I love all the symbolism and the obscure references in CAST AWAY.
His real-life wife's name is Wilson BTW.
I like how he comes out of "a cave" into the light, and of course out of despair, into hope. He receives a gift from the sea (where we all came from you know) and saves his life....but he has to abandon Wilson in order to save himself. So he lets go of the past in order to live in the future.
The ending is ambiguous, as he stands in the crossroads, but it is interesting that it might be a stranger, a betrayed woman, who offers fulfillment. As she says when giving him directions..."and that way, a whole lotta nothin".
It's a great film. Only a really good actor like Hanks could have pulled it off, since much of the film is only him talking to himself.
Leave your brain at the door and you'll catch a couple of laughs, but this film got a bit too raunchy in some places, and I usually have a high tolerance for that kind of stuff.
Skip it, and maybe watch it on video if you like this sort of film. Your girlfriend will roll her eyes a couple of times, though.
I saw an advance preview showing of Super 8 a couple of nights ago. It was extremely formulaic. It is getting great reviews. I'll give it 3 out of 5 stars.
As with most sequels, it doesn't live up to the original.
The humor is forced; they try too hard.
The first one was fresh and original, this one is a reboot that isn't as well executed, and the humor gets too raunchy to even come close to the original.
One of the most anticipated movies of the year (by gearheads, at least), this movie was both intriguing and disappointing.
First, a bit of a spoiler ... if you were looking for something along the lines of "The Transporter", but with a better plot, you'll be sad to discover that there is not nearly as much driving - or chase scenes - as you thought.
Anyway, back to the review. The movies' highlights are in the cinematography and character development. This movie shows a side of LA not often captured on film - dingy strip malls and back alley auto repair shops among them. There is not a lot of dialogue with the main character - many times he's filmed simply driving, yet his facial expressions convey his thoughts pretty well.
Casting Albert Brooks and Ron Perlman as the villians was particularly interesting - both pulled off their roles with gusto. The female characters, too, were strong, though the Christina Hendricks character was not in the movie nearly as long as the trailer leads you to believe.
As to the action scenes, there has been much written about the plausibility of a Chrysler 300C keeping up with a Mustang 5.0 in a chase, but suspension of disbelief has become commonplace in today's movies. To my knowledge, there was no CGI involved, so it was nice to see an 'old school' type of chase.
The movie was way more violent than I would have expected, but even so, it was not over the top gory.
Very independent feel to it - I loved the retro 80's title sequence (shades of Risky Business or To Live and Die in LA), and the soundtrack, while reusing some songs several times, was sufficient in adding to the overall mood of the film.
Would I recommend it? Yeah, probably so. Just make sure you've adjusted your expectations accordingly.
Yes, it was a small theatre in downtown DC that tends to show indy films. The theatre was PACKED! Sold out, and this is several weeks after the release, so you know it's getting great buzz.
Remember that Seinfeld episode where the girls and guys go to the movies, and at the ticket office they split up...the women go through the door marked "The Muted Heart" and the guys go see something like..."Exterminator IV" or some such...pretty funny.
Touching film based on a true story, which makes it all the more appealing. They didn't sugar-coat it, despite the fact that it's a comedy, mostly. A lot of brutally honest moments that I really liked.
Loved it and my wife did too. Bring a friend or a date, either will like it.
Mixed feelings about this one. We liked parts of it, but there are some gaping holes in the plot, inconsistencies. They seem to go for too many politician cliches, also.
What do you expect when the same guy who plays President also directs the film? Clooney's better when someone else directs.
Great in the beginning. Thought it would rank up there as one of decades best. Slowed down and soured towards the middle. Picked back up and rode it to the finish line with several opportunies to take the lead, but faltered down the stretch. Still 3 "jip" stars.
We waited for The Debt to come out on DVD. Looked like a good one, with a great cast. The first 30 minutes moved so slowly and lacked any elements to intrigue me. We turned it off.
On the other hand, Friends with Benefits, which we picked up out of sheer desperation, was a lot better than expected and turned out to be a quite enjoyable, if unsubstantial, movie.
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Not as keen as you on The Descendants. George Clooney really needs to stop being George Clooney in every movie. It was an interesting movie in that every character is completely unlikable. :P Also a very sappy ending.
(I almost couldn't keep myself from choking on my own giggles as I posted that.)
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The Avengers - I'm not a big fan of Marvel characters and only knew about Iron Man and the Hulk, but my husband and son thought it was great.
Hunger Games - I wouldn't have read the book, but several of the teens I work with in a theatre program were so enamored with it I decided to give it a chance. It's definitely written for 16-year-old girls in mind, but it wasn't horrible like "Twilight". (Don't get me started on that one.) I thought the film was a good adaptation of the book. I think they did a better job than the Potter series did, however, HG isn't nearly as complicated as Potter.
Not so good:
Dark Shadows - I was hoping this one would be at least entertaining, but bleah.
Prometheus - Okay, I haven't seen this one, but friend saw it in iMax. Story? Not so great, but any film in iMax is amazing, so says he.
What's next? I'm hoping to get some time to see Rock of Ages. Hope it's good.
We loved The Avengers as well! It was well done, and even though my tolerance for long movies is low, there weren't any slow parts and the story was well-written enough to keep my attention. That's probably the first movie we've seen in a year in the theater - we have a 100" screen in the basement and the popcorn is cheaper there, so we usually wait unless it's a must-see on big screen. I'd say Avengers was worth it.
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Dark Shadows - thought it was going to be a bit funnier than it was. Didn't realize it was a 60's TV show first.
Rock of Ages - read an article that Tom Cruise spent 5 hours a day honing his voice for this movie. Turns out he has opera singers in his family history, so it must not have been too hard for him to find those talents. Am keeping my fingers crossed on this one, too.
Comments
His real-life wife's name is Wilson BTW.
I like how he comes out of "a cave" into the light, and of course out of despair, into hope. He receives a gift from the sea (where we all came from you know) and saves his life....but he has to abandon Wilson in order to save himself. So he lets go of the past in order to live in the future.
The ending is ambiguous, as he stands in the crossroads, but it is interesting that it might be a stranger, a betrayed woman, who offers fulfillment. As she says when giving him directions..."and that way, a whole lotta nothin".
It's a great film. Only a really good actor like Hanks could have pulled it off, since much of the film is only him talking to himself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntW9mh2ddkY&NR=1
Skip it, and maybe watch it on video if you like this sort of film. Your girlfriend will roll her eyes a couple of times, though.
The humor is forced; they try too hard.
The first one was fresh and original, this one is a reboot that isn't as well executed, and the humor gets too raunchy to even come close to the original.
First, a bit of a spoiler ... if you were looking for something along the lines of "The Transporter", but with a better plot, you'll be sad to discover that there is not nearly as much driving - or chase scenes - as you thought.
Anyway, back to the review. The movies' highlights are in the cinematography and character development. This movie shows a side of LA not often captured on film - dingy strip malls and back alley auto repair shops among them. There is not a lot of dialogue with the main character - many times he's filmed simply driving, yet his facial expressions convey his thoughts pretty well.
Casting Albert Brooks and Ron Perlman as the villians was particularly interesting - both pulled off their roles with gusto. The female characters, too, were strong, though the Christina Hendricks character was not in the movie nearly as long as the trailer leads you to believe.
As to the action scenes, there has been much written about the plausibility of a Chrysler 300C keeping up with a Mustang 5.0 in a chase, but suspension of disbelief has become commonplace in today's movies. To my knowledge, there was no CGI involved, so it was nice to see an 'old school' type of chase.
The movie was way more violent than I would have expected, but even so, it was not over the top gory.
Very independent feel to it - I loved the retro 80's title sequence (shades of Risky Business or To Live and Die in LA), and the soundtrack, while reusing some songs several times, was sufficient in adding to the overall mood of the film.
Would I recommend it? Yeah, probably so. Just make sure you've adjusted your expectations accordingly.
It's that good.
I love how it portrayed his rivalry with Prost, and they were fair about it in the end.
I did think that Mansell should have gotten more attention, but overall a phenomenal film, even my wife loved it.
Ashley Judd is not aging well, surprisingly.
I, too, want to see it, but not sure it's been released here in Denver.
Too much time in the sun cheering her husband on at the racetrack?
Or, perhaps, not many scripts for her to choose from, so she's let herself go a bit.
Either way, very sad to hear.
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Don't you live in Alabama?
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Neither do some of the major league teams' infield players. :P
My wife is opening her horizons a bit, I guess she tired of romantic comedies (I know I have!).
Loved it and my wife did too. Bring a friend or a date, either will like it.
What do you expect when the same guy who plays President also directs the film? Clooney's better when someone else directs.
Disappointing.
It's almost like 3 movies rolled in to one. Pay close attention, the character plots are interesting.
I already knew in my head about the abuse towards blacks in the south, but this really brought it home to me.
5 stars!
FWIW we have a nanny but the whole time she was with us she had health care and I paid all the taxes, more than you might imagine:
* worker's comp
* state unemployment
* federal unemployment
* health care
* social security (her share and mine)
* medicare (her share and mine)
I have no idea why you would bring someone in to your house to watch your kids and not make sure they are motivated and happy. :shades:
On the other hand, Friends with Benefits, which we picked up out of sheer desperation, was a lot better than expected and turned out to be a quite enjoyable, if unsubstantial, movie.
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If you want an actor, there are people like Gary Oldman available.
(I almost couldn't keep myself from choking on my own giggles as I posted that.)
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Oh Brother, where art Thou?
I love that movie....
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Anyone seen THE GREY?
I was thinking of checking out that new Glenn Close movie, where she impersonates a man, but it got fairly stinky reviews (ALBERT NOBBS)
Good:
The Avengers - I'm not a big fan of Marvel characters and only knew about Iron Man and the Hulk, but my husband and son thought it was great.
Hunger Games - I wouldn't have read the book, but several of the teens I work with in a theatre program were so enamored with it I decided to give it a chance. It's definitely written for 16-year-old girls in mind, but it wasn't horrible like "Twilight". (Don't get me started on that one.)
I thought the film was a good adaptation of the book. I think they did a better job than the Potter series did, however, HG isn't nearly as complicated as Potter.
Not so good:
Dark Shadows - I was hoping this one would be at least entertaining, but bleah.
Prometheus - Okay, I haven't seen this one, but friend saw it in iMax. Story? Not so great, but any film in iMax is amazing, so says he.
What's next? I'm hoping to get some time to see Rock of Ages. Hope it's good.
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2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
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Your neck gets sore watching tennis, because your head swings side to side.
So, 36" tube upstairs...
I let my wife talk me into a nice new sofa up there, so I'm due for an HD upgrade.. coming soon!
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Rock of Ages - read an article that Tom Cruise spent 5 hours a day honing his voice for this movie. Turns out he has opera singers in his family history, so it must not have been too hard for him to find those talents. Am keeping my fingers crossed on this one, too.