Warm Bodies

Details: Zombie guy feels so much different than the other zombies.  He wants to have a regular life.  But can he stop being a zombie?  Can the general's daughter Julie, get out of the zombie world and back to her own world? Or will the Bonies get to her first?  Why is the Zombie guy changing?  What will this mean for him and his dead kind?  Actors: Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, and Analeigh Tipton.  "He's still dead, but getting warmer".  Genres: comedy, horror, romance.  2013 movie.  "Love can change us!"

My Review: Um...??? Is what went through my mind for the first 10 minutes.  Okay after 20 minutes I was still like...um...wow...what the...?  So zombies like to eat brains so they can have memories.  Not to feel so dead.  It was really funny when he drove the car.   And all the monologue narrative was weird but funny. As the movie progressed it got funnier, and then turned into a Romeo and Juliet of the Zombies.  Seriously, I would never watch it again, but it was neat.  We rented it from the Redbox, and my personal opinion is that its not worth more than what you pay for a Redbox movie.  Surprisingly I am giving this movie a thumbs up, because "Romeo" actually lives.

Pros: funny, good actors, predictable plot

Cons: I really wonder what zombie enthusiasts think about this.

My Rating 

Les Miserables

Details: This movie is set in the era of the French revolution. A prisoner  named Jean Valjean, to the French parole officer Javert, runs away after showing great strength when saving a crew member from being crushed by a huge ship mast.  Making a new name for himself, he casts young Fantine out of his workhouse for fighting to keep her dignity.  He later finds out her well kept secret, and vows to keep that secret safe, and with him until he dies himself.  Cast: Russell Crow, Huge Jackman, Anne Hathaway.  Musical with an interesting plot. 
My Review: In my opinion the actual plot wasn't that good.  There are so many different stories that are intertwined but there's no real start, middle, and end with closure to the story.  However the vocal talents of all 3 main characters are surprisingly amazing.  The secondary main character vocal talents are also amazing. I would recommend seeing this just to see Huge and Russell sing.  Documenting how the livelihood of many of the beggars  prisoners  poor, and lower class lived during this time in the France's history was very neat to see.

Pros: The music was excellent, the costumes were great (especially the Grand Duke and his Lady friend at the end of the movie), the vocal talent was the hit of the movie

Cons: plot wasn't very good

                                                                                          My Rating 

Wreck it Ralph

Details: An American movie filmed in 2012.  When an arcade villain gets the case of "greener grass on the other side", things go from normal living to being turned upside down for the good guys.  Three arcade games get mixed up and end up fighting for their lives as the threat of being "unplugged" hangs over head, literally.  Can a "bad guy" become good?  Can a "wrecker" fix things?  Can the "good guys" work to help the "bad guy" together to save their arcade game.

My Review: My little family has watched this movie 5 times now.  Growing up I never played video games.  My brother did, his friends did, my husband and his friends did too.  Having a husband who loves video games and kids who love video games as well, this was a must see movie for us.  We saw it the first time in the movie theater as a family.  Then we would rent it from Blockbuster and then the Red Box and watched it a whole bunch more times.
Wreck it Ralph has an awesome moral to the story.  Fighting evil making friends finding out what life really is about.  Learning why having a hero in life is really important to children and adults is well being that hero.  We loved all the colors, the characters, the humor, and the puns.

Pros: humor, plot, characters

Cons: none







                                                                                       My Rating

Life of Pi movie

Details: A 2012 American movie based on the book by Yann Martel published in 2001.  Can a boy with a very amazing name change his fate, change his name and get the respect he needs to stand up to the bullies in his schools?  When a 16 year old boy survives a terrible ship wreck that killed his family, he gets lucky and gets a life boat, but his companions aren't normal sailors.  Can a boy, zebra, tiger, hyena, and orangutan get along in the same life boat? The story of a Hindu boy who comes to know God through his many adventures, lessons, trials, and journeys.  Wanting to understand the ending better, here is a great website you can check out.

My Review: I read this book in college years ago.  I don't remember anything about the book just that it was confusing.  Our whole class was confused.  We all read it to figure out what a tiger, a boy had to do with God.  So when the movie came out it was pulling teeth from me to watch it. 
Watching the movie I was pleasantly surprised.  It was sad, funny, enlightening.  How many times will God call a man.  How many times will God listen and watch us. 
"What story do you prefer?"
"The one with the tiger."
"Thank you. "
"It is the better story."
"And so it is with God."

Pros: great images, lessons, heart

Cons: now I need to read the book

                                                                                            My Rating

GI Joe: Retaliation

Details: When the GI Joes get called on a special mission bigger fish are ready to fry the little guys.  Fighting the Cobra Commander is hard enough, but when the government is at your back, and closing in only the Joes can pull together.

My Review: As soon as I heard that there was going to be a second GI Joe movie I had to see it.  We went on a Wednesday night and shared the digital theater screen with 3 other small groups of people.  That was really nice and cool!  My first reaction was "what the heck? Why did they use new actors?"  Totally uncool.  The action was good, plot was excellent with unexpected surprises.  The fighting and special effects were cool, but as we walked out the common disappointment was that it wasn't the same people really.  The a tors did an excellent role but it just wasn't as cool and awesome as GI Joe # 1. 
The other question was why is Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson always sweaty and dripping? Its gross.

Pros: good fight scenes, good acting, good plot

Cons: not the same actors, Dwane droops sweat like crazy

My Rating: thumbs up for good action and plot, thumbs down for so many undesirable changes.

The Croods

Details:  A cave man's family has rules to keep them from dying.  A cave man's family sticks together.  A cave man's family works together to hunt, and gather, and eat, and fight, they never ever look for something new.  New is Bad.  New will kill you.  Or so says the cave man.  So when new comes to them, the Croods of the cave have to decide to adapt or be left behind in the dark.  New destroyed their cave, and now the Croods must move on.  Eep embraces New with her whole heart, making a new friend, Guy and his Belt, where as her father Grug fights to keep his family safe in these new areas of the land that is before them.  With a great cast of characters: Emma Stone, Nicholas Cage, Ryan Reynolds, and Catherine Keener. 2013 hit animated movie of the Spring.


My Review:  Croods is the epic portrayal of the modern family through all of the below suggestions.

 Issues trusting, issues listening and allowing children to grow up, issues adapting to newer technology, newer ideas, etc.  Children struggling to discover their purpose in life, to discover who they are, what they want out of life etc.  Separation, broken families, orphaned children, trust issues of other people.  Married men living up to the wife's, In-Law's, children's expectations.  Fathers and husbands giving their all to provide, protect, and preside for their families.  Families accepting of the guys or girls that love their older children, accepting of the newer members of the family whole heartedly, accepting that the love of their child's life is different, has fresh new ideas, and the older child will and does embrace NEW with open minds and hearts.  Older children breaking traditions because they see and feel caged up and want to discover life, not just live so they don't die.

When our family saw this movie, the children loved the funny moments of fire burning Thunk, and Grug being "fresh", or when Guy gave Eep and Ugga dumped Sandy on Gran because she kept trying to eat Thunk and Guy and Belt.  I saw all the family issues every family in today's society struggles with.  This is a movie that will make you think, question, laugh, wonder, question, think, and laugh some more.  Its a great movie, well done.  I love the art work Grug is so good at creating!  Families will enjoy this movie very much.

Pros: great for families

Cons: none

Disclaimer: not everyone with share my opinion, I know that and understand that.  This is purely my own opinion, non biased, and honest.

                                                                                     My Rating: high 5

The Hobbit

Details: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is the first of 3 movies portraying the words penned by J. R. R. Tolkien.  Produced by the same directors as The Lord of The Rings trilogy.  Events that happen in the book and the movies The Hobbit happen 60 years before the series The Lord of The Rings.  Bilbo Baggins is the star of the Hobbit, which leads to Frodo Baggins getting into the mess and danger and adventures he does 60 years later.  We see Gandalf the Gray, a Brown and a White wizard all working together to figure out what is happening in Middle-earth where Elves, Dwarfs, Man, Hobbits, and Wizards enjoy peace.  But where new unknown evil is rising up.  The secondary star of the movie is Thorin Oakenshield the Dwarf King.  Baggins is met by Gandalf and 13 Dwarfs to be entreated to join them in reclaiming the lost Dwarf Kingdom taken many years earlier by Smaug the Dragon.  Gaulim is also introduced in the Hobbit, as it is Baggins interactions here in The Hobbit that lead Frodo into danger in The Lord of the Rings.  Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Sylvester McCoy, Cate Blanchett, Elijah Wood, Hugo Weaving are just some of the amazing cast members playing roles in the movie.

My Review:  I never got to see this playing in the theator, but when Block Buster got it we tried for 3 days to get a copy.  We ended up renting a Blue Ray copy, which was really amazing.  The quality of the picture, the special effects, the plot the characters are very well done.  Its a great way to spend 3 hours of your time, watching a classic novel come to life.  With giants, dark shadows, undead, glowing swords, and cleaver annoyances with some great fighting scenes this is and excellent portrayal of The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien.  I remember reading the book when I was in High School, I read the The Hobbit, and all 3 Lord of the Rings books during Christmas break one year.  They were really good books, and the movies are a perfect!  You can't get over the beautiful music, the breath taking scenery in the Shire, and along the journey to the Elf Kingdom, and over the mountains.  I for one cannot wait to see the next to parts of this trilogy when they come out.

Pros: excellent, great graphics, great plot, follows the book really well

Cons: having to wait for the rest of the story

                                                                                        My Rating

Jack the Giant Slayer

Details: 2013 movie with the Fairy Tale Jack and The Bean stalk as the theme.  "Fee Fye Foe Fumm!"  Bryan Singer the producer of X-Men is also the producer for this movie.  Cast: Nicholas Hoult from the newest X-Men, Eleanor Tomlinson, Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci, Ian McShane, Bill Nighy.  Here is a great link to find all the details about this movie straight from Warner Brothers.
 
My Review: My husband and I got to go on a date tonight.  We got to watch the 3 D version of Jack the Giant Slayer.  What an incredible movie it was awesome!  The graphics were great, special effects were incredible, 3D was the best 3D version we'd ever seen.  You can see this in either 2D or 3D, but we really liked the 3D.  It wasn't too crazy, no dizzy feelings when the screen pans out.  No fuzzy images because of the disposable glasses from the theater.  We got great seats!  I will personally admit that I closed my eyes about 5 times.  I've have a little bit of a height fear.  Also there were a few gross images (nothing super nasty and graphic, but enough to have the audience all go "ew" at the same time).  I highly recommend seeing this movie!

Pros: amazingly well written, great plot, really good special affects

Cons: none

                                                    My Rating: Giant Thumbs Up

Money Ball

Money Ball the movie: Starring Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, and Robin Wright.  2011, PG-13. This is based on the true story of the Oakland CA, A's baseball team and how they sucked, how they were a poor professional team, how sports scouts sometimes pick duds, and sometimes find all star players.  Trying to find a way to change the way baseball was played Billy Beane's risks his job, his family, and the anger, frustration, and honor of the Oakland A's. Here's to success, if it can happen!

Why we loved this movie:  We rented this from the Red box but it took us 5 days to finally watch and finish this movie.  It is a great new take on true story movies.  I love Invincible, Invictus, We are Marshall, Pursuit of Happiness, Blind Side etc.  This is the first modern day true story movie I've seen that was about baseball.  This was a special movie for my husband because he had to give up his baseball career when his mother and step dad moved from one state to another state, during middle school.  When a man of the world finds that there is more to life than making money miracles happen, and not all miracles seem positive at first, but over time the bigger picture becomes more clear, and true success happens.  That is the story of Money Ball.  I highly recommend this movie.  We haven't bought it yet, but I plan on giving it to my husband as a surprise gift soon.

My Rating