Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland: Move over Tim Burton, this is the original live action movie. I really got a kick out of this movie, ofcourse now the special effects etc. are dinosaurs, however this movie was made in the 30s or 40s and the special effects would have been as revolutionary as Star Wars was when it first came out. This movie was weird but I don't know that you can have Alice in Wonderland without it being at least a little bit weird. It was entertaining to see both Carey Grant and Gary Cooper in little roles. I enjoyed this movie, I might even watch it again.

Tarzan: It's a good story, it's a good movie, Phil Collins wrote some really good music. It's funny, you should watch it.

Mamma Mia: This movie is a collection of ABBA songs thrown together with a plot, based off of the Broadway musical. I've never seen the musical and so I don't know how it compares but I have heard the soundtrack from the original cast and the singing's much better in the soundtrack. If you watch this you can't be expecting a phenomenal plot, you have to take it for what it is, a plot built around some unrelated ABBA hits. I like being able to see the story in the movie, that can be hard to get from just a soundtrack. Over all I'm not largely impressed with the movie, the acting's pretty good (Meryl Streep, Colin Firth...) but the singing leaves a lot to be desired in most cases. I wish that Pierce Brosnen hadn't been cast because he's sketchy as a singer and not a great actor even in action movies... Anyway that's what I think about this movie.

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town: This is the movie that Mr. Deeds was based off. I've never seen Mr. Deeds, but I'm inclined to think that this movie is better, but to each their own. This movie was directed by Frank Cappra and stars Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur. Mr. Longfellow Deeds of a small town in Vermont has just inherited 20 million dollars and has to adjust to a fantastic new life in New York. I really enjoyed the messages of this movie, they were by no means subtle, however I believe they are very much needed. This movie talks about kindness towards fellowman and about being satisfied with enough, not always wanting more. It's not my favorite movie ever but it is a good one.

As You Like It: I am a fan of Shakespeare and I am a very big fan of Kenneth Branagh Shakespeare movies and this is one of them. As You Like it is an enjoyable comedy but it is brought to it's best set in 19th century Japan. I never would have thought of a Shakespeare play in such a setting but Branagh makes it simply beautiful. I heartily recommend it.

Sydney White: A silly retelling of Snow White, this time it's Sydney White and the seven dorks. It's a fun and far fetched movie, I watched it with a roomie and we had a great time seeing it, it's one of those movies.

Miss Potter: This movie is about the life of Beatrix Potter, as I know very little about her I could not tell you as to how accurate it is but I found it a very charming story. I had no idea... well quite frankly all I knew about Beatrix Potter was that she wrote those stories, the ones about Peter Rabbit and all those other animals; I didn't realize that it might be though improper for a woman to be writing and illustrating her own stories. I also wasn't aware that she bought large amounts of land in the Lake District which she donated for preservation and I think that was a very wonderful thing to do. I found this movie rather inspirational it makes me want to do more, be better, do something really great.

Becoming Jane: I was curious, I admit it, despite hearing poor opinions of it; I think sometimes you still just to see something that you've heard was bad in order to confirm it for yourself. It's not wonderful, it's not terrible, it's just kind of blah, and frankly I don't know that I buy it. I think it's sort of funny, avid Austin fans would have this be another one of her stories with a lovely happy ending, but it cannot be, Jane Austin died young (well relatively) and she was unmarried; to a man she loved or any one else. Rather ironic isn't it?

For Whom The Bell Tolls: Gary Cooper, Ingrid Bergman in a story about the Spanish Revolution by Hemingway. Yes Hemingway, bingo, interesting plot about the underdogs and an unhappy ending...ish.

Friday, May 29

People Will Talk: Okay so this isn't actually Hepburn or Bogie, it's yet another Carey Grant movie. It's a fun movie with some interesting plot twists. I quite liked the part about the trains. It's a fun movie.
How To Steal A Million: I love this movie, it's very funny and in the crime thriller family. Audrey Hepburn plays a French girl who's father forges paintings, much to her dismay. She meets Peter O'Toole when she shoots him as an intruder in her house. Circumstances occur which force her to join O'Toole and to break into an art museum to protect her father from going to jail.
High Sierra: One of Bogie's big break through movies. A crime thriller, much more so than the previous movie. Love, crime, mountains, a lovable dog... Not my favorite but alright.
Two For The Road: Another Audrey Hepburn movie. The character she plays in this movie is more on the Holly Golightly side of things than the sweet innocent girls Hepburn quite often played. I liked this movie, I think, but it was very sad, it's the story (shown all out of cronolgical sequence) of a couple thorough their relationship together and their travles. It's a rocky marriage and it made me sad to wonder if many marriages out there are or have been like that and to wonder how being so in love isn't enough it would seem, to keep a marriage going.
Love in the Afternoon: Audrey Hepburn and Gary Cooper, Cooper is a big player. Hepburn's father is a private detective and she uses stories from his files to make Cooper jelous and become a one woman man. It's a cute movie.
Paris When it Sizzles: This movie is funny because of the way it portrays Hollywood, and how accuratly. Hepburn and William Holden. It's kind of a strange movie but that's part of what makes it so funny. It's also a chance to see Tony Curtis play a little bit part.
The Maltese Falcon: I'd heard about this movie, or perhaps the book, for years and I finally got around to watching it and seeing the famed Sam Spade. I though this was a really good movie, good mystery and acting and a very good ending. Another movie with Bogie.
The African Queen: This is only a partial report because the DVD was too scratched up to play the whole movie. I liked what I saw. It stars Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart. I haven't seen any movies with Katherine Hepburn for a while and I'd forgotten what a wonderful actress she was. I'll try and get a better copy of the movie and report when I do.