Three sentence movie reviews: The Lego Movie

This was a second viewing for me (a first for Matt) and I found the movie just as funny upon repeat viewing.  We miscalculated, and attended a screening with very many children, which is always informative, learning about the parenting practices of today.  However, everyone settled down once the movie got going and Everything [was] Awesome by the end.

Cost:  $4.00 (McMenamins has finally raised their prices)
Where watched:  Kennedy School.

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2014/lego_movie_ver12.html

Three sentence movie reviews: Brokedown Palace

I got this movie only because a friend told me that ever since she saw it, she fears that a cockroach has climbed into her ear.  Besides that tidbit, I was pleasantly surprised to find such a solid story of female friendship and tough choices.  It included top-notch acting all around and I highly recommend it.

Cost:  free from library
Where watched: at home

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/1999/brokedown_palace.html

PS.  Totally passes the Bechdel test!  So exciting!

Three sentence movie review: Slings and Arrows, Season 3

Our wonderful theater troupe faces more hard times in this third (and final) season which features King Lear.  Sarah Polly is the seasons ingenue, playing Cordelia to a very crusty Lear.  Richard gets involved with a musical that is hilarious in its odiousness.

Cost:  free from library
Where watched:  at home with Matt

poster from wikipedia

Three sentence movie review: Captain America colon The Winter Soldier*

Chris Evans totally works for me as Captain America, and you can count me in the “Yes!” box for Scarlett Johansson, (especially when she has something to do besides look pretty) so I was pretty happy with this movie.  The plot was interesting, though a certain Movies 101 podcast spoiled almost everything for me.  It was long, but the pace clipped along quite nicely.

Cost:  $11.00 (it was an Easter splurge)
Where watched:  Regal Lloyd Center 10 with F. Kelly and Matt

*I like to say the colon out loud.  Because it’s kind of a pretentious title.  Why not just Captain American II?

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2014/captain_america_the_winter_soldier.html

Three sentence movie reviews: We Bought a Zoo

Cameron Crowe has made more than a few films in my personal pantheon (including my tied-for-favorite-film-ever-made Almost Famous*).  So I guess he gets to slack and make a pleasant film with no surprises and a nice plot.  I was entertained, but not in love.

Cost:  Free from library
Where watched: at home.

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2011/we_bought_a_zoo.html

*Tied with Singing in the Rain

Three sentence movie reviews: The Grand Budapest Hotel

This had everything I like in a Wes Anderson movie, but I can’t say I liked it.  Maybe I was tired, but the plot didn’t grab me and I kept closing my eyes for brief periods.   The acting was good, the sets were good, the costumes were there, the sense of whimsy was present, but it just didn’t work for me.

Cost:  Free thanks to Oscar Party winning prize.
Where watched:  Regal Lloyd Center 10, with S. North.

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2014/grand_budapest_hotel_ver2.html

Three sentence movie reviews: 10 Years

I’m giving another shout-out to this quiet little film, which I liked just as much the second time around as I did the first.  It’s not life-changing, but it’s fun to watch and I’ve had worse times at the movies.  Plus, it’s packed full of people you will recognize, (but from where?) including Oscar Issac, who everyone loved in Inside Lleweyn Davis.

Cost:  I think I paid $7.00 to buy it?
Where watched:  at home.

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/index.html
Note that this is a hideous poster.  Don’t judge by the poster.

Three sentence movie reviews: Blue Jasmine

I loved watching these two actresses navigate their adult relationship, one of them a sister who had fallen from her upper-class life, the other a working-class, good-natured woman.  Cate Blanchett kind of went to an entirely different dimension.  It was cringe-worthy, watching her try to navigate through her new life, but incredibly moving.*

Cost:  Free, thanks to Heidi M.
Where watched: At Heidi M’s house.

*Also, these were some fabulous female characters, while the men were rather lacking in different areas.  Interesting that Mr. Allen can write women so well.

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2013/blue_jasmine.html

Three sentence movie reviews: Bletchly Circle (sp)

What with the 50s-era setting, the marginalized, incredibly smart women and the intriguing mystery I was all in.  This is a great period piece and a very astute commentary about why it’s important that every person gets to work to their full potential.  Also a sly commentary on movies/t.v. that marginalize women’s stories.

Cost:  free
Where watched:  at a woman from Kenton Library Book Group’s house.

poster from: IMDB

Three sentence movie reviews: Veronica Mars (again!)

Let’s face it, sometimes the glee at seeing something very anticipated means you miss stuff the first time around.  So seeing this movie again was a reward for doing an odious task and a very good reward at that.  It was as fun and funny and fresh as the first time around.

Cost:  $5.00
Where watched:  Living Room Theater

poster from:http://www.impawards.com/2014/veronica_mars.html