Thoughts: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

It's great being home and having cable. They've been showing The Two Towers constantly since they premiered it on Saturday on Starz. I haven't seen it since the theaters so I'm glad it's been on. I really like the whole trilogy. The second one has much more action than the first, it's exciting and the battles are all so well done. Watching this one I also figured out why Liv Tyler was cast as Arwen. She and Viggo Mortensen have great chemistry, they work really well together.

I'm looking forward to getting the dvd. The Fellowships extended dvd is really nice, with all the features and everything. I'm sure the Two Twoers one is just as good.

Thoughts: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

I really wasn't all that excited about seeing this movie when it first came out. I mean, it was a Disney movie produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. Not very promising. Happily, I was pleasantly surprised.

I think it's such a cool movie. It's pretty and stylish. And the effects with the pirates are really very cool. Plus, I probably don't need to say it but I will anyway, Johnny Depp is amazing. I really think he made the movie. It would have been an enjoyable movie otherwise, but now it's just fantastic.

I'm so in love with Johnny Depp. Definitely one of my favorite actors, if not my very favorite. He always has an amazing amount of energy. And he becomes characters, it's never just watching him say some different lines and make a few different expressions, he is the role. And god he's sexy.

Sexiest man alive indeed. I'm glad the rest of the world caught on to what I've known for years, heh. Go Pirates.

Thoughts: Dirty Dancing

Chick flick? Yes. Cheesy? Yes. Do I care? Not at all.

I have seriously always loved this movie. I remember way back in the day when my mom and dad used to watch it, my mom thought I was too young so she wouldn't let me see it. I would sneak out to the living room and watch from where they didn't notice.

I know a lot of people don't really care for this movie, guys especially, but there's just something about it. At the risk of sounding cheesy myself, I think it's just magical. And hot. MmmmmmmHmmmm. Very, very hot. Now this is a sexy movie. And with that dancing, how could it not be? Man I wish I could move like that.

There's just so much more to it than most of the chicky, coming-of-age flicks we get now. I feel like this movie just got it, understood it, and really brought it to life, rather than just mimicking it. If that makes any sense at all. Maybe it's just the age I'm at or something. Or that I grew up with it. Or that I'm female. Whatever. I love this movie.

Thoughts: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the The King Part II

Yes, I saw it again. It's one of those movies that my dad doesn't really want to see but my mom really does, so I went with her.

Anyways, a couple of thoughts. First of all, I liked the ending a lot more the second time around. When I wasn't expecting it to end after each transition it was easy to just sit back and enjoy it. Second, I really still like the part with Eowyn in the battle. I think it was well done, I know it was in the book, and I think the few complaints I've heard about it were idiotic.

I really enjoyed the hobbits in this one, I think they all did a great job and Pippin and Sam especially really made me happy. I also like that there was more singing. Singing is prominent in the books (or at least the parts I've read) and I'm glad there was more in this movie.

There was just so much that was so cool about this movie. And it was all just as enjoyable the second time around.

Thoughts: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the The King

Oh man was I excited about seeing this movie. I loved the first two and I'm just a really big Peter Jackson fan. His movies are so fun. He really knows how to tell a twisted story.

So this one's not really a twisted story, but he still tells it really well. I really enjoyed it a lot. My one complaint is that the end was really drawn out. Other than that it was great. It flowed really well, the battles were really cool, some crazy cool creatures, and it looked nice.

Now I honestly have yet to actually read the third book so I'm not sure about how close the movie stayed to it. I'm pretty sure it changed a few things, but I'll have to read to know for sure.

But yeah, I enjoyed it. I think it was good third movie for the trilogy. Well done Peter Jackson.

Thoughts: Maverick

So I should have been studying for exams or writing my paper or maybe sleeping. But I watched Maverick with my roommate and boyfriend instead. I know, I'm real smart.

Anyway, Maverick is a fun movie. It's a silly western poker movie, which is cool. Most things involving poker are. My favorite part is the part with Joseph. Joseph is awesome. Mel Gibson is also fun. And the Lethal Weapon reference, BRILLIANT. Seriously.

I know it's not the best movie ever, but when you're looking for something fun to do in the middle of finals week, Maverick is great.

Thoughts: The Burial Society

Tonight was the first night of the annual Peninsula Jewish Film Festival and they showed the Burial Society. The whole thing was a really nice set-up. The woman in charge introduced the film and the festival committee members. Then after the screening there was a dessert reception with free Ben & Jerry's, little pastry things, coffee, and a Klezmer band. I had a very nice time and I'm really glad I went.

As for the film, I really enjoyed it. The plot was really complex so it was a bit hard to follow, but I thought it was really well told. And the cinematography was beautiful. It was also just really humorous. The film is a Jewish Film Noir, which is just really cool, about this accountant who gets involved with these Jewish mobsters (yes, I said Jewish Mobsters) and ends up running away to this small town where he joins a burial society. I can't really say anything else without giving away the plot, but it really is good.

A very nice, interesting, well acted, well directed, and just all around well made film.

Thoughts: Manhattan Baby

Man that's a weird movie. I had no idea what was going on for almost two thirds of it. Once I figured it out, it made a lot more sense than some of the Fulci movies I've seen, but I still don't think it's as good. But that's ok. It is kind of cool and there are some really freaky moments. It doesn't have as much gore as I was expecting it to have, it being a Fulci movie and all. But it did have more special effects and according to the interview with the writer the focus was more on the effects than doing make-up. The interview was pretty interesting too. That made the movie make even more sense. I liked it but it's defintely not the best Fulci movie I've seen.

Thoughts: Chocolat

Yay for hanging out with the girls. Chocolat is such a great flick for a fun, chill evening. It's kind of like a chick flick, only much much better than that. I think it's pretty well done and I really enjoy the acting. Of course, Johnny Depp is in the movie, so I'm kind of partial. Oh, and that chocolate looks sooo good. This movie definitely makes me hungry. And makes me want to go to France. And makes me want to buy lots of chocolate. So yeah, I like this movie.

Thoughts: The Diamond Arm

We had to watch this movie in my Russian class this week. It's a comedy from the sixties I believe. I thought it was really funny. The director is pretty much just making fun of Stalinist Russian ideals. I've seen a lot of Russian movies so I'm kind of used to them but for someone who isn't familiar with Soviet history or cinema some of the jokes may be hard to get. It definitely helped having my Russian Professor there to explain some of the more obscure humor. I'm not sure how many people have seen this or have access to it, or are even interested in seeing it, but if you are, it's funny and enjoyable.