I haven't posted in a while...

Its been far too long since I've posted a blog, but I've decided to make some changes. First off I will still be posting blogs featuring movie reviews, but I will also include more analytical academic essays on movies. Maybe some of the same movies if I can...maybe different ones. This should provide a more diverse in depth look at not only the movies i choose to watch but films in general. Hopefully this will create a comprehensive, complex view of the film industry.

How I spent my Valentines Day...

Valentines Day: The day for flowers, chocolate, and romance. Or in my case the day to pig out on junk food, and watch movies with extreme amounts of blood and gore. My boyfriend and I decided to rent Inglorious Basterds and Zombieland. One's a comedy, the other a serious action film, one portrays evil in the form of flesh eating zombies, the other Nazis. Both share the common theme of using violence to survive...and maybe even have a little fun while you're at it.

First Inglorious Basterds, somehow I was mistaken to believe that this movie would just be Brad Pitt and his misfit gang of Jewish-American soldiers scalping their way through Germany. There was a whole other story line centering around a young Jewish woman whos family was murdered, leaving her the only survivor, and her plot to take revenge against Hitler and his army. The best parts of the film where those where we see "The Basterds" brutually killing every Nazi that got in their way. One of their members was known as "The Bear Jew' and he enjoyed taking a baseball bat to the heads of his enemies. The sick and twisted pleasure they take in massacreing Nazis is by far more entertaining than the sad tale the film starts out with. They both eventually intertwine, but subtitled dramatic points dragged on and weighed the film down. Maybe thats what it really needed, some wieght and heart. But what I wanted was blood and fluff.

So that brings us to Zombieland, the deffinition of blood and fluff. But thats what makes this movie so great. This isn't about trying to figure out why as a human race we're willing to survive at all costs, or why we need other people, or any other really sound moral life lesson...no this film is about not just surviving but living it up a little. Sure the main chracter conquers some fears, gets the girl in the end, and all the other cliche movie lessons but thats not why we like him. His neurotic tendencies and strict paranoid code of conduct he lives by are why we like him. He's not your typical hero, he's just a kid trying to make it across America without being eaten. He's joined by Tallahasse, played perfectly by Woody Harrelson, a rough zombie slayer on a quest to just find a twinkie. On the way they meet two con artist sisters, trying to make it to the amusement park they loved as kids. Comedy and blood drive this movie, but thats what makes it great. The film never takes itself too seriously, which is why it works. If you just want a film filled with laughs and gore then this is the one for you.

Law Abiding Citizen

Ok so I haven't posted anything in a while, and that is partly due to two changes in my movie viewing habits. 1)I have discovered a love for Netflix. It's even more convinient than Redbox, allows me to watch certain new releases and classic movies instantly on my computer, and I'm also able to watch episodes of my favorite tv shows. Now most new releases are not available to watch instantly, and ordering them would take several days. This is why Redbox is still perfect for those impatient people that want to watch their movie right now, such as myself. 2)I have also started actually going to the movie theater again. I'm only willing to pay $4 for my ticket, but still thats approximately 4 one night Redbox rentals. I had forgotten how nice it is to watch a movie right when it comes out, and in a place other than my basement. But not to fear Redbox still holds a special place in my heart.

Now on to the good stuff...Law Abiding Citizen. This has to be one of the better movies I've seen in a while. Gerard Butler stars as Clyde Shelton, a loving father and husband whose world is abruptly shaken when two men kill his wife and child durring a robbery. His pain is only furthered by an "unjust" trial that results in the true murderer recieveing a smaller sentence, and his partner recieving the death penalty. Ten years later Clyde Shelton exacts revenge on all those who robbed him of justice for his family. I really can't say much more because I would hate to give anything away. There were many "surprises" that can't be appreciated unless watched.

The plot isn't anything new, the action sequences aren't either. The acting isn't even award winning, but what matters here is that it doesn't try to be anything more than it is. The message of a corrupt system in which we live is evident, but now a days almost every movie shows that in one form or another. Even cartooons have hidden enviromental and social messages in them. But the real way this movie speaks to us is that it represents everything we wish we could be. Living in our world where the constant threat of danger is broadcasted from news stations 24/7, people want to feel that they can not withstand these threats but fight back if need be. People want to correct injustice, reward the good, and punish the wicked. Our true ability to do that is limited by laws. But Clyde Shelton opperates above the law, in increasingly creative and destructive ways. He does all of this for the love of his family. He's willing to fight for what he feels was right, at all costs. He has the guts and skills to do, what most people only dream about. Its unrealistic, unoriginal, and down right impossible. And that is why this movie works. It plays into our desire to take justice into our own hands.

Don't watch it if you're looking for much more than viloence, blood, and "shocks". You have to dig a little to find some depth, but sometimes some mindless action is just what you need.

Frustrating to say the least...

I've discovered a real problem in my quest to document my Redbox findings. The limited availability of movies is ridiculous. I am constantly receiving email notifications on newly released movies available, but then find that they aren't even available at my local Redboxes. Either they don't carry the movie at all, or they don't keep enough copies in stock. I have wanted to see the movie "It Might Get Loud" for some time, but it is always checked out. My boyfriend and I decided to rent "Law Abiding Citizen" the other night, and even though the poster was clearly displayed and said "available for rent" at every Redbox, we had to travel to FIVE different places in order to rent it.

(Note:We were on an extreme mission to watch this movie. Under normal circumstances I would not have gone on such a wild goose chase just for one movie. I just felt that all my readers should be informed that I am not in fact crazy, just determined. That is all.)

There also seems to be an overwhelming selection of movies that were not originally released in theaters, which is fine. I really enjoy finding those relatively unknown films that are surprisingly wonderful. But what I also want are those movies that I missed when they were in theaters, or was just too cheap to pay full price to view. Those are the movies that I really want Redbox to supply me with. They do an adequate job of obtaining movies that grossed a lot at the box office, or have the potential to be more popular on DVD. But I want movies that came to theaters and maybe weren't as successful as others, so they weren't out as long. Those are the movies I want available to me. Not another romantic comedy starring the people from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" made only for the Independent Film Channel.

Julie & Julia

Ok I have to admit that I'm sort of cheating with this one. I have actually seen Julie & Julia once before. Over the summer my friends and I decided to take advantage of the cheaper ticket pricing at Woodhill and watch as many movies as we possibly could. We rationalized that student tickets cost half as much there as they do at other theaters showing first run movie, so in theory we could see twice as many movies. I now see that this may have been faulty logic, but it did provide twice the amount of entertainment for the same price. I had only seen the previews for Julie & Julia twice, largely due to the fact that we had decided to get rid of our satelite dish and switch to an antenna and converter box that provides us with your basic four channels. Even so it caught my attention the first time it flashed across the television screen. A charming story about two women sperated by time but connected by food, starring beloved actresses Amy Adams and Meryl Streep.

The story centers around two characters: Julie Powell, a modern day unhappy, unaccomplished 30 year old who decides to add to her life by blogging and cooking her way through Julia Child's "Mastering the Art of French Cooking". And of course Julia Child, the now world renowned author, television personality, and above all chef. But who was also the wife of a diplomat living in France, challenged with the task of finding something to make her happy. These two women in essence led very different lives but were ultimately bound by one thing: Love of Food.

Now this movie appealed to me because I too love to cook, and I also happen to think Amy Admas is adorable. Both of which are still true to this day. But the real star was Meryl Streep. Her honest portrayal of a legendary woman was both irresistable and believable. Her infectious personality and smile won over the hearts of the French where ever she went, and the audience as well. But what really got me were the moments where you saw her sensitive, vulnerable side. These tender moments warmed the heart and made you truly fall in love with both Streep and Child.

Now I know that not everyone will love this movie. Several of the people I saw it with told me that "once was enough". I however love this story of determination and ultimately success filled with beautiful foods, and rich characters. This was well worth the $1 it cost to rent...and the few more I spent keeping it for several days.

Public Enemies

Public Enemies promises a slew of A-List stars to entice viewers. Everyone from Johnny Depp to a cameo by Channing Tatum. The film follows the exploits of bank robber John Dillinger, played by Johnny Depp, as he is arrested, escapes prison, robs banks, and is arrested again. The movie portrays him as a "good guy" or the bad guy you want to win.

The film was downright boring. I can't get over my disapointment. I fully expected a nice Depression era gangster film, but was given a confusing, slow paced, i don't know what. Sure it had the right ingridients for a film of this genre. There were beautiful women, fast cars, loads of money, and most importantly guns...lots and lots of guns. But what failed was the pace that the movie was set at. I'm not sure if the director just thought the movie needed to be rich with detail, or if he was trying to show another side to this type of film, but either way it was just too long. It lost my attention about two thirds of the way through. I'm sad to say that I am not even sure how it ended.

I can't place all of the blame on Redbox however, Hollywood in general can take some of the credit. Just because you put respectable actors in a film does not automatically make it a hit. In fact that can often spell disaster when the studios, directors, producers, or even actors themselves choose to coast on a good name rather than good work. Now I'm not saying thats the case here, but we have all seen movies that seem to examplify this very problem.

But then again maybe its my own fault, maybe I need to do more research into what I watch before I watch it. Maybe I need to just put up the $8 it costs for a regular movie ticket...On second thought I think I'll stick to Redbox.

Carriers

Carriers stars Chris Pine and Piper Perabo, they along with two other companions are traveling cross country in search of an old motel on the ocean where Danny(Chris Pine) and his younger brother (Lou Taylor Pucci) spent their summers as children. They hope to take refuge there from a virus that has spread through most of the population causing them to turn into zombie like decaying versions of what they once were. Along the way they meet many people and see the death and destruction caused by the disease. We also learn of their pasts and how easily bonds can be broken when your survival is at stake.

So the premise to this movie sounded appealing, like a serious version of Zombieland. I'm very much into science fiction/end of the world/ zombie movies, and I really enjoyed Chris Pine in the remake of Star Trek. I had previously seen previews for it on IMDB (Internet Movie Database) and wanted to see it, but then forgot about it because I didn't see anything else for it. I'm not even sure if it came to theaters, or if it was a straight to DVD release. Either way Redbox chose to advertise it as though it was a box office hit! It looked like I couldn't go wrong with this pick. Oh how wrong that assumption was.

The movie lacked a lot of key elements. A flowing plot, for example, would have been nice. And utilizing the acting talent you have to their full ability would have also been a refreshing change from the sad one liners and dreary dialogue. The sequence of events that took place felt pointless and as though they were only included to serve as a way to transition characters out of the movie.I found myself struggling to stay awake, while my boyfriend quickly gave up the fight and fell asleep not long into the movie. I think he made the smarter choice.

In the end the movie itself felt like it was made to get one point across to its viewers. Any bond, no matter how strong, can and will be broken. Thanks a lot Redbox.

Whats the deal?

Redboxes are the newest thing in movie rentals. They're available at all sorts of locations from your local gas station, McDonalds and Walmarts all across the nation. They have a wide selection of new releases, older films, and some more indie/straight to DVD options. This all sounds great doesn't it? But is Redbox really helping you out? Sure its convinient but does it really help you view the "best" the film industry has to offer? I'm going to test this by renting several movies over the course of the semester and analyzing them. I'll compare them to whats available at other rental sources such as Netflix and Blockbuster, and compare whats available at different Redboxes around town.