Knight and Day

Um let me just start by saying that I el oh vee ee Tom Cruise.  LOVE him.  As an actor.  In his movies.  I think he is actually one of the best actors.  Total whack-a-doo in real life, but his movies are just great.  And this one is no exception.

It was an action movie which is always one of my favorites, but also super cheesy and quite funny.  Tom's character is just super dry humor which is fun to watch.  And Cameron Diaz plays a perfect girl who needs to be saved.  There were some moments where the cheese was a little too much for me and I physically had to groan, but overall I completely loved, completely recommend it as a date night/night out movie, and just grab the popcorn!!

Robin Hood & A-Team

Double Summer Feature Review- Get Your Popcorn and Frosty Drinks Ready!

First the A-Team.

I think I should add a disclaimer that I love Bradley Cooper deeply and have ever since Alias. I also should warn you I saw this movie with my mom who Liam Neelson she claims at least “melts her butter,” direct quote there. This movie was pure summer popcorn movie and I loved it for that. Murdoch the semi crazy character who tries to hotwire a car with a defiberlator is pretty hilarious at all times. Face is just that pretty and funny and rocks a suit as well as no shirt at all. And the rest of the A-Team are really great at their parts. And everyone else was great too except you Jessica Biel- where are your BDUs!

If you just want a fun Iron Man kind of movie go see this. Smart yet not intense and just plain fun.

Robin Hood was much more serious and to be honest I was a little unexcited about this prospect. But it was really marvelous and had light and dark parts. It is more of a origin story and I was really interested becuase it told the story in a completely different yet great way. What I loved most about this movie and I have to admit I kept tearing up which I still cannot figure out why. Was just the straight out fight of the people even when they were not really in the best situations.

My only complaint had to do with Marion at the end and if you have seen this you know what I am talking about. I don’t disagree with what she did but how she handles herself in the situation. Go see it if you want a great story with some gorgeous scenery. And as always Blanchett and Crowe deliver.

And we're back...

Whew! Been a long time. But I'm feeling like I don't want to work SO here I am.  Haha apparently, finding new jobs, finals, having children, etc. really fills up our lives!  But I thought I'd lighten the mood and give a review of a movie I know at least two of my other Hackers has seen. 

Now I did not see the 3D version, one because they are 5 extra dollars here in Michigan, and also because I truly dislike 3D movies.  But I did go to a late night version with my friend and a blanket and it was awesome.  This movie was super cute and I totally adored all the voices in it.  The dragons were SO dang cute and I loved that they didn't talk.  I think it totally would have ruined the movie if the dragons had talked.  And it allowed them to have such cute facial expressions.  Overall it was just a super cute cartoon and is added to my growing list of favorites.  What can I say, I'm just a kid at heart always.

Some other things that I've been enjoying lately are the abundance of good tv shows on.  My favs include:
*In Plain Sight.  Honestly I just can't get enough of this show.
*Cougartown.  So funny and I love Courtney Cox and the neighbor.
*Modern Family.  Funny. The. End.
*Justified.  Oh my Timothy Olyphant.  Him and his Southern accent I could watch all day and night...
*Glee.  As always.  Love the singing and love that crazy Sue Sylvester is back.
Love it.

Paper Heart

First off I love these cute little quirky movies because I know I can definitely be quirky if not just plain weird. But let me lay it out for you Charlene Yi thinks she is incapable of falling in love and sets out to find out if it is true. She interviews countless people on the subject all over the country including Albuquerque. Here is where this movie is different though, during the filming she starts to date Michael Cera (yes that cute, adorable, sarcastically awkward funny pocket size Michael Cera) and the director Nick wants to tape it since it is now part of her journey. And when the interviewed couples tell stories from their relationships they are acted out with these handmade dolls- this sounds creepy but is actually really original and these dolls are some fun art.
This movie is a short little treat which ends like you want it too and is filled with heartwarming moments. From the little Southern gentlemen answering questions about love on the playground who is far wiser than his years, to other hilarious scenes like Nick and Charlene running towards a fireworks shop shouting Fireworks. If you do rent it make sure to watch the deleted scenes I found myself wondering why some were not included in the movie. Overall I would definitely suggest it in fact this and 500 Days of Summer would be a lovely double feature. These are the kind of movies that leave you happy and hopeful.

New Years Greetings!

I just wanted to wish everyone a happy and healthy new year and share my excitement for things to come!!

A few of these things:
*Sherlock Holmes (which of course has already come out but I have not yet had the time to go)
*New season of Chuck - I'm just in love with him
*Alice in Wonderland - Crazy but I just can't wait
*Lost - I'm still lost but I'm considering trying again....
*Harry Potter - I think the first one of the last book comes out this year?
*Eclipse - because I just have to


Love you all and hope you're excited too!!! 


Also as an added New Year's BONUS I'll throw in a book review. On the plane home I was able to read one and a half books (not more because I get sick). The first was The Alchemist. Fascinating read I must tell you. It's about a boy who is trying to fulfill his 'personal legend'. It puts a really different spin on destiny. I recommend it highly (especially since it only took me 45 minutes to read). But, definitely read the foreword by the author before reading the book, it helps explain things a lot and lets you get more out of it.
The second one I'm almost through with is Mitch Albom's newest book Have a Little Faith. Love it just as much as I love his other books. It's about him being asked to give a eulogy for his Rabbi. There is also a story about a man who I believe becomes a Priest but I haven't gotten there yet. I already know though that I love it and I recommend it too!

The Invention of Lying/Law Abiding Citizen

Two very different movies but that only adds to the fun.

First The Invention of Lying. Honestly I think that Ricky Gervais is one of the funniest human beings and this is such a funny concept for a movie. The human race has not evolved enough to lie, so everyone just says the truth. And apparently people just say everything they're thinking as well because there are no filters. Honestly the truth is a very funny thing, as long as it's not directed at you : ). So Ricky is a 'loser' because he's fat and not very talented, and no one in this world get's to know people, they only judge on what's on the outside. But he develops the ability to lie. This movie is funny because the truth is funny, and him learning how to lie is funny. Jennifer Garner plays his love interest in the film and she is perfect for the role. She is a nieve girl next door who perfectly buys into the lies and tells her truth awesomely. It's not a heavy movie in any way but still has a good message and is so funny. I could say some lines but they would not be as funny in words, so really I just recommend you seeing the movie.

Next movie is drastically different. Law Abiding Citizen has Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler. Butler lost his family to a robbery and Foxx is the DA who makes a deal with the guy who murdered Butler's fam. Butler gets profoundly upset by this and makes it his mission to bring down the flawed justice system. The movie is pretty violent but the message I find really interesting. The way that it makes you think about the justice system, you side with Gerard Butler even though he's doing these horrible things. Butler's character is also fascinating, he's a super smart guy who figures out how to bring the entire justice system down, from the mayor down to the prison guards. Butler plays the character totally believably, he is the grieving father but also the ruthless brilliant man who planned so many killings. I also recommend this movie, it definitely makes you think about things and keeps you interested while you're trying to figure out what's going on just like Foxx is.

Bootmen / Vampire Diaries /Celebration- Madonna

So here it is all at once… because I am too lazy to post 3 times.

Bootmen is this Australian movie I got from Netflix, completely worth it. It has 2 very nice looking brothers in it who work at a steel mill in a small coastal town and they are looking for a way out. One brother wants to a buy a rig, the other wants to get out by dancing. Along the way a girl, some local thugs and a dad against it all crosses their path.
There is a tragic event in this movie which I feel I should warn people about and it is R. But the way they industrialize tap dancing is really interesting to watch. And Sam Worthington as in the latest Terminator is in it, it was really shocking in a good way to see him be funny and adorable. Definitely worth adding to your Netflix queue.
There are also just 2 things in general I love about Australian movies/shows: 1. The girls look real and 2. Being a great Dancer and a manly man are not exclusive parties, you can be both. Just look at another Aussie Hugh Jackman.

Vampire Diaries so me and Heidi have already talked last night’s ep to death. But since we are both enjoying it so much I would feel remiss if I did not mention. Ok here are some of my thoughts about last night’s ep: Although I covet Elena’s jacket and hair I really need her to stop asking dumb questions, looking confused in general and keep up with the story here. Old school suits are not flattering even on a boy as hot as that. Umm Katherine you are not that nice and not that cool either. The whole dancing away the day part really was hilarious and Ian Somerhalder pulled off perfectly. Really you are going to send the TV reporter after the vampire not the cop? Really that is your plan here? Hmm well good luck buddy!

Madonna Celebration CD- A greatest hit compilation. All the hits you forgot she had, mixed well with new at the beginning and the end. I literally forgot all these songs and this fun little CD reminded me of them.

500 Days of Summer

Not what I thought but better…
- This is totally late I pretty much forgot I wrote it so lameness on my part.

My sister came with me to see this indie film because I always feel I am not hipster chic enough to see these movies.

This movie is about a greeting card writer who meets a girl and they date, her name is Summer. The movie hops around from different days of the 500 days of Summer (the girl not the season). So we see the whole relationship like it got cut up and then mixed- like a delicious salad. Including how Tom deals with their breakup after thinking she was the one (this happens pretty early and is pretty well known so not a spoiler). Including how different he sees her pre and post breakup.

Sounds like a downer but it’s not. You not only get to see their entire relationship but also a lovely side of LA, and Summer’s wardrobe is really cute, plus the music is great too. And I am not into Joseph Gordon-Levitt (huh 3 names again) but by the time I left this movie I totally loved him.

It is just a cute little movie about something we will all go through or have.

The Hurt Locker

A hack into this movie.

What can you say about a movie that is about a bomb diffuser in Iraq that is not already implied? Intense is the word I would use. This movie is not for the faint of heart because it will keep it pumping the whole way through. They are not so many people in this movie and it does not need them. The main focus is the team of men who are sent to deactivate bombs all across Iraq.

Jeremy Renner is James the new guy and also in charge, he is the guy that actually deactivates the bombs. He plays this part well but you don’t realize all the subtle things he has done until the end of the movie that make this character.

Anthony Mackie is Sarborne the second in command who wants to do what James does. He tries his best to keep James in line and everyone safe.

Brian Geraghty is Eldridge young and unsure and in Iraq you should be. He is the green kid.

All of them do a great job in this character study and it will be a travesty (If I had a virtual fist that would slam on a virtual desk I would insert it here) if we don’t see them in other movies.
This is the kind of movie I like to see with my dad because he can answer questions like how many shots can you get off an AK-47 (imagine bringing a guy home to that). While also discussing if the guys he knew were really like that. You want to see this movie with someone so you can talk about it with after and what you think of James reckless or just functioning?

What did I see? A movie where a man with some demons was doing the best he could to cause the least damage whether by the bomb, to himself, his family, his team and the men around him.