I’m starting this back up. I don’t watch movies that often anymore but I miss having this platform.
Top Ten Summer Blockbusters — based on box office
Here are my predictions for the summer:
1. Transformers 4
2. How to Train Your Dragon 2
3. Amazing Spider-Man 2
4. Godzilla
5. X-Men Days of Future Past
6. Neighbors
7. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
8. 22 Jump Street
9. Maleficent
10. Guardians of the Galaxy
Check out the lists professionals put together here.
12 Angry Men (1957)
No one wears eyeglasses to bed.
This is a great film. You should see it.
My dissertation is about deliberative democracy. Many theoretical issues raised in that body of literature are covered in this film.
Next up, I want to watch the 1991 William Friedkin version.
Afternoon Delight
I really hate this movie.
Some movies I’ve seen lately
Divergent — meh.
Hard-Boiled — Awesome! Great scenes with babies.
Enough Said — I liked it, but I don’t get the hype.
Drug War (毒戰) — I like this one quite a bit. Sun Honglei ( 孙红雷) is awesome in this film. I want to see more films with him.
Noah — Surprisingly, I think this movie is great. I like Aronofsky but this is actually one I want to watch again unlike his other films. Scary scenes with babies. I watched this film with my hand on my wife’s pregnant belly. Bring a pregnant friend with you to the theater.
Computer Chess
I really like this movie. Hats off for originality.
Weekend Digest
Too busy to write anything, but here is what I watched this last weekend:
Chicken Run
One film I liked more: Sister Act
The Grand Budapest Hotel
One film I liked more: Moonrise Kingdom
A.C.O.D.
One film I liked more: Annie Hall
The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia
It feels like a reality show on history channel.
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2
I like this movie as much as the first one. It’s funny and really awesome to look at.
I don’t recall seeing any meatballs in this film. I guess they aren’t easy to make into living critters.
One film I liked more: Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
One film I liked less: 21 Jump Street
Short Term 12
Every year I think I’m going to make a top ten list of my favorite films. I read a lot of film criticism and most critics put out some kind of list highlighting their favorites. Most critics also watch a couple hundred films a year. I don’t have that benefit so the pool I would be drawing from has huge holes. I always start the new year trying to catch up on the big films that I missed. This is one of those films. It’s mid-March and I’m giving up on making a 2013 list, but I’m glad I caught up with this indie release.
This is a really cool film. It tells the story of the 20 somethings who run a short term residential program for “at-risk” youth. The acting is all pretty great and the dialogue is realistic and interesting. I felt a little weepy at times, but the story actually has resolution and some redemption so that makes me feel okay.
Gut reaction: 4.5/5
One film I liked more: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
One film I liked less: Half Nelson