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Movie Review Monday
When you have kids you are pretty much held hostage in your own house at night. Since the hubby and I have completely run out of things to talk about and are just plain lazy, we like to spend our quality time together staring mindlessly at the non-flat screen tv we have in the basement. We are committed to shows from Sun-Thurs, so that leaves just a small window of Fri and Sat for movie watching.
On the rare occasion that our captives release us we get a babysitter, we usually choose to spend our precious free time looking at an even bigger screen. Going to see a movie in the theaters is a big deal for us, let me tell you. There is just something about the smell of the popcorn (that we are too cheap to actually buy) and getting to see all those previews that makes the experience so much better than watching it at home. Most of the time we go to the discount theater, but there are times we like to get crazy and splurge for the real deal. Last weekend we took out a second mortgage went to see Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
This movie comes from the same guys who made Knocked Up and Superbad. Although I enjoyed these movies for the couple of laughs they provided, I wouldn’t place any of them on my all-time favorite comedy list. I wouldn’t mind seeing them again, but I wouldn’t search them out to watch and I definitely would not buy them.
Sarah Marshall pretty much fits into the same mold as the others with crude jokes and obvious ploys to shock the audience with gratuitous nudity. Look, I’m all for nudity when it is done tastefully. It just seems like these guys try to use it to get a cheap laugh because they couldn’t think of anything better to write. If this kind of thing offends you, I would definitely steer clear of this movie.
The movie is about a guy named Peter who goes to Hawaii to try to get over the girlfriend that just dumped him, but lo and behold, she is there with her new boyfriend. Not exactly the most original or inspiring plot. The lead actors of the movie (Jason Segel, Kristen Bell and Mila Kunis) all did a pretty decent job with their roles, but I feel it was the supporting cast that really stole the show. I thoroughly enjoyed the performances by Russell Brand as Sarah’s new boyfriend, as well as Paul Rudd’s role as a clueless surf instructor. There was even a cameo by Jason Batemen at the end that was one of my favorite scenes in the whole movie.
Overall, I’d say to just wait until it comes out on video because it really wasn’t worth the $10 a ticket to see it in theaters.
We finally got to see Atonement this past weekend. Actually, I should say that I got to see Atonement because my husband fell asleep about a third of the way into it. I really can’t blame him too much because this was one slooowwww moving movie. I had started the book a few years ago but wasn’t able to get past the first couple of chapters. Pretty much the only reason that I decided to see it was because of the glorious eye candy that is James McAvoy.
(This review is just a pathetic excuse to post a picture of him on my blog. *swoon*)
The whole movie/book was about a lie that a little girl tells that totally changes the course of the lives of both her sister and her sister’s lover. I can understand why this film was praised so much by the critics and nominators of little statues. It was a beautiful movie to watch. I don’t completely know what cinematography means but I’m thinking that it was well done in this movie. It almost reminded me of a movie from the time period in which it was based (1930’s-1940’s).
The problem with this movie was the development of the love affair between McAvoy’s character Robbie and Keira Knightly’s Cecilia. I just don’t think that the director/screenwriters did enough to help us to really care enough about them as a couple before the turning point in the movie where they are tragically separated. One minute it seems like they don’t even like each other and the next moment they are madly in love. Maybe I missed something, but it just seemed a little implausible.
I thought the actors gave great performances, but I especially enjoyed the young girl that played the role of trouble-making Briony (I love that name). She was fabulous. Aside from their character development, I do think that James McAvoy and Keira Knightly did well in their roles. Keira is so pretty, but enough with the bones. The girl needs to eat a hamburger. Or two.
My overall opinion of the movie is that it is just ok. I guess it was just a little disappointing with all the accolades it received this past awards season. (Don’t even get me started on the let down that was No Country for Old Men). I wouldn’t rush out to buy it, but it may be worth a rental (especially if you were patient enough to read the book, which I’m now wishing that I had done).
Lastly, we have a review of Alvin and the Chipmunks. I’ll start by saying that I’m pretty skeptical of movies made for kids. There are a few classics that I could watch over and over again (Wizard of Oz and Willy Wonka come to mind) but for the most part kids movies pretty much annoy me. I watch them because my kids make me. With that said, this movie was slightly entertaining. You just can’t help but smile when those darn cute chipmunks are singing and dancing. There were a few parts that I felt weren’t really appropriate for a children’s movie, but they went over my kids’ heads. At least I hope so. I’d give this one a very mild recommendation.
Here’s what’s up next on our list of movies we want to rent:
- 27 Dresses
- Charlie Wilson’s War
- Cloverfield
- There Will Be Blood
- Walk Hard
- Into the Wild
- August Rush
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the movies I reviewed this week or which movie on my list of ones to see that you think I should see next.
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6 Responses to “Movie Review Monday”
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OK, I haven’t seen any of the movies you reviewed. Sarah Marshall, I’ll probably wait till it is in the dollar theater…Atonement, it just looks to “make you cry for crying sake”…and Chipmunks, I don’t have kids so there isn’t much of a point to go.
27 Dresses…LOVED LOVED LOVED. there are two lines from the movie that make me laugh everytime and I quote it all the time.
I’m so out of touch with movies that I haven’t heard of most of these. I do have a copy of August Rush that I’ve been meaning to watch for a long time. My brother-in-law said it’s awesome and I’ll love it. My sister said it’s alright and she like it.
I’m looking forward to the summer movies and time to actually see them.
I’m looking forward to 27 Dresses. DirecTv gave us two PPV movies a month for a year starting last July so we have Dan in Real Life and The Mist lined up from April. Hubby wants to see Cloverfield, we may wait until that one is on PPV too.
I saw Sarah Marshall as well and honestly thought the funniest parts were with the surf instructor. It’s my wacko sense of humor, but I loved when he said he didn’t wear a watch anymore, and then went on about the clock on his cell phone. I’m cracking up just thinking about it now. I’m weird. I have to say I don’t think Kristen Bell has made the best choices since Veronica Mars.
I loved Atonement. I loved the score, the cinematography, the overall tragic feeling of it, the way it was pieced together and played with perception, I really liked it. I get what you’re saying about the love affair, but it’s the sort of movie that stuck in my brain long afterward, while not necessarily being all that pleasant.
I love August Rush!!!! But I’m a huge fan of Kerri Russell and I also enjoy Jonathan Rhys Meyers (he really does make the perfect King Henry) Cloverfield was okay.
I really want to see Forgetting Sarah Marshall. I haven’t seen Atonement, but also really want to.
I TOTALLY agree with you on your review of Atonement. I just watched it this weekend and felt the same way. I guess our great minds think alike. lol. I haven’t seen the movies still on your list to watch. I did get about halfway through Charlie Wilson’s War before the kids got up from naps… but I’m guessing I’d better finish the movie before I write up a review. =0)