Leap Year

Amy Admas and Matthew Goode star in this supposed romantic comedy which came out at the beginning of this year. We have seen the story before (with a few twists along the way), nothing much new here. Well, except for the fact that the heroine is the one going through all of the hectic twists and turns to propose to her boyfriend, instead of the usual other way around. And on Leap Day of all things (though you probably could have guessed that part without much intro), in Ireland, because of a long lost family story regarding that particular day in that particular country. This whole elaborate scheme to propose on Leap Day is of course thwarted by a series of events out of her control, and the fates finally end up intervening. All a little strange from the get-go if you ask me.

Amy Adams is normally one of my very favorites. She stars in two of my top 10 films, Enchanted and Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (and who can forget Julie and Julia?). However, she falls quite flat in this film, with no help at all from her co-star Matthew Goode. Apparently he has stared in a few films in his day, including Match Point and Chasing Liberty, but to me, he was pretty much an unknown. And, I am sorry to say for my part, will remain that way.

To give these two some credit, I must admit that they did not have much to work with. And could possibly have had some genuine chemistry if not for the horrid and boring script. Frankly, all involved seemed bored, everything was done halfway. The quality of writing was a complete letdown and these two got caught in the middle of what appeared to be a bad dream, that just kept going and going and going.....one disaster to the next. Lines were contrived and cheesy. Nothing was truly believable, even the ending which I usually gush over. I was honestly doing laundry, writing a few letters, cleaning the house, all while watching. There wasn't much of substance to miss during those times when I left the room. Sad. And I was so in the mood for a fun chick-flick.

With a certain degree of sadness (I had such high hopes!), I have to give this horribly boring movie my lowest rating, a 4 diaper day.....terrible. Poor Amy, better luck next time.

North and South

I just finished watching this splended film, and want to start it again right away. Honestly, I can't get enough. I have spent the last half hour searching google, as well as any other website I can find, with any information about both this film itself and the author of whom it originated, Elizabeth Gaskell. What a treat this one has been for me....already one of my absolute favorites, I must own it, and SOON!

This film is exactly why I adore movies so very much.

Two fabulous actors whom I had never seen prior to this movie were the hero and heroine in this film.... Richard Armitage as the seeminly hard as a rock John Thornton, and Daniela Denby-Ashe as the "progressive" outspoken Margaret Hale. The two meet in a town in Northern England called Milton, where Mr. Thornton has spent his life working and toiling away to eventually increase in great fortune and prosperity, but also has much pride and prejudice (no pun intended) attached as well. Ms. Hale has come from the south of England (hence the title) where life moves a little slower, and her opinions of truth and fairness are steadfast. The story that comes out of this meeting is complicated and fascinating. This film not only tackles the struggles and complexity of love, but also other relationships, class struggles, ideological struggles, and more. There is amazing depth within the relationships of these characters that span across classes and situations, where there is society struggles and misunderstanding. There is upheaval, strike, but also truth.

This whole tale was based on the book with the same name by Elizabeth Gaskell, written in 1855. At this point in time, Elizabeth was thought to be a "radical" in a sense. She wrote about upheaval and the struggle of classes, which was unheard of back then. But she wanted to write truth, and she was good at it. She took on the bold issues of her day, not shying away from working vs middle class contraversy, and this film is a wonderful example of her bold work. I think that she would be proud to see it on the big screen.

Overall, I was extremely pleased and surprised by this film. It had some essense of "Pride and Prejudice" and I do admit to thinking back to Jane Austen occasionally throughout. However, it also had it's very own flavor and feel, and kept me wanting more and more. I couldn't tear my eyes off the screen for most of it, and honestly did not know how it would end. I am such a sucker for a happy romantic ending, and I truly didn't know if that would come to pass at the end of this bold story. I have to give it my highest rating, a 1 Diaper Day.....absolutely FABULOUS!

I must sign off, I have to watch North and South again.....

2012

I could NOT handle this movie! That pretty much sums up my feelings.... :)
Not only was it completely unbelievable, predicable, cheesy, and full of terrible acting skills, but I was basically having an anxiety attack watching the film because of the children that were involved. Ever since I became a mother I can not watch little kids in trouble or hurting (even if I know it is completely fictional!) without freaking out myself! I guess I am too much of a visual person, I just can't handle it.
I can't even say this movie was disappointing, because I truly didn't have any expectations of it at all going in. I just plain did not like it.....sad. I have to give it my worst rating....a four diaper day!

AVATAR

The phenomenon that is Avatar.....

I was reluctant to see this film. I am not into sci-fi romances (which I am SURE that I have mentioned before :) ), and I guess that I am prideful enough where if everyone on the planet is telling me to do something, I just REFUSE! I have been wrong before, and will surely be again. And I am happy to say, that I was completely wrong regarding this film as well.

This ambitious and detailed film is a visual masterpiece. What an amazing undertaking by James Cameron! We have seen him bite off quite a bit before, but nothing this expansive and impressive. I was blown away by the immense scope that was this movie. I can't even begin to imagine the work and effort it took by many hundreds of people to pull this off, it truly is like nothing I have ever seen before! Don't get me wrong, it wasn't perfect. But it definitely was a movie that continued to run in my head over and over even after the ending credits. And in 3D, fabulous! I don't think I have seen a 3D movie since Captain EO (yikes! I sure do date myself with that one), and I was stunned!!! Watching the movie in 3D was just as good as seeing my husband with those humongous glasses on for 3 hours! :)

Let's start with the not-so-good....

I didn't think that the storyline running throughout this film was completely believable. Don't get me wrong, I understand that life on other planets, etc isn't supposed to be completely realistic. But putting that aside, I felt like we have just seen this plot many times before. Nothing original with the main relationship storyline except the planet and species. However, I did find myself relating to an alien species in some way, and even cried for them and their race, so I guess I can't call it completely unbelievable. Though I do I wonder how much of that was the visual aspect.

The great......

The actors were amazing, well picked, and believable in their roles. The detail of the set, special effects, and cinematography was fantastic! The movie was so completely detailed down to the way the main characters legs looked in a wheelchair that I could not find anything distracting from the entire film while watching. And that is a good sign! Usually I get caught up on "that isn't supposed to be there" or "they didn't show it that way earlier".

Another great, the visual effects were FABULOUS!!!! I could not believe my eyes at times. The entire world surrounding this alien race was well thought out and planned. Each piece impressed me more then that last, and I found myself just staring with my mouth open half the time at the beauty that was created on screen. I especially loved the "floating mountains" and the entire story surrounding them. What an inventive idea and execution! This scenery is nothing like we have ever seen before. I have no idea how they would create it, but they sure did it wonderfully.Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana both had an epic performance. Each, in their own way, played their part exceptionally well. I was most impressed by the emotion that Saldana showed throughout the film. Truthfully, I was not expecting that from her. I have seen Saldana in movies past, and have not been that impressed. I have been proven wrong. She WAS this alien character, in every way. Again, I am stumped at how she was able to act so emotionally with all of that make-up and get-up on, but she did an amazing job.

Mostly, I was impressed with Worthington. I had not seen him in movies past, and was anxious about that for some reason. But, he completely shocked me (in a good way!) throughout this entire emotional roller coaster. He seemed to embody Jake Sully, both in human and Avatar form. I could feel his angst and emotional ties to both sides, and truly felt for him.

Overall, James Cameron put together a fabulous and perfectly picked cast that made up Avatar, and he did a terrific job. I think that every actor was cast in a perfect role, one that would make them shine through each and every scene.

I truly adored this movie, and can't wait to see it again. I have to give it my highest rating, a 1 diaper day, FABULOUS! I would like to close with what a fellow viewer has said...."It is the experience, more than the story, that's worth celebrating here". I completely agree.

When In Rome

The ultimate classic romance....

Boy meets girl (or should I say girl meets boy), boy likes girl, girl likes boy but thinks boy likes someone else, girl picks up coins out of a fountain, all of a sudden a whole bunch of boys like girl including the original boy, girl thinks boys are crazy including original boy, girl finally falls for boy, girl breaks up with boy, girl likes boy again (do I really have to go on??).

This movie was terrible. Downright terrible. I was so excited to go see a fun chick-flick with a great friend, and we ended up being completely disappointed.

The acting was terrible, the cinematography was a mess, the scenes did not sync well, and it was completely cheesy. Truly, the only redeeming quality was watching Josh Duhamel for two hours. And possibly seeing some amazing sites of Italy.

This movie gets my lowest rating by far, a four diaper day....absolutely MISERABLE!

Meryl

So I just watched Julie and Julia again. First time since I had seen it in the theaters last year. And I have got to say, Meryl Streep is BRILLIANT!!! She has always been a favorite of mine, but as I was watching closely and critiquing her performance, I really truly felt that she was completely brilliant. Couldn't have been better.....

Just thought I would share.

Dear John

I admit it....I was actually pretty darn excited to see this movie. I love all types of movies, romantic, action and adventure, and even some sci-fi, but I will give that I am partial to the hopeless romantic, everyone lives happily ever after type of film. I guess it is just in my nature. Which is why as I was laid up for 6 weeks rehabilitating my knee, I was simply dying to get out and watch this film in particular.

The beginning starts out promising, with a good (notice I didn't say great) cast of characters and some likable scenes, but doesn't quite find it's center as the film goes on. Though I enjoyed watching what was playing out in front of me, I couldn't help but think "where were we all going to end up?" I admit some tears were shed, but instead of just the tear streaks that I should have left the theater with, I also had lines across my forehead from being so puzzled in parts.
The classic Nicholas Sparks premise...young love riddled with complications. That summarizes the plot in a nutshell. Beautiful young love, only having known each other for two weeks, and then being separated by time, space, war, and every other possible calamity. But what else should we expect from a Spark's novel? The two lovers have the hope of being reunited when 9/11 strikes and all is interrupted. Both must be consigned to write letters for who knows how long, in order to keep the spark alive. And then the unthinkable happens....

Channing Tatum and amanda Seyfriend play the young lovers in this romantic drama. The two definitely had a spark, and I think clicked pretty darn well from beginning to end. I truly did like watching the two together, if it wasn't so darn dramatic ALL of the time! Tatum did well, though emotion is not his strength. He made me want a sensitive man, but didn't convince me that that was his true character. Seyfriend is one of my favorites, but really felt that this role didn't live up to the potential she has locked inside. Though I believe that the film was cast well, there definitely isn't any Oscar winning roles to speak of.

Overall, I am torn between a two and three diaper day. I enjoyed it, but is it on my list of movies to buy in the next 6 months? Probably not....So, let's give it a 2 and a half diaper day, somewhere in the realm of agreeable to mediocre. Thoughts?