I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve heard (or said), “Sure, the movie’s okay, but it’s nothing compared to the book.”
The problem with that statement is that the only response I have to it is, “Well, duh.” Books and movies are two entirely different formats, and it goes without saying that some of the things that people truly enjoy about the book from which a movie is based are going to be lost in translation.
Still, that doesn’t always explain why some movies are so horribly bad, when compared to their books (and the book doesn’t even have to be that good).
A few examples off the top of my head of decent books and bad movies:
the book, vs. 
the book, vs. - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
the book, vs. Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban the movie.(Many people say that they thoroughly enjoyed the movie, but the book was my favorite at the time, and the movie left out some things that I felt could easily have been included.) You get the idea.
But even if a movie based on a book is brilliant (like each of the Lord of the Rings movies, The Princess Bride, etc.), it’s still going to pale in comparison to the book, in 99.9% of all cases.
Which, of course, begs the question: which to enjoy first, the book, or the movie?
For my part, the answer is easy. Since I know and understand that the movie (almost always) pales in comparison to the book, I often vote to see the movie first. Doing it that way, even a truly mediocre movie, like Timeline, can be enjoyable, or even fun, until it’s completely ruined for you by the book.
Now, this solution only really works if you’re a dedicated movie-goer like I am. I really like seeing movies on the big screen. If I can see a movie projected for me across twenty-four plus feet of big screen glory, I will, often regardless of cost (it’s one of the frivolities built into my budget). So I’d rather get my money’s worth from the movies I’m seeing by enjoying them as much as possible. And for me, that means reading the book second.
Of course, that’s the other thing. If you see the movie first, you should still read the book. Because even if the movie was awesome, there is still a lot of merit to enjoying the story in its original format.
And then, there are those few movies which are actually terrible and make no sense if you haven’t read the book (or books), which is another facet of this conundrum. For example, I maintain that the Harry Potter movies are all far more enjoyable if you have read the books, than if you haven’t. The same might be said of the Lord of the Rings movies, but I enjoy both the movies and the books so much, that it’s hard for me to say.
All that waffling aside, here’s a list of movies (based on books or graphic novels) that I highly recommend, and whether or not you should read the book before, or after.
Movie: The Princess Bride
Book: The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern’s Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure
Read the book…: Either before or after. Or not at all, although I hear it’s brilliant.
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Movie: The Lord of the Rings: the Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King
Book:: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Read the book…: Either, probably, but I read them before and it helped me to understand a lot of what was going on, since the movies (and the books) are so complicated.
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Movie: V for Vendetta
Book:: V for Vendetta
Read the book…: After. I only say this because I loved this movie and almost everyone I talked to who had read the graphic novel before seeing it didn’t like it. It’s a fun, well-constructed movie, and it’s worth being able to enjoy it. I’m hesitating to read it (despite my own advice), because I don’t want to diminish my enjoyment of the movie, which I know is stupid, but there you are.
—
Movie: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, HP and the Chamber of Secrets, HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban, HP and the Goblet of Fire, HP and the Order of the Phoenix, and now HP and the Half-Blood Prince
Book:: The Harry Potter Series
Read the book…: Before, and realize that they’re not going to be able to cram 400 – 700 pages of book into two hours of movie; some judicious editing is required. It’s really neat to see the books put to film, though. As I noted above, howeer, the third book, which is my favorite, turned into a very bad third movie, because of everything that they decided (unnecessarily) to cut.
Also, and I hope to write a recommendation for it in the near future, the sixth movie is by far the best adaptation from the books. It perfectly distills the essence of the book into a thoroughly enjoyable movie.
—
Movie: The Devil Wears Prada
Book:: The Devil Wears Prada
Read the book…: After. The movie is brilliant (as I’ve said), and the book is very, very good. Better than the movie, in some ways. But they’re different enough that I found I appreciated them both more reading the book after seeing the movie.
—
Movie: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Book:: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Read the book…: Either. Truly. The book is excellent, and this is the first movie I’ve seen where the book was short enough, and the vision of the team creating the movie was true enough that there is very little lost between the books and the movies. They didn’t have to cut hardly anything, and it was incredibly magical to see all of the scenes from my childhood projected on the big screen.
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So which do you prefer, dear reader? To read the book first or second? And which is your favorite book based on a movie?
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Coming soon to a feedreader near you…
My take on (and recommendation of) M. Night Shyamalan’s Lady in the Water.
Tune in this Thursday for more.
The astute observer (read: anyone with an internet connection, eyes, and the curiosity to stumble over to my corner of the internet) might have noticed that I don’t post very often (read: at all).
*sigh*
Part of the reason I haven’t been updating as much as I want to recently is because I’ve been absorbed in learning about personal finance, which I just discovered is a topic I find fascinating.
I very briefly considered starting a personal-finance blog, to track my progress, but those topics are currently much better handled by the folks whom I’ve been reading (and I’d probably never update that, either):
Ramit Sethi at I Will Teach You To Be Rich,
J.D. at Get Rich Slowly,
and Trent at The Simple Dollar, among others. And they’re fascinating, but that’s not why we’re here.
I’m posting today because, while reading Never Eat Alone
Most of the time I would keep reading, my memory of the scene or movie proving enough to tide me over for the time being. Never Eat Alone is a very interesting book, along the lines of How to Win Friends & Influence People
Two of the movies that made me stop and pull them out were The Devil Wears Prada, which is a brilliant film that I’ve watched time and time again, and In Good Company, which I had completely forgotten I owned.
I figured, if I had to stop everything to see them again, I might as well recommend them to everyone else.
—–
Title: The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
[Rent this from Blockbuster.com, Rent this from Netflix]
Premise: Andrea “Andy” Sachs (Anne Hathaway) dreams of being a journalist for the NewYorker, but mostly just needs to pay rent on her New York apartment. At the end of her rope, despite being completely un-interested in fashion, she applies to work for “Runway”– the only important fashion magazine–and gets hired, much to everyone’s surprise, as assistant to Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep)–who might as well be god, as far as the fashion world is concerned.
Miranda turns out to be the devil-incarnate, demanding long hours and impossible tasks of Andy, who struggles with co-workers who hate her and a personal life that’s falling apart. But it’s “the job a million girls would kill to have,” and if she can just stick with it for a year, she’ll be set.
Based on the book of the same name
Genre: drama, uplifting, romance, based on a book
Audience: Anyone remotely interested in fashion; anyone who likes a good, well-written story with strong acting and great highs and lows. Most men would consider it a chick-flick, but I would challenge them to watch it anyway; I think the movie transcends tranditional gender stereotypes, if you have an open mind.
Occasion: A great pick-me-up movie, if you can handle a little character-building adversity with your uplifting moments; excellent to watch with a bunch of friends, possibly while enjoying dessert and a nice glass of wine.
Watch every minute? I caught a lot more of the nuances of the film the second time I saw it, so you’d probably be alright if you were wandering in and out, or you and your friends got caught up in an interesting wine-fueled discussion, but it bears watching several times.
Big Screen vs. Small Screen: Either.
Why I liked it: I love this movie because I’m a sucker for the underdog, down-and-out, plucky hero/heroine stories. Which this is, and then some. Of course it helps that our heroine is played by the lovely and talented Anne Hathaway, who is one of my all-time favorite actors. It also helps that Meryl Streep does a brilliant job of playing the cynical, difficult, down-right evil Miranda Priestly. She provides a wonderful counter-point to Hathaway’s likeable and endearing character.
Not to mention the supporting cast, who are all brilliant (and easy on the eyes). Stanley Tucci makes an appearance as Miranda’s right hand man and Andy’s eventual mentor, and Tracie Thoms plays her best friend, whom some of you might recognize from the theatrical release of Rent, or the short-lived, but fan-beloved tv show, Wonderfalls.
“Own it” vs. “Once is enough”: I own this movie because I kept wanting to rent it. Since owning it, I have watched it numerous times (as mentioned above) and have shown it to many of my friends, men and women alike.
If you liked…: I had trouble coming up with titles that might go here (reader input on this topic is always appreciated), but imdb.com’s “complicated formula” produced such results as: Rattatouille, Lost in Translation, and The Nanny Diaries (along with Sex and the City, but I haven’t seen that one, myself). I’m not sure I 100% agree with those choices, but in lieu of my own thoughts on the matter, it’s a good place to start. They’re all good movies.
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Title: In Good Company (2004)
[Rent this movie from Blockbuster, Rent this movie from Netflix]
Premise: As a talented and successful businessman, Dan (Dennis Quaid) is flummoxed when his company announces a merger with a bigger company, and that there will be “necessary” cuts to the labor. All of a sudden, after twenty-plus years of devoted service, his job, and his career, are in jeopardy. And to top it all off, his new “boss” is a punk kid (Topher Grace, of That 70s Show fame), young enough to be his son.
Both men have important lessons to learn (and to teach), whether he realizes it or not, and if they can just manage to look past appearances and trust each other, and, heaven-forbid, work together, maybe, just maybe, they’ll get to the other end up the upheaval with their dignity, if not their job, intact.
Genre: uplifting, drama, real life
Audience: Might be too touchy if you, or someone you know just lost their job through no fault of their own, but there are good lessons, and a positive message, to be gleaned from this movie, and I highly recommend it.
Occasion: Good for a quiet evening at home with your family; not a good party movie, it’s too thinky.
Watch every minute? It’s not vital to spend every minute glued to the screen, but I’d pause it if you have wander into the kitchen for more popcorn and don’t have a clear view. Or whatever.
Big Screen vs. Small Screen: Either.
Why I liked it: I first saw this movie on a trans-Pacific plane trip (from Tokyo to Chicago). Because we were headed East, the sun basically never set on our flight, so there was very little sleep to be had. Despite being tired, a little jet-lagged, and grouchy that my in-flight blanket was scratchy, I throughly enjoyed the movie. I coudln’t tell you what other two movies I watched on that 18-hour flight, but I remember seeing In Good Company.
I possibly remember it so well because it made me think of my father. He’s spent most of his life working for the same company (as most of our parents have), and I thought the messages and story would resonate with him even more-so than it did with me.
I showed it to my dad, and he enjoyed it, but he did note that it hit a little close to home for him. I guess I can understand that, but I still think it’s a brilliant film. It’s all about relationships and connections and uncommon bonds. It take you on a rollercoaster ride, emotionally, but you sympathize with each character, and hope that they can all get what they need and deserve.
“Own it” vs. “Once is enough”: I own, but I’ve only ever watched it twice (once just yesterday, years after buying it the first time). If you watch it the once, and enjoy it, I’ll be happy.
If you liked…: American Beauty and The Devil Wears Prada (interestingly, imdb.com recommends The Nanny Diaries for this movie, too. Huh.).
To those who might be following this blog, I wanted to let you know that despite appearance, I haven’t forgotten about my blog. I have a bunch of recommendations–as well as some other ideas for posts–sitting half-finished in the lovely WordPress editor.
Unfortunately, they, and this blog, will have to be back-burnered (what? that can totally be a verb…) for at least another week while I finish this one last major project at one of my two jobs.
So, if you’ve noticed that I’ve finally figured out how to offer RSS and have been breathlessly anticipating my next recommendation / post (and wouldn’t that be lovely if it were true? 
), I apologize for not posting more often. I have great hopes for this blog, but sadly, real life continues to intrude.
And, to whet your appetites, future non-recommendation post titles include:
(If there’s something else you’d like to see my write a post about, comment or email me.)
Oh, and as an added bonus (and parting shot), while I was writing this post, my husband alerted me to a cool movie site written-up in the most recent Wired:
The site is called TheAuteurs.com, a “new, Sillicon Valley-based site that delivers video-on-demand for film buffs–from obscure international releases to up-and-coming flicks found only on the festival circuit–at $5 a pop.”
Basically, if you subscribe to Blockbuster Online (which only recently started offering online streaming of movies), Netflix, or regularly use iTunes, amazon.com, or Hulu (okay, Hulu doesn’t really count, but it’s awesome) to get your streaming movie fix, Auteurs promises to do it smarter, faster, and better. The phrase “Sillicon Valley-based” should be all you really need to know.
As a bonus to carefully tweaked compression rates, full 5.1 Dolby surround sound, and porting movies straight to your browser’s Flash plug-in (no third-party app required), the site also offers “access to the Criterion Collection’s legendary archive of director’s cuts and DVD extras.”
This looks like an awesome site if you have the ability to watch movies from the internet on your TV (oh, how I wish), or if you’re a huge obscure movie buff. I’ll report back with the viewing quality on a regular lap-top or computer monitor is. In any case, I’m excited.
Thank you Wired, Sonia Zjawinski (the author of the article), and my dear husband for bringing all of this to our attentions.
—–
PS – After some initial site exploration, it seems that they offer the film of the month for free. This month it’s a Turkish film from 1964 called Susuz Yaz (Dry Summer). I’ve not heard of it, but it looks interesting. Read the summary on theauteurs.com.
I wonder if they have the original Shall We Dance?
It wasn’t a conscious choice to do two movies per recommendation post (the previous post about Role Models being the noteable exception), but I think it’s worked out well.
This pair has two things in common, they’re both a little bit difficult to watch (the character’s struggle against great odds to get where they want to go) and they both have Keri Russell in them. Seemed a good enough connection to me.
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Title: Waitress
[Rent this from Blockbuster.com, Rent this from Netflix]
Summary: Waitress follows the story of Jenna Hunterson (Keri Russell), a waitress in the south with a mean husband (Jeremy Sisto) and an amazing talent for baking pies. When she finds out that her husband got her pregnant–thereby spoiling her plans to escape from him and her simple and often frustrating life–she’s at a loss for what to do, until her unlikely relationship with the new doctor in town (Nathan Fillion) opens up new avenues of hope and possibility in her life.
Genre: drama, uplifting, overcoming hardship
Audience: This movie deals with some sticky subjects, including unwatned pregnancy, infidelity (uncharacteristically unrelated to the unwanted pregnancy), mental and physical abuse, and divorce. If those are topics with which you are uncomfortable, I would advise that this movie is not for you.
Occasion: In the mood for a “thinky” movie, one that will leave you thoughtful and philosophic at the end of it. Not a good party movie.
Watch every minute? Yes. Really. Even if you want to turn it off, watch the whole thing, becuase the last ten minutes really make the whole movie worth it.
Big Screen vs. Small Screen: Doesn’t really matter.
Why I liked it: I originally wanted to see this movie because Nathan Fillion is in it, and, as some of you may know, he was one of the main characters in a short-lived show called “Firefly.” (If you’re a sci-fi or a western fan at all, I highly recommend the show, but that’s a topic for another post, possibly on another blog.) Once the actors of that show scattered to the wind, I’ve tried to see everything that they’ve been in, as they’re all very talented. All I really knew about the movie, going in, was that Nathan Fillion was a romantic lead. That was enough for me to say, “Sign me up!”
But Waitress isn’t a romantic comedy, or even a very romantic movie. And to say that Nathan Fillion has a romantic role in it should really just be a footnote. In truth, it’s the story of a young woman and her struggle to improve her truly unhappy situation in life. Her relationship with Nathan Fillion’s character is just another bend in the road that leads her toward her goal.
Often, when one goes into a movie expecting one thing and gets something completely different, she is disappointed. But this movie was far too compelling to be disappointing. It draws you in an makes you care about this woman and her situation.
“Own it” vs. “Once is enough”: I love this movie, and own it, and have watched it several times, but most people will probably only want to watch it once. It takes you on quite the emotional roller coaster.
If you liked…: The Pursuit of Happyness, Slumdog Millionaire, August Rush.
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Title:August Rush
[Rent this movie from blockbuster.com; Rent this from Netflix.com]
Summary: Evan (Freddie Highmore), a quiet boy, growing up in an orphanage, has an inherent gift for music. Despite eleven years at the orphanage, he is convinced that his parents (Keri Russell and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers) always wanted him, and that the key to finding them is in the music.
Following the music, Evan runs away from the only home he’s ever known, in search of parents he’s never met. It’s a winding, sometimes dark, and often dangerous road on which he embarks, with only his hope and his pure belief that his family will find him. [Watch the trailer.]
Genre: drama, urban fairy tale, uplifting
Audience: Anyone with the ability to suspend disbelief for a few hours and enjoy beautiful people, beautiful music, and beautiful scene work. People very involved in music may not be able to suspend disbelief as
Occasion: This is a good one if you’re in the mood for a thought-provoking, possibly tear-inducing movie with a few dark turns that should leave you smiling at the end. Not a good party movie.
Watch every minute?Yes.
Big Screen vs. Small Screen: Shouldn’t matter.
Why I liked it: When I was thinking about recommending this movie, I was a little hard-pressed to explain why I liked it as much as I do. Of course, I’m a sucker for the movies that have you smiling through your tears, so that’s a big reason, but why would I recommend it to others?
So I watched it again, and the biggest thing that makes me want to share this movie with other people is the way it suffuses you with hope. That, and the music (and the sight of Keri Russell playing a cello, which is just hot). The music is stunning. [Preview the soundtrack at fye.com]
As one user (“askjudyww“) on imdb.com said, “This is an urban fairy tale. If you [see August Rush] with the intention of poking holes in it, you can find little glitches and logic flaws. On the other hand, if you are looking for a movie that will sing to your soul (and show you some beautiful eye candy as a bonus), look no farther. The casting director and cinematographer should each get an award. This gem of a movie takes us on a journey, and the people we meet along the way are well worth the ticket price.
“A trio of beautiful performances form the heart of this film, although the secondary characters are also crisply compelling. A day after seeing it, I find that specific shots of their faces still glow in mind like pieces of a mosaic. And the music is a genuine addition, as it should be in a film of this kind. I was genuinely moved.”
It was from this comment that I pulled the genre term “urban fairy tale” and I couldn’t agree more with the beautiful way askjudyww describes the movie. I hope you’ll give this one a chance.
“Own it” vs. “Once is enough”: There are aspects of this movie that get stuck in my head, that make me want to share it with others. I will own it; I will watch it many times. I highly recommend you consider it yourself.
If you liked…: PS, I Love You, Waitress, The Pursuit of Happyness
So, wow, real life hits hard, when it hits.
In the last… *checks date of last post*… three months, I made my wedding dress, finished planning my wedding, got married, and, for the span of two weeks, worked three jobs (and 140 hours) while I transitioned from one part-time restaurant job to another. Needless to say, there was very little time in there for updating this fun little side project of mine.
But! I have returned. Hopefully I’ll be able to manage at least one movie recommendation a week. I’ve got at least twenty stored up and almost ready to go so… we’ll see.
Stay tuned, dear reader, stay tuned.
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Title: Role Models
[rent this on blockbuster.com; rent this on netflix.com; buy this on amazon.com]
Summary: Danny (Paul Rudd), a thirty-five year old energy drink sales rep, hates his job, his life, his immature co-worker, Wheeler (Seann William Scott), and the fact that it’s impossible to order a “large” at speciality coffee shops.
When he loses it and crashes the company truck while trying to escape a tow truck, he’s given the choice: thirty days in jail, or 150 hours of community service with “Sturdy Wings” (a Big Brother/Big Sister-style program). He and Wheeler opt for the community service.
Upon meeting their charges, a mideaval reinactment geek, Auggie (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), and a foul-mouthed handful, Ronnie (Bobb’e J. Thompson), Danny and Wheeler think maybe thirty days in jail would have been easier. Wacky hijinks ensue as they struggle to figure out how to make it through their mandatory 150 hours together.
Genre: comedy, sincere and heartwarming
Audience: The humor is mature and often vulgar; consider this when deciding with whom you’re going to watch this movie.
Occasion: Great background movie for a party; great for a small group of friends, some beer, and a bucket of popcorn.
Watch every minute? Not necessary, but you’ll miss some good stuff if you wander away.
Big Screen vs. Small Screen: Either.
Why I liked it: Upon first hearing about this movie, I was curious, but not on-the-edge-of-my-seat excited. We ended up seeing it in theatres for lack of anything else out that we really had to see, and were pleasantly surprised.
It is both funny and good. The tricky thing is that the first… twenty minutes or so, which are all set-up, are actually the least interesting part of the movie. It gets really good when the boys start their community service with the “Sturdy Wings” program, partially because all of the minor characters in the film are just brilliant, and partially because Paul Rudd plays such a fantastic straight man.
There are so many great things about this movie: great moments, great quotes, hilarious jokes and conversations, but I think my favorite thing is the fact that the movie is MUCH geekier in the end than you’d ever guess on the surface. I love films that take you by surprise like that.
“Own it” vs. “Once is enough”: This is a movie that I’m going to own, just becuase I keep wanting to see it again. We actually rented it for a second time just last week, which is what prompted this post, because I couldn’t stop thinking about it and how funny it is.
If you only see it once, and you get the DVD / Blu-ray, make sure to watch the deleted scenes and the bloopers. Good times.
If you liked…: 40-year Old Virign, Super Bad, Knocked Up, The Break-up.
A good friend of mine just returned from two plus years in the Peace Corps in Ukraine. Her internet access was limited, and the number of movies that showed over there were few, even if she would have had time to see them.
Upon returning to the States, she learned about my blog and asked me to recommend on it movies from the last two years (2007 and 2008) so that she would know what to see.
What follows is a list of movies from 2007, and I’ll do another post for 2008, of all the movies I saw in that year that I would recommend. I’ll write a short blurb as to why, and at some point in the future I will go back and recommend them in more detail.
Kelly, this is for you. Everyone else, please enjoy.
Movies from 2007
Smokin’ Aces - A fun, violent movies with a mostly coherent plot. Not the best movie I’ve ever seen, but worth renting. [Trailer]
Reign Over Me - Sad, thought-provoking, and moving. Another movie that proves, yet again, how talented comedians (in this case, Adam Sandler) can be in serious films. [Trailer]
Meet the Robinsons - I fell in love with this movie from the minute I saw the first preview. It’s silly, and a little whacky, but it’s a pick-me-up movie, and I highly recommend it. [Trailer]
Hot Fuzz - From the guys who brought us Shawn of the Dead (which even I enjoyed, and I’m not a zombie movie person) comes a satirical homage to action movies. If you like action movies at all, see this one. [Trailer]
Shrek the Third - Not quite as good at the second movie, but still very funny. [Trailer]
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End - Where the first movie was a perfect blend of comedy and plot, and the second one was a little heavy on the comedy, this is a little heavy on the plot. Still, not a bad way to wrap up the trilogy, and Johnny Depp is always fun to watch as Captain Jack Sparrow. [Trailer]
Knocked Up - At first glance this looks like a stoner romance movie, full of toilet humor and not much else. I was pleasantly surprised by how good it actually was. It resonnated with me and where I am in my life right now. Surprisingly thoughtful and touching. [Trailer]
Evan Almighty - If you like Steve Carrell at all, this is a good, if a bit brainless, movie to watch. Fun, funny, and Carrell always adds just that touch of believable sincerity which make his movies so good. [Trailer]
Live Free or Die Hard - Any fan of the Die Hard Movies should see this movie. It’s over-the-top in the way that only the best actions movies can be. Tons of fun, and definitely a good addition to the “trilogy”. [Trailer 1; Trailer 2]
Ratatouille - It’s a Pixar movie. [Trailer]
Hairspray - A fantastic 80’s Movie turned Broadway Musical brought to the screen with some truly good acting talent. John Travolta is completely believable as Mrs. Turnblad, and it’s just a fun film. [Trailer]
The Simpsons Movie - if you like The Simpsons at all, you’ll enjoy this movie. [Trailer]
Becoming Jane - Fans of Jane Austen should enjoy this biographical movie. It’s not an entirely happy movie, but Anne Hathaway does a brilliant job, as always. [Trailer]
Stardust - A slightly more romantic and playful take on Neil Gaiman’s book of the same name, this movie tells a delightful and unusual tale. A must-see. [Trailer]
Death at a Funeral - The title made me pull this off the shelf at Blockbuster, and the movie didn’t disappoint. A decidedly hard movie to sell (or describe), it’s one of the best movies on this list, and definitely worth your time. [Trailer]
Shoot ‘em Up - Pretty much THE quintissential action movie. Seen shortly after I read this comic from xkcd. Good, well-choreographed violence with very little plot. Fun times. [Trailer]
Good Luck Chuck - I didn’t know if I was going to like this movie because it looks, at first glance, a lot like Knocked Up. But in the end it’s sweet and funny and not nearly as vulgar as I had thought. Plus, Dane Cook is hot. Not a great film, but fun. [Trailer]
The Jane Austen Book Club - This was a sort of odd movie, a little slower than most, but not bad. Makes you think a little. Definitely a “chick flick”. Fans of the books might appreciate it more than others. [Trailer]
The Girl Next Door - I was startled by how good this movie is, for a show about a porn star moving in next door to a teenage boy. But the movie is truly awesome, and the soundtrack is even better. I highly recommend this one. [Trailer]
Lars and the Real Girl - This was an odd movie as well, but in the end kind of endearing. I’m not enitrely sure what I think about it, but I still liked it and think others should see it. [Trailer]
Dan in Real Life - Steve Carrell has this amazing ability to make you truly care about his character, no matter how silly or serious the role. He brings a sincerity to his acting that you never expect, and it makes his movies all that more interesting and enjoyable. This movie is not as cheerful or funny as some of his others, but it has a good message. [Trailer]
No Country for Old Men - As most highly awarded movies, this one is dark, and not entirely cheerful. But it is very deserving of it’s many awards, and is a brilliant film. The Coen Brothers rarely disappoint. [Trailer - pick the trailer, not the tv spot]
Enchanted - What’s not to love about a Disney movie that simultaneously spoofs, satires, and pays homage to other Disney movies? Nevermind that the songs are catchy and the story is engaging. Highly recommended. [Trailer]
August Rush - See my actual post about this one. [Trailer]
Hitman - This is one of those movies I wanted to see from the first moment I saw the preview. It looked like a fun, interesting action movie, and it had Timothy Oliphant. What’s not to like? I’ve never played the game, which I’ve been told actually helped me to enjoy the movie more. I recommend it, whatever anyone else might say. [Trailer]
Juno - There are too many reasons why this is a good movie to sum them up here. Just see it. You won’t regret it. [Trailer]
P.S. I Love You - Sad, and heart-warming, this movie is about love and loss and coping with losing a loved one. Parts of it were hard to watch, but it’s really good. Also, the male lead is Irish and <i>hot</i>. [Trailer]
National Treasure: Book of Secrets - I loved the first movie and the second one was just as much fun, if not the pinacle of film making. If you liked the original movie, I recommend this one. [Trailer]
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - If you like musicals, or you like dark, disturbing stories, this is the movie for you. Tim Burton, who has directed Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter in many other films, does an excellent job with the creepy tale of Sweeny Todd. It fits his style very well. [Trailer]
There Will Be Blood - A somewhat chilling tale of a heartless oil tycoon at the turn of the 20th century. Compelling and dark, this movie well-deserves its many awards, and is worth the price of admission. [Trailer]
As a self-proclaimed cinemaphile, I love previews. My fiance and I make a point to get to the theater early enough to catch the previews.
Over the last year, we saw that there were many movies coming out over the Christmas break that we were greatly anticipating. Unfortunately, when it got to be Christmas 2008, we looked on in dismay as the long-awaited film titles never graced our local theater’s marque.
Among those that never came to this corner of the world were Rachel Getting Married [watch the preview] Happy-Go-Lucky [watch the preview], Milk [watch the preview], and Slumdog Millionaire [watch the preview]. We were sorely disappointed.
Fortunately, despite not quite making it to us, the shows did come to the larger city an hour north of us. It was there that we managed to see Hot Fuzz in 2007, which also never made it here. So, since we still had a little Christmas money burning a hole in our pockets, we decided that we’d take half a day, drive that hour up to the larger city, and catch Milk and Slumdog Millionaire, both of which have been highly critically acclaimed.
Both movies were brilliant. It was worth every minute of the two hours it took to get there and back. I highly recommend both of them, if you can get to a theatre that’s playing them. Even if you have to drive a couple of hours to do it. ^_^
Title:Milk
Summary: The story of California’s first openly gay elected official, Harvey Milk, a San Francisco supervisor who was assassinated along with Mayor George Moscone by San Francisco Supervisor Dan White.[imdb.com]
Genre:biography, drama, political
Audience:Everyone. Really. See “Why I liked it” for more.
Occasion:This movie packs an emotional punch, so be ready for that. (It will probably also spark discussions about homosexuality and acceptance, which, to my mind, is never a bad thing.)
Watch every minute?Yes. If only because, as my fiance said, “It’s really f*cking amazing.”
Big Screen vs. Small Screen:Either, really. Apparently “Open Everywhere” doesn’t really mean everywhere, so some people won’t get to see it on the big screen (my preference, as you know). It’s definitely worth seeing on the big screen, even if you have to travel to do it.
Why I liked it: Milk is a brilliant movie for a variety of reasons, not least because it tells an emotionally, important story. Where Brokeback Mountain pried opened the (closet) door for movies about gay men, Milk marched proudly through that now-open door , rainbow flag waving. Unlike Brokeback Mountain, however, none of the characters in Milk were ashamed of their homosexuality, at least not once they’d arrived in San Francisco, to an open, accepting community.
So why should everyone should see this movie? Becuase it portrays gay people in a positive light, and because it opens people’s eyes to the struggle of homosexual men and women that is continuing even now. As Harvey Milk said of their struggle to vote down the proposal to get homosexual men and women fired, “If everyone knew that they knew one of us, we’d beat this thing two-to-one.” At a time when California just voted for a proposal that banned gay marriage (again), this movie, and the struggle it portrays, is just as relevant now as it was in the 70s.
Watching this movie made me realize exactly what it took for the words “sexual orienation” to be added to the list of things against which employers would not discriminate. It just seems so common place now. Hopefully, in twenty or thirty years we’ll be looking back on the first decade of the twenty-first century and saying, “Wow, did we really ever believe that marriage should only be between a man and a woman?”
“Own it” vs. “Once is enough”:This is a movie I will want to share with friends and family, so when it becomes available, I will own it. I don’t know how often I’ll rewatch it, though.
If you liked…:Brokeback Mountain, Ali, and other excellent biography movies that I can’t think of at this time.
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Title: Slumdog Millionaire
Summary: The story of an impoverished young man, Jamal Malik, who becomes a contestant on the Hindi version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. He gets further on the gameshow than most college-educated people, and, as he lacks anything resembling a formal education, is accused of cheating. Only as the story unfolds does the audience understand how he knows all the answers.
Genre:foreign, drama, bollywood, romance, uplifting
Audience: Open-minded individuals looking to learn something about another country; anyone looking for a powerful, unique, uplifting movie.
Occasion: In the mood for a serious, interesting, uplifting movie. A little to heavy for most parties, but if you’re getting together with a few people for the express purpose of watching a good movie (say on a Friday night in the dorms), this one might be perfect.
Watch every minute? Oh, definitely. A great deal of the plot depends on small details in every scene, many of them unspoken. Parts of the movie are also in Hindi.
Big Screen vs. Small Screen: If you can catch it on the big screen, it’s very much worth it. Most people, I suspect, will see it on the small screen, which is only bad in that it’s easier to be distracted at home.
Why I liked it: When Ben first told me that we were going to the big city nearby to see Milk and Slumdog Millionaire, I wasn’t even sure what Slumdog Millionaire was about. I vaguely remembered seeing a preview for it. Long ago and far away. Ben told me essentially what I put in the “Summary.” I was intrigued, but dubious. He seemed really gungho about it, so I figured I’d give it a shot.
I couldn’t have been happier with the movie choice he made. In an attempt to convince my cousin that she really did want to see this movie, I headed over to the Rotten Tomatoes website, where the film recieved a 94% approval rating on the “Tomatometer” and the consesus read, “Visually dazzling and emotionally resonant, Slumdog Millionaire is a film that’s both entertaining and powerful.”
I’m not sure I could say it better than that. The movie is stunningly beautiful, as one might expect of a movie about India, but the story, which religiously follows the perspective of the main character, Jamal, captures your attention, until you cannot but care about the fate of this young man and the people in his life.
It had me in tears, by the end, but they were the good tears, the joyous tears of a truly remarkable story.
“Own it” vs. “Once is enough”: I will own this movie becuase it’s worth seeing more than once, and I already want to share it with everyone I know.
If you liked…:Bend it Like Beckham, Pursuit of Happyness, The Kite Runner, and City of God [according to imdb.com].
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Taking a break from the animated, the action-oriented, and the silly, I would like to recommend two very good foreign films that I watched recently. Coincidentally, both of them Iranian.
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Title: Offside
Summary: In Iran, it is illegal for women to attend sporting events because of the concern that they will be negatively influenced by the harsh language and brash demenor of the men there. Set (and mostly filmed) during the 2005 World-Cup Qualifying game between Iran and Baharain (that’s soccer, for those of you who don’t know), this film follows several women who try and fail to sneak into the historic game, and then men assigned to guard them. This film is banned in Iran.
Genre: foriegn film, independent film, philosophical, women’s rights, cultural
Audience: Anyone who appreciates a good foreign film; anyone who enjoys learning about other cultures.
Occasion: In the mood for a somewhat serious film, with moments of humor and the potential to start interesting discussions.
Watch every minute? It’s subtitled, so I’d recommend it. (The spoken language is Farsi.)
Big Screen vs. Small Screen: For most people, small screen is your only option with this one (I saw in on a big screen, but it was for a class).
Why I liked it: This past quarter, my fiance was taking a class called “Reading Film.” Ostensibly an English class, what it really amounted to was him seeing a wide variety of interesting films that he (and therefore we) might not otherwise have been exposed to. Offiside was one of those films, and he insisted that I come along with him to see it.
With all of the negative news we get about Iran in this country, it was enlightening to see a film that portrayed the country positively. The director, Jafar Panahi, worked to protray the controversial topics of the film in a way that was merely informative, and non-judgemental. No matter your stance on women’s rights, or Iranian law, or soccer, Panahi leaves the film open to interpretation. It’s more of a discussion peice than anything else, but that all was enough to get it banned in Iran, as I noted above.
And true to form, it’s possible to feel sympathy with each of the characters in the movie: The women who argue in vain to be allowed to see the game; the soldiers who are set to guard them, but who would rather be somewhere, anywhere else. It is even possible to understand, even if you disagree, with the laws that keep the women from attending the games. All in all, a very interesting, informative movie.
“Own it” vs. “Once is Enough”: I can’t say that I would ever own this movie, but it would be interesting to see it again, if only to pick up on the things that you always miss the first time through.
If you liked…: Shall We Dance? (and I’m refering to the original Japanese movie, not the recent American remake), Persepolis, Bend it Like Beckham
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Title: Persepolis
Summary: Through the eyes of a young woman growing up in Iran, we witness a the revolution, and the subsequence violence and hardship, that forever changed the face of Iran and the lives of it’s citizens.
Genre: foreign film, independent film, animation, philosophical, cultural
Audience: The film is subtitled, sometimes violent, and doesn’t really hold back. I wouldn’t recommend it for younger children.
Occasion: In the mood for a somewhat serious film, with moments of humor and the potential to start interesting discussions.
Watch every minute? It’s subtitled, so I’d vote yes. (The spoken language is French.)
Big Screen vs. Small Screen: Either.
Why I liked it: This thought-provoking film tells the story of a young woman growing up in Tehran, and her take on the situations that arise in her life. The original revolution took place when she was a young girl, and by the time she was a young teen, her parents decided it would be safer for her to be out of the country. It follows her trials as she grows up, at home and abroad, facing the prejudices that come of being an Iranian woman, and struggling to create some sort of cultural identity for herself.
The most powerful aspect of this film is the woman’s relationship with her family, and espeically her grandmother. They are the glue that keeps her indentity from disintigrating, even when she is lost and confused, wandering through Europe in search of herself.
“Own it” vs. “Once is Enough”: I’m still unsure if I will watch this movie again, but I might own it because I think that others should see it, and having it on hand is the easiest way to ensure that I can share it.
If you liked…: Offside, and presumably others, but I can’t think of them at the moment.
Ironically, of the eight movies I brought for my father to see over Thanksgiving break, we only got around to watching the two I rented while I was home, Wall-E and Get Smart. Ah well. That being the case, I figure I might as well write recommendations for those two next.
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Title:Wall-E
[Rent this movie from Blockbuster.com; Rent this movie from Netflix.com; Buy this movie from Amazon.com
Summary:In the distant future, a small waste collecting robot inadvertently embarks on a space journey that will ultimately decide the fate of mankind. [imdb.com]
Genre:animation, comedy, social commentary, romance, sci-fi
Audience:Everyone. Seriously. I’ve not met a single person who didn’t like this movie.
Occasion: Any time you need a heart-warming, uplifting crowd-pleaser.
Watch every minute? Not necessary, but you’ll miss some of the subtleties if you don’t.
Big Screen vs. Small Screen: Fantastic on the big screen, fun on the small screen.
Why I liked it: From the minute I saw the teaser (I recommend watching the vingettes, too) for Wall-E in the run of previews before Ratatouille, I was excited about this movie. First of all, it’s a Pixar film, and they have never disappointed. That’s a huge selling point. But secondly, from the moment I saw him, I just fell in love with the character of Wall-E, and I wanted to know his story. He’s a robot, sure, but he’s also curious and good-hearted and heart-breakingly lonely.
The film itself is brilliant. As Peter Travers, the movie critic for “Rolling Stone” writes, “The virtually dialogue-free first half hour is jaw-dropping perfection,” and the film only gets better from there. Some might question my classification of Wall-E as a romance, seeing as it’s a movie about robots in the future, but the love story between Wall-E and Eve that is truly magical.
“Own it” vs. “Once is enough”: Oh, own it. You know you want to. This is one of those movies that I will be asking for for Christmas, and hopefully I’ll get the three-disk special edition
If you liked…: Toy Story, Toy Story II, A Bug’s Life, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Over the Hedge, E.T., Chicken Little… I could go on. Just see the movie. Really. It’s that good.
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Title: Get Smart
[Rent this movie from Blockbuster.com; Rent this movie from Netflix.com; Buy this movie from Amazon.com
Summary: Maxwell Smart, Agent 86 for CONTROL, battles the forces of KAOS with the more-competent Agent 99 at his side. [imdb.com]
Genre: spy, comedy, action, spoof, homage
Audience: Fans of the original Get Smart TV Show (they did consult Mel Brooks for the movie, so it really is that good); anyone with a sense of humor; not good to watch if you don’t like slapstick or bodily humor.
Occasion: Good for a laugh that you don’t really have to think about.
Watch every minute? Not necessary, but you’ll laugh harder if you do.
Big Screen vs. Small Screen: Either
Why I liked it: This movie is a perfect blend of humor, spoof, and feel-good-ness. Yes, that’s right, feel-good-ness. Steve Carell plays Maxwell Smart, a character who you think is going to be completely incompetent, but proves to be quite good at both being an CONTROL Analyst and an unorthodox, but effective Agent, for all that common sense isn’t really his strong suit. Anne Hathaway plays his unwilling partner and is a good as she is in everything (even The Princess Diaries and The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, which were popular, but very silly movies), and Dwyane Johnson (a.k.a. “The Rock”) does a great job as the slick, competent Agent 23. As one would expect with a movie based on a show by Mel Brooks, it balances the funny with just the right amount of serious, and it just a darn good time.
“Own it” vs. “Once is enough”: Obviously, I’ve seen this movie more than once. This is one that I would own, if only so I could show it to others without having to rent it. I can see wanting to see this more than three times.
If you liked…: The 40-year Old Virgin, True Lies, Blazing Saddles, Get Smart (the TV show)
When I called my dad and told him that I was coming to town for Thanksgiving, he told me bring a few movies along that I might want to share with the rest of the family. Because what better to do on Turkey Thursday–after you’ve eaten yourself comatose–then to sit around with people you love (or at least tolerate) and watch something entertaining.
Two of the (eight) movies I brought were: Thank You For Smoking and Lucky # Slevin
This is merely a small sampling of the movies I have on my shelf, but not a bad place to start.
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Title: Thank You For Smoking
[Rent this movie from Blockbuster.com; Rent this movie from Netflix.com; Buy this movie from Amazon.com
Summary: Satirical comedy follows the machinations of Big Tobacco’s chief spokesman, Nick Naylor, who spins on behalf of cigarettes while trying to remain a role model for his twelve-year-old son. [imdb.com]
Genre: Satire, Comedy, Dark Humor
Audience: Best for those with a sense of humor, who don’t take things too seriously; probably not younger children, they wouldn’t have the patience for it.
Occasion: Good for a laugh, good to watch with friends.
Watch every minute? Probably best, but not necessary.
Big screen/small screen: Either.
Why I like it: When I first saw the trailer, I thought, “Who would make a movie thanking people for smoking? That’s stupid.” Very silly of me, I know, but it’s hard to help our snap judgments. (There’s a whole book on that
So, I did. And it was worth it, definitely. Thank You For Smoking is the best kind of witty and satirical, because it also poignant and thought-provoking. It has almost the perfect blend of laugh-out-loud moments with touching moments. Starring at the head of a fantastic cast of characters (among them Sam Elliot, Rob Lowe, William H. Macy, and Robert Duvall), Aaron Eckhart almost makes you sympathetic for someone who promotes tobacco for a living.
If you liked…: I honestly have no idea. I trolled the internet for almost an hour looking for sites that would give me recommendations based off of a particular film. Two of the best I found were Blockbuster.com (but you have to be a member), and the Internet Movie Database (one of my favorite sites, ever).
Of the movies recommended there, I could kind of see liking this movie if you liked American Beauty, and my step-brother says that he can see liking it if you liked Sideways, which I regret to say I have not yet seen. But The Big Lebowski? Knocked Up? Not that I dislike those movies, don’t get me wrong, but… they’re just not what comes to mind when I think of Thank You For Smoking. The humor in Thank You seems more… sophisticated, somehow.
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Title: Lucky # Slevin
[Rent this movie from Blockbuster.com; Rent this movie from Netflix.com; Buy this movie from Amazon.com
Summary: A case of mistaken identity lands Slevin into the middle of a war being plotted by two of the city’s rival crime bosses: The Rabbi and The Boss. [imdb.com]
Genre: Dark Humor, Crime
Audience: No one who dislikes violence; Probably not younger children.
Occasion: In the mood for a good twist.
Watch every minute? Definitely. You’ll miss something if you don’t.
Big screen vs. Small screen: Big screen is better, but you don’t lose much on the small screen.
Why I like it: Lucky # Slevin is a fantastic movie for a bunch of reasons that I’m not sure I can adequately explain. It’s off-the-wall and irreverent when it’s funny, dramatic and thrilling when it’s serious, and just damn good. There are moments that evoke the absurd, and it has one of the best twists in any movie I’ve ever seen. Josh Hartnett does an amazing job as the main character, and Bruce Willis is wickedly clever and fun. Add to that Morgan Freeman, Ben Kingsley, and Lucy Liu (who plays my favorite character), and you’ve got a movie worth seeing for the cast alone.
If you liked…: Pulp Fiction, The Usual Suspects, The Professional, or Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang you will thoroughly enjoy this movie. (I might even add L.A. Confidential to this list, just for kicks.)
