Movies during the Holiday
I haven’t posted my reviews for the movies that I went to see during the holiday vacation, and since I’ve fallen so behind I thought I’d trunk them into one post. Sorry about that. I saw 4 movies that I’ve been anticipating for a while and one that my brother dragged me to, Alien v. Predator. The movies were, placed in the order of viewing; I am Legend, Sweeney Todd, Juno and August Rush. Hit the jump to read my thoughts. Enjoy!
*PREPARE FOR SPOILERS!!*
Rating: 
I am Legend is based on the novel by Richard Matheson, this is the 3rd time this movie is remade, and the directors still can’t get it ‘right’. The book is about the last man on earth, who is surrounded by vampires after some scientific catastrophe has turned a solution into a horrible genetic mistake. I haven’t finished reading the book, actually, I started to read it and then kept picking up other books- so someday I hope to pick this up again. I do know a lot of people who have read the book though, my Mr. and best bud Tarence are some of those people, and from what they tell me, a lot of coulda-been cool scenes got cut out. At the end of the evening I really did enjoy the movie. I thought there were some great cg effects, especially the scenes in Times Square. It was way to weird seeing TS in such a desolate state. I live in New York, about a mile away from Times Square and well, the thought of something like this happening was very chilling. Remember, movies reflect the fears in our society, this movie definitely captures the fears.
Rating:
Sweeney Todd was exactly what I needed. I am unfortunately very biased in my opinion of this movie. I am such a Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, Helena Bohnam Carter fan girl. Notice how I wrote all three names? They are the perfect Holleywood threesome! Sweeney Todd is based on the gruesome story of a barber whose is accused of a crime he didn’t commit so that a sleezy judge could steal his woman. When he returns, 14 years later, he seeks revenge on ALL the people who sent him away. Once he slices their throats, Mrs. Lovett bakes them into meat pies! Yum. This book turned play, turned play, turned movie, is a MUSICAL!!
That being said, if you’re not into musicals, you’re simply not going to like this movie. Johnny Depp can hold a note, Helena is awesome, and seeing Alan Rickman (the 4th member to my perfect threesome- I lovers him plenty too) sing too… that dirty perv, was awesome. I thought its was bloody gruesome and I enjoyed hearing the old ladies next to me squirm. Lovely. If you like a dark movie, this would be it.
Rating:
Umm… My brother informed me he wanted to see this movie since the first trailer was out. I wasn’t up for seeing it, especially since the last AVP movie BOMBED, bad! This movie was a step-up, but far from being great. I like predator, according to the last movie we side with this beast, and the Alien movies on their own are great on their own, but this movie really didn’t need ANY talking whatsoever.
This movie would’ve been great on its own if all we heard were humans screaming. The reason why people showed up to watch the movie was to see Alien battle Predator. Did I need to know that nameless actress number one is a whore? Did I need to know that nameless actress number two just got back from Iraq? Not at all. I know I’m human, and shouldn’t root for our deaths in a movie, but the “acting” was really unnecessary. What tops it all, was the finale. I like the way the US Army woman managed to save herself and nameless actors. The US came to the rescue, WOW!! I love the US for the opportunities that it has granted me, but the movie did get very patriarchal.
Rating:
Uh! I’m not sure why I wanted to see this movie. I’m into indie films, and well, I think I saw a trailer or read about it through one of the film festivals, and was intrigued. The movie follows main character, Juno, through a teen pregnancy. This movie is a somewhat current representation of the epidemic of teen pregnancy in America, set in SUBURBIA. This movie was worth the watch though. The first twenty minutes were a little pretentious for me, with the mixture of new-age-slang-lingo. I wish I went more prepared, I took notes of some things I didn’t want to forget, but I really wish I was able to jot all the terminology. Oh but thanks to the powers of IMDB, I can show you:
Leah: Yo Yo Yiggady Yo.
Juno MacGuff: I’m pregnant.
Leah: What? Honest to blog?
Juno MacGuff: This is not a food baby all right? I’ve taken like three pregnancy tests, and I’m forshizz up the spout.
Leah: How did you even generate enough pee for three pregnancy tests?
Juno MacGuff: I’m telling you I’m pregnant and you’re acting shockingly caviler.
Leah: Is this for real?
Juno MacGuff: Yes.
Leah: Foo get Thailand!
Uh, who says, “honest to blog?” or “forshizz?” It was quite apparent that the crew was totally in it to score some new trendy sayings. I hope it doesn’t catch on, although, I probably wouldn’t mind saying honest to blog, just because I hold blogging so dearly. The movie was quite refreshing, to a certain degree. I expected to watch the story of two teenagers trying to figure out how they were going to raise this child, but it turned into something that I admired. She, Juno, realized she was too young to be a responsible mother and offered her child up for adoption.
The relationship she established with these soon-to-be parents was rather interesting. It seems she inadvertently managed to make Jason Bateman’s character remember his bachelor days. For a second I thought this witty comedy was going to turn dark, with a possible sexual harassment, but thankfully it didn’t. I liked it, almost LOVED it, that’s my final verdict.
P.S. All toy lovers should enjoy the art of Tara McPherson, it makes an appearance a number of times.
Rating:
I’ve been wanting to see this movie since forever! The movie is about a boy in foster care, who’s in search of his parents. His belief is that music is going to re-unite them. And, as you can probably guess, that is exactly what happens in the end. The acting was rather lame, even though FELICITY and The Tudor’s stars in it. Keri Russel and Jonathan R. Meyers’ both meet up randomly after their own separate concerts, and sleep together. That whore. Her father is controlling and doesn’t want her to ruin her cello career. Therefore, when she gets into an accident, having a scesarian- her father puts the child into a home and makes her believe he died. Years later, at his death bed, he tells her the truth- and somehow the stars align and all of them are in NYC at the same time. I guess it was fate?
Unfortunately, the cheesiness continues throughout the movie and it was a little too much for me. This movie would’ve gotten a higher rating if they made this situation slightly more realistic. First, the kid is a total prodigy. He’s never played an instrument and somehow he plays a great guitar solo. The he manages to play the piano and on top of that, the ORGAN. Uh… a little unbelievable. It is a movie, I realize this, but they could’ve done better. The finally earned this movie it’s 6th star, even though it was as cheesy as the entire movie, I thought it was beautiful. It made me hopeful of kids in the “system”. I hope to help kids like this someday.
That is all people. Share your thoughts on some of the movies you’ve been watching, I’ll be sure to try to write mine right after I watch a film so I write better reviews. Enjoy and thanks for stopping by.