What Are We Watching?

The Next Iron Chef: Super Chef

2011-11-09T17:08:00.007-05:00

OK, when it first started, I was not a fan of Iron Chef America. I have since come over to the dark side and watch it every chance I get (except for the ones with Bobby Flay, sorry dude). When I first heard about The Next Iron Chef, I knew it was a show I would like as I love other cooking competition shows such as The Next FoodNetwork Star and Top Chef. And now we have the Super Stars.

The Next Iron Chef: Super Stars has some of my favorite cooking celebs going against each other, and I'm loving every minute of it. The first episode did not disappoint. The 10 competing chefs are taken out in the middle of nowhere, split into five teams, and told to cook dishes using a suckling pig and open fire. (Pretty cool that one of them even found stuff growing around the lake to use.) Two of my favorites, Chef Anne Burrell and Chef Robert Irvine, were teamed up and I really like them together. (It helps that they are 'rivals' on another FoodNetwork show, The Worst Cook in America).

This episode saw Chef Spike Mendelsohn being sent home after a head-to-head elimination battle with his teammate Chef Marcus Samuelsson. (Sad part is, he's the one who picked Samuelsson for his team.) But, there is no shame in being beaten by someone with that man's reputation and standing in the culinary world. The secret ingredient in this battle was fresh diver scallops, something all chefs seem to love to cook with. Chef Samuelsson took a risk by making 2 dishes on the plate instead of just the required one; risky because you are basically judged against yourself and not just your opponent. But, the risk paid off....this time.

The second episode took the remaining 9 chefs to a ballpark where they had to reimagine ballpark fare. Let me tell you, there were some pretty good things cooked up on this one. And I have to admit, Chef Alex Guarnaschelli deserved the win she got on this one. (Not a big fan of hers, but even I know good creative food when I see it.)

Chef Robert Irvine made what he called a Hotburg, a combination of ground up hot dogs and ground beef. It looked so good, and the judges loved it. (I so wish they would put the recipes for this show online. I love this stuff they come up with.) He probably would have been OK, but he put some pickled radishes on the dish that did not go over well and put him in the elimination challenge with Chef Michael Chiarello whose runny, poorly separated egg did not go over well at all. (Chef Samuelsson, who made 4 dishes this time, was again told about taking such a risk and that next time, it would not bode well for him.)

The secret ingredient for the elimination challenge was peanuts, something I would think they would love to see. I've seen so many dishes made with peanuts on various FoodNetwork shows, that it seems like everyone would find it to be a simple and versatile ingredient. Well, maybe I was wrong. The chefs did not seem happy.

Chef Chiarello made a homemade pasta with a peanut pesto and a tomato salad. The only use of the peanuts was in the pesto and sprinkled on top of the pasta; the salad was completely devoid of peanuts. Chef Irvine made a peanut crusted halibut with a peanut hummus and a peanut sauce (something else in that sauce as well, but it escapes me). The judges loved both but were a bit miffed at the lack of peanuts in the pasta dish (come one, only in the pesto???) and the thickness of the hummus.

In the end, they opted to send Chef Irvine home due to the thickness of that hummus, a decision that I think was totally unfair. They had no complaints about the taste of anything on his plate, no complaints about the presentation or use of the secret ingredient. It was just that they (well, two of them anyway) felt the hummus was too thick. If you ask me, that is less of a problem than the lack of use of the secret ingredient, but then, nobody's asking me are they?

So, that's the first two episodes. I'm still miffed about Chef Irvine going home on the hummus. Just not fair. But, who am I to question the Iron Chef Judges (especially Michael Symon, whom I adore)? Can't wait to see what next week's episode brings. Chef Irvine was my original pick as the next Iron Chef, but who knows now. I like Anne Burrell, and she has the experience being the sous chef for Mario Batali on the show, but Geoffrey Zakarian isn't one to count out either. Guess we'll see.

The Green Hornet

2011-10-16T18:43:00.004-04:00

I had heard plenty of bad reviews about this movie over the past several months, so when the hubs and I finally decided to rent the DVD, I had pretty low expectations. Boy, was I disappointed....or should I say pleased???

This movie was not the huge BOMB I'd been led to believe. Sure, there were a couple scenes that could have been shortened a bit...OK, a good bit...but all-in-all, it was actually a pretty fun flick. I have to say I'm tired of all the 3D stuff (seems everything is coming out in 3D now), and since I watched it on DVD, that was all lost anyway. But the movie itself was pretty good.

Now, I'm not going to say Seth Rogen will ever win an Oscar or anything, but who cares. He had a lot of fun with this movie, and I think that's why so many were disappointed in it. With all the big comic book movies out there now, people went in expecting the usual: lots of special effects, huge story line, BIG heroes, etc. This wasn't like that. This movie took the comic book hero genre into another direction. It made it a bit less serious, a bit more fun.

Seth Rogen did a good job as the partying Britt Reid who, after the death of his father and a whole bunch of other stuff, becomes The Green Hornet. Of course, he could not have done that without Kato (played by Jay Chou), a character who is really the main fighter/hero-type in this movie. With his fighting ability and brains (the man built an espresso machine from scratch, not to mention the car, the weapons, etc), the duo becomes...well...dynamic.

I even liked Cameron Diaz's character Lenore Case. She didn't end up with either of the main characters, even though they both had a "thing" for her, and I like that. I'm so tired of the typical formula of the strong woman who falls for someone and gets all mushy and stuff. Case is a strong intelligent woman who helps the guys out without throwing herself at either of them. Way to go!

I really wish this movie would spawn a sequel, but I have a feeling it won't. It wasn't a huge hit after all, and most reviews were bad. But, I would watch it again myself, and probably will. And if you like a bit of comedy with your action, I'd highly recommend it. (FYI: the scenes when they bring out the knock out gun for the first time....TOTAL HILARITY.)

Labyrinth

2011-02-17T20:11:00.005-05:00

Well, let's relaunch this little blog about movies, TV and whatever with a bit of a blast from the past.

This week, I have rediscovered the movie "Labyrinth." I say 'rediscovered' because even though I have been a fan since it first came out back in 1986, and I have owned it on DVD for several years, I can't remember the last time I actually sat down and watched it. Life has a way of jumping in and keeping you from having the time to actually sit back and enjoy some of your favorite things. This week, I was really in the mood to watch this movie, so life just had to take a little break.

For fans of Jim Henson, this movie is a treat with some wonderful puppet work. (Check out the 15ft tall puppet called Humongous. WOW!) To this day, I'm amazed by the work Henson and his cohorts created back then. He was a visionary genius surrounded by visionary geniuses. What a combination.

For fans of fantasy, this movie is packed with goblins and creatures of all kinds. Monsters, both good and bad, walk the paths of the huge labyrinth that lead to the Goblin City and the wall's of the Goblin King's castle. The story flows well with a main character who is both damsel-in-distress and heroine, and a villain who is scary and a bit sad all at the same time. You want him to lose, and yet you feel sorry for him as he seems a bit lonely, surrounded by so many creatures that both fear and worship him.

For fans of David Bowie, this movie is a treat for the eyes and ears. I can't see anyone else playing this part. His eyes convey the pain he feels, even as he inflicts pain. And his voice...well, it IS David Bowie. In the scene where Sarah is running around the room of stairs trying to get to her brother, you can hear the pain and regret in Jareth's voice. You can see the sadness in his eyes. That scene gets to me every time I see it.

This movie has held up well over the years. It's one of those movies that take you through the gamut of emotions. It's true that you will find yourself laughing, cringing in fear, cheering and even singing & dancing (or at least wanting to). If you have kids, it's a great one to share with them as well.

Pernell Roberts (1928 - 2010)

2010-01-26T04:50:00.006-05:00

Actor Pernell Roberts died Sunday at the age of 81. I loved watching Roberts on the TV series "Trapper John, M.D." when I was a kid. While most of my friends had 'goo-goo' eyes for his costar, Gregory Harrison, I liked Roberts. Guess I had a thing for older men.

Of course, many people know Roberts more for his role as Adam Cartwright in "Bonanza," which I used to watch in reruns as a kid as well.

Roberts was born in May of 1928 in Waycross, Georgia, an area many members of my family also call home. He used to visit the area often many years ago when his mother was in a local nursing home, and even came into the bait shop where my sister-in-law worked to purchase his fishing license. He was a friendly, unassuming man, and if you ask me, one of the handsomest men to ever grace the television screen.

Roberts was proceeded in death in 1989 by his only son, Jonathan, who was killed in a motorcycle accident.

Julie & Julia

2010-01-18T07:27:00.006-05:00

OK, after nearly 7 months down, I have decided to resurrect this blog. Why not? I only have 3 others I'm trying to keep going, what's one more? ;-)

The hubs and I recently watched the movie Julie & Julia, and I have to say it was both wonderful and a disappointment. Let me explain.

The movie is of course based on the book by Julie Powell as well as the book "My Life in France" by Julia Child. The movie is often very fun, poignant and thought provoking. You laugh, you cry and you really, really want to start cooking...and eating. The food looks so marvelous. Yummy!!

The sections of the movie about Julia and her start are wonderful. Merle Streep did such a good job in the part of the iconic chef, it was hard to separate her from the character. She sounded like her, moved like her, even looked a bit like her. Her Golden Globe win last night is very much well-deserved.

Amy Adams also did a great job as Julie Powell, the author of the "Julie & Julia Project" blog, as well as the book. She went through the gambit of emotions Julie must have felt during that hectic year; sadness, frustration, happiness, disappointment. I had no problem with her performance at all. The problem I did have was with that part of the story.

OK, Julie Powell really took an interesting idea and ran with it. And for some reason, it really caught on, making her blog one of the most popular out there. Then the book and movie of course. But, if at the time she was anything like she was portrayed in this movie, she was a bit whiny really. That was the disappointing part. I did feel for her somewhat, but not as much as I would have liked.

This is a good movie, and one I would recommend wholeheartedly. But, I wonder what a movie just about Julia Child, starring Merle Streep of course, would have been like. There are a couple details that I would love to have more information about, things that were hinted at in the movie but not fully covered. I guess I will just have to put Child's book on my reading list.

Take A Final Bow, Ed.

2009-06-23T18:58:00.004-04:00

Ed McMahon died early this morning in Los Angeles. He was 86.

I grew up watching Ed on the Tonight Show and Star Search (the precursor to American Idol and America's Got Talent). My mom worked graveyard shift, so I could stay up without her knowing and laugh along with Ed and Johnny, and boy did I laugh. They were a riot.

My mother and I both were fans of Star Search, and one of my fondest memories is sitting in front of the TV with her, trying to guess who was going to win in each category. We were fans of Sawyer Brown back then. (Remember? They got their start on that show.)

Ed McMahon and Johnny Carson made a great late-night team, and now they are back together.

Hey-O!

More Sad Losses

2009-06-04T15:35:00.006-04:00

Dom DeLuise died on May 4th. What a loss to the world of moves and comedy. He was a funny man.

I know in recent years he was known more for his roles in Burt Reynolds comedies (Smokey and the Bandit II, Cannonball I & II - movies I've never really had the desire to watch), but he was also lent his voice to some great animated movies (An American Tail, All Dogs Go To Heaven, The Secret of NIMH) and was so funny to watch when appearing on interview shows such as Good Morning America.

Dom, who was75, left behind a great legacy of comedy as well as his three sons who are also accomplished actors: Michael, Peter and David.

And today there came word that actor David Carradine was found dead in his Bangkok hotel room. As a kid, I loved watching Kung Fu reruns. I had a bit of a crush on Carradine...or maybe just on his character, Caine.

My mom told me one time about stories that went around about Carradine getting too much into the character, ending up turning to drugs and such. All I knew was, he seemed so peaceful as he kicked the bad guys' butts. :-)

Carradine comes from a big acting dynasty that includes not only his father John Carradine, but also brothers Michael Bowen and Keith & Robert Carradine. There's also Calista and Kansas Carradine, his daughters; and nieces Ever Carradine and Martha Plimpton.

David Carradine was 72.

Bea Arthur

2009-05-01T10:50:00.005-04:00

On April 25th, Bea Arthur passed away after a long battle with cancer. When I was a teenager, I loved The Golden Girls, and I still do. Reruns can be seen on various channels at all times of day, and I catch them whenever I get a chance. Dorothy was always my favorite of the "girls," the one I could sort of identify with the most. I love her outspokenness, frankness. What a great character played by a great person.

We'll miss you, Bea.

Sling Blade

2009-04-03T21:54:00.004-04:00

I had almost forgotten what a work of genius this movie was until I came across it this evening on Showtime. Wow! Gets me every time.

Billy Bob Thornton has made headlines over the years for his odd behavior, especially during his marriage to Angelina Jolie, but lately he's been pretty tame. He's had some great parts in pretty good to great movies, and I have to say I am a fan. (Well, except for the movie Mr. Woodcock.)

Sling Blade is a work of pure genius. (Did I say that already.) Thornton's acting is perfection. (Should be I guess since he wrote and directed this movie.) He plays the part of Karl Childers in a way that takes you from being a bit fearful of him, to liking him a hell of a lot. In the end, you feel sorry that he ends up right back in the institution, despite what he has done. Or, maybe even because of it. Karl's mind may not be quite all there, but his heart is in the right place....sort of.

The entire cast of this movie just seemed to fit together. Lucas Black as Frank Wheatley, the boy who befriends Karl, was a great casting move. He was a great actor when he was young, although the jury's still out on his more recent work. He seemed to be made for this part. And as much as I really like Dwight Yoakam, he played the jackass Doyle Hargraves so well, you almost have to wonder if he's such a big jerk in real life. (Just kidding Dwight.)

John Ritter was another great addition to this movie. To this day, I can't believe he is no longer "with us" as they say, and this movie is just one example of how good of an actor he really was. No signs of Jack Tripper here.

If it's been a while since you've seen this movie, rent it....now.

If you've never seen it...what the ever-loving heck are you waiting for? An engraved invitation? Well, consider this it. Rush out and rent this thing. Order it from NetFlix. Borrow it from a friend. I don't care how you get it, just get it. Not seeing this movie should be a crime.

Back to the Oscar Fashions

2009-03-20T08:48:00.008-04:00

OK, I'm slow. It's been a busy month for me, so I am just now getting back to the fashions from the Oscars. But, what the heck. We'll keep stretching the Academy Award discussion out, keep the Oscars alive until the next ones, or at least until the next awards show. I love red carpet stuff. I love talking about the fashions. And today, I'm talking about some fashion missteps.

I have to say that I actually like the dress Amy Adams wore to the show. The color is beautiful and the cut looks so good on her. (Love the chunky necklace as well.) The one small issue I have with this gown is the way it has been "attached" on the front; that little bit of fabric that seems to have been brought up and hooked there. I think it would have looked much better without that little detail.

I adore Melissa Leo; have been a fan since her days on Homicide: Life in the Street. This is one of the few times I have been disappointed in her. The dress itself is actually pretty nice, a real classy design. My problem is with the color. It matches her hair almost perfectly, which is a mistake.

This is another one of those dresses that are both good and bad. Marissa Tomei is a beautiful woman and the dress is beautiful for the most part. The problem I have is when it goes toward the bottom. It's a bit much for me there, and is almost heading in the direction of the mermaid dress (see below).

Vanessa Hudgens and Melissa George both opted for mermaid dresses. I really hate this style. It isn't at all flattering if you ask me, and since you're reading my blog you must have asked, and it looks so totally awkward when it comes to walking across the floor...much less up the steps to the stage. It's just plain ugly.

This brings me to Diane Lane. I love her and thought she looked beautiful. The dress was perfect, until you get to the bottom. There's that little mermaid type thing again. At least hers wasn't as bad as the two previously mentioned.

And this thing Heidi Klum wore was just...just...well, bad. The cut and design...I just don't know what the designer was thinking.

Natasha Richardson 1963 - 2009

2009-03-19T06:43:00.006-04:00

Natasha Richardson (45) passed away yesterday after a fall Monday on a ski slope in Canada. A very accomplished actress known for roles in the remake of The Parent Trap with Lindsay Lohan, The Handmaid's Tale and Nell with Jodie Foster and Liam Neeson, whom she married in 1994, Richardson was a part of the Redgrave acting dynasty. She was the daughter of Vanessa Redgrave, niece to Lynn Redgrave and sister to Joely Richardson of Nip/Tuck.

Richardson and Neeson have two sons together. My thoughts and sympathies go out to the entire family. Their loss is also a great loss to the world of theater and movies.

The Quiet Man

2009-03-17T16:20:00.005-04:00

For your St. Patrick's Day viewing pleasure, I highly recommend The Quiet Man. If you haven't seen it yet, where have you been? If you have, then you know just how good this one is.

John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara were a wonderful pair. The chemistry between them was perfect. I just wish they had made even more movies together.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Sicko

2009-02-28T18:37:00.002-05:00

I'm stepping away from the Oscars for a moment. I just watched the movie Sicko by Michael Moore. If you only watch one movie this year, and if you haven't seen this yet, then by all means, rent it and watch it. It will make you think, it will make you wonder...it will make you angry.

We live in the greatest country in the world, so why are we ranked so low when it comes to health care? You have to wonder.

Oscar Fashions: Couples

2009-02-27T07:14:00.021-05:00

Yeah, I'm posting about the Oscars again. Why? Because I can. :-)

Even those years when I'd stopped watching the Oscars, I'd flip through magazines or surf the 'net checking out what people wore to the show. I love the whole red carpet fashion show thing, and not just the Oscar version. All the awards shows are fair game when it comes to rating the fashions. And it still amazes me how horribly wrong some choices are. Many of these celebrities use stylists to get them all glammed up for those special occasions, and many of those stylists should be drawn and quartered. (And the celebrities who went along with their choices should be banned from red carpet events until they take some sort of style class or something.)

So, for today, here are some 2009 Oscar fashion winners in the couples category (Beware, some of these will appear on both the winners and losers lists):

I love this picture of Brad and Angelina. In most photos, they are posing and seem so serious. This one is such a spontaneous image full of humor. It's a great shot of one of the most beautiful couples at the awards. And Angelina's jewelry is beautiful. Great shade of green.

Another beautiful couple, Diane Lane and Josh Brolin. I have to admit, as wonderful as she looks, Diane will be on both my good and bad lists. I'm not the biggest fan of the regular neck tie style tux, but sometimes it works. Josh certainly carries it off well.

Another great couple; Robert Downey, Jr. and his wife Susan. Again, the neck tie style tux, and again, it works. Susan is a producer on Robert's upcoming Sherlock Holmes movie. I am so looking forward to that one. And don't they make a beautiful couple. I love her hair. The only thing that could have made them better was if Robert was sporting the little goatee-moustache he had in the movie Iron Man. That is such a sexy look on him.

Not a real-life couple, but a couple in the movie Slumdog Millionaire and on the red carpet, Dev Patel and Frieda Pinto make an attractive pair at the awards. I'm not usually a fan of single-sleeve dresses (kind of like the neck tie tux thing) but I love this dress. It was gorgeous. I can't believe all the people I've heard on E! and the TV Guide Network who talk about it being a poor choice. I really thought she was beautiful in this dress.

And I think this is my favorite couple. Why? Well, not just because I'm a Star Trek fan (which I am) or because they both look pretty dapper (which they do - even with the regular neck tie) but because of what they represent. George Takei and his partner of over 21 years Brad Altman were married in September of 2008.

What About Eartha?

2009-02-25T03:00:00.001-05:00

I have to say, I am disappointed. I watched the Oscars on Sunday, as you know if you've read my last two posts, and as usual they had the little montage paying tribute to those in the movie industry who passed during the year since the last Academy Awards show. I thought someone was missing, but wondered if maybe I had just missed a face or two on the screen. So, I hit play on the DVD (yes, I recorded it) and it appears I was right. No Eartha Kitt.

I wonder how they could have missed someone of Eartha Kitt's caliber. Yes, I know she was known more for her sultry singing voice, but she had parts in over 60 different television shows, movies and cartoons. She is known to generations of viewers...even to children today as Yzma in The Emperor's New Groove, its sequel and the television spin-off.

Now, I know timing is often a factor. Roy Scheider died on February 10, 2008, but did not make last years tribute montage for the 80th Academy Awards broadcast on February 24. He did make it to this year's video. Ms. Kitt however passed on December 25th, plenty of time to have her among the others lost to Hollywood in the memorial montage. So, what's the deal?

And I have to wonder if certain people are left out on purpose. Actor Brad Renfro died on January 15, 2008 and was left out of the memorial last year. He wasn't a legend by any means, but that doesn't mean the potential wasn't there, and that the movies and television shows he worked on weren't worth seeing. (His first role was in The Client with Susan Sarandon.) I think the story of his death was "lost" when Heath Ledger died exactly one week later. A sad, obscure ending to a tragic life.

But, I digress. I wonder who else may have been missed this year. Eartha was a legend, and her fans will always remember her, even if the Academy does not.

Oscar Backlash?

2009-02-24T05:15:00.003-05:00

It seems everything turns into a controversy of some sort, and why should the Oscars be any different. It's true you can't please all the people all the time. There will always be people who think this movie was no where near as good as they're saying, this actor deserved the award more than the other one, etc. This year's issue seems to be with the movie Slumdog Millionaire.

This "little" movie from India picked up 8 Academy Awards, including Best Picture...and therein lies the problem it seems. Many are not happy with this one winning top honors. (Well, some posting on the internet anyway.) They are saying it just shows how out of touch the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences really is that a movie given only limited release in the US, a movie that didn't make much money and wasn't seen by much of anybody here, won big.

Me? I say more power to it. The Oscars have never really been about what was popular in the past year or what made the most money. If those were deciding factors, movies like The Dark Knight, Iron Man or Transformers would all be vying for the top honor. Small movies often garner high praise on Oscar night since the voting is done by industry "insiders" such as actors, producers, directors, etc. They look at more than just box office receipts when casting their votes. And what better way to discover new movies you wouldn't normally have seen than by looking at who won big and using that as a guide. (Although, some movies I've seen for that reason have been a disappointment, and I'm especially thinking of Crash here.)

If the gold statues were given out by us regular people, Heath Ledger would have won for Brokeback Mountain, Paul Newman would not have had to wait until a dismal movie like The Color of Money before getting one and Woody Allen wouldn't have 3 to his name. (Can you tell I'm not a fan?)

But, that's why we have The People's Choice Awards.

Oscar Recap

2009-02-23T06:26:00.003-05:00

The show is over. All the gold statues have been given out. The winners are happy and the losers...well, I hope people feel that there are no losers. When they say it's an honor to be nominated, it's very true. Just watch most any movie trailer and notice how it seems to give a bit more weight to a person's name, and the movie, when the words "Oscar nominee" are spoken before their name.

Last night's show started out pretty well. Hugh Jackman sang and danced his way through some pretty amusing economy friendly props, pulling Anne Hathaway up on stage to stand in as Richard Nixon at one point. The jokes weren't bad, pointing out at one point the way the nominations showcased actors who played a diverse range of characters (Kate Winslet being English and playing a German, Robert Downey, Jr. being American playing an Australian who played an African-American), and then commenting on the fact that he (Jackman) is Australian who played an Australian in a movie called Australia...and he was hosting the show.

For the most part, the winners were pretty predictable. Heath Ledger received his much deserved Academy Award for his role as The Joker in The Dark Knight. (His father, mother and sister accepted it on behalf of his little girl, Matilda. I just love that name.) Penelope Cruz won the Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in Vicky Christina Barcelona, a movie I have to say I probably won't see since I'm not a Woody Allen fan. (I think he's kind of overrated.) Best Actor went to Sean Penn for his role of Harvey Milk in the movie Milk. (Penn's second Oscar.) Best Actress went to Kate Winslet for her role in The Reader.

I was glad to see Heath Ledger win, but a small bit disappointed in the others. (Not that they didn't deserve the recognition, I just tend to like the "underdog" as it were.) I would loved to have seen Mickey Rourke pick up an award for his role in The Wrestler. But, even if he didn't take home the gold statue, he truly was one of the biggest winners of the evening, earning acknowledgement from winners, presenters and the host throughout the night. His comeback is truly a great story.

For Best Actress, I would have loved to see Melissa Leo win for Frozen River simply because I'm a fan from her days on the TV show "Homicide: Life in the Street." For Actress in a Supporting Role...well, I haven't seen any of the movies, but I think I would have loved to see Taraji P. Henson win this one, simply from what I've heard about her and her role in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Slumdog Millionaire won Best Picture honors, and since I have yet to see any of the nominated films, I can't really comment on this. I do have to say that it's nice to see small films such as this one win, and no one really complains when they do. It's like the little film that could...they come up from behind and trudge up the hill to the ultimate prize.

The Oscars will be talked about incessantly for weeks to come, as they are every year. The fashions will make news and postings, and this blog will be no exception. And next year, we'll gear up to start it all over again.

At the end of the telecast, scenes from upcoming movies were shown, and I have to say I'm looking forward to the coming year in movies. There will be so much to talk about, and I just love to talk. :-)

The Oscars

2009-02-22T18:53:00.002-05:00

Tonight's the night. Hollywood is holding its collective breath. Who will win the coveted gold statue? Of course, most people, me included, think Heath Ledger will get the Best Supporting Actor Oscar tonight, and that is as it should be. His performance was pure perfection.

Then of course there is the movie Slum Dog Millionaire, which is basically the little movie that could. I haven't seen it yet, so I can't say if it's as good as the hype, but the buzz certainly is good. I don't think anyone will be very surprised, or even disappointed, if this one wins Best Picture. But, considering it's going up against movies like Milk and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, I think it has its work cut out for it.

This year marks the first time since I was a kid that I will actually sit and watch an awards show. (Well, I at least plan to. I tend to go to bed early, so this may be a fight.) I used to watch all types of awards shows...Oscars, People's Choice, Grammys...but I guess I grew out of them. And to tell you the truth, they got kind of boring. Stale, if you will.

I have high hopes for the Oscars this year. Hugh Jackman is hosting, and he really is a great showman. (Not to mention just plain yummy to look at.) Let's hope he can perk this show up a bit this year.

Tune in tomorrow.....

Ghost Town

2009-02-19T11:32:00.003-05:00

Last night I watched the movie Ghost Town starring Ricky Gervais, the star and creator of The Office (British Version). If you've seen his stand up, or his show, you know how funny this guy can be. And if you are a fan, you will not be disappointed with this movie.

Gervais plays a dentist who, to put it mildly, really doesn't like people. He goes way out of his way to avoid interaction with others. (Kind of odd considering his profession.) While undergoing a simple medical procedure, Bertram Pincus (Gervais) dies for 7 minutes. As he leaves the hospital, he starts seeing dead people. Of course, once all these people realize someone can actually see them, they start bugging him, demanding he help them out.

Greg Kinnear plays Frank Herlihy, a man who was killed several months earlier when he was hit by a bus. He enlists Pincus' help to keep his widow (Tea Leoni) from marrying a man he feels is after her money. What follows is some times embarrassing, often funny as heck. Gervais has an interesting comedic timing that serves him well in this movie. And when you watch this on DVD, make sure you take the time to watch the outtakes as well. They really are worth the time.

If you're looking for something funny, something to just sit back and enjoy...this is a great pick. If you're looking for some big profound statement on death and dying...well, you may find that here as well. This movie may not be quite a 10, but it comes darn close.

Death Race

2009-02-17T09:36:00.000-05:00

Years ago we were graced with an interesting if odd little movie called Death Race 2000. It's not one of my favorites, but then, I haven't seen it in quite some time. Maybe it's actually better than I remember.

In 2008, we were graced with an interesting if action-packed big movie called Death Race. If you're a Jason Statham fan, you'll like this movie.

In the original 1975 version, the race was a cross-country affair where the contestants actually earned points for running down pedestrians. (Wonder if the creators of the Grand Theft Auto video games were fans of this movie.) The main driver decides it's probably a wrong thing to do...an attack of conscience I reckon.

The Jason Statham vehicle (pun not intended - entirely) is a bit different and has a much bigger budget. Statham is framed for the death of his wife and ends up in prison where the warden (Joan Allen) runs a very popular auto race viewed by millions of Americans - an escape from their desolate lives of economic upheaval and unemployment. Competitors (inmates sentenced to life) die regularly, as that is the main goal of the race - kill as many as possible. Anyone who wins 5 races, and survives of course, is given a full pardon.

This movie is full of action, and a small bit of a plot in which Jason Statham wants to get the heck out of prison and be reunited with his daughter. I have to say, if you like his other movies, you'll like this one was well. Statham is the king of action movies right now, and this is another jewel in his crown.

Yes, there is a plot, albeit a small one. If you're looking for a big thought-provoking movie, watch something else. If you're looking for gratuitous violence and mayhem, check this one out.

Besides Allen and Statham, this movie costars Ian McShane, Tyrese Gibson and a host of others you will probably recognize but not really remember where you know them from. Also, listen closely to the voice of the driver Frankenstein at the beginning. David Carradine played the racer Frankenstein in the original Death Race 2000 and he provides the voice here.

Small plot, lots of action - a good way to just kill some time.

Kevin Spacey

2009-02-11T07:35:00.006-05:00

Instead of looking at a particular movie or television show today, I'm going to focus on a particular actor.

Kevin Spacey is one of the greatest actors out there. He is extremely versatile and picks roles not just for the money and/or fame they can bring him. Looking at his resume is like reading a list of some of the most interesting characters ever to grace the screen.

Over the years, Kevin has had roles in nearly 60 movies, television shows and video games. The Internet Movie Database lists his first role as that of a subway thief in the Jack Nicholson/Meryl Streep movie Heartburn (1986). From there he has played tough guys, corrupt cops, teachers, comic book villains...you name it, he has probably played it.

One of my favorite Kevin Spacey movies is The Life of David Gale. This movie blew me away. Spacey plays a death row inmate, a man who was a vocal activist against capital punishment, who convinces a reporter to look into his case...of course stating his innocence. The twists at the end of this movie are one thing, and his portrayal of a man willing to sacrifice everything to take a stand against the death penalty is at times heartbreaking.

Going in a whole other direction, Spacey plays crooner Bobby Darin in the movie Beyond the Sea. He does his own singing in this one, and who knew he had such amazing talent in that area. He sings, he dances...he produced, directed and wrote the movie...and he even wrote a song in the movie. Talk about multi-talented. This movie was about as close to perfection as you can get.

Another favorite of mine is K-PAX about a man who claims to be from an alien world (called K-PAX) and the psychiatrist who begins treating him (Jeff Bridges). I think this is the first movie of Spacey's I saw, and I was hooked. He was so good as the "alien" Prot, you find yourself hoping he's telling the truth and is from another planet.

I love how Spacey approaches acting in general. In the movie Se7en, he told them not to give him credit because moviegoers would spend the time waiting for him to show up. You had no idea he was the bad guy until he finally shows up toward the end. Worked perfectly.

And his private life is just that...very private. He says he tries to keep it that way as the less people know about him personally, the easier it is for them to believe he is the person they are watching on the screen. And ya' know what...it's true.

Besides winning two Oscars so far (Supporting Actor in The Usual Suspects, and Best Actor in American Beauty), he has won two Emmys (among other awards) and been nominated for the Golden Globe, the Grammy and many others. He is also a Tony Winning Broadway actor and has been named Artistic Director of the Old Vic Theatre in London, England. And though all of his movies haven't been the best in the world (and I'm thinking of Superman Returns here), his roles have been nothing but perfection.

Being a member of NetFlix, I have a nice list of Kevin Spacey movies just waiting to grace my mailbox. Movies I haven't seen yet, such as 21 and Hurly Burly, and movies I love to watch over and over such as The Usual Suspects and The Ref (another one of my absolute favorites), sit patiently waiting for me to reel them in. And I tingle with anticipation at the prospect of seeing each and every one of them.

Memoirs of a Geisha

2009-02-05T13:16:00.004-05:00

After having read the book Memoirs of a Geisha, I had high hopes for the movie. You'd think I would have learned by now that reading the book first is not a good idea.

OK, it's not that this is not a good movie. It really is a good movie. I'm a fan of Michelle Yeoh, and she did a great job as Mameha. And Ziyi Zhang's portrayal of Sayuri was spot on. Kôji Yakusho was good as Nobu as well, but I was disappointed they took away part of that character's "handicap" as that was really what made him the person he had become in life. The acting was wonderful and the visuals were beautiful. I love the narration aspect of it. For some reason narration movies really appeal to me.

I was a bit disappointed by the elements that were missing in the movie. If I hadn't read the book and known the background of some scenes, I think I would have been a bit confused by them. I know I would have at least had a different idea as to why certain things were happening.

I know that it is virtually impossible to bring a book to the silver screen without making changes and leaving some things out. Movies would be way too long if they contained every detail of the novels they were based upon. That being said, this really is a good movie. If you haven't seen it, it's worth renting. Just be warned, if you've read the book, it's not quite the same. If you haven't read it, you will want to after seeing the movie.

The Big Bang Theory

2009-01-28T13:37:00.003-05:00

OK, the first time I tried to watch this show, I really didn't like it. Thought it was kind of boring in fact. So, I left it alone and forgot all about it, figuring it wouldn't last long anyway. About a year later, the hubs heard about this show and wondered why I'd never mentioned it to him. He borrowed the DVD of the first season from a friend, and we've been working our way through those episodes.

I'm glad I've given this one a second chance. It's not a bad show really. Even better if you know a "geek" type person to watch it with. My husband understands the way Sheldon, Leonard and their friends on this show think. Basically, he "gets" it. Watching it with him seems to help me understand the humor all that much more myself.

This is a pretty quiet little show...kind of a surprise that sneaks up on you. Some of the laughs are a bit subtle, and maybe that's what makes it work so well. I've always liked Johnny Galecki and am glad to see him back on TV. (This part seems to fit him.) The rest of the cast works well also, fitting together like the "geeky" friends they portray. It's a show worth checking out.

The Oscars

2009-01-23T08:20:00.008-05:00

OK, it's that time of year again. Yesterday they announced the nominees for this year's Academy Awards, otherwise known as the Oscars. Not too many surprises actually, although many are disappointed that The Dark Knight wasn't nominated in more categories. Heath Ledger got a nod for Best Supporting Actor, no surprise there, and he was already awarded the Golden Globe in that category. (Incidentally, yesterday was the one year anniversary of Ledger's death. What a huge loss that is still felt in Hollywood.)

The entire list of nominees can be found at http://www.oscar.com/. I will print a few of the major categories here:

BEST PICTURE

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Frost/Nixon

Milk

The Reader

Slumdog Millionaire

BEST DIRECTOR

Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire

David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon

Stephen Daldry, The Reader

Gus Van Sant, Milk

BEST ACTOR

Richard Jenkins, The Visitor

Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon

Sean Penn, Milk

Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

BEST ACTRESS

Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married

Angelina Jolie, Changeling

Melissa Leo, Frozen River

Meryl Streep, Doubt

Kate Winslet, The Reader

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Josh Brolin, Milk

Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight

Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder

Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt

Michael Shannon, Revolutionary Road

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Amy Adams, Doubt

Penélope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Viola Davis, Doubt

Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Bolt

Kung Fu Panda

WALL-E

I love both Josh Brolin and Robert Downey, Jr., but I have to admit that I would really like to see Heath Ledger win, and not just because it would be a sentimental thing. His performance in The Dark Knight was absolutely amazing. He deserved the Oscar for Brokeback Mountain (still can't believe he didn't get it) and he deserves it for this as well.

I haven't seen the movie Bolt yet, but out of the three animated nominees, I'd like to see WALL-E win. That was a great movie.

And the host for this year's awards is Hugh Jackman. YUMMY!!

The Inauguration

2009-01-20T18:16:00.003-05:00

This was the first inauguration I actually watched, and I'm so glad I did. History in the making today. This was a day I have always hoped I would live to see, but a part of me always thought I would be much older before it happened. This is a wonderful day for our country and our world. Hope is returning, and we will make it to the light if we just work together.

Yes we will!

Blogs They Are A-Changin'

2009-01-13T09:01:00.003-05:00

This is just a note to anyone who might actually read this blog. I am making some changes. First, even though I do watch a lot of movies now (Thank you NetFlix.) I also watch a lot of regular television, and I would like to write about that as well. So, I am changing the name of this blog. (Don't ask yet. Haven't decided.)

Also, since the general set-up is changing, I'll be changing the URL as well. (Didn't know I could do that, did ya'?) Starting...well, let's say Wednesday, January 14, 2009...this blog will be moved to http://www.susansviewinglife.blogspot.com/.

In the meantime, take it easy and keep warm.

Hellboy II

2008-12-27T21:34:00.008-05:00

My husband and I love comic book movies. Remember the "old" days when they were cheaply made and in general....well...sucked? Those days are pretty much gone. Now, not all comic book movies are wonderful. Some still lack a bit of something.

Enter Hellboy II. The first movie was great. Hellboy was a surprise hit and a great movie. The sequel was pretty good, but not quite up to the standards of the first one.

Ron Perlman is back as Hellboy, thankfully, but I think the makeup effects in this one have changed somewhat. He doesn't seem as big as he was in the first one. Even the chin is a bit different. Things like that tend to distract me some.

David Hyde Pierce did not return as the voice of Abe Sapien, which is a shame. I thought he was perfect for that character. Not that Doug Jones didn't do a good job, but something was missing.

The storyline was a bit "blah" to say the least. The movie's opening was at first a rehash, then just a few cliches thrown together. The voice-over, which I usually kind of like, just didn't flow well.

Whereas in the first movie, the characters seem to fit together well, in this one they seem to be struggling. The "chemistry" just isn't there. Even the dialog often struggles along as if the actors are having trouble spitting it out.

If you're a fan of the first movie, go ahead and rent this one. It's not real good, but I have seen worse.

Christmas Movies

2008-12-24T20:51:00.008-05:00

What to watch for this holiday, that is the big question isn't it? There are so many "Christmas" movies out there, and many of them aren't worth the time. And then there are those that are shown over and over again during the holidays, and they don't have anything to do with this time of year at all.

Here are some that I would like to recommend.

Of course I have to recommend the movie with what is to me one of the two greatest Christmas songs ever written in the soundtrack. Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without Bing Crosby singing White Christmas. When you throw in the always wonderful Danny Kaye, what's not to like in this film?

As I write this, TBS is going into the second hour of its annual 24-hour A Christmas Story marathon. I love the idea of being able to flip over and catch favorite scenes from this movie any time I want. This is a fun movie, and if you haven't seen it yet, pick up that remote.

I have to admit that I haven't seen The Homecoming in years, but I do remember it fondly. I loved this movie, and what bad can be said about a movie that first introduced us to the Walton family? I loved this family, especially John Boy who was a major childhood crush for me. I used to wish my family could be as loving and "together" as this one.

Of course, there's It's a Wonderful Life and the totally terrific Jimmy Stewart. And I can't even count the number of versions of A Christmas Carol that are floating around out there (although my favorites are The Muppets Christmas Carol and the version done by Patrick Stewart). And don't forget Miracle on 34th Street, which also has many versions to behold. (I'm partial to the one with Richard Attenborough myself.)

In the end, the movies are just a small piece of the pie. Spending your day with someone you love, sharing the gift of your time with each other, is the whipped topping.

Have a great holiday.

Get Smart

2008-12-16T13:46:00.007-05:00

When I was a kid, I spent some summers with my dad in Minnesota. He had a small, one-bedroom apartment and I slept on the pull-out couch, which was absolutely fine with me. I'd sit up late and watch reruns of great shows; Batman, Streets of San Francisco, Kolchak: The Night Stalker...

One of the shows I watched was Get Smart. I had all but forgotten about watching that one until I recently rented the movie. You can tell they did a good job with it since it brought back all the old feelings of the original.

Steve Carell did a great job as Agent Maxwell Smart. As a matter of fact, I can't think of anyone else who could have pulled it off. And Anne Hathaway was a good pick for the role of Agent 99. As a "team," they were a good fit and hopefully we will see them together again...either in a sequel or maybe even a different project altogether. And Dwayne Johnson (AKA The Rock) was funny as heck. He's actually turning into a pretty good actor, and is not afraid to poke a bit of fun at himself even.

I caught one cameo by a veteran of the original series, and it was a quick one. But fun all the same. And I will say there was one scene I could have done without (I think I've mentioned my aversion to bathroom-type humor in earlier posts.), but it was a very short scene, so not much of a big deal.

This was a very funny movie. The only thing I can think of that would have made it better would have been for Don Adams to have been alive to make an appearance of his own. He would have like this one.

Tropic Thunder

2008-12-15T14:07:00.004-05:00

OK, I am not a big Ben Stiller fan. For the most part, I can skip his movies completely and not be too terribly worried about it. But, I am a Robert Downey, Jr. fan. So, I decided to give this flick a chance.

I'm really on the fence about this movie for the most part. There were some scenes I could really have done without - not a big fan of bathroom humor and such as that. Jack Black digging around in his underwear trying to find a gun he'd hidden there was a bit much, and some of the opening scenes with the fake blood and guts were more than a bit much, but the movie was still pretty funny.

The last scene with the director made me laugh like crazy. I won't say what happened in case someone hasn't seen this yet, but I will say it was totally unexpected. Another hilarious moment near the end of the movie came when Ben Stiller was running out of the camp with the child on his back...well, you have to see it...and keep your eyes on that kid. Funny as heck.

Robert Downey, Jr. plays an Australian actor who had his skin darkened and such so he could play an African-American character. Since he has such a reputation of getting into his characters, I'd like to think he was poking fun at not only actors in general, but at himself specifically.

And when it comes to Tom Cruise, I am definitely not a fan. But even I have to admit he was pretty funny in this one.

This isn't a movie you would absolutely regret not seeing, but it's good for some mindless laughs.

Juno

2008-11-24T05:15:00.005-05:00

Every so often a movie comes along that is just simply perfection from beginning to end. Juno is such a movie. I love this one. The acting is stupendous, especially when it comes to Ellen Page who plays pregnant teen Juno MacGuff. She was wonderfully flawless, delivering her lines as if they were written specifically for her. She was nominated for the Oscar for this one, and I'm really kind of surprised she didn't win.

J.K. Simmons and Allison Janney, two of my favorite actors, play Juno's father and stepmother and both do a great job. These aren't the usual teen pregnancy movie parents who go nuts and yell at their wayward daughter. Her news is met with surprise but also support for what is ultimately her decision. And Michael Cera as Juno's bewildered boyfriend Paulie Bleeker is funny and even sometimes frustrating. You wonder if he is ever going to really get his mind around what is happening.

Everyone in this cast did a great job, and the story manages to avoid being a cliche, which is amazing for a subject that has been done to death in the past. Diablo Cody is the writer of this little gem, and I really hope she can keep up this quality with her future works. The dialogue is snappy, witty and quick; and Cody's Oscar award is well-deserved.

If you haven't seen this yet, rush right out and rent it. It deserves five stars and then some.

Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay

2008-11-19T13:52:00.004-05:00

I have just one thing to say about this movie. I WANT THOSE 102 MINUTES OF MY LIFE BACK!!!!

Stephen King's The Stand

2008-11-09T04:57:00.002-05:00

I am a big fan of Stephen King...well, his older work anyway. His newer stuff just isn't up to par if you ask me. Out of everything his has written, The Stand is by far his masterpiece. Most people know, there are two versions of the book. I read the second, uncut version and loved it.

Which brings me to the 1994 mini-series based on this book, also a masterpiece. This movie stuck with the story pretty well, something that rarely seems to happen now-a-days. Now, it's not perfect since it was based on the original release of the book, a bit shorter than the uncut version. And of course some characters were omitted and others combined for the sake of simplification for television. But I don't think it loses much if anything along the way.

For those not familiar with the story, The Stand is set in a time when what appears to be a biological weapon is accidentally released from a military base. As Captain Tripps, as the illness comes to be called, tears its way through the population, survivors are drawn to two very different people who exemplify good and evil. Mother Abigail Freemantle (Ruby Dee) is a servant of God, while Randall Flagg (Jamey Sheridan) appears to possibly be the Devil himself. A great battle is brewing and the prize is the world itself.

Gary Sinese is great, as usual, and was a wonderful choice for the character of Stu Redman. Even Molly Ringwald, whom I had serious doubts about, did a great job as Frannie Goldsmith. The cast is a veritable who's-who of Hollywood talent, some very well-known at the time, some not so much. Out of all of them, I have to say Rob Lowe as Nick Andros was probably my favorite. He was great as the deaf-mute Andros and deserved more raves for his work than he actually received at the time.

Even after 14 years, this movie really holds up. I've even watched it in its entirety in one sitting and not been bored or frustrated. That's saying a lot for a mini-series. I haven't read the book in quite a while though. I think it's about time I dig it out again.

The Incredible Hulk

2008-11-03T19:00:00.006-05:00

OK, we are going to forget Ang Lee's Hulk from 2003. Shouldn't be too hard since it was so utterly forgettable. I was very disappointed in that one. Ang Lee did amazing things with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, so I was hopeful when I heard he would be bringing one of the most well-known comic book characters to life. Boy were my hopes dashed.

This year we were "blessed" with director Louis Leterrier's version of the big green guy. The Incredible Hulk was much better than its predecessor. Edward Norton did a good turn as Dr. Bruce Banner, harking back to Bill Bixby in a way. Bixby's character from the television series was such a mild-mannered, likable guy; and Norton exudes the same type personality. Liv Tyler does a good job as well as Elizabeth "Betty" Ross. She and Norton seem to fit pretty well together, and I hope both return for any future sequels. (Come on. You know there's going to be a sequel.)

I have to say I loved the bit of a nod to the old series and Bill Bixby. First, as Norton is flipping through channels on the TV, he comes across a rerun of The Courtship of Eddie's Father, Bill Bixby's series that ran from 1969 - 1972. Then at one point when Norton is walking down the road, we hear the familiar music that played at the end of each episode of the old series as Bixby left town. And Norton trying to say the old "Don't make me angry" line in Portuguese was hilarious.

This movie was great visually, and the storyline was well done. Stan Lee made his usual cameo appearance, and Lou Ferrigno was there as well. (Yes, they were both in Ang Lee's version as well, but we're forgetting that one. Remember?) William Hurt did well as General Ross, and Tim Roth was wonderfully power hungry as Major Emil Blonsky. (No redeeming qualities there.)

I wish I had seen this movie in the theater instead of The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, but there's not much I can do about that now. It is definitely worth renting, and possibly buying. And watch the end for a tie-in with another summer hit. The way comic books work, they could make endless movies from the world of Marvel. (Hopefully they'll be good ones.)

The Bucket List

2008-11-01T18:59:00.004-04:00

If you're looking for a funny, poignant movie full of sentimentality, this is it. The Bucket List teams up Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson as two men suffering from terminal illness. Carter Chambers (Freeman) is a working class auto mechanic and Edward Cole (Nicholson) is a corporate billionaire who end up sharing a hospital room. They become friends and when Carter starts a list of things he wants to do before he "kicks the bucket," Edward adds his own items to the list and off they go.

I was worried this movie would fall into cliched drivel, as so many of these types of movies do, but it was actually pretty good. Yeah, it may be a bit of a cliche in spots, but it holds up well. Freeman is one of my favorite actors, and although I'm not a big Nicholson fan, I really liked him in this movie.

Sean Hayes, who was delightful as Jack in Will & Grace, does a marvelous turn as Edward's assistant. His scenes are really brief, but they work so well. He plays a great straight man in this one.

The Bucket List makes you think about what you would do if you had a short time to live. It literally asks the questions "Have you found joy in your life?" and "Has your life brought joy to others?" (Two questions everyone should ask themselves.)

Pretty good movie. I liked how the ending turned out. (Not quite as expected.) Worth renting.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

2008-10-29T23:41:00.005-04:00

I loved Raiders of the Lost Ark. I even thought Temple of Doom was pretty good. The Last Crusade was closer to the caliber of Raiders, and will always be one of my favorite movies. Kingdom of the Crystal Skull...well, it was kinda pretty good.

Now, I'm not trying to be harsh. It wasn't a terrible movie, and I may even watch it again one day. But, it's not up to Raiders standards.

I will admit it was kind of nice to see Harrison Ford back in the fedora. Yeah, he's getting a bit old for this stuff, but the nostalgia factor was in full force with this movie. And connecting it around to the first one by having Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen) come back into his life was a great step as well.

Another great choice was Shia LaBeouf as Mutt Williams. My husband and I have been watching him since the days of Even Stevens. He's a good actor with great comedic timing, and his talents are not wasted here. There are rumors that they plan on continuing the Indy franchise with him taking over the lead role, a rumor Steven Spielberg flatly denies. I think it would work, as Shia has shown he can handle action movies with no problem what-so-ever, but I really hope they don't do that. This movie should be it since loose ends have been well wrapped up.

As movies go, I've seen better, but if you're an Indy fan, you have to see it.

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dreamhouse

2008-10-06T05:14:00.005-04:00

This movie may have come out in 1948, but it is still so very relevant today. (Anyone who has ever gone through the pains of renovating or building a home can attest to that.) After all these years, this movie is still delightfully fun.

Cary Grant is, to me, one of the greatest actors of all time...especially when it comes to comedy. He is such the straight-man, struggling to deal with the "crazies" around him. In this movie, those crazies are his kids, his maid, his wife, his best friend and the myriad of workmen who come together to build...well, his dream house. Myrna Loy, another favorite of mine from The Thin Man movies, plays Blandings' wife, and as usual, she is clever as heck. Melvyn Douglas plays the ever-suffering best friend and adds a bit of narration. They all come together to make a delightfully funny movie. Add in the "subplot" about the ad campaign for Wham (a "canned pork product" which I assume is loosely based on Spam) and you cannot watch this movie without laughing.

I am not a fan of "bathroom" humor, and toady's movies seem to be filled with those types of jokes. It's nice to be able to grab a classic like this and laugh without being embarrassed.

Good Night, and Good Luck

2008-10-03T19:53:00.002-04:00

I had such high hopes for this one. I'm not a huge George Clooney fan, but I like him well enough. And David Strathairn, who plays Edward R. Murrow, is a wonderful actor. As a person who thinks censorship and the like is basically a mortal sin, I feel Joseph McCarthy is one of the most despicable human beings to ever walk the Earth. So, I was looking forward to this movie; a look at how Edward R. Murrow and Fred W. Friendly brought down the fear monger that was McCarthy.

OK, I knew it wasn't going to be an action flick. I guess you could say it's more of a docudrama maybe. But, did it have to be so boring?!?! I just could not get into this movie. It was slow, dull and disappointing.

Maybe I'll try this one again later. I've picked up novels that I couldn't get through at first, then tried again later on and really liked them. So, I've made a deal with myself to give this one another try in a few months. Who knows....

Iron Man

2008-09-30T12:16:00.008-04:00

(Iron Man released on DVD today)

This is one of the very best superhero/comic book movies I have ever seen. Second only to The Dark Knight. I saw Iron Man in the theater this past summer, which is something I reserve for special effects-type movies. (Movie tickets are just too expensive now-a-days.) I wasn't disappointed in this movie one bit. The effects were way cool, the acting wasn't too over the top, the storyline wasn't too corny (as some can be), etc. Of course, it was a bit unrealistic, but it is a comic book movie after all.

I am a fan of Robert Downey Jr. from way back. He was great in Less Than Zero and pure genius in Chaplin. Of course, as the years went by, he spent more time in the news for his arrests and drug addiction. No sign of those problems here. Downey's acting is as stupendous as it ever was, and in some scenes, he even appears to be poking a bit of fun at himself. His sarcastic, smart alec style of humor is perfect for the part of Tony Stark. (And the fact that he's still pretty hot doesn't hurt either.)

With all the flying through the air and such, probably the most unrealistic part of this movie was Gwyneth Paltrow running around in those impossibly high heels. But that's a guy-created comic book thing. And I have to admit, this was one of the few (if not the only) times I didn't absolutely hate the superhero's "love interest." This movie didn't get all into that, as I'm sure the sequels will at some point, and her character was actually pretty likable. But I'm betting her feet were killing her at the end of the day.

If you didn't get to see this in the theater, or even if you did, rush right down and rent it now. Or, better yet, buy it. This is one worth owning so you can see it over and over again.

Paul Newman

2008-09-28T14:40:00.005-04:00

On Friday, September 26, 2008, we said goodbye to Paul Newman, one of the greatest actors to ever grace the stage and screen.

One of Newman's best known movies, and the first pairing with Robert Redford.

My favorite Redford/Newman film.

This is not one of Newman's best movies, although he did win the Oscar award for his reprisal of the role he originated in The Hustler, Eddie Felson. I think the award was more for his history of work, as is often the case when it comes to the Academy Awards.

There so many great Paul Newman movies. Hombre, The Towering Inferno, Cool Hand Luke, Cars...the list goes on and on. If I put posters up here for my favorites, this blog would be much too long.

I think it's time for a Paul Newman film festival. What better way to celebrate his life and career.

The Forbidden Kingdom

2008-09-23T21:38:00.002-04:00

It's about time someone decided to put together Jackie Chan and Jet Li.

This is one of those "kid gets beat up, kid escapes into a fantasy world, kid returns to own world and beats up the bully" movies. And it's a good one, too. Jason (Michael Angarano) is obsessed with Kung Fu movies. He buys bootleg copies at a shop in Chinatown, where he also comes across a staff belonging to the Monkey King. Through a series of events, he ends up in Ancient China where he teams up with Lu Yan (Jackie Chan), Golden Sparrow (Yifei Liu) and the Silent Monk (Jet Li) in order to return the staff to The Monkey King (also Jet Li). This is an action-packed ride and well worth renting, even if you've already seen it. The fight between Chan and Li will go down as one of the great martial art movie fights, and both men have some great funny moments as the story progresses. They really looked like they were having fun.

If you read my previous posting about the third Mummy movie, you already know I am a big Jet Li fan, and he doesn't disappoint this time around either. And putting him in the mix with Jackie Chan...well, there is just no way this wasn't going to be good.

Lost Boys: The Tribe

2008-09-17T19:10:00.006-04:00

Loved the original so I was set to love this one as well. Boy was I disappointed in this straight to video piece of work. If you like senseless gore, give it a try. I made it about half-way through then gave up. Maybe you'll have better luck.

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension

2008-09-04T19:53:00.004-04:00

Remember this movie? I caught it this morning on one of the movie channels. What a hoot.

From 1984, this movie is about Buckaroo Banzai, a real renaissance man. He is a top neurosurgeon, particle physicist, race car driver, rock star and comic book hero. He is also the last hope of the human race when his latest experiments open the door to the 8th dimension and unwittingly start an interplanetary battle for the world.

And talk about an all-star cast. I did not realize how many "names" there were in this movie. Peter Weller of course is Buckaroo Banzai. Add to him Jeff Goldblum, Clancy Brown, John Lithgow, Ellen Barkin, Christopher Lloyd...way too many to name them all. Wow! I think they just went through Hollywood and pulled in anyone who needed a job at the time. ;-)

This is a silly movie, but a lot of fun. If you haven't watched it lately, I'd dig it up and give it a look. Pop some real popcorn, not the low-cal microwave stuff we eat now, sit back and relive the 80's, Banzai-style.

Clerks

2008-08-29T21:49:00.004-04:00

This 1994 movie is still hilarious today. Kevin Smith was hailed as a genius and for good reason. This is his first movie, and it was a masterpiece.

You ever wonder what those clerks in the convenience stores and video stores talk about? Well, watch this movie and you will know. It's a very subdued look at those who serve. And here they serve up the laughs and a study of life in general.

I love independent movies in general. They are usually bright, shining gems. And this is one of the shiniest.

The Life of David Gale

2008-08-27T16:28:00.004-04:00

OK, I make no secret of the fact that I am a big Kevin Spacey fan. He can do almost no wrong in my eyes...I've loved everything I've seen him in.

That being said, this movie is stupendous, and Spacey is riveting in it. One summary on IMDB reads "A University of Texas professor of philosophy and capital punishment abolitionist, David Gale (Kevin Spacey), finds himself on Death Row convicted of murder. Days before his execution, skeptical journalist Bitsey Bloom (Kate Winslet) is sent to conduct David Gale's final interview. Unaware that she would not be investigating Dr. Gale, Bitsey and her sympathetic intern leave to Texas for what is to become a story of a lifetime." The story is told partly through a series of flashbacks and grabs your attention from the beginning.

This is one movie that will make you think long and hard about your position on the death penalty, no matter which side of the issue you fall on. And even if you don't care one way or the other, this is a very good drama. The twists this movie takes will move you in one direction, then take a right turn into another direction. Just when you think you know who did what, you're proven wrong and off it goes again.

If you get a chance, check out The Life of David Gale. It is well worth a first, second or even third look.

The Mist

2008-08-24T13:17:00.005-04:00

I was so disappointed in this movie. For the most part, it wasn't too bad. It's been a while since I read the original story, so I was willing to give it the benefit of a doubt. There were a lot of "name" actors in it, so the expectations were kind of high there as well. In some parts, there was just too much going on at once. In others, you were waiting for something to happen. But, the worst of all was the ending. Why they felt they had to change it from the ending in the story I'll never know. The story's ending was perfect, left you guessing. This one was one HUGE cliche. I really am getting tired of movies that fall back on the usual. What happened to original thought and pulling out the unusual?

If you are a big Stephen King fan, yeah, you'll want to see this. If you're local rental place has a cheap rental day, I'd get it then. Or better yet, catch it on one of the movie channels when it comes on. Why pay extra for what will be a bit of a disappointment?!?

Vantage Point

2008-08-22T12:30:00.002-04:00

Not a bad movie. Reminded me a bit of the whole Kennedy thing, of course, but the different points of view leaves you pretty much guessing for most of it. Just when you think you have it all figured out, it takes a bit of a turn.

I have always like Dennis Quaid, and he doesn't disappoint in this movie. Add in Matthew Fox, Forest Whitaker, Richard T. Jones, William Hurt....so many great actors...and you have a great cast going. This movie is worth a look.

One sticking point: William Hurt, who plays the president, made a comment about Quaid's character, who has come back to guard the president after taking a bullet for him a year earlier. Hurt says something about Quaid being hard on himself for what happened a year ago. They don't go any further into it, and I was wondering why he would be hard on himself. He blocked the bullet meant for the president, saving the man's life. Makes sense that he would be a bit shaky, but there's nothing for him to regret. Odd.

Other than that, and that is a SMALL point, the movie moves along well. You see the same situation from 8 points of view. They show you one point of view, rewind back and show you another, then do it again. I wasn't surprised at who turned out to be a bad guy, but was surprised at how he was discovered.

Good movie, great cast...'nuff said.

Jumper

2008-08-20T10:22:00.003-04:00

This is going to be a short review. I had such high hopes for this movie, and it failed to live up to them. The premise was a good one and had so much potential, but it just didn't quite hit the mark. It was a bit boring in parts and never felt like the big cinema experience it could have been. To be honest, it felt more like the pilot for a television series, and would have done well in that venue. It's almost perfect for that as a matter of fact; a weekly series with an infinite supply of stories. I just hope they don't make a sequel to this. That would be like beating a dead horse. If you're really, really bored and just need to kill some time...rent this one; or better yet, wait until it's on television. Otherwise, I would steer clear.

Told you this would be short. :)

The Mummy: The Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

2008-08-18T17:20:00.000-04:00

The same day we saw The Dark Knight, we also saw The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. As a matter of fact, we saw this movie first and walked out wishing we had just skipped it. Disappointed? Yeah, you might say that.

I am a Jet Li fan. It's just amazing, watching him in his movies' fight scenes. He makes it look like a dance. So, when I saw how little he fought in this movie, that was a big disappointment. There was a fight scene with Brendan Fraser, but it just wasn't long enough to really show Li's prowess. Most of the Li fight scenes were actually done with the CGI creature he had become as the mummy.

The whole father/son relationship between Rick and Alex O'Connell (Brendan Fraser & Luke Ford) didn't fit at all. They just didn't connect. And as much as I like Maria Bello (Been a fan since her ER days.) there just wasn't any chemistry between her and Fraser either. I think it would have been a safer bet to write the character of Evelyn out as opposed to recasting it.

There were some good scenes in this movie. I loved the Yeti. They were pretty funny and helped to bring back some of the feeling of the original mummy movie. The scene where Fraser's character is hurt and they have to get him to the fountain....well, it was more than cliche. It was way over-done cliche. Reminded me too much of the scene in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade when Indy's father is injured and they have to get the holy grail in order to heal him.

This isn't the worst movie I've ever seen, and I'm sure I'll see worse in the future. But, if you haven't seen this one yet, it's worth it to wait until it comes out on DVD.

THE DARK KNIGHT

2008-08-17T11:41:00.000-04:00

OK, let's set aside all the Heath Ledger talk for a moment and concentrate on the film in general.

This movie rocks, and considering it clocks in at two and a half hours, it has to in order to keep your attention. Not once did I feel like getting up out of my seat and walking around. Not once did I wonder out of boredom when it was going to end. Not once did I feel like it was too much already. This movie keeps you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. There are scenes that seem as if the ending is near, as if they are starting to come up to the ultimate climax of the movie. Then you're suddenly pulled back from that edge and pushed off toward another. It's like a roller coaster ride that never ends, and you never want it to.

Now for the inevitable discussion about Heath's portrayal of The Joker. Many people are saying that the only reason he is receiving such raves is because he's dead and this is one of his last performances. I don't know about some people, but that's not why I'm raving about it. He was wonderful. So very creepy and odd and insane. The psyche of The Joker has always been something to cringe away from and study all at the same time, and Heath brings you to the edge of the insanity and very nearly pushes you over. I think he will get an Oscar nod for this but am not sure about a win. This type of movie is not known for that kind of accolade. (If he does win, I'm thinking it will be more of a nod toward his performance in Brokeback Mountain, which he should have won for in the first place.)

Now let me say that I am a big Tommy Lee Jones fan, but he just wasn't the right person to play Harvey "Two-Face" Dent. Aaron Eckhart on the other hand was perfect. He has the wonderful good looks that Dent is supposed to have, and comes across well as the absolutely honest D.A. he is supposed to be. And when he becomes Two-Face, watch out. The makeup alone will creep you out. (I'm not posting a photo showing the full makeup because I don't want to spoil it for those who haven't seen the movie yet. If there is anyone out there who hasn't.) Even my husband, the comic book movie perfectionist, wasn't disappointed with this character. (As a matter of fact, the only thing remotely disappointing was what they did to Batman's voice. Bale does a slightly deeper voice when he's "playing" Batman instead of Bruce Wayne, which makes sense. Wayne would want to disguise his voice, and making it deeper also serves to make him more ominous. But in this movie, they also digitally altered it on top of that, going a bit overboard in the process. At times, he's a bit hard to understand.)

Christian Bale was great as Batman, as he was in Batman Begins. Sir Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman work well in what are really pretty small but very essential parts. They both act a bit as Batman/Bruce Wayne's conscience. Gary Oldman surprised me in the first movie as Jim Gordon, the ultimate honest cop, and he again handles the role as if it was written for him in the first place.

If you've already seen this movie, then you know it would be worth it to spend the money to see it yet again on the big screen. If you haven't seen it, what the heck are you waiting for?