Choke

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1843855641/

Frist off, I need to say that I read the book and loved it. Pretty much any book by Chuck P. I will love. That being said, the movie was not as I expected it to be.

Maybe it was because I already knew what was going to happen and where there would be twists in the plot, but this movie was really uninspiring. I had hoped for so much more than graphic sex scenes followed by a quasi-crazy man choking himself to make people save him. Visually the movie is good and the acting is spot on with the characters, but honestly, I wouldn't recomend this movie for anyone who has read the book. Nothing new was added, and the ending was completely changed.

Overall the movie is done well but because I wasn't interested while watching it I can't give the movie a real rating.

Watch it if you want a completely literal adaptation of the book (with a changed ending) or you never read the book to begin with, then see this. Otherwise, I would advise you rent something else, something original, something that is not based on one of your favorite books.

3 out of 5 Roses

Slumdog Millionare Review

I am soooo sorry for not posting my review sooner- I GOT ENGAGED! My mind has been swimming with wedding ideas so I really haven't been watching movies. However, I promised a review of this movie so I must do it.

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2220163097/

Honestly the only thing I can say is that this movie deserves every single award it has been given or nominated for. Music, acting, costuming, story- Everything is perfect. This has all of the charm of an independent movie with all the pizzaz of a major blockbuster.

Interestingly, this movie is told through the eyes of a contestant on the Indian version of "Who Wants to be a Millionare?" A contestant who has never been to school, works as a servant, and is generally looked down upon in Indian society has made it to the final question worth 20,000,000 Rubies (currency in India). Because of his shortcomings he is accused of cheating. Police take him away and proceed to torture him to get him to tell them how he cheated. They go through every single question- all with flashbacks from his life explaining how he knew the answer. Basically he knew the answers because of luck. Had he been asked other questions he would have no idea. What emerges is a great and touching love story.

This movie is all around incredible!

4.5 out of 5 Roses

Slumdog Millionare

What an amazing movie! I will be writing a review either later tonight or tomorrow sometime. I need to process this without continually going back to four letter expletives. (as in "**** that was good!")

He's Just Not That Into You

Since Valentine's Day is coming up I decided to go see a movie about relationships. The premise of this movie, along with the book of the same name, is a visual encyclopedia of what should and should not be done when beginning a relationship. It also offers some sound advice for couples questioning their relationship status or lack thereof. These tips can best be summed up by the movie's taglines/ main acts:

If he's not calling you....If he's not sleeping with you....If he isn't marrying you.... HE IS NOT INTO YOU!

However, the question the women in this movie find themselves constantly asking is, "Am I the rule (see above) or am I the exception?" The exception in these cases are the women we've all heard about who have gone through the same situation as ourselves but have come out with their man and lived happily ever after. What happens is the story arcs become very tangled. Characters who at first glance appear to have no common bond become intertwined into the other characters' stories.

FOR THE GUYS: http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi3392537369/

TRAILER: http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi4007330585/

Gigi (Ginnifer Goodwin) is set up on a date by her friend Janine (Jennifer Connelly) with a man named Conner (Kevin Connelly). Conner is in an on again- off again relationship with Anna (Scarlett Johansson)- they have all of the emotional perks of a relationship with none of the physicality. One day Anna meets Ben (Bradley Cooper) in the supermarket and the two strike up an affair. Ben is Janine's husband and best friend of Neil (Ben Affleck). Neil has been dating Beth (Jennifer Aniston) for seven years and has yet to pop the question. Gigi, Janine, and Beth all work together. Conner's roomate is Alex (Justin Long), a bartender at the bar Gigi goes to meet men. Finally the cast is rounded out by Mary (Drew Barrymore), Anna's friend and Conner's publicist.

Whew, what a worldwind! If I said anything else about the characters I would give the plot away (which I don't want to do for anyone). Let me just say this though, the movie is good. Not great, but definately not bad either. The ensemble is wonderful together and every scene was shot well.

It may look like a chick flick at first glance but this movie would be a wonderful date movie. Questions are answered that help explain why men and women look at certain aspects of relationships so differently. Honestly, the couples in this movie are real- they aren't completely terrible towards one another but they definately aren't fairy tales either. What we see instead are real human interactions that could happen to anyone in any place.

All in all I give it 3.5 out of 5 Roses.

************DISCLAIMER***********

If you are going to get high then come to the theater to make out and have conversations through the whole movie, please stay at home! This goes for all movies, not just this one.

I have been watching some more movies lately but most of them are ones I own or I've already seen (along with most of the World) so what I've decided to do is this- I will review movies I think people haven't already seen. I'll review new movies in theaters regardless, but now I'll only be reviewing less known older movies.

Sound okay?

Push

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2707750937/ TRAILER

I know it is still in the poll, but tonight I saw the new movie Push. The movie is about a group of gifted young adults with special abilities running from the government organization called "The Division." Watchers are people who can see the future, movers are people with telekenetic abilities, bleeders are those who can scream so loudly they make people bleed out of every orfice, and finally, pushers are able to use mind control to implant their ideas into others' heads.

Chris Evans (Johnny Storm from the "Fantastic Four" movies) plays Nick, a second generation mover hiding from the Division in Hong Kong. Enter the only watcher he has ever met, 13 year old Cassie (played by Dakota Fanning). She tells him that she needs his help to find a girl with a case containing $6 million or else they will both die. The girl they are looking for, Kira (played by "When a Stranger Calls" actress Camilla Belle) is a pusher- the strongest pusher ever to be genetically enhanced by the Division. She has stolen the case and escaped from the Division's control. What results is a non-stop action packed race against time complete with an absolutely heartless vilian played by Djimon Hounsou.

Because it is set in the back streets Hong Kong this does not look like your average superhero movie. Instead it is grity, dirty, and all around disgusting. It is full of saturated bright colors and dark grimy sets. The imagery of the location pairs perfectly with the characters' clothing- because these aren't your traditional superheroes there are no leather or spandex suits. The characters wear everyday clothing that is like the surounding locale- colorful but very dirty. For example, Dakota Fanning's character has a mess of pink and blonde hair while wearing too much eyeliner and a very skimpy skirt, tee shirt, and thigh high boots. I often found myself wondering why she had so much money and why she looked like a prosti-tot.

The special effects were not bad but nothing to be amazed at. The good thing about them, however was that they did not look fake at all. The effects were seamlessly intertwined into the action in every scene. The music, along with the clothing and special effects, fit in very well with the overall feel of the movie. Asian influence rock techno music doesn't always work well in action films but it proved useful in this movie.

The script was interesting but included nothing the audience hasn't seen before in other superhero action movies: Deal with powers, fight the bad guy, fall in love, save the girl, have a happy ending. I was unimpressed with the way the supporting roles were dealt with. For instance, while the main vilany is presented by the American-based Division, there is also a crime family of Chinese with similar powers. To contrast the waning abilities of Fanning's character, Pop Girl (played by Lu Lu) is a powerful watcher in direct conflict with Cassie. I was hoping to see some sort of girl fight between the two with no such luck. I think a few scenes with Pop Girl's brothers (both of which are bleeders) would have been enough but they kept poping up every few scenes to my great annoyance.

Overall I didn't think the movie was a waste of time, but honestly I didn't enjoy it very much. Having said that though, I am not a very big fan of action movies in general. My boyfriend thought this movie was wonderful but sadly I cannot agree.

3 out of 5 Roses (and that is being nice)

Hedwig and the Angry Inch

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi3786146073/ TRAILER

I am not going to lie; I first saw this movie because of Michael Pitt. He played a character on Dawson’s Creek (my favorite TV show in Middle School) so I had to see it. What an awakening! I was a naïve teen who loved musicals. Why should this one be any different? It was a modern rock musical with a guy from my favorite show; of course I would love it. Boy was I right! I loved this movie right away but at the time it scared me and excited me and I didn’t know why but I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Maybe it was because this movie was the first movie that introduced me to a transgendered main character who wasn’t supposed to be seen as the downfall of mankind, maybe it was because it was my introduction to the punk rock world, or maybe it was because of the first line, “I’m like the Berlin Wall! Try to tear me down!” Whatever it was, this movie has been one of my favorites for a long time.

The music in this movie is fantastic. The lead character Hedwig lists her (his?) influences as Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, David Bowie, Debbie Boone, and Linda Ronstadt. Talk about eclectic, and that is exactly what the music in this movie is like. Country to rock to punk to piano ballad and back again. My favorites would have to be “Angry Inch” (about his botched sexual reassignment surgery), “Suddenly” (about his changing nature), “Wicked” (about getting out of a town he hates), and “Origin of Love” (the Greek myth told by Plato dealing with soul mates- it also is the whole basis of the movie).

The music is often accompanied with animation and cartoons (presumably by Hedwig) that look like professional stick figures. In contrast to the woman behind the mic, the art is minimalist and simple. It is plain and monochromatic but moves the story of the movie along with the music. Like a traditional musical the music is used to help the story progress by giving the viewer an inside look at Hedwig’s past as well as her emotions. She may be a rock goddess on stage but internally she is searching for her own personal truth.

Hedwig (played by writer and director John Cameron Mitchell) is a gay German man who was essentially tricked into becoming a woman by his lover. She is a complex walking contradiction which makes the viewer accept her all the more. While the movie is meant to be a poignant comedy it seems to be bordering on a very heartfelt drama. There are some wonderful one-liners (my favorite comes from an early story involving a fur coat and a PETA activist) but the entire movie is a wave. Comedic highs are met with emotional scenes throughout with great success. Overall the main character comes off as this incredible performer with no insecurities but in reality she is crumbling under her vulnerabilities. She is crude and boisterous but you just can’t help but root for her regardless of the fact that she is a drag queen.

Unfortunately she is only a rock star in her own mind. She lives to upset conservatives and cause riots inside the local Sizzler down the street from major music stadiums. She’s on tour following the band of Tommy Gnosis (played by Pitt) after he has stolen her songs. The boy grew up as an ultra Christian, role playing game fanatic who knew nothing of rock n roll. Hedwig teaches him everything about music and the art of being a rock star just to have him fall in love with her. When he finds out she is actually stuck between a man and woman he flips. The scene immediately goes from a slew of comedic timed lines to a heart breaking confrontation between the two. One line in this scene really sums up the character for me, “You love me? Then love the front of me!” Tommy then takes her music and her knowledge and becomes the greatest rock star in the world while she is left to play in fish houses and turn tricks for money to travel. Ultimately the message I come away with from this movie is to be yourself and love who you are inside.

Pitt’s performance was something I did not expect when I first saw this movie. At the time I couldn’t understand how someone could go from being a boy next door type on Dawson’s Creek to a closeted gay rock star in this. Now having seen some of his other movies like “The Dreamers” and “Funny Games” it seems to me that Dawson’s Creek was just a jumping off point. This guy is a great actor who specializes in the weird, deranged, quirky characters and I look forward to seeing his movies in the future. Because Hedwig is played by the man who wrote and directed the movie, the character is fully developed and acted out in an incredibly realistic way. One character I would like to mention is the backup singer/ husband of Hedwig played by Miriam Shor. For most of the movie I am unable to determine if she is supposed to be a man wanting to be a woman or a woman wanting to be a man. Other than the confusion, the character is fleshed out beautifully as someone dying to be loved by Hedwig all the while trying to get out of her shadow.

The sets, the costumes, the wigs, every visual aspect of this movie are wonderful. This movie is obviously not for children and obviously not for the homophobic, squeamish, timid, or close-minded viewers. If you are interested in seeing a great kick ass controversial rock musical then this is your movie.

4.5 out of 5 Roses

The Secret Life of Bees (2008)

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2605646105/

All of these first reviews are going to be from DVD rentals so I will also be reviewing DVD features. Unfortunately there are absolutely no special features on this DVD. No commentary to speak of, no trailers, nothing. It may be due to lack of extra material or it may be due to the dramatic nature of the film, but either way I believe there should have at least been something other than languages for subtitles.

Regardless, the lack of features does not take away from the actual movie in any way. As someone who has lived in South Carolina (where the movie is set) for most of my life I have to commend the filmmakers on their ability to give the feeling of living in the Deep South. The colors are warm throughout- yellows, reds, oranges and pinks surrounded by the lush greens of the landscape give the viewer a real sense of the humidity from summer. Watching this movie made me actually feel the heat. I did notice a shift in color tone towards the climax of the movie when everything becomes blue and purple rather than yellow. I believe this is a way the cinematographer was trying to give the audience a sense of peace in the story. Because this is a drama, there are many conflicts for all of the six main characters. Whenever a particular character is at peace with his or her situation we see their clothing change.

One thing that is constant throughout the movie is the music. Constantly somber, beautiful, and perfectly paired with every scene. Most of the music was played by the character of June (played by Alicia Keys) who is a local music teacher. Perhaps it was just the character but when Miss Keys played the cello in this movie her love of music was unmistakable.

The cast of this movie was top notch. Queen Latiffa, Alicia Keys, and Jennifer Hudson, who are all best known from the R&B world, play strong willed African American women in a racist southern town in the early 1960s. Latiffa (August), Keys (June), and Sophie Okonedo (May) play sisters who own and run a successful honey farm. They are sophisticated and educated making them appear to be separated from the world around them. One day Dakota Fanning’s character Lilly shows up with her nanny Rosalie (played by Hudson) asking for a job. The women take the girl and her nanny into their home knowing there are other reasons for their appearance. Lilly has run away from her abusive father T-Ray (played by the ever-amazing Paul Bettany) in order to find information on her mother. Bettany’s character first seems to be completely despicable but quickly becomes the sympathetic antagonist. The cast is rounded out with Hilarie Burton playing Lilly’s mother and Tristan Wilds playing Zach, a worker at the farm.
Honestly, with the performances seen in this movie I am amazed the cast was not nominated for a “Best Group Ensemble” award at this year’s Golden Globes. I especially must give kudos to Wilds and Burton who are both more widely known for their roles on CW’s “90210” and “One Tree Hill” respectively. While only playing supporting characters, I think the two made the movie well rounded.

However, the cast performances did not make the movie. I would recommend this movie if only to see how far Dakota Fanning has come in her career- I am not the only one thinking this movie could propel her into adult movies at last. There is something missing from this movie. It is very emotional and tissues will be needed but the viewer doesn’t come away from the movie with anything. It lacks the spark needed to make the movie worth anything more than two hours of time. The director or the script writer may be to blame but something is wrong with this movie and I can’t quite put my finger on it. I would advise people to see this movie if you want to watch good acting from some amazing women but nothing more.

3.5/ 5 Roses

Welcome!

First off I am going to go ahead and put this out there: if you agree or disagree with my reviews and you'd like to discuss it, I am all ears! I would love to hear others' ideas of the same movies. Also, I am going to be puting up polls every now and then to see which movies you would like me to review. Like I said, I will be watching new and old movies of any genre so any movie you'd like me to write about I will add to my list. I plan on writing one to two reviews a week total. My first batch of reviews should be up either later today or sometime tomorrow. Movies to be reviewed are:

The Secret Life of Bees (2008)

Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001)

Down with Love (2003)

Persepolis (2007)

Center Stage (2000)

Corpse Bride (2005)

The way I will be rating these movies are based on story, acting, directing, cinematography, costuming, special effects, and score. Overall I will rate the movie on a scale of 1 to 5 roses. Stars and tomatoes aren't very original are they?

Later!