Now On Video

The Old Template

2011-10-27T17:48:00.000-07:00

I was really proud of this blog. It had a nice fellowship and I thought it was a pretty good idea. I'm not bringing it down. In fact I plan on updating it with the occasional movie or two that we have watched on Netflix or from Redbox since our last posts. (Waaaay to many to mention here.)

But before I do that I am going to update the template to the new format. It makes organization simpler. There may be some collateral damage in the process so please sit tight during this transitional period. I uploaded the image because I REALLY liked the look of this blog. It was clean and simple. I'm going to miss it but wanted to keep a record of it.

Revenge of the Bridesmaids (Chick flick)

2011-03-14T10:34:00.000-07:00

From IMDB: "Two women plot revenge against the woman marrying their friend's ex-boyfriend."

I watched this movie on Netflix, while I kind of zoned out and did my stationary bike.

Guess what? Because of it, I was about to workout for 45 minutes straight. I went faster when they were running, which was a lot. I didn't get the urge to get off my bike because I was too busy just zoned and dazed while watching this. I didn't know this was a made for TV movie.

I really enjoy Raven Symone and her facial expresssions. If you do too, you might enjoy this movie.

Definitely DO NOT watch this with a guy. There is NOTHING for a guy to see-unless you want to kill them with boredom.

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Review

2010-07-19T07:21:00.000-07:00

Alice in Wonderland

2010-03-31T03:31:00.000-07:00

'19-year-old Alice returns to the magical world from her childhood adventure, where she reunites with her old friends and learns of her true destiny: to end the Red Queen's reign of terror.'

Went to the cinema yesterday to watch it and absolutely loved it.

Bit gorey (very Tim Burton) but great colours and excellent special effects. Outstanding Johnny Depp performance as usual.
They've added a bit to the general 'Alice in Wonderland' story but I quite liked that.

I woul definetely watch this movie again and give it 10/10!

Renegade (also called Blueberry)

2010-03-19T03:30:00.000-07:00

"In the 1870's, U.S Marshal Mike S. Blueberry tries to stop Wally Blount, the man who killed his girlfriend, from getting to a stockpile of gold hidden in Indian territory. On his way, he meets Prosit, a German villain on a persistent mission to find gold in the Superstition Mountains."

Again was skeptical about this movie as I don't like western-type films but I was again pleasantly surprised!! This is not a conventional western movie though, no no.

Quite psychedelic 3D images, they were good - but after a while I ended up feeling a bit dizzy from looking at the screen so intensely!

Would definetely watch this again, 4 out of 5 for me!

Howl's moving castle

2010-03-19T02:53:00.000-07:00

"A love story between an 18-year-old girl named Sofî, cursed by a witch into an old woman's body, and a magician named Hauru. Under the curse, Sofî sets out to seek her fortune, which takes her to Hauru's strange moving castle. In the castle, Sophie meets Hauru's fire demon, named Karishifâ. Seeing that she is under a curse, the demon makes a deal with Sophie--if she breaks the contract he is under with Hauru, then Karushifâ will lift the curse that Sophie is under, and she will return to her 18-year-old shape."

My sister in law brought this movie with her and I was sceptic at the beginning but it turned out to be really really good!

I googled the director Hayao Miyazaki and it appears that he's got tons of these sort of movies so definetely will be watching it again. It's a lovely fairy tale.

Ten out of ten for me, definetely watching it again!!!

Jui Kuen II (Legend of Drunken Master) - 1994

2010-02-01T15:33:00.000-08:00

Returning home with his father after a shopping expedition, Wong Fei-Hong is unwittingly caught up in the battle between foreigners and villagers.

The Good: The fighting again, without a doubt!

The Bad: The story is a little stranger this time around with some impossible action that you just can't ignore.

The Ugly: I don't remember much ugliness in this film.

The Summary: Some people claim this is one of the best martial arts movies ever created. I know I was thoroughly impressed. It made me wonder what Bruce Lee would have thought of these movies.

I had no idea Jackie Chan was THIS good. He really left quite the impression after these two movies. The story doesn't seem to follow the same characters from the first though the names are the same. I never figured out if it was a continuation of the tale or a retelling. Ultimately it didn't matter much.

This is a very fun action packed Kung Fu movie that makes you want to punch someone and flip off walls after watching it! ;)
I could stand to watch this movie a few more times.

Jui Kuen (Drunken Master) - 1978

2010-01-28T15:33:00.000-08:00

An undisciplined boy is forced to study under an abusive master of Drunken Fist Kung Fu.

The Good: The fighting without a doubt!

The Bad: The story is a bit corny but you know what you're getting into if you like this genre.

The Ugly: The girls the protagonists think are "pretty."

The Summary: Jackie Chan at his prime! If you like the silliness and acrobatics of his current films you should really give this one a try. The voice over is not so bad though the sound effects are appropriately terrible for a Kung Fu flick.

I play a lot of fighting video games so drunken style is something I was previously familiar with. I didn't know it was a serious thing but only a joke within the video game genre. Many of the physical traits of the drunken master seem to have set the standard for that character type.

The storyline is interesting and funny but it is only an excuse for the constant fighting. Some may grow tired of this. I felt the movie did go on a bit long but I still enjoyed it very much.

If you like action/comedy you might enjoy it as well.
I could watch this again a few years from now. Not too often though.

Good Dick - 2008

2010-01-25T15:33:00.000-08:00

A look at the relationship between a lonely introverted girl and a young video store clerk vying for her attention.

The Good: Great if not at least believable acting from everyone including the supporting actors and a surprisingly good small cameo by Tom Arnold.

The Bad: The story is a bit stilted. It really feels like a student film and as such it leaves many things unclarified for the sake of "art."

The Ugly: The protagonist female. Sorry.

The Summary: My wife and I started watching this movie as a joke. The premise sounded terrible but quickly found ourselves really interested in the lives of the characters. Some plot twists came out of left field and ultimately changed the way we felt about them. An unnecessary scene changed things and the movie never recovered from that point.

The story told seems very plausible and very sad. Some scenes are pretty graphic but there isn't any nudity whatsoever.

I have to mention that the co-star is Jason Ritter, John Ritter's son who I was a fan of so that made it easy to like and feel sorry for him.

I don't really know why, I'm glad I watched it. I don't think I'd ever watch it again though.

Cliffhanger - 1993

2010-01-22T15:33:00.000-08:00

A botched mid-air heist results in suitcases full of cash being searched for by various groups throughout the Rocky Mountains.

The Good: The scenery.

The Bad: The age. This film did not hold up well.

The Ugly: Just the acting.

The Summary: I first saw this in the theater almost 20 years ago. I remember it being pretty good and very exciting. When I found out my wife had not yet seen this movie I was again excited to watch it. I had not seen it since then so I remembered it fondly.

Boy was I wrong. Sure the scenery looks beautiful but wow, the acting is terrible across the board. Believe it or not, Sylvester Stallone's acting is the BEST! That's not a bad thing, he really does act well in this one. There were only 1 or 2 lines I felt he could have done without. That's when he was blaming himself for a certain failure.

This bad acting is truly surprising from all actors. Even John Lithgow shows a very very almost amateur side of him I'm not used to. This film resembles a parody of itself.

Interesting Snippits:

Cliffhanger is in the Guinness Book of World Records for the costliest aerial stunt ever performed. Stuntman Simon Crane was paid $1 million to perform the aerial transfer scene, where he crossed between two planes at an altitude of 4,572 m (15,000 ft).

The film was generally praised by critics, receiving a 78% on Rottentomatoes.com!!! ?????

Definitely a movie you had to have watched during its era. I would be OK never watching this movie again.

The Seven Samurai - 1954

2010-01-21T15:33:00.000-08:00

A poor village under attack by bandits recruits seven unemployed samurai to help them defend themselves.

The Good: The honest, believable story.

The Bad: The translation. I'm sure something was lost along the way.

The Ugly: The man butt. There's a lot of it.

The Summary: I have always found ancient Japanese history and lore enthralling so when this movie showed up as a recommendation I was quick to add it to my queue.

It did not disappoint. It is a very old movie filmed in the style and acting of the day. Nowhere is any evidence of the studio production of the Hollywood era in which it was filmed. That is a great thing.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of the bubble gum Marilyn Monroe movies as well but this movie is so gritty and real, you can really appreciate the presentation and the epic production value for its time.

No makeup lines on the guys' necks. No terrible motion backdrops. No bouncy cars to ride in. It is a fantastic, albeit long, experience.

I am really glad to have seen it but it is not a movie I would see more than three times.

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events - 2004

2010-01-15T08:33:00.000-08:00

Three wealthy children's parents are killed in a fire. When they are sent to a distant relative, they find out that he is plotting to kill them and seize their fortune.

The Good: The story, the world they created and the acting.

The Bad: The cliffhangers.

The Ugly: Only the things that are intentionally ugly, like the comedy troupe.

The Summary: We just watched this movie again last night. It was great. I never read the stories as a child but I had heard of them. Even though I'm pretty sure the stories are too childish to read as an adult I was enthralled by the way this film presented its tale and characters.

Jim Carey is the star in this movie. He really steals the show (so to speak.) I rarely watch the extra's on DVD's but the extra's on this one were a real joy. It really shows you how much of a performer Mr. Carey truly is. He will do whatever is necessary to make you laugh. He may just yell at you a little bit if you don't but it's all great. :)

The child actors must also be called attention to. Their acting was fantastic for their roles. Except that final "Attitude" scene with Violet and Olaf squaring off.

Appropriately dark and brooding I am pleasantly surprised that Tim Burton isn't the only one that can pull off this look.

I would watch this one again probably 5-10 more times. It's great!

New Moon

2010-01-12T09:04:00.000-08:00

"After Bella recovers from the vampire attack that almost claimed her life, she looks to celebrate her birthday with Edward and his family. However, a minor accident during the festivities results in Bella's blood being shed, a sight that proves too intense for the Cullens, who decide to leave the town of Forks, Washington for Bella and Edward's sake. Initially heartbroken, Bella finds a form of comfort in reckless living, as well as an even-closer friendship with Jacob Black. Danger in different forms awaits."

Since I've already posted the comments on the first movie 'Twilight' and I'm assuming you guys have noticed I'm a sucker (pardon the pun) for the whole Twilight Saga I thought I might as well review the second movie!

Unfortunately in the second movie you do actually notice how truly bad the actors as well as the movie are. Some pretty good special effects I thought though which are worth watching but all in all the book is much better.

Nevertheless the main actor is still there as eye candy as well as four very toned and very shirtless russett skinned guys so althought the movie is rubbish I would watch it quite a few more times! (I'm sad I know...)

5/5 for me personally coz I like the books but being objective it's probably a 3/5.

You still have to watch it though!!

Avatar - 2009

2009-12-22T16:33:00.000-08:00

A Science Fiction action drama based on a moon of a distant planet. Humans desire to mine some of the rich resources of the planet but the local residents refuse to relocate. Conflict ensues.

The Good: The animation and artwork is some of the best I have seen.

The Bad: The hype behind this movie did it more damage than good. It isn't an "epic" by any means. I personally find the Marine "hooah" attitude annoying and the movie is filled with them so...

The Ugly: Some of the underlying influences. No surprises at all.

The Summary: The movie is fun. It is pretty and enjoyable if you like science fiction and action films. It is not a drama though it does have dramatic elements. It is not the second coming and will in no way change Hollywood forever. It is just a film. It is reportedly astronomically expensive though I don't see why, a majority if it was animated.

The universe they create is very interesting and it does leave you wanting to learn more about the Na'vi culture. That brings me to the negatives. This movie couldn't possibly be more predictable. They explain in great details some of the simpler aspects of the plot and then just glaze over the, in my opinion more interesting complexities. There are a few plot holes which if you're a fan of Hollywood movies, have learned to ignore.

I really wish there had been a less obvious inspiration used for these aliens. From the names, to the voices, music and even their jewelry and traditions all seem to be lifted from African culture. Which itself is not a bad thing but these are supposed to be aliens...

Avatar altogether is an enjoyable film that I am thankful keeps focus on the subjects long enough to distinguish between them unlike say...Transformers.

I would watch this one again once or twice.

Bolt - 2008

2009-11-30T15:33:00.000-08:00

The canine star of a fictional sci-fi/action show that believes his powers are real embarks on a cross country trek to save his co-star from a threat he believes is just as real.

The Good: The animation is good.

The Bad: The visual quality doesn’t compare to Pixar quality movies and the plot seems like we’ve done before. Toy Story, The Incredibles, Inspector Gadget, Kim Possible or even 101 Dalmations.

The Ugly: Nothing really. The bad guys don’t really seem that bad, ugly or vicious at any point.

The Summary: The movie is enjoyable, pleasantly safe for children and just a bit interesting for adults. You won’t walk away disappointed but you also won’t want to get a T-Shirt with a Bolt iron on.

Not Disney’s best but it is one of their better movies lately.

If you have kids, they will probably love it until they are 7 years old.

Fahrenheit 451 - 1966

2009-11-27T15:33:00.000-08:00

In an oppressive future, a fireman whose duty is to destroy all books begins to question his task.

The Good: The attempt. I'm glad they tried to make this movie.

The Bad: The method. Artistic but essentially boring.

The Ugly: The truth. We live in that world today. E-Books make burning unnecessary but instead much more easily editable.

The Summary: I know, my details are a bit abstract but they really summarized how I felt about this movie. I read the book in High School and again recently. As a fan of old films I knew not to expect any current interpretation of the book but this one really was a leap. VERY symbolic yet they chose to omit so much of the novel that I felt was pertinent to the story. It looks like most of the money was spent on that railway if it wasn’t there previously for any other reason. It really seemed silly as hard as I tried to take myself out of my “modern” view of the world. The film was just not enjoyable and I don’t think I’ll ever want to watch it again. The “wall tv” was interesting considering that we have pretty much that same thing now with our LCD’s and YouTube etc…

This movie should burn. If they remade it though, I would give it a chance.

Food, Inc. (2009)

2009-11-21T22:16:00.000-08:00

See this film. It will change the way you look at food in the supermarket.

I am biased when it comes to this subject, since I’ve read a lot about it and I am now studying Sustainable Food Systems at Montana State University. I wasn’t surprised by what I saw in the film but it still affected me. For instance, I wasn’t shocked to see the cattle feedlots or to hear that Monsanto bullies farmers all over the Midwest. However, seeing the images or hearing the stories puts a lot of what I’ve read and/or studied into focus.

Basically, the documentary exposes the food industry’s flaws. Our food system is sick and the FDA and the USDA aren’t doing anything about it (or they are doing very little). It’s up to us, the consumer, to demand better food. We subsidize cheap, unhealthy food. The poor and minorities have increasing rates of obesity and Type 2 diabetes simply because a bag of chips and a 2 liter of soda are cheaper to buy than a bag of apples or a head of broccoli. When you have limited money to spend on food, you will buy what will last you the longest, even if it’s the unhealthiest.

This is not a Michael Moore-style documentary with crazy antics to get points across. This is a standard documentary and a well-made one at that. The filmmakers talk to authors like Michael Pollen and Eric Schlosser who have been writing on this subject for years. The film covers a wide selection of subjects -- from talking about corn to showing animals being slaughtered. The movie flows at a good pace and they managed to pack a lot of information into 1 1/2 hours. The producers even published a guide book for the film. I've flipped through the book but haven't purchased it.

I guarantee that you will sit back and start thinking about the food in your cupboards. You will begin to wonder – How much corn am I really eating? Where was that chicken raised? How far did my food have to travel to get to my town?

It’s an important film, one that everyone should see. If you a human (in particular, an American) that eats, then you need to see this movie.

Rating: 5/5

For more information about the film go to Food, Inc.

Australia (2008)

2009-11-20T07:55:00.001-08:00

Synopsis: In northern Australia at the beginning of World War II, an English aristocrat inherits a cattle station the size of Maryland. When English cattle barons plot to take her land, she reluctantly joins forces with a rough-hewn stock-man to drive 2,000 head of cattle across hundreds of miles of the country's most unforgiving land, only to still face the bombing of Darwin, Australia, by the Japanese forces that had attacked Pearl Harbor only months earlier.

Man alive, this movie is long. I mean, looooooooooong. Coming in at almost 3 hours, I thought that at a certain point, they could have ended it. That’s bad news for a movie if the viewer is going, “Ok, it’s done. Oh wait – it still has an hour left? Geez.”

I like Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. They are easy to look at, especially Hugh. I’d like to thank Baz Luhrmann, the director, for showing a shirtless Hugh in a few different scenes. That made the movie experience better. There’s plenty of chemistry between the two actors, but it wasn’t enough to carry the film.

Even though it was nearly 3 hours long, parts of it seem choppy and out of sync. The story is a noble one, partly paying homage to the Stolen Generation in Australia. It’s respectable and I wish they figured out a way to shorten the story. There’s a good movie in the 3 hours if you cut out about a third of the film.

My other problem is, I could predict the ending of the film. Normally this doesn’t bother me, but when it comes to historical romance plots, I wish it wasn’t so formulaic.

The cinematography is impressive, showing off the magnificent views of northern Australia. So, I guess if you want to spend 3 hours watching a hunky Hugh Jackman and a beautiful Nicole Kidman look longingly into each other’s eyes, then this film is for you.

Rating: 2.5/5

No Reservations (2007)

2009-11-18T12:26:00.000-08:00

Directed By: Scott Hicks
Starring: Catherine Zeta Jones and Aaron Eckhart

I have mixed feelings about this one.

In this corner: 1.)Catherine Zeta Jones is luminously beautiful and also happens to be a great actress. 2.) I love movies about food and 3.) Bob Balaban is a therapist (I love Bob).

In that corner: 1.) The movie enters sappy formulaic territory once too often. 2.) It's woefully predictable and 3.) the direction sacrifices artistry for heartstring-tugging when it's entirely unnecessary.

While I admit that from the beginning, this film prevented itself from sliding into the ranks of 'Baby Boom'/'Raising Helen' mediocrity by simply bringing charming actors to the table...it also abandoned that initial charm by following well-worn territory on several occasions. Yes, Abigail Breslin is a precocious little actress but she's played this part before and very little demand is made upon her talents. And I'm tired of movies attempting to convince me that a pillow fight and a game of Monopoly is enough to draw a grieving child out of her melancholy and into the arms of a comparatively selfish woman. I did like seeing the lead character come out of her introverted ways and begin to give of herself to this child, but I wish it had been brought about by less familiar means. As it stands, the movie had high points (mostly having to do w/ food) but not enough of them for me to give it more than a
7/10.

Fool's Gold - 2008

2009-11-17T16:45:00.000-08:00

A new clue to the whereabouts of a lost treasure rekindles a married couple's sense of adventure -- and their estranged romance.

The Good: The scenery is beautiful and some of the airplane stunts are believable.

The Bad: The acting. When they are funny, they work. When they are scared or angry, they don't. The plot.

The Ugly: The gross flirtation and innuendo with the little girl. A bit disturbing.

The Summary: I totally don't mind a stupid action movie. In fact I was excited about this one because I honestly confused it for another! Matthew McConaughey makes a great comedic actor and this movie doesn't emphasize that enough. I liked Kate Hudson in the Skeleton Key so I KNOW she's capable of suspense and action. This movie though, it didn't quite find its footing. Was it action? Was it comedy? Was it drama (father & daughter)? It was a mix of them all and it didn't quite make good of any one genre.

Interesting backdrop and terrible implementation.

The Fourth Kind

2009-11-11T03:28:00.000-08:00

"In 1972, a scale of measurement was established for alien encounters. When a UFO is sighted, it is called an encounter of the first kind. When evidence is collected, it is known as an encounter of the second kind. When contact is made with extraterrestrials, it is the third kind. The next level, abduction, is the fourth kind. Modern-day, Alaska, where-mysteriously since the 1960s-a disproportionate number of the population has been reported missing every year. Despite multiple FBI investigations of the region, the truth has never been discovered. Here in this remote region, psychologist Dr. Abigail Tyler began videotaping sessions with traumatized patients and unwittingly discovered some of the most disturbing evidence of alien abduction ever documented. The Fourth Kind exposes the terrified revelations of multiple witnesses. Their accounts of being visited by alien figures all share disturbingly identical details, the validity of which is investigated throughout the film. "

Went to the cinema yesterday with Fernando to see this.

It's supposedly based on true stories and the film uses real footage mixed with the actors to verify the events. I thought the layout of it was pretty good and the real footage truly made an impact.

I love horror movies although this one isn't meant to be one (I think) it has some very good 'jumpers' (as I call them) so that was quite good.

Plus it left me intrigued today and I have to google some facts about it!

4 out of 5 for me, worth watching if you haven't seen it already and you're interested in alien abduction. :)

Coraline

2009-11-10T03:45:00.000-08:00

"A young girl walks through a secret door in her new home and discovers an alternate version of her life. On the surface, this parallel reality is eerily similar to her real life - only much better. But when her adventure turns dangerous, and her counterfeit parents (including Other Mother) try to keep her forever, Coraline must count on her resourcefulness, determination, and bravery to get back home - and save her family. "

Just recently watched this movie and absolutely loved it. It's obviously a childrens film but I'm a sucker for these things (hence my blog name Vivienne in Wonderland) and have to say I thought it was really really good.

Entertainment for grown ups as well.

And if you click the extras you see how much meticulous work actually goes into one of these movies. The settings, decorations etc are just sensational.

5 out of 5 for me!

Wanted (2008)

2009-11-08T20:05:00.000-08:00

Short synopsis: A frustrated office worker learns that he is the son of a professional assassin, and that he shares his father's superhuman killing abilities.

The body count is quite high in this film. Lots of innocent people get killed during the action scenes and it can be quite bothersome if it wasn’t for Angelina Jolie and James McAvoy lighting up the screen.

For some reason, I like this film and I don’t know why. Is it because I like watching silly action movies? Perhaps. Could it be I like watching Angelina Jolie shoot ‘em up? Maybe. She’s badass, that’s for sure. And what about James McAvoy who is quite the actor these days with some excellent work done in Atonement and The Last King of Scotland? Probably.

I think I need to start a support group, “I’m a girl and I like action films.” The plot is non-sensical and far-fetched, but by golly, it’s fun to watch. For me, after living in Chicago, it’s nice to see the El train used to its advantage – as a transport for 2 assassins. Do they pay for tickets to ride and squeeze through the turnstile? I wonder.

If you like fantasy type action films (and let’s be honest, how many action films are based in reality?), then watch this. It’s bang-bang, bullet-curving, shoot ‘em up film at it’s best.

Rating: 4/5

Prom Night (2008)

2009-11-04T12:00:00.000-08:00

Starring: some actors from television...oh, and Jonathan Shaech who is aging well.
Directed by: some guy

I seriously hated this movie. Not only because it was entirely throwaway and devoid of entertainment value but because there is something slightly off-kilter abut a 'slasher flick' in which all the murder victims are good people. I did appreciate the gentle homage to Halloween and other classic horror films, in that the film contained lots of 'slashing' but very little actual gore. However, isnt it just the lay of the land for these movies to kill off the annoying and slutty kids? Usually, the appeal of these movies is to guess right away which of the bullying, over-indulging, sexually active teens will get the knife first. In this one, there are no such kids...unless you count the pouty wanna be prom queen, who incidentally lives out the night just fine. Even the drunken loudmouthed boyfriend makes quick amends with the viewing audience by apologizing for his jerkiness before he gets the ax (pun intended). I dunno, I just found that very offputting. And yeah, in addition to that, the movie just sucked.

My rating:
a dismal 2/10

Nacho Libre

2009-10-29T19:53:00.000-07:00

The Good: Lots of silly moments. This movie just had me cracking up. I can repeat lines from this movie over and over, with people who have watched it and just laugh.

The Bad: Not for those who dislike dumb/stupid humor.

The Ugly: Only one good looking person in the movie :D Seems like they purposely hired all ugly actors.

The Summary: If you haven't, watch this movie if you have an opportunity. Best to watch in a group :)

5 stars out of 5 :)