We are also … Unhindered by Talent

Dull. Yeah, so this was a huge disappointment and didn’t pass the WeatherGrrrl sleep test. Luckily I don’t live in the real world where ticket prices are obscene so my little nap didn’t cost the earth. Popcorn and soda were tasty though. You could definitely see the budget up there on the big screen, shame they didn’t save anything for the script. I have a brain. It needs to be engaged. This failed completely. I’d also love to see some female characters who have, um, a character, and aren’t just part of the scenery for the adolescent-boy part of the audience.

Current temperature: here 63F/17C, there 17C/63F

Tense. So these kind of movies always make me incredibly tense and this one is no different. As the movie unfolded the question that came to mind was, ‘wtf is the west doing in Iraq?’ The entire situation makes no sense and the insanity of being there is clearly played out in this movie. Definitely a must see but in no way could it be described as enjoyable. As an examination of male addiction to war it is quite exemplary.

Current temperature: here 77F/25C, there 9C/48F

Brilliant. This has to be one of the most gorgeous movies of all time. The images are stunning and beautifully represent the emotional journey of the main character over a single day. Colin Firth is amazing and fully deserves his Oscar nomination. I was a little nervous about where they were headed with one of the relationships (professor/student) but it did not resolve inappropriately so that was a relief. Definitely a must see.

Current temperature: here 37F/3C, there 10C/50F

Overrated. All the money is clearly on the screen, shame they didn’t spend any on the script. I so wanted this to be good and kept hoping to be drawn in and absorbed by the story but you really do need more that kick arse special effects to engage the entire human brain. There were a lot of tired old tropes present in this retelling of Pocahontas. You’d think by now, with the revolution of thought that has happened in the last one hundred years, the lone white guy wouldn’t get to save the day by out nativing the natives for the umpteenth time. Really?

Current temperature: here 9F/-13C, there 3C/37F

Erratic. Well, this movie sure is all over the shop, from the sublime to the ridiculous and back again. It doesn’t seem able to make its mind up what on earth it is. Paul Bettany has never been better lit and has my full attention every moment he’s on screen. *ahem* Ocassionally there are subtle interesting images and a real sense of the oppression and desolation of the desert. Mostly though the trite music queues tell us exactly what every one is thinking and feeling and Dennis Quaid gives one of the worst acting performances ever. Ever! At least Charles S. Dutton looks like he’s having an absolute blast, which is the only way to deal with a mess of a project like this.

Current temperature: here 7F/-14C, there 4C/39F

Sweet. It’s not often these days that a movie is made with younger children in mind. This is such a movie and very pretty it is too, which is not surprising given that it is the Japanese master Hayao Miyazaki at work. While it did get a little preachy in places and Liam Neeson’s character was a mite annoying, the visual representations of the sea and its inhabitants was spectacular. Definitely worth seeing even if you don’t have little ones.

Current temperature: here 81F/27C, there 13C/55F

Underwhelms. So, yeah, there are lots of explosions and action and speed but as a whole I was not wowed in the slightest. Where was the sharp snarky script? The super scary evil evol villan planning world domination? Or the hot half naked men? *sigh* The script was so blah and limp, I was not surprised to see it was written by committee. Channing Tatum did not do a thing for me and had zero rapport with Marlon Wayons which led to a queasiness about how their relationship was being portrayed.

Current temperature: here 73F/23C, there 16c/61F

Beautiful. I’m sorry I didn’t get to see this on the big screen as visually this movie was quite stunning. I also think it has a lot to say about self-deceit and the ability humans have to distract themselves from the ills of the world by hiding out in a self imposed bubble of excess. And the catastrophic consequences. (See Nero and modern day bankers.) Loved the use of ’80s punk music, the clash between sound and visuals was brilliant.

Current temperature: here 66F/19C, there 14C/57F

Watchable. I will always go and see a Michael Mann movie because you know there is a brain at work behind the camera and even when he fails he still manages to produce better movies than most of the crap being produced by Hollywood’s in-boys. This had a lot going for it and I especially enjoyed Johnny Depp’s performance. (He is always so watchable.) I actually like the use of hand held camera work here as it gave the feeling of watching events as they are happening rather than a historical re-enactment. My main problem was that I had a hard time telling who every one was. (Maybe some of that was down to the poor quality of our theatre’s sound system.) It was almost like we were expected to know who everyone was after the briefest of introductions.

Current temperature: here 68F/20C, there 15C/59F

Enjoyable. Not to be taken as good model for adolescent female behaviour however. It certainly doesn’t stand up to an serious feminist examination but as a fantasy it’s quite fun. The specially effects are pretty awful which is a surprise in this day and age. My favourite part was the father/daughter relationship, each trying their best to maintain the bond and demonstrating the strength of their affection.

Current temperature: here 73F/23C, there 18C/64F

Enjoyable. Not to be taken as good model for adolescent female behaviour however. It certainly doesn’t stand up to an serious feminist examination but as a fantasy it’s quite fun. The specially effects are pretty awful which is a surprise in this day and age. My favourite part was the father/daughter relationship, each trying their best to maintain the bond and demonstrating the strength of their affection.

Current temperature: here 73F/23C, there 18C/64F

Good. Well worth the price of the ticket. Surprisingly, not as mawkish as I was expecting and there’s some quite pointed tweaks at inappropriate white-guilt behaviour. Also a more interesting exploration of mental illness and the catastrophic effects on the individual and their family and friends.

Current temperature: here 75F/24C, there 18C/64F

Good. Well worth the price of the ticket. Surprisingly, not as mawkish as I was expecting and there’s some quite pointed tweaks at inappropriate white-guilt behaviour. Also a more interesting exploration of mental illness and the catastrophic effects on the individual and their family and friends.

Current temperature: here 75F/24C, there 18C/64F

Ugly. Make that very very ugly. This movie combines the absolute worst inclinations of adolescent-boy movies with the tritest of chickflick moments. It was so disappointing especially give the two leads who clearly have great chemistry if only the script hadn’t been so clunky. Kathrine Heigl was especially not served well and spent much of the movie being humiliated. Uptight girl meets jerk boy and both their lives are changed for the better would have been miles better than this piece of tripe.

Current temperature: here 59/F/15C, there 15C/59F

Tearjerker. Definitely a two tissue box movie. A real roller coaster of emotion from sweet happy uplifting moments to heart-ringing lows. A lot better than it deserves to be though missing a certain something that would raise it’s value as a piece of art. The voice overs at the beginning were particularly irritating and I could have done without them.

Current temperature: here 73F/23C, there 18C/64F

Entertaining. With such dense source material it’s amazing as much of the books ends up on the screen as it does. Though, much must be omitted due to time constraints, I think they captured the essence of this book while creating a complete and satisfying story in and of itself.

Visually this movie is stunning and definitely a real pleasure to watch. It evokes a full range of emotions and certainly packs quite a wallop at the end. I enjoyed all the performances and don’t think there’s a weak one among them. Definitely worth visiting the cinema for.

Current temperature: here 86F/30C, there 16C/61F

Entertaining. With such dense source material it’s amazing as much of the books ends up on the screen as it does. Though, much must be omitted due to time constraints, I think they captured the essence of this book while creating a complete and satisfying story in and of itself.

Visually this movie is stunning and definitely a real pleasure to watch. It evokes a full range of emotions and certainly packs quite a wallop at the end. I enjoyed all the performances and don’t think there’s a weak one among them. Definitely worth visiting the cinema for.

Current temperature: here 86F/30C, there 16C/61F

Explosive. Lots of great special effects, action sequences and explosions. A little weak on thinky thoughts but sometimes one just wants to be amused for a few hours, eat some popcorn and drink some soda. This movie definitely breathes new life into another sagging franchise. I thought John and Kyle Connor were excellently played and there were kick-arse women as well! Shock!!!! Horror!!!

My main objection to the movie is at the end, which I won’t give away here, but it definitely made me want to smack people for its ridiculousness and unethicalness.

Current temperature: here 86F/30C, there 16C/61F

Shiny. A rollicking ride of a movie that pumps new life into an aged franchise. Much fun is to be had so long as you don’t want to think too much about what is going on. Zachary Quinto rocks as Spock and, truth be told, this is his movie not Kirk’s. Kirk is so one dimensional and adolescent-boy it’s amazing they even let him in the door. Anyway, buy yourself a soda, a little popcorn and enjoy the ride.

Current temperature: here 77F/25C, there 18C/64F

Brilliant. This has got to be one of the best films I’ve seen in a long time. Visually beautiful and terribly haunting it engages the emotions as well as the old grey cells. Kate Winslet creates another complete and complex human being who you can empathise with while at the same time hating her choices.

Current temperature: here 73F/23C, there 18C/64F