Mama

Apologies that it has been so long since I have blogged about the movies I've been watching. I have been keeping track though and I watched this one back in July when my best friend and I wanted to watch a scary movie.

We perused Redbox looking for the perfect choice and I believe this one was chosen because we both knew who the actor Jessica Chastain. It's fair to say that I will watch almost any movie that she is in.

I'm trying to find the words to describe my watching experience during this film and am struggling! It was... different. I would not really say this is a "scary movie." It did capture my attention pretty quickly but I was extremely disappointed in the ending.

However, instead of it seeming like a supernatural horror film where there is this creepy "mama" type figure raising the children, it reminded me of the stories I read about feral children. My mind definitely took the movie a different way than the producer/director had planned.

All that being said, I'd skip it. I liked the whole movie until the ending and unfortunately the ending is so awful that I wished I'd not watched the movie all together.

Sunrise

For this review please check out my other blog:

http://meliestowright.blogspot.com/

Thank you!

White House Down

Mmmmm... Channing Tatum. Oh excuse me, I thought I was alone. No but for real, he was the draw. I didn't expect much from White House Down. You would think I would have learned my lesson about picking films just because Tatum is in them after Magic Mike, but I didn't and in this case it worked out okay!

Going into the movie I thought okay this is another "the terrorists take over the White House," but that's not really the case. I wondered if Tatum could pull of the dad figure in the movie and I'd say he did well. Something tells me that the young actor Joey King makes it easy for anyone to act as her parents. She is adorable and honestly I almost felt like she stole the movie from Tatum and Foxx. She's at times that obnoxious kid that you see and you're like why does she call her parents by their first names but by the end you just love her.

Tatum and Foxx have their fun moments with this movie, which I feel is a reflection of who Foxx must be as a person, not too serious. It's a movie that I feel like both women and men can enjoy together, it's not necessarily for anyone under the age of 12 or 13.

The only part I struggled with during this movie were a few scenes where it is so clear they are not actually at the White House. Now, before someone jumps all over me, I know it's not the White House, but I also know how far we have come in film and some of those scenes could have looked a lot better. Overall though it was a decent movie. I wouldn't pay for it again in theaters, but I'd definitely rent it to watch with friends or family. I loved that the movie made the president a real person which I know a lot of people struggle to remember he's just a normal guy, fictitious or not. The end of the film is adorable and I was happy it came to completion the way it did.

So, rent it... it's a good action movie with a little bit of humor

The Heat

A-maz-ing! Okay, I've obviously seen a lot of movies already this year, but so far this is my favorite! I saw it the day it came out and went again for my birthday because I just couldn't get enough! I'm struggling to find words to even explain how I feel about The Heat, mainly because I just freaking loved it!

Let's be real for a second, I wondered what this duo could do together. I was fearful that the commercials would give away all of the funny parts. And after seeing Identity Thief I was really worried that it would end up not being funny at all. I love Bullock, I'm down with watching any of her films and McCarthy, love her too. You see, McCarthy and I go way back, we go back to the Gilmore Girls days, so when I say I am a fan, I'm not a new Oh I saw her in Bridesmaids fan. All though, I did love her as Megan!

So with much excitement and anticipation I saw the movie... and loved it! It is so funny these two ladies play off of each other so well you will be laughing the whole way through. I rarely get a good laugh out of films and this one had me laughing so hard I was tearing up. The concept, delivery, and execution were just phenomenal and this is a movie that I really hope has a part two.

I have recommended this film to everyone who asks and not once have I had someone come back and say they were disappointed. It is the perfect funny summer movie! If you hadn't gotten the hint by now, I love love love this movie! I cannot say enough good things about it, especially without ruining it for you. So... GO, go now and see it in the theaters. You won't regret it!

A Perfect Ending

This was a movie I was asked to watch by one of my Twitter followers. I had no hesitancy since I like watching all types of film, but I've found that most film companies that produce gay/lesbian are not known very well. This is unfortunate because it means that most people side step the films out of fear they will fall into a bad indie film.

I watched the preview before actually watching the film and all though I wasn't very interested in it after that, I watched it anyways. I'm going to be brutally honest in saying that I did not enjoy this film at all. The only part I liked were the scenes with the attractive children of the main character. I don't know which part of the movie I struggled with more, but honestly I believe it had less to do with the characters and more to do with the concept.

I strongly dislike movies where there is cheating happening, even if one of the characters is not being sexually satisfied, that is not a reason to cheat. I struggled with the intimate scenes between Niven and Clark, I didn't feel the chemistry that should be there and felt sort of like I was watching porn. I know that it is more and more acceptable for those extremely intimate scenes to be shown in movies and even television but I like it better when something is left to the imagination. I also had a hard time because at times I felt like the relationship was less sexy and more mother comforting her broken daughter which led to me feeling uncomfortable.

There are so many, what feels like, subplots to this movie that it makes it difficult to navigate everything. I didn't understand why the daughter had to be messed up for there to be that final connection at the end of the movie. Honestly, there was just too much going on. I think the movie was shot well, just not my kind of movie.

I hate to say it, but if you've read my other reviews and you agree with me typically, skip it. If you think my reviews are terrible, go ahead and watch it.

That 70's Show

First review for a TV show, hooray! I said I would occasionally review TV shows and since I just finished watching every episode of That 70's Show I figured I should probably review it.

Now, when That 70's Show started airing I was only eleven, but for the next 7 years I would watch it off and on, you know how it goes, junior high and high school were really busy so I wasn't able to see them all. But, when I saw it became available on Netflix Instant (thank you), I decided it was time to watch those unseen episodes but not only that but in order!

I love this show. I think regardless of where you are at in life almost everyone who was a typical teenager can relate to this groups antics. I love all of the characters and I would have to say Red was definitely one of my favorites and may on occasion want to put my foot in someone's ass.

I think one of my favorite things became the license plate and how the year changed, especially for that final episode. It was the closing the year 1980. Now this is going to contain some spoilers but if you haven't watched it by now, my guess is you don't really care to. I really liked the series finale. There are so many shows that end terribly now and every time I'm left so frustrated that I've invested all this time, energy and emotion into a show (even a simple sitcom, don't lie you get caught up too) to have the writers be like eh, screw it, it's over here's your ending. I love that Eric and Donna are together and I loved that even if it was just for the finale all the main characters came back.

This is just a side note, but I have a really hard time not being irritated with the characters that Wilmer Valderrama now chooses to play. You should have just stopped with Fez. Also, I still want to know where Fez was supposed to be from! If you're bored and you want a TV series to watch that will cause you to laugh, check it out.

This is the End

Oh how I wanted this to be funnier than it was. There is a good chance that other's will disagree with me on my review but that's why it's my blog and not theirs! I think maybe I expected too much from these guys. Sometimes, for me, when a movie gets a lot of hype I end up being really disappointed. Now I was not really disappointed but I wasn't overjoyed either.

There are definitely some very funny parts to this movie. Although it was in the commercials the part with Emma Watson definitely made me laugh. I also love that Baruchel's character (himself but not, I'm assuming) hates the other guys with the exception of Rogen. There is something about him that I think is adorable and I could totally picture him being the odd man out.

Franco's obsession with Rogen is also pretty funny, don't worry I don't think I'm ruining anything here, it's not a plot point! However, I'm going to discuss some SPOILERS now so just beware. The part with Channing Tatum was ridiculous! I'm still not sure whether to think it was good ridiculous or bad ridiculous but I laughed none-the-less. The second spoiler is the that I thought it was completely unnecessary to show the Devil's junk. I did not find it funny and that is not because I'm a prude. SPOILERS COMPLETE

I couldn't help but think throughout the movie that if Kirk Cameron wanted to scare people that maybe he should have made his Left Behind series a little more like this movie, fire all over and a scary Satan. Anyways, all that to say, did I need to see it in the theater and would I recommend you to? No. I would save your money, have some friends over and rent it.

Now You See Me

I've always been a sucker for magic. I remember going to Vegas as a kid with my parents and begging to see a magic show. So, when I saw the preview for this movie months ago, I knew I wanted to see it! This was the first movie in months that I have really been excited to see.

I am a big fan of Isla Fisher & Woody Harrelson so a film that combined the two sounded lovely! I also am growing very fond of Dave Franco, even though the Franco brothers talk funny. I really didn't know much about this film other than it was magicians who robbed a bank, but there is more to the plot than that. This film is fun and interesting and it is different from other movies that are coming out right now.

I have to say that my mom and I rarely really enjoy the same movies. Usually she loves it or I love it, but this was one film that we both walked out of and really enjoyed.

I watched two interviews regarding this movie before I saw it. The first interview I saw was just snippets and it was an interview with Eisenberg and then commentary about how he was less than nice with the interviewer. I didn't pay much attention to it, the one thing I did notice is that it seems Eisenberg has been typecast. Now, I'm not sure if that is because he is actually like those characters in real life or because he enjoys being the opposite of who he really is. Either way he did the role well. The second interview which I watched was with Chelsea Handler and was with Isla Fisher. That interview was actually fun to watch and she said that when she was doing her own stunt in the water tank she had to learn to hold her breath for two and a half minutes. She also spoke about how her chain actually got stuck and she was panicking but they just thought that she was acting really well and she had to pull the safety release for herself! Either way, Fisher, whether you were acting or actually... drowning... you did a great job. Kudos to you for learning to hold your breath for that long, because to me it seems like eternity.

This movie is theater worthy for sure! If you don't want to spend the money to see it in the theater, add it to your Netflix list now!  

The Hangover: Part III

I am so glad this was not like Part II. I was reluctant to see Part III but decided I would anyways, especially with a little encouragement from my niece. I only somewhat liked Part II, I hate when movies repeat what happened in the first film and try to play it like it's a different film. We all know it was the same plot just a different country!

Okay, my bitterness aside about Part II, I also wanted to see Part III because they shut down the freeway by my house in CA to film a small part of this film. It's fun to recognize things in movies that are right by your house.

So, I did not read too many people's reviews about this movie because I did not want to be corrupted one way or the other. Needless to say, I laughed quite a few times during the movie. There are several parts that are just so ridiculous you can't help but find yourself chuckling. If you've seen the movie, one of my favorite scenes is Galifianakis with "Carlos." If you haven't seen it then I guess you should enjoy it when you rent it.

The guys are up to some of their same old antics and of course Ken Jeong has a part in this film. Honestly, he usually really irritates me, he is over the top and most of the time unnecessary. That's not to say I loved him in this movie, but he was more tolerable, again especially compared to Part II.

I don't know if I could possibly say this is better than the second one anymore, apologies for being repetitive but it's truth! Anyways, I got some good laughs and that is what I was hoping for and I was okay with the fact that I saw it in the theater. I would say if you enjoyed the first movie, definitely rent this one!

Fast & Furious 6

Who doesn't love a trilogy done two times over. Alright, understandably I knew what I was getting myself into before I even went, I mean come on it's in the title, SIX! But I could not resist seeing this movie with all of the original cast members back together.

The only problem here was that I was about 13 when the first movie came out and I am now almost 26 years old. Now despite my age difference, Paul Walker is sexy. I don't care if he can't really act, as long as I can just look at him, okay maybe if he could act a little it would have been helpful. But, it definitely took me back to being 13 seeing all of the cast back together.

Now, I was expecting very little from this film because let's be honest all of the "in between" movies were eh. This one actually surprised me. The races were fun to watch, things exploding is entertaining, different story line and low and behold even a plot twist! I did not even know the franchise had plot twist capabilities.

I took my niece who is 9 years younger than me to see this movie and I think those 9 years made a big difference. She, at best, had seen a few scenes from several of the movies and was a little confused, but nothing that would ruin the movie. But she did not have the same excitement about seeing the movie that I did, again because of the cast.

If you have boys/guys in your family odds are you will at some point see this movie, don't worry it's not terrible, it's not even bad. It is definitely closer to the original which should lend some peace of mind.

Would I pay to see this in the theater again? No, probably not. Would I rent it? Sure... it's a good time.

Jesus Henry Christ

I feel like an explanation is necessary before I even say my thoughts on the movie. I was really bored one day and decided to peruse Netflix Instant. That being said, this movie title - for obvious reasons - has caught my attention on several occasions. So, boredom combined with instant movies, an odd title, oh and Toni Colette led me to this movie.

As you would expect with a movie with such an interesting title, it was an interesting movie. Collette is a feminist mother who has chosen to have a child on her own but her son. The boy is at this pivotal age, but in an awkward situation. He is smothered by his mother and wants to find out who his father is which leads to the rest of the movie.

It is a strange movie and there are definitely parts where I was so sad for this boy and the daughter of the man who is also the boy's father. It is an interesting intersection between the lives of these people who happen to live so close to each other. It's honestly hard for me to explain this movie at this point.

There are several things that stick out for me in this movie, one of which I won't specify because if you watch it's a funny part, but it happens between the boy and girl when he goes to tell her she's his sister. And the second part made me hate sticky notes and then love them again!

Anyways, if you are up for a corky, odd, eccentric movie I would say go ahead and check it out... If you are not a fan of indie films... skip it.

The Lucky One

So, I have an ongoing battle with Netflix. Okay, realistically it may be my reluctancy to commitment. Allow me to explain, every time I get an actual DVD from Netflix I am fearful that I'm going to pick the wrong one. See, watching movies on instant doesn't have that, "Ugh, I can't believe I waited for this movie to come in the mail," attached to it.

All that to say, this movie was not one that I regretted waiting to get in the mail. I am very choosey and despite being told by someone - maybe my mom - that it wasn't a good movie I wanted to see it anyways. And I am not afraid to say, I liked it!

I'm fairly picky when it comes to romantic movies because so many cheesy ones exist. Not to say that this doesn't have its fair share of "cheese" and not that it is terribly believable, but it's sweet. I liked the story, I believe - even in this day and age - that the "right couples" are brought together by something bigger than us. This is that story.

It doesn't hurt that Efron is also very attractive and combine that with his extremely sweet and sensitive character who happens to do really well with Schilling's son in the movie and I'm a girly mess. Plus he is kind of a hero, so what girl can turn that down? Obviously not the main female character, based solely on the poster photo!

Anyways, it is not going to win any awards but if you are looking for a girly movie, this is a good one. So, my suggestion is rent it.

The Details

Disaster. I honestly wish I could just write that one word and leave this review at that. I am a big fan of Elizabeth Banks so when I saw she was in this film and it's on Instant Netflix, I figured why not. After it was over, I wondered why?

I am not sure how you come up with the idea for a movie having the basis be that a guy loses it because some raccoons tear up his yard. Now, I grew up with a dad who was crazy about his yard. I'm pretty sure if he didn't have me, he would have been yelling at the kids to stop playing on his yard. But compared to Maguire's character my dad looks like a saint!

Honestly, I'm not even sure how to review this movie. I'm going to give a lot of spoilers right now so if you plan to watch maybe skip the rest of the review. But, Maguire ends up sleeping with two women one being his best friend and the other being the crazy neighbor (cheating on his wife) and getting someone else to kill the next door neighbor after finding out she is pregnant with his baby. Now, the guy who does the killing is a guy Maguire plays basketball with and the killer owes Maguire because he donated a *kidney* to him.

I don't know if it is because I like a story that is a little more believable but with the way the movie went, I kind of was hoping after Banks finds out she was cheated on she killed him and gets away with it. But, I didn't write the movie so of course it ends differently, in a way which just made me dislike the movie even more. The whole movie I was thinking all of this because your lawn got screwed up, dude get a life!

Anyways, if I could go back I would not watch this movie, so as a result I do not suggest you watch it either. Skip it!

Wedding Daze

I could be wrong, but I am fairly certain this movie never went to the theaters here in the USA. I first saw this movie in 2008 and instantly rated it 4 stars on Netflix. This movie is ridiculous and I am will more than willingly admit that to anyone.

The concept that Anderson, Bigg's character, loses the love of his life and so he writes off love. Until, his best friend convinces him to try just one more time so Bigg's proposes to the first woman he sees which is ridiculous, but it only gets more ridiculous when Fisher's character accepts the proposal. However, that plot makes for a funny, entertaining movie.

Honestly, I like to be entertained and I like to laugh and this movie did both. The parents of both characters will cause you to laugh or you will be mortified, probably because they remind you of your own parents. It's a nightmare come true for so many people! I think it's a fun movie for so many reasons but one of them is you never know when you will fall in love with a stranger. He chose her initially because of the fact that she is pretty, but to make a relationship work it takes so much more.

Is it theater worthy? No. But it is a fun movie to pass the time and get a good laugh out of? Yes. Go ahead, rent it, if you don't mind some crude humor, you'll enjoy it.

The Fighter

This is the story of someone who has been beaten down and is trying to make a come back. My mother, in particular, loves feel good movies, and as a result this is one of her favorites. The reason I watched this movie (again) was because I was home visiting my family and it was on TV. Now, when I say that my mom loves this movie, I mean she loves it, we watched it in its entirety.

I rarely watch anything live on TV anymore because I can't stand commercials, but I do have a certain love for this movie too and sat through it both times. Mark Wahlberg does a fabulous job portraying Mickey Ward. You fall in love with his character and start to feel for every struggle he experiences. As a viewer you will feel for Wahlberg in all aspect starting with his struggle to come back, the defeats he suffers, to dealing with his (crazy) family.

This movie is just touching and it it hard a lot of the time to get a movie that makes you feel emotions as much as this one does. I would most definitely say to see this in theater, even though that's obviously not possible at this point. But, to do it justice, I did see it in theaters in 2010 with my parents and it was a film that all three of us walked away from feeling like we just saw a great film.

Also, if you are a woman that has somebody who doesn't like to watch "girly films" but you're tired of watching the same old beat em' up, take em' down, I strongly suggest this movie!

The Bling Ring

Okay, trying to review this movie is so complicated. Let's start with Sofia Coppola, I'm torn by her movie directing skills. If you are unaware of her movies she has done films such as Lost in Translation  and The Virgin Suicides. Now, I chose to say those two specifically because they are on the exact opposite spectrum from each other when it comes to movies I enjoy. I could not stand Lost in Translation, where on the other hand I love Virgin Suicides. So, going into The Bling Ring, I was unsure what to expect.

My initial want to see this film was triggered not by the true story it's based on but instead by the fact that I find Emma Watson to be very talented. Going into the film I knew little to nothing about the background story, but in the opening scene of the movie I quickly realized this family seemed familiar. And they are, if you have seen Pretty Wild, a reality show about a mom and her three daughters that aired on the E! network you will quickly realize this is that family. If you haven't seen the show and you are a subscriber to Netflix, I encourage you to check it out. If you can't make it through the show, you may not be able to make it through the movie.

I am not sure what Coppola's goal was with this film, if her goal is to make you infuriated with the characters portraying the real life individuals, she has succeeded in my case. The actors did, from what I can grasp from doing research, a great job of portraying the real individuals (although they don't really look like them). An article that I found incredibly interesting after seeing the movie was the following:

http://www.papermag.com/2013/06/nancy_jo_sales_the_bling_ring.php

That article is by Abby Schreiber and she did a good amount of research on the story.

Now, the question I am getting most frequently is "was it good"? Which is where the complications come in. The story itself is so frustrating. It's teenagers who are obsessed with fame and fortune and as a result go on a robbing spree to get things from celebrities. As someone who is not from California but has lived here for the past (almost) 8 years, I have noticed that a lot of teenagers dress, talk and behave the way the teens do in this film. Now, that in itself was excruciating to watch because it frustrates me how young girls, in particular, respect themselves and think it's acceptable to behave stupid because it will somehow make them more popular. As a society, I think we are letting down our youth by allowing them to behave the way they do and this film just helps to justify my opinions.

Now the good, Coppola has a way with making movies that is so unique compared to other directors out there. She did a good job of sticking to true story (from what I've read) and not having to "up the ante" in order to sell her film. The actors did a good job and Emma Watson has down the annoying American teen girl accent. All in all, even through irritation, it was a good movie. If nothing else, I hope it makes a lot of parents pay more attention to what their children are doing.

Would I see this movie in theaters again? No. My suggestion is to wait until it comes out and rent it. The music in this film deserves a mention as well, because it was amazing.

The Big Wedding

I had high hopes for this movie, from the first time I saw the preview for it, I knew it would be one I would see immediately when it came out. My thoughts were, De Niro, Sarandon, Seyfried, Grace, Williams and so on, what's not to love!

I believe my hopes were met! Now, before you run off with your whole family to watch this gem, think twice. It is rated R and for a reason. There are many sexual jokes, so if your family is open about that sort of stuff enjoy, if not maybe go with some friends. It was funny though.

The best kind of movie makes you laugh, think, cry, and all that's in between and that's how I felt when I left the theater. There are so many touching moments and revelations about things that every family struggles with but typically denies. One of which in this movie is secrets and lies, but I don't want to ruin it so I'll stop there. Movies that are relatable do well, people like to know that their family is either not as bad or equally as insane as others and this movie does a good job of helping people feel that way.

I would most definitely say this movie is a theater worthy movie! But if you're on the stingy side or you're just flat broke, add it to your Netflix or Redbox list of movies to rent! Because I loved it!

Pain & Gain

Oh Pain & Gain I so wanted you to be a good movie. I love Mark Wahlberg, I mean like watch all of his movies and over and over just to look at his pretty face (and of course observe his wonderful acting skills). So, naturally when I saw he was in this movie I was excited and couldn't wait for it to be released.

Unfortunately, I was extremely let down. To sum up the movie *spoiler* it's body builders, stealing, big time fail, murder, busted. If you are not aware this is a true story or at least based off a true story, so I don't know if that makes it better or worse. The movie is really slow, it takes a long time for it to get to a plot. Once it gets to the plot you're hoping okay great it's got to get better, but it doesn't.

I don't know if this was just not my type of movie, but I had a hard time finding the comedy in this story. There is definitely drama and action, as well as a lot of detail paid to the murders but comedy was severely lacking. As much as I love Mark Wahlberg I was really disappointed I paid for this movie.

Sorry folks, for me and my taste this movie is a skip it!

Zero Dark Thirty

I love Zero Dark Thirty! I have now watched this movie at least four times, two of which were in the theater, and every time I'm amazed. I wouldn't expect anything less from director Katheryn Bigelow who shocked us with her talents in The Hurt Locker.

Initially I was drawn to this movie because I really love Jessica Chastain, from the moment I saw her in The Help, I knew she was going to be big. She is a wonderful actress and the fact that she is nice to look at is just an added bonus.

My favorite thing about her is that she demands the attention, especially in this movie. Any time she is in a scene your eyes are drawn to her and you just wonder what is she going to do next? There are several scenes in particular that just jump out at me during this movie. The first is when she is in her first interrogation and after exiting the beginning of the interrogation, the lead male tells her she may want to put her mask back on before they go back in, but instead she says something like, "You're not wearing one." It shows her strength (the character's) and that she is ready to take on anything. My second favorite scene and the one that always makes me laugh is when they are at the meeting discussing how to see into the house that is possibly Osama's, she is asked who she is and she responds,"I'm the mother f*cker who found this place." Or something along those lines... amazing! The delivery, the attitude, the phrasing is all just perfect!

Chastain puts her all into her characters and as a result gives an incredibly convincing performance. I strongly believe she will succeed in most any role she is put in. Obviously by now you can tell I would say this is a must see in the theater, however since it isn't in theaters anymore, it is a must rent!

Celeste and Jesse Forever

I so desperately wanted this to be a good movie. I love Rashida Jones and I love Andy Samberg, so I figured what could be better? Well, this film is mediocre at best.

I thought oh best friends who love each other even through divorce, yes I read the description of the movie before I received it. However, to say they "struggle" is an understatement. It's back and forth with their relationship and at some point I feel like watchers will just become frustrated, as I did.

You want a happy ending and for things to turn out well for both of them, and I guess to some extent it is a "happy ending." But the happy ending just wasn't good enough for me, I felt like the movie was dragging and I hoped it would get to the end faster. Any time I feel that way I tend to tell others to just skip it.

There isn't a lot to say about this movie, overall I did not enjoy it. It did provide a few laughs and some emotion but I think if I knew before what I was getting myself into, I would have just skipped it.

Flight

I have to admit initially for me this one was a skip it, even after it was nominated for an Oscar. I had no intentions of seeing it, until my mom said it is really good. Now, unlike my dad she does have pretty good taste in movies. Plus, it helps that she had already seen it and enjoyed it.

I am not going to spend a lot of time explaining the plot of the film because most already know it. It is about Washington being a hero pilot that saves everyone on his plane with the exception of, I believe, six individuals. The catch here is that the hero, is a drug using, heavy drinking individual, including but not limited to when he flies.

The story is really so much more than the plane wreck however and the story of his life and what has happend along the way. I would say this is really the story of one man's addiction and what it took for him to really realize he needed to quit using drugs/alcohol to avoid his life.

I did enjoy this movie, it kept my attention and caused a debate among my family and I. A few thought it would be possible for the plane to fly upside as it did in the movie for as long as it did and not have any problems. I disagreed because I read what the director had said in regards to consulting with a twenty+ year pilot and how it would not be possible for the plane to fly like that. I also read to my family what Boing (who owns that type of plane) stated, agreeing with the pilot, that commercial planes cannot fly upside down.

So, if the logistics of how a plane can actually fly and the artistic license that the director took will not bother you, which I was able to get past and enjoy the movie, than I suggest you watch this movie. The movie really is a good story and visually very appealing, plane upside down or not.

The Factory

This was another movie chosen because of convenience, thank you Netflix Instant. I love Dexter and when I saw Jennifer Carpenter was in this movie, I figured let's give it a shot!

The movie is about a policeman (Cusack) and his partner (Carpenter) who are searching for a serial killer who ends up taking Cusack's daughter.

The hunt continues while the police search for his daughter but you are taken into the home of the serial killer to learn to true reason behind why he continues to take the prostitutes.

It is a hard movie to review without giving away what happens. That being said this is not a fabulous movie by any means, but it is interesting and there are a few twists along the way that made it worth watching. The ending is something you would never expect which is the reason I say it is worth a watch.

Seal Team Six: The Raid on Osama Bin Laden

I do not love history. I don't really love war movies either, but since seeing Zero Dark Thirty I have been very interested in movies about Osama Bin Laden. On a night where my family was searching for something to watch good ole' Instant Netflix came to the rescue.

The first thing that caught my attention was the main woman, who is from Beverly Hills 90210 and she still looks the exact same. I also noticed Gigandet, who wouldn't notice him, he's beautiful. Aside from noticing actors in the movie, it is obvious what the story is, how they found Bin Laden.

After watching this movie, I reflected that it is incredibly similar to Zero Dark Thirty, it does get a little more personal with the members of Seal Team Six though which was interesting. That is about the only difference and because it was a made for TV movie, it obviously did not have the high movie budget.

This movie, for what it was, was good. If the history of Bin Laden interests you, it's worth a watch, especially if you have Netflix seeing as it is still on instant.

Killing Them Softly

This movie should actually be titled Kills You Slowly (And Painfully)! It is terrible. The only positive to it is a few comical lines from Brad Pitt. Other than that this movie should be used for torture. I've learned over the years that my dad is not just bad, but terrible at picking movies! God bless his heart, but somehow he always picks the worst movies out there.

I believe I avoided this movie when it was in theaters because it just did not look to appealing to me, based on the types of movies I am typically okay with watching in theaters. I should have just avoided it all together, sort of like the plague.

This movie is 100 minutes long, break that down it is supposedly an hour and forty minutes. Let me tell you it felt like it was as long as Gone with the Wind, but maybe 1/10th as good, and I don't even particularly care for Gone with the Wind!

This movie drags, it's slow, the plot is terrible, overal just a really bad movie that I wish I did not have to see the first time around.

This is a big fat skip it.

The Call

This movie was amazing! I knew when I saw the preview for The Call it would definitely be one that I saw opening weekend. I will watch almost any movie out there, but I am picky about the thriller movies I see in theaters. There was absolutely no regret about seeing it.

Halle Berry at the beginning of the movie is a 911 operator, this quickly changes with events and she becomes the new operator instructor, no longer taking calls. By happenstance, an operator starts to panic while Berry is on the floor showing the new operators the lay of the land and this is where the movie really starts.

If you've seen the previews then you already know that a girl gets taken and we follow her kidnap journey. The girl is none other than Abigail Breslin all grown up. I have to admit in one portion of the film you see Breslin in her bra and you can't help but think, where did the little (fake) chubby girl go from Little Miss Sunshine? To her credit, she does a wonderful job. She definitely embodies true fear of a girl who has been kidnapped.

I was given just enough entertainment and twists and turns to make this one of my new favorite movies. I actually saw it the Friday it came out and am still raving to everyone to go see it. My favorite part is the ending, but I won't ruin it for you!

Go see it in the theater, but if you don't want to spend the money, it is a must rent.

This is What Love in Action Looks Like

This is a documentary about a institution previously known as Love in Action now called Restoration Path. It is the true story of a teenager who came out as gay to his parents and as a result they sent him to a "turn you straight" institution. The story was brought to everyone's attention because of the blog that the teen was keeping.

It brought about a lot of attention specifically by those that were against this kind of institution existing. There ended up being protesters who would show up daily to make their feelings known to those running Love in Action.

I am trying my hardest to keep personal opinion aside about this kind of institution, but it is definitely hard. I liked the documentary for being to light what is going on and that there are some people who believe that you really can get rid of someone's sexual preference. This is not an easy movie to watch as you hear the stories of those that suffered at the hands of such an institution, but I think it is a good documentary.

If you enjoy documentaries, I would say give this movie a watch. Currently available on Instant Netflix.

Patrik, Age 1.5

This is definitely a special interest film for a couple reasons, first, it's about a gay couple, second, it has subtitles. I turned on the movie and almost turned it off because I was not in the mood to read my movie. However, I am really glad I stuck with it because this is a very sweet movie.

It is unfortunate but a lot of gay/lesbian films are low budget and tend to have not the greatest actors. This is the opposite of both of those. Well, actually I'm not sure what their budget was, but it turned out really great.

Without ruining anything you fall in love with half of the couple and the teenager. The story is about a couple who wants to start their own family, but because of the laws they are greatly restricted with options. They end up receiving Patrik, who they believe is going to be 1.5 but due to a typographical error in their letter they end up with a 15 year old. On top of that, this kid is homophobic.

However, the movie ends happily, not the way you'd imagine, but still happily. If you are okay with watching a movie outside your normal realm, give this one a shot, it's worth a watch, and currently on Netflix Instant.

Life Happens

This was a Netflix recommendation. That being said, I cannot say it was awful. It wasn't great either by any means. The story starts with two roommates who are about to have sex with their dates for the evening. But ut oh, they only have one condom. So one risks it and guess what? She gets pregnant.

The story continues on to discuss the lives of the roommates and the new mother, between working, going out, and just your every day duties. Some of it is funny and some of it is just depressing. I know Bosworth has not been in anything great for a long time, I keep giving her the benefit of the doubt, but usually that doesn't play out.

Hopefully, Bosworth will end up in something everyone can enjoy, and for the rest of the cast, sorry, this movie is just okay.

If you are bored and have nothing to do, watch it, it's on Netflix Instant which makes it convenient. Unfortunately, if you have to go out of your way to get this movie, skip it.

Big Miracle

I am a sucker for movies about whales. As a kid I fell in love with Free Willy (all of them). So, when I saw this movie was coming out I wanted to see it in the theater but no one would go with me. I instead settled for renting it, shout out to Netflix again.

This is a great family movie! It is based on a true story and even has pictures at the end of the movie of the characters in real life. The story, in case you are unaware, is about a family of whales who get trapped in Alaska because the ice freezes over faster than normal. A journalist notices the whales and calls attention to their needing assistance.

The movie is the tale of getting the three wales out from the ice and to safety. It is fun movie, there is a sad part however, so if you are watching with children be prepared to deal with them being sad and/or having questions.

This is a great family movie to rent for a night in or if you are like me and enjoy movies about animals especially whales!

Oz The Great and Powerful

My #1 favorite film of all time is The Wizard of Oz, so naturally I was very excited to see this film. I am also not the biggest fan of 3D films, however I thought if I was going to give it another shot this would be the perfect movie to do so. And let me tell you, it was!

Now, while many of our old favorites from The Wizard of Oz are copyrighted and as a result cannot be used, it doesn't stop them from making a great film. There are new characters to fall in love with, I personally was a huge fan of Finley. A second wonderful little character is the China Girl.

Oz, is clearly a ladies' man, which is something that takes a second to get used to, but by choosing the lovable James Franco it is easy to get past what we had known about the wizard.

The colors used in this movie are nothing short of what we would expect and each destination is met with a great deal of imagination. Now, without ruining anything, the Wicked Witch that we have come to know as the green one, is not as scary as I would have imagined her to be. That doesn't mean there aren't some scary scenes in this movie, so parents be careful taking your children, especially the young ones.

Oz The Great and Powerful is most definitely theater worthy in my opinion.

Let's Talk About Sex

First off, thank you Netflix for having a lot of documentaries to choose from for my watching pleasure. Now that I got that out of the way, let's discuss this movie!

I strongly believe that this is a movie that every school/parent/pastor should watch, especially those that believe abstinence only is effective. The reality is, it's not. This fun fact (sense the sarcasm) is brought to you from this documentary: 10,000 teens a day get an STD.

Now I can't blame that all on the schools teaching abstinence only, but I can blame it on the fact that parents are not talking to their children the way they should be and schools are not providing accurate information.

This documentary brings to light a huge issue and something that America, more specifically parents, should be facing head on. It proves that in other countries families that talk openly about sex endure less problems, whether that be pregnancy, STDs, and so on, than those of us here in the US. For whatever reason it has become something that we find shameful to talk about, unless you're getting advice from your friends, which when you are a child, pre-teen, or teen these not the most reliable of sources.

So, families, friends, whoever you are reading... watch the documentary and take a clue. This is not me saying do exactly as they do, I don't agree that having your teenager's lover stay the night is a great idea, but to each their own.

This movie is a must watch, especially if you have pre-teens or teens in your household, buy it, rent it, watch it on TV, but make sure you at least see it once.

Seven Psychopaths

I feel like writing the review for this movie is complicated. The reason being, I did not love the beginning of the movie. Actually, I didn't like the first half of the movie at all. And I think the reason may be, it's confusing on purpose. Or maybe I was just confused, I'm not sure.

You're being told the stories of these psychopaths and while it keeps your attention, it's nothing fabulous. I guess if I would have read the description of the movie first I would have understood better, but I don't always like to know what I'm getting myself into. The movie is about what is going to become a movie script and needed for this script are crazy people's stories. That's fine and the characters' stories were definitely crazy and psychotic.

There is one scene in particular where one of the crazy stories are being told that something big is revealed and I think that was where I really stated to pay more attention. The second half is much more entertaining. It is because of the second half of this movie and the ending that I would tell people it is a funny (dark humor) movie.

If you like dark humor than I suggest you rent this movie, if not, probably skip it.

21 and Over

21 and Over is a decent movie. There is nothing that makes it stick out like The Hangover or Superbad. I'm afraid that among all of the other "wow that was outrageous" films this one may get lost after time.

One of the main characters for many will be recognized from the recent popular movie Pitch Perfect. Astin is an easy guy to love and I have feeling this will help him get numerous roles in the future. There is a bit of a back and forth in this movie with his character where you love him but then you are upset by the way he is acting. Of course by the end he is lovable again.

The other characters do a good job when it comes to their friendship and the story overall I feel had the potential to be a good plot. I think maybe the execution was just a bit too... extreme. Things that are supposed to be funny, and probably would be if they were tamed down, are over the top and unrealistic. Unfortunately, some scenes are just crude and gross. Girls, if you ever wondered what Astin or Teller's butts looked like, this is the movie for you.

This movie, if you're willing to sit through some stupid scenes and wade through the over the top shenanigans than I'd say go ahead and rent it, there are some good laughs.

Beasts of the Southern Wild

Oscar season has just passed us by and anyone who pays attention to these festivities knows that this young lady was the talk of the town. Initially I was drawn in by how adorable the young girl is but she really packs the double punch with being cute and quite the actress.

This is a sad movie, there are no ands, ifs, or buts about it. The young girl known throughout the movie as Hushpuppy does not know her mom who left when she was just a baby. Her father is an alcoholic who is suffering from an illness and does not really care for his daughter.

The movie takes place in what is known as The Bathtub. The imagery in the movie brings to mind the wreckage that was left from Hurricane Katrina and you see these people just trying to survive in what is left of their homes.

There are two scenes in particular that stuck out to me, the first is a scene where the young girls of the town are in a strip club and a woman who is assumed to be her mother (I think) picks her up and dances with her. Hushpuppy describes how this is her favorite thing and that she has only been held twice in her whole life. It is in that moment that you are further invested into the film. The final scene, which I don't want to ruin for those that will see it, is also one of the best scenes.

I cannot say that I am sad I didn't see this in the theater, but it is definitely worth renting.

Small Apartments

Something I often do is find any and all films certain actors/actresses are in and watch them. It just so happened that this movie had both Rebel Wilson and Juno Temple in it and I love both of them. I want to say that those two made this film worth watching, but they did not.

This is a strange movie, with a strange main character. Most people would recognize him as Rebel Wilson's brother from Bridesmaids. There are definitely funny parts to this movie, however I am not sure I would actually classify it as a comedy. By the way the film is done and the odd script the movie seems comparable to Indie films. Don't get me wrong, I do like some Indie films. 

The message at the end of this movie is touching but I'm not sure the rest of the movie is worth watching to get to that point. Sorry everyone, this is another skip it movie.

The Paperboy

This movie... what do I even say about this movie? Being blunt, the best part about this film is Zac Efron for whatever reason seems to be in his underwear a lot. I'm not sure if Nicole Kidman has anything to be proud about by being in this film. On several occasions I thought Kidman was Lindsay Lohan and not the good Lindsay we fell in love with in Parent Trap. 

The ending is horrible. I'm just going to put that out there. Really, the movie as a whole is pretty horrible. It was barely bearable to finish the movie, but I am one of those people that once I start a movie, I have to finish it.

This movie definitely falls under the skip it category, sorry Efron seeing you in your underwear is just not enough.

Won't Back Down

Maggie Gyllenhaal and Viola Davis, wow! I really enjoy movies that are based on true stories, I know I know we can all argue about just how true they are, but none the less I like them. This movie is definitely a feel-good movie.

The story is about a mom incredibly frustrated by the fact that her daughter is not getting the help in school that she needs. The little girl is clearly frustrated and it becomes known that it is because of finances and location that she attends the school. 

There are several heart-wrenching scenes throughout the film which further pushes the mom to seek help and resources. The last scene of the movie is definitely the best and is really what makes the movie. 

This is a wonderful movie and definitely is a reminder of the kind of love a mother can have for her child. In my opinion, it is definitely worth renting.

The Amazing Spider-Man

This movie was fantastic! I've watched a lot of so-so movies in the last couple of weeks but this was definitely not one of them. The funny thing is I've had this movie for months from Netflix and I've been hesitant to watch because although I like superhero movies, I don't love them. Well, this was hands down one of the best ones I have seen. Andrew Garfield is extremely entertaining and lovable as Spider-Man and Peter Parker.

I have never been one to read comic books and I saw Spider-Man with Tobey Maguire. Initially, I caught myself being extremely confused by the differences and half wanted to know what the actual story in the comic books was, then I became caught up in the movie. 

The whole reason I wanted to watch this movie is because I am a huge fan of Emma Stone, but ironically enough I ended up enjoying Garfield just as much as Stone. This is a movie that I feel like the whole family could enjoy together, with the exception of really little kids and even they might be okay to watch. You know, as long as a parent explains the creepy lizard isn't real! :) 

Had I not been so hesitant to see this movie I would definitely say it is theater worthy, but since I missed out, everyone should rent this movie!

The Air I Breathe

Apparently a reoccurring theme in the movies I've been watching is when multiple characters stories all end up intersecting by the end of the film. The story here focuses on four emotions that all humans feel: love, pleasure, sadness, and joy. If the director would not have labeled the emotions throughout the movie, I would have missed the point. My favorite part of this movie was the end. Partly because it was over but also because of what happens with Sarah Michelle Gellar's character. Out of all of the stories the two stories that I liked best were those of Gellar and Bacon.

Something I do often with my friends and family is describe a movie by explaining whether I would pay full price in the theater, see it in a dollar theater, rent it, or skip it. For me, this film fell into the skip it category, but for some I could understand why they would rent it.

I believe my initial interest in this movie was the fact that Emile Hirsch is in it. However, while he did a good job his contribution to the movie was minimal and could almost border on unnecessary.

Side Effects

As someone who is training to be a therapist it was hard to overlook some of the glaring obvious issues with this movie. However, I will try to get past the fact that no release of information was signed by the client for her current psychiatrist to speak to her past psychiatrist.

Moving right along, if you see the movie and you are in this world as well you will come to understand as I did why it did not really matter anyway. Between dual-relationships, lies, murder, and "side effects" you will be swept into the story just as I was. Initially I was concerned that this would be a movie showing all of the side effects of medication that can actually help individuals when used correctly, meds such as SSRIs and so on. I was quickly set straight however in that the story is so much more. Rooney Mara as Emily Taylor was, what's the right word? Interesting... Now, I know she is best known in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo but I have not yet seen that film. So, although she is in movies that I have seen I did not recognize her. That's not a bad thing, I'm becoming more and more a fan of people who are not in every movie. I struggled to believe Mara's character until the very end which I guess is what was most important. 

Overall, I really liked this movie and Jude Law of course does an amazing job. At one point I think the audience is lead to worry that he is losing it, but because of how hard he is trying you continue to be on his side. Zeta-Jones also does a fabulous job, especially in the case of the big twist which all of a sudden explains everything! Well done cast on a movie that stayed interesting and was not a repeat of something already out there.

Safe Haven

Before you begin reading I'm going to let you know that this review contains spoilers. Nicholas Sparks definitely has a talent for romantic tales. I appreciated the fact that this story has a dark side to it. Now, I know most of you, like me, know that Sparks includes some sort of darkness to all of his love stories, but I felt like this one was more real. Julianne Hough did a wonderful job throughout the movie as did Josh Duhamel. However, for me the star who stole the show was Mimi Kirkland, the adorable little girl. The love that builds between Hough and Duhamel is expected but Hough and Kirkland took their character expectations to a whole new level. I do not want to leave out the little boy who also did a good job, however I felt like his story was a little excluded. Now, that's the positives of the film.

For the negatives, let's start with the title. Haven literally translates to mean a place of safety. Break that down and the title is Safe Place of Safety. I'm not sure if Sparks anticipated that not many of his moviegoers were smart enough to put that together or if he just thought a one word title wasn't good enough, but none-the-less the title is not a fabulous one. Next, the story line is very cute, which was expected. However, it went a step too far leaving much of the audience asking what just happened, and not in a good way. Spoiler follows here: At the end of the film it is revealed that Jo the nice friend next door who seems to know everything without ever being told is fictional in the mind of Hough's character. In fact she is the ghost(?) of Duhamel's wife who has passed away. There is a beautiful situation throughout the movie having to do with letters that Jo had written while she was alive to her family members. However, it is within these letters that it is revealed who Jo was and I think in that reveal many people will no longer be on board with the film. This huge reveal of who the wife/mother was, was unnecessary and I would have enjoyed the film much more had that part been left out.

I do want to include that Tierney played by David Lyons did a wonderful job of being incredibly creepy which is what his role called for.