2014: Week 15: Non-Stop

Non-Stop

Genre: Action

Main Players: Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore, Michelle Dockery, Lupita Nyong'o

General Gist: A flight is hijacked by an unknown passenger by texting an air marshall demanding $150 million be sent to their account.

Tiff's Take: 
This was just sort of your classic, action movie.  I felt like I was decently tensed up the whole time but there wasn't anything that left an impression on me.  Liam Neeson just hasn't been super convincing to me in these action roles he's had lately.  He seems a little old for what he's doing and not overly impressive.  Or maybe it's that the movies are overly impressive and he's not adding a lot of value.  The other actors were okay too but I think the movie was just a bit average to think anyone was exceptional.  I don't know.  This was okay.  Not bad, not great.  Not an action movie I would ever need to see again but didn't hate it.

Tiff's Rate: Matinee


Deb's Take:  
I'm noticing that Liam Neeson seems to be doing the same kind of movies lately.  The action, save the day, race against time kind of movie.    His roles are becoming pretty predictable.  Then of course, lots of action movies are pretty predictable in general.  That makes me wonder what makes this movie better or worse than any other.  Well, it was better in that even though the whole movie pretty much took place on a plane, there was still enough scene changes to keep my interest.  It was better because I didn't figure out who the bad guy was until revealed( something  I usually figure out quickly) and the actors were decent.  The movie was worse in that there was a predictability about it that made it less exciting, also,  there's only so much that can happen on a plane.  I still can say it was better than some but not exceptional.  Kind of a no brainer, but better on the big screen I'm sure!

Deb's Rate: Matinee

Preview:  Heaven is for Real review.  Have you seen it?

2012: Week 15: The Lucky One

The Lucky One

Genre: Romance, Drama

Main Players: Zac Efron, Taylor Schilling, Blythe Danner, Riley Thomas Stewart, Jay R. Ferguson

General Gist: A soldier finds a picture of a woman in the mist of war and uses it as his good luck charm. He goes in search of her after he's out. Based on a Nicholas Sparks book.

Tiff's Take:
We got to see this movie a little early at a prescreening. Always fun. Have I ever mentioned that the audience at a screening is a tad more enthusiastic then the "normal" movie goers? They are definite clappers too. I use to think this was annoying but I've grown to enjoy it. Deb and I, on the other hand, are not clappers. We are observers. We love watching all the crazies out there. And I mean crazies is the best possible way.

On to the movie. This was your classic chick flick. No comedy to appease the men. Just plain and simple heartbreaking romance. And oh boy did it have some eye candy. Oohwe, Zac Efron is certainly something to see. (As a side note, I'd like to point out that he is only about 8 years younger than me. It's not super creepy for me to say how hot he is right?) He definitely played the part well. I thought he had great chemistry with Taylor Schilling's character too. It was a very serious, passionate kind of chemistry if you know what I mean. Not a fun, playful chemistry. I would say that is about how the feel of the movie was too. No fun and games. Just a lot of feelings. It worked for me but I'm not sure it would work for everyone. Probably a little too much for those less emotional folks out there. But if a good romance is what you're looking for this is your movie.

Tiff's Rate: Friday Night (but if you're taking your male other half, you'll probably owe him one)

Deb's Take:
This movie was a Nicholas Sparks book, his books usually end sad. I didn't read this book, so I am curious if the book follows the movie well. I may have to read it to find out.

Anyway..to my review. Another pre-screening, I really do like them, makes you feel like you get a little surprise before anyone else. This movie was a typical Nicholas Sparks story. He sort of does the star crossed lover type movie, so a true given that I would enjoy it! I don't want to ruin it for anyone who is planning on going this week so I will just sum it up. Zac Efron is a hotty, and shows a lot of good chest in this movie. I know...I am 41, he is 25. I am more than happily married, but as my husband says...the body is like a piece of art and should be appreciated....so I did! If I was his mom I would have had to have him at 16. Just sayin....

The "love" scenes were a little more PG 16ish to me. Actually, I was thinking about it, and decided I almost thought they were more 17 or 18 ish. Then I thought, maybe I really am getting too old. I just couldn't imagine my child as a 13 year old watching the love scenes. There was no breasts, frontal and only partial back end..but still...pushed the limits for a 13 year old. (I always feel I have to throw in my opinion for all those mothers out there) Really...It was a great love story. As Tiff mentioned, it was a deep, intense, love story. Serious in nature and passionate. I think Zac Efron and Taylor Shilling were great together. I also have to put a shout out for Blythe Danner, I liked her as well! Maybe I will read the book and see what I think after that!

Deb's Rate: Friday night.


Preview: Hmmm...maybe October Baby? I can bet we will not be going to The Three Stooges though.

Week 15 Bonus: Your Highness

Two movies in one week...excessive you say?  Well, maybe it is but that's what you do when you're in Montana with no kids. 

So Your Highness...what to say.  I wasn't expecting greatness with this movie but I was expecting entertainment.  I mean, Natalie Portman is one of my favorite actresses.  And I hear James Franco is Oscar worthy.  But alas, my expectations were too high even for this type of movie.

First of all, I knew I would have to be in a certain mood with this kind of humor.  And I thought I was prepared for it but I was wrong.  Danny McBride looked like he would be really funny in it but he just wasn't.  For one thing, this movie was pretty raunchy.  I mean, at one point Danny McBride's character had this beast's penis around his neck as a souvenir.  Now, I'm not one to get offended easily and I wasn't really with this one but I just didn't think it was funny.  Raunchy works as long as it's funny but this just wasn't.  Plain and simple. 

I think you might think it's funny if you're a teenage boy. (My teenage brother thought it was really funny.) But that's about it.  I'm not even sure my husband who sometimes acts like a teenage boy would have thought it was funny.  And I feel bad that that was the movie we took my mom too.  I'm sure she thought it was even less funny than me.  Oh well.  Live and learn.

To Sum it up: Not funny, really crude and not worth seeing if you're over 18 and a female.  

Week 15: Source Code

One of the movies we saw for week 15 was Source Code with Jake Gyllenhaal.  Like Deb said, it was a Groundhog Day type of movie.  You keep reliving the same 8 minutes over and over.  At first I thought it would be one of those movies (like Groundhog Day) where you groan after the third time reliving the same moments.  But they did a good job of "fast forwarding" through the same ole same ole. 

Jake Gyllenhaal did a good job.  He has a very genuine feel to his acting.  It was sort of a one man show but he pulled it off.  Of course, it was a little tense knowing that every 8 minutes a train was going to blow up but that's all part of an action movie, right?  And the idea was thought provoking. 

Overall I think it was a solid action movie.  It's worth seeing but may not leave a huge lasting impression.

To Sum it up: Tense, thought provoking and your basic action thriller.