You Again (2010)

So this movie is a pretty enjoyable, easy to watch film. Marni (Kristen Bell) who was a dork in high school who was terrorized by Johanna (Odette Yustman). Marni has successfully shed her old high school nerdy ways to become a success in PR. She is heading home for her brother's upcoming nuptials to a bride she has yet to met and the bride, of course, turns out to be Johanna. Also, Jamie Lee Curtis plays Marni's mom whose rival in high school was Johanna's aunt played by Sigourney Weaver. Betty White plays Marni's grandmother who is absolutely hilarious, as always. I thought this movie was very similar to 27 Dresses, especially the rehearsal dinner scene. At first, Johanna pretends that she doesn't remember Marni from high school which of course makes Marni that much more uncomfortable. And it seems while Marni has been gone, Johanna has made herself comfortable in Marni's family. Then it becomes to clear (only to Marni) that Johanna does in fact remember her from high school and has no intention of apologizing or admitting to anyone what she was like in high school. On top of all of this, Marni's mom and Johanna's aunt are having their own competition going on. Johanna seems to be a different person than the horrible person she was in high school but you are always unsure if it is all just an act. Eventually, it all comes out in the most embarrassing of situations but of course there is a very happy ending for everyone. I enjoy watching movies like this every once in awhile. Definitely, a feel good movie. Kind of a mix between 27 Dresses and Never Been Kissed.

The Collector (2009)

So I absolutely love scary movies. My dad and I are always looking for more scary movies. The scarier, the gorier, the better. You have to watch a lot of bad ones too. Maybe sometime I will make a list of the top worst ones I have seen. Now that would be fun!! Any way, so about The Collector. This movie opens to, of course, a seemingly perfect, rich family that is having some home maintenance before they head off for a family vacation. Arkin (Josh Stewart) is a local contractor fixing small things around the house and there is also a team of exterminators. Initially, Arkin seems a bit shady. The man of the house is kind to Arkin and gives him extra money when he is paying him to help take care of Arkin's family, especially his daughter. Turns out Arkin's wife owes some loan shark an unknown amount of money. Arkin had promised to return with the amount but falls short and promises to come up with the rest. Arkin makes plans with some friends from his time in jail to break into the house he has been working on.

Unfortunately for Arkin, someone is already in the house. While trying to determine the safe combination, he hears the woman of the house scream for her life. So the family has a dad, a mom, a teenager daughter (played by Madeline Zima), and a young girl named Hannah. He maneuvers around a crazy man in a super creepy S&M type mask throughout the house to find the mom and the dad in the basement. He finds out the older daughter left before the crazy man attacked but Hannah is missing. Not to mention that the crazy man has psycho booby-trapped the entire house. The movie is pretty gory, lots of torture and suspense. The ending is very typical of this type of movie. Don't watch if you have a weak stomach but definitely worth a watch otherwise!

Munich (2005)

A very emotionally charged movie about the horrific tragedy that happened at the 1972 Olympics in Munich. Eric Bana's character, Avner, is a Mossad agent that is tasked with a team of five to take down the 11 people responsible for planning the kidnapping and killing of the Jewish athletes at the Olympic games. Geoffrey Rush and Daniel Craig are included in the mixed group that help Avner to execute their mission. The scenery of the movie is awesome as it takes place over various different geographical locations such as France, Germany, Greece, England, New York, Beirut, and Israel. I think the overall theme of this movie is that violence doesn't solve violence, it just escalates it. I know this movie touches on a very sensitive and divided topic about the Israel/Palestine debate. I think this movie tries to make arguments for both sides of the conflict but is definitely more towards the Israel side. This movie was very well made and I loved all of the different uses of languages. I think this is a good movie to watch for a glimpse into the unfortunate struggle of these people that has been going on for too long with no end in sight and no clear solution. Maybe it will make more people aware of this situation that is still very real.

Battle: Los Angeles (2011)

So I literally just watched this movie at the theater. Basically, it was a alien/war movie. I thought the emotional component was definitely there. I thought that the movie's overall theme was our human nature being tested. Our emotional and vulnerable sides being tested against unfeeling, robotic like creatures. Aaron Eckhart plays a conflicted staff sergeant who is struggling with ending his career as a marine after a horrible combat situation and fighting for his life with a group of marines who believe he was a careless leader. The movie also had a lot of comedic relief considering the intensity throughout the movie. I did think that we could have seen more of the aliens or maybe learned more about their culture, background, etc.

Sorry it has been awhile...

It has been awhile since I last posted anything. I have more time on my hands now and so I plan on keeping up with this blog much more regularly. I have still been watching tons of movies so more reviews to definitely come.

Elizabethtown (2005)

This movie was a really touching story. The main character, Drew Baylor played by Orlando Bloom, is having a really rough time. He was supposed to be this dream child at his job and came up with this really awesome, creative design that turns out to be the biggest failure in his company's history. To add insult to injury, his father passes and he has to go back to the town his dad grew up in. At first it is odd when he goes back to this small town that seems to almost idolize his father and therefore, accepts Drew with open arms. He realizes this is a whole portion of his own history that he never knew. On the way to the town, Drew meets a very friendly, quirky stewardess played by Kirsten Dunst. She is there for him and helps him to realize his life is not over because of his failure and he should take this opportunity to do something great with it. Will he do something bold?

Sidewalks of New York (2001)

This was an interesting film, sort of set up like a documentary about romance, love, and reality. It of course takes place on the streets of New York. Basically it is a tangled web of unrequited love and lust. Sort of like a he loves her, she loves this guy over there and on and on. Stanley Tucci plays a married guy who serially has affairs on his wife played by Heather Graham, she is unhappy and is thinking about possibly sleeping with a client. Really you are wondering why a woman like Heather Graham would be with a guy like her husband. Stanley Tucci's character is not really like able and in the end gets exactly what he deserves which is quite fitting. Watch the movie and decide for yourself.