The Woman In Black

      I hate scary movies! Why am I watching this? By the end of this movie that is exactly what I was thinking! The Woman in Black (2012) is a pretty good thriller. If you like thrillers. It’s Alfred Hitchcock (Psycho, Rear Window, The Birds, Vertigo) scary, very intense and creepy.  It isn’t Wes Craven (The Hill’s Have Eyes, Swamp Thing, Nightmare on Elm Street, New Nightmare) scary at all. So don't expect that.  

      Daniel Radcliff (Harry Potter, December Boys, My Boy Jack) plays a young, grieving lawyer named Arthur Kipps. His wife died during childbirth and he is now raising his four year old son on his own. I think Daniel really enjoyed this role. He did a wonderful job. He did this movie after he had been on Broadway. He starred in Equus, on Broadway. It was a very challenging role for him and from the buzz I hear, he did great. He really rose to the challenge.  I think it helped him grow as an actor and give him some separation from the Harry Potter saga.

      The Woman In Black is a very interesting story. It’s a very quiet movie, not a whole lot of dialog and what is spoken is quiet, and hushed. It does have a wonderful score that adds to the movie beautifully. The cast is quite small as well.  It is mostly up to Daniel to carry the movie. Roger Allam (V for Vendetta, The Queen, The Iron Lady) plays Mr. Bently. He works with Arthur temporarily while Arthur is in this strange little village. I really liked his character and what he added to the movie. I can’t leave out Liz White (Life on Mars, Vera Drake, Wild Bill) She plays the Woman in Black.  I am not sure if she does her own screaming in the movie or if that was taken from else where, but the screams are great. Very spin chilling.

      While I am not a fan of scary movies, I do like the intense situations at times. I like to be a little scared, and if I am going to be scared, I prefer the unseen. That is so much scary than a monster, or chain saw man. The fear of the unknown is a powerful thing.

The Host

      I was so excited for this movie! Not for the reason you may be thinking though.  Yes, it is a popular book, written by a very popular author. Yes, I have read the book, more than once.  I liked it.  It’s a good read. However, the reason I was following this movie, and was so excited for it, is because of Andrew Niccol (In Time, Gattaca, Lord of War, S1m0ne) Andrew is a writer, director, and producer. He does it all.  I really like In Time (2011) and Gattaca (1997). He wrote and directed both of these.  Having read The Host I knew, it was right up his alley and it would be good. I wasn’t disappointed.

      The Host (2013) is a very interesting story about life on earth after aliens have come and taken over. They not only take over the planet, but they take control of peoples bodies.  Humans become hosts to this alien species. There are pockets of resistance, of course. You always need opposition for a good story. The book is pretty long and goes into a lot of detail. Describing setting, background, building characters and relationships. In a movie you can leave all of that out.  We don’t need a lot of pages describing the underground caves that the humans are living in.  We can just see it.  We don’t need a lot of background story in a movie either.  It is common for a movie to drop side stories.  You have to figure out what the main story is and stick with that line of story telling. I understand these things, and so I am really ok with things being left out. As long as the main things are there.

      The movie stays very true to the book.  There is nothing in the movie that doesn’t happen in the book. The things that are left out aren’t crucial to the telling of Melanie’s story. So it worked.  The casting was great! William Hurt (The Village, Neverwas, Vantage Point, Into The Wild) plays Uncle Jeb.  Jeb is one of my favorite characters. Hurt played him just the way I had imagined him. He was wonderful, which is to be expected of Hurt. Diane Kruger (Unknown, Troy, National Treasure, Wicker Park) is the Seeker. She is another character that leaves an impression. Diane played her beautifully. I can’t really say I “like” her. You’re not really suppose to “like” her. But Diane brought her to life. Saoirse Ronan (City Of Ember, The Lovely Bones, Atonement, Hanna) plays Melanie and Wanderer. I haven’t seen her in anything before. She was really good in this though and I enjoyed watching her.  It’s a bit of a tough role. Melanie is the human, who is resisting her alien, who goes by the name Wanderer. It was fun to read the interaction between the two and I wondered how they would portray it in a movie format.  There is so much that takes place in her mind. They did a great job and the relationship between Melanie and Wanderer really comes across.

      In my opinion that is the most important thing in making a book into a movie. Does the feeling of the book come across? Can you get attached to these characters in just two hours the way you do in the long drawn out time it takes to devour a good book? Andrew Niccol has a gift for telling a story. I like his writing style, his character development and his directing style. He accomplished these things beautifully.

Alex Cross

      Alex Cross (2012) is very loosely based on the novel Cross by James Patterson. The similarities between the book and the film are few and far between though. I have never read a James Patterson novel.  The only reason I have followed this one is because of Tyler Perry (Good Deeds, Star Trek, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, The Family That Preys). Yes, I am aware that he did not direct, produce or write Alex Cross.  I just really like Tyler Perry! It was very cool to see him doing something so different. I have to say I am a little nervous to read the book now. I may not have read any of his books I have however seen the other movies based on his Alex Cross books, Kiss The Girls (1997) and Along Came A Spider (2001). Pretty frightening and disturbing stuff. 

      If you have seen Kiss The Girls or Along Came A Spider you will be prepared for Alex Cross. It is not for the faint of heart, as they say. (Whoever “they” are) There are a couple of steamy sex scenes, there is torture and the killer, Picasso, is just evil. If you liked Matthew Fox (Vantage Point, We are Marshall, Smokin’ Aces) in Lost (2004-2010) you may not want to watch this movie. He is absolutely terrifying as Picasso. He looks terrible, shaved head, too thin, and crazy eyes. Matthew went all out for this role, strict diet, crazy workout routine. It paid off. His portrayal of Picasso will forever change your view of him and you will never get it out of your head. It reminded me of watching Harrison Ford (American Graffiti, The Frisco Kid, Blade Runner, Witness) in What Lies Beneath (2000). Creepy!

      The casting was actually really good.  I liked Edward Burns (Saving Private Ryan, 27 Dresses, Man on a Ledge, She’s the One).  He was wonderful as Thomas Kane, Alex’s partner, and he has some very funny, quotable lines.  In an intense murder mystery you always need some comic relief.  Edward delivers. Cicely Tyson (Fried Green Tomatoes, The Help, Diary of a Mad Black Woman) is wonderful as Nana Mama, Alex’s grandmother. I always enjoy watching her. It was a little weird seeing John C. McGinley (Point Break, Se7en, The Rock, Wild Hogs) He is the Captain and I had a hard time seeing him in that role.  He was great; don’t get me wrong, he did well. It’s just that, well, for some reason I couldn’t get Dr. Perry Cox out of my head.  I didn’t even watch Scrubs (2001-2010) all that much but still…. I kept picturing him saying “your not going to make a very good Dr. if your head keeps exploding like that” I don’t know, whatever.

      Tyler Perry was wonderful, as usual, and Alex Cross delivers. If you are looking for a good shoot ‘em up, cop goes off the deep end, crazy serial killer movie, here you go. Enjoy!

Premium Rush

      When I was in high school I was big into the skateboarding scene.  Yes, I owned a skateboard and knew how to ride.  One of my favorite movies was a skateboarding movie called Gleaming the Cube (1989) starring a very young Christian Slater (Kuffs, Untamed Heart, Murder In The First, Bed of Roses). I have been a fan of Christian Slater ever sense, and I still love Gleaming the Cube.  It is a very fun, cool skateboarding movie.  You may ask, “Why am I talking about this old movie?” Well, that would be because I just watched Premium Rush (2012). It was a lot like Gleaming the Cube but with bikes instead of skateboards.

       Premium Rush takes place on the streets of Manhattan, mostly from the eyes of a bike messenger.  I was captivated from the opening scene! Joseph Gordon-Levitt (10 Things I Hate About You, Inception, 50/50, The Dark Knight Rises), whom I just adore, plays Wilee. Wilee is a bike messenger who lives life a little dangerously, or so his friends say. He has taken the breaks and the gears off his bike. The opening scene is him flying through the air and landing in the road after being hit by a taxi. The clock then counts back a few hours to show us how he got there.  I think the whole movie takes place in a matter of 3-4 hours. It is very fast paced and entertaining but also has a good story line with well developed characters.

      David Koepp (Stir of Echoes, Secret Window, Mission: Impossible, Carlito’s Way) wrote and directed Premium Rush.  I love his style! At times we would see the streets from Wilee’s point of view.  We would see his various options and the out come of going each way, then he would choose a path.  It was a very cool idea and it worked really well.  There is so much I liked about this movie! The soundtrack is great, the acting is wonderful, the cinematography (the art or science of motion-picture photography) is incredible and there is a plot and a story line. It’s more then just a great action flick. Every thing I loved about Gleaming the Cube back in ‘89.

      Here’s a little trivia for you. Watch the end credits. While filming, Joseph crashed into a taxi. He shattered the rear windshield and cut up his arm pretty good. He needed 31 stitches. I knew the blood in that scene looked more realistic then usual.

Warm Bodies

      With the move and the other things going on in my life right now I have felt a little like a zombie lately, just going through the motions.  I am trying to get back into a routine and back to living.  It seems only appropriate that my first blog after a long break should be about a zombie coming back to life.  Nicholas Hoult (About A Boy, X-Men First Class, Clash Of The Titans) is simply adorable as R, he goes by R because he can’t remember his name but he knows it started with an “R”. The zombie with a conscience. “They’ll eat anything with a heartbeat. I mean, I will too, but at least I’m conflicted about it”. R has some very funny, quotable lines.

      Warm Bodies (2013) is a very cute, fun and charming twist to the typical Romeo and Juliet story.  That’s really what it is. I mean, he goes by R, her name is Julie. Julie is engaged to Perry and R’s best friend goes by M.  Julie’s best friend is Nora and she just happens to be a nurse. There is even a balcony scene, one of my favorite scenes by the way. 

      The makeup in this movie is so well done. I really enjoyed watching R slowly become more human and watching the way his face changes. It is so subtle and barely noticeable. He just all of a sudden looks…..better, livelier.  I loved the voice over. It was a fun way to let us into R’s quirky thoughts. He narrates through the entire movie but in a fun way, not annoying at all.

      Isaac Marion wrote the novel on which Warm Bodies is based. He also worked on the screenplay with the director, Jonathan Levine (50/50, The Wackness, All the Boys Love Mandy Lane) He is a fairly new director who hasn’t done much but I liked his style and what he did with this movie.

      When it comes to this movie you get exactly what you expect. It is a Horror, Comedy, Romance zombie movie with a little something for everyone. Just a fun entertaining story, it doesn’t pretend to be anything more then that. A zombie love story, and why not in this day of paranormal romances?

Les Miserables

      What an experience! I had the privilege of attending a prescreening of Les Miserables (2012).  I didn’t know what to expect.  I have been following this movie since the rumors began.  I have followed the casting. Watched every available clip as soon as it was released. Needless to say I have been anxiously awaiting this day.  I fell in love with the music of Les Mis right from the beginning, it just gets into your soul. Then I got to see it performed live. That was breathtaking! Since then it has been a favorite of mine.  I can’t get enough of it.  So it only makes sense I would be on pins and needles waiting for the movie version.

      Where to start? The music? The acting? The directing? The brutal honesty? Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech, The Damned United, Longford) directed Les Miserables. He really wanted it to be authentic, the life of the people at that time, the look and feel of the poor. It was not sugar coated.  As I mentioned, I think I am pretty familiar with the story and the images portrayed at that time period.  I have never seen it so ……… brutally honest.  The Lovely Ladies song is a perfect example of that honesty.  It’s kind of hard to watch, and the things Fantine is put through ...... how tragic. Anne Hathaway (The Devil Wears Prada, Ella Enchanted, Bride Wars) plays Fantine. I have heard people talk about her the most, fans doubt that she can play that part. She is amazing! The entire cast did a wonderful job singing.

      When you watch any production of Les Miserables the focus is on the talent of the singers and really hitting those notes, the beauty of the voices. However, the movie is all about the emotion of the songs and what they are saying more than anything else. In the past, when a musical is filmed, the actors would lip-sync to a prerecorded track. Not this time! The actors had to sing live. The orchestra was added in post-production and they had to play to the actors singing, not the other way around.  That was so cool. It gave the actors the freedom to act and add the emotion they were feeling in each scene. And there is a lot of emotion in this movie. The composer Claude-Michel Schonberg and lyricist Alain Boublil even wrote a new song for the movie. It is such a beautiful song called Suddenly and it fits in perfectly. All of the music is slightly different due to the actors choices but I enjoyed it just the same. There is so much passion you can’t help but get lost in it.

      There were some things I missed.  You don’t get to hear Gavroche sing the full version of Little People, just the little reprise parts. The other two songs that are cut are the innkeeper and his wife's songs. They do sing Master of the House but not Beggers at the Feast or Dog Eats Dog. I understand why they cut these songs; time, focus, side characters, however they are a bit of comic relief, without them you don’t get a break. One thing I noticed while sitting in the theater was the absolute silence.  It isn’t very often an entire theater is so engrossed.  The only noise was the laughter during Master of the House and then an applause as the end credits rolled.

      Every single person involved in this movie really gave it their all and wanted to please the fans. You could feel it in every inch of the film. I was wondering why it is such a powerful musical and why it has the impact it does on people. It’s not pleasant; it shows humanity at its worst. I mean it’s called The Miserables, it’s not supposed to be pretty.  I think it’s the message it has. “To love another person is to see the face of God”. It’s the story of a man who hated the world and all the wrong that had happened to him. When he lets God into his life and learns to love others, and forgive, he finds happiness. What an important and timeless message.

Stand By Me

      To finally have all of those questions answered after so many years! Way back in 1986 I watched this little coming of age movie starring some amazing up and coming actors. It has been a favorite of mine ever since.  Stand By Me (1986) will always have a soft spot in my heart.  I can’t explain why. It's probably one of those movies that planted the seed for my love of movies in general.  I just love it!

     There are a lot of people that don’t realize that Stand by Me is a Stephen King movie.  It is based on a short story entitled The Body. Stephen King wanted to write a story compiling events that happened to him and his friends, and what it was like for him growing up. So, which parts actually happened to Stephen King and which are made up? The leeches are true; the milk money story is true. Stephen King was the good kid that they trusted. A lot of it is true and the feeling of being 12 in 1959 is all true.

    Since this movie came out in 1986 I am guessing you watched it years ago or have never even heard of it. If you are going to watch it, whether for the first time or just the first time in years, watch the special features. There is an  exclusive featurette called “walking the tracks the summer of stand by me”. It was so good! I absolutely loved it and that is where I got the answers to all of my questions.  It is so different from what we think is typical Stephen King for one thing.  I mean not all of his works are horror. The Green Mile and Shawshank Redemption aren’t horror either. I always wondered where the story of Stand By Me came from, and if it was somewhat autobiographical.

     Another question I always had was about Gordy’s hat.  There is a scene in which the hat Gordy’s brother gave him is taken by the bullies. He never gets it back and it seems to be forgotten about. Why?  Wil Wheaton (Star Trek: The Next Generation, Toy Soldiers, Leverage, The Big Bang Theory) who plays Gordy, asked the director about that. He was told that the bully threw it away as soon as he walked around the corner. The hat scene is mainly used to push Wil’s character forward to the final scene. Kiefer Sutherland (The Lost Boys, Young Guns, The Sentinel, Phone Booth) plays Ace Merrill, the leader of the gang of bullies. It was one of his first roles and I have been a fan of his ever since. When he talked about stealing the hat he wanted to put it on. He was told no he couldn’t, “you wouldn’t care that much and you would never mess up your hair that way.” Rob told him.

     I should mention that the director of Stand by Me is the famous Rob Reiner (All in the Family, Bullets Over Broadway, The Story of Us, The Bucket List) He is amazing! He is what they like to call an actors director. He has done it all, actor, director, writer and producer. In the featurette he talks about casting the boys for this film. “when you are casting 12 or 13 year old boys you need to stay close to who they really are. They don’t have the craft at that age to go far beyond that.” That shows how gifted he is that he would know that and then could find such talented boys to fill those roles. It is so well cast. Because they were so young it was kind of a first for some of them.

   Jerry O’Connel (Jerry Maguire, Scream 2, Sliders, Obsessed) was one who had never acted before. He had only done one commercial. He said that Stand by Me was the first film he made that he felt was a reflection of him or an extension of himself and a  coming of age for him. Wil Wheaton pretty much felt the same. I adored Jerry and have liked watching him grow and evolve.  I am a fan but I don’t really like the movies he does or the acting choices he makes. Tom Cats (2001) ughh! Need I say more?

   I could go on and on, obviously, about how much I enjoy this movie and how much I loved the featurette. The featurette even made me cry at the end.  It had a beautiful tribute to River Phoenix (My Own Private Idaho, Running On Empty, Sneakers, Little Nikita) whom I absolutely love.

Rock of Ages

    Wow! I am not sure if that is a good wow or a bad wow.  There where a lot of things I really liked about Rock of Ages (2012) but, there where also a lot of things that I really didn’t like, at all!  The music is great, I really enjoyed it! As a child of the '80s of course I loved the music. The stars did their own singing and I was impressed. Tom Cruise (Eyes Wide Shut, Magnolia, Minority Report, Knight and Day) actually did a pretty good Bon Jovi cover.  I am very biased when it comes to anyone singing Bon Jovi, but Tom Cruise wasn’t that bad. Diego Boneta (Pretty Little Liars, Mean Girls 2, 90210) was great as the nervous, shy, up and coming new rock star. He was adorable. The cast did a great job and I loved the acting and all of the singing.

    So, that being said why didn’t I like it? Rock of Ages is a rock Broadway musical using classic rock hits from the ‘80s. It opened in L.A. in 2005. It is more light hearted and comedic than a lot of what you would see on Broadway.  That is kind of what bothered me to be honest. I am not a prude or anything don't get me wrong. The movie is about sex and rock and roll though.  That isn't what bothered me.  What bothered me was how it was handled. The kissing scenes where so bizarre and over the top ridiculous that is made me want to gag. It was really ridiculous. I know I know ……. I just made  a lot of people very upset.  That is just how I felt.  I liked the story line, it was fun and the way they make the music fit the story is great.  However, I think I will buy the soundtrack and just listen to it.  I don’t think I want to watch it again.

The Lucky One

     Oh shoot! I shouldn’t have watched that movie! Ughhh! …. Wait for it! …… here it comes…. I liked Zac Efron (New Year’s Eve, The Paperboy, The Lorax) in it. I know! How could I? That is exactly what I asked myself.  I read The Lucky One (2012) back in 2008 when it first came out. I absolutely loved it! Yes I am a huge fan of Nicholas Sparks.  I have to say though that I like his books more than his movies, as a matter of fact I have never read the books that his more popular movies are adapted from. Examples, I have never read Dear John, A Walk to Remember or Message in a Bottle. I have read tons that haven’t been made into movies though.  Some of them are now in that transition.  I am very excited for Safe Haven (2013) another wonderful book and the movie looks promising.

   The movie does fall short of the book. The sheriff is a lot creepier and more of a sleaze in the book. There is one scene in particular that shows what a creep he really is and it was completely left out of the movie. Logan is way more awesome in the book! I really liked him. He was so suave and tough. That was my worry with Zac Efron. Logan is a Marine who served in Iraq. He is on leave and decides to start walking.  I don’t want to spoil anything, which is why I am leaving out details. Anyway, he has walked from Colorado to Louisiana. One of my favorite lines is when Beth asks Logan, “What kind of person drives from Colorado to Louisiana to work in a dog kennel?” To which he replies “I wouldn’t know I walked”.  So, the question then becomes can Zac play a tough, suave Marine that would walk across the country just to meet the woman that saved his life? The answer, he wasn’t perfect but he did pull it off.  He wasn’t too bad.

      On the other hand Blythe Danner (The Prince of Tides, To Wong Foo, The Proposition, The Lightkeepers) was perfect as Ellie, Beth’s grandmother. The grandmother was one of my favorite characters in the book. She is so funny and quirky. I just love her. She was wonderful in the movie as well.  Just like I had pictured her.

     The movie was entertaining and I did enjoy it. However, as usually happens, the book is way better. So, in the end, the movie just made me want to go back and reread the book.

Like Crazy

      I enjoy independent movies. I really like something out of the norm.  I love to see something new that challenges the Hollywood blockbusters.  I wasn’t crazy about Like Crazy (2011) but I can appreciate it as art. It was beautifully filmed and the score was amazing.

     Dustin O’Halloran (Remember the Daze, An American Affair, Now Is Good) is the composer for Like Crazy.  I haven’t seen, or should I said heard, any of his other movies. But I really liked the music he composed for Like Crazy.  Drake Doremus (Spooner, Moonpie) was the director, he hasn’t done a lot. He is also a writer and wrote the screenplay for Like Crazy.  I really like his directing style and this movie made me want to watch more of his stuff.  His way of telling a story through images was wonderful. I loved the match dissolves and jump shots to show the passage of time. He also used motion control shots and skip dissolves so well.  This movie moves quickly over a long period of time and he uses all of these techniques so well to help move it along and show passage of time in a beautiful way.

      While I didn’t like the story line the acting is superb and as I have stated the directing makes it enjoyable to watch.

The Bourne Legacy

      What a wonderful movie! It continues the story after the Bourne trilogy very well.  I have really enjoyed the Bourne movies.  I do have to say that the old made for TV mini series is still a favorite.  The Bourne Identity (1988) starred Richard Chamberlain (Dr. Kildare, Shogun, Leverage, The Perfect Family) as Jason Bourne and Jaclyn Smith (Charlie’s Angels, Rage of Angels, Free Fall, In The Arms of a Killer) as Marie. The old one was wonderful, I loved it, but it is very different than The Bourne Identity (2002) starring Matt Damon (Inside Job, The Departed, The Legend of Bagger Vance, Rounders) and the two that followed with Matt Damon.
     
     The Bourne Legacy (2012) doesn’t have Matt Damon in it.  I know that is a very hot issue for people. “What are they doing?” “Why did they do that?” “Why no Matt?” I don’t really understand myself, nor do I have any answers to these questions. I thought maybe it followed the books and Jason Bourne wasn’t in the book. It turns out that The Bourne Legacy is nothing like that book at all! I enjoyed the movie. It is a very action packed, fast paced movie with a lot of fun chase scenes.
     
      Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker, The Avengers, The Town, Mission: Impossible-Ghost Protocol) plays the new hero, Aaron Cross. Even though the story line is different then the book, it is a very good story line, and told well. Edward Norton (Fight Club, The Illusionist, Primal Fear, Rounders) plays Retired Col. Eric Byer, USAF. If you have read my other posts, you can’t miss how much I love Edward Norton. He is an amazingly talented man and I love his variety of roles. So of course he does a great job in this movie and I loved his role.

       It was so nice to see Rachel Weisz (The Mummy, The Fountain, Chain Reaction, The Lovely Bones).  I loved her in the Mummy movies and was so sad when they replaced her for the third. She is adorable and so talented. She did a great job as Dr. Marta Shearing, very believable and really pulled you in.  The life threatening lab scene was terrifying!  It was so intense and she played it so well. The chemistry between Jeremy and Rachel is very good. It was the subtle touches and eye contact that I really liked.  There is one moment where Marta reaches out and touches Aaron’s arm.  That one touch and that quick camera shot of it said so much.  They develop a real bond and a need for each other without it turning into a typical “bedroom scene”. There wasn’t even a kiss.  I kind of liked that because that has become such an easy way out for a romance movie. I know this isn’t a romance movie but if you know anything about Robert Ludlum, the author,  there is always a romance going on amongst all of the action.

The Music Never Stopped

      You could say that I am almost as passionate about music as I am about movies.  Not nearly as knowledgeable but I love it just the same.  This is a wonderful movie for music lovers.  I mean the real passionate type that feel it not just listen to it.  The people who know and appreciate how much music plays a role in our lives. The Music Never Stopped (2011) is a beautifully told emotional drama of a father and his estranged son trying to learn to reconnect.  When I saw People Like Us (2012) I was surprised at the "old fashion" feel of it.  Just a really good story about a family trying to figure life out. The Music Never Stopped is very much the same feel. 

      Lou Taylor Pucci (Carriers, Beginners, Horsemen, The Go-Getter) plays Gabriel Sawyer.  I have never seen Lou Taylor in anything before. What a talented young man. He did an amazing job.  Gabriel is a man who hasn’t seen his parents in 20 years. The movie takes place in 1986.  That is important because it sets the time period for the music and what was taking place in the world.  When Gabriel and his parents are reunited it is not under good circumstances.  Gabriel has been diagnosed with a brain tumor and is unable to create new memories and barely remembers the old ones.  He is just not connecting with anyone or anything.  The movie tells the story through flash backs of various events.  Lou Taylor played the part so well.

      Gabriel’s father started sharing his love of music with his son at a very young age.  He would play a song and ask his son to name the song, the artist and the story of the first time his dad had heard it.  What a fascinating idea! While the dad is trying to connect with his son who doesn’t speak and is pretty well catatonic he comes across an article.  It is about a therapist who believes music can be used as therapy.  Our brains are so amazing that they make very strong connections to music and events in our life.  The dad thinks it is his music that is awakening something in his son but it's not. It is Gabriel’s own music that he is connected to. The songs from his own time and his own stories that bring him back.

      The Music Never Stopped is a very touching, beautifully told story.  I really liked the idea of music connecting us to memories. I know how true that is. To this day there are songs that I hear and I am back in high school or some other important time in my life. 

People Like Us

      People Like Us (2012) is a very interesting movie dealing with family secrets.  I have yet to see a movie that shows how keeping secrets is a good thing. Family secrets only lead to more secrets and that is never good. Eventually these secrets will come to a head and generally it is bad timing and only causes more problems.  People Like Us is a good example of this.  It has been a while since I have seen a really good emotional drama. I think this one filled that void.  It is about a very dysfunctional family. Chris Pine (This Means War, Unstoppable, Just My Luck) plays Sam, a very crafty, talented, fast-talking salesman who is avoiding his family.  When he receives a message that his father has passed away he tries very hard to avoid returning home for the funeral. 

      When Sam’s girlfriend finally gets him home, which she doesn't accomplish until after the funeral is over, he is greeted by a very depressed and angry mother, played beautifully by Michelle Pfeiffer (LadyHawke, Batman Returns, Dangerous Minds, Stardust). The chemistry between Chris and Michelle is wonderful.  I could really feel their bond as mother and son. That is important to me in a family drama.  You have to buy into the relationships.  You have to really believe it. This movie did that well. 

      While settling his father’s estate Sam finds out about a half-sister he never knew he had and the son she is raising on her own.  His father wants him to give them some money and help take care of them.  He is very torn about what to do. The relationship between Sam, Fankie and Frankie’s son Josh is very well developed and beautifully portrayed. I really enjoyed the casting in this movie, everyone is amazing.  That being said I have to admit that Michael Hall D’Addario (John Adams, Little Spirit: Christmas in New York, Sinister) who plays Josh is brilliant. He steals every scene.  What a talented young man. 

     One of the fascinating things about People Like Us is the fact that it is loosely based on actual events. This is writer/director Alex Kurtzman’s (Fringe, New Day, Star Trek, Cowboys & Aliens) feature-film directorial debut. He met his sister when he was 30 years old. He knew that his father had another family but had never met them. When he started thinking about his half-sister and half-brother this image came to him – the last image of the movie. I don’t want to spoil it because it was a pretty neat scene. Alex said, “What you see is I think in many ways very autobiographical and in other ways there’s a lot of invention in there. But I certainly think there’s a lot of emotion and emotional truth for a lot of people in my family in there.”

      In the movie Sam’s father is a huge music producer named Jerry. Much of the music business memorabilia in the “Jerry’s Study” set belongs to co-writer Jody Lambert’s father Dennis Lambert. He is a Songwriter’s Hall of Fame nominee whose hits as writer and/or producer include “Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I’ve Got)”, “Rhinestone Cowboy”, “Baby Come Back” and “Nightshift”. The set even includes photographs of Lambert himself and his actual Gold Records.

      This is a very dysfunctional family with deep rooted anger and regrets. The movie is about how you deal with that anger and those regrets.  How people react and the choices they make when the truth all comes out. In the end even with all of their flaws they truly love each other and that is really what's important.

Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds

 
      I remember seeing Madea for the very first time.  It’s not something that is easily forgotten.  It was in Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005). I loved that movie! That was also my introduction to Tyler Perry (Madea’s Family Reunion, Meet The Browns, I Can Do Bad All By Myself, Madea Goes to Jail) After that, I saw him as himself in Why Did I Get Married? (2007) I have been a huge fan and admirer of Tyler Perry ever since. What an amazing man.
     
      In case you aren’t familiar with Madea or Tyler Perry here is a little background.  Tyler Perry starting writing plays at the age of 18. His plays are available on DVD. Most of the plays now have a film adaption. Diary of a Mad Black Woman is a good example of this.  It was a play he did that is available on DVD and then was made into a movie. Madea is a grandmother type of character he plays. He does a few other characters as well.  Tyler Perry is a writer, director, actor and producer.  He has his own studio now.  I was reading a letter he wrote to his fans recently.  I loved it and just had to share a little bit. 

      “A Short and Sweet Thank You From Me To You - On July 8th, I will be celebrating 20 years in this business. 20 YEARS! WOW! When I started I had one prayer: I asked God to just let me do well enough to take care of my mother. Well, from the time I prayed that prayer until the day she died I was able to do that because of people like you all around the world. I remember the day I told her that she could retire, she said, "baby, are you sure these little plays are going to be able to take care of you and me?" LOL. I said, "as long as my folks keep coming." Then, a few years later, she was at one of my plays looking around at all the people in the audience. After the show she said to me, “the people love my baby””
    
       Yes they do! I am one of those people! I love the message in his movies. They always have something to say. Good Deeds (2012) is a wonderful movie about living your own life, your own dreams.   Wesley Deeds is the main character played by Tyler Perry. He has been living for his parents.  He is the “good son”.  He does everything that is expected of him. He is the pride and joy of his mother.  He took over his fathers company after his father passed away.  He takes care of his brother, always trying to clean up his messes. He is engaged to the “perfect” girl that his parents have always wanted him to marry. He is right on track for his life.  Just the way it is “supposed” to be.  That is, until he meets Lindsey.
     
       I don’t want to spoil the movie by telling you to much about Lindsey. She ends up in a situation she never planned on and is trying her best to make it work. She is a single mother trying to take care of her daughter.  Lindsey makes Wesley start to question his “scripted life”, and who exactly he is living for. She makes him think about life and being happy. One of my favorite scenes is when he is starting to change the clothes he wears and the music he listens to.  He puts on his shades and struts out the front door. It is very cute.  At one point Wesley is told “you need to find out what makes you happy.” It was a pretty emotional scene.  He says “that is what I am trying to do”.  Wonderful, wonderful movie.

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance

      Ok ....... I have to ask ........ What were they thinking?!? What did they do to Ghost Rider?!?  I liked the first Ghost Rider which came out in 2007.  That one was Directed by Mark Steven Johnson ( Dardevil, Jack Frost, Grumpy Old Men, Elektra) He did a good job.  It had it's dark, evil moments. I mean, it is a story about a boy who sells his soul to the Devil, but it was still pretty family friendly and people liked it.  The Ghost Rider looked pretty cool too. Nicolas Cage, (Face/Off, National Treasure, Lord of War, City of Angels) was .... well .... Nicolas Cage.  I like him, he may be the same in every role but I usually enjoy his movies. 


     So, they decide to do a sequel. Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2011) For some reason that I do not understand they go with Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor (Crank, Crank: High Voltage, Gamer, Jonah Hex) to direct.  Really? I am sure the Crank movies have their fans. I am just not sure they are the same fans that enjoy the comic book movies.  I could be mistaken. They have a very interesting style of directing.  I have never seen any of their other movies so this was a first.  It wasn't bad.  They have a cool style and it was very different.  Just not what I expect from Ghost Rider. 


      The directing wasn't the only thing I stuggled with during this movie.  I really think Nicolas Cage lost his mind.  I am not sure what he was doing with the character but he has gone a little crazy since we last saw Johnny Blaze. They also changed Ghost Rider himself. He was very oily, that may be the best way to say it. Spirit of Vengence was also much darker and had more of an evil feeling to it than the first.  Think of The Omen (1976). Just not the direction I expected the story to take.  Now, I do have to say I have never read the comics, maybe this is very true to the way the comic book went.  I don't know.  I just didn't care for it. I think I will stick to the original.

Snow White and the Huntsman

     Let me tell you, for a kid who grew up watching Willow (1988), Labyrinth (1986) and Legend (1985) this movie could not have been any better. Snow White and the Huntsman (2012) fits right in with these classics from my childhood. I really enjoyed it. I have been anticipating this movie for over a year. I mean, the moment I heard mention of it I was excited. Then as casting began, more excitement and finally filming began and then wrapped. Like I said, following and waiting for a long time. When I finally got to sit in a theater and see the title on the big screen I wanted to applaud! I was so excited! Then that tiny moment of dread, what if ………?  What if it’s not as good as I have been hoping?  What if it totally flops?  What if I'm disappointed?  I have tried really hard to avoid any reviews so my view wouldn’t be tainted. It didn’t work to well for this one.  I was to slow getting to the theater and was bombarded with a lot of negative reviews. I was not sure at all what to expect.
     
      No need to worry. I was not disappointed at all!  I really liked this movie a lot.  The dialog was wonderful.  The story was great and I liked the old fashion feel of it as a whole.  In an odd way there was a Shakespearean quality to it. Which I liked. When Snow White gives her "let's go to war" speach .... very good. The movie as a whole flowed really well, from the costumes, to the music, to the overall look and feel. Charlize Theron (Hancock, Trial and Error, The Astronaut’s Wife, Trapped) is simply amazing as the evil queen Ravenna.  I haven’t seen her in Monster (2003) but have heard so much about it that I couldn’t help but think of that title as I watched her performance as this particular monster. She was pretty nasty and that makeup job was incredible.  The entire cast was wonderful.  I really liked Chris Hemsworth (Star Trek, Thor, The Cabin in the Woods) as the Huntsman, he was great!

      James Newton Howard (Pretty Woman, Waterworld, Signs, Vertical Limit) wrote the score. He is one of my favorite composers. The music tied it all together so well, it was beautiful. We can’t forget about the cinematography.  It is just gorgeous. It was filmed on location in the U.K. The entire movie is gorgeous. I have to mention the costumes as well.  Colleen Atwood (Big Fish, The Silence of the Lambs, The Tourist, Memoirs of a Geisha) was the costume designer. The costumes are incredible! Her attention to detail is amazing! All in all I just loved this movie! Every little piece of it. Now comes
the long wait until I can buy it to add to my collection.

Footloose

      Alright, I finally gave in, I watched Footloose (2011).  I am still very undecided about how I feel about it though.  (Just for reference you might want to go back and read my post about the original Footloose) I wasn't to sure what to think when I first saw the previews for this remake of what I consider a classic.  I saw bits and pieces and heard some of it when my sister was watching it but I hadn't taken the time to sit down and watch it yet.  My first thoughts/impressions where, "why not just call it Step Up 10, or whatever we are up to with those now?" It seemed loud and annoying, to jumpy and flashy. 
  
        Well, I finally sat down and watched it and gave it a fair shot.  I was pleasantly surprised.  I am not going to say I loved it but it wasn't bad.  The actors did great. Kenny Wormald (Center Stage: Turn It Up, Clerks II, You Got Served) had the daunting task of filling Kevin Bacon's (Flatliners, JFK, A Few Good Men, Murder in the First) shoes. Yes, I say daunting.  I really felt for him.  I think that would be a little stressful.  Especially with the way they handled this remake. I have seen my fair share of remakes and I really don't have anything against them it is kind of fun and can be interesting to see how they "update" things.

       So much of Footloose remained the same as the original, 1984, which just made me laugh at times.  The yellow bug is the same, which I saw in the previews, but it is so much more than that.  Some of the dialog is the same, word for word.  Some of the wardrobe is the same. You don't see as much of Ariel's red boots as you did in the original but they still make an appearance.  A lot of Ren's wardrobe is the same. At the end when he's picking Ariel up, I saw her dress and just laughed, it is so similar. But then when Ren gets out of the car and heads up to the door I really laughed.  I think he is wearing "the" suit from the first one.  It is the exact same suit! There was so much that was the same and then all of a sudden different that sometimes my brain couldn't keep up.  I am quoting along with them as they are saying the lines and then they say the wrong thing or do the wrong thing.  That was funny too.  Some of the scenes were even shot the same way as the original.  The actors would have the same stance or be framed in the same way.  I found that comical.

      I do have to ask though, what has happened to emotion and character development?  I feel like the first one let you get to know characters more and dealt more with emotion and family dynamics.  Is that something we are foregoing for more action and to speed up the movie? I have felt that way about a few movies lately. I miss the emotion. I really shouldn't complain though.  This new revised Footloose was good.  They really paid homage to the original and showed respect for it.  They used a lot of the same music but updated that as well.  And didn't always put the music in the same scenes.  The warehouse scene? Hmmm? I do have to say there is only one Kevin Bacon and as good as Kenny Wormald did in the role Kevin's warehouse scene is still the best.

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

      We have all heard of trilogies and that word is used quite a bit.  I recently learned a new word. The quadrilogy! I was searching the Internet trying to find a box set of all the Mission: Impossible movies.  While googling I came across a X-Men Quadrilogy box set.  (Just an FYI there is also a Pirates of the Caribbean Quadrilogy box set) How cool is that?! What a fun new word! By the way, I never did find a Mission: Impossible Quadrilogy box set.  There is a trilogy set but that is all. I guess I will wait and see if they come out with one. 

      In case you haven't guessed already I just watched Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011).  What a good movie! I really like all of the Mission: Impossible movies. They are very fun espionage movies.  M:i-2 was always my favorite.  (It is also the only one I currently own.)  Ghost Protocol would really have to be right up there with 2 though.  And, if I buy Ghost Protocol I might as well complete the set.

      The CGI in this movie was amazing! I loved every minute of it.  My oldest daughter watched it with me.  She commented on how high-tech the Mission: Impossible movies always are.  They really are, and that is just one of the things I like about them.  Well, not to long after she said that we saw the coolest technology scene ever in a movie.  I can't even describe it.  They are in a long hallway with a guard at one end and they need to break into a room in that hall.  The way they get down the hall without being seen is awesome! Some of the film takes place in Dubai. It was just incredible!  Tom Cruise (Eyes Wide Shut, Vanilla Sky, Cocktail, Rain Man) is wonderful as Ethan Hunt.  I really like him in this role. Another thing I like about these movies is the story line, or should I say the fact that they actually have one.  I like that you get to know the characters a little bit deeper than just as spies. I like that they actually have lives and personality.

      One of the best surprises in Ghost Protocol was Jeremy Renner (Thor, The Town, The Hurt Locker, The Avengers) I was like "Hey! It's Hawkeye!" He did a great job and I really liked his character and the story arch between him and Ethan.  This is just one of my favorite genres, the espionage movies. This is a wonderful movie, with great CGI, wonderful action and just the right amount of intensity to keep me on the edge of my seat. There is even a bit of humor. It is just a really good movie.  To quote David Edelstein, “Pixar animator Brad Birds first non animated movie. The heroes quaver on ledges or above whirling blades like they know they are in the hands of someone used to indestructible cartoon characters.”

The Avengers

      How much did I love this movie?! Joss Whedon (Buffy, Angel, Dollhouse, Firefly) is amazing! I am not much of an Iron Man fan, but he was so funny in The Avengers (2012).  He had some great one liners! The humor in The Avengers is wonderful! At one point, I was thinking to myself, "I have never enjoyed Robert Downey Jr. (Sherlock Holmes, The Soloist, Wonder Boys) so much, he is so funny". That is when it hit me! It's Joss Whedon humor! He had to have written the screenplay! Sure enough, the end credits rolled and, story Zak Penn (X2, Elektra, Last Action Hero) and Joss Whedon, screenplay Joss Whedon. I knew it! His style is wonderful! I knew he directed The Avengers but somehow I missed that he wrote the screenplay as well. 


       There have been some doubts about cramming this many big names into one movie.  How can each superhero possibly be highlighted properly and each star get there time to shine? Well somehow Joss pulls it off! The combination really worked and it was wonderful. Thor and Iron Man are great.  They have this wonderful fight scene. Scarlett Johansson (The Island, The Prestige, Lost in Translation, The Perfect Score) was wonderful as Black Widow. I really liked her and her character. Jeremy Renner (The Town, The Hurt Locker, Thor) as Hawkeye was superb. His bow was so cool. He had a very small part in Thor (2011) but it was one of my favorite parts. "Do you want me to take him down or would you rather send in more guys for him to beat up?"

      The Incredible Hulk was so cool in this one.  I have seen the previous Hulk movies. I watched Hulk (2003). It was .... OK? I guess? I really liked The Incredible Hulk (2008) with Edward Norton (Fight Club, The Illusionist, The Score). That was just a great movie and Edward Norton is simply amazing so.... well you know. Mark Ruffalo (Rumor Has It...., Just Like Heaven, Shutter Island) plays Bruce Banner in The Avengers. I don't want to down play his performance at all. He does a great job. However, that being said this movie has the best Hulk ever! He has such character and the best facial expressions.  The Hulk has some of the best scenes in the movie.  He is actually very funny and has great comedic timing.  If I had to pick my favorite Hulk scene it would be a tie. It is hilarious when he punches Thor for absolutely no reason at all and his "fight" with Loki. Hulk is just cool.

       I really can't say enough about how much fun this movie is.  It is a great action flick with very cool fight scenes. The end battle was amazing! It is also full of Whedonisms, his style and sense of humor come through so clearly.  It is just brilliant.  By the way did I mention how much I enjoyed the director and his style? Beautifully shot.

The Matrix

      Can writers be one-hit wonders the way musicians can be?  If so the Wachowski brothers (V for Vendetta, Speed Racer, Bound) would be one-hit wonders.  I don't mean that in a negative way or anything.  After all I still haven't seen V for Vendetta (2005).  Maybe that one is pretty awesome as well.  I do know that The Matrix (1999) is quite possibly one of the coolest movies I have ever seen. Whether you like the movie or not you have to admit the impact it has had on movies and on pop culture.  Can it be called, revolutionary? I even make reference to The Matrix in my post about In Time (2011)

      I will never forget going to see The Matrix is the theaters for the very first time.  Five minutes into it you knew you were watching something new.  When you see Trinity, portrayed by Carrie-Anne Moss (Memento, Chocolat, Distrubia) hovering, right before she kicks the guy.........WOW! I was blown away.  How many times have we seen that scene repeated or mimicked in other media now? And, we can't forget Keanu Reeves (The Lake House, A Walk in the Clouds, Much Ado About Nothing, Constantine) famous dodging bullets scene.  That was just beautiful and has also been redone over and over.  And we can't forget when Neo learns what Morpheus meant by, "when you are ready, you won't need to." Morpheus is just an amazing character portrayed by Laurence Fishburne (Contagion, 21, Akeelah and the Bee, Mystic River), who himself is pretty amazing.  Because of Morpheus we will forever be asking, would you have taken the red pill or the blue pill? After all if "you take the red pill - you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes".

       The Wachowski brothers truly created a wonderful thing with The Matrix. The story line is so good.  I have seen the entire trilogy.  I have this thing about trilogies though.  The middle one is always my least favorite.  It just is.  The last one was pretty good, but all I need is the original.  I am perfectly happy just watching that one and don't really worry about the other two.  They are good and they do continue the story it's just that I like the first one the best.  After all it is the one that taught me this very important life lesson. "Do not try and bend the spoon. That's impossible. Instead....only try to realize the truth. There is no spoon."