A Heap of Reviews for the New Year

Wow, I haven't posted anything since last year. Well, November is a really long time ago. So, I have read a couple of books and saw a heap of moves that I will tackle in this here little post. Ok, so maybe it won't be so little. But enough of the explaining, lets get to reviewing.

Pope Joan. This little novel is by Donna Woolfolk Cross. It is based on the legend of Pope Joan, a woman, disguised as a man of course, who became Pope and ruled from St. Peter's throne for two years. Apparently there have been numerous references to Pope Joan in different historical writings. The Roman See, perhaps not surprisingly, denies that a woman ever became pope. Regardless Pope Joan is a great story. Cross tells it very well and managed to keep me enthralled from beginning to end. It also managed to get me interested in the legend itself. I always say a good book is one that makes you want to read more! Last Words: Read it!

Memiors of a Geisha. This novel is of course by Arthur Golden. I had read the book many moons ago. I remember thouroughly enjoying the book, but that's about it. A lot of the details escaped me. I watched the movie (see review below, duh) and needed ro reread the book. Mr. Golden tells a glorious tale. Better than the movie (again, see below). It is so rich in detail that I am surprised I could not remember more. There's plenty of drama and plenty of laughter. Last Words: Read it ... and if you haven't read it in awhile, read it again!

Walk the Line. I love Johnny Cash. How can you not really? I was a bit skeptical about Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon stepping into the shoes of Mr. and Mrs. Cash, especially when I heard that they did their own singing. But, they did a marvelous job. In fact, the whole picture is great. Better in fact, than Ray. That's right, I said it. Better than Ray. Ok, I guess I am not the first to say that. This is one of those biopics that makes you want to gather up everything about the person that you can. In this case, I am talking the music of course. And not the just Johnny's music, by June Carter Cash's music as well. Last Words: Watch it. You love it if you like Ray.

Memoirs of a Geisha (the movie). See, I told you I watched the movie. Now, this movie was not utterly spectacular, but it was pretty good. It strayed quite a ways from the book (not a surprise, really). But I mean quite a ways. Gone is the tipsy house and little Chiyo's hopes of being adopted. Gone is New York. But there is a lot that it is there. The ladies in the main roles are all fabulous actresses, Gong Li especially. She, not being able to speak English, learned all her lines phonetically and still managed to be the most convincing of them. The movie is also visually beautiful. Last Words: Watch, but don't expect the novel!

Brokeback Mountain. So good I watched it twice. This is way more than a "gay cowboy movie". This is a love story. A tortured love story at that. It is heartbreaking. Who knew Health Ledger could act so well? Who knew Ang Lee could direct so well? Okay, that's a low blow, we should all just pretend The Hulk was never made. Everything about this movie is just right. It is nicely done, just a tad understated and one really connects with the characters. Last Words: Watch it. Just watch it.

Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and Wardrobe. This here movie is great for the little ones. They'll love of it. For you adults out there, especially fans of C.S. Lewis's books, you might not enjoy it so much. It tries really hard to be The Lord of the Rings. So much so that when you go to the website, you are greeted by Andrew Adamson (LOTR's site has greetings from Jackson and Crew). Adamson is no Jackson. I will say the movie was fun to watch in a full theater with lots of college students. And it certainly wasn't boring. Last Words: watch and just maybe watch it at the theater for that big screen experience.

Zathura. This is another great movie for the kiddies. This is based on the book by the same guy who wrote Jumanji and The Polar Express. John Favreau directs, and directs the heck out of it. He got some good performances out of the kids and even Dax Shepard. A critic suggested that Favreau stick to these types of movies, given his success with the highly entertaining Elf. Zathura, I think is better than Jumanji. Much more imaginative and better done. Last Words: watch it on DVD, since that is probably the only place you will be able to find it soon.

King Kong. Ahhhh, Peter Jackson, how did we live so long with out you? King Kong is amazing. The special effects kick the butt of LOTR's special effects. Andy Serkis is better as Kong that he was a Gollum. Naomi Watts is marvelous as Ann Darrow, conveying so much with so few words (not unlike a certain Mr. Ledger). It is long, but I hardly noticed the three hours. No, really, the move is that good. There's big scary bugs, big scary dinosuars, big scary Jack Blacks (he's really the weakest part of the flick. I am really quite surprised Kong didn't dominate the box office. Last Words: Go watch it people!

The Producers. Now, normally, anything that has Mel Brooks's stamp on it is utterly hilarious. I am a big fan of the original Producers and I never got to see the broadway version. While this movie does not match the hilarity of the original, it is still pretty darn funny. There were a couple of moments where I didn't think I would be able to supress my giggles. Apparently lots of the Broadway cast are in the picture, with the exception of Uma Thurman and Will Ferrell. Both are great. Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane are great too. They have great chemistry. My two biggest complaints may be 1) the direction (the director needs a little more big screen practice, it was very theatery) and 2) Broderick was sometimes a bit too over the top. That works well on stage where a live audience is responding, but not so much on screen. Last Words: watch, but wait for it to hit DVD/Video.

Fun with Dick and Jane. Jim Carrey is usually fun. Tea Leoni is usually fun. This movie starts out really fun. But then it just gets kind of eh. It was entertaining enough, but not hilarious. The son of Dick and Jane is probably the most entertaining character of all. Last Words: if you want to see it, wait for to come out on DVD/Video.

Whew. that's it. For now.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (movie)

Ahhh, yes. Harry Potter. Unless you have lived under a rock this year, you would know that it is a good year for Harry ... and JK Rowling ... and Warner Brothers. Earlier this year, the 6th book of Ms. Rowling's series made its record breaking debut. And now, this past weekend, the 4th movie was released.

Apparently, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire made a somewhat decent premiere. Selling a mere $102million in tickets. Of course, 10 of those dollars once belonged to me. The movie was directed by some guy named Mike Newell, the Brit to direct a Potter flick. Presumably, according to other critics, he brought some British sensibility to the movie. Sure ... but really how would I know.

What I do know is that he directed a wonderfully dark and thrilling (albeit too short for a Potter Purist) movie. So let's get that part out of the way. The tome was a monster at 740 pages. It would have been impossible to cram all of that in a two and half hour movie. So why not two? I think Potter fans would have waited, but there apparently was no natural breaking point in the movie. Plus, Newell learned from one Mr. Alfonso Cuaron that an adaptation did not have to be exact while staying true to the story.

I do wish I could have seen Dobby, the Durselys, S.P.E.W. (and if you don't know what that is, you should really read the books!), more of Rita Skeeter, the Giant Squid, Peeves(who hasn't appeared in a movie yet!) and then some. But that story that was shown on screen was the essence (and really the whole point) of the book.

While a bit choppy at times, Newell keeps up a nice pace that's never dull. The movie becomes especially entertaining around that time of the Yule Ball when our Hero and his pals attempt to conquer the horrible world of dating. The movie's grand finale, the rebirth of Voldemort is quite wonderful and almost exactly how I pictured it when I read the book.

The kids in the movie keep becoming better actors and it is always fun to see the best of Britain's thespians conquer the magical world. All in all, this is indeed the best Potter flick to date. The biggest problem is now we have to wait another couple of years for the next movie and perhaps even the final book. Sigh.

Last Words: Magical (duh), I recommend it, I want to see it at an Imax theater.

Three Wishes

Darn NBC for purposely messing with our emotions!

Three wishes is a reality program that, believe it or not, actually features real people. Basically, Host Amy Grant and her homies roll in to Small Town, USA and set up a "wish tent". There, the townsfolk make wishes. Perhaps not surprisingly, the show then grants (haha, grants ... get it? Amy Grant) three of those wishes. Of course the most compelling tear jerking stories are chosen.

Take the teenage boy who wanted his step-dad to adopt him. Or the little girl who was in a horrible accident and needed expensive and risky surgery to get back to a normal life. How about the woman who just found she was adopted and wanted to find her real mom. And most recently, the teacher and mom who lost her hearing and could no longer hear her students sing or her son cry for help.

Each episode is ended with a concert / cry fest where the last wish is granted. Amy Grant makes for a great host. She's got that small town gal feel about her and seems genuinely interested in helping out the small town folks. (Unlike Ty Penington, for example, who just sometimes is way to annoying to be sincere).

And in the end, how can you complain about a show that actually does a bit of good? So our emotions are exploited a bit in the process. Big whoop.

Last Words: Watch it, I recommend it, it is a feel good show

Lost

Well Hello There!

Long time no see. A whole two months. That's scary. Either I have been really busy or really not into the blogness. You decide. I swear I haven't been lost. Well, I have been watching Lost. So I guess this entry has a bit of a double meaning. The lost one has returned to review Lost. Hahaha. I make me laugh.

Anyways...

Lost is the greatest show ever. Ok, maybe I exaggerate, but is my new favorite show ... of all time. Let me tell you first how I discovered Lost. I really wanted to watch it in Season 1, but I was apparently more addicted to American Idol. Sad. So everyone who told me about the show, told me I would love it. So, when it came out on DVD, I bought it. That's right purchased the set. I had a super weekend long Lost marathon. I was instantly addicted. Now, I am afraid the addiction is bordering on obsession.

Season two is proving to be just a compelling and weird as season one. There's action. There's comedy. There's drama. There's weird black clouds that pull wacky former paralyzed guys down a hole. There's "backwards drippy Walt" (go read EW.com's summary for ep 3 of season two). There's a reluctant hero, a couple of murderers, a former Iraqi Republican Guard, cursed lottery winner, a crazy French lady, "tailies" (see the first Big TV Guide for that one), Tom Cruise's cousin (ok, Other Man ... nee Ethan Rom is no longer with us), and a hobbit ... I mean has been rock star. Among others. Oh yeah and The Others are apparently there too.

C'mon. Really. How can you not find something to love? The creators of the show have, for the most part, tossed formula out the window. They seem to be obsessed with details. Proving that obsession just breeds more obsession. They answer questions at just the right moment (guy named Desmond an ancient computer and a whole heap of food in the hatch) just to raise more questions (what the heck is with this Dharma thingy??).

And speaking of obsession, ABC/Disney/Touchstone Television have no qualms about feeding the fire. There's a myriad of sites that the obsessed (ahem, yours truly) peruse with frightening frequency. Case in point:

http://www.oceanicflight815.com/ The Official Lost Site. It has lots of clips and tid bits and behind the scenes things ... if you know how to get them

http://www.oceanic-air.com/ The "Official" Oceanic Website. There are ALL kinds of neat secrets and things on this site. Including messages from passengers!!!! Don't believe me? Go to the page and look at the source code. It is there. Here are some of the tidbits:

If anyone should find this message, please get word I'm alive and stranded on an island somewhere in the South Pacific. Please send help soon. Things are bad. And they're getting worse... Sally

And another:

I survived a horrific plane crash and am stranded on an island somewhere Northeast of Australia and Southwest of Hawaii. In the event that I am never found, please forward word of my fate to my parents...Robert

Yet Another:

If you are reading this note PLEASE get word to my wife that her husband survived the crash of Oceanic Flight #815 along with 47 others. Darling, I miss you so much and dream of the day I can see your face again. The very thought of that day is all that keeps me going here. Please donÂ’t forget me!

OK, just one more!:

I would like to inform my financial institutions that I will be late making my September mortgage payment as I am STRANDED ON A FRIGGIN' ISLAND IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE! Please have the Government send a search team immediately. OR don't. Shouldn't all the taxes I pay cover an expense like that?

http://www.thehansofoundation.org/ The "Official" site of the Hanso Foundation ... aka financial backers of the Dharma Initiative thing. If you look hard enough, you can find that orientation film that Desmond had Locke and Jack watch.

Last Words: OK, so I am obsessed. You should be too. Get lost in Lost.

The Hours by Michael Cunningham

Well I warned ya. Here it is. My thoughts on The Hours by Michael Cunningham. I watched the movie before I read the book. Usually I try to red the book first. Mostly, the books are always better and watching the movie first makes the reading less enjoyable for me. I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and the book.

So, the what's the story. Basically, Cunningham tells the stories of three women, Virginia Woolf, Laura Brown and Clarissa Vaughan (who is called Mrs. Dalloway by her beloved Richard). We get a glimpse into each of their lives. Cunningham gives some early hints at how their stories are intertwined and all becomes clear by the end of the book.

I understand The Hours to be Cunningham's tribute and homage to Mrs. Woolf. Having never read and of her books ... including Mrs. Dalloway, I can only take the critics' word for it! The style of writing is not something I would typically enjoy. However, I noticed that it is not too far from my own (especially the use of extra dialogue in parentheses). It is however, beautifully written. It some sense it is lyrical, poetic even. But, more than the wonderful writing, the story is magnificent. I can only describe it as extraordinarily ordinary.

I would like to point out something from the book and the movie adaptation that made me laugh. Clarissa Vaughan is played (brilliantly, I might add) by Meryl Streep (okay, she is brilliant in practically everything). In the book, Clarissa passes a movie set on her way to buy flowers. While in the flower shop, she catches a glimpse of a star emerge from her trailer inquiring about a sound. Clarissa thinks that maybe, just maybe, that was Meryl Streep or Vanessa Redgrave. That scene did not make it into the movie. But that would have been hilarious.

Anyway ... on to the

Last Words: Great book, I recommend it, it is beautifully written.

Netflix

Netflix

So I figured I should share my opinion something since it appears to have been a while since I have posted anything. I am working on reading The Hours by Michael Cunningham. I will have a review up for that soon.

But, as usual, I digress. Lets talk about Netflix. A couple of reviews ago, I recommended that if you MUST see the Fantastic Four, wait till you can Netflix it. Netflix is fabulous.

In case you have been stuck under a rock, Netflix is the online movie rental original. Pay a monthly fee, get x number of movies at a time. The more titles you want at one time, the more you pay per month. You set up a Queue of the movies you want to see and everything gets sent automatically. Keep each movie as long as you like. Postage is paid both ways. Simple, eh?

So I have the three-at-a-time program. Sometimes I think I could go for a two-at-a-time deal. But, three is good most of the time. It is great. So easy to use, add movies, and rearrange the order of movies.

I have had only one problem where a disc I got was just refusing to play. I notified Netflix online and was send a new disc before I even sent the dead one back. Good stuff.

Netflix also has some great and nifty tools and features. Based on the movies you have watched and ranked, Netflix will recommend other titles for you. While I have enjoyed most of my recommendations, some of them are just way out there. You can also share ratings with friends who use Netflix. I have personally never tried it, but it seems like fun.

Now, I will admit that I have not tried Blockbuster's online rental service. I don't plan on trying it either. Netflix is the original, and that's enough for me. I will say that, if you are not a big move renter/watcher, you might want to stick with Blockbuster. This is most suitable for people who always like to have a new movie on hand.

Netflix is one of those phenomena that changes our language (remember way back when we simply searched the internet instead of "googling" it?). I no longer rent movies. I Netflix them

Last Words: It is so great, I recommend it, FREE TRIAL!

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Buckets and Gloops and Salts ... OH MY!

In the movie watching marathon that has characterized the summer thus far, Charlie and the Chocolate factory is only the latest. Based by the book of the same name by Roald Dahl ... and NOT a remake of the 1971 Gene Wilder film ... Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a fanciful tale of pure joy and psychedelic-ness. Both have a distinct feeling of trippiness. I have unfortunately never read the book, but I hope to some day. And, sure, you can expect a review of it!

So, I love Tim Burton. And I love Johnny Depp. As an added bonus, I love Tim Burton and Johnny Depp when they work together. Suffice it to say, I love this film. I love it as much as I love Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Maybe I even love it more.

It was tons of fun. The most fun I think came at the beginning of the movie when we are meeting the Buckets. Good-hearted Charlie is played very well by little Freddy Highmore who, now has two winning roles alongside Johnny Depp (Finding Neverland being the other of course). Depp is fabulous as always ... and not nearly as creepy as Ebert and Roeper made him out to be. In fact, I think Gene Wilder was a creepier Willy Wonka (please see the scene in the boat ....whoa, scary). And I LOVE Christopher Lee and the Mr. Wonka senior.

I always get a kick out of Burton's visuals. My favorite in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was the scene where poor Veruca Salt gets her due ... at the paws of squirrels (bad nut, not a bad egg as in the '71 film). Plus there is a really nice gag about whipped cream.

Now lets talk about those Oompa-Loompa's. No longer weirdly orange, they were all played by Deep Roy. I read somewhere that Roy and Burton filmed each Oompa-Loompa in a scene separately using stand-ins who were later removed and replaced with Roy's work. A nice trick and much better than just copying and pasting Roy doing the same thing over and over again. Plus the songs were highly entertaining, especially Augustus Gloop's. I understand that the songs were pulled from Dahl's poems in the book.

Overall, I enjoyed myself immensely. Good fun, good acting, classic Burton. My only regret is not having a big bag o' candy to enjoy while I was watching the film!

Last Words: much fun, I highly recommend it, totally need it for my DVD collection

Fantastic Four

Okay, I admit, I was so excited about Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince that I just ignored writing an opinion about the Fantastic Four. So, here it is.

Fantastic Four is the latest in Marvel Comics' film adaptations. It is the story of five folks who, in the name of science, go in to space to do some research, get blasted by a freaky cloud and have their DNA altered as a result. Four of them turn out pretty fantastic and one, well perhaps fantastically evil is the right way to put.

So, I will get to straight to the point, mostly because I want to write about Charlie and the Chocolate Factory next. And, be prepared to brace yourselves. (I might say "yourself" because I think there is only one person who regularly reads this blog!). In terms of books and movies, it seems I have given mostly positive reviews. But...

While Fantastic Four was entertaining and watchable, it really wasn't all that super of a movie. Contributing the most to this is the cheese factor. The movie is ultra campy and corny. Most jokes, I could see coming from a mile away. The movie wasn't thrilling or action-packed. It did have it's action ... but ... eh. Also, the special effects were none too special. Especially the lightning. If you've seen it, you know what I mean.

I think maybe I was too impressed by thrills, action and effects of War of the Worlds to be impressed by Fantastic Four. Totally different types of movies, for sure. But still, the formula just wasn't working. I was prepared, however, having read several reviews calling the movie "sitcom-like". That's a good way to put it. Interestingly enough, the movie does end with the obligatory set up for the sequel. I might even venture to say there will be one, since the movie did reasonable well at the box office. Who knows, it could pull an X-men type coup. X-2 was a lot better than X-Men!

Anyway...

Last Words: It was okay, I recommend you Netflix it, it won't be added to my DVD collection.