I saw Transformers a couple of weeks ago and I loved it.  I don't imagine it's everyone's cup of tea, but if you liked them when they were popular in the 80's, you'll like this movie.

I also saw Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix last weekend.  It was good, but it wasn't exactly what I was expecting.  Compared to the book, I found the movie was very rushed.  There were a lot of details that weren't story impacting that they left out, so I kind of felt it was lacking.  If you like the series, don't take my word for it, this is just how I felt.

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Yesterday is yesterday. (This Town)

It's only heaven descending. (Black Ribbon)

Just remember, if the world didn't suck, we'd all fall off.

I also saw the latest Harry movie and I enjoyed it quite a bit.  I think it is inevitable that stuff will be left out due to the limitations of just how much stuff can fit into a movie.  It was 2.5 hours afterall.

Ratatouille was a great flick too.  It's a kids movie but it was very well done.  It kind of reminded me of the novel Stanley Park in a way lol!  It's about this rat who is a foodie and dreams of being a great chef.  His family and the rest of the rats don't understand him but he pursues his dream to a happy ending.

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"Over straight and crooked miles
Falling out of favour or embraced
Wondering where was love...
It hadn't happened yet"
~Ron Sexsmith~

Nearest to all things
Patiently waiting
So let the angels sing
Silently weeping

I recently rented the new versions of 'The Hitcher' and 'Black Christmas'.  I thought that both were more gruesome than the original films, but lacked the suspense as the original films as well.  Definitely a case of less is more.

I also rented 'The Prestige' and 'Premonition' and thought both movies were very well done.

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I carry with me the memory of a field I once knew, of a night so full of stars that I was left humbled by it's endless beauty. I know that whatever the cost, life is worth living. So bring it on...I can take it.

Allison The Last King of Scotland was a fascinating movie, one of my favourites I've watched this year.  Liked Little Miss Sunshine too!

Ann - haha! - I can't wait to see Ratatouille now you've made your comparison to Stanley Park!  I've been reading the novel slowly over the past 2 months and will probably finish it tonight.  Good book.  Unique certainly, but good.

About to watch Duck Soup, a Marx Brothers film from 1933!
 

Add my vote to the pile in favour of Ratatouille. That was a great movie, a very original plot and a well-written script. And Duck Soup is my favourite Marx Brothers movie. "Hail Freedonia, land of the brave, and free!!!" This is also the movie with the famous "mirror scene", where Harpo acts as Groucho's reflection.

I still have to see the latest Harry Potter flick...I've been waiting a few weeks so that there won't be as many people there when I do go. As long as Alan Rickman is still Snape and Ralph Fiennes is still Voldemort, there is no way that the movie can be terrible.

And it isn't that new (from 2006), but my favourite movie ever is Bon Cop, Bad Cop. A Canadian cop thriller that revolves around hockey and is completely bilingual (pretty much half-and-half French and English dialogue, although they still have two versions). You don't need to know French to understand what's going on -- there are subtitles, and I think there's only one joke that doesn't quite translate from French. Oh, and there's one scene for which you will have to send the kiddies out of the room (I send *myself* out of the room when it comes on, because I am easily flustered). But overall, an excellent film.

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"There's the shirt that I like!"

"It was nice singing with you this evening."

The Outlaw Josey Wales -  way up - terrific movie.  1976  Clint Eastwood Actor, Director

 

From imdb.com:

 

(Comment on this title)
One of the finest westerns, 21 March 2003

THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES is a wonderful story about a wounded man, Josey Wales, a Missourian who has lost his home and his family to the Civil War. As the Civil War ends in defeat and despair for the South, Wales alone of his guerrilla unit refuses to surrender. He has nothing left to live for, except to fight, and he cannot give that up.

This is a setup that has appeared many times in the movies, as the hero with nothing left to lose is a perfect excuse to show nonstop gunplay. To some extent, this happens in THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES too. It is an action western according to the classic formula, but it is more than that. Josey Wales heals his wounds as the story goes on, and begins to replace the friendship, and then the love, that he has lost. And as he heals, he begins to grow out of violence as a way of life. Many westerns have the theme of the older breed of man who tamed the west by violence being abandoned by his fellows; only this one, so far as I know, has the older breed of man abandon himself, that is to say, change his ways with the changing of the times.

Clint Eastwood is a decent actor, not a great one. But at times he has shown the marks of a really first-class director, and given his limitations as an actor it is the more to his credit that he did not hog the stage. He gives plenty of screen time to an excellent supporting cast, of whom the most memorable is Chief Dan George as aged Cherokee warrior Lone Watie, a role he plays with an eerily perfect balance of dignity and humor. Will Sampson makes an unforgettable cameo as Comanche chief Ten Bears, and Paula Trueman is a magnificently feisty Sarah.

John Vernon plays Fletcher, the man who betrays Josey Wales early on. I don't understand why Vernon could not find work in quality movies after this (he has appeared in 38 cinema releases since this movie and I challenge you to name any of them). Vernon has one of THE great basso-profundo voices in American cinema; only James Earl Jones could compare to it. If mountains could speak, they would sound like John Vernon. His role is a neat twist on the trope of the `reluctant hero'; Fletcher is a reluctant villain.

The ending of THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES is the most beautiful and poetic of any in western movie history, maybe the most beautiful of any movie ever, with the final confrontation between Josey Wales and Fletcher. According to the rules of the genre, this confrontation can have only one outcome; the movie finds another way, because Josey Wales has found another way.

 

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p.s. I watched some of the Marx Brothers Duck Soup but just couldn't get into it and turned it off.  My buddy and both thought it was pretty bad, but maybe we didn't give it long enough.. 

I'm going to see The Simpsons Movie with my son and his girlfriend tomorrow afternoon! LOL!

Let me know how it is, can't say I watch the show anymore, but I've heard it's getting pretty good reviews.

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"There's one in every crowd, for crying out loud,
why was it always turning out be me"

I saw the Simpsons movie yesterday and didnt really like it.  Sure its funny, but its just a long episode.  Nothing special.

I also say the Godfather I and II today.  Enjoyed both quite a bit.

Wes:

I saw the Simpsons movie yesterday and didnt really like it.  Sure its funny, but its just a long episode.  Nothing special.

I also say the Godfather I and II today.  Enjoyed both quite a bit.

I agree. It wasn't the greatest movie. It had a few funny parts, but it was nothing to write home about. 

Well that's good to know, I suppose it would be pointless for them to make a movie because it would end up being a long episode like Wes said, not like South Park where they used the opportunity to do and say things they couldn't on tv, couldn't see the simpsons having a reason to get that dirty.

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"There's one in every crowd, for crying out loud,
why was it always turning out be me"

I just got back from seeing Hairspray, what a great movie!!  I laughed, I tapped my toes, I danced in my seat.  John Travolta as the mother was hilarious!!  I'm definitely going to buy it when it comes out on DVD.

---

Yesterday is yesterday. (This Town)

It's only heaven descending. (Black Ribbon)

Just remember, if the world didn't suck, we'd all fall off.

My daughter and I saw KNOCKED UP at the theatre last week and it was hilarious - a little graphic in places (which made me very uncomfortable since I was with my daughter), but a very good story....plus I love Katherine Heigl (sp?) from Grey's Anatomy, and I thought she was great in this movie.

We rented BLOOD DIAMOND last night and I thought it was an excellent movie - and am so glad that I don't own a diamond!!!  My heart strings were tugged the whole way through....the story is very well told....and Leonardo DiCaprio was awesome.   

Unlike many of you, I was not such a big fan of RATATOUILE...I guess my expectations were too high to begin with.  But, I do love the authentic dish...very yummy!  

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"...out dancing all lit by the moon...cold winds of time in her hair."

I saw Harry Potter with my daughter - her first time seeing Harry on a big screen.  I thought it was a really good movie.  Hard to go wrong when you're working with such excellent source material; however, I was a little disappointed by how much of the book was left completely out of the movie.  I realize that they have to condense things, as this book in particular is so long, but I would have gladly sat through another hour of the movie, just to see more of the book brought to life.  I guess that's just another reason to read the books too, and not just rely on seeing the movies.

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Formerly known as "Katie"

I haven't written in this thread in a while so I thought it was time.  I saw a really great documentary last night called "God Grew Tired Of Us" about the "Lost Boys" of Sudan who relocated to America.  It was really fascinating watching their transformations.  The initial culture shock at first was funny, and it was great to see them adapt and accomplish such wonderful things.  Anyway, I don't want to give away too much in case some of you want to see it eventually.  Nicole Kidman narrates the film and I believe Brad Pitt, amongst others, was one of the producers.  Awesome movie! 

I also rented a movie yesterday called "Driving Lessons".  It was a bit off the wall, but good.  The red-headed boy from the Harry Potter movies was in it, along with Laura Linney and Julie Walters.  Unique coming of age movie. 

I also saw "Georgia Rule" the other day with Lindsay Lohan, Felicity Huffman and Jane Fonda.  It's not your typical "chick flick" - it has some pretty dark moments.  I thought it was really well done! 

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"I'm just a soul whose intentions are good...
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood."