so we went out to dinner and a movie. dinner was not amazing, but we are finding that most things in our immediate town are not... have to drive a bit to get the good stuff. noted.
the characters are fun and the dialogue is witty... the girls are adorable.
the minions are hysterical. you want one. and if you go you have to download the app they tell you to translate them at the end. so funny.
the 3D is fun in this one too- they ride a roller coaster, and the minions come out at you... pretty cool.
and honestly, i forgot it was steve the whole time! The cast does a great job at creating new voices and characters... cept for that kid from 30 rock- he's pretty blatant...
good flick. great story. completely entertained for an evening in our charming little small-town movie theatre. (it has stairs and it's never busy, just minus the stadium seating...)
my team says i am "wholesome" and that may or may not be cause cc and i spend our weekends watching charming animated films, baking our own wedding cakes, and meeting friends at the malt shop (well, frozen yogurt)
a few weeks ago, we went to see Alice in 3D as a matinee on a Saturday. apparently you can't see Alice in 3D as a matinee on a Saturday.
so, the stubborn 3D movie-goers that we are, we decided to go to this:
i was very entertained by the 3D, the animation was pretty great, and i thought i would hate the viking and dragon stuff, but alas, i loved every minute.
it is bright and colorful, and just funny most of the time. we left smiling, glad to have paid the few dollars for the entertainment.
side note:
my feelings on men getting married: pretty much so they can see all of the girly movies they always wanted to see before, but would look sort of "off" if they went without the girlfriend/wife that "made" them go...
feelings on why parents have kids: pretty much so they can go to all of the kid flicks that they want to see and blame it on the kids that really wanted to go...
now, i know what you thought when you saw this preview, i did too:
"what? old school animation?" "Wow, Disney is a little late trying to get a black princess in the mix!"
cause i do believe both were purposefully chosen. and i do think the animation was the only way to really say there is a black princess in the mix. and she deserves to be there for many reasons.
however, this throw back to classic animation days and musical cartoons like the good ol' days...
makes me smile the whole way through.
maybe it is anika noni rose, who just wails (one of the Dreamgirls, and played Nala in Lion King)
maybe it is that the music is catchy that i sing in the car, maybe it is that i love the story shift from older princess movies...
this princess works her tail off to be one!
and i could never imagine another place to set the story of princess and the frog.
it was meant to be in the bayou of the South and with all the funk of jazzy beats and color that come with it.
like it or not, i will probably have to own both of these flicks.
i have been in the need of a good, escape from stress and "educationy" literature...
and i found this book on one of my employees' desk.
a roommate had read this and i always wanted too, but just never "had time"
so i made a pouty face, and she let me take it home.
i love to read good writing again. it almost makes me sad. like i should have done more in life so far. like tried to learn to write, or even just travel more. i have never made it out of the country, despite my love of food and travelling thus far.
i am not done reading, so i may yet comment again, but here...
"I walk up the stairs to my fourth-floor apartment, all alone. I let myself into my tiny little studio, all alone. I shut the door behind me. Another solitary bedtime in Rome. Another long night's sleep ahead of me, with nobody and nothing in my bed except a pile of Italian phrasebooks and dictionaries.
I am alone, I am all alone, I am completely alone.
Grasping this reality, I let go of my bag, drop to my knees and press my forehead against the floor. There, I offer up to the universe a fervent prayer of thanks.
First in English.
Then in Italian.
And then—just to get the point across—in Sanskrit."
-elizabeth gilbert (eat pray love)
italy would thrill me completely. some day, i will allow that beautiful land to consummate my passport's life.
i just hope i am able to stay long enough to rent a scooter and ride everywhere i wanna go with cc in that city of love and carbs
and i think i will take my mother to see this on her birthday: (julia roberts? not sure yet, but could be fantastic)
and, thanks to netflix, we just watched this movie:
cc enjoyed it, i wept through it. happy tears, mostly sad ones.
fabulous flick with some stunning performances. that young dakota is really quite fun to watch emote. admittedly, you must come prepared/be in the mood, but when you are, it is worth it.
oh, and the movie was formerly this novel here:
one i may attempt to read again soon. but the movie left a sweet taste, maybe we'll just keep it at that.
so, what do i read next??
[and no, it doesn't necessarily have to become/have a movie that goes with it]
my thoughts: [which prove that this blog is way more about my need to write than your need to read...] #1-- who cares about the twilight kid- could he even act?
did neil patrick harris really just sing that really lame song? that. just. happened.
alec baldwin and steve martin- great match-up i am loving the roasting of all of the actors...
but why is george clooney so ticked at life? what a jerkface. {some confused non-english speaking chick that he pretends to like for the cameras...} miley cirus... can't you just stand up straight...?!
UP wins for best animated feature.
surprised? shouldn't be.
then we have an homage to 80s films including that macaulay culkin kid whose face blew up. didn't know he could get uglier. guess so.
ben stiller in the blue avatar make-up equals pretty great. best supporting actress... that one chick form the precious movie... "thanks for awarding a good performance and not politics..." um....well...
ew... i so don't care about the twilight peeps- she. can't. act. or announce for that matter.... sorry, i know many of you like them... but that kid looks like a white kid injected with monkey and asian... saundra bullock- looks stunning. james taylor mo to tribute the dead. i heart that.
oh- and a pretty rad dance to tribute to the scores. and i cried to the UP part... and it won. [for it's fab score. duh]
george clooney is a huge bass. who knew he was so arrogant?
jeff bridges wins best actor for crazy horse after a great tribute about being such a great family man, husband, and father. i do like that kind of positive PR. married 33 years, 3 kids. gotta love it.
i think the best actor/actresses are like the prom king/queen of the oscars...
and george clooney, the arrogant bass, is ticked.
sandra bullock wins her first oscar for blind side a delightful upset. "did i really earn this, or did i just wear you all down?" [me... crying watching one of my favorites] she thanks her mom for making her practice and her "lover" meryl streep. i love her realness and her charm
{meryl streeep, by the way, was fashionably wearing her robe and curlers...}
first woman to win best director.... and then best picture for hurt locker. a movie i will probably need to see soon.
what an enjoyable evening... i can't believe you read all of that.
cc whined to see this flick.this makes me happy.he is, however, the type that has to see the movie first, or it would ruin the book.right.
i normally do not agree with this,
but i was glad to have forgotten much of the book until i saw it because it all comes rushing back
and it's so fun to watch
why this one was my favorite HPs of the 6 so far:
the best edit we've seen of the books. whoever was the exec editor deserves a standing O. they finally figured out how to keep the fun details that add to the plot and lose the ones that don't. so it moves fast and you can keep up. and it was, in my opinion, the most true to the book of any... the acting/directing is so much tighter. the kids have grown up, sure, but they are better, and so was the directing. timing was better, and the flow was more succinct. the relationships could really pop.
screenplay. speaks for itself. much wittier and quicker. add a few fun actors and you have a show.
in my humble, yet correct opinion: 5/5 own it or rent it: own it. (cause it would be stupid to not have 6 when i know you already have the rest!)
aliens. there i ruined it. the book of revelations as you thought you knew it was actually resulted from aliens.
oh, and when the earth burns, it will be because of aliens. there. now you know not to see this film that will ensure to waste 2 hours of your precious wedding-planning weekend time that you will never get back.
yes, i ruined it for you. the first 45 minutes are kind of cool slash pretty creepy, but then they give it eh ole, "oh crap, we have a huge plot hole that we need to fill and don't know what to do. i know, ALIENS!!"
gaytown hollywood. i want my 8 bucks back. in my humble, yet correct opinion: (not worthy of rating. this movie was so paul blart) own or rent it? just take a sharp object to your eyeball instead. that sounds like fun.
we love you Kevin James, but that movie, was so Paul Blart.
and, if I find the producers of that film in a darkened alleyway, I cannot be held responsible for what happens to them...
that was a serious waste of the overpriced movie ticket... and yes, the movie doesn't even deserve a review....
by all means, if you have a 5yr-old who will growl through half the dead parts, or a big man to shout "oh no!" at the one crazy didn't-see-it-coming-at-all plot twist.... it might be entertaining for you.... otherwise... totally Paul Blart.
the company, on the other hand, was seriously choice.
ok, so i saw this one a while ago whist in the district, but nevertheless, it must be mentioned...
i have always held a special place in my heart for my fellow mesa stars dancing former LDSer keri russell. i love her innocent curls and porcelin doll-ness... and she has really grown as an actor in the last few years. kudos. oh- and it has a bit part by andy griffith that is charming as all get out too...
the style of this one is what is so fun and yes, charming. very independent, aka cheaply filmed was the key here and a great gimmick of sorts. the gimmick being the pies. the story revolves around this woman (russell) who bakes pies of all kinds. they serve a new one a day that she makes up and they all have random names like "pregnant, miserable, self-pity, and loser" pie. it just makes you smile all the way through as you root jenna on to her happy life.
ya know what else i love? i love the way it ends. won't tell you, cause i want you to rent it and see for yourself, but i just adore it. it is empowering, even for a suberbanite like me with far fewer trials than the waitress...
in my humble, yet correct, opinion: 4.5/5 owner/renter: yes. definitely. own it, that is. great pick me up/chick flick/comedy/dramas are always good to have around in a funk. in fact, i could go for some waitress right about now...
don't forget to vote over there. looks like it is getting heated. hope one side can pull out all the phone call rallies he's got to win it...
in classic jim carrey fashion, the plot is based on a somewhat of a random supernatural-like force that jim can't control that throws him into fits of inconceivable situations... some of which will make you squirm far worse than when Hitch almost kissed that one guy.
its funny. sure. you will laugh... but it will give you the heebies in moments and you will realize it is more due to a faulty plot hole and poor writing than your ability to sit still or hold on to your moral values.
as a classic comedy with no other deep value to it, the highlight moments were that bradley cooper and zooey deschanel, both we love, have fairly prominent roles in the flick. cooper comes straight from—duh—alias, and we love that. he has a handful of movies he is in this year/working on and i dont think this is the last of him we will see... watch out robert downey! jim's little boss from new zealand or wherever is quite hilarious as well... comparable to perhaps steve martin's random role as the homeopathic freakshow in baby mama. (also, a great flick, btw)
smiles all around, but not the best thing you will see. it does make you think about a positive approach to life and taking all opportunities that come at you. but that you can get from watching the warm and fuzzy trailer. as far as families go. no. i would not take my 10yr-old, or even my 16yr-old to see it. more just cause it would be awkward in those minutes of pure awkwardtown. if you are looking for mindless entertainment. go for it.
in my humble, yet correct, opinion: 3/5 owner or a renter: renter. especially if you own "liar liar". you don't need two to see it twice.
don't forget to vote over there --> two days... this is getting interesting...
i am going to preface this one by saying that i truly do not want you to feel pressure in any way to do anything by way of my strong and possibly overly passionate feelings toward the following movie...
if for nothing else, this film should be nominated for cinematography. it is photographically stunning. if you could whip out your cute little nikon d80 every 10 seconds and capture color and movement the way this man does you would/could/should be a millionaire. period. at least 80 frames that are modern art museum worthy.
it isn't the pictures alone though. it is almost sensory overload. they said, "figure out what will kill them, then back it off a little bit". the first moment pulls you in with large african banging drums and flashes of movement. sort of like a bourne movie almost kind of but not quite. the music throughout is so fun. some of the best indian pop i've heard in a while.
the story, you reality-tv-ers will like: a young boy who gets on "who wants to be a millionaire" in india. only, he's from the hood and shouldn't know all the answers—but he does. the film takes you through his history and how he serendipitously knows the million-dollar answers because of his 2 dollar life. again—brilliant.
the director is american, making it an american film, but in most other ways it is a bollywood classic. the actors are all fresh indian faces (these two here are just beautiful humans...) that make the story feel more culturally rich and sound. if you have ever read a kalid hosseini book, it reads something like that.
which brings me to another point: the rating. you are thinking: oh, but that is rated R. sure it is. i would say that is mostly because it is culturally gritty. it tells of somewhat vulgar living circumstances and therefore presents images of a violent nature. not necessarily bloody, but i am sure the production staff knew that it was just adult in content and wanted to advertise to the older crowd. i would say i wouldn't take your immature teens to it, but
in my humble, yet correct opinion: 5/5 owner or renter?tough question. i might need to own it, but you might not...
again, if you see it, let me know what you thought- always interested to know!
i have normally posted lengthy reviews about my films on the other blog. to no avail. i started that one for a class and enjoyed it well. it hosts my reviews on most of my media findings of the past few years. i think i will just keep you posted here instead. i have a lot, so just you wait.
i will say this: if you are one that enjoys shows like LOST or maybe an M. Night Shyamalan movie that give you many things to question but few answers until the end when it comes all together in just a few minutes of either euphoria or complete dread, then you will enjoy this one.
it keeps you thinking. throughout the film you are left to guessing... what is it that they are they talking all around? why aren't they telling me?! but it is fun to piece together and the somewhat hard-to-believe circumstances are easy to follow when they circle one of the better male actors of our time: Will Smith. who just might get a nomination for this one. i guess we will know that on the 22nd though... (who is getting reading for the Oscars?: that would be me.)
the acting is great. the writing is great. if you are one to cry, and the four moffats seated in that room were definitely thus, it will make you tear some. it was like watching the Prestige. you will talk about it all the way home...
in my humble, yet correct opinion: 4/5 owner or renter? perhaps a renter. (it may be like the 6th sense, the novelty might wear off after you know the facts from the beginning. but you might need to see it a few times perhaps for that to happen.)
great flick. go see it. then let me know what you thought!
i am slightly angry that no one told me of this man's existence. (ok, that's not fair, you did tell me. in fact, he's been all over. i guess i never knew of this man's existence when he looked LIKE THIS!!)
and i am not at all afraid to say i am starting to have a crush on a very old, now deceased, man.
great play, even greater movie. elizabeth taylor and this here paul newman are brilliance personified.
the little featurette on the dvd told us all about how this film was the one to jump-start both of their careers... its easy to see why!
lets just say, i am glad i did not live in his time...
i would have thoughts that would make me blush to talk to the bishop....
...just kidding bish... i promise i am good at all times, in all things...
i ran for 50 minutes at the gym yesterday... and after 40 minutes or so, without feeling the numbness in my legs or my usual 60-year-old heart failure, i found a second wind.
long story short: dear GOLD's GYM, continue to have a cinema room. continue to play "Rudy" because the music and the constant small dude getting rocked that accompanies it, for some reason, left me without the ability to stop running. at the end of the 50 minutes i found that i was running at 8 mph and crying. at the gym. in the dark. by myself. that, i know, is pathetic—and awesome too... guess that movie and i go way back, like to cuddling with dad on the couch and leaving us both leaking from the tear ducts.
it made me think of something else as i watched Rudy get into the school of his dreams and watch him do exactly what he wanted to in life: i am about to graduate from college! i guess i never thought twice about coming here though, i just did. i am so lucky to be here and i do thank the Lord for the blessing every day.
in my first class ever here at BYU, my American Lit History teacher took a moment and showed us a slide show of all of the authors and texts that we had learned about throughout the course of the semester. again, in the dark, i may have shed two or three. i was so amazed for some reason (i can still learn crap?). can't put together a video for what i have gained here in the 3 years, but it is nevertheless priceless.
I would also like to note that today is my grandmother's birthday- she must be like 65 today or something ;) I have sure learned a lot from her and wish that lived close enough to hang out with her. She is one of the hippest, most stylish, and witty (by default!) grandmas I know! And lets face it, every one who knows her loves her. She travels more than most people I know just to be close to her cute people and she writes her personal history for me to keep forever. What an inspiring treasure that I get to keep forever! Thanks grandma for years of yummy meals, matching sister clothes, movie analyzing, support, advice, chats, laughing, and love. Sure love you—Happy Birthday G-ma!
