Thanks to mischief5's assistance, I spent the weekend watching the special Despecialized Editions of Star Wars eps IV-VI this weekend. So much fan effort went into lovingly restoring the originals, and it's well worth it.
( Spoilers under the cut. :) )

Well, so I wasn't aware Macedonia in 300 B.C. was a land positively teeming with pale, blond-haired, blue-eyed barbarians, but there you go. I, being an olive-complected, brown-haired, big-nosed Greek of many generations back, found it somewhat disconcerting. John Hurt may have tremendous gravitas, but even he couldn't quite pull off the role of a ( Read more... )

Okay, yeah, I'm a purist. BUT, even if I weren't a purist, I have would have issues up the wazoo about RoboCop (2014) that had little to do with how very, *very* much I loved Peter Weller in the role of the original RoboCop (1987) and how its grim satire was so forward-thinking about the balance between safety and liberty; how identity and personal ( Read more... )

Last night I watched Philomena, a film starring Dame Judi Dench (must adore) and Steve Coogan, based on the book, The Lost Child of Philomena Lee, based on the real-life story of Philomena Lee and her search to be reunited with her son Anthony, taken from her soon after his birth. Oh, man. It's an awesome social statement disguised as a feel-good ( Read more... )

I just got back from seeing The Grand Budapest Hotel and it really charmed my socks off. I don't think I stopped grinning the entire time. Such a visual treat, and it did funny things to my heart. The cast is just remarkable, but it's not surprising so many actors vie to be part of one of Wes Anderson's projects. It must take him years to put ( Read more... )

Review is under the cut. ( Because the movie is very spoily. )

Watched Red 2 tonight. ( Spoilery fun. )