The Movie

Green Zone

Director: Paul Greengrass

Cast: Matt Damon (Roy Miller), Brendan Gleeson (Martin Brown), Amy Ryan (Lawrie Dayne), Greg Kinnear (Clark Poundstone), Khalid Abdalla (Freddy), Yigal Naor (Al Rawi), Jason Isaacs (Briggs)

Plot Summary: A rogue U.S. Army officer searches for weapons of mass destruction in the Green Zone of Baghdad. Based on the book Imperial Life in the Emerald City by Rajiv Chandrasekaran.

The Good

» Matt Damon. I went into this movie expecting a mixture of Bourne and The Hurt Locker, and that’s exactly what I got from Damon’s performance. His character was gritty and interesting without being over-the-top impossible.

» The casting. In addition to Matt Damon, the rest of the Green Zone cast was phenomenal, and their stunning performances really carried the film. I was especially impressed by Khalid Abdalla’s emotionally charged performance as Freddy; I hope this proves to be a real breakout role for him.

The Bad

» The cinematography. Don’t get me wrong – the effects were great – but the overuse of the shaky cam technique had me fighting nausea for most of the movie. I’m not opposed to the occasional rocky scene to convey a “realistic” tone, but I don’t think it helped Green Zone at all; if anything, it detracted from the viewing experience.

» The agenda. I don’t go to a movie like this to have Hollywood’s political beliefs shoved down my throat; I want to see action and plot, nothing more. I would have been able to brush it aside had it been more subtle, but the blatant anti-war “message” of this film hits you like a steamroller.

Overall Impression

Even while fighting nausea and politics, I enjoyed this movie immensely. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time thanks to the fantastic performances and special effects. Green Zone is definitely worth the watch.

Overall Rating

★ Hated it.
★★ Disliked it.
★★★ Liked it.
★★★★ Really liked it.
★★★★★ LOVED it.

Trailer

Related posts

• [Movie Review] When In Rome
• [Movie Review] Alice in Wonderland
• [Movie Review] Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

The Movie

Alice in Wonderland

Director: Tim Burton

Cast: Mia Wasikowska (Alice), Johnny Depp (Mad Hatter), Helena Bonham Carter (Red Queen), Anne Hathaway (White Queen), Crispin Glover (Knave of Hearts), Stephen Fry (Cheshire Cat), Michael Sheen (White Rabbit), Alan Rickman (Blue Caterpillar)

Plot Summary: Nineteen-year-old Alice Lidell tumbles down a rabbit hole and finds herself in a fantasy world filled with magic and madness. A war is raging between the Red Queen and the White Queen, and Alice is pulled into the fight.

The Good

» Johnny Depp. Did we expect anything less? His turn as the Mad Hatter was nothing short of brilliant. I must confess that he was 90% of the reason why I went to the movie (Alan Rickman being the other 10%), and I was not disappointed. He made the Hatter creepy and loveable at the same time, and I daresay that this will be a performance that audiences won’t soon forget.

» Helena Bonham Carter. Always amazing, she really outdid herself this time. She completely fit my imagination’s characterization of the Red Queen, and her interactions with the Knave of Hearts (Crispin Glover – also amazing) were absolutely wonderful.

» The effects. Tim Burton is known for his visually stunning films and unique style; Alice certainly fits the bill. He made Wonderland come alive in a way that was exciting for both children and adults.

The Bad

» The 3D. While the hype for Alice’s 3D experience was high, the delivery of it was low. I found the 3D to actually be more distracting than anything else, and there were several points in the film where I actually took off my 3D glasses just to get away from it. When done well, 3D can be amazing (as evidenced by Avatar), but I fear that many directors may be hopping onto a bandwagon that not everyone belongs on, including Tim Burton.

» Mia Wasikowska. I know some reviewers have been raving about her performance, but I fail to see why. I found her dull and unemotional for the majority of the film. Perhaps that was her interpretation of a young Victorian girl, but if so, she missed the mark on the fanciful and adventurous Alice we all know and love. However, this is the first film I’ve seen her in, so I’d like to give her the benefit of the doubt and assume that her other acting roles are much better.

» Anne Hathaway. Don’t get me wrong, I adore Anne Hathaway and have seen every single one of her films, but her portrayal of the White Queen was excruciatingly annoying. I cringed every time she came on screen. Perhaps I should blame the screenwriters for giving the White Queen such a grating personality, but unfortunately Hathaway will take most of the heat for this performance. The only thing that made it bearable was the 8-year-old boy behind me who reverently whispered, “She’s so beautiful!” every few minutes. At least he’s got good taste.

Overall Impression

I quite enjoyed this particular movie-going experience, as did the dozens of children in my theater who laughed and gasped at all the right places. Tim Burton has created yet another fantasy land where the audience can lose themselves for a short while and then bemoan coming back to reality. For those who haven’t yet had the opportunity to see it, I recommend skipping the 3D and going back to basics (and saving a few bucks).

Overall Rating

★ Hated it.
★★ Disliked it.
★★★ Liked it.
★★★★ Really liked it.
★★★★★ LOVED it.

Trailer

Related posts

• [Movie Review] Green Zone
• [Movie Review] When In Rome
• [Movie Review] The Lovely Bones

The Movie

When In Rome

Director: Mark Steven Johnson

Cast: Kristen Bell (Beth), Josh Duhamel (Nick), Anjelica Huston (Celeste), Dax Shepard (Gale), Will Arnett (Antonio), Jon Heder (Lance), Danny DeVito, Alexis Dziena (Joan), Kate Micucci (Stacy), Bobby Moynihan (Puck), Lee Pace (Brady), Don Johnson (Beth’s dad)

Plot Summary: A career-driven woman who is unlucky in love steals some coins from the Fountain of Love while in Rome. As a result, a spell is cast on the owners of the coins, causing them to fall in love with her.

The Good

» Kristen Bell. I have been a fan of Bell since her work on Veronica Mars, a stunning show that was cancelled before the tiny blonde fireball was able to really be “discovered” by Hollywood. While this film will probably not be the star vehicle for Bell that her fans were hoping for, she still gives a solid performance. Her character was delightful and witty without being overly stereotypical for a romantic lead.

» Josh Duhamel. He has a great mix of the awkward and the charming, exactly what one expects from a romantic comedy. Plus, Duhamel and Bell had believable on-screen chemistry that made me want to keep watching even though the script was lacking.

» The supporting cast. I have to say that the entire cast gave wonderful performances that allowed the two leads to shine while providing a few chuckles along the way. It was great to see talent like Anjelica Huston and Danny DeVito together on screen.

» Napoleon and Pedro. The movie may be worth seeing just for them.

The Bad

» The script. It went beyond bad and into abysmal territory right off the bat. It’s unfortunate that the screenwriters (David Weissman and David Diamond) couldn’t come up with better jokes. The laughs leaned toward slapstick far too many times, and many scenes just felt forced.

» The “stalkers” (aka the guys who fall in love with Beth). While the actors themselves were enjoyable, the complete mess of characters paraded across the screen had me hoping that Bell’s character would pull a Veronica Mars and tase one of them. A few of them had me laughing, most had me cringing at the creep factor.

Overall Impression

In spite of the poor script and predictable plot, I found the movie enjoyable if only because of the cast. Kristen Bell and Josh Duhamel were adorable and enchanting; I only wish they had better material to work with.

Overall Rating

★ Hated it.
★★ Disliked it.
★★★ Liked it.
★★★★ Really liked it.
★★★★★ LOVED it.

Trailer

Disclaimer: The trailer is funnier than the movie.

Related posts

• [Movie Review] Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
• [Movie Review] Green Zone
• [Movie Review] The Lovely Bones

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• The day I see a leaf is a marvel of a day
• Project 365

+++

Dear Lion,
Please don’t eat me. No, you’re my enemy, I will eat you! Please, if you don’t eat me I will tell the staff to give you extra meat. Ok. Thank you.
Your Friend Zebra

+++

Dear Predator,
I am already dead. You are too late. I am already in a bear’s body.
Your disgusting prey, Fish.

+++

Dear Worm,
Will you come to my house for dinner? Because I want to eat you. You taste so good. You taste so good my mouth is watering. Please come. Please.
Your really nice friend, Bird.

Dear Bird,
I will not come. Because you are going to eat me. Do not eat me. Please.
Worm

+++

Dear Wolf,
I heard your letter and that makes me crazy. So do not write that letter again. And do not eat us, eat others like cows.
From, Skunk

+++

Dear Constrictor,
What things do you like to eat? I don’t mean like squirrels or moles, I mean like seasoning. Do you like squirrels that ate chestnuts or birds that ate seeds? Pelase make a list of the animals you eat and what you want them to eat. Send the list to me.
Your meal, Rabbit

Dear Rabbit,
You tasted horrible, what in the world did you eat? You tasted like apples with salt and spinach. I wish I hadn’t given in to you. Tell me how to get this taste off my tongue.
Your friend, Constrictor

+++

Dear Tiger,
Please do not eat me. Please take the energy from somewhere else. I know you don’t always eat monkeys, so instead can you please eat that other animal. Please help.
Monkey

Dear Monkey,
Thank you for existing. You are very yummy in my tummy. Thank you for the energy you give me, it helps me run.
Your enemy, Tiger

+++

Dear Anteater,
Please don’t eat me. If you eat me I will bite on your mouth.
Your prey, Ant

+++

Dear Penguin,
I am coming to eat you. I am hungry to eat a penguin. I’m coming at midnight to eat you. P.S. You should be ready before I am there.
Your predator, Seal

Dear Seal,
Please do not eat me . I want to live on the earth. I like the earth a lot, please. Let me live on the earth. P.S. I am not going to be here at midnight.
Your prey, Penguin

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• I’ll Let You Eat My Friends

Only the misspellings have been fixed for ease of reading. The rest is 100% kid.

+++

Dear Moose,
I ate you for breakfast because I need your protein and breakfast is the most important meal of the day and that’s the way the food chain goes.
Love, Alligator

+++

Dear Fox,
Thank you very much Fox for letting me eat you. You have a very good taste. But the only thing is you have so much fur and your bones are so hard.
Love, Cheetah

+++

Dear Lion,
Please don’t eat me. I just want to live like you. Animals have lives too you know. If I was the lion and you were the zebra how would you feel?
Love, Zebra

+++

Dear Moose,
I am sorry that I need to eat you. I know that you still want to live with your family, and I hope you will go to heaven.
From, Tiger

Dear Tiger,
Thank you for sending this. I hope you go to heaven when you die too.
From, Moose

+++

Dear Alligator,
I was so scared when you were going to eat me. I almost fainted but I did not and you almost got a bite of me. So I made up my mind because you had to live so I let you eat me.
Sincerely, Deer

Dear Deer,
Thank you for letting me eat you. You were so tasty.
Sincerely, Aligator

+++

Dear Tiger,
Please don’t eat me! I’ll let you eat my friends. My friends are very fat and nice. They are up on the hill.
Love, Deer

+++

Dear Rat,
I wanted to eat you today because you look plump, fat, and juicy. To remember you I coughed out your pellet. I can see you far away at night with my greedy eyes.
Love, Owl

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• I’ll Let You Eat My Friends Part 2

The Movie

The Lovely Bones

Director: Peter Jackson

Cast: Saoirse Ronan (Susie Salmon), Mark Wahlberg (Jack Salmon), Rachel Weisz (Abigail Salmon), Stanley Tucci (George Harvey), Susan Sarandon (Grandma Lynn), Rose McIver (Lindsey Salmon), Reece Ritchie (Ray Singh)

Plot Summary: After being brutally murdered, a young girl watches over her family and her killer from the beyond.

The Good

» Stanley Tucci. Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. Everyone else in the film was fantastic, but Tucci really outdid himself. He definitely deserves his Oscar nomination.

» Mr. Harvey’s underground lair. It was even better (i.e. scarier) than I imagined it would be.

» The visuals. The whole film was just visually stunning – the costume design, the color scheme, the special effects. I expected nothing less from Peter Jackson.

» The score. It was so beautifully haunting without being overly terrifying or thriller-esque. Kudos to Brian Eno for another winner.

The Bad

» Susie’s death scene. Even though I read the book and I knew how and when she died, the movie actually confused me. She “escapes” from the underground lair and then is running through the streets… it took me a while to figure out that she was dead, because I kept waiting for Mr. Harvey to actually kill her. Perhaps I would have been less confused if I hadn’t been expecting more of the actual death scene.

» Post-Susie’s death scene (aka Susie figures out she’s dead). Perhaps Peter Jackson was going for a less-traumatizing reveal, but seeing Mr. Harvey in the blood-soaked bathroom with his murder weapons around him, in my opinion, was much more disturbing than seeing an actual murder scene.

» Ray Singh. They turned him into a total creeper – he was way too slick for a high school boy. (No wonder Susie was nervous about talking to him.) They also cut out a lot of his and Susie’s backstory, which I felt was important to the book’s plot and character development.

Movie vs Book

I understand the need to make adjustments for the book-to-movie transition, but as a fan of the book, I was left rather unsatisfied with some of the unnecessary changes that were made. However, I feel like the spirit of the book was left intact, and if I hadn’t read the book at all, I’m sure I wouldn’t have noticed anything awry. Peter Jackon did a beautiful job directing, and overall it was a very enjoyable film.

Overall Rating

★ Hated it.
★★ Disliked it.
★★★ Liked it.
★★★★ Really liked it.
★★★★★ LOVED it.

Trailer

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• [Movie Review] Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
• [Movie Review] Green Zone
• [Movie Review] When In Rome

The Movie

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

Director: Chris Columbus

Cast: Logan Lerman (Percy), Brandon T. Jackson (Grover), Alexandra Daddario (Annabeth), Pierce Brosnan (Chiron), Sean Bean (Zeus), Kevin McKidd (Poseidon), Uma Thurman (Medusa)

Plot Summary: Percy Jackson is a regular kid who suddenly discovers that he is the son of Poseidon, god of the sea. He is then dragged into a world of Greek myths and monsters.

The Good

» Brandon T. Jackson as Grover. He was a perfect blend of comic relief and viable sidekick. I didn’t find him annoying or overbearing, which is refreshing to see in a role that could easily slide into either territory.

» The mixture of fantasy and reality. I think Columbus hit the mark with translating the “real kid” aspects of Percy Jackson with the complete fantasy that fans of the series love.

» Special effects. I was especially impressed with the water effects, which is such an integral part of the plot. It looked really natural (as natural as demigod-controlled water can look) and I liked the overall look and feel of the effects.

» The fandom factor. A movie like this is nothing without fans, especially a movie based on a book that comes with its own built-in fandom (Twilight, anyone?). The studio did a great job with the casting – hot young stars like Logan Lerman and Alexandra Daddario mixed with seasoned talent like Pierce Brosnan and Sean Bean – that will attract fans of all ages and give the literary fans something to smooth any ruffled feathers.

The Bad

» The title. As far as I’m concerned, the title of both the book and the movie is Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. I was unpleasantly surprised when the title screen read Percy Jackson & the Lightning Thief. Um… what? This isn’t Harry Potter, Chris; stick to the real title. (Also, why is it listed the correct way all over the internet, but not in the actual film?)

» The hellhounds. I leaned over to my friend and said, “It’s an R.O.U.S.!” The filmmakers were probably banking on the fact that 90% of their demographic has never seen The Princess Bride (don’t even get me started on that travesty) and wouldn’t notice the clear similarities.

» Luke. I wasn’t impressed at all by the character development here, especially the lack of subtlety as to his true identity (that of the Lightning Thief). Plus, all of his backstory was cut from the film, which really gave his character a likeability factor in the book that just wasn’t there on screen.

Movie vs Book

As a huge fan of Rick Riordan’s book series, I have to comment on the transition from page to screen. Of course I realize that there will always be changes that are made to important plot elements and character development; however, my biggest complaint is the chemistry between Percy and Annabeth and how much I wish it had been truer to Riordan’s original intentions. In the book, the relationship doesn’t jump to attraction right away, but Riordan strings his readers along for five books with will-they-or-won’t-they tension. I felt this was lacking in the film, and I would have enjoyed seeing Annabeth call Percy “seaweed brain” at least once.

In spite of this, I feel like Chris Columbus pulled from his Harry Potter experience and hit the nail on the head once again with a fantasy adventure film suitable for families and fans alike.

Overall Rating

★ Hated it.
★★ Disliked it.
★★★ Liked it.
★★★★ Really liked it.
★★★★★ LOVED it.

Trailer

Related posts

• [Movie Review] The Lovely Bones
• [Movie Review] When In Rome
• [Movie Review] Green Zone

Don’t try to argue, this kid will prove you wrong.

But this isn’t about you or that kid, this is about the Evil that has infiltrated my balcony and my life.

I’ve never liked pigeons much. Aside from the fact that they are dirty, disease-ridden birds, pigeons have absolutely no qualms about attacking innocents (which we learned from the great Alfred Hitchcock), and they will look right at you with those beady yellow eyes while they do it. (Their EYES are YELLOW. That’s a sign right there.)

Trivia: The most enormous (and correspondingly the most evil) pigeons are found in London’s Trafalgar Square.

This is the one, the very pigeon that yesterday tried to peck his way through a glass door and into my apartment. Oh sure, he tried to cover his intentions with what he clearly thought was an innocent coo, but I knew what he was up to. Immediately I ran for cover (and my camera) while coming up with an escape plan, but the demon’s supersonic hearing kicked in and he flew away to the next balcony. I was safe… or so I thought.

The demon returned. For a while he hid out sniper-style on the balcony across the way, consorting with his pigeon friends and plotting other ways to torture me. This particular pigeon sensed my fear and returned to my balcony again and again, cooing his evil coo and flapping his enormous wings. Finally night fell and I thought the psychological warfare was over…

But this morning, there he was, the Devil’s Spawn himself, waiting on my balcony. He was just biding his time until I was sitting on my couch, leisurely eating Special K and daydreaming about a pigeon-free day.

If only my life were that simple.

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• Saturday Morning in Bangkok

I must start this letter by admitting my undying devotion to and simultaneous hatred of you, dear Button. You are the thorn in my flesh and the apple of my eye. Your power to do both good and evil is never-ending. I only wish that all had the same respect for you that I have.

Almighty Button, you hold our secrets in your hands; one click and you can either elevate us or destroy us. Jobs can be lost, careers decimated, friendships severed with one false move… but glory awaits he who channels your powers correctly. One can never underestimate the power of a well-placed remark, sarcastic or witty, but even the mighty sometimes fall. The shame of being discovered by the target of such a remark is enough to keep my mind clear and my hand steady.

Unfortunately, many lack the clarity of mind and steadiness of hand that should, by rights, accompany your presence on the email interface. How carelessly they toss their words about, clicking with reckless abandon and cluttering up my inbox with their foolhardiness and inane annotations. Too often have I reveled in that glorious sound alerting me to new mail, only to have my hopes dashed by a brainless response to a missive that had nothing to do with me in the first place. Oh, hated Button, how you have betrayed me time and time again!

However, I remain hopeful that good shall prevail. Those who know and respect your strength have often provided me with countless hours of amusement and delight, and for that, I thank you.

On behalf of all who have felt the sting of shame, exultation of glory, or pain of chagrin that comes with knowing you, I vow to never abuse your powers, but only to use them for good… and for the occasional sarcastic comment.

Respectfully yours,
Joy

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