Monday, December 29, 2014

Joyeux Noel: This is a French movie but it also includes English and German. This is the story of the Christmas truce in WWI, in this telling it centers on groups of Scottish, French and German soldiers who do a wonderful thing in coming together, across battle lines for Christmas. Despite the good in this movie, it depressed me a lot, I think this took place the first year of the war, all these people had three or four more years of bloody war, more than that the truce didn't continue and at least in the movie these individuals were reprimanded. There are no happy endings before the end of a war.

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Steamboat Bill Jr.: This is a fantastic Buster Keaton movie, the plot is not wonderful but that's not really what one watches a Keaton movie for and his work is amazing in this movie, including what I've heard called the most dangerous stunt he ever did. It is an amazing monument to the man's art and very funny.

Chocolate: I don't think I've written about this before, though I have seen it before. It's a good movie that perhaps falls in the 'foreign film' category. Judi Dench is in it and of course she's wonderful, there's a great ensemble cast, which I always love. The movie is thought provoking on many subjects, chief among those is what is or makes someone good? It's a good movie, sad and serious with light moments and a happy ending.

Friday, December 12, 2014

Hitch: On the surface this is a cute, enjoyable chick flick with some pointers on dating. If you think about it very hard at all or look too closely, things seem to fall apart. There are good parts and points made but not all, also the logic is confusing.

Miracle on 34th Street: First time seeing this all the way through and probably the last. I know this is a Christmas classic (ps, we're talking about the original here) but I just don't love it. The story's okay, but there's a lot of negativity before the happy ending and a lot of jumps.

Much Ado About Nothing (Joss Whedon): I have been curious about this movie since I first heard about it, as I've previously mentioned, this is my favorite of Shakespeare's plays. I did not finish watching it, I may as some point, I haven't decided. I loved the visual aesthetic of the movie but I wasn't loving the actors portraying Beatrice and Benedick, which is a big deal, not everyone will agree but to me they are the very heart and soul of the play, so not liking them is a big deal.

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Hocus Pocus: This movie is considered a Halloween classic, most of my friends grew up watching it. This was my second time seeing it. I don't know if you have to grow up watching it to truly love it but I don't love it. There are amusing and entertaining parts but something about it just doesn't sit right with me, especially as a kids movie. It is better watching it with a group of people who love it.

Casper: Kinda the same story as above, although I don't know if it is the same level of a classic. It was okay but I have no real interest in seeing it again.

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Meet the Mormons: I really loved this movie, it was such an uplifting movie, I commented to my friend that often one can leave a theater tense or depressed even but I left this movie feeling happy. Perhaps I should give the disclaimer that I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, otherwise known as Mormons. This movie focuses on the lives and experiences of six individuals who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, people like you and me in many ways but people who are also inspiring. If you can find no other reason to see this movie, do it to see Gail Halverson, the candy bomber, he's a truly amazing man. For more on the movie see this and this. If you've ever wanted to know more about the Mormons, this is a good way to find out more, also the proceeds go to the red cross, so it's a win no matter what.

Friday, September 26, 2014

Maleficent: I wasn't quite sure what I would think of this movie, I knew lots of people raved about it but I never know if I'll also like something. I did like this movie, it was a very interesting retelling. It certainly had an agenda, which is not really a good or a bad thing but it was for sure there, it was geared for a feminist take and maybe also to bitter women? I don't think you have to be either one of those things to enjoy the movie but those were the slants I felt were there. I did enjoy the movie though.

Saturday, September 20, 2014

The Cutting Edge: I really liked this movie, now that I try to think about why it's a little hard to put my finger on. I like the wit and humor of the movie. I enjoy watching the ice skating. It's just an enjoyable movie.