M: I don't want to lose my man card, but I kind of liked this movie. Maybe its because I like the notion of time travel, and it was interesting to see what they did with that. I didn't really care for the relationship in the movie, which I suppose is pretty important. I hated the notebook, same actress, way too sappy. This relationship also dripped a bit of sap, but not nearly as bad. It felt like the relationship moved too quickly and then went backwards though. The first time they meet, at lease that the viewer sees, she is madly in love with him and they jump in the sack. A little while later, he is gone for a few weeks and she is intensely mad at him. This after a lifetime of his being gone most of the time, which she didn't seem to mind? Not buying it. In the end though, I loved the idea of his moving through time and how it came together, especially with his daughter. That saved this from being another lame over-the-top romance. 2 1/2 stars
V: Interesting concept. My disbelief was almost immediately un-suspended though by the way they were so matter-of-fact about the whole time-traveling thing. This poor little boy loses his mom in a car crash, and immediately this weird man shows up and says, "It's okay, I'm you. I time-traveled here." Only the friend of the wife's friend seemed to show some real dismay at the idea. Okay, other than that . . . It made for some good - wait, pause the movie, let's talk about these time-travel implications - moments. But that is outside of the movie, isn't it. The end had me a little teary, not because of what the movie achieved really - but the thought of *Spoiler* seeing your husband again after he had died - yikes. And what does she do? She smiles pleasantly and holds her daughter at her side as he disappears again. No! That is the time for the tearing of hair and gnashing of teeth! What was that blithe "See you maybe some other time for a couple of minutes love." Arg. So, it was kind of interesting, but not particularly well-executed, I thought. 2 stars.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Sherlock Holmes (2009)
V: I just want to remind you all that I was a big fan of Robert Downey Jr. long before Iron Man came about. College roommates? Back me up on this. So, I really enjoy a good suspense/mystery movie every now and then. I thought both Downey and Jude Law did a great job. The story was interesting. I thought it was a good romp. The Rachel McAdams character was just all right, for me. It felt like they were just trying to fit in a female character, affirmative action style. It could have been a better character. Apparently she was a super-thief, but then, oh dear, the girl got in "over her head," to quote from the movie. She was supposed to be Sherlock's equal. She didn't come off very experty to me. Anyway . . . I otherwise enjoyed it. Good fun. 3 1/2 stars.
M: Yea, I am with V on the McAdams' character. I didn't see the point, except to add a pretty face. Which I guess doesn't hurt. I mean, if you are going to have Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, it is, after all, only fair to throw something in for the guys. So, ok, I talked myself out of not liking her part. Otherwise though, the movie was just ok for me. I thought Jude Law really stole the show, taking Watson, a historically forgettable character, and making him really interesting and likable. Downey, as usual, was quirky and dark and good. Watson definitely should have died though in the big explosion he got caught in. No way he survived that. So, I was a bit annoyed with that. I am really torn. I definitely could go a bit higher, but I am going to have to give it 2 1/2 stars.
M: Yea, I am with V on the McAdams' character. I didn't see the point, except to add a pretty face. Which I guess doesn't hurt. I mean, if you are going to have Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, it is, after all, only fair to throw something in for the guys. So, ok, I talked myself out of not liking her part. Otherwise though, the movie was just ok for me. I thought Jude Law really stole the show, taking Watson, a historically forgettable character, and making him really interesting and likable. Downey, as usual, was quirky and dark and good. Watson definitely should have died though in the big explosion he got caught in. No way he survived that. So, I was a bit annoyed with that. I am really torn. I definitely could go a bit higher, but I am going to have to give it 2 1/2 stars.
North & South, BBC
V: This is not the war mini-series. This is the love across cultural lines mini-series. And I really liked it. It's quite romantic, great leads, good chemistry, and all that. It's an interesting look at social differences and injustices. The characters are malleable and likable. It was addictive. Really well done. I had the teeniest of qualms with one scene - I would have preferred a quieter, humbler character than a rude one . . . but, I really enjoyed this, so . . . 4 stars.
M: Really good. Another great job by the BBC. Beautiful music. Beautifully made. Very real and intriguing characters. My qualm is that the hero is way to grumpy. Way to grumpy. It gets to the point that you are not convinced that he is redeemable. Still, it is a great show. I loved the mother, and the other characters, they were flawed, but real, and I liked that. I felt that the movie presented a very believable and compelling story. A great show to watch with your love. 3 1/2 stars.
M: Really good. Another great job by the BBC. Beautiful music. Beautifully made. Very real and intriguing characters. My qualm is that the hero is way to grumpy. Way to grumpy. It gets to the point that you are not convinced that he is redeemable. Still, it is a great show. I loved the mother, and the other characters, they were flawed, but real, and I liked that. I felt that the movie presented a very believable and compelling story. A great show to watch with your love. 3 1/2 stars.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
LOST
M: Where to begin. Lost is the only current TV show that V and I have been actively following. After watching the first season on DVD, we started tuning in each week. Thank goodness for DVR and the internet, over six seasons there was probably about a months worth of commercials. Well, Sunday was the final episode. I am left really torn. When Lost is on its A game, there is no better drama, on TV, possibly ever. When it is off, it is really off. As my friend noted, Lost is both the best and worst of TV. The plot walks a fine line between mind blowing mystery and absurdity. See if you can spot the plot twist that didn't actually happen.
1. A giant polar bear attacked a character while she was stranded on a tropical island
2. The characters set off a nuclear bomb that created an alternate reality
3. One of the characters drowned in some murky water and came back to life evil
4. When one of the characters escaped, it caused the island to start jumping trough time
5. A character shot and killed her yet to be born son when he came to the island
6. A character pushed a button every few hours in order to save the world
7. The characters discovered a magical bird that could tell the future
8. A black smoke monster helped a highly radioactive man go into a cave and unstop a glowing well of water, which led to earthquakes
9. One of the character's dead father is spotted alive several times
10. One character plays a cop, a con-man, a murderer, and a 70's security guard for a scientific community
11. One of the characters does not age and has lived for hundreds of years
12. The island had a giant statue (hundreds of feet tall) and a magical man lived in its foot
13. The island contained a lighthouse that could be used to look at people all over the world
14. A man fell into a cave, turned into a smoke monster, and later inhabited the body of a former cripple who was cured when he came to the island but was later killed after he left the island
15. A character can hear dead people talking from their graves. Another character sees dead people and talks to them face to face.
Which plot never happened? Number 7. A magical bird, that's ridiculous! But I guarantee that someone who hasn't seen the show could not correctly answer this quiz. My biggest complaint is that the writers are clearly better at creating intriguing mysteries than in explaining the mysteries. At the end, a lot was left completely unexplained. That bugs me. But still, as my brother in law noted, at times a Lost episode will come along that can only be described as "high art." These moments occurred the most frequently in the 1st, 4th and 5th seasons. I definitely recommend Lost. The characters are great, and, for the most part, the storyline is compelling. But be prepared to get lost a few times. 3 1/2 stars
V: Lost is fun. Watch it. 3 1/2 stars.
1. A giant polar bear attacked a character while she was stranded on a tropical island
2. The characters set off a nuclear bomb that created an alternate reality
3. One of the characters drowned in some murky water and came back to life evil
4. When one of the characters escaped, it caused the island to start jumping trough time
5. A character shot and killed her yet to be born son when he came to the island
6. A character pushed a button every few hours in order to save the world
7. The characters discovered a magical bird that could tell the future
8. A black smoke monster helped a highly radioactive man go into a cave and unstop a glowing well of water, which led to earthquakes
9. One of the character's dead father is spotted alive several times
10. One character plays a cop, a con-man, a murderer, and a 70's security guard for a scientific community
11. One of the characters does not age and has lived for hundreds of years
12. The island had a giant statue (hundreds of feet tall) and a magical man lived in its foot
13. The island contained a lighthouse that could be used to look at people all over the world
14. A man fell into a cave, turned into a smoke monster, and later inhabited the body of a former cripple who was cured when he came to the island but was later killed after he left the island
15. A character can hear dead people talking from their graves. Another character sees dead people and talks to them face to face.
Which plot never happened? Number 7. A magical bird, that's ridiculous! But I guarantee that someone who hasn't seen the show could not correctly answer this quiz. My biggest complaint is that the writers are clearly better at creating intriguing mysteries than in explaining the mysteries. At the end, a lot was left completely unexplained. That bugs me. But still, as my brother in law noted, at times a Lost episode will come along that can only be described as "high art." These moments occurred the most frequently in the 1st, 4th and 5th seasons. I definitely recommend Lost. The characters are great, and, for the most part, the storyline is compelling. But be prepared to get lost a few times. 3 1/2 stars
V: Lost is fun. Watch it. 3 1/2 stars.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Night at the Museum 2
V: Had no high expectations, and I thought it was pretty funny. We watched it with our girls and they liked it, too - and there wasn't anything offensive. It made for a very fun movie night. I don't remember the first one very well, but this one was a lot of fun. I laughed out loud when the little guys were stabbing peoples shoes in slow-mo during the final battle. 3 stars.
M: I agree. Funny, clean, a bit overly silly at times, but generally good fun. They did a good job having a villain that was both villainous and hilarious. A good show. Not amazing, but good. 3 stars.
M: I agree. Funny, clean, a bit overly silly at times, but generally good fun. They did a good job having a villain that was both villainous and hilarious. A good show. Not amazing, but good. 3 stars.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Corner Gas
M: Let me introduce you to my favorite TV series, hands down: Corner Gas. A Canadian TV show that aired for 6 seasons on CTV. The show is based in the fictional town of Dog River, in Saskatchewan, Canada. Dog River has one gas station, Corner Gas. Brett Leroy--played by comedian, producer, writer, and sometimes directer, Brett Butt--owns and operates the station with the help of his employee, and real life wife, Wanda. Attached to the gas station is the town diner, owned by Lacy, the girl from the big city. Other regulars include Brett's best friend and town laze-a-bout Hank, Brett's cranky parents, and the two lovable but incompetent local cops. I was introduced to this series by my sister, and through me, a think quite a few have now watched and, I hope, loved it. I love Sienfield, the Simpsons, and Arrested Development. They are all great shows. They also, at times, are not all that wholesome. They leave you laughing, but feeling bad that you are laughing. This is where Corner Gas shines. While it's not perfectly squeeky clean, it is more so than anything you can find on US television. It is also a lot better, funnier, and far more endearing.
The first thing that struck us about the show, as we start watching, was its slow, gentle pace. There is no laugh track, so you have to figure out when and if to laugh all on your own; I like this, it adds to the calmness of the show. As the show's opening theme states "You think there's not a lot going on, look closer, your so wrong. And that's why you can stay so long, where there's not a lot going on." The more I watched, the more I learned to absolutely love all of the characters, each quirky and delightful in their own way. When we got down to the last episode, I couldn't bring myself to watch. Each night, V would ask, "should we watch the last Corner Gas tonight," my response each night was, "not tonight, conditions have to be perfect." I felt like I was saying goodbye to a friend. Cheesy, I know, but true. Fortunately, we missed a few episodes along the way, V more than me because we watched one season in the Hospital after a baby, so she viewed it through very sleepy eyes. So, we have started again from the beginning. Corner Gas' offbeat humor, quirky and hilarious characters, and willingness to do a sitcom without dragging its viewers through the gutter is what makes Corner Gas the best comedy series ever. It is why we "can stay so long." It is why we can't get enough.
The closing theme describes Saskatchewan, "It's a great big place, full of nothing but space, and its my happy place." Corner Gas is my "Happy Place." Give it a try, maybe it will be yours too. 4 stars.
V: M is right. Corner Gas is a delight! We are now watching it over again from the beginning. (Can you believe M chided me for falling asleep during some of the episodes - while I was in the hospital? The nerve. Morphine is stronger than even the draw of Corner Gas. Besides, it hurts to laugh after a c-section. It was self-preservation.) I especially love Wanda. The "Conjunctivitis" and "Queasy Rider" episodes are some of my favorites. Also the one where Hank whines after losing at golf was pretty funny. I think that one caused me some pain in my hospital bed. And then there's "The Brent Effect" and the one with the Archie's characters, and well, you'll just have to watch. We love Corner Gas. It's a gas, gas, gas. 4 stars
The first thing that struck us about the show, as we start watching, was its slow, gentle pace. There is no laugh track, so you have to figure out when and if to laugh all on your own; I like this, it adds to the calmness of the show. As the show's opening theme states "You think there's not a lot going on, look closer, your so wrong. And that's why you can stay so long, where there's not a lot going on." The more I watched, the more I learned to absolutely love all of the characters, each quirky and delightful in their own way. When we got down to the last episode, I couldn't bring myself to watch. Each night, V would ask, "should we watch the last Corner Gas tonight," my response each night was, "not tonight, conditions have to be perfect." I felt like I was saying goodbye to a friend. Cheesy, I know, but true. Fortunately, we missed a few episodes along the way, V more than me because we watched one season in the Hospital after a baby, so she viewed it through very sleepy eyes. So, we have started again from the beginning. Corner Gas' offbeat humor, quirky and hilarious characters, and willingness to do a sitcom without dragging its viewers through the gutter is what makes Corner Gas the best comedy series ever. It is why we "can stay so long." It is why we can't get enough.
The closing theme describes Saskatchewan, "It's a great big place, full of nothing but space, and its my happy place." Corner Gas is my "Happy Place." Give it a try, maybe it will be yours too. 4 stars.
V: M is right. Corner Gas is a delight! We are now watching it over again from the beginning. (Can you believe M chided me for falling asleep during some of the episodes - while I was in the hospital? The nerve. Morphine is stronger than even the draw of Corner Gas. Besides, it hurts to laugh after a c-section. It was self-preservation.) I especially love Wanda. The "Conjunctivitis" and "Queasy Rider" episodes are some of my favorites. Also the one where Hank whines after losing at golf was pretty funny. I think that one caused me some pain in my hospital bed. And then there's "The Brent Effect" and the one with the Archie's characters, and well, you'll just have to watch. We love Corner Gas. It's a gas, gas, gas. 4 stars
Blindside
V: A very touching story. I like the characters. But not perfect. 3 1/2 stars
M: Pretty Good. 3 stars
M: Pretty Good. 3 stars
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