2012: Week 41: Looper

Looper

Genre: Action, Sci-Fi 

Main Players: Bruce Willis, Joseph Gorden-Levitt, Emily Blunt, Pierce Gagnon

General Gist: Futuristic movie about a hired assassin from the 2040's (called a Looper) who kills for the mob from the 2070's via time travel.  Things get complicated after he finds out he needs to kill his future self who doesn't want to be killed.  Confused yet??

Deb's Take: 

What an intriguing concept for a movie.  ( I am sure it’s been done before, and there is probably a book out there with this story too, but was new to me.) I am reading an awesome book series right now, “The Outlander” series by Diana Gabeldon.  The book is about time traveling (and a lot more!) and I am always fascinated with the concept.  Due to that fact, I was excited to see how they played out this movie with time travel.   Sometimes in movies time traveling gets too confusing certain scenes are “wrong” in that some little aspect is missed, making the time travel too questionable.  This movie seemed to avoid those two problems, generally speaking.  I enjoyed the way the plot played out.  I liked the chemistry of the characters, Bruce Willis and Joseph Gorden-Levitt seemed to have worked hard to become the same person, and Emily Blunt was likable and convincing.  I think I was most impressed with the son in this movie, played by Pierce Gagnon.  I tried to find his real age but only came up with 5-8.  He seemed on the younger side, yet I am always amazed at the talent of some children.  He also plays/played in a T.V. show and has been in a couple other movies, he was pretty darn good!  All in all the movie had good action, and the story line carried a cool “supernatural” air.   

We got to enjoy company again this week with my husband and my sister-in-law.  Movies just draw a family together!

Deb's Rate: Friday Night

Tiff's Take:    
So, trying to describe this movie does make it sound really confusing.  It really wasn't though.  There weren't a lot of hangups on the whole time travel concept.  It all made sense and seemed like it could really happen.  (But in only 60 years from now??  I'm not sure about that.)

Like Deb said, very interesting concept if not a little unnerving.  Why is it that movies (or books for that matter) portray the future as being so bleak?  Are we really that bad of a species?  I've been reading Lois Lowry's The Giver books so I have bleak future on my mind.

This really was a great sci-fi thriller if you're into that kind of thing.  It was a great concept, sort of intense and great acting by all.  Joseph Gorden-Levitt was fantastic and only annoyed me slightly by his Bruce Willis facial expressions.  One thing to keep in mind though was that it had a lot of blood and guts.  Be prepared and for the love of God don't take your kids to it.  (A facebook friend said they saw kids in the theater when they went.  Seriously people.) 

One thing I really liked about this movie was the unpredictability of it.  I wasn't sure how things were going to get resolved.  The storyline didn't fit this nice little mold.  I liked it.

Tiff's Rate: Friday Night 

Preview: We were thinking about seeing Argo but just got prescreening tickets for Cloud Atlas.  So I guess the free movie wins!

2012: Week 18: The Five-Year Engagement

The Five-Year Engagement

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Main Players: Jason Segel, Emily Blunt, Chris Pratt, Alison Brie

General Gist:  A couple becomes engaged yet continually postpones their wedding due to unforeseen circumstances.

Tiff's Take:
This week's movie was one I was looking forward to.  Some weeks, like last one, we are struggling to find one to go to.  This week was a no brainer. 

I didn't really have any doubt that this would be a funny movie.  I wasn't disappointed.  Best of all, the previews didn't give you all the good parts.  There were so many funny scenes.  Scenes that made me cry I was laughing so hard.  Man, I love a good comedy.  I also love a good love story.  This was a decent love story but it definitely didn't match up to the comedy.  And that's okay.  It wasn't super intense or serious but enough to make it a believable relationship.

I thought the chemistry between Jason Segel and Emily Blunt was great as far as the comedy was concerned and decent as far as romance was concerned.  Pretty much like the movie in general.  There were some great supporting roles.  The sister and some of the coworkers really fed off each other well.  I agree with Deb that this would be a great date night movie.  A little romance and a lot of comedy.  It's also pretty sexually charged so keep that in mind when you pick your company.          

Tiff's Rate: Friday Night

Deb's Take:
I was looking forward to seeing this movie.  We have been seeing the previews for some time now and it looked like it was going to be pretty funny.  Jason Segal usually does a great job with comedy, and I like Emily Blunt.  This movie was not disappointing at all!  I loved the humor.  There were actually some moments when I got the giggles and even though the next scene was up I was still laughing from the scene before.  I think the humor was just a little "off" which is why I found it so entertaining.  I am weird that way.  I also liked how all the characters, not just the main players, played on each other and worked together.  I think the comedy was actually more of the highlight of the show, vs the romance part.

All that being said, it wasn't the "perfect" film for a couple of reasons.  It was a little long...I suppose depicting 5 years is going to be long, but there were some scenes that I felt were unnecessary and drawn out.  The comedy was good, the romance was slightly lacking.  The main characters did a good job of playing an engaged couple, but I am a sucker for the highest romance, and what can I say, after 5 years the romance is not so "intense", the relationship was more true to life then sappy story.  I do think it would be a pretty good "date night" movie.  Funny for the guys, without too much chic flicky stuff.

One other quick tid bit, Dakota Johnson plays in this film.  She looked so familiar to me.  She is actually the daughter of Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson...just a fun fact.

Deb's Rate: Friday Night

Preview: We have acquired some prizes for our next giveaway!  Be on the look out.