Still Reeling

I understand from a reliable source that certain people don't know what to think about particular movies until I review them, so... *Ahem*

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... if you were expecting some catchy title or big razzle-dazzle moment right there, I apologize. Drew a total blank - I got nothin'. Just, you know, gonna start talking about movies. In no particular order.

Inception: Yep. Go see it. You are smart enough, you are cool enough, and darn it - people like you. Also, they like the movie, and with good reason. Just go. And when you go a second time, call me - I need to see it again, too.

Salt: In my opinion, don't bother. It's every other spy movie you've seen and thought was cool/dark/stylish, only it's not any fun. Yay Angelina Jolie for being a female action star, but... could you pick up some Bond-like repartee, or Bourne-style sheepishness, or ANYTHING to make us actually care about your character? Thanks. Just sayin'. I'd rather watch Knight and Day.

Knight and Day: It's so sad when actors' personal lives invade their professional personas to the point that audiences stay away from their films. (1 - I, ironically, blame the media. 2 - That first sentence had some awesome alliteration. Zing!) Tom Cruise may have hijacked the Crazy Train and gotten himself elected mayor of CrazyTown, but this movie is what we all used to love about Tom Cruise. It's wry, tongue-in-cheek, deadpan-with-a-twinkle, and has chemistry and over-the-top (but not TOO over-the-top) action. Even Cameron Diaz works in this movie. I KNOW, right? I saw it twice in the theater (matinees, but still) and I wouldn't mind seeing it again. It's violent but not gory, comparatively clean and still funny, and has a couple of niiiiice kisses and no sex. I'll go for the DVD, and I'll buy it still shaking my head that the film didn't do better on screen.

(And now I'm DYING to get a couple more "p"-words into that initial sentence. Presuppose? Persistent? Preclude? Postulate? Argggh!)

Nanny McPhee Returns: Ah, Emma Thompson. How I love and respect you! How I admire and revere your work and talent! And how befuddled I am by what you may or may not have been trying to accomplish with your latest opus to warts, oversized teeth, and the sparkly, pound-y magic of stern, riddilistic (I totally just made that up!), standoffish loving care! Nanny McPhee (the 1st) is a jewel, truly. It's odd, quirky, and completely beautiful. NMcP Returns ("Small 'c', large 'P'" - Say what? Is that the new "I did knock"?) is odd, quirky, and has moments of beauty scattered throughout a highly uneven and unstable "plot". Maggie Gyllenhall is completely charming and adorable. Rhys Ifans is not. The children are thoroughly engaging and delightful. The "henchladies" are not. The CGI works, against your better judgement - it's not quite real, it's not quite magical, it's just a little "off", but you'll smile anyway. Weird. Two bonus features: Ewan McGregor's cameo is absolutely swoon-worthy (Ewan! Where have you BEEN!?!), and in no other movie this year will your kids learn how to dismantle a WWII-era UXB (UneXploded Bomb). So, there is that.

And, in conclusion, a DVD review:

Date Night: I would happily watch Tina Fey and Steve Carrell rifff off of each other while reading the phone book (I was going to say "something dire like 'Canterbury Tales'" but then I imagined Carrell and Fey mucking with Chaucer and went a'quiver with delight) because, seriously, they make the perfect couple. The underlying thread of the story - their relationship - is really wonderful, and all the craziness that happens on top is outrageous, ridiculous, and very very funny. I'm not sure how all that escaped the critics. Good times right there, and all to be had for the price of a (free, if you know how to shop) Redbox rental (I know I have a coupon here somewhere).

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Honestly, I haven't been to very many movies lately, and not much out there looks all that interesting. I'll probably drag myself out to see Despicable Me (and enjoy it) before too long, but other than that I'm just waiting for the second half of Glee Season 1 on DVD, Easy A, Voyage of the DawnTreader, and Tron: Legacy. I will most likely also see Legend of the Guardians: Owls of Ga'hoole, but ONLY for the artistic aspects and because I can't get away from that 30 Seconds to Mars song. YOU KNOW THE ONE.

Happy movie watching! Let me know your favorites, and feel free to leave any suggestions that I should see and/or avoid!

P.S. Yes, I put that third "f" in "rifff" on purpose.

P.P.S. The title of this blog post is now one of my favorite content-appropriate puns ever. It will someday be the name of my column or TV show.

P.P.P.S. You're hearing that song in your head right now, aren't you? You totally are.