How to Train Your Dragon

I love, love, love, love, love this movie. Once again the 3D took me to a land far away in a time when dragons roamed the earth. I fell for it hook, line, and sinker. I fell in love with the story. I fell in love with the characters. I fell in love with the animation. I could have easily watched it again after the closing credits.

I didn’t know what to expect from the movie other than everyone saying how much Toothless looked like my cat. Not only does he look like him, but he acts like him too. That made it all that more endearing for me to watch. I want a dragon. I had all but forgotten about my love for dragons when I was a kid. As I watched the story unfold it took me right back to those days when imagination was our entertainment, long before the days of video games. I would spend hours in the yard playing and I’m quite sure that sometimes my dog was my dragon. It’s a rare treat when you can watch a film that makes you forget all about being an adult. I was a kid again. Thank you Dreamworks!

Rated PG for sequences of intense action and some scary images, and brief mild language.

Whiteout

Going into this movie, I was under the impression that it was a very scary movie. At least I thought that is what I read. I wish I had zero expectations and I probably would have really liked it. However, I kept waiting for it to get scary. It had intense moments and some good jumps, but it is far from scary. It is more like a mystery/thriller that you would watch on Lifetime. I love some of the Lifetime movies so that’s not meant to be a negative remark. It just wasn’t what I was expecting so I found the story to drag on and on and on.

I am a big fan of Gabriel Macht and always wonder why he doesn’t do more projects. I think he’s a fantastic actor and he can definitely hold his own no matter who his co-star may be. Pairing him with Kate Beckinsale was a great casting choice. However, they seemed to have lost some of the chemistry in the writing. Maybe that was due to Kate’s character originally being written as a man. There was a lot of potential in having Kate and Gabriel lead this story and for some reason it fell flat. Not to either of their fault, I just think it was in the story telling or the editing.

Spoilers ahead.

Kate plays a tough marshal who is investigating a murder in Antarctica. Her character is wounded from a past incident and there were a few too many flashbacks to that incident. The audience didn’t need to be fed so much of the past to understand where the story was going. I think one flashback and then the full story at the end would have sufficed. It was hard watching Kate play a marshal for some reason. She’s so tiny compared to the men working at the station that she seems too vulnerable. I know she can play tough well, so I’m not sure why they had her seem so ‘breakable’ in this role.

The chase scene through the snow between Kate’s character and the killer was intense. There were enough twists and turns throughout the story to keep the audience guessing as to who the killer actually was. I wasn’t surprised but I didn’t exactly guess the ending. But, there were many instances where the dialogue dumbed down the audience. It became rather silly during a few scenes and we laughed at the characters trying to explain something so completely obvious. For instance there is a scene in the plane where Kate’s character looks at a dead man with a bullet hole in his head and says something about thinking he must have been shot. We waited for one of the other characters to say ‘you think?’. But, since there wasn’t any additional humor in the scenes it was a ridiculous explanation. Sometimes less is more.

The cast was a mix of great actors. Gabriel and Kate, even as leads, were able to fall into the ensemble with Tom Skerritt, Columbus Short, and Alex O’Loughlin. The scenery was beautiful even at its most desolate. With exception to a few long drags of story it was a good film. It was my own fault for expecting something like 30 Days of Night. It was a good mystery story and had I not expected something more I think I would have really enjoyed it. For nothing else, I would have enjoyed watching a great group of actors come to life as their characters.

My one pet peeve was that they had nudity for the sake of nudity. It was laughable. If you’re going to have a shower scene in a movie, you had better have Norman Bates standing on the other side of the wall.

Rated R for violence, grisly images, brief strong language and some nudity.

The Wolfman (2010)

When it comes to admiring an actor, Benicio Del Toro is at the top of my list of favorites. There are few who I would even consider as talented as he is. However, with each actor no matter how method they might be, there are always pieces of themselves hidden somewhere in the character. This is the very first time that I watched Benicio where I didn’t ‘hear’ Benicio. He was Lawrence Talbot from beginning to end. I sat in awe throughout the entire film.

I was one of the lucky few to see the trailer for The Wolfman before it was released publicly. Ever since that night I have waited anxiously to see this film. I was curious to see if Benicio would shine in this role as well. There is something about his demeanor that draws a person in. His eyes breathe both life and pain in every role. His intensity challenges even the strongest of personalities. I highly doubt anyone would want to stand toe to toe with him in a dark alley, especially after watching him in The Wolfman.

(Spoilers ahead).

If you’ve seen the original then you know the basic storyline. However, this version takes a somewhat different approach to the story. It was an ingenious way to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. There were plenty of unexpected scares, and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. It was nice to watch with a fresh perspective. Although some of the dialogue boarded on the edge of being cheesy, our audience was very forgiving and laughed along with tongue in cheek.

It is a very dark and gruesome tale of a man bitten by a beast which alters his entire course in life. He is forced into a nightmare that is far worse than any of his childhood memories. Speaking of memories, the flashbacks used throughout the film were easy to follow from their clever way of transitions. Since most of the film takes place at night in a time where everything is lit by candlelight, it could have been easy to get lost between the past and the story’s present. They kept the line blurred both figuratively and literally, and if it wasn’t for the literal blurring it could have been confusing between what was real and what was memory.

The cast was amazing (also including great performances by Emily Blunt, Anthony Hopkins, and Hugo Weaving), the sets were incredible, and the visuals were stunning. Usually I turn away from gore, but you can’t help but watch the destruction. The scene at the asylum where the doctor is trying to prove Lawrence is crazy in front of an audience (and a full moon) is worth the price of admission.

It is a great story based film, driven by strong characters, and even though there is lots of gore, it still lives up to being a classic monster movie.

Rated R for bloody horror violence and gore.

Up in the Air

(Spoilers ahead).

It appears that Jason Reitman has struck gold once again with this perfectly timed film about the lonely life of a man who lays people off for a living. George Clooney plays Ryan Bingham a traveling salesman of sorts who ‘sells’ a layoff to people on one of the worst days of their lives. He spends most of his year traveling from city to city conducting layoffs for companies who are not able to appropriately handle such a delicate situation. Jason Bateman plays Ryan’s boss Craig who has decided to take a new approach to the layoff business. Anna Kendrick’s character Natalie proposes that to save money and time the company should layoff via video conference. Ryan decides the best way to prove his point that cheaper isn’t always better takes Natalie on the most eye-opening trip of her life. As hard as it might be, it’s always better to have a personal touch to layoffs.

During their journey Ryan falls for another traveler played by Vera Farmiga. The chemistry between these two characters is undeniable. They both live a life of freedom by refusing to be rooted in one place. But, under it all there is a strong sense of loneliness and a hidden desire for stability.

What I loved most about this movie is that some of the interviews of those affected by the layoffs were with real people. People who had gone through a layoff themselves and were willing to share in the pain. The supporting cast is also wonderful in creating characters that are dealing with their own breaking points. They each made us feel right at home with whatever situations they were dealing with. All in all, this is a very voyeuristic film that leads us into the darkest moments of people’s lives. We get to sit back watch everything unravel as the drama unfolds.   

It’s like having your life’s safety net ripped out from underneath you. I’ve been at companies during layoffs and it’s one of the most unsettling feelings imaginable. I’ve also had both family and friends affected by layoffs so I’ve seen someone’s world implode from having their livelihood stripped from them. 

Most people are just a few paychecks away from losing everything. This is why it is a little difficult to watch Up in the Air and it may take a few days to really settle in after watching. It is a great film, but it most definitely taps into our deepest fears of being on the other side of the table from someone like Ryan.

Rated R for language and some sexual content.

500 Days of Summer

I first heard of 500 Days of Summer from one of my best friends. She made a point to have us stop what we were doing to watch the trailer. She had just seen a screening and said (as I first remembered) “this movie is for anyone who has ever been in a relationship”. After watching it a couple of times (once with her) she corrected me in that what she originally said was something like ‘this movie is for anyone who has ever been in a relationship where they liked someone more than they were liked’. Either way, if you’ve ever been in a relationship, you’ll find charm and truth to this movie.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt has grown into the leading man status. That was fantastic to witness throughout 500 Days of Summer. So many times he reminded me of Heath Ledger. When I stopped to think about it, I remember watching Heath grow as an actor over the years after first seeing him (and Joseph) in 10 Things I Hate About You. It must be hard for an actor to grow up in front of the camera. But, Joseph has always taken this process in stride and seems very grounded.

Zooey Deschanel brings her delightful self to her character. Even though at times the character isn’t very charming or likeable, she’s very real and brutally honest. There was no sugar-coating Summer, Zooey seamlessly showed all of her flaws, and that was so refreshing to watch. She was a woman in all aspects of the relationship, even showing tension with a subtle expression.

(Spoilers ahead).

The irony of the movie is that in the beginning we love Summer, the middle we find ourselves siding with Tom, towards the end we nearly dislike Summer as we feel betrayed by her. Yet, when all is said and done, we find that we never truly saw Summer for who she was. But rather we saw her for who Tom wanted her to be. We all fell into the trap of love just as easily as he did. Never once did Summer ever pretend that the relationship was more than what she originally said it was. As the narrator states in the beginning of the film ”this is not a love story”, yet somehow we find ourselves believing it is in spite of that knowledge.

I loved going on this crazy ride with the characters, especially since it jumps around throughout the 500 days. What a great way to tell a story. I immediately watched it a second time just to get the full effect of the story. The best part was showing how at first a person’s flaws are appealing, but as time goes on those same flaws are grating and can at times ruin the relationship. The key is to find someone whose flaws are compatible with your own. Well that and also someone who will play house with you in the middle of an IKEA.

“This is a story of boy meets girl.”

Rated PG-13 for sexual material and language.

Pretty Ugly People

“Welcome to cafe passive-agressive.”

It is very rare these days that a movie comes out with an ensemble cast of my favorites. Pretty Ugly People is that movie for me. I’m not sure that I could find a more entertaining, talented, or diverse cast if I tried. This raw, gritty, amazingly true to life film has my favorite actors to portray the emotionally damaged characters: Josh Hopkins (fan since GI Jane ’97), Melissa McCarthy (fan since Go ’99), Jack Noseworthy (fan since Alive ’93), and Missi Pyle (fan since Galaxy Quest ’99). The cast also includes Octavia Spencer, Larry Sullivan, Phill Lewis, and Philip Littell who after this movie have become some of my new favorites. Of course William Sanderson and Allison Janney round out this wonderful ensemble by breathing life into their supporting roles.

I have wanted to watch this movie since the first time I heard of it. The DVD has great extras including a gag reel. Since originally posting this review, I have learned that there is a director’s commentary listed under the Audio/Subtitles menu (thank you Larry). It is an award-winning piece of cinema which absolutely deserves every accolade it receives.

I remember an interview where the writer/director Tate Taylor talked about when he first had the idea for the movie (which of course I can’t find now so this is from memory). He was in the waiting room as his friend underwent gastric bypass surgery. If I remember correctly, he was asking her why she opted for the surgery and she replied by saying something about wanting to be as happy as the rest of their friends. This conversation led to the birth of Pretty Ugly People which its basic idea is that pretty people can be ugly too. Meaning even though someone looks to have it all together, on the inside they are struggling with their own issues.

(Spoilers ahead).

The story revolves around Lucy, who in a frantic phone call asks her old friends to meet her at a resort in Montana. They assume that she is ill or dying so they all come rushing to her side even though they haven’t seen each other in years. Unbeknownst to them, Lucy is now half her size after having gastric bypass surgery. She wants to celebrate her success with her oldest and dearest friends. It is her attempt to finally fit in with the rest of the crowd. Little does she know that being pretty on the outside doesn’t always mean that you’re pretty on the inside. She finds resistance from every single person in the group and everyone at one point or another shows their dark side.

The story takes place in the Montana mountains. It is beautiful and far removed from the fast paced life everyone is used to. Camping does not suit this group well at all. In fact, the longer they stay in the woods, the more unraveled everyone’s life becomes. They lash out at each other to hide their own insecurities. Lies are unearthed, misperceptions revealed, and the truth hurts. Yet, somehow within the venom there is growth. People are forced to face themselves and decide if they want to stay on the same track or try to become a better person.

Imagine spending four days in the wilderness with your friends. Not a pretty picture I’m sure. At first it seems like a good idea, but when you really stop to think about it, people will start to crack on day one. What would your secret be? Lucy’s friends deal with weight, health, infidelity, sexuality, race, success or lack thereof, and everyone’s façade at one time or another comes crashing down.

I was a bit hesitant going in wondering how they were going to deal with the weight issue. As a plus sized person myself, I found it to be very open and honest. The characters seemed like real people, not some lazy, crazy person made up by someone who doesn’t understand what it’s like to be fat. They were real women, with real problems, and there was no need to handle any of them with kid gloves. They could have easily been myself or any one of my friends. It didn’t focus on the reasons why someone is overweight (except for Lucy which is the basis to the story), but rather highlighted everyone’s issues. Weight wasn’t the main problem. So many times you put a skinny actress in a fat suit, then you take her out of it, and pretend to see all the things people think a fat person goes through. This fit people of all shapes and sizes.

The movie takes a very raw and graphic look into the lives of these characters. It isn’t always pretty, it’s funny, it’s sad, many times it’s painful, and sometimes it’s just flat out wrong (but in a good way). It’s human nature and one of the best portrayals of life that I’ve seen in a long time. There is a lot of language which takes me back to my less is more theory. Had there been one really good outburst by someone or one use of a curse word I would have loved the impact it made. But, it’s used quite often and loses it’s power after every time it’s spoken. Personally, I would have chosen the scene behind the rock with Becky and Trevor and thrown everything into that one scene. Then it would have been memorable, but as it stands all the language is just annoying and takes away from the dialogue. But, the movie is a gem and I was able to look past my pet peeve and really enjoy it for what it is. 

The morale of the story is that it doesn’t matter what size you are, nor the color of your skin, your sexual preference, what you’ve been through, what mistakes you’ve made, you could be rich or poor and you still have regrets. What matters is how you live your life and the people you choose to live it with.  

“I’m going to write a letter, in puffy paint, see if she likes that.”

Rated R for sexual content, brief graphic nudity, pervasive language, and some drug use.

Avatar

Many times when I’m reviewing something I always start with ‘I wasn’t planning on seeing this’, but it’s always those films that I end up really enjoying. The same goes for Avatar. I had zero desire to watch this strange story regardless of how amazingly stunning the visuals were supposed to be. My husband felt the same way, so little did we know as we walked up to the box office that Avatar would be the film we chose to watch on Christmas Eve. We decided to see it in 3D and if you have any intention on seeing Avatar, see it in 3D while still in theaters. I’m actually going  to see it again tomorrow with my dad and sister in IMAX 3D.

Story aside, Avatar is one of the most beautiful films I have ever watched. Not only that, I caught my self halfway through the film feeling as though I was actually there in this bizarre land. I felt much like I did when I was a child watching Saturday morning cartoons when you’re so drawn into the show that you forget all aspects of reality. When watching Avatar, I was completely lost in the suspension of disbelief then at some point reality kicked in and I realized that the characters were digitally animated. I was shocked that I had forgotten that until my husband said the same thing happened to him. I got lost on Pandora and could have stayed there all day.

(Spoilers ahead).

I realize that James Cameron had very high hopes for this to be a huge success. With reason, I can’t even begin to imagine what all went into the making of this film. The political message was a bit preachy, and as most reviewers are mentioning,  the basic storyline has been told before. But, all of that aside he creates such an incredible world on Pandora that the politics are forgivable.

As much as I love war movies, the war in Avatar seemed to drag on. There were too many different assaults breaking out between the humans and the Na’vi tribe. Although, as hard as the message of destruction is thrown at the audience, there are also some really sweet elements of peace and tolerance. I can’t say I would have enjoyed Avatar had it only been for the story, the reason why I loved this film is due to the visuals. It is worth every cent just to see something like this in 3D, I have seen nothing else to compare.

I won’t go into the story since it’s pretty confusing trying to explain everything, but I will mention that the actors are all perfect for their characters. The cast is top-notch with Sam Worthington leading the ensemble of Sigourney Weaver, Giovanni Ribisi, Michelle Rodriguez, Stephen Lang, Joel Moore, and a breakout performance by Zoe Saldana even though you never actually see her un-animated.

I was thrilled to wake up on Christmas morning and see that Santa brought me an Avatar figure. It was Norm who is the perfect blend of science and humor much like my younger self. If the science was possible, I would be the first person in line to have my very own avatar created.

Avatar does what every movie strives to do, it allows you to walk in someone else’s shoes for a couple of hours. In 3D this is a bit more literal than you could possibly ever imagine.

Rated PG-13 for intense epic battle sequences and warfare, sensuality, language and some smoking.