Taken

   This poster is awesome. I almost didn't want to see this because its hard to see Neison be an action figure in a serious sense. It was realistic for someone who knows how to do these things and what to look for. Any man who loves his child would do anything in their power to save them. Lucky for his daughter that Neison was her dad. If this was something that would happen to me, I'd be long gone. Even if my parents had the money, only a man of Neison's abilities would be able to save their child. For a dramatic action film, it was awesome because it had nothing to do with the Middle East, nor was it political in the way that movies of this genre tend to be lately. I'm surprised by the lack of morality in the world. It frightens me. I'm in my bubble which all Westerners and people who don't have to know about these things because we're fortunate. I guess when you say "its just business" its really all that "helps you sleep at night" with yourself and your conscience. I don't know how people do it. I don't have the strength to be weak by greed and do things that most people should shy away from. Is it weak, naive or strong to stay on the right side, the ethical or the moral side?

The Uninvited

   This was a good horror film though it wasn't particularly scary. I like the twist at the end. The twist made me want to watch it again to pick up all the clues that help lead you to what the ending really is. I can't say much because I don't want to give away the whole movie. Its one of those films that if you say too much its ruined. I also liked the cast. I thought they had good chemistry with each other. Considering all the crap horror movies there have been in recent years, its nice to see something not based on a Japanese film or full of graphic torture and gore. It almost seems like a classic film since horror movies are pornographic (not that kind) in nature these days.

Inkheart

My last post has given me anxiety. This movie was magical, wonderful and beautifully drawn out onto the screen. I really liked Bettany in this film. Its probably the first time I thought he was sexy. Really sexy. Maybe it was the long hair and the eyeliner that did me in. He should have been a 80's/90's rocker who looked fabulous dressed in feminine pieces and having his bare chest gaping through an open shirt or a tacky spandex unitard that has a giant V in it showing his pubic stomache hair. I'm digressing from the story. I can't seem to focus. It was nice to see Fraser in something that he probably enjoyed. Maggie, the daughter was the main focus, even though there was about 4 or 5 that the story focused on. I liked that there was the author of the story who I'm sure might be true for a lot of writers is wanting to be in the story they wrote and the world they have created. I can think of so many children's stories where I'm almost positive that the amount of imagination in the author's head would be something they wish could really exist and a place that they could be. It was just a cute and dramatic family movie. It played up more on maturity and adult emotions and less on how a child would view things. I have to say that The Shadow is by far one of the coolest things I've ever seen in a movie that wasn't real. It looked real. It was amazing. It was awesome. I'm sure that's one of the highlights for me, except Toto was absolutely the cutest dog I have ever seen. Helen Mirren has great hair. This film was casted well. I still see Golem though. That kind of sucks for the actor who played him in LOTR. That's all I will ever see in him. That scary obsessed greedy little toad. Wait. That sounds exactly like Capricorn. Why the character was named after a zodiac sign in beyond me. I'll think about it. Then I will make an analysis of it at a later time. Watch this if you like magic, fantasy and family films. Its really one of the better ones that has come out in the last few years.

Revolutionary Road

I'm not sure how much I will say about this movie since I dissected it with a friend after we watched it. I'm a Kate Winslet fan. I loved that she finally won something since she is amazingly talented. Not that I'm not a DiCaprio fan, but I'm not usually interested in watching him in movies. I was blown away by his portrayal of the character. Why he didn't get nominated for a Globe or an Oscar surprises me. Lucky for me, all the Oscar nom'ed movies hit my city this weekend... well except for Slumdog Millionaire and The Reader. Some you win and some you lose. I thought the most poignant scene in this film for me was the breakfast scene at the end. DiCaprio comes downstairs unsure, insecure and totally baffled. His eyes were red and you could see that the lingering thoughts in his eyes showed every emotion he wasn't physically showing. What really scared me was the lack of any thought or emotion in Winslet's false face or in her eyes leaving nothing to read how she was feeling. That scene just put all of their frustrations, worries, doubts, disappointments and the recurring theme for all life- regularity- that were occuring throughout the whole film and put them altogether in one short scene. It was incredible. The book must be even better. I am disposed to say that I loved this film for personal reasons like my fear of mediocrity and suddenly conforming to social norms and attitudes and swimming with the current instead of swimming in my own current. I'm not so much concerned about what married life will do to me. I think there is a certain amount of resignation when you settle down before the kids, the house and the retirement plans come into play. This film played up on all my fears before they have actually come true. I'm not yet in a place where I realize I've conformed and there is no joy in my life as the days fade into each other so that one day I wake up and realize that I don't know where my life has gone to and that I've been on autopilot for how many years. So yes... I can't say I loved it for this one reason, that it played up my life fear, one I've been grappling with, espeically now that I am graduating with a undergrad degree. I'm terrified to find myself like them, and then going insane from the actuality that I am nothing more than mediocre, when I thought I was more than just that. Scary. Truly scary.

Center Stage Turn It Up

This was a sequel to one of the first dance movies of my teen life. I was disappointed that it didn't have the same elements that made Center Stage so good. Center Stage happens to be one of the better dance movies. And this is why. It doesn't have any street or hiphop dancing in it. Its like no one can appreciate a dance movie unless people are shaking their asses and grinding. I do like watching dancing like that, but I absolutely hate it when they show good technical schools and then they have to admit some street dancer who has no "training" even though the dancer in real life has. No one who's never had formal training like Step Up 2 can pick up ballet dancing especially on point in 6 months. I don't care how talented you are... it takes years of practice and dedication. UNREALISTIC. Which is why the first Center Stage is amazing. There just wasn't enough point in this. It wwas only focused on the girl and a boy and then very very very small roles. I did like that they had some recurring characters. Enough of the streets and more of the technical please. I like seeing some really good ballet... and talent.

City of Ember

I really liked this film. I'm sure it was based on a children's story because it seemed like one. The whole of assignment day reminded me of Bee Movie in that really you choose a profession by chance and then you're stuck with it until you retire or die. I think I would be devastated if I was a professional potato peeler or mold scraper. Talk about sucky. Funny enough, I can trace this back to Ancient Greece. By the time I got to the end of thhe movie all I could think about is how this is so much like Plato's "Allegory of the Cave" where everyone is chained to the cave, i.e. the townspeople as they see what the civic decides what they should see and know. The quest for truth is coincidentally outside of the cave. Certainly philosophical. I could be reading to far into this, but it happens to be more popular than people would think. It was a cute family adventure movie. Maybe if it would have gotten more press and had a better title, it may have attracted more people to see it. It really was a great film. I always think that family and children's films are really directed towards adult. Only an adult could truly appreciate the layers, references and ambiance a film has. For children its really just about liking the things that draw their attention.

Wackness

Don't let the title sway you from seeing this film. It was a wonderful little surprise. It should have been titled something else so that it would draw you into it, but it does make sense once you watch it and why it is named what it is. It is about a pot dealing teeanger who is unhappy because he has no friends, no girlfriend, fighting parents and money problems. Sounds like a movie about all teenagers except for the selling weed part. Ben Kingsley is a nice little edition to this movie. He reminds me of Robin Williams in Philosopher Kings because of the accent and the way Dr. Squire speaks. An unlikely friendship buds between Luke and Squire as Luke gets psychiatric sessions for the price of weed. The movie is set in 1994 with great music. I kept forgetting the time period when I saw the original Nintendo and original gameboy. I'll save you a little magic, and advice you to watch this.

The Lazarus Project

This is a confusing film. The abrupt twist and turns is almost too much. If I say too much I'll just ruin the ending. I hate when you can't talk about a film because the ending will get ruined. I disagree with the justice in this film. I don't see how you can get the death penalty for the death of three people you indirectly caused. Its one thing to kill for greed, and it is entirely another to kill for pleasure, but when death happens by accident and the lack of the inability to guess what the outcome is and the unpredictability of human action seems hardly fair to condemn a man to such harsh punishment. This is exactly why justice seems more like revenge than justice. This movie goes from a drama to a psychological thriller meats horror movie and so on. I'm leaning more towards liking it, but its really hard to say. This story lacked a consistent direction which would have made the film better if it wasn't jumping between different genres. You just can't put everything into one story. It just doesn't work.

Swing Vote

This was a good political satirical comedy. It was hard to watch a young girl have to take care of her father when its the father's job to take care of the child. It played up on stereotypes of all kinds. There is just too much to choose from. I liked the ending. I also like the posed question at the debate. All the characters played off each other and it showed the view of most people who don't vote or don't take any interest in what's going on except for themselves and their lack or responsibility for anything. This is something worth watching. Costner plays an alcoholic hick pretty well. The film is layered with so many things, that to even pick out any would be an injustice to it, since there is so much to choose from. Its nice to watch movies that make you think, but not have to think abstractly. I was once again interested by the idea of immortality. In this film is was an immortality sought out by politics and history books. It never ceases to stop with people being obsessed with being famous and known for a long time even after you die. Its getting annoying. I'm sure its been prevalent before, I just happen to notice it now.

My Best Friend's Girl

I'm so glad that I didn't pay for this in the theatre. This was a terrible role for Kate Hudson. I like all her films, but I didn't like the character. She was kind of a bitch who deserved to have an asshole. Dane Cook repeatedly plays himself in every film he's in. Which makes me think he can't act. Wait. He can't. I did enjoy Tank's malicious plans to make women hate him so that they go crawling back to thhe guy they left. I thought Jason Biggs played the same character he always plays... Jim from American Pie. Alec Baldwin also seems to keep reprising his role from 30 Rock into movies now. Was this film purposely made for all of these actors?? Seems like it. I won't be watching this one again unless I'm bored and it just so happens to be on TV. Despite being funny, this was a terrible comedy. It was even worse if I look at it like a romantic comedy. This is why men and male directors should not write or direct romantic comedies. The art of chick lit and chick lit films aren't portrayed the way a woman views love and everything else. Boo to this film.

Righteous Kill

This was a lack luster film. The ending redeemed itself which is why I somewhat liked it. Maybe it was the dialogue, maybe because the killing and the thought motivations behind it were too in your face as it narrated events. As a serial vigilante killer, it really lacked the reason for killing them. Thinking on it now, I can see the trust the murdered people had that they willingly let the killer in. The reason for the snap was utterly ridiculous if you ask me. I also found the sick compassion at the ending to be a little too nice for what was deserved. I don't recommend this one at all. Both of these actors could have picked a better film. I think it was an excuse to throw these two into a cop movie together at their age. It wasn't the story that was lacking, but the way the story was presented... i.e. the screenplay.

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

This was like all the other Mummy films except they left Egypt and went to China and were fighting against "younger" mummies. It was sad that Weisz was replaced by Bello. Though Bello did the voice of Evelyn pretty damn close. So the chemistry just wasn't right between Bello and Fraser. I really don't have much to say about this movie. It is close to forgetable.

Gran Torino

I absolutely loved this film. This is probably one the first films I've seen him direct. The last film I watched that he acted in was most likely Bloodwork. I was surprised that I was actually interested in one of his films. Walt was a loveable son of a bitch racist bastard that antagonized everyone. He's the kind of man that would be difficult to love as a father. Everything was great except the poor acting of the young actors. Also the priest was reminiscent of an M. N. Shaymalan character. Though I enjoyed the priest, I found the character out of place. His function was to show Walt the ways of life that he had yet to discover in his old age. It is a story about friendship, love, humanity and courage. It was a strong emotional film with a hell of a lot of humor. It is definitely one of the better films I've seen in awhile.

Bangkok Dangerous

I was disappointed with this film. Don't get me wrong, I liked it. It had the dualism of a bad guy who has good in him somewhere and discovers it. It was an antagonist protaginist. Cage is a bad guy, but he's not the worst bad guy, which is why you can't hate him. Though I have hated movies where the main character has this dualism. Cage just hasn't done a good film in a long time. All I can think of is Next, which was terrible because it had Jessica Biel in it and a bad bad bad ending. I do look forward to his next film, which is like all the handfuls of end of the world movies that have been frequently released in such a short amount of time. I'm hoping that one will be much better and a better success so that Cage gets better scripts and makes better movies again. Its basically about a hitman and suddenly changes all his tactics when he comes to Bangkok because he suddenly develops some hope in his life and his long yearning for some type of normalcy is creeping in on his hermit existence. It was definitely gruesome, a bit slow paced and lacking dialogue. All in all, it was an okay film.

Babylon A.D.

This movie was interesting. I was too embarrassed to watch this in theatres so I of course waited until it came out on DVD. Its not that the movie was bad, it just wasn't very good. I feel like the power of the Aurora was not explored enough in the film, since this was a futuristic sci-fi film. I'm always amazed by how people think clothing will look like 20-30 years from now, and they always look like something you can buy in the store now. I liked Diesel's character. I hadn't realized he was as old as he is until they did close-ups of his face, so then I had to imdb it. Why he hasn't been doing that much acting is because he's been producing. Good for him. The story felt like it was a handful of other stories and thrown into one, so it wasn't original at all. That could probably be a big part of why it wasn't very good. I don't know why, but this is something I could watch over and over. I'm not recommending it, but I liked it.

American Teen

This was a documentary that I was looking forward to seeing. I had to wait to see it on DVD. I think Jacob was the only one of the characters that was only an outcast because he chose to be that way and had nothing to stop him from enjoying life and embracing it. They didn't follow Mitch and his personal feelings so much except for when it came to his crush on Hannah. Colin had some real issues, but ones he could overcome. Of all the 5 teens they followed I really liked Hannah and Megan. Megan's story is very realistic. Even though she acts like a little bitch, it all make sense. Like how her friend does not confront her that she must have a secret crush on her one friend, otherwise she wouldn't have alienated either of them when her best friends were interested in each other. I was also confused how Erica... or I think it was who ends up being in a scene where she is hanging out with Megan and that other blonde girl like they were friends when they did something so utterly dispicable to her. Though sending a nude photo of yourself to a 17 year old boy is always going to be bad. In fact, giving any guy a nude photo of yourself will most likely end up being seen by other people. I can relate with Hannah and her dream. The avoidance of the 9-5 job and having kids and accepting that most people go on in life without doing anything but investing in the mundane reality of the world that has to take place for there to be any order. I do disagree with reaching for a dream for gaining immortality. I'm always thinking I'm going to be a sell out if I produce something and share it with the world. It reminds me of Bardem's poet father in Vicky Cristina Barcelona, where his father writes the most beautiful poetry that any person would probably hear in liffe, yet he doesn't share it. I can see the beauty in not sharing something like that. Creation is not a means to an end, but an end in itself. It doesn't matter if anyone sees it. the documentary follows the teen obsession of popularity, love and dreams. All I wanted to do was shake Jacob. If you don't fit in in high school, then you most likely will fit in when you leave high school since everyone is in the same situation when they graduate... they're just like everyone else regardless of their wealth or status in society. How could anyone who didn't fit in in high school say my life sucks now, but what if after I graduate it gets worse than this? It was a fantastic documentary. i think I'm going to buy it. I have never once ever wanted to rewatch a documentary in my life before. Strange.

The Spirit

What didn't I love about this film?? It was slow paced, yes, but regardless the slow pace is what made it so entertaining. It was subtlely intellectual, it played on the human greed for power and immortality. The Octopus' speech was spot on. I liked that the protagonist was the opposite, but was also human in that he was lusty, but true to honour, respect, courage, justice, ethical and moral. I really like the humour in the fight scene at the beginning with the mud. This was so like a detective fiction story meets super heroes. Maybe not super heroes, but people who have the ability to withstand pain and deestruction to the body. I liked Lorelei and her inability to not be able to keep her hands on Spirit. Everyone in this was so awesome. If I talked about each character this would be at least a whole page. I also liked the irony of total domination and a black person using the Nazi example. It also had a little bit of Greek myth. Heracles vs. Jason was the theme of the whole movie. I don't think I can say that Octopus was like Heracles, but I can say that Spirit was like Jason. Quoting my meridian Handbook "As leader of the expedition, the young man distinguished himself more by a smooth tongue and a way with women than by good judgement and courage in emergencies" (Tripp, 330). I could definitely write a good essay on the comparison. As always, Frank Miller's cinematic style is true to the style of graphic novels and using effects that are appealing to the eye, like the contrast of a few colours against black and the use of white. I can't quite remember exactly what "logos" "pathos" and "ethos" means at the moment, but I thought it unfair that they were on the bad guys teams. Those bumbling idiots then start parading different things on their shirts, but there was certainly going on with the first 3 guys. The 3 guys didn't fit the descriptions on their shirts. It is certainly something I'll try to talk about at phil club :) Anyways, this was a very good film. It didn't need all the action and blood and guts, it was perfect just the way it was.

The Tale of Despereaux

Ah Chivalry. Too bad that chivalry probably never existed. That's what happens when you go to University and they demolish all your preconceived notions of the world. It was a cute film about a mouse that wasn't afraid of anything and a real zest and curiousity for life, a sad family, the suppression of rats and soup. Yes soup. It was funny, it was also entertaining for adults. Despereaux was just so darn cute. Not to mention the handful of actors that had a part in this. What's up with only known people acting in animations??? Back to the film. Like all children films it had a moral. I appreciated the honour and noble behaviour and actions. It had saving a princess and sword fighting... well sewing needle sword fighting. It had the amphitheartre, a bit of Gulliver's Travels, King Arthur's Round Table, and so many other literary references that I can't remember since I watched this on Friday. I also liked the animation, it was very Byzantine and Italian which actually artisitically represented the time that this story took place. I appreciated the close detail to the artistic style at the time. Though, there should have been something biblical in this since the church was a mjor influence in this century it portrays. That's just me being correct. Maybe if I watched it again and looked for it, I could probably find biblical references. I only picked up on the ones I mentioned. This was super cute. The only thing I didn't like was how the little servant girl looked or the voice of the girl. Something was very off putting in her actions and psychosis of wanting to be a princess and having pure hatred for the princess... all over a tiara. I liked the ending with all the coincidences and that there does seem to be order to the chaos of things. At least I think there is... the world creates a balance and sometimes you have to wait a long time before the balance happens, but it does. And I'm not talking about karma.

Eagle Eye

I liked this strange film. It felt like it was some Big Brother patriotic extremist group and it just wasn't at all. SPOILER ALERT: It was so like a present day iRobot. I liked that this played on people's emotions and the careful calculating of people based on behaviours and past actions. Strangely this seems to be a common theme in films. Everyone seems to be obsessed that there is more to people than what they show and that people can surprise others when they have real feelings for another person and show some compassion. Suddenly a moral backbone arises in desperate times. Reminds me of The Day the Earth Stood Still... ugh. I'm now going to keep a mental note on this in future movies. Everyone is obsessed with Western thinking and the destruction of the world and the destruction of man vs. man. It had some good action, really deep eternal struggles and underlying motivations to get the characters to do whatever they were supposed to do on blind faith that they were doing the right thing. It was not a bad film by any standards.

Horton Hears a Who

This was the other animation that Seth Rogen plays. I just couldn't remember. I liked Carrell in this. Poehler was good too. I liked that it had two stories going on. Horton's story and then the Mayor's story as well as the even smaller story of Jojo. I have to admit I slept through part of the latter half but I'm sure I didn't miss much. It had a moral. Best line ever which I now forgot but it was about pooping rainbows. I wish I could remember it. Ugh. Sometimes you just have to believe in the small things even when you can't see them. It doesn't hurt to believe in dreams sometimes. People seem to find their way and find the error in their ways. Though I'm not that optimistic, its nice that there are stories like this for kids so that maybe they will learn that one. I did think that the random manga toon was off setting even though it was spot on on the genre. Not my favourite animation, but it was cute and lovely in a strange way. That little strange yellow thing girl was the best part, oh and Seth Rogen with his constant moving all the time. AND Carrey's childlike enthusiasm in a cartoon character instead of seeing it in a grown man was charming.

The Duchess

I liked the story, I liked the clothes, I liked the era... How come we only see the wealthy people? How come women who seemed so powerful never really were? It was passionate. It was witty. I don't think I would have married such a selfish, rude, pompous boring man... not even for status or wealth. I would rather be poor and in love than endure being cheated on, being subjected to living with my husband's mistress and have my feelings disregarded and manipulated to keep up a man's reputation and not my happiness. I liked all the actors. I had seen Dominic Cooper in other movies but never made the connection with him with Mamma Mia though. This was a nice taste from what I've been watching lately. Usually films like this that follow women in this time are always ambitious and obsessed with their place in society. Because this was a portrayal from the inside and not the outside that the Duchess seemed like a human even though Cooper's character tells it like it is that she only cares about appearance. Sometimes if that's all you have or that's your only place of power when its diminished at home, it would matter what you do in society. It reminds me of Aristotle's polis that it is in this public space that a person is free and free to act.