Terminator 2: Judgment Day

I was perusing Instant Netflix with a friend and he suggested we watch Terminator 2.  Arnold Scharenegger films have never exactly been my cup of tea but I'm willing to try anything at least once, sometimes a second viewing of said actor/genre can change one's mind.  In this case, it was a no.

We watched it and my initial thoughts were validated.  Terminator 2 was ridiculous.  In my opinion it could have been an okay film had there been a decent, intriguing plot and better acting skills -- lets face it Arnold Schwarzegger throwing large, heavy objects can only take him so far.  I felt the only reason to make watching this film worthwhile is to hear the classic line "hasta la vista baby".  Otherwise it is a joke and was giggling throughout the last twenty minutes.  Upon Terminator 2's ending my friend tried arguing that it was a classic action film, it may very well be, but I'm not sure how well it transferred. 

This last scene had me cracking up at how ridiculously corny it was and seen upside down expresses my final verdict for Terminator 2.

Emma (2009)

First, just a quick summary of Jane Austen's novel Emma.  Emma Woodhouse is a matchmaker made in heaven, or in hell as her cupid's arrow doesn't always land in the right place.  Emma flutters around pronouncing that everyone must marry except herself who has sworn off the proposal.  That is, until she realizes she has sabotaged herself.

Romola Gari is the perfect Emma.  She does a wonderful job of blending selfishness, naivety  and kindness together (because she does mean well).  And because of this acting you can't help but love her.

Don't ask me how but I corralled my dad into watching it as well and actually enjoyed it! I must tell you I was surprised by that.  Although,  we were both in agreement that Romola's facial expression are fantastic making the film that much more enjoyable.

Of course I can not write this review without mentioning Mr. Knightly played by Jonny Lee Miller.  He was also wonderful in the role, Knightly is a little like Mr. Darcy as he is a character you love and despise at the same time.  He also has some great lines one in which he comments how he doesn't understand how Mr Elton can stay on his horse with that big head of his.  Lastly,  one if not my favorite scene is when Mr Knightly tells Emma off for the rude comments she made toward Jane Fairfax; as it is said with such passion and contempt.  Although sometimes I wonder if some of it was an act.

By far this is my favorite Emma, with no singular thing that makes it so, as it is wonderful and perfect as a whole.

Bridget Jones Movies

I could just start and end this review with Hugh Grant and Colin Firth but that just doesn't seem right.  

Bridget Jones is a thirty-something woman with incredibly bad habits (smoking, drinking, weight, and word vomit just to name a few) and does not want to die alone being found weeks later being eaten by dogs.  While dressed like a carpet at her mother's curry buffet Christmas party, where everything served in miniature and on sticks is the height of sophistication she meets Mark Darcy who is wearing a reindeer jumper and makes a horrible impression.  Unfortunately, she falls for her handsome dog of a boss Daniel Cleaver and soon she is dipping the pen in the company ink only to have it go flying everywhere after he cheats.  Long story short, she ends up with the reindeer jumper after a modern day duel between  the two men.  

In the sequel, the edge of reason, Bridget is thrown together with Daniel Cleaver again with the consequences being much of the same and during a business trip to  Thailand and ends up taking an extended stay.  After Mark comes to her rescue and another fight (this time in a fountain) Bridget finally gets her heppy ending.

I love these films and are such a fun retelling of Austen's Pride and Prejudice.  I can never make up my mind which man to route for Daniel who let's face it is a bastard or Mark who likes Bridget just as she is.  The answer seems easy in black and white doesn't it? Anyway, with perfect timing and delivery and a smashing English accent. Renee Zellweger is adorable as Bridger Jones who is just trying to find her way in life. Colin Firth and Hugh Grant are marvelous at filling the shoes of Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham, invoking the same emotions felt for the characters while reading the inspiration Pride and Prejudice.  Just an entertaining set of movies all around. 

The Hobbit (2012)

I have seen The Hobbit twice, first on opening day and the second over Christmas.  Both times I was annoyed by the beginning.  The movie opens with Bilbo (played Ian Holms) at his writing desk composing A Hobbit's Tale or There and Back Again.  Personally, I think it would have been great if they just went from there into The Hobbit, but no, the had to bring Frodo in (played by Elijah Wood) creating a "behind the scene" behind the closed hobbithole of Bag End, before Frodo runs off to met Gandalf (played by Ian McKellen), forming a connecting between the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and The Hobbit.  I get that, but for some reason it still irked me.

Once I got over that, I really enjoyed it.  Bilbo's story begins with a "chance meeting" of Bilbo (played by Martian Freeman) and Gandalf followed by unexpected guests in the form of dwarfs.  I thought they looked like a grown-up version of Snow White's dwarfs and wasn't a big fan of their singing (although I always skip over songs/poems in books).  Otherwise, I thought they were a great comic relieve and very likable.

So Bilbo, wakes up late in Hobbit fashion and rushes after the wizard and dwarfs to join their quest for treasure.  After getting over a forgotten handkerchief, Bilbo and his new found friends run across a trio of trolls who decide Bur-Hobbit would be a great appetizer to a main course of Dwarfs.  While all the other dwarfs squirm in their ties, Bilbo stalls for time, suggesting said dwarfs would taste better skinned as they all have worms.  By stalling for time, he keeps the trolls talking until the sun rises and are turned to stone, thus gaining cred with his companions. 

We met Radagast and he is completely bad ass (as my brother says) who couldn't like a guy who is one with furry creatures.

Later, Dwarf, Wizard and Hobbit are separated like mother and child at a supermarket, Bilbo just happens upon the Misty Mountains.  Everybody who is familiar with LOTR knows that Gollum resides there with the One Ring.  Gollum. like in the LOTR Trilogy is both frieghtning and amusing.  threating to eat the hobbitess whole one moment and playing a game of riddles the next.  Bilbo, who has already found the ring but unaware of its powers plays a cheat asking the creature what it has in his pocket (the One Ring) and upon Gollum's defeat manages to escape, but that is not before Gollum notices his precious is missing and threatens to gain revenge against the nasty hobbitess. 

After, returning to the group on his own accord and saving the chief dwarf from a nasty death by Orc is accepted into the group and not a bother at all.  Continuing on their journey until December, 2013.

Les Miserables (2013)

I saw Les Miserables with my parents and watching my dad's reaction was almost as entertaining.  The entire movie was sung, I was not expecting that, but being the musical/Broadway geek I am rather enjoyed it, finding it very opreaesque.  My father on the other hand... after the introduction of Jean Valjean and Javert leaned over to my mom and asked if the entire film would be sung, responding with a shoulder shrug.  After a respectful mourning period for Fantine began singing what he'd like for dinner to the tune of "I Dreamed A Dream" (it was eggplant Parmesan in case you were wondering).  Twenty minutes later he was checking his email, and then began comparing Hugh Jackman's hair-do to that of Michael Landon's in Little House on the Prairie. (although what would you expect from someone who pronounced it Less Miz?)

But what did I think of the movie?  I really enjoyed it.  I thought the costumes and setting were phenomenal with Anne Hathaway's rendition of I Dreamed A Dream being a showstopper and one of the highlights of the film for me.  That having been said, (and I had a premonition of this before entering the theater)  the second half felt rushed; it would seem almost impossible to squeeze a 1,000+ page novel into 2 hours and 45 minute movie.  Upon leaving the film both my mom and I (my dad made his feels pretty clear) decided that it was a good movie, but didn't think it would transfer well on the small screen as the production was so massive.

The Mystery of Edwin Drood (2012)

The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Charles Dickens last (incomplete) novel.  A novel of love and murder.  a love triangle between Edwin, Rosa and his Uncle John Jasper.  It reminded me of Wuthering Heights as I felt Rosa loved Edwin and was the safe reasonable choice but she was in love with Jasper, the bad boy.  After much fluctuation of the triangle Edwin ends up dead, but Dickens died before revealing the killer.  

Laura Linney, the host of Masterpiece theater introduced The Mystery of Edwin Drood had been completed in the way they thought Dickens would have wanted.  Well sure, he's dead, you can say whatever you want without being contradicted.  I went in with a bad taste in my mouth.  I later ate my words, I hope this is the way Dickens would have wanted it because I could not turn my eyes away.  Every character good or evil were creepy and all could have had motives for offing Edwin.  This film was terrifying, in the sense that all the character were mental.  Jasper was just insane and had hallucinations throughout, Edwin and Ceylonese Neville undergo a fight on race.  Meanwhile, Rosa is confused on what she wants with Neville's sister Helena only trying to help.  

I have not read the book so have nothing to compare it to, but I thought it was fabulous with a mega twist, to Edwin's murder.  The lightening was dark  adding to its eeriness and I felt such a liking towards the good natured Mr. Drood that I was chomping at the bit for there to be justice.  And with that in mind this adaptation was very fulfilling.

Oz: the not so great and powerful (2013)

I saw Oz on Thursday, despite horrid reviews and this article in The Atlantic stating that a good adaptation of The Wizard of Oz has not been made since 1939.  The stars were aligned in the Golden Age of Hollywood and have yet to meet again.

The beginning showed so much promise, Kansas was in sepia tone and there was a nod to MGM's film during Oscar's decent in the twister; things flying through the air and his balloon basket landing like Dorthy's house; I also enjoyed the transition for black and white turned color.  But once the Witch turned green it was all down hill.

The acting was actually pretty good and was impressed by James Franco's portrayal of Oscar "Oz" Diggs; although, I think the movie dwelled too much on the three witches (South, East and West) and would have preferred a bigger focus on the Wizard.  It did explain the animosity between the three witches, east and west being scorned by Wizard for south.  All three were aware that the Wizard was a fraud and because of which formed alliances. 

The ending had a battle scene that went on way to long, something that could of been condensed into 5 minutes was spread out into 20.  It felt like they just wanted to show off all the special effects they could do.  I debated walking out but by that point I had invested so much time into it that I had to see it out.

When Oz first came out I saw an interview with the cast and director, all were very subdued and noncommittal.  Now I know why, this movie was an embarrassment akin to the Wizard's lack of magic.