Saturday, June 18, 2011

The Green Lantern

Last night a friend and I drove the 1/2 hour north to see The Green Lantern in 3D.  We both came away totally enjoying it. What an evening of entertainment. This movie suited 3D for sure. What with space shots, other planets and the other worldly sets. What I liked most of all was the premise about will vs fear. The story line of how one has to acknowledge your fear and rise above it (or through it) and allow your courage to take you 'there'. Plus the fact that with imagination fueled by will you can create anything. This is metaphysics 101.....could not have said or shown it better.  Now of course Ryan Reynolds as the Green Lantern made the watching easy. Not only is he easy on the eyes, his sense of timing makes his humor lines great and plus he can act. I found myself jumping in my seat, knocking my 3D glasses off a few times with the 'sound' bites coming out loud and unexpectedly, at least to me, but soon adjusted myself to that. People clapped (including me) at the end. This was worth the drive, the extra dollars for 3D and I was saying to my friend, I feel happy when I was driving back home. Want good entertainment then go see The Green Lantern. The whole cast was well casted, the stunts great and I did not care if it was computer generated, I thought it all came together wonderfully well. I did not grow up knowing the Green Lantern, but my friend did and she loved it too.
4 out of 5 for entertainment, emotion building and just plain fun.

Friday, June 17, 2011

Movie review - The Way Out!

During the last week I did not get to go see any movies at the local movie house, but instead have been watching some DVDs again and one movie I got through the movie on demand through my Shaw provider. As I was going through the different movies, some I had seen and some did not appeal until I looked at this movie I had not heard or read about The Way Out.
I saw at Ed Harris and Colin Farrell, both good actors were in it, so decided to watch it. Was I ever glad I did. Now this is how movies are supposed to be. The story line was during World War II, seven men escaped from a prison camp in Siberia - three of them finally walked into India - 4000 miles (or k's can't remember) later. The movie was the story of what happened.
Well directed, well acted, a great story, based on a book I believe was called "The Long Walk", but I only saw it for a split second buts that's how I remember it. In fact, after seeing the movie I would like to read the book.
These men walked through forests, around lakes, evading villages, across guarded railway lines, past the border from Russia into Mongolia, only to find that also was communist, desert, where they nearly died of thirst, and then finally the Himalaya's going into Tibet and then finally into India. I thought the screenplay was well written, the acting superb, except for the two names mentioned above I did not recognize any one, but great story. There was a girl who joins them and I believe it is the same girl who acted in Lovely Bones (not sure, but it looked like her and I can't remember her name) but she is also a great actress. This was a film about leadership, determination and loyalties (one of them played by Colin Farrell could not leave the USSR, so stayed even though knowing he would go back to a prison camp. People died where buried, but it could have been much higher. The American in the group (oh yes there was an American there - explained how come - and he did not go all the way into India, but separated from them in Tibet. I was on the edge of my seat the whole way through the two plus hours.
I was so intrigued about the movie I wanted to know where it had been filmed due to the differences of landscape. I plowed through the credits and found, UK, Bulgaria and Australia mentioned. This is a film well worth watching, another great movie that has not got the publicity I believe it deserved. I give this 4 out 5 easily. Hope you get to see it at some time.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

X-Men:First Class

Last night, friend Trish and I went to see X-Men: First Class. We came away both agreeing that it was the best of all and thoroughly enjoyed it. Somehow it filled in all the blanks that we ever wondered about X-Men. I loved it. I found the story line intricate enough to keep me guessing a bit as to what was going to happen (because we know Charles Xavier ends up in a wheel chair) and we know that Magneto and the Professor end up on different sides of the 'fight' so to speak. And its all answered.
I was surprised and somehow it made sense that Magneto was a product of the concentration camps and the 'testing' he was put through. I was also surprised to see Kevin Bacon in it. I had not known he would 'show up' in a major role, but there he was doing his admirable job as the Nazi looking for world power for the mutants. So here is Erik angry and bent from his experiences when he mets Charles and they become friends recruiting other mutants. James McAvoy who made a wonderful Charles Xavier, can read minds easily while Michael Fassbender who is Magneto can twist anything which is steel. Mystique was also explained and how and why she becomes Magneto's side kick. I thought January Jones was wonderful as the 'crystal lady' (only way I can think of her). So beautiful and yet so deadly.  If you want to see a great entertaining movie, and if you, like me, have seen the X-men then this is definitely one to catch. It will answer those unanswered questions as well as being the best of the bunch.  4 out of 5.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Kung Fu Panda 2

My friend Jeanne and I decided to go see Kung Fu Panda 2. Earlier in the week Jeanne came over and we watched Kung Fu Panda (the original) because she had not seen it and we thought it would be best to catch the first one before seeing the second. I think it was a very good idea because then I was updated from number one and she knew the basics.
As we left the movie we both agreed this movie is not for small children. We had around a three/four year old in front of us who in some of the scenes was quite frightened with the 'gun' going off and the destruction never mind the mean looking wolves. But as adults we both enjoyed it.
I am a Jack Black fan anyway, and when I see the Panda and watch his moves I can see Jack Black doing his thing (as on the American Idol final). I am also a fan of Angelina Jolie, so Tigress is important to me, and of course Seth Rogan's laugh always gives him away - no body laughs like he does. Jackie Chan as monkey with Lucy Lui as Snake rounds out the 'fightening' crew. Even though Dustin Hoffman as the sage teacher comes and saves the day in the end. The animators and how they represent the characters in line with their voices is fun to watch.
Now the movie, I thought was not as charming as number one, but traditionally number two movies never are. This is darker and more severe in the sets and plot. I did not laugh as often or as hard as with number one, but on the other hand its enjoyable and worth the time to go. I would have liked to see it in 3D, but we don't have that in our local theatre. (Its supposed to come when the new one gets built - supposedly 2012). To see 3D I have to go north 45minutes and sometimes that is not convenient, . 
So if you like animation, kids stories with a moral, then you will enjoy this. A solid 3 out of 5.