Film: 1 Year, 100 Movies - December

2010 is officially over. I graduate college, landed a job in the exact field I wanted, AND officially accomplished by 100 movies goal. Best and worst lists will be coming VERY soon. I don't believe in Top lists posted before the year is actually over because you never know what gems are gonna be sent our way (i.e. 2010's Sherlock Holmes) not that this year gave us any, but hey it's the principal of the thing.


12/9/2010: Black Swan
This is an ODD story. Natalie Portman does do a brilliant job with the character and you can sense the authenticity in her acting the whole way through. There is no need to be familiar with Black Swan or even a fan of ballet in general. You do need to be in for a thriller and an intense ride from start to finish. I still can't decide whether I liked this movie, but I can say it jumps way out of any box ever created.

Bottom line: Prepare yourself.

12/10/10: The Tourist
With a leading team like Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp I went in expecting a lot more than this film has to offer. All in all I ended up enjoying the story but it took the entire 2 hours to convince me. Depp is charming as usual but the plot and acting lacked a depth that I expected to find with such A-list talent.

Bottom line: Leaves something to be desired.

12/13/10: Tron
You can read my official review here.

Bottom line: Optical spectacular, conceptual disaster.

12/14/10: All Good Things
Real life is depressing and so is this story. The acting is well done and the story is interesting but much like the 6 o'clock news the whole premise just leaves you sad about crappy people and a crappy system.

Bottom line: Some times true stories don't have a happy ending, I don't go to the movies for unhappy endings...

12/18/10: How Do You Know
How do you know when you've made a movie that sucks? When it drags on in a cyclical plot line for over 2 hours, that's how. Now that you know, everyone who made this film should be able to avoid another mistake in the future. This is a terribly disappointing run from three of my favorites.

Bottom line: Good thing this one got lost in the shuffle, I don't want anyone's careers going down the drain.

12/21/10: The King’s Speech
Like the critics have been saying, this is a great film. It's a highly inspirational story about a real historic event I wasn't even aware of. It also reminds us that family dysfunction isn't such a new phenomenon, everybody's messed up in their own way.

Bottom line: This is a great film, give it the shot it deserves.

12/31/10: Little Fockers
This one is pretty much as funny and classic as it's former counterparts. You can't avoid a diminishing comedic effect with a franchise like this but overall the standard stayed pretty high. You have to take these movies for what they are and this one does its job to fit in nicely with the rest.

Bottom line: Jinxie cat Jinxie cat I love you.

DECEMBER: 7
TOTAL COUNT FOR 2010: 104!!!

Mission accomplished :) ...Now to brainstorm next years challenge.

Film: 1 Year, 100 Movies - November

December is here which means I'm less than a month away from completing my 1 Year, 100 Movie goal and am proud to say I am 100% on track. In other news, I'm also approx. 1 week away from graduating school FOREVERuntil I get my master's. Oh, and Christmas [baking] is coming and New Year's and everything. Yay!...



11/1/10: Due Date
You can read my official review here.

Bottom line: Not The Hangover, but not too bad.

11/4/10: Morning Glory
I love Rachel McAdams, I love Harrison Ford, I love them together, I would have loved them better in a more well-written plot. This movie was okay, nothing epic. It was a cute story that definitely had it's moments.

Bottom line: Without Adams and Ford this movie would have been worthless.

11/10/10: 127 Hours
Ok, so you know a movie about watching some guy in the same place for however many days 127 hours comes out to is going to be a little slow, and it is. Getting Slumdog music guy was huge plus for this movie and Danny Boyle's stamp is all over this one which definitely makes it bearable but a lagging middle was inevitable. That being said, this was pretty good. Honestly though, to the people who supposedly fainted during this film, "weak!"

Bottom line: Cut it off!

11/13/10: Megamind
This movie was nothing like I thought it was going to be. Every once in a while central plot lines slip through my brain's digestion of trailers and marketing. I'm not exactly sure how but it's kind of nice going in blind. Megamind is a really cool twist on a classic story, something I think usually makes a pretty good movie.

Bottom line: One for the adults and the kids.

11/15/10: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
It's true. Hands down best Potter film to date. I'm not huge Potter fan, but I did spend last summer catching up with pop culture and my Potter crazed boyfriend reading the books and watching [some] of the movies. This one is great because we are finally out of stuffy old Hogwarts so the scenery and special effects have a whole new landscape to magicatize. Nicely acted and true to the literary version as usual.

Bottom line: I love Ron, Ron, Ron WEASLEY!

11/18/10: Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Hey! A second Chronicles of Narnia movie! No my friends, a 3rd. Where I was when the last one came out? No idea, but I was hear for this and I'm glad I was. Apparently the hot older bro was exiled the last time around which was entirely disappointing since I had no idea but I forgot approximately 3/4 way through this one. It's got all the Narnia spectacle you could want and is quite lovely.

Bottom line: It comes out today. You may want to see it.

11/20/10: The Next Three Days
OMG this movie was so epic it gave me a headache in a terrible way. My worst nightmare (literally re-occurring) is me trying to get somewhere within a certain time constraint and stupid shit preventing it. Welcome to this movie, I couldn't handle the suspense. It was one of those experiences where you're like damn if i knew then what I know now I would not have seen this but since I did I will gawk at its coolness.

Bottom line: This is srsly tmth.

11/29/10: Love and Other Drugs
Another sideswipe as far as major plot themes go (two in one month, odd). I failed to look into this movie beyond who was in it and the incredible OneRepublic song they used in the TV spot so I missed picking up on it's central theme prior to viewing. This was pretty good. A little artsy, a little tragic, and a little romantic. If you want to see Anne Hathaway's boobs here's your chance as well.

Bottom line: This is no Princess Diaries that's for sure.

NOVEMBER: 8
Total count for 2010: 97

Film: 1 Year, 100 Movies - October

Since I am on top of my game and actually posting on time (what?!), some of my October movies haven't been released yet. Because of this I'll be adding to this post after Unstoppable comes out, and tacking on Tangled to next month. As for now, here's the ones I've seen and can talk about.

10/4/10: Life As We Know It
There is no hiding the fact that I love chick flicks and this was no exception. I love Josh Duhamel (who doesn't? I know...) and Katherine Heigl, although not my favorite in real life, does have a charm in these kind of things. This was an interesting concept, commendably so, and the plot was well thought out. This isn't your traditional boy meets girl story and the film makers didn't decide to play it out like that.

Bottom line: I'd rather see 27 Dresses, but this was still cute.

10/7/10: It's Kind of a Funny Story
Not to be confused with It's a Funny Story, this movie is not the next Hangover. I wasn't duped, but apparently audiences were. Just because Zach Galifanfsdihfdusihg was hilariously retarded in The Hangover doesn't mean every movie he's in has to be that way. This is a nice story. The acting is good, the characters are enjoyable, and it just makes you feel good about the fact that your life doesn't suck as bad as some people's. It's a nice film about the human experience.


Bottom line: This isn't a movie for everyone, but if it's for you, you'll like it.

10/14/10: Jackass 3D
This was pretty much my first Jackass experience. I've seen maybe a combined 4.356 minutes of the show and none of the past movie. I admit it's kind of funny, then it goes to far, but hey that's the brand. Really though, I mean you know what this is and if you're going to see it or not. One thing I do need to note however is that this is one of the only 3D movies that has actually been 3D! I want shit (unfortunately in this movie that meant literally :/) popping out at me and that's exactly what they did. If little kids don't feel like they should reach out and touch, I don't think you can call yourself 3D.

Bottom line: If you've seen Jackass you know exactly what this movie is, if you haven't don't start now.

10/17/10: Red
This was is pretty good. It's hard to go wrong with Bruce Willis as a lead in an action flick. There were good fight scenes, good spy tricks, and a good cast. I don't know what magician convinced Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, and Morgan Freeman to do a movie like this, but more power to him.

Bottom line: Retired and extremely dangerous...the cast or their characters?

10/18/10: Hereafter
Epic disappointment, OMG. I wanted to see this so bad. A movie starring Matt Damon and directed by Clint Eastwood, what could go wrong? nothing!... WRONG! Everything could and did go wrong with this BS. Slowest, crappiest film of the year. I didn't give 2 shits about any of the characters, the chick from Lady in the Water was annoying as hell and I still don't even know what this film was about. I've walked out of 2 movies in my entire life and if I'd paid for this one it would have been a third.

Bottom line: Tragically terrible here and after.

10/20/10: Unstoppable Release date: November 12
This was one comes with a built in enjoyment purely because of the cast. The story moves fairly well for a couple hours about one runaway train. It's not the best film out there right now, but it's not the worst either.

Bottom line: Denzel Washington and Chris Pine are in it so why not?

10/30/10: Tangled
I'm not happy to hear that this will be Disney's last princess endeavor (at least for awhile), but they definitely went out with a bang. Mandy Moore is flawless and this story has all the makings of a great classic Disney story. I can't get enough.

Bottom line: :)

OCTOBER: 6
Total count for 2010: 89

11 more to go!

Film: 1 Year, 100 Movies - September

I really can't believe it's already been 9 months since I started this blogging experiment. Only 3 more months left to go and I'm pretty sure hitting my goal of 100 movies in a year is going to happen. Here's what I saw in September, 2 weeks late as usual. Hey...there is something to be said about consistency right? 

9/1/10: Secretariat
This movie just came out a couple of weeks ago so there is still plenty of time to catch it in theaters, and that my friends, is precisely what you should do. They're calling this one the new Blind Side and I'm going to agree with that one on a personal level. I was dreading screening this movie. It looked boring and cliche just like Blind Side did. For those who don't know me I HATE horses (blah blah blah I know) and am not usually a fan of movies based on true stories but this movie is awesome.  

Bottom line: Inspiration and suspense, what more do you need? 

9/6/10: The American
This movie is the biggest waste of time I've experienced in a long time. The marketing campaign wasn't a sales pitch it was an out right lie. I'm pretty sure there is more truth in the Shamwow and Magic Bullet commercials than the preview for this POS. 

Bottom line: I don't like being tricked and neither will you.

9/12/10: The Virginity Hit
After I got over the initial weirdness of realizing I saw this entire cast at Comic-Con and they acted exactly like they do in this movie I realized how annoying that actually was. It's just awkward and not in a good way. I really have no idea who this was made for. 

Bottom line: Calling the number they gave out on those massive "Are you a Virgin?" billboards was pretty much more entertaining than the whole movie. 

9/15/10: The Town
Buzz about this movie notes the "crazy" marketing campaign they used with men dressed in nun masks and wonders how it could recover from such a risky move so beautifully. Here's the answer, straight from the brilliant mind of me: showing pictures of men dressed in nun's masks isn't that crazy and this movie is legitimately good. Screw Ben Afleck haters because you don't know actual talent. You can't fake directing skills like that.
 
Bottom line: The Town is the movie films like Takers can't even dream of being.

9/16/10: Easy A
This is one good ol' fashioned teen comedy. The situations are relatable and actually funny and Emma Stone is awesome. She's got the goods to go far and I think she will. This story is really about that fine line of not caring what people think and not standing up for yourself. It's a story not often told and I'm glad someone finally did.

Bottom line: A+! 

9/16/10: Devil
Uh...................... 

Bottom line: Shyamalan has done it again. Take that as whatever you want it to mean. 

9/10/10: Legends of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole 
You can read my official review here. 

Bottom line: Oddly violent, also I want a talon blade.


9/23/10: The Social Network

Man this movie is good. I don't like anyone who hates this movie, and I definitely won't be your friend on Facebook. Which, by the way, I'm using no less than before or think no lower of Zuckerberg so no need to worry about this film ruining your image. I'm not a fan of you because you are unattractive, not cause you're an asshole. All around this film was nicely acted, plotted and executed. Good job Sorkin and guy who wrote this "untrue" book that is for the most part backed up by the Facebook Wikipedia (yes, I checked) so I actually believe you. Don't be scared off by the running time, I didn't want this to end.   

Bottom line: Rolling Stone calls it "The best movie of the year, that also defines a generation," so do I.

9/26/10: You Again
This movie is actually really laugh out loud funny. Can't really go wrong with Jamie Lee Curtis or Kristen Bell. For anyone who's ever had a frienemy (ie. the entire female population) or hates those bitches who see you months to years after they screw you over and run up with a squealing "Hiiiieeeee, How are you?" (ie. the entire female population) you'll be able to appreciate this one.

Bottom line: Betty White is in it, instaWIN.

9/26/10: Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
I don't know. This was boring and not that great.
 
Bottom line: ^^^

Total count for 2010: 83

Film: 1 Year, 100 Movies - August

I opened my movie list today not looking for an excuse as to why I so epically procrastinated at writing this post, but with one quick once-over it hit me. August was utterly underwhelming, especially considering the high that was Julception. My reigning them from that post still rings true, WATCH INCEPTION, it is still in theaters and it still needs to be seen by everyone. That being said, here you go. I swear September is coming soon, I swear.





8/11/10: The Extra Man
If you like Lars and the Real Girl you’ll probably like this. If you have no ideas what Lars and the Real Girl even in, you definitely won’t. This is one of those weird indie character studies that just keeps you wondering what the hell is going on the entire time. If you’re into that kind of stuff, I suppose this is as good as any.

Bottom line: Good for those who like indie character studies…and cross dressing.

8/12/10: Eat, Pray, Love
I was really stoked for this one. I love me some Julia Roberts and had heard nothing but good things about this book. What I forgot to take into account is that I heard from women how good this book is. I shouldn’t listen to women when it comes to recommending stories about love and self-discovery. This movie is terribly long and still manages to create underdeveloped relationships and an unresolved ending. For a women finally taking time to be single, Liz jumps from man to man surprisingly fast. I was looking for empowerment and got nap time.

Bottom line: Zzzzzz….

8/17/10: The Switch
You can read my official review here, but if you know the premise of this shit you probably already know where it’s going.

Bottom line: A story about hijacking pregnancy is not trendy, innovative, or funny.

8/18/10: Going the Distance
I feel confident enough that I haven’t said this yet, am too lazy too make sure of it, and take it back if I gave it to another film…best comedy of the year. This movie was amazing! The realism and hilarious ad-libbed dialogue are frickin’ genius. You know I’m serious since I just wrote a whole paragraph despite having an official review here.

Bottom line: Screw you movie-goers, this movie should have be making mad more money than it has been.

8/23/10: Piranha 3D
This is one movie you just can’t hate. All the gore and nudity you could want in just over an hour of flawless campy horror. I’m proud to say I say this movie in the theaters and I don’t care what any one thinks about it.

Bottom line: Go to happy hour, then to see this and LOL for days.

8/25/10: Takers
I was looking forward to Takers back in February when it was originally supposed to be released. When the date got pushed back, I got a little worried…apparently for good reason. This film has a commendable entourage of leading men but the execution just isn’t there. The ending is terrible and the action isn’t all that epic. There is really nothing I can find that should motivate you to see this one.

Bottom line: I’m waiting for the day Paul Walker doesn’t play the white man who saves the day.

8/26/10: Centurion
I discovered something about myself while watching Centurion, I hate any movie where I will never remember the character’s name when I leave the theater. I think that’s an understandable qualification for a film to be liked, so I’m okay putting that in writing. I don’t even know what this movie was about, honestly.

Bottom line: I don’t know who likes these kinds of movies, but it’s not me.

8/28/10: Vampires Suck
Not gonna lie, the chick who plays Bella does an EXACT impression of Kristen Bell as Bella. The problem with that though is that she bugs the crap out of me during Twilight so and hour of all that annoyance being exaggerated is even more annoying. This movie would be better if they didn’t drag imitations out through the whole film. The beauty of spoofs is short bursts of making fun of annoying crap, then moving on. Not making annoying crap even more annoying and continuing throughout the whole movie.

Bottom line: I’ve already forgotten this movie exists.

Total count for 2010: 73

Film: 1 Year, 100 Movies - July

As you can see, I'm back to my old self and posting a week and a half late. Luckily, I've been getting so ahead of the theaters that a lot of these movies are still out, and some aren't even release yet! I just got back from a week and a half of "vacation." I spent 4 days at a ridiculously intense marketing conference and then headed to Washington, DC for the weekend and walked about 39209 miles. Overall, it was seriously good times, and A LOT of information, but enough about all that...let's get to the movies. I was intensely tempted to blow off commenting on any other movie besides Inception because, well, nothing else really deserves it, but for my love of movies here is the whole list.





7/1/10: Cyrus
This movie has pretty much come (if you can say that) and gone by now and there's nothing sad about that. It's just another mundane and awkward character study with a weird cast. Each of the actors, including John C. Reilly, Jonah Hill, and Marisa Tomei, have talent, but this plot is just not good.

Bottom line: Watch Inception

7/6/10: Despicable Me
Haha, just recalling this movie makes me want to sing that bad ass hip hop song they made as a theme. This movie is cute, and definitely a winner for families. It's not Toy Story 3, but it's worth a trip. The characters are really cute and it's a nice spin on the traditional kids movie format.

Bottom line: Leave your children in the theater and sneak into Inception

7/8/10: The Sorcerer's Apprentice
You can read my official review here.

Bottom line: Wait for the video and go watch Inception.

7/11/10: Predators
I hate movies where crap coined "impossible" becomes ridiculously possible for no reason at all. This movie needs a huge "meh" stamped all over it. I'm honestly bored thinking about it. The acting is okay, the "twists" are stupid and predictable and the ending is unfinished.

Bottom line: Watch Inception.

7/12/10: Inception
*sigh* I'm so glad to finally be here. There is seriously a smile on my face. You've already heard that this is the most epic and intelligent movie to come out...ever. I have nothing bad to say. There are no holes, nothing left unexplained, just pure and complete creativity, action, and thought sewn together into an oral and optical masterpiece. I've already seen this 3 times and I'm ready for another. The way Christopher Nolan can imagine manipulation of time (Memento anyone) and piece everything so seamlessly together is a sign of utter brilliance. The acting is great, the story is great, and you end the movie wishing it would start again.

Bottom line: Watch Inception, then again, then rent Memento and watch The Dark Knight

7/14/10: Charlie St. Cloud
This is a solid film, especially if you are a fan of Zac Efron sans shirt. The story is all about grief, life, and moving on. It's not too sad or predictable and really does have a nice message about life and death. The plot really keeps your interest and is definitely worth seeing.

Bottom line: Watch Inception, then this.

7/15/10: The Kids Are All Right
Lesbians, no. Organic food, no. Mark Ruffalo, yes.

Bottom line: ^^^, watch Inception

7/20/10: Salt
You can read my official review here.

Bottom line: You know what to do.

7/24/10: The Last Exorcism
This movie isn't released until October, so I can't write about it until then. What I can say is that Eli Roth is the shit (not a necessarily reflected in this movie)

Bottom line: Watch Inception.

7/26/10: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
You can read my official review here.

Bottom line: Watch Inception.

7/27/10: Step Up 3D
I love the Step Up movies. What more do I need that hotties tearin' up the dance floor? Hotties tearin' up the dance floor in 3D?! YES! The 3D elements of this is surprisingly cool and the dancing is sick as usual. The plot does a nice job of stringing together the previous stories and is quite charming.

Bottom line: You should have seen Inception by now and if you liked the other Step Ups, you'll be into this one.

7/28/10: Dinner for Schmucks
I have no idea what anyone was trying to do when making this movie. It is really long, really dumb, and just an overall fail. There are some lol moments, but mostly just out of embarrassment. Steve Carell's character is COMPLETELY forced and extremely annoying and no one else in the movie helps his case.

Bottom line: Watch Inception again because you will much happier than if you watch this.

Total count for 2010: 65

Enjoy!

Film: 1 Year, 100 Movies - June

We're officially halfway through the year and I'm more than on track to my 100 movie goal. June was the busiest yet, most likely due to my internship which let's me watch all of them for free and sometimes get paid for it. The summer box office hasn't been doing so hot, but I have to say June was a pretty enjoyable movie month. For the most part, all these flicks are still in theaters so read on and choose wisely :)

6/2/10: Solitary Man
You probably haven't heard of it, and don't worry, you aren't missing out. This is an indyish character study starring Michael Douglas. It leaves a lot to be desired and carries an unwarranted shock value that leaves you unsatisfied.

Bottom line: Wait for Wall Street.

6/4/10: Splice
I'm legitimately upset with myself for forcing me to relive this atrocity. SPOILER ALERT: This is how it goes...two scientists who happen to also be a couple create a human/alien/beast baby, Adrien Brody has sex with the a fore mentioned alien beast, alien/beast TURNS INTO A MALE and RAPES HIS G/F impregnating her and killing everyone else. AND if that baby thing is destined to be screwed up enough the alien beast is made of her DNA so it's incestuous too. I walked out of the theater feeling like everyone how has been subjected to this movie needs to come together for a therapeutic dialogue. Hi I'm Desiree, and I watched Splice.

Bottom line: ^^^ Need I say more?!!!

6/6/10: Killers
You can read my official review here. As well as how high-maintenance of an actress Katherine Heigl is and how Lionsgate kept Killers from the critics.

Bottom line: Although it's trailer was a marketing fail, this really isn't half bad when you realize what they were trying to do.

6/10/10: Karate Kid
This movie is long, but good. Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith are really cute together and the story is enjoyable. The acting is good from everyone and the karate...er I mean kung foo fights are pretty legit. This is a knock out for kids and adults.

Bottom line: "It's called kung foo, not karate"...oh wait.

6/12/10: The A-Team
Legit. Three huge operations, a good cast, and acceptable twists and turns make this into the stuff summer movies are made of. I don't know why this failed so miserably at the box office, but it wasn't deserved. I mean seriously, who doesn't love Liam Neison? Can't say it's me that's for sure.

Bottom line: I love a good special ops movie and this one is really good.

6/16/10: Jonah Hex
You can read my official review here.

Bottom line: I'm willing to completely dismiss this movie and do my part to contribute to the downfall of Megan Fox's career.

6/18/10: Toy Story 3
*sigh* Where to start? Like all Disney Pixar movies, this one's a gem. Just as good as the first two classics and perfect timing for those of us who remember Woody and Buzz as kids. I love Disney for it's universal age appeal. It has the cutest characters and great dialogue.

Bottom line: Classic and wonderful

6/19/10: Knight and Day
Hands down best June movie-(that-isn't-Toy-Story). So funny, so clever, so interesting. Tom Cruise is crazy in real life which can only make for a great character in a fantasy world I mean c'mon it's pure logic. Cameron Diaz and Cruise are adorable together and if people payed any attention to all the rave reviews this is getting, it really could have been Cruise's comeback movie. Knight and Day is one of those movies that makes you realize while people are stars in the first place.

Bottom line: Great plot, great acting, and funny/interesting as anything.

6/19/10: Robin Hood
I will say this is one of those movies you expect to be boring, and it is. However, the story is pretty cool when it comes down to it. This is the pre-Robin Hood tale of the events that led up to the legend. I'm always intrigued by story twists like that. I pretty much only saw this because I had seen every single other movie that was out. There is really no need to get excited about this one.

Bottom line: I'm bored just thinking abouuuu...Zzzzz....

6/22/10:Grown Ups
Apparently when you put the top 3 most annoying actors, top 2 second most annoying actors, Salma Hayak, and that always pregnant in movies other chick in the same movie it somehow turns into a comedic masterpiece. I went into this thinking it was going to be over-the-top stupid and just annoying all around. I mean really David Spade, Rob Schneider, and Kevin James? No thanks, but to my surprise I was laughing the whole way. This movie is actually pretty tame and really, really funny. It has some great family themes and the raunchiness is pretty mellow. I'm not saying I hate raunchiness, I just hate stupid anything.

Bottom line: If you like Adam Sandler and [insert other 8932 cast members here], you were already going to see this, if not, you should see it and be pleasantly surprised.

6/28/10: The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
You can read my official review here.

Bottom line: I don't care what you think, I liked it! Team Jacob for liiiiife.

6/29/10: The Last Airbender
I don't give a crap about the supposed racism in casting this movie, nothing could have saved this crap. It's boring, slow, and choppy. I do like the two main child actors who brought a lot to what they had to work with but once again, I have no idea what Shyamalan was trying to do. If only he'd stopped at The Village...

Bottom line: Don't watch this, just rent Unbreakable. Trust, you'll thank me.

Total count for 2010: 53

Enjoy!

Film: 1 Year, 100 Movies - May

It’s that time again! I’m a few days late, as usual :), but here is 1 Year, 100 Movies: May Edition.

5/1/10: Why Did I Get Married Too?
Thanks to my boyfriend I have a continuously growing love for Tyler Perry. How someone can put so much comedy and so much tragedy into one film is truly a talent. I never saw the first Why Did I Get Married movie, so I can’t compare the two but this one was thoroughly enjoyable. It explores every marital problem in the book, including the untalked about female emotional affair. The acting is good and the humor is entertaining.

Bottom line: As with any Tyler Perry movie, you are in for a roller coaster of emotions.

5/7/10: Babies
What more does a girl want than 1 and a half hours of adorably cute babies doing all the stuff adorably cute babies do? Not babies doing the weird things babies do. This documentary arguably as like all documentaries, is nothing spectacular. It is cute and keeps up the pace, but I’m not going to lie my American born and raised socialization made some of it a bit uncomfortable. I’m not really sure who this movie was made for, but if you’re interested more power to you.

Bottom line: I love babies, but I didn’t so much love Babies.

5/8/10: Iron Man 2
First and foremost, I was notsoimpressed by the original Iron Man movie, gasp I know. I really didn’t find it action packed or tech heavy enough for my liking. Iron Man 2 however, succeeds everywhere is original counterpart failed. Bad ass action, American soil setting, over the top technology…FTW. Robert Downey Jr. is amazing and the guy who replaced the greedy sidekick guy from the first one didn’t make me miss greedy original sidekick guy at all.

Bottom line: R Downs is a BAMF.

5/15/10: Letters to Juliet
You can read my official review here.

Bottom line: Cheesy central love story, cheap set, not worth your time.

5/16/10: Just Wright
I will start by saying I frickin’ love Queen Latifah. Unlike certain pro real women celebrities *cough* Tyra Banks *cough* Latifah is a true woman with curves making it in Hollywood. This story is fun, cute, and entertaining from start to finish. This is an ugly girl gets the guy story we can actually believe. Leslie Wright (Queen Latifah) is a strong women, who refuses to compromise herself for love. She’s neither desperate, nor lacking in self-esteem which creates a loveable character and enticing story.

Bottom line: Super enjoyable, deserves a lot more credit than it got.

5/18/10: Get Him to the Greek
Get Him to the Greek was just release this week (June 4th), but I saw the film at an advanced screening on campus. It’s no Forgetting Sarah Marshal (i.e. best R-rated comedy of all time, and yes I’ve seen the Hangover), but this one is funny. I think [insert what even P Diddy is going by these days] is pretty funny, Russel Brand does his things, and Jonah Hill plays his part really well. Of course the story is over the top and a lot the film relies on stupid comedy, but it does what it does.

Bottom line: Get Him to the Greek is what it is, an overindulgent comedy that provides laughs…but not much more.

5/23/10: Shrek Forever After
You can read my official review here.

Bottom line: I’ll miss Shrek, truly I will.

5/30/10: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Don’t go looking for the next Pirate’s saga and you will be in for a treat. It has a good story, good actors, good action. It’s plot is interesting and not something we have seen before. Prince of Persia deserves a viewing and enough of a following to warrant a sequel. I’m bummed it’s being swallowed up by other, much less worthy releases.

Bottom line: Keep the prince alive!

5/31/10: Sex in the City 2
Honestly, you can all guess what I’m going to say. This movie is ridiculous and it sucks. It’s not even good for what it is. SJP is hideous (granted this is no new news), Cattrall’s age is catching up to her, and by her I mean her boobs, and the other two are too good to be in a film like this. Move on ladies, move on. If rumors of a SATC 3 are true….omg. I don’t even care about the blatant offending of the Middle East, but it definitely doesn’t add any charm to this black hole.

Bottom line: No…just no.

Total count for 2010: 41

Film: 1 Year, 100 Movies - April

4/4/10: The Last Song
You can read my full review here.

Bottom line: This movie is good for what it is, worth a rental.

4/9/10: Date Night
Steve Carell and Tina Fey are ridiculously hilarious. They have great on screen chemistry and a believable relationship. This movie is hilarious without being over the top (often a turn off for me when it comes to Carell’s performances. You'll crack up the entire time.

Bottom line: Fun and entertaining and of course I have to say it, this movie would make for a great date night.

4/9/10: Clash of the Titans
It’s a rare day that I will pass up the 3D version of a film. Maybe I’m getting accustomed to it or will finally believe 3D isn’t that great unless stuff is literally popping out at your face (not usually the case with live action 3Ds). I enjoyed this film in plain old 2D. The action was good, the Avatar guy did a better job than he did in Avatar and you can’t go wrong with a good Greek mythology oriented plot. I’m not going to lie I enjoyed the modern twist on mythology that was Percy Jackson a little better but this film is no where near the atrocity a lot of people claim it is.

Bottom line: It was good. Worth it on the big screen, but I don’t think 3D would have done anything for me.

4/16/10: The Joneses
If you read/listen to one thing I say in your life make it this... This is a movie EVERY person should see. It tells the story of consumerism and debt in our culture. I’m no anti-materialist or crazy technology-is-killing-the-world activist, but this movie offers a real portrayal of today’s world. The plot is about us, right here, right now. It brilliantly meets you right where you are and forces us to think about how we live our lives. The acting is great. Luckily there are actors like Demi Moore and David Duchovny to read scripts and realize potential and substance worthy of putting their work into. Take your kids take your friends, you’ll be changed. Plus, it’s damn entertaining.

Bottom line: Every person should see this movie. Seriously, forget the rest of this post and go now.

4/18/10: Kick-Ass
You can read my full review here.

Bottom line: I wasn’t impressed, guys eat this shit up and I’m not sure why. Mind you, this is coming from the girl who is way down for guns and yelled “CUT IT OFF!!!” during Saw

4/19/10: Oceans
I love the Disney Nature series. Oceans is just as good as last year’s Earth. I’m not going to lie, I’m no green advocate, which is why I like how they do these movies. There’s a message but it’s not so PSA it’s annoying. I don’t like being told to save the earth but when I see the earth like this it definitely makes me think twice, which is exactly what the film makers are going for. The shots they got are unbelievably stunning.

Bottom line: See it and I’ll see you next year at African Cats.

4/23/10: The Back-Up Plan
Oh J Lo how far you have fallen. I long for the days of Maid in Manhattan and even Jenny from the Block. This movie is terrible, even for romcom standards. It relies on physical humor, which I want none of since this is about having babies. Her actions and decisions make no sense, even for a hormonal preggo and the relationship evolution is terrible. The onscreen chemistry between Lopez and the guy we’ve never heard of is nearly non-existent and her SPOILER ALERT ginger babies are disturbing and scientifically impossible.

Bottom line: NEXT!

4/25/10: The Losers
I love these kind of movies. I’m all for plans, heists, betrayal. I don’t care about the clichés or the predictability. The Losers is a great action flick. The acting is acceptable, the characters are fun, and the story is entertaining.

Bottom line: Solid action flick. Supposedly it’s based on a comic but I don’t know about all that.

4/30/10: A Nightmare on Elm Street
I’m too young to remember the original Nightmare on Elm Street, but I’m curious to add it to my Netflix queue and check out the differences. A Nightmare on Elm Street isn’t entirely bad. It’s pretty good for the scary movie genre. It takes a lot to scare me and I can’t say this movie accomplished that but it was entertaining. What saves this film is the underlying mystery and secrets you want to discover. It gives the plot a dynamic sense most horror films fail to accomplish.

Bottom line: I assume the original is better, but this one’s pretty good.

Total count for 2010: 32

Film: 1 Year, 100 Movies - March

3/5/10: Alice in Wonderland
I had been anticipating the release of this film since I first heard it was coming out a few months ago. Now, I’m not advocating the use of controlled or illegal substances, but if I was more into that I definitely would have done things differently. I was most entertained by the 3D element in the credits which tripped me out. I’ve never read the real book, so this movie REALLY made no sense. I know Alice isn’t supposed to make sense, but it’s at least supposed to be fun. This one just felt dark and depressed.

Bottom line: Don’t get your hopes up, it’s not as cool as it looks.

3/2/10: She's Out of My League
You can read my full review here.

Bottom line: This movie is seriously hilarious. Fun, brainless, and entertaining, watch it.

3/8/10: Hot Tub Time Machine
Everywhere She’s Out of My League succeeded, this crap epicly failed. I’m so happy I saw this at a free screening because I really would have walked out, something I’ve only done once in my entire movie going life. You also need to keep in mind that I find John Cusak super hot so if he doesn’t do it for you there are literally no redeeming factors in this film. The humor is stupid, the acting mediocre, and the clichés run rampant.

Bottom line: If I ever meant this more, it’s now…Don’t see this, you’d have a better time actually attempting to travel back in time.

3/14/10: Remember Me
You can check out my full review here.

Bottom line: You’ll leave feeling it lacked in a lot of areas, but it makes you think enough to be worth it.

3/18/10: Brooklyn's Finest
You gotta love a good flick about the NYPD, and you gotta like a mediocre one, Brooklyn’s Finest fits the latter. It’s cast is pretty good and there is some power to the performances. There are some good action scenes and, like I’ve said before, I’m a sucker for ensemble stories where everyone connects. I wasn’t happy with how depressing everything was in the end (I like a few happy endings when there are so many stories tied together) and there wasn’t a shred of authenticity to the location or NYPD.

Bottom line: Not bad, not good. Overall, it’s not really worth a trip to the theater.

3/19/10: Repo Men
You can check out my full review here.

Bottom line: I’m not gonna lie, it was kinda cool… but it just gets weird, then a little too weird.

3/20/10:The Bounty Hunter
This movie has a dazzling lead couple and interesting premise. I liked the story, despite its predictability. Jennifer Anniston is adorable (as usual) and Gerard Butler is hot (as usual). They have good on-screen chemistry and are the only reason a movie like this isn’t a complete mess.

Bottom line: It’s a meh-worthy romcom that doesn’t pull out any tricks.

Total count for 2010: 23

Film: 1 Year, 100 Movies - February

Last month I told you all about my goal to see 100 movies in 2010. Another month has come and gone and I've seen 7 more movies.

Enjoy!



2/5/10: Edge of Darkness
So we all know Mel Gibson has passed his prime. He’s been caught in scandal, seemed to age 20 years in a matter of weeks, and walked the line between respected actor and Hollywood has been. No matter his personal life I can’t easily forget the actor he used to be which is why me, and apparently only like 5 other people, actually watched Edge of Darkness. It was surprisingly action packed and interesting. The story was pretty liberal and pretty cliché which doesn’t usually suit my fancy, but I enjoyed it.

Bottom line: If, like me you can’t resist a story about a bad ass father with nothing to lose, Netflix this, you won’t have to worry about a wait list either.

2/12/10: The Wolfman
Vampires…werewolves…they are both the hottest thing in Hollywood these days. I’m not buying it and I don’t think I’m the only one. Anthony Hopkins is in this movie so it gets an auto 5 points, but other than his awe inspiring BAMFness this film has got nothing. It’s basically just a bunch of blood and gore (think Sweeney Todd goes wild), with a depressing ending and crappy love story. I’m all for blood and guts, but I like it to make sense with what I’m watching. Violence for violence sack just doesn’t do it for me.

Bottom line: Skip this, an old werewolf film on the 99 cent movie rental shelf will be way more satisfying than this one.

2/13/10: Dear John
I have a severe love, hate relationship with Nicholas Sparks. A Walk to Remember is my favorite movie of all time, whereas the notebook makes me cringe. I gave Dear John a try mostly because of my Amanda Seyfried obsession (“my breasts can tell the weather) and Tatum’s abs didn’t hurt much either. This story is dumb. I don’t like sad love stories. If I wanted to witness that I’d just hit up my friends and hear about their dramatic personal lives. The relationship is rushed and underdeveloped and the “other man” is downright creepy.

Botton line: Don’t put any guy through the torture of watching this, save yourself too. Buy A Walk to Remember and watch that…seriously you’ll be happy you did.

2/14/10: Valentine's Day
Valentine’s Day joins the ranks of my favorite type of romcom, the ensemble. Rivaling some of my favorites such as Love Actually and He’s Just Not That Into You, Valentine’s Day has a great cast and entertaining set of intertwining stories. It explores almost every type of relationships, friends to lovers, marital affair, career vs. love. This is the perfect anecdote for people in love, and those who wish they were.

Bottom line: Valentine’s offers something for everyone, look for it soon as a great date rental or movie night with the girls.

2/18/10: Shutter Island
After is delayed release I was super stoked to see this Scorcese-DiCaprio compilation as soon as it hit theaters. For the most part it met my expectations. I was confused and sat wanting to find out what would happen next. This type of movie usually ends with the I-know-how-it’ll-end-but-hope-it-doesn’t type thing and I can’t say Shutter Island broke the mold. Scorcese did it well though and an ending that would usually leave me angry, left me pretty satisfied.

Bottom line: This is a solid psych thriller that will keep your attention.

2/19/10: Percy Jackson
This movie was marketed as the supposed runner up to the Harry Potter series. I haven’t read the books, but it’s quite a stretch to compare this to the great teen wizard. The Greek mythology theme is interesting and this is definitely a great movie for a wide range of age groups. The special effects are pretty good. The acting is also fairly decent.

Bottom line: It’s worth a watch, especially if you have kids you are trying to entertain.

2/29/10: The Crazies
The best movie I saw in February award goes hands down to The Crazies. This movie is awesome. I’m not a huge horror film fan because half the time they make no sense, fail to freak me out, and have no intelligent bone in their skeletal plot. The Crazies breaks down all my horror hating walls. Josh Deschanel’s doppelganger does a good job as the small town sheriff trying to save his pregnant wife from an accidental government induce epidemic. This movie has some sweet kills and surprisingly pleasing relationship development and personal sacrifice. The social commentary is obvious, yet not that annoying. I love a sci-fi type story that fits in the real world.

Bottom line: Watch this, as soon as you can. This is my favorite horror movie in a long, long time. Paranormal Activity wasn’t that great, so see this.

Total count for 2010: 16

Film: 1 Year, 100 Movies - January

I'm not a fan of New Year's resolutions. I don't get the concept or why people need an excuse to make a big change to better themselves. Hey, if you want to get something done, pull a Nike and just do it. That being said, this year I halfway jumped on the bandwagon and decided to create a goal for the year 2010. Last year, I was at the theater enough to see 84 films, this year I'm going for 100. One year, one-hundred movies. Of course my ultimate goal is for some big studio to hear my story and make film about my life, but until then I'll blog my way through each month letting you know how each film was and whether I think it's worth your time.

Up in the Air
You've probably heard some buzz about this film, especially considering it's recent Best Picture Oscar nomination. It was enjoyable but, like I often feel about Best Picture nominees, I didn't really get all the hype. It has a lot of those artsy qualities critics tend to eat up, tragic characters, a reflection America's individualistic attitudes and workaholic lifestyle, and a depressing ending. George Clooney did his thing and the chick from Twilight wasn't half bad either.

Bottom line: Up in the Air is for people into non-uplifting character studies, an easy wait-for-DVD rental, and not worthy of the Best Picture of 2009 award by any stretch.

Daybreakers
You can read my official GotchaMovies.com review here.

Bottom line: Willem Dafoe is amazing... unlike this movie.

Youth in Revolt
Reflecting back on this movie...it was weird. Not really good or bad weird, just weird. I did enjoy it. I love Michael Cera and I'm into stories that make no sense but make me not even care that they don't. It was pretty amusing and off the wall, and a nice change of pace. Youth in Revolt doesn't offer a cliche teen movie in any fashion. I also appreciate this film because of the guerilla marketing techniques they used as promotion including groups of college guys dressing as the main character's alter ego and passing out free screening passes on college campuses.

Bottom line: This movie is offbeat and lacks sense at times, but it all melds together to create a charming story that's worth a watch.

Leap Year
We get it, Amy Adams is likeable, adorable, and exudes and air of innocence that makes her hard to hate, but to be honest it's getting really old really fast. My beef is more with her as an actress playing the EXACT same role in every film and not with Leap Year itself. The story was cute and no less cliche or predictable than any other romantic comedy. It has some really funny scenes and a beautiful backdrop.

Bottom line: If you can handle Amy Adams playing the same exact character one more time you'll be able to enjoy Leap Year… at least a little.

Book of Eli
When I saw this film it was one of the rare occasions I went in having zero clue what the movie was about. I was intrigued from the first scene and thoroughly enjoyed watching this story unfold. I do feel like the movie's twist takes the story from slightly divine to a little unbelievable but that is really just a personal preference as far as these types of stories go. The cinematography is really cool and I liked all the acting, including Mila Kunis who's been getting a lot of flack for her role.

Bottom line: Book of Eli is an interesting, unique story that makes you think. Back that up with some talented acting and good action scenes means you should head to the theater.

Legion
Telling the blasphemous story about an angry God who sends Angels or zombies or something like that to exterminate the world's population, Legion leaves the word meh written all over it. Questions don't get answered and nothing fits together. I will just stop there because this movie deserves no more of your time or mine.

Bottom line: This movie is lame not has virtually zero entertainment value. Pass.

The Lovely Bones
What most drew me to this film was that Peter Jackson's director credit. I haven't read the book so I didn't feel any of the anger about his adaptation that some people have been buzzing about. I thought it was done really well. The film isn't about murder or vengeance, it's about dealing with grief and the process of losing a loved one. Some of the scenes set in "the in between" are a little weird and almost creepy but overall everything is really well done.

Bottom line: This film is pretty good. I don't suggest it for children, but the story, effects, and satisfying demise of Susie's murderer are worth a view.

Extraordinary Measures
You can read my official review here. I suggest you do, this movie is good and you need to be convinced that's true.

Bottom line: This movie was fabulous. The story is dynamic and inspiring and you won't regret taking the time or spending the money to see this in theaters.

When in Rome
Once again my nerdy marketing student self has to give a shout out to When in Rome for their unique marketing efforts. Promotion for this film was everywhere and it was adorable how they did mock confessional type interviews with the on-screen couple. Kristin and Josh are not just super cute, but also put on a genuine performance. The film is funny, upbeat and enjoyable and the art museum aspect of the plot adds some unique dimension I thought was really interesting.

Bottom line: Great choice for date night. Don't let it get lost in the shuffle with all the other romantic February releases.

Total count for 2010: 9