Horton Hears a Who!

Viewed: 03.22.08
Theater/DVD/Cable: Theater
Overall Review: 3.5 out of 5

Plot:
Horton the Elephant struggles to protect a microscopic community from his neighbors who refuse to believe it exists.

Memorable Quote:
"I wonder what ASAP means anyways. Maybe act swiftly awesome pachyderm. "

My Thoughts:
I love Dr. Seuss books very much indeed.
KajaKid loves them too and it's pretty much all I get to read.
So when we were staring at a long weekend with not much to do, the family decided to go see 'Horton Hears a Who!'.

We sat in the darkness, we sat there us three.
When the lights went out we all shrieked with glee.
We munched on our popcorn, we drank with a slurp.
Everyone jumped when I had a big burp.

OK, well enough of that then.

Horton is a great family movie. Jim Carrey and Steve Carell do a terrific job as the voices of Horton the elephant and the Mayor of Whoville. I guess it takes an animated character to tone down Carrey a bit. Or maybe it's just old age catching up with him.

The animation is fantastic in that it's just silly enough to be great 3D, but also make the Seuss characters shine. You really feel like the book comes to life. This is much better than previous live costume attempts like 'The Cat in the Hat' (which was so bad I never actually saw it) and another Carrey film 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas'. Animation is the way to go in my opinion.

It's hard to take a short story and turn it into a full length feature, but aside from a couple of strange editing choices I think the film was just long enough. I can't really understand the Japanese Anime scene somewhere in the middle. It was so out of place and was pretty scary to a little kid. But the rest of the film was adorable and made everyone laugh at the right spots.

There aren't many choices when it come to G-rated films these days and when you want to take a 3-year old to the movies, Horton is a fantabulous choice. And it's fun for the adults in the family too.

Don't forget to check out the trailer in the player below.

No Country for Old Men

Viewed: 02.28.08
Theater/DVD/Cable: Plane/Torrent
Overall Review: 4 out of 5

Plot:
Violence and mayhem ensue after a hunter stumbles upon some dead bodies, a stash of heroin and more than $2 million in cash near the Rio Grande.

Memorable Quote:
"What's the most you ever lost on a coin toss?"

My Thoughts:
First of all, I want to welcome everyone back to CineJax. I am also going to introduce you to my latest way of watching movies - torrents. I find it much nicer to watch movies on flights on my 14" laptop than on the tiny plane screens.

Now that we got that out of the way, let's talk about this incredible film. Nominated for 8 academy awards and won a total of 4 including best director, best screenplay and best supporting actor. That last one I don't completely understand, because it seems that Javier Bardem's character was what the movie was about and he was the lead role. I guess I don't know my movies enough. The academy can wait.

The movie is truly terrific. It keeps you at the edge of your seat throughout and you just don't know who's going to die next and how. It is kind of gory and brutal, but done in a very good way. The writing is very good as is the acting by all the characters. I especially enjoy films with Tommy Lee Jones. Something about his voice, I think. Woody Harrelson has a great part as well. Josh Brolin plays a great role, but OMG - I think he either has the biggest head of any human alive or the smallest body attached to a gigantic head.

The true brilliance is Javier, though. First of all, you have to admire someone who was willing to live with that haircut for the duration of filming. I've seen people refer to it as the Snoopy Ears cut and someone even suggested that for his next role they need to give him an even worse do, just to mess with him. I would not mess with the guy after seeing this movie though. You just knew it was all going to go horribly wrong after he strangles the cop at the beginning of the movie.

So just to summarize, Best Motion Picture of the Year.

Dreamgirls

Viewed: 06.07.07
Theater/DVD/Cable: Plane
Overall Review: 2.5 out of 5

Plot:
Eddie Murphy and Jamie Foxx are the perfect complement to Beyonce, Jennifer Hudson and Anika Noni Rose in this film version of the Broadway smash, which has garnered three Golden Globes and two Oscars.

Memorable Quote:
"Jimmy want a rib! Jimmy want a steak! Jimmy want piece of yo chocolate cake!"

My Thoughts:
Yeah, I'm not sure why I watched this movie either. All I can say for myself is that I was bored, it was a long flight and I had seen everything else worth watching.

So to sum it up in one word: Overrated. I mean, seriously, what was all that hoopla about? Jennifer Hudson was worthy of an Oscar? Maybe if there was a "Best Female Lead Over-Actor" category. The Oscars are a sham anyway so I guess I shouldn't really put too much into it. But she also won a Golden Globe. Beyonce was a total waste of celluloid. Maybe the critics watched a different film.

The one I watched had a lot of singing (not all good), moved at a pretty slow pace, was extremely predictable and quite boring. I enjoyed Eddie Murphy's performance in it and Jamie Foxx did a great job too, but the girls were definitely no dream.

I want to say something about this awful trend of cross-over Hollywood-Broadway films. None of them are worth watching and they are usually extremely boring. Chicago was no fun to watch on the silver screen or on stage. Hairspray was a great movie that was an OK Broadway show that is now a movie again? The producers was a great movie that was an excellent show that was an awful movie.... I could find some other examples but you get the idea. What happened to originality? Why do we have to get this regurgitated crap all the time? Rant over. Thank you for listening.

Deja Vu

Viewed: 06.07.07
Theater/DVD/Cable: Plane
Overall Review: 4.5 out of 5

Plot:
If you could save someone's life by altering the past, would you? Denzel Washington teams with director Tony Scott (Man on Fire) to explore this ticklish question.

Memorable Quote:
"What if you had to tell someone the most important thing in the world, but you knew they'd never believe you?"

My Thoughts:
This movie is absolutely terrific. It is a great action thriller with a lot of plot twists that really make you think. The acting is superb from all the lead and supporting characters and you are on the edge of your seat the entire time. If you liked the space-time continuum scenarios of the 'Back to the Future' trilogy, you're going to love this movie.

I always have a hard time getting into a Denzel film for some reason. He is terrific in almost every role he plays but maybe because he is so good every time, I find it difficult to see him as a different character. But this movie just grabs you straight from the start and you can't wait to see what happens in the next scene and how the mystery will be solved.

Tony Scott is a pure movie genius and every movie he makes is a must see for me. Ever since the early days of 'Top Gun' and 'Days of Thunder' he has churned out excellent big Hollywood action blockbusters.

I think the only reason this movie did not top the $64M at the box-office was the way it was marketed. This is a must see in my opinion.

Casino Royale

Viewed: 06.07.07
Theater/DVD/Cable: Plane
Overall Review: 3 out of 5

Plot:
Bond is back and he's tougher than ever. Daniel Craig stars as the newly minted 007 in this thrill ride from GoldenEye director Martin Campbell.

Memorable Quote:
"Christ, I miss the Cold War."

My Thoughts:
I miss the old Bond and the Cold War, too. This new Bond was a little to weird for me. Maybe they should have called it 'Casino Royale, with Cheese' instead.

The whole film revolves around a ridiculous high stakes poker game in Montenegro (huh?) of all places. I guess with the popularity of poker these days they had to make the switch from the old-school Baccarat, but this was truly pathetic. Anyone playing in that game would scream foul pretty quickly and the Montenegro Gaming Commission would have to be called in to review the tapes to figure out how a cold deck was introduced into the game.

Yes, they still have the hot girl and they still have the fancy fast cars. Yes, it's a little dark at times and you do get a sense for the action. But it's either a little too over the top and a little too unbelievable to really grab you and get you hooked. The funny thing is I actually watched parts of it on my laptop and the version on the plane was censored pretty heavily, so maybe I didn't get the full experience. I did fall asleep a few times and ended up having to rewind and watch some parts several times until I made it the whole way through.

And I still got a pain in my nether-regions after a certain scene. You'll have to watch it to find out and I am willing to bet you will cringe with pain as well.

Blood Diamond

Viewed: 06.07.07
Theater/DVD/Cable: Plane
Overall Review: 4 out of 5

Plot:
Solomon Vandy (Oscar nominee Djimon Hounsou), a farmer, is taken from his family and forced to work in the mines of Sierra Leone. After discovering a huge raw diamond, he teams with a mercenary (Oscar nominee Leonardo DiCaprio) to smuggle the diamond out of the mine.

Memorable Quote:
"Sometimes I wonder... will God ever forgive us for what we've done to each other? Then I look around and I realize... God left this place a long time ago."

My Thoughts:
I am not usually a big Leo fan, but I have to say this movie was very good and not just because Leo did a terrific job (and nailed the accent) but because the entire cast was great. This movie shines a spotlight on one kind of horror (amongst the many others) that occur in Africa on daily basis. It is astonishing to me that the so-called "advanced" parts of the world are so materialistic that they almost always forget what happens just because someone wants to spend 3 months' pay on an engagement ring. The pain and suffering that go into the diamond trade are inexcusable and I think this movie will make more people think before they blindly pay the outrageous prices that jewelers demand.

This movie reminded me a little of 'The Killing Fields' (with a touch of 'Romancing the Stone' but without the romance). Especially the scenes with the children being brainwashed. These are the same tactics that were used by the Khmer Rouge and they are completely despicable. I had moments during the movie that I felt like punching the screen, but was afraid I would either break it or wake the person sitting in the seat in front of me.

So overall, I say this is a must-see and must-tell. The injustice in Africa has to be known and the word spread. Only by educating the masses will there be any hope to change the current situation.

The Last Kiss

Viewed: 07.29.07
Theater/DVD/Cable: DVD
Overall Review: 2 out of 5

Plot:
Michael (Zach Braff) and Jenna (Jacinda Barrett) have been together for three years and have been thinking about getting married and starting a family. Jenna is already 10 weeks pregnant while Michael is worried that his life and youth as he knows them are over for good. At a wedding of a friend, he meets a free-spirited college co-ed, named Kim (Rachel Bilson), who opens his eyes and tempts him.

Memorable Quote:
"What you feel only matters to you. It's what you do to the people you say you love, that's what matters. It's the only thing that counts."

My Thoughts:
Skip it. Seriously, the only reason I got this movie is because past Zach Braff movies were pretty good and the back of the DVD cover said this was a "hilarious, irresistibly genuine comedy". I don't know who wrote the cover but he was probably watching another movie.

This film was all about heartache, betrayal, anxiety and the art of hurting the ones you care for. It was full of cliches and not even trying to hide them. The characters are all taken out of standard overused situations and have no originality. The whole premise that Kim (the college co-ed) is attracted to Michael and is basically whoring it up is baseless and makes their relationship without any credibility.

The only highlight of the movie was the above mentioned quote. It a shame, really, because the movie had lots of potential. I guess the only people who will appreciate it are the true Zach Braff fanatics:

Reign Over Me

Viewed: 07.23.07
Theater/DVD/Cable: Plane
Overall Review: 4.5 out of 5

Plot:
A man (Adam Sandler) who lost his family in the September 11 attack on New York City runs into his old college roommate (Don Cheadle). Rekindling the friendship is the one thing that appears to help the man recover from his grief.

Memorable Scene:
Me, weeping uncontrollably in my first class seat throughout most of the movie.

My Thoughts:
If you want to feel pain in your heart and unclog a tear duct or two, watch this film. I don't think there is person out there who can watch this without shedding a tear. Not only did it make me think of all the people who's lives were destroyed by the events of Sept. 11th, but I also had to deal with my own internal demons of potential loss and grief. This is by far the best Adam Sandler role (surpassing his terrific 'Punch Drunk Love' character) and he deserves some kind of recognition for an amazing job. And Don Cheadle is always excellent and nails his role perfectly.

When I got back home and hugged my loved ones I told KajaWife about the movie and by the time I finished we were both in tears. You have to watch this movie. The problem is when and how? If you are already in a dark mood this might push you over the edge. If you're in a good mood, that will definitely change. Maybe just watch it by mistake, like I did, on a plane (yeah, not the best place to watch a post 9/11 flick). But find some time and watch it. Maybe when this country comes to grips with what happened here and starts treating 9/11 as a national day of mourning and memoriam will this movie be shown on a yearly basis on national television. But for now, just find a time and go see it. You have to.

The Holiday

Viewed: 04.08.07
Theater/DVD/Cable: Plane
Overall Review: 3.5 out of 5

Plot:
Two girls on the rebound from bad relationships decided to swap house for a vacation from their lives. One is in LA and the other in Surrey, England. They intend to spend some time with themselves getting over their ordeals but life gets in the way and nothing goes according to plan.

Memorable Quote:
"OK, sorry about that. Boob graze. That was accidental".

My Thoughts:
As far as romantic comedies go, this one was actually pretty good. The fact that it has very likable actors (Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law & Jack Black) makes it all that more enjoyable. Kate Winslet in my opinion is tremendous in anything she does and doesn't disappoint here either. Diaz is always fun to watch and she looks cuter than usual in this film. Jude Law doesn't get on my nerves like he usually does. And Jack Black is always good.

The plot line is easy to follow and goes by quickly enough. There are a few surprises along the way which make it fun to watch. I don't think there were any 'laugh-out-loud' moments, but when you're stuck on a plane for 13 hours, this movie will bring a smile to your face.

Note:
Thank you TripJax for inviting me to contribute to your pet project. Feel free to kick me out if I get boring or annoying. I am a huge movie buff, but don't get enough time to watch serious films. KajaWife is not a big fan of action/horror/drama or anything that isn't a superficial romantic comedy and will make her cry. I've been flying around the world lately and these long flights allow me to catch up on some of the movies I've missed.