Sunday, July 22, 2012

Several Movies I've Seen Lately

I'm finally able to go to the theatre to watch movies again.  I was not able to sit comfortably long enough before.  During the time I was unable, I did catch a few movies on the PayPerView, but not many. 
Last night, I went with a friend to see the movie The Exotic Marigold Hotel.  I had several friends advise me to see it and they were right. I left the theatre with a warm heart and a filled up feeling. The most wonderful British Actors, Maggie Smith, Judi Dench and Bill Nighy plus others did their usual great job with Dev from Slumdog Millionaire being his great self.  (I'm so happy to see him in the HBO series Newsroom). The storyline is a group of seniors go to live in a Hotel in India where it is nothing like it is advertised. The way in which each one copes and adjusts to the life in India makes the story warm and heart touching.  Definitely a 4 1/2 out of 5.
We also went to see Moonrise Kingdom, with Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray. It was definitely a different, weird movie. All the actors were acting in strange, different roles. Its about two 'strange' 12 yr olds who run away and have a series of adventures while being tracked by the adults and the troop of scouts. I would not recommend it, but I was wondering why I was laughing at times.
2 out of 5.
I did finally get to see Hunger Games. It was worth the wait.  I thought it might be too gory for me, based on the trailers and I was a bit upset when I saw quite young people in the theatre, but I did not need to have been concerned. They edited the violence very well, and the story of young love and survival more than made up for it.  Jennifer Lawrence played the young strong female lead well, Liam Hemsworth is always worth seeing on the screen.  I'm not sure if Josh Hutcherson was the best pick for the male survivalist in the 'game', but I thought he did well.  Well worth seeing (my friend who came with me was seeing it for the 3rd time).  I found it held my attention the whole time.
4 1/2 out of 5
I also managed to go and see The Amazing Spider Man. I did not enjoy this so much. I found it a bit too much in the 'horror' genre for me.  I don't like seeing men change into something else, especially not a reptile, whose tail can grow back when he loses it.  I found myself putting my hands up to my eyes and shutting them so I would not see the screen.  Not good. Perhaps I'm more sensitive after months of recuperating, but that part of the movie I did not enjoy. I thought the acting of Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone and especially Rhys Ifans (who I did not recognize at all until the credits) was good. A different kind of Spider Man than the Toby McQuire ones.
3 out of 5
One of the first movies I ventured out to see if I could sit through it was Brave. Oh how I enjoyed that movie. I also liked hearing little kids laugh during it too. So often they say these movies are for kids, when in fact they are not. Some kids could have been frightened by the bear within the movie. But this movie is delightful for adults of all ages.  If you can go see it. Its so well done.
4 1/2 out of 5
Two movies I saw via the TV pay per view were Safe House and Sherlock Homes: A Game of Shadows.
Safe House was a tremendous non stop action was good. Ryan Reynolds and Denzel Washington in their action movie best.  3 1/2 out of 5  (I must admit I slept through some of this - I was still in the needing to nap a lot) but did not feel I missed anything - only more action.  If I had seen every scene maybe the score would be higher. Definitely a great action movie.
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.  I thought this was better than the first one (which is unusual as follow up movies are usually not as good as the first). I found the pace better and I laughed many times at Robert Downey Jr's antics. It was lighter and Jude Law as the wonderful Watson on trying to get married was great. I also found the female lead was much more suitable than the first. I'm looking forward to the next one.
4 out of 5.
As I missed many movies I wanted to see, I will endeavor to catch up through the PayPerView section.
In the meantime.  Enjoy the movies
Norma.