Oscar Backlash?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stephen King's The Stand

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

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

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.