Some More Movies and a Book

So...I've seen a few more movies since I last checked in, including films #20? Maleficent, #21? Despicable Me, #22? Despicable Me 2, #23? The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, and book #4 The Specialist: The Costa Rica Job. I have opinions to share for all of these but am lacking in the time to write them down at the moment.

I promise to get on that as soon as I can.

I hope before the end of the month.

Of July.

Maybe.

(Reminder to self: also need to review The Grand Budapest Hotel, Divergent, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, About Time, JCVD, The Fifth Estate, Iron Man 2, White House Down, and Austenland.)

Sunshine (2007) Film 19?/20

So I had never heard of this film until just recently when I was prompted to do a Google search for the score used in one of the X-Men: Days of Future Past movie trailers. Because that's a thing I do. Don't you?

Anywhoo...a quick search led me to John Murphy's score to Sunshine (I had already recognized the second piece from Hans Zimmer's score from The Thin Red Line...because again, that's a thing I do) which got me thinking...Hey, I've never heard of this movie called Sunshine. This in turn led me to do a quick search on IMDB.com...because thank you, Internet. Once I saw that it starred Cillian Murphy's cheekbones and Chris Evans' abs, I immediately added it to my Netflix queue. And the rest is history.

X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) Film 18?/50

This movie was better than X-Men: First Class (which, if you read my review, you know I enjoyed with the exception of the horrible objectification of the female characters). My only problem with this film is that Anna Paquin received higher billing than Ellen Page. If I were Page, I'd sue. Or use my time-traveling powers to go back and renegotiate my contract.

If you haven't seen it yet, what's stopping you? If it was January Jones in the first film, don't let that worry you. And the supersonic stuff is gone, too. So...yay. 

Now get to a theatre.

Doctor Sleep and Friends Books 1 & 2/50 and Movies 9 to ?/50

I've been neglecting this site...AND I'VE BEEN READING BOOKS! Okay. Not a large number of books. But I finally got around to finishing two of the four I started back in January.

Book #1: The Design Method
I will write a proper review of this book to post to goodreads.com (in accordance with the agreement I made with the kind lady who messaged me and offered me a free copy in exchange for reviewing it). I will link to it here once it is finished.

Book #2: Doctor Sleep
The sequel to The Shining. If you haven't read The Shining, read that one first. And watching the Stanley Kubrick film doesn't count. He took some serious liberties with the book. Both the original book and the film are worthwhile for your time. And Doctor Sleep ain't too shabby either.

Movies #9-?
I have to admit that I've lost track of all the movies I have seen since last posting about Monsters University. There have been numerous. Not enough to complete the film portion of the 50/50 challenge. But a decent amount. A few that I can recall off the top of my head: Anchorman 2 (although I wish I hadn't), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (mmm....abs), Thor: The Dark World (I'm rooting from Loki from now on), Man of Steel (or did I post that one already?), Frozen (only 3000 times with my nieces since the end of March), Upside Down (aka, 107 minutes of my life that I'll never have back), and Olympus Has Fallen (because why not, Gerard Butler?). So that brings me to at least 16. I'm sure there are more though. I'll post them as they come to me.

So there's the update. Hope it was worth it. Olympus Has Fallen definitely wasn't.

Monsters University Film 8/50

Just call me Late To The Game. Yep.

But enjoyable, nonetheless.

Films 5, 6, and 7/50

Dallas Buyers Club (2013)
Film 5/50

I just want to buy Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto some cheeseburgers. Lots and lots of cheeseburgers. And, oh...the FDA is evil.

---

All is Lost Film 4/50

Rule #1: Don't sail alone.
Rule #2: See Rule #1

In Castaway 2: The Search for Wilson, we join Robert Redford as he wakes up to discover his yacht is taking on water. He manages to patch a hole in side of the vessel (a hole caused by a freight container that had fallen into the ocean) just in time for a whopper of a storm to undo all of his hard epoxy work. He is forced to abandon ship, and we are forced to watch him continue his adventure in making bad decisions from the comfort of a rubber lifeboat.

Beautiful Creatures Film 3/50

I recently woke from a nap to discover this movie. It was about 30 minutes in (which would normally be an incentive for changing the channel) but this dining room scene was just playing out, and it turned out to be enough to hook me.

In fact, it had hooked me so well that I found it On Demand so I could start it from the beginning. Like a proper film.

Perks and Penguins Films 1/50 and 2/50

Film 1/50: The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
This movie should have been nominated instead of Les Misérables for best picture. That's not to say that it should have won, necessarily, but it was a far better production than Les Misérables.

There. I said it.

Hermione Granger was good. Percy Jackson was better. Ezra Miller was phenomenal. A combination of fabulous performances plus a sad but interesting story, Perks was a solid film. I haven't read the novel, but it's certainly being added to my "to read" list now.

Film 2/50: Penguin Pool Murder (1932)
With a title like that, you would stop and watch a few minutes, too. Right?

I didn't think it (especially after the first few moments gave off the impression that this would be an amazingly boring film), but this movie was hysterical to watch. A hijinx-filled romp around an aquarium. The characters are absurd. The plot even more so. But every moment is worth the laughs. And there are many.

Billed as a comedy/mystery, the Penguin Pool Murder delivers on both. Whether the laughs I had at its expense were intended on the part of the filmmakers, that is debatable. But if I ever see it's on again or for sale on DVD, I'll be sure to watch it again. I suggest you give it a shot, too.

And never trust a penguin-enthusiast.

Snowmageddon (2011)

I don't know how I've went two years without coming across this movie. It has all the things that draw me to a SyFy movie. Except sharks. Sharks would have made this movie EPIC.

Allow me to break it down for you...

Fifty-Fifty 2013...

42/50 Films :: 08/50 Books

List as of 20 December 2013...

• F1. Les Misérables (2012)
• F2. Zero Dark Thirty (2012)
• F3. Argo (2012)
• F4. Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001)
• F5. Striking Distance (1993)
• F6. Men in Black 3 (2012)
• F7. Flight (2012)
• B1.* 11/22/63 by Stephen King
• F8. Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)
• F9. Lincoln (2012)
• F10. People Like Us (2012)

Four Movies and a Book (2012) Films 71-74 and Book 15/50

Because I hate leaving things unfinished...here are the extremely abridged reviews for the remaining films and book that I watched/read in 2012.

The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
I love Denis Leary. Even if he isn't allowed to swear up a blue streak.

300 (2006) Film 70/50

I know. You're probably wondering how an ab-filled movie such as this could possibly be a first time viewing for me. After all, it has my boyfriend Gerard Butler in it. And my sister's boyfriend David Wenham in it. Plus 300 sets of Sparta's finest abs. And did I mention Gerard Butler?

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012) Film 69/50

I don't know why everyone is raving about Daniel Day Lewis in this movie...I mean, he was good with the axe and all, but his acting overall was a bit shallow. Perhaps if he spent more time at the theatre...

I know. There is a special place in hell for me.

Battle Royale (2000) Film 68/50

This movie makes The Hunger Games look like an afternoon of playing Monopoly. At least, the way my sister and I play Monopoly.

So yeah...I can see why people would think The Hunger Games series was ripping off this story. And to anyone who thinks THG series just wasn't bloody enough...well then, you need to check this one out. It has all the gory teen angst you'll love, too. And who doesn't love teen angst?

The only thing this movie lacks...Stanley Tucci. Need I say more?

No, really. Need I? Because I will. I have the time now.

Prometheus (2012) Film 67/50

Three guesses as to what my favorite part of this movie was.

Wrapping up my marathon review writing session this morning brings us to Prometheus. I have wanted to see this movie since the previews first aired ages ago. But then I heard horrible, horrible reviews of it. And so I chose to wait and watch it at home. I have no regrets about that, but I don't think I would have been entirely unhappy seeing it on the big screen either.

Skyfall (2012) Film 66/50

Oh Skyfall. I did so want to love you. Of the Daniel Craig series, Casino Royale reigns supreme. You come in second, but it's not a close second.

The Avengers (2012) Film 65/50

I fully intended to see this movie in the theatre. And I have absolutely no good excuse for why I didn't. So that brings us to November.

Even though it was not on the big screen, I did manage to enjoy this film. Maybe I would have loved it more in a theatre or prior to hearing all the hype about it. We'll never know now. But I've finally seen it, and thus, feel complete.

And Thor still has the prettiest hair.

And I have officially decided to see any movie starring Chris Hemsworth. Who wants to see Red Dawn with me?

Looper (2012) Film 64/50

In case you were worried how humanity would survive once Bruce Willis was too old to star in Die Hard films anymore, have no fear. Just a few prosthetics and a dialect coach to get his "Yippie-kai-yay" just right is all that stands between Joseph Gordon-Levitt and instant action hero status.

But Looper. Let's talk about Looper.

The Ides of March (2011) Film 63/50

Hey girl, please vote for George. 

He's not as handsome as me and could use the ego boost.

So finally got around to seeing my man Ryan in The Ides of March. Perhaps the hype around this film had built it up too much in my mind, but I really wasn't overwhelmingly in love with this one. Maybe if it had 50% more abs?