Secretariat - 2012

Lived up to the hype.  Dragged at times.  Acting was great.  Fun movie - 3.5 stars.

Brokedown Palace - 1999

Claire Danes, Kate Beckinsale, Bill Pulman and Lou Diamond Phillips star in this movie which motive is to teach us  what a true friendship is really worth.  Danes and Beckinsale play two fun loving naive high school seniors set on sneaking off to Thailand for their "senior trip".  Of course they do tell their parents that they are going to Hawaii. 

The girls learn that the world isn't as free as their morals or their attitudes - and actually end up in prison after getting set up by a con man from Hong Kong.  Danes plays the best role in this movie.  You get to see a selfish 18 year old mature into a 20 something mature adult by the end of the show.  Some of it isn't her fault, she didn't have the upbringing that others do, but in the end she has to learn some of lifes greatest lessons in order to learn and grow.  I borrowed this film from a neighbor and would give it 2 stars is all.  I didn't like the lesbian undertones between the two main characters.  My wife thought all the touching between them was genuine and they were just friends, but I felt it had a deeper meaning.  A long movie with bad directing to boot - but the acting from Danes and Beckinsale is actually pretty good.

Young Frankenstein - 1974

Very funny - too many sex jokes to call this a kid show - Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder at their best. 3.5 stars

Now You See Me (2013)

When I first saw the preview for this film I was excited because it had good actors in it and the premise of robbing bank through magic seems exciting.  In regards to that trailer this movie did not disappoint but the reliance on crude language and jokes damaged teh overall thrill of the show.  Did I like this cat and mouse chase?  Yes.  Would I see it again?  No.  Wait to see it on the TV if you have not already seen it.

Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters (2013)

This is not so much a post about the movie as it is about the new movie theater we saw it in.  Did I say movie theater?  I meant restaurant.  I know that you can go to any Megaplex and take a meal into the theater with you, but at the new Movie Grille in Ogden a waitress comes to your chair and takes your order.  The serve gourmet food such as specialty pizzas, hamburgers, sandwiches, etc.  Your soda is refilled in a glass cup by the waitress who checks on you through out the film.  Food aside, the chairs recline like a Lazy-Boy...I am talking shoes off, feet in the air recline.  There is so much space between the rows and ailes and it is new and clean.  On Mondays the run a two for twenty dollar deal, two people, two tickets and two meals for twenty dollars.  They do run "dollar theater" movies, but right now I am not able to make to all of the shows I want to see at the Megaplexes when the shows are new and fresh.  I think you should try it out.

Oh, the movie was good for the family, but not much to post about.  My eleven and nine year old boys liked it.  Since I was in a recliner, I slept through most of it :)

Advise & Consent - 1962

I have had this Otto Preminger film on my to watch list for a few years.  I loved every minute of it.

Charles Laughton in his last role of his life, and boy is he always a treat for me to watch on film.  Walter Pidgeon, Henry Fonda, Lew Ayres, Don Murray, Gene Tierney and even Bette White star in this political film about how work gets done in D.C. aka compromise, corruption, blackmail, bribing, etc.   4 stars.

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The Last Man on Earth (1964)

This is a film adaptation of the novel I Am Legend.  Vincent Price plays a scientist who has become immune to the disease that has wiped out the entire human race...so he thinks.  This disease turns the humans into zombies who come out at night looking for food.  He has taken it upon himself to kill and dispose of them during the day, while he is still looking for living humans.  This story intrigued me, but I had to fast forward it to the end just to find out how it ended...boring.  He found some other humans, but could not convince them that he was not a zombie and ended up being killed.  I realize that I just gave you the ending, but trust me, you will want to skip this one.

Snow White and the Huntsman - 2012

This show had a lot going for it- incredible special effects, very good acting from Charlize Theron and her evil brother Finn, and beautiful cinematography.  Unfortunately somebody really screwed up the casting of Kristen Stewart as Snow White.  She was horrible.  She played the same role that she played in Twilight.  Maybe she thought she was shooting a twilight picture?  I mean seriously.  Theron's acting made the movie okay but I really struggled with Stewart.  2 stars.

Lincoln

I didn't like this movie as much as you did.  I struggle with historical films that have 7-8 characters that I recognize from other movies.  I like the non-recognizable actors approach better to these films because then I can really get into them and believe in the moment.

There Will Be Blood (2007)

I remember all of the hype surrounding this film when it came out.  It was up for 8 Oscars; it took home the best male lead and Cinematography.  To be brutally honest with you, I did not like this show. 
It is based off of the novel "Oil" by Upton Sinclair (He also wrote the much beloved novel, The Jungle).  Daniel Day-Lewis plays a gold prospector Daniel Plainview who is kind of successful in the gold mining, but one day he strikes oil and begins down the road of oil baron.  Early on, one of his minors is killed in a mining accident and leaves a son behind which Daniel takes on as his partner.
Along his way he is buying up lots of land to mine and he runs across the Sunday family with twin boys.  The one twin sells out the family, while the other is focused on becoming a preacher.  As the preacher and Daniels paths cross their lives become conflicted with religion and money, with money and greed ultimately winning out and ruining both of their lives.  This movie is rated R for a cringe worthy murder at the very end of the show.  Day-Lewis's performance was good, but not one of his best in my book.  This movie was an epic that could have been condensed into a 90 minute film.  Not a great movie.

What ever happened to Baby Jane? - 1962

Sorry Bette Davis and Joan Crawford- I could only take 70 min of this movie and had to turn it off.  I just didn't like it at all.

"In a tale that almost redefines sibling rivalry, faded actresses Blanche and 'Baby' Jane Hudson live together. Jane was by far the most famous when she performed with their father in vaudeville but as they got older, it was Blanche who became the finer actress, which Jane still resents. Blanche is now confined to a wheelchair - Jane ran her over with the car while drunk, even though she has no memory of it - and Jane is firmly in control. As time goes by, Jane exercises greater and greater control over her sister, intercepting her letters and ensuring that few if anyone from the outside has any contact with her. As Jane slowly loses her mind, she torments her sister going to ever greater extremes."

The Bells of St Mary's - 1945

The sequel to Going My Way, although it was actually shot before the original movie was shot.  Crosby plays Father O'Malley again, this time opposite Ingrid Bergman, who plays the head nun at a child's parochial school.  This movie didn't work for me like the original, I would skip it.  2.5 stars.

3:10 to Yuma

If you have not done so already, skip this movie.  It is slow, formulaic, and boring.  I have not watched the remake, but it looks a lot more interesting than this one was.  I turned it off about half way through.

Tuesdays with Morrie - 1999 - Winner of 4 Emmy's

When I was at VistaCare our bereavement coordinator Julia told me to read this book, and I loved it.  I have always wanted to see the made for TV movie starring Jack Lemmon, and I finally got it at the library.  Jack died two years after filming this movie, and I feel he was the right person for the character of Morrie.  I liked the book better but the film was good but not spectacular.  3 stars.

Going My Way - 1944 - Winner of 7 Oscars including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor!

If you haven't seen this movie then you should.  I don't want to say a lot about it, I just want you to experience it without knowing a lot about it beforehand.  There are some great life lessons in this movie- how to treat the aging person, how to enjoy your work when your talent or heart belongs somewhere else, and how to make religion an enjoyable part of your life.  Excellent Music.  Excellent Acting.  I loved this movie!  5 stars.

42 (2013)

This is the "true" story of Jackie Robinson and his role in breaking down the racial walls in professional baseball.  Go into this with a grain of salt because it is filmed with a lot of Hollywood imagining.  That being said, this is still a true story, and this movie tells a tense story in a great way.  The only reason this movie is rated PG-13 is because of all of the racial dialogue that is throughout this entire show.  The performances by Chadwick Boseman (Jackie Robinson), and Nichole Beharie (Jackie's wife Raechel) were strong and well portrayed, but I think the show belonged to Harrison Ford who portrayed Branch Rickey, the owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers.  Ford played an elderly gentleman almost to perfection, he actually played it in a way that you almost forgot that it was Hans Solo and Indiana Jones.  The only time I caught a glimpse of these past roles was when he gave his quintessential grin.  This movie has intense moments of racial conflict and language, but it is smoothed over by calm moments to help you as a viewer get through the emotional roller coaster that you will be on.  I cannot comprehend this kind of behavior by God fearing Christians but it was just natural for them, I guess.  If you are a baseball fan this is a must watch, even if you are not a fan, it is a must watch.  This will find a place on my list.  Be careful watching this with your kids if you have not had the racial discrimination conversation with them yet. 

Mildred Pierce - 1945 - Oscar for Best Actress

I read that this film was Joan Crawford's best work, so I had to give it a try.  The film was remade in 2011 on HBO with Kate Winslet and Guy Pearce.

Joan Crawford will do anything for her daughter, and in the end she realizes that she wasted her life with that approach.  Joan's acting is great, but the rest of the crew just does okay.  3.5 stars.

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The Grand Hotel - 1932 (Academy Award winner for Best Picture)

I realize that 81 years ago there were maybe 5% of the movies made per year compared to what we see nowadays, but still this shouldn't have won best picture.

My guess is they had 3-4 stuidos back then and all films were shot on location on those studios.  They didn't have the camera's, technology, money, travel arrangements that are easy to set up, etc.  I get all that but really this movie is a dissapoints.  I wonder if winning the Oscar back then was all about the line up in the movie more than the movie itself- in this case Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, John Barrymore, and Lionel Barrymore all teamed up as big time movie stars of that time for this movie.

The story is about a bunch of individuals staying in the same hotel and how their lives interact. I was hoping for a twist at the end, something to guess, some drama... nothing.  What a snoozer.  1 star.

Reefer Madness (1936)

I am not recommending that you actually watch this entire movie (it is only like 65 minutes long) but it is a funny public service announcement on the dangers of the new Public Enemy #1, Marihuana.  This movie was put out to warn parents of the dangers that this new drug will cause for their children and society.  The way it is depicted is interesting, because even as the kids are high, they still are well dress and mannered.  It was an interesting watch simply because of when it was made and how it was presented.

Skyfall (2012)

I must admit that Daniel Craig is my favorite Bond, simply because he is weathered and tired and presents as a good agent.  He is not goofy like the rest.  This story begins with another agent accidentally "killing" Bond.  To spoil the story for you, he does not die, but finds this as an excuse to go into seclusion.  While in retirement, he sees that someone is trying to off and expose the rest of the agents of MI6.  Ego pulls him out of retirement and he begins to track down the individuals who are responsible for this mess.  To make a long story short the bad guy is M's very own son.  This movie culminates in the destruction of Bond's childhood home and Aston Martin.  Violent!!
It felt as though this movie should have been the first Bond Movie because it ends with him walking into M's office like it is his first time there???!!??