Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Movie Monday ... missed it by *that* much ...

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The Happening (2008)

[Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel, John Leguizamo]

This movie, by M. Night Shyamalan, is about some strange event causing people to harm themselves in fatal ways. It centers on a high school science teacher and his wife, and their attempt to avoid becoming victims as well.

I don't know. I just found this movie odd. The premise was interesting, but I just felt... let down, I guess. I suppose the point of it is "the unknown". I don't know.

Can't say I would recommend it, but it's not like it's a horrible film, either.

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Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus (2009)

[Deborah Gibson, Lorenzo Lamas, Sean Lawlor, Vic Chao]

Well, I was excited to see this movie, as the hype over it a few weeks ago was intense. Seemed like it was going to be a really cheesy, but fun, action flick.

Sadly, I was more bored than anything. And my 13-year-old fell asleep halfway through the movie!

Too much of the film centered around the marine scientists and their drawn out realization of what they were dealing with, and then their plans to bring the two beasts together.

We do get to see some of the battle between the two at the end, but it isn't nearly enough to make up all that comes before. Recommended for die hard "mega animal" movie fans, but in general, it was just blah. A letdown.

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On the Waterfront (1954)

[Marlon Brando, Eva Marie Saint, Karl Malden, Lee J. Cobb]

This was the first time I have ever watched this silver screen classic. And I shouldn't have waited so long! What a great movie.

Brando is awesome as Terry, but so is everyone else in the cast, including Eva Marie Saint and Karl Malden. Just a great cast in a great movie, directed so well by Elia Kazan.

I am sure I don't have to summarize something so well known, but basically it is a film about how easy it is to do nothing when it is so very hard to do the right thing. Definitely deserves it's reputation as a classic.

Highly recommended, if you haven't already seen it!

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9 comments:

  1. found the happening to be a let down as well. love the way shyamalan tells a story usually, but was left wanting. the lady in the window...that was a little freaky!

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  2. i will for sure see The Happening, but M. Night hasn't been real good the last couple times out. And there are a lot of real good old movies...love Brando; but my favorite is 'The Quiet Man' with John Wayne...not your usual Duke fare.

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  3. Dammit! I was so looking forward to the Octopussy thingy. I felt the same way about the Happening. Mark Walberg is always the same. Much better when he just takes his shirt off. Yeh, Mr Nights best effort was definitely The Sixth Sense.

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  4. Ach! It's taken you this long to see "On the Waterfront"? Okay, okay, I understand. And haven't seen Wahlberg since "The Big Hit".
    As for that other one...even the trailer was a waste of time, wot? Ya gotta get in some more of the "classics"!!

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  5. Guess I'm (as always) the lone dissenter here, I enjoyed The Happening - I don't think it's good per se, but I like it.

    Whatever, I like The Village and Signs too. What do I know?!

    MSVSGO was alright, I like Debbie so I liked her in it.

    Sorry I didn't subscribe to your blog before, I guess I just missed it. Consider me a "follower" from now on!

    - Zac

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  6. From the highs to the lows of motion picture history...IN ONE NIGHT! How do you shift that quickly my brother? Thought good to see you end your evening on a high note. There is a reason they are called classics and I hope to see many more of you reviews of those in th future.

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  7. I like the happening,I know it was kind of weird and slow but I got the message behind.It could have been better made for sure but the message is clear:we harm the planet,she rebels and harm us big times,lol.And seriously,no matter how we try to calculate things,only love can save us and no logic at all,just magic.See those two are saved cause they joined each other,even they knew the danger to die,they wanted to be together and love was pure and stronger than everything else.They got the message and were given the chance to pass it on and like being born again differently,they won't do the same mistakes anymore.And they will teach to their baby to love,respect the world and others.Yeah something like that,you get the point,lol.And then it is done in all the world,as we see Paris at the end.

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    ReplyDelete