Eurotrip

This movie has become one of my all time favorites. The first time I watched it I was in tears. It is from the same people who brought you "Old School" and "Road Trip" which were funny, but just didn't do it for me the way this one did. I don't know why this one didn't fare as well in the theater. I can't say enough about this movie. If you've never seen it and you are looking for a fun movie this is it. Hands down one of the funniest movies I've seen.

The Benchwarmers

"The Benchwarmers" was just released on DVD this past tuesday. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by this one. I've enjoyed most of Rob Schneider's films (not all, but most), but this one, which I didn't really expect much from, is now one of my favorites from him.

All in all it is pretty much what you would expect from Schneider, Spade and Lovitz (I haven't seen enough of Heder yet to know what to expect from him) with regards to the humor you often find in their films. Not every joke or situation made me laugh, but more times that not I found myself laughing out loud at the jokes and physical humor. It was also a good story. Yes there was a message or moral to the story, but you can guess that from the get-go if not sooner and at least it doesn't come off as another "after school special."

While this film won't win any oscars, it was a fun and enjoyable movie to sit down to and watch and a lot funnier than I had thought it would be.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

I also got to see "Dead Man's Chest" this past week. This one is a tough one. Let me start off by saying that yes, I did enjoy the movie. However, compared to the first one, it was a let down. I don't know if my expectations were too high for this one, but for me, it seemed like it was missing whatever element the first one had.

For starters, I think it was just too long. There were several spots during the movie where I found myself a bit bored and wondering why the current scene was included in the movie. I've seen other movies that approach the same running time as this one that kept my attention the entire way through.

I did enjoy Depp's portrayal of Jack as much as I did in the first one. I also enjoyed Bloom as Will and Knightley as Elizabeth as much as I did in the first one. I did, however, find myself a bit irritated at Elizabeth's apparent sudden interest in Jack (and based on the reactions of the audience I wasn't the only one to feel this way). I'm hoping it plays into some important aspect of the third movie, but I didn't feel that it had any importance to the story line in this one (other than to irritated me). I'd have rather seen Elizabeth loyal to Will, which is what I would have expected based on her attitude at the end of the first movie and the beginning of this one. Maybe it was just me, but I didn't forsee any possibility of a love triangle based on my impression of the character of Elizabeth from the first flick and this new interpretation of her character didn't really sit well with me.

Other than those specifics mentioned above, I can't really put my finger on why I was so dissapointed with this one. I did enjoy it and it was a fun watch, but compared to the first one, not nearly as good. It is most definately a "bridge" movie between the first and third (how could it not be with that ending?) so I am hoping that with the release of the third it will all come together and stand as a great trilogy, but with high hopes for the third, I'm guessing that "Dead Man's Chest" is going to be the weakest of the three.

Cars

I just saw this movie this past weekend and I LOVED it! It was so much better than what I was prepared for.

As much as my daughter enjoyed it for the talking cars and animation and story, I think I enjoyed it as much if not that much more. The humor that was in there for the adults made it as much of a treat for me as, the humor that was in there for the kids made it a treat for Savanah.

I also liked that fact that it allowed for my daughter and I to have a talk about why Lightning did what he did in the end. I don't need for a movie to have a message in it and sometimes I get irritated that there is one as they tend to come off very "after school special"ish. In this particular case, it was so well done and such an integral part of the whole story (although I must admit that I didn't expect it until only moments before it happened (don't want to spoil it if you haven't seen it, thus the vagueness)) that it came together and allowed for my daughter to experience it and then ask me on her own about the why's and what for's, which was nice. In my book, anything that inspires a 4 or 5 year old to ask their parents about complex issues about right and wrong or winning at all costs is a good thing. This movie managed that without becoming and after school special.

The animation was fantastic as well, but we've all come to expect that from PIXAR and Disney.

Make sure you stay till after the credits for one last joke!

EDIT: I only had one problem with this film. When we left the theater and got back in my car, I really, REALLY wanted to drive fast!

Welcome

I love movies. I go to the theater when I can and I rent several a week. As a general rule, I don't care who is in the movie. I don't follow one actor or actress over another and just because so and so is in a particular film, it doesn't mean I'm gonna like it. I could also care less for the gossip that surrounds a particular actor or actress. All I worry about is whether or not I enjoyed the movie.

I also don't put much stock in what the critics say. I've seen a lot of films that the critics hated, but that I've enjoyed and I've hated some films that the critics loved. I do read the reviews, well at least those in our local paper, but I don't allow those to determine what I will and won't watch.

So, with that said, this blog is about my personal impressions of the movies that I watch and any related topics that strike me. Use it as a guide on what to go and see in the theater or to rent on DVD or don't. My reviews are all about how I felt about the movie and how much fun I had while watching it.