Taken

This. Movie. Was. Awesome. That's all I have to say. Total guy movie, but even I enjoyed it. It's a bit violent so it's not a movie to watch with young kids in the room. First off, I really like Liam Neeson, and he's fantastic in this movie. It's rated PG-13, and it has a bit of language but if my memory serves me right, it didn't have the F-word in it and that gives it a big thumbs up from me. Bo had a coworker tell him "Taken is a movie that every dad needs to see, and that every dad needs to show his daughter." Bo is definitely going to own it!

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was an excellent movie! It's one of those movies that just doesn't come around too often. Although it's a long movie, two and a half hours, it's totally worth the time. There is a swear word or two in it and one or two sexy scene, but it's doesn't show anything. It has some really beautiful scenes in it and it had a very intriguing story line. It also had a very eautiful clock in it, that was Bo's favorite part. We would definitely give this movie 5 stars and we going definitely going to own it! See it!

21

When I saw the preview for 21, I was stoked to see it. I thought it was going to captivate me and keep me interested. Now seeing it, it's not that I didn't like the movie, but both Bo and I agree that we won't be owning this one... well maybe if it ends up in the $5 bin. Now let me tell you why we liked it: it was very fast paced, and was interesting, it had fresh faces in it, and who doesn't like Kevin Spacey? I have enjoyed some of the movies Kate Bosworth has been in, and enjoyed her character in this movie as well. The pauper to prince, or should I say nerd to high-roller motif, was a little over played but it worked for the general idea of the movie. The reason I didn't like it, or rather wouldn't own it is that it didn't captivate me as I thought it would've. I loved, I mean, loved the movie Catch Me If You Can.

Some people would argue that they didn't like it, but there isn't a movie out there that has taken in my job interest as well as Catch Me If You Can. After working in check fraud for a year and the bank for 5 years total, I came to appreciate the banking industry. I kind of expected 21 to real me in like Catch Me If You Can, and it was interesting but just not captivating. Now I'm not saying “don't watch this movie”, I did appreciate about the movie that it really didn't have much language. I say that because I don't remember if it even had any, sometimes we tune that out, but I'm pretty good at detecting at least the “F” word. So no really bad swearing that I remember... All in all, it's worth watching once, if you think you might like it, but we don't plan on buying it.

Juno

I was asked to review the movie Juno and and started a while back but just have never gotten around to finishing it, so here it is. Juno was an... interesting movie. It had some very funny lines in it; a very quotable movie, but it wasn't the best I've ever seen. I think Bo wants to own it, but I'd have to see it again before deciding if I liked it that much. I like the point of the movie that the girl takes responsibility for her actions by giving the baby up to a good family, but her journey is... interesting. I know that teenage pregnancy is a real problem now days, and it's something we have to really teach our children about, but this movie almost glorifies it. I appreciate that it shows the struggles of it, but it almost made her the hero instead of trying to teach our children to not get pregnant. As for it being a good quotable movie, I think I liked it okay, but the jury is still out. I want to watch it again before making my final judgment on it. Bo on the other hand really liked the movie. So, split decision on this one.

Casanova

We usually rent movies, but when I see one we've never seen, I try to save any money we can and record the movies on our DVR. I saw that the movie Casanova was on TV one day, so I recorded it. I watched in on another day I was folding laundry, and I really enjoyed it. I do have to comment on it that I think the actual movie is rated R, but since this one was on TV is was censored. I'm sure they cut out some bad parts of his promiscuity, but it was a rather charming movie. I like Heath Ledger a lot and liked him in this movie, and to add to the cute guys in the movie, Charlie Cox (Star Dust) was also in the movie. I tried to get Bo to watch it, but he didn't think he would really like it, I'm still trying to convince him. So, since I can't really vouch for the movie in it's entirety I can't say that you should go out and see it. But maybe if you see that's it's on TV, be sure to catch it.

Super Size Me

I know that Super Size Me came out a long time about, but I never felt inspired to see it. But then we saw the FX show 30 Days, and liked it so much that we decided to rent Super Size Me because it has the same guy in it. As is 30 Days, Super Size Me was fascinating! People were telling me that once I watched it, that I would never want to eat McDonald's again, and that wasn't what I walked away from the movie with. They had some amazing statics, that really make you think. Really the movie wasn't just about McDonald's, it was about our nations eating habits in general. One thing they talked about was our school systems and what they feed our children. It's amazing what they could be feeding them for the same cost or even less cost. It just goes to show us where our nation is heading, we all over-eat and opt for the fast yet fattening meals instead of home cooked meals. Even with our home cooked meals, we are skimping on healthy foods. It truly is an eye opener for me as a mom, I have the choice to make my family fat, and I can change that. So for just being an eye opener in itself, I would say for you to see it. Bo commented that he wants to own it just to show our children, to help them understand about making good food choices. I think it is a good movie to at least see once, just informational value.

We also watch 30 Days with Morgan Spurlock(the same guy from Super Size Me), because it has some interesting things on it. The concept is “Can 30 day change your opinion?” We have watched some of the shows that have been very controversial; gun control, immigration, animal cruelty, homosexuality. All very interesting. If you get a chance, check it out. It's on FX, and I think it shows on Saturday nights, but don't quote me.

The Bucket List

One reason we get interested in movies is because of who is in them. I really like Morgan Freedman so I usually see most things he's in. That's what lead me to want to see The Bucket List. It's a rather depressing movie, but I enjoyed it. Jack Nicholson can be crude at times, but he played the part in this movie quite well. Of course Morgan Freedman did a great job. The basis of the movie is about two men and their journey through battles with cancer. It has some intulectual parts in it that make you think about your own life, and the things you want to do before you die and I enjoyed that. It also had some funny humor in it that makes you laugh even through the sadness of the movie. The ending caught me a little off guard and I always like a movie that does that. I think we would own this and watch it again. It's at least watching once, but bare in mind, it's a little depressing.

Sweeney Todd

One movie we've watched recently was Sweeney Todd. I had to see it because it has Johnny Depp in it, he's nice to look at! :) I was a little hesitant because it is rated R, but it's only rated R for bloodiness. So we took a chance and watched it. We weren't really impressed, at least with the movie. The music was FANTASTIC! Who knew Johnny Depp could sing? I have since bought the soundtrack and have listened to it many times. There are some great actors in it, and I have to admit that the more I think about the movie the more it grows on me especially because of how much we like the music. Bo says he jokes when people ask him about how a movie was, he usually tells them that everyone dies in the movie. He said after this one that he could honestly say that's really what happens. The bloodiness of the movie is rather fake-ish, but it is a pretty dark, serious movie. I watched it in concert on YouTube, and it was much more funny, or at least it had some humorous parts in it. I did feel a bit like I was watching Harry Potter though; Snape, Wormtail, and Bellatrix LaStrange co-star with Johnny Depp. They all sing their own parts, and really they do a wonderful job. Bo says he wants to own the movie because we like the music so much, but really it was just an okay movie. It might be worth seeing once if you can stomach the blood, but I would definitely listen to the Soundtrack if you are into Broadway style music.

P.S. I Love You

When I approached the idea of watching this movie I was a little hesitant. Losing a spouse is a sore subject with me because it's one of my greatest fears. Who really wants to lose their spouse? But this movie looked really good so I chanced it. My first impressions were that I don't think I like Hillary Swank very much, especially in a chick flick. But as the movie progressed I was more impressed with her character and her as an actress. Next, it took me a while to realize, but the guy who is her husband, Gerard Butler, is the same guy who plays in The Phantom of the Opera as the Phantom. Although I thought he could've sang better in The Phantom of the Opera, his raspy voice suited his character in this movie. General synopsis of the movie: Holly (Swank) is married and loses her husband. The movie is her journey to move on with her life with a little help from her husband. His death wasn't a sudden one so he plans out a series of letters for her. Her mother, who is played by Kathy Bates (who I just love) doesn't agree with this, she thinks it makes her not move on with her life. Holly also has a series of friends that help her in different ways, also played by great actors/actresses. That's about it in a nutshell without telling you the whole story and divulging the end. Watch the trailer.

Our review: The first time I watched it, I watched it alone. Bo had gone to bed, so I stayed up to watch the sappy chick flick by myself. I teared up a lot at different moments, but that's not saying much - I cry at commercials; but the end did make me actually cry. When it ended and I went to bed, Bo asked "So, did you like it?" and I really didn't know how I felt. I didn't know if I hated it because as I have previously mentioned, I hate when one of the main characters dies especially when it's someone who is supposed to be completely in love. But I also didn't know if I loved it because it was an exceptional movie. I re watched it the next day with Bo and didn't cry and decided that I did really like it, and we do plan on owning it. Bo really liked it as well, but his only comment was that everyone handles death in different ways, especially comparing men and women. He said he could see himself going through some of the things she did and feeling some of the things she did, but other emotions and actions he thought were just her over playing her mourning. It didn't have that typical ending where she find true love again, and Bo appreciated that. He felt that if she would've had that happen it would've made the movie too cliché.

August Rush

Because August Rush was put out by the same company as Nancy Drew our video store didn't stock this one either, good thing for pay-per-view. We rented it about a week ago and our rating: We LOVED it! We thought it was one of the best movies we've seen in a really long time. Freddie Highmore, the boy, is such a good little actor. He was in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Finding Neverland. As I've mentioned previously, I like a story to just be wrapped up in a nice little bow with the ending; this movie could've had a more detailed ending, but the ending it had worked. Johnathan Rhys Meyers actually sings quite a few songs in the movie which is always impressive for an actor to sing instead of having a double. The music in it is fantastic; a nice blend of rock/pop and classical. We are also suckers for a movie with Robin Williams in it, he also does a great job in the movie. Anyway, we highly suggest watching it, we've already bought it!

Click here to see a preview of it.

Dan In Real Life

I had heard really good things about Dan In Real Life and so I was excited to see it. Bo, on the other hand, was not interested in seeing it. But since I was the one to go to the movie store, he really didn't have a choice. The night we watched, Boo was on a rampage! She was everywhere, in your face, running around, screaming, and anything else that a wild 2-year old does. So, needless to say, it made the movie-viewing experience... a bit unpleasant. And I wouldn't mind too much, but we are always in a crunch to watch the movies so Bo can get to bed at a decent hour. Bo was a good sport and actually sat down and watched it with me, he did leave the room during the middle because he was about to throttle our daughter because she was so crazy. You'd have thought that she had drank a whole case of coke by the way she was acting. So, with a lot of stopping and starting, rewinding and subtitles we finally got through it. Our rating: I really liked it. I was a bit irritated at some of the part in the movie because the main character gets dumped on and it wasn't deserved. One of the teenage daughters drove me crazy, but it added to the movies plot well, so I dealt with it. Bo was in such a mood with the irritation of the wild 2-year old, that he had a heightened anxiety with the movie. He always gets nervous/anxious when the characters or the movie get "uncomfortable". By this I mean, like when nothing can go right for the person and you just feel so sorry for them. These type of movies always make Bo crazy, he usually wants to just stop the movie or do something else. But he usually grins and bares it because I want to watch the movie. By the end of Dan In Real Life he actually liked the movie because it did have a good ending. I do think we would own it because I really liked it. Bo commented that he like the music in, and that always makes him like a movie better.