Quick Notes

I was going title this "Quick Thoughts", but those of you who know me know that my thoughts are rarely quick.  Maybe my wit on occation, but not my thoughts.  So here you go:

• Movie Review:  Quantum of Solace - I really liked this one and am continually happy that these "Bond" movies are less and less like the Bond movies of old.  I kinda liked those movies at the time, but now can hardly watch them.  This one, like most critics have pointed out is more like a Bourne movie than anything else with it's pacing and filming, but the movie was exciting!  Pay full price.
• Movie Review:  Eagle Eye - Again, thinking about this one, it was much like the Bond movie above.  A thrill ride with a learn as you go plot.  Really a fun movie and an interesting idea.  (Not an original one, but a good one.)  Pay matinee price - but see it on the big screen.
• And this is one reason why I love golf.
• Oh - and this was a great article by one of my favorite blogs.

More coming soon!!

The reeealy Dark Knight

(spoiler free)

Wow, where to start. I was unsure whether to believe the hype going into the latest Batman movie, The Dark Knight. But go ahead and believe it. The movie is great, Ledger's performance as the Joker is truly insane, and when a movie keeps you guessing as to what will happen, I rank it as wonderful.

I must say that this is a dark, violent movie and a PG-13 rating is just about right - I wouldn't take anyone under 14 to it I think.

I give it a full ticket price with the added review that I will probably see it again - perhaps at the IMAX.

(Note: The movie was filmed in the IMAX format and then shrunk to fit a normal screen)

Wall-zzzzzzzz

Ahhh, summer. The time for sitting by the pool, camping, and fondly awaiting the latest Pixar movie for some great entertainment. Gotta say that the family and I were eager to throw down our money to catch this years movie, "Wall-e". (Unfortunately we ended up in the front row.)

The lights dimmed, and we were treated to a fantastic short, "Presto", about a magician and his overworked, underfed bunny rabbit. So dang cute, and hilarious too!! So a big thumbs up for that.

Then the feature started and we were presented with a cute little robot who had been left behind by the humans to continue on and clean up this messy little planet. Seems that we humans had consumed more and more and left things in a huge mess. As a result, the earth can no longer support life. So Wall-e goes on smashing garbage down into little squares and builds them in to huge towers of crap. But he also has taken on a life of his own, collecting odds and ends and enjoying family musicals. (Hello Dolly) Soon enough, a probe robot appears and seems to be looking for signs of natural life. A cute love story ensues, and eventually both are whisked away to a luxury cruise liner that carries the remains of the human race. Well, as human as they can be. Humans have had their every whim catered to for so long that they are all insanely fat and are totally oblivious to their surroundings due to the video screen/phone mounted right in front of them. (Cell phone anyone?) Of course there is a happy ending.

So really, it wasn't a bad movie, social commentary was pretty much spot on, characters were cute, animation of course was fantastic. The story was just a little boring - my kids were a little bored and I didn't blink twice when Parker needed to go to the restroom. (I even considered sneaking into Iron Man which was playing across the way.) I think that the action of saving the last leafy plant in existence came too late and was such a minor note that it just didn't ever capture my attention and take me for a ride. This is, after all, a summer movie.

I give it a Matinee rating - mostly for the animation and the social commentary.

HULK SMASH!!!

Craig Sez:

Grab your lowered expectations and head on out to see "The Incredible Hulk"! Gotta admit that I was really unsure about this one - but came away pleasantly entertained. (Of course, I had to go see it by myself because Jean is still scared of the big green guy. To be more specific, she is more scared of the Lou Ferrigno version, who makes a nice cameo and does the voice work for the Hulk too. I digress.)

At any rate, the drama is not as lengthy in this one because you already know the back story, so you just buckle your seat belt and go along for the action ride. Just in case you did miss the first one, make sure you are on time because there is a 3 minute primer for you while the credits are running. Then is it where we left off with Banner hiding out in Brazil trying to learn how to control the beast and keep it suppressed. He is really working to find a way to rid himself of the gamma radiation and thus return to normal. Turns out that he may have to learn to embrace the sickness in order to rid the city of the new beast - The Abomination.

As for the CGI - it's nice to see a production company get thing right after seeing the terrible effects in Indiana Jones. Of course there is no hiding it is CGI - but that is okay because the guys that are fighting are as big as trucks. I think that where people have a harder time with the Hulk in general is because when he turns "super" he doesn't have the same personality anymore. When Iron Man goes out - he is still the same person - just with a suit and abilities, same with Spiderman.

So, my rating is "Pay full price" if you are a fan of the comic genre, or a "matinee" if you just want a good action flick.

Movie Review: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Craig says:

Opening day of the new Indiana Jones movie and, thanks to my place of employment, we were in attendance. I gotta say that after seeing the trailer for it I have seen my expectations of the film drop so I was pretty much ready for anything. And anything is what they gave. At first I thought, 'Man - this is cheesy', and it was. Then I remembered that aside from the first one, the others were pretty cheesy too. I also remembered that I was still in my teen years when the movies came out - and for that time it was the coolest thing on the screen. My how time changes your perception. Of course, if you have seen the previous films, then you must go and see this one on the big screen too, just leave your thirst for good dialog at the door and you will be fine. Turn back the clock and enjoy it for what it is - and take a 8 and 11 year old with you to watch their eyes soak it all in - and remember when that was you. I rate it: See it in on the big screen, but don't bother going twice.

PS - One thing my sister pointed out - maybe he is super smart by now, but it sure seemed that he figured everything out really easily. "Hmmm - lemme just translate this and we will be off okay?" Bad guys? No worries. Natives? Just show them the skull. sigh...