My kids have been wanting to see this since it was first announced, considering they have both watched virtually every episode of the Simpsons ever made. I've watched a lot of them too, but I can't say I'm a huge fan. I do like Groening's irreverent sense of humor though. There was a showing of the movie at 2:30 yesterday at our local theater and I was hoping there would be a showing of Die Harder near the same time; there wasn't, so I went with them to this one. I was planning to take a nap, but I didn't have a chance...when Homer turned to look at the audience and said, "Who would be dumb enough to pay for a cartoon you can see at home for free?" I had a feeling we were in for a fun ride. Matt and company are at their prime in this, and surprisingly didn't rely on dozens of celebrity cameos for cheap laughs either (and I'm sure he could have gotten half of Hollywood to participate if asked too!) This is the funniest laugh-out-loud comedy I've seen on the big screen in years. And I loved the little "inside" jokes that my kids didn't even get...like the head of the EPA being named "Cargill" (one of the country's biggest corporate polluters..fined several times for polluting air and waterways.) This is a great movie and we WILL buy the DVD when it comes out.
Reviews
5 Reviews
Rocky Balboa
(2006)
What a beautiful love story, and oh yeah, there's some boxing to keep the men entertained too!
21 December 2006
If only Sly had done Rocky I, II and Rocky Balboa as the final film of the series, he would have had so much more respect in Hollywood. (But of course he'd have about $100 million less in his portfolio too...) Without being too spoilerish I can say it's a great flick that stays very true to the spirit of the first film. I think why Rocky I was such a universal hit is that while guys enjoyed the sports/competition aspect of the tale, women recognized that it was actually one of the best love stories ever filmed. In Rocky Balboa, Adrian is physically gone, but still ends up being the heart of the movie. One thing I admire is that Rocky still loves her so much even in death that Stallone didn't try to just create another substitute love interest in her place. There is a woman (Marie, the smoking teenager from the first film, now a 40-something mom) who he cares about and in post Rocky Balboa-land, you feel could even end up being another Mrs. Balboa, but never another Adrian. And I like that Marie respects his devotion to his late wife's memory and isn't threatened by it. She knows Adrian was the love of his life and she wouldn't even attempt to go there. There's a very touching pre-fight scene that demonstrates this and brought tears to my eyes. Rocky Balboa does have the monumental boxing bout of course, but it's not just a typical macho sports film, just like the first one wasn't. I honestly think this one is just as much a love story as Rocky was, only in this one the love interest is deceased. If anything, I felt this one was more touching and romantic than the original. I really, really loved this movie.
Take a Date to Win A Date! It's Great!
2 January 2004
Three little words: Go See It! It's funny, romantic, and sweet without being sappy. I honestly think it's the best romantic comedy to come out in a long time. Sweet Home Alabama was a huge hit in this genre and I really thought WADWTH was much more consistently humorous. The audience I was in laughed throughout the whole thing, but the great thing was it didn't have to resort to toilet-humor or slapstick to be really, really funny. I can't even figure out why it got a PG-13 rating, I'll bring my pre-teen to the official opening without being embarrassed.
Spielburg made perfect casting choices for this film (Josh was handpicked for this role by the great S.S. himself, over well-known stars like Ben Affleck, Heath Ledger, and Brad Pitt) Everyone in the movie performed wonderfully, and Topher Grace was a riot. I really think this is the movie that will make major stars of both Topher and Josh. Josh's acting style reminds me so much of George Clooney, where Topher kind of reminds me of Matthew McConaughey. Even the actors/actresses who had smaller supporting roles like Cathy, Rosalie's best friend, and Angelique, the bartender who has an unrequited crush on someone, are wonderful in their parts. My only criticism is that it ran only 90 minutes so I think it was too short. I predict this is going to be a word-of-mouth sleeper hit. Mind you, I'm not claiming this is Citizen Kane or the African Queen....I don't think it'll win any Academy Awards or end up on the top 250, but if you want to go to the flicks and have a really enjoyable time, go see it when it comes out and buy it on DVD later this year. I don't think you'll be asking for your money back.
Spielburg made perfect casting choices for this film (Josh was handpicked for this role by the great S.S. himself, over well-known stars like Ben Affleck, Heath Ledger, and Brad Pitt) Everyone in the movie performed wonderfully, and Topher Grace was a riot. I really think this is the movie that will make major stars of both Topher and Josh. Josh's acting style reminds me so much of George Clooney, where Topher kind of reminds me of Matthew McConaughey. Even the actors/actresses who had smaller supporting roles like Cathy, Rosalie's best friend, and Angelique, the bartender who has an unrequited crush on someone, are wonderful in their parts. My only criticism is that it ran only 90 minutes so I think it was too short. I predict this is going to be a word-of-mouth sleeper hit. Mind you, I'm not claiming this is Citizen Kane or the African Queen....I don't think it'll win any Academy Awards or end up on the top 250, but if you want to go to the flicks and have a really enjoyable time, go see it when it comes out and buy it on DVD later this year. I don't think you'll be asking for your money back.
Movie Makers....Take a Clue from the Pirates!
20 July 2003
Warning: Spoilers
All movies should be this much fun to go see. With most of the junk Hollywood produces now, I hate to spend $20+ for two tickets, 1 medium popcorn and a bottle of water, so that my kid and I can waste 90 minutes of our life, and come out thinking, "well that movie was OK...." I watch tons of movies, but generally wait till they're on DVD so I only blow $4 at Blockbuster if it sucks.
HOWEVER, cheapskate that I can be, POTC was worth every penny!!! Even though some people here might think it was too long because Hollywood's getting us trained with the 80-90 minute flicks so they can cram in more showings at the theater, I loved every second of it. I'm 40 and my daughter's 11 and we both had a blast. And what's odd is that neither of us is particularly into "pirate" movies. It's just so much fun to watch, it's appropriate it was based on a Disney ride, because that's exactly what it is, a 2 1/2 hour long movie ride that lets you escape from reality into a wonderful fantasyland.
They couldn't have picked a better cast for this picture. Johnny, Keira, and Orlando were perfect in their roles. Keira reminds me of a cross between Brooke Shields and Jennifer Garner. She's pretty without being too perfect, but portrays the damsel in distress that can swing a plank of wood like McGwire if need be. Orlando is a great romantic anti-hero/love interest for Keira's character. And as a dirty, natty-braided, gold-toothed, and, you assume, smelly pirate, Johnny Depp was as sexy a swashbuckler as you'll ever see on film (and MINOR SPOILER...) he doesn't even do anything resembling a love scene! Any female that doesn't want to jump his bones after seeing one of his side-ways glances needs to get her hormones checked!
Filmmakers who are wondering why their movies don't make money at the box office need to take a long hard look at this one and learn some lessons.
A) If we want to see serious issues or be depressed, we can turn on CNN.
B) Movies don't have to be crammed full of blood, gore, profanity, or nudity to be a smash hit. You'll make more money when parents can take kids to a show without being embarassed or horrified every 30 seconds.
C) When we go to a movie, we know the people on the screen are acting, and the actors know we know they are acting, so let your actors have fun with this, and subtly wink at the audience every now and then. It doesn't hurt and we viewers love it!
D) Don't underestimate the intelligence of the movie-going public, even the kids. Movies can be hysterically funny with well-written, well-timed lines without resorting to stupid slapstick, pie-in-the face, or toilet-themed humor.
My kudos to the creators of POTC. They did everything right, and I predict they'll sell a fortune of DVD's when this comes out at the stores. I know I'll be buying it the first day. This is a movie I'll want to watch many times over.
HOWEVER, cheapskate that I can be, POTC was worth every penny!!! Even though some people here might think it was too long because Hollywood's getting us trained with the 80-90 minute flicks so they can cram in more showings at the theater, I loved every second of it. I'm 40 and my daughter's 11 and we both had a blast. And what's odd is that neither of us is particularly into "pirate" movies. It's just so much fun to watch, it's appropriate it was based on a Disney ride, because that's exactly what it is, a 2 1/2 hour long movie ride that lets you escape from reality into a wonderful fantasyland.
They couldn't have picked a better cast for this picture. Johnny, Keira, and Orlando were perfect in their roles. Keira reminds me of a cross between Brooke Shields and Jennifer Garner. She's pretty without being too perfect, but portrays the damsel in distress that can swing a plank of wood like McGwire if need be. Orlando is a great romantic anti-hero/love interest for Keira's character. And as a dirty, natty-braided, gold-toothed, and, you assume, smelly pirate, Johnny Depp was as sexy a swashbuckler as you'll ever see on film (and MINOR SPOILER...) he doesn't even do anything resembling a love scene! Any female that doesn't want to jump his bones after seeing one of his side-ways glances needs to get her hormones checked!
Filmmakers who are wondering why their movies don't make money at the box office need to take a long hard look at this one and learn some lessons.
A) If we want to see serious issues or be depressed, we can turn on CNN.
B) Movies don't have to be crammed full of blood, gore, profanity, or nudity to be a smash hit. You'll make more money when parents can take kids to a show without being embarassed or horrified every 30 seconds.
C) When we go to a movie, we know the people on the screen are acting, and the actors know we know they are acting, so let your actors have fun with this, and subtly wink at the audience every now and then. It doesn't hurt and we viewers love it!
D) Don't underestimate the intelligence of the movie-going public, even the kids. Movies can be hysterically funny with well-written, well-timed lines without resorting to stupid slapstick, pie-in-the face, or toilet-themed humor.
My kudos to the creators of POTC. They did everything right, and I predict they'll sell a fortune of DVD's when this comes out at the stores. I know I'll be buying it the first day. This is a movie I'll want to watch many times over.
The Mists of Avalon
(2001)
Enchanting, Fascinating, and Beautiful
16 July 2001
Over the past two nights, I was carried away to Avalon and Camelot. Even though I've seen virtually every version of the Arthurian legends ever filmed, and was a bit hesitant about seeing yet another, this was a winner! Being told through the eyes of the women involved, who are generally reduced to Guinevere, Morgana (aka Morgaine), and the Lady of the Lake's arm in most tellings, made this completely an original. I must admit that I have never been a great fan of Juliana Margulies, even though I've watched ER since it first aired, but she was wonderful as Morgaine in this. Joan Allen and Anjelica Huston gave performances worthy of the Oscars they've been nominated for, and Samantha Mathis as the ill-fated Guinevere was heartbreaking. As a final note, I believe the casting director definitely merits an Emmy, since the little girl who played young Morgaine looked EXACTLY like a pre-teen version of Juliana, and Hans Matheson, who played the evil Mordred, Morgaine's son, couldn't have resembled Juliana more if she'd have really given birth to him! As an enchanting, mythological fantasy tale, I recommend it to anyone over 14, due to a slightly graphic (necessary) sexual scene dealing with incest and one of a menage a trois nature.
Tell Your Friends