Remakes

A few weeks ago I was talking with a good friend of mine that I often see movies with and the subject of Will Smith's new movie ( I Am Legend ) came up. I had said that I wasn't sure I wanted to pay to see a Will Smith movie at the moment because of the talk that he was wanting to remake Karate Kid. I just felt that in a round about way paying to see a movie he is staring in is a way supporting him. Now it does look like the Karate Kid remake isn't going to happen ( thank goodness ) I'm still like in some ways I don't want to help support someone that would want to remake a film that was perfect the first time. I understand that many people feel that I may be overreacting to this situation however it did start a whole other line of thinking about remakes. So now that you know what spurred on this topic that I am going to be writing more about you can give a comment or two.
In the past few years there have been quite a lot of remakes. My question is why? After talking to people about it I have heard many different answers to this. One friend seems to think the film industry is just plain out of ideas and is now taking from old movies, everything has been done. Another person said if it worked once it has to work a second time with better technology. There is also a popular response of "this generation must be introduced to the ideas of the original movies but in a way they will understand it". Is this true? Would today's generation not understand Hitchcock's Psycho, and that is why a new one had to be made? How about Yours Mine and Ours, or Footloose ( currently being remade )? There are few remakes that are as good as the first and I can't think of one that is better then the original.
So what is your opinion on this? I would love to hear some feedback on this.

Dan in Real Life

I saw this on Monday and I'm still having problems writing this review. I guess I'll start off with saying this was a really well acted film, interesting storyline, and will at times really make you laugh. First problem I am not a fan of film that like to have a lot of those really ultra sweet moments. Few times is fine because you will find those in life, but in this film it seem to happen every few minutes. Second problem with what the trailers had portrayed it seemed to be about a single dad ( Dan/ Steve Carell ) raising 3 girls, and while that is a part of the story it is not the focus of the movie. The film is really about Dan meeting a woman ( Marie / Juiette Binoche ) and falling in love with her soon after. Problem is they can't be together because she is already with someone else. I can't really go in to the story more then that as it will ruin it if you choose to see this. Third and tiny little gripe I have is not all of the things that were in the previews are actually in the movie. I know it's a little thing but it still bothers me. I do love the fact that Dan is suppose to be a advice columnist for parents and does seem to have some basic problems in this area of his own though. So I'm giving this film a B-.
If you see it I would love to know what you think.

http://daninreallife.movies.go.com/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480242/

The Private Eyes

I love this film. It has a kind of comedy and fun that the whole family can watch, and other then one small part that might scare only the extremely young it is a good little mystery. The key to enjoying films like this is to just love it for the screwball, zaniness. Then there is the also a special feature of Tim Conway doing commentary with the producer of the film, well worth hearing if you have the time.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081376/

But I'm a Cheerleader

I loved this film. It is about a girl named Megan who is sent to a sexual redirection school because her parents, friends, and boyfriend think she is a lesbian. I'm not going to say if she is or not I don't want to ruin it for anyone. I will say this film has many layers to it. There is the obvious comedy they make of the whole thing, the not so obvious things with cardboard cut outs in their little make shift forest, and then sometimes even the dialog. Definitely a film worth seeing if you can. I give this film an A+.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0179116/

Coyote Ugly

This is a movie I had wanted to see for a while but kept putting it off thinking "eh it will be OK nothing spacial" I have to say however this is a energetic fun film with a great soundtrack, and a good storyline. This film does get a little taken off for continuity errors (which I don't take much off because I know many people don't notice things like that), and amount of alcohol that is spilled by the so called bartenders would cost anyone their job no matter how much the other drinks are so that got on my nerves a little. This film gets an A- from me.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0200550/

The Squid and the Whale

This film has varying levels of oddness, with true moments of brilliance, and lines that I will be quoting the rest of my life. However over all at the end of the movie I was left feeling as though it didn't really finish, and it was kind of flat. Jeff Daniels and Laura Linney are parents that separate on pretty bad terms and the effect that is has on their children is quite extreme. Yet you kind of feel like there was something kind of off base with the children to start with anyway so the separation just added to it. Both kids (Jesse Eisenberg, and Owen Kline) in this film pull off really amazing acting jobs and I wouldn't be surprised to see a lot more of both of them in films to come. William Baldwin also has a small but important role in this film. Baldwin's acting isn't wowing and I've definitely seen him do better but he didn't kill the film either. Over all I would have to give this film a B-. You can really wait til they show it on HBO or something like that. I don't think I would watch it on regular TV though they might cut out one or two important things to know.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0367089/

http://www.squidandthewhalemovie.com/

Prick Up Your Ears

Gary Oldman, and Alfred Molina are lovers in London during the late 1960's. Oldman plays a play write Joe Orton that is very Promiscuous and lies a lot. While his lover Kenneth Halliwell (played by Molina) has emotional problems trying to deal with the fact that he is not as good of a writer as his partner. The love scenes are not really explicit however the kissing is believable (which is something I liked because I hate to see what looks like fake kissing). So anyone that feels they would have a problem with a same sex love scene rest assured you should still do OK with this film. About 45 min in this film it drags for a bit, but over all this is a likable film. I give this film a B+.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093776/

Rory O'Shea Was Here aka Inside I'm Dancing

Hard film to describe but really amazing. Rory O'Shea is a young man with MS that can only move his head and I believe it was 2 fingers on his right hand. Rory has an amazing spirit and sense of wanting to be treated just like an average guy. Rory befriends another guy (Michael) at a home that other people can't really understand too well. Before Rory comes to the home Michael spends day after day sitting in his chair, and having other people make all his choice's. Rory teaches Michael to be independent and outspoken. The acting from James McAvoy (the actor the plays Rory) is so amazing in this that when he won the BAFTA for best newcomer in acting my friend and I were amazed that he could walk. I will tell you however this film will take you on a rather large emotional roller coaster. Leave the tissue behind and grab a towel. You will have many tears of laughter and sadness from this one. This film as you can more then likely tell is getting an A+

http://www.roryosheawasheremovie.com/

http://www.insideimdancing.co.uk/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417791/

Imagine Me & You

This is a very cute film about self discovery, and knowing that it is never to late to get that. I love the idea about this film of the love at first sight. I like that it is not only something that apparently happened in the film but something they discuss if it is even possible. I also like that although it is about two women falling in love there is a lot of focus on love it self, I'm not saying there isn't discussion about one of women even figuring out that she might be or not, there is some of that, I just mean I like there is more focus on being with the one you love weather or not they are the same sex as you. The scenes with the little girl in this are also amazing; actually those scenes have some of my favorite lines of the whole film. I give this film a B+. I would give it a higher grade but I can see where it wouldn't appeal to everyone and it did have one or two small continuity errors. It is a very cute film that I recommend watching though.

http://www.foxsearchlight.com/imaginemeandyou/

http://www.paramountpictures.co.uk/imaginemeandyou/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421994/

Mrs. Henderson Presents

I really liked this film. The acting is great, storyline touching, and the music was great. Now I will be honest about in the middle there was a little bit of kind of a time displacement. You know time has passed you just really have no idea if is anything from a month to years because they don't really do anything to indicate that. I thought it would have had a little better of a flow had we of known how it was going. So all though I gave this 5 stars I rounded up from 4 1/2. The relationship with Dench and Hoskins is truly fantastic, and one that I'm sure will be remembered down the years. I give this film an A-.

http://www.mrshendersonthemovie.com/

http://www.mrshendersonpresentsmovie.co.uk/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0413015/

Private Resort

Johnny Depp, Rob Morrow both very young and you can tell this is one of their first real acting ventures. This film being made in 1985 had that definite 80's feel all over it. For the most part I really liked it too. It had that light hearted, fun atmosphere that most of the 80's films had. However it also copied a big thing that was happening at that time in films that got a little tiring, the really unrealistic love screen montage, and the unrealistic caper of the story it self. It's cute every now and then, but for some reason most romantic comedies from the 80's end up having that, and it's kind of old. That is really the only thing that marks this film down for me. I give this film a B

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089839/

Hunchback of Notre Dame

I loved it. I just loved it. Everything from the subtle joke about the old guy getting freed during a parade to the things that are really obvious about humanity. I know you can say most films like this are about love but this one truly is. Not just about loving someone else for who they are, but loving your self for who you are as well. The music in this is also a lot of fun. I think this is a film great for the whole family to watch together and nobody will be bored. I give this film an A+.

http://disneyvideos.disney.go.com/moviefinder/products/2331503.html

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116583/

Brick

This is a young, bizarre, and new kind of film noir. You could say it has to do with a teenager trying to find out how an old girl friend of his died after a strange phone call. Personally I think it is about that and so much more. It is about looking at the same thing from many different perspectives, and simple words are not what they might be otherwise unless you know the alternate meanings. This stars Joseph Gordon Levitt which most people will recognize from 3rd Rock from the Sun, but he is a wonderful actor far beyond what he was allowed to do on the show, and stars Lukas Haas as a very different bad guy. I give this film an A.

http://www.brickmovie.net/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0393109/

A Smile Like Yours

Having kind of a bad day to I thought talking about a comedy might help to lighten things a little.

A film about a young couple (Greg Kiner, Lauren Holly) trying to get pregnant. This is a very sweet film but very very predictable. Joan Cusack is by far the best part of this film. The one liners she gives about her and the guy she is dating are fantastic. In fact one is so funny that my friend and I were laughing so hard that we had to pause the film for about 5 minutes. It's not just her lines though it is really the way she delivers them. Sad to say however I give this film a C.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120151/

Cradle Will Rock

I just have to start off with saying I can't believe this cast half of the best of Hollywood is in this thing. OK having said that and getting it out of the way I'm sticking my neck out and saying I loved this film. I have seen comments from people on pages where they kind of put it middle of the road. I think it was much better then that. This film has to do with the governments control of theatre in the mid 1930's and In many ways it over flows in to other area's too. You see the importance of the theatre for people, hardship of the time, while seeing all the beauty, and innocence. There is also a lot of really interesting songs in this film. I give this film an A+.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0150216/

Movies on Television vs Movies in the Theatre

Looking for opinions on this everyone. I have a lot of friends that refuse to go to the theatre because of prices, big crowds, noisy seat neighbors, can't pause the movie if you have to go to the bathroom, if you want to buy something to eat or drink you should be ready to take out a loan on your house, you know the list. Still me personally nothing beats the theatre experience. If you are watching an action movie, monster movie, horror, or even something that you know will be able to really pull you in you can't do any better. Still I am an avid Netflixer. I mean unless you have a lot of time, money, and no social life there is no way you are going to see every current movie, heck I'm still trying to catch up with a lot of them, and suggestions from friends. There is also the nice advantage of when you have a DVD don't pay per person that is watching it. I can definitely understand both sides of this argument but I'm wondering what everyone else out there thinks.

Elizabethtown

I thought this was a really sweet movie that wasn't nearly as predictable as I thought it was going to be. From the previews I saw it looked like boys father dies, boy meets girl, boy buries father, boy loses girl, and boy gets girl back. This film is really more then that. I is about the self discovery of one persons journey when he happens to fall for a woman on the way to take care of things for his father who had just passed away. The woman is played by Kirsten Dunst who is not the typical romantic comedy female but someone that can really walk away from the situation and make the new man in her life (Orlando Bloom) see things about him self. Most romantic comedies I find focus a lot on the couple and less of the individuals, however in this one because one of them is dealing with a death in the family they really at times seem to focus more on the abstract of the couple idea and much more on the individuals. I really thought this was well acted, directed, and written. There is time for laughing, crying, and shock in this film and it still has you leaving it feeling good. I give this film an A.

http://www.elizabethtown.com/home.html

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368709/

Max

A film I had seen before when it was in the theaters but forgot how much I liked. John Cusack stars in this film about Adolf Hitler the want to be artist post WWI pre WWII. John Cusack plays a Jewish art dealer that befriends Hitler. I'll tell you right now that if you know enjoy history, and want to see a really thought provoking movie see this film. This movie gets an A.
Happy film watching.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0290210/

I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry

A very funny movie. There were a few times that I was laughing so hard during this that I was almost in tears. The acting is good, the storyline believable, and the ending was good but not sappy just nice. If you are looking for a good date film I would say this one would be great for that. Still it does have a few sexist jokes so that when the character changes you can really see some of them. I give this film an A.
I will say however that I have noticed Adam Sandler seems to have a specific formula for his comedies. They seem to start with him playing either a misunderstood guy, a jerk, or a bit of a loser. Often in the first little part you will have some fart jokes or something along that line. Then we have some issue that arises where his character feels the need to take care of it. Many times along the issue he meets a pretty woman he falls in love with, and will often fall for him. The end of the movie has a nice sweet ending.
Don't get me wrong I'm not saying there is anything wrong with this formula, not only does it work but most of his films are still clean enough for the whole family to see. After a while they do seem a little predictable though.
Anyone else have an opinion on this?

http://www.chuckandlarry.com/index.php

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0762107/

50 First Dates

I have to say I really liked it. It's not my favorite Adam Sandler but really funny, and really touching at some moments. I have to say I do have a slight problem with a certain part of it, but I'm not going to ruin it for anyone that hasn't seen it. This film gets a B from me. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets I liked this as much as I like the first. Both of them are cute, scary, well edited, and acting is good. I have found what I feel to be kinda big flaws in both of them though. Well it's bigger in the 2nd one actually. I don't want to say specifically in case someone here hasn't seen it, feel free to email me if you want to know what I'm talking about though. Every time I point it out to people they end up agreeing with me. This Movie gets a B-.

http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/50firstdates/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0343660/