Man...it seems like it's been forever since I posted some movie reviews. Believe it or not Jenny and I are still able to rent movies from Netflix over here. We do it through the Dow mail system. Instead of 3 nights to get here, a disc now usually takes about 2 weeks, but hey...it's better than nothing. Anyway, it's been a long time since I posted any reviews. So I tried to think back on what I've watched recently and here's my list. There are even movies here from the summer that I haven't talked about yet. In the interest of time I'll keep the reviews short.
APOLLO 18 - This is one of those horror movies using the "lost footage" premise. For me it's a formula that is getting old fast. However, in this movie it works great. As most of you know Apollo 17 was the last NASA mission to the moon. Well, the story here is that there was also an "unreported" Apollo 18 mission. Evidently the astronauts found something on the moon, and that's why we've never gone back. Great premise. The movie mixes in real NASA footage to give the film an authentic look. I loved this movie.
THE GREY - Liam Neeson stars in this survival film set in Alaska. When a plane carrying oil workers crashes in a remote section of Alaska the survivors must ban together in order to fend off the elements, and a hungry pack of wolves. This is a great survival film Loved it!
THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO - I have to admit I've never read these books, and I've never seen the Swedish films of the same title. As for this film I hated it. Couldn't stand it. David Fincher is one of my favorite directors, and I still couldn't stand this film. I know I'm in the minority here, but still.
THE DESCENDANTS - George Clooney stars in this movie about a father struggling with the loss of his deceased wife, while he attempts to reconnect to his two daughters. Clooney is his usual strong self here, but I thought the story dragged in many areas. Clooney didn't have much to work with here. Still...this one is a good rental I guess.
PORTLANDIA - Jenny and I caught the first season of this on Netflix after we moved out here. This is such a funny show. Let me back up...if you're my age you'll think this is a funny show. Fred Armisen (SNL) stars in this sketch comedy show set in Portland. Never thought Armisen was funny on SNL...but man is he funny here.
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: GHOST PROTOCOL - Yet another installment in Tom Cruise's Mission Impossible franchise. Like all the others this movie is high on action and low on story. I've always seen the Mission Impossible movies as fun to watch, but they lack soul (unlike the recent James Bond films.) All these movies are the same...good for a rental but that's about it.
SUPER 8 - Man...talk about disappointments. I had such high hopes for this one. Super 8 is about a group of kids who witness a train derailment. Evidently the government was hiding something on the train that wasn't from this world, and now it has escaped. The film is made to look like the classic movies from the 80's, like Goonies or E.T...complete with child actors carrying the story. The style works great, but overall the movie doesn't. Big disappointment.
THE BIG YEAR - Steve Martin, Owen Wilson, and Jack Black all star as a trio of rival bird watchers who try to outdo one another for the most birds spotted in one year. There are some funny moments here, but with this much comedic talent I was expecting a lot more. A good rental but nothing special.
THE AVENGERS - It's Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Hulk, and other heroes all wrapped up into one movie. I loved this movie. I admit...I was a sucker for it...but I loved it. It's funny, it's action packed, and it's fun. It's just a good time. Simple as that. Took Ben to see this and he loved it as well.
CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM: SEASON 8 - Larry David continues this post-Seinfeld show about himself. Seasons 1-7 are all great, and Season 8 is right up there. I say this every time but I'll say it again. I highly recommend this show to anyone and everyone.
THE PEOPLE VS GEORGE LUCAS - This is a funny documentary about Star Wars fans (the ones my age) and how they all hate George Lucas and what he's done to our beloved movies. He's changed them time and time again, he's made 3 terrible prequels, etc. To many people he's ruined their entire childhood. Anyway, this movie is nothing but a big gripe session about Lucas. It's kind of funny at times, but the arguments tend to get repetitive.
GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE - The second installment of the Ghost Rider franchise featuring Nicholas Cage. These movies are high on effects, and low on...well...everything else. Good for rentals but nothing more.
ICE AGE 4: CONTINENTAL DRIFT - Somehow I've seen all 4 Ice Age movies (thanks to my kids.) And somehow I can't remember any of them or what each story is about. This movie is no different. Yet kids love these movies and I still don't know why. Oh well...give me a tub of popcorn and I'll watch pretty much anything I guess.
PROMETHEUS - Okay, there was one movie that disappointed me even more than SUPER 8, and that was PROMETHEUS. Directed by Ridley Scott, this is a "prequel" of sorts to the Alien movies. The concept is similar, in the fact that a crew rockets to a far off planet and discovers an alien substance. The story tries to weave together this movie and ALIEN, but there are so many inconsistencies. There are so many holes here I can't look past them. I guess if I didn't think so much about the details here I would have enjoyed it more. The movie looks beautiful, but darn those story holes. Details...details...details.
MADAGASCAR 3: EUROPE'S MOST WANTED - Like the ICE AGE films, somehow I've seen all 3 MADAGASCAR movies, and like the ICE AGE movies I can't remember these movies either. But the kids liked this movie. The animals join a traveling circus and travel through Europe. The kids thought it was neat that they recognized some of the locations set in this movie. Anyway, easily forgettable...but the kids liked it.
JOHN CARTER - Based on the popular sci-fi pulp novels "John Carter of Mars," this is about a man who gets transported from Earth to Mars and ends up in a civil war. Man...I really wanted to like this movie. The filmmakers here set their sights pretty high, but the film never met its expectations at the box office and I can see why. It's entertaining, but the actors are dull and the story is unfocused and too grand. We'll see if they make a sequel, but I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't.
THE DARK KNIGHT RISES - The long awaited 3rd installment of Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy. Overall, I thought the movie was good, but not as good as the first two. Watching it I couldn't help but compare it to THE AVENGERS, which I saw earlier in the summer. AVENGERS is just a lot more fun. All these Batman movies are good, but they're very dark and moody. Still though...overall this was good. It just wasn't great.
DRIVE - Ryan Gosling stars as a stuntman who moonlights as a "getaway driver" for thieves and crooks. This movie is really cool. The style and vibe here is really unique. Really enjoyed this one.
DOLPHIN TALE - Now this was one kids movie I kind of enjoyed. It's not animated. Instead it's about a boy who rescues an injured dolphin and he and his friends nurse it back to health. Not bad. I think all 4 of us liked this one to some extent.
CONAN THE BARBARIAN - This is a reboot of the Arnold Schwarzenegger films from the 80's. Starring Jason Momoa (Game of Thrones) this movie attempts to rejuvenate the Conan brand with a darker edge. However, this movie is just flat out terrible. Rarely do I "walk out of a rental" and shut off the movie, but that's what I did here. Just plain goofy. And besides...you can't beat the Schwarzenegger Conan movies. Those are just classics.
BRAVE - This is Pixar's most recent release. It's about a Scottish princess who doesn't want to settle down. The movie takes some unusual turns, but like any other Pixar movie it looks terrific. Overall, this one is okay but not up to par with TOY STORY or FINDING NEMO. Megan loved it though, so I'm sure we'll soon see it in our collection.
