The First Catch Up

Ok, so I decided to back date my start to December 1st, 2009. So I can have a bit of a practice and whip out a few movies straight away. December 1st sounded like a nice round starting date. Ironically I didn't watch a movie that day as I had to work all day, so I have to start with a movie I watched on December 2nd. So here we go.

Side Note: The hardest part of this blog is going to be not giving away spoilers, which is why I'm not sure "Movie Critic" will ever be a future job description for me. I will promise to do my very best, especially as its a pet peeve of mine.

2012 (2009) - Seen Wednesday, 2nd December, 2009.

There is just something about the world as we know it coming to an end that makes me smile. Disaster movies are wonderful things. They take you on a roller coaster of ups and downs and the most ultimate of these is the "World Ending" story.

Oh I had such a ball seeing this movie. This screening was actually my second go on this particular ride. I had to come back for a another big screen viewing. 

Usually Bruce Willis is near by, but in the case of 2012, it was good ol' John Cusack. A man who never seems to age, and ultimately ends up soaking wet at some point in nearly every one of his movies.

Look it doesn't really matter what this movie is about, its a disaster movie. We have heart felt characters that you love and characters who you know will end up crushed, or drowned, or whatever as the world collapses around them.

What matters is that I was on the edge of my seat with excitement as I watched the likes of John Cusack and company battle their surroundings in a live or die scenario. I'm that annoying person that claps and cheers in the cinema (and at home) and well I did a lot of it in this movie. I was punching the air with joy as the cliche hero lines were said as the music swelled and women and children cried.

A must see on the big screen, look out Bruce Willis.. John Cusack is coming to save the world.

Star Trek (2009) - Seen Thursday, 3rd December, 2009.

I surprised even myself that it took this long for me to see the latest Star Trek movie. I'm by no means a Trekkie, but I do love all things geeky and this was on my must see list. Especially when it seemed to entail some sort of origins story. I was excited to just step into this movie with somewhat basic knowledge of the Star Trek Saga and still be able to enjoy it.

My hopes were fulfilled as Star Trek was a joy to watch. The ensemble cast blended together seamlessly and still managed to hold there own. To sum up. They are full of awesome (it's a technical phrase). I'm now going to go off on a tangent about how sexy they all are now, specifically Kirk. Can I just say yum, with a double dose of Yowzer! Ok, there endth the tangent.

I'm a big fan of the TV show The Big Bang Theory too, which added a whole level of amusement. Geeky quotes about wanting to see Spock's conception going through my head.

Then there was the the explosions, and fighting, and battles and well all of this happens on the most part in SPACE! So yeah, more cheers and punching the air.

From my very little knowledge of the Star Trek story, I felt it was an excellent reworking of the series, that should bring forth a whole new birth of Trekkies (birth of Trekkies? does that phrase work?). I'm even tempted to be one of them.

Live long and prosper. Peace out.

X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) - Seen today!

Let me start by saying that if I had to put all the X-Men movies in order from best to worst (including the Wolverine movie), this would be at the bottom. I saw it when it was first released in 2006, and I don't think I'd seen it since. Until now.

Honestly, the second viewing has helped it grow on me a little. I remember being so put off  balance on my first viewing because they basically shoved Rogue (my favourite) in a corner for the whole movie. I was terribly disappointed and probably refused to like it on principle.

I like to think I've grown since then. Yes the Rogue storyline still bugged me a little, but I now understand the important role it played. I sat back and looked at the movie as a whole this time. It's over all message, rather than it's individual components that my have frustrated me the first time round.

Is it still my least favourite of the X-Men Bunch? Yes it is. Do I better understand it's place within the series? Yes I do.

But its ultimate downfall was its flashy bells and whistles and its was cursed with being the third sequel. As most people know, the original is always the best, and those that follow usually pale in comparison.


American Beauty (1999) - Seen Today!

I'd forgotten how obsessed with this movie I once was. This is a life changing movie. I instantly wanted to get up and go do some push-ups or go for a jog. I think this movie might have even been responsible for me quitting a career in Information Technology and finding a career in something I loved (which I have found. Yay!).

American Beauty is an American Beauty. Alan Ball wrote a thought-provoking, touching, and well, just beautiful story. This was his debut as it were. You might now know him as the creator of other such wonders as TV shows Six Feet Under and True Blood. Alan Ball has such a talent for finding wonder in what are usually considered wonder less places.

I dream of writing something as amazing as this film. Taking what seems to be "normal people", reaching into them and finding that inner beauty. Telling the individuals story and at the same time blending it all together into a narrative that captures you as an audience member. Making it seem like it could be you, your feelings and emotions, right there on the screen.

Blows me away every time.