Random thoughts
So this week I watched a lot of movies. And it's only wednesday. Saw two in theatres and rented three. Okay, not rent, more like, got the movie store guy to give them to me. I love my video place. So I'm bored (as always), so here are some...
Pulse (C-)
Saw it today. Understand, my expectations were pretty much on the floor low. The only reason I watched it was for Ian Somerhalden and Kristen Bell. It wasn't that good. I'm a pussy when it comes to movies. I pretty much assume the fetal position not matter what. The Ring 2 freaked the crap out of me and The Ring made my cry I was so scared. Pulse...wasn't scary...at all. I don't think I jumped once. And there was music in every scene. Even when they were just talking. You could tell what was happening from how the music was building up. Which brings me to my next point. There was no climax. I don't need movies with a happy ending, but I do need a climax where SOMETHING exciting happens. Not running into a room. It just wasn't a good movie. Which is sad because I liked the actors, who did the best they could with such a weak script. Wes Craven, be ashamed.
Little Miss Sunshine (A++++++)
There is nothing bad to say about this movie. I don't think "perfection" even covers it. My expectations were high, and they were surpassed. I laughed, came close to tears, then laughed because they would turn a tragic situation into hilarity, but not in a demeaning to the drama way. The acting was superb. Steve Carell proved himself as not only a comedic actor, but as a dramatic actor. He has serious acting chops and amazing comedic timing. Greg Kinear took a part we weren't supposed to like and made his endearing and funny. Paul Dano was amazing. For someone who doesn't talk, he portrayed more emotion and ideas than most actors can muster with the best script and camera angles. I don't normally like the angsty teen role, but he was exsquisite. Abagail Breslin is one of the best child actors out there. I can't really articulate how amazing she was. She was awesome. And as the overwraught mom, Tina Collette was dead on. I felt for her and laughed with her. She's probably the most normal character. However, sometimes it's easier to do over the top characters than to play subtle. Collette was amazing and held her own against the zany characters. And Alan Arkin. Hilarious. My friend walked out (this little asian girl) and was like "The grandpa was my favourite character". He's just too good. The supporting actors were superb as well.
The cinematography was gorgeous and not at all stagnant (I'm looking at you Woody Allen). Some shots I would just sit back and go, "damn, that is one gorgeous shot". Just beautiful. And the dialouge and the direction and the lighting and EVERYTHING was amazing in the movie. If the Academy Awards finally decided that drama isn't all a movie needs to win the "Best Film" award and realize that comedy is just as hard, perhaps harder to do (bitter? me?) then LMS should win. Even if they don't, LMS should still win. And somebody give Steve Carell an Oscar because he normally plays the over the top characters, but in this, he was beyond words. Just amazing. Actually, give the entire cast Oscars, because they just kicked Hilary Swank and Sean Penn's collective asses. Y'heard.
Se7en (A-)
Seen it before, but still as good as I remember it. Solid cast (I love anything with Kevin Spacey, Morgan Freeman, or Brad Pitt (okay, most movies with Brad Pitt) in it. Gory, but not too gory. Sad, but not too sad. And there were some comedic moments too. Finally, it was original, which most movies seem to be struggling with these days.
Just My Luck (D)
I used to like Lindsay Lohan. Seriously. In Parent Trap, I thought she was adorable. In Freaky Friday, I thought she was hilarious. In Mean Girls, I thought she could act. And then something happened and everything went terribly wrong. She got in the tabloids too often. She made Herbie: Fully Loaded. She went out with Fez, from That '70s Show. She became annorexic (or so I've heard...). She died her gorgeous red hair that I covet so BLONDE. And not a good blonde, hay blonde. Pissed in hay blonde. Thus, my love for Lindsay went from Hero to zero in like, a millisecond. And this movie? Made the hate go deeper. I did not like her character and nor did I want her to get her fucking luck back. And no that I've seen her boob in all it's glory (it's the the nip slip, but more the dress that deepens my hate), I really don't want to have to look at Lohan ever again. I don't want to see her on the tabloids. I don't want to see her in ads. I don't want articles about her (by the way ELLE, wtf is she wearing in the latest issue? The entire animal kingdom? and purple? what animal is purple). I don't want to HEAR about her. Least of all, I do NOT want to see her in movies. I'm so over Lindsay. You used to be cute, but then you bleached off your adorable, hot freckles. And that is what I thought of this movie.
These Hills Have Eyes (B)
I don't normally like gore, but this one I enjoyed. I covered my eyes for the chopping off bits and I was good. It was scary and good old fashioned horror film fun. And, as far as I know, was not based on a book/real life event/flootball story. So I was happy. The only thing wrong was the fact that they (the hill's eyes) lived in a town that had nuclear testing and were all deformed. Not that part. The part about how they were deformed, so they became cannibals. Like...Seriously? They have some genetic mutations so they started trapping people and eating them. No...just...no. Besides that glaring plot point. It was good. A good, fun, horror film. I reccomend it.
Still wanting to see:
Talladega Nights
Step Up (my friend has abandoned me AGAIN)
Snakes on a Plane (yeah, I'll probably rent this)
Accepted
Miami Vice
Over the Hedge (My love affair with Steve Carell continues)
My Super Ex-Girlfriend (RAINN WILSON)
Strangers with Candy (STEVEN COLBERT)
Scoop
Thank You For Smoking
An Inconvient Truth
Pulse (C-)
Saw it today. Understand, my expectations were pretty much on the floor low. The only reason I watched it was for Ian Somerhalden and Kristen Bell. It wasn't that good. I'm a pussy when it comes to movies. I pretty much assume the fetal position not matter what. The Ring 2 freaked the crap out of me and The Ring made my cry I was so scared. Pulse...wasn't scary...at all. I don't think I jumped once. And there was music in every scene. Even when they were just talking. You could tell what was happening from how the music was building up. Which brings me to my next point. There was no climax. I don't need movies with a happy ending, but I do need a climax where SOMETHING exciting happens. Not running into a room. It just wasn't a good movie. Which is sad because I liked the actors, who did the best they could with such a weak script. Wes Craven, be ashamed.
Little Miss Sunshine (A++++++)
There is nothing bad to say about this movie. I don't think "perfection" even covers it. My expectations were high, and they were surpassed. I laughed, came close to tears, then laughed because they would turn a tragic situation into hilarity, but not in a demeaning to the drama way. The acting was superb. Steve Carell proved himself as not only a comedic actor, but as a dramatic actor. He has serious acting chops and amazing comedic timing. Greg Kinear took a part we weren't supposed to like and made his endearing and funny. Paul Dano was amazing. For someone who doesn't talk, he portrayed more emotion and ideas than most actors can muster with the best script and camera angles. I don't normally like the angsty teen role, but he was exsquisite. Abagail Breslin is one of the best child actors out there. I can't really articulate how amazing she was. She was awesome. And as the overwraught mom, Tina Collette was dead on. I felt for her and laughed with her. She's probably the most normal character. However, sometimes it's easier to do over the top characters than to play subtle. Collette was amazing and held her own against the zany characters. And Alan Arkin. Hilarious. My friend walked out (this little asian girl) and was like "The grandpa was my favourite character". He's just too good. The supporting actors were superb as well.
The cinematography was gorgeous and not at all stagnant (I'm looking at you Woody Allen). Some shots I would just sit back and go, "damn, that is one gorgeous shot". Just beautiful. And the dialouge and the direction and the lighting and EVERYTHING was amazing in the movie. If the Academy Awards finally decided that drama isn't all a movie needs to win the "Best Film" award and realize that comedy is just as hard, perhaps harder to do (bitter? me?) then LMS should win. Even if they don't, LMS should still win. And somebody give Steve Carell an Oscar because he normally plays the over the top characters, but in this, he was beyond words. Just amazing. Actually, give the entire cast Oscars, because they just kicked Hilary Swank and Sean Penn's collective asses. Y'heard.
Se7en (A-)
Seen it before, but still as good as I remember it. Solid cast (I love anything with Kevin Spacey, Morgan Freeman, or Brad Pitt (okay, most movies with Brad Pitt) in it. Gory, but not too gory. Sad, but not too sad. And there were some comedic moments too. Finally, it was original, which most movies seem to be struggling with these days.
Just My Luck (D)
I used to like Lindsay Lohan. Seriously. In Parent Trap, I thought she was adorable. In Freaky Friday, I thought she was hilarious. In Mean Girls, I thought she could act. And then something happened and everything went terribly wrong. She got in the tabloids too often. She made Herbie: Fully Loaded. She went out with Fez, from That '70s Show. She became annorexic (or so I've heard...). She died her gorgeous red hair that I covet so BLONDE. And not a good blonde, hay blonde. Pissed in hay blonde. Thus, my love for Lindsay went from Hero to zero in like, a millisecond. And this movie? Made the hate go deeper. I did not like her character and nor did I want her to get her fucking luck back. And no that I've seen her boob in all it's glory (it's the the nip slip, but more the dress that deepens my hate), I really don't want to have to look at Lohan ever again. I don't want to see her on the tabloids. I don't want to see her in ads. I don't want articles about her (by the way ELLE, wtf is she wearing in the latest issue? The entire animal kingdom? and purple? what animal is purple). I don't want to HEAR about her. Least of all, I do NOT want to see her in movies. I'm so over Lindsay. You used to be cute, but then you bleached off your adorable, hot freckles. And that is what I thought of this movie.
These Hills Have Eyes (B)
I don't normally like gore, but this one I enjoyed. I covered my eyes for the chopping off bits and I was good. It was scary and good old fashioned horror film fun. And, as far as I know, was not based on a book/real life event/flootball story. So I was happy. The only thing wrong was the fact that they (the hill's eyes) lived in a town that had nuclear testing and were all deformed. Not that part. The part about how they were deformed, so they became cannibals. Like...Seriously? They have some genetic mutations so they started trapping people and eating them. No...just...no. Besides that glaring plot point. It was good. A good, fun, horror film. I reccomend it.
Still wanting to see:
Talladega Nights
Step Up (my friend has abandoned me AGAIN)
Snakes on a Plane (yeah, I'll probably rent this)
Accepted
Miami Vice
Over the Hedge (My love affair with Steve Carell continues)
My Super Ex-Girlfriend (RAINN WILSON)
Strangers with Candy (STEVEN COLBERT)
Scoop
Thank You For Smoking
An Inconvient Truth