OOps, I forgot it was my weekend, so let's talk movies

OOps, I forgot it was my weekend to blog, so let's talk Movies

by Kathy Sweeney

So, you'll be reading this in real time.  And I have NO excuses - NONE.  Why?  Because I am the keeper of the blog schedule.  I could blame cramps and insomnia, or Dick Cheney, but that wouldn't be fair to the cramps or insomnia.

So, today let's talk about new movies.  Last week we saw "Public Enemy" and I thought it sucked. Why?  First off, not nearly enough Johnny Depp, and I think you know what I mean.  Let's just say the R rating did not come from sexual content.  On that score, you could have shown it on bingo night at the convent.  Even the nuns might have been a little bummed out, but I'm just guessing there.  I mean, they may have taken a vow of chastity but they're not dead, y'know?  Back to the movie.  My daughter's observations: "How could you tell them apart?  A bunch of white guys in suits with no real dialog."  True.  I'm no actor, but am I the only one who thinks Christian Bale plays basically the same role in every movie?  But for the fabulous Diana Krall and the dynamite soundtrack, it would have been a waste.  Feel free to disagree.

But the real trouble was the previews.

Borat 2.0, which I believe is called Bruno.  No way on this earth.  I can't stand that kind of 'humor". DiCaprio and Scorcese have teamed up again.  Has to be great right?  Not so fast.  Leo gets stuck in an insane asylum.  Wailing, screaming and panic ensue.  No thanks.  I can go to a family reunion for that plotline.  Some SciFi movie that's been done before with Bruce Willis in a bad rug.  Nope.  GI Joe v the Cobra.  Might be great camp for GI Joe fans, but not me.  There were others that were not memorable.  The highlight was a Vince Vaughn comedy with a great cast, but I don't think it comes out for months.  

We do have Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince coming next week.  If you're a fan, you know this movie was supposed to come out last November.  They postponed it because Daniel Radcliffe, the actor who plays Potter, was doing Equus on Broadway and they didn't want those naked horse pictures hanging there with the movie promos. It's finally coming out, and you can see it in regular, HD, IMAX, 3-D and presumable strapped into a flight suit aboard an F-15 simulator.  I can't watch any of those fancy ones - they make me nauseous.  I loved the book - it might be my favorite - so I'm looking forward to that.

But really - when is the last time you saw a really GOOD new movie?  I don't mean one where you left thinking it was an okay way to spend a few hours.  I mean a really good movie - one you'd recommend to friends and even see again?  

Comments

[Rita Scott]

I haven't seen any.

NEXT................?

[Ramona]

If "new" means within the last couple of years, I have two.

In Bruges
Michael Clayton

[xena]

Soooo....only been to one with my son when he was home in May.
Star Trek. Loved it.
Just saying.

[kris]

The last two I've seen have both been fabulous: the latest Trek & UP. I'd love to see either or both of them again.

[Kathy Sweeney]

Thanks! I forgot about Star Trek. It was good.

Has anyone seen the new Pelham 123 with Denzel and Travolta?

[Laurie Moore]

The last REALLY good movie I saw was "The Sixth Sense". I was so pleased with the treatment of this movie that I did something I never do--sat through it twice. I wanted to see if I could pinpoint any flaws in it the second time, like scrutinizing the clothes Bruce Willis was wearing for telltale holes...I still love that movie.

For me, the movies that I gravitate to are the movies that I tend to figure out the entire plotline and who the killer is within the first five minutes. They're so predictable that I can't enjoy them. The last cop-type movie that really surprised me (read: I didn't figure out the ending at the beginning) was "L.A. Confidential".

"Skeleton Key". Now, I didn't see that ending coming...and I tend to like anything voodoo-esque, bayou-esque, and Kate Hudson-esque. But I wasn't expecting anything good from this movie, so was plesantly surprised. And yeah, I watched it twice (for flaws, which there were none).

If anybody knows of a movie with a surprise ending that you can't figure out in the first five minutes, let me know and I'll go see it.

And that's why I just don't go to the movies anymore. Sad, I know.

[Maryann Mercer]

I've opted out of a couple movies because I just didn't think sitting through them would be worth the money they charge these days...I am going to see Public Enemies (highly recommended by sevral friends), but tonight I'm heading to the Station Theater one more time to see The Full Monty. Summer plays here are so much more fun than the movies we're getting (Bruno? Please...if my intelligence is going to be insulted, please do it in the vein of Airplane or Hot Stuff). More bang for the buck and whether you get equity actors or not, the performance is always great! Of course, UI has a fantastic theater department and it leaks over into the community with great results! Ah...but movies. Well, I've been re-watching some old faves on DVD, but the last decent movie? Star Trek. It surprised me...maybe because I didn't expect it to be good and it was. Harry Potter is on the list, but I've got two more plays to see before then (and I can wear cropped pants AND sandals! Reduced Shakespeare Company anyone???).

[Maryann Mercer]

oh...I forgot...two things. If you haven't seen Liam Neeson in "Taken", do so...it's out on DVD. And Monsters vs Aliens was an absolute hoot!

[hollygee]

The ONLY movie I've seen in a theater in the last 3-4 years was Charlie Wilson's War, and I'd give that 9 out of 10 stars. Previous to that was Bride and Prejudice, which I heart with a heart full of color, music and dance.
Not terribly current.
I wanna see the Proposal after it comes out on Netflix. I also have Rachel Getting Married, Made of Honor, Mamma Mia, and 27 Dresses in my queue -- chic flicks much?

[Karen in Ohio]

Kathy, I'm so bummed to hear that Public Enemies is a washout. I've been looking forward to seeing that one. Not enough JD? What the hell were they thinking?

Slumdog Millionaire is probably the last flick we saw in a theatre, and it was awesome. We rarely go to first-run movies these days because hubby is too cheap to spend $11 apiece, and I'm almost that cheap. I did take my grandson to see Madagascar II, which was fun.

Just got in from a wonderful 10-day trip to the American West. Horseback riding in the mountains, hiking at 8500 and 9500 feet, and spending time with people I love. Nothing better.

[Phyllis]

Public Enemies was a little disappointing, particularly that odd video sequence that jarred me right out of the movie. And not enough JD. Made me want to go home and watch my 'Pirates' dvd's. Because Johnny Depp channeling Keith Moon is the bomb.

Watched 'The Reader' with Kate Winslet on PPV a couple of weeks ago and thought it was worth the five bucks. Oh, and Nixon/Frost was really riveting.

Looking forward to the Vince Vaughn flick, because...Vince Vaughn! and Jason Bateman!

[Doc in CA]

Let's see...

Star Trek
UP
Monsters vs Aliens
Watchmen

Liked 'em all.

I'm looking forward to the Harry Potter flick. And at the risk of endangering my guy cred, I'm also seriously considering going to see "Julie and Julia", because I was always a big fan of Julia Child.

[storyteller Mary]

I did a binge of movies with a month's free trial of Netflix. I'll probably resubscribe sometime, but for now I'm getting DVDs from the library -- free fits my budget. I am looking forward to HP and will splurge to see that one in the theater.
I can't get KETC (PBS in St. Louis) since the digital change-over -- I miss them. Some programs are online, but not all . . .

[Buff]

Up was great. Not at all what I expected. Ed Asner is da bomb for the part of the grumpy old man. Dogs that talk - like dogs. Funny as heck.

StarTrek (new) was also very good. Between the actors really working hard to mimic the body language of the originals, darn good casting, and the director recreating exact filming angles from the original series - these new kids did a good job of selling themselves as younger versions of the originals.

I have become a Netflix Streaming (to my big monitor on my pc) addict. Here are a couple of suggestions:
Tortilla Soup (Dyfunctional families are not necessarily broken- and I like to watch men cook)
Charade (Grant/Hepburn version - nuf said)
Dangerous Beauty (Costumes, Sex, Venice and based on a true story)
84 Charing Cross Road (Anne Bancroft at her best, and terrifically detailed sets are used to show the passage of time)
A Man for All Seasons (Paul Scofield could act. Yes, very much!)
French Kiss (Kevin Kline can also act!)
Men in Black (Its still funny)

I am also really looking forward to:
Harry Potter 6
Julia and Julia
Where the Wild Things Are - go look at the trailer for this if you haven't. I do believe they may have managed NOT to mess this up.

[Rita Scott]

I'm not getting ch 9 either! I have to scan about 10 times a day to keep getting something! grrr.
Of course my brother bought me a new antenna with all the fixin's but with the chemo he is on now, he doesn't have the energy to put it up. Bob was suppose to 'get to it' but that ain't happened yet either. Too bad for him! I can make a block for his quilt with an antenna AND an asshole on it! bwahahaha!

[Karen in Ohio]

Mary and Rita, we've found that the position of the antenna makes a big difference. Closer to a wall or window will help.

I'd be lost without my PBS. Hope things improve.

[storyteller Mary]

I hope that KETC's upgrade to their antenna, sometime this month, will help. If not, I may be needing to find someone to put an antenna in the attic/crawlspace. There should already be a wire up there -- we shall see. I find it very frustrating that all the other local stations, including the itty-bitty religious ones, come through just fine. I've told KETC that I want my membership money back if I can't watch . . .

[bea]

Saw The Proposal. I love Sandra Bullock, so I eagerly allowed the suspension of disbelief, which is totally necessary to enjoy this one. But if you can manage that, it's fun. (Caveat: spoke to a friend who offered a full-scale rant on the sorry and stereotypical treatment of successful women; legitimate rant, but see above re suspension, etc.)

Saw Public Enemies, too, and lost track of who was who, especially with all the night-time shooting, running, escaping--blah, blah, blah. I expected to be bored, but I wasn't, so there's that.

Saw I Love You Man a while back, and, to my surprise, enjoyed it completely. Tons of foul language, which usually seems like lazy writing to me (I prefer the judicious use of creative obscenity), but it works for this flick. All the characters are flawed--just like real life!

[Liz]

the new Star Trek and loved it

at the beginning of the year - Bolt. Great Disney animated movie (now out on dvd)

and looking forward to Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Alan Rickman should rock in this one!

[Lucy]

If you are looking for new movies, two that I'd recommend are:

"Easy Virtue" (2009) - this stars Jessica Biel, Colin Firth, Kristen Scott Thomas, Ben Barnes. This is based on a play by Noel Coward. It is set in 1920's England and is a wry comedy about that era - and I was so pleasantly surprised by how good it is. I loved Colin Firth in this.

"Moon" (2009) - This is directed by Duncan Jones (who is the son of rocker David Bowie). This stars Sam Rockwell, who is an astronaut miner on the moon. He has been there for 3 years and is now on the verge of returning home, when strange things start to happen to him. This movie has rave reviews.

Both of these might be playing at local art houses or Landmark movie theatres. Check them out.

[Cinema Dave]

Six months into 2009, I only have 2 movies for my top ten list;
"Up"
and
"Star Trek."

"Bruno" will not be on thelist.

[Karen Olson]

I agree with Bea about The Proposal. Went to it with no expectations at all and really really liked it. I would see it again. Suspension of disbelief is definitely called for, but so what? Betty White is a scream, and Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds have really good chemistry. Even my husband laughed a few times.

[Lucy]

A movie, that I am looking forward to seeing in 2009 - but have not yet seen nor read reviews - is "The Time Traveler's Wife".

I think this will finally be released in early August. I really liked the book, and I hope the movie does tells the story well.

Likewise, as someone already mentioned - I am looking forward to seeing "Julie and Julia". I read both of the books - Julie's one on her blog; Julia Childs' on her time living in France. I hope this comes across well in the movie version, too.

[Harley]

I'm still working my way through the complete seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer on DVD, so I can contribute nothing. But you made me laugh, Kathy!

[Debby]

My niece and nephew took me to see Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs in 3D for my birthday last Tuesday. It was fun and kept me laughing the whole time, even when I knew what was gonna happen.

I am also looking forward to Harry Potter with another of my nieces.