We have a lot of movies to watch at our house. You see our cable company gave all subscribers a free month of HBO. Top this great offer with Mike’s love of movies and that gives us an 80% full recording cable box. He even taped a plethora of chick flicks and I don’t like chick flicks. Apparently he does or he’s trying to get in touch with his softer side. Either way, it just about a movie a night around here.
One he taped I’d never heard of Being Flynn. (more…)
Last night a friend suggested lunch and movie on my day off. She wanted to see The Hundred Foot Journey I’d never heard of it. Much to her surprise I’d not seen the trailers. Actually we’ve not watched TV for a week reading on the porch in the evening instead. I agreed to the movie and we hooked up for lunch where we had the week before.
Thus I went into the movie without an idea what it was about. I was ready for a story and boy did I get one. It’s a food unites hearts type of story. An Indian family loses their matriarch and restaurant when it is set fire during riots after an election. The patriarch takes them to Europe to found a restaurant there. After some wandering they wind up in France buying a place 100 ft across a small road from a 1-star Michelin French restaurant where Papa in all his wisdom opens their restaurant.
This is a feel good movie from Disney. It’s family affair stuff. But you know what, it works. There is a dark night of the soul, but don’t worry it’s not too dark. There is romance but don’t worry it’s not too syrupy. There is comedy but not just for the sake of going for the laugh. But most of all there is hope and faith that in the end all will turn out as it should. Being Disney of course it does.
Along the way to the inevitable happy ending we are treated to a feast for the eyes. The cinematography is breath taking from the colorful streets of India’s spice markets to the breathtaking vistas of Southern France to the I can almost taste it shots of food the eyes feast at every turn. I could smell the delicious spiciness of Indian cuisine and taste the subtle blends of the French sauces. I felt the heat and heady scents of the market as we jostled to buy fresh sea urchins in India and felt the soul healing energy as Papa looked down into the town that would be their new home, the pristine visage of an old village that blended with the slopes of the alps.
Yes it is at it’s heart about the journeys we all take. The journeys inside to find ourselves and answer our callings. The journeys we take on the outside to find a place of our own. The journey where 100 foot wide road separates them but they start out a world apart. Then how in time and shared experiences they could be a world apart but nothing could come between them. Two cultures who find common ground and mutual respect in the love of food. Because as the movie states more than once, “Food is memories.” Sometimes flavors need to blend to make new dishes and new memories for all to treasure.
If you need a soothing boost… If you want a story that’s comforting over joke filled action of next Summer Blockbuster – then this journey is for you. Take it – you’ll enjoy it. But don’t go on an empty stomach!
Yes, I’ve seen the movie. Yes I liked it very much. Yes, I thought it was better than his Origins movie though I never thought that was as bad as some made it out to be. For me the stinker was X-Men III. I regretted that this movie had to pull from that one but Logan’s pining for Jean Grey is legendary. So it’s an important character element. I still have issues of casting Famke Janssen in the role.
The movie takes a classic and beloved story line of Logan meeting one of the major loves of his life Mariko and tells it in the film universe. Sure some changes are made in the telling but the heart of the story is there, and the story is about the heart of a warrior falling in love with a quiet powerful woman and having that love returned. Some of the changes I like – I like Logan having to face his healing power being diminished. He deals with fatigue, blood loss, medical care, and stuff all of us would have to deal with being a hero. I also like that he gets it back in time to be what many come to see in a Wolverine movie – kick ass. I fear the comic’s attempt at copying this idea of losing healing will not be executed so well and will fall into the category of the 1992 nose-less feral Wolverine no one at Marvel ever acknowledges much to the relief of fans (may the whole Romulus crapfest, Native’s frozen wolverpups, and Agent of SHIELD all fall into this category).
I liked the movie and found it a stronger better story than his Origins one. It didn’t feel rushed nor that it was an attempt to shove in as many mutants as possible into one movie. The characters served purpose to build and move the story along. I think the action scenes were well done (but really for all fanboys goggling over the train scene I preferred the funeral one hands down for action). I did feel that the climatic scene between the Silver Samauri and Logan was a bit over the top for this movie’s style. I also wasn’t a fan of the Silver Samurai being a giant. That said I like how Logan recovered from the attack of the admantium cutting sword. That was awesome!
Viper was interesting but I missed her trademark green hair. (Also don’t forget she has a thing for Logan, even blackmails him into marrying her but even then he’d sleep with just about ANYONE but her). She had the right level of self-centeredness to make the character recognizable but would like more of a hint of her lust for Logan’s body in her reaction to seeing him shirtless & cleaned up.
Mariko was Logan’s first wife for a long time but then he got his memories back and remembered Itsu (Dakan’s mom). Now Mariko isn’t even considered his wife but instead one great love that took him years to get over losing. For those who don’t know she’s poisoned and dying, she begs him to kill her so she won’t have to suffer the agonizing death for which there is no cure. He does then revenges her death on those who killed her to get her conglomerate.
Yurkio being psychic about deaths only was a nice touch. I don’t consider this a mutate so much since it happens among normal people. It’s just a fun element to give a ninja woman. I like how her friendship developed with Logan. Eventually after Mariko’s death she’ll help Logan raise his foster daughter Amiko. Sure at times they are friends with benefits but when one or the other is in a relationship they support that. It’s a complicated friendship but one that isn’t overburdened with romance. I like how it started here and feel it’s got a good future on screen should it be developed.
Logan himself – what can I say but WOW! Jackman pulled out the stops in getting into Wolverine shape. He does the comic proud. Also the short hairstyle is awesome and more what I picture the up lifts being – side cowlicks that just curl up. I did enjoy his mountain man scenes and long for a bit more exploration of that since it was a frequent retreat in the comic books. I get that this movie wasn’t about that so in interest of moving the story along it was just enough. That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t enjoy a bit more of the surly mountain man kicking the city slicker hunter’s ass in the dive bar. LOL!
Finally the kicker after the credits (Marvel is famous for that always stay in their movies to see them) was awesome! It’s a nod to Days of Future Past coming out in 2014. This is another classic comic tale for the whole team but in the movies it will blend the cast of First Class with the cast of X-Men I. I am hoping that it is along the lines of this movie and First Class in tone not the hyper frenzy of X-Men III or Origins where it was thought the more thrown in the better (psst I prefer Taylor Mane as Sabertooth sorry Liev ).
In the end I think The Wolverine is a rare comic book movie that doesn’t suffer from being over done. It doesn’t suffer from what I call Fanboy syndrome of constant battles. It takes time to have action and emotion. It does well to juxtaposition peaceful with traumatic imagery. I think that unlike some comic book movies this one is more accessible to those who don’t know the comic. The Romeo/Juliet or right/wrong side of the tracks romance between Logan and Mariko is something many people can understand. What makes this movie stronger than many of the ones before it in Wolverine’s story is that it has a core, a heart, and isn’t afraid to be quiet and serve that heart, much like best portrayals the Wolverine himself.
Until next time.
What does one do when at the beach and the temp is over 100F with feels-like temps over 110F? Well go see a movie in a nice air conditioned movie theater that’s what. We did exactly that one hot evening in Norfolk. Mike wanted to see Lone Ranger. I vetoed that very quickly the badly CGI’d rubbery looking horse on top of the train in the commercial turned me off. Also I’m not into westerns much and prefer gritty ones or comedy – think Blazing Saddles.
Aaron had seen WWZ and said it was good. If a bio-chemist with epidemiology emphasis and loves actions flicks says it’s good we’re game. Besides I adore zombies from Walking Dead (comic or TV show) to Shaun of the Dead. I’m up for zombies. Heck even in bad movies zombies are good.
I wasn’t sure what to expect since I had read part of the book and liked it. It was a cyber check out and returned itself before I had time to finish it. That was a busy time and I’ve not put myself back on the waiting list for the kindle edition or paper one. I went in aware that there were changes from the book. First Brad Pitt made the movie for his son who loved the book so he wanted the hero he played to have a more family focus and in the end make it back to his family. Understandable, I can take differing stories (The Walking Dead does that) if both are well done.
Let me say up front WWZ did not disappoint in the action department. Then again when it is a true World War action is a requirement. The zombies being fast moving and traveling in insect swarms was well done and chilling. It really dehumanized them fast and made them things instead of Uncle Billy gone wrong. The moral issues of can we save them goes out the window very fast when they are doing things like piling up to rip helicopters out of the air.
The special effects were good. I’d heard that the swarms were a struggle to get a non rubbery look to them. They were decent and shown in quick flashes so they couldn’t be over scrutinized. Which honestly when running from zombies – that’s all you’d take in any way fast flashing looks to think “Holy shit they just tore my ride from the sky!” and run off to find a good hole to hide in and defend.
Over all it was a great Summer action flick with a very smart ending. It doesn’t resolve all the issues but it’s a nice chapter closing one. It gives room for sequels and I read that one is in the works. Unlike the book where it’s a series of characters telling their WWZ stories and from that we get the history of the incident it appears the movies are going to follow Pitt’s character. If you like zombies, action flicks, or both this is a good movie for you.
Now that said here are some spoilers that are issues I had with the movie. If you don’t want spoilers then don’t go below the jump.
I know I am WAY behind on my Comic Comments but I’m making effort to catch up with the list. I am seriously considering doing by issue once I get the backlog diminished significantly. Mostly because it would be easier to keep up with what I’ve reviewed and what I haven’t.
Okay my mea culpa and plans revealed let’s talk zombies! This is a one-shot that fits into the Marvel Zombie line but not into any continuity. Just think of this as a fun story, part of the fun is figuring out who is who in this post zombie apocalypse world. It’s an excellent Marvel superhero tale for Halloween.
First give credit where credit is due for this one-shot: Fred Van Lente, Writer – Alessandro Vitti, Artist – Jean-Francois Beaulieu, Cover – Jon Moisan, Asst. Editor – Bill Roseman, Editor – Axel Alonso, Editor in Chief – Joe Quesada, Chief Creative Officer – Dan Buckley, Publisher – Alan Fine, Executive Producer.
Next the legal disclaimer – All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique. No more than three pages total from any one issue is reproduced.
The art is perfect for the issue. I like the ‘dirty’ line look and really suits Old Man Scratch in his appearances. It also does well with the zombies by giving suggestion without being too explicit on the details of decay. I thought it was excellent and made the tale even better.
As for the story it starts out with a definite Walking Dead (tv show) vibe but quickly becomes a Marvel tale. The premise is that a mother and son have established a safe camp in an old Victorian mansion complete with a greenhouse for safe gardening. The boy is going over the calendar and discovers it’s Halloween. After them mom explains what the holiday was and the boy wants to celebrate.
Here the tale takes the Marvel turn – they find the boy a Wolverine costume in the basement. When they head out to get candy – they encounter superhero zombies. I’ll leave it to you to discover just who these are! It’s fun to see them in that form, LOL!
Then Old Man Scratch makes his appearance accompanied by the Rolling Stone song that introduces him. The question becomes – do you want to be in debt to the devil or eaten by zombies? I’ll leave you with that only to say that in the end a black kitten makes it all worth it.
Just who are the mother and child? That’s part of the twist too! Let’s just say there is a clue in the fact Mom likes Wolverine (no he’s not the father of the boy THIS time). In the end I enjoyed the tale of Halloween during a Zombie Apocalypse, well done Marvel, well done! If you didn’t pick this one last Halloween get it in time for this one.
What if you died and no one noticed for three years? That’s what happened to Joyce Carol Vincent. I have to admit when I first read the basis for the documentary Dreams of a Life I thought the subject would be a drug addict. Maybe someone morbidly obese with no relatives and withdrawn from society so no one noticed with the calls for pizza delivery stopped. I didn’t image it would be a young vibrant woman who had, had lovers and was admired by many. I didn’t image it was someone with sisters and her father still living. I didn’t image… so I watched. How does someone 28 years old wind up dead for three years and no one notice?
I’m sorry to say there aren’t any pat answers. No answers as to how she died, was it natural? was it murder? No answers as to why no one came in three years to collect bills or rent. The answer comes in our society where we have any acquaintances but few true connections. People are transient we move on and assume so do they. But in the case of Joyce – she wasn’t moving.
I found that in many ways I understood Joyce. I move a lot and here in Kenosha I have acquaintances but no real friends. Same could be said of Oak Ridge and Kalamazoo. I think after a few military moves I learned not to connect to people easily, it’s hard to keep up long distance friendships so best to be choosy – very choosy. Which leaves me with few regular contacts here where I live and it has been that way for years.
But unlike poor Joyce, I do have those I keep in touch with – my best friend and I haven’t lived in the same county since I was in 8th grade – rarely have we lived in the same state. My husband and I talk daily when at all possible even if he’s traveling. So there are connections, there are those who would notice. Yet, would work check? I think so but it might be a bit before they did. Would my on-line friends check? No, people cyber-fade it’s a fact of on-line life. We just figure real life took them in another direction.
By the same token, if I didn’t see a neighbor for sometime would I check on them? The lady that walks the big rottweiler would I learn her name, check to see why they haven’t been by in some time? No. It’s not maliciousness or total lack of caring – it’s just we don’t know each other. I look back in old pictures and how intertwined my parents life growing up was with the neighbors. Now, I’d be hard pressed to tell you my two side neighbors names much less front and back neighbor or at angles. People keep to themselves, watch tv, play on computers, chat with cyber-acquaintances half a world away.
There are good and bad things to modern society but the saddest things are when good souls slip away through the cracks… good ones like Joyce. We are left wondering what if… I ponder what if we were disturbed by her story enough to make a change and connect with more people?
~The following was inspired by watching the 2006 documentary The Falling Man. A link to it is below, it deals directly with the victims of 9/11 those who fell and/or jumped from the towers. If such things are too disturbing for you I recommend you don’t read further and you don’t watch the documentary. ~
You know I like action movies. I want something to entertain me as I find most plots don’t keep me guessing but the action is where I get my thrills. Also you know I love wisecrackin’ Deadpool. Well in this movie I got them both! Action and a wise crackin’ reluctant hero. Not to mention a female lead that wasn’t the screaming damsel in distress. All in all good fun.
Sure there’s a lot to be desired in the plot. You see there’s a prison of the world worst criminals in orbit. Yep in space orbit around the earth. There they are put into hibernation. Why it requires the expense of putting them in orbit, moving the staff back and forth from earth to the platform and all I dunno. Harder to escape I’d guess but still the cost must be exorbitant per prisoner.
Then there’s this nonsense that they’d let the President’s daughter not only go to a prison like that but wake up and talk to one of the most psychotic prisoners of the bunch. Yeah like the Secret Service would agree to that. BUT they did and you can guess what goes wrong. Yep and our wonderfully quipping reluctant hero has to go in and save her. Only thing is this woman can save herself, she’s one tough cookie. True with trained help she does much better but she wasn’t some crying wilting flower either.
I’d put this movie down as a popcorn watcher that was kinda fun but not great if it wasn’t for the character Snow. He was awesome, no awesomesauce! He cracked the funny one liner I adored in the craptastic 80s action flicks and that make Deadpool the nutty merc with a mouth that’s dear to my soul. His character alone pumped this up to a B movie from a D. Just because he could make this girl laugh. Really guys don’t wasn’t money on covering your grey, learn to make a girl laugh that’ll bring them in more than dyed hair.
There is nothing to this movie beyond action and quips. The insane inmate character is over played. The inmate rebellion leader has no where to go but down in firey debris as they crash into the atmosphere or starve to death in orbit so naturally he wakes ALL the prisoners. For some reason the prisoners are identifiable by bad Scottish accents. Not much to recommend this beyond the joy of silly word play and some good ole fighting. Oh and Guy Pierce isn’t hard on the eyes…
Until next time!
I always have a hard time answering the question “What’s your favorite movie?” I mean really can you compare a comedy to a historic drama to a noir to a novel adaption of a genre work? No because what is a good point in one might be a weak point in another. If I think say Elizabeth I’s coronation was hysterical in a historic drama it has failed but in a comedy it has succeeded. So my answer is “Depends on the type of movie.” This one wouldn’t my top list of any genre but it is good for what it is.
I know I’m a huge fan of story but sometimes I go to a movie for the visual – the special effect and/or the action. That’s where Act of Valor falls. The plot is there but it’s thin and developed to tie together various types of action in various types of terrain and conditions. The acting is stiff and not even high quality by high school standards. Yet it was awesome for what it is – a movie of real Seal teams showing the cool stuff they can do.
Yep that’s what it is. A big ooohhh-rahhh action movie of here’s how we do a jungle attack. Here’s how we do a city extraction. Here’s how we’d attack a compound (uh any fairly recent events come to mind?). It’s shouting, explosions, shooting, verification procedures that who you got is who you were sent to get. You know those questions in your file about obscure facts from your life that only you’d know – that’s what they are for. The rescue team gets the answers and uses them to verify you are you.
I found the movie fun. The poignant moment of a funeral was hard because the uniforms are ones I know too well. The SEAL team is Navy after all. Still I had the bonus of having someone who had real world experience working with teams like this. No Mike was never on these teams but yes he did have a senior officer position in many exercises and during the year plus he was activated. So he can explain some of the great nuances like the questions asked the hostage they freed (M’mam I hate to make you answer but what was your dog’s name when you were in first grade?) It’s quick and over and if you caught it you might think – what the heck was he asking her that right then? Shouldn’t they be hauling ass outta there? I think Mike’s commentary made it better and made me appreciate the slower scenes of tactical planning and information sharing.
Don’t come to this movie for a story. Don’t come to this movie for award winning acting. Come to this movie to see what our forces can do. Come to this movie to appreciate what these family give so that our forces can answer the call. Come to this movie to see what planning goes into taking action. And by all means come to this movie to see action, tonnes of it, in spades. If those things don’t appeal to you – then this movie isn’t for you.
Until next time!
I love spy drama. I especially love spy drama of the Cold War period. I’m hoping to see a movie about 26 Sept 1983 the day the world almost died and didn’t know it. Until then I enjoy fiction inspired by the mood of the times.
The original BBC Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is one of my favorite spy movies. When the remake came out recently I was hoping for a new take on telling a favorite tale. Like most movies I don’t catch them in the theater but do catch them later. This was one of our weekend movies.
I can’t say I didn’t like the movie. I did. I can say it was true to the BBC original. I enjoyed the twisted tale as always where who is who and where do loyalties fall is always fun. Except when it was over I pondered why the remake? Did we really need to make a copy of the classic? Nope. I walked away from this one with nothing more than I got from the original. It wasn’t updated. It wasn’t tweaked as far as fashion, setting, or anything. It was all the same tale with fresh faces and new names playing the parts.
Some movies are so well done, so powerful, so masterfully made the first time they don’t need remakes. Casablanca comes to mind. It doesn’t need to be copied with fresh faces and color. It stands as the best it can be as it is. So what if the new generation doesn’t know Bogie let them be introduced to him at his best. That’s how I feel about the ’79 version of TTSS. It’s Cold War drama at its best. Let it stand as the masterpiece that it is.
I felt for the cast of the new one. The best they could do is live up to the first. When up against something like this – you are set to fall short. Gary Oldman turns in a powerful performance but it is only equal to Alec Guinness’s in the original. Hard to exceed a master in one of his best performances ever.
I’m not sure what I wanted when I sat down to watch. I generally stay away from remakes of movies I think are the final say on that particular story. When it was over I was left with the thought that this added nothing nor took anything from the original, that it was just eh – new faces in familiar places. I don’t think I needed that. Despite the sets being spot on to period, fashions being grand, pacing and delivery top-notch I was left thinking I could have just watched the ’79 one and gotten the same thing saving the world millions.
If you’ve not seen the first and you don’t want to watch actors of a previous generation at the top of their game then this version is for you. Otherwise – get thee to a library and look up the original. It’s excellent and it was the first. Until next time!
Mary Louise Eklund 