Sunday Matinee: Adventures of Tintin

I showed this movie at the library this week. It was one of the biggest crowds I've had for movie night. I wasn't sure I was going to like it. I'd heard it compared to Indiana Jones and that made me show it.That might have something to do with this scene, which is very similar to Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

I confess I loved it.

I loved the adventure.
I loved the filming and how the scenes moved together (for example - the merging of the desert and the ship on the water)
I loved the humor. These two were hilarious. I love the library of wallets!!!

I loved the mystery and the research.

My favorite was Snowy. He was funny, charming, and adorable.

There wasn't anything I didn't like about the film.

Plus, there's room for sequels, which I do hope they make.

Sunday Matinee: Hunger Games

I've been waiting for this movie for forever it seems. I couldn't wait a minute more and went to the midnight showing on Thursday night.  While there were some differences from the book, I really thought it was well done. I loved it.

Differences my husband and I noticed:  
the introduction of the pin
The saluting of Katniss
Prim (was she so terrified at the reaping in the book?)

Moments they tried to include but lost significance: 
The bread moment
The long talks between Peeta and Katniss both before the games and during the games
Haymitch's drinking problem and the deal he made with Peeta and Katniss

I heard teens in the library talking - most loved it. There was one girl who didn't like it because she felt it missed the romance of the book.

My husband and I talked about that too. I thought the romance seemed forced from Katniss's perspective, but that it was supposed to feel that way. Chris remembered her being unsure in the book - but feeling something. I thought that didn't happen until the second book.

We also had different viewpoints on the Cinna/Katniss relationship. the movie didn't show the development of the relationship - how he was unique in the Capitol, more human.  With the style team not in the movie, it made it hard to see how different he was from the others. Aside from the gold on his eyes, he didn't share the crazy fashion of the Capitol. They were close in the movie, but the relationship seems more significant in the books.

Moments that stood out for me:

The scenes between Katniss and Prim (I teared up at these scenes)


Rue's scenes:

Caesar - was great for comic relief

The Capitol costumes were amazing

How the games were controlled:  a great addition to the movies that was not detailed in the book - really cool!

Overall:
I thought it was true to the book. I loved Katniss and Peeta. I thought all the characters were well done.

 I thought the violence was handled really well - it wasn't too gruesome, but it wasn't cut out either. It was significant but not graphic.

All in all - a great movie. I hope to show it at the library. Everyone I know is buzzing about it - if they've seen it, when they're going, and what they thought of it.

What did you think of it?

Sunday Matinee: Midnight in Paris

This movie made me long to go to Paris. The scenery was beautiful and charming.

I loved the time travel - which I didn't get from watching the trailers. While I knew several the people he met, I didn't know all of them (and I wished that I did). I loved the idea that you always wish to live in a different time - and you might not realize that your time is a golden age.  I would like to witness the Italian Renaissance or Jane Austen's England.

I hated her family, but they were amusing. Normally I love Rachel McAdams - but in this case, you were not meant to like her.  It was an interesting role for her and it worked nicely.

I love Owen Wilson. He was charming, funny, and a little lost.

This scene was amusing:

All in all, it was a charming movie, but not one that I would watch over and over again. 

Have you watched it? What were your impressions?

Sunday Matinee: In Time

I showed this at the library earlier in the month.

 This reminded me a little bit of The Adjustment Bureau.

What I liked:

The concept of time as currency

Justin Timberlake: I thought it was a great role for him. He was cocky without being unlikable. He was a fighter - both mentally and physically.

The time on your arm - neat idea

I really like the different type of role for Amanda Seyfried. I really like her. Plus she had great dresses.

What I didn't like:

My Husband's view:
Not a bad movie.
The whole stealing time part didn't make sense. Wouldn't everyone do it as the minutes ticked down. You would have nothing to lose and it seemed so easy breaking into the banks.
Also if it was really that easy to transfer time - wouldn't more people be killing each other and stealing time.

Which makes a whole lot of sense to me.

Overall, I liked it. I was happy to watch it. I thought it would bring in more teens to the library.

Sunday Matinee: The Vow

I went to see this last night with a friend.

Things I liked about the movie:

* It was based off a real life couple -Krickitt and Kim Carpenter -and their journey together

*their first date - eating chocolate

* I liked the filming sequence - they were on a date and the accident happened. She was in a coma and then woke up. When she didn't recognize him, memories of their moments together (How they met, their first date, him asking her to move in) came interspersed with real time moments.

* Their wedding vows - were sweet

* how she tried to piece together her timeline from photographs

* the book part - when he asked her favorite book (James Patterson - The Beach House) How he thought she could experience falling in love with him again for their first time, just like being able to read your favorite book for the first time.

*their first second date was adorable  - a tour of their moments together

*I was a bit surprised at how much emotion showed between the two, mostly by Tatum, In other movies he's not very expressive, but here he let loose with his emotions and it was great.

Things I didn't like: 

* I have mixed feelings about the last scene. It's realistic and mirrors the first scene - but somehow I wish that there was a Mark Darcy/ Bridget Jones moment there.

* It was a traumatic experience for both of them - but sometimes their frustrations with each other went a little too far.

Overall: It was a charming sweet but highly emotional charged film. I really enjoyed it

Sunday Matinee: Real Steel

I showed this movie at the library earlier this week and it was pretty popular.

Usually I don't like boxing movies because I hate the blood and guts = however, this worked out well for me because there wasn't blood and guts. I didn't hide my eyes during the hits.

What I liked:
Hugh Jackman - I really like him. He's dreamy. I liked his character here - and how it changed. He made me laugh. I liked this boxing sequence

Evangeline Lilly - She was good although her part was small

Dakota Goyo - his son who plays a smart mouth kid. He had some great lines.  I loved him dancing with Atom. He also had some horrible lines.

Overall opinion:
It was a cheesy action movie. I happen to like cheesy action movies, but there were times when I rolled my eyes at some of the lines (especially a moment at the end). Still I enjoyed the movie and I those who came to the library to watch it did too!

Sunday Matinee: One for the Money

I've been waiting forever to see this movie. I'm a HUGE fan of the books. They're an addicting mix of danger and humor (I often laugh until I cry). I was so excited to see it.

And I really enjoyed it.

Likes:

I liked Morelli - he was entertaining, amusing, and perfect for the role

I liked Heigl - when she was first announced as the lead, I wasn't sure. Then I watched the movie Killers and became convinced that she could play Plum. She was pretty good.

Dislikes:

I wasn't a huge Ranger fan - but he was ok. There wasn't much of him in the movie.

There wasn't enough Grandma Mazur - but she was great in the short snippets

There wasn't enough of Lulu. She's also hilarious in the book and she's quite funny in the movie, but she's barely in the movie.

I don't remember the ending of the book as I read it years ago, but is it the same? Somehow I thought there was more danger for Stephanie.

Overall: It was funny - with some action and some danger. I'm hoping the movie does well enough to make a few sequels. While the book was better (like most cases), the movie was pretty entertaining.

Did you see it? Did you like it?

Also there was an awesome trailer for Hunger Games!

Sunday Matinee: Sherlock Holmes Game of Shadows

I loved this movie!

It was dark, funny, and sweet at times.

I loved the cameo with Rachel McAdams













The wedding was sweet.














I love the skulking in dark corners and trying to figure out the puzzle














I loved the stag night and the bits with Mycroft Holmes
















I loved the game of minds between Sherlock and his opponent.

I loved the bit about the horses.

I love scenery, it makes me want to go to England ASAP












Oh, I LOVED the dancing scene.

I don't think there was anything about the movie that I didn't Like. Have you seen it yet?

Your Thoughts?

Sunday Matinee: Captain America

What I liked:

Hayley Atwell: her tough attitude and her shooting skills



Tommy Lee Jones



Stanley Tucci - I just LOVE him



Captain America's determination



Special Effects



The Tony Stark Connection



I adore how these movies all piece together

Plus I liked that part in Times Square.



What I disliked:
How little Chris Evans looked in the car ride with Hayley Atwell

The Ending: I was a little shocked and a little sad about the date

SO looking forward to the Avengers to see how all these movies piece together!!!!!

Sunday Matinee: Something Borrowed

I couldn't read the book which opens with the best friend and the fiance waking after after their night together. It's a personal feeling - but I don't find cheating entertaining.

That said, I was curious about the story because I'd heard great things about it. The movie was just...ok.















Things I liked:

He made the movie and I love Gennifer Goodwin


LOVED the author Cameo - but didn't realize until I saw this picture that she's reading the next book!



Things I didn't like:

This guy - I found him to be a young Tom Cruise - cocky and arrogant and smug




The fact that Kate Hudson played a VERY similar character in Bride Wars - the snotty best friend. I used to love her - but I wish a different role would come along for her.


I did like the ending and I'm curious to see where the story goes from here. Now that I'm passed the awkward part, I can start reading the books.

Sunday Matinee: Fast Five

I showed Fast Five at the library the other day on the big screen.

I had a bunch of teens show up - and one girl made arrangements to meet a boy there. They were in middle school and it was a "date".

The boys sat at the back of the room and the girls sat in the front. They were chatty and playful.

The movie was fun, we had a good time.

My husband convinced me to watch the previous movies (except for number 3) so we could watch this one together. I liked the action of the movies.


Things I liked:
The Rock

The action sequences:
The big three:
The last little bit in the credits makes me curious and excited for the next movie!

Things I didn't Like:
How things just didn't add up (I know it's not really supposed to add up, but it was worse than usual)

This one didn't have many car races. In fact they skipped one big race.

Final Verdict: FUN
It tried to be a cross between the other Fast and the Furious movies and Ocean's 11

Sunday Matinee: Thor

My Thoughts:

The car scenes were funny

I Loved Natalie Portman
And Kat Dennings
I really liked the gatekeeper

I liked the chemistry between Thor and Jane

My Mistake: I though this guy was Marshall from How I Met Your Mother. I was CONVINCED until my husband looked it up. I was wrong. Still, I thought he was wrong for the part - or at least had the wrong hair, costume, and manner.




Dislikes: The scenery of Thor's Home - it just looked too strange and too overdone (if that even makes sense).

Also, it was very predictable - which isn't always a bad thing.


Final Verdict: Entertaining and I'm Curious to see where it goes next