Amelia

Amelia

Running Time: 111 minutes (felt like 180 minutes)

Summary: Amelia Earhart, a Kansas girl, discovers the thrill of aviation at age 23, and within 12 years has progressed to winning the Distinguished Flying Cross for being the first woman to pilot a plane solo across the Atlantic Ocean. At age 39, she sets out on an attempt to circumnavigate the globe, an adventure that catapults her into aviation myth.

Review: Wow. This movie was brutal. Jon picked this movie cause he works in aviation and we watch pretty much anything that has an airplane or helicopter in it.

Within the first few minutes of the movie I was already totally annoyed, thought Hilary Swank was a man, was totally grossed out by Richard Gere and wondering what else we had to watch.

How embarassing is it to have unbelievable characters in a biography!!?!?! The story is already there, even a lot of the dialogue is there (many of Amelia Earhart's own poetry and journal entries were used). It was solidly disappointing. Hilary Swank did not give any sort of enbodyment to a woman that was so widely known and loved as America's Sweetheat. Richard Gere was pathetic and completely unbelievable as her love-torn husband. All of their scene together were embarassing and awkward.

The history parts were interesting but there wasn't enough to carry this film.

It was as if the movie didn't know what it wanted to be, so instead of doing one thing well it did 10 poorly. It was part biography, part history, part love story, part crap. The only way that we were able to make it through the last half hour of this movie were by making very tasteless jokes about plane crashes and being lost at sea. Don't waste your time with this one folks, it will just bring out the worst in you.

Rating: 1.5 nests out of 10

Best Quote: Amelia Earhart - "What kind of a name is Gore?" (Speaking to a young Gore Vidal)

In the Loop

In the Loop

Running Time: 101 minutes

Summary: The US President and UK Prime Minister fancy a war. But not everyone agrees that war is a good thing. The US General Miller doesn't think so and neither does the British Secretary of State for International Development, Simon Foster. But, after Simon accidentally backs military action on TV, he suddenly has a lot of friends in Washington, DC. If Simon can get in with the right DC people, if his entourage of one can sleep with the right intern, and if they can both stop the Prime Minister's chief spin-doctor Malcolm Tucker rigging the vote at the UN, they can halt the war. If they don't... well, they can always sack their Director of Communications Judy, who they never liked anyway and who's back home dealing with voters with blocked drains and a man who's angry about a collapsing wall.

Review: There is something about dry, British humor that really appeals to me, especially dry, British humor puncuated with frequent verbal tirades in which the use of the words cunt and cock are prevalent. Believe me, this movie does not disappoint.

The story in this movie is simple but effective. The British secretary of State has a brain fart and says some ridiculous comments on TV and the radio, one indicating that a war is "unforseeable" and one indicating that in order to have peace we must "climb the mountain of conflict". This verbal diarrea causes a chain of events in Britain and the US that result in him and his staff at a UN vote, trying to stop a war and save his job in the meantime. The comedic acting in this movie is exceptional. Anyone that can get out the line, "Allow me to pop a jaunty little bonnet on your 'purview' and ram it up your shitter with a lubricated horse cock!" without deterriorating into hysterics is amazing in my book.

In the Loop grabs your attention within the first couple minutes with it's vulgar yet clever banter and does not let you go until the last few minutes. It was crass, comical, vulgar and rude but most importantly this movie was very well written and cast extremely well. All of the characters deliver thier lines perfectly with immpecable comic timing. Well done!

Best Quote: There were sooooo many!! I will try to be selective though.

Michael Rodgers - "No, no, no, you needn't worry about the Canadians, they're just happy to be there.[pause] Yes, well, they always look surprised when they're invited."

Malcolm Tucker - "You get sarcastic with me again and I will stuff so much cotton wool down your fucking throat it'll come out your arse like the tail on a Playboy bunny."

Malcolm Tucker - "Y'know, I've come across a lot of psychos, but none as fucking boring as you. You are a real boring fuck. Sorry, sorry, I know you disapprove of swearing so I'll sort that out. You are a boring F, star, star, CUNT!"

8 nests out of 10

Franklyn

Franklyn

Running Time: 95 minutes

Summary: Preest is a masked vigilante detective, searching for his nemesis on the streets of Meanwhile City, a monolithic fantasy metropolis ruthlessly governed by faith and religious fervor. Esser is a broken man, searching for his wayward son amongst the rough streets of London's homeless. Milo is a heartbroken thirty-something desperately trying to find a way back to the purity of first love. Emilia is a beautiful art student; her suicidal art projects are becoming increasingly more complex and deadly.

Review: As soon as this movie was finished, Jon said, "Well that's an hour and a half of my life that I am never getting back." and that is pretty much this movie in a nutshell.

This movie is an excellent example of a good trailer that lures in unsuspecting movie-goers and sucks away their time with its worthless tripe. I have never been a huge fan of movies that start with a bunch of seperate stories that eventually all come together, and this movie did nothing to change my opinion of them.

The acting wasn't too bad, starring Eva Green (of new Bond fame), Ryan Phillipe and Bernard Hill (of tons of movies but more recently King Theoden of the Lord of the Rings trilogy) but the story was seriouly lacking and it ended up being more confusing than anything. The story jumps between three stories set in mordern day London and one story set in the religious fervor of "Meanwhile City". The story is tough to follow at best and only starts to make even a glimmer of sense at about minute 85. To top it all off, just now, as I write this I realize that after watching this atrocity of a film, I have no idea who or what was Franklyn?

Best Quote: Preest - "These days, you can form a congregation simply based on washing-machine instructions."

3 nests out of 10

Daybreakers

Daybreakers

Running Time: 98 minutes

Summary: In a world 10 years into the future, vampires make up the vast majority of the population with only 5% of the human race remaining. This presents particular challenges as the vampires' food supply - human blood - is dwindling and rationing is now the norm. There is growing evidence that vampires deprived of an adequate blood supply are themselves evolving into wild, vile creatures that attack anyone and anything in order to survive. Dr. Edward Dalton, a vampire and hematologist who works for a pharmaceutical firm, has been working on finding an artificial blood supply that will meet the vampire society's needs. He is sympathetic to humans and sees his work as a way of alleviating their suffering but his views on finding a solution change considerably when he meets someone who found a way to transform himself from being a vampire to again take human form.

Review: There is something to be said about a movie that is less than an hour and a half. Personally, I like my movies a little bit longer but there is nothing better than getting a quick B-grade movie fix on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

This isn't a "good" movie persay, but it definitely kept me interested. I am a serious fan of horror movie, zombie movies specifically but there isn't much I won't watch. The movie plot is pretty original. A world being taken over by vampires is slowly starving due to the depleting supply of human blood. After you get past Willem DaFoe's sorry excuse for an accent, it's quite entertaining!

A decent amount of gore, action and not too horrendous acting make this movie highly entertaining. If vampires are your thing, don't miss this one!

Best Quote: Elvis - "Living in a world where vampires are the dominant species is about as safe as bare backing a 5 dollar whore."

6 nests out of 10

Watchmen

Watchmen

Running Time: 163 minutes

Summary: In a gritty and alternate 1985 the glory days of costumed vigilantes have been brought to a close by a government crackdown, but after one of the masked veterans is brutally murdered an investigation into the killer is initiated. The reunited heroes set out to prevent their own destruction, but in doing so discover a deeper and far more diabolical plot.

Review: This is another movie that I went to see in the theatre (a rarity for me) and was very excited to experience. While this movie has definitely improved upon additional viewings, it is still lacking. Actually to say it is lacking is incorrect. This movie is FULL of great stories. Each one of the Watchmen could have been made into thier own movie, every one of the little background vinyettes definitley could have been expanded and elaborated on. Now that idea has potential. As it is this movie is too long, with too much story that they are trying to sell, when in the end there is no real closure.

I have read this comic book/novel and the movie follows detrimentally close to the plot. If they had been just a little bit more liberal with trimming the proverbial fat off the story it would have been much more enjoyable. This 2.5h epic is long and drawn out.

The best part about this movie is Rorschach played by Jackie Earle Haley. He is a great anti-hero. While his penchant for violence is shocking at times, the most enjoyable scenes in this movie were his. Hopefully Paramount and Warner Brothers Pictures will have something in the works in the upcoming years. Now, his story would make a great movie!

Best Quote: Dan Dreiberg - "What happened to us? What happened to the American Dream?"
Edward Blake - "What happened to the American Dream?" It came true! You're lookin' at it..."

6 nests out of 10

Jeremiah Johnson

Jeremiah Johnson

Running Time: 118 minutes

Summary: An American soldier goes west to escape the Mexican War and becomes a mountain man. He is taken in by an old trapper who teaches him how to survive. After unavoidably violating an Indian burial ground, he loses his new Indian wife and their adopted child to vengeance, and a vendetta between him and the Crows ruins his idyllic life as a fur trapper.

Review: I am going to try to avoid my inital reaction of wanting to give this movie a 10 out of 10 just cause Robert Redford is in it and try to be a little bit more objective.

This movie is based on "Crow Killer" the biographical novel about "Liver Eatin" Johnson. "Liver Eatin", so called because of his penchant to kill Crow Indians and eat thier livers, was a man who abandoned his life to live in the wilderness. Something about the fact that it is autobigraphical makes the movie appear to me more, and makes the montages much more forgivable.

First of all, I hate montages. I think that anything that you are trying to say with a montage can be said much better non-montaged. This movie is HEAVY on the montages.

Robert Redford is great in this movie. He is flawed and prejudiced, compassionate and caring. Face it, he`s Robert Redford. The man delivers the same high quality of performance that we have come to know and expect from him years and years later.

This movie is a clear demonstration of how movies have changed in the worst possible ways between 1972 and now. I tried to imagine what this movie would be like if they remade it now. I imagine Brad Pitt, with that disgusting beard thing he has now, gorgeous cinematography, maybe Will Smith`s kid playing the adopted boy Caleb. A cameo from Anthony Hopkins as Hatchet Jack. Done on a $50 million dollar budget. It`s just the sort of nightmare that keeps me up at night.

Best Line: Del Gue ``Well, keep your nose in the wind, and your eyes along the skyline.``

7.5 nests out of 10

Case 39

Case 39

Running Time: 110 minutes

Summary: Case 39 centers on an idealistic social worker who saves an abused 10-year-old girl from her parents only to discover that the girl is not as innocent as she thinks.

Review: In a nutshell, this movie was really scary!! I will fully admit to watching with my eyes closed through parts of it, and Jon defintiely had nightmares after watching it last night.

The movie had a wonderful balance of creepy, startling and scary parts. It was light on CG which I really appreciate. When a movie goes to heavy on the computer stuff they totally lose me. I think that a scary movie is only truly scary when it can be believable in real life, and as I went down to the basement last night after watching this movie, I was definitely creeped out enough to take the steps 2 at a time on the way up.

Renee Zellweger stars as the case worker in question and is very convincingly terrified as her life begins to fall apart and she questions whether she is going crazy or not but the true star of the movie is Jodelle Ferland (of Silent Hill fame)as Lily, the young girl that Renee tries to help.

I will admit that the ending was a little anti-climactic. I definitely thought that more could have been done to develop the plot. It's one of those movies that never really anwsers the questions of "What is it?" or "Why is it doing this?".

But it was great as far as horror movies go, even with Jon talking the entire time about how Renee Zelleweger look like a foot.

6.5 nests out of 10

10 Items or Less

10 Items or Less

Running Time: 82 minutes

Summary: A well-known actor, who hasn't accepted a role in four years, is considering a project. The cousin of the director drives him to Archie's Ranch Market, in Carson, and drops him off to do a little research. He's fascinated by one of the checkers, Scarlet, a young woman from Spain with a preternatural ability to ring up items at the cash register. She hates her job, stuck at the 10 items or less lane. The actor chats her up, and when her shift ends, he asks for a ride. In the course of the afternoon, he helps her prepare for a job interview. She needs to have confidence, he needs to commit. Human contact, however brief, can change people.

Review: So I walked in the door this afternoon after running errands all day and just happened to catch this little gem on the movie channel.

Paz Vega and Morgan Freeman star in this adorable film about an unlikely friendship between two people from completely different walks of life.

The movie is light and easy, at less that an hour and a half running time. Not a lot of story in the movie, instead the film relies on the natural chemistry of the characters to entertain us. There is one absolutley adorable scene where the pair sing together as they drive Scarlet to her job interview.

Morgan Freeman (who remains nameless in the movie) is charming and engaging, the type of person that you hope to meet randomly in a Target or a car wash one day. Paz Vega as Scarlet is natural and believable in her role as well.

Check this one out for sure!

6.5 nests out of 10

Signs

Signs

Running Time: 106 minutes

Summary: After the death of his wife in a freak accident, Reverend Graham Hess questions his faith and even leaves the church. Six months later, he discovers a gigantic crop circle in his yard. Similar events happen all over the world. Graham's children think it's aliens, his brother thinks it's pranksters, and Graham doesn't know what to think. However, as more and more strange events occur, he realizes something big is coming, and it's probably not going to be friendly.

Review: I remember when this first movie came out. I loved the Sixth Sense and even Unbreakable was alright. I was so excited to see the next film by this clearly brilliant director. I saw this in the theatre and was convinced that it was genius. I was obviously just buying into my own hype.

After watching this movie last night, I remember what I initially thought of this movie and am a little disappointed in myself.

Don't get me wrong, this movie definitely has it's good points. Joaquin Phoenix is really good. Little Abagail Breslin is adorable and more importantly believeable. Even the little Culkin kid does a pretty good job. Mel Gibson's performance was pretty weak, but I am having a hard time lately seperating him from his current public "I cheat on my wife with a Russian ballerina/whore and immediately getting her pregnant" image.

The movie has some great scenes though. Scenes like where Merryl and Graham chase the intruders, Graham in the corn, hiding in the basement, any thing with Abagail. Those are great scenes. M. Night Shyamalan has defintiely mastered the art of subtle creepy (which is my absolute favorite), but he should just focus on that instead of trying to make more of what is, in fact, JUST a movie. In the final scene when the source of all the drama is revealed. It's too much! It was so much scarier before you saw it!! Less is more, Shyamalan!!

In summary, this movie is weak. It's still one of my favorite movies to fall asleep to and has several scenes that are almost Hitchcock-esque in how they make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, but it's not enough to hold up the entire movie. It's a story that had a lot of potential if it wasn't directed by a self indulgent director who insists on having a cameo in each one of his movies.

5.5 nests out of 10

Hidalgo

Hidalgo

Running Time: 136 minutes

Summary: Frank Hopkins was a rider for the Army, who was at the Wounded Knee Massacre, which would haunt him for life and he copes by turning to the bottle. He joins Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, and is billed as the greatest horseman and his horse, Hidalgo is billed as the greatest horse in the world because of the countless races he has won. But an Arab questions that claim because they have not competed in a race like the Oceans of Fire which is very grueling. Hopkins decides to join it. So he travels to the Middle East to enter and has several rivals and there are those who don't want him to win. And Frank gets to face some of the demons that plague him.

Review: I would like to be honest starting out this post letting you know that I fell asleep about an hour into this movie. My premature nocturne had nothing to do with the calibur of this movie (personally, I blame the Lovely Bones). But I have seen the movie before so I feel that although I am perfectly entitled to this review.

Can I just say that Viggo is yummy? Something about that man.. I just want him to make sweet love to me while whispering Elfish in my ear. Every girl's fantasy right? Ha! I loved him in Lord of the Rings, Eastern Promises, Perfect Murder, even going so far back as his role in Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III. Let's face it the guy is dreamy. This movie is no exception.

This is a great movie. It's a combination of great actors, exotic locations, and a phenomenal plot(which, by the way, is based on a true story). I can't say enough good things about this Disney-made movie. It has action, drama, romance, humor, everything really!!

The true star of the movie is Hidalgo (or the 5 palamino horses that play him). The chemistry between Viggo and Hidalgo is outstanding (Viggo purchased the primary horse T.J. after filming was completed). They really do behaved as brothers, teasing and fighting, trusting and helping. It's a total feel good movie.

Do not miss this one.

8 nests out of 10

Rating System

At the suggestion of my sister I will add a rating system. Her brilliant idea is to rate the movie by nests.

Nest: A bed that is made in front of the tv using couches, pillows, blankets, etc. in order to create an optimal movie experience.

The Lovely Bones

The Lovely Bones

Running Time: 135 min

Summary: Based on the best selling book by Alice Sebold, The Lovely Bones is the story of a 14-year-old girl from suburban Pennsylvania who is murdered by her neighbor. She tells the story from Heaven, showing the lives of the people around her and how they have changed all while attempting to get someone to find her lost body.

Review: Decent. I have definitely seen worse and I have definitely seen better. Lovely Bones seems like a typical best selling book to film conversion. A lot of meat in the story that didn't translate that well to screen.

Saoirse Ronan did a wonderful job as Susie Salmon, the 14 year old victim. The few scenes of her before the murder were captivating and left you wanting more. But alas, Rachel Weisz and Mark Walberg were unconvincing as her grief stricken parents and even less convincing as a married couple. I hate it when movies don't pay attention to if two actors "match" before casting them in a movie.

Stanley Tucci is massively creepy as the murderer but I wish that they had revealed more about the character's violent nature and the sheer ferocity of the crimes that he committed, as they do in the book.

The length of the movie was a little long although it did go by quickly. I would have traded out a couple of the "griefstricken father hunts fruitlessly for his daughter's murderer scenes" for getting to bed 20 minutes earier.

All in all an alright Monday night movie but I would have been disappointed if it was my Friday night movie.

7 nests out of 10

Getting started

So after a lengthy conversation with my sister last night about the fact that I have no hobbies other than reading and watching movies and another conversation with my mother about how "Everybody has a blog now!", I have decided to create something for myself to do.

I am not an exceptional writer. I do not have a any formal education in film or literature. What I do have is a serious movie addiction, some free time and a lot of opinions.

So, starting today, I will review the movies that I see, which can be a lot. My boyfriend and I can easily blow through 4-5 movies on a hangover Saturday so we will see how this goes!

Wish me luck.