Unknown

      Unknown (2011) is a good action movie.  It reminded me of Taken in a lot of ways.  Liam Neeson (Schindler’s List, Batman Begins, Taken) stars as Dr. Martin Harris. The movie jumps right into action and grabs you in the first few minutes.  There is a lot of Liam being chased and Liam doing the chasing.  It also reminded me of another popular action movie but I can’t say what.  That would spoil the twist at the end.  You will just have to watch it to find out about that little twist.      
     If you are looking for some good chase scenes and action from beginning to end, you may like Unknown. The story line was all right and the acting and directing was enjoyable.  Not one of my favorites but entertaining. Definitly worth checking out though.

Beastly

      You know that saying “the third times a charm”? Well I find that to be true of movies sometimes.  There are some that can actually catch me a little off guard the first time.  Just a little different than I expected and, not sure what to expect other times. I have watched Beastly (2011) three times in the last forty-eight hours.  I liked it more each time.  I had to watch it three times because that is what it took for my brain to process it all.
       Beastly isn’t a new and different story.  It is Beauty and the Beast set in modern day New York.  My girls and I had a lot of fun comparing it to Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.  At one point Kyle/Hunter needs a “thinking thing”, something he can do for her.  We said he should give her a library.  He doesn’t, but he does give her the equivalent. It is kind of interesting how they were able to tell the story in modern day New York but keep to the traditional Beauty and the Beast storyline.  Kind of fun actually.
      Alex Pettyfer (I am number four, Tormented) plays Kyle, the would be prince.  Watching his character change through out the movie is one of the neat things about the Beauty and the Beast story.  Alex does a great job and by the end I really liked him as the Beastly character, scars, tattoos and all.  (I am assuming if you are reading this you have seen the trailer or at least posters or DVD covers and you know how Kyle looks) Vanessa Hudgens (High School musical, Bandslam, Sucker Punch) plays Lindy, Kyle’s love interest.  There was a bit of a surprise for us, we didn’t know that Neil Patrick Harris (How I met your mother, Doogie Howser M.D.) was in it.  He was wonderful as usual.  We all really like him. Mary-Kate Olsen (Full house, New York Minute) plays the goth witch who casts the spell on Kyle.  She was very believable and I am not taking a jab and I don’t mean anything bad by that.  It was a good role for her, she owned it.
     The music for Beastly was really good as well. The soundtrack goes along with the movie so well. I really like it when the music complements the story and this one does just that. Right from the very first song, Vanity by Lady Gaga. Every song just fits so well.  The score is also amazing.  The second time watching Beastly I paid a lot more attention to the music. There was a very familiar sound to the score. Turns out Marcelo Zarvos  (Remember Me, The Door in the Floor) wrote the score. He also wrote the score for Remember Me which I absolutely love.  He is  a Brazilian Pianist and composer and his music is beautiful.  

(By the way, I have read I Am Number Four.  Pretty good read.  It successfully filled in those gaps that the movie left.  It is very different than the movie but I think they did all right transfering it to the big screen. They kind of can go together which is about all you can hope for when a book is made into a movie.  It will never be the same, but it should add to the book and not take away from the reading experience)

The Hurt Locker

 
      My family and I visited Washington D.C. this past week.  We saw a lot of monuments and even went to Arlington National Cemetery.  I got a little teary talking about going to Arlington but then when we went to the Vietnam Memorial I got very teary.  I had a bit of a hard time getting my emotions under control.  My girls where concerned and began asking questions.  A lot of memories came flooding back to me as I tried to cipher through the emotions. The girls wanted to know why I was so emotional about the Vietnam memorial.  I have always dreamed of seeing it one day and have seen so many beautiful photos of it that always make me teary.  To be there was an amazing feeling that is hard to describe.  I couldn’t hardly take it all in.  I just walked along the wall trying to  ……. 
     I watched The Hurt Locker (2008) all alone. It is a very intense movie and I was engrossed the entire time.  Kathryn Bigelow (K-19: The Widowmaker, Point Break) directed The Hurt Locker. She shot it in a very real way.  You felt like you were right there in the action with these men. Walking the streets of Iraq and into the buildings. IMDB (The Internet Movie Database) gives the best synopsis “Iraq. Forced to play a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse in the chaos of war, an elite Army bomb squad unit must come together in a city where everyone is a potential enemy and every object could be a deadly bomb.” I really can’t say it better than that.  One scene I will never forget is a soldier trying to disarm a car that has been turned into an IED (Improvised explosive device) while Iraqis are all around watching him from a distance.  I can’t even explain what it was like to watch.  Because the movie was about an Army squad who did this there were a lot of these kinds of scenes.  Very intense and unimaginable. 
     After the movie I had a conversation with my father who served in the Air Force.  He didn’t go to Vietnam but was in the Air Force at the time of it. The Hurt Locker really stirred up a lot of thoughts about the differences and similarities of the Vietnam war and Iraq war.  I can’t explain why, but I want to understand what these men go through. They sacrifice so much for us.  I was asking my dad all of these questions.  The Hurt Locker is rated R, which should really be no surprise.  I really don’t enjoy hearing cursing in movies but I feel like in a military or war movie it is real and how they talk.  I asked my dad about this and he said it is pretty mild compared to the real thing.  There is another scene where the men get into a violent altercation in their room.  I don’t know how these soldiers ever sleep. There is no down time.  They are on high alert all of the time.  So, when they explode and take it out on each other ……. well it is a very interesting scene.  So, I asked my dad about that.  He said that is pretty accurate as well. I want to know what is real and what is just Hollywood when it comes to those kind of things.  I then began to ask about similarities between Vietnam and Iraq.  I know they had a hard time knowing who exactly the enemy was in Vietnam, I believe so anyway.  There was also a lot of Guerrilla warfare.  I would think Iraq would be similar to that.  My dad’s response was, “no, it is nothing like Vietnam.” He then became too emotional and our conversation ended there.  He doesn’t really cry or get emotional and I try to be sensitive about those kinds of topics so I apologized and felt really bad. 
     While at the Vietnam memorial with my husband and daughters I told my girls this story, about watching the movie and about my dad getting emotional.  They asked if he had friends who died in Vietnam.  I told them I didn’t know and probably never would. I was reminded of an essay I wrote for English in 1989.  It was about the memorial and the soldiers who served in Vietnam.  Even at that young age I wanted to understand. There was a poem I had read about the hurt in the soldiers eyes; it really had an impact on me.  I am not a writer and have never felt like that was one of my strong suits.  I have come to realize that that is one of the reasons I was so hesitant to start this blog.  I can talk, and I can talk all day about movies but doing this ….. it has become more about writing than I expected and therefore I am learning and growing from the experience.
      War stories and our American Soldiers have always had a very special place in my heart. I have seen a lot of war movies covering many different wars.  I cry at any thing involving our military and the sacrifices they make for us.  I will probably never understand where those emotions come from and why it is so meaningful to me.  Just like I may never know why my dad cried when talking about this movie and any time we talk about his service. 
      The Hurt Locker was a wonderful movie, not in a feel good make you happy kind of way, but still amazing.  It is not surprising that it won the Oscar for best picture, in the end winning 6 Oscars total. 

Footloose

    So, I just found out that they are remaking this movie.  Now don’t get me wrong.  I have heard all of the rumors and followed the stories.  Somehow I just figured it wouldn’t ever happen.  Well, it is going to happen and yes I will watch it.  But before I see the remake and tarnish my image of the old one I wanted to write about the original.      Confession, I am a child of the 80’s and I love 80’s movies. I am a huge Kevin Bacon (Sleepers, Apollo 13, Mystic River) fan as well.  As a matter of fact I have all of the Bacon Brothers CD’s.  Having said that, I love Footloose (1984) I own the DVD and have the whole movie memorized.  My favorite scene is of course when Ren is dancing alone in the warehouse.  There are also some really good quotable lines in this movie.  John Lithgow (3rd Rock from the Sun, Cliffhanger, Harry and the Hendersons) is amazing as Reverend Shaw and Dianne Wiest (I am Sam, Edward Scissorhands, The Lost Boys) plays his wife.  The way they grow as a couple, and as individuals, is so well done. And I can’t forget about Sarah Jessica Parker (The family Stone, Sex and the City, Ed Wood) She plays Rusty and this was her first movie and one of her first roles. She is Rusty! Footloose was directed by Herbert Ross (Steel Magnolias, Secret of my Success, Undercover Blues) I am a fan of his as well.  I like his movies and his directing style.  Footloose was probably one of the first movies that I started noticing camera angles, wide shots, close ups, all of those kind of things.
       Being a child of the 80’s of course means I enjoy those coming of age teenage dramas. I like seeing the new kid trying to fit in, his struggle with a town that is so scared of losing their kids that they go overboard to protect them.  It is a tough thing as parents to know where to draw the line.  They are just trying to do the right thing.  As Ren says, “there was once a time for this law, but not anymore.” Sometimes it takes an outsider to see the big picture and maybe it is time for a change.  Footloose is a movie that makes me think.  Does music have an influence on how we behave?  Of course it does.  How can it not? Can dancing be inappropriate?  I have heard many stories of high schools today not having prom because of inappropriate or suggestive dancing.  Does that mean they shouldn’t be allowed to dance at all? 
       My first thought was they can not remake a classic like Footloose. No one can ever replace Ren.  But, I guess it does still transfer to todays teens and I know how my kids feel about 80’s movies.  They usually roll their eyes when I put one in.  It would be nice for a new generation to see the story and it will be interesting to see what they do with it.  In my opinion it doesn’t really need updated.  It can apply to any generation.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

     
     This movie has forever changed my view of mermaids.  Well, now that I think about it, they were pretty different in the Peter and the Starcatchers books as well as in the Harry Potter books and movies.  Not that that is a bad thing. Just different.  I really liked the mermaids in Pirates, even though they were very scary.  They were very cool.
      The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise has been a very fun one.  As it usually goes I liked the first one best.  It is just awesome.  I know there is a lot of controversy about whether or not the other two were good.  I enjoyed them all.  They are just fun, I loved Will and Elizabeth and that whole story line.  I do enjoy most of Orlando Blooms performances.  He is fun to watch.  I am not a huge Keira Knightley fan but liked her in the first two Pirate movies and she was fine in the third, didn’t really bother me. 
      This newest installment of Pirates is all about Jack Sparrow.  In case you didn’t know Jack Sparrow is played by, and was created by Johnny Depp (Secret Window, Benny and Joon, Sweeny Todd)  Huge fan of Johnny Depp right here. Lets be honest he has been the best thing about the whole Pirates franchise. Watching him play Jack Sparrow you can’t help but smile, and maybe chuckle a bit.  This may have been his best Jack.  I am a little biased so it’s hard to say, but he was great.  Penelope Cruz (Blow, Vanilla Sky, Nine) played opposite Johnny Depp. They had great chemistry but this is acctually the second time they have worked together.  She played Johnny Depp’s wife in the movie Blow (2001). So, of course she did great as the love interest. What can I say you kind of know what you are going to get with Cruz and she delivers. Feisty and gorgeous. Geoffrey Rush (Shine, the King’s Speech) returns as Barbossa and Ian McShane (Kung Fu Panda, Love Joy) joins the cast as Blackbeard, that was a fun twist.
      All in all this was a fun movie with some very cool mermaids and Jack Sparrow antics. (However, I am a little bias when it comes to Johnny Depp.) 

I Am Number Four

     Sometimes when watching one movie it will lead me to various other thoughts. So I am not as interested in that movie as I am the other things that movie has made me think of.  What can I say, I am easily distracted.  This is what happened while watching I Am Number Four (2011) It is a very entertaining movie and I enjoyed it but I had this feeling I was missing something.  So, I watched it a second time in an attempt to fill in the gaps in my mind.  That didn't work.  So, now I am going to buy the book and read it.
     The book is generally better then the movie and sometimes they can even complement each other.  I really like that when they go hand in hand and you can enjoy both. Goal this week - buy the book I Am Number Four. 
      Now back to the movie.  Alex Pettyfer (Tormented, Beastly) plays John Smith or number four.  He did a really good job.  I enjoyed watching him; he is very interesting on screen.  Note to self - keep an eye on Alex Pettyfer.  It will be interesting to see where he goes.  That was my other wandering thought.  Watching I Am Number Four made me want to watch Beastly (2011).  I found myself wondering about his performance in that role.  The previews looked good and it was one I had already wanted to see but now even more so. 
      Enough side tracking.  I Am Number Four, good movie, entertaining, cool CGI stuff and a good storyline.  It was a little different and that was kind of nice for a change.  I kind of felt like the end just fell back into the same old stuff but still liked it. 

Shall We Dance

   While visiting with a friend a few weeks ago she expressed concern over her nieces.  They had said that Moulin Rouge (2001) is a beautiful love story.  My friend was very upset by this comment.  "That is not a love story!" she said.  "It's not real, and teenage girls shouldn't view it that way." She has never even seen the movie and some of her other comments and concerns didn't really apply but that is neither here nor there. I can however see her point and I understand where she is coming from, I even agree in a way. Having said that I do have to admit that I LOVE Moulin Rouge. (Another blog maybe?) Not only that but my girls, ages 17 and 15, also love the movie.  We watch it a lot. 
    Moulin Rouge may not be a "love story" and it may not be "real" but, Shall We Dance (2004) is. My girls and I watched Shall We Dance the other day.  It is such a beautiful story I thoroughly enjoy it every time.  John Clark, played by Richard Gere (Pretty Woman, Chicago, Primal Fear) is a very happily married man. He has a loving wife played by Susan Sarandon (Thelma and Louise, Lovely Bones, Dead Man Walking) and a loving teenage daughter played by Tamara Hope (The Deep End, Saint Ralph).  He feels that something is still missing. The family is kind of in a bit of a rut. They just go through the routine of the day.
      This leads to John taking ballroom lessons. In the beginning he takes lessons just to get to know Paulina. Paulina is played by Jennifer Lopez (Angel eyes, Maid in Manhattan, Monster-in-law, An Unfinished Life) He tells her, she looked on the outside the way he felt on the inside. What a statement.  His daughter begins to notice how happy he is, then she and her mom begin to wonder at the change.  John finds out that he loves dancing and it makes him happy. I don't want to spoil it for you if you haven't seen it yet but it is very good!
      About ten minutes into the movie my 17 year old daughter asked "Is he going to fall in love with his wife?" I will tell you that he does. He never really fell out of love with her but they do find a new passion. Shall We Dance is a beautiful, "real" story about marriage. It takes honesty, communication, room to grow and change to make a marriage work. 
      My husband and I were married at a young age. Some of the best advice my mom gave me was to give each other the time and space to grow.  I believe that applies to every marriage no matter your age or how long you have been together. 
      One of my favorite scenes is when John and his wife Beverly finally talk about what has been going on.  He tells her "The one thing I am proudest of in my whole life, is that you're happy with me. If I couldn't ..... if I couldn't tell you that I was unhappy sometimes, it's because I didn't want to risk hurting the one person I treasure most. I'm so sorry."  By this point I am crying and my girls are laughing at me.  This movie makes me cry no matter how many times I watch it.  It didn't help that my husband walked in at that point and agreed with Richard Gere, "it's true, that is all I want is to make you happy."
       Some movies have a way of becoming very personal to me. They just get under my skin and burrow their way into my being. Those are the ones I love the most!