Every month, I've been posting a list of movies that I've watched in the previous month. I list all of the movies that I had never seen before first, then list the ones that I had seen previously. Usually it happens a little earlier than now, but it's been busy lately.  :)

Here's the list of movies I watched in January:

Beethoven's Big Break (2009) - 3 stars - I got this one from the DVD Lounge for review if I could...I still might. It was pretty clever actually. It starred Jonathan Silverman as the animal trainer on the first Beethoven movie. It was very cute.

Mirrors (2008) - 2 stars - What a disappointment of a movie. Ugh. Read the review here: http://thedvdlounge.com/2009/01/13/mirrors-dvd-review/

Towelhead (2008) - 1 star - Yet another disappointment. Read the review here: http://thedvdlounge.com/2009/01/13/towelhead-dvd-review/

Marley and Me (2008) - 3.5 stars - Not exactly the type of movie I was expecting it to be, but it was still cute. More of a rom com than anything else. Victoria was SO upset at the ending. She cried so hard. Poor baby.

Swing Vote (2008) - 3 stars - Another disappintment. All three of these movies had so much potential, just didn't live up. Read the review here: http://thedvdlounge.com/2009/02/09/swing-vote-dvd-review/

Slumdog Millionaire (2008) - 5 stars - I still haven't made my best of 2008 list, but I don't forsee anything knocking this out of the #1 slot. This is an amazing movie.

My Bloody Valentine 3-D (2009) - 4 stars - Who knew this would be THAT good? I love this movie. I can't wait to see it again.

Transsiberian (2008) - 2 stars - A predictable Hitchcock wannabe starring Ben Kingsley, Woody Harrelson, and Emily Mortimer. Another movie that had great potential.

Burn After Reading (2008) - 3.5 stars - Coen brothers movies are always hit or miss for me. I enjoyed this one much more than I expected I would, especially after last year's No Country For Old Men. I just wasn't as impressed with that movie as everyone else was. In my opinion, this is the better film overall. Javier Bardem is still a badass in that movie though.

The Duchess (2008) - 4 stars - It's scary how much this movie mirrored my life. Read the review here: http://thedvdlounge.com/2009/01/30/the-duchess-dvd-review/

Freaks (1932) - 3 stars - Holy shit, this movie freaked me out. It stuck with me longer than I expected. This is a movie from the 30's about circus stars. There are all kinds of people in here who really suffered from these abnormalities and seeing them all together is just unforgettable.

Rachel Getting Married (2008) - 3 stars - I wasn't as impressed with this as much as I hoped. Anne Hathaway did a good job and all, but I just personally did NOT like her character. Eh, maybe that means she did a better job than I'm giving her credit for but whatever. The "LOOK AT ME!!!", "IT'S ALL ABOUT ME!!!" gets so old.

The Secret of the Magic Gourd (2008) - 3.5 stars - This is a Disney movie from China. It's so cute! The review for the DVD Lounge is just about done.

Hotel for Dogs (2009) - 3.5 stars - Cute cute cute. My kids loved it, I was entertained. Recommended.

Walled In (2009) - 0.5 stars - Wow, what a shitty movie. This one's coming out on DVD next month, but I was lucky enough to catch a screening in January. It stars Mischa Barton as a structural engineer (ha!) and also stars creepy Cameron Bright. The movie sucked though. Don't bother.

Man On Wire (2008) - 4 stars - Nominated for Best Documentary at this year's Oscars. It was very interesting and really held my attention. It's about Frenchman who snuck into the World Trade Center buildings and pulled off a tight-rope walk between the two towers. Some of the footage is really eerie.

The Uninvited (2009) - 2 stars - Why oh why??? Please don't see this. Please please PLEASE watch Tale of Two Sisters instead. I'm begging. If you don't know what A Tale of Two Sisters is, pm me and I just might lend you one of my TWO copies. Yes, it's that good. The Uninvited is not.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) - 4 stars - I might reduce my rating for this movie. Thinking on it now, there are more things about it that irritated me than things that I liked. But watching the movie, I was moved to tears many times and sappy as it sounds, that pretty much clinches a good rating out of me.

So there are the new movies. Phew! In addition to those, I also re-watched:

CJ7 (2007) - 4 stars - I like this movie more and more with each viewing. This is a children's movie from China that my kids just love. It's a movie about a little boy who finds an alien with special powers. It's really great.

Men In Black (1997) - 3 stars - This was on TBS one night and Victoria and I watched it. She got a kick out of the big cockroach alien. lol

Mamma Mia! (2008) - 4 stars - I'm very biased, but I love this movie. In fact, I watched it twice in January.  :)

So that makes 18 new movies, and 22 movies total (counting Mamma Mia! twice).  

 
Keira Knightley has become a bit typecast in her career. Since doing period piece Pride and Prejudice in 2003, she has gone on to star in the immensely popular Pirates of the Caribbean series, in which she dons period costumes. The 2007 film Atonement, while Knightley remained corset-less, could also be classified as a period drama. Even though she’s branched out and done other films like The Jacket and Domino, she’s been remembered most for her period films. Some might roll their eyes at the thought of another, but 2008’s The Duchess just wouldn’t be the same without her.

Read the rest of the review at the DVD Lounge (link has been corrected)!

Scott Sawitz at Popcorn Junkies (those nice folks who published my review of The Wrestler awhile back) interviewed me for his new weekly column Monday Morning Critic.
Click the link below to read and support Popcorn Junkies and this really cool new column.
http://popcornjunkies.com/2009/01/26/monday-morning-critic-126/

For the past three or so years, all you guys have listened to me ramble on about stuff that I don't know too much about but love dearly: movies. You've heard me talk about movies that I've LOVED and movies that I've hated. Here's my question:

What are some movies that I like that you were surprised to hear that I liked? Stuff that you didn't expect?

This is for a column at Popcorn Junkies. Here is the question as it was originally asked of me:

You are one of the few women who has ever had any sort of staying power in the DVD Lounge. Being a woman gives you a particular voice on a portion of the site filled with movie geeks.

What five movies that you love that most people wouldn't expect? And why?

While I can think of a few, I think the question can be answered more correctly if I get input from you guys. Can ya help me out? 

This is one of the coolest ideas for a horror film, I have to admit. Anytime there are things going on with mirrors in horror movies, I get creeped out. You don’t realize just how many mirrors are in your house until you see a film about mirrors and the stuff that could be going on within them. Such a cool idea deserves a better film than this. First of all, the script just plain sucks. The dialogue between the characters is ridiculous. Most of the time, they’re just stating the obvious; blatantly pointing out the course of events in the movie as if the audience couldn’t figure it out for ourselves. The conversations between Ben and his estranged wife Amy (Paula Patton, Swing Vote) are especially redundant. For example:
....
to find out what the example is, and to read the rest of my review, go to the DVD Lounge!

It seems as though Alan Ball is stuck on sex. Sex has been a primary focus of his with American Beauty and on Six Feet Under. But the shocking sexual situations worked for both of those because we came to care about the characters. Lester Burnham from American Beauty is going through a sexual awakening of his own. He’s a very flawed individual, yet we care about him and end up rooting for him. Brenda Chenowith from Six Feet Under battled sex addiction, and while there were times where her character was annoying, the audience was still able to connect with her. Heck, everyone on that show had some kind of sexual situation that they had to deal with, but that’s not all they were about. Jasira is all about sex. Towelhead seems like an excuse for Alan Ball to write one uncomfortable sexual situation and then try to top each previous one for two hours.
Read the whole review/rant at the DVD Lounge.

Has this year already flown by for anyone else? I've got two movie reviews to write before Tuesday when their DVD's are supposed to be released...and I couldn't believe it was already time for them to be due! I could have sworn I had more time. If this is going to be the theme for the year, I'm in for a ride.
I always envy people who are able to write grandiose end of the year blogs, capping off everything important to them that happened over the past year. I'm just not like that. I don't remember half the stuff that goes on. So this year, in addition to keeping a list of all the movies I watch, I'm also keeping a list of all the books I've read and want to read, and all of the music that I'm into. I'm also going to try to get better about writing about my personal life.
These are the movies that I finished out 2008 with.
North By Northwest (1959) - 5 stars - This is a classic for so many reasons! If you've not seen it, put it at the top of your Netflix queue. One thing that surprised me about this movie? It's so racy! I was really shocked at how forward they all were. Go Hitchcock!
Hancock (2008) - 3.5 stars - I was entertained as hell by this movie. I had a great time with it. I enjoyed the effects, I enjoyed Smith, I enjoyed the rest of the cast. It was just fun.
Repo! The Genetic Opera (2008) - 4 stars - After publicly whining on Fred and Kelsey's blogs, and then sending e-mails to each of the four local art house theaters in my area begging them to get this, it finally came to the Dallas Angelika. I enjoyed EVERY MINUTE of this blood soaked musical/opera. There was a lot of recitative and some really silly lyrics, but I loved it. Two things I was surprised about: I didn't hate Paris Hilton and I didn't hate Sarah Brightman (whose vibrato gets on my last nerve most of the time).
Noelle (2007) - 3.5 stars - Wow, I rated this one pretty high. Oh well, ratings schmatings. It was a very interesting movie, not really about Christmas but about redemption. Read the review at the DVD Lounge.
Punisher War Zone (2008) - 1 star - Good God I hated this movie. One of my worst of 2008. I'd rather watch Thomas Jane. (Disclaimer to all the fans of the comic: I've only read one Punisher book and it's the one that the Jane movie was based on. That's probably the reason for my preference, but I'm still going to stick with my guns on this one. )
The House Bunny (2008) - 4 stars - This is a great comedy. There's nothing like a great female comic actress and Anna Faris is one of the best out there. Read the review at the DVD Lounge.
Bad Santa (2003) - 2 stars - Ugh. Why is this movie considered one of the holiday classics? I thought it was terrible. I had never seen it before. With this year's passing of Bernie Mac and this movie's tasteless murder of him, it was probably not the right year for me to see this for the first time. Everything in this movie just seemed really wrong - not like intentional black comedy kind of wrong, really really really wrong in an unfunny way - after everything that has happened this year.
The Clique (2008) - 1 star - haha! I only gave this one star? On my list I put down 2.5. It must have pissed me off in the days after watching it. Read the review at the DVD Lounge.
Bad Taste (1988) - 3.5 stars - This is the 80's schocky horror film by Peter Jackson. Yes, that Peter Jackson. It's gory and very silly and actually really funny. There's a lot of cartoony kind of stuff that goes on that had me laughing through the whole thing. The basic plot is there are these aliens who disguise themselves as humans who are trying to kill as many humans as possible (or take over the world? I can't remember now) because they want to open up an intergalactic fast food restaurant with humans on the menu.
Flashbacks of a Fool (2008) - 3 stars - While I was watching this British film starring Daniel Craig, I thought it would mean more to me than it did. I thought it would be one of those films that I ponder for days because I can't get it out of my head. Instead, I forgot I had watched it entirely which is bad since I was supposed to review it for the DVD Lounge. The review will be written this week. It's not a bad movie, just very forgettable.
Gran Torino (2008) - 5 stars - A fucking awesome movie. I saw this on Christmas Day with my parents - my dad's a pastor, and my mom's a 2nd grade teacher, and they live in the Detroit area. My mom's father had a lot in common with Walt Kowalski and I really expected her to hate the movie, but she didn't. In fact, my parents have recommended it to their friends! This is one of my favorites from last year.
...After Gran Torino on Christmas Day, the days were so incredibly busy that I didn't write down what I watched...if I watched anything at all. I honestly don't remember having the time to sit down and watch an entire movie between Christmas and the weekend after New Year's.
But during the month of December, I did re-watch:
I Am Legend, The Dark Knight, It's A Wonderful Life (A Christmas Eve tradition), and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Speaking of Christmas Eve, the night was spent with me baking and Jeff and I watching movies. We watched Christmas Vacation in the afternoon, then It's A Wonderful Life in the evening. And after It's A Wonderful Life, we put in the South Park Christmas DVD and watched the Woodland Critter's Christmas episode. Talk about opposites!
I do plan on doing a Top 10 of 2008 list this year. I've never done a Top 10 list before and I've made that my goal. I'm not sure when you can expect it though. I have a lot of movies left to see that I hope to knock out this month.
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. I look forward to the Oscar season and making predictions with Dr. Royce Clemens, Molly Celaschi, Mike Watne, Tony Farinella, and whoever else wants to join in this year. I've had such a good time with that the past two years. And I look forward to 2009 and what it holds for all of us.

Last night I had this dream. I usually don't remember my dreams at all. Sometimes while I'm dreaming, they're very vivid, but I can't seem to remember them by the time I'm finished getting ready in the morning. This one really got to me.

It was like I was at my wedding again. I was wearing a really cute dress, my hair and nails were done, I had some killer shoes on, and I was holding some flowers. Everyone was talking to me and it was all very laid back. It didn't look exactly the same as my wedding though. It was in a different place and some of the people were different (although I couldn't tell you specifically who was in attendance).

Then, instead of me walking in to find Jeff waiting for me at the altar, I realized that I was standing at the altar and Jeff was walking in. He was dressed in a red Steve Harvey suit. You know, one of those brightly colored suits with a big oversized jacket with big shoulder pads, and he was wearing a matching hat.

He walks down the aisle and stands next to me, then turns around to face the back. He holds my hand and squeezes it, smiles and says that he's so happy.

All of a sudden, in walks a girl I honestly haven't thought of since graduating high school. Back then, her name was Lindsay Smith. I was in choir with her and she dated a good friend of mine, Brian Matthews during my senior year. She was adorable. But she just wasn't one of my closer friends, so I hadn't talked to her, hadn't thought about her in probably 11 years now.

So anyway, in walks Lindsay Smith with this huge grin on her face. She's wearing a VERY CUTE, so cute that I'm seething with jealousy, maternity wedding gown. I specifically remember this wedding gown. It was sleeveless, but had a high collar. It came down right to her knees, like a bubble skirt and it had an empire waist above her cute little baby belly.

Yes, she was pregnant.

So here I am, standing at the altar with my husband as he's about to take a second wife, and she's pregnant with his baby.

During the ceremony, all I can do is fold my hands in front of me and take it like Jeanne Tripplehorn in Big Love. I've got to be first wife. I've got to be the one who is calm about all of this. She's my sister wife now.

And I remember trying to calm myself during the wedding when I woke up.

Poor Jeff, I was so pissed at him this morning. He didn't know what was going on.

"OK, let me get this straight: You're mad at me for something I didn't even DO? Something that didn't even happen?"

"Yes. I am."

Now how fucked up is that?

Would this have anything to do with my reading the Sandman graphic novels for the first time? Or that last night I started reading the Young Liars book below? Or that I had probably too many rum and cokes for a weeknight while watching the game last night (Go UT!)? Or that Jeff and I have been watching Big Love reruns on HBO On Demand to get ready for season 3?

Probably just a combination of all of those. 

Remember back in 1994 when Clueless came out, and despite the fact that the main characters were all whiny, selfish, bratty teenagers it was actually easy to relate to and got good reviews? Well The Clique isn't like that. The main characters are all whiny, selfish, bratty teenagers, but there are absolutely no redeeming qualities about any of them. Is it a surprise this is brought to us by Tyra Banks?

Read the rest of the review at the DVD Lounge!

Ah the life of a Playboy bunny. Can you imagine? You live completely bills-free in a sprawling mansion, you have a bottomless wardrobe, you have 24-hour food and beverage service, there are so many parties, and an endless parade of beautiful people. Sounds like you'd be living in a Barbie dream house come to life. But what happens when these girls leave the Playboy mansion? When all they've known is the Playboy lifestyle?

Read the rest at the DVD Lounge!

I hope everyone had a merry Christmas!

Noelle is an interesting little movie. It features actors you've never heard of before, it's directed by a guy you've never heard of before, and yet the message that it portrays is very controversial to say the least. And it's marketed as a Christmas movie! By the DVD cover alone, it looks like a Christmas movie; the word "Noelle" actually means "Christmas". I was expecting a sweet little religious themed story centered around the Christmas holiday, but this movie tackles some major religious issues. It's clearly a pro-life movie, and some have claimed that it's anti-Catholicism. This is an interesting movie indeed.

Read the rest at The DVD Lounge!

Not all Rankin/Bass holiday specials are created equal. On one side of the spectrum, we have the famous and the first of the Rankin/Bass specials Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. On the other side, we have The Easter Bunny is Comin' to Town, and the Leprechaun's Christmas Gold (yes, that's actually a real special). Jack Frost falls a little closer to the latter, unfortunately. I do understand that a great deal of these specials' success lately has come because of the nostalgia associated with them. Jack Frost is not one that I grew up with, so I will try to be sensitive to those of you who did.

Read the rest at the DVD Lounge!