Super 8

My wife and I were really looking forward to seeing this movie. We got to the theater 30 minutes early on opening day. There were 4 other people in the theater. By start time the movie filled up a bit but nowhere near full. This is more of a statement on movies in general and not Super 8.

The movie was produce by Amblin which brought us movies like E.T. and Goonies so I was expecting a movie that fell in that genre. It was for the first two thirds of the movie. The last third is not for young children.

It started with a way over the top train wreck which was interesting. Then the movie continued with a Goonies vibe. All the actors that played the kids were great. In fact, all the actors in the movie were great. I have alwasys liked Kyle Chandler starting way back when he was on the tv show Homefront.

The story was my issue in this case. The film was really well done. The beginning in the Goonies part of the movie was a great set up. The problem was it turned into more of a Cloverfield. It got too violent to stay in the Goonies genre. It felt like 2 different movies and it was a very abrupt ending. The monster felt like a cast off of Cloverfield too.

Overall I give it 3 out of 5 scooby snacks. It wasn't horrible, everyone should see it and you wont be upset you saw it.

Paul

Went to see Paul last weekend and it was a pleasant surprise. We go to the movies quite often and there were not a lot of choices this weekend. There were a lot of movies out that I would watch as a rental but going to see in the theater is a stretch. On a side note I love the Simon Pegg/Nick Frost movies. If you are someone that loves SciFi it is an excellent homage to the genre. There are so many easter eggs in this movie I will probably have to buy it when it comes out on DVD. It has a high re-watch value because of this.

I am not much of a Kristin Wigg fan but she is actually likable in this movie. That was a nice surprise, maybe she just needs to get away from doing all the SNL movies.

If you liked "Shaun of the Dead" and "Hot Fuzz" you will like this movie. My wife and I agreed this one is not quite as good as Shaun but much better the Fuzz So that is something.

I would give it 3 out of 4 stars.

Avatar

Has anyone out there seen Avatar? I saw it last week at the local theater. We did not have a choice of not 3D. Only 3D or 3D IMAX.

Starting out the tickets were 13 bucks a piece, 3 dollars extra for 3D which I didn't want. We may have started off on the wrong foot. I think movie theaters are in a dangerous place with making tickets so expensive. At 26 dollars for 2 tickets I can pass on the theater experience and just buy the Blu Ray when it comes out. I am leaning more towards that feeling every day.

After 50 bucks in tickets and concessions we were in. A big positive was we were there on a Monday and there was only about 25-35 people in the theater. This greatly reduces the chance that some jackass is going to talk on his cell phone during the movie. One did go off but the guy apologized and did not answer it.

The movie itself was ok, by far nothing ground breaking. I agree it is a retelling of the basic Pocahontas or Dances with Wolves stories. It took around an hour for my eyes to adjust to the 3D. I wear glasses so I think 2 layers of glasses was a problem. I felt like I was watching a dream sequence for the whole length of the movie.

I know there have been many reviews saying this movie is incredible. I like substance over flash. The story and the acting were largely unremarkable.

I guess I hold up hopes for Sherlock Holmes.

Gran Tourino and the Oscars

I finally got around to seeing this film last night. I thought it was excellent. The sacrifice the main character makes for those kids was heartfelt. I can't understand why it did not get any Oscar nominations. You are telling me The Wrestler was a better movie or Benjamin Button? I thought Button was little more then a lesser Forrest Gump.

The Oscars have become so Politically Correct it is hard to pay attention anymore. If the movie deals with social issues it is winning. The thing that bugs me the most is they keep snubbing people because they don't want them to win all the time. Clint Eastwood should have been nominated again. Why penalize him because he does good work and does it his own way. For example, Tom Hanks should have won for Saving Private Ryan, and Cast Away but it would have been his 3rd Oscar. I think Carey Grant is the only person to have 3 best actor awards. They want to keep it that way.

I love movies and this crap makes me angry. There is no way to change it though. Like the Senate there are no term limits for Oscar voters.

The Oscars

The Oscars...

Anyone watch the Oscars? I love movies and will probably post some reviews here and there between rantings. It always interests me to watch the Oscars and I am always left unhappy with the results. This year it was pretty much predictable who would win and they followed suit. I am ok with the results for once, at least I am interested in seeing the movie that won. Some years the movies look utterly dreadful.

I know it is art, but I still like movies to be fun and unrealistic. I don't necessarily want to see too many movies about alcoholics or people dieing of some terminal illness. I live in the real world, movies are supposed to be an escape. I like bad guys and good guys. There are too many movies that exist in the gray. I guess on the flip side, there are too many sequels and remakes being made too.

I don't know where I am going with this. I think the state of movies is not very good right now. If Paul Blart Mall Cop can make over 100 million anything can.

I am looking forward to The Watchmen next, at least they didn't play it safe to get a PG-13 they went right for the R. It should be interesting.