Wednesday, September 29, 2010
R.I.P's are in order...
Gloria Stuart, 1910-2010
Most people, like me, would probably only remember the lovely Gloria from Titanic. Sure, she was in a lot of other movies, as she was one of the girls in the studio system days, like Gold Diggers of 1935, The Invisible Man and Poor Little Rich Girl, but today's more mainstream audience wouldn't remember that. What's most remarkable, however, about Gloria, is that she was a hard working actress in her hey-day, but managed to make it to the amazing age of 100 years old. How many actresses can do that?? And thanks to a role in her late career that everyone saw, Gloria Stuart will be remembered.
Sally Menke, 1953-2010
Everyone knows about the genius of Quentin Tarantino, and how his films always have cleverly cut lengthy scenes. The person behind that rather...intricate task was Sally Menke. Sally started working for Tarantino when he made his debut in Hollywood with Reservoir Dogs, and has edited every single one of his films ever since. There is no doubt that Sally played a huge part in how great a Tarantino movie is, and his films probably won't ever be the same again. The last film she worked on was an indie thriller Peacock, which stars Ellen Page, Susan Sarandon and Cillian Murphy (once again playing a girl). Sally will definitely be missed, especially by us Tarantino fans.
May these two rest in peace, they will definitely be sorely missed.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Going on holiday today!
So, if you don't hear from me for a while, you know why. I'm going broke and will probably be watching crappy movies on cable TV. I don't know if I'll blog, but I have a couple of movies to catch up blogging about from last week. Sorry, this blog has come a bit out of it's routine (my fault, I'll admit). Anyway, hope you guys are having a lovely time wherever you are. Me, I'll be having a lovely time until my money runs out=)
Blog ya's all soon...when I can be bothered...
Saturday, September 25, 2010
DVD--New York, I Love You
Film anthologies. A totally new area to me. I mean, I wasn't sure how well New York, I Love You would work, mainly because it seems like another version of Valentine's Day. And really, do we need another multi plot story about love? I guess all could be forgiven because this a sequel to the critically acclaimed Paris, je t'aime. Or could it?
Pretty self explanatory really: this is a series of short films which are intertwined together, forming a portrait of love in New York city. Well, they all have some story which is based on two people who are experiencing or thinking that they are experiencing a situation which has something to do with love.
Anthologies obviously aren't the best type of film. Sure, you get more for your money, but the stories, as well demonstrated in this movie, lack consistency. There isn't much flow in this movie, which lets it down a whole heap. I know the whole point of it is to be an anthology with all these different short films smashed together, but you can kinda tell that they were chopped up and just dumped in an unorganized pile like one you might find on a teacher's desk. Which is a shame, because some of the stories really worked. Others, well, they just didn't.
One story I enjoyed more than all the others was the story which Shia LaBeouf and Julie Christie were in. I don't know if that was because I have this weakness for stories with physically or mentally deformed people, but I just found it really beautiful. And LaBeouf really made the most of his short time on screen, which is more than can be said about some other actors in this (Orlando Bloom, for one example). Another one I enjoyed was the Olivia Thirlby story, which looked like it was going to be another heart warming story, but then it turned out to be quite funny. These stories practically saved the movie from being the muddled mess that it was, and served as the shining lights in an otherwise strange and dull movie. The short films really should have offered more, but like most love stories, they were all cliched and stereotypical. I still really wanna go to New York, though.
THE VERDICT: A lack of consistency lets this movie down, big time. But it has it's moments, and those moments really shine.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Rewatch--Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging
Here in New Zealand, the 'Georgia Nicholson' book series by Louise Rennison are pretty much more popular than the Twilight saga. And fair enough too, at least these books are intentionally funny. It was always going to be a hard task adapting two of the books (or, as I like to see them as, a teenage girls bible) into a movie. Welcome to one of the most truthful and the easiest to relate to teen movie a teenage girl could ever see.
Georgia Nicholson (Georgia Groome) is just an average teenager living in a small town in England. She has her best friends there for her whenever she needs them, just as any average teenager would. Her Dad is moving to New Zealand, so she has her mum there too. Georgia's life turns around when she meets Robbie (Aaron Johnson), a 'Sex-God' who has moved from London, and Georgia instantly falls in love with him. She has to try everything to get him to like her, even if that means that she loses some things close to her in the process.
Even though this movie might seem a little weird to those who aren't 'in the know' with the source material, it's actually genuinely funny, just like Mean Girls was. Georgia Nicholson is the perfect teenage herione, who the younger audience can both relate to but find hopelessly funny at the same time. It's so great that they found Georgia Groome to play her, as she makes a convincing performance and really brings life to the character. Though it isn't the bible just like the books, it's still a worthy movie that has no trouble in keeping your attention for 100 minutes.
The movie is filled with a particularly unknown British cast, but luckily doesn't come across quite as annoying as the cast of St. Trinians. Georgia Groome lead the pack, and it really just felt like a polished documentary on a teenagers life. I can't go through a review without mentioning the gorgeousness of Aaron Johnson. I see why he was a Sex-God. Even if he was a little wooden in some places, how could you not fall in love with this guy? Hmmmmmmmmm?
THE VERDICT: Really good for the teen crowd, as for once the film doesn't alienate us teenage girls. Georgia Nicholson is my new hero, and a hero for all us misunderstood young people.
DVD--Robin Hood
One word to sum it up: Yawn
Robin Hood should have been great. It had everything going for it. Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott were teaming up for the millionth time, but this time tackling an age old story of the msot famous outlaw. Cate Blanchett as Marion. Where did it all go wrong? Batman Begins was the right title for a prequel on Batman, but Robin Hood isn't a good title for a prequel on Robin Hood. That is because throughout most of the movie his name is Robin Longstride and he isn't actually declared an outlaw until the very end of the movie.
This is the untold story of the man behind the legend as Robin (Russell Crowe), a heroic warrior, turns outlaw when he assembles a band of skilled marauders to confront injustice and lead an uprising against the weak and corrupt English King. When the rebellious hero falls for free spirited Lady Marion (Cate Blanchett), he must first save her village and then confront a growing storm of threats from near and afar if he is to win her heart. As Robin and his men answer a call to ever-greater adventure, these unlikely heroes set off to battle for their country and return England to glory—and ride into the legend.
Like most movies, Robin Hood has it's stunning points. It is done in a way which is true to the period, and almost has that Gladiator sort of feel to it, which is what to be expected of Ridley Scott. Towards the end, the film really gained momentum and shone like an epic movie should. Unfortunately, it was a shame that the first one and a half hours (give or take) was actually really boring. Like, nothing happened, apart from a few action sequences placed here and there. I don't even think me paying attention any more than I was would have stopped me from finding it boring. Obviously, the story before the story of Robin Hood wasn't going to be that interesting, but at least it could have tried. I kinda felt like I had to have lived in the 13th century to get any of it.
It's trying hard to be the epic film which we haven't seen in a while, but maybe today's audience isn't looking for a medieval romp. Maybe we aren't looking for the back story on a character which we have already seen a film on countless numbers of times. To be honest, I would rather have seen a remake of the actual story on Robin Hood, not Robin Longstride. The film really doesn't have much going for it until the last hour, and even then, you may find yourself constantly checking the time and wondering how much further you have to go.
THE VERDICT: Should have been better. Could have been better. Would have been better. So what went wrong?
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
DVD--Hot Tub Time Machine
One word to sum it up: Different
Despite the fact that Hot Tub Time Machine looked like just another gross-out comedy, I still really wanted to see it. Maybe because I have this sort of thing for John Cusack. Okay, I really do like gross-out comedies, so of course I would want to see Hot Tub Time Machine. And it was one of the first comedies to be rated over 50% on Rotten Tomatoes this year...
Three friends on losing streaks: Adam (John Cusack), whose girlfriend dumped him, Nick (Craig Robinson), with a dead-end job and a cheating wife, and Lou (Rob Corddry), a suicidal alcoholic. To help Lou recover from car-exhaust poisoning, Adam and Nick, with Adam's nephew Jacob (Clark Duke), go to a winter resort that was their old party place. It's now a dump, but the lads rally for a night of drinking in the hot tub. Somehow, the hot tub takes them back to 1986, on a fateful night for each of them. Maybe if they do everything the same way they did that night, they'll get back to the future so Jacob can be born. There are serious temptations to do things differently. Will they make it back to their sorry lives? And what about Jacob?
Hot Tub Time Machine passes as a lesser version of The Hangover, but manages to take on a similar plot to The Butterfly Effect (which is referenced in the movie, by the way), and succeeds. To be honest, the 'psychological mind-flip comedy' probably shouldn't eventuate into an actual genre, because this film didn't exactly perfect it. However, the out come of it was charmingly funny and overall, a pretty good comedy. Those who long for the days of the 80s to come back, Hot Tub Time Machine is a perfect film to do some reminiscing with. It has every 80s reference in the book, including the fashion that I have come to fear in my lifetime. For once, the 80s look as cool as they did in Back to the Future.
Like The Hangover, this is the ultimate male bonding flick, as these already-friends became closer as the movie got on. It does lean a little too close to being a bit inappropriate, and the use of women is what is to be expected in a comedy of it's stature. The cast are a little different, but they all play the same admirable douchebags we have seen a few times before. John Cusack looks a little too weary in the film, probably a little tired from saving the world in 2012, but serves as a good lead and makes the most of an unlikeable character. The rest of the cast are inappropriately funny but manage to get the real belly laughs out, especially Rob Corddry, who's aggressiveness is just, well, funny.
The title is real silly, and the film matches that promise. It's silly, but it still manages to be a smart-ish comedy. I mean, it has this amazing message, which I can't help but feel defines our generation: If we went back in time, we would literally die without technology. Yeah, and some say comedies don't mean anything.
THE VERDICT: Pretty much a silly, but funny comedy, that won't fail to make your stomach hurt from all the laughing at some stage. It doesn't quite make it up there with The Hangover, but it is 2010's closest answer to it.
7/10
Monday, September 20, 2010
The Dark Knight was on TV last night...
This is a cool picture, it's like the picture of genius-ness...
There isn't really any point to this ramble. Okay, well, there's a couple of things I should say:
-I love The Dark Knight.
-It's my favouritest movie of all-time.
Now you know that, I'm sure you can get on with your day.
Oh, and by the way, A MOVIE A DAY is back for this week. Les Miserables is over (*sob sob*), and I have now the time to watch a full movie every night as opposed to one episode of True Blood. A MOVIE A DAY was originally set to finish on 30th September, which happens to be next Thursday. We must add on a week for which I missed due to Les Mis. But hey, I'm in a good mood, and I'm going to extend A MOVIE A DAY until the end of October. But there's a catch: I'm going away on holiday next week, so I'm not sure if I'll have enough time/movies to watch to do a movie a day for a week. So I'll still be watching a movie a day this week, but not next week. I'm taking a break from everything.
Sorry to break your heart, but you know...this hasn't been the easiest of terms at school, and I'll probably be hitting the shops for most of the week.
So, there you have it. A short story on my life at the moment. How's yours?
Sunday, September 19, 2010
DVD--Nowhere Boy
Usually, I wouldn't be interested in a biopic on John Lennon. I mean, we learnt a bit about The Beatles in Music class, but I wasn't really that interested. However, I thought Nowhere Boy looked like a good time, as it had been getting some rave reviews. And I guess the fact that Aaron Johnson was in the lead role and had been getting critical applause for it aided in my decision to watch it. John Lennon's story actually looked pretty interesting.
This is the story of a teenage John Lennon (Aaron Johnson), who has been living his life under his strict Aunt Mimi's (Kristin Scott Thomas) care. But Lennon wants to know where his real parents are, and ends up finding his free-wheeling mother Julia (Anne-Marie Duff), who introduces him to a world of fun and music, much to Aunt Mimi's dismay. Lennon starts up a band called The Quarrymen with a few of his friends, and catches the eye of Paul McCartney (Thomas Sangster), who joins the band on their journey to becoming The Beatles.
If you were expecting a real musical insight, then you will be sorely disappointed. However, this film is definitely quite interesting, whether it's about John Lennon or not. It's kind of a funny story, which I really didn't believe was true, let alone believe that it was the early life of one of the world's biggest icons. It sometimes comes across as a pretty standard British biopic, but it has so much elevating it from that kind of status. First is the remarkably artsy direction from first time director Sam Taylor-Wood (who, yes, happens to be 20-year-old Aaron Johnson's 43-year-old fiancee). Then comes the groundbreaking performances from a charming ensemble cast.
Aaron Johnson is perfectly cast as Lennon, and really makes the whole film worthwhile. He has studied every aspect of Lennon's character and is more believable than he should be, considering his two most recognized roles are that of a Sex-God in Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging and a nerd trying to fight crime in comic book movie Kick-Ass. Nowhere Boy proves that Johnson is much more than his teen-idol status allows him to be, and he will be the next big Oscar winner in the future. He is joined by two well-experienced actresses who give commanding performances. Kristin Scott Thomas is fierce and cold as Mimi and Anne-Marie Duff lights up the screen as Julia. Thomas Sangster, too, in his supporting role as Paul McCartney, makes the most of the opportunity and is well prepared to take on more roles worthy of his talents.
All in all, Nowhere Boy is run by amazing performances and great direction, which the story tends to take a backseat to.
THE VERDICT: Sometimes a little standard, but an inspired performance from Aaron Johnson makes the movie a little more than an insight on a star.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
The Evolution of Nicolas Cage's Hair and It's Influence/Influences
Through the years it has gone through the most amazing transformations, and it would seem that it has it's similarities with others...some similarities which are, well, interesting. Get ready for my guide on Nicolas Cage's hair...
'The R-Pattz Tousled Do'
I wonder if Robert Pattinson actually took inspiration from Nicolas Cage's hairstyle in the 1987 Coen Bros. classic Raising Arizona? You can see where Nic is going with this one...no brush, no fuss. Now you can see why R-Pattz chose this hairstyle...seeing as he ain't a huge fan of the bathtub.
'The Romantic Movie Look'
Nic had to do his best to make a good impression in a romantic comedy, and he did it with a hairstyle that reminds me a lot of Tom Cruise. He went well against form in 1994 to star in fluff-and-sugar-galore It Could Happen to You. I could really see Nic and Tom in an ad together, which says this: Scientology...It Could Happen to You. Cue scientologists with some romantic haircuts.
'Serious Movie Fuzz'
In 1995, Cage starred in Leaving Las Vegas, where he played an alcoholic and won an Oscar for it. I'm sure the last thing he'd be worrying about was his hair, but I can't help but be reminded of a really itchy sweater when looking at his hair. His poor, poor head.
'The Pixie Cut'
It looks like a Pixie Cut, most commonly seen on young actresses (Alyssa Millano pictured), but Nic has added his manly touch to it for his movie Face/Off. He's trimmed it right back, taking new meaning to 'keeping hair out of his face', and has obviously succeeded in making his head look longer then it rightfully is. I really feel like asking him "Why the long face?"
What was he thinking? The long locks really don't suit him. And I'm afraid that this isn't the last time we see his hair at abnormal lengths. All of this for Con Air? I could actually picture him and Mickey Rourke as best friends.
'The Cool Guy'
With this hairstyle, Nic could for once be known as a cool guy with cool hair. Sure, there ain't much of it there, but it's normal, right? If only he kept this hairstyle. In fact, if only Keanu Reeves could have kept that hairstyle. Oh yeah, Nic was playing an angel here in 1998 film City of Angels with Meg Ryan, so I guess that's what excuses any of the other wacky hairstyles.
'Blonde's Have More Fun'
Nic hits the bottle and goes blonde for 2000 movie Gone in 60 Seconds which he co-starred in with Angelina Jolie. I couldn't help but think he looked uncannily like Alexander Skarsgard, who plays Eric Northman in True Blood. Just not as buff. Or pale. But maybe, one day, Nic could do a flashback in the show as Eric's Dad? You heard it here first...
'Warm and Fuzzy'
For Adaption. Nic took on a rather interesting hairstyle...a ginger Action Man hairstyle, to be exact. Look how fuzzy it is. I wonder what is growing in that forest...
'Lettin' it Loose'
Lord of War saw Cage take on a surprisingly normal hairstyle, which just hangs there...but doesn't look out of place or anything. To be honest, he looks like a young Mel Gibson with that 'do. Let's just hope that he doesn't act like an old Mel Gibson.
Many people ask why Cage would even think of starring in a remake of 1970's classic The Wicker Man. I haven't seen the film, but I can tell that it doesn't look like the best movie ever. And when I saw this picture, I just couldn't help but think that the expression on his face looks like he is being attacked by Lady Gaga's Grammy Awards dress. It's not a hairstyle...but his accessories sure have him scared.
'Moustachio'
Aside from the hair on his head, Nic sometimes transforms his facial hair, this time for 2006 film World Trade Center. It's a serious movie, which tackles serious matters, but that moustache is hard to take seriously when it looks curiously like that of Borat. Maybe Sacha Baron Cohen has made a new character...the hair obsessed alpha male who goes by the name of Nicolas Cage. You never know.
'The Bad-ass Action Hero'
Why did I compare his hairstyle in Ghost Rider to that of Audrey Hepburn's? Because it looks like Nic has stolen her hairstyle. Even though he's going for a real bad-ass action go to guy, he opts for a 'classic' look. Let's just hope he doesn't steal any other classic actresses hair-do's in the near future.
Who actually saw Bangkok Dangerous? At Blockbuster we had to put people who rented the movie in the draw to win a mounted poster of Bangkok Dangerous. The amount of people who turned that opportunity down was priceless. I really don't envy the person who has that in their room right now. The movie saw Nic return with a mullet, but this time, it wasn't so Stallone, it was just a shorter version of John Lennon's 'do.
'The Wind-Swept Look'
Ignore his amazing facials (here in Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans) and look at his hair. I think you may agree that it looks gone with the wind. Just like Zac Efron's hair...but maybe not with as much gel? By the looks of things, we know that it must be time for Nic to do a full-on Disney musical, yes?
'The Hobo'
Once I saw his appearance in The Sorcerer's Apprentice, I instantly thought his hair was made out of Brad Pitt's beard. I really hope Nic goes for this look again, because I really hate that thing that hangs of Brad Pitt's chin for no particular reason at all. Mind you, if Nic walked down the street with hair like that, I'm pretty sure people would be giving him money...I mean, it doesn't look mainstream actor like, does it?
'The Old Guy'
I actually like Nic in Kick-Ass, mainly because I insanely love the movie. I found him to be quite sweet. His hairstyle suits his character (well maybe not the Big Daddy part, but...), but I wouldn't recommend that Nic go around with a receding hairline and a little mo. He might just get mistaken for Ron Burgundy.
'That? I don't even wanna talk about that.'
What has he done? Please, Nicolas Cage, I am begging you to never try and be Matthew McConaughey. Even you are better than him. The blonde just doesn't suit you. And blonde mullet's never suit anyone. Please. Get rid of that hairstyle!
Those are most of Nic Cage's hairstyles....I hope you have gathered some inspiration and you are heading down to the hairdressers with this blog post to get yourself a Nic Cage haircut. You know you want to.
But what could possibly be next on Nic Cage's list of possible hairdo's? A bowl cut...perhaps.
DVD--She's Out of My League
I was kinda expecting a raunchy comedy that is similar to other frat-pack films, but it just wasn't there. The film is barely offensive enough to have it's place up with ther comedies like Knocked Up or 40 Year Old Virgin. However, it's kinda good that this film sold itself as a cheap comedy, because had it gone fully romantic then this would have lost all of it's charm.
This could be the first romantic comedy that I have semi-liked this year, because it really isn't that bad. It steers away from stereotypes and instead gives an honest look at love. And flaws. That's what makes it so much better than other films who tackle this topic. Jay Baruchel is good as the lead and is able to make the 5 a lot more loveable than he gives himself credit for. Alice Eve is gorgeous as Molly, and should definitely be getting a few more lead roles coming her way, she's one to watch for the future. Krysten Ritter, last seen in Confessions of a Shopaholic, once again steals the show playing a short-tempered bitch to absolute perfection.
THE VERDICT: It may not be as fun or offensive as it's predecessors, but She's Out of My League knows how to tell love how it sees it, and we all believe.
DVD--Letters to Juliet
One word to sum it up: Ummmmmmmmmm.
If you have seen the Letters to Juliet trailer, I think you may feel like you have already seen the whole movie. I mean, I didn't know how they could possibly turn that 2 minutes of trailer into a whole 100 minute film. To my surprise, the trailer was missing some of the film, but you could get the basic storyline, from beginning to end, in the trailer. So instead of doing a plot synopsis, here's the trailer. Oh, and I guess I should put here *spoiler alert*.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Week #9 in summary...! Killing carrots, killing Bill, killing boxes and killing romantic comedies...
- Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004) I'd just about forgotten how much I love Quentin Tarantino, but this film just dragged me back on to the band wagon. I still love you, QT. 8/10
- The Box (2009) Boxes will kill. Come to think of it, it's like some sort of game show...'the money or the box'? Honestly, they shouldn't do that. Bad taste, I'm sorry. 6/10
- Brothers (2009) It has good actors...just a shame it was a tad boring though. 4/10
- A Single Man (2009) Thanks Tom Ford and Colin Firth. My heart is still broken. But you still made one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen. 10/10
- The Rebound (2009) I don't like romantic comedies. But somehow I liked this one. I think that may have been coz Justin Bartha is so cute in this. 6/10
- When in Rome (2010) I don't like romantic comedies. And I hated this one. Mainly coz it was particularly unfunny even though it had funny people in it. 4/10
- Whip It (2009) I want to try roller derby. But I'm way too un-coed to do that. Ellen Page would so whip me. 8/10
- Shoot 'Em Up (2007) I have a newfound respect for carrots now. They are lethal weapons. And maybe I like Clive Owen a little more now?? 6/10
Best movie: A Single Man. Even though I dislike how sad it made me.
Worst movie: When in Rome. Romantic comedies have never looked so bad.
Highlight of the week: Passing a maths test I never thought I would pass because I didn't get it.
Lowlight of the week: Having to stay home from school because of some major headache...which I have had for four days and still counting...
Rewind--Shoot 'Em Up
Shoot 'Em Up came out in a straight-to-DVD release back in 2008, and I may have been interested to see it. But now that free-to-air TV has become a lot more up to speed (The Dark Knight is on next week! YAY!), by chance I thought I may give it ago. It left me wondering...why the hell did this go straight to DVD? All the kids in this town would have got an absolute kick out of this.
In the middle of the night, while waiting for a bus in a bus station, a lonely stranger called Mr. Smith (Clive Owen) sees a pregnant woman being chased by a man with a gun. He follows the couple, kills the man and helps the delivery of the baby in the middle of a shootout while a gang of hit-man tries to shoot them up. The woman is killed but Smith saves the baby, escaping from Hertz (Paul Giamatti), the leader of the killers. Then he meets the prostitute Donna Quintano (Monica Bellucci), who has just lost her baby, and asks her to breastfeed the newborn. They are chased by Hertz and Smith discovers the reason why the bad guy wants to kill the baby.
To be honest, all of this is total nonsense. And while most of the time it's nonsensical spirit gets the better of it, and you could be left thinking 'WTF is happening now?!', you still want to watch it. Because it's a little guilty pleasure that may not make you feel so guilty. Action films like Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen are stupid because they try to be cool. Shoot Em Up is cool because it tries to be stupid. Oh...and by the way, this has the most well put together sex scene I have ever seen. And carrots have never looked so lethal!
THE VERDICT: While it is pretty good, it's nonsense sometimes gets the better of it. However, it doesn't take itself too seriously, which makes for some pretty entertaining viewing.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Rewatch--Whip It
Friday, September 10, 2010
DVD--When in Rome (post #300!)
One word to sum it up: Predicatable.
Beth (Kristen Bell) is obsessed with work and refuses to fall in love until she finds someone she loves more than her work. She travels to Rome for her sister's wedding, and goes to the famed Fountain of Love and takes some coins. Upon returning to New York, four men start coming onto her as she has their coins. But she finds herself falling in love with Nick (Josh Duhamel), even though she thinks their relationship is the result of one of the coins. However, the other four men keep coming in between her real relationship and, well, her sanity.
This movie should be arrested for excessive use of rom-com cliches. The end could have been seen from a mile away. In fact, you could probably tell what the end was going to be without actually watching the movie. It's mostly devoid of laughs, which is a shame because it has a genuinely funny cast. Will Arnett, Danny DeVito, Dax Shephard and Jon Heder (also, a cameo from Pedro of Napoleon Dynamite fame) play some pretty strange characters, but unfortunately, I didn't find them funny. They were characters who I have become so used to seeing in other films of this type and there wasn't really anything outrageously funny to laugh at.
Kristen Bell, however, has some pretty infectious charm. She probably makes the movie worth watching, even though her character completely pissed me off. She was like a more whiny, more preppy combination of Summer from (500) Days of Summer and Andy Sachs from The Devil Wears Prada...she didn't believe in love and cared about her job more than anything else. Josh Duhamel was a likeable enough romantic lead, but his comic timing was somewhat painful and he should really just stick to action films. While When in Rome is so much of a rom-com it's a criminal offence, it can't help but make you smile...in some weird way.
THE VERDICT: Unfortunately one of the worst offenders in recent rom-com history, but it's young leads, Kristen Bell and Josh Duhamel, make use of this small opportunity to show off their charms.
DVD--The Rebound
I have a problem. No matter how much I hate them, no matter how much I try to stay away, I still like to watch romantic comedies. They aren't my favourite lot of movies, but sometimes there are only so many psychological thrillers one can take. I am always attracted to watching rom-coms randomly then picking up an action of some kind. While most of them are crap, some manage to be a bit better than the average. Like The Rebound.
Sandy (Catherine Zeta-Jones), upon discovering her husband's infidelity while watching her son's birthday video, leaves the suburbs and moves into the city. She gets an apartment that's above a coffee house where she befriends one of the workers, Aram (Justin Bartha), a guy whose wife only married him so she could get a green card. Soon after moving into the apartment, Sandy hires Aram to be her nanny while she takes on work for the first time since her children where born. It isn't long when Aram and Sandy find they get along wonderfully and start to date. But the question is: is their relationship real or is it, in fact, just a rebound for both of them?
Unsurprisingly, The Rebound is pretty formulaic. Surprisingly, though, it was a lot different then I thought it would be. For one thing, the lead characters were actually nice people. Sandy wasn't just another woman whining about aging. Aram, however, was the reason this movie was so cute. He was a guy who for once didn't care about sex and instead cared about helping others. And he just happened to be one of the cutest babysitters ever. But, to be honest, putting Catherine Zeta-Jones and Justin Bartha in a movie together just didn't work. Either I have a pre-conceived idea that Catherine is always the bad girl or Justin is just too cute, they just didn't seem right for each other. Brownie points for trying, though.
The Rebound is really nice in the way that the characters didn't annoy the crap out of me and I actually cared about them. I wouldn't call this much of a 'romantic comedy' because it's very dramatic. Quite heart-breaking, if you ask me. It starts off quite funny, but doesn't put itself out by making divorce seem funny. At some times it feels like it isn't going anywhere, and by the end, you may feel that it doesn't, but it wanders through 90 minutes as painlessly as possible. Which is, strictly speaking, a breath of fresh air.THE VERDICT: Doesn't offer anything new to the romance genre, but manages to be likeable as it refrains from most of the cliches. It's not laugh-out-loud funny, however, it has a lot of charm and sweetness which makes for some easy viewing.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Kick Ass Yourself!
Ever wanted to be a superhero? Now's your chance! Stuff Batman, you want to be a Kick-Ass hero! Well I do...anyway.
Okay...so this is probably the most shoddy of them all. Mainly because I don't think I'd ever look good in a green scuba diving suit. And considering Kick-Ass/Dave Lizewski is a guy. Who's played by Aaron Johnson. Who is really good looking. Yeah, I just can't live up to that kind.
The Red Mist one looks alright. I mean, I look really happy as Red Mist. I think, if I was anyone, I'd probably be Red Mist. Mainly coz I'm not the most co-ed of people and I totally pull off that hairstyle. So if you see a Red Mist lookalike running around the streets...you know it's me.
Hit-Girl is pretty cool. I really like her purple colour scheme she has going on. I think I could pull Hit-Girl off too. Just minus the cool moves and attacks she has. Oh, and I don't want to be shot by my father. That is just really weird.
Now you should have a go...BECAUSE YOU WANT TO BE COOL! Make sure you have some good webcam pics to upload...you can tilt/rotate them when you get the right superhero. It's a cool little thing, especially for fans of the movie! May we all become our own heroes! (BTW...If anyone can make Big Daddy look funnier...please send me the pics. In fact, if you do this...send the pics. Just comment below and I'll find a way of getting them! We could start up our own gang...)
DVD--A Single Man
DVD--Brothers
One word to some it up: Boring.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
DVD--The Box
After a while of deciding which of the week's movies I should choose to watch, I finally decided on The Box. Why? Because, back in early 2008, I was obsessed with James Marsden, and vowed to watch all of his films. I didn't, but I knew The Box would be one I'd watch in the future. But after months of delay and no cinema release here, I kinda gave up on that hope. Suddenly it turns up on DVD, and though I had lost interest in watching it, I chose this over like five others.
Norma (Cameron Diaz) and Arthur Lewis (James Marsden), a suburban couple with a young child, receive a simple wooden box as a gift, which bears fatal and irrevocable consequences. A mysterious stranger delivers the message that the box promises to bestow upon its owner $1 million with the press of a button. But pressing this button will simultaneously cause the death of another human being somewhere in the world, someone they don't know. With just 24 hours to have the box in their possession, Norma and Arthur find themselves in the cross-hairs of a startling moral dilemma and must face the true nature of their humanity.
I can't really say that I didn't enjoy this movie. Because I did, immensely, too. I was even prepared to give it a higher rating. But I gave it an hour to sink in and I found that this movie wasn't really that great. It has a fantastic premise and it is obviously well thought through. Perhaps too thought through...that's it's problems. You see all these problems arising and it's obvious that Richard Kelly knows what's going on, he just hasn't allowed the viewer to come to the party. It's a case of one's imagination getting the better of him...and the viewer, it would seem.
On one hand, The Box offers some thrills and definitely gets you thinking about humanity and fate. I mean, would you kill someone you don't know for $1 million? On the other hand, the film has gaping wide plot holes and feels messy. It's like an unfinished puzzle which is missing some pieces: it never feels complete. Cameron Diaz, James Marsden and Frank Langella offer some good performances, but they are trying to make use of some really weak dialogue. Which is a shame, coz this movie could go far, but it didn't quite have the recipe to do so. Richard Kelly has talent, as shown with Donnie Darko, but sometimes the talent isn't always a blessing.
THE VERDICT: Very intriguing and entertaining, but on a professional level this film doesn't quite come together as it should, and offers more questions than answers. However, it's still worth the watch for fans of thoughtful thrillers.
Classic--Kill Bill: Vol. 2
I did watch the first Kill Bill back in early 2008, and I was surprised by how much I actually remember from it. I leapt at the opportunity to watch Kill Bill: Volume Two, as it is one of the only Quentin Tarantino movies I have never seen (the other one being Reservoir Dogs, which I have seen half of). There isn't really an explaination as to why I, and others, admire Tarantino so much. You just do. His films are beasts of nature.
The murderous Bride (Uma Thurman) is back and she is still continuing her vengeance quest against her ex-boss, Bill (David Carradine), and taking aim at Bill's younger brother Budd (Michael Madsen) and Elle Driver (Daryl Hannah), the only survivors from the squad of assassins who betrayed her four years earlier. It's all leading up to the ultimate confrontation with Bill, the Bride's former master and the man who ordered her execution!
This movie, though filled to the brim with some pretty outrageous gore, is just a non-stop enjoyment-fest. If you don't enjoy this movie, then there is something wrong with you. Quentin knows what he wants from this movie: he wants it to be fun and show off some amazing martial arts skills, but he also doesn't let it get too out of hand. Uma Thurman, too, makes The Bride a character we should care about, and is a hero that should be merely respected because she is trying to make a better life for her daughter...even if that means killing a few people to do that. Kill Bill could have turned out as some cheap rip off of other revenge flicks, but luckily, with a solid performance from Uma and some human touches intertwined within all the gore and fighting, it manages to make a phenomenon.
Welcome to 'Cinematic Paradox'
Monday, September 6, 2010
Week #8 in summary...! Cillian Murphy week, Part II
- The Edge of Love (2008) This movie I watched a year and a half ago, and clearly overrated it. Upon the second, more educated watch, the rating was slashed in half. 4/10
- Insomnia (2002) I have now watched every single Christopher Nolan film. And enjoyed every single one of them. Yeah, he is God. 8/10
- Red Eye (2005) Sit buy an impossibly cute guy with amazingly gorgeous eyes on a plane, who seems a little stalkerish? He's trying to kill your Dad. And there's not a lot you can do, Rachel McAdams. 6/10
- Watching the Detectives (2007) Cillian Murphy does comedy. And is good at it. Are their any ends to this guys talents? No, I don't think so. 4/10
- Boy (2010) New Zealand actually does make good films. Boy should be getting Oscars...10/10
- Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003) This film has to be the most beautiful piecce of cinematic art...ever. 7/10
- Adventureland (2009) Kristen Stewart makes pot cookies. Jesse Eisenberg gives away a giant-ass panda at knife point. Yup, this movie is preeeeety interesting! 8/10
I think you can sort the best from the worst in this group of movies. It's just a shame that the Cillian movies I watched this week weren't as good as last weeks round.
Highlight of the week: Hmmmm...no real highlights spring to mind at the moment. Oh, I did get my driver's license!
Lowlight of the week: The weather has been so cold and miserable for 'Spring'. And I guess I should say something about the Christchurch Earthquake. No city is more beautiful than that place, and I hope with all my heart that it comes back to normal.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Adventureland
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Girl with a Pearl Earring
This is the story about the events surrounding the creation of the painting "Girl With A Pearl Earring" by 17th century Dutch master Johannes Vermeer (Colin Firth). The girl in the painting, Griet (Scarlett Johansson), is a maid in the house of Vermeer. Vermeer's wealthy patron and sole means of support, Van Ruijven (Tom Wilkinson), commissions him to paint Griet with the intent that he will have her for himself before it is finished. She must somehow secretly pose for the crucial painting without the knowledge of Vermeer's wife, avoid Van Ruijven's grasp, and protect herself from the cruel gossip of the world of a 17th century servant.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Boy
Watching the Detectives
Neil (Cillian Murphy), a self proclaimed film geek and owner of Gumshoe video, has always been content to live vicariously through his favorite films noir. But when he meets Violet (Lucy Liu), a real-life femme fatale, his mundane world gets turned upside down and the line between reality and the movies quickly begins to blur. Will Neil step up and embrace a life full of adventure or retreat back to his comfortable couch?
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Red Eye
After attending the funeral of her grandmother in Dallas, the Lux Atlantic Hotel manager Lisa (Rachel McAdams) is waiting for a flight to Miami. Due to the bad weather and consequent flight delay, she meets in the airport bar Jackson Rippner (Cillian Murphy), who is also in the waiting list. They sit together in the plane, and Jack reveals that he wants Lisa to change the room in Lux of an important American politician to facilitate a terrorist attempt against him. Otherwise, Lisa's father will be killed by a hit man. Lisa has to decide what to do with the menacing man at her side.