Summer movies 2010
I some times try to call my self a cinnefile but it always seems to sound weird coming out of my mouth. So I change it so a “movie buff”. I go to ‘a lot of movies’. I see most during the day, by my self and I frequent a few theaters on a regular basis. I tell people that “I see Every thing”. It is true (almost*). I pay no true mind to what the reviews say, I will see it just because. It’s my life after all. “Anthony” the ticket taker at the King of Prussia Regal, is a friend; so is Tom and some others who work the matinee shift. I particularly like a guy who works at the General Anthony Wayne theater, They call him Ircal, I think his first name is Kyle. I met him at a Blockbuster renal place a few years ago, and he has good taste in movies. We like to chat, sometimes he sends me in for free, But that is not why I like him. Movie employees seem like they almost expect to see me a few times a week. It’s a friend thing. The feeling I mutual. When I am at a Saturday movie or with my husband on a date, it almost feels like I am cheating on my reputation as the alone matinee movie lady.
When I say that I see (almost *) EVERYTHING, I don’t really see Every kind of movie….there is a class of movie that I stay away from. The super scary ones! I will rarely see a Devil based or themed flick with out a partner by my side. I am still freaked out about the movie “the Exorcism of Emily Rose’. I saw that alone and still think about it and get freaked out at 3AM. I have very real transfer effects from demon movies and my dreams haunt me for weeks, sometimes years or for so far it seams like a lifetime. The ‘piggy nasty’ part from the movie Deliverance has haunted me since I first came upon it as a young Teenager. Soooo, no thrasher, Saw, paranormal, scary stuff for me. Of course there are exception to this rule. I will see and love the Awesome scary ones like :the Talented Mr. Ripley, Silence of the lambs, Blare Witch Protect etc. I will see and love these movies and will live with the haunting dreams, possibility, forever.
Summer movies pose a challenge for me. They are the blockbusters and the flops, big budget disaster-disasters and the moving memorable life changers. Summer movies make the big money people seem to like them , but to me on a whole seem they to lack something. This summer 2010 there seem to be some stinky standouts, and some superb surprises.
Yesterday I saw the “ Last Air bender”… my comments.. “Id rather actually see Dead people”. It was more like the ‘last mind number’ then air bender. The plot had so much to explain that the characters seemed like they were in a soap opera catching us up to date on what happened last week or year or 100 years. The characters were young actors who under acted or over acted. I found it to be trite and silly and some of the dialogue to be pretty ‘laugh out loud’ stupid. I did laugh out loud. I think a Dad a few rows back laughed too. Kids movies.. yikes!
In contrast I saw the new Tom cruise and Cameron Deiaze (sp) movie ‘Knight and Day”. I knew I would hate it. So, I found it to be a typical summer flick with some entertainment. It was Ok for me; I kind of liked it, for what it was worth.
I like to ‘not like’ Tom cruise due to his occasional ADHD, post partum depression, anti- psyche drug rant which to me is hard to take (and, I also, really like nickey Kidman. I guess I chose that side a long time ago.) All that said, (my own little Rant) Tom is still a hottie on the big screen, I loved him in Tropic thunder, LOVED! So, I have to say he and something about Mary girl were a fun romp. A summer block buster not too good,,, not too bad. I might call it a Eye candy fun summer frolic.
Another Fun film Rant was the Movie “get him to the Greek” I love this cast. It pushed the pill-popping envelope, and was extremely inappropriate on most accounts, but who cares. I am NOT A PRUDE. (the caps lock button hit at the perfect time so I am keeping it). I found my self laughing a great deal. This kind of comedy can go either way: Over the top bad-good or over the top bad… this time It was Good. That guy (the scruffy skinny one ) , is sooooo hilarious. He is paired up well with other great new comer actors and with that, the film worked for me. I will see it again.
On the other and of the spectrum, there was the Adam Sandlers attempt at humor for his summer contribution called “Grown ups”. This a: not very Grown up, flop in my book. I felt like I was being ripped off in the theather and that he wrote it with out ever any real thought or effort. It was a waist of a mostly fun cast. The movie was half assed and lack luster at best. Actually I personally found it gross ,and unfunny and wanted to leave most of the time.
On an entertaining side note, The theater was filled with a ton of “non-grown up” Tweens who were heckling the previews. Nancy 17 (my daughter companion) practically popped a gasket and brought in the manager (Tom, my movie guy friend) to scold them. Nancy, not totally satisfied with the manager’s reprimand results, took it upon her self to jumped out of her seat and screamed at the kids… that was also really funny. Here was My teenager yelling at little piss ant Pre-teens and Tweens. It was the best part of that movie experience. Classic stuff! I am a little confused about Adam Sandler,I just don’t Get it??!!
A few weeks ago Nancy and I saw ‘a small’ movie called “City Island” with a great cast, Andy Garcia, and others… I loved it. It was smart, interesting and the acting was great. It was my first summer film of this year that I would indorse.
I saw it after I saw “Sex in the City’ which left me with a stewing anger.
In the Day light hours of the opening Day… Nancy and I saw The Wolf vs. Vampire movie called “Eclipse” Twilight or something like that. Well, I am a Good mom er,,, fun Mom, What is the difference?! We were in a theater filled with a 13-year-old girls birthday party and her Dad. There were Tons of gitty girls looking at teenage girl (on the big screen) who is begging for sex from her vampire boyfriend while she wants to be “changed” forever and basically sell her soul for young love that will possibility last eternally. (just breath) I felt like screaming at the screen,,, DON’T DO IT! Are you crazy! No kid is worth it. Sure the sex is fine, but do not the give him your whole future life. And, what about the fact that there is this really cute puppy dog (literally) boy that is on the back burner. PLAY the Field!!
Eclipse is a fun, cute film, with cutie’s who are easy on the eyes (even 40 year old eyes). The true plus for this mother daughter date is: that this plot is a lay up for tough conversations a mom must have with a budding young women-daughter who will face hard love choices in her near future. Young love is not to be taken lightly! So, all in all, I liked it… might see it again.
On Sunday I found my self at the Bryn Mawr film institute (movie theater). They have the BEST popcorn with sea salt. No soda fountain (a problem), crappy seats, but again the BEST popcorn. They show 2 shows at the same time each day. I, having already scene Michel Douglas in “Solitary Man” (it was well acted, ultimately sad, thought provoking film), I found my self sitting down for the Italian film called “I am Love”. Of course I did not know I had to read the movie and was instantly happy that the crowded theater forced me into the seats up close. I have dyslexia and am not a great reader if the words are far away. I only go to foreign films out of last resort or if it comes with an excellent recommendation.
So… This film had a few bad reviews but many great reviews too. “ I am Love”! It was a slow, glorious, sensual, Yummy, sad, lovely, quiet, Loud, and loving film. I loved it. The man that sat in front of me left mid-way though the beginning. So perhaps it is not for everyone; but for the people like me who stayed to see the whole movie, we were paralyzed and left amassed. I will see it again and maybe again… I will bring Nancy to see it and maybe some others (whom I think will not want to leave mid-movie). At times I was happy that I was alone, so I did not worry if the partner was board. Occasionally there comes a time when a movie hits you. This one Hit me. I can’t stop thinking about it. It is so softly told, yet with loud music and haunting messages. It is sticking with me. This Film, I would recommend (with reservations). It is not for Tweens, Non-Grown ups, distracted people, or fluffy people, un- empathetic people. (no offence) I love all those kinds of people, but not for this film.
