Away We Go (2009)

This movie was alright. I liked the story, and I REALLY liked John Krasinski's beard.
The story of a couple (and soon-to-be parents) trying to figure out where they want to raise their family, and how to properly nurture them to be healthy individuals, while at the same time stay attracted to each other, is really sweet, and isn't seen that often. This film represents stage two of romantic love in film. 99% of films deal with the first stage where two characters find themselves attracted to one another, and are trying to figure out how to communicate this lust for one another, but also trying to avoid potential heartbreak (which happens regardless, and then couple hook up at the end). So it's refreshing to see a film that starts after all that drama has happened and is done with.
John Krasinski is probably the man of most girls' my age dreams. He always plays a charismatic down-to-earth chap that is not afraid to tell the woman he loves, hey, I love you (dude, you're making all the other guys look bad, ha).
There are also a few awesome brief supporting actors that steal their scenes: Catherine O'Hara, and Allison Janney.
In the end this movie might be worth checking out. The execution is decent, but I don't feel like it stood out. I suggest watching it if you want something light, and also doesn't suck ass.

Avatar (2009)

It`s hard sometimes to write this blog without having other people`s impressions sway my thoughts on the film. This is an instance where I walked into this film with many preconceived notions because there has been a lot of hype built-up around it. It`s a made-to-be 3D adventure, and I decided it would be the first 3D film I saw at the theatre.
In film synergy, it would be Terminator 2 meets The Lion King. It was definitely cool to see, and I`m glad I saw it in 3D, but I didn`t leave the theatre feeling like the film changed me at all. In sum, it was a spectacle for the eyes, and really let me recognize attributes of James Cameron`s films that flow through Avatar. Cameron works very strongly with the theme of man`s dependancy on technology, and the inevitable demise that this dependancy results in (for those of you thinking exclusively of his sci-fi films, don`t forget this theme is extremely obvious in Titanic).

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

It's been a few years since I've seen this movie, and I've been feeling recognizably contemplative lately, so it seemed like a proper time to revisit this existential masterpiece.
2001 is one of those films that I don't think I can ever quantify how amazing it is. A guy I met once said that Kubrick's films are like a well-aged brandy, and I completely agree. People can acknowledge that they are highly revered, they're not for mass consumption, and you don't want to overindulge in them because they so rich.
A scene that stood out to me during this past screening: The part where Dave is running loops around the space ship. The cinematography depicting his isolation is spot-on, and chilling.
While I can more fully appreciate the slow pacing of 2001, and what each scene contributes to the overall film, the more times I see this film the less of an impact the climax has on me. It's still an amazing ending of philosophical proportions, but that bang on oh-my-god moment is not there anymore (or it at least wasn't there during this screening).
I definitely want to revisit 2001 again sometime to see if watching it twice in a shorter timespan will give me more perspective on it. What can I say, you should watch it!

Smiley Face (2007)

This is the third time I've seen this film, and second time I've blogged it, and I decided to reblog it because it still hits me as a great film. From start to finish this film keeps my attention. The pacing is so well timed in terms of story development, and editing. I think what makes this a strong film is that it takes place in a single day. Rarely do films convey such a short period of time during the length of the film. I think a story has to be very solid in order for it to hold up taking place only over one day, and Smiley Face stands this test of "time".
Also what I like about this film is that it's portraying pretty idiotic actions, but it does it very smartly. Other stoner-comedies such as Dude, Where's my Car? and Harold and Kumar, don't try hard to be profound (and not that Smiley Face overtly does), but here, there's this level of intelligencia (specifically the scenes where economic, and marxist theory is debated). I find it more realistic to include such dialogue in a stoner comedy, because it acknowledges that many "academic" individuals also enjoy smoking pot.
Another device I thoroughtly enjoy in Smiley Face is the fantasy vs reality sequences that we find Ana Faris in. In her head Ana Faris' character delivers a magnificent and moving speech about labour rights, but in reality she's mumbling profanities, and speaking completely untelligibly, awesome!
The soundtrack is also remarkable: REO Speedwagon, Ladytron and Chemical Brothers.
For these reasons, and many more I really think this movie is greatly underestimated because of what it portrays at it's surface level. It's definitely meant to be a light-hearted comedy, but I think it deserves even more attention.

The Proposal (2009)

This movie met my expectations, it sucked. I was willing to watch it with an open mind, but it really had nothing new or different about it, that I hadn't seen in a billion other romantic-comedies. A lot of people have said they liked this movie, and that I would like it too, but I don't see what they're getting at. Two people who hated each other for 3 years, are not going to fall in love in less than 3 days. Maybe if they just suddenly want to get it on, granted, I might be able to see that. But to decide over one weekend that they want to spend the rest of their lives together is bunk. I have nothing good to say about this film. I've never been a fan of Sandra Bullock, and Ryan Renolds was alright, but he's becoming predictable and I was really grossed out when Oscar from The Office plays a Stripper/Maid/Grocer.
The whole film also played it too safe. The whole being deported to Canada was lame, and no immigration officer would go to the extent that this one did (unless someone is paying for his expensives, and he really has nothing better to do?)
I regret watching it, and don't recommend it.

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

This movie was great. I really enjoyed it.
I liked how The Beach Boys were on the soundtrack twice, and was surprised how well the animation worked. I originally thought the film would look primitive as stop motion, but vintage at the same time, but it actually flowed very well and naturally.
I really like Wes Anderson films in general too because you can easily pick out the forms and conventions that he uses consistently in all his films. The dysfunctional. father/son relationship. The male protagonist trying to avoid death by finding something exciting in his life.
Also visually his conventions are consistent. The titles disbursed throughout the film. The static close-up shots of the characters' face. I guess I almost thought Anderson wouldn't be so obvious about his visual techniques since he was using a different medium, but they were all evident. One of my favourites is the shot he uses that's far away and captures the whole room, as if it was a dollhouse. Total borrowing of Godard's Tout Va Bien, and I get excited everytime Anderson uses it in his films.
Since it was a different medium some different things that I thought were cool, and vintagy. When the characters were either absent-minded or knocked out, they would have spirals on their eyes, or x', so awesome. And there were shots with the camera moving with the character, which looked like it was probably elaborate to set up, due to the nature of stop-motion cinematography.
So all things considered this movie is definitely worth checking out, as it's original, and very accessible.

The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009)

Wow, this movie didn't impress me at all. I'm actually glad I saw it for free, but it really didn't meet my expectations (which were actually kind of low, because I didn't hear the greatest reviews).
I was disappointed because the cast is amazing (and they do act well), but the material, or maybe the direction, just didn't keep it together.
One note, Kevin Spacey seemed like he didn't even want to be in the movie. The whole time he looked exhausted, and he also looks like his aging.

Grizzly Man (2005)

This movie was pretty cool. For some reason going into it I thought it would be more of a fictionalized account of the character, instead of a full on doc, so it took me about 20 minutes to get over that.
Acclaimed director Werner Herzog protrays Grizzly Man Timothy Treadwell as someone who was so involved in his work, that he had trouble seeing the forest from the trees. I kept thinking about the story Into the Wild, and feel like there are parallel's with the characters' desire for isolation, but also to document their isolation (which can be seen as kind of hypocritical). Both individuals also died while in the wild.
Herzog's voice definitely tries to rationalize Treadwell's actions, and he depicts him as a very determined person, but who also had a very soft side.
I really liked the scenes where Treadwell is interacting with the foxes (who are kind of a sidekick to him in the wild). He plays and talks to them as if they were his cats, aw precious.
Overall, I think this movie is worth checking out because it illustrates how if you become so involved in your work, and are unable to take a step back to see that maybe you're going too far, you will suffer irreconciable consequences.

Mr Jealousy (1997)

I thought this movie was so cute, I really enjoyed it.
I also had never thought too much of Eric Stoltz, but here I thought he was great.
My favourite parts were the scenes with him and his best friend. One of the subplots is Eric's character is going to therapy to spy on his girlfriend's ex-boyfriend, but to avoid talking about his true life, Eric pretends to be his best friend. Eric tells his best friend this, and over time his best friend expects to hear what he learned in therapy. Eventually Vince decides he wants to go to therapy too, and pretends to be Eric, but puts on a really bad English accent because he said it felt right, haha.
Most of Mr Jealousy is about Eric's obsession with the fidelity of his girlfriends. He plays it very well.
I also really like how the film is set in New York. It gave it a kind of neo-Woody Allen, self-analysis vibe, which was pretty cool.
I say this film is worth checking out.

Wall Street (1987)

I didn't think too much of this film.
The subject matter didn't appeal to me, and Oliver Stone is a director who's films aren't targeted to me (so I haven't seen many), but I thought it was interesting to check out.
As a character study, this film follows the rise and fall of greed very well. Oliver Stone has a very American Dream quality to all his films (likely why I avoid them), and he portrays it very accurately, and without any irony.
I thought it was cool seeing Martin and Charlie Sheen working as father and son on screen, they definitely have a natural chemistry (for obvious reasons).
Michael Douglas as always plays a great sleazeball.
I have to be honest, I only decided to now check out this film because they announced they're making a sequel with Shia LaBeouf (who, in my opinion, is so clean, can do no wrong).

Coraline (2009)

This movie didn't really do it for me. It took me about half an hour to figure out why...it's because it's a children's movie. I went into it thinking there were going to be some mature themes (they were definitely dark, but not mature) that would be targeted to me, but not in the slightest. It felt like watching an extended episode of "Are you afraid of the dark" or "Goosebumps", which albeit, were great shows to watch when I was 9, but 17 years later it's not going to be the same thrill.
At one point my sister came in and asked if I was watching Rugrats (a tv cartoon about toddlers, wow).
The visuals also seemed primitive to me. I think it's because Coraline was marketed as a Tim Burton feature (which he probably had nothing to do with besides selling his name), and it definitely didn't have the same quality as Nightmare before Christmas or Corpse Bride for that matter.
All that aside, there were a couple of cool moments. During the climax they did some cool effects with the visuals; and thematically the idea of having buttons sewn into your eyes to blind you from the not so pristine facts of life was pretty cool (but was only brushed upon).
I can't recommend this movie because I really had to push myself to finish it.

Where The Wild Things Are? (2009)

Fucking beautiful and amazing. I went into this film after hearing good things from aquaintances and decent things from critics, but fuck wow. This film kept my attention throughout (sadly I had to pee early on and missed 2 minutes).
It's the kind of film that has the authenticity that you want all films to have, and a magic that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
So good that I'm listening to the soundtrack as I write this (as I've just downloaded it!).
It reminisces The Never Ending Story; CGI is however more advanced.
And I can't forget to mention that two of my favourite ladies (Catherine Keener and Catherine O'Hara) and director Spike Jonze who has never disappointed me are all involved in this film.
The story is told simply and doesn't stray from what it is trying to illustrate.
The relationship the Monsters have with each other are great to watch, and also tragic. They are lonely, and looking for security...just like everyone else in the world, frig. I like how the film is so honest with portraying their insecurities.
I had a particularly strong emotional reaction with Paul Dano's character Alexander (the goat). The character is so scared about getting in the way of anyone, and submissive to what the others want to do. During the dirt-throwing scene he gets upset when he gets attacked when he's not ready, I just thought, aw, that would have been me.
I have to say: See This Film! I know if I don't have plans next weekend, you will find me in a matinee for this film :)

Donnie Darko (2001)

This must be my 5th or 6th time seeing this film, but watching it this time gave me so many ideas, I just had to document.
First of all this is an amazing movie. For the longest time it felt cliche to say this because so many people in my demographic will also admit infatuation with it. Watching it 8 years later definitely gave me perspective. Admittingly, Donnie Darko has a crudeness to it. It doesn't try to come across as completely natural; some of the editing in scenes seem a bit off, and the acting can come across as theatrical.
I like how the film is set in the 80s, but it doesn't try to be nostalgic about the era. Sure there are 80s songs, and some 80s wardrobe, and they discuss the '88 presidential election, but they don't make it feel like a gimmick. Other recent films such as Napoleon Dynamite and Adventureland use the 80s as a foible, but Donnie Darko feels displaced. Not to get analytical, but maybe it has to do with the theme of time travel?
Watching it now I feel like Donnie Darko really was messed up psychologically. When I initially watched it in '01 I though oh, this guy is full of teenage angst, and he's searching for meaning, but really that kid had some serious issues, and like his therapist said, he's probably schizophrenic.
Random goodies: Seth Rogen playing a bit part as a bully, and random fat dude in a sweatsuit in a few scenes with no significant plot contribution. Also, Drew Barrymore trying to be a profound lit teacher is hilarious (woman, you are ridiculous when you are trying to be intelligent, ha).
Another comparison I want to make is to Synecdoche, New York. Both films prevalently use the theme of loneliness. The protagonists are so occupied with death and lonliness, that it consumes them. It's the heaviest theme to carry (as probably best represented in swedish art films), and would probably depress viewers if watched repeatedly.
I really liked the soundtrack of Donnie Darko (as it probably was what drew a lot of people to this film). And to be completely biased I have to say check this film out, because it is so awesome even the ridiculous parts are great.

Zodiac (2007)

This is one of those films I'd put off seeing because it deals with one of the few subjects I don't enjoy exposing myself to: true stories about serial killers. I feel like I'm desensitized to almost all gory ideas that can be portrayed on screen, but once I know that this happened for real, I try to stand clear (non-fiction violence is just not fun, which is why I'll never see the Karla Homolka film).
Putting that all aside this was a good film. It was very polish, and I really liked the cinematography and colouring of the film.
Acting was also well done. I really liked Robert Downey Jr's downfall, and Mark Ruffalo was good with the hot raspy voice, and Jake Gyllenhaal played the obsessive self-appointed detective well (even though I thought it got annoying, and just wanted him to go back to his wife).
I liked the scene when Mark Ruffalo tries to recreate the killing scene, at the scene with the taxi cab. Visually they make the taxi cab stand out, and everything else in the mise en scene is muted so that your attention is more focused. Framing was also really well done, with the handycam feel to it at parts.
People will readily compare this film to Fight Club and Seven (and other Fincher films), which is all fine and dandy in the world of auteur theory, but I feel like I enjoyed this film moreso when I wasn't jutzposing conventions that run through all his films. One element worth pointing out was in the newspaper office, the letters from Zodiac were blanketed on the walls, to show that he is haunting their environment, cool beans.
This film is worth checking out.

Mrs. Miniver (1942)

In an interview I saw about a month ago, where he was promoting Inglourious Basterds, Tarantino said that Mrs. Miniver was the greatest World War II film. I have to say it was really good. All major elements (story, character, performance, direction, etc) were very strong. Mrs. Miniver is the story of a middle-class mother who's life is turned upside down when England is declared to be at war. She is the average wife and mother, she enjoys taking care of her children, shopping, and spending time with her husband. But as the effects of the war become closer to home, she has first-hand encounters of a world that is not so friendly. The movie is never overly somber, and for the most part trys to portray the war in an approachable way (probably because it was currently going on when it was released).
I personally enjoyed watching the mannerisms of the characters, and their interactions with one another. Everyone is just so polite; it's actually pretty funny to watch how they constantly apologize for random things, that we today wouldn't even think about apologizing for (it was all so British). It's been a while since I've watched a movie since the 40s, and it definitely put me in the spirit to want to watch more.
Overall, Mrs. Miniver is worth watching because it definitely represents what was going on in the world in 1942. It portrays the situation with dignity, and gives you a good perspective on how people were feeling at the time.

Even more TIFF'09

Same Same But Different
Young German lad hooks up with a Malaysian prostitute, and falls tendering in love with her while backpacking through her town. She has no prospectives, or ambitions, but he stays by her side, despite family and friends telling him she has no future. I thought this was a very sweet movie, but at times didn't understand why he would still put up with her, even in times where she was infidelitous. Gorgeous cinematography of the Cambodian country-side.

Bran Nue Day
This was also a sweet movie, and had some cute song and dance numbers, along with a ridiculous performance by Geoffrey Rush. An Aboriginal adolescent has a girlfriend in his hometown, who he has trouble admitting his feelings to. He is shipped off to boarding school by his mother who wants him to be a priest so he can live a life of good means. The boy is not happy at the school and runs back home because he wants to be with his friends, family and girlfriend. Hilarious hijicks occur on his trek back home. My favourite parts all involve a tight-wad German hippy-tourist who is in Australia to find his father, and become spiritual.

High Life
It's 1983, a group of junkies are down on their luck, and want to score big cash, fast, decide to rob a bank's ATM machines. This movie is based on a theatrical play, and when it was adapted for the screen, they decided to flesh out narrative that doesn't take place in theatrical-like settings. I would have been interested to see a version that was more real to the play. Parts of the film strongly resonated scene and ideas in Reservoir Dogs, and I can't help but think they are conscious montages to the popular heist film. The film overall was enjoyable, but felt rushed. It ended with the feeling that the main character has not changed, and will likely live a cyclical existence of petty crime, jail, repeat.

Precious: Based on the the Novel "Push" by Sapphire
This film won TIFF's People Choice award, which it deserves because it embodies the elements of a film that people go to a festival to see. Dangerous Minds meets Dreamgirls is a tame analogy because Precious does try to push the envelope, when it comes to depicting an accurate account of a hard life people lead when they are in similar circumstances.
Precious is about young woman who was impregnated twice by her father, frequently abused by her mother, and lacks basic education. She escapes her harsh reality by fanasizing about a glamourous life she would like to lead. One of my favourite scenes is when Precious' mother is watching an Italian film (which I am pretty positive is La Ciociara staring Sophia Loren) and Precious escapes into the film with her mother, and they start speaking Italian and portraying the mannerisms of the characters in the film. For anyone who has seen La Ciociara, it's likely it was picked to be in Precious intentionally because it also involves a rape scene, and it is about the relationship between a mother and daugther.
I think it a way Precious is trying to be the big little film of the year. With backers including Oprah and Tyler Perry, it's definitely going to get attention, regardless of whether people actually go see it.
It's a nice film to see, but it's hard to say at this point whether it'll having staying power or not.

More from TIFF'09

The Day Will Come
A German, former activist, is hunted down by her long lost daughter, and is threaten to be exposed of a crime she committed, that she is trying to keep secret from her new family. Very well paced, and good approach on the relationship between a mother and daughter. I enjoyed the flow between German and French languages, due to the geographic setting of the film in France, close to the German border.

The Misfortunates
Trailer Park Boys in Dutch. I was sadly drained from many longs days at the festival at this point, and was sitting in the second row, so did not leave the film understanding the plot. Film ended with a simple, yet sweet scene of a young boy learning the ride a bicycle with his father/uncle, which was enjoyable. Heard from a co-worker later that his date was offended by the misogynistic themes, that's too bad.

Mr. Nobody
Synecdoche, New York meets 2001: A Space Odyssey, a crazy ride of what the hell is going on. A very old man recounts many potential lives he may have lived. Like Sliding Doors in reverse, the audience finds themselves intertwined in three different stories of his life, and trying to decipher which path is the real one. I left this movie with a profound feeling that life can't be bad regardless of the decisions I make. One of the few films that had an impact on me at this festival. The structure of the film felt like reading a "Choose Your Own Adventure", but in chronological order (because we've probably all done that at one point or another).

Phantom Pain
A touching film about a cyclist who survives a horrible accident, and needs to get one of his legs amputated. The protagonist is a slacker, who does not take responsibility in his life, and the accident is a wake up call. The film is German, but has a very American soundtrack, which gives me the impression that they are pushing for wide release. Story is good, acting is strong, but also, the whole film has a Hollywood formula, which lets you predict how it will end. Amazing cinematography of the countryside when he is cycling. Overall, very enjoyable, and accessible.

Tales from TIFF'09

TIFF'09 was a pretty good time. I have to admit there was nothing that blew me away, but maybe I just didn't make the right picks. That being said, there were some good films, that I did heartedly enjoy. I decided to try and review them this year as if I was pitching them, enjoy.

Antichrist
Von Trier tries to shock everyone by having Charlotte Gainsbourg drill a hole into her husbands leg, then cut off her genitalia. Set in a dark, yet campy woodland retreat, the audience follows the story of a couple mourning the loss of their son. Twisted and psychologically disturbing, you can't help but cover your eyes a few times, but then leaving the theatre thinking: "That's it"?

The Trotsky
Les Quebecois parle anglais dans ce film du farce political. Colm Feore est le Grande Fromage. Un jeune garcon pense qu'il est Leon Trotsky and plans to start a revolution at his high school. Avec un soundtrack super-pop, Trotsky is a fun, yet poignant tribute to the life of political leader Leon Trotsky. Good times.

Hadewijch
The kind of film that makes you wonder how some people are fanatically religious. Hadewijch follows a young girl in Paris as she tries to make sense of her relationship with God. Very dramatic and European in it's feel, as if they were really trying hard to be profound, but then got lost in the fog, and couldn't turn around.

An Education
Peter Sarsgaard ,with a mild British accent, seduces a school-aged girl, for god knows what reason. The film follows the rise and fall of their relationship. I personally wasn't convinced with plot; however, t'was British, and Peter is very easy on the eyes, so it wasn't a lost cause.

Rachel Getting Married (2008)

This movie surpassed my expectations, which was awesome. Knowing nothing about this film, besides it being screen at TIFF'08, my impression going into it was, wow, I hope Anne Hathaway isn`t annoying.
I really liked the film for it`s naturalistic style. The handheld camera work was cool, and the dialogue didn`t seem forced. Anne Hathaway did a really good job as a newly clean junkie, who is trying to cope with going home, and living in the shadow of her successful sister.
On some level I was able to relate to the sisters` bond. Regardless of what your sister does there is still unconditional love present, and I liked how regardless of how out of control Kim acted, Rachel was still forgiving, even letting her be the maid of honour.
I can see why this film got a lot of attention, it has a good feel to it, even though there is heavy drama involved. It flows very well, and keeps the audiences attention.

Milk (2008)

This was a pretty enjoyable film. For the most part it was what I expected, which was nice. Sean Penn's performance was professional, but at times reminded me of his character from I Am Sam, which was somewhat detrimental to my perspective.
What I loved about this film: Emile Hirsch! He was really adorable, I want to have a love affair with his hair. It was so luscious and curly, you know he obviously had it styled professionally, but it definitely carried the film.
Josh Brolin played the self-oppressed bad guy very well. His role here was very different than his portrayal of George Dub-ya, in W. I thought he performed in Milk very well.
James Franco seemed awkward playing Sean Penn's lover. The guy is a good actor, he just didn't look comfortable in this role, in my opinion. Maybe he was trying to expand his range by playing a homosexual, but really, I think he was trying too hard. He looked good, but I was kind of glad when his character was written out of the story, for a while.
Gus van Sant also did a good job directing. I found it cool that he is still able to use the same cinematic techniques that he employed back in his early years. Intertitles / Stillframes with dialogue overlapping style that was made to stand out in his early film My Own Private Idaho, but done very naturally in Milk, that I didn't even notice it until I consciously thought about it.
On a thematic level it's interesting how films such as Milk are commercializing the gay movement. Yes, there were riots and very public demonstrations, but Milk also portrays this period has a time of crazy, yet controlled fun. Mostly I'm thinking about the scenes where the characters are celebrating one of Milk's victories by dancing around, and drinking, having a crazy, ol party...like they were celebrating their victory against The Man.
I recommend this movie if you want to watch a story about a culture martyr who never gave up his fight. It's not too heavy, and is definitely a crowd pleaser.

Star Trek (2009)

This movie was enjoyable, but that's about it. I was at the edge of my seat for pretty much the whole time because of the action, and I left it feeling satisfied, but didn't leave me wanting more. Maybe it's because I'm not a Star Trek fan, but I didn't feel "excited" to see what will happen in the next movie.
Don't get me wrong, there were aspects of the film that I found awesome. The casting was well done. I loved Simon Pegg as Scotty, Leonard Nimoy making a cameo as his character, and thought it was hilarious Tyler Perry has a bit part for 2 scenes, in what seemed like a blink-and-miss role. Random casting of Winona Ryder as Spock's mom was creepy, but the kitsch quality of it made it funny.
The soundtrack was also amazing. I think the audio probably kept my attention more than the CGI/visuals (even though they were good too).
I saw it with my dad, who's a huge Star Trek fan, and he was weirded out that Spock and Kirk don't get along for most of the film, and that Spock is the captain for a good part of it. I guess these were ploys to try to appeal to a younger generation. I have to admit too that the love story between Spock and the chick (who has a weird name) strange, since his character originally isn't supposed to have feelings.
I recommend this movie if you want some decent action, with a meh story. I guess I wasn't as impressed as I thought I would be because Star Trek follows a lot of the familiar forms and conventions of films in this genre, and it doesn't try to break the mold at all.

The sky is falling...in a theatre near you!

Today I went to see the new Star Trek movie, and saw that most of the trailers shown for upcoming movies were about the destruction of Earth, in some form or another. I find these movies always eerie. The trailers in question were for Transformers 2, Terminator Salvation, and G.I. Joe. Maybe these trailers were shown because they are similar in conventions as Star Trek, but seeing all three in a row really got me thinking about how audiences are drawn to movies about our demise as a species. I admit that I always think hmmm...will we die this time, or be saved like every other time.
Other movies from the past few years, just to name a few: I Am Legend, Cloverfield, The Happening, and The Day the earth Stood Still all follow this theme as well. It's funny that all these movies (and likely all movies to come with this same premise) always end with earth surviving, humans changing their ways in order to save the earth. Some movies even portray how after the earth is spoiled, people come back and change their ways (WALL-E).
These movies are rarely cinematic genius, but they always make me question how I live on the earth. Sometimes I think these movies are out there to convince us that we're not all that bad, to calm us down, that as long as we repent we can save ourselves (ha, that sounds kind of catholic to me, actually).

Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist (2008)

This movie was really cute. I was expecting it to be contrived and predictable, but it actually kept my attention, and it flowed very naturally.
One of the subplots is that Nora's best friend, who is drunk, gets lost and then ends up in a train station, trying to get home. I found this to be reminiscent of the classic 80s movie "Adventures in Babysitting" where the narrative arch involves locating the protagonist's best friend, who is stranded at a bus station.
Nick and Nora's has a vintage feel to it, which I think is what made me enjoy it. Before seeing it, I had juxtaposed it to Zack and Miri Make a Porno, because the titles flow the same, they are both a generation-y romantic comedy, and they were theatrically released around the same time.
I enjoyed the soundtrack as well. I thought it would be a lot of obvious indie rock music, but I actually wasn't familiar with most of the music beyond a few songs by The Cure.
I also enjoyed how the supporting actors were not high list celebrities.
Overall I recommend this movie, because it's sweet, and doesn't disappoint. Don't set your standards uber high, but just enjoy it for what it is.

Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008)

This movie was pretty weak. Kevin Smith is making a pretty bad attempt to be like Judd Apatow. I thought this movie had a lot of potential, but K.Smith just hasn't been rocking it in the past like 10 years. I think the last movie I enjoyed of his was Dogma, but mostly because it was unique.
The casing of Zack and Miri was great, I thought Elizabeth Banks and Seth Rogen were great picks, but the script really forced them to use their chemistry to carry the film, instead of the story and dialogue.
Under more favourable circumstances K.Smith really knows how to carry the dialogue in his films, but he really seems to be working on autopilot. I don't care that I'm totally trashing the dude, because he really could do so much better. I think he should try a different medium to clease his humour palate and get some creativity going. Try some tv, man, or even some webisodes of some sort. Truely something can be done to salvage his situation, in my opinion.
Saying all this, I really didn't have very high hopes going into this film. I expected more from Darryl from the Office. I heard good reviews from his performance, but I thought it was pretty passive.
In the end, you might enjoy this film. Other people I've talked to said it was funny and entertaining, I just think it could have been better.

I love you, Man (2009)

This movie was a lot of fun. Paul Rudd and Jason Segel have awesome chemistry and definitely carried this film well. I have to say I enjoyed Rudd's performance more than Segel's just because it looks like it would be harder to play an awkward individual, over a character who is completely comfortable with their environment and lifestyle. Best parts of the movie were definitely Rudd making up random nicknames for Segel. I also loved that Jon Favreau was in this movie, and his scenes (even though he played an asshole) were all memorable.
Definitely check this movie out if you want a good frat pack flick

The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008), The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951)

I watched the second version of this film a few weeks before watching the original, and geekishly enjoyed juxtaposing each of the films values, forms and conventions. Both films portray values that are very contemporary at the time of their theatrical release. Issues such as the war in Iraq, and environmentalism take the main stage in depicting humans' vices in the remake, and in the original it is blatant that the cold war is in full force and that the enemy under question is from the Soviet Union. I find it pretty funny that both wars in Iraq and against the Soviet Union have so much in common, it really illustrates how America seems to be at war with someone at any point in time (they just can't get along with everyone).
In terms of visual depiction the remake is as high tech/CGI as you can get. While this does not ruin the experience of watching the movie, I must say I prefer the low fidelity graphics of the original. The graphics are not even that bad in respect to the technology that the filmmakers were dealing with at the time. They are very simple, and a lot of the effectiveness ends up being delivered through the spooky cinematography and eerie music.
The family unit and characters' roles are also different in both films. For example, take the female lead. In the original she is a humble single mother, working as a secretary, who is dating a decent man. In the remake the same character is also a single mother (but the son is not biologically her's), she is a ground breaking scientist, who caries herself with sophistication, and is more focused on her career, than to have a love life. I think this is interesting how vastly the same character has evolved. It certainly is done to illustrate how women have different priorities in their lives now, than they did 60 odd years ago.
In terms of recommending, the original is definitely a classic, and will probably be remembered for a lot longer than the remake. Both were enjoyable in their own capacity, but I say if you have to choose go for the original.

Marley and Me (2008)

This movie was so sweet and enjoyable. It was also tender and sad, where during several scenes I almost cried.
The story is based on a book, which is based on the true story, predominantly about a man and his dog. What I found interesting is the film seems to so strongly parallel American family values, and does so, so sincerely and at the same time does not come across as contrived one bit. Values such as working hard at a job that you love, but then being able to make career sacrificed in order to raise a family, and also to being true to your spouse. It really felt like they were trying to instill these values into the film's audience (and really what American film doesn't do this?). It may seem that this movie is illustrating how not to raise your dog and how hard it is to train them. But what I got is that this film is really about the bond people create with their pets, and the fact that their pets are truely a part of a family. In the movie, Marley was there through it all, thick and thin. Even though many (if not most) times he was the source of the problem, he really kept the husband and wife together during their difficult times.
What I really liked about this film is that it avoided getting too elaborate or fabricated in it's storyline. The reason probably being that the story is based on true events. I also really liked how the film was very accessible and easy to relate to.
I definitely recommend this film because it can be taken at face value, and you will leave it wanting to hug the closest pooch.