters are the strongest part of The Big Bang Theory. They are all different and have their own little quirks. That helps to make things really entertaining. The cast is wonderful in the parts.
The Big Bang Theory - The Complete Third Season has a funny gag reel and two other extras featuring cast members that are interesting. The DVD set is a must own for fans of the show.
I did get a longer review posted on Epinions.
The Big Bang Theory - The Complete Third Season
The Big Bang Theory is my favorite show on now and I think it is the funniest show on as well. I enjoy other comedies, but none are as consistently funny and entertaining as The Big Bang Theory. Yes some of what happens is rather bizarre, but I think it works for the show and helps make things more entertaining. Every episode makes me laugh numerous times.
The Big Bang Theory is about a group of friends, four of which are intelligent scientists and nerds. The fifth friend is Penny, the pretty waitress living across the hall from Leonard and Sheldon. The guys have set times to play certain video games and go to the comic book store. They can have long conversations about movies and movie characters. Science stuff comes up at times as well. It sounds believable, but I have no clue how accurate it is.
The characters are the strongest part of The Big Bang Theory. They are all different and have their own little quirks. That helps to make things really entertaining. The cast is wonderful in the parts.
The Big Bang Theory - The Complete Third Season has a funny gag reel and two other extras featuring cast members that are interesting. The DVD set is a must own for fans of the show.
I did get a longer review posted on Epinions.
The Big Bang Theory - The Complete Third Season
Monday, October 4, 2010
Nanny McPhee Returns
Since I really enjoyed Nanny McPhee when it came out a few years ago, I was interested in seeing the sequel, Nanny McPhee Returns.
The plot for Nanny McPhee Returns is a lot like the plot of the first movie. Things don’t seem as original, but the movie is still entertaining overall. I do think it is worth watching. Even with the similarities to the first movie, there are differences, so it isn’t like this movie is a carbon copy of the first one. There is another single parent having to deal with children that are a bit out of control and Nanny McPhee shows up to help. The situations that the characters get into are a bit different.
The humor is more gross and crude in Nanny McPhee Returns, something I could have done without. Children will probably like that type of humor. I did think the movie was funny overall, though some of what happens is more silly. There is a bit of magic to what is going on, something else that I enjoyed. The movie is set during a war, and things do get a bit darker for a while. A few serious things are dealt with, though the movie is more light hearted overall.
The characters of the children are harder to like for a while because of how they are acting. They do become a little more likable as the movie progresses. Nanny McPhee is the best character and I love Emma Thompson in the part.
Nanny McPhee Returns was released in the spring of 2010 in England as Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang. I have read that Thompson, who wrote the screenplays for both movies, plans a third movie with the character.
Nanny McPhee Returns isn’t quite as good as the first movie, but it is still entertaining overall and is worth seeing.
I did post a longer review on Epinions after seeing the movie in the theater.
Nanny McPhee Returns
The plot for Nanny McPhee Returns is a lot like the plot of the first movie. Things don’t seem as original, but the movie is still entertaining overall. I do think it is worth watching. Even with the similarities to the first movie, there are differences, so it isn’t like this movie is a carbon copy of the first one. There is another single parent having to deal with children that are a bit out of control and Nanny McPhee shows up to help. The situations that the characters get into are a bit different.
The humor is more gross and crude in Nanny McPhee Returns, something I could have done without. Children will probably like that type of humor. I did think the movie was funny overall, though some of what happens is more silly. There is a bit of magic to what is going on, something else that I enjoyed. The movie is set during a war, and things do get a bit darker for a while. A few serious things are dealt with, though the movie is more light hearted overall.
The characters of the children are harder to like for a while because of how they are acting. They do become a little more likable as the movie progresses. Nanny McPhee is the best character and I love Emma Thompson in the part.
Nanny McPhee Returns was released in the spring of 2010 in England as Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang. I have read that Thompson, who wrote the screenplays for both movies, plans a third movie with the character.
Nanny McPhee Returns isn’t quite as good as the first movie, but it is still entertaining overall and is worth seeing.
I did post a longer review on Epinions after seeing the movie in the theater.
Nanny McPhee Returns
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Veronica Mars - The Complete Second Season
I first heard about the television series Veronica Mars several years ago when it was still airing. I didn’t pay much attention to what I heard about the show at that point and I didn’t watch at that time. Since then, I’ve read and heard more about the show and I decided to pick up the DVD sets when I found them on sale. I recently finished watching Veronica Mars - The Complete Second Season.
The second season of Veronica Mars picks up a little while after the end of the first one. Some things from the first season do carry over into this season, so it is best to watch the episodes in order.
Once again, Veronica deals with several mysteries in these episodes. Some are rather simple and easy for her to resolve and others are more complex. Just about all of them are entertaining in some way. There is one that runs through the entire season and is dealt with in some way in several of the episodes. That is resolved by the last episode in the set.
The same main group of characters in back. The characters are more complex and all of them have flaws. That makes them more believable, but it is also harder to like some of them at times, including Veronica. I continue to think that Kristen Bell does a good job with the part.
There are only a few extras on the DVD set. Despite that, I still think the set is worth getting, especially for fans of the show. The second season is very entertaining and definitely worth watching for people who liked the first season.
I did get a longer review posted on Epinions.
Veronica Mars - The Complete Second Season
The second season of Veronica Mars picks up a little while after the end of the first one. Some things from the first season do carry over into this season, so it is best to watch the episodes in order.
Once again, Veronica deals with several mysteries in these episodes. Some are rather simple and easy for her to resolve and others are more complex. Just about all of them are entertaining in some way. There is one that runs through the entire season and is dealt with in some way in several of the episodes. That is resolved by the last episode in the set.
The same main group of characters in back. The characters are more complex and all of them have flaws. That makes them more believable, but it is also harder to like some of them at times, including Veronica. I continue to think that Kristen Bell does a good job with the part.
There are only a few extras on the DVD set. Despite that, I still think the set is worth getting, especially for fans of the show. The second season is very entertaining and definitely worth watching for people who liked the first season.
I did get a longer review posted on Epinions.
Veronica Mars - The Complete Second Season
The American
I like George Clooney, so I’m usually willing to give his movies a chance. I’ve seen many of them and have enjoyed most of them. I decided that I wanted to see The American, mostly because Clooney is in it.
I did enjoy the movie and think it works as a thriller, it is different from what I expected based on the trailers. Once again, the trailers for the movie made it seem like a completely different movie. Even though it was different from what I expected, I still enjoyed it and think it is a well done movie worth seeing. It probably won’t appeal to some people though, especially people expecting a movie with more action.
Things progress slowly through most of the movie. That allows some tension to build, and while it works, some won’t like the slower approach. There is a bit of action in some scenes, but the movie is far from action packed, something else that could disappoint some viewers. The plot is fairly simple, but it is interesting and entertaining. George Clooney ends up with the most to do since his character is in almost every scene. This is one of his better performances. The other cast members do well with their parts too.
The American is based on a book called A Very Private Gentleman. I haven't read the book, so I have no clue what has been changed for the movie.
Overall, I really enjoyed The American and think it is worth seeing, especially for George Clooney fans. People just need to be prepared for the fact that isn’t an action packed movie.
I did get a review posted on Epinions after seeing the movie in the theater.
The American
I did enjoy the movie and think it works as a thriller, it is different from what I expected based on the trailers. Once again, the trailers for the movie made it seem like a completely different movie. Even though it was different from what I expected, I still enjoyed it and think it is a well done movie worth seeing. It probably won’t appeal to some people though, especially people expecting a movie with more action.
Things progress slowly through most of the movie. That allows some tension to build, and while it works, some won’t like the slower approach. There is a bit of action in some scenes, but the movie is far from action packed, something else that could disappoint some viewers. The plot is fairly simple, but it is interesting and entertaining. George Clooney ends up with the most to do since his character is in almost every scene. This is one of his better performances. The other cast members do well with their parts too.
The American is based on a book called A Very Private Gentleman. I haven't read the book, so I have no clue what has been changed for the movie.
Overall, I really enjoyed The American and think it is worth seeing, especially for George Clooney fans. People just need to be prepared for the fact that isn’t an action packed movie.
I did get a review posted on Epinions after seeing the movie in the theater.
The American
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Sherlock Holmes - DVD Release
I first saw Sherlock Holmes in the theater. I loved the movie so I decided to pick up the movie on DVD when it came out. I picked up the Blu-ray that also has a DVD copy of the movie.
I think I've seen some other movies featuring Sherlock Holmes, but I can't remember much of anything from them. I think the story for this version is original, though I don't know for sure that it wasn't in one of the short stories or books. I think the story works very well and is interesting and entertaining. There is a decent amount of action throughout the movie without things getting too violent. There is some comedy too, usually in how Sherlock and Watson interact or react to certain things. The cast, especially Robert Downey Jr. is wonderful.
I did get a longer review posted on Epinions.
Sherlock Holmes
I think I've seen some other movies featuring Sherlock Holmes, but I can't remember much of anything from them. I think the story for this version is original, though I don't know for sure that it wasn't in one of the short stories or books. I think the story works very well and is interesting and entertaining. There is a decent amount of action throughout the movie without things getting too violent. There is some comedy too, usually in how Sherlock and Watson interact or react to certain things. The cast, especially Robert Downey Jr. is wonderful.
I did get a longer review posted on Epinions.
Sherlock Holmes
Maverick
Maverick is based on the television show. I'm not sure I saw the show, though I did know things about the characters before seeing the movie version. Anyway, the movie version is really good and has a great cast.
The plot seems fairly simple at first, dealing with Maverick trying to get to a big poker game and get the last of the entry fee he ends. He keeps ending up in complicated situations though, something because of Annabelle, sometimes because of marshal Zane Cooper and other times by his own fault. Maverick is a con man, though he does have his own sense of honor about what he will and will not do. As the movie progresses, more things happen, making it more complicated. There is some action and a good amount of comedy. It is a fun, entertaining movie that is definitely worth watching. The cast of Mel Gibson, Jodi Foster, and James Garner are wonderful in their parts.
I did get a longer review posted on Epinions recently.
Maverick
The plot seems fairly simple at first, dealing with Maverick trying to get to a big poker game and get the last of the entry fee he ends. He keeps ending up in complicated situations though, something because of Annabelle, sometimes because of marshal Zane Cooper and other times by his own fault. Maverick is a con man, though he does have his own sense of honor about what he will and will not do. As the movie progresses, more things happen, making it more complicated. There is some action and a good amount of comedy. It is a fun, entertaining movie that is definitely worth watching. The cast of Mel Gibson, Jodi Foster, and James Garner are wonderful in their parts.
I did get a longer review posted on Epinions recently.
Maverick
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