Saturday, March 29, 2008

Movie 19 of 2008: 21



Movie Description:

Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) is an MIT student who – needing to pay school tuition – finds answers in counting cards. In his non-linear equations class, he amazes his professor, Mickey Rosa, by correctly understanding variable change and correctly solving the Monty Hall Problem. As a superior math and statistics student, he is recruited to join a group of mathematically-gifted students that heads to Las Vegas every weekend with fake identities and the know-how to turn the odds at blackjack in their favor. Unorthodox math professor Mickey Rosa (Kevin Spacey) leads the way. By counting cards and employing an intricate system of signs and signals, the team can beat the casinos. Drawn by the money, the Vegas lifestyle, and his teammate, Jill Taylor (Kate Bosworth), Ben begins to push the limits. Though counting cards isn’t illegal, the stakes are high, and the challenge becomes not only keeping the numbers straight, but staying one step ahead of the casinos’ menacing enforcer, Cole Williams (Laurence Fishburne).

Movie Trailer:







My Opinion:

I went to see this not realizing until it started that this movie is based on the book, BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE by Ben Mezrich. (see below for cover art of original book) I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and thought that all of the actors/actresses did a fabulous job. The plotline was extremely interesting with the whole "counting cards" thing as I was finding myself trying to remember all the methods that they were using. Ha ha!!! I’ve never played BlackJack in a casino, nor will I ever most likely, but it still was intriguing to me. Typically I won’t read a book once I’ve seen the movie of it as it kind of ruins it for me, but I am curious to see how much more there was to the book considering how much I enjoyed the movie. I highly recommend to anyone looking for a comedy/action movie.


Saturday, March 8, 2008

Movie 18 of 2008: The Break-Up



Movie Description:

In Chicago, the art dealer Brooke Meyers feels not appreciated and neglected by her immature husband Gary Grobowski, who is partner of his two brothers in a tourism business, and decides to break-up with him to make Gary misses her. Gary misunderstands her true intention, both follows the wrong advices of family members and friends, beginning a war of sexes with no winner.

Movie Trailer:







My Opinion:

I just stumbled across this movie at the rental store and since I typically like Vince Vaughn I decided to rent it. Unfortunately, I didn't care much for the movie. It had some funny moments, but overall the movie was fairly boring. If you really want a romantic comedy to watch, check it out, but if you're wanting lots of romance or lots of comedy... this isn't going to be either of those. It's mild in both categories, but I don't know what else to classify it as besides a romantic comedy because it's not quite serious enough to be labelled a "drama".

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Movie 17 of 2008: Beetle Juice



Movie Description:

Beetlejuice: Thanks to the carelessness of a cute little dog, newlyweds Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin are killed in a freak auto accident. Upon arriving in the outer offices of Heaven, the couple finds that, thanks to a century's worth of bureaucratic red tape, they're on a long celestial waiting list. Before they can earn their wings, Davis and Baldwin must occupy their old house as ghosts for the next fifty years. Alas, the house is now owned by insufferable yuppies Catherine O'Hara and Jeffrey Jones. Horrified at the prospect of sharing space with these obnoxious interlopers, Davis and Baldwin do their best to scare O'Hara and Jones away, but their house-haunting skills are pathetic at best. In desperation, the ghostly couple engage the services of a veteran scaremeister: a yellow-haired, snaggle-toothed, profane, flatulent "gonzo" spirit named Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton). The problem: Beetlejuice cannot be trusted-especially when he falls in love with O'Hara and Jones' gloomy, black-clad teenaged daughter Winona Ryder. Beetlejuice producer David Geffen, director Tim Burton, and composer Danny Elfman were also involved in an animated TV-series spin-off.

Movie Trailer:







My Opinion:

This actually wasn't my first viewing of Beetle Juice. I remember going to the theater with my friend, Missy, to see this when it first came out back in '88. I believe this was the night I stayed overnight and we didn't go to bed at all, but I remember the movie creeping me out back then so that could be part of the reason I didn't sleep. LOL!!! Re-watching this movie was a blast from the past and I really enjoyed it. As I said in my post earlier today about Ed Wood, I really love Tim Burton's movies. I have a feeling I'm going to be watching and/or re-watching some of his other movies again very soon. Beetle Juice is definitely not a scary movie, but I can see why I was freaked out a bit at a much younger age. I think my favorite scene from the movie is the scene at the dinner table where Adam & Barbara make everyone dance/sing to IKO IKO! Of course, I also have always loved that song so it makes it that much better. (I even knew a dance to it way back when...) Definitely a movie worth checking out if you haven't done so already, but I'm sure most people have seen it.

Movie 16 of 2008: Ed Wood



Movie Description:

From Tim Burton, acclaimed director of BIG FISH, EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, and BATMAN, and the producer of THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, comes the hilarious, true-life story of the wackiest filmmaker in Hollywood history, Ed Wood! Johnny Depp (PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL, CHOCOLAT, EDWARD SCISSORHANDS) stars as the high-spirited movieman who refuses to let unfinished scenes, terrible reviews, and hostile studio executives derail his big-screen dreams. With an oddball collection of showbiz misfits, Ed takes the art of bad moviemaking to an all-time low! The all-star cast features Bill Murray (LOST IN TRANSLATION, THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS), Sarah Jessica Parker (TV's SEX AND THE CITY), Patricia Arquette (STIGMATA, LITTLE NICKY), and an Academy Award(R)-winning performance by Martin Landau (Best Supporting Actor, 1994) as Bela Lugosi. Hailed by critics everywhere, this laugh-packed comedy hit is sure to entertain everyone!

Movie Trailer:







Interview with Johnny Depp about Ed Wood:

(Note: I can't believe they spelled Johnny's name wrong at the 0:33 mark!!!)







My Opinion:

First off... to those surprised I haven't seen EVERY Johnny Depp movie, well... I haven't! LOL!!! (though I have seen the majority of 'em!) Anyway, Ed Wood was a really great movie! I wouldn't put it in my top 5 Johnny movies, but I enjoyed it quite a lot. This movie was done completely in black and white, which made for a bit of a different viewing than most movies today. Tim Burton always picks the best cast of characters and ED WOOD is no exception. Burton is probably my favorite director (granted it helps that he knows to cast Johnny in a lot of roles - 7 of his movies feature Johnny, 3 of which he plays a character named Ed). I recommend this movie to anyone who hasn't seen it as it's a really good movie!