Movies 11/1-11/22 A-L
This will appear slightly insane until you realize it’s actually been over a year since I last posted any movie reviews (unless you count my April Fools post). I don’t watch movies that much anymore, so had decided not to blog about any, but I’ve received enough prodding to throw them out there. In fact, I will split this up into two posts (in alphabetic order even).
The Adjustment Bureau (2011)
Rating: 
Loved it. I actually watched this while preparing the rest of the two-part review blog posts, and plan to have T watch it again with me later tonight. Interesting rabbit holes one could go down afterward if you wanted to take the bait and think of the plotline in terms of God and His sovereignty, but I would stick to the Bible for my theology over a Hollywood movie. ;)
Agora (2009)
Rating:
Interesting movie, though perhaps a silly take on what might have occurred back at the end of the 4th century. I’m surprised this wasn’t more popular as the world continues to move towards demonizing Christianity, bending historical reality to their will.
Ancient Aliens: Seasons 1-3 (2009-2011)
Rating:
This History Channel series brings us some of the same things I’ve attempted to touch on in my Genesis 6 study post and another previous post. It has far more material to work with over 15 hours of episodes, though. Interesting stuff, though you certainly have to use some discernment before getting carried away in all the speculation.
Archangel miniseries (2005)
Rating:
I have enjoyed mostly anything Daniel Craig shows up in, but this is an exception. Here we have him as a historian roaming around Russia attempting to investigate secrets of Joseph Stalin. Craig shouldn’t be held back by a role where he doesn’t get to use weaponry or other more interesting spy-like skills.
Arn: The Knight Templar (2007)
Rating:
This period piece hovered between enjoyable and just plain boring to stay tuned in to. It ended up going on too long with too many disjointed jumps throughout. Though, there are tons of 4-star reviews on Netflix, so perhaps I’m just whiny.
Bert the Conqueror: Season 1 (2010)
Rating:
Jake made me check out this sort of theme-park-version-of-Man-vs.-Food TV show. It was quite funny for a few episodes, and the flashback I got to my favorite U.S. adventure park as a child, Cedar Point, was outstanding. However, it just got a bit old to me and I had to move on to something else.
Camelot: Season 1 (2011)
Rating:
I’m in the middle of watching this, but will go ahead and rate it now since I haven’t watched any episodes for several months and don’t know when I’ll get back to it. It’s a grittier version than the Merlin series, which means it’s right up my alley. Though, I have to admit I enjoy them about equally.
Captain America (2011)
Rating:
This is pretty much a prequel to next year’s The Avengers, and it felt like that’s mostly what they shot for. Though, it was still filled with superhero fun and the entire family enjoyed it. It’s really too bad Iron Man 1 and 2 lived up to their PG-13 ratings, so the kids will miss out on those. This was definitely more tame.
The Captains (2011)
Rating:
You probably can’t tell from the tiny picture there, but yes, that’s William Shatner in a box. Shatner wrote and directed this film about the actors playing Captain throughout Star Trek franchise history, including even Chris Pine. It was so much better than I expected, and the following Netflix review was spot on: "The film is excellent if you want to listen to William Shatner talk about William Shatner’s place in Star Trek history while other Trek actors stare at him, waiting for their turn to say something, only to then be interrupted by William Shatner again. It’s Shatneriffic!"
Casino Jack (2010)
Rating:
Very entertaining movie, though I didn’t go down the rabbit hole long enough to see how much is a parody of lobbyist Jack Abramoff’s life rather than a somewhat accurate portrayal. He certainly doesn’t look too good here. Perhaps they can do this with some of the folks out there in office and we can finally get people to vote them out on the street.
Centurion (2010)
Rating:
I tend to be forgiving with flicks portraying anything related to ancient Rome. This isn’t the best period pic by far, but I found it to be well done. If you enjoy something like Gladiator, this is well worth checking out.
The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010)
Rating:
This third installment in the Narnia series was better to me than most of the reviews I read before watching. Sure it may not have followed the book that well, but have the first two really done that either? It was still filled with decent adventure action the kids weren’t completely frightened over. That’s a win right there.
Despicable Me (2010)
Rating:
Similar to Megamind (covered in part two of the movie reviews), but I didn’t find it to be quite as good. Had I seen this first, I might have enjoyed it more, but I kept making comparisons all movie long. So, I guess Will Farrell wins over Steve Carell in rock-paper-scissors-Farrell-Carell. Sorry, that was dumb. I retract it.
The Expendables (2010)
Rating:
What do you get when you bring together a bazillion of Hollywood’s most popular action stars? Chaos. Mass chaos. And explosions… if you love that kind of thing. In fact, I’m pretty sure you also get a sequel with a bazillion more stars just in case they can suck in more viewers next time.
From Paris with Love (2010)
Rating:
One Netflix reviewer said it best: "If you enjoy movies with total non-stop action, bullets and bodies flying everywhere, and a totally incomprehensible story, then this movie is your poster child." I enjoy those types sometimes, but add John Travolta to the mix and it’s just too much for me to take.
I Am Number Four (2010)
Rating:
Not as good as the book, but pretty well-done nonetheless. I had a bit of trouble envisioning the characters as the ages they are in the movie in comparison to how I saw them in the book, but I got over it well enough to enjoy how they depicted the story. If you read the book and loved it, I think you’ll enjoy the movie.
Inception (2010)
Rating:
This movie was outstanding. I might even call much of it brilliant. The problem is DiCaprio and Gordon-Levitt in the lead. I could scream. Please move them off to namby-pamby, lovey-dovey movies and give me my darmatic/action stars back. Even so, you owe it to yourself to check this one out.
Ip Man/Ip Man 2 (2008, 2010)
Rating:
Interesting movies based on the life of one of Bruce Lee’s martial arts trainers. There is outstanding fighting throughout both of these, though perhaps the plots aren’t equally interesting. Still worth watching if you’re a martial arts movie buff.
Jonah Hex (2010)
Rating:
When I saw there was another comic book brought to life coming, I immediately added it to my queue. This was just messed up. I didn’t bother trying to understand how well it matched the comics, as I didn’t appreciate the story in the first place. Maybe someone else knows (and cares).
Kick-A** (2010)
Rating:
Ok… there is no way this movie should have been that good. I struggled between rating it 3 or 4 stars. The scene where Nicolas Cage is caught on a surveillance camera going Batman on all the bad guys is top notch. If you love hero movies, this is one of a different nature that you should check it out.
The Last Airbender (2010)
Rating:
There are some cool special effects throughout, and it’s a decent samurai sort of movie even (one of my favorite genres). But, it teetered between a movie for adults and a movie for kids far too often. I think it would have been best to stick with one or the other.
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole (2010)
Rating:
I really enjoyed this fighting/adventure movie made with owls instead of people, though the kids wanted to send it back fairly quickly after the first viewing. What’s wrong with my family? I may have to revoke their movie queue privileges.
Limitless (2011)
Rating:
I had no idea what this was about going in, and I think that’s the way you should approach it as well… it keeps you somewhat riveted trying to figure out what’s going to happen next. Some cool effects and a neat concept. Check it out.
Little House on the Prairie: Season 1 (1974)
Rating:
You might be laughing a bit seeing this down here. T had the idea to have J start watching Little House on the Prairie, and both T and I were amazed at the show now watching it as adults instead of children. They just don’t make shows like this anymore. You have to see it for yourself to believe it… they even talk about God quite often (*gasp*). Ultimately, some of the shows were too realistic with people fighting for survival and losing, so J asked us to stop getting them. Maybe we can start back up in a few years.
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