Movie Review Report

Just like the rest of the world, I was very shocked and saddened to hear about the death of Heath Ledger. I was always a fan of his and have been following his career since I saw him in 10 Things I Hate About You. He really was a great actor and I was, and still am, so looking forward to seeing his role as the Joker in the new Batman movie The Dark Knight.
After hearing so much about him on the news lately, the movie I heard about most was Brokeback Mountain. I know when it came out there was so much hype around it and I was so sick of hearing about it at the time that I never ended up watching it. So after it came up again with his death, I thought I would finally rent it. I wish I had a better review to write up on it but here it is.

Plot Synopsis by All Movie Guide:

‘Brokeback Mountain’ stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger as young cowboys named Jack Twist and Ennis Del Mar. Each of them is hired to work cattle on the title location and they soon bond very closely. Their platonic relationship explodes into a physical one, but eventually the two are separated when their job comes to an end. Although the two follow different life paths, one becoming a father of two and the other becoming a business success, they have a reunion years later. Each is affected profoundly by the rekindling of their old feelings for each other. Those feelings lead each to consider what continuing their hidden relationship would cost them.

I was expecting great things from this movie because of all the hype and nominations it received but I was sorely disappointed. I found the movie very drawn out and boring throughout most of it. I didn’t feel a connection with any of the characters and I didn’t like the storyline. I didn’t see any chemistry between the two main characters and I found myself basically not caring throughout the entire movie.
I will say that Heath Ledger did give a great performance and I was very impressed with what he brought to the role. And although I am also a fan of Jake Gyllenhaal, I did not like his performance in this movie. I thought he was very unbelievable.

This is the exact reason why I hate watching movies that everyone is talking about. Because it rarely lives up to the hype.

My Rating:

Really Didn’t Like it

Review: 3:10 to Yuma

Brokeback Mountain, Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Batman, The Dark Knight, 10 Things I Hate About You

Lately I’ve been going through a little bit of a Grey’s Anatomy obsession. After watching the first season I immediately had to start renting the second. After all they left it off with a huge cliffhanger and I just had to know what was going to happen.

The second season starts off with Dr. Shepard’s (or McDreamy…whichever you prefer) wife coming into the picture which results in a dramatic storyline between McDreamy, his wife, and Meredith. Will he decide to stay with his wife or end his marriage to be with Meredith? And more dramatic story lines arise between Meredith and George, Alex and Izzie, Dr. Burke and Christina…need I go on? The characters are all still the same with a few new faces. And after lots of hook ups, break ups and drama the season ends in yet another huge cliffhanger.

I absolutely loved the second season of Grey’s Anatomy. I was already hooked after the first season but now I’m in love. The first season was more of an introductory season where we get a feel for the characters, the plot and the story lines. Now, in the second season, they really get into more interesting subplots and much more exciting episodes. You can tell within the first few episodes that the season is going to be quite a ride.

I still absolutely love George. He is just so adorable. But all the characters are growing on me even more, even the ones I wasn’t too thrilled with in the first season. I can’t wait to start watching season three and see what kind of drama will arise. You’ve gotta love this show. It’s so addicting you just can’t stop watching it.

The 6 disc DVD set contains all 27 uncut episodes as well as some extra features. The extras were better than they were on the season one set, but they could still improve. I’d love to see more behind the scenes type things featuring more of the cast.

My Rating:

Absolutely Loved it

Review: Grey’s Anatomy: Season One

Grey’s Anatomy, Patrick Dempsey, Ellen Pompeo, T.R. Knight, Sandra Oh, Katherine Heigl, Isaiah Washington, Chandra Wilson, Justin Chambers, Kate Walsh

Jane (Katherine Heigl) has been a bridesmaid 27 times and still has all the dresses to prove it. Ever since she was a little girl she’s been waiting for her turn, but has always been the one to take care of everyone else on their big day. Now, she’s faced with being in yet another wedding; her sister’s (Malin Akerman), who just happens to be marrying the man she’s secretly in love with (Edward Burns). The movie also stars the oh-so-handsome James Marsden as a cynical newspaper columnist who is intrigued by this perpetual bridesmaid.

That’s the short but sweet version. I suppose there’s really not much to the plot, but it’s well worth watching.

I wanted to see this movie as soon as I saw the preview because I love Katherine Heigl from Grey’s Anatomy, I love James Marsden and, of course, I love chick flicks. And this movie is the ultimate chick flick! You want to be the girl and you want to be with the guy. It was very funny and it’s just one of those movies that makes you feel good and genuinely enjoy yourself. Isn’t that what going to the movies is all about? It’s clearly not an award winner and has no deep meanings but it was fun. I though both James Marsden and Katherine Heigl did a great job in the movie as well as Judy Greer who plays the best friend and I always love her in the roles she plays. I enjoyed this movie almost as much as I did Enchanted, which is saying a lot. In case you can’t tell, I’m a sucker for chick flicks.

Review: Katherine Heigl in Grey’s Anatomy
Review: James Marsden in Enchanted

27 Dresses, movie review, Katherine Heigl, James Marsden, Malin Akerman, Edward Burns, Judy Greer, Enchanted, Grey’s Anatomy, chick flick

When Frank Lucas’ (Denzel Washington) boss, the black crime boss in 1970’s Harlem, dies, Frank now has the opportunity to rise to the top of the drug world. He soon does just that with his business mind and twisted code of ethics, as well as his ability to offer a better product for a lower price because of his connections in Vietnam.
Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe) is a cop studying to be a lawyer, who is an outcast among his peers for his sense of morality and the actions he takes because of it. After seeing the huge drug problem on the streets first hand, he starts a Narcotics Unit to try and stop it along with the corruption that is enabling it, starting with the men at the top.
Inevitably their paths become intertwined as Richie’s investigation progresses. Although they are both similar in their integrity and their outcast position in their field, they are on opposing sides of the law and someone has to win.

I actually ended up missing the first few minutes of this movie because I was late, and since going into it I really had no idea what this movie was about I was a little confused at first… but I figured it out. I knew this movie was going to be good though just because of the people that were involved. How could it not be? Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott directing?
And I was right. I loved this movie. It was a great story (which is always much more interesting when you know it’s based on a true story), it had incredible acting, and it was highly entertaining. What more could you want in a movie?
It is now nominated for 3 Golden Globes for: Best Actor- Drama (Denzel Washington), Best Picture- Drama, and Best Director. We’ll see how that goes and I’m sure it will have a few Oscar nominations as well.
It had a few rough scenes that were hard to watch and it was a little long (2 hrs. 37 mins.) but overall I loved it and it didn’t drag at all. The last 45 minutes or so were so intense when it all came together and, I think, the best part of the movie. Definitely worth renting when it comes out on DVD if you didn’t catch it at the theater.

My Rating:

Loved It

Review: 3:10 to Yuma

American Gangster, American Gangster review, movie review, Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Ridley Scott

Happy New Year everyone!

Well, I finally got to go see National Treasure: Book of Secrets. I was looking forward to seeing it for a while but the holidays were screwing me up. At least I got to re-watch the first one before I went to see it… I like to watch things in order.

When a missing page from the diary of John Wilkes Booth is revealed, it shows the name Thomas Gates as a mastermind of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Ben Gates (Nicholas Cage) cannot let his great-grandfather be remembered like that and let the Gates name become infamously involved in one of the country’s most tragic events. In order to prove his great-grandfather was not involved, he must follow the clues he discovers to find the truth. This led him on a search that reached France, England and the White House. He will not stop at anything to clear his family’s name, and in the meantime uncovers some the the country’s best kept secrets.

I really liked this movie. I actually liked it just as much as the first one which I found surprising…usually sequels are not nearly as good as the originals. Just like the first one, I really enjoyed the historical references and how they involved so many different parts of history. I still can’t stand Nicholas Cage but I guess I’m learning to tolerate him more and more. Luckily, the same actors were involved in this movie as the first, plus a few new ones including Helen Mirren, Ed Harris and Bruce Greenwood. And of course Riley is still my favorite, he is so funny… gotta love the geeky smart guys. Overall it was another action filled adventure movie the family will love. I can only assume there will be a third installment. There were definitely some loose ends that need to be explained.

My Rating:

Really Liked it

Review: National Treasure

National Treasure, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, movie review, Nicholas Cage, Helen Mirren, Ed Harris, Bruce Greenwood