Movie: The Other Boleyn Girl

We love old English period piece media (e.g. books, movies), and thought for sure we'd love The Other Boleyn Girl. Other things in the movie's favor: Actors we like (Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Jim Sturgess), A cool movie poster (Never an actual sign of a good/bad movie), Some decent reviews, and our general enjoyment of cheesy love stories. But despite all of these factors, we really did not like the movie, it was that bad.

The Other Boleyn Girl follows the lives of the two Boleyn girls, who historically became mistress and queen to Henry VIII of England. Mary is married young, and catches the king's eye, becoming his mistress for many years. All she desires is to love and be loved by a man, and a simple life in the country. Anne is young and ambitious, and ends up winning the king's heart while her sister is on bed-rest, pregnant with the king's son. The movie is full of sex, sex, sex, conniving, beguiling, and overall treachery.


Quick vote: Don't see this movie. It's really that bad.

Movies: Memento

This movie is trippy! We sat down this past week to watch Memento, starring Guy Pearce (Time Machine, Count of Monte Cristo) and Carrie-Ann Moss (Chocolat, Disturbia, The Matrix Trilogy).

The main character, Leonard, is in an accident and loses the ability to create short-term memories. He retains his long-term memory, but every few minutes, he forgets what he is doing or why he is doing this. He is striving to avenge his wife's death, and reminds himself through an intricate, disorganized process of Polaroids and tattoos. The story itself is mostly played in reverse chronological order, so you feel like Leonard, completely in the dark as to what went on before-hand. Classic line, "Why am I chasing this guy? Oh wait, he's chasing me."


Quick vote: This movie is definitely one you have to give your full attention, but it's a must-see. Even after watching several times, we're always noticing new clips and nuances that leave us reeling. The level of detail is astounding.

Aunt Annie's 2 cents: This movie makes perfect sense to me. I also have no short-term memory. Why am I typing on this keyboard???

Movies: Stardust

We recently watched the cute fantasy film, Stardust, and we loved it! The movie tells the story of imagination and hope overcoming all odds; a transformation of a young boy from a big loser to an adventuring conquerer. We barked the whole time in pleasure.

Tristan is a young man, the result of his father's sowing his wild oats in the magical kingdom hidden in the heart of England. He is in love with the most attractive girl in the town, and swears that he will find a fallen star for her. An evil queen also wants the star for her own evil purposes, and a group of princes seeking the throne of the magical kingdom are searching for the star.

There are quite a few interesting actors in this film, such as: Peter O'Toole (We heart him!), Rupert Everett, Michelle Pfieffer, Claire Danes, Robert De Niro, Ricky Gervais (from the British Office), etc...


Quick vote: This is one of the best fantasy films we've seen. If you enjoyed the Princess Bride, you'll enjoy this fun film!

Movie: Amelie

We just finished watching Amelie, a French film that we have seen before, but that we fall more in love with each time we view it. Amelie is an introverted girl who lives a small, solitary life in Paris, afraid to reach out to those around her. Then one day she stumbles upon a small boy's buried treasure and makes an effort to return the prize to the boy, now a grown man. This experience teaches her how rewarding it is to reach out and change people's lives for the better, which leads her down a slippery-slope of good deeds.

But our favorite aspect of the film, is the love story. In the course of her adventures, Amelie runs across Nino; an eccentric introvert like herself who collects discarded photo booth pictures. Amelie must overcome her shyness to intersect her path with the perfect man.


Quick vote: We love this film. You MUST watch it (or we will bite you...).

Movies: Waitress

We recently watched the movie Waitress and it is our new favorite! Jenna Hunterson is a young waitress at a pie shop who is dissatisfied with her life, though she is a champion pie maker. She is married to an emotionally abusive man who attempts to control her every move. On top of all this, she finds she is pregnant with a child she doesn't want.

The movie follows Jenna in her quest to find herself through the people she loves and hates and the pies she lives to bake. We loved the movie, and overall the message that it portrayed. You don't need a man or money to be happy! You just need a little self-confidence, and all will turn out well in the end.


Quick vote: This cute movie taught us that if only we would love ourselves, all would turn out right in the end. We adored it!!!

Movies: Closing Escrow

We recently rented the new movie, Closing Escrow. This mock-umentary is very funny, and it was one of the cleanest movies we've seen in a while (despite a few graphic bunny-hangings).

The film follows three couples who are searching for new homes with their three respective real-estate agents. The characters are quite drastic and hilarious.


Quick vote: This is the funniest show we've seen in a long time. We wholeheartedly recommend it!

Movies: The Last Waltz

Our father put this movie on the other night (a free Blu-Ray Disc!) and we were forced to watch it with him. The Last Waltz is a documentary about the band, The Band. And if the volume weren't up so loud on the stupid movie, we would have slept through the whole boring debacle.

But if our father happens to be reading this blog... We loved it!!! We hope that we can watch it again sometime soon.


Quick vote: It wasn't very good. Although we did enjoy watching Joni Mitchell singing...

Movies: Ferngully: The Last Rainforest

As a joke gift, our family recently ended up with a copy of Ferngully, which some of our older readers may recall from their childhoods. The film chronicles a group of fairies living in a rainforest who become endangered because of Evil Loggers that come to steal away their habitat.

We were amazed at this film. In a time where Global Warming is a catchphrase, and living in a city where you're in the minority if you don't drive a hybrid car (87% of which are Prii [plural of Prius]); shows like this (e.g. Hoot) are the norm. Ferngully, written years ago, belongs to this era. The indoctrination of children into a fear of not recycling and into donating to SUWA and the Sierra Club begun many many years ago.

We wonder if Al Gore watched this film as a child....


Quick vote: A fascinating trip down memory lane. If you watched this show as a child, we recommend you get a hold of a new copy and re-watch, at least for reminiscence's sake.

Movies: The Royal Tenenbaums

This movie is one of all time favorite movies. Wes Anderson is a tremendous director, and this movie includes several big playing actors such as: Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson, Ben Stiller, Gweneth Paltrow, Gene Hackman, Bill Murray, and Anjelica Houston.

The Royal Tenenbaums is the funky, indie sort of movie that we traditionally love, and we highly recommend it to you! It documents the bizarre and tremendously gifted family, the Tenenbaums and their search to come to grips with their problems.


Quick vote: One of our all time favorite movies! Check this one out...