In flight movie reviews

[gordonzola]

Will Farrell's "serious" movie
Sorry, I didn't catch the title. I must have ridden the last intercontinental plane that pulls down one screen for an entire couple hundred person cabin. Did I mention that I had the very last seat? I only saw bits and pieces based on the shiftings of other passengers but I bought Will Farrell as a serious actor. He was likeable even. I took no notes so while his anarchist girlfriend's politics annoyed me, I can't remember why. Whoever played the author (I really couldn't see!) was awful though I'm not sure it was her fault. It seemed as if someone realized that her character, which for the movie needed to be all deep and literary, was really just obvious and shallow so they hired someone to do an English accent to disguise the bad writing.

I think this movie was pretty OK, but I'm not sure. Warning though, it's very "meta" like that Malkovitch movie.

Night in the Museum
On the same flight, with the same physical difficulties Even Ricky Gervais couldn't make the struggle worth it.

I don't really know if this movie is good, but I really doubt it.

Notes on a Scandal
I saw this on the flight home and I actually got a screen on the seat in front of me. My movie-watching attitude was much improved. This was, by far, the best movie I saw in the air. Judy Dench was fabulous as the frustrated evil lesbian. I was annoyed when they disturbed me to offer me pretzels and beverages.

Recommended without caveat.

Blood Diamond
What a piece of shit. I kept thinking Jennifer Connelly (who I loved in other movies) was Demi Moore and getting confused. Neither her or Leonardo were believable in the least. I swear Connelly seemed embarrassed at times. I myself was embarrassed that I actually wanted to see this because I heard it was some lefty movie. I guess it was because it showed the white corporate diamond dealers were the ultimate evil, but it enjoyed Black folks brutally killing each other a little too much for my liking. Roeper (of "Ebert and Roeper") confusing South Africa with Rhodesia in the preview was amusing though.

Good if you like violence and bad acting disguised as a "message" film.

Casino Royale
Best Bond in years, but is that really saying anything? I missed a good chunk in the middle due to technical problems and my need to get up, pee and stretch. I didn't seem to miss any plot however. Like Blood Diamond, evil African warlords played a role. I guess it's Hollywood's new thing. I read during the romantic bits because I don't approve of Bond falling in love.

Eh. Rent the original Casino Royale instead. Not that they bear any resemblance to each other.

Potter
Ok, I only watched the last half hour or so. It seemed like a typical costume drama. Strong woman chafing at her limited possibilities due to the customs of the time blah blah. Good thing she's rich. But honestly, I really liked Renee Zellweger as Beatrix Potter. Seriously. I liked her choppy haircut, her giggliness, and they way she talked to her rabbits, especially when she got depressed. It was the 10th hour of my flight, but I think it was a really good performance.

Seriously, this movie wasn't bad.

Comments

[alice-ayers.livejournal.com]

The Will Farrell movie is Stranger Than Fiction.

To woo the anarchist baker, he plays one of favorite electroclash-y songs on an acoustic guitar. I highly reccomend the original Whole Wide World by Laptop.

[gordonzola.livejournal.com]

thanks. I really missed any subtely the movie had due to the viewing issues. I think the pilot came on with an announcement during that scene.

[smallstages.livejournal.com]

And it was Helen Mirren as the author. I thought she was odd and wonderful!

[smallstages.livejournal.com]

Ha! I meant Emma Thompson. I always paste their names on one another.

[gordonzola.livejournal.com]

that's funny. I was like "How did I miss that?" I've seen every Prime Suspect.

Prime Suspect

[smileserena.livejournal.com]

Did you see the last one? The one where she retired?

I watched Notes on a Scandal on flight too....Judi Dench is s-c-a-r-y!

[bing-crosby.livejournal.com]

seriously, I hated the lefty cutesy Harvard Law boho bra straps tank top girl in Stranger Than Fiction so much-- I kept hoping maybe she would die somehow. That was Emma Thompson as the author btw, so at least the accent was real. But I agree, it fell somewhat short overall. I loved Notes on a Scandal too. One of the best parts of traveling long distances is movies on the plane, as far as I am concerned.

[gordonzola.livejournal.com]

oh you're right, it was Emma Thompson. But, like the hot girl in Roger Rabbit, I understand she was just drawn that way.

[sarahshevett.livejournal.com]

I think DeCaprio is crap. He can't act, he's totally unbelievable, always has the same expression. He and Scarlett Johansson are crap.
I can't ever get past that it's so obvious that they are acting.
I have never seen Titanic. I've also never been in a WalMart.

[flipping-hades.livejournal.com]

At least Scarlett Johansson is pretty to look at. Something bad happened to DiCrapio's face as he grew up.

ew. not pretty. ew.

[sarahshevett.livejournal.com]

Pretty ? ew! NO!
I wish she'd CLOSE HER MOUTH.

[gordonzola.livejournal.com]

I've never seen Titanic either. I did go into a Walmart in Hawaii of all places. I was camping and getting ravaged by mosquitos. It was like midnight and the only place open. I used the bathroom and wandered.

[albatrossity.livejournal.com]

Titanic is one of the most idiotic movies of all time. You are quite right to spare yourself the horrors of poor dialects, faux feminism, and an entire third hour unto itself of watching people slowly drown in icy waters.

Hated Titanic

[psoup.livejournal.com]

All I can say is, I'll never have those 3 hours of my life back.

[smallstages.livejournal.com]

I loved Notes on a Scandal so much ... The theatre was super crowded the first time I saw it, interfering with my suspension of disbelief. So I went back for a late midweek showing the following week so that I could be alone with the film. It held up.

[gordonzola.livejournal.com]

man, if it held up on my 6 inch airline flight screen, it must be good. I was riveted in that situation!

[touchyphiliac.livejournal.com]

I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT IT UNTIL THIS POST.

Life is so unfair.

That or I should start paying attention to what movies are out.

Stranger Than Fiction

[albatrossity.livejournal.com]

Hmmmm, I thought Emma Thompson was perfect as the authoress. It was Dustin Hoffman's performance that I found flat. When he told Ferrell he had to die for the sake of good literature there wasn't the maniacal passion of a lit teacher there. I think he was trying to come off as a detached because he was an intellectual but instead came off as impassionate. The Maggie Gyllenhall character was a little too much for Will Ferrell's character to believably fall in love with. But overall I thought it was a very funny movie, a great script-- certainly one of the most entertaining and unique mainstream American movies in years. I did get the impression that some knockout great scenes with Queen Latifah were cut; there was a certain imcompleteness in the energy between her and Emma Thompson.

Re: Stranger Than Fiction

[gordonzola.livejournal.com]

haha. the Dustin Hoffman role was so forgettable that I, well, forgot about him altogether!

Re: Stranger Than Fiction

[gordonzola.livejournal.com]

hahahaha! I did no slamming. my summary was that it was "pretty Ok". You're just mad that I dissed the English accent character, eh?

[touchyphiliac.livejournal.com]

Night in the Museum sucked.

Thanks for the movie reviews. I like your description of Potter.

[gordonzola.livejournal.com]

I forgot until right this moment I also saw half of "Freedom Writers". god, that was awful.

[touchyphiliac.livejournal.com]

Horrible!! I don't even want to see 1/2 of it!

[rfd.livejournal.com]

Original Casino Royale FTW!

[gordonzola.livejournal.com]

Fuck The World?

[touchyphiliac.livejournal.com]

different subculture

for the win

[gordonzola.livejournal.com]

haha. thanks. I honestly didn't know.

[touchyphiliac.livejournal.com]

that's good, because i would have felt stupid if you were making a joke. it only gained wide use more recently, as far as i know.

[twostepsfwd.livejournal.com]

Stranger Than Fiction! I loved that movie. It was thoroughly likeable and enjoyable, to me

[psoup.livejournal.com]

I tend to love Will Ferrell, but mostly because of this http://sjl.funnyordie.com/v1/view_video.php?viewkey=3efbc24c7d2583be6925

We rented Jesus Camp to watch on Easter Eve.
Totally scary.
Loved Notes On A Scandal.

Hey, guess who's going to become a grandfather in 5 months!

[biblionerd-girl.livejournal.com]

I actually loved the new Casino Royale and I generally dislike James Bond movies...probably because I recently rented Archangel with Daniel Craig and loved it.
(by the way, I thought I'd add you as a friend if that is ok...)

[gordonzola.livejournal.com]

I think you were commenting to me and not Psoup up there...

I added you back.