**Rerun's Movie Reviews**

[Rerun]

I Love Ya Man (2009)  3 stars      

In this bromance, the cinematic equivalent of a rom-com buddy flick, Paul Rudd plays a recently engaged guy who's got the bride-to-be of his dreams but lacks an all-important significant other when it comes to their pending nuptials: a best man. On a determined hunt for a stranger who will stand up for him, he eventually meets a candidate (Jason Segel) with wedding-party potential. Jaime Pressly, Rashida Jones and Jon Favreau co-star.

[galvo]

Over the last week on Dialysis I saw "The Patriot" with Mel Gibson and Heath Ledger, and "The Devil At 4 O'Clock" with Spencer Tracy and Frank Sinatra. I much preferred the latter. Am off to the real pikkies to see our Rusty and our Kate in "Robin Hood" to-morrow.

[cariad]

I almost never go to the cinema, but we went about a month ago and saw How To Train Your Dragon. Loved it - very cute, and it kept the kids entertained, although there was so much action I felt rather seasick at points.

3-D was an issue. Firstly, there was no real point to it since it was used sparingly, and secondly the 3-year-old loses patience with the specs and ends up watching without. That cannot be great for his eyes. We had a blast anyhow, at the local theatre that also serves food off of a full menu, as well as  and

[lunadatura]

Music and Lyrics -  two thumbs maybe three - cutsy and sweet but with little substance - Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore

we D patients become kinda expert on movies and television - I am a huge LOST  fiend.

[Chris]

Just saw Zombieland and Defendor, both starring Woddy Harelson.
 
Zombieland was very funny
Defendor - was to serious of a movie and not as humorous or action. However not bad for a first time writer/ director.
 
Redbox though needs a bigger selection of movies, but I guess what do you expect for a $1 and from a vending machine.
 

[galvo]

Saw "Robin Hood" to-day. Orright, but a tad ponderous.

[cariad]

Saw "Robin Hood" to-dy. Orright, but a tad ponderous.

So, Galvo, what did you think of Russell Crowe's accent? Did he sound like, as one British critic wrote, "An Irishman who takes frequent holidays in Australia?"

  (He was aiming for Yorkshire!)

[Rerun]

I would like to see "Last of The Dogmen"  Netflicks doesn't have it.  Does anyone have it?  I'd like to borrow it and I'd pay shipping.     Both ways.

[galvo]

Cariad, that accent story was, I think, just a publicity beat up. I'd be pretty sure that any British dialect of the 13th century would be completely incomprehensible to our ears to-day. I notice most of the reviewers here are giving it 3 stars out of 5. 2 1/2 from me. But at $Aus7.70, $US6.70, and GBP4.70, it was value for money.

[cariad]

Cariad, that accent story was, I think, just a publicity beat up. I'd be pretty sure that any British dialect of the 13th century would be completely incomprehensible to our ears to-day. I notice most of the reviewers here are giving it 3 stars out of 5. 2 1/2 from me. But at $Aus7.70, $US6.70, and GBP4.70, it was value for money.

That's undoubtedly true about 13th century dialects. However, I think the point is that he had a dialect coach and, for right or wrong, was attempting to make Robin Hood sound like Wallace (from Wallace and Gromit). If he had countered with one linguist's theory, that Robin Hood likely did have more of a southern Irish accent as it is probably one of the most "conservative" accents of the region, then I think everyone would have been duly impressed and the story would have gone nowhere. Clearly the British press love to bait Russell Crowe, as he takes himself a mite seriously.

I thought he was fabulous in LA Confidential and Proof. His American accent from the former is not only pitch-perfect, he puts a bit of character into it rather than just sticking with a general "newsreader".

I won't be seeing Robin Hood at the theatres, because the cost for us is more like $70US for a pair of tickets. (babysitting fees....)

[lunadatura]

my roomie and I saw reese witherspoon and Matt Broderick in "Election". We give it 4 stars out of 5. Ms. Alicia does her best turn in this filim since her oscar turn in Walk the Line (highly reccomend this flick) and Matt does a grown up teacher having a mid life crisis - great stuff.

[Rerun]

my roomie and I saw reese witherspoon and Matt Broderick in "Election". We give it 4 stars out of 5. Ms. Alicia does her best turn in this filim since her oscar turn in Walk the Line (highly reccomend this flick) and Matt does a grown up teacher having a mid life crisis - great stuff.

I'll have to go save this one.  Sounds great!

[MooseMom]

I saw "Babies" today.  I wanted to see something life-affirming.  There was a lot of adorableness!

[Rerun]

The Scarlet and the Black (1983)  5 stars              

This riveting drama is based on the true-life story of Vatican priest Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty (Gregory Peck), who helped allied P.O.W.s escape from Nazi-occupied Rome. O'Flaherty challenged Nazi officers and his Vatican superiors to save the lives of Jews during World War II. With German soldiers controlling Rome, O'Flaherty made a determined effort to hide and shuttle to safety as many Jews from the city as possible.

True story and very good.   

[cariad]

Just saw Hamlet 2 and thoroughly enjoyed. You don't actually have to know anything about Hamlet to appreciate it. For a silly comedy, it actually touched upon some fairly profound issues in a sweet way. Having worked in theatre, I never seem to tire of films that spoof the process. Waiting for Guffman is one of my faves. However, if you suspect that a musical number entitled "Rock Me Sexy Jesus" will offend you, then you may want to skip Hamlet 2. Just a word on that, though: it really is quite tame, and an essential part of the plot requires that this little high-school drama production capture the attention of the nation, and controversy is really the only way that is plausibly going to happen.

[fc2821]

The Men Who Stare at Goats 2009

  The story follows a broken-hearted journalist (McGregor) who goes on the job to Iraq to prove to his ex-wife he isn't weak or frail. There, he meets Lyn Cassidy (George Clooney) who is a "psychic" soldier for the US government, trained by his hippie instructor Billy (Jeff Bridges) to use his mind, peace and love to overcome hairy military situations. The story is the two mens' adventure together. Many think it has a lot to say about how stupid the US Military can be and how they like to blow money on obviously pointless ventures, but there is a whole other side to it.  I think that if you think that you see only the superficial and not more what the film has to say. 
   I laughed so much I ended coughing! Even more so when I imagined how hard it had to be for the actors to remain that serious trough the hilariously stupidities of almost every scene.

I found it brilliant because it had not an ounce of sanity, and it is difficult now a days to catch a good, funny script that says so much in saying nothing. It's all in the eyes!

Do not expect coherence, it cannot have it and that's the geniality of the whole movie. All the characters are as absurd as they can be, ambivalent, silly, inspired and generous.
   If you like "The Big Lebowski", you'll like this but Bridges is not playing the Dude in this movie.  It is just as silly though. 

[okarol]

Exit Through the Gift Shop, the first film by renowned graffiti artist Banksy, became the hottest ticket at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival where it made its world debut. Banksy is a graffiti artist with a global reputation whose work can be seen on walls from post—hurricane New Orleans to the separation barrier on the Palestinian West Bank. Fiercely guarding his anonymity to avoid prosecution, Banksy has so far resisted all attempts to be captured on film. Exit Through the Gift Shop tells the incredible true story of how an eccentric French shop keeper turned documentary maker attempted to locate and befriend Banksy, only to have the artist turn the camera back on its owner.

Jenna and I both liked it a lot! 

[cariad]

Ooooo, Karol, I want to see Exit Through the Gift Shop. Such a clever title.

I went to see my second film of the year at an actual theatre. We saw Toy Story 3, and had the great fortune to find a showing at the local, retro art house where they do not involve themselves with the likes of 3-D. Gwyn and I have not been there in years as they mostly show Hitchcock festivals and documentaries, not first-run blockbusters. 

For the third installment in a series, Toy Story 3 was very good. It had its draggy scenes where Liot especially was losing interest, but once they finally got to the daycare center, things picked up. I am not an easy laugh, but I was laughing all through the scenes of toddlers playing with these toys. So very familiar! The one problem I have with this entire franchise is the filmmakers drive to bash us over the head with the sentimentality of a child's relationship with his toy. When the adolescent referred to Woody (the cowboy doll) as his 'best friend' I thought that was one of the more pitiful statements I've heard in my life. Though as Gwyn often notes, I over-analyse.

The highlight for me was when a character says excellente and Liot got so he excited, he blurted out, "Excellente! That means 'great' in Spanish."

[MooseMom]

I hate 3D because 1. it's a con, 2. it serves mostly to hide wretched writing (in my very humble opinion) and 3. it makes me want to throw up (I get motion sickness easily.  Don't talk to me about the London Eye...).  My husband, however, would watch Gigli if it was in 3D.

I do like the Toy Story franchise, so I am eager to see number 3.  I've become a more, uh, "sensitive" movie-goer because I feel like I've had enough blood and fear in real life to ever find it entertaining on any screen, especially 3D.

[AIRon]

I agree with you Moosemom on the 3d , I delieve it is a con as well for the fact it makes the movie cost about five dollars more to see, and when it comes out on DVD it is distributed in regular format and you can buy it for as much as you Paid to see it in 3d. For me the glasses get annoying very quickly, but I can say that my daughters love to see a movie in 3d. Here is another gimmick for your pleasure, the movie theater in my town has installed seats that move and shake with the film, this also raises the ticket price. I don't know any one who has seen a movie with this type of effect but I can imagine someone getting there eye poked buy there straw as they try and take a drink from there soda while there seat is jumping in the air. Maybe I will get to experience this this weekend if Predators is shown in that format, at least to say I have tried it before I say too many negative things about it.

[Rerun]

I was drug to Air Bender.  Stupid.  1 star 

Although I have a new nick name for my nephew who farts a lot.   

[Rerun]

Did You Hear About The Morgans (2009)  Hiliarious five stars         

After witnessing a murder, high-powered -- and estranged -- wife Meryl (Sarah Jessica Parker) and husband Paul (Hugh Grant) Morgan must say good-bye to sophisticated Manhattan when they enter the witness protection program together and land in Wyoming. At odds, they attempt to adjust to small-town life in this charming comedy that also stars Sam Elliott, Mary Steenburgen and Elisabeth Moss. Marc Lawrence (Two Weeks Notice) writes and directs.

[Rerun]

Pirate Radio (2009)  True Story so it was interesting.  Four Stars         

In 1966, hard-partying British DJs -- a crew that includes Quentin (Bill Nighy), the Count (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Gavin (Rhys Ifans) and Dave (Nick Frost) -- have the time of their lives running a radio station on a ship in the North Sea, broadcasting generation-defining (but banned) music to millions. But they face getting shut down by Sir Alistair Dormandy (Kenneth Branagh). Richard Curtis (Love Actually, Four Weddings and a Funeral) directs.

[Poppylicious]

I saw Devil last weekend.  I gave it 8 out of 10 (but then I like anything which has connections to M. Night Shyamalan, which makes me unique.)  It taught me to be wary of crazy strangers in broken down lifts (elevators).

Oh, and I saw One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest last week.  It's been on my Sky+ box for-like-ever, so I thought I ought to settle down and watch it.  I don't understand why I kept putting it off; it was fabulous and made me very emotional.  And that Jack Nicholson was quite a dishy chap in the 70s, eh?!  *swoon*

But now?  Not so *swoon*.

I must come on this thread more often; Devil was the twentieth film I've seen at the cinema this year, not to mention all the ones we watch on the tellybox.  You'd think I'd have plenty to say.

 

[Poppylicious]

The Last Exorcism (cinema, yesterday) ... made to look like a documentary, which worked quite well.  Good premise, but I wasn't overly happy with the ending.  I'd give it a thumbs up though, maybe as much as 7 out of 10.

The Children (tellybox, yesterday, British horror 2008) ... good good.  There weren't answers for everything which happened, and the ending was open-ended, but I enjoy films that leave me room to ponder and don't force-feed me.  It also left most of the gory bits to the imagination (good for the squeamish!) 8/10 ...