Yesterday morning, I got out of bed at the normal time (ok, let’s not pretend that 5:55 is normal, but it’s the current standard), put on my workout clothes, sat down on the couch to put on my shoes… and woke up at 7:15. The best part is, I was sleeping so hard that the cat was curled up on my lap taking a snooze. One big happy! Anyway, I don’t have to tell you that starting off like that doesn’t make the best day. It took a good forty minutes at work for that Just Awoke from a Six Year Coma feeling to wear off. I just sat at my desk feeling spacey and disoriented, sipping coffee and typing and retyping the same words over and over because seriously, is it really i before e except after c? because that just looks wrong. Then things proceeded to get awesomer and awesomer with a dead battery and the flaky maintenance man not showing up again and computer viruses and such, that we were forced (forced!) to medicate with margaritas, mexican food and Johnny Depp. Which brings me to:
Movies I Have Seen Lately That You Should A) See or B) Paper Cut Your Eyes out First:
Away We Go. See it. Gosh, what a charming, warm, honestly delightful movie. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so good about spending ten bucks since I lived in the vicinity of an H&M.
Inkheart. Skip it. I know it’s on On Demand and that makes it very convenient. Likewise, the cast seems promising (Paul Bettany, Helen Mirren), but even as a kids movie, it’s insultingly witless.
The Proposal. See it. One, Ryan Reynolds is really funny. He always has been (come, sit. We’ll watch Van Wilder together). Also, he is hot and he takes his shirt and everything else off. And then there’s Betty White who almost made me pee.
Passengers. No. Just no. See that part about the convenience of On Demand, mix it with any good feelings you may have for Anne Hathaway (look, I own The Princess Diaries on VHS and I watched Get Smart twice) and your love of bad sci fi (I know. I can’t help it either) and even that will not be enough to save you the pang of regret from hours wasted on total crap.
Transformers. Wait for the DVD. Holy cow, for how much shit that blows up in the movie, it’s so freaking BORING. I expected silly. I expected gratuitous blow uppage. I expected Megan Fox’s permanent porn mouth. But boring? That really threw me. The Boy was less bored, but that’s because he poured about four shots of bourbon into his Diet Coke.
Public Enemies. See it. Excellent acting (even Christian Bale’s muppet-like growling affectation is totally absent), lots of intensity and it requires no bourbon at all to appreciate. The only disappointment was that despite knowing the outcome of the actual historical events, I was still kinda hoping the bad guys would win. That says so much about me.
Too bad about Inkheart. I guess I shouldn’t get my hopes up with really good children’s books turning into movies after how awful The Golden Compass was.
I am right there with you with Public Enemies. And this Johnny Depp was 21 Jump Street hot. Only complaint – not enough Johnny Depp, too much Christian Bale.
I loved Transformers.
May Optimus Prime have mercy on your soul.
Whatevs. Optimus shoulda stayed down for the count.
One that you HAVE to go see is “500 days of Summer”…I went to the advanced screening. You’ll love it. It’s been over a week and it STILL lingers with me.
I think yesterday was just one of *those* days. I had to be at work for a 7am meeting, oh joy!
And if I may add, definitely worth seeing My Sister’s Keeper, especially if you need a good cry – definitely need to bring tissues. There were some really fun, warm & fuzzy parts to it as well.
I notoriously avoid movies that get anywhere near the “chick flick” genre, but husband-to-be has been begging to see Away We Go, so we went last night. Awww… maybe it’s the fact that I’m pregnant, but it was terribly cute.
Transformers – Oh, c’mon! We have to love it. All the scenes where they were in China were actually filmed in our hometown, at the old Bethlehem Steel mills.
Thanks so much for this. Considering your past movie talks I feel confident in your judgement. I am excited about Away We Go!
Fish- I usually take your advice or at least weigh it heavily before jumping into something like a movie however I have to disagree with you on two of these. First off as a child that grew up watching Transformers, GI Joes, and wishing I could be She-ra I have to say go see Transformers! Second was Public Enemy! I am the first to admit that Johnny Depp makes me drool at the mention of his name and Christian Bale is pretty easy on the eyes as well but this movie seems to come right from the history channels version I mean scene for scene the only difference is that the History Channels version is so much better. I left with the worst headache from the actual filming. The cameras were horrible. The movie seemed to be shot by someone carrying the camera making the whole thing a bit too shaky for me. Save yourself the money and catch this on A&E or History they show it about once a month.
I actually really liked that it was filmed that way. It made the movie much more gritty.
Can I come and watch Van Wilder with you? I’m moving to Abilene next month and don’t know anyone within 6 hours and need a friend =)
Absolutely. Though, I think Abilene might not be any closer!
Couldn’t agree more about Away We Go. So charming & funny & well acted. I loved seeing Maya Rudolph do something different.
Also couldn’t agree more about Ryan Reynolds. Funny & hot. Such a good combination.
Have you seen Bruno since this post? If so, review?
No, I haven’t. You know, I didn’t see Borat because he makes me so uncomfortable. I imagine it will be the same with Bruno. If I DO see it, it will be on DVD sometime down the road when I’ve had too much to drink or too much sun or something else that addles my brain.
Away We Go was amazing! I cried and cried and cried (good tears) – I don’t really cry at movies.
I wanted to hunt Michael Bay down and 1- get my eight dollars back and 2- bludgeon him with a rusty pipe for that movie. i actually loved and own the first transformers movie but i went to sleep in this one.
we did our burbon drinking before hand tho…
TOTALLY agree with you on Transformers 2 and Passengers. And I loved Transformers 1.
T2 was wayyyyy too long and rambling. Loved the action scenes but come on. They ruined it by not keeping it simple.
And Passengers. I’m convinced the actors had agreed to do it 8 years ago and couldn’t get out of their contracts after they read the script.
Thank you so much for these reviews. They were helpful, informative and very useful to new parents trying to decide what is worth seeing enough to get a babysitter and shower – two huge commitments that do not go well with regret. Public Enemies or Away We Go it is.
Thanks for the recommendations. By the way, recommendation is always a word I type 4-5 times before I’m convinced it’s right.
Funny that I just read this post tonight after justamomentago coming back from seeing Public Enemies. I feel you on the great acting and yummy Johnny Depp, but man … I was totally bored in 45 minutes. There were some scenes that just seemed too long. Liked the filming, but hoo boy, it’s not like me to actually be fiddling around in the theater like I was tonight.
Add this to the list: The Hangover. SEE IT. Be prepared to pee your pants.
No kidding! We saw it that night – it was hilarious! Also add UP. It was amazing.
For what it’s worth, considering we coincide in most of your reccomendations, skip Bruno. It gives you more of Sasha Baron Cohen than you would want in a life time (obviously, the guy has no insecurity issues). Also, it’s not funny. Not one bit.
UP was great! I must say though, it made me cry more than I expected…considering it is an animated film.