2014: Week 6: Lone Survivor

Lone Survivor

Genre: Biography, Action, Drama

Main Players: Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster

General Gist: The true story of four Navy SEALs on a mission in Afghanistan

Deb's Take: 
This movie is another movie that is also a book.  I didn't get to read the book before I watched the movie, my husband did and said the book was quite an amazing story.  Following the movie he mentioned that there were some "emotions" that he felt were lost in the movie that the book captured.  The movie and book both brought tears to his eyes, my husband cries infrequently.  (A small snip-it from another source.)

This movie was outstanding.  I think the story was probably why the movie was so good, but to take this story and allow you to really feel like you are in the middle of this mission was accomplished.  I think the actors did magnificent, however, I think kudos must go to the writer and director, Peter Berg.  The movie was intense, the stunts were phenomenal, and the emotions were surreal.  I think a movie like this makes people like me,  unpolitical and quite sheltered, open my eyes and heart.  I am also so grateful that there are cultures in the world like the Pashtun culture. 

Thank you to the men and women who serve.  Thank you to their families for loving them and letting them go, and thank you to those who fight and return and share their stories of bravery, lose a part of themselves and sacrifice for someone else.  Go see this movie, it will make you appreciate your life.

Deb's Rate: Opening Night

Tiff's Take:
I got to see this movie with my husband too.  This was one of the few ones he was looking forward to see.  For someone who doesn't go to movies very often, this was a good one for him to go to.  He was not disappointed.

I didn't read this book either but my dad was reading it over Thanksgiving and could not put it down so I'm sure it's well worth the read.  However, this movie was not lacking anything in my mind.  I didn't feel like I was missing parts that were in the book that maybe didn't make it to the screen.  I'm sure there were but this movie was just so good that it didn't matter.

With the title, you have an idea that maybe only one person is going to make it out.  That did not take away from the story or progression though.  This was such an intense, white knuckle kind of movie.  I don't think I breathed until it was over.  And so very well done and acted. 

This is the kind of movie that reminds us "normal" folks what it takes to protect our country and what people sacrifice for it and us.  Man am I thankful for those people.  I left this movie feeling very patriotic and proud of all the people who serve in the military.  This movie pulls those feelings right out of you.

Tiff's Rate: Opening Night

Preview:  We have a couple options for this week.  Possibly a love story for Valentine's Day or an Oscar nominated one we didn't see last year.

2012: Week 6: This Means War

This Means War

Genre: Romantic Comedy, Action

Main Players: Reese Witherspoon, Tom Hardy, Chris Pine, Chelsea Handler

General Gist: Two best friends who are CIA partners fall for the same girl and decide to make it a competition to see who will win her over.

Deb's Take:
LOVED IT! This movie had everything, (almost).... Romance, Action, Comedy, Hot men, Hot Woman (so my husband says), and was extremely enjoyable. The theatre was filled with people who laughed a lot. I loved that it was funny, had great action and still had the romance I enjoy so much. It's rated PG-13, but a little more like PG-15 to me. (my new rating scale). Chris Pine and Tom Hardy did great. They played best friends so well. Reese Witherspoon did not disappoint either, she was great. Most enjoyable was Chelsea Handler. I loved her in this movie. She made me laugh out loud quite a bit! This movie comes out on Valentines day, and I will say, I think it is a great movie for a couple to go see. My husband really enjoyed it just as much as I did. Houston, we have a winner!

Tiff's Take:
I couldn't agree more with Deb.  (Finally, one in the new year that we completely agree on!)  This was such a fun movie.  All the actors did great.  Reese Witherspoon was lovely and likable as expected.  Chris Pine and Tom Hardy were perfect eye candy. (I must admit Tom Hardy was a little higher up on my hottie scale though.  Crooked teeth and all.)  Chelsea Handler was crude and witty making a great sidekick. 

This movie actually comes out next week but we were lucky enough to go to a prescreening.  So if you're thinking of going to a movie to celebrate Valentine's day next weekend this would be a great one.  Most romantic comedies are really just chick flicks.  But this one I think would be just as enjoyable for a guy as it would for a girl.  And like Deb said, it was really funny.  There were many laugh out loud moments.  Actually a few times the whole audience was roaring.  You can't beat that.  Make this one a date night!  

Preview: "The Vow"....we hope!

Week 6: The Company Men

This week's movie was The Company Men. I hadn't heard a lot about this movie so I wasn't really sure what to expect. It seemed to have a full cast of well known male actors. Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones, Chris Cooper and a smaller role for Kevin Costner. They all did a good job but I can't say that any of them stood out more than the others. Ben Affleck was good in it but I think he always does a little better when it's a role that is based on his real life in some way. This movie was based out of Boston so he fit in with that. I like Ben Affleck as an actor alright but sometimes he's just not as believable as he should be. This one he did good though.

The story line was basically about three men losing their jobs and how it effected their lives. All three men were living these inflated lifestyles, living excessively with high paying jobs. When they lose their jobs you almost don't feel sorry for them. Almost. They were all genuine enough that more then anything it was mostly just touching and a little heartbreaking. It seemed like they just weren't ever going to get a break. To be honest, it went on so long I thought maybe it wasn't going to be a very happy ending. And although it wasn't totally a feel good ending it mainly made you feel like the small guys won out and the big corporations got what they deserved. Well, as much as a big corporation can get what they deserve anyway.

Overall, it wasn't a real fast paced movie but entertaining enough even if it was slightly depressing. But like I said the characters were likable and you truly cared how their lives were going to end up.

To Sum it up: Touching, a little depressing and sorta slow going.