Movie #649 ........................."The Waiting Room"

Movie #649 "The Waiting Room" was slow going through most of the film --- some interesting characters, but there were so many scenes that I wondered, "Now why are they showing this scene"? that I can't count. A couple of times I was going to turn it off, but then the characters did something that pulled me in again. I'm glad I saw the end because it was quite satisfactory and the reason I would give it the 3.4 and not just a 3 --- it was a "Sleepless in Seattle" cute ending for a love story. So I guess I'm glad I watched, but you don't have to. Direction could be better. 3.4 out of 5 stars The Waiting Room (2007) NR Single mom Anna (Anne-Marie Duff) breaks off a self-destructive affair with her friend's husband (Rupert Graves) when she meets the man of her dreams -- Stephen (Ralf Little), a handsome nursing home orderly -- in a chance encounter at a train station. The feeling is mutual for Stephen, who loses interest in his tepid relationship with Fiona (Christine Bottomley) when Anna comes into the picture. Roger Goldby directs this romance set in London. Genre:Dramas, Independent Movies, Romantic Movies, Independent Dramas This movie is:Dark, Romantic Availability: Streaming and DVD

Movie #648 ........................."How to Fall in Love"

Movie #648 "How to Fall in Love" was one of those hallmark movies that I had on the tv the other night. It was cute --- and the appropriate people got each other at the end. The set up is quite good ---- had never seen a dating coach in action. And of course, the teacher and student fall in love while prepping him to date someone else...It's been done so much I knew that I wouldn't be giving anything away by saying this in the blog. I didn't recognize either major lead, but the girl was esp. good. His part wasn't as well played as her, but still kept my interest. Good for you, Hallmark. You continue to churn out good movies that are worth seeing because they have strong themes. This one I'd give 3.5 out of 5.

Movie #647 ........................."To Rome with Love"

Movie #647 "To Rome with Love" is not one of Woody Allen's finest, to be sure. It's esp. disappointing coming from one of his best last year, "Midnight in Paris." What makes it not as good? Well, it isn't the way he films Rome ---- it's all there, Trevia Fountain, the Piazzas, Spanish Steps, Colliseum, the ruins, etc. There ARE a few laughs, but they are few and far between. His casting is okay ----- some are better than others. I think you have to be able to write just for Alec Baldwin to get him to do anything, and his character was in and out and never fully explained...........Jesse Eisenberg is a Michael Cera ("Juno" boyfriend) lookalike, so with Page in the lead in both movies, it seemed she was in love with the same guy in both movies --- she's very good and demands attention, as does Penelope Cruz, and the young honeymooner (who looks like a young Susan Sarandon) ---- the rest seem out of place, including Woody, who cast himself as the father of Allison Pill (she's great) --- he looks way too old, and the jokes seem forced. I enjoyed Roberto Benini ----- it's nice to see him in a movie again after "Life is Beautiful," one of my very favorite films. But I guess the major reason is that the screenplay had little substance ---- it had all these stories, but they never merged --- even a little ---- and they didn't seem to have a big reason behind them, unless I missed it. Theme was weak here, and usually Allen has that work, so that's why I'm saying you don't need to see this one really. Unless you are a big Woody Allen fan-----then, you might find it enjoyable in parts. I give it 3 out of 5 stars To Rome with Love (2012) R Woody Allen plays a father meeting his daughter's Italian in-laws to-be in this ensemble comedy that interweaves four tales set in Rome. Other cast members include Roberto Benigni as a man mistaken for a film star. Genre:Comedies This movie is:Witty

Movie #646 ..........................."Julie"

Movie #646 "Julie" opens with Doris Day driving down a highway and her husband in the passenger seat gets angry at her and tries to take the wheel and slams his foot on the gas pedal and they are driving on curvy Mulholland Drive (or something like it). Kind of Dramatic from the start? I thought so, and it just kept going on and on and on --- I have to admit it was kind of scary in parts, due to how well Doris Day can look fearful, but the story was a bit far fetched and hard to believe in many spots. Esp. the very end............if you want to see this, don't read any more. But if you want to know just how silly it gets, the end scene is Doris Day landing a commercial plane. Yep, drama at its best, don't you think? no way, Day! I rate it 2.5 out of 5 stars. A terrified wife tries to escape from her insanely jealous husband who is bent on killing her --- the wife is Doris Day and the husband is Louis Jordan.

Movie #645 ........................."The Amazing Spiderman" 2012

Movie #645 "The Amazing Spiderman" 2012 is a very tense drama, with good acting. I'm not quite sure why it had to be remade, but the fact that I enjoyed the first one, too, didn't take away from an enjoyment of this one, as well. Like "Girl with the Dragon Tatoo," I liked both renditions, but for different reasons. Not remembering a lot from the first Toby Maguire movie, I DO remember his dorkiness, his laid back sense of humor in approaching the whole Hero-thrust-upon-him motif. I'm not a huge fan of Dunst, but she was capable, and the bad guy was bad, but there was some intrigue and good conflict with the Franco character flirting with Dunst, etc. In this one, you have huge chemistry between Garfield and Emma Stone (perhaps because they ARE a twosome in real life or partly because they are such good actors, better than the original, but not by a whole lot)The aunts and uncles are comparable, but the Franco character is missing, and the bad guy here is quieter and there's more to him (I've always been a Rys Ifans fan since he danced in his underwear in "Nottinghill") I really thought Emma was terrific and made everyone look good who shared screen time with her, and I was very impressed with Garfield (as I was in watching him in "Social Network") --- he's so awkward, angry inside, so real as a teenager. But then you've got him fighting lizards, so unreal, so in that way, the film went back and forth from "this is really happening" to "now this is just plain silly" ---- one complaint I had with this version is that there's a lot manipulation in the plot --- This runs 136 minutes (and make sure you stay and watch the end credits) so it's long already, but I thought that the transitions were pretty obvious and they boxed the film in, giving it no time for the audience to breathe --- for example, someone sees his face and next scene he comes up with a mask --- his uncle has a fight with him, and the next scene, you know something is going to happen with the uncle to make a reason for the earlier scene ---- so it doesn't slowly spin its web in telling the story, but it kind of pushes it at us. Otherwise, I found it quite enjoyable ---- in a tense way, but that's what an action picture is supposed to do. Boy, the flying sequences really are well done! I don't remember them as effective in the original, but then we are several years down the road in special effects in this one. I rated this 4 out of 5 stars The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) PG-13 The story of Spider-Man takes a turn toward the darker side in this reboot of the hit superhero franchise, which reveals how high school lad Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) learns to wield his newfound powers while facing down archvillain The Lizard (Rhys Ifans). Genre:Action & Adventure This movie is:Gritty

Movie #644 ........................."Brave"

Movie #644 "Brave" was meh. The opening was mighty fine, but then it went downhill from there. Once we got into the thick of the story, we lost characters ---the mom for obvious reasons, the dad because he was dismissed with all the men to silliness (and I'd like to add that the men don't come across too kindly in this film), the bear after the dad was one-dimensional and scary, and the three little kids (though I liked them the best)were all the same, and I'd say the same thing for the sub leaders of the dad's pack ---- I think we were supposed to see some differentiation, but I missed it. The lead girl was voiced well, but she was so careless and thoughtless toward her mom in the opening that I just didn't like her all that much. And the high point was very violent for a pixar film ---- we didn't need to see it --- not appreciated from this viewer, I don't care what had to be done to get rid of the curse. Oh, and I'd like to say that the writer went out of his way to throw a theme onto this story ---- it got there, but not clearly. So I don't really recommend it all that much. I guess I was expecting so much more, since this is the first female Pixar heroine. I WANT to like it so much --- I want to support it because of this, but it left me cold. I rated this 3 stars out of 5 Brave (2012) PG Scottish princess Merida uses her archery skills to establish her independence, but when she accidentally angers the ancient land's three powerful lords and is granted a poorly conceived wish by a witch, she must go on a quest to repair the damage. Genre:Children & Family Movies, Movies for ages 8 to 10, Movies for ages 11 to 12, Disney This movie is:Exciting, Imaginative, Feel-good Availability: DVD and Blu-ray availability date unknown

Movie #643 .........................."The Avengers"

Movie #643 "The Avengers" -- first, I need to say this is not the type of genre I usually like. That being said, I really enjoyed this film, thanks to it being well directed by Joss Whedon (Dr. Horrible) I also liked all the actors in it, some more than others --- Robert Downey, Scarlett Johansen, Mark Ruffalo and Jeremy Renner, I esp. enjoyed. And there are some secondary people that shine, as well (Cobie from How I Met your mother, and Clarke Gregg (from the New and Old Christine). I could follow the story pretty easily, so that was helpful, and most was pretty convincing. But I'm sorry, I don't get into the whole Hulk thing --- it's too silly for me. But I liked the way Whedon made those parts more humorous, then, to make it more palatable. The reason this very capable movie did not get a 5 from me was twofold. One, I disliked Captain America, the actor and the character ---- sorry, but what a shallow, dorky "hero" --- the other reason is all the violence. There's too much physical fighting for me. The parts I esp. like in the film are when Downey and Ruffalo are using their intelligence to figure out how to save the world (or whatever)-- and then the others join in on the problem solving. I just feel there's too much of violence in films and on t.v., and it's everywhere now ---- I guess I'm most sensitive to this because of the political divisiveness that seems to exist in Washington. why can't we as a society stop believing "might is right" and hunker down TOGETHER and get rid of the egos and come up with some good problem solving. I guess I want to see that theme in more movies. That isn't this movie's fault because it's not that genre. But I'm just saying.............. Rate 4.2 out of 5 stars The Avengers Marvel's The Avengers (2012) PG-13 An all-star lineup of superheroes -- including Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk and Captain America -- team up to save the world from certain doom. Working under the authority of S.H.I.E.L.D., can our heroes keep the planet at peace? Genre:Action & Adventure, Action Thrillers, Comic Book and Superhero Movies This movie is:Exciting, Witty Availability: DVD and Blu-ray availability date unknown

Movie #642 ........................."Submarine"

Movie #642 "Submarine" --- look what gem of a film I found streaming from net flix tonight! Not sure what I wanted to watch, the title was intriguing, and from the moment the narrator, Oliver, started to talk and make observations, I was hooked. The deadpan style seemed a lot like that of Wes Anderson, but the book this movie was made from must be very witty, because the narrator seems to be a British Ferris Buehler --- he just thinks weirdly and endearingly funny things come out of his head --- sometimes verbal, most times, not. The kids are so awkward, so deadpan, so universal, and the scenery is drop dead gorgeous in Wales. There is some beautiful imagery here with fireworks, and other things I don't want to give away, because I recommend this gem of a film, and I hope you get to experience it some day. You rated this movie: 4 out of 5 Submarine (2011) NR In this captivating coming-of-age story with an offbeat edge, 15-year-old Oliver Tate has two big ambitions: to save his parents' marriage via carefully plotted intervention and to lose his virginity before his next birthday. Genre:Comedies, Independent Movies, British Movies, Independent Comedies This movie is:Cerebral, Quirky, Witty Availability: Streaming, DVD and Blu-ray