Current mood:	hungry
Entry tags:	movies

* Movie column
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Updated 8/19/07


Movie Log
Entries list in descending order; most recent entry listed first.
* Flushed Away
August 16, 2007
Fun and cute. Nothing life-altering, but still enjoyable.
Recommended? Yes.

* Hot Fuzz
August 15, 2007
One of my co-workers said she liked this better than Shaun of the Dead, and I was skeptical, but after seeing Hot Fuzz I think I might actually agree. Definitely a fun and funny movie. The DVD extras are fucking great, too (best extras I've seen since Battlefield Baseball). I tend to not buy many films, but this is something I'd definitely purchase for my DVD collection.
Recommended? By the Power of Grayskull, yes.

* Moby-Dick (1956 film)
July 24, 2007
Since I just finished reading the book recently, I figured I'd check out the film, & this version has been regarded as a pretty faithful & well-done adaptation. Of course, it was nowhere NEAR as amazing as the book, but was pretty damn good nonetheless.
Recommended? Yes, definitely.

* The Boondock Saints
July 21, 2007
I had seen bits and pieces of it before, but never the whole thing. Finally, I sat down with some friends & watched the whole thing. In a word: Awesome.
Recommended? Fuck yeah.

* Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
July 16, 2007
Although I loathe the Cult of Harry Potter (I work in a bookstore, and I have no choice but to face the horror that descends upon us this very evening - July 20th, that is - when the newest book is released tonight @ midnight to hundreds, nay, THOUSANDS (probably) of overly-enthused fans), I have enjoyed every movie produced based on the series thus far. This one was no exception; it was fun to watch. Still, I dread the 8:30 p.m.-2 a.m. shift I have to work tonight. So many people think it'll be the last of the series, but I think it's bullshit. J. K. Rowling will write more books (if not to do with Harry Potter) -- she's still pretty young -- and people will still freak out about them. Sigh.
Recommended? Yes.

* The Departed
July 11, 2007
This was pretty good, but I don't see why everyone crapped their pants over it. Maybe I am a bit biased since I hate Leonardo Dicrappio (he reminds me of somebody I fucking hate). Jack Nicholson was amazing, of course; & Marky Mark was good, too. I enjoyed it, but I honestly don't give a shit if I ever see this movie again. I'm so NOT into mob movies/TV/etc. -- I can't understand why people don't get sick of the subject matter.
Recommended? Yeah, sure. If you like mob movies, I'm sure you'll love it. :P

* Transformers
July 7, 2007
I really didn't care about seeing this one at all but some friends dragged me to it. I figured I would enjoy it, in a summer-action-blockbuster way, but to be honest, this movie was fucking CRAP. I didn't expect award-winning dialogue, but the screenplay was not merely bad, it was cringe-worthy and embarrassing (I found myself grumbling more than once, "Who TALKS like that!?!?"). The special effects were pretty cool, but I had more fun heckling this one than anything else.
Recommended? NO! I don't understand what all the fucking HYPE is all about! I liked the Transformers as a kid, too, but this movie BLOWS.

* Pan's Labyrinth
June ??, 2007 (forgot to add this one)
Although I'd heard nothing but good things about this movie, more than one person has told me that I ought to keep a hankie handy while watching it. I put it off for awhile because I didn't want to get depressed; the older I get the more I tend to avoid movies that will make me sad. Although it was a bit dark, Pan's Labyrinth just didn't get to me on that level; I didn't shed a single tear over it (good, because I fucking hate to cry). I did enjoy the film, but I had expected it to have a bit more fantasy content in it.
Recommended? Yes.

* Tron
May 30, 2007
Believe it or not, I had never seen this one before. Just never got around to it, I guess. It was a little cheesy, dialogue-wise, but the effects and style of the film were striking and impressive, even considering how damn OLD it is now... 25 years! Fun to watch.
Recommended? Yeah.

* Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
May 28, 2007
Not my favorite of the three films, but I did enjoy it. I love being immersed in that world; I've really just been in the mood for anything to do with the sea, sailing, oceans, beaches, anything to do with that imagery lately (currently reading Moby-Dick, finding myself fascinated with whales & marine life in general, etc.). It was just a fun movie to watch.
Recommended? Aye!

* Labyrinth
May 2, 2007
Not the first time I've seen this, obviously. Definitely a "Happy Feeling" movie. Jim Henson and Brian Froud were/are fucking geniuses.
Recommended? Hell yes.

* I ♥ Huckabees
April ? 2007 (Forgot to add this entry when I first watched it)
I had started to watch this a few months ago, but saw only about the first half-hour or so. Finally watched it in its entirety about a month ago. Anyway, I liked it; the eccentric characters were often hilarious. That's all I really have to say about it, though.
Recommended? Yep.

* Snakes on a Plane
April 9, 2007
Yeah, I guess it was inevitable that I'd see this, eventually. Typical action fare, predictable, nothing really special -- yet slightly exceeded my expectations so that's good enough for me. Some funny shit, some funny-gross shit. I like Samuel L. Jackson and Kenan Thompson anyway.
Recommended? Yes.

* Casino Royale
April 8, 2007
I'm not really a huge James Bond fan but this movie was definitely fun to watch -- although the romantic subplot was a little lame. Daniel Craig is pretty hot; I liked the intensity he brought to the Bond character - that piercing stare is amazing.
Recommended? Yes.

* The Illusionist
March 26, 2007
Decent film, beautiful visual style in parts; kept me entertained but a bit predictable (Usual Suspects-esque ending) and ultimately forgettable. Worth seeing once.
Recommended? Yes.

* Attack the Gas Station
March 25, 2007
Stupid plot + Zero Budget + Lame Screenplay + Crappy Production + Dubbed in the wrong language = AWESOME. That's right -- AWESOME. Definitely more fun when watched with at least one other person. This one might seem awful at first, but hang in there, I promise it's worth it -- unless you're the kind of person who can't appreciate a good Bad Movie. Haha.
Recommended? Yes!

* Conan the Barbarian
March 24, 2007
Rented this last week from the library & put it on last night. One of my brothers was visiting for a few hours & we did some chit-chatting throughout -- I didn't pay close attention to watching this, so I don't really have a firm grasp on the plot. Mostly, I kind of laughed at it -- for one thing, I just can't take Arnold Schwarzenegger all that seriously; for another thing, although the movie may have been state-of-the-art in 1982, parts of it (dialogue, special effects) are a bit cheesy. Definitely more fun to watch with company. Some of the sets, costumes, & scenery are quite pleasing to look at. Best scenes: the camel-punch, and the vulture-biting -- fucking FUNNEY!!!
Recommended? Yeah, sure!

* O Brother, Where Art Thou?
March 23, 2007
I watched this spontaneously tonight -- was flipping through TV, and it was just about to start on IFC, so I figured I'd check it out. Was beautifully filmed; I liked it more than I thought I would, considering the fact that I can't stand George Clooney (don't know why, just don't like 'im).
Recommended? Yes.

* Howl's Moving Castle
March 17, 2007
Yet another great animated film by Hayao Miyazaki. What can I say about it (or any of his others) that hasn't already been said? There's something about Studio Ghibli's films that makes me very nostalgic for my childhood & the dreams I had when I was young.
Recommended? Yes, definitely.

* Troy
Friday, March 16, 2007
Holy crap -- this movie's like a bad romance novel. Awful screenplay, flat acting, cheesy beefcake shots, emotionally unaffecting romantic subplots -- nobody cares! Costume design was okay but not great. The only 2 good things about this film: 1.) The fireballs rolling down the hill; and 2.) Making fun of the actors & their corny lines. If I had been watching this by myself I would have turned it off.
Recommended? God, no.

* A Scanner Darkly
March 14, 2007
I expected to like this, but I thought it was kind of mediocre. I like the visual style in which it was filmed, but I found myself incapable of giving a shit about the characters or the plot. I've never read any of Philip K. Dick's work, & if I had I might have been better able to appreciate this film.
Recommended? Meh.

* 300
March 12, 2007
Whoa, finally a movie that I watched in the theatre instead of on DVD! And holy shit, was it fucking worth it. Unless you aren't a fan of completely fucking amazing movies, then GO SEE THIS. Elegantly violent; beautifully monochromatic; every frame of this film is exquisite. I've read other reviews of this online & the only people who don't like this movie are smarter-than-thou douchebags (probably the kind of snotty teenagers that Jay and Silent Bob beat the crap out of at the end of Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back). Definitely one of the best movies I've seen in a long time.
Recommended? Go see it immediately or I will kill you.

* Dead Poets Society
March 11, 2007
I'm always a sucker for the misunderstood, singled-out intellectual underdog movies, partly because I've been struggling with that kind of opposition my whole life. A few words from another dead poet: "To be nobody but yourself in a world/that's doing its best night and day/to make you everybody else,/means to fight the hardest battle
anyone can fight/and never stop fighting." -- ee cummings
Recommended? Hell yes.

* My Neighbor Totoro
March 5, 2007
Hayao Miyazaki's films are amazing, evocative, whimsical, and beautiful; naturally, this one's no exception. Might appear to be a children's film at first glance, but anyone of any age could appreciate and enjoy it.
Recommended? Yes, definitely.

* The Mask of Zorro
February 18, 2007
Nothing spectacular, yet was entertaining enough to keep me interested. The best part was the scene in which this guy flies through the air and gets shot... hahaha!! We must have watched that part 20 times, and it got funnier every single time. Also, Antonio Banderas is hot.
Recommended? Yes.

* The Sentinel
February 3, 2007
Pretty bizarre film, had some semi-disturbing moments. One thing's for sure -- I'll never look at Mrs. Griswold in quite the same way again. Overall message of this film (in my opinion) is that religion is demented and creepy.
Recommended? Yes.

* Idiocracy
January 27, 2007
Mike Judge is a fucking GENIUS. I figured this movie was funny, but it was even better than I expected it to be; DEFINITELY has 'cult movie' potential. IMNSHO, I thought it was better than Office Space.
Recommended? FUCK yes!

* Cars
January 20, 2007
This movie give me happy feeling! It was cute and fun.
Recommended? Yes.

* Little Miss Sunshine
January 19, 2007
This film has almost an Amélie-esque feel-good charisma to it, although the subject matter is entirely different. I will never hear the song Superfreak in quite the same way ever again.
Recommended? Yes! This is the kind of movie almost anyone would like.

* Garden State
January 18, 2007
I now wanna live in a boat at the bottom of a quarry. And Natalie Portman was actually decent in this.
Recommended? Yes, definitely.

* Little Voice
January 14, 2007
L is a big fan of Ewan McGregor, so she picked this one out. It was decent & well done, but though I didn't hate it, I didn't love it either -- my life would not have been greatly affected one way or the other if I never experienced this film. There were a couple of funny parts, to be sure; Michael Caine was good, & Jane Horrocks did have an amazing singing voice.
Recommended? Sure, yeah, why not.

* Koyaanisqatsi
January 13, 2007
I've been aware of this film for some time but never had a chance to see it before. I had an idea of what it was about (I knew it was basically a series of images set to a musical score with no dialogue or plot), but still wasn't sure exactly what to expect. Interesting & even beautiful in some parts, but overall I found it pretty depressing & a bit ominous (largely because of the film's evocative score, by Philip Glass. This is the kind of film that tends to give me vague, uneasy dreams.
Recommended? Yes, but don't attempt to watch it if you're a bit depressed.

* Blue Planet series
January 12, 2007
Just finished watching this series today; started a few weeks ago.
Last episode watched: Coasts.
Favorite episode: The Deep.
Recommended? Yes.



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