2014: Week 21: X-Men: Days of Future Past

X-Men: Days of Future Past

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Main Players: Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence (and a whole crew of others)


General Gist: Wolverine travels to the past to try and change the fate of humans and mutants.

Deb's Take: 
I think I have mentioned recently that I haven't always been a big "superhero" movie fan.  Over the last year or so Tiff and I have been to a lot of these movies.  The Marvel/Superhero genre has been on a big upswing, or so it seems.  I have found myself much more inclined to going and more impressed with what I see.  I will always be a drama, romantic girl at heart, but I have an open mind and find these movies quite entertaining as well.  As far as X-men, I was introduced to these characters about 20 years ago.  There was a Saturday morning cartoon that came on and my husband always got up to watch it..(even before kids!)  I took an interest and was intrigued. 

I liked this one!  There was a different twist.  This one had a lot of Hugh Jackman, and he's a fine man to see a lot of.  The movie kept my attention with all the action, and the characters played their parts well.  James McAvoy was impressive in his role.  I liked all the actors quite honestly.  It's a superhero movie so the ending is pretty predictable, but after two weeks of boredom this movie hit the spot. 


Deb's Rate: Friday Night

Tiff's Take:
I never make going to X-Men movies a priority but I'm not sure why.  I've seen enough of them so far to realize that I thoroughly enjoy them.  I don't think there's been one I haven't liked.  This one was no exception. 

Hugh Jackman does an amazing job as Wolverine and I'm always majorly impressed with how he can bulk up for this role.  I know he's not super old but he's no young buck either. The fact that he can get so ripped is, well, impressive.  And easy on the eyes. 

I am a huge fan of Jennifer Lawrence so she can really do no wrong in my eye.  I liked her as Mystique.  Like Deb, I liked all the actors.  They all were great in their roles and this movie was entertaining in every way.  Can't go wrong with an X-Men movie.  One of these days I'll remember that.


Tiff's Rate: Friday Night

Preview: Maleficent

2014: Week 11: 12 Years a Slave

12 Years a Slave

Genre: Drama, Biography

Main Players: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong'o, Brat Pitt, Benedict Cumberbatch

General Gist: Set in pre-civil war America, a free black man is tricked into traveling south into DC and then abducted and sold as a slave.  Based on a true story. 

Tiff's Take:
This was a slow week for movies so we decided to see this one since we didn't get to see it last year.  And I always like to see Oscar ones I missed.

Let me say, this was so well acted and done.  I can definitely see why it won Oscars.  However, that being said, it was so difficult to watch.  How can people continue to move forward when their situation is so bad?  It's really hard seeing people literally and figuratively beaten down over and over.    Obviously not a high point in our country's history.  But this man's story is horrific and amazing all at the same time.  And Lupita Nyong'o who played Patsey definitely earned her Oscar.

If you haven't seen this yet it is definitely worth seeing but it's not an easy one to sit through.  It won't be one that you can watch over and over.  One time is enough for me.

Tiff's Rate: Opening Night

Deb's Take:
If you want a movie that will evoke emotions from deep in the pit of your stomach this is the one to see.  Like Tiff said, its horrific and amazing. Worth every award it received.  I can't even imagine living through what these people endured.  There is something to be said for the ability for a human being to carry on. 

This movie was best because I didn't know many of the actors.  I like when movies don't pull in the known people, a sense of authenticity is created when the actors seem more like people than stars.  Chiwetel Ejiofor and Lupita Nyong'o were beyond amazing.  I think if I had to live those parts, in any way, shape or form, I would vomit daily.  That's what this movie made me feel like, it was so sickening to see what these people had to endure I wanted to throw up. Piggybacking on my "history lesson" post of The Monuments Men, I will say this kind of history lesson hurts the heart. 

This movie was all emotion, intensity and passion.  The movie will break your soul, cause you to question humankind and possibly fill you with hatred... but it will also make you passionate about life, hunger for compassion and burst with love.  Now that folks, is a good movie!

Deb's Rate: Opening Night

Preview: Divergent of course.   

Week 25: X-Men First Class

This week was X-Men First Class.  Another superhero movie.  Have you noticed how many have come out recently?  Marvel is making a killing this year.  Just like last week with Thor, I expected to like this but wasn't expecting to enjoy it quite so much.  Although, I thoroughly enjoyed all the other X-Men movies I've seen so I'm not sure why its such a surprise.

This movie was a prequel to the other X-Men movies.  It was about how they all started.  I wish I remembered more of the other movies so it all made a little more sense but you didn't really need to know it all in order to enjoy this movie.

I thought all the actors were good.  I thoroughly enjoyed James McAvoy playing Charles Xavier.  I can't really place him in another movie but I liked him.  The other people were good too.  I really enjoyed seeing what each character's special power was.  I think that's part of X-Men that I like so much.  Kevin Bacon was a surprisingly good bad guy.  Oh, and I loved the 5 second cameo with Hugh Jackman.

I would highly recommend this movie.  Very entertaining.

To Sum it up: Good characters, very entertaining and a lot of action. 

Week 25: X-MEN First Class

X-men First Class was our movie of the week! A winner! If you are an x-men enthusiast, this one will definately rank up there for you. I was introduced to X-Men when I married, 17 years ago..Somehow we ended up with a collection of X-Men comic books and in our first years of marriage, woke up on Sat A.M. to watch X-men. Surprisingly I always liked the storyline and premise. On the surface I suppose it just seems like another comic hero type of film. However, I kind of like the message behind it all. This is my take...we encourage uniqueness, yet look for sameness, we are outcasts if we are too different and have to have a lot of inner strength and support to live as we truely are....different, yet the same. (ok so I am no poet, but still..good message)

This movie had a good variety of actors, many were quite noteworthy and really none dissappointed me in their performances. James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Kevin Bacon, Jennifer Lawrence, January Jones (really?) and a whole bunch of other great folks! The movie was fast paced, kept me entertained and interested, and most importantly for me....told a story that leads up to many other good stories...or in other words, gives a good history of X-Men and how they came to be!

I have to say the only shocker...there were kids (young kids!! like 3 year olds) at this movie. Okay, the movie is good, but not appropriate for kids under 10, a little on the violent side for a young child. Just my opinion....

Good movie, good cast and recommended!! See you next week