Throwback Shit: "Junior"

I have always loved Arnold Schwarzenegger in those non-action roles where he can really exhibit is knack for comedic timing. There is no film where his hidden talent is more apparent than in Junior.

Junior
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Danny Devito,
Emma Thompson
Directed by Ivan Reitman
My Opinion: A Must.

I don't know what the critical response was to this film. I was only four years old when it came out. I'm sure it was fair, but not what it deserves. This movie is fucking hilarious. The whole concept of the manliest man in hollywood getting pregnant with a miracle fertility drug, and Danny Devito acting like the daddy is comedic gold.

It makes no sense and they don't even try to explain any of the biological impossibilities, but it doesn't matter. This movie is so good that you just don't care. When those hormones kick in, the funny is killer... I can't say much more about this film because it just is what it is: and it's awesome! I can't imagine anyone with a heard and a funny bone could dislike it.

I'm sure my rating is over doing it. But hey, good comedy is always welcome on my blog.

Review of "Food Matters"

Dear God. I have a severe eating disorder after watching this film. I don't even know what to do with myself.

Food Matters
Directed by James Colguhoun & Carlo Ledesma
My Opinon: Terrified, but not convinced.

Honestly, this doc is incredibly one sided and that really discredits it. I would have really liked to hear something from the FDA or anyone except a bunch of hippies. That being said, the points raised are valid and important. However, there is so much more to the story of our food. I guess you should just watch Food, INC. instead.

It's a pretty good documentary, just not a great argument.

Throwback Shit: "Babe"

 Babe is a tale about ambition and love. Naturally, some people have aversions to animal's talking in movies especially when the real life actors are occasionally swapped out for puppets. That's understandable; the 90's style animated mouths are very dated. However, the virtue of this movie bypasses any of these setbacks.

I'll be straight. I wouldn't have watched this again had I not been very high - it tends to be the circumstance for my revisiting of any childhood favorites. Regardless, that state usually renders me very critical. Alas, I found Babe absolutely wonderful from start to finish. It's impossible to follow Babe on his ambitious journey without having an emotional response to the respectable sheep pig.

Babe
Starring: James Cromwell & Magda Szubanski
Directed by Chris Noonan
My Opinion: Wonderful.

This film has some impressive characterization. We'll start with Fly, Babe's Border Collie surrogate mommy. After losing all of her biological babies, she relied on babe to keep her sane as a mother. Then there is Ferdinand, the duck who wants to be a rooster. Like babe, he has an interspecies ambition and this bonds them together forever. These are just two examples, but all of the animals, whether they stood on four-legs or two, had deeply layered personalities that made them incredibly intriguing. All of this is probably the reason why I was a vegetarian for seven years, but I don't really blame myself. The philosophy of this movie certainly leads way to a vast amount of sympathy for our animal friends, but it also says something about everyone's dreams and the restrictions society applies to us. We are capable of achieving whatever we will.

Of course, Babe is best viewed by children. However, unlike most recent family films that I've seen previews for, this is highly enjoyable for everyone. The dialogue is always smart, the antics are always fun and the animals are so wonderful to watch. The singing mice may be the best part of the film, but that's only because they are a witty little choir. At times I was a little distracted by that shadowy lighting, meant to disguise the puppets I'm sure, but that uplifting story is sure to inspire no matter how down you are.

Review of "Snow White and the Huntsmen"

I'm going to spend about as much time on this review as the writers did on the screenplay. Great art direction, abysmal writing and an absence of logic. Who would ever believe that Kristen Stewart is fairer than Charlize Theron?

Snow White and the Huntsman
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron,
Chris Hemsworth
Directed by Rupert Sanders
My Opinion: Do it for the laughs.

However, I'm happy I saw it. I loved Charlize Theron in it and the gossip surrounding it is rather seductive. It's also really funny to see Kristen Stewart try to be a tough warrior princess, but she actually does an OK job. I wouldn't see it again though.

Review of "The Avengers"

I think the only way you can actually watch this movie is if you are in a setting that forces you to watch it - such as a movie theater. Otherwise, anything, even a sleeping cat, will distract you during the parts that don't have a deafening soundtrack. This movie is a bunch of white people and Samuel Jackson kind of being super heroes, but also kind of being assholes to each other. I didn't expect an orgy of friendship and virtue, but what the fuck was the director intending here? It's just a mish-mash of awesome special effects and Scarlett Johanson being sexy. Robin from HIMYM ain't looking too bad in that catsuit either.

The Avengers
Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans,
Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo
Directed by Joss Whedon
My Opinon: Eh.

Anyway, I don't know if I'd call this a movie as much as I'd call it a bag of money. It has spectacle, so it's not absolutely worthless, and honestly, I didn't really give it an open-armed chance. But I think the prequels are far better. Maybe they tried to tackle too much? I don't know, I just don't feel that cozy hero feeling coming from this flick.