Oops...

How weird...I could have sworn I wrote a post about two movies I watched...I must have written it, left it, and then forgot to actually hit "post." Oh well...I just watched a new movie since then so I'll write about all three. :)

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (James Franco, Freida Pinto, John Lithgow) - Having never seen Planet of the Apes, I can't definitively say whether this keeps the "feeling" or "answers" all the questions from the movie; however, I can say that I enjoyed the movie for itself. In addition, knowing OF the original does, for me, answer the question of how Earth became ruled by apes. So, I suppose it does achieve that big question. Although the motion capture (thanks to Andy Serkis again) is great and the story is good, I found the lack of a consistent "enemy" disruptive to the movie. Sure, Tom Felton's character is pretty nasty and you don't really like the head of the laboratory either, but what do you do when that creature you cared for and rooted for to be treated well suddenly becomes more dominate than a human? I will say, the apes, more-or-less, didn't actively try to kill someone and it wasn't exactly their fault that the human population dwindles to almost nothing (blame that on the reason why they all became smart), but still. It's a little disconcerting! Also doesn't help when the apes break out that you do feel for them too and the way they were mistreated. So, it's a mixed bag of emotions as you watch, but it's a good film. If you've got nothing else really to do and want to watch an action film and prequel to Planet of the Apes, I'd recommend it. I don't think I'd actively say "go see it," though. Grade: B

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan - This is actually an Australian film, which makes sense as to why Hugh Jackman gets a small role in the film as the, well, Australian male interest for one of the girls (he's in it for about 10 minutes?). I really enjoyed the film and it even put the desire to read the book (by the same title) in me, which is kind of amazing. Most times I watch movie adaptations and don't have that feeling, but this one managed to do it for me. As much as I liked the film, I do think part of the reason I want to read the book is the name confusion. The book starts in the 20th century (1980's?), but flashes back to China of old (19th century?). In other words, it's kind of a story within a story. The main characters of the story are Nina and Sophia who are best friends. Not an issue, but it starts off with them as adults and then it flashes back to when they are teenagers. So in the first 10-15 minutes of the movie you're trying to establish who-is-who in the two "modern" time frames (from adults to teens and back). Then...one of the girls ends up in a coma in the hospital and the other girl finds out she (the one in the coma) wrote a story in 19th century China about a similar friendship they had. So you see them in modern times and then it flashes to the 19th century China and the story her friend wrote. So, once again, you need to establish who-is-who (played by the same actresses). You think that wouldn't be so hard, but the story starts off when they're young girls and finishes when they're older. So, again, you need to establish which girl is which and the girls switch economic roles (poor to rich and rich to poor) after they marry. So, I think I spent half the movie trying to remember the names and connecting them to their modern, past, or 19th century China versions. It was rather confusing for a while. Once I got that all established, it was pretty smooth sailing from there. I enjoyed the acting and the story a lot, but I have a feeling the book (given how popular it is) probably is far better. Grade: B/B- (mostly for the name issue)

Ides of March (Ryan Gosling, George Clooney) - Huh. Movie was not what I expected it to be. The trailer is, basically, the premise of the movie (Gosling's character really believes in his candidate, Clooney, but something happens so he questions his beliefs in Clooney), but it's the situation and how it plays out that was surprising to me. First off, if you're watching this because it's a political campaign movie and you like politics, don't watch it for that reason. It's not West Wing; however, it is an interesting snapshot of the political promises and maneuvers that are done to get ahead in a campaign. The movie, though, revolves around Gosling and something he finds out about Clooney and the aftermath of that information. He tries to work around it, but events start spinning out of control (from another blunder) and, in a lot of ways, he becomes what he didn't want to become to save himself. So, perhaps this was me, but I felt a little sad at the end of the movie because, in many ways, he compromised his beliefs, became a person who got down in the mud with the others, and, basically, thought only of his career. The acting was good and Gosling does a good "serious" face that's always just slightly showing what he's feeling (wariness, mirth, anger, sadness, etc), but the movie definitely was not what I expected it to be. It's almost like it has a hint of a "thriller" feeling in it and it's not strictly the drama-like film I thought it would be. So, would I recommend it? I don't think so unless you think it's something you'd like to see, but it is a good film. I will say, if you do see it, remember that the politics are subtle and the movie really is more about a person's character. It also drops the f-bomb and other foul language quite a lot (Gosling, I have heard more swear words from you than any other actor lately!) Grade: C/C+

Next up? Not sure. Abduction and Dolphin Tale are out, so maybe. First, though, I really need to finish Downton Abbey (plugging away on season 1) and start researching for the Aquarium.

I've signed up for what?

So, I meant to blog about this a month or so ago (basically, right when I signed up), but FireFox ate the post and I didn't have the heart rewrite it then (same time I wrote those movie reviews). Then I simply forgot to post about it and now, well, I am posting about it!

I have jumped off the cliff with everyone else -- I have joined Twitter. Me, the person who said she refused to join Twitter and wouldn't join! Sadly, I only signed up in December because a nail polish company I like was doing FlashPromos (mostly giveaways) and were posting some on FB and some on Twitter. So I signed up so I could better track them. I have yet to really do anything with it other than follow a bunch of nail polish people. I probably won't do anything with it either since I can't text on my phone. My Twitter name is mjk1221 if you want to follow me. Who knows, maybe I'll post someday. :)

I also signed up with a tumblr account. I have a lot of friends who use Tumblr and I was curious about it so I signed up. I initially thought I might use it more given it has a spiffy "share on tumblr" hot bar thingy, but I've posted once on it other than my initial one. So...I guess that was sort of a bust. However, maybe I'll actually use it at some point. I suspect it'll end up mostly as pictures and possibly a nail blog. I haven't decided yet. I already post all my nail stuff on FB, but tumblr might be easier? I haven't decided or figured it out yet. That is one I don't want to totally want to give up on, but I guess I'll figure out one day what to do with it. That account name is also mjk1221

In other news...Day 4 of the year and I've watched 4 movies! Granted, I already watched one (Cowboys & Aliens), but it's still 4 movies. Which....makes me have to rethink my total movie count from last year. I should say that my movie watch list is for all movies that are NEW and have never seen before. I rewatch a good portion of my movies every year and, of course, rewatch some of the better releases of the year again. At any rate, I won't be changing anything of the movie thing, but it was just a random point I wanted to make. :)

So, on to the 3 movies I haven't seen before!

The Debt (Meryl Streep, Sam Worthington) - I didn't realize, for whatever reason, that it was basically one big flashback and then the present day. For an espionage thriller, that did make things a little confusing and disjointed. You spent the first 20 minutes or so trying to place who the two guys were from young to old. At least there was only 1 female so you knew the old and young versions were the same female, but it was a little more difficult for the males. You do figure it out eventually, but I can't say the movie was that surprising either. The big "twist" I guessed in the beginning of the movie so it wasn't so surprising. I also got a little confused at the end because there was a repeat of a scene we'd already seen in the present and it took me a minute to realize I'd already seen it and it wasn't new information. It was an interesting premise, I suppose, and it had good acting, but I didn't think it was that great. I feel like it fell just a little shy of its potential or something. Grade: C+/B-

I Don't Know How She Does It (Sarah Jessica Parker, Pierce Brosnan) - I don't think this film is as bad as it was made out to be, but I can't say it's particularly great either. For a rom-com, it's more drama leaning and it's kind of "wholesome." SJP's character, Kate, is a married working mother and they really stick to the fact she's married so she doesn't have any ideas of running off or having an affair with Brosnan's character, Abelhammer, and her character makes sure whatever she writes and stuff isn't construed as flirting (or very well tries to). She does have her quirks, but the main point, from my point of view, is that a woman can have it all -- high profile job, marriage life, and kids. However, it does make the point that she has to have her priorities or work will overtake the home. It does poke at working mothers vs stay-at-home mothers and working women vs working men. For example, the "does everything right" mother basically drops her kids off at school, goes to the gym till they're off, picks them up, and goes home to make dinner. As for the professional woman vs the professional man, if a man has to do something for the family and be late for work, it's seen as endearing and sweet, whereas if a mother does that, she's seen as lazy and incompetent. The style of the movie is semi-documentary-ish as it "interviews" several people throughout the movie to weigh in on things. In all, it's a cute movie, but has some stereotypes ("trying to be a man is a waste of a woman") and slight feminist feeling. On the other hand, she is completely loyal and loving to her husband (who is pretty accommodating and understanding) and basically says that having kids doesn't have to be the end of a woman's career (there is a nice point where her assistant gets pregnant and thinks of aborting, but she talks her out of it) if she can set boundaries. (Though, I suppose that career + family thing comes after she neglects her family for a while too...Hmm...). At any rate, if you've got nothing else better to watch, maybe you'd want to, but I can't say it should be anywhere near a priority. Grade: C

Hangover Part II - Said it'd be for sure in 2012 and it's 2012! Just came out at RedBox yesterday. It's not as good as the first one and I'm not saying that because the skeleton of the movie is exactly like the first one. I'm saying it because the hangover trail (or what they did while hungover) just wasn't as funny or good as the first one. The beginning was kind of funny because there were references to the first one and all that, but as it progresses, it's just not as funny. I didn't particularly enjoy the missing brother theme, whereas the first movie was the missing groom. They couldn't just repeat exactly like that, but the things they did along the way just weren't as funny. It was much more slapstick and deserving of its rated R too. I can't say the first one doesn't deserve its R rating either, but it had a different feel to it. The first one was more like it was part of the situation rather than it WAS the point, if that makes sense. Mostly disappointed, I suppose, but I guess I shouldn't be either given I kind of knew from the reviews it wasn't going to be as good as the first. If you really liked the first, you might want to watch the 2nd, but I wouldn't watch the 2nd if you haven't seen the first. Nor would I suggest the 2nd over the first one. Grade: C

With that...Off to finish Cowboys & Aliens and to repaint my nails. :) Happy New Year!