Reviews

Its been a while and I don't really know what to talk about so I'll go through some of the stuff I've seen and heard over the past few weeks...

Twilight:
I watched the movie. Then read all four books and the part of the fifth that got leaked and then the author put online. Then watched the movie again. Call me obsessive. Alright, so as usual, the books were MUCH better than the movie, and watching the movie after reading the book filled in some things I would have otherwise missed character development-wise and such. I was actually mad after I watched the movie, because there were just some elements that completely sucked about it. Like the acting. After reading, I understood the motivation behind it a lot better, even though I still think some of the more "creative" uses of the camera could've been left out. Other movies have done them better (like Terminator Salvation or The Dark Knight). In the end, I'll say that the movie was pretty good for a vampire teen romance flick. Should it have won all those awards at the MTV Awards? No. Is the MTV Awards controlled by teenage girls with newly-found horniness and emo attitudes leading them to like and incessantly vote for a movie like this? Yes. There you go. The books were a definite appeal to me, but I can relate to the main character in so many ways its scary. I also see how it could relate so well to those adolescent girls, and if vampires were real and we all knoew about them, I don't see how there would be any human girls left after reading them. Vampires, as usual, are awesome. Killers, but awesome. I will definitely be at the movie theater to see the second installment to the series, because it looks like its gonna be AWESOME.

~~~NOTE: I don't know how when I started writing this compares/relates to when some of the movies I'm about to talk about came out, but this post has been coming for a while and I'm not changing the date on it, so none of that "but that movie wasn't out then" dribble will be necessary.~~~

Confessions of a Shopaholic:
I originally refused to watch this movie solely based on the fact that it was centered around an American girl in New York, because in the book (which I'd read a loooooonng time ago thanks to Steph and "Can You Keep A Secret") Becky Bloomwood is totally British. If you couldn't tell, I tend to be mad when movies don't follow the books they're named for and centered on, even though I know its virtutally impossible to do perfectly and would possibly be boring as hell. Anyway, i finally watched it and was...okay with it. It didn't thrill me, I don't wanna buy it on Blu-Ray (which is an acheivement for a movie to me), and I'm not sure I would watch it again unless its a part of a themed girls only movie night (which I intend to have when I have suitable living conditions, complete with liquor, Singstar, various Wii games, and possibly one of my many Mary Kay representing friends). It was cute, I liked that the mannequins were all animated-ish, and it was a feel good girly movie. I'm just not always into those types of movies. Maybe I should have read "Shopaholic Takes Manhattan" first, which I found out was also inspiration for the movie (which made me think "then why didn't they call it Confessions of a Shopaholic in Manhattan" or something, so I would've known to do so beforehand...sure, that title is long and annoying, but there have been worse).

He's Just Not That Into You:
I don't know how many relationship manuals there are that have been turned into screenplays or movies, but this one was interesting (can you image them doing "Dating for Dummies"???). I liked that there was a core drama going on and that damn near all of the lives in the movie were interconnected somehow (which is how life ends up a LOT), but that there was also a documentary-like element with interviews of different people on the subjects that were being presented. It was kinda like a self-help book with a good story to let you see how it should be done. All that being said, I liked it, at first I thought it was gonna be kinda stupid, but it had some good truths in it. Will it be owned on Blu-Ray? Probably not. Its above Confessions on my list but it'll still probably only be brought back out on a movie night.

Bride Wars:
I wanted to see this one. When it first came on, it looked kinda stupid. The scrapbook element was a little weird and the story a little too cute. As it went on, the things these chicks did to each other became more outrageous and hilarious, and the fight that ensued on the wedding day should have been a lot less like hair-tossed chaos, but it was still funny. Also not another to be owned on Blu-Ray and to be seen again on a girls night...what is with that? I guess I had all these movies just sitting around and was like, hmm, maybe I should watch them, but they all wo nt really be watched again until I have another female or two around me to be girly with.

The Secret Life of Bees:
Okay, this one touched me pretty deep. I didn't think it would at all, and I guess I was skepitcal of the all-star cast (like maybe they wouldn't be all that great), but it turned out to be on a The Color Purple level. One of those movies that you watch when you realy feel like being touched and possibly crying about but makes you feel really good inside by the time its over. Like, I really felt like it was The Color Purple for 2008. Its got the racism, the people out to hurt because they've been hurt and then learn to change, some near-death situations, some scary and some uplifting sprititual moments, and some great life will be okayness at the end. I was really happy I finally decided to watch this one; it was really, really good. I think it's a candidate for Blu-Ray.

Terminator Salvation:
The first thought that comes to mind about this film: LOUD. They had the speakers on blast when I saw it the first time. Definite Blu-Ray buy. That kinda action can't be any good if its not in HD. A lot of people had a lot of neagtive comments about this one, yet I wanted to see and went to see it anyway, mostly cuz I don't care what other people's opinion's are. Which is why I don't care if you care what mine is, but I'm writing about it anyway, cuz I wanna and can. Anyway, the key to enjoying this movie entails two things: 1) Watch the other movies. 2)PAY ATTENTION. Another good one might be to go read up or watch (I'm not sure hoe the info is presented cuz I didn't see it myself but was informed of it) what the director had to say about it. You can come to some sort of understanding that wont leave you mad without it, but it helps. Really though, pay attention. Things are said and presented a certain way for a reason, and if you pay attention to them, all will be understood, or at least you will be able to come with a few different versions of how things could possibly go down in the next movies. Oh, and remember that this isn't the last movie...the director signed up for three, so you know how trilogies work: the first sets up the story, the second has some really mind-altering, dark, death-filled crap involved, and the third resolves it all. It could probably be explained better, but that's the basics of a trilogy, just like a three act movie. Anyway, I loved it, awesome action, terminators (T-600's) were scary, best CGI work ever at the end of the movie (that ain't the Governator!) the story was GREAT, I was happy with the kid (unlike in The Day the Earth Stood Still, but that's a whole other rant), and it makes me VERY HAPPY that a MUSIC VIDEO DIRECTOR was at the helm...it gives me hope that I too can do both!

and finally for this post,
The Hangover:
FREAKIN' HILARIOUS! "It's on the corner of get a map and fuck off" Ahh, I LOVED it. If there is any ounce of you that thinks the trailer is funny then you will be DYING watching the rest of it because the trailer (THANK GOD) doesn't even have a sixteenth of the funny parts in it. I am not one for stupid funny movies. I REFUSE to watch Talladega Nights and it was a miracle the beau got me to watch Anchorman. This is definitely NOT one of those types of movies. Its more like random shit happens and its funny, funny. If you thought Sideways, Pinapple Express, or Superbad were funny then you'll LOVE this one. Blu-Ray buy all the way.

Okay, that's it for this installment of reviews. I'll do Observe and Report, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Public Enemies, Up (hopefully!), and whatever other random film I've watched by then.