The Big Lebowski

I watched this movie last night and almost didn't post about it because I didn't think I had anything to say. It was mildly funny; I don't know that I ever laughed out loud, but I'm sure I cracked a grin at least a time or two, although I think I rolled my eyes more frequently. I bet Hud was right when he said it would have been funnier if I had been drunk. This movie contains a number of quotable quotes, except for the fact that every single one drops at least 3 F-bombs which renders them useless in polite company. I mean, "Shut up, Donnie" just doesn't have the same zing. Anyway, the level and type of comedy is reminiscent of Raising Arizona (not surprising, as they are both movies by the Coen brothers) but with poor language and naked ladies.

Thought you would enjoy knowing that in Greece, this movie was released as O megalos Lebowski.

The Golden Compass

I had been warned that this movie was evil, but after I read the book I saw no problem with it. So I exposed my children to the evil tonight by watching this with them. I guess whoever thought this movie was evil was the same person from netflix who labeled it as "mind-bending," because I don't think either descriptor applies.

The movie was very well done and relatively faithful to the book. I would even say that it was more engaging than the book, because I actually found the book a bit dull. Even so, it was easy to not pay attention to this movie. In fact, before the movie was even half over, my youngest had fallen asleep, my middle child was going on safari with the Lion King DVD, and my oldest was playing a computer game. After the movie ended, the 6-year-old put in a request for future movie night movies: she only wants to see ones with animated characters instead of real people.

One interesting thing that I noticed is that the movie ended a few huge plot points before the book. But I was actually kind of glad about this, because it was time for my kids to go to bed anyway. I have to get up at an unholy hour in the morning.

10,000 B.C.

This movie seemed a little dull to me, even with the really scary ostriches. Of course, it was somewhat better than I expected; I had been worried that 12,010 years ago maybe the cave dwellers hadn't learned English yet, and that the entire movie would be in Early Troglodytese with subtitles. Or, worse yet, that all communication would occur with grunts and clicks. Happily, I was wrong about this.

What I did have trouble with, though, was telling one dirt-streaked, dreadlocked caveman from another. There were a few that stood out in contrast to the others (Shaggy Headed Young Boy, Old Mother, and Blue Eyed Girl) but I really had trouble keeping the others straight. Not that I minded the effort in trying to distinguish one set of perfectly honed biceps, delts and pecs from another.

I also must add that I can't call the entire movie dull. I found that for perhaps the final 20 minutes of the movie I had to sit still and actually watch without simultaneously doing any household chores. This made me wonder . . . if I had done that throughout the whole movie (you know, sat still and paid attention), would I have found the entire thing more interesting? I didn't bother testing the theory. I really don't think I missed much in the first hour and 25 minutes. Anyway, speaking of the ending, I was pretty pissed when Blue Eyed Girl died. All that effort for nothing? But I also immediately had more respect for the movie. Which dissipated as soon as Blue Eyed Girl came back to life. (Shut up. I warned you. I spoil.)

Am I the only one who was just sure it was Emperor Palpatine under that golden veil?

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

I'm a nerd, and I have read this book. The series is one of my son's favorites. In fact, I'm pretty sure that before he discovered this book (ahem! I discovered it for him) he hated to read. Now he at least loves to read about Greg Heffley, and he has also been enjoying my old Calvin and Hobbes books. But I digress.

Of course we marked this movie on the calendar as soon as we heard it was coming out, but as this is 1) a book adaptation and 2) made for kids, I was afraid it might suck. I was sure there would be enough bathroom humor and gross-outs to keep my ten-year-old rolling in the aisles (and there was . . . except, of course, I managed to keep him from literally rolling on the floor because you know how sticky those movie theater floors can get). But I am happy to report that I actually enjoyed the movie. It was much cuter than I expected. My literary amnesia keeps me from telling you how faithful the movie is to the book (c'mon, it's been more than a year since I read it) but it has all the right characters and features the Cheese Touch, so I'm guessing it follows the book pretty well. Now, I will say that if you don't have kids to bring with you, you will probably want to skip this one. It's not great date-night material. At least wait until it comes out on DVD. But I think any kid above the age of 3 will love it, especially if they've read the books.

Little Ashes

I've seen Robert Pattinson kissing a dude. I may never think of him the same way again.

I was a little disappointed that this movie didn't touch on Dalí's art much. We get to see a few of his paintings (very few), hear him call himself a genius several times, and watch him coat himself in black paint, but that was about it as far as the art went.

She's Having a Baby

This is a very, very 80s movie. And I'm sorry to say it's not John Hughes' best work. I think the silly treatment that worked so well in his teen movies doesn't fit this more grown-up fare.

The title of the movie is a bit misleading. Sure, pregnancy came up during the movie, but it was just, like, during the last five seconds or something. This movie was more about the trials of adjusting to the early years of a marriage when the husband is still mostly just a selfish child and hasn't really decided to fully commit yet. And the actual baby-having scene was so shamelessly manipulative that it made me mad. It was like the scene in Fried Green Tomatoes where you think they're having the little boy's funeral, and you start to cry, and then you realize they're just having a funeral for the boy's arm, and you stop crying and get mad instead. But I didn't cry during this movie, so there.

The best part of the movie was the "Famous People of the 80s Give Baby Name Suggestions" bit during the credits, especially since one of the suggestions was "Buford" (but you'd have to know my husband to know why I like this).

Remember Me

Just in case it is not clear enough that I don't make a big effort to avoid spoilers in my posts, you need to know that I don't think I have anything at all to say about this movie that isn't a huge spoiler. Unless it's the small fact that Emilie de Ravin's mouth flaps open too far when she talks, and that's kind of annoying to watch. Or that I was hoping this movie would have an awesome soundtrack, but the only times I even noticed the music, I wasn't blown away. Or (taking a deep breath and hoping my mom never reads this) that what I'd been looking forward to the most was watching Robert Pattinson have sex. Or that this is an excellent movie with a talented group of actors, not one weak link evident, but I don't plan to or want to see this movie again, and I probably won't buy it when it comes out on DVD. Beyond this, we go off the edges of the medieval map (you know, the "Here Be Dragons" thing, except with spoilers).

If anyone had told me ahead of time that Robert Pattinson dies in this movie I wouldn't have been near as excited about seeing it. Here's what I knew going in: Robert Pattinson and Emilie de Ravin are in a relationship that starts after her dad arrests him for fighting. I knew Pattinson's character had a brother who died, de Ravin also had her own family tragedy to contend with, 9/11 was involved somehow, and the end was heart-wrenching. I took these puzzle pieces and put them together the wrong way; I assumed Pattinson's brother died in 9/11, perhaps de Ravin's relative too, and I really thought the entire movie took place after 9/11. I was wrong about all of that. If you've seen the movie you know the right way to put the pieces together; if you haven't, all you need to know is that 9/11 is the end of the movie. I think it's really unfair to throw people into that tragedy with no warning. I couldn't help but think of my high school friend Greg whose older brother died on 9/11, and what if Greg goes to this movie having no idea about how it ends? How horrible that would be, to have to relive that in the movie theater with no prior warning.

I have to say that I think everyone over-reacted to Caroline's haircutting debacle. Maybe this was purposeful, made to contrast with the true tragedy of 9/11, but even if it hadn't been immediately followed by 9/11 it would have seemed rather trivial. Yes, the girls were mean to Caroline, but to have family members and visitors hugging and whispering, "How's she doing?" as if someone had died was a little bit of overkill. Plus, I'm sure somewhere in New York City they could have found a hair remedy that didn't make Caroline look like a little old lady.

I don't know if this will be a common viewing perception, or even if this was the intended result, but once 9/11 happened, it was no longer about Tyler and his family for me. All of a sudden they were pretty much insignificant. It became much bigger than their little dysfunctional family with their petty squabbles. I didn't actually cry in the movie theater, but I did have to tilt my head back so that the tears would run down the back of my throat instead of down my cheeks.

By the way, it's not just the ending that's heart-wrenching. The beginning is pretty heart-wrenching too.