the scatterbox organized

What I Watched: July

... and, well, some of June, too.

I've seen blogs from my friends and others that have little themes like "What I Ate" or "What I Read", etc.  Reading my blog at all, you'll know that my lazy ass eats mostly what my husband makes, and I'm a slow book-finisher.  So I shall write what I know, as they say!  Nothing too monumental, just snippets of overall thoughts about the experience.  I'm not a movie hater; I don't think the majority of flicks out there are so bad that the words "hate" or "horrible" can be applied.  There's always some kind of redeeming quality, no matter how small.  One reason I'm not a fan of the profession of being a critic for a living.  It tends to seem like some of them just thrive on slinging negativity as sport.

Anyhoo... Back in the day, I used to be extremely on top of my game when it came to new release films.  I would have seen at LEAST one every weekend in the theatre.  My subscription to the then paper-version of Premiere Magazine was in full swing, as well.  Much to my dismay, I then went through a very long, dry, theatreless spell, and have started to get things back on track.  Watching a flick in a movie theatre is one of my all-time favorite things to do.  I've always said that I don't care about having expensive jewelry, or a fancy car, or a huge house or anything material like that...  But when the means present themself, I will most certainly throw down for a quality home theatre experience.

So I present to thee my cinematic two cents.  I've stockpiled a list to account for some I've seen a couple months prior, but then I'll be caught up, promise!

***

10MPH - I've been cheerleading this documentary for actually a couple years now, and why it has taken me this long to actually view it is beyond me.  It first caught my attention because Enter the Haggis has their apropot song Another Round featured on the soundtrack.  When I looked up what the subject matter was, I was hooked even more.  Anyone that takes a closer look at chucking the corporate world and really living life with meaning is 5-star in my book.  I can't wait to see Josh and Hunter's follow-ups.

Bride Wars - Chick flick.  Two actresses I like a lot, but it's a chick flick.  Good airplane time-passing film, which it was.

The Brothers Bloom - Love this kind of film.  Quirky and funny dialogue, fantastic wardrobes that I wish I owned (WANT those Chanel halfsie sunglasses!).  If you are a fan of Wes Anderson flicks, I think you'll dig this one.  Fabulous acting by a fabulous cast of some of my favorite actors (loved seeing the more comedic side of Rachel Weiss), and the speechless character of Bang Bang was a total highlight for me.

 (Seriously,if you've seen a knock-off of these shades anywhere, lemme know!)

Burn After Reading - I'd been looking forward to this one for a while because of the great cast, but it was just ok for me.  However, Brad Pitt's character is fantastically high-strung.

Curse of the Golden Flower - I love me some colorful, artsy + martial-artsy Asian films.  House of Flying Daggers, etc.  Absolutely beautiful colors, costumes, and sets in this one, topped off by yet another display of the Chinese ability to kick ass at synchronicity.  I really liked the lead actress, as well, and a slightly different role for Chow Yun Fat than I'm used to seeing.

Fanboys - Fun story about hard-core Star Wars fans trekking to Skywalker Ranch.  The run-ins with the enemy Trekkies are some good parts.  (Speaking of who, I also highly recommend the documentary, Trekkies. ;)

Food, Inc. - More on this in another post, but for now, GO. SEE. THIS. FILM.

F*CK - Great documentary about the word that so many love and so many find blasphemous.  It really shines a light on how uptight people can be over a simple word.  Not that there aren't some words that are rightfully and inherently derogatory because of their history, but this happens to be one that causes a stir simply because people are so prudishly uptight about the topic (sex!!!) that it only sometimes refers to.  Fucking great film to rent.

Garrison Keillor: The Man on the Radio in the Red Shoes - A nice behind-the-scenes look at a simple, good-natured American icon.

The Hangover - I can't remember the last time I was shocked and laughed so hard at the same time in my life, and from beginning to end.  Instantly an all-time favorite comedy.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - I'm a Potter geek.  The end.  The placement of David Yates at the helm of director of HP films from Goblet of Fire on has been a great decision, and I am in awe of the beautifully dramatic scenes he creates with each sequel.  And, of course, there is no denying J.K. Rowling's genius with this series.  If you haven't read the books, even if you've seen the movies, I hugely recommend doing so.  If you haven't even seen the first movie (especially if you haven't and are one of those bandwagon naysayers), don't speak to me until you do.

Land of the Lost - I wouldn't have thought that Will Farrell could be upstaged in a comedy, but Danny McBride did it for me in this one.  Everything else was just "meh".  But I saw it at a matinee, so all's well.

The Last Emperor - I've had this one on my to-see list for quite a few years now.  When we went to China for the first time, we had a tour guide who took us to the Forbidden City, where he told us that this was the only film ever shot inside its walls, and that no one has been allowed to film there since, because of the damage it had done.  Though after seeing Golden Flower, that either changed recently, or I'm even more impressed with their sets and CGI.  Anyhoo, this was a very interesting story about the end of the Emperor ruling in China that I was not aware of in the slightest.  As a trivia side note, it also won 9 Oscars when it was released in 1987, including Best Picture.

Marie Antoinette - Sophia Coppola is one of those directors who, I think, does a great job of creating films that are non-traditionally refreshing.  Based on a book, the film shows the more personal side of Marie Antoinette that contradicts the press attacks going on during her time in France.  Not very unlike what still goes on in media today, unfortunately.

Mega Shark Versus Giant Octopus - If you even remotely go into watching this with any shred of movie critic on your mind, just slap yourself before you hit the play button.  Come on -- Debbie Gibson + Lorenzo Lamas + ridiculous CGI sea creatures + other horrid acting.  Best scene, hands down, is the shark attacking the airplane.  In the air.  SO BAD IT'S AWESOME.  And I hear there might be a sequel...

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day - Frances MacDormand is one of those actresses you tend to forget about until you see her act and realize how you really should try harder to remember.  This was a simple but sweet story where she did a wonderful job of portraying a character juggling both strength and humility at the same time.  A good make-you-smile period film.

The Notebook - No, I hadn't seen it before.  Yes, I cried at the ending.

Public Enemies - Johnny Depp is pretty much my favorite actor.  He nails his performances, and his versatility and ability to make you forget sometimes that it's really him behind the makeup is mind-blowing to me.  After seeing this film, I hit up the interwebs for more info on John Dillinger's story (which is what makes film great).  There are some factual inaccuracies in the film's storyline, but it still did the job of portraying why Dillinger was such an intriguing personality in his time.

Religulous - Bill Maher certainly did a thorough job of hoarding knowledge of various religions for this one.  I'm not a fan of organized religion for the simple fact that it tends to blind people to the diversity of other religions and cultures, and, above all, has been at the root of too much bloodshed in history (and present day).  All because people think their way is the only way to spirituality and enlightenment.

RocknRolla - Even though some of the Cockney accents make you hit rewind or at least hope that whatever was said isn't crucial to the plot, I'm a fan of Guy Ritchie's films (start with Snatch if you've never seen).  Gerard Butler does a great job with the comedy that's 180-degrees from Sparta, and it's always nice when Jeremy Piven is on the cast list, too.

Run Fat Boy Run - We have been in love with Simon Pegg ever since watching him first in the gets-better-each-time Shawn of the Dead and then again in Hot Fuzz.  Hank Azaria plays a good asshole, too.  I was also unaware and surprised to see that it was directed by Jason Schwimmer and written by Simon and Michael Ian Black.

Star Trek:  Not a fan of the Shatner classics or the original movies at all, though I will admit that I was most definitely a Next Generation junkie when that series was out.  This new incarnation however, is awesome.  You don't even have to know much of anything about the series to appreciate it.  Having Simon Pegg on the roster was great, too.  And is up with making me cry in the first five minutes before the opening title even comes on the screen?!  Daaaaang.

Sunshine Cleaning - Again, intrigued by the cast, taken in even more by the unusual but poignant storyline.  Great little indie flick.

Up - Pixar is ridiculous.  Fantastic movie, and again with the tears early on!

Wal-Mart - The High Cost of Low Price:  No words.  Everyone should see it.  Haven't shopped there since.

Zack and Miri Make a Porno: You should probably be a pre-disposed fan of Kevin Smith films, as we are, to appreciate this one, but it is actually a nice little story in this installment from the Askewniverse.  I'm an Elizabeth Banks fan now, too.

***

Until next month!

Happy Earth Day!

 

I won't go into too much of a dialogue about the significance of today here, since everyone knows anyway, and especially since I blogged about greenery not very long ago.  As the weather warms up, the skies are blue, and the birds are singing, I hope everyone takes this day to remember what they love about this season and this planet and what they can do to keep the good and change the not-so-good.  If you're new to participating in the eco-movement, there are tons of resources on the interwebs, from using CFLs to buildling an entire house with green in mind.  Even Target recently had little $1 pocket-size Dummy guides on how to do your part, which I promptly picked up for the moms. 

Starting today is also the opening of Disney's new film, Earth, which has all the visual awesomeness that Discovery Channel's Planet Earth series did, because they worked on it, too.  Plus, it's narrated by James Earl Jones, which is another added bonus.  To top things off, Disney has pledged to plant a tree for every ticket purchased during opening week, primarily for the endangered Brazilian rainforests.  So if you want to go, make now the time and get a two-fer!  I do hope that it's not too heavy on the eco-sadness moments, though, because that stuff just shreds my ticker.  But I understand.

 

Yesterday, I also found out about the upcoming theatrical release of Food, Inc. (June 12th!) which has me very excited.  This movie collaborated with Eric Schlosser of Fast Food Nation fame, as well as Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore's Dilemma, which I mentioned in my last post.  I've not yet read Nation, but the trailer looks like it covers the bulk of what Omnivore had to say, including an interview with the amazing farmer Joel Salatin of Polyface Farm, who is a bright, shiny star in the eat-well movement (Hey!  He's on the front page of today's USA Today Life section!).  The documentary trailer, featured HERE, is a bit more engaging than the theatrical one, and really lets you see more of what it's all about.  If Omnivore has you intrigued but you aren't the biggest reader, this movie should bring it all home for you just as nicely.

 

So, go out and enjoy the day, little chicklets, even if it's just for a little walk.  Mother Nature kicks ass.  :)

***

Side note:  I'm also commercially pumped for a few upcoming popcorn flicks, like Wolverine (some nice-looking testosterone in that one...), Angels and Demons (new Dan Brown book in September!), and, of course, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (holy visuals!)...  weeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!