December 2008 Archives

2007

Plot: Giant bat/lizard thing decapitates the Statue of Liberty.

Eric: I thought a monster-destroys-Manhattan film would be a slam-dunk for at least three paws, but I was disappointed. The point-of-view filming technique made me seasick on the couch; however, I do want to purchase the video-camera whose batteries last as long as the one in this film. Kelly was nowhere to be found . . . .

Kelly: I refuse to watch a film where giant lice attack yuppies stupid enough to walk through New York subway tunnels with only their video camera for light.

No vote.

2008

Plot: German officers attempt to assassinate Hitler near the end of World War II.

Eric: World War II is one of my favorite subjects, and I thought this movie generated plenty of suspense even though I knew the plot to kill Hitler would fail. I liked Tom Cruise’s performance as von Stauffenberg.

Kelly: I knew less about the story going in than Eric, but I agree with him about the suspenseful plot. I also appreciated watching a story that proved that all German leaders at the time were not bad guys. However, I was distracted by all the different accents the actors used in this film. Weren’t they all, ah . . . German?

2008

Plot: Maxwell Smart and Agent 99 foil an evil plan to blow up a piano.

Eric: [Giving his review in the "Cone of Silence" . . . ] Biggest laugh of the year. Anne Hathaway is really hot!

Kelly: [Sighing] The "Cone of Silence" doesn't work; it didn't work in the movie, either.

2006

Plot: Queen Elizabeth II of England and it's new prime minister, Tony Blair, are at odds over the proper public response to the tragic death of Diana, princess of Wales.

Eric: I was not looking forward to this movie, but I found the relationship between Tony Blair and Queen Elizabeth II captivating and I highly recommend it. I hope the portrayal of their reactions to Diana’s death was close to accurate, because I have a newfound respect for both of them after viewing this movie. I thought their opposing viewpoints regarding the proper response to the tragedy were equally valid, which makes the story even more fascinating.

Kelly: I couldn’t wait to see this movie, and it didn’t disappoint. I am completely intrigued by what it might be like to be an extraordinarily important person in an every-day world. Seeing Queen Elizabeth in her bathrobe watching the news . . . or driving a car and getting stuck in the mud--it was fabulous. This movie does a first-rate job of showing the royal family as a unique group of human beings, not symbols. They do the best they can, and while they seem completely out of touch at one moment, they’re wonderfully normal the next. Helen Mirren certainly deserved the Oscar for her incredible representation of Queen Elizabeth.

2008

Plot: Someone needs to tell us what this movie is about.

Eric: They should have titled this movie, "Depressing People." I returned this one to the mailbox the instant it was over.

Kelly: I agree with Eric. I wanted to slap every single one of these characters and yell, "Snap out of it! You’re not that special." I guess the movie was trying to make a point with these personalities, but people who are bored with their lives because they’re gifted, or they were hurt once, annoy the hell out of me. I found myself wondering if any of them ever considered giving volunteer work a shot. Just a thought.