One must desire something to be alive - Margaret Deland

I’m focusing on structure and disciple. Not THAT kind of discipline (though I do enjoy reading Mistress Matisse… hmmm)! Rather, I’m just trying to establish good habits of writing on a more regular and predictable schedule. Although I missed Wednesday. I am only human after all.

I’ve seen Shephard and Stacie do the Thursday Thirteen, so I thought I might give that a try. This week I’m posting about the last thirteen movies I’ve reviewed.

13. In Bruges (Feb 8, 2008) I said “I admit that In Bruges is probably not for everyone. But if you have a quirky sense of humor and enjoy your comedy with a darker bent I think you’d find this one interesting.”

12. Charlie Bartlett (Feb 22, 2008) I said “Charlie exhibits an innocent sense of naiveté in his acceptance of the people he runs in to, even when they are considered outcasts and misfits by most of his peers. He pays for it at first, but eventually—by asking questions and listening carefully to the answers—he helps us get past the surface stereotypes and see the people inside. It’s a powerful example.”

11. Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day (Mar 7, 2008) I said “She is a stellar example of a person who remains true to herself and her values even when pressured to do otherwise. In the course of events she puts the needs of others above her own needs and—because this is ultimately a “feel good” movie—winds up with far more than food in return. It’s a refreshing feeling in this often cynical, modern age. I for one enjoyed it a great deal.”

10. Never Back Down (Mar 14, 2008) I said “So should you see Never Back Down? Maybe. I found it entertaining though certainly formulaic. There’s an interesting subplot covering Jake’s struggles coming to grips with his father’s death and learning to handle his anger in a positive way. It added a degree of much needed depth to what otherwise would have just been a “fight film.” If you’re a fan of martial arts you might find the fighting scenes engaging, though not really anything to write home about. On the other hand, you won’t really be missing out if you decide to wait for the DVD.”

9. Shutter (Mar 21, 2008) I said “Ultimately, I think Shutter commits the cardinal sin of failed horror films: it simply isn’t scary or gory enough to satisfy fans of the genre. Frankly, I was rooting for the spirit to kill off all the principal characters just to bring the experience to an end sooner.”

8. Drillbit Taylor (Mar 21, 2008) I said “With a recycled plot and lackluster acting the best I can say about Drillbit Taylor is that it wasn’t completely painful to sit through. Even I found a joke or two that worked and managed to generate an occasional chuckle. On the whole, though, the sum of the ingredients was a mostly unsatisfying experience.”

7. Snow Angels (Mar 21, 2008) I said “Bottom line: Snow Angels is a drama that pulls no punches. There are moments of levity, but overall the tone is fairly bleak. This is not a “feel good” movie, but it is a compelling journey through the struggles of love, life, and the interconnectedness of this small community of people. Personally, I found it riveting.”

6. Shine A Light (Apr 4, 2008) I said “As a film, Shine A Light may have a few rough spots, but as a concert experience for fans of The Rolling Stones, it would seem to me to be an event not to be missed. I sincerely hope that other bands choose to leverage the IMAX technology for future concert films.”

5. Blindsight (Apr 11, 2008) I said “Blindsight proves to be a rare gem among documentaries. It entertains without glossing over the struggles, and educates without preaching. It’s a timely and effective reminder that life can be a worthy adventure regardless of our abilities.”

4. The Forbidden Kingdom (Apr 18, 2008) I said “Overall, I found The Forbidden Kingdom to be an outstanding adventure film. The martial arts action scenes are every bit as good as you might imagine. Filmed on location in China, the setting is lush and beautiful. And the story—odd though it may sound going in—proves to be both entertaining and interesting. Perhaps not surprisingly, given Chan’s influence, there is more than a little humor along the way.”

3. Deception (Apr 25, 2008) I said “In my opinion, the only deception here is with the actors fooling themselves into thinking that this is a vehicle worthy of their talents, and the studio thinking that audiences will find this entertaining. So don’t join them; take my recommendation and give Deception a pass.”

2. Baby Mama (Apr 25, 2008) I said “I think the main reason Baby Mama works for me as well as it does is that the humor never comes across as mean-spirited. While it has its rude, crude moments, I never felt it was gratuitous or thrown in for shock effect. Not all of the jokes work, but in general it’s consistently witty and funny. Toss in a romantic sub-plot and a feel-good ending, and it’s a great prescription for cinematic escapism.”

1. Iron Man (May 2, 2008) I said “If Iron Man is any indication of what we can expect this summer, I think we’re in for a great time at the movie house. In this film at least, Hollywood returns to a simpler, unambiguous adventure story—and I for one greatly appreciate it. Real life is complex enough; I go to the movies to escape from reality for a while, and this is the kind of film that works for me. If the thunderous cheering as the credits rolled were any indication, the rest of the audience was in violent agreement.”

This week I reviewed What Happens In Vegas and I actually enjoyed it more than I thought I would. My review on this one won’t be published until Friday but I can tell you that even though the movie doesn’t break new ground, it’s entertaining and funny. I’d classify it as a good “date movie.” I mostly mention it here as a tie in to the following song, which was in the soundtrack. I tracked it down after the movie because I really liked it!

I’m Not Over by Carolina Liar