OK, this wasn't bad, but it was very SLOOOWWW for most of the movie. If you don't know any of the history of Captain America (I know some) then the first hour of the movie is for you. Pay attention; people show up and things happen for a reason, and you'll see them again later in the film.
There were a couple funny spots that got a few chuckles from the crowd, sections of it though were almost annoying. The long montages detracted from the film for me, but they do get the point across that time is passing and things are happening and stuff. I did also note a few discrepancies within the film itself. There are times when Cap's shield deflects stuff and he doesn't even look like he felt it, and then later he's deflecting the same kind of big stuff and getting tossed around by it. Kinda seems to be a contradiction in there.
We do see how Steve Rogers ended up getting into the Army, and how he was selected for the Super Soldier program (and they spend a lot of time making all that happen). And then they spend a lot of time (and another long montage) about how Cap isn't happy with his assigned role as spokesman and entertainer. Then you actually get some action, and see something of what he can do. Then you get to see him go after the Red Skull (bad guy). Then go after him again (in another long montage), and then have a not-quite-epic-and-somewhat-boring boss battle at almost the end, where Cap than makes the ultimate sacrifice.
Make sure you stay through ALL the credits. You'll also need to see this so that the Avengers movie that comes out next year will make some sense (along with Thor, the Incredible Hulk, and perhaps both Iron Man movies).
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 2
I'm keeping this brief.
Lots of people rave about how great this was, fitting end to the series, etc. etc.
I'm not raving. In fact, I thought it was all a bit anti-climatic honestly. You know Voldemort is gonna lose, that's a given (Harry and friends always triumph in the end). Based on previews alone, you can see that the school is gonna get messed up, big fight and all that. I was looking forward to all that and thought it would happen based on how solemn and uneventful Part 1 was.
Well, they did have a big fight, and it was utterly predictable. There were a couple minor but interesting twists here and there, and if you weren't paying attention you'd miss them. Also a few chuckles, the (brief) return of a couple familiar faces and the like.
But really, the climax of the film was predictable at every step of the way and was far too short (and in my opinion too simple) to be a fitting end to the film series. I mean, seriously, your supposed to be beating up and defeating THE wizard of the century! Shouldn't the fight reflect that?
Still it was entertaining, and if your a die-hard HP fan then see it on the big screen while you still have time. For those interested in seeing how everything turns out but not interested enough to shell out about $20 per person to see it (ticket, food, etc.) then I'd wait for a Redbox rental or something.
I wasn't impressed with the film but I was entertained enough to not be unhappy that I spent all that money to see it in the expensive theater in our area (at least I was comfortable while watching it).
I know that Maryanne, Dean, Juliet, Mike and a few others will probably disagree with me on most of these points, but hey I'm the one writing the review, right? :) Really though, it was a pretty decent movie, I just wish they'd have done more with it since it is the final chapter and all.
Lots of people rave about how great this was, fitting end to the series, etc. etc.
I'm not raving. In fact, I thought it was all a bit anti-climatic honestly. You know Voldemort is gonna lose, that's a given (Harry and friends always triumph in the end). Based on previews alone, you can see that the school is gonna get messed up, big fight and all that. I was looking forward to all that and thought it would happen based on how solemn and uneventful Part 1 was.
Well, they did have a big fight, and it was utterly predictable. There were a couple minor but interesting twists here and there, and if you weren't paying attention you'd miss them. Also a few chuckles, the (brief) return of a couple familiar faces and the like.
But really, the climax of the film was predictable at every step of the way and was far too short (and in my opinion too simple) to be a fitting end to the film series. I mean, seriously, your supposed to be beating up and defeating THE wizard of the century! Shouldn't the fight reflect that?
Still it was entertaining, and if your a die-hard HP fan then see it on the big screen while you still have time. For those interested in seeing how everything turns out but not interested enough to shell out about $20 per person to see it (ticket, food, etc.) then I'd wait for a Redbox rental or something.
I wasn't impressed with the film but I was entertained enough to not be unhappy that I spent all that money to see it in the expensive theater in our area (at least I was comfortable while watching it).
I know that Maryanne, Dean, Juliet, Mike and a few others will probably disagree with me on most of these points, but hey I'm the one writing the review, right? :) Really though, it was a pretty decent movie, I just wish they'd have done more with it since it is the final chapter and all.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
DVD's we purchased recently
Over the last week we purchased Voyage of the Dawn Treader on Blu-ray (third Narnia movie), Tron (re-release) on DVD and Tron: Legacy on Blu-ray.
We really liked Legacy, saw it in 3D in the theater the weekend it opened (don't know if we had a review up for that or not, I can't recall and I don't have time to look). The Blu-ray doesn't disappoint either; we got the 4-disc set with all the extras. Seems there is a short film on there called The Day After where they try to piece together everything that happened from the end of the first movie up to the end of this one, and then show how the characters are moving the next day to make change for the better. They also introduce a couple new faces that I wouldn't be surprised to see in a third Tron film.
Tron we bought just because it's hard to find now. Yeah it's cheesy and campy and such, the effects aren't great by today's standards and such, but to know one you have to know the other. That and I still get a little bit of the child-like awe and wonder when I watch it (I was a child when it first came out, and like Star Wars I had to see it more than once).
Dawn Treader we missed in the theaters (our fault, got distracted with trying to buy a house and all) and since we liked the first two we figured we couldn't go wrong with just buying the third and be done with it. Mistake one - watch it before you buy it. I wasn't thrilled after seeing this movie. It seems to me that they're just retreading (no pun intended) the same style or type of story over and over. This one was very predictable, I seem to have missed the climax (or didn't realize it occurred when it did) and I kept waiting for the end (which was also predictable). I haven't read all of the books for this series so I'm not familiar with it, and yet I seem to be able to nail down within 80% or more what is going to happen in each scene with this movie series. Very disappointing that is.
That's it for the TCR Week on Disc (had to come up with a name didn't I??). We'll do more DVD and Blu-ray reviews as we see or purchase them.
We really liked Legacy, saw it in 3D in the theater the weekend it opened (don't know if we had a review up for that or not, I can't recall and I don't have time to look). The Blu-ray doesn't disappoint either; we got the 4-disc set with all the extras. Seems there is a short film on there called The Day After where they try to piece together everything that happened from the end of the first movie up to the end of this one, and then show how the characters are moving the next day to make change for the better. They also introduce a couple new faces that I wouldn't be surprised to see in a third Tron film.
Tron we bought just because it's hard to find now. Yeah it's cheesy and campy and such, the effects aren't great by today's standards and such, but to know one you have to know the other. That and I still get a little bit of the child-like awe and wonder when I watch it (I was a child when it first came out, and like Star Wars I had to see it more than once).
Dawn Treader we missed in the theaters (our fault, got distracted with trying to buy a house and all) and since we liked the first two we figured we couldn't go wrong with just buying the third and be done with it. Mistake one - watch it before you buy it. I wasn't thrilled after seeing this movie. It seems to me that they're just retreading (no pun intended) the same style or type of story over and over. This one was very predictable, I seem to have missed the climax (or didn't realize it occurred when it did) and I kept waiting for the end (which was also predictable). I haven't read all of the books for this series so I'm not familiar with it, and yet I seem to be able to nail down within 80% or more what is going to happen in each scene with this movie series. Very disappointing that is.
That's it for the TCR Week on Disc (had to come up with a name didn't I??). We'll do more DVD and Blu-ray reviews as we see or purchase them.
Limitless
Movie - Give it a B- overall.
It was interesting, thoughtful and thought provoking, but not an action flick or high drama kind of thing. I'd still try to see it in the theater before it goes away, and it's definately worth a $1 rental when the DVD comes out. Don't think I'll be buying it because to me it feels like a movie you see once in a great while. By the time it shows up on TV, I'll have forgotten enough about it to be interested in seeing it again, but probably not before.
Still, we did enjoy the film and are both glad to have seen it in the theater. I'd suggest a matinee for the theater as well.
It was interesting, thoughtful and thought provoking, but not an action flick or high drama kind of thing. I'd still try to see it in the theater before it goes away, and it's definately worth a $1 rental when the DVD comes out. Don't think I'll be buying it because to me it feels like a movie you see once in a great while. By the time it shows up on TV, I'll have forgotten enough about it to be interested in seeing it again, but probably not before.
Still, we did enjoy the film and are both glad to have seen it in the theater. I'd suggest a matinee for the theater as well.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Legacy Suites hotel
From a friend:
STAY AWAY. Front desk is not staffed at night. Rooms take forever to get cleaned. If your room key fails, or something is broke, or you really truly need assistance from someone on the staff, YOU'RE OUT OF LUCK.
Our friend paid for a room, showed up at 3pm to check-in. Room wasn't cleaned yet, come back at 4.
They went back at 4, still not clean. But they can drop they're luggage in the room and go to dinner. Hours later, the room is completely clean, but there are no linens in the room.
After hours of trying to find someone to help them, they found a hotel staff person to finally get them some linens (which the people just left in the room, didn't make the beds or provide complete sets of linens or anything).
Our friend called it the worst stay ever, the equivalent of 'Hotel Nightmares'.
STAY AWAY. Front desk is not staffed at night. Rooms take forever to get cleaned. If your room key fails, or something is broke, or you really truly need assistance from someone on the staff, YOU'RE OUT OF LUCK.
Our friend paid for a room, showed up at 3pm to check-in. Room wasn't cleaned yet, come back at 4.
They went back at 4, still not clean. But they can drop they're luggage in the room and go to dinner. Hours later, the room is completely clean, but there are no linens in the room.
After hours of trying to find someone to help them, they found a hotel staff person to finally get them some linens (which the people just left in the room, didn't make the beds or provide complete sets of linens or anything).
Our friend called it the worst stay ever, the equivalent of 'Hotel Nightmares'.
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