Superhero Movies

I really like superhero movies.  They are wonderful and great and make me smile.  So instead of writing about superhero movies, I am going to list the ones that I have seen and or want to see.  (and you should totally comment on which movies you love in the Superhero Movie Genre)

Batman:

Batman Begins

The Dark Knight

The Dark Knight Rises

Spider-Man:

The Amazing Spider-Man

X-Men:

X-Men

X-2: X-Men United

X-Men: The Last Stand

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

X-Men First Class

Captain America:

Captain America: The First Avenger

Thor:

Thor

Thor: The Dark World

Avengers:

Avengers

Hulk:

The Incredible Hulk

Iron Man:

Iron Man

Iron Man 2

Iron Man 3

Happy Movie Watching!

Catching Fire

Oh wow.... I am actually writing about a movie that I saw in theaters.  Call the presses.  This is really big news (it like NEVER happens).

So my father (a wonderful and unique man) wanted to see that "flaming movie - Burning Fire" or as the rest of the world knows it, Catching Fire... Like I said, he is unique.  So my wonderful daddy took me and my mama out on the town (we went to the downtown theater), bought mom a Diet Coke and Popcorn and me a Cherry Icee, and we watched Jennifer Lawrence Rock!

Like every movie, I got mixed reviews on how the movie turned out.  Either people loved it because of the Capital or hated it because of the Capital.  I just forgot how little of the arena there was in the whole grand scheme of things (in my defense, I read the books two springs ago ... it was finals week and I was decompressing.  Don't judge).

But I did think that the movie was wonderful.  The actors were perfect, the camera wasn't shaky, budding romances came out, and I teared up a little at Finnick's speech with Caesar.

If you haven't heard what the movie is about, here is a brief overview:

Katniss & Peeta return to District 12 after they win the 74th Hunger Games, but the games are not over yet.  They are the newest distractions of the Capital, used in hopes of keeping people's minds away from the real problems.  As the 75th Hunger Games come around, a twist is added into the plot: The tributes will be drawn from the pool of victors.
Katniss and Peeta must work together and with others in hopes of surviving the 75th Hunger Games and President Snow...


So you should all go out and see Catching Fire before it leaves theaters and you have to wait FOREVER for it to come out on DVD!  It was wonderful and I loved it (and so will you!)

Alexandra

I want you guys to forget everything you think you know about the games. Last year was child's play. This year, you're dealing with all experienced killers.

Catching Fire, 2013

The Mortal Instruments

As I mentioned yesterday, I have been on a bit of a Mortal Instruments kick.... so in true spirit, I will give you a brief run-down of the first movie of the Mortal Instrument Series - City of Bones.

The story line is the same as the book (who'd have thunk), but there are a few differences that I did enjoy.  One of the main differences is the expansion on Jace's musical skills.  I love piano music, and he plays a wonderful little ditty by Bach.... and Jamie Campbell Bower (the actor who plays Jace) was actually playing.  I give him kudos for that!

On the same theme of music, I also really like the soundtrack... and am currently listening to Heart by Heart by Demi Lavato at this moment (hehehe).  The music is intense and soft all in the right places, so the soundtrack gets two thumbs up from me as well.

Taking a closer look at the characters, here is the rundown and how I thought the actors did at playing them:

• Lily Collins as Clary
• She did a wonderful job for this part (and I was so happy that they did not cast 15 year old actors for these parts)
• Jamie Campbell Bower as Jace
• Well Mr. Campbell Bower is gorgeous as is Jace, so it was perfect.  He also captured Jace's flippant attitude wonderfully
• Kevin Zegers as Alec
• His eyebrows matched his dyed hair!  And he was stuck up but not enough shyness
• Jemima West as Isabelle
• Perfect
• Robert Sheehan as Simon
• In my opinion, he was a little too muscular
• Godfrey Gao as Magnus Bane
• He needed to have more flare (much more flamboyant in the books....)
• Jared Harris as Hodge
• This was the exact picture I thought of when reading the books
• Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Valentine
• When reading, I pictured Valentine as a gray-haired muscular bloke, but Jonathan Rhys Meyers did a great job at embodying Valentine's insanity... which worked quite well

So those are my thoughts!  Check the movie out and spread the word!

Alexandra

Clary Fray: You play that piano as if you've lost your only love.

Jace Wayland: Unfortunately, my one true love remains myself.

Clary Fray: Well, at least you don't have to worry about rejection.

Jace Wayland: Not necessarily. I turn myself down occasionally, just to keep it interesting.

The Lone Ranger

Now I have gotten mixed reviews about this movie.  When I was preparing myself to watch this movie, I knew I shouldn't get my hopes up high, but you know how a girl is when it comes to gun-slinging.... I just love it!!  So I was quite surprised, thrilled, and ecstatic that the reviews were not in line with my own thoughts.  Yay me!

So what is The Lone Ranger about?  Well.... you can click here to see what IMDb says, or you can read on!  This movie is about a man (John Reid) who undergoes a tragedy and fights the evils in his life to right the wrongs in the world around him.  Simplistic plot line to follow (which is wonderful.... bad guy does bad stuff, good guy and side-kick comes along, good guy gets hurt and yells at side-kick, a woman enters into everyone's life, the good guy beats the bad guy, and everyone is happy).  Ok... I guess the movie is a little bit more detailed than that, but you got the drift.

There is one thing though I did not understand.  Why is Helena Bonham Carter in the movie?  That is about all.  She is just so ecentric (and not in a bad way) but it did throw me for a loop.... 

But now to my favorite part... the most powerful par.  The most powerful part of this movie was not even in the movie.  That fact right there is when you know you have made a great movie.  When someone stops and says, "Wow.  That movie.... it was intense and interesting and powerful and all, but the best part, the part that made my heart ache when I watched it was Tonto at the end.... Tonto in the credits."  That is when you know you made a great movie.

With that thought, I wish you a wonderful day.
Alexandra

Eight men rode into canyon... I dug seven graves. Horse says, you are spirit walker: a man who has been to the other side and returned, a man who cannot be killed at all...

-The Lone Ranger, 2013

Wimbledon

For some strange and unknown reason, I really like sports movies....but the ones that are all cute and aggressive at the same time.  This is interesting because I am horrid at sports.  I have no hand-eye coordination and I don't much like watching sporting events (minus hockey and soccer), but I do love watching movies about them.

The latest sports movie I watched was 2004's Wimbledon, starring Paul Bettany and Kristen Dunst.  These two play the wonderful roles of professional tennis players who are competing at Wimbledon.  It is a really cute story with a wonderful love story tied into it as well.  Okay... so maybe it is all a love story with a little tennis thrown in, but that is beyond the point!

So other than the part that this movie is based around a sport that I will never be able to play, thus allowing me to enjoy watching it, I also love the characters in the movie.  They are:

• Lizzie Bradbury (Kristen Dunst)
• American Tennis Player
• Peter Colt (Paul Bettany)
• British Tennis Player
• Dieter Prohl (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.... who plays Jaime Lannister in the Game of Thrones which is also a wonderful show to watch and book to read)
• Peter's close friend and a bit of a playboy
• Carl Colt (James McAvoy)
• Peter's brother who is just a hoot (I sounded like an old lady there, but I refuse to apologize)

Peter's parents are also quite interesting, giving Wimbledon another layer of hilariousness!  Add in some other rival tennis players and you have a very unique cast of odd ball, off the wall characters that I have fallen in love with.

So I urge you to go and watch Wimbledon and to check it out at IMDb!

Lots of Love

Alexandra

We all start off in life with a dream, don't we? For a tennis player, it's being in the final of a Grand Slam, Centre Court, a high lob... a smash. Game, set and match. You're a champion. You're number one. But for most tennis players, that's all it ever is: a dream. The reality is another story. 

-Wimbledon, 2004

Gangster Squad

I love movies.  And I watch them regular like.  So I have decided to create a habit... that habit is "Saturday at the Cinema".

I recently watched the movie Gangster Squad, and oh was it interesting.  I wasn't sure if I would like it or not, but it turned out to be quite interesting.  The story line follows a secret crew of Los Angeles police officers who are given the orders to take down the notorious gangster Mickey Cohen.  There is a lot of gun play and that makes for a wonderfully fast paced movie!

I really loved Ryan Gosling's character (and no not because it was played by Gosling - actually, I might get scalped by this comment, but I think is is just okay looking ...  not the best, and I have seen better).

And moving on.... so why I love the character of Jerry Wooters.  Well first he is almost snooty.  He doesn't really care that much about others, but as the movie progresses, you find that he has this really deep love and cares for people much more than anyone originally thought.  He is also really good with the young shoe shining boy who hangs out next to Cohen's club.  He is always looking out for the kid and I love that!

What else did I love about the film?  I loved Emma Stone, but then again who doesn't.  She is a wonderful actress and always brings a smile to my face.  Perhaps I will have a Emma Stone marathon instead of studying....  Who know?  I might just do that!


Check out Gangster Squad at IMDb for more fabulousness!

Alexandra

Every man carries a badge. Some symbol of his allegiance. His were the scars of a boxer who'd used his fists to climb the social ladder of the mob. A Jew who'd gained the respect of wops through a homicidal lust. He'd sworn an oath of violence. And his master? His own insatiable will to power. He wanted to own this town. His name was Mickey Cohen.

-Gangster Squad, 2013