Honestly there's not really much for me to talk about right now. Maybe I've had my head down too much, or maybe I'm right in saying that it's just more of the same old same old going on out there. There's still fighting in the middle east. There are still a ton of people freaking out about the upcoming "end of the world." It never changes.
So, with that in mind, I've got some movie reviews here and we'll just leave it at that for now. Hopefully I'll have something better next time...
The Hunger Games
From Netflix: In a dystopian future ruled by a totalitarian regime, resourceful Katniss and her partner, Peeta, represent their district in the lethal Hunger Games -- a televised survival competition in which teenage contestants fight each other to the death.
My Take: I picked up a copy of "The Hunger Games" (the book) at the airport. It was actually when I was waiting for my flight out here to Phoenix for my job interview. Anyway I picked up a copy and read the first page, and then I put it back. I knew within one page that this was a book that would not interest me in the slightest. In fact it would probably frustrate me, because it took what could be an awesome story and allowed its main character to ruin the whole thing.
So I don't know how different the movie is from the book, but it looks like I may have been completely wrong. While I'm still not a huge fan of the notion that these are kids, I guess I understand how using them instead of adults can add to the cruelty factor. Anyway the point is this movie surprised me with how deep and good it was.
Great characters (Woody Harrelson surprised the crap outta me), good concept/story, and for the most part good acting. It was "cute" as it could be (considering kids were trying to kill each other), without going over-the-top stupid. I will say I had some problems with the way the story played out. There was a whole lot more sleeping in trees then there was fighting, and the introduction of those weird dog things was kind of stupid. But still, considering how low my expectations were going into it, this was overall a success in my book.
The first thing I did when this movie ended was download the soundtrack. I tell you what, I'm still a Thomas Newman fan at heart, but this James Newton Howard guy knows his shit. I'm finding more and more stuff that I like is coming from him. Except for "Signs" and "The Sixth Sense." That crap is freaky.
Oh, one more thing. This movie proved to me that I definitely have a true phobia of bees and wasps. The scene where she's cutting down that hornets nest thing, I thought I was going to throw up. It made me physically uncomfortable. I've always joked and made a big deal about how afraid of bees I am, but I figured if it came down to it and I really had to, I could face a sting or two. Now I'm not so sure.
So yeah, in short, I will be seeing the sequel to this movie. And I think you should too. But see this one first. Because who watches a sequel before the original? Dumb.
50/50
From Netflix: An otherwise healthy twentysomething has a comically early midlife crisis when he gets slapped with a cancer diagnosis -- and a 50-50 chance of survival. But what's the meaning of life when you're not sure how long yours will last?
My Take: I tell you what. These Apatow folks have got it down. They have managed to find a way to take a very serious story and turn it into something that is funny but also touching at the same time. So here's a kid who does everything right, living out the "why do bad things happen to good people" story... and it works.
What really surprised me about this movie was just how funny it could be. There were moments where I actually laughed, like, out loud. That's not something I do when I'm watching a movie by myself. But I think the formula here is that they were so serious, and there were so many downer moments, that when suddenly something funny happened it's like your emotions were running wild and weren't ready for the shift.
This is not an easy movie to watch. It's a story about a kid who gets cancer. A good kid too. But more than that, it's a story about how the people around that kid deal with cancer. Think about how your best friend would act if you got it. Or think about how YOU would act if your best friend got it. Your mom? Your girlfriend? It would change everything, and I think "50/50" does a great job of showcasing that.
So like I said it's not easy to watch, but it is absolutely worth watching. I applaud this group of guys. They went from making one-off movies like "40 Year Old Virgin," discovered how powerful their message could be, and took responsibility for it. Like Spiderman.
You ever wonder about whoever wrote that line? Who knew that a few silly words, "with great power comes great responsibility" could live on forever. Seriously... it's in movies, on TV, it's everywhere. That's got to feel pretty good. And I make commercials that most people probably just fast-forward through anyway.
Lincoln
From Netflix: Director Steven Spielberg takes on the towering legacy of Abraham Lincoln, focusing on his stewardship of the Union during the Civil War years. The biographical saga also reveals the conflicts within Lincoln's cabinet regarding the war and abolition.
My Take: I got this pal Matt. When "Lincoln" came out, he kept asking me if I wanted to check it out. I kept turning him down, because the last thing I wanted to do was pay 10 bucks to go sit in a movie that would probably be boring, and would be no different than watching it at home on my theater setup. But eventually I relented, and wouldn't you know it... I loved this movie and I don't think Matt cared for it at all.
Don't get me wrong. It is boring. And slow. But that's what it's supposed to be. Think about that era and how boring it was ALL THE TIME. Seriously, people were probably joining the war just because it gave them something to do. The movie is less about the war and more about the politics behind the war, which honestly I find fascinating.
Things were so different back then. Congressmen weren't the fat, slow, lazy, useless people they are today. They were rock stars. They were the only thing representing their states, a voice in the capital, they mattered. And like the celebrities of today, there were some who were good and took their roles seriously, and there were some who were absolute jokes. Like Lindsay Lohan.
Everyone talked about what a great role Daniel Day Lewis played, and I agree. But the person who really stole this movie for me was Tommy Lee Jones. That guy is pretty much the same person in every movie, and yet he either finds roles or they find him to where all he has to do is make slight adjustments to the person he is, and he fits perfectly. He was fantastic in this movie. Really just about everyone was, except for Lincoln's wife. Not so much.
This is one of those movies you SHOULD see, but you probably won't. Yes it's boring, yes it's about politics, but it is very important. It's important to see where we were as a country compared to where we are. It's important to see the concerns that were brought up back then, and it's important to get a glimpse at the beginnings of some of the racial problems that still plague us today. I'm not saying you should go sit in a theater and try to stay awake for this entire movie (and it is long)... but at some point you owe it to yourself and the rest of us to educate yourself just a little bit, and watch this movie. You could certainly do worse.
Well folks, if I don't get to write again before the 21st, happy end of the world! See you on the other side!
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