Looper, Skyfall, Lincoln, Wreck it Ralph, Parental Guidance, Argo, Les Miserables

Hard to believe - its the end of 2012.  Except for Total Recall & Looper (which I did not get a chance to blog about) I haven't been to the movies in ages, so I have been catching up in December.

Here is a quick review of each!

Total Recall 8/17/12 - ok - not as good as the original. I really do not remember it too much 4 months later!
7 keys out of 10

Looper 10/14/12 - Went with J, M decided to stay home in his reclining chair!  It was fun.  The premise was different, still love Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon Levitt is really going places.  It's a light sci fi/action movie.  7.5 keys out of 10

Skyfall 12/8/12 - James Bond - sort of. Went with M.  It is not your typical Bond movie, and I still don't like Daniel Craig as Bond.  But it was entertaining. 7 keys out of 10.

Lincoln 12/9/12 - Unless you are a history buff - a bit on the boring side. Went with M - Roll Reversal  I slept through most of the first hour, M was awake. Daniel Day Lewis was amazing and deserves and Oscar, but the movie was not really for me.  Acting 9.5 out of 10 keys
Ability to stay awake 5 out of 10 keys
Cinematography 9 out of 10 keys
For me overall - 7 out of 10 keys

Wreck it Ralph 12/24/12 - First of all I missed the first 15 minutes, but it was enjoyable - for a kids picture. Went with J and K - they loved it.  My favorite part was the take off on the Wizard of Oz where the guards outside the castle instead of singing oh ay oh - oh oh, are oreos singing Oreo oh Oh!
Animation quality 7 of 10 keys
As a children's movie 8.5 out of 10 keys

Parental Guidance 12/25/12 - Loved it! Went with M after a tough day before.  Was in a terrible mood - this is what the Doctor ordered!   Billy Crystal is still my favorite comedian, if he is an old grandpa here or an old geezer in Princess Bride, or a young lover in Harry Met Sally, etc.  It was pure laughs, not gross, not raunchy - just funny. Was it predictable - of course - but I needed to laugh - and that is what I did.  For a silly comedy it's great!
Silly Comedy 9 out of 10 keys

Argo 12/29/12 - EXCELLENT! EDGE OF YOUR SEAT THRILLER! What a great movie, I loved it.  M stayed home - went with J K and B. I did not really know the story (it was classified for years) and Afleck really brought on the tension. You felt like you were a hostage willing the plane to get off the ground.  I highly recommend it.
9.5 keys out of 10.

Les Miz 12/30/12 - WOW! now that was a movie. Went with M.  Who knew Russell Crow could sing?  But Anne Hathaway - she was the most amazing. Hugh's voice was good - not great, but how he carried a whole movie not involving claws!  They don't make movies like this anymore.  It was a little slow at time - I was on very little sleep and I had to will myself awake, but I loved it.  Would like to see again on DVD with subtitles to hear (read) all the lyrics I missed.
Musical 9.5 keys out of 10

Hope this trend of seeing movies keeps up!  Happy New Year from JKey

Batman - the dark night rises

As expected - I did NOT like Batman. I am one of the few that has not enjoyed Nolan's trilogy. It is just TOO dark, Yes I know that's the point - but I do not enjoy psychological thrillers.  The original Batman with Michael Keaton was fun, this series was depressing.

The beginning of the very long movie, Dark Night Rises, was very boring. I even sort of fell asleep. The end of the movie's action scene was fun but too long.

I still do not like Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne. He is just not tall enough and/or suave enough. And please - that voice as Batman, it's just annoying.

Anne Hathway was fine as catwoman, but the role was not defined enough.

Michael Caine is still the only bright light in the series!

OK so I'm in the minority - give me Spidey or Superman with some sunshine any day!

4 keys out of 10

Men In Black 3 AND The Amazing Spiderman

Last week Mkey and I went to Men in Black 3.  We enjoyed it!  Silly entertainment!  This movie is not an Oscar pick, not even a classic, fairly forgettable (look at the wand - flash - OK you can forget the movie), but it is a lot of fun.  Silly movies have their place in our culture. 2 hours to forget our troubles and just enjoy ourselves. That is what this movie is for (and those that love chocolate milk!)
Silly Entertainment 9 out of 10 keys

The Amazing Spiderman. Yesterday - July 4th - Mkey and I looked for Freedom from our regular lives and watched Peter fly across the screen.  We also enjoyed it - but it was no Avengers.

MKey was right, Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone no longer look like teenagers, and what kid in high-school is the number 2 at a major companies' lab?  They should have either made Peter and Gwen in college, or used younger actors. 

Martin Sheen was great, and I love seeing how Sally Field has embraced growing older and has taken on more mature rolls. I would never have imagined her as Aunt May, but she is such a great actress she left you guessing - does she know Peter's Spidey, or not?

Personally I didn't like the lizard....

But most of all I really preferred Tobey Maguire.  I think he was a better Spidey.

Mkey really prefers this storyline to the original Spidey and I liked this one also, but I am not sure which I liked more.

We watched the movie in IMAX 3D and I have to say the 3D was great. It added to the movie, but wasn't overwhelming. The only problem was at times the 3D was in your face and the background was very blurry.  Also you have to keep your head still or you get a headache!

OK - so my verdict.....

Acting 7 out of 10 keys
Plot 8 out of 10 keys
3D 9 out of 10 keys
overall Entertainment 7.5 out of 10 keys

The Avengers - a MUST see

So we went to the Avenger's on Mother's Day and I loved it!  It was a great super hero film - what makes a great super hero film you may ask?  The action is entertaining, the heroes have flaws but always save the day, and the humor, Avengers had it all.  There were so many funny scenes I really enjoyed it!  The hulk was great, you felt for him and the CGI was incredible - he looked like Mark Rufulo!  The story pulled together all the previous Marvel movies, and was the best by far.

Unfortunately there were a few boring moments with Loki on Asgar (necessary for the plot but boring) so I can't give this movie the illusive 10 (I feel like Len Goodman from Dancing w/ the Stars) but I rank this one a 9.5 keys out of 10!

You should see this movie if you like action or super hero films.  Stay till the total end of the credits - there are two scenes, one after the beginning of the credits and a hilarious one ALL the way at the end, right before the screen goes to black.

Waiting for the Avenger's to Assemble again!

21 Jump Street - a parody of a nostalgic TV Show!

I took JHKey to 21 Jump St yesterday.  I had a lot of fun - only because I watched it as a parody not as an imitation of the great show.  As a Parody it was very funny - it made fun of the show and 80's remakes all together.  However beware - it was VERY RAUNCHY!  I would not have taken JHKey if "Fandango" had been more honest about why it had an R rating.  The language and jokes were more than R rated.  But it was hilarious.  I really enjoyed the cameos of the original cast - keep an eye out for them!

Parody: 9 keys out of 10
Raunchy language and jokes: 9 offensive keys out of 10
Entertainment Value: 8.5 keys out of 10

The Hunger Games - I was disappointed

I haven't been to the movies since my birthday in January - a major dry spell....So I took JHKey to see the Hunger Games yesterday.  I was expecting to be dazzled, it was good, but not excellent.  I plan on reading the books, maybe then my opinion will change.

The acting for the young cast was great.  The concept was cool (like Mkey says - teenagers killing teenagers what could be bad - just kidding) but it was just ok.

If the movie can get kids to read (like Harry Potter did) then by all means take them.  I think it's a little weak for adults.

acting 8.5 keys out of 10
overall 7 keys out of 10

PS caught up on dvd on The Descendants which also disappointed me.  I mean I can never get enough of Clooney Man but I thought it would be more of a tear jerker than it was. Shaylene was great.

Warhorse - the perfect birthday movie

In the spirit of Black Beauty - Warhorse was the perfect movie!  A 6 tissue tearjerker with an uplifting ending - TOTALY my kind of movie.  The cinematography was magnificiant.  The acting and writing heart warming.  I loved it. 
If you hate tearjerkers - do not see this movie!  This movie is for animal lovers and those of us who love a good cry.
Mkey took me for my birthday - and won't admit it but he cried too!

Crying - 10 keys out of 10
Cinematography - 10 keys out of 10
Acting - 9 keys out of 10
Overall - 9.5 keys out of 10