As soon as I started using Netflix (2004), people would come up to me and ask for my opinion of all the movies. I decided to start this blog and direct them here instead.
I mostly enjoy watching Rom-Coms, Long winded English dramas, Period movies and classics. I try to watch all of the movies that get nominated for Academy Awards, but it doesn't always happen.
I love to get comments and email.
Rating: A
Premise: Three low-on-finances 20-somethings move into a Manhattan penthouse in hopes that they will meet and marry millionaires.
Recommend: Yes. I can’t believe that I haven’t seen this movie before today. I happened to catch it on cable as it was just starting. Lauren Bacall, Betty Grable and Marilyn Monroe are fantastic. This is quick and witty.
Rating: A
Premise: A child, Max, is a very exuberant “Wild Thing” of a child. After his mom screams at him, he sails off to an island of other “Wild Things” where he becomes their king. While there, he realizes that being the king of the wild things is not all it is cracked up to be.
Recommend: Yes, definitely. I’m not sure it is a great movie for kids – there are some really intense scenes and the meaning may go over their heads. If you are a Spike Jonze fan, you will really like this. I thought it was beautiful. The voice over and puppetry work was sensational.
Rating: B
Premise: A young woman trying to make ends meet for her and her son sets up a cleaning business for crime scenes.
Recommend: Yes! I was surprised by how much I liked it. It was funny but not “stupid funny”…more like a dramedy. The primary actors were all wonderful – special attention to Emily Blunt.
Rating: B+
Premise: Bill Mahr goes around the world to ask religious leaders questions that make them examine their faith.
Recommend: Yes. I’m not a huge Bill Mahr fan (a little too liberal for me) but this was recommended to me from a friend that I consider to be a good Christian. Bill Mahr goes between interviewing religious figures and scientists. It’s always amazing to me that when you ask an honest question that outlines an inconsistency in religion, the person that is asked gets all defensive and won’t answer. I know that this is heavily edited but it definitely shows the hypocrisy in religion and its leaders. (BTW, I’m not into religion so YMMV with this review).
Rating: A
Premise: Julie Powell is about to be 30 and feels like she has no purpose. She undertakes a self-imposed challenge to make all 500+ recipes in Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Vol.1 in 365 days.
Recommend: YES! I had heard that the movie was just so-so with the great parts being the Meryl Streep/Julia Child sections. So not true. The movie as a whole is fantastic. I can see where critics would think the other parts of the movie was bad because the Meryl Streep parts were genius. (Probably another Academy Award Nomination) This movie is extremely funny with just a few dramatic moments. It will be a must own movie when it comes out on DVD.
Rating: A
Premise: A young girl who has some serious behaviour issues finds peace with her drama teacher and in playing Alice from Alice in Wonderland.
Recommend?: Yes. One of the best movies I’ve seen in a long time. Effectively showcases the issues related to raising and being a child with a health issue (Tourette Syndrome). The entire cast is fantastic especially Patricia Clarkson and Elle Fanning. The material may be too much for kids.
Rating: B
Premise: An incredibly upbeat, half-glass-full, type of girl, Poppy, gets her bicycle stolen. She decides to take driving lessons with this crazy guy, Scott, who develops a crush on her.
Recommend?: Sort of. This is a really odd little movie. Very British. You must turn up the sound to hear the dialogue. Not one I need to own but if you like quirky British movies, you will like this.
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Starring my favorite: Colin Firth
Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland
Rating: B
Premise: Amanda Price of current day London wishes she lived in the times of Jane Austen – specifically with the characters in the book of “Pride & Prejudice”. One day, she goes to her bathroom to find Elizabeth Bennet standing in her tub. Turns out that there is a secret portal to the Bennet’s house in her bathroom (how coincedental!). She goes to Regency England and manages to mess up the whole P&P book of events.
Recommend: Yes, but for die hard Austenites. This is almost 3 hours but it was originally a 3 part BBC series. Bringing modern London to Regency England turns out to be pretty funny. I think that Hugh Bonneville might just be my favorite Mr. Bennet.
Rating: B
Premise: This movie contains two stories that take place at different times. The first story is about a gay man with AIDS who leaves home without speaking to his parents. The second story is about a woman who gave up her son for adoption when she was 17. Guess who her son is?
Recommend?: Yes. This movie is seriously dramatic and a little depressing but very well done. Fantastic cast.
