movie: Saved
starring: Mandy Moore, Macaulay Culkin
genre: Comedy
year: 2004
format: Hollywood Suites Channel
plot: After learning her boyfriend is gay, a religious teen decides to save him by sleeping with him, only to end up pregnant and alone.
The first few minutes of this film nearly had me turning the movie off. It basically hits you upside the head with a steel chair, with it's views. In the first ten minutes. After that, it mellows out and the comedy kicks in.
It's part high school mean girls, part after school special in it's approach. You have who you think is just the sidekick, following her gut instincts and ends up actually being the lead character. But the story is as much about the group of people on the border of her life as it is about her. Her mother's life parallels her's in the simple fact they are both crushing on the men in their lives, who happen to be the school minister and his son. The son is a bit more free thinking then his father through most of the movie.
The theme here was a slight bit muddled. It at it's core is tolerance. We as a society preach one thing, and many times do the opposite. This movie in a backarsed way, is pointing out that we need to be more understanding and less self obsessed.
I wanted to like someone in this film, anyone. Given the whole feel good love love love everyone happy ending, but...even that felt preachy to me. You're suppose to feel sorry for the rest of the characters, from the disabled brother, to his outcast girlfriend, to the pregnant lead to the popular girls who follow blindly their prom queen. But, no one's all that fleshed out enough to care about any of them.
what did I learn? No matter what spin you put on a teen movie, it's still just another teen movie
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Saturday, January 30, 2016
Year 5 Day 59
movie: The Hot Chick
starring:Rob Schneider, Rachel McAdams
genre: Comedy
year: 2002
format: Netflix Canada
plot:After stealing a pair of earrings, the school's most popular girl finds herself the victim of a centuries old curse, when she wakes up as a man.
Anyone remember the movie Switch (1991) about the womanizer that gets taught a lesson? That's pretty much the route of this one. The high school snob gets mojoed and has to deal with being a man, while the idiot who got her body is using it for all it's worth.
I sat down with the intent of a mindless movie, and it pretty much lived up to my low expectations. Schneider has the bulk of the role, which he plays straight. And I'm not being punny here, I mean he plays it as a freaked out teenaged girl, in as serious a mode as one can with this type of film.
The character's big lesson is that she took everyone and everything for granted, and has to find her place in the big picture. Along the way, she looses the chip on her shoulder and becomes friends with the two girls in school who in the start of the film, she had made fun of.
It's a predictable story that points out that looks aren't everything, and that you'll find who you are meant to be when you accept those around you.
what did I learn? Don't judge a book by the cover till you've walked a mile in the author's shoes...
starring:Rob Schneider, Rachel McAdams
genre: Comedy
year: 2002
format: Netflix Canada
plot:After stealing a pair of earrings, the school's most popular girl finds herself the victim of a centuries old curse, when she wakes up as a man.
Anyone remember the movie Switch (1991) about the womanizer that gets taught a lesson? That's pretty much the route of this one. The high school snob gets mojoed and has to deal with being a man, while the idiot who got her body is using it for all it's worth.
I sat down with the intent of a mindless movie, and it pretty much lived up to my low expectations. Schneider has the bulk of the role, which he plays straight. And I'm not being punny here, I mean he plays it as a freaked out teenaged girl, in as serious a mode as one can with this type of film.
The character's big lesson is that she took everyone and everything for granted, and has to find her place in the big picture. Along the way, she looses the chip on her shoulder and becomes friends with the two girls in school who in the start of the film, she had made fun of.
It's a predictable story that points out that looks aren't everything, and that you'll find who you are meant to be when you accept those around you.
what did I learn? Don't judge a book by the cover till you've walked a mile in the author's shoes...
Friday, January 29, 2016
Year 5 Day 58
movie: Paul
starring; Simon Pegg, Nick Frost
genre: Sci-fi
year: 2011
format: Netflix Canada
plot: Two British sci-fi geeks find themselves in the company of a real alien, and have to run from the government
I pretty much love anything that has Simon Pegg in it. I think that even though this film has moments of crude/raunchiness, it doesn't always feel that way given most of it is from an animated alien. A pot smoking alien with necromantic powers. That in itself was worth a few laughs.
And in typical sci-fi geek fashion, there's a lot of references to Star Wars, Star Trek (the biggest being Pegg himself as he plays Scotty in the New Era ST films) the MIB series, etc. But my favourite little geeky in joke is the reference to Blade. The Frost character -no pun intended- spends time debating on if he should buy a "black vampire " sword, which looks just like the one Wesley Snipes uses in the vampire trilogy.
This is basically a buddy road trip film dressed up as a large escape from the cops style film. There is the obvious E.T. and Starman references, with them running from the government, and a huge nod to Escape to Witch Mountain
what did I learn? Even in an alien movie I still focused on the vampires
starring; Simon Pegg, Nick Frost
genre: Sci-fi
year: 2011
format: Netflix Canada
plot: Two British sci-fi geeks find themselves in the company of a real alien, and have to run from the government
I pretty much love anything that has Simon Pegg in it. I think that even though this film has moments of crude/raunchiness, it doesn't always feel that way given most of it is from an animated alien. A pot smoking alien with necromantic powers. That in itself was worth a few laughs.
And in typical sci-fi geek fashion, there's a lot of references to Star Wars, Star Trek (the biggest being Pegg himself as he plays Scotty in the New Era ST films) the MIB series, etc. But my favourite little geeky in joke is the reference to Blade. The Frost character -no pun intended- spends time debating on if he should buy a "black vampire " sword, which looks just like the one Wesley Snipes uses in the vampire trilogy.
This is basically a buddy road trip film dressed up as a large escape from the cops style film. There is the obvious E.T. and Starman references, with them running from the government, and a huge nod to Escape to Witch Mountain
what did I learn? Even in an alien movie I still focused on the vampires
Thursday, January 28, 2016
year 5 day 57
movie: Sin City 2 A Dame to Kill For
starring: Mickey Rourke, Josh Brolin
genre; Crime, Drama, Thriller, Film Noir
year: 2014
format: Netflix Canada
plot: Following the lives of a group of people who are all connected by the same bar
This is based on the graphic novels
Okay, I have to admit, if it wasn't for the blog project, I don't think I would have gone ahead and watched this. With that said, I'm glad I did. I've never read the graphic novels, but I did see the first film when it came out,and just didn't care for it.
This one, I found to be more cohesive, easier to follow.
The stories are about revenge, self imposed exile, fear, desperation, lust, seduction, and the list goes on. I liked the whole noir part of it, the crime thriller aspects. Considering the first film, there was more story which I liked, and less gore for the sake of shock/gore.
I have to admit, I was thrown at first with Brolin being cast, as I said, I haven't read any of the graphic novels, and was unaware he was playing a character who (in the first film was played by Clive Owens) has reconstructive surgery. I at first glance, though the character was recast because Owens was unavailable or something.
With all that said, the bulk of the film is the Brolin story, which I'm guessing is the title. And sadly, it does come off predictable. He gets wrapped up with his ex, who manipulates him into killing her husband, then she tries to kill him, seducing the cop, and making off with the millions.
I don't actually remember the Rourke character's amnesia actually being explained in this - no pun intended- so I'm guessing it was back in the first film? But otherwise, that chapter of the film, kind of goes nowhere.
what did I learn? I swear there was an animated series based on the Sin City books back in the late 1990s that aired back to back with The Maxx here...
starring: Mickey Rourke, Josh Brolin
genre; Crime, Drama, Thriller, Film Noir
year: 2014
format: Netflix Canada
plot: Following the lives of a group of people who are all connected by the same bar
This is based on the graphic novels
Okay, I have to admit, if it wasn't for the blog project, I don't think I would have gone ahead and watched this. With that said, I'm glad I did. I've never read the graphic novels, but I did see the first film when it came out,and just didn't care for it.
This one, I found to be more cohesive, easier to follow.
The stories are about revenge, self imposed exile, fear, desperation, lust, seduction, and the list goes on. I liked the whole noir part of it, the crime thriller aspects. Considering the first film, there was more story which I liked, and less gore for the sake of shock/gore.
I have to admit, I was thrown at first with Brolin being cast, as I said, I haven't read any of the graphic novels, and was unaware he was playing a character who (in the first film was played by Clive Owens) has reconstructive surgery. I at first glance, though the character was recast because Owens was unavailable or something.
With all that said, the bulk of the film is the Brolin story, which I'm guessing is the title. And sadly, it does come off predictable. He gets wrapped up with his ex, who manipulates him into killing her husband, then she tries to kill him, seducing the cop, and making off with the millions.
I don't actually remember the Rourke character's amnesia actually being explained in this - no pun intended- so I'm guessing it was back in the first film? But otherwise, that chapter of the film, kind of goes nowhere.
what did I learn? I swear there was an animated series based on the Sin City books back in the late 1990s that aired back to back with The Maxx here...
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
year 5 day 56
movie: Arthur Newman
starring: Colin Firth, Emily Blunt
genre: Drama
year: 2012
format: Netflix Canada
plot: A pro golfer fakes his own death in order to take a job at a country club, and along the way is joined by a runaway.
The opening scenes play like the lead is about to actually kill himself, but then you quickly learn it's a con. I was thinking in the first ten minutes, that it was going to be some sort of crime story. But, it ended up being more of a romance/starting over story. The lead played by Firth, has lost faith in himself because nothing has gone according to plan. Meanwhile, the Blunt character is hiding from a fear that is so self imposed, you wonder how much truth she's even told?
The two begin following this couple who just got married, and decide to break into their house, try on their clothes and have sex in their bed. It quickly becomes their only real means of communication, as to an extent, they are both coning the other and themselves.
The Blunt character, at one point mentions a twin who is in the hospital, and as the story progresses, you're given the impression that is another lie. Which layers on itself up until you see her arrive at the hospital herself, in which case the twin is revealed.
I didn't feel there was a pay off at the end. I would have liked to have seen the two actually get what they were wanting, a new life without the past responsibilities catching up.
what did I learn? no matter what your reality, you can only escape it for a little while
starring: Colin Firth, Emily Blunt
genre: Drama
year: 2012
format: Netflix Canada
plot: A pro golfer fakes his own death in order to take a job at a country club, and along the way is joined by a runaway.
The opening scenes play like the lead is about to actually kill himself, but then you quickly learn it's a con. I was thinking in the first ten minutes, that it was going to be some sort of crime story. But, it ended up being more of a romance/starting over story. The lead played by Firth, has lost faith in himself because nothing has gone according to plan. Meanwhile, the Blunt character is hiding from a fear that is so self imposed, you wonder how much truth she's even told?
The two begin following this couple who just got married, and decide to break into their house, try on their clothes and have sex in their bed. It quickly becomes their only real means of communication, as to an extent, they are both coning the other and themselves.
The Blunt character, at one point mentions a twin who is in the hospital, and as the story progresses, you're given the impression that is another lie. Which layers on itself up until you see her arrive at the hospital herself, in which case the twin is revealed.
I didn't feel there was a pay off at the end. I would have liked to have seen the two actually get what they were wanting, a new life without the past responsibilities catching up.
what did I learn? no matter what your reality, you can only escape it for a little while
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
year 5 day 55
movie: Ocean's Thirteen
starring: George Clooney, Brad Pitt
genre: Crime, Comedy
year: 2007
format: Netflix Canada
plot: After one of the guys is cut out of the new casino he just built by his newest partner, the group get back together to clean out his casino.
There wasn't anything different in this, it was just a basic revisit to the first one. The bad guys from the first two movies return and are on the good guys team. They even made an in joke about not doing the same thing they had done before, referring to the first movie when they cleaned out the other casino.
I didn't care for the sub-plot of sending the two guys over the boarder to a dice factory to make sure their loaded dice are untraceable, it just seemed like it was thrown in there to duct tape a plot hole. I did however, like this one more then part two.
I found the timeline a bit unclear, I think the story expands over an eight month time frame, but not completely sure?
what did I learn? Joker's wild
starring: George Clooney, Brad Pitt
genre: Crime, Comedy
year: 2007
format: Netflix Canada
plot: After one of the guys is cut out of the new casino he just built by his newest partner, the group get back together to clean out his casino.
There wasn't anything different in this, it was just a basic revisit to the first one. The bad guys from the first two movies return and are on the good guys team. They even made an in joke about not doing the same thing they had done before, referring to the first movie when they cleaned out the other casino.
I didn't care for the sub-plot of sending the two guys over the boarder to a dice factory to make sure their loaded dice are untraceable, it just seemed like it was thrown in there to duct tape a plot hole. I did however, like this one more then part two.
I found the timeline a bit unclear, I think the story expands over an eight month time frame, but not completely sure?
what did I learn? Joker's wild
Monday, January 25, 2016
Year 5 Day 54
movie: Whale Music
starring: Maury Chaykin, Paul Gross
genre: Drama, Comedy
year: 1994
format: Hollywood Suites Channel
plot: A former rockstar who's become a hermit, has his life turned inside out when a young woman shows up on his doorstep
Based on the book
The lead character is being haunted by his past in such vivid forms, he can't tell most of the time what's real and what's not. Using the whales as his only inspiration for years, until he finds his solitude broken by the young woman. She ends up becoming his protector as much as his maid as the story progresses.
The first half of the movie makes the main character seem like he's lost his mind, but as the story progresses, you realize it's more a case of desperation than depression. When you learn that he's been trying to create the album of whale music since his brother's fatal car accident, the body lost in the ocean; the connection finally comes into play. Up till that point, he keeps saying he's making the album for the whales in the ocean, but it's more a case of sending an unanswered call to his brother.
I strangely, like the scene where he freaks out at the dinner party, forcing the truth to come to the surface, both with the character of Claire, and with the character of his ex wife Fay. He finally says what he's been holding under the mental surface since the brother's death a decade before.
what did I learn? Grief has many layers
starring: Maury Chaykin, Paul Gross
genre: Drama, Comedy
year: 1994
format: Hollywood Suites Channel
plot: A former rockstar who's become a hermit, has his life turned inside out when a young woman shows up on his doorstep
Based on the book
The lead character is being haunted by his past in such vivid forms, he can't tell most of the time what's real and what's not. Using the whales as his only inspiration for years, until he finds his solitude broken by the young woman. She ends up becoming his protector as much as his maid as the story progresses.
The first half of the movie makes the main character seem like he's lost his mind, but as the story progresses, you realize it's more a case of desperation than depression. When you learn that he's been trying to create the album of whale music since his brother's fatal car accident, the body lost in the ocean; the connection finally comes into play. Up till that point, he keeps saying he's making the album for the whales in the ocean, but it's more a case of sending an unanswered call to his brother.
I strangely, like the scene where he freaks out at the dinner party, forcing the truth to come to the surface, both with the character of Claire, and with the character of his ex wife Fay. He finally says what he's been holding under the mental surface since the brother's death a decade before.
what did I learn? Grief has many layers
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