Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

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

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

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

(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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?