Movie #590 .........................."Anonymous"

Movie #590 "Anonymous" is the last of the red box bunch I saw this week, and I liked it the most. I was trying to rent the movies I hadn't seen that were nominated for Academy Awards, and this one was actually somewhat worthy of its nomination (in comparison to the previous ones). The costumes were Elizabethean, but I guess Hollywood tends to take that for granted because it didn't win. There was a little to like about this film, but a lot to wade through. It took forever to get into it ---- the time changes abruptly, the time you have to get used to characters and how they look when they are younger wasn't sufficient enough for me, and the time the film gave to get down the names wasn't either --- I had to watch this with a cast list in front of me. For example, the Earl of Oxford has three names --- Earl, Oxford and Edward. Anyway, mix that with the very thick British accents, and a cast of characters that all look and speak alike (and are pretty much unknown to me except for The two leads......well, it wasn't a pretty site, me watching this, at first. But then I stuck with it and got drawn into the story. What an interesting telling of a story. Quite intriguing ............I've always known there was a bit question mark as to who really wrote the wondrous plays we give Shakespeare credit for, and this film supports the thought that Edward Van De Vere, Earl of Oxford, did. And as punishment for sleeping with his mother Queen E (don't even ask --- you would have to see the movie) and trying to save his son with Queen E, no one must ever know that he really wrote the plays --- that Shakespeare, the illiterate, the actor who blackmails people to get his name on the manuscripts, the cheater and possible killer of Marlowe. Hmm. Unlikely, but as you get deeper into the film, you start to think, well, maybe..........naw! But it is titillating to think there could be lots of people out there through history that have felt this is, indeed, the true story. So if you are interested to see this play out, check this one out. but have a list of characters in front of you like I did so it is easier on you to follow along.





3 out of 5 stars
Anonymous
(2011) PG-13
Who was Shakespeare? This Elizabethan drama imagines that the man we call the Bard really didn't pen his body of timeless plays. The stages of London erupt in intrigue as the real author of the classics credited to Shakespeare comes to light.
Genre:Dramas, Thrillers, Period Pieces, British Movies
Availability: DVD and Blu-ray

Movie #589 ..........................."Transformers, Dark of the Moon"

Movie #589 "Transformers, Dark of the Moon" is not exciting (see below) ---- it's annoying and abusive. Yes, it is the first of this series that I watched (and why? you might ask --- it was nominated for its visual effects) so I might have kind of jumped into it and therefore the shock affected my attitude. That could be. Also, the abuse of visual effects could have had a bearing on my disliking of this film ---- the abuse of money spent to make this film could have had an effect, as well. I am not the target audience that this film wanted to hit, but seriously, you have to stand back and see how much money is wasted on something like this ---- I kept thinking of how many people could have better medical care, housing, & food on the table, if this money spent on this "film" went to them. Yes, $ went to all the cast and crew, but they could be working on better films perhaps? I'm sorry. I just hated this film and never want to see anything like it again. I guess I'm not a blockbuster kind of watcher any more ---- too old? too tainted? too "been there, done that", kind of movie watcher and that affects how I watch them, I guess. But then again, that's why I'm not a paid critic. Couldn't sit through another one of these ever again!






1 star out of 5.
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
(2011) PG-13
The third installment in Michael Bay's trilogy travels back to 1969's historic moon landing, when Neil Armstrong and his Apollo 11 cohorts touch down in the Sea of Tranquility ... and discover what appears to be a downed Transformers craft. Flash forward to the present, and the Decepticons are ready to exact revenge on Optimus Prime and the rest of the Autobots. Shia LaBeouf returns as Sam Witwicky, the Autobots' human ally.
Genre:Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action Sci-Fi & Fantasy
This movie is:Exciting

Movie #588 ........................."Rise of the Planet of the Apes"

Movie #588 "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" was pretty silly to me, over all. I DID like the subplot with John Lithgow, as Franco's father who was suffering from Alzheimer's and therefore gave good motivation to Franco for testing chimps with his injections to give intelligence. Now, I have to say, I never really liked the Planet of the Apes series of movies (saw most of them) so I guess it stands to reason I probably wouldn't like this one ---- I got the giggles whenever the chimp would sneer at anybody ---- so I guess you could say I never bought into the premise and therefore felt the acting was a bit melodramatic. But there was a semi-good effort to explain how the planet of the ape series of movies began, a prequel, so to speak, and so if you are interested in seeing that, check this one out. If you could care less, don't bother.





I rated this 2.8 out of 5
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
(2011) PG-13
This reboot of the Planet of the Apes franchise is a prequel set in modern-day San Francisco, where scientists are conducting genetic research on apes. The evolved primates develop advanced intelligence and revolt against being used as lab rats.
Genre:Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Sci-Fi Adventure
This movie is:Exciting

Movie #587 ........................."Real Steel"

Movie #587 "Real Steel" ---- I am not in the demographic group of audience members that would probably like this movie, and guess what? I didn't like it. I had trouble staying awake through it, due to pacing, lack of lustre in the main characters, the lack of creativity in the moves of the robot, and the focus on the fighting. There are so many more creative films out there for kids to watch that I wouldn't recommend this one as a "have to" to see. I kind of wish that all future professional fighters were robots ---- people's blood wouldn't be shed, and audiences would get so bored watching the fights, they probably would put the silly fighting out of popularity.






I rated it 2 out of 5 stars
Real Steel
(2011) PG-13
In a future world where flesh-and-blood boxers have been replaced by towering mechanized fighters, pugilist-turned-promoter Charlie Kenton reconnects with his estranged son, Max, to convert a discarded machine into a World Robot Boxing contender.
Genre:Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Sports Movies
This movie is:Exciting
Availability: DVD and Blu-ray

Movie #586 ........................."Bill Cunningham New York"

Movie #586 "Bill Cunningham New York" has everything I like in a documentary --- it has a story to tell, it is centered around people you care about (in this case, Bill), it teaches you something along the way (I knew relatively little about the fashion industry), and it inspires you with the story --- and that it did. What an interesting guy, this Bill Cunningham on his bicycle is, riding through the streets of NYC on a daily business (even at the ripe old age of 80) taking photographs of the day's fashions, not knowing what his goal will be until he takes the pics. Very Quirky, but likeable film, and remember it for the spirit awards this Saturday, where it is nominated for one ---- and it might just win it!






I rated this 4 out of 5 stars
Bill Cunningham New York
(2010) NR
Living simply and using a bicycle to get around New York, 80-year-old photographer Bill Cunningham tirelessly records what people are wearing in the city -- both out on the sidewalk and in the salons of the wealthy.
Genre:Documentaries, Biographical Documentaries, Social & Cultural Documentaries
This movie is:Quirky, Feel-good

Movie #585 ........................."If a Tree Falls: The Earth Liberation Movement"

Movie #585 "If a Tree Falls: The Earth Liberation Movement" was boring from beginning to end (maybe, I never got there ---I'm just assuming). I am not a great documentary watcher because of films like this --- formulaic ones that could do so much more with the subject, but relies mostly on interviews with very little graphics or creativity in presenting the argument. I thought with the title: now there's a subject I should know more about, but I got so bored, it prevented me from the learning aspect of the film. I don't recommend it. I watched it because it is one of two documentaries available (streaming wise) that are nominated for oscars this Sunday --- Guess I won't be picking this one on Sunday! I don't recommend you seeing it, either!





1 star
A Story of the Earth Liberation Front
If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front
(2011) NR
Filmmakers Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman examine the case of Daniel McGowan, a member of the radical environmental group Earth Liberation Front who was arrested for committing arson against two Oregon timber companies. Dissecting ELF's self-described use of "economic sabotage" to stop deforestation and other damage to the planet, the film also explores the ramifications of the FBI's decision to classify them as terrorists.
Genre:Documentaries, Crime Documentaries, Political Documentaries

Movie #584 ........................."Margin Call"

Movie #584 "Margin Call" -- I rented this because it will be awarded the Robert Altman film for ensemble work this coming Saturday at the Spirit Awards, and I can see why. The actors all have their moments and they use them well --- a great team. I really didn't get all the financial twists and turns in this; in fact, looking at the synopsis below, I didn't think that is what it was about. I got the impression it was more than just a destruction of one company (that it would affect the market exponentially), and they were deciding how they were going to get out of it with as much money as possible ---- I never heard any argument really about telling clients. It was how can we sell this bad stock and get rid of it in a few hours before everyone finds out --- it really shows how callous they are, the further at the top they are. I often wonder if they have any morals, they who run high-powered companies like one depicted in this film, and they pretty much don't, according to this film. Yet, they cry over sick dogs and have their own individual problems. There's very little humanity, and that made me very, very sad. Suspenceful? not so much ---- intense? hmmmm, kind of, but really mostly I watched it as an exercise in acting --- it didn't change my mind about how the CEOs who were to blame for the problems on Wall Street should have been punished!





You rated this movie: 3
Rate 5 starsRate 4 starsRate 3 starsRate 2 starsRate 1 star
Margin Call
(2011) R
An all-star cast shines in this engrossing drama about a critical 24-hour period at a high-profile investment bank in the early days of the 2008 financial crisis, when young analyst Peter Sullivan (Zachary Quinto) uncovers information that could destroy the firm. When he alerts upper management to the precarious position of their risky investments, an emergency meeting is held to decide if they should alert clients or abscond with the profits.
Genre:Thrillers
This movie is:Suspenseful