Movie #428 ........................."Scott Pilgrim vs. the World"

Movie #428 "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" was disappointing. I heard it was pretty good, but as I watched it, I realized quite quickly that I was not the targeted audience -----boys, age 12-30, maybe? But not me. It's cutesy, and unique from the beginning, the way it introduces the people, and the quick dialogue. But then when it set up the conflict --- that this Scott Pilgrim had to fight each of his new girlfriend's 7 exes, it became silly and very violent ---- one fight after another after another. Video Game aficionados might like this, but I found it quite boring. I wouldn't recommend this to most of you out there, but if you are a video game fan, you might like it. It IS unique; I'll give that to it!





I gave it 3 stars
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
(2010) PG-13
When dreamy delivery girl Ramona (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) starts popping up in his life, slacker musician Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) takes notice. But to win the love of this rollerblading goddess, Scott must vanquish all seven of her evil exes in martial arts battles. Based on Bryan Lee O'Malley's graphic novels, director Edgar Wright's action-packed romcom also stars Anna Kendrick, Brandon Routh and Chris Evans.
Genre: Action Comedies, Martial Arts, Comic Books and Superheroes
This movie is: Mind-bending, Witty
Format: DVD and Blu-ray

Movie #427 ........................."Adjustment Bureau"

Movie #427 "Adjustment Bureau" was a pleasant surprise, very enjoyable. The cast is competent with Damon and Blunt playing the two lovers, along with John Slattery (MadMen) and Terrence Stamp playing their supporting roles impeccably well. The story has a really good premise, and it was fun to play along with it and see it to the end. It had a little bit thriller with the chase scenes, a little blade runner (penned by the some writer Philip K. Dick), a great love story and a terrific sense of deadpan humor. Liked this one a lot --- and so did Dave.




I gave it 4 stars
The Adjustment Bureau
(2011) PG-13
A congressman (Matt Damon) who's a rising star on the political scene finds himself entranced by a beautiful ballerina (Emily Blunt), but mysterious circumstances ensure that their love affair is predestined to be a non-starter. Screenwriter George Nolfi (The Bourne Ultimatum) makes his directorial debut with this romantic adaptation of Philip K. Dick's classic sci-fi short story "Adjustment Team."
Genre: Sci-Fi Thrillers
This movie is: Exciting, Romantic, Feel-good
Format: DVD and Blu-ray availability date unknown

Movie #426........................."The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman"

Movie #426 "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman" was a very powerful movie that I missed the first time it came around. It was really a well done film, esp. Cicely Tyson's acting and the makeup and the story. The story reminded me a lot of Rosa Parks, esp. at the end, and because it covers her whole life, it has that epic truth telling feeling to it. I wasn't a fan of the narration, though, because I found it difficult to understand everything she was saying, and since I was streaming it to my computer, I don't know if I can put on subtitles so I went without. I also didn't like secondary acting --- some moments didn't ring as true as others because the acting was a bit melodramatic, but Cicely Tyson kept it grounded and in tow, and it is HER movie, since she won an academy award for it. Very poignant, and if you haven't seen it yet, it's worth a look. Liked it a lot!




You rated this movie: 4
The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman
(1973) TV-PG
Based on the novel by Ernest J. Gaines, this highly acclaimed TV drama follows the life of Jane Pittman, a black woman born into slavery in the South during the 1850s who lives long enough to see the genesis of the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s. In 1962, 110-year-old Jane (Cicely Tyson) tells her story to a journalist (Michael Murphy). The film won eight Emmy Awards, including Best Lead Actress for Tyson and Best Director for John Korty.
Genre: Dramas Based on the Book, Made-for-TV Movies, Period Pieces
This movie is: Emotional, Inspiring, Heartfelt
Format: DVD and streaming

Movie #425 ........................."The Proud and the Profane"

Movie #425 "The Proud and the Profane" is a classic that slipped by me years ago ---- I couldn't believe there was a Bill Holden movie that I hadn't seen, but I don't remember this one, so I watched it last night. I might have skipped it because he plays rather a nasty man in tis one, but his charm still surfaces occasionally. This film is a real talky one full of long 10 minute scenes or so, and there's lots of melodrama (borderline soap opera), and there is a lot of fake scrims in the background instead of the real scenery (some cringing moments); however, the film has superb acting, esp. from the secondary people (i.e.Thelma Ritter, in particular) and the characters and some moments are memorable (like the guy she meets at the end at her husband's grave --- very powerful scene. And I liked the ending moment, as well, but the getting to it was , like I said, a bit talky. Love that William Holden and Deborah Kerr, though.






You rated this movie: 3.6
DONNA's rating: 3 stars
Average of 3,973 ratings: 3 stars
The Proud and the Profane
1956 NR 111 minutes
In this romantic drama, beautiful Red Cross volunteer Lee Ashley (Deborah Kerr) arrives on the South Pacific island of New Caledonia to learn more about the circumstances surrounding the death of her husband, Howard, in the Battle of Guadalcanal. There, Ashley falls for the gruff, seductive Marine Lt. Col. Colin Buck (William Holden), but struggle and tragedy follow when the widow learns about the reality of Buck's life back home.

Cast:William Holden, Deborah Kerr, Thelma Ritter, Dewey Martin, William Redfield, Marion Ross, Frank Gorshin, Claude Akins Director:George Seaton Genres:Drama, Romantic Dramas, Period Pieces, Military & War Dramas, Tearjerkers, Epics, 20th Century Period Pieces This movie is:Emotional, Romantic Format:Streaming

Movie #424 ........................."Fish Game"

Movie #424 "Fish Game" is NOT worthy of the 2010 Bafta award; i.e. unless all the other candidates were based on Noel Coward's plays! This is a really disturbing film , but that's after 50+ minutes of film time delineating just how psychotic and angry this 15 year old girl is ---- and that's before her mother's boyfriend has sex with her (and yes, graphic scene). Then, all hell breaks loose in her life, and things get worse ---- yes, I feel sorry for her that her mother is a loser, yes, I get that her dream of being a dancer is crushed, and yes, i get the poignancy of the last scene where she finally communicates with her mom (kind of) by dancing with her in the living room ---- pitiful scene, and the last image is of her little sister in the rear view window of the car as she and a boy friend drive away from this rat trap and don't take her. The little girl begs for her to come back and yes, I wanted to throw something at the film screen! You don't need to see this one. This review hit the high spots, except for other negative things she does that I don't even want to go into.





You rated this movie: 2
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Fish Tank
(2009) NR
The life of hot-tempered teen outcast Mia (Katie Jarvis) takes an unexpected turn when her mother, Joanne (Kierston Wareing), brings home a handsome and mysterious boyfriend named Connor (Michael Fassbender), who pledges to bring sweeping positive changes to the household. British writer-director Andrea Arnold's sophomore feature won Best British Film at the 2010 BAFTAs.
Genre: Indie Dramas, United Kingdom, Foreign Regions
This movie is: Steamy, Gritty
Format: DVD, Blu-ray and streaming (HD available)

Movie #423 ........................."Molly"

Movie #423 "Molly" was an okay movie, with some good moments, but some really melodramatic moments that bordered silly. It says it is a true story, but it's hard to believe because it plays like a female version of "flowers for Algernon." I found Elizabeth Shue's character to go in and out ---- it didn't seem consistent all the time, but then, she has a tough part because she has to go through all the changes. It was a "big" performance, so I wasn't always sold on her character. The same for the brother. I don't know if the fault was in the script or his acting (I'm thinking the script) but it wasn't always clear his motives. He seemed up and down in characterization, too. All in all, this was an okay film, but mental disabilities is a popular subject in films and handled so much better by so many others: "What's eating Gilbert Grape" and "The Other Sister, " and "Charlie" are the first three that come to mind.





You rated this movie: 3
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Molly
(1999) PG-13
Elisabeth Shue follows her Oscar-nominated performance in Leaving Las Vegas with the complex character of Molly McKay, a mentally challenged woman who's devoted to her brother (Aaron Eckhart) in this heartrending tale based on a true story. Molly's innocent world is radically changed when she undergoes medical treatments to boost her IQ, and although the treatments work, the improvements may not last.
Genre: Medical Dramas, Tearjerkers, Dramas Based on Real Life
This movie is: Emotional, Inspiring, Heartfelt, Sentimental
Format: DVD and streaming

Movie #422 ........................."The Nines"

Movie #422 "The Nines" is a strange one. A big plus is if you like Ryan Reynolds because he is in almost all the scenes. He plays three different guys --- one who is an actor who plays a cop, and the stress and fans are getting to him so he starts to do cocaine --- he is under house arrest and the house he is living in is owned by a writer (he plays the writer in the next scene, and in the third scene he plays the male lead in the t.v. show the writer is working on) -- if this sounds intriguing, it IS for a while, but the ending wasn't as satisfying as it could have been. Otherwise, well acted by Reynolds and Hope Davis and Melissa McCarthy (Mike and Molly on t.v.) and a very interesting film which could have had a better ending.





You rated this movie: 3
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The Nines
(2007) R
Ryan Reynolds, Melissa McCarthy and Hope Davis appear in multiple roles in writer-director John August's independent thriller, which combines three intertwining stories that creatively converge in unexpected ways. A popular TV actor is under house arrest in "The Prisoner"; a TV producer struggles to launch a new series in "Reality Television"; and a video-game designer seeks help for his stranded family in "Knowing."
Genre: Indie Dramas, Indie Suspense & Thriller
This movie is: Cerebral, Quirky, Mind-bending, Suspenseful, Witty
Format: DVD and streaming