Twilight

First there was Romeo & Juliet, then came Tony & Maria of Westside Story, and now Bella and Edward of Twilight. With every great romance story, there is a boy and girl who aren't supposed to be together for some reason; wrong family, wrong ethnic group, and now the mortal and immortal. Twilight is the latest novel to film metamorphosis.

The movie is a 120 minute summary of the 500 page freshmen novel by Stephenie Meyers. When I say summary I am sincere in using the truest definition of the word. In the novel, she is meticulous in her descriptions throughout the Bella and Edward sagas. Unfortunately the attention to detail is not present in this film.

Some of the support cast seemed to force their character out of themselves. Mike Newton, played by Michael Welch, is one example. Mike Newton is supposed to be a little arrogant and slightly jockish. In the film he is a wannabe cool guy, bordering on moronic (i.e. dinner scene of Bella and her dad with Mike outside the window acting like a complete idiotic fool). I attribute this to the fact that the film was a low budget movie and the casting budget did not allow for well seasoned actors or the problem may have simply been very poor directing by Catherine Hardwicke

So is the movie as good as the book? NO! With that being said let me point out the positives of this film. The cast is almost perfect. Edward is played by Robert Pattinson and his portrayal is what I saw in my mind's eye. Bella however should have been a little more plain than Kristen Stewart who is truly lovely, naturally. (I do understand that plain may not be possible to find in Hollywood.)

Technically the film was shot beautifully. The entire movie seems to have a very romantic and haunting look in every frame which is true to the book. The incorporation of the natural beauty of the film location (Portland, Oregon) is breathtaking. Mountains, rivers, very tall trees and cold rainy winter days, all were spot on to how Ms. Meyers described the scenery in her novels.

I have a few requests for the production company, Summit Entertainment for the filming of the the sequel, New Moon, that is currently in pre-production. First, if you are doing a close up of any of the vampires, please find some better contacts so the audience is not able to see the rims of the lenses. Second, develop the relationships of the characters a little more. Lastly, please don't rush the film. Twilight, the movie, was paced entirely to fast for this very detailed story. Twilight, the novel, takes quite a while to tell. If one book is split into two movies - so be it! Your teenie bopper (and middle aged women) audience will gladly pay full price to see all the books fully come to life on the big screen!

If you are going to see Twilight, read the book first. You will understand and enjoy the movie better!

Is this a full price movie? The answer is yes, if you are a fan of the series. There is nothing better than going to a movie theatre filled to capacity with excited fans cheering and oooing at all the right moments!

Secret Life Of Bees

As I sit here trying to write my simple opinion of this film based on Sue Monk Kidd's critically acclaimed novel of the same title, I realize how limited my personal vocabulary has become. Words such as amazing, powerful, beautiful just seem trite in trying to provide an accurate description of this film.

Set in rural South Carolina in 1964, the film has a simple plot with many threads running throughout. Dakota Fanning plays the young Lily who has lived the majority of her 14 years in the loveless world of her abusive father on their family's peach farm. After a fight between her and her father, Lily runs away taking her nanny Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson) with her. Lily and Rosaleen find refuge in the home of the Boatwright sisters of Tiburon, South Carolina. These sisters, all named for months of spring and summer, are very unique for this small southern segregated town of the 1960's. August Boatwright (Queen Latifa), being the oldest sister and the family's matriarch, is a wise business woman and expert beekeeper. Miss August takes Lily under her wing teaching her about bees and life, usually at the same time.

Lily and her close association with people of color, during a time it was unacceptable for girl to do so, causes a problem or two for Lily and those whom she cares for the most. It is during these scenes I realized how far our country has come and how far we have yet to go.

There are many social and life lessons for all of us to learn from this very simple very beautiful story. Be certain to bring your tissues, they may be necessary.

Queen Latifa is beautiful and full of grace in her role of Miss August Boatwright. Alicia Keys shows off her musical talent as the music teacher May Boatwright (she learned to play the cello exclusively for this movie); she also demonstrates her exceptional acting ability. Sophie Okonedo portrays the slightly "off" sister May, only one word is able to describe her - extraordinary! Dakota Fanning, who was the sweet and adorable little girl in I Am Sam, has grown into a brilliant young woman whose talent has grown and blossomed as she has.

I certainly hope this film is considered for an Oscar when the time arrives.

Role Models

Need a good laugh? Not to squeamish about boobie humor? If foul language does not offend you easily, then Role Models is a must see movie. It has been way too long since I have been to a movie in which I laughed almost from beginning to end. In fact I have to see the film again due to the fact that many lines of dialogue were missed because of the continuous audience laughter.

I Went to see the flick on a boring Tuesday night right after work, and our theatre was FULL, even the front rows had butts in the seats. The audience was very diverse and all left the theatre laughing and grinning!

The movie is quite raunchy, slightly touching and frickin' hilarious. It is well worth a full price ticket to see it in a full theatre.

Note: Not a good first date movie!

The main players in this riotous big screen flick...

Jane Lynch - is brilliant and slightly annoying (however appropriately annoying) as Gayle Sweeny recovering drug addict and current director of a children's mentoring organization.

Seann William Scott - typecast as Wheeler, just a slightly milder version of his infamous role of Stifler in American Pie

Paul Rudd - Danny is a sulking, melancholy, downright depressed, marketing rep. He is the character in which this film revolves. All others just get caught up in the funk he is going through and ride along with him in his rise out of funkdom.

Christopher Mintz-Plasse - what a great young actor who pulls off the geeky, strong nerd Augie, with grace and finesse.

Bobb'e J. Thompson - may only be 12 years old but he is a comedic master. Ronnie is a hellion of a child who completely steals the show!

Eagle Eye

So sorry for the delay in my reviews. Gas prices, hours cut at work etc..., really cut into my movie watching budget. Hopefully with gas down from $3.88 a gallon to a beautiful $2.32, the movie drought is over.

Tonight (Tuesday) was $6 night at the movies and I saw a movie that was well worth the full Friday night $9.50 ticket price. Eagle Eye is Shia LaBeouf's comeback film from his disastrous role in Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull.

Eagle Eye is a fast paced action flick that has a lot crash bang boom but not a lot of gory action violence. The plot is complex and the first few moments of the movie are a little difficult to follow because you are not exactly sure why these moments are even in the film. Give it time it will all make sense.

If you are a subscriber to conspiracy theories you will really enjoy the flick, it will reinforce your thinking. If you don't think that way, you will leave the theatre thinking twice about the Internet, cell phones, face book and all other forms of our modern communication systems.

If you don't see Eagle Eye in the theatres make this a must rent at your neighborhood Red Box - it is just a really good action flick.

Wow I've been gone way too long

I am so sorry for the very long hiatus from postings. I promise to get back in the grove this weekend!

Enjoy the movies!!!!

Hancock

From time to time, throughout our lives, we experience moments in which we feel alone or that only oneself truly understands what we are going though. That is where Hancock begins.

Hancock is a superhero living in L.A. fighting crime in a very unconditional manner; in a drunken state. Even though his drunken crime fighting skills have criminals shaking in their shoes, Hancock always leaves a little collateral damage in his wake. Beacause of his reckless attitude, the average law abiding citizens don't care so much for him. One of Hancock's escapades alone cost the city of L.A. more than $9 million dollars in repairs. Needless to say Hancock is not very well liked by anyone in the city of Angels that he calls home.

Through a chance meeting with an image consultant, Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman), Hancock begins to find out who and what he truly is, and there is where the story really begins.

Will Smith is brilliant as the ungraceful, uncouth, nihilistic, superhero. The script is well rounded and smartly written. Peter Berg (director), whose directing and camera style have been critically acclaimed for the television show, Friday Night Lights, showcases his extraordinary talent.

Because of the special effects and hard hitting action sequences Hancock is a big screen film. You will laugh, you will cheer, you will fall in love with Hancock! Enjoy the movie!

Wall-E

Wall-E (Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth Class) may very well be Pixar's finest creation (in my humble opinion) . The film is primarily set on Earth, where the only lifeforms left are an adorable little rusty robot and his best buddy a cockroach who eats Twinkies. It is never quite explained how the evolution of Wall-E occurred, but somewhere in Wall-E's solitary existence he develops a personality, emotions and a sense of purpose. Overall he is guided by his mission to collect, compact and stack all of the trash left by humans and the big super mega store B&L (Buy and Large), but he enjoys his day, takes pleasure in finding new little treasures (i.e. a lighter), and the company of his cockroach friend.

Due to all of the waste, pollution, and toxins created by the residents of Earth, all humans were evacuated on to a space ship, the Axiom. On the Axiom no one ever has to do anything - everything is done for them by robots. At first the idea seems to be paradise, but as the story progresses, paradise it is not.

One day while Wall-E is out doing the job he is programmed for, compacting the trash, he has a visitor from out of the sky. Eve (Extra-terrestrial Vegetation Evaluator) is a sleek droid like robot, sent out from the Axiom, whose mission is to scan Earth searching for signs of plant life. When Wall-E and Eve have their chance meeting, life for Wall-E as he knows it is changed forever.

Full of action, drama, romance, suspense and comedy, Wall-E is a brilliant film that not only entertains the viewer but also reminds us that we have to take care of the only home we know, Earth. Unlike other Pixar movies, this one may not appeal to the smallest of audience members. I guarantee the adults in the theatre definitely enjoyed the film more so than the kids.

Wall-E is absolutely a full screen, Dolby digital surround sound kind of movie. It is worth a full price movie ticket!