Inception

I realize that getting to the movies will be an increasingly challenging activity post-baby so I am quite psyched that I managed to steal some time away to catch the latest Leonardo movie, Inception!

This is a movie about dreams. Leo is a dream thief. He breaks into people's dreams and steals information. He is approached to undertake a new assignment: Don't steal, implant an idea in someone's head.

I think I expected way more out of this movie so initially when I walked out of the movie theater I was a little disappointed. I thought it was going to explore the meaning of our dreams, etc. The narrative is mostly expository and I miss the emotional punch to the gut that I got in Shutter Island, but once I realized that I was expecting too much and this is just a typical heist movie with a sci fi twist, and when I look at it like that- its sheer brilliance [though perhaps a teensy bit too long]. I want to watch it again with my lowered expectations and see how I find it then.

Taken

seven out of ten

A divorced father looks to have a relationship with his teenager daughter by moving close by and pushing away his dangerous CIA-like past. His daughter decides, against his will, to go on a trip to Paris where she gets kidnapped and possibly sold off into slavery. This short action packed film is about the father getting his daughter back. Though I knew how the story would play out the acting and the fast paced editing kept me hooked. I would highly recommend this movie to you if you're looking for a fun thriller superficial but entertaining.

The International

two out of ten

K finds the movie interesting but I thought it stunk to high heaven. This is a movie about an evil bank and two people determined to put them out of business. The bank deals in international arms weapons as a means to give out lots of debt so they can make loads of money and only a few people know the truth. They are determined to do anything to stop the bank. This movie is like a million movies before it, same old hack. It plays out like a made for TV movie. I'd give it one out of ten stars but for the fact that K liked it alright so I figured I should bump it up one to be polite.

The Dark Knight

Well written. Well acted. Both beautiful and tragic in the same breath.

Things I loved: Christian Bale because he's just super awesome in so many many ways. Heath Ledger rocked it as the Joker, he left me terrified. The cinematography was amazing, the action sequences mesmerized me, and Michael Cain... how much does he rock?

Things I loved not so much: ***warning- spoilers**

They didn't do a good job showing Dent's transformation from DA to Two-Faced. I felt the transition was too quick as opposed to in the comic version where they allude to Dent feeling jealous of Batman and having evil tendencies in his heart of darkness.

Maggie Gyllenhaal might be better than Katie Holmes as Rachel but still, neither character really felt like they should've been the love object for two of the most eligible bachelors in town. Plus, I just felt the acting wasn't *that* great. I also feel that when she died, Batman's reaction was a little iffy.

The ending wasn't really one. Sure Joker is caught, but he's still there.... you know he'll escape. I wanted more closure.

We Own The Night

five out of ten

This is a film about a family of two brothers and a father, one brother and the father are high up in the NYPD [but are not corrupt] and the other brother helps a Russian mafia run their nightclub while he dates his girlfriend. The story unfolds when the police are seeking to trap some of the members of the Russian mafia which results in "bad brother" deciding to do the "right thing" and thus face the consequences that follow.

I thought the film was unrealistic and pointless. There was no twist, no clincher, it just went on and on and then it ended. Eva Mendez is gorgeous I will not deny you that, but I could not understand her point in the film. At one point I thought she might have a secret twist role at the end but she didn't, she was just his girlfriend who got a lot of screen time for apparently no reason besides she's beautiful....

If its on TV watch it... maybe...

Ocean's Thirteen

Six out of ten

Its entertaining, it does the job. I wouldn't say its 100% believable or that I didn't roll my eyes at least twice. But its interesting, if you're going to see an entertaining Ocean's movie, it is what it is.

Blood Diamond

seven out of ten

This movie is about responsibility. About thinking about how you might contribute to the violence and bloodshed overseas. I went to Whole Foods a few weeks ago with Huda and she pointed out a cocoa product that was sold via fair trade. I didn't even know what that meant. It meant that it was a product that was made in such a way that the people who made it earned enough to live on. So that means, that the ones without this label are not sold in the fair trade market. That means they can't live off the work they do. Soy farming in Brazil causes murder and devastation and we unknowingly sip our soy lattes unknowingly contributing to the death toll. I say this to say that we contribute a lot to the harm in the world without ever knowing it.

If you watch blood diamond and then research the facts you will likely never buy another diamond ever again. The movie explores two characters, one a South African diamond smuggler and the other a resident of Sierra Leon whose world is shattered when his village is destroyed, his son is taken as a child soldier and his wife and daughters are shuttled off to refugee camps from which they cannot escape. The movie follows the villagers attempt to get his family back, and the smugglers attempt to get one of the most priceless diamonds ever discovered. Both are in their separate goals together to the end. Its one of those important movies like Hotel Rwanda that grabs us by the back of hair and yanks us to see the reality that our counterparts exist in and that though we may think we don't contribute to the devastation overseas, we unknowingly do.

3:10 to Yuma

nine out of ten

This movie gave me a newfound respect for Russel Crowe who deserves an Oscar for his acting in this film. The movie is about a farmer who is struggling to make ends meet offering to help escort a convicted much sought after felon to 3:10 train to Yuma for his court date. There are some genres I do not like, and Westerns are one of those genres. Yet, somehow, Crowe made the movie sharp and fresh and funny. He is the reason this movie rocks. I would recommend it 100%.

Bourne Ultimatum

Ten out of Ten

I never saw Bourne Supremacy or Bourne Identity but I LOVED Bourne Ultimatum. I don't normally like these sorts of action flicks where you trail a man on a mission as he does impossible and nearly impossible stunts but I LOVED Bourne Ultimatum. I think its partly because even though everything put together as a whole is probably impossible, each scene could happen and so you keep watching and you get hooked, particularly since it might be the last of the Bourne series so he really might die this time. Damon did a fantastic job and the editor was sharp and deserves a garland of roses for his/her incredible editing. Its a movie I would definitely watch again because seriously, I LOVED Bourne Ultimatum.

Casino Royale

I'm not a huge bond fan, and normally avoid those types of movies. Meaningless car chases, special effects.. *yawn*. BUT- the reviews and trailers for Casino Royale made me want to watch this particular Bond film. I knew it would be inherently meaningless but it seemed thoroughly fun enough to make up for that. Its true, the movie was great. Great stunts and special effects, gorgeous actors, and wonderful cars. Its what a Bond movie is all about. But what I really liked about this movie as compared to other Bond films is that the women are not treated like simply pieces of meat, okay- maybe a little, but- this time the characters develop a romance and her role is a bit more complex than being a pretty girl to look at on the screen.

My boiled down summary: If you like Bond flicks, you'll LOVE Casino Royale. If you don't like Bond flicks, you'll probably still enjoy Casino Royale if you go in with the attitude that it will be fun and exciting from start to finish!