Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist

Geez, looks like I saw too movies on one day! I definitely go to too many movies.

I liked this movie. It had an interesting fun feel to it and was about young love and all its clumsiness.

The characters were pretty interesting. The main character is pining away for the wrong girl, creating several cd's of songs that he's picked out just for her. All the while there is a beautiful girl pining away for him, if he would only notice.

Max Payne

I enjoyed playing this video game. I think I played through all of them released so far, two or three of them. Interesting story of a cop, his family is killed, and then he spends the rest of his life trying to figure out why and to get revenge. Of course, when I was playing the game, he died about a million times in a million different ways, poor guy.

In the movie, Max Payne is played by Marky Mark Wallberg, and he makes it through the entire movie without dying. Jeez, how do you make a movie about a video game? Especially this one? They did, and it turned out ok. It was not the best movie in the world, but it was entertaining. If you had not played the games, you would still enjoy the movie.

What does this movie tell us? That people in Hollywood play video games, slap there foreheads and think, damn, I can make a movie out of this. Also that there are relationships between game makers, developers, distributors, and movie makers, developers, and distributors, etc. The relationship seems to go both ways too, they make a movie, then make a game out of the movie. They make a game, then make a movie out of the game. Rarely are there good games that come out of movies, but a decent movie seems to be made about a game. I think the movie makers should rely more on the game makers to create some of the art in the movies.

Pride and Glory

Decent movie with Colin Farrel and Edward Norton, two great actors. Movie about police corruption, brotherhood and friendships.

I thought this movie was a bit long when I was watching it. I think that it was still a good movie though, sort of reminded me of Serpico. But Serpico was a classic. Maybe that's why Pride and Glory felt long, because it had two big named actors that had very long scenes apart and together, while Serpico had one main character, and they could focus on him. I actually read Serpico too, good book. Cops should probably read it too.

What Just Happened

I can sure tell I was alone for October of 2008, because I went to so many movies.

This was a pretty interesting movie with Robert Deniro staring as a producer surviving a divorce, and dealing with all the problems one has dealing with artists on a daily basis. This movie was comical at times, and at times tragic. I enjoyed the movie, and it gave me, what I hope anyway, was a glimpse into the life of a producer. How everything comes together and falls apart at the same time, and you are always running around trying to fix things at work and your personal life. I am glad that Robert Deniro decided to put his energy into this film, and hope he continues to create.

Accuracy of Death

I saw this movie at the Asian Film Festival in San Diego at Hazard Theater.

I enjoyed it a whole bunch. It was a movie about an angel of death that shows up a little before someone is supposed to die, to see if it really is there time to die, and to help them over to the other side. It is a Japanese movie.

This film held together well. I liked the way all the lives this angel of death touched were related somehow.

Also the whole talking dog thing was pretty cool too. The angel of death has a dog that is his assistant, and it reminded me of the Legend of Zelda game, where Link can turn into a dog. The sound effects were kind of similar whenever the dog spoke. Pretty funny. The whole movie was a feel good comedy about serious issues. If you can handle subtitles or understand Japanese, you should see it.

How to Lose Friends and Alienate People

This was kind of a silly movie. A guy works his way up the magazine ladder, and ruins relationships on the way.

The guy in this movie is kind of interesting, Simon Pegg. He is a Brittish actor that I've seen in some interesting movies, including, Shaun of the Dead, Run Fatboy Run, and Hot Fuzz. He is usually in silly movies, spoofs, etc. so I knew what I was in for. I think he did a great job in this non-Brittish film. I also liked Jeff Bridges in this movie, and hope he keeps getting work.

Apaloosa

Saw this movie last night. Enjoyed it. Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen, Jeremy Irons, and Rene Zellweger. I was surprised to see Zellweger in it. But it was a good role for her. This movie played with relationships in an interesting way.

Choke

This movie was very funny in a dark humor kind of way. Lots of sex stuff going on, great actors. Sam Rockwell was great, and I forget his name, but that guy that was in the original Cabaret movie with Liza Manelli, it will come to me, Grey something. He was in it too, did an interesting job running the SA group. Angelica Huston was good in it too. I wish they would make that book Chuck wrote about the religious guy that cleans, I foget the title of the book, but it was a pretty interesting book. Probably would make an interesting movie.

Funny Games

I saw this movie on DVD. It was a pretty creepy movie. There were a few asides that one of the characters made to the camera, and a rewind scene. Not your typical Hollywood horrible characters get their just desserts at the end. It did make me think about what I would do. The bad guys did not have guns at the beginning, so this made it kind of unrealistic to me because then it would just be a struggle 3 against two. I found that when I am hurt I fight harder, so the husband's injuries were kind of dissappointing, but I guess we always think/dream/see ourselves as being the hero, and this movie was about being victimized and being helpless. The husbands attempt at heroic action ends with his son's head being blown off. I generally like movies like this that make you think. But it was also really creepy, which is what they were going for. The scene in the boat was good too. They foreshadow the knife in the boat and you think the wife is going to get revenge on these two, but nope, she has a light shove into the lake because one of the psychopaths is hungry and wants to start their project at the next home.

X-Files

Went to the new X-Files movie. I enjoyed it. I am not a huge X-Files fan, but always enjoyed the show. I was unaware that Scully and Mulder had a kid together, so that was a surprise to me and that they were/are a couple.

The story was interesting, concerning stem cell research, abducted women, and the Roman Catholic priest pedophilia scandal. At first you just think the abducted woman angle is some sexual predator thing, but then it all goes sideways on you as X-Files is apt to do.

I enjoyed this movie. The ending was a little abrupt though.

Space Chimp

I saw this hoping that it would be a Pixar knock off. You know the type of animated kids movie that an adult can also watch and enjoy. Well, this wasn't it. Pretty dissappointing and embarrassing to be caught in the theatre watching this. I even took Holly thinking it would be cute, but it was pretty much just lame kid crap. Oh well.

Love Guru

Mike Myer's latest movie. I enjoyed parts of it. Mariskay Hargitay. That whole part of it was funny. It just wasn't Austin Powers. Myers should look for something else. He is talented and shouldn't get stuck in that whole Austin Powers trap. He needs to do something completely different. Maybe some more drama. He was really good in that Studio 54 movie.

The Happening

This was definitely not a happening movie. M. Knight Shamalamadingdong's latest movie starring Marky Mark and others. There was actually a scene where Marky Mark says something like, "get me out of this nightmare." Many of us in the theatre were thinking the same thing. I enjoyed Lady in the Lake, and all of the other movies by this guy. This movie almost had me going, but the twist was revealed too early on and the movie started to drag onto the bitter end. I hope he does better on his next project.

Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull

I am not sure of the title of this movie. But I enjoyed it. Great story. Some of the stunts were pretty far fetched for an older Indiana Jones, but it was still fun. And Shia Lebuffy boy did an interesting job as Jones's offspring. I think Indy's romantic interest was a trip. I don't remember right this minute which one she was in, I'll have to check, but hopefully she wasn't the annoying one in the second Jones movie. I liked the first and the third installations of this movie, and the fourth now too. I did not care that much for the 3rd, though, of course, I have seen it a few times. Hope to see this one a few times too.

Redbelt

I saw this movie with my brother. My brother lives in San Jose and he was visiting for mother's day I think. This was a cool movie. I think Mamet wrote and directed it. The plot fit together pretty well and it delt with macho fighting issues, but also creative ideas and doing things for the right reasons which can be really hard at times. I liked the ending, though it did seem a little bit unreal. The main actor did a great job. There were some parts that were a bit unworked up. The lady running into the guys truck and going in to do the right thing, yet she's a drug addict, and a lawyer. But I guess complex characters are ok. I'll take them over any high school storyline anyday. It was a great movie to see with my brother.

The Fortress of the Forbidden Kingdom

I enjoyed this movie. It was funny and fun, full of action. I was not going in expecting much and did not know much about the film. I like going to movies without expectations, then I can be pleasantly surprised. I especially liked the Monkey King. Who wouldn't like that idea.

Forgetting Sarah Silverman

Great movie. Very funny. Especially liked the puppet vampire opera part of it. Very well put together film. I laughed a whole bunch. It was great to see this guy as the main character. He reminds me of Judd Reinhold.

Shine Down On Me

Rolling Stones documentary showing a performance in New York. These guys can still rock. It was cool to see the young interviews with these guys cute in with present day oldness. Just goes to show, getting older is the best option.

Miss Pettigrow Lives for a Day

I saw this with my mom. There just wasn't any other movie I thought she would enjoy. I really did not like it that much at all. A big pile of crap. Only one ray of sunshine was the romance between Pettigrow and her fellow. But the other romance kind of overshadowed theirs, louder, younger, and lamer romance between the starlit and her piano player. My mom told me after, that she just wanted to get up and leave during the film. She said she's picking the movie next time.

Jumper

I don't remember a thing about this movie. I think I might have bought this ticket, then gone to another movie. Sort of jumped to another theatre. I have a stub for it for 3/19/08. I wonder what I saw instead? I'll have to rent this one. I usually like sci-fi fantasy stuff like this.

Be Kind Rewind

I have to tell you that I was really looking forward to this movie. Michel Gondry is one of my favorite directors. I really enjoyed the Science of Dreams, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. This movie was kind of dissappointing. I think it was a little too much an homage to the US and stuff that Gondry is interested in, like pop culture, instead of an excursion into love, relationships, and the human mind. Interesting story about how I saw this movie. My ex-girlfriend and her boyfriend went to see the same movie at the same time. Have no idea if it was his idea or hers, just know I was waiting in line to buy a ticket and they came stolling in. Probably pre-paid for their ticket online or some crap like that. I think I even sat down right behind them in the theatre accidentally, so I had to move, so, I wouldn't sit their thinking about their bullshit. This may have colored my take on this movie, so maybe I should watch it again on DVD to see if it improves in a different contex.

Juno

This was an intersting movie, well written and the funny lines well delivered. I liked the soundtrack too, good choice of music. It was very similar in style to a Wes Anders movie, like Rushmore, or Bottle Rocket.

Everyone seemed a bit nice though, which is a little unrealistic considering the subject matter of the movie, but all in all it was a good, entertaining movie. I especially liked the casting because all of the people in it are amazing actors.

There Will Be Blood

Very interesting movie. Set in California during the turn of the century Californian oil boom, which I never new about. Adapted from the Upton Sinclair novel called Oil. I actually bought the book and started reading it after the movie.

I especially enjoyed the clash between a pragmatic business man and a man of faith. And the ending was shear brutality.

Daniel Day Lewis's character was really interesting. I would compare this movie to Orson Wells' Citizen Kane, with the main character's son being the "Rosebud" of this movie. Daniel Day Lewis's character was kind of a dispicable fellow, yet likable as well. He seemed to be over competitive and always wanted others to fail while he succeeded. An interesting view of humanity.

Atonement

Wow! What a great movie. Keira Knightly! What a hot woman. She is so beautiful.

I really like this movie. The way they played with the timeline in telling the movie and using different perspectives, very interesting. Also the soundtrack was very interesting, using the typewriter as a musical instrument, and using different characters in scenes to introduce music was really interesting. It was almost a musical in that aspect, very well done.

It was a love story, that was presented very organically or flowingly. But it was also a train wreck, as many true love stories are. The male love interest mistakenly getting into trouble, suffering because of a child. But the child also had a crush on the male love interest.

And the way the problems were both resolved and unresolved at the same time, amazing. Pulling out at the end to show the author at the end, explaining what "really" happened. A very well put together movie. A true tragedy, as many love stories are.

The Bucket List

I went to this movie tonight with 3 other people. This movie was pretty much about death. Two old fellows that are terminally ill, played by two great actors, Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman.

My thoughts on the movie, typical of our culture, showing a list of things, not all, but many that only a rich man could accomplish before his death. Typical, because we live in a consumer culture. This movie says that only a life filled with consumption is worth living.

Of course it does show that family is important, but they do not really focus on that. Most of the film is spent showing these two old guys doing expensive activities and eating expensive foods in expensive locales.

Then in the end, they have this epiphany that family is important.

They also played with the idea of atheism and faith. Morgan's character had faith, while Jack Nicholson had none. It might have been a more interesting movie if they had Nicholson, the rich guy, having faith, because he seems to get whatever he wants financially, and then the mechanic character with no faith, and then have the mechanic convince the rich guy that there is no god because in the end, they are both in the same place, but I guess that would not be as "nice" of a movie. Have them both with not enough strength to carry out the bucket list in the end.

I guess the other thing I did not like about this movie is that it was over advertised. I feel that I have seen it already because of all the commercials showing most of the good parts of the movie in order to get people into the theatre. As if two great names are not enough, three actually if you count Rob Reiner, the director.

Oh, and one last thing, the blue screen or green screen, or whatever they are calling that technique now, where they have a character in a location, but he is not there and they transpose the background behind them. They did not do that good of a job on that in this film. You could tell here and there that they weren't really there, like when they were on top of the pyramid.

Coping with Babylon: The Proper Rastology

I watched this DVD the other day. Pretty interesting documentary about Rastafarianism. I did not know much about the Rastafarian movement prior to this movie.

I am sure I am going to butcher this, but this is what I found out. Rastafarianism is a non-cohesive religious movement that is based mostly in the Caribbean area and Jamaica in particular. They have loose held beliefs that include an idea that A. Salasie, a black man that became a king in Africa during the 20th Century was somehow a living god. That in revelations it speaks of A. Salasie and predicted or foretold his coming. That within Rastafarianism there are several movements, including, but not limited to, the 12 Tribes, Nyabingi (which I guess is a movement that Bob Marley was part of, and they mingle with other people in the world). That it is a black theology, meaning that god is black. On a side note, Mussolini invaded A. Salasie's country during his reign and many Rastafarians were offended by the lack of support for A. Salasie during that event. Smoking marijuana is a sacrament to them.

I love Bob Marley's music, and that is the main reason I watched this documentary to learn more about the man and his religion.

Charlie Wilson's War

Another movie about Afghanistan. Charlie Wilson, it seems, was a Texas congressman, that was on some pretty powerful committees during the eighties, and was involved in our cold war struggle against the Soviets in Afghanistan.

This movie was kind of interesting and I learned some things about the cold war. One thing was the need to supply weapons to people that would appear as if they were captured from the Soviets. If we were so blatant and just gave the Mujahadeen American weapons, it would just be open war against the Soviets, but by supplying only Soviet made weapons, or Soviet knock-offs, we hide our involvement.

I did not like the way this movie rubs the Soviets' noses in what happened in Afghanistan. There are still Russians that are alive and in power that may have been negatively affected by Afghanistan, but gleefully rubbing their noses in it with this movie, we are engendering their anger. Reminding them of the past. The last thing we need is a bunch of Russians running around hating us.

The movie did attempt to show that Wilson wanted to rebuild Afghanistan, which may have ended up avoiding the World Trade Center being destroyed. Unfortunately we did not do that. We rebuilt Europe and Japan after WWII, but did not see fit to rebuild Afghanistan after the Soviets pulled out. Big mistake.