We stood in a line outside The Plaza for about 2 hours on Monday (high of 94°) so that we could see a movie neither of us really knew anything about. And then, it rocked off our faces. And then, Edgar Wright, Michael Cera and Jason Schwartzman were there to sit in director’s chairs and wear pink socks (#SPvsATL!). And then, they answered questions and talked about greenscreen ninjas and how Schwartzman was wearing red silk panties to get into character told stories about making the movie.
(We didn’t ask any questions, although I wish I had come prepared with/had the ovaries to stand up and ask: 1) Mr. Schwartzman, do you believe we are all part of the blanket? and 2) Mr. Schwartzman, will you sign this photograph of Jessica Lange? What? Wrong movie?)
And then, we came home and watched Hot Fuzz.
But regardless of we did, you should see this movie if you think you might like it even a little. Watch early, watch often! And maybe review sometimes.
I had intended to post a video review with Michael’s sister remotely, to give you our thoughts on Eclipse the second we walked out of the theater. But it was like, 2:30 AM and I was tired and surrounded by girls wearing paper Burger King Eclipse crowns.
Then I read this on AJC.com/via AP. I agree with it completely and am lazy. So. Eclipse:
“The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” — With Stephenie Meyer’s franchise under new management again, this time director David Slade (best known for the hard-core vampire horror flick “30 Days of Night”), and a stronger story than the first two movies, “Eclipse” manages to do what its two dreadfully dumb predecessors could not. It almost makes believers out of those of us who don’t much care whether Kristen Stewart’s moon-eyed teen Bella Swan chooses vampire stud Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) or werewolf hunk Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner). Almost. The trouble is, while “Eclipse” may not be dreadfully dumb, it’s still pretty dumb. Slade uses that to his advantage here and there, lightening up on the relentless gloom of the earlier movies by making fun of some of the franchise’s silliness. Still, the movie mostly wallows in what fans love most, that whiny romantic triangle among a schoolgirl and her two beastie boys. Not as if it’s news to Meyer’s millions of readers, but this time out, vamps and wolves team up to stop an army of extra-nasty newborn bloodsuckers. PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence, and some sensuality. 121 min. Two stars out of four.
Re: the bolded sentence. I had such hopes that Eclipse would largely (or at least partially) abandon this crap, and push the action, since it is the only book that has any. It was too much to hope for - and for that I blame Twihards and profit-obsessed studio executives. Slade was likely painted into a corner on this one, which is too bad.
We caught up on LOST in time for the last few episodes, so we haven’t been watching a ton of movies. Now that it’s over, we might make an effort to review some movies. We’re also in the process of moving residences, so that will obviously take some viewing/reviewing time out of our precious schedules.
I know this blog is called “Movies we’ve seen,” and not “TV Shows we’ve seen,” but you know… anybody want to talk about the Lost series finale? It’s been a couple days, and I think I’m ready to talk about it.
Tonight I felt and learned ten things from 2012, a feature film directed by Roland Emmerich.
1) I hope that when the world ends, it doesn’t last as long as the runtime of 2012. 2) I did not care about anyone until at least 1 hour and 45 minutes into the “film.” 3) The graphics during the “tectonic destabilization” look like Grand Theft Auto. 4) I like Chiwetel Ejiofor, even though he was in this movie. Also, Lodz. 5) Apparently, you can outrun “tectonic destabilization,” much like you can outrun “the freeze.” 6) There were no African countries represented on the “Arks,” but they are thankful that it survived to become their new homeland anyway. 7) One of the hairstylists on the film was named Debra Wiebe, and I want to imagine that she is the wife of Steve Wiebe, the true Donkey Kong Champion. 8) There were at least 8 post-production studios listed on the credits for visual effects. After they named each individual who worked in each studio, they then showed “Additional effects provided by: ten other studios.” 9) At least one individual from one of these studios had a last name of “Dang.” 10) The two songs used in the credits were by far the worst songs ever made, and I considered sticking my fingers in my ears in order to scoop out my actual hearing parts so I wouldn’t have to know about it. (Michael had the remote.) I looked it up. Maybe Adam Lambert and Filter will die in a freak accident in which the USS Kennedy air craft carrier crushes them in an outdoor arena via tidal wave.
Michael is crashed out on the sofa “watching” (sleeping) Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, so I don’t think we’re going to talk about Moon. However, it’s still on my mind so I’m going rogue and typing solo.
Sam Rockwell is one of my favorite actors. It doesn’t matter whether he’s being reserved and deliberate or self-satisfied and loud, self-destructive, oblivious, hysterical, paranoid… he’s right on. Even when you notice Rockwell-isms (gestures or tones of voice that cross over), somehow he’s merged them into the character you’re watching without consequence. I always “buy” him, no matter what type of role he’s in. (I could be forgetting something, and by all means, call me out… but even as Guy in Galaxy Quest ! I mean, if he can pull off Crewman #6, what can’t he do!)
I have a bad habit of watching movies without the first clue to the plot. The story moved along pretty quickly, and when it was sluggish, it was in the context of the oppressive slowness of space.
Even though Moon was easy to follow and easy to predict, I was completely enthralled by the two Sams (the three Sams??). I loved watching old Sam and new Sam across from each other: two completely different versions of each other in look and demeanor, two men in different stages of a life, two different characters.
Jay Baruchel Dates a Decently-Hot Chick comes out on March 12, but we had the privilege of seeing it in a preview. Alice Eve and Krysten Ritter were on hand to answer questions at the end, which I regret skipping out on (being that we are JOURNALISTS HERE) - but it was Monday and I was tired. Plus, this DJ from 99x was there announcing (loudly) and making people play games about STDs. Oh, and the Maneaters (H&O cover band) - ehh.
Michael didn’t like it much. I thought the dialogue was hysterical. Maybe it aspired to be an Apatow flick (having some of that improvisational feel, some cracked smiles from the squad of dudes that follow Baruchel around), but it mixed in just enough Farrelly Brothers that I had to deduct points.
Nobody ever thought it was going to be Oscar-worthy, so you know, see it. It’s cute and it has a sweet puppy in it.
Can you believe it? We. finally. reviewed. something. I barely can myself.
Our first theater experience of 2010: Shutter Island, by the great divider Martin Scorsese who you either love or hate.
I guess I still side on hate, but I do love The Departed. Shutter Island is hazing my black-and-white view of Mr. Scorsese though, and I’m on the fence about it. Predictable yes. But character driven, decently acted and well organized.
Looking back though, The Departed has all these actors flinging their talent on each other in this crazy powerhouse of performance. Shutter Island was lopsided, with Leo emitting a steady pulse of awesomeness and everybody else dodging it. Except Patricia Clarkson who does no wrong.
Sorry about the chicken wings. I was hungry, and I knew if we didn’t review at that very moment, we’d never do it. EVER.
1) I hope that when the world ends, it doesn’t last as long as the runtime of 2012.
, so I don’t think we’re going to talk about 
. However, it’s still on my mind so I’m going rogue and typing solo.
! I mean, if he can pull off Crewman #6, what can’t he do!)
