Decorating and a Movie

Well, it was a super busy weekend for me and I feel like I need another day just to recover. It started at soon as I got off work Friday with a haircut at 5:00 p.m. Thankfully my salon is rather close to work so I didn't have to drive across town or anything. I love going to see m hair stylist as he often has a hilarious story to tell me and we have a big time during our visit. 

After my haircut was over, I went to the church building where I was meeting up with my friend Lauren to set up our table for the Ladies' Prayer Tea for Saturday morning. While I was waiting on her, she called and said she was going to be late because she still needed to run by Target to pick up a couple of things. Since I was just sitting in the parking lot at church (which is close to Target), I volunteered to run by there and just meet her back at the building. I went and picked up some flowers for our table and some Sharpies which were needed for Saturday. It worked out perfectly as we both got back to the church building about the same time. 

Our friend Margaret Ann met up with us as well and it took us about 30 minutes or so to set up our table. Our table was the thankfulness prayer station and we had broken pieces of china (don't worry, the plates, etc. were from thrift stores and already had cracks, etc.) on which the ladies wrote an answered prayer or something for which they are thankful. We laid out the broken pieces of china and Lauren had a chalkboard with our Bible verse on it and Margaret Anne arranged the flowers in the vase and when it was all said and done, it looked nice. It was a lot simpler than some of the other tables, but it still looked great. 

The three of us left the church building and went to Little Rosies to feast on Mexican food. It didn't seem as crowded as I have seen it on other Friday nights, but then it was difficult for us to find a table, so I guess it was rather crowded after all. We took our time eating and then went to the movie theater where we saw the 8:15 p.m. showing of Cinderella. Y'all, 8:15 p.m. is late for me so I wasn't sure if I would even make it through the whole film, but luckily, I did. 

There was a seven minute Frozen episode that aired before the movie came on and previews before that so it was 8:50 before the movie even started. The movie was absolutely wonderful. It followed the Disney animated movie more closely than an other adaptations I have seen. The scenery in the film was gorgeous and the casting was great as well. Lady Rose from Downton Abbey played Cinderella, Helena Bonham Carter was the crazy fairy godmother, the guy who played Rob Stark on  Game of Thrones was Prince Charming, Daisy the kitchen maid from Downton was one of the step sisters, and Cate Blanchett was fabulous as the wicked step mother. I never got bored and the time passed quickly and I loved it from beginning to end. It's great for girls of all ages and stages. There were even a few dads in attendance and I heard no moaning or groaning from any of them, 

When the movie was over, the three of us parted ways and I went home for the first time since I had left that morning. I'm sure Pip was glad I was home, although she had probably rather had some time to play rather than just go straight to bed. It was a fun night to kick off such a busy weekend. 

A Movie Weekend For Me

This past weekend was officially the last weekend before the start of football season; well, high school football season that is. So, I took the opportunity to have some "me time" and get some things done around the house. 

Friday night, I went with Leah to the home of her mother-in-law for a Premier Jewelry party and I'm pleased to announce that I bought absolutely nothing. There were a few items I would liked to have gotten, but I really didn't want to spend any money so I exhibited some self-control and went away empty handed. However, all was not lost as I saw my friend April for the first time in forever and we were able to enjoy a tremendous amount of laughs which is something we have always been able to do. It was so great to see her. She and I need to do a better job of staying in touch other than the random text every few months. 

Saturday morning, I was up before 5:00 a.m. - what can I say, I was just lying in bed wide awake so I figured I would go ahead and get up. I spent the morning cleaning and doing laundry and watching some TV too. I managed to get myself somewhat presentable and headed out to run some errands around noon. I knocked everything off the list and was home by 2:15 p.m. at which point I realized I forgot to go by Redbox and pick up the two movies I had reserved for the night. I debated whether or not I should leave the house again to pick them up or just forget about it. After much internal debate, I decided to go ahead and go pick up the movies. There wasn't much on TV for the evening and I didn't want to spend the rest of the afternoon and night bored to tears. So, I loaded up The Pip and we went to pick up the movies. 

I got "Divergent" and "The Railway Man". Divergent was okay, but definitely not as good as the book. "The Railway Man" was based on a true story and was a good movie, hard to watch at times, but a nice story of forgiveness. In between movies, I put together a breakfast casserole for my Sunday school class. It was a Cheesy Amish Breakfast Casserole and it turned out pretty good. 

Sunday after church, I returned the two movies from Saturday and rented two more. For Sunday I got "Philomena" and "The Book Thief". I watched "Philomena" that afternoon before evening services. I really, really enjoyed this one. It was also based on a true story (and book) and was just excellent; but then again, every movie with Dame Judy Dench is excellent. 

I watched "The Book Thief" after church that evening. I think I mentioned that my dad watched this on the plane on the way to Hawaii earlier this year and had said it was an excellent movie. I downloaded the book to my Kindle recently, but haven't started reading it yet (yes, I violated my book before movie policy). This movie was very, very good. I cried a couple of times during the movie and just really enjoyed watching it. I'm anxious to read the book and see how it is different from the movie. 

So, I guess you could say it was a movie weekend for me. I was glad to have the down time and time to take in some movies I had wanted to see. An overall great weekend in my book. 

Musings from the Weekend

How was everyone's weekend? Overall, mine was rather uneventful, but I did manage to get some things done around the house so I would consider that a success. 

Friday after work, Jackie came over for a bit and we just hung out and caught up because it had been a while since either of us had really had a moment to sit down and talk with one another. She had to leave for an hour or so to pick up her boss from the airport, but then came back and stayed until about 10:00 because apparently we turn into pumpkins at that time and we were both ready for bed.

 

Saturday morning I managed to get some much needed cleaning done around the house. Sadly, with Pippa around, things don't stay clean for very long. I also knocked out some laundry and once again got caught up on the DVR. I had made tentative plans to go see Lone Survivor that morning and then pushed it back to the 1:00 p.m. showing. About 11:00 a.m. I got a text from Jackie asking if I wanted to see it at 7:10 because some of our friends from church were going at that time and they had messaged her on facebook about it. So, I decided I would wait until that time and go with the group so as not to be anti-social.

 

I met up with Jackie beforehand for dinner at I Love Sushi. Dinner was fantastic as always. I ordered a new sushi roll called Pink Passion and I seriously haven't stopped thinking about it since. It was divine! Our friends had met at Chili's and I had a sneaking suspicion that they might not make it out of the restaurant in time to meet up with us. My suspicion turned to fact as our friends didn't get their checks at the restaurant until after 7:00 p.m. and so they all ended up going to see the 7:45 p.m. showing of the same movie. 

 

Lone Survivor was absolutely riveting. I am a lover of war movies and this one looked incredible. I had a feeling it was going to be extremely graphic because of one of the review blurbs on the preview they showed on TV and then when the opening credits came on and I saw that Peter Berg had directed it (for some reason I didn't know this), I knew I was in for a gruesome ride. It was extremely raw and graphic but just so amazingly good as well. There were a few times when the guys fell off cliffs or were rolling down a mountain that I had to close my eyes and Jackie had to close her eyes in a lot of places too, but it was just so, so good. If you can handle to blood and gore and you like a good war movie, then yes, go see it because it was incredible. I have heard from a  couple of different people that the book is good also so I might attempt to read it at some point. It is, in fact, based on a true story.

 

Sunday was church, lunch, and then a trip to the grocery store. I then made a pie for our Downton viewing party at Erika's. She was gracious enough to once again open her home to me and Kendra to watch our favorite show. This makes watching so much better since I'm not fighting off a puppy the whole hour. Kendra made a delicious spinach and chicken Alfredo dish and we had my pie for dessert. It was a lovely visit despite the fact that the episode was super shocking! Did y'all watch?

 

So, it was a productive weekend, yet relaxing all the same, which is just perfect as far as weekends go.

Movie Experience and Review: Ironman 3

 Saturday after the auction I went to the 12:30 showing of Ironman 3. I had not been to the theater since January and there are quite a few movies coming out that I want to see so I figured I had better get a start on seeing one or two.

I arrived at the theater around 12:05 and after checking my email and messing around on my phone for about five minutes I decided to go on in. Well, apparently lots of people had the same idea to go see a movie on a rainy day because by the time I got to the door, the queue was outside. About the time I got to the window, an announcement was made that tickets could also be purchased at the concession stand and since I was getting popcorn I decided to go on to the counter and get my ticket and popcorn at the same time.

Of course I would pick the slowest line known to mankind and by the time I got my ticket and popcorn it was probably 12:25 and I still needed to make a pre-movie pit stop. I finally made it in to the theater and found a seat on the side in one of the rows with four seats. Thankfully I ended up with the whole row to myself so I was able to kick off my muddy boots and spread out.

The movie was incredible and I loved every minute of it. First of all, I think Robert Downey, Jr. is perfect in this role. He is absolutely hilarious and always hits his mark and this time was no exception. This movie had a ton of laughs and of course I was often the one laughing the loudest in the theater.

There was action from the beginning to the end and I found that my heart was constantly racing. I may have even gasped aloud one or nine times. All of the regulars of this franchise were back and just as wonderful as they have been previously and Guy Pearce was great as the villain in this movie. The Ironman suits were amazing in this film. Seriously, the things these movie makers come up with are just incredible.

The plot of the movie was also good. It was cheesy or hard to follow or unbelievable; well, except for the fact that the villains were basically walking fireballs. The storyline was interesting from start to finish and as always left one wondering what will happen to Tony Stark and Pepper Potts next. If you’re looking for a fun film to take in this weekend or next, definitely consider this one. I think it is a film that can be enjoyed by all members of the family. 

The Best of Weekends

Happy Monday y'all! I hope your weekend was as good as mine was because it was a really great weekend for me. I was kind of sad to see it go. Actually, I'm sad to see every weekend go.
Friday morning I arrived at work and after getting out of my car I realized that I had parked in a spot which contained a dead cat. (Sorry, but it's true.) Needless to say, that was a pretty gross way to start the day. I emailed maintenance and asked them to please remove the cat from the parking spot; thankfully they did and I didn't have to see it again. I put in a very long 10-hour day and was more than ready to go by the time I left the building.

I picked up some dinner on the way home because I did not feel like cooking a thing. When I got home, there was a note on my door from my neighbor Jeff. He had made some Pasta Fagioli and the note said if I wanted some to bring over a bowl and I did just that. I chatted with Jeff for a while since I don't ever see him in the winter - I always give him a hard time about this and when I left I said, "I'll see you in the spring!" Jeff does a lot of gardening, etc. and so I often see him out and about during the warm months, but in the winter, I never see him. While I was there I asked him if he was the one who brought my garbage can up from the street last week. He was not the one, so I'm guessing it was probably the girl who lives next door.

Saturday morning I set out with an agenda and I accomplished all of it in record time and had a really great day. I had a haircut scheduled for 8:00 a.m. and after my haircut I walked over to Brady's Shoe Repair to see if there was any hope for my beloved brown shoes. the man said, and I quote, "you know these are throw aways, right?" It was the news I suspected I would receive but was hoping I would not. Alas, there is no hope for the beloved browns and so I will forever be on a quest to find another pair that matches my love for this one.

After I left Brady's, I went and got a car wash. I mainly wanted to clean the inside of my car, but the outside was pretty disgusting as well. I got it cleaned up and I swear to you I think it started running better. Sometimes all an old car needs is some TLC. Next on the agenda was picking up some prescriptions from Publix which took all of five minutes. I also bought some candy for my next stop - the movie theater. I think I have mentioned my refillable popcorn bucket that I purchased from the theater in December. This past weekend was $1 refills (they are usually $3.50) so I was pretty excited about loading up on popcorn for a one whole American dollar. It doesn't get much better than that, folks.

The first movie on my agenda was Argo and it started at 10:10. I got my bucket of popcorn and my contraband diet coke (carried in my purse) and found a seat towards the top. I brought my Kindle along and did some reading before the previews started. This movie came out in the fall and I have had it on my "movies to see" list since it first came out, but it's not often that I make it to the movie theater during football season so I never found an opportunity to see it. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw it was back on the slate for this past weekend and jumped at the chance to see it.

The movie got out at 12:15, which gave me what I thought was an hour and 15 minutes before the next movie, which I thought started at 1:30. So, I went over to Target and walked the aisles looking for nothing in particular. Apparently Target is getting ready to move in their spring and summer merchandise because they have a lot of items on clearance right now. I bought a set of flannel sheets for $7.48; they had originally been $24.99. I went back to the car to drive back to the theater and then realized that the side view mirror on my passenger side had fallen off - not the whole thing, just the glass portion of the mirror. I have no idea when or where it happened, but can only imagine it happened in the car wash and it took me that long to realize it was gone.

I got back to the movie theater about 1:17 and got in line to buy my ticket for Silver Linings Playbook. Much to my surprise, the movie started at 1:15, not 1:30 as I had thought. I have no idea where I got 1:30 from because after looking at my list I had indeed written down 1:15. The previews had already started when I walked in, but I found a seat towards the top and settled in for what was an absolutely hilarious and heartwarming movie. I loved it.

After the second movie, I headed home. I spent the rest of the day doing some cleaning and catching up on the DVR and I had Jeff's very delicious Pasta Fagioli for dinner. It was probably the best Saturday I've had in I don't know how long. In the middle of the night, I heard a car crash and as it turns out, the mailbox and trash can down the street were apparently the victims of someone's drunk driving (I assume). Thankfully, it was just a mailbox and trash can and not my car.

Sunday I ordered a replacement mirror for Blue. It comes with adhesive; so, hopefully I can repair it myself. Fingers crossed anyway.I'll be sure and let you all know how that goes.

P.S. I did make it to the funeral last week. I'll tell you about it tomorrow (if I don't forget).

Movie Review: The Hobbit An Unexpected Journey

As you probably know, I love, love, love, The Lord of the Rings films and watch them over and over and over again on a very regular basis. So, when I found out there was going to be a film version of The Hobbit I got pretty fired up and when I found out Peter Jackson was directing; well, I may have shed tears of joy. The first trailers for this movie were released in December 2011 and I watched it over and over and over again (are you detecting a pattern here?). I more or less circled the December 14 theatrical release date on my calendar and was so excited to see this film I could hardly stand it - and then I was so stinkin' busy that I never made it to the theater until two weeks later. Yes, folks for the first time in my life I did not go see a Lord of the Rings/Hobbit film on opening night.

I finally did manage to go see The Hobbit last Saturday afternoon. I had planned to see the 11:30 showing but for reasons even I can't remember ended up at the 3:00 showing. I got there about 2:45 and the theater was packed. Clearly, I am not the only person who loves this movie franchise or who waited two weeks after the release to go see it. I found a seat on the side of the theater in a row of two so that I was able to unload my coat, purse, etc. in the seat next to me. I would also like to take this moment to mention the new popcorn bucket they have at Carmike, formerly known as Rave. For $18.50 you get a bucket of popcorn and until December 31, 2013 you can bring the bucket back to the theater and have it filled for $3.50. This ultimately saves me money because instead of spending $6 on popcorn every time I got to the theater I only spend $3.50. It basically pays for itself after seven movies. So, if you aren't planning on seeing seven movies in a year's time, then it might not be a good investment; but, for me, it has worked out wonderfully.

The Hobbit, well, it was every bit as wonderful as I had hoped it would be and more so. the advancements in cinematography in the past 10 years never ceases to amaze me. The picture was absolutely amazing and was shot with more cameras than Lord of the Rings. There was even more detail (hard to believe, but true) and absolutely took my breath away on more than one occasion. I watched Lord of the Rings a few days after seeing The Hobbit and was surprised at how old it looked and that is the first time it has appeared to look old to me.

The acting was just as fantastic as you would expect from this movie franchise. Many of the same people return to their roles (Gandalf, Galadriel, Gollum, and some others that don't start with G) and did a great job reprising the characters we have come to love. The newer cast members were also fantastic and fit the roles of their characters splendidly.

The movie, which runs two hours and 46 minutes, did not seem long to me at all. At one point I looked at my phone just because I was curious as to the time. I figured maybe an hour at the most had passed and was surprised to find that actually two hours had passed. I could not believe it. It felt like I had only been sitting there for about 30 minutes. It could just be because I love these stories so much, I really don't know, but I got sucked into The Hobbit just the same if not more so than I did with Lord of the Rings. I had heard a lot of people mention that it seemed drawn out, but to me, it did not feel that way in the least. In fact, I was kind of sad when it ended and I think a lot of others were as well. The good thing for those of us who love these movies is that there are two more installations of this book coming our way in December of this year and in December of 2014. Of the four movies I saw the week I was on Christmas vacation, The Hobbit was by far my favorite, and my recommendation to you is to definitely go see it before it leaves the big screen. I will more likely than not take in a second showing.

Movie Review: Les Miserables

If you have read this blog for any amount of time or know me personally, then you probably know that one of the things I love most in this world is Les Miserables. I have seen a live performance at least eight times, probably more and will always jump at the opportunity to see it again. I've owned the original Broadway recording since the age of 16 and watch the 25th Anniversary Concert on Blu-Ray more times than should be admitted. So, when I heard that Hollywood was making a movie of my personal favorite musical, well, I was both thrilled and apprehensive.

I wasn't sure it could be properly done on the big screen and I wanted it to be done right. I've actually said (aloud even) that I would love for someone to actually do the musical as a film since, in my humble opinion, all the other film version pale in comparison to the drama and emotion that is portrayed on the stage. The movie opened on Christmas Day to mixed reviews, although everyone has praised Anne Hathaway's performance as Fantine, and rightly so; but, the soundtrack came out days in advance and I listened to a few sample songs and was not impressed. At the same time, I kept in mind that all the songs were shot live and weren't necessarily mixed with a sound board in a concert hall and so I gave the performers the benefit of the doubt and went to see the movie with a (somewhat) open mind. I went to an early afternoon viewing so in a theater that seats almost 500, there were probably 30 people, which was perfect as I did, in fact, turn into a weeping mess.

The movie was very well done, in fact, much better than I anticipated it being. Anne Hathaway, by far, had the best performance of the film. Her portrayal of Fantine will absolutely rip your heart out, and as is the case when I'm watching on the stage, this was also the point in the movie when I started sobbing like a baby. If she doesn't win and Oscar for this performance, then the Academy should just stop handing them out. Hugh Jackman was an okay Jean Valjean; after seeing the movie, I was actually kind of surprised that he was nominated for a Golden Globe as his voice wasn't as strong as I had hoped it would be. To me, Valjean needs to have a very strong voice and his at times seemed weak. As far as the acting of the character, he did a good job there, but the singing could have been stepped up a notch, especially from someone who has performed on the stage before. Of course, my favorite Valjean has always been and will always be Colm Wilkinson who made a surprise performance as the Bishop of Digne. Perhaps you may have already known he was going to be playing this role (my mother tells me he was on the Ellen show), but I had no idea and when he appeared on screen, I literally gasped with delight. To me, that was one of the best parts.

Another surprise to me was Russell Crowe - who knew the man could sing? I sure didn't. Again, he wasn't as booming of a Javert as I would have preferred, but he did a decent job, in fact, a much better job than I would have thought possible. Amanda Seyfried was really fantastic as Cosette. I wasn't sure she would be able to pull it off either, but again, I was quite surprised and thought she did an excellent job. Samantha Barks played Eponine, one of my favorite characters, and was brilliant, as I expected her to be. Barks also sang the role at the 25th Anniversary Concert and performed the role at London's West End so I had no doubt she would be every bit as wonderful as I wanted her to be. Eddie Redmayne did a nice job as Marius and Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen, were hilarious as the Thenardiers. Another of my favorites was Daniel Huttlestone as Gavroche. I think he was probably the best Gavroche I have ever heard - I loved him and his performance. The rest of the cast did a great job as well. Overall, a really great chorus and supporting characters.

The movie was also visually appealing and really brought the story to life. For people who may have a hard time visualizing stories from the stage, seeing this version of  Les Miserables would be beneficial. I would say, it's a must, but not everyone loves music, or stories about love, revenge, forgiveness, or the French Revolution for that matter. I will say, that to me the movie seemed a bit long, even though it's really no longer that the stage performance. I suppose the only difference is I'm used to an intermission and an opportunity to stop by the restroom and I didn't have that and really needed it (just being honest here). All in all, it was a spectacular rendition of the musical and very well done; however if given the choice between the film and the stage version, I would still choose the stage.

Movie Experience and Review: The Dark Knight Rises

As mentioned in yesterday's post, this past Saturday I met up with my cousin Jan and saw The Dark Knight Rises, and y'all, it was so good!  Jan and I planned to go to the 6:30 showing. Since the movie was two hours and 44 minutes long, I decided an earlier start time would be good. I had dinner at my parents' house before the movie but of course saved room for popcorn.

I arrived later than I would like as I didn't know how long it would take from my parents' house. I bought my ticket and immediately went to the concession stand. There was a kid in line in front of me who looked to be all of 12 or 13; presumably his parents had dropped him off to watch a movie and can I just say that this sort of thing didn't happen when I was a wee lass back in the dark ages. So, the kid ordered a popcorn and big soda and his total came to $11.50. Clearly he didn't add up the costs in his head before ordering because he apparently only had $11 and gave it to the guy behind the counter. The guy asked him for the other 50 cents and the kids started searching his pockets and obviously had no more money. I told him to go on I would take care of the 50 cents and the kid just grabbed his goodies and took off - WITHOUT SAYING THANK YOU! Maybe he does this every time he goes to the movies. I mean, I was in a good mood that day so it didn't really get under my skin, but still, a thank you would have been nice! The cashier said thank you. I guess that will suffice.

I then made a pit stop where I had to dodge running and screaming children and a screaming mother and had to air dry my hands because there were no paper towels. After that detour, I went to the theater and looked for Jan who was already inside with a seat. I must have looked up into the audience for a good five minutes before I finally saw her - on the second row! I think it goes without saying that I was thrilled to finally settle into a seat.

The movie started a few minutes later and the theater was not nearly as crowded as I expected it to be. I guess the shooting in Colorado deterred some folks from visiting the theater. The previews started and they all looked good! I love previews and these made me want to spend every spare dime at the movies so I guess the mission of said previews was accomplished. 

The movie, as mentioned, was quite lengthy, but did not seem like it at all. I was sucked into this movie from the moment it came on the screen and the time passed by so quickly it seemed like it was only five minutes long. I have really enjoyed each of the Christopher Nolan Batman movies and this one was no exception and in fact, I think was my favorite of the three.

I'll sum up the plot by saying that a villain comes to Gotham and overtakes the city. I think that much was certain. Bruce Wayne, who has retired as Batman, obviously comes out of retirement. I think that much you already knew as well.  Batman is aided by Catwoman, played by the always wonderful Anne Hathaway. She was fantastic in the role and I thought she and Christian Bale had great on screen chemistry - it was like watching a well rehearsed dance. The superb Michael Caine is back as Alfred, the enchanting Morgan Freeman returns as Lucius Fox and the always intriguing Gary Oldman once again portrays Commissioner Gordon. (I'm using my adjectives today). Joseph Gordon Levitt makes an appearance in this film as the character John Blake who met Batman as a child. He, as always, does a remarkable job portraying his character.

The movie is jam-packed with excitement from the very beginning and I gasped at least twice that I can remember. There were a few times when I have no doubt I held my breath and probably another time or two when I wondered how in the world order would be restored in Gotham. There is more than one twist in this film and I will leave those to you viewing pleasure so that you will be just as pleasantly and shockingly surprised as I was.

This was the last of the Christopher Nolan directed Batman movies, completing the trilogy that has far surpassed all other Batman portrayals, in my humble opinion. The ending to this movie was absolute perfection! Absolute perfection, people! I really don't think it could have been done any better. I shed a tear, smiled and maybe shed another tear - it was just perfect. There's really no other way to describe it.

If you are looking for a movie to see to get out of the heat or get away from your life for a few hours, then do go see this one. It doesn't get much better than this in my opinion.

Movie Experience and Review - Snow White and The Huntsman

I haven't written a recap of the weekend because quite frankly there isn't much to write about. It was quiet and low-key and at times boring but I loved it. I managed to venture out Saturday afternoon for a showing of Snow White and The Huntsman and I'm so glad I did. It was a really great movie and I enjoyed every minute of it.

I went to the 4:00 showing and arrived at the theater about 3:45ish. I got my medium popcorn and found a seat. Thankfully no one sat beside me this time. In fact, for the second time in a row nothing crazy happened - no one hit me with a scarf or smacked their gum or kicked my chair. It was so lovely.

The movie is based on the Grimm Brother's fairy tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, but this Snow White is unlike any you've ever seen. In other words, she doesn't stand by the well singing and wishing for her prince to come. She can take care of herself thank you very much. Now, I have never read the Grimm brothers version of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs so I don't know how gruesome it is or isn't, but from what I've heard this darker version is more like the Grimm Brother's version than the beloved Disney version we saw as children, though both movies follow the same basic storyline.

As I'm sure you know by now, Snow White's mother, the queen, dies and soon after her father marries an evil woman who kills him and takes control of the kingdom. She holds Snow White prisoner for many years and one day, Snow White is able to escape. The evil queen then "hires" a huntsman to find Snow White who has fled to the evil forest and instead of killing her, he ends up helping her escape the queen's clutches. The remainder of the movie is spent watching Snow White and the huntsman get themselves into and out of a series of precarious situations. Yes, there are dwarfs - what Snow White rendition would be complete without the dwarfs? Yes, there is a scene with an apple where Snow White falls into a deep sleep. However, true love's kiss may be surprising to some. I figured it out because I'm cool like that. Will they eventually overthrow the queen? I'm sure you know, but if not, I'll let the movie be the story teller. I will say this, at the end, I was expecting and actually rooting for (so unlike me) a big sloppy kiss and it didn't come! Kudos to the director for that unpredictable surprise.

Overall, I thought the movie was really good. I was on the edge of my seat many times and the two hours and seven minutes went by really quickly for me. Charlize Theron does an amazing job as the evil queen - she is really believable and super evil! The Huntsman is played by the ever-handsome Chris Hemsworth who is also quite good and even if he wasn't he's nice to look at folks! My only problem was with Kristen Stewart because let's face it folks, will she ever be anyone but Bella? Um, no, I don't  think so. No matter how hard she tries to break free of being Bella, for me anyway, it's just not happening. she did a good job but she also brought a Bella-ness to the role. Seriously, she has the same facial expressions and movements in everything I've seen her in. I'm not sure she can play anything but the timid heroine lovesick type of person. The only difference here was that the man across from her (Hemsworth) is a lot hotter than Robert Pattinson. If anyone else has seen this, I'd like to know what you think in that regard - will Kristen Stweart ever be anyone but Bella in your eyes? Poor girl, I feel kind of bad for her.

I really liked the movie and would definitely watch it again; but I love fantasy movies and you may not. It had quite the medieval feel to it which I also really enjoy so those two elements together was a real hit in my book. Check it out this weekend if you have a chance.

Movie Experience and Review: The Avengers

First of all, let me apologize for the crazy font situation around here. You may not even notice it, but it's driving me crazy and sometimes, no matter how many times I edit, I cannot make the font what it is supposed to be. If you happen to check the blog around the time I'm posting you may get three different fonts in the same post. It's crazy time around here! Thank you for letting me get that off my chest; now, on to the movie experience and review.

As mentioned yesterday, I finally had an opportunity to go and see The Avengers on Friday night. I had wanted to see it since it first came out, but time would not allow. I went to the 7:30 p.m. showing at Rave and arrived at the theater about 7:00 or maybe a few minutes later. I bought my ticket, made my way to the concession stand, procured a medium popcorn (which sounds super good right now), made a pit stop and quickly found a seat. Despite how early I was, the theater was quickly filling up, which was kind of surprising considering the movie had been out for two weeks. I sat in one of the side rows of four hoping against hope that no one would sit beside me.

About 7:20 I realized that if I didn't slow down on the popcorn there wouldn't be any left for the actual movie or even the preview and so I sat the bag down and used every ounce of self-control to not continue munching. With just one or two minutes to spare, a high school couple walked up the aisle and asked if anyone was sitting beside me; sadly, the answer was no and so the two love birds plopped down beside the old single lady. Thankfully, they did not make out during the movie. Other than this one occurrence, there really isn't much more to relay to you regarding the experience. For the first time in a long time there was no one coughing or hacking or hitting me with a scarf. It was like a modern movie miracle or something of the sort.

As for the movie, it was quite good. It lived up to its very hyped expectations. Everyone I know who has seen it loved it; in fact, some people I know have seen it twice. I don't know if I would see it again at the theater, but, that's only because it takes a very special movie for me to see more than one time on the big screen (think Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and most recently The Hunger Games). I would watch it again at home, probably even more than once.

The movie was packed with action from the very beginning. I can't say that my heart ever raced, but there were some very exciting scenes. Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark/Ironman was great as always. I love his sarcastic and dry sense of humor and it is abundant in this movie. In fact, humor in general is quite abundant throughout the movie. I laughed loudly many times, probably embarrassing the couple next to me. Of course, the plot isn't totally realistic considering I doubt seriously some evil guy from a far away world is going to some to earth and threaten civilization; but, on the flip side, it wasn't cheesy or stupid either. It was actually something that could be followed by young and old alike.

I would definitely recommend this movie to anyone looking for a cinema retreat this holiday weekend. There were people of all ages in the showing I went to - kids, teenagers, adults - and everyone seemed to enjoy it. Strangely enough I don't know of any summer blockbusters opening this holiday weekend so this one might be your best bet anyway. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Movie Review: The Hunger Games

It was another busy weekend for me starting with a viewing of The Hunger Games on Friday night with Jackie. As you may recall, I read the books back a few months ago upon Jackie’s recommendation and they were some of the best books I have read in a long while; so, I was anxious to see the movie to see how it compared to the book.

We met up for an early dinner at I Love Sushi. Jackie hasn’t been feeling well lately so she just had soup and edamame while I had a salad and some yummy sushi. We headed over to the movie theater and got our tickets and our seats and settled in for the show.

I must admit, I was pleasantly surprised with the movie. It followed the book quite closely which made me very happy. There were some minor details that were left out but they were not essential to the story line and therefore were not that missed. I felt that the scenery was very similar to how it was described in the book and the movie was also well cast. The only problem I had with the casting was the guy who plays Peta. He did a good job in the movie, but he was nothing like the Peta I had pictured in my mind when I read the book.

Jackie commented that it was a lot more gruesome on screen than when reading and she was right. Watching children kill each other is a bit much on the big screen. Although we both knew what was going to happen, we both found ourselves nervous and anxiously anticipating what would happen next. I found my heart racing on more than one occasion. There was a lot of foreshadowing in the movie, setting the plot for the next two movies. It didn’t take away from the film and was probably necessary because of the amount of material that needs to be covered in the follow up films.

If you liked the books, I think you will also like the movie and if you haven’t read the books then you will probably also like it. I thought it was really well done and in fact wouldn’t mind seeing it again.

Movie Experience and Review: The Lorax

Last Friday night, I joined Jackie and the kids for a viewing of The Lorax, based on the Dr. Seuss book of the same name. I have never read the book, at least I don’t think I have and I just realized I have a copy of it in my bookcase in a collection of books called Six by Seuss. Maybe I’ll give it a read here in a bit.

Anyway, Jackie had emailed me about going earlier in the week and I agreed even though the only 7:00 showing not sold out was in 3D, and y’all know how I feel about the 3D! Jackie went to the theater during the day on Friday to purchase our tickets because she was afraid it might sell out, which is now kind of funny when I think about it because the theater was pretty empty. Before I left to meet the gang, I got a text from Jackie. Ashlyn had asked if I was still going and when Jackie said I was, Ashlyn said, “Yes!” and maybe even gave a fist pump. I found that to be quite the ego booster.

I met the gang a little before 7:00. Ashlyn brought along a friend as did Troy and then another of Jackie’s friends and her son came along as well. We were quite the group; the adults in a trio, the girls in a duo and the boys in another trio all on one row.

The movie wasn’t too bad. It kind of dragged in some places I thought, but the kids really liked it and that’s all that mattered. I was a little drowsy from taking medicine before the viewing so that probably had something to do with hindering me from fully enjoying the show. The movie had a good message as well and that’s also important in today’s take everything for granted society. The best part I thought was the singing and dancing numbers. I seriously thought to myself that it would be fun to sing along to on the way to work or just when you’re cleaning house or whatever.

Sadly, nothing of great interest took place during the show. No one snorted or sneezed or talked loud or anything that I’m used to when going to the movies these days. After the show was over we all went our separate ways and I said a little prayer for Jackie who had to go home with Troy who had enjoyed an Icee during the show. Bless her heart; that was one hyper child.

So, if you’re looking for something to take the kiddos to, then check out The Lorax. They will enjoy it and you probably will too!

Movie Experience and Review: The Vow

So as mentioned yesterday, I went to see The Vow on Friday night. Jackie had emailed me late last week and asked if I had any weekend plans and guess what - I didn't. She asked if I wanted to go see the Vow with her and instead of saying, "are you freakin' kidding me, that movie looks ridiculous!" I said, "Yeah, maybe, just let me know. I could probably use a good cry - had one at the end of The Descendants last week too! And of course, I love to feast on buttered popcorn and get smacked in the face by scarves wrapped around the necks of old women." Yes, that was my actual response. I just copied it out of an email. What was I thinking you may ask? Well, I was thinking that my good friend wanted to go see a sappy movie and since she asked me to go I would be a good friend and go along with her despite my dislike for the uber sappy. So, I went.

On my way to the theater I was almost run over by an Ohio State grad who clearly didn't realize that the people coming off of Carl T. Jones had the right of way and no stop sign; thankfully I made it in one piece. As I was pulling in, I got a text from Jackie that said our friend Maria was coming too and my thought was this: "Well, if I had known Jackie had someone to watch this sappy movie with I would have kept my butt at home." I'm such a loving friend, aren't I? Look, I'm just being honest here. I had absolutely zero interest in seeing this movie. Real life isn't like the romantic movies and it's just depressing to watch it all play out on screen not to mention that these movies are so predictable! (I love you, Jackie!)

Anyway, I walked up to the entrance and was surprised to see that it was a VERY light crowd for a Friday night; they didn't even have the side concession stand open. I guess there weren't any big openers this past weekend. We got some snacks from the concession stand and made our way inside to find some seats. I then took the opportunity to have a bathroom break. One of the very wonderful things about going to the movies with people is that you don't have to take your popcorn into the bathroom with you; instead you can leave it in the seat and your friends will guard it for you and maybe even take a bite or two. I don't know.

The previews started and there weren't any that overly impressed me. We had a good laugh about the What to Expect When You're Expecting (if that's even the name of it) preview but other than that, there wasn't much to brag about. There was one preview from Prometheus about aliens taking over the planet which is probably why I dreamed that night that aliens took over the planet. Side note: I have had the strangest dreams as of late.

The movie finally started and it was one of the most frustrating films I have seen in a long while. As you may know, I get easily frustrated with movies like The Hangover because the obstacles in the way are so unrealistic, but this was a different type of frustration. I was frustrated because the girl couldn't remember her husband, because she went to live with her parents instead of her husband even though she had been estranged from them for five years, that she went back to put the moves on her ex-fiancé, that she was mean and not understanding that her husband was also having a difficult time, I could go on. As Jackie said, "it's like one awkward scene after another." Amen to that, sister. There were multiple times that I wanted to throw my contraband Diet Coke bottle at the screen because I was so frustrated. Is there another word for frustrated? Aggravated, maybe?

The film is actually based on the true story of Kim and Krickitt Carpenter, which now I am dying to know how much of it is truly based on them. Was she really from a rich family? Did she really drop out of law school... twice? Did they really get married in an art museum? Was she really a sculptor? Was she really estranged from her parents? Were his parents really dead? So many questions; so few answers. Lester Holt, if you are reading this, would you please do a Dateline NBC special on this couple? Inquiring minds want to know, thanks! The one thing I do know, the real life couple is not as good looking as Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum. AND, I've said it before on here and will say it again - where are the other Cullman boys that look like Channing Tatum because I sure as heck have never come across any!

Overall, it wasn't the worst movie I've ever seen. I doubt I'm giving anything away when I tell you that the couple ends up getting back together at the end of the movie. Unless you really love these types of movies though, I would suggest waiting until it comes out for rental on Netflix, Redbox, etc. because I had rather spend my money on some other movie such as The Descendants. It's really good, y'all!

Speaking of movies, has anyone seen The Grey? It has gotten such good reviews and I am so curious to hear from someone who has actually seen it because it seems like a strange story.

Despite all the sentimental romantic mumbo jumbo in this movie, I still had a good time seeing it with my friends, and that's worth more than $9 no matter how you look at it!

Movie Experience and Review: The Descendants

Last Friday night I went to see The Descendants with George Clooney. Well, I didn't go to the movies with George Clooney, he was in the movie, The Descendants; but, how cool would it be to go with George Clooney? He would probably be a fun person to hang out with. Anyway...

The movie started at 6:40 and so about 10 minutes after 6:00, I left home and instead of going my regular route, I headed towards the interstate to the Parkway. I was apparently in la la land because once on the ramp, I realized I didn't need to go that way and prepared to exit to go my regular route. In the process, I was almost run over by a work van of some sort who was merging into my lane in the same spot I was driving. I had to slam on the brakes to prevent from falling of the interstate. Have I ever mentioned how much I loathe driving?

I finally made it to the movie theater in one piece and pulled into the parking lot. There was a lady standing in the middle of the row I was driving down talking on her cell phone and she had to move out of the way, then she proceeded to stand in front of the parking place I decided to take and she had to move again. When I got out of the car, she was again standing in the middle of the row. It was freezing cold out and I mean, really, what idiot just stands in the middle of a parking lot row talking on the phone? Have the common sense to at least stand to the side so you don't get run over. Not everyone is going to be as polite as me!

I made my way inside the theater and got in line to purchase a ticket. There were two old women in front of me and a third rushed passed me to join them. As we were walking in line, one of the first two slung her scarf back over her shoulder and proceeded to hit me in the face. I let out a little scream as I was not expecting to be mauled at the movie theater, but the old woman didn't seem to notice, or perhaps she didn't care that she had just struck an innocent bystander with her orange weapon. A man in line behind me noticed it and he and I had a chuckle about it. He told his wife what happened and she joined in our laughter as well.

I finally managed to get a ticket once the old women were out of my way and headed towards the inside. Unfortunately, they only had one line open to get in and needless to say, there was a bottleneck of people trying to make their way inside. One of the managers, thankfully, had enough sense to open a second line to take tickets and it wasn't long after that I was safely inside. I headed straight to the concession stand and found a spot that had no line and promptly ordered a medium popcorn.

After getting my bag of popcorn, I made my way to the theater and had to walk through a sea of people who were posing for a photo with some characters from Star Wars. Look, I like Star Wars as much as the next person, maybe more so in some cases, but on this particular evening, these characters were basically just a nuisance, an obstacle to my getting to my seat. In case you are wondering why the Star Wars folks were there, well, in an effort to make George Lucas even richer, Star Wars Episode One was released in 3D over the weekend. I just don't get the whole fascination with 3D. It does absolutely nothing for me and I am not going to pay money to go see a movie in 3D that I've already seen in the theater and have at home on DVD or Blu Ray. Seriously, everything is coming out in 3D now. Even Titanic! It's ridiculous. I think I'll pass and use the extra $3 for popcorn. Not to mention the fact that it makes me kind of nauseous.

Moving on...

I finally reached the theater and when I walked in, I was overcome with the fact that I was the only person under the age of 60 in the room. I am not even kidding when I say that 95% of the people in the room had grey or white hair. Who knew older people were so keen to watch a movie about a women dying and how it effects her family? I found a set on the next to the last row and got all settled in. I was afraid I would be late, but the previews had not yet started. As is always the case, just when you think the theater can't get much fuller, more and more people trickled in, including a couple who looked to be in their 80s who came in as the movie was starting and sat behind me. The man coughed on and off through the movie and it was a deep cough. I thought he might lose a lung a time or two. Thankfully, he walked out on his own accord once the movie credits rolled.

As for the movie itself... absolute perfection! Let's face it, pretty much everything that George Clooney does is perfection these days. The man chooses really great scripts. The film is set in Hawaii and is about a family dealing with what will soon be the loss of the wife/mother, who was in a boating accident and is in a coma. It basically shows how the family copes with it and there is a twist or two along the way. As deep as the subject matter is, there were many laughs for me along the way. I laughed loudly a lot! I also laughed loudly a few times when no one else did; not sure what that says about me. I saw a lot of my own family in this family and I guess that's why I was able to find humor in places where others didn't. I also cried at the end so obviously this movie will take you on an emotional roller coaster so be prepared.

There is a lot of foul language in this movie so be prepared for that as well. Despite that, I would highly recommend this movie to anyone looking for something to watch this weekend. I'm not sure how much longer it will be out. I think it was re-released since it's up for so many Academy awards; so it may not be at the theater much longer. So, if you miss it on the big screen definitely check it out via Netflix, Redbox, or whatever else it is you kids use these days. FYI, my parents also saw this movie last Friday and my dad really liked it too; not sure about my mom.

Movie Experience and Review: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

As mentioned earlier in the week, I went to see a movie on Saturday afternoon. I took in the 4:30 showing of "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy", a British flick starring Gary Oldman (a genius!) and a Colin Firth (LOVE him) and a bunch of other cute and also not so cute British men. The film was released overseas in September of last year but for whatever reason was released in the States just this month. All the reviews said it was a flawless and (insert other flattering adjectives here) performance by Oldman so I thought, well, I'll go check this out.

Once again I went by myself. Jackie has her kids this past weekend and I really didn't think anyone else I know would want to see this particular film so I opted to just go by myself, mostly to get out of the house before I forever became a permanent fixture on the couch.

I got to the theater about 15 minutes before the movie started, bought my ticket and a medium popcorn. I had my contraband Diet Coke in my purse. I found a seat at the end of an aisle where there were five empty seats together. I put my coat and purse in the seat at the aisle and sat next to them. People started flowing into the theater and there were a few times when I thought that someone was going to plop down beside me, but thankfully that didn't happen and I was able to enjoy the luxury of elbow room and moving around freely without disturbing anyone next to me.

One couple that came in looked perilously close to sitting next to me but instead chose the two seats directly across the aisle from me. Let me tell you, if they had sat next to me, I probably would have gotten up and asked for a refund because it was bad enough having them across the aisle. The man constantly snorted and sniffed and it wasn't discreet in the least. Each time he snorted, he then sounded as though he was about to choke on whatever he snorted up and would cough and clear his throat. Clearly he has issues. I don't know if he was sick or if this is his normal behavior but if I was his wife or whoever that woman was with him, I would not have put up with that. It was disturbing. Once the movie got started, he didn't do it quite as often. My guess is because the movie was very quiet. At one point he got up and to be honest, I was so engrossed in the movie that I didn't even notice. I did, however, notice when he came back and it started all over again. I tried to give him the stink eye when I left, but the theater was dark so I doubt it did any good. But, seriously, it was probably the worst movie experience I've had as far as weirdos in the crowd.

On to the movie portion of this story - I had no idea what this movie was going to be about, just that the previews were intriguing enough to get me down to the theater. Turns out it was about a British government agency (they never said, but my guess was MI-6) who was tracking a mole within the group, well, Gary Oldman was tracking the mole. The film is based on the book of the same name, which was written in the 1970s and no, I haven't read it so I can't give you a comparison. In fact, this movie is not one that's easy to write about because the plot was quite complicated. You had to follow along real closely, blocking out as best you could, any snorting that was taking place to your left. The scenes flash back to the past and then to the present and everyone is trying to find the elusive Karla and who is leaking information to Karla. In other words, if you are looking for an easy breezy movie, this one isn't it. The film is very quiet and there are sometimes scenes where no one at all is talking, just thinking or reminiscing. It's a different sort of film, but it was quite good. In fact, it's a little over two hours long and when it was over, I could hardly believe that much time had passed. For me, I got really engrossed in what was going on and who was Karla's spy and would they ever catch him. Which one was it? Tinker? Tailor? Soldier? Or Spy? Code names, you see.

I'll let you go see if for yourself if you want to find out all the gory details. It was quite a good film, but not one that everyone in your group will enjoy.

Movie Experience and Review: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

While I was out for vacation last week, I managed to make it to the movie theater to see "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" on the big screen. As you know, I read the books last year and enjoyed each of them immensely - once I was able to get into it that is. So, I was looking forward to seeing what Hollywood was going to do with these books that have been read and loved by so many.

I went last Friday night and after running a couple of errands, arrived at the theater, bought my ticket and then a large - yes, a large, popcorn. After having the stomach virus a couple of days before and eating cautiously on Thursday, my hunger had caught up to me and I was ready for some eating, people. I didn't eat the whole bucket, but came pretty darn close. I ran into two couples from church in the hallway when I first arrived and chatted with them for a while before making my way to the theater.

I settled into a seat ca couple of rows from the top and was hoping the theater wouldn't fill up. I should have known better because it was showing in one of the smaller theaters and there were already quite a few people in the "stands". I was really amazed at the number of couples in the crowd because call me crazy but I wouldn't want to watch this movie with a boyfriend or husband. Something about seeing rape on the big screen doesn't say, "I love you sweetie," to me. But, hey, what do I know? I guess I sat down about 10 minutes before the movie started and in those 10 minutes , the place became rather full. Two girls came in and sat right next to me which I was less than thrilled about but thankfully they didn't talk or fart or anything like that. (I have no idea what inspired me to write fart, but I'm keeping it. Sorry, Aunt Linda!)

Once the movie began, they showed a wide array of previews, none of which really struck my fancy. I mean, Ghostrider 2? Really, wasn't the first one bad enough? Nicolas Cage, how you have fallen. Of course, I have never enjoyed his acting, but that's a post for another day.

OK, on to the movie review - this movie was quite well done considering the vast amount of material the screenwriters, directors, etc. had to work with. You would think they would have had to leave something out, but in reality there wasn't much missing at all. Impressive. I have watched many a movie based on books I have read but this is the first time I have ever watched one where I felt like someone had literally taken the scenes from my head and placed them on the screen in front of me. I give all the credit to Stieg Larsson and his immaculate attention to detail. He described things so very to the point that it would have been hard to mess it up; but, seriously, y'all - right out of my head. It was quite mind blowing. The whole movie wasn't like that mind you, but many of the scenes, especially from the parade Harriet was at before she went missing and the wreck of the gas freighter on the bridge. It was quite surreal.

I wasn't sure how I would like Daniel Craig in the role of Mikael Blomkvist, I mean, he's quite lovely as James Bond but I always pictured Mikael to be a little pudgier and less handsome than Daniel Craig, but he did quite a good job. He was actually believable in the role, which is obviously important. Christopher Plummer was quite wonderful as Henrik Vanger but I mean when is he not wonderful - hello, Captain Von Trapp! Rooney Mara - amazing as Salander. She did a phenomenal job as this very reclusive and troubled yet remarkable girl. She played the role beautifully.

There were a few things that were changed to make the movie flow better into the second film, such as Palmgren being in the nursing home, which doesn't happen until the second book. The ending was a little different as well, but worked out just fine and didn't take away from the plot at all. I closed my eyes during the rape scene because I did not care to see that on the big screen, or any screen for that matter. There were a couple of other disturbing scenes (those in the basement of Martin's house and another one or two) in which I also closed my eyes because really I wanted to be able to sleep peacefully once I got home that evening. The movie was 2 hours and 40 minutes long but it kept my attention the whole time and I didn't look at my watch once - a modern day miracle. In all, I would give this movie an A plus. If you loved the book, then I think you will love the movie as well. I'm anxiously awaiting the release of the second, assuming there will be a second. Here's to hoping so!

Side Note: I decided to name these posts movie experience and review since I seem to write more about what happens at the theater than the actual movie and honestly I don't think I'm that good at reviewing. Thanks for listening!

Movie Review: Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

This past Friday, believe it or not, I went to the movies to see Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. I have been to so few movies this year one would think I didn’t enjoy going to the movies. For whatever reason I just haven’t made much time for one of my favorite things to do; but somehow in the midst of this season of hustle and bustle, I managed to take a little time out for myself.

The first Sherlock Holmes movie which came out two years ago was fabulous I thought and so I was very much looking forward to seeing this sequel, once again starring the ever so entertaining Robert Downey, Jr. and the always adorable Jude Law. I was expecting to be just as entertained as I was the first go around and while this sequel was good, I think the first one was better.

There was an interesting plot in this movie which at times was not as easy as you might expect to follow, or it could have been the sinus medicine causing my brain to be foggy. Downey, Jr. and Law provided laughter throughout and once again made a wonderful pair as Holmes and Watson. Rachel McAdams made a brief appearance as Irene Adler, but I was sad to see she wasn’t as big a part of this film as she was the first go around.

There were lots of twists and turns and a lot of action as well. Many times I caught myself holding my breath while waiting to see what was going to happen next. There were, as expected, situations where you wondered how in the heck this duo would make it out alive, but fear not, dear friends, this is the movies and the main characters mustn’t be killed off.

This movie was rather delightful and served as a nice escape from the pressures this season of the year tends to bring. So, if you are looking for a good film to watch either by yourself or with your family this holiday season, check out this latest Sherlock Holmes movie. I think you will find it quite fun and entertaining.

The Twighlight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part I

On Saturday, Jackie, Maria and I went to see Breaking Dawn Part I and I must admit it was rather good. It’s been quite a while since I’ve read the Twilight books so all the specific details were not fresh on my mind to compare with the movie but from what I can remember, the filmmakers did quite a nice job.

We went to the 1:30 showing and arrived at the theater about 30 minutes or so before the movie started. The theater was already filling up, but we managed to find some good seats about midway up. Luckily I was on the aisle. We had gone for sushi before and I had water to drink along with hot tea and some soup and I felt for sure I would have to make multiple trips to the bathroom. I actually only had to get up once, when Edward and Bella were on their honeymoon and it wasn’t for a bathroom break, it was because I started coughing and wasn’t sure I was going to be able to stop and didn’t want to be one of those annoying people at the movies. So, I got up and it’s a good thing I did because the coughing also made me a little sick if you know what I mean and so I darted into the bathroom to clean myself up. Thankfully no one noticed my shirt being wet when I came back in and I had a sweatshirt to pull on as well.

I guess you’re probably not reading this for all the gory details of my trip out of the movie though, so let’s continue shall we? The movie was just wonderful. I’ve come to love these actors as the characters from the book over the years. Admittedly, I wasn’t thrilled with them in the first movie, but they have grown on me and each movie I think I love them even more. The wedding scene was really beautiful and quite realistic, not cheesy like so many wedding scenes can be. The special effects were once again great, especially when Jacob and the others transformed into the wolf pack. There were a lot of sentimental moments as well and you may have even spotted a tear or two amongst the three of us. Clearly we are teenagers at heart.

The scenes of Bella’s pregnancy were also quite good. They made her to look quite terrible, perhaps even more terrible than I pictured in the book. The delivery scene was riveting and had me on the edge of my seat even though I knew what was going to happen. I figured the movie would end when Edward transformed Bella into a vampire and in a way it did as the very last scene had Bella opening her eyes and her eyes being blood red.

Part II doesn’t come out until November 16, 2012! 2012! That’s a whole year from now. Whatever will we do? Wait, I guess. I hate waiting. If you are a lover of these books or movies then you will not be disappointed when you go see this one. It was a real pleaser and was enjoyed by all three of us.

Wednesday Movie Review: The Time Traveler’s Wife

This past week, we DirecTV customers had a few days of free Cinemax, which meant that I recorded a few movies to watch that I missed when they were in the theaters. One of those movies was The Time Traveler’s Wife. Many of you may have already seen this movie, but if not, then maybe you will rent it/download it/whatever it is you kids do these days.

I read this book in anticipation of the movie coming out but didn’t review it here on The Chronicles of Nat. In fact, I may have read it before I started the blog. The book is really an extraordinary novel – it amazes me that the author was able to come up with such a unique story and tell the story from so many different perspectives and time periods. You really have to pay attention when reading the book to know what year it is and which Henry is in the scene. I found the book to be beautifully written and at the end I cried like a baby – it was one of those ugly cries where I had to let my tears dry up for a while before I could continue reading. In my opinion, this was one of the best books I have ever read and I actually wouldn’t mind going back and reading it again, but then there are so many other books out there to read. I remember that while reading this book, I would dream about it each night and that’s always a tell-tale sign that I’m in love with what I’m reading – it consumes my thought.

For whatever reason (probably because I was dating Tony and he would have had no interest in seeing this movie) I never went to see the movie in the theater, even though I remember really wanting to see it. Then, with the demise of the video store, I never had an opportunity to rent the film either; so, when I saw it would be playing on Cinemax during the free preview days, I recorded it.

This past Monday night, I had an opportunity to watch it and I really thought it was well done. As mentioned in the past, it’s hard to get every detail of a book on film and there were many small details and even larger details that were left out of this film; but on the whole, I would have to say this film captured the message and meaning behind the book. I don’t know if it was because I loved the book so much or because I had read the book I knew what was about to happen in the scenes or if I was just overly emotional when I watched this move, but I have to tell you, I cried like a baby through the majority of the film and it brought back so many of the thoughts and feelings I had while reading the book. It made me want to pick it up and get lost in it once more.

I felt as though the love between Clare and Henry was very accurately portrayed on the screen and my heart ached every time Clare’s did. For a book as in depth and as long as this one, the movie played out pretty well, I would say. Just as I did when I read the book, I dreamt about it after watching the movie. Apparently there is something about this story that really touches my heart. If you’re looking for something to watch this weekend, see if you can find The Time Traveler’s Wife. Then come back and let me know what you thought, especially those of you who read the book.

Tuesday Movie Review: The Help

This past Saturday, Erika, Jackie and I, along with two women from church (Ms. Claudette and Ms. Mary Ann) went to see The Help. I reviewed the book here on The Chronicles of Nat back in November of last year. I had borrowed the book from Ms. Claudette and absolutely loved it. It was one of the best books I have read in a long while and I was really looking forward to the movie coming out.

Jackie read the book about a month or so ago and then Erika bought the book last week and read it in all of two days. It’s that good, people. If you haven’t read it yet, please do. It is such a great read!

We went to the matinee and I got a large popcorn. While Jackie ate a little of it, I’m not embarrassed to admit that I did the majority of the popcorn eating. It was exceptionally good for some reason. We settled in to our seats in a theater that was full of mostly women. There may have been a man or two sprinkled in here and there.

The movie was really great, ya’ll. I would recommend this movie as much as I would recommend the book, but please do read the book beforehand if you can. After all, as you probably know, I’m a firm believer in book reading before movie seeing.

This film followed the book quite closely as best I can remember. Erika, who had most recently read the book, agreed that it was close to the book. There were a few things that were left out, but nothing that took away from the story. The book is obviously more detailed, but, as I’ve said before, if the movie makers got every detail of the books correct we’d be sitting in a theater for hours on end. So, I would say they hit the nail on the head when it came to turning this wonderful book into a big screen attraction.

The acting in the movie was quite remarkable as well. Bryce Dallas Howard did a remarkable job as the evil Hilly Hollbrook, Emma Stone was delightful as Skeeter, and Octavia Spencer stole scene after scene as the sass-mouthed Minnie. The movie’s best performance, however, may have been by Viola Davis as Aibileen. Jackie said she should be nominated for an Oscar for her performance and I would have to say I agree. All of these women as well as the rest of the cast did a fantastic job of portraying their characters and on more than one occasion had the audience in tears.

Don’t think this movie is just for women, though. An older man I attend church with said he also saw it last week and he loved it. So, load up your husbands and boyfriends and get down to the theater to see this very powerful, heartwarming and moving film. It’s definitely one worth spending your $10 on.