When Harry Met Sally

IMDB: When Harry Met Sally
Source: Netflix streaming
Date viewed: January 14, 2011

Not a bad old chestnut. This time through, I did wonder a bit about the casting choices. Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal. Really? Be that as it may, Billy Crystal has some good bits. - A

The A-Team

IMDB: The A-Team
Source: Netflix
Date viewed: January 13, 2011

I pity the fool who isn't entertained by this movie, especially when they fly the tank. I give this team an A. - A

I can't compete with that review. OMG. I will say, however, that I watched the A-Team a lot when it was originally on TV. I don't really remember it that well, but I remember that I enjoyed it. As it happens, I caught an episode of the original show on TV tonight, and it was the first time I had seen any of them since the 80's. The movie is faithful to the original, but also improves on it in many ways. - T

OSS 117: Rio ne répond plus (Lost in Rio)

IMDB: OSS 117: Rio ne répond plus (Lost in Rio)
Source: Netflix streaming
Date viewed: January 12, 2011

The second of this French series that parodies the early James Bond movies. In a way, it's funny, but in other ways, it's not funny. It's quite possible that much of the humor is lost in translation. - A

I didn't enjoy this as much as the first one. It gets a little too much like All in the Family, where you're not absolutely sure that the jokes are jokes. I mean, they are, but even though they think that they're being funny, it's still in bad taste. There are still some funny parts, and the lead can be quite hilarious, but overall, I'd skip it. - T

The Future of Food

IMDB: The Future of Food

Source: Netflix streaming

Date viewed: January 12, 2011

This is a depressing movie. If there's one thing I've learned by watching this and Food, Inc, it is that Monsanto is a despicable company. It has genetically engineered some of the world's largest crops, interfered with U.S. politics and law, sued and ruined the lives and livelyhoods of thousands of small family farmers to ensure the sovereignty of its bogus patents and its total dominance of the food market. Cross-pollination has polluted crops far beyond its puppet farmers and tax-payer-subsidized "test plots," and the eventual result of the Monsanto-led monoculture of crops and the genetic modification of plants and animals in the U.S., and perhaps around the world, could be much more depressing, even, than watching this film. - T

Pane e Tulipani

IMDB: Pane e Tulipani (Bread and Tulips)

Source: Netflix streaming

Date viewed: January 10, 2011

I saw this film several years ago. I loved it then and I loved it this time, too. - T

Humans cannot live by bread alone. They also need tulips. Watch this movie and realize that if you are spending your days dusting knick knacks and ironing for unappreciative family members, you'd be happier working in a flower shop in Venice and finding your soul mate. - A

The Expendables

IMDB: The Expendables

Source: Netflix

Date viewed: January 7, 2011

Truly terrible, yet still entertaining at times. Mickey Rourke is good, and I love watching Jet Li and Jason Statham, but it's just so, so bad. - T

Maybe they should have called this one The Expandables. Everyone was so large! Except for a couple of fun cameos and a few funny lines, you could dispense with the whole thing. -A

Italian for Beginners

IMDB: Italian for Beginners

Source: Netflix streaming

Date viewed: January 3, 2011

I loved this film. We saw it before, many years ago, but it was just as good a second time. Difficult, at times, because of the subject matter, but charming overall. - T

A wonderful movie. Watch it. Love it. - A

Paris, Je T'Aime

IMDB: Paris, Je T'Aime

Source: Netflix

Date viewed: December 30, 2010

"Paris, Je T'Aime," je t'aime. This collection of five-minute films is entertaining and touching. There are a couple that I liked less than others, but taken as a whole they are a beautiful thing. I don't think you have to be pre-disposed to the City of Light to enjoy this film, you just have to be a human. I don't really know what to say about it other than that I loved it. - T

I also find it difficult to articulate why I liked this movie as much as I did. Perhaps it will suffice to say that it has a certain je ne sais quoi. - A

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3

IMDB: The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3

Source: Netflix streaming

Date viewed: December 23, 2010

I saw the 1974 original, possibly on TV in the seventies, and it has stuck with me like few other movies have, so I really wanted to see this remake. Sadly, Travolta is no Matthau, Denzel is no Robert Shaw, and the sequel did not live up to my 30-year old memory. It was entertaining enough, but Denzel's naïeveté grew tiresome. - T

Get Him to the Greek

IMDB: Get Him to the Greek

Source: Netflix

Date viewed: December 22, 2010

The best part of this movie was Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs. He played his role beautifully and hilariously. Jonah Hill, too, was quite good, and Russell Brand was his usual self. It was uneven, but over all, entertaining. - T

I was entertained. - A

A Single Man

IMDB: A Single Man

Source: Netflix

Date viewed: December 20, 2010

This was a beautiful film to look at, but the story was a bit too boring and the end a bit too unsatisfying. - T

At the risk of committing imitative fallacy, the movie sets and costumes were attractive, but the story was boring. I might have called the ending obvious. - A

Men Who Stare at Goats

IMDB: Men Who Stare at Goats

Source: Netflix streaming into new TV

Date viewed: December 10, 2010

This pretty entertaining, but not earth-shatteringly good. Clooney, Ewan McGregor and Bridges were all fine, and even Kevin Spacey was good, but, I don't know, it just didn't sing to me. I didn't hate it (Sue!), but I didn't love it either. - T

I liked the craziness of the movie and the seriousness with which the characters treated the craziness. Plus, I like George Clooney. I'm pretty sure that Clooney could even make a HP movie enjoyable. - A

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

IMDB: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

Source: Cinema

Date viewed: December 5, 2010

If you are following along at home, you know that my esteemed colleague hates the HP movies. You may not be surprised to learn, therefore, that he did not go to see HP 7.1 with me. I saw this one an IMAX theater with rumble seats. I was a bit overwhelmed by the sensory overload of the experience, and somewhat underwhelmed by the movie itself. - A

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

IMDB: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Source: Kirsten's DVD

Date viewed: December 4, 2010

I hate these movies, and this one was as bad as the rest. If not worse. My favorite quote from it: "I am the half-blood prince." Really? Huh. Great. At least it was over soon after that. - T

I liked the books. I see the movies. - A

Quantum of Solace

IMDB: Quantum of Solace

Source: Personal collection

Date viewed: November 19, 2010

This IS the one that shows a bit of Il Palio in the beginning, and it was fun to relive the mahem of that race. (We were there in July 2009.) Other than that, the movie relies a bit too heavily on the backstory of the previous Bond film, and his regret over the death of Vesper. Since when does bond care about a woman for more than one movie? Other than that, it's pretty good. Current theme, lots of fighting and shooting, et cetera. - T

Bond went to a heck of a lot of trouble for his measure of comfort (that was the original working title), but he looked good doing it. I don't ask for more from a Bond movie. - A