What I’ve Watched: March

What I’ve Watched is a summary of new things I’ve watched in the previous month. Read more about What I‘ve Watched here.

The Lucky One Via

Surprisingly good. It follows typical Nicholas Sparks stories and the movie adaptations: a row boat, Spanish moss, someone keeping the couple apart. It’s sacriligious as a book lover to say, but this is the way to experience a Nicholas Spark book. As a move it’s a fun, romantic way to spend a couple hours, plus Zac Efron is hot and no longer jail bait.

Les MiserablesVia

This movie didn’t garner so many prestigious nominations and awards for nothing. It’s a great adaptation. The acting, set design, and costumes are great. Anne Hathaway’s performance was breathtaking and heartbreaking at the same time. Also, I love Helena Bonham Carter’s oddities. Casting her alongside Sacha Baron Cohen was pure genius in my opinion.

Zero Dark Thirty Via

This was good. I was a little tired when we first watched it, so I’ll have to rewatch it to figure some plot points out. This movie furthered my respect and admiration for Kathryn Bigelow.

Bates Motel Via

The Atlantic Wire accurately reviewed this as campy. It truly is. It’s so weird, and it’s a mashup of modern and vintage. iPods exist in this world, yet Norma and Norman dress as they are in the still. It’s delightful, and I have to catch up!

Rise of the Guardians Via

This was Claire’s Easter gift. It was good. I personally loved the tattooed, Russian Santa.

Have you watched anything interesting lately?

What I’ve Watched

read more about What I‘ve Watched here

Well, I haven’t watched much this month. I’ve been a little busy and a little tired!

Crazy, Stupid, Love.

I really enjoyed this movie, and it did surprise me. I give it four out of five stars.

Big Miracle

I’m not a Drew Barrymore fan at all, but I did like this movie. It was cute and heartwarming AND my uncle was one of the set dressers! I give it three out of five stars.

Yeah, like I said, I haven’t really had a chance to watch much this month. Not that it’s such a bad thing!

What I’ve Watched

read more about What I‘ve Watched here

This month I’m going to start adding ratings to the TV shows and movies I’ve watched in the previous month. I hope this helps solidify my opinion, which, of course, is not based on any understanding of TV or film making.

This month I have some particular thoughts based on a poor review I read of This is 40, so to save space, I’m only providing a rating for the other movies and TV shows.

This is 40

4 out of 5 stars

I really LOVED this movie. I thought Knocked Up was good, but this was so much better. I really liked the focus of Pete and Debbie’s dysfunction.

So, of course, not everyone is going to love the movie, but it seems like Meghan Daum from The New Yorker just didn’t get it. Her main issue seems to deal with Pete and Debbie’s nice home and cars because two 40-year-olds who had their first kid at 27 wouldn’t be able to afford those things in LA. While that’s not necessarily a bad argument in general, it does miss several key points:

1. It’s, in essence, a criticism of every movie and TV show ever. Characters always live in a nicer home, drive a nicer car and wear nicer clothes than their real life counterpart could afford. Criticizing just this movie for this is silly.
2. Pete had a successful career at Sony in the first movie. We learn in this movie that he had lost that job before starting his own label, but it’s entirely possible that they could afford the home on his Sony salary.
3. Debbie’s father, though not present physically in her life, is a successful surgeon. It’s possible that he has helped them out in some way.
4. We can’t forget about one of the main arguments Pete and Debbie have in the movie: Pete has missed at least one mortgage payment, and they will probably sell the house. Now, I won’t waste a lot of words on Debbie not being involved in the finances, but suffice it to say that I would side eye her till kingdom come in real life.
5. And, finally, Pete’s father did say he thought the house was too much when they bought it, so they very well could have been living beyond their means for years, and we know that doing so and trying to keep up with the Joneses isn’t uncommon nowadays.

I do want to emphasize that I found the movie mostly realistic although on supersized scale, which is usually the case when one is trying to really turn the camera on our society, so to speak. The events and emotions surrounding the approach to one’s 40th birthday were realistic, although played up and emphasized for the purpose of making a point about the changes in one’s life when he or she hits that milestone. For example, I’m sure no woman who is not a sadist would schedule their annual Pap, colonoscopy, mammogram and dental appointment in the same month, but the inclusion of all of these provided a number of laughs.

Portlandia Winter Special

4 out of 5 stars

How to Train Your Dragon

4 out of 5 stars

The Dark Knight Rises

4 out of 5 stars

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

5 out of 5 Stars

The Polar Express

3 out of 5 stars

Impractical Jokers

4 out of 5 stars

Ice Age IV: Continental Drift

4 out of 5 stars

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

3 out of 5 stars

Ted

1 out of 5 stars

Royal Pains Winter/Wedding Special

4 out of 5 stars

Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban

4 out of 5 stars

Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire

4 out of 5 stars

Have you seen any great movies or TV shows this month? Am I off base in my opinion of This is 40?

What I’ve Watched

in which I share the fun, notable and not-so-notable things I’ve watched in the last month.

 what I’ve watched appears the first friday of the month. 

21 Jump Street

I’m not going to lie or exaggerate, I freaking loved this movie! I thought it was funny and smart. The nods to the oddities of the typical high school comedy were gold.

Zookeeper

This was just not good.

Practical Magic

I love, love, love this movie. I’m not sure what it is, but whenever I see it on, I have to watch it.

The Campaign

Ugh, well it seems that Will Ferrel is rubbing off on Zach Galifinakis. There was a time where I found Will Ferrel’s movies hilarious, and then they just stopped being funny. I was hoping that Galifinakis would save this movie, but he just didn’t. I truly hate comedies that share all the good jokes in the previews.

Harry Potter and the Sorcer’s Stone
& Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

I just love these movies so much. Last year for Christmas, Nick got me the entire series on DVD. I’m working my way through them again.

True Blood, Seasons 3 & 4

I’ve just now realized that Season 5 is already out on DVD. I’m going to need to get that now. That’s really all I think I need to say about this.

Remember to enter my The Fault in Our Stars by John Green giveaway. Entries will close on Tuesday, December 11th at 6:00 p.m. CST. Enter by commenting on this post. 

What I’ve Watched

in which I share the fun, notable and not-so-notable things I’ve watched in the last month

Ink Master

Nick and I really like to watch this show with a mixture of horror and fascination. I, personally, love watching the tattooists at work but the horror comes in as I watch a human canvas receive a horrible tattoo for the sake of the contestants chances in the show.

True Blood, Seasons 1 & 2

This show is so addictive and sexy. One of the advantages and disadvantages of watching an entire season on DVD is that it is VERY hard, almost impossible to stop after just one episode. Add in the tricky way the director decided to cut the episode and three hours have passed before I realize I’ve been pulled in again.

Planes, Trains & Automobiles

I have always really enjoyed this movie, so when I saw it pop up on Comedy Central, I had to watch it. Steve Martin and John Candy are wonderful together. I also was very intrigued by how stylish Steve Martin’s wardrobe is by today’s standards. with his tweed suits, fedoras and pop of color ties, he could time travel to 2012 and we wouldn’t know the difference.

Looper

Oh, Looper, what a terrible choice for a date night movie. Unless you or your special somebody is a sociopath, this is a terrible date night movie. Despite having the lovely Joseph Gordon-Levitt, this was not a good movie. We really should have seen Pitch Perfect.

Young Frankenstein

I believe Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder to be geniuses. This movie is always entertaining no matter how many times I watch it. The faux drama gets me every time.

What I’ve Watched: Summer Movie Edition

It’s officially fall tomorrow, so it’s a great time to tell you what I watched this summer.

Project X

I can’t believe I allowed Nick to talk me into watching this…with my mom…the unrated version.

The Lorax

I loved this movie, but I’m a sucker for D. Seuss. We bought the 3D movie but watched it in 2D because 3D isn’t good for developing toddler eyes. I can’t wait to watch it in 3D.

Troy

Yeah, I just wrote Troy, the Brad Pitt, Orlando Bloom, Eric Bana one. Plenty of eye candy, and I love mythology but it was just OK.

The Hatfields & McCoys

I LOVED this. Of course, I really like Kevin Costner. While technically a miniseries, I’m putting it here due to length. Plus, it’s nominated for an Emmy.

We bought The Hurt Locker recently. We really like this movie. It’s amazing and is well directed. It’s gritty and so real it felt like I was there. I’m very pleased that such a typically masculine movie was directed by a woman, the lovely Kathryn Bige

What I’ve Watched: Summer TV Edition

It’s been a busy summer, but I’ve still been able to watch a few good shows.

Royal Pains (USA)

 
I love the decadence, plus Mark Feuerstein and Paulo Costanzo are adorable and Reshma Shetty’s accent is to die for.

Flip Men (Spike)

House flipping shows have always fascinated me and Mike and Doug have great taste. Now, if they’d just burn down the nasty houses and start over, I’d be thrilled.

Bar Rescue (Spike)

I got to love the intensity of Jon Taffer. The newly concocted drinks also sound delicious.

Ancient Aliens (History)

What’s not to love about alien conspiracy theories and a mysteriously growing man’s coif? I’m a bit behind on the DVR, but I’ll catch up.

Veronica Mars (SOAP)

Although I watched the complete series while on maternity leave two years ago, I can’t miss it when I see this bad ass on the guide.

P.S. I think Conspiracy Theory Keanu is right.