I wanted to be James Bond as a kid. Yes, I was a girl, but I still wanted to be Bond. Not a 'Bond Girl', but Bond. He was always so cool, and had way better toys than me.
This movie was done as a sequel to Casino Royale. (Ane by the way, I loved this remake with Craig.) Quantum of Solace portrays Bond in a plot to find who breaks in and tries to kill M. But the subplot here is that he's also looking for revenge from who killed his girl in Casino Royale. Lots of crazy cool action sequences later, he has taken care of both issues, as well as a few of someone else's.
I have a major problem, however, with the way this Bond was written. (Ian Flemming did not write this story at all. He wrote a short story with the same title, but it bears no resemblance to this movie.) Quantum of Solace portrays a Bond who is way too in touch with his emotions. True James Bond is supposed to be unaffected by what happens to him personally. He's supposed to be able to make sane, rational decisions for the greater good, all of the time. He does have a license to kill, right? This Bond was killing almost indiscriminately. True Bond would never seek revenge!!
And, there wasn't even a real 'Bond Girl' in this one. Yeah, there were a couple of hot chicks, one that succumbed, but the typical role was not there at all! Yes, the role usually is really sexist, but even I want it!! And I'm a huge feminist!!!
My take?? All in all it's a really good movie. Love Daniel Craig. Lots of cool effects.
But it's NOT BOND!!!!! It's some kind of psychoanalyzed, humanoid Bond!!! He should be wearing a polyester leisure suit, or jeans and a bomber jacket! It's not Bond!!! I don't like him!!
So, my advice to the higher movie powers would be:
If Ian Flemming didn't write the story, then just don't call him James Bond.
Keep on with the re-makes!
If you really have to buy it for your collection, instead of sending it back to Netflix, I've included an Amazon link below.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Twilight ***1/2
My step daughter has read the whole series. I've seen her starry eyes as she told me how amazing the books were. I should add that she has the typical teenage vampire infatuation that's going around these days. When the movie came out she was so excited. And yes, I saw the starry eyes again as she told me how wonderful it was. She typically cannot sway me toward the horror-fantasy genre at all. (I can't watch one without making fun of it the entire time. No exceptions.) BUT, since this movie has swept the young world, I thought I should give it a look.
The thing about it is that it's not really about vampires. It's actually a young love story. That's why all the young girls are ga-ga!! It's really just another forbidden love story. The newness of it is the way the whole vampire thing is woven into the plot. Of course since they're vampires, they have a whole different bag of tricks with which to play. This makes for some really nice special effects which we just crave in our movies these days!
All in all the movie is very well done and definitely held my attention for the two hours. I can definitely see how this is a must see for the 15-20 year old girl, or the girl at heart at any age. It's great intense love story at its best. There are several sexually suggestive scenes, but no nudity.
I haven't read the series, but I wouldn't be surprised if there was a Romeo & Juliet type ending coming up???
The thing about it is that it's not really about vampires. It's actually a young love story. That's why all the young girls are ga-ga!! It's really just another forbidden love story. The newness of it is the way the whole vampire thing is woven into the plot. Of course since they're vampires, they have a whole different bag of tricks with which to play. This makes for some really nice special effects which we just crave in our movies these days!
All in all the movie is very well done and definitely held my attention for the two hours. I can definitely see how this is a must see for the 15-20 year old girl, or the girl at heart at any age. It's great intense love story at its best. There are several sexually suggestive scenes, but no nudity.
I haven't read the series, but I wouldn't be surprised if there was a Romeo & Juliet type ending coming up???
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Nobel Son ****
This one was a nice little surprise! It was much better than I expected it to be. Alan Rickman is one of my favorites for whom I try to keep an ear open, but there wasn't really much buzz at all about this movie.
It has sort of a twisted and complex plot with a wide variety of characters. This is one where you need to be paying attention or you'll miss something. That's one of my favorite criteria for a movie -- figuring things out and keeping up. It's not quite as fast paced and difficult here, but still enough to keep my attention. If that's not the kind of thing you enjoy, then you may not enjoy this film.
It follows a pompous, arrogant man (Rickman) who is a new Nobel laureate, as his only son is kidnapped and held for ransom. The thickening of this plot is aided greatly by the main character who plays this ass of a man extremely well. You kind of want bad things for him -- he's that obnoxious! The other characters of course lend to the unfolding and thickening of the plot. There is a fast paced, really cool action scene involving the hand-off of the ransom money, and plenty of twists for your head to ponder as you go along.
A surprise -- it was quite enjoyable!!
Kid rating - One sex scene (nothing exposed but some skin), some bad language and really bad manners.
It has sort of a twisted and complex plot with a wide variety of characters. This is one where you need to be paying attention or you'll miss something. That's one of my favorite criteria for a movie -- figuring things out and keeping up. It's not quite as fast paced and difficult here, but still enough to keep my attention. If that's not the kind of thing you enjoy, then you may not enjoy this film.
It follows a pompous, arrogant man (Rickman) who is a new Nobel laureate, as his only son is kidnapped and held for ransom. The thickening of this plot is aided greatly by the main character who plays this ass of a man extremely well. You kind of want bad things for him -- he's that obnoxious! The other characters of course lend to the unfolding and thickening of the plot. There is a fast paced, really cool action scene involving the hand-off of the ransom money, and plenty of twists for your head to ponder as you go along.
A surprise -- it was quite enjoyable!!
Kid rating - One sex scene (nothing exposed but some skin), some bad language and really bad manners.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Battle In Seattle ***
I hadn't heard much of this movie and honestly it wasn't that great but I feel that it had an important message that should be relayed...
The main reason that I watched it is because I usually love Charlize Theron. And once again she did a great job here, although her role was not that significant to the plot. There were many characters portrayed because of the large scope of the story.
First off, since I rarely even watch the news, I shamefully really had no idea of what had gone on in Seattle in 1999 when the WTO convened there. So this movie tells you all about it from both sides of the battle... the police and all of the activists.
Bottom line, the message.... If you are one of the people who uses the term 'tree hugger' in a derogatory way, you should be ashamed. We should all be standing up for every living creature on our planet. We should be taking care of each other, not exploiting!
If you love God, then you MUST love our planet and everything He put on it!!!
I am a tree hugger and proud of it!!!
The main reason that I watched it is because I usually love Charlize Theron. And once again she did a great job here, although her role was not that significant to the plot. There were many characters portrayed because of the large scope of the story.
First off, since I rarely even watch the news, I shamefully really had no idea of what had gone on in Seattle in 1999 when the WTO convened there. So this movie tells you all about it from both sides of the battle... the police and all of the activists.
Bottom line, the message.... If you are one of the people who uses the term 'tree hugger' in a derogatory way, you should be ashamed. We should all be standing up for every living creature on our planet. We should be taking care of each other, not exploiting!
If you love God, then you MUST love our planet and everything He put on it!!!
I am a tree hugger and proud of it!!!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Narnia... both of them ****
Ok, these are great movies... very well done.
BUT, I admit it. The main reason that I like them is for all
of the Jesus symbolism. I totally didn't get it as a kid when I
saw the film strip (haha) at school. Took me 30 more yrs.!
BUT, I admit it. The main reason that I like them is for all
of the Jesus symbolism. I totally didn't get it as a kid when I
saw the film strip (haha) at school. Took me 30 more yrs.!
Blow Dry ***
I'm a fan of British comedy and this was a really good one. Alan Rickman is one of my favorite 'bad guys', but here he's a really good guy and did a great job. It revolves around a group of people, all hairdressers, and the big local hair show. As you can imagine, this whole plot gets lots of laughs on its own. But there is a deeper subplot involving a family reuniting. It takes you through the full gamut of emotions. It really was one worth the watch.
AND, by the way, this one's in Netflix's Watch Instantly section, so you don't have to wait for the disk!
Also, this movie stars the wonderful, now late Natasha Richardson. It was another fantastic job for her!!! R.I.P. We'll miss your work!
AND, by the way, this one's in Netflix's Watch Instantly section, so you don't have to wait for the disk!
Also, this movie stars the wonderful, now late Natasha Richardson. It was another fantastic job for her!!! R.I.P. We'll miss your work!
Happy-Go-Lucky ***
This was a kind of strange little film for me. Not a whole lot going on and only a few really good laughs. BUT, I loved the title character. She's the happy one... Nothing phases her. We go through a few weeks of her life with her, encountering different people, different men. Until one day she's faced with a decision and there's a long pause....... I was on the edge of my seat begging her to make the smart decision. She did and went on about her merry way!!! Yay!
Maybe if we all get happy-go-lucky, we'll make better real decisions?
Good movie, not great, but definitely worth the watch.
Maybe if we all get happy-go-lucky, we'll make better real decisions?
Good movie, not great, but definitely worth the watch.
The Changeling ***
Sad. Crazy.
I'm not a big fan of Angie's, but I actually shed a tear in this one??? Good performance, sad story.
I'm not a big fan of Angie's, but I actually shed a tear in this one??? Good performance, sad story.
Milk ****
Wow! Sean Penn really did deserve the Oscar for this. He played a great gay guy!!! And I know a lot of gay guys.
It's a wonderful biopic about freedom and civil rights and it made me proud to be an American because I can open my mouth about anything!
Having grown up in the '70s, I was largely unaware that any of this happened... the stripping of these civil liberties nor the fight to get them back.
The concept of 'equal rights' is something that we all take for granted in one way or another and I'm very grateful for movies like this that remind us of all of the fights that were fought for us!
It's a wonderful biopic about freedom and civil rights and it made me proud to be an American because I can open my mouth about anything!
Having grown up in the '70s, I was largely unaware that any of this happened... the stripping of these civil liberties nor the fight to get them back.
The concept of 'equal rights' is something that we all take for granted in one way or another and I'm very grateful for movies like this that remind us of all of the fights that were fought for us!
Role Models ***
Ok, I really like Paul Rudd. This was a really funny movie with lots of laughs. For those of you who have kids and have actually been successful in sheltering them, you should skip it. There's a good bit of language and sexual references.
All in all, really funny AND with a lesson. I love that!
All in all, really funny AND with a lesson. I love that!
The Boy In the Striped Pajamas ****
When I received this movie, I knew little more of it than that there was a boy out of the fence and a boy in the fence, in striped pajamas... the movie poster. It actually turned out to be what I consider to be a valuable viewpoint -- Nazi Germany through the eyes of an eight year old boy. It was altogether quite a beautiful, naive little story. As Bruno fumbles through, you feel as though you're eight again. You feel the stupid little boy rationale... all the way up to the end when my adult reasoning took over and I started screaming 'No!' at the TV. I sobbed, which is pretty rare.
So, if you're not in the mood to cry, you should skip it for now.
However, you should definitely get to it. It's a movie that slaps you in the face with the true horrors of war. And a movie which totally brings life into perspective, which is good for everyone! It affected me for days!
So, if you're not in the mood to cry, you should skip it for now.
However, you should definitely get to it. It's a movie that slaps you in the face with the true horrors of war. And a movie which totally brings life into perspective, which is good for everyone! It affected me for days!
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