Spoiler Free Summary of Game of Thrones Season 6

- John Snow: not dead, but not super charismatic either****

- not enough Tyrion

- Brienne + Tormund = yes, please

- Hodor

- feed your dogs

- a girl is Arya Stark and she's a fucking badass 

- Bitches get shit done. Seriously. Forget winter: THE WOMEN ARE COMING 

**** and and AND <spoiler redacted>

The Queen Of The Tearling

You guys, this book was SO TERRIBLE. I'm not sure where I heard about it, typically whenever I see something that interests me I slap it on my library hold list so I don't have to remember anything. But usually I get my book recommendations from reputable sources, and while there have certainly been books that I didn't like, they were always well written, decent books. 

Not this time. 

The basic story is fine: generic fantasy trope of the girl who was raised in hiding to protect her from evildoers until she could assume her role as queen when she came of age. Fine. Nothing wrong with clichéd plot lines. But seriously, maybe read a book or two in the genre before venturing in yourself. Or, you know, do some ACTUAL RESEARCH.  I know more about how to properly guard someone through the forest than this author, and I never go outside. I could also rattle off a decent list of names for pieces of armor, if not 100% match them to what they actually are. Here's a hint- there's more to it than just the breastplate. 

But even more than that are the glaring inconsistencies in almost every aspect of this book. The main character has been raised in isolation by two people- never exposed to anyone else or allowed to play with other children. And yet she is an excellent judge of character and can read body language and facial expressions like some street savvy con artist. Okaaaay. 

 They are rushing through the woods to get her to the castle to be crowned, fully aware that there are groups of the most dangerous assassins in the land searching for them, and yet the guards chatter and drink and play cards around the campfire. Professional. 

Every wound she gets involves drastic blood loss leading to loss of consciousness and near fatality, but she gets stitched up and is back at it the next day. Realistic. 

The queens guard are all sworn to protect her, but they're also apparently sworn to secrecy and can't tell her anything about her mother the previous queen (who she never knew), or the kingdom, or the current state of affairs anywhere , or any actual useful information related to actually ruling a country. Oh, and we never get an explanation on why they are sworn to secrecy, or to whom, or just what topics can't be mentioned. It's more like "you better be a great queen, but we can't give you any help, or teach you anything at all about how to do the job. Don't mess up!" Yeah, seems logical.

A respectable portion of any fantasy novel is the world building. Some authors are incredible at this (Brandon Sanderson I'm looking at you!), and some are less so. That's why so many inhabit that familiar, vaguely middle age Europe-land. No big deal. As long as it hangs together realistically and we can understand the basic rules of magic and what not, proceed. But this book is apparently taking place in OUR universe, some indeterminate length of time in the future, after the British and the Americans have sailed off (somewhere) and formed a new land. With no technology. And swords. And magic. Totally plausible, right? I mean, sure. That could totally happen. But here's the catch: if you are making up a world from scratch, have at it. Do whatever you want, the readers are just along for the ride. But if you are going to set it in the world we live in EVERY SINGLE DAY, then you best out on your thinking cap 'cuz you have some 'splaining to do. You need to know WHY these people set off to found a completely new land with multiple countries. You need to know HOW they planned to establish the rule of government, and WHAT the basic tenets of their founding fathers were. (Also helpful, what happened to the rest of the world? Is regular America still there?). The suggestion in the book is that they were trying to create some kind of utopia, but no mention is given to what kind of utopia. Socialist? Extreme doomsday prepper utopia where the zombies can't get us? I can't think of anyone who would decide to start a new colony without any basic political goals, not to mention with no real attempt at bringing along basic fundamentals of modern life. They did say there was an effort to bring along modern medicine, but that every single doctor and piece of medical equipment was on the same ship and it sank. So no more doctors of people who know anything about medicine, and I guess unlike the first time through history we are unable to re-discover any of it? I don't know. Suffice to say, the success of fantasy books set in our universe (hunger games, divergent) lies in the fact that while the circumstances that led to those realities are implausible, they are still imaginable. There is an underlying foundation to rest the story on, whether or not the source of the implied apocalypse is ever explained. In this instance it seems more like "hey, won't it be fun to base my novel her on Earth? That way I can pepper it with references to Harry Potter and The Hobbit."

Speaking of Harry Potter, the main character is a fan of reading, and basically grew up with the only books left in the entire country. She is aghast at the scarcity of books, and at how most people seem to not even miss having access to them. There hasn't been mandatory schooling for children in over 20 years. And yet literally everyone she comes across, including the young children of a peasant woman she rescued and takes into service, can read. Seriously. And it's shocking when they discover one of the characters can't read. Over a century of no one reading and yet no one is illiterate? I feel like you have to actually TRY to be this incompetent. 

In all fairness, I don't completely blame the author. After all, there are plenty of idiots out there stringing words together into sentences (welcome to my blog). But the editor, who presumably checked this for errors (no way this shit didn't have typos EVERYWHERE), didn't find any flaws in the logic? And the publisher, who read this even BEFORE editing, still decided it was worth the time and money to actually print? Insane. 

Not only that, but apparently this is not only going to be a SERIES a of (stupid) books, but also a movie. With Emma Watson, who is about the most darling thing ever and who I'm struggling to retain my respect for after hearing she was linked to this crap. Given the basic plotline I'm sure it could make a decent movie, provided they don't let the author within a hot like of the script. But I don't think I'll be able to stomach shelling out money for anything in anyway associated with such lazy, inept storytelling. 

I haven't thought about my dream of being a writer in a long time, having turned my attention elsewhere, to yoga and my kids. But seriously, if this is the kind of quality hitting shelves nowadays, then maybe I should get back to it. Hell, my NaNoWriMo novel from 4 years ago is still on my hard drive. It has more logical coherence than this drivel and it doesn't even have an ending. 

ps: I kind of want to recommend to everyone I know that they read it just so I can shout "I KNOW, RIGHT?" when they point out how awful it is. I also kind of want to personally punch everyone in Amazon who gave it a 5 star review because, really? Did you READ the book? No way they read the book. 

pps: here's a link to my Amazon review.  In case you still aren't sure how I feel about this book 

The Counselor

I have long maintained that Ghost Rider is the worst movie, if not ever (I haven't seen every movie after all) then at least in recent history. I'm sure many people would argue that there are tons of worse films, and in terms of basic ineptitude they are no doubt right (straight to DVD anyone?). But I feel that in order to rank as actual WORST, you have to go beyond bad dialogue and plot and special effects (if relevant) and acting. You also have to factor in the talent of the people involved. Sure, Joe Suburbs who just graduated film school is going to crank out some fine schlock with his moms camcorder. But what did you expect? It is only when you have a truly acceptable roster of talent involved- and say what you will about his many horrible films, Nicholas Cage does actually have talent, if poor financial management and discretion in choosing roles- only then can you really manage to make a place holding worst film.

And I think we have a new champion.

Enter, The Counselor. 

Brad Pitt. Michael Fassbender. Penelope Cruz. Javier Bardem. Ridley Scott. Cormac  McFreakinCarthy. Seriously. Not people you typically expect drivel from (you'll notice I didn't mention Cameron Diaz, who is also in this movie but maybe doesn't inspire quite as lofty expectations. Sorry, Cameron).  Honestly, after ending that sentence I just sat staring at the cursor blinking for five minutes because I don't even know what to say about this film.  It's not that it is bad (which it is), it's that it is so incomprehensibly bad I almost can't find words to explain it. 

The basic plot is fine: lawyer gets tangled up in illicit business and dragged down when everything goes wrong. Various duplicitous characters abound. At least, I think that's what it was about. Because literally not one word of dialogue explains what is happening in this movie. Half of the expansive monologues don't even seem to be related to the scene they are in. It is actually quite remarkable I have made such a disconnect between exposition and plot propulsion and actual reality and coherence. I think I would have followed the movie better if it had been in German. Or on mute. 

The closest thing I can think to relate it to is when Joey tried to write a recommendation letter for Monica and Chandler to adopt (on Friends, which I hope I didn't really need to tell you). His letter originally said "they are warm caring people with big hearts" but he used a thesaurus on every word and so ended up with "they are humid prepossessing homo sapiens with full size aortic pumps."  And yes, I did that from memory. 

The dialogue in this movie is similar, except with an element of self absorbed pretension thrown in. Multiple characters wax poetic on various "deep" topics in oblique and entirely nonsensical speeches. I would love to give you some examples, but the words were so insanely thrown together I couldn't remember a sentence I just heard well enough to recreate it, even as it was happening. I'm actually impressed Mr. McCarthy (in his very first original screenplay) managed to write 2 hours worth of dialogue and never once even hint at what was going on, much less offer a coherent thought. It's an accomplishment for sure, just not one I'd recommend paying to witness. 

The movie also features the most ridiculous, far fetched, unerotic sex scene probably ever (which, to be fair might have been the point), as well as an incredibly inventive, if gruesome death.  But boiled down the primary issue rests solely on the writer. If you could redub all the dialogue with relevant, coherent subject matter, you'd be left with only a sub par movie. As it stands it is a triumph of mind boggling confundity.  I would definitely recommend you see this film, if only to have a new bar against which to measure all future terrible movies. But don't pay for it in the theater, wait for it to come out on DVD. 

It won't be long.


The Counselor  R  2hr 57 minutes

New Fall Tv

My thoughts on the new fall programming I've seen so far:

The Blacklist: love it. James Spader is having the greatest time chewing scenery  and jerking around the FBI as a super villain who has mysteriously surrendered and started exposing other bad guys. The young woman playing the only agent he will talk to is also good- feisty and believable, but she has a really terrible hair stylist. Bonus for the mystery with her husband )is he a spy? Or being framed?). It's been fun so far, so  I'll definitely keep watching this one.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D: pretty good. Campy crime fighting fun, this show is going to take a few weeks to find a rhythm most likely. Not really Joss Whedony enough for me yet, but hopefully that will prove as time goes by. I'd watch pretty much anything his name is on (as well as J.J. Abrams), so I'm sure I'll continue to watch this. 

Michael J Fox Show: I REALLY wanted this to be good. Not only because it is impossible not to like Michael J Fox, but because I like how they are attempting to take a character (and actor) with a severe disease and show that his life doesn't have to stop or even revolve around his condition. But omg it is SO NOT FUNNY. I watched one episode and I was practically cringing. I hope for everyone involved it gets better, but I won't be there to find out. 

The Crazy Ones: as gratitude for being Buffy, I'll give anything Sarah Michelle Gellar does a shot. Her show last year about the twins was crazy soapy fun. Unfortunately it was cancelled, and now she's in this sitcom, which based on one viewing seems pretty lame. Robin Williams is doing his regular robin Williams schtick, there weren't any really funny bits, and everything was just wrapped up so neatly in a now by the end. Obviously all shows take a few episodes to really get rolling so I'm not going to write this one off completely, but my hopes are very low at this point. 

Super Fun Night: again, just ok. I expected this show to be a lot funnier because of star Rebel Wilson, but she's doing an (incredibly nasal) American accent, and it turns out she's much funnier when she's Australian. Which seems kind of racist, but themselves the facts. That said, I really liked how they played the guy character- Rebel was trying to charm him and the office ultra competitive mean girl kept upstaging her, and he totally called her out on it every time. So I'll give it a few more chances to find a groove and maybe get me used to the accent. 

Those are the only new shows I've seen so far- there a couple of shows that start in November that I'm planning in checking out. If I remember correctly, which I rarely do. 

What are you watching?

Breaking Bad

I'm a little late to the party.  Here we are starting the last half of season 5, and I didn't start watching Breaking Bad until last Monday.  Of course, once I started I didn't waste any time, so now I'm all caught up and jonesing for the last 7 episodes.

How amazing is this show?

I'm not even sorry I haven't been watching it all along, because it is so good, and so well written, that it all hangs together even in consecutive viewing.  Sometimes there are loose ends or changes in character development as a show progresses that are negligible when watching on a weekly, season to season basis but glaring if watched in marathon format.

Not here.

Every plot point, every random scene, all comes together and gets tied up.  It's amazing.  The characters never deviate from their personality (which can be bad - they aren't all lovable), and the performances are simply stellar.  I honestly can't say I've ever seen someone do on tv what Bryan Cranston does in this show.  Tremendous.

Could not recommend Breaking Bad more - add it to your Netflix instant viewing queue immediately.  If you don't have Netflix, pay the $7/month; you can always cancel once you are done.

Breaking Bad, AMC Sundays (pm ET)

Reconstructing Amelia

The first review I read of this book said it is poised to be the Gone Girl of 2013 (which I'm seeing a draft review in my blogroll that is...blank, but um, I loved it).  So naturally I immediately downloaded it.  And read it start to finish in one night.

 I didn't even noticed I stayed up until after 3am until the last page.

The story of a mother trying to trace the steps of her daughter after her suicide (or was it?), Reconstructing Amelia alternates chapters between the mother's (Kate) and daughter's (Amelia) point of view.  In this way we work both backwards and forwards towards the moment in question, exploring perception and the experience of both of these characters. It is mesmerizing to see how each and every poor but easily justified decision is leading to the forgone conclusion.

If the revelations don't exactly fall into didn't see it coming territory, they nonetheless come upon you with frightening inevitableness.  Like running headlong down a steep hill knowing that eventually your speed will overtake your balance but being unable to stop. I literally couldn't put it down, and I can't recommend it strongly enough. 

Les Miserables

I literally don't even know what to say about Les Miserables.

Go see it.

Seriously.

Actually, there is something I will say about it - the actors are all singing LIVE.  As in, not in a studio with sound equipment and auto-tune and no distractions, then just lip syncing during filming. They are singing right there in the scene - so that ballad whipped out with full emotion and actual tears (in extreme close-up most likely), and that duet sung while fighting with swords are both real.  Unbelievable.

I saw this show as a child in London, and I grew up singing along to the soundtrack on road trips.  So I have been dying to see it ever since I first saw the trailer (and cried like a baby), and I have been building up quite a set of expectations, to say the least.  It was everything I hoped it would be.  I was absolutely blown away by the performances in this movie, to say nothing of the gorgeous set pieces and costumes.  Anne Hathaway is brilliant.  You are doing yourself a serious disservice if you don't go see this movie.  Immediately.

ps: bring hankies.  I'm not sure if you are more likely to bawl if you know what happens or if you have no clue what is coming, but you will cry.  Trust me.  I think I went through 8 tissues, and the girl behind me was openly sobbing.  You will also be singing the music for days afterwards, but that's hardly a bad thing.




Les Miserables  PG-13 2hr 37 min

Baby Bumps

See that book right there?  I KNOW the author.  And not just kind of, I like, know her for real - as in, we've met in person (once) and are friends on Facebook.  So clearly, besties.  And while I would of course foist any friend's book upon the readers of my blog (all 6 of you), in this case I actually want to - because that book right up there?  Is really good!

As in, my email from Barnes and Noble with my receipt of purchase is dated this morning at 8:31am, and I just finished it because I haven't left the couch since I started.  Well, I have, but only to fix the occasional bottle and then return to reading while feeding the baby.  Good thing I can read one handed thanks to my Nook!

That's right folks, this an e-book - so you best hop on the techno bandwagon and get yourself some high tech readery because you need to in order to enjoy this book.

The story of a woman, pregnant with her first child and diagnosed with incompetent cervix and irritable uterus and forced onto bedrest early on in pregnancy, Baby Bumps is basically a thinly fictionalized version of the author's real life experiences, and are written in her singularly hysterical and sarcastic voice (check out her blog for a taste).  As a mother, especially one who so recently toyed with cervical excitement and was nearly put on bed rest myself, this book was especially fun for me to read, although reading it from the exact spot on the couch I spent so much of my time only a few short months ago was sort of reality bending.  I kept thinking I was back in that position, and several times I came close to making my husband get things for me because I wasn't supposed to get up, and when I did I was almost surprised that I no longer had a ginormous belly.  Hey - this isn't just a funny book, it's also a time machine! Bonus!

Anyway, the book is super funny, super engaging, and super informative in case you haven't already had the delightful mysteries of pregnancy and childbirth solved.  A must read for any mothers, moms-to-be, or people just looking for a laugh.  So go buy it and read it!

Seriously.  What are you still doing here?  GO!

Brave

I have been looking forward to this movie for MONTHS - pretty much like I do every year for the new Pixar.  And I can't say I was disappointed, although it didn't sweep me away as the best they've ever done.  The story of a free spirited princess and her struggles against convention, Brave tends more towards the sentimental (although it's not a weepfest like the end of Toy Story 3 or the beginning of UP) rather than the comical.  I don't want to say much about the plot, but I will say that they perfectly captured the emotions of a tumultuous mother daughter relationship.  it even had my 6yo daughter crying at the end worried about losing me!  There are a couple of scenes with a bear that might scare a younger or more sensitive child, but other than that I would absolutely recommend Brave to any and all viewers.  For the fabulous Scottish accents and the heroine's mesmerizing hair if nothing else, lol


Brave PG 1hr 40min

Snow White And The Huntsman

Previews for this movie had me A) very excited to see how visually stunning it was, and B) wondering how in the hell they thought Kristen Stewart could ever be considered fairest of all over Charlize Theron.  But upon seeing it I was pleased that the film was indeed as beautiful as the previews suggested, and that they did somehow manage to make Charlize's Queen Ravenna hideous and evil so that you rooted against her whole heartedly.

In general, the movie doesn't really follow the classic fairytale as we know it, but there are enough little touches of the original story to show that they didn't just write an entirely original tale and call it Snow White.  Theron is wonderful as the evil Queen, slipping in and out of pride, conceit, rage and psychosis as easily as she displays her beauty.  Chris Hemsworth is very good as the hunstman, finding his humanity again after he had thought he had nothing left to live for.  Kristen Stewart is really the only weak link, she has a great look for film, but I'm not sure she can actually act at all.  She certainly never seems to do anything on screen that I've seen.

The dialogue was also kind of odd - the big inspirational speech Snow White gives to rally her army against the queen didn't really make a lick of sense to me, and there were numerous scenes where we paused on a close shot of Stewart as though she was going to say something important, and she owuld just sort of look awkward and shy and say nothing.  It was sort of bizarre.  But that said, I really enjoyed the movie (since when don't I enjoy a movie? ha!), and I would recommend it.

Snow White And The Hunstman  PG-13 2hr 7min

Madagscar 3: Europe's Most Wanted

Because we love the movies, and because we love to spoil our kids by feeding them popcorn and candy at mealtimes, we took the kids to see Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted.  I liked the first two ok, but I can't say I had very high expectations for this movie.  But boy was I wrong.  This movie is hysterical!  All of the original voice cast is back, as the animal characters continue their attempts to get home to New York and the Central Park Zoo.  This time they end up being chased by a rabid French animal control officer and hiding out with a traveling circus.  The plot is hardly thought provoking, but the jokes come fast and furious.  I guarantee kids and adults alike will enjoy themselves at this movie - and you will be singing "polka dot polka dot polka dot afro!" for weeks to come.


Madagascar 3  PG  1hr 25min

Drive

I actually saw this movie a few weeks ago, but I have been putting of writing my review because I have no idea what to say.  This is a movie that completely defies description - no matter what you think it will be about, you are wrong.  Yes, it is about a Hollywood stunt driver (Ryan Gosling) who also works as a wheel man for the criminal element.  Yes, there is a hit put on him after a job gone wrong, and yes, he has a relationship with his married neighbor (Carey Mulligan).  But none of that is the movie.

The movie itself is almost like being in a trance.  Imagine driving along the highway with your favorite song on the radio and the perfect breeze blowing through the window; when you just lose yourself in the rhythm of the road, and your mind goes blank as if you were flying, no worries, no thoughts of your destination.  That is how this movie captivates you.  There is very little dialogue, especially by the main character, and while you never get to know him, you are still drawn to his magnetism and confidence.  The love story features no witty banter, or sizzling sex scenes, and yet with only a few bittersweet glances and a single kiss manages to be more about love and romance than most movies.

Now imagine your perfect Sunday drive interrupted by a tractor trailer plowing into a guardrail in front of you.  the violence in this film is sudden, shocking, and incredibly realistic (read: graphic).  It is not overtly gory for the sake of titillation, but the raw intensity coming after such silence is incredibly powerful.

The acting in the movie is really good - Bryant Cranston and Albert Brooks round out the cast as a washed up driver trying to get back in the game and a criminal kingpin respectively, but in truth the emotional center of the movie lies with Gosling and Mulligan.  I can't think of another actor that can as effectively manifest internal emotions without externally revealing a thing.  These two are true talents, and without them this exceptional, indescribable film just wouldn't have been the same.

I don't know if you'll like it, but without a doubt you should go see Drive.  I loved it.  (and the music is great)

Drive 1hr 40 min R

Reel Steel

Reel Steel is pretty much everything you'd expect from the previews:  absentee father reluctantly connecting with his smartass, but sweet kid.  Uplifting underdog story a la the little engine that could.  Giant robots smashing each other to bits.  But formulaic or predictable as it might be, that isn't to say it isn't highly enjoyable fun.  After all, these are formulas Hollywood is pretty good at.  You may have your doubts, but I guarantee that you'll find yourself verklempt a time or two, and damn if you won't be on the edge of your seat hoping for the little guy to win the big fight.

Hugh Jackman is pitch perfect as always - although his character is such a jerk and it's kind of hard to see him as a total ass because come on, we all know the guy has a heart of gold.  Dakota Goyo is great as the son, bonding with a father he's never met as well as a 10 foot tall metal robot.  Over all, highly enjoyable film that will hit your soft spots and leave you cheering.

here's a little clip:




Reel Steel 2hr 7min PG-13*

*The movie is rated PG-13, but I think it could have easily been a PG, and younger kids shouldn't have any problem seeing it.  Except for one short scene where a few punches are thrown, there is no violence (other than the boxing robots of course), and no bad language that I remember.  My theater had tons of little kids, and none of them left emotionally scarred.  I'd probably let my kids see it on DVD when it comes out.

The Ides Of March

There are a lot of directions this movie could have taken as a political drama.  It could have explored the climate of modern day politics and how even the most sincere, straightforward candidate is forced to continually make compromises until they no longer recognize themselves.  It could have focused on the campaign managers, for whom the candidate and the platform hardly even matter as anything other than leverage to win votes.  Or it could have followed the disillusionment of a seasoned campaign manager, who has finally found a candidate he believes in, only to discover he is as black hearted as the rest of them.  Any of these story lines could have pulled us in to The Ides of March, and delivered us an emotional, thoughtful film.  Instead we get all three.

Unfortunately, in some ways this spreads the focus of the film too thin.  We have a young political up and comer (Ryan Gosling), who thinks he can finally leave the usual dirty dealing behind because he has found a truly deserving candidate to lift into office, only to find himself caught in a maelstrom of double crosses and cover ups.  We have a candidate (George Clooney who also directed) learning that the compromises required to win are slowly chipping away at every principle he promised to stand on.  We have two campaign managers (Philip Seymour Hoffman and Paul Giamatti) who care nothing for the truth, or ethics, or the people trampled underfoot on the race for the win.  Each and every character arc is riveting, and unfortunately under explored.  There is so much drama just ripe for the picking here in each man's personal struggle with morality (or lack there of) and the eternal question of the ends justifying the means - if you do whatever it takes just to win, can you ever regain your sense of right and wrong?


This movie could have easily plumbed these depths and been twice as long, and just as riveting.  Unfortunately, the story line itself was entirely predictable, and severely undercut the skill of the cast (seriously - phenomenal cast) as well as the richness of the characters.  I wish the script had served the people involved (both real and fictional) a little better, because this would have been an exceptional vehicle for discussion on power, ambition, loyalty and black vs white.  Instead we are shown no surprises, taught no lessons, and everyone is painted the same shade of gray.


Worth seeing for the tremendous cast and fine acting, this is a case of a fine movie that nonetheless disappoints because it could have been great.

The Ides Of March 1hr 41 min R

The Debt

The Debt tells the story of three Mossad agents, and their mission to bring a Nazi war criminal out of East Berlin and to Israel for justice. Taking place both in 1965 and 1997, we see the events of the mission, as well as the fallout for the agents 30 years later as result of those events.  The cast is impressive, Helen Mirren, Ciaran Hinds and Tom Wilkinson play the agents in 1997, and they do an fine job of looking world weary and beaten down by the pressure of the secrets they keep.  But it is the scenes set in 1965 that truly bring the film alive.  The agents in their youth are played by Jessica Chastain, Sam Worthington and Marton Csokas, and their scenes practically vibrate with all the tension and anxiety of inexperienced field officers in over their heads.  The man they are sent to capture is played by Jesper Christensen with a casual malice and lack of fear, and we watch as the agents become captives of a situation spiraling out of control.  They grow moe and more brittle, haunted by unspoken personal demons as well as the man they have been hunting, and the final fracture is the secret they spend the next 30 years trying to forget.

I loved the movie that took place in 1965.  As can be expected, the mission naturally lends itself to more excitement and tension, propelling the story along because we can't wait to figure out what really happened.  But the scenes set in 1997 should have been riveting as well.  Three people, who have suffered their regrets differently for all these years, struggling with heavy secrets and the question of justice and redemption as they grow older, are characters ripe for exploration and drama.  And yet I felt the modern portion of the movie fell flat, not enough ambivalence, or regret was communicated, and the ending itself bordered on preposterous.  I appreciate what the filmmakers were trying to do, but I wish they had simply made a movie about the mission itself and given the three newcomers even more time to shine.

The Debt 1hr 53 min  R

Warrior

A lot of people probably aren't going to be interested in seeing Warrior because of the basic premise - two brothers training and fighting in a mixed martial arts tournament.  One is an ex-marine war hero, the other a physics teacher father of two.  Both are desperate, angry, damaged men with painful pasts and family history.  And while the focus is on the tournament, and the fighting, the movie is neither glorifying nor glossing over the brutality of the sport.

And the beauty of the movie is that all of the training, and fighting are the only way these two men know how to survive.  Tom Hardy plays Tommy Conlon, the ex-marine younger brother who is carrying around so much anger and resentment that you can see getting in the ring is the only thing keeping him from burning to a cinder on his rage.  Hardy barely speaks during the movie, and yet we understand completely the fury and guilt driving his every punch.  Joel Edgerton plays the older brother Brendan Conlon, a retired UFC fighter drawn back in to the ring in a desperate attempt to hold on to his house and the quiet family life he first left it for.  He has the thick facial structure of someone capable of taking any hit thrown his way, but his eyes betray pain and feelings of inadequacy he carries from a childhood playing second fiddle to his brother.  Both brothers (and their father, played by Nick Nolte) are estranged, caught up in a fractured family dynamic with edges still too sharp to smooth over.  The details of the past are rarely mentioned, and yet body language and facial expressions communicate exactly what happened in a way no words could.

Despite previews revealing that the final match is between the brothers, each victory in the tournament is as nail biting and triumphant as if we were unaware of the outcome, and the final bout takes such an emotional toll that the audience feels almost as battered as the fighters.  I expected this movie to be exhilarating and exciting; I didn't expect it to be heartbreaking as well.  If you can stand the violence (there is no overt blood or shattering of bones, but it is still men beating each other senseless) then this is a definite must see.  An expertly crafted story enhanced by acting from two men we will no doubt be seeing a lot in the future.


Warrior 2hrs PG-13

Contagion

The first minutes of Contagion are truly harrowing; we see sick people, out in public, interacting and moving through the population before being found dead. The illness spreads quickly, and as the audience we are given that special advantage of knowing more than the characters in the movie.  We know that the sickness in London and Chicago and Hong Kong and Tokyo are all related, and we know that it is going to spread.  We are treated to numerous shots of hands touching subway railings, and drinking glasses and other innocuous items, knowing that a killer lurks on these surfaces unseen.  And when Gwyneth Paltrow's character dies (not a spoiler - this fact is in the previews) we are caught between sympathizing with Matt Damon's disbelief and shock and the frustration of wanting to shout "your son is sick too!" and the screen.

It is incredibly interesting and tense watching the characters in the movie trying to figure out this disease and fighting against the clock of the rapid spread and the dying.  I've always loved that peculiar sensation of knowing more than the people on screen - it is a sort of delicious anxiety as they travel towards their doom and you, the viewer, can warn them.  But after the initial break out and discovery of the virus, the movie loses a little of it's emotional heft.  The movie focuses on the CDC scientists fighting for containment and to find a vaccination (Kate Winslet, Laurence Fishburne), a blogger with typical anti-governmental conspiracy who may be using his immense reach to help his audience or for his own personal gain (Jude Law), A WHO worker trying to trace the origin of the disease (Marillon Cotillard), and the husband of the index patient (Matt Damon) who has proven immune, but who is left fighting to keep his daughter from exposure. 

And yet the second half of the film lacks emotional connection.  There are a few scenes depicting the fear and panic of the general population: rioting over limited food supplies and available medicine, but a kidnapping for vaccine subplot goes nowhere, and the scope of the global devastation is offered with numbers and brief shots of deserted city streets littered with garbage.  I'm certainly not suggesting that the filmmakers should have chosen to focus on the gore of mass graves and rampant death, but simply mentioning 25 million dead doesn't even begin to fully represent the actual horror of that type of situation.  There are moments when the hopelessness of fighting an enemy we cannot see and barely understand come through, but all too often the movie seems more like it is in shock itself, with all the attendant muting of emotional resonance.  Everyone seems to be dealing with the situation a little too calmly. Where is the terror?  Where is the grief?

All that said, this movie is enjoyable, provided you aren't already a germaphobe, and it has a cast to die for.  Definitely recommended viewing, although you may want to watch it at home with a year's worth of canned goods and hand sanitizer.

Contagion 1hr 45 min PG-13

fun fact: Matt Damon and Gwyneth Paltrow's house in the movie is not in suburban Minneapolis, but actually suburban Chicago, a block away from my parents'.  You better believe that I was totally jealous that my mom was that close to all the action instead of me.  She didn't even hide in the bushes and try and get any photos!

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2

What can I say?  Honestly, if you are AT ALL interested in this movie, you are already planning to go see it (or maybe already have).  And unless you live under a rock or are so uninterested that you haven't read even one book (in which case why are you reading this review?) you know the story.  So there is not much point in recaps or plot summaries.  Which just leaves us with one question:  Did they do it justice?  And the answer is a resounding Y. E. S!

This movie ends an unprecedented series of films, which have broken all box office records, and entertained millions of people, and yet stayed faithful to a series of books that have shattered publishing records and literally changed fiction forever.  And it does it honestly, loyally, and epically.  The movie is heartbreaking, exciting, joyful and exhilarating all at once, and it concludes the beloved story with the respect and faithfulness it deserves.  I guarantee that (if you are a fan) you will leave the theater feeling happy about the resolution, satisfied with the adaptation, and maybe a little bit sad about our glimpse into the world of Harry Potter coming to an end.

However...

that is not to say that this movie is a tour de force of film making.  The director/writer/editor/whoever may have done a great job winnowing the incredibly packed final half of the book into a concise storyline, but they did NOT make a particularly adept stand alone film.

The movie starts as though we are coming into the very middle of an existing conversation, rather than simply beginning a new chapter in a much longer story, which even for a "part 2" sets a strange tone.  Yes, we all know what happened in part 1, and yes, we are probably familiar enough with what will happen in part 2 to keep up with what is happening and why, but that doesn't mean it isn't jarring to just sort of start right in the middle of all the action rather than taking the time to set the stage and reintroduce us to the current mood and situation.  The filmmakers have said that they wanted to do away with exposition and explanation and kind of reward fans for their loyalty (not to mention save time no doubt) by just jumping in to the story and assuming we will know what is going on.  And while I applaud that approach, there is something to be said for at least attempting cohesive storytelling.  Just because we know that an epic battle is about to begin when Harry and his friends return to Hogwarts doesn't mean it isn't still abrupt to have the fighting just begin.  When a character says "he knows we're here" to me that implies 'he knows we're here and he will be here soon' not, 'he knows we're here and so is he with a whole giant army.'  Everyone (characters and audience) may be well aware that the war to end all wars is on the brink doesn't mean we can forgo all the dread and tension of the buildup to that final moment when the first shots are fired.  Without the pressure of increased suspense, the eventual explosion of violence loses its urgency and emotional impact.

And there was time to include it.  At 2 hours 10 min the movie could easily have handled another 10 or even 20 minutes without feeling bloated or leaving viewers squirming in their seats, and those precious minutes could have gone a long way towards smoothing the pacing and knitting together crucial scenes into a meaningful whole.  And they could have done even more towards heightening the emotional impact.  I was glad to see that the pivotal moment involving Harry's long time nemesis Snape was given just attention, but seeing other beloved characters fight and die loses resonance when they have little or no screen time before hand.  The final showdown between Harry and Voldemort was also changed from the book, most likely to make it more action-y for film (and 3D), but in actuality all it did was sacrifice some of the triumph.  All in all, this movie was an excellent last chapter in a remarkable series, but failed at the one thing any film should hope to achieve which is to stand alone on its own merits.


Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2: 2 hrs 10 min PG-13

ps: just in case you read this entire review while also being somewhat on the fence about seeing the movie, let me add this: this movie contains the greatest, most realistic dragon I have ever seen.  That alone is worth the price of admission.  Seeing one of the world's most beloved characters grow up and kick some ass is just icing

So You Think You Can Dance Season 8: Top 20

So, is it just me or did basically everyone get their own genre (or close to it) this week?  I personally think this is a good decision as it gives all of the contestants a chance to be seen in the best positive light as we are all still getting to know them before they are thrown to the wolves with a quick step or something.

Also - the competition this year is fierce! usually I have a couple of favorites, and some others I like just fine, but this year I feel like every couple that came on I was going "oh, yeah! I love her!," "oh, that guy! I love him!" That's going to make for some rough eliminations.  And I'm sorry that Mia Michaels is not working with the show anymore (unless I'm wrong about that? fingers crossed), but I think I'll live as long as Travis Wall keeps choreographing.  That kid is a freaking genius.

this made me cry from perfection (I'll try to find a better clip):



If there is a better piece than this one all season we can all consider ourselves lucky indeed.

Super 8

I think all you probably need to know about this film is right up there above the title: Abrams and Spielberg.  That's a pretty good movie pedigree, and Super 8 does not fail to live up to its creators names.  This movie really has a little bit of everything: father son tension, forbidden (young) love/friendship, precocious kids, vast government conspiracy, monsters and retro nostalgia.  And it all hangs together beautifully.

Super 8 is the story of a group of friends making a zombie movie on their super 8 camera (in the 70s), who happen to witness a train crash that may or may not be an accident.  It is also the story of the strained relationship between a young boy and his father after the mother's death, and the growing friendship between that same boy and a girl with an equally troubled paternal relationship.  Strange things start to happen after the crash, including an invasion by tight lipped Air Force soldiers, and while we are given bits and pieces into the mystery, our viewpoint of the events is distinctly that of the kids - who are intrigued but also more consumed by their own personal dramas and utilizing the town excitement for their film.

The monster-movie portion of the film is a little under served - spooky, unseen tentacles grab people occasionally, but the tone remains firmly in the sweet/sour personal story vein until the final climax.  The invading soldiers aren't even that big of a part of the movie for all of their omnipresence in the town, and I was pleased that the resulting eruption into all out war was given a plausible explanation rather than just being the typical Hollywood depiction of the military as total jagoffs looking for any excuse to blow shit up.

The kids, led by Joel Courtney and Elle Fanning (who is SO much better than her sister Dakota who I admit is talented but I just always kind of want to punch), were fantastic, as of course were the adults - most notably Kyle Chandler as the beleaguered town deputy/ unprepared single father.  The writing was good, the cinematography beautiful, and if the ending was a little too perfect, well, who doesn't like their endings wrapped up in a bow?  This was one "event" film that has so much going for it beyond the explosions and mystery and hype - it has a heart.  And yes, sappy cinematic music that totally made me cry.  When you see it (and you should see it) make sure you watch the credits too - the finished "film" the kids made is included, and it is pretty amusing.

Super 8 1 hr 52 min  PG-13