This movie rocks. It's funny, has great one liners, is sappy enough for an "aaawwww" but not to be granted chick flick status. All the characters clicked, the acting was wonderfully executed, and Ashton Kutcher looks pretty tasty. Oh yeah, Katherine Heigle is beautiful as always. The cast boasts excellent supporting actors that have been around for years and are endearing to watch. The only thing I didn't like about the movie is that I waited to rent it.
The movie:
Jen Kornfeldt (Heigle) and her parents, played by Tom Selleck and Catherine O'Hara, are vacationing in France shortly after Jen has been dumped by yet another geek (how that happens is beyond me but in fiction anything can happen), enter Spencer Aimes (Kutcher). Spencer is looking to settle down and finds Jen refreshingly boring. They fall in love.
Three years later Jen finds out that Spencer has been lying about his past. They race around their suburban paradise wondering who has been planted in their lives to kill Spencer...and why. No marriage counseling for them...dodging bullets apparently works better.
Actagamut Reviews: my take on movies, TV shows, and other stuff.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
The Orphanage
This movie is beautiful.
I wish I had taken Spanish as my language course instead of French because Spanish is one of the most beautiful of the spoken languages and reading this movie destroys the experience. That being said, it was still wonderfully crafted.
Starting the movie, I had no idea what it was about-one of my friends said it was good. Good? Understatement. This movie creeped me out and the best part about it? There was no blood, smashed in heads; this movie was all about creeping into the cracks of the mind and using fear and imagination to scare the crap out of the audience. Now, I'm normally pretty good at figuring out the ending; however, this movie perplexed me. The twist was so out of the norm...and yet it fit so perfectly.
I rarely hear the word "sleeper" when it comes to movies, but I'd say this is one helluva sleeper-whether or not it made huge dollars at the theaters.
I wish I had taken Spanish as my language course instead of French because Spanish is one of the most beautiful of the spoken languages and reading this movie destroys the experience. That being said, it was still wonderfully crafted.
Starting the movie, I had no idea what it was about-one of my friends said it was good. Good? Understatement. This movie creeped me out and the best part about it? There was no blood, smashed in heads; this movie was all about creeping into the cracks of the mind and using fear and imagination to scare the crap out of the audience. Now, I'm normally pretty good at figuring out the ending; however, this movie perplexed me. The twist was so out of the norm...and yet it fit so perfectly.
I rarely hear the word "sleeper" when it comes to movies, but I'd say this is one helluva sleeper-whether or not it made huge dollars at the theaters.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Wow.
I never got into the TV series, only seeing bits and pieces, but according to a friend of mine there were a few changes made. Obviously it is difficult to transfer from one medium to another without losing a part of the original, so I'd have to say this time I was glad to not know the original work-however, according to my friend, the changes were not bad.
--I just watched the first two episodes of the cartoon...not bad. The changes made were so nominal that it really didn't make a difference in the movie experience for me.--
The acting was pretty good, the characters were believable, although sometimes a bit two dimensional. The ending was left wide open for a second installment.
3D these days is completely different than what was offered when I was a kid. It is more low key, but brilliant in its own right. As far as I know, the movie is only offered in 3D, which is brilliant because I don't think the movie would be as good as it was if in regular film.
There was an attempt at love in the film...the attempt should have been deleted. It was distracting and it screamed this movie needs to be longer!
All in all, I was impressed. The movie has great special effects, awesome fight scenes, and the use of powers during the fight scenes was nice to see. Normally one would see a movie about special powers and only see a glimpse of what the powers do...in this case, the movie really understood the need for the powers to be shown and the production allowed it. I hope to see a second installment.
I never got into the TV series, only seeing bits and pieces, but according to a friend of mine there were a few changes made. Obviously it is difficult to transfer from one medium to another without losing a part of the original, so I'd have to say this time I was glad to not know the original work-however, according to my friend, the changes were not bad.
--I just watched the first two episodes of the cartoon...not bad. The changes made were so nominal that it really didn't make a difference in the movie experience for me.--
The acting was pretty good, the characters were believable, although sometimes a bit two dimensional. The ending was left wide open for a second installment.
3D these days is completely different than what was offered when I was a kid. It is more low key, but brilliant in its own right. As far as I know, the movie is only offered in 3D, which is brilliant because I don't think the movie would be as good as it was if in regular film.
There was an attempt at love in the film...the attempt should have been deleted. It was distracting and it screamed this movie needs to be longer!
All in all, I was impressed. The movie has great special effects, awesome fight scenes, and the use of powers during the fight scenes was nice to see. Normally one would see a movie about special powers and only see a glimpse of what the powers do...in this case, the movie really understood the need for the powers to be shown and the production allowed it. I hope to see a second installment.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
The Crazies
OMG, this is the first review I've done on a movie I actually LIKE!
Vague synopsis: People start walking around, killing anything that moves and shrug off pain, while vocally reacting to it. Are they zombies? Are they genetically enhanced, government funded contracted killers? Who cares. They are shot on-site with gratuitous violence!
The plot is a kind of see through but the fight scenes are great! One character actually has a true redeeming moment. Hmm. It is harder to be witty about something I like. Let's see, the government reacted to the "zombie" problem in true form...reacting to the situation with close minded violence, not looking outside the box, and murdering the few to save the many.
The plot has been done many times before; however, this time around, it was done in such a way that I didn't really mind any of the shortcomings-and I didn't really notice them until after the movie ended. Well done!
Vague synopsis: People start walking around, killing anything that moves and shrug off pain, while vocally reacting to it. Are they zombies? Are they genetically enhanced, government funded contracted killers? Who cares. They are shot on-site with gratuitous violence!
The plot is a kind of see through but the fight scenes are great! One character actually has a true redeeming moment. Hmm. It is harder to be witty about something I like. Let's see, the government reacted to the "zombie" problem in true form...reacting to the situation with close minded violence, not looking outside the box, and murdering the few to save the many.
The plot has been done many times before; however, this time around, it was done in such a way that I didn't really mind any of the shortcomings-and I didn't really notice them until after the movie ended. Well done!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
The Book of Crap...erm, Eli.
"Post apocalyptic, OMG-I'm mankind's only hope with this book and I can finally find peace when the journey is over" movie. That about sums it up as far as the movie itself...now it's time to review WHY the movie even made it to production-or why it shouldn't have.
Sooo, remember Water World? Remember how it was like 2 1/2 hours or more of slooow moving crap? Okay, now half that, add a fourth more sloooow moving crap, mix in bad Mad Max cinematography (but pretty cool fight scenes), Resident Evil feel without the cool fight scenes, and the awesomeness of That 70's Show because of Mila Kunis-THAT GIRL ROCKS!-and you have this movie. Also, a slight dash of Davey and Goliath because in a very subconscious way the movie gives us all a glimpse at how faith works.
This movie isn't a total Fail...but boarders on it. If you have a hard time sleeping, pop this in the DVD player, take a sleep aid, and you will be on your way to dreamland-just turn it off before you fall asleep or you may have nightmares.
Sooo, remember Water World? Remember how it was like 2 1/2 hours or more of slooow moving crap? Okay, now half that, add a fourth more sloooow moving crap, mix in bad Mad Max cinematography (but pretty cool fight scenes), Resident Evil feel without the cool fight scenes, and the awesomeness of That 70's Show because of Mila Kunis-THAT GIRL ROCKS!-and you have this movie. Also, a slight dash of Davey and Goliath because in a very subconscious way the movie gives us all a glimpse at how faith works.
This movie isn't a total Fail...but boarders on it. If you have a hard time sleeping, pop this in the DVD player, take a sleep aid, and you will be on your way to dreamland-just turn it off before you fall asleep or you may have nightmares.
America's Next Top Model
Tyra Banks should be dragged behind a building, by her weave, and punched in the face; or should America?
Seriously, folks...have we forgotten how she went crazy on one of her shows because one of the models voted off did not seem to be upset enough? Besides...the next top model getting a contract for Cover Girl? Granted Cover Girl is a huge empire nowadays, but I hardly think that boasts America's next top model. Don't get me wrong, Drew is beautiful, the Queen is beautiful, Cybil is beautiful but they are all actresses that are not ugly...get them on a catwalk and...well, no.
Then there is the "plus sized" model. Give me an effing break. She is above a size 5 and therefore is plus? The girl is maybe a size 6 or 8-she is pretty, thought.
Well...here is what really bugs me: Jay Manuel; main host for the show since Tyra is split between this show and her other crappy show, The Tyra Banks show-definitely a conversation for later, but can I just say...
I am a homosexual man and this Jay Manuel is irritating to even me. He wears makeup like his face depends on it (hmm), acts worse than those idiots on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, and his hair...yeah. He is a walking billboard for what most gay men are not. Thanks Tyra for giving America and the world another reason to think that all gay men are effeminate queers-just because you and your fat black arse is a fag hag to that type.
And speaking of your fat, black arse...if you weren't upset about the tabloids making fun of your weight gain, why did you have to go on your show and exclaim to all of America "If you don't like it, then you can kiss my big, fat, black ass!"...whilst crying..actually, sobbing. You and Oprah should have a play date eating cookies and complaining how the world fixates on your weight.
Tyra, please!
Seriously, folks...have we forgotten how she went crazy on one of her shows because one of the models voted off did not seem to be upset enough? Besides...the next top model getting a contract for Cover Girl? Granted Cover Girl is a huge empire nowadays, but I hardly think that boasts America's next top model. Don't get me wrong, Drew is beautiful, the Queen is beautiful, Cybil is beautiful but they are all actresses that are not ugly...get them on a catwalk and...well, no.
Then there is the "plus sized" model. Give me an effing break. She is above a size 5 and therefore is plus? The girl is maybe a size 6 or 8-she is pretty, thought.
Well...here is what really bugs me: Jay Manuel; main host for the show since Tyra is split between this show and her other crappy show, The Tyra Banks show-definitely a conversation for later, but can I just say...
I am a homosexual man and this Jay Manuel is irritating to even me. He wears makeup like his face depends on it (hmm), acts worse than those idiots on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, and his hair...yeah. He is a walking billboard for what most gay men are not. Thanks Tyra for giving America and the world another reason to think that all gay men are effeminate queers-just because you and your fat black arse is a fag hag to that type.
And speaking of your fat, black arse...if you weren't upset about the tabloids making fun of your weight gain, why did you have to go on your show and exclaim to all of America "If you don't like it, then you can kiss my big, fat, black ass!"...whilst crying..actually, sobbing. You and Oprah should have a play date eating cookies and complaining how the world fixates on your weight.
Tyra, please!
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