Thor

Last night, Creative Loafing and MOR hosted a screening of THOR starring Chris Hemsworthand Natalie Portman. It was shown in 3D which was a surprise for most of the patrons becase the movie was not intended for 3D. I did hear some complaints later that the quality was not up to par and some of the pictureseemed blurry at the edges. I, on the other hand, normally donot care for 3D and ended up really enjoying the 3D feature.The movie itself was full of huge explosions and witty retorts.

As the story goes, there are 9 realms of the universe containing Earth and, Thor's homeland, Asgard. Asgard was depicted as a perfect realm lush with golden buildings and a rainbow bridge. It was apparent that most of Asgard was CGI however, I like to think of that part of the story as most authentic to the comic-book feel. It would have been far too difficult to recreate something as perfect as Asgard was intended to be and it was nice that director Kenneth Branagh held to the fun fantasy side of what Thor creator, Stan Lee, had written.

The story was left open ended so that means either another Thor, yay!, or a precursor to The Avengers. Be sure to stay until the very end, after all the credits, as there is another scene. I won't give anything away but it is worth staying for if you are a comic buff.

Rating:

Julie & Julia

Julie & Julia is a charming film full of a reminiscent time, one in which women found such joy in the comfort of the kitchen. Nowadays there are too many things to do and not enough hours in the day. Most women have full time jobs in addition to maintaining a household, a quick and easy meal becomes music to the ears. To certain families, home cooked meal means popping a frozen pizza in the oven. Most families have forgotten what it was like to sit around the dinner table together. Women are losing out on a great joy whilst only gaining a few hours to do things that separate us from our families. The kitchen is the heart of the home and this film begins to show why it is so important to keep that heart pumping. Both Julie and Julia teach us how to find pleasure in cooking rather than pain.

The film was based on a novel written by Julie Powell in 2005 and published by Time Warner Book Group. Powell, played by actress Amy Adams, has set a goal to cook 524 recipes from Julia Child's cook book in 365 days. The storyline switches between Julia Child's life, played by the talented Meryl Streep, and Julie Powell's life to show how both women struggled to find themselves in the kitchen. Most of us go through life in a constant search of one thing that will make us truly happy, the one thing that makes us feel alive. Julie and Julia find the art of cooking makes them feel most alive however, they find this out at different stages of their lives. The resounding theme throughout the film is that it doesn't matter how much experience you have (or lack thereof) or your age (Child and Powell were both in their 30's), just do whatever you love with passion and dedication. Never give up or give in.

The story brings an upbeat, empowering, pure love for cooking to the forefront through Julie and Julia's passion for food. The way both women get so excited and feel so accomplished through the act of cooking makes the audience feel like jumping into the kitchen themselves! I am sure the famous beef bourguignon dish that Powell cooked in the film has made hundreds of audience members go back home and try it for themselves. You could almost taste the savory beef melting in your mouth and the smell of wine simmering on the stove as you watched Powell prepare it on screen. I'm actually salivating right now just thinking about it!

No matter what others say, you must take this film for what it's worth. If you are passionate about cooking or are a fan of Julia Child, Julie & Julia will satisfy your craving for a good time. So, dust off your dinner tables, get into that kitchen, and as Mrs. Child would say "Bon Appetit"!

Rating:

500 Days of Summer

From the opening credits, I had a hard time believing that I would enjoy this movie. I was extremely skeptical, as I always am, of the fact that it was an indie film and the movie poster was all sketchy/artsy and the soundtrack was just too good. I thought they were trying too hard which annoyed me. To me, indies always have a sort of unfinished feel which I despise. When I watch a movie I don't want to worry about the quality, whether acting-wise or directing-wise, that I feel most indie films lack (ex. 2 Days In Paris). I'd rather feel like I'm immersed in the story rather than watching a glorified home video.

That is my very general opinion on independent films however, not all independent films. I must say, 500 Days of Summer has helped nudge me a little closer to the line of trusting these indie films. Something good can actually come out of a low-budget film (when I talk of "indie films", I do mean the low-budget ones) without feeling forced or overly artsy. The director, Marc Webb, created a brilliant balance of a realistic story line with acting talent to satisfying the appetite of both the artsy, indie film go-seers and mainstream audiences.

The narrator of the film begins by telling the audience that "this is not a story of boy meets girl" in order to prepare us for what is come down the road. He flashed a warning sign before a very sharp turn in the story. The warning did not stop the tears from rolling down my cheeks. This is not a happy story of "boy meets girl", the narrator was right in that aspect, rather it is a story of realistic situations and human behavior. Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays a sympathetic good guy who gets screwed over by a charming girl, a role he is familiar with and plays very well, by involving himself in an office romance with the stunning Zooey Deschanel playing Summer Finn. The story takes the audience on a roller coaster of emotions that any intense relationship is bound to have, especially when the relationship involves a man desperately searching for "the one" and a girl glaringly afraid of commitment. There were cracks in the foundation and we were so lucky to see those cracks grow until the relationship crumbs into a pile of dust. There is light that does shine through the cracks as well- though at times very dim light.

What I enjoyed most about this film is the fact that so many people in the world go through exactly what Gordon-Levitt's character experiences and therefore can easily relate. I was even able to sympathize, in a small way, the experiences and excuses Deschanel's character, Summer, spit to her heartbroken boyfriend.

Please do not go into this film thinking it's all terrible and melodramatic. There are parts showing the exciting, fun, spontaneous moments of a loving relationship. At one point in the film, Gordon-Levitt is surrounded by people on the street singing upbeat songs of love! At that point in the film, however, is when I saw it- a small residue of someone from his past. I had a flash back during this part of the film to a scene from 10 Things I Hate About You when Heath Ledger sings "I Love You, Baby" on the stadium bleachers and the marching band joins in. At that moment, after seeing the similarity in the two scenes, I saw Heath Ledger hidden behind the eyes of Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Maybe it was just the scene, but I felt it was more. Something in Gordon-Levitt's eyes made me smile warmly at the thought that somehow Heath Ledger would continue to live in a small sort of way. It was a great thing. A great moment, at least worth seeing 500 Days of Summer if not for any other reason just to see a glimpse of someone who reminds you a tiny bit of that legendary actor, Heath Ledger. As it turns out, I am now a Joseph Gordon-Levitt fan.

Rating:

Yes Man

When I first heard Jim Carrey had a new movie out called Yes Man where he has to say yes to everything, I thought, "Doesn't he already have a movie like that out called Liar, Liar?". Thankfully, it was different enough from the 1997 film Liar, Liar to not be a complete waste of time.

Okay, so Yes Man may sound similar to Liar, Liar as Jim Carrey is the main character in both and can't say "no" when asked a question. But, it's also not the overly hyper 1997 Jim Carrey that we are seeing in Yes Man. Rather, it is a more developed and mature Carrey who still has that bit of charm we all love.
The little treat embedded in this mediocre film is the love interest played by Zooey Deschanel. As a huge fan of hers, I was anticipating a song from her. I was not disappointed. Though the song Deschanel sings, as lead singer in a wacky indie band, is a little out there, her voice is so captivating and pure. I'm sorry to say that it was the highlight of the film. Jim Carrey was lucky to have been saved by such a talented co-star as Zooey Deschanel, otherwise the film would not even be worth watching.
Rating:

I Love You, Man

Paul Rudd, Paul Rudd. You are oh so hilarious...and so darn cute.
The problem with I Love You, Man is that it has two of my current most favorite comedian actors starring in it. Oh, wait! That's not a problem at all!
This is a story about a man named Peter (Rudd) who is engaged to a beautiful woman, Zooey (Jones). However, when it comes down to actually planning the wedding Zooey discovers Peter does not have any male friends for their bridal party. This problem forces Peter to find a man he can call his friend at which point Sydney, played by Jason Segel, comes into the picture.
Unfortunately, Peter is not used to being friends with a guy and puts himself in a number of hilarious awkward situations in which he is left making a fool of himself.
The chemistry between Jason Segel and Paul Rudd is uncanny. The uncomfortable silences, the awkward comments, and the self-conscious glances are absolutely hilarious. The best part of all of these situations Peter (Rudd) finds himself in, is that it brings him to the level of the audience as we have all been in a place like this before. A place in which we want so badly to be liked as much as we like someone else, whether in a relationship of love or friendship. I Love You, Man is a great story about two men finding each other.
Rating:

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Okay, we should just be honest. This film was majorly cheesy. It reeked of cheesiness. But that's the fun of Indiana Jones, is it not? Hm. I think for this film there was a little bit that was just a little too over-the-top Hollywood film-making. Mutt finding a snake for Indiana to grab onto in order to be rescued from the sinking sand? Mutt flying through the air on vines with monkeys? Come on, now. But, if you're a die-hard Indy fan you can't help but get goosebumps when you hear that theme music playing. Of course not. And myself, not even being a huge Indiana Jones fan, got goosebumps and clapped excitedly when I heard the theme song. You gotta love it.
Side note: I greatly respect Shia LaBeouf as an actor, he can do no wrong in my eyes. So, my rating is biased.

Rating:

The Forbidden Kingdom

After viewing many of the summer blockbusters (Iron Man, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) with an overall disappointment, The Forbidden Kingdom starring Jackie Chan and Jet Li was a breath of fresh air. The martial arts in the movie, though censored for young viewers, was great. The director definitely made a point to indulge in the fight scene between Chan and Li lasting approximately ten minutes. The overall feel of the film was a fun and entertaining tale of warriors. I would say that Michael Angarano was mis-cast. You could tell he was struggling with the martial arts choreography which obviously did not come naturally to him. He also lacked the enthusiasm and spunk that would have had a better chemistry with Chan and Li's personalities. However, if you enjoy martial arts and are looking to be entertained, I would recommend this film.

Rating:

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

Off the bat, I will say that this summer blockbuster was most disappointing. Every thing, every creature, every scene was just plain expected. There was absolutely no substance to it whatsoever and unlike the first film in which you were invested in the Narnian creatures (all the talking animals), this film lacked that completely. It was just battle after battle with barely any solidified story yet somehow it turned out to be three hours long! It also bothered me a lot that there were so many parallels to Lord of the Rings (Edmund in trouble at the top of the tower and an eagle saving him, trees helping in battle, and a river swallowing up the enemies). Overall, I was sad that there was a lack of magic and fantasy in the film. I also very much missed seeing Mr. Tumnus (James McAvoy).

Rating:

Send Me No Flowers

Okay, so I admit it. I am a HUGE Doris Day fan. I would venture to say she is one of the most talented women in Hollywood history. She could do it all. Dance. Sing. And especially, Act. And Send Me No Flowers is no exception. She is hilarious. In fact, this trio is hilarious. If you are anything like me, a 40s-50s-60s movie buff, you would recognize Rock Hudson, Tony Randall, and Doris Day in a second (Pillow Talk, Send Me No Flowers, and Lover Come Back). The chemistry between the three actors is so entertaining that even if you're watching them by yourself you can't help but laugh out loud. I would highly recommend this mellow dramatic, over-the-top, romantic-comedy five times over. It was one of the most enjoyable Doris Day movies that I have seen.

Rating:

3:10 To Yuma

In previous western films no one identified hero was prominent, and 3:10 To Yuma was no exception. If you are expecting a happy ending, don't go see this film. I would suggest possibly renting a few old westerns first to get a feel for what you will experience during this film. You will appreciate it much more if you do so.
The director, James Mangold, created the perfect balance between elements from old westerns, such as The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, and modern humor to keep the audience's attention. As much as I dislike Russell Crowe as an actor, he proved himself as an "A-list" actor with an excellent performance as the bandit, Ben Wade. The cast was very well selected ranging from Christian Bale and Peter Fonda to Alan Tudyk and Luke Wilson. The film was extremely entertaining and unlike anything in the theatres right now. It is refreshing to know that classic film-making can still be done so well and can still be appreciated. This is an absolute must-see for young and old movie-goers.
Love it. Love it. Love it.
Score:

Remember When?
Vinessa Shaw (the beautiful bartender, Emmy, in 3:10 to Yuma) was the young Allison in 1993 Halloween flick, Hocus Pocus, starring Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker.
Did You Know?
The original 3:10 To Yuma was filmed in 1957 starring Glenn Ford and Van Heflin.

Shoot 'Em Up

If you are going to the theatre for good, clean fun then I would not recommend this film. However, if you are going for ridiculous entertaining action, I would highly recommend this flick.
Just two minutes into the first scene, Clive Owen's character, Smith, delivered a baby while killing off over a dozen men. If that's not ridiculous, I don't know what is. If you can find humor in that situation, you will be laughing your way through this film.
The dilogue was so over-the-top that the audience had to laugh and the action scenes were so unbelievable that it was inevitably for pure entertainment.
The audience members were split down the middle. Some took the film for what it was worth- an overly indulgent, action-packed film, leaving the theatre satisfied with 90-minutes worth of entertainment. Others weren't so pleased and left the theatre stating they were glad they hadn't paid to see the film.
If you can appreciate a slew of puns, you'll love it.

Score:
Remember When?
Monica Bellucci (DQ in Shoot 'Em Up) played Magdalen in Passion of the Christ.
Did You Know?
Clive Owen is the new face for Lancome's anti-aging cream for men.

Superbad

I saw an interview with Seth Rogen, co-writer of Super Bad, who told Regis and Kelly that he and his friend had written the story when they were in high school. Originally, Seth was to star asj himself in the film but by the time the movie was picked up by a studio he was much too old to play the part. He settled for playing the police officer, Officer Michaels.
The film would be best described as a modern day Can't Hardly Wait. However, the role of an awkward, shy high schooler was extremely well played by Michael Cera. The film was hilarious. It was much less dirty than 40-Year-Old Virgin or Knocked Up (two movies in which Seth Rogen starred in). There was a nice change of pace with this comedy. It was more of the naive dirty humor that we all once knew. Both Michael Cera and Jonah Hill were perfect for the part.
Score:
Remember When?
Michael Cera played Jason Bateman's son, George-Michael Bluth, in Arrested Development.
Did You Know?
The f***-work is said over 180 times in the film.
Seth Rogen's dad is the angry dad with the baseball bat that come after Jonah Hill's character, Seth, in the film.
Over 1,000 penis illustrations were drawn by the co-writer, Evan Goldberg's, brother for the film and credits.

Bourne Ultimatum

Absolutely amazing movie. Paul Greengrass, the film's director, did a truly brilliant job of capturing the essence of each city filmed around the world. The city scenes in each of the various cities were so unique from one another. Greengrass was able to show the audience how unique each country's cities were which allowed for the audience to feel like they were actually along for the Bourne adventure.
I'm not sure what else to say about it. It is a must-see in the theatre. I was unsure how they would be able to top the films previous, but they did it. The film ends amazingly. I am greatly anticipating another Bourne film.
Score:
Remember When?
Matt Damon played the creepy killer character, Tom Ripley, in The Talented Mr. Ripley.
Did You Know?
Matt Damon dropped out of Harvard 12 credits short of graduating for his acting career.

Death At A Funeral

The British comedy, Death At A Funeral, had the entire theatre in an uproar of laughter. The beginning and end of the film were equally hilarious however, momentum was lost during the middle of the film. I would have to say the star role goes to Alan Tudyk who played the character Simon, an acid-tripping boyfriend.
The best part of the film was the ridiculousness of it all. There is no way in the world that most of the stuff in the storyline would actually happen, but it was most entertaining to watch. If you enjoy British films, I would highly recommend this.

Remember When?
Matthew Macfadyen played the role of Mr. Darcy in the 2005 film Pride and Prejudice.
Did You Know?
Frank Oz, the director of Death At A Funeral, was the voice of Yoda and was a puppeteer for Jim Hanson's Muppets.
Score:

Arctic Tale

The film was fascinating... but in the same way Discovery Channel's Planet Earth is fascinating. For some reason, I was under the impression the film would be much like March of the Penguins. The storyline jumped from polar bears to walruses which didn't seem to give the audience much time to develop a relationship with the creatures. The storyline focused on "the hunt for food" or "survival" rather than the cycle of life or relationship between parent and offspring. The story would have been much more interesting if the cycle was shown from beginning (conception) to end (leaving the parent). The story would have been more enjoyable and felt complete if the "circle of life" had been more prevalent in the lives of the Arctic creatures. In the film, March of the Penguins, the audience is concerned with the cute little penguins and amazed at their ability to survive and their life story. In Arctic Tale, the audience seemed to be much more aware of the camera crew and intrigued with the footage captured.
A warning to parents: This film was much more violent than March of the Penguins. There is a lot of predator vs. prey filmed. It may be a little traumatizing for young children. There were a few audience members (young and old) crying during the film.

Score:

Hairspray

There were quite a few actors that impressed me in this film with both their singing ability and dance (though I had expected it from Efron): James Marsden, Nikki Blonsky, and Zac Efron. I cannot say enough good things about Queen Latifah's performance. Her performance was so powerful and emotional in the song "I Know Where I've Been". For me, her performance of that song alone made the film that much more enjoyable.
John Travolta's performance was disappointing. I did not find humor in the fat woman's costume and his singing...was barely that.
Poor Amanda Bynes. I love the girl and find entertainment in her films, but this just didn't seem to be a great role for her. Whoever decided in the costume department that she should have worn that dress in the last scene should probably be fired. The poor girl could hardly move in it! Not only that, she was also struggling to keep up with her co-star Elijah Kelley, who played Seaweed, as they danced.
Overall, it was an entertaining film with a lot of talent involved. I just think there were better suited candidates out there for some of the parts.
Score:
Remember When?
Queen Latifah guest starred as Dee Dee on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" in 1991, twice.
Did You Know?
It is estimated that Amanda Bynes had to eat about 40 lollipops a day while playing her role of Penny Pingleton during the shooting of the film.

No Reservations

I went into this film with rather low expectations. I thought it would just be a fun chick flick to entertain us girls on a night out. It was rather surprising to discover the film was more of a drama than a romantic comedy. I would easily compare this to Raising Helen (starring Joan Cusack and Kate Hudson) with slight differences in subject focus.
In Raising Helen, the focus was on the children rebelling after their parents die and how Kate Hudson's character adjusts her life to adapt to the children's needs. No Reservations also focuses how Catherine Zeta-Jones character, Kate, must change her lifestyle when her niece comes to stay with her.
Little Miss Sunshine's Abigail Breslin did a terrific job playing a troubled young girl struggling with the loss of her mother. Breslin has proven in this film that she deserves to be an Academy Award nominee and will continue in a successful acting career.

Remember When?
Catherine Zeta-Jones played the woman way out of John Cusack's league in High Fidelity.
Aaron Eckhart played a long-haired biker boyfriend of Julia Roberts in Erin Brockovich.

Did You Know?
Catherine Zeta-Jones is the highest paying actress in Britain, EVER.
Abigail Breslin also starred in Raising Helen.

Score:

Rescue Dawn

For an indie film, the story line was done very well. Christian Bale did not disappoint in his dramatic performance of a POW in the Vietnam War. However, the performance that was most capturing in this film was that of Steve Zahn. There was something about his voice that made the audience care about him and be sympathetic toward his situation. I believe what was most endearing about his character both his willingness to escape and his loyalty toward Christian Bale's character, Dieter.
As the film is based on a true story, it is both sad and inspiring to remember that time in history and how thankful we are for the soldiers that serve.


Remember When?
Christian Bale played a New York City newsboy in the Disney film Newsies. (If you are at all a Bale fan, this is a must-see.)
Steve Zahn played a girl/gambling-crazy lead guitarist/vocalist in the film That Thing You Do.

Did You Know?
Christian Bale is from Wales and still has a very strong accent.
Steve Zahn has two children named Audrey and Henry.

Score:

300

The legend of the Spartans has always been a mystery. The comic, 300, by Frank Miller put a spin on the legend and created a mega-epic story of the Spartans.
The film was visually spectacular. The cinematography of the film was both breath-taking and brilliant. Every Spartan had perfect physique.
The thing I loved most about the way the film was done was how it truly felt like a comic book. The camera angles and shots were thought through and well executed. Creatures of all shapes and sizes became realistic in this world. I loved how I felt it perfectly logical to have disgusting, gory beings among the Spartans.
This film screams of testosterone and would pump up any guy to go fight to the death! I have no doubt this film will be up for at least an Academy Award for best cinematography.


Remember When?
Gerard Butler, King Leonidas, was The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera.
Dominic West co-starred along side Christian Bale as Lysander, a young man in love with Hermia, in A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Did You Know?
The film, 300, was shot in 60 days.
The film, 300, was shot with blue and green screens in Montreal.

Score:

Stardust

This has been a greatly anticipated film by the fans of Neil Gaiman's comic and novel "Stardust" as well as Gaiman fans as a whole.
Whiling walking out of the theatre from this sneak preview, a woman approached a viewer asking his opinion of the film. He stated, and I quote, "It was a little too fantasy for me".
I laughed. Duh. It's a fantasy movie you went to. What did you expect? But then again, he was wearing a hideous button-down shirt with flames on it. So, obviously he didn't know any better. But, here he was using this statement in a negative sense when it all reality it is a truly positive statement! So, bravo! to the director for capturing the true essence of fantasy!
The movie was unbelievable. I have to admit, it did take me at least 10 minutes to warm up to Claire Danes speaking with a British accent but once I got past that (she did a fine job, by the way) it was smooth sailing.
Michelle Pfeiffer was a little wishy-washy on her accent but it didn't bother me too much. She did well otherwise.
Charlie Cox was perfect for the role of Tristan. He had just enough of an innocent and naive way about him to pull off his character in the beginning of the film then by the end, transforming into a noble and handsome hero (much like his character in Casanova).
Robert De Niro's character, Captain Shakespeare, was my favorite by far. His character had the entire theatre in an uproar of laughter many times.
This movie MUST BE SEEN IN THE THEATRE! It is brilliant.
If you like fantasy, this is a must, must, must see. If you don't, (like the flame shirt guy) you probably want to skip this one.