Let's Go to the Movies

Rent It


Obviously this movie is no longer in theaters so I had to rate it accordingly. But I think this movie is very good. I was up late, laying in bed, wishing I could sleep, so I decided to see what was up on Netflix. I actually watched this movie when it first came out. I don't normally watch movies twice, that just tells you how much I like this movie.

The Young Victoria is a an amazing love story. Emily Blunt is fantastic in the film. She is so good at playing a young girl with great responsibility. She skips down the stairs, pushing the limits of her mothers rules.  She runs in the hall when she gets excited. She giggles with joy, then quickly regains her composure. An interesting element the film used to add to this image of youth was to have her sit far enough back on any chair or bed that her feet hovered over the floor. This gave the impression that she was still small. Blunt had perfect posture for this time period, and every costume looked amazing on her. Rupert Friend was a great Prince Albert. They were completely convincing as a romantic couple. They portrayed one of the sweetest love stories I have ever seen.

Another interesting thing that stood out to me was the way Victoria and her mother spoke to each other in their shared room. They sat on opposite ends of the room at their respective vanities. They spoke more towards their own reflections than at each other. It was a great way to define the distance between them. It reminded me of modern day messaging. I had two friends my freshman year of college that used to sit at their desks, with there back to each other literally two feet away from each other, instant messaging each other instead of just talking.

If you haven't seen this movie, I highly recommend it. It is a great period piece. It is extremely well done. It will make a great addition to any home collection to be seen over and over again.

Theater Worthy


I have been anticipating this movie for months. And I am happy to report it did not disappoint. Go see this movie. I have to admit, going to a movie on opening night is just not as nice as watching it in the day when you are practically alone. I just forgot how loud opening night can be. So thank you boisterous guys in the row behind me, apparently I needed reminding.

Sucker Punch is about a young girl called Baby Doll (Emily Browning). After her mother's death, her step-father has her institutionalized. She retreats to an alternate reality as a means to cope with her life. In this alternate reality, she attempts to find freedom with the help of four other girls in the facility.  Her alternate reality has two layers, a brothel and a battlefield. The battlefield is more of a layer inside a layer. This layering effect reminded me of Inception. However, Sucker Punch did not explain the layers as Inception did, but rather used costume and setting to distinguish between the realities. Almost every scene in the brothel has a mirror. I find this detail fascinating. One shot in particular was extremely meaningful and well done. The girls were sitting in front of their dressing room mirrors talking. The camera pans behind the girls focusing on their reflections, then seamlessly crosses the plane of the mirror and the reflection becomes the reality. This sets the theme for the entire film. Everything becomes a reflection of reality. The battlefield is a reflection of the brothel. The brothel is a reflection of reality. Absolutely genius, Zach Snyder, absolutely genius.

This film was cinematically breath taking. The first five minutes of this movie were so visually striking no dialog was needed. It was amazing to see the entire setup of the film done without a word being spoken. I was completely enthralled. The action sequences were also stunning. There are a number of slow motion shots which I enjoyed, well up until the train scene at least. My favorite battle scene was definitely the trenches. Zack Snyder did an amazing job of creating fantastic fight scenes with five girls that wouldn't normally be cast in action roles. And as the guys in the row behind me can attest, they looked hot. I was particularly impressed with a fight sequence involving Vanessa Hudgens, who plays Blondie. I was watching carefully and her almost completely real time fight scene included no stunt double. I did not think she had it in her, but not only did she pull it off, she did it well. As did the rest of the cast. The computer graphics had an animated feel. This added to the feeling of a false reality.

The styling and makeup were up to standard with the rest of the film. There were, of course, some stunning beauty shots of all the girls. I especially loved Jena Malone's (Rocket) hair in the battle scenes. It was so perfectly placed it felt animated, which was enhanced by the setting created by the graphics. The sound effects were flawless. Every song, every sound was perfectly placed. This soundtrack has already been added to my play list. The acting was on par with the other elements. Even down to the minor roles. Jon Hamm was amazing as the doctor.  His appearance was so brief but his impact was great. What made it so great was that he didn't know how much of an impact he would have by mentioning something so seemingly small.

In short, go watch this movie. The story line wasn't what I thought. The ending was a bit of a sucker punch itself, but after knowing the whole story, no other ending would have been acceptable. The movie leaves a lot to think about, fueled by some unanswered questions. I want to go a little deeper into those questions and things that will ruin it if you have not seen it so read the rest after you watch the movie.

Caution: The continuation of reading this blog post before watching this movie will result in pain and affliction of knowing you have just ruined the awesomeness of your movie watching experience.


Ok so I wish there had been one scene of Baby Doll interacting with the other girls in the institution. She saw the other girls interacting, well fighting, when she arrived, but I never knew what her relationship with the other girls was. We can assume that everything that happened in the alternate worlds was a reflection of reality. In this case, she did interact with the girls. Perhaps she did save Rocket from the cook, and we know she definitely stabbed Blue. But then the question arises, did everyone else really die? Well Baby Doll was sacrificing herself to what seemed a certain death in the end of the alternate reality. The reflection in reality, being lobotomized. So were the other girls also lobotomized? Or were they harmed at all? When everything shifts back to reality, the fire is mentioned, the stabbing is mentioned, the escape is mentioned, but no deaths are spoken of. Another question, were Rocket and Sweet Pea really sisters? If so, they also ran away from home, and perhaps Sweet Pea wasn't crazy but went to the facility in order to protect her sister. Or perhaps a mental patient is now on the loose. But since this story is about freedom and Sweet Pea got the freedom we expected from the story, I will choose to believe she was going home to her mother. And when she gets there she is going to tell her Rocket loves her, because that is just how the story ends.

I found it really interesting that this alternate reality worked as a therapy for Baby Doll. In the beginning when she was attacked by her stepfather, I wasn't then, nor am I now, certain whether he was going to physically or sexually abuse her. The way the camera focused on her fallen button made me think sexual,. Perhaps it was both. The layers of her alternate reality addressed both issues, one being sexual and the other violent. The film also inferred that Blue was sexually abusing the girls, which was confirmed in the end. When Baby Doll was admitted to the mental institution, I saw Blue and wondered, "What is a young man doing around these girls and why isn't anyone concerned about it?" My suspicions were confirmed when he had Baby Doll put in what looked like a gutted men's bathroom at the end. It also worked as a therapy as she went on her quest for freedom. I originally assumed she wanted to escape the facility. When she realized that this wasn't about her getting free from a building, but from herself, she accepted, and even desired, the way to that freedom. In the brothel she desired death, and in reality she wanted the lobotomy. Jon Hamm's character saw that longing in her eyes. After killing her little sister, what else could she long for. Escape from a building would never provide her freedom. I loved that her sacrifice actually did bring down Blue. She really did give all the other girls in the facility freedom, as she found her own, by being the means to rid them of Blue.

After the lobotomy, everyone keep saying, "Look at her eyes" yet the camera never allowed a view. I waited with morbid anticipation for the look in Baby Doll's eyes. I expected a deadness, an empty numbness. The film so perfectly denied the audience any view of her face. She was led as a puppet, not responding to anything. When I finally saw her face, I was pleasantly shocked. She really was in paradise. She did find that freedom. It is not the freedom any of us would think to want, yet after her life, I doubt there was any other freedom for her. So the movie did end happily, if not the happiness I originally envisioned. She would never again be burdened by pain. Brilliantly done. Bravo Zack Snyder. Bravo.

Rent It

Rent it


I don't think a summary is necessary for this film as most of us grew up on this story.  It was a good retelling of the childhood story. It was not as suspenseful as I thought it would be, though there was a nice twist in the identity of the wolf. Just a content note; I don't recall any language but there is a, well I guess I can't say sex scene so make-out scene that felt a bit smutty. It just felt out of place.


We all know this movie is from the same director as Twilight. So if you liked Twilight will you like this movie? The short answer: Probably. It felt very similar with a little Van Helsing mixed it. In the case of both Twilight and Red Riding Hood, great cinematography does not equal a good film. In this case, the great camera angles did not contribute to the overall movie. There were really great shots but it felt like the combinations of great camera shots were driving the movie rather than the vision of the film being accentuated by the cinematography. It continually pulled me out of the movie. It felt disjointed. I wish that all aspects of the film were more cohesive.

The styling was also continually distracting. The young generation was fine. Not too much makeup and the costumes were appropriate. Valerie's (Red Riding Hood) mother looked like a bar maid. The curls of hair were too perfect, too much makeup and eyeliner, which was definitely not period. It completely distracted from the movie. Same for the grandmother. It felt to modern and distracted me every time I saw either of them. Especially since they were the only two in the film with modern stylizing.  The effects were pretty good. The werewolf was like a black, ratted version of the Twilight wolves, another obvious similarity.

Discount Theater

This is actually a tough one for me to rate. If you really like movies and are interested in all elements of film making you will really enjoy this in theaters. It was well made, the acting was great, and it made interesting social comments. This was not some fluffy blockbuster. This movie had a lot to say and found a very creative and entertaining ways to say it. However, it was not as mind blowing as I thought it would be. If you watch movies to be entertained and are not interested in social commentary, I would say rent it. If you are religious and cannot stand to hear or see an opinion that is negative against God or you just don't like movies with agendas, I would recommend skipping this one because it makes some pretty strong comments. Also not a lot of swearing but there is one F-bomb and a sex scene, though no nudity.

Summary
"The Adjustment Bureau" follows David Norris (Matt Damon), a young politician running for a spot in the Senate. He has a spotted past, and when photos surface of him mooning his high school reunion, it costs him the election. As he is preparing his losing speech he meets a girl, Elise (Emily Blunt). She inspires him to be open and honest rather that rehearsed and political. The success of this speech sets him up for the next election.
Meanwhile, four agents from the Adjustment Bureau are meeting. Harry Mitchell (Anthony Mackie from We Are Marshall) is the agent that has been in charge of David for many years. One morning he is supposed to make sure David spills his coffee by 7:05. While waiting for David to cross through the park, Harry accidentally falls asleep sitting on the park bench. This miscue leads to David not spilling his coffee as planned. David boards the bus he was meant to miss and re encounters Elise. After a successful chat, he gets her phone number and arrives to work ten minutes too early.  David happily makes his way through his office.  He is too blissful from his rendezvous to notice that everyone in the office is frozen in place.  He is rudely awakened from his daze as he walks into the conference room and discovers mysterious men dressed in black using an unknown apparatus on his unmoving colleague.  David is chased from the room by the men, who have the ability to walk through doors that lead like portals to another part of the building. David cannot escape, and is quickly brought down. He wakes with his hands tied, sitting in what looks like an empty warehouse. The Adjustment agents are discussing what to do with him. One looks into a book that they all carry and points out that if they make up an excuse he will question it to the day he dies, meaning someone will have to watch him for his entire life. Another suggests resetting him, erasing everything about him. Finally the most senior agent present references a case that happened 40 years ago, and they decide to tell him the truth. They tell him they are a bureau that watch over humans and make sure they follow the plan. When they need to, they make adjustments as they were just doing with his friend. David was supposed to spill his coffee, go back upstairs and change, take a later bus and never see what was happening. Now that David knows, he is told that if he ever tells anyone they will reset him. They also tell him that he was never supposed to see Elise again. That was only chance and not part of the plan. An agent takes her number and burns it. They then open a door and throw him back into the office. The office is back to normal and everyone is fine. Later Harry talks to David and answers his questions. David asks if they are angels, Harry replies people sometimes call them that. He also explains they work for the Chairman though humans call him by many names.
David decides to take on the Bureau and be with Elise no matter what the plan or the Chairman want. With Harry's help, and hat, the required key to use the portals, David sets out to make his own plan.

My Thoughts
Overall I thought the movie was good. It wasn't as action packed as I thought it would be, but it was still exciting. The acting was up to the standard I expected of this cast. Matt Damon isn't a household name for nothing. And I find that the more I see of Emily Blunt, the more I like her. (Just a little plug here but if you are in the mood for a great mushy romantic story watch The Young Victoria.)

I couldn't help comparing this film to "The Matrix." They both have agents in suits, and once you know about them, everyone is a potential threat, or in the case of "The Adjustment Bureau", anyone wearing a hat. The agents in both seem to be offering a false sense of free will. And in both movies the higher power is real. Whether it is the Chairman or the machines, the people are not in control. However, as I stated earlier this movie was not the action adventure or the mind-blowing thriller that "The Matrix" was. It didn't really break new ground, though it was still interesting. If you are a film or theater major you can pick this film apart for hours. I also felt that "The Matrix" happened in a world outside of my own, in a fantasy. It used that fantasy to make social comments. The comments of "The Adjustment Bureau" were much less hidden by the fantastic elements of the film.

You can't deny that "The Adjustment Bureau" was making a comment on religion. But it was not denying the existence of a God, rather making the statement that God takes away the free will of mankind. This movie seemed to suggested that people's lives are planned out, predestined. But it also enables rewrites. However, the Chairman is the only author and editor. The characters couldn't make their own plan, but The Chairman could change their plans if he so desired. In the end no matter how much the characters fought they could only get what they wanted if the Chairman allowed it. The film gives the reason that when humans are left to themselves they destroy everything; that they give in to their most carnal desires instead of using reason to rule their lives, making it clear to the Bureau that mankind could not handle free will. As the movie closes, Harry's voice is heard. He talks about how maybe all of it is a test. Maybe people can only be responsible enough to have free will if they are willing to fight for it.

There are many interesting religious parallels in this film. I agree that some of the film's implications are correct. As Harry says it is a test to prove that we can use free will wisely. I disagree that God would take away man's right to make decisions. I also agree with the film that God has a plan, and offers aid to stay on or get back to that plan. And there are books, scriptures, that work as a blueprint to tell man what that plan is. But God never has, nor ever will force anyone to follow that blueprint.

I also found it interesting that the agents knew what David's actions would be, not by reading his thought but because they knew the probability of his choices based on past experiences. Like knowing a friend so well that you know exactly how they will react in a given situation. This related strongly to the way I feel God knows each person. In is also true, as Thompson said, that man has a tendency to rule life with desire instead of reason. There are also agents, sometimes in suits, all around us; not to make the adjustments for us, but rather to help us make the adjustments for ourselves.

It is also true that people who believe in a higher power see things in the world around them differently. Once David learned about the Bureau, he saw their influence all around him. Likewise, people who believe in a God, see his hand in their lives and the world. This view can be positive or negative. I do not think the comment was on Christian religions alone but on all religions that believe in a god, no matter the name. As Harry said the Chairman is known by many names. By combining all religions' gods, the film implies that parallels can be drawn between all religions, or from a negative view the film could imply that all religions bare the same controlling attributes.

The Bureau could also be viewed as a comment on government. As it is set up after the model of a government agency, the mind naturally connects the two. If the Bureau were viewed acting under the direction of a government, rather than an all knowing, just being, than that changes the movie entirely. Some already think the government has too much information about citizens. They worry the government could be tracking you by your phone, or other means. Personally I doubt any person or government would care enough about my life to track my phone. But what if there was an agency that was specifically meant to "adjust" things. Cover things up, change peoples minds, make sure people got on a certain bus and a certain time. And haven't there already been accusations of this very thing? Through that lens the film takes an eerie turn. But a natural connection as it is after all a bureau.

I think this film was meant to make people think. To ask questions.  I have spent hours thinking about this film and it's possible implications. Lucky for me, I highly enjoy a good deep thought thread. I like questions. I like when the limits of my mind are pushed just a little bit further, and my convictions become a little bit firmer. I do not think this film can be viewed for pure entertainment value. It was good to watch a movie that stimulated my brain, rather than numbing it.

Watch this movie if you are stuck at someone's house . . .

So I was bored this morning and thought, "Hey, you know what self, you haven't been on Netflix in a while. Maybe there are some new movies up." Well I was in the mood for something light and entertaining. And I saw this movie. I admit I am a bit of an Alyssa Milano fan. Yes I followed Charmed for a while. And she is going to be 40 next year and I think she is still looking gorgeous. I also saw Christopher Gorham in Jake 2.0. Most of you have probably never heard of that but maybe you remember him from the show "Popular" or "The Other Side of Heaven." So basically, I saw this cute looking movie I'd never heard of, that probably bypassed the theaters completely and thought hey why not use 84 minutes of my life to watch it.

Ok So Gorham is actually a really good actor. Alyssa Milano is adorabe and probably has been cast for that more than her acting. She was also a producer of this film. Gorham plays a struggling writer named Ethan. The movie starts with him chasing his love to the airport. Her plane has already left. But as he turns around she is there. She didn't leave and they kiss. "Stop!" It was one of his books. He is in his publishers office. His romantic story is rejected because the main character is too much a reflection of himself, an awkward though adorable boy. He is told women want to read stories with a leading "man" not boy. Ethan then finds himself in a cafe, enter the leading lady, his waitress Jesse played by Milano. They hit it off and she gives him her number. After he leaves, the "leading man" his publisher was talking about came into the cafe. He is tall, handsome and successful. Troy, Michael Landes, is charming and romantic and Jesse gives him her number. Every date she goes on with Ethan, Troy seems to imitate, only bigger and better. Ethan takes her to play mini golf, Troy takes her to his golf club for a full game. As Ethan falls in love with her, so does Troy. Ethan buys her a plant, then Troy covers her room with roses. Jesse is very conflicted. She lives with her brother and he gets along with Ethan. She confides in her brother that she doesn't know what to do or how to talk to Ethan. She feels that she is lying to him by keeping this big secret from him. Both Ethan and Troy introduce her as their girlfriend. I was a little confused. How could such a nice girl be leading this double life? I was thinking that this was going to be the story that proves the publisher wrong. The girl was going to have the choice between the leading man and the awkward boy and she was going to choose the awkward boy without it being considered settling. But it was starting to seem that she was going to choose Troy. I mean you really couldn't blame her. He did everything right. And he did it better than Ethan.  Troy finally asks Jesse to move to Texas with him. She says she will think about it. Ethan asks her to marry him. She still can't open up about her secret and says she can't be what he wants her to be. I will finish the plot under spoiler alert just in case anyone actually watches this movie.

So I thought this movie was really cute and had a feel good ending. As always, Milano had lots of different hairstyles, half of which I am convinced no woman can achieve on her own. In the film she plays a divorcee. I found it nice to have a love story about people that are a little older than the typical young love. And I like the idea that people can still find love after a crushing divorce. She even says that it makes her feel that nothing in life is certain, an expression I have seen on my divorced friends. But I would recommend this movie to anyone who likes love stories. It isn't even cheesy. And it is definitely a step up from made for TV movies.

Spoiler Alert

Ok so I will spoil the ending with the rest of my plot summary. Jesse tells Troy that she will go with him to Texas. Ethan keeps calling her but she ignores him. Ethan finally gets some good news in his life. As Jesse is packing to leave, Ethan finishes his book. Ethan gets a letter from his publisher. After so many rejections, he is finally being published. He is so excited he calls his publisher. Jesse chooses this moment to finally call him, from the airport. Ethan scrambles to end the call with his publisher to answer. He just misses the call. He runs to her apartment and you get the feeling of deja vu. She isn't there but her brother sends him to the airport, just like his book in the beginning of the movie. He gets to the airport but the flight has already left. He hears a voice behind him. He turns, but it is just an airport employee. Ethan returns home depressed. But there on his couch is Jesse. She decided not to leave. They tell each other they have something to say. He gets his book and tells her the exciting news that he is getting published. The book is called "Troy Meets Girl" She opens it to read, and you realize that Troy is Ethan. Troy never existed. Everything you saw Troy do was actually Ethan retelling their story in his book. He kept her the same but he changed himself into the "leading man." With this enlightenment I began to wonder, what is her big secret, that part was real. She is nervous and clearly thinks this secret makes her unworthy of him. He says all he wants is her and maybe four kids. She cringes. She finally reveals her big secret. She cannot have children. That is why her first husband divorced her and why she was leaving him to go to Portland. She felt he deserved to have children and that it would be easier if she just left. He says they can have as many kids as they want because they will adopt. He proposes again and they are married, both in life and in the story.

With the revelation of Troy being Ethan the movie actually becomes a lot more interesting. Of course at that point it is all hindsight. But the parallel between Troy and Ethan is now very interesting. And Jesse was actually not a bad person. Troy really did do everything better than Ethan. But without the adorable, charming boy, the handsome, romantic man wouldn't exist. The publisher implies that all women settle for the adorable boy and want to read about what it would have been like if they had really ended up with the leading man. This film is making a comment on making the boy into the man. It reminds me of a play I did the costuming for in college. It was written by a fellow student, Matthew Greene. Though the play was more a comment on gender roles, it did have the imaginary character that represented the missing masculinity in the home. The couple lost their son and then both found themselves spending more time imagining what it would be like if he hadn't died than they did on their marrriage. It wasn't until they let go of what could have been that they could fix and appreciate what they had. This film is similar. Every women gets the adorable boy but to her he is the leading man. Troy only existed to Ethan. Jesse never thought of him. Jesse loved Ethan the same way she would have loved him if he was Troy. She wasn't settling. In Jesse's life, Ethan was the leading man and she loved him. And they lived happily ever after.

Discount Theater or Matinée. Well I called this one from the preview and actually saw a matinée today. Hey no need to pay full price when you can tell it isn't winning any awards. But it is a good action movie and good action movies are best on the big screen with big sound.  The fight scenes were great and even had a bit of  parkour thrown in. When Number 3 was being chased by the Mogadorians in the beginning of the movie, he ran through the jungle flipping over tree branches like it was nothing.  I really enjoyed the fight sequences. My only complaint in the action department:  I wish there was more. Number 6 was awesome. I know a lot of movies have the scene where someone walks away from the house they are about to explode. Every thing slows down as the flames envelope the scene and the tough guy walks casually away as if it is an everyday occurrence. Well Number 6 turns on all the gas in the house and lights a match.  She struts away casually, only as the explosion envelopes the scene, it also envelopes her. She just keeps walking unscathed. Pretty cool chick. I'm not sure why her powers were so much more developed than Number 4's but she rocked. I wish she was in more of the movie. The action didn't stop there. In fact that is all in the first ten minutes. As Number 4 (John) begins to develop powers he does some parkouring of his own, flipping off a waterfall, jumping, rolling. I like that he began to think he was getting control of his powers and his guardian, a former warrior with no powers, can still school him in the front yard. Well once the Mogadorians and Number 6 finally track down John, the real action begins. As the alien guns fire colored light (sticking with what "Star Wars" taught us all years ago, red for bad guys blue for good guys) Number 6 reveals a teleporting ability. This girl has some nice powers. Of course Sam and Sarah, John's love interest, are caught in the middle. It just wouldn't be an interesting fight scene with out a couple of defenseless human lives on the line.