This film was one that I enjoyed watching and while it dealt with a world I have no desire to even be a part of I found it and the special features excellently put together. The deleted scenes had a play all at the top so it shows that the DVD designer was an intelligent individual. It is a pet peeve of mine when you cannot just press play all.
This was a fairly clean film from a "worldly" film stand point. It was replete with the hints and inferences of sex but none was seen. That is the way it should be in my book. I commend director David Frankel for his much improved tastefulness over his more recent endeavors namely, Sex in the City or Rome, both were too graphic to be watched in good conscious.
Anne Hathaway was brilliant and totally believable in her portrayal Andrea Sachs and Meryl Streep was fabulous in role of Miranda Priestly; She was deserving of her Oscar-nomination for this role. I also enjoyed Stanley Tucci as I almost always do. He is a great actor.
The thing that this film did that doesn't happen often is that I was thinking about the message that it left with me. If you are on a path and you realize you have made a mistake you can change you direction and find the life you are looking for after all. I cringed as I watched Andrea transform from a fashion 9-1-1 to a high fashion power figure. I kept thinking just quit this job is destroying you and your life. Yet it was a very honest transformation too. It didn't have the feel of contrivance that many movies seem to do when the writer just through in a situation that makes no sense save the sense that it got the story to that point in spite of it being completely contrary to the character's actions.
All and all, this was a very good film for you and your someone special to relax on the couch and enjoy. It is a serious coming of age drama and completely worth renting.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Friday, June 22, 2007
She's The Man - 4.5 Star Comedy
The story is nothing new. Its a remake of the Bard's age old and much loved masterpiece, Twelveth Night; BUT what it lacks in "originality" it makes up for in shear comedy. This is very much worth renting!
There are tons of laughs and awkward moments to prompt even more laughter. I found it a fun watch. Though it isn't for the kiddos as one would gather from the rating. It really isn't. There is there is even quite a bit of old time comedic innuendo, which is to be expected from The Twelveth Night's latest remake and it delivered. Yet it was delivered in a mostly tactful method.
One of my favorite characters is really a minor one but she is so hilarious that you just can't help enjoying every minute she is on screen. Who you ask? Eunice. Yes the chick with the braces. She is delivers in a big way.
The rest of the story is quite enjoyable and rough as it was the soccer wasn't that bad either. The final soccer game was a predictable yet absolutely hilarious scene. The interaction between Mom and Dad was humorous too; especially the father's total nonchalance about his children's behavior.
There are tons of laughs and awkward moments to prompt even more laughter. I found it a fun watch. Though it isn't for the kiddos as one would gather from the rating. It really isn't. There is there is even quite a bit of old time comedic innuendo, which is to be expected from The Twelveth Night's latest remake and it delivered. Yet it was delivered in a mostly tactful method.
One of my favorite characters is really a minor one but she is so hilarious that you just can't help enjoying every minute she is on screen. Who you ask? Eunice. Yes the chick with the braces. She is delivers in a big way.
The rest of the story is quite enjoyable and rough as it was the soccer wasn't that bad either. The final soccer game was a predictable yet absolutely hilarious scene. The interaction between Mom and Dad was humorous too; especially the father's total nonchalance about his children's behavior.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Just My Luck - 4 Star Date Movie
This was another blind pick by my wife and as usual it was worth watching and possibly worth owning. Yes, Just My Luck is a "chick flick" if you are a closet lover of these movies then you will love this movie.
I was impressed by Lindsay Lohan's confident portrayal of Ashley. She has several fun comedic moments through out the film that make you laugh out loud. Though honestly it is the Chris Pine who in my view is the heart of this movie. Chris plays Jake and let me tell you that the "unlucky" Jake sequences are quite funny indeed. The intro to the movie illustrates the difference in their two lives. Jake is unlucky in everything and yet he seems very accepting of his bad luck and rolls with its constant barrage of slapstick comedy. While Ashley just rolls with and even expects her luck to make her day go perfectly. Yet she is ungrateful of its blessings.
The two meet and share a magical kiss that passes the luck to Jake and the unluck to Ashley. Ashley's life falls apart in ways only a screen writer could manufacture and yet it works rather well. While on the other hand Jake's life is coming together faster than the lyrics of a country song played backwards.
The comedy that ensues as Ashley tries to discover the identity of the man she kissed at the masked gala is funny if at times predictable. Though I have to say the sequence with the mud wrestler waiter was unexpected.
The ultimate love story side of the movie was enjoyable and since the luck would change every time they kiss it obviously took most of the move for Ashley to realize that it was a masked Jake that she kissed.
When she does the story takes the somewhat predictable twist of "girl leaves boy only to return". Predictable as it was it is well acted and her motivation for the action is purely out of concern for someone other than herself. It is a side of the story that I really approved of seeing. Then there was the predictable "girl leaves boy and boy chases girl to train station" routine. Yet again it was still enjoyable and the ending of the luck itself is interesting. I found the underlying message enjoyable and well worth watching again.
From a special features stand point this DVD was lacking. It came in with only 3 deleted scenes and they didn't play all as most good DVD's do. There were not bloopers or other such items and the remainder of the features were on the other side of the DVD.
Until next review I leave you with the Overall Rating fro Just My Luck.
4 Stars for Story
4 Stars for the Acting
3.5 Stars for the Music
1 Star for DVD features
I was impressed by Lindsay Lohan's confident portrayal of Ashley. She has several fun comedic moments through out the film that make you laugh out loud. Though honestly it is the Chris Pine who in my view is the heart of this movie. Chris plays Jake and let me tell you that the "unlucky" Jake sequences are quite funny indeed. The intro to the movie illustrates the difference in their two lives. Jake is unlucky in everything and yet he seems very accepting of his bad luck and rolls with its constant barrage of slapstick comedy. While Ashley just rolls with and even expects her luck to make her day go perfectly. Yet she is ungrateful of its blessings.
The two meet and share a magical kiss that passes the luck to Jake and the unluck to Ashley. Ashley's life falls apart in ways only a screen writer could manufacture and yet it works rather well. While on the other hand Jake's life is coming together faster than the lyrics of a country song played backwards.
The comedy that ensues as Ashley tries to discover the identity of the man she kissed at the masked gala is funny if at times predictable. Though I have to say the sequence with the mud wrestler waiter was unexpected.
The ultimate love story side of the movie was enjoyable and since the luck would change every time they kiss it obviously took most of the move for Ashley to realize that it was a masked Jake that she kissed.
When she does the story takes the somewhat predictable twist of "girl leaves boy only to return". Predictable as it was it is well acted and her motivation for the action is purely out of concern for someone other than herself. It is a side of the story that I really approved of seeing. Then there was the predictable "girl leaves boy and boy chases girl to train station" routine. Yet again it was still enjoyable and the ending of the luck itself is interesting. I found the underlying message enjoyable and well worth watching again.
From a special features stand point this DVD was lacking. It came in with only 3 deleted scenes and they didn't play all as most good DVD's do. There were not bloopers or other such items and the remainder of the features were on the other side of the DVD.
Until next review I leave you with the Overall Rating fro Just My Luck.
4 Stars for Story
4 Stars for the Acting
3.5 Stars for the Music
1 Star for DVD features
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Full Metal Panic - DVD Series (Disks 1-7)
There is much about this series that I like. From a sci-fi perspective the Arm Slaves are flat out cool. The technology of the Doddona submarine is very cool.
The aspect of the plot that screams Japanime is that the heros are 16 year olds and completely incharge of this special section of Mithril. The value of the Doddona is likely in the Billions and the captain is a 16 year old struggling with hormones. I doubt that one seriously, but suspending reality is what this storyline is all about. The only young character who has credibility is Soske and that only because he was a child when he was taken in by a small band of gorilla fighters in a place that is somewhat reminiscent of Afghanistan.
The characters are okay except for Soske and Kanami, they are hilarious to watch as they do their dance around each other. They are completely clueless initially how to relate to one another. But they do develop a much closer relationship as the story progresses. By the end Kanami was showing signs of maturity.
The villain Garrin technically should have died at the conclusion of disk 6; but I guess they couldn't bring themselves to do it. Thus the maniac lives to torture Mithril another day literally. Though the less than believeable the final combat scene between Soske and Garrin was interesting. [SPOILER: Thankfully Garrin is finally a goner for good strapped into a 300-ton explosion sinking into the depths of the ocean.]
This anime adventure however is not for the kids. There is cartoon violence and strongly suggestive images toward the end of the series episodes (between 19-24) .
The DVD is easy to navigate and the piracy warnings are a regular riot and well worth listening to again. I wish more movies did this style of warning. Then I wouldn't hate the darn redundant warnings. The nice thing about the DVD is that you can skip the opening sequence straight into the story which is nice since the opening sequence default is the riske sort. The production images in the special features section aren't too bad with the exception of disk 7 which includes the questionable images of Kanami as "conscience" of the Doddona.
The aspect of the plot that screams Japanime is that the heros are 16 year olds and completely incharge of this special section of Mithril. The value of the Doddona is likely in the Billions and the captain is a 16 year old struggling with hormones. I doubt that one seriously, but suspending reality is what this storyline is all about. The only young character who has credibility is Soske and that only because he was a child when he was taken in by a small band of gorilla fighters in a place that is somewhat reminiscent of Afghanistan.
The characters are okay except for Soske and Kanami, they are hilarious to watch as they do their dance around each other. They are completely clueless initially how to relate to one another. But they do develop a much closer relationship as the story progresses. By the end Kanami was showing signs of maturity.
The villain Garrin technically should have died at the conclusion of disk 6; but I guess they couldn't bring themselves to do it. Thus the maniac lives to torture Mithril another day literally. Though the less than believeable the final combat scene between Soske and Garrin was interesting. [SPOILER: Thankfully Garrin is finally a goner for good strapped into a 300-ton explosion sinking into the depths of the ocean.]
This anime adventure however is not for the kids. There is cartoon violence and strongly suggestive images toward the end of the series episodes (between 19-24) .
The DVD is easy to navigate and the piracy warnings are a regular riot and well worth listening to again. I wish more movies did this style of warning. Then I wouldn't hate the darn redundant warnings. The nice thing about the DVD is that you can skip the opening sequence straight into the story which is nice since the opening sequence default is the riske sort. The production images in the special features section aren't too bad with the exception of disk 7 which includes the questionable images of Kanami as "conscience" of the Doddona.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Night at the Museum - 4-Star Family Flick
Though I would not rate this movie as a 5-star classic by any stretch; Night at the Museum it is worthwhile family entertainment. It is a movie with heart at times and a message for fathers and sons. And additionally, it has a nice message for us all that we can never win if we give up at the first hurdle in the race.
The story is one that I think I will have to look into getting an unabridged version to listen to sometime in the near future as I am certain much of the charm that was present in the film will be more evident in the author's original words rather than the screenwriter's.
The move had many note-worthy actors and a few scenes too. Especially if you have a passel full of dino-lovers in your crew. There is even an obligatory nod to the classic Jurassic Park scene where the T-Rex is chasing the Jeep. As well as, the Genghis Khan therapy session which was somewhat trite but still I had to laugh.
Ben Stiller is not at the top of my actors list. He has routinely been in rather "B" rated comedies. This movie however is not one of those.
Owen Wilson was Owen Wilson and as usual he was entertaining as Jed. I am glad they gave him a few more scenes that the original cameo he was slated to play.
Robin Williams as Teddy Roosevelt was more in line with the old Robin that we all used to love before he climbed into the Bird Cage days.
Dick Van Dyke was fair though he really didn't have that much on screen time. Though this was the first film that I can recall in which Dick played a villain.
Micky Rooney is looking very old these days but he was quite humorous in his role as the cantankerous Gus.
Well worth renting and watching with the kids, mine are 2,5 & 7 and they all enjoyed it.
The story is one that I think I will have to look into getting an unabridged version to listen to sometime in the near future as I am certain much of the charm that was present in the film will be more evident in the author's original words rather than the screenwriter's.
The move had many note-worthy actors and a few scenes too. Especially if you have a passel full of dino-lovers in your crew. There is even an obligatory nod to the classic Jurassic Park scene where the T-Rex is chasing the Jeep. As well as, the Genghis Khan therapy session which was somewhat trite but still I had to laugh.
Ben Stiller is not at the top of my actors list. He has routinely been in rather "B" rated comedies. This movie however is not one of those.
Owen Wilson was Owen Wilson and as usual he was entertaining as Jed. I am glad they gave him a few more scenes that the original cameo he was slated to play.
Robin Williams as Teddy Roosevelt was more in line with the old Robin that we all used to love before he climbed into the Bird Cage days.
Dick Van Dyke was fair though he really didn't have that much on screen time. Though this was the first film that I can recall in which Dick played a villain.
Micky Rooney is looking very old these days but he was quite humorous in his role as the cantankerous Gus.
Well worth renting and watching with the kids, mine are 2,5 & 7 and they all enjoyed it.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Why should you bother to read...
First, I preview at least fifteen movies a month.
Second, I think most movie reviews are biased at best and second rate.
Third, I have standards that the MPAA doesn't.
Fourth, I love movies.
Fifth, I will even watch some of those oldies and review them.
Sixth, I have a unique rating method (well at least I am unique therefore it must be also)... ;)
Seventh, I have a sense of humor. Not something to over look when a large number of movies are really comedies. Seriously, they are evrn some you thought were serious dramas.
Second, I think most movie reviews are biased at best and second rate.
Third, I have standards that the MPAA doesn't.
Fourth, I love movies.
Fifth, I will even watch some of those oldies and review them.
Sixth, I have a unique rating method (well at least I am unique therefore it must be also)... ;)
Seventh, I have a sense of humor. Not something to over look when a large number of movies are really comedies. Seriously, they are evrn some you thought were serious dramas.
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