Speed Racer

The Wachowski’s could not have chosen a better movie to make for a comeback. Written and directed by Andy and Larry Wachowski, Speed Racer was probably the most fun in a movie theater I have had this year. As soon as the film starts you are thrown into a fast paced and colorful world of the future. You meet an adorable, yet troubled family of racers, and are raced through their lives in a strangely idyllic future. There are so many great things about this film, which many others feel make it a bad film. I will admit, if you are over 40 and don’t have ADD it’s probably not the movie for you. Everything flies by so fast it is a little hard to catch everything that goes on. However, who decided this was a bad thing? There are multiple story lines, and they are woven together flawlessly. You are never bored by what is happening, and are always left wanting to know more as soon as the scene cuts. The editing makes this film like none other; it’s flashy but very well done. What everyone else seems to agree on is that its too much for them, but my take is that the film is about car racing, why have slow boring editing and just one plot line, when you can add to the speed and fun by making it unique. Speed Racer is the first movie I feel I have ever been truly able to say looks like a live action cartoon. Everything was just so slightly over the top as far as the set and costumes, but that’s what makes it work.

The casting was superb. Emile Hirsch and Christina Ricci make for a desperately cute couple on screen; both are short and look surprisingly young which fits the characters perfectly. Not only were the leads great but the whole family was bringing their best efforts in this film, even the pet monkey did well. There is really nothing bad I can say about this movie. It may be early to say, but I already see a nomination for best editing. This movie was fun. It was a kids movie for grown ups. The Matrix is one of my favorite films of all time, and I am so glad to see the Wachowski’s again. This film was nothing like the matrix, and yet at the same time you know it was made by the same people. The Wachowski’s are really showing us all that they can do in this film, and believe me, they did it!

What can I say, I give it 5 out of 5 stars. There was nothing I didn’t like. The only problem I could even try and give it, is that it seemed a little long towards the middle, but I credit that to the fact that I went to a midnight showing and I was tired. I LOVED this movie!

Moulin Rouge (1952)

Directed by: John Huston
The film was nominated in 1953 for Best Picture, Best director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Editing. It won best Art Direction and Best Costumes.

This came on TCM the other night, and the announcer said it had nothing to do with the 2001 version. He was clearly wrong. This is the story of a crippled painter named Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. The film flashes back to a rough childhood, which leads him to become an alcoholic, which in turn is what ends his life early. The 2001 Moulin Rouge was similar because of the setting and general story. However the main focus of this version was on the life of the painter, and not of the girl. This film was not a musical like the newer one, but the music and dancing were very alike.

Overall it was fun to watch, but got a little long during the middle. It started out a love story, turned sad, and ended with another love story. I have a hard time calling it a romance film because the main character never gets what he wanted so badly, a wife. Henri is too stubborn to let himself believe that anyone could actually love him which makes this film more of a tragedy than anything else. It was the paintings that brought this film to life, and its the paintings that gives it a happy ending despite the continuous sad tone. The editing, like the newer one is amazing. So while it is not a direct remake, so much from this was used to make the 2001 film the amazing film it was.

I give it 4 of 5 stars. I love the new one so much, and it was great to see where it came from, but it was also very unique, and had such a different take on the story that it was like watching a whole different movie.

Iron Man

Directed by: Jon Favreau

The last midnight showing I had gone to was Spiderman 3, that almost made me lose hope for all midnight showings, why be the first to see it if it sucks? Well, because if it is awesome, then you can say you saw it first. This is what happened with Iron Man. Like all other comic book movies, I don't read the books, I hardly know the stories, I just like the movies. I loved Iron Man, and I am still yet to meet anyone who disagrees. The story was interesting, It was almost not predictable, but then again, how can it be a super hero movie if the hero doesn't win while battling his changing self. The predicable part was knowing who would be the enemy within the first five minutes of film, then again, its probably a story that every comic book nerd already knew so predictability, in this case, is void. The fact that I figured it out early had no effect however on how much I enjoyed it over all. There was a little bit of a terrorism theme which I am sure was there to promote the fact that its an American film, but also made it seem much more plausible (Not that it is, but it could be, and that would be cool).

Tony Stark is someone I want to be friends with. His character is a sarcastic ass, just like everyone I know, and yet somehow turned into an incredible hero type in the end. Jeff Bridges is an actor I rarely like, so the fact that I didn't know it was him until the credits (I thought they looked similar) made it good for his sake. Everyone else did fantastic. The characters are what made this similar to Batman Begins. Both films are about the hero learning who they are in a very real and relatable kind of way, not the usual flashy look at all the cool things I can do hero.

This movie was great! Also a great way to start this blog. I cant decide if I want to award it the full five stars. I feel I can only give it 4.5 because ten minutes into the film you knew a sequel was inevitable, and that it would not actually resolve in the current 2 hours.

Mk. so thats my first post, feel free to leave comments and get me to argue. Check back everydayish for a new post on an old movie, and every week or so for new releases!

Welcome!

Hey everyone, I am Jenny and I love movies. I am a film studies major and want to get some practice writing my thoughts about films before I venture out into the real world to do it for a living (that is the preferred plan anyways). Each week I will see a film in theaters, probably a new release for the week, otherwise I will watch one movie every day for the entire summer. As far as I know I will rate movies 1 to 5, because everyone can relate to that, but I don't really like that system so I am trying to come up with something new (I will let you know if it changes). I will try and keep up with the poll for the in theaters film so please reply to those. Thanks for reading! :-)