Wall Street (1987) - 4/5

Wall Street (1987)

Next: "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" (1989)

Great movie. Great acting. It's a powerful morality tale about how far someone will go in their naive, "innocence" mixed w/ greed and money-lust.

Making friends w/ a snake just means your friend is a snake.

UPDATE: 6.24.08
I keep thinking about this movie - so great. I love how Buddy takes on Gordon's mannerisms and phrases ("Talk at ya, babe.", "That's a dog w/ fleas.", etc.). And I think there's a lot of depth to a lot of scenes like when he and Darien make "the dinner" and he says something like "It's perfect. Let's not eat it. Let's just look at it." He's so into the idea of everything. He wants to be "successful" and be "in that world" so bad that when he gets a moment there, he doesn't want to leave... and face himself.

Haiku Summary:
Local boy makes good
w/ inside info from dad.
Double cross. Greed good?

Horton Hears a Who! (2008) - 4/5

Horton Hears a Who! (2008)

NEXT: "Wall Street" (1986)

UPDATED: 6.19.08 - saw it again at the $1 movies.

Very funny (at least the first half) and good story and animation. I thought it was good, creative and fun.

SPOILERS
I thought the kangaroo character was unnecessarily negative and judgmental while not adding a lot to the character makeup of the movie. They seemed to be calling out conservatives (based on the homeschooling reference) and it was just underhanded and judgmental on their part. The biggest bummer about that was that I didn't think it was necessary.

UPDATE: 6.19.08 - Again, I think they were trying to slam conservatives and probably religious conservatives w/ the kangaroo role, but maybe I'm looking for it (or just used to it). However, w/ the kangaroo saying "if you can't see it, heart it or feel it, it isn't real" they can't really be attacking those of faith. So maybe they're slamming atheists a bit??? Anyway, I'm not sure it was necessary, but I'm not familiar w/ the book so who knows if it was accurate anyway.

Haiku Summary
Horton hears a who
on a speck and saves it. Great
dentist scene. Funny.

Next: "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" (2007)

Escape from New York (1981) - 3.5/5

Escape from New York (1981)

NEXT: "Horton Hears a Who" (2008)

I mean, what can I say: greatness. I can't explain it and if you need me to, you wdn't understand.

Haiku Summary
Prez crashes in New
York prison. Snake goes in. Saves
the prez. "Call me Snake."

Michael Clayton (2007) - 4/5

Michael Clayton (2007)

NEXT: "Escape from New York" (1981)

Great drama w/ great, well-defined characters. The story was compelling and intense. Many layers, but they took their time and let them grow naturally w/o getting confusing.

Haiku Summary
Big corp, product kills.
Lawyer w/ truth goes nuts. Strips.
Hidden phone, she's caught.

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) - 4.5/5

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Next:

Holds up well with time: fun, adventure, humor and great action.

Haiku Summary:
Nazis want the Ark.
Indy wants to stop them. Big
action. Faces melt.