Un condamné à mort s'est échappé ou Le vent souffle où il veut (A Man Escaped) (1956) - 4/5

Un condamné à mort s'est échappé ou Le vent souffle où il veut (A Man Escaped) (1956)

I have a feeling if I knew my stuff better, this movie wd get a 4.5 or 5 form me. Ideally, I'd read some more about it, but... time.

Great shots and imagery and the tone is consistently great. The use of the Priests/Bible is great.

There's so much behind the story that I know I missed, but what I caught, I liked and what I missed, I knew it was good even if I wasn't sure what it was. :)

The off-camera action was perfect.

SPOILERS:

...like how the first guy had to fail so that Fontaine cd succeed and how Fontaine wasn't content to escape alone - he had to find someone else to save when he was so confident it wd work.

The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984) - 2.5/5

The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)

This was a pretty big disappointment. I hadn't seen it before and I guess now I know why. Compared to "The Muppet Movie" it just doesn't compare... er...

It's like a bad rehash of the first movie: same basic plot of "going to the big city to get a big break in the big time."

One highlight is the rat song-dance scene in the kitchen. That's pretty good.

Employee of the Month (2006) - 2/5

Employee of the Month (2006)

Some funny and clever parts, but pretty weak in general.

The Muppet Movie (1979) - 3.5/5

The Muppet Movie (1979)

Very fun, funny and clever at times. It's corny and beautiful in that.

The cameos were great and the one-liners the best. I think this is a good case of parents probably being just as entertained.

The Departed (2006) - 4/5

The Departed (2006)

Incredible acting and characters. So many great performances.

I like the complicated "who's good? who's bad?", but they might have taken it a little too far. Still great.

SPOILERS:

As Costello said, "when you're facing a loaded gun, what's the difference?", so by the end the question of "good and bad" might not be worth trying to answer.

One quick shot still has me wondering about something. When Madolyn moves in w/ Colin, he goes to put a box away. There's a quick shot of what appears to be a TV screen of a hand going to pick up a phone receiver. Right after that, Costello calls Colin. I don't think it was ever explained???

Hope and Glory (1987) - 3.5/5

Hope and Glory (1987)

A very good, dramatic movie focusing on a WWII experience that we haven't really seen before. It's not a war movie, but more a drama set during the war - a great angle for a story.

The characters are great (except maybe the sister, but she grew on me too) and the imagery is strong.

Ocean's Thirteen (2007) - 3.5/5

Ocean's Thirteen (2007)

This was good in most ways with good levels of intensity, spyishness, humor and action. Basically no love story which I didn't see as a lack - there was so much else going on, I didn't miss it. The relationships btwn the main characters more than make up for it.

In some ways I think this is a modern "spy" movie w/ no political motives. There's a lot of the same elements, but a more light-hearted motive and payoff.

Also, this movie doesn't make me feel guilty for pulling for criminals to "win."

SPOILERS:

A few drawbacks: the motivation for the whole operation was a little thin. Fortunately, they didn't spend too much time on it. Pacino was good as a bad guy, I didn't need any more reason to want to see him lose.

I wasn't sure really why Bernie Mac's character had to go w/ the domino thing and the scam to get him in was weak.

The underground drill was WAY too much to buy. How cd they pull that off AND buy, get, install, etc. a new whatever-$36million-part-that-broke and so-on.

There's lots of stuff that can be overlooked, but the above was a bit much.

Shrek the Third (2007) - 3/5

Shrek the Third (2007)

It was pretty good w/ some funny parts, but the story was a bit thin and overall I just wasn't that drawn in or made to care.

They have a lot working against them in that the originality of the anti-fairy tale is gone and they're trying to walk a fine line to attract adult and child audiences.

SPOILERS:

The best part, imo, is when the Gingerbread man's life flashes before his eyes.

Ringers: Lord of the Fans (2005) - 1/5

Ringers: Lord of the Fans (2005)

Very little new information and laughable "dramatizations" of the stereotypes from each decade and the fans. Those were so bad that they were probably the best part.

It was drawn out and w/ so much LOTR info out there, it just didn't have anything really new or interesting.

Everyone's Hero (2006) - 2.5/5

Everyone's Hero (2006)

We got this for our son and he isn't always that interested which makes us not all that interested.

It was a good, cute, simple story w/ decent moral content and imagination.

Nothing great, but nice and different than the normal Disxar stuff we're getting used to.

Spellbound (2002/I) - 3/5

Spellbound (2002/I)

I liked "Wordplay" (see recent post) more. This documentary focuses more on the people in the movie whereas "Wordplay" focuses on the game and object of their passion. Ironically, I think you get more of the people from "Wordplay" than this.

That cd be b/c it's about kids and some of the passion and meaning fall out of it and it comes close to just being about "spelling words." Also, the stakes are higher which can take some of the fun out of it ("Wordplay" is just about people enjoying puzzles, no stress or pressure... to me).

The kids are great, but either the filmmakers didn't capture them well or there just isn't a ton there yet. Also, it cd be b/c they focused on 8 kids. That's a lot. After a while, I got a few of them mixed up in my head.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007) - 3.5/5

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)

A fun movie though pretty dark. I wdn't consider it a "kid's" movie. Also, it moves farther from the first in the trilogy (see previous post) which was more fatasy/adventure and more into a moral delimma at times which makes it harder to enjoy "pirates" as fun and charming like Jack.

There's a lot going on, many storylines and plots and it's long all which make it hard to hold together, but they do a good job.

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) - 3.5/5

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

We've seen this one a few times, but apparently it's not in this blog. We actually watched both prequels this weekend and enjoy them both. I think seeing them close in time to each other, I prefer the first one b/c it has more of the magic of the Black Pearl and newness of pirates and mystery, etc.

I have to give credit still to the second one as it's only the first in a two-parter. I think it just took itself down a notch when I saw the sails on the Pearl patched up. The tattered sails in the first movie were just too good. :)

Wordplay (2006) - 3.5/5

Wordplay (2006)

Very fun and interesting and certainly made me want to play crossword puzzles. I'm always attracted to an area of interest that has a sense of 'community' which oddly ennough this seemed to have in the movie.

However, I think even in the movie they make it clear that this tends to be something you do alone. It's just great to see people sharing a common interest and passion for things in a social way. The talent show at the tournament says a lot too - there's more to these people and they accept each other very deeply.

As always, a documentary took a seeminly uninteresting premise and made it fun to watch.

Akeelah and the Bee (2006) - 3/5

Akeelah and the Bee (2006)

A bit sentimental, but good and enjoyable. A good simple story w/ deep characters and a good message that's doesn't hit you over the head w/ (too many) stereotypes and generalizations.

It's a good light version of many movies that maybe try too hard.

Chariots of Fire (1981) - 4/5

Chariots of Fire (1981)

Somewhat making up for "Reds" as far as 1981's reputation goes... except for the soundtrack (Age of Synth).

I think there's several messages you can take from this: determination pays off, stick to your convictions no matter what and you'll succeed, that's true for you is true for you, sincerity is paramount, etc.

Eric Liddell honored God and wound up winning. Harold Abrahams honored himself and wound up winning. Neither wd compromise, both were passionate. Good movie, confusing message... if any.

Reds (1981) - 1.5/5

Reds (1981)

One of the few movies I didn't even finish watching. Partially b/c it wasn't very good and partially b/c I had so much more to watch - loooooooooooooong movie.

Too bad. 1981 must have been a bad year for movies for this to get so many awards and nominations.

Spider-Man 3 (2007) - 3/5

Spider-Man 3 (2007)

Good movie. I'm not a big fan of the past 2 so this being my favorite (or at least the flavor of the day) isn't saying too much.

There's some good aspects to this movie, but I think they were too ambitious w/ the characters and storylines. You forget about subplots b/c they are ignored for so long and some bridges are forced and very questionable (SPOILER: Why did the butler wait so long to say what he said?).

The Illusionist (2006) - 2/5

The Illusionist (2006)

What a disappointment. Ed Norton is one of my favorites and he was SO flat. The story is rather weak and tends to focus on the aspects of it that aren't that interesting. They basically ignore the love story which we're suppose to buy into... but when?

The 'reveal' is also quite disappointing and predictable.

The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) - 4/5

The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)

Classic movie all around: war movie, romance, happy ending, etc. This is why we keep making movies about these things - we still remember how great they were back when it was original.