Movies

Here are a few...

Brooklyn's Finest

Brothers

It's Complicated

The Blind Side

Law Abiding Citizen

Zombieland

The Hangover

Angels & Demons

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

A Time To Kill

The Shawshank Redemption

Troy

The Departed

21

Slumdog Millionaire

And if you have time to go to the theatres for a few hours, go see Inception :)

Brooklyn's Finest - I can't remember seeing the trailer on this - was it good?

Brothers - really?  George Clooney?  I think I started watching it and got bored awhile ago....what was it about?

It's Complicated - Haven't seen this either; worthwhile?  Kind of a romance movie?

The Blind Side - Awesome.

Law Abiding Citizen - Haven't heard of this one either.

Zombieland - What's this?

The Hangover - Saw it....4 times I think : )  I want to have another son just to name him Alan.

Angels & Demons - very good.

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt - Can't remember this one; what's it about?

A Time To Kill - older one, right?  John Grisham?

The Shawshank Redemption - great.

Troy - great.

The Departed - loved it.

21 - not sure what this one is?

Slumdog Millionaire - loved it!

Thanks - I'm going to head to Netflix!

Sorry, but the Mom in me will show on this one.   I really enjoyed The Last Airbender.  I loved the special effects.  And one other one I love that I have watched a few times and I was surprised I even liked it.  We only saw it because the movie we had wanted to see at the time was sold out if I remember correctly.  Its Juno.  It just had so many quirky little comebacks.  Its not an epic, but very entertaining.

Brooklyn's Finest - It's sort of a cop drama that follows 3 different NYPD cops through their own struggles, etc... and it all comes together at the end.  I'm bad at explaining but it has a good cast (Richard Gere, Ethan Hawke, Wesley Snipes, Don Cheadle) and I really liked it.  Probably the best cop drama I've seen

Brothers - George Clooney isn't in this one.  It has Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhall, and Natalie Portman.  Another one worth seeing definitely.  One brother has a family and goes to war in Afghanistan.  He comes home and is detached from his family, thinking his brother slept with his wife

It's complicated - Sort of a romantic comedy with Steve Martin, Alec Baldwin, and Meryll Streep.  Pretty funny.

Law Abiding Citizen - Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx.  A guy's family is murdered and then the killer goes free on a plea bargain, so he takes justice into his own hands basically.  Pretty entertaining

Zombieland - A zombie move with Woody Harrelson.  I usually don't like zombie movies, but this one was quite good.  Sort of a comedy at the same time

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt - I just watched this one a few days ago and it was pretty good.  It's a law movie with Michael Douglas and Jesse Metcalfe.  A journalist basically tries to expose a corrupt district attorney who he thinks is planing evidence to win cases

A Time To Kill - Yeah it's an older one with Matthey McConaughey, Sandra Bullock, Samuel L. Jackson, and Kevin Spacey.  Yeah I think it's based on a John Grisham novel.  Great movie though - a lawyer defends a black man accused of murdering 2 men who raped his young daughter

21 - It's inspired by a true story about some MIT students that were trained to become experts in counting card and took Vegas casinos for millions in winnings.  Another one that I really liked

21 is a great movie. I thought it was awesome.

Brooklyns finest was like a slow version of the Departed. But the departed was way better. The movie got good the last 15 minutes. I gave it 2 stars

I thought Zombieland was Hilarious. Good one liners

The Burbs. - Hilarious early-Tom Hanks stuff.

Spies Like Us - Ackroyd and Chase back when they were high on drugs all the time. Just hilarious family friendly stuff.

The Bourne anything. - best movies ever made. Say no more.

Blackhawk Down - a favorite.

Kelly's Heroes - semi-farce WWII war movie. Clint Eastwood and some renegades steal Nazi gold. Hiliarious. A young Donald Sutherland was a riot in that.

3 Kings - under-rated.

Street Kings - underseen

Kingpin - one of the two funniest movies I can think of. Woody Harrelson as a one-armed bowler. Roy Munson. "I hope we don't get Munsoned out here". HA!

The Big Lebowski - the other of the two funniest movies I can think of.

I could go on forever.

Want to see Law Abiding Citizen. Stallone's new one has a stellar-looking cast and Bruce WIllis has new one coming out too.

Like Joe, I am a sucker for movies and as Sean will know, series too.

Has anyone seen these 3 films by director Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu ?

Amores Perez

21 Grams

Babel         

They are a good watch and I suggest seeing them in that order. By the way, 21 grams is not about drugs! If you have ever seen " CRASH " the ocsar winning film with Don Cheadle and Matt Damon, they are on the same format.  

Series? Alan...please....don't get me started! ;)

DEXTER = best of all time.

24 - goes without saying....awesome.

The Shield - was awesome.

Weeds - great show

Californication - hilarious and well-written

Don't get me started, the man says. That's enough for me. Here we go  : -

Dexter - Superb, but best of all time . . . mmmm

24 - Loved it to start with but . . . . . 

The Shield - Excellent all through. Quality

I haven't seen " Weeds " or " Californication "

The Brotherhood -  Two brothers, one in politics and the other in crime. A must see.

Mad Men - Advertising on Madison Avenue. Slow, but very watchable performances in there.

In Treatment -  Only verbal action here. All takes place on the psychiatrist's couch. Absolutely Loved it.

Breaking Bad - A top college science professor starts producing drugs on the side to cure his money problems. I loved it.

Underbelly - True Australian crime story. Well made and amazing to think that it all happened Down Under. Mmm . .but then, they are all related to convicts!

The Riches - Light, enjoyable series with Eddie Izzard ( he of 40 marathons in 40 consecutive days fame ). Story of a family of travellers.

Sons of Anarchy -  Hells Angel stuff. Watchable.

The West Wing - This one goes without saying. Winner of numerous awards. I loved it and learned a fair amount from it, too!

Damages - Glen Close as a devious owner of a law firm. Great series.

Nurse Jackie - Top quality performance from Edie Falco of " Sopranos " fame, as a drug addicted nurse leading a double life.

Boston Legal - Surely a " hoot " to all that have seen it. Some clever writing hidden in amongst the sexual innuendo.

The Wire - I enjoyed this, although my wife less so. Quality series.

House and Friday night lights have got to be the best series.

I have to chime in a bit

Movies

Pumping Iron - still one of my favorites

The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas - never heard of it but after I saw it I can't believe I didn't hear of it

Schindler's List - classic

Hard Candy - first time I saw Ellen Page, this was fantastic

Crazy Heart - I am always drawn to musician based movies

The Ugly Truth - this was funnier than I thought it was going to be

Superbad - C'mon now

Funny People - I usually hate Adam Sandler but this was pretty good, another one I hate is Nicholas Cage, if its got his name I immediately pass

Year One - I actually liked this better than the Hangover (plus my new girlfriend, Olivia Wilde, is in it)

The Notebook - yes, I love chick flicks. I also read the book and this is an extremely creative story

I Love You, Man - they really nailed awkward in this one

Million Dollar Baby - one of my favorites

House of 1000 Corpses - dunno, just love watching this over and over and over

Frozen River -  I think I remember this being pretty good, it was a bout a poor woman who embarks into smuggling people from Canada into the US over a frozen lake

Series

Dexter - One of my fav's

The Office - how did this miss?

Family Guy - you know it

South Park - of course

The Sopranos - maybe just cause I'm from Jersey

Six Feet Under - Loved this one

Parenthood - I like this one

Glee - y'all can all zip it, this is a good show

Band of Brothers - I thought  it was fantastic

House - I like this one too

Web

Salad Fingers - if you don't know Salad Fingers you need to click here

Two Girls One Cup Reactions - just click here

Interesting - not sure if it was good or bad

Zoo - about the lives of people with bestiality. Specifically about the guy from Seattle who died after having sex with an Arabian Stallion - "Mr Hands"

Alan, I think you just gave me a bunch of new series to check out, I don't think I've seen any of yours except Dexter and a few episodes of The Wire. I also love the original Law and Order as well as Special Victims but that freaking guy Goren (or whatever his stupid name is) in Criminal Intent can go kill himself

Ha! Agreed. Fancy me forgetting " House ". Could well be my favorite, too. Have yet to see series 6. And " Sopranos ". Shame on me!

I also forgot " Six Feet Under " starring he of " Dexter " fame. Another very watchable series.

The Fighting Donnely's can be recommended. Strangely, not available on Amazon.

Out and Out comedy series I didn't include. Agreed on " The Office " ( the British version ) and " Family Guy ". There's always " Curb your enthusiasm ". That had me rolling off the sofa at times.

Did America ever get the old British classic " Fawlty Towers " with John Cleese as Basil Fawlty, the deranged hotel owner? If you haven't seen it, I defy you not to laugh. It is the most loved British comedy series ever.

Lonesome Dove . A few years old now, but a classy western series.

Das Boot. Originally an old German series about a German U-boat. Now available as a 6 hour film. A classic.

And on the note of Goren from Criminal Intent. Lets also list the WORST movies/series we've ever seen so we can know what to stay away from (maybe)

WORSE

Law and Order - Criminal Intent - Somehow they manage to take a match on the ground an put together some far fetched psychological motive and solve the case, idiots

Gran Torino - This is so unbelievable, an old guy who is that racist would not be so open to have a relationship with the neighbors. It felt so forced to try and make a crickety old Eastwood seem tough.

Rocky Balboa - are you kidding, another forced plot. I had to leave the theater

The Box -  plot didn't make any sense

the Twilight Series - I just simply hate Kristen Stewart. I think she has the personality of a thumb tack

From Paris With Love - Joe I respectfully disagree with you on this. Another stupid trying to make an old fat man tough movie. He would have gotten his teeth handed to him if he was in those situations. And then to bring in the Royale with Cheese to try and find a link to a movie that actually was good to give it points was ridiculous.

most anything with Nicholas Cage except maybe Raising Arizona

most anything with Adam Sandler except maybe Funny People and very few others

just watched clash of the titans last night. I LIKED IT

I just watched Bounty Hunter last night and I give it 2 stars. Not believable

Brian, you're a very angry man ; )

Just watched The Messenger - pretty stark and disturbing in a good way.  Woody did a pretty good job....some good scenes.

Mmmm . . .  I have to agree with the majority of Brian's " Worse "  list.

I actually used hard earned cash to buy " Law & Order - Criminal Intent " and after 2 episodes it gathers dust. This is bad, because it's my own unwritten rule that i must give a series 3 episodes before I pass judgement.

" Gran Torino", for me, was one of the most disappointing films of the last year, or so. Not just me either, because my son phoned me one evening to discuss it, after seeing it himself. He thought he was alone in having the same feelings about it as me.

Poor old Nicholas Cage should stick to partying. Rumor has it, that he is of Oscar material in that area!  He is much unlike John Travolta who, in amongst producing the occasional out & out classic, also appears in so much drivel. The difference between Travolta and Cage is that Travolta has charisma and almost gets away with it.

The Other Guys: sat in a theater with my mom on one side and Cam, Joe, Sean, and Jessa flanking me on the other. I went knowing that this was one my mom would NEVER have chosen on her own! ;) Like my sister she stays true to the hopeless romantic, lose yourself in relationship fantasy type flicks. Whenever I suggest a movie that I may have found incredibly moving, emotional, and relatable to the human condition, she automatically responds with, "Oh, I won't like that..."

I was pleasantly surprised when I heard my mom laughing all the way through this movie! Like me, she laughs easily most of the time, but I relaxed when I had evidence that she was enjoying herself!

Will Ferrell in this one was superficially deep. What made him funny was his very emotional persona, a guy who could get hurt easily by his partner, but when push came to shove he could freak out with intellectual barbing or physical rages, even rude, unempathic and mean comments. What made this movie so funny was the relationship he had with his partner and they way they communicated with each other. Mark Wahlburg was a deceptively sensitive hard ass. (Can you even freaking analyze a movie for depth when Will Ferrell's in it?!)

Ha! This week I expect to hear some of the lines repeated by Joe and Sean...go if you want to laugh!

My favorite all-time movie: CRASH ( no one listed this one, and Im surprised!)

Brian: Bounty Hunter SUCKED! I'd give it a 1/2 a star

SALAD FINGERS: you're a freak- this scares me! :)

DEXTER: AWESOME- my favorite cable series too!

Actually, KORI, I did mention " CRASH " 3 or 4 threads ago, as being on the same lines as 3 films that I had recommended. As you liked " CRASH ", I am sure sure you would might like these.

Here's possibly where I have to admit to having a feminine side! By a street ( not STREEP ) , my favorite film is Sydney Pollack's " Out of Africa ", starring Meryl Streep ( is there anyone better ? ) and Robert Redford. Two sublime performances from these two great masters of their craft and matched only by the superb score of John Barry and cinematography by  . . . . .  . . I am not sure who.  Anyway, I am sure he received one of the 8 Oscars that were dished out for this film. The film tells of the earlier part of the life of the Danish author, Karen Blixen whose house lies north of Copenhagen and I have seen myself. Certainly for me, I never seem to tire of this film and the book is also a worthwhile read, should anyone be interested.

Okay, enough with the Travolta bashing - if you guys are looking for Oscar movies, go elsewhere, but whether Pulp Fiction, From Paris with Love, or anything in between, I agree with Alan's charisma comment; he just cracks me up.  As for a fat, old guy trying to do an action flic - that's part of the writing goal: experience versus inexperience, street intelligence versus punk arrogance - Bruce Willis and others make it fun to watch, but of course it's not Jason Bourne. 

Onto the weekend:

Dinner with The Scmucks - Steve Carrel (is that how you spell his name?) makes it pretty funny.  Zack G has a funny role, but small role.  The guy gets the girl, the downtrodden are lifted up, the bad guys get spanked - typical cute PG13 movie, but not bad.

The Other Guys - I heard several reviews that said it wasn't as good as Stepbrothers but I have to maybe disagree.  I thought it was pretty darn good.  I rarely laugh out loud at a movie but I did here several times.  I'll see it again.

Inception - definitely solid.  Everything they said it was. 

Hot Tub Time Machine - I shut it off after 6.32 minutes.

Joe

" Hot Tub Time Machine ", you say . . . where do they dream them up?  I must admit that one fortunately has escaped my attention.

I can picture the rental shop right now. " It's that guy Joe, again. Point him to the row just between the Nicholas Cage dvd's and the John Travolta dvd's. You know, the row with " Hot Tub Time Machine " in both dvd and blu-ray. He's a sucker for quality garbage like that." 

Angry? whatever gave you that idea? 

Haha!  That was just downright mean, Alan!   

That's exactly where you're wrong in this one - this particular "plot" (I grant that I use quotes) had some good twists, a couple nuances like when Travolta very quietly (good acting and cinematography to catch the subtlety) hears the code word spoken with the "wrong number" call, and shoots a chick in the head at the dinner table.  You don't get that stunning depth in Marine, Predator, or Rocky XXIIVIX.  So, back off my man, Travolta!!  Ever see him in Michael and other softer roles?  I'm renaming this the hater thread.  You guys are just harsh ; )

Alan, you just need to appreciate good, old-fashioned American violence at the movie theater. It's what sells tickets in this country! We are a war-loving people. ;)

For example, The Expendables. Going to see that ASAP. Stallone. Statham, and host of other tough guys? How can you miss that one?!?!?!

Joe . . . You are right  . .  that was mean. I have always been like it. I get these visions that appear in front of me from time to time and and just can't resist. Also, believe me me when I say that I have seen most of Travolta's stuff  including " Michael ".. . . I couldn't give an opinion otherwise, albeit cruelly slanted! Actually, those feathers really suited him !

Sean . . .  I do realise that you are a gun totin', war loving people. How otherwise could Rambo have achieved what the entire Russian nation could not , when he was in Afghanistan. Also, rest assured that I will also see " The Expendables ". How could i not? For that, I will put on hold my 14th viewing of " Out of Africa "   

Just thought of another one that I never tire of and that is " Dances with Wolves ".

Kevin Costner?  Alan, dude.....I'll give you the fact that it was a good plot/topic, but I just couldn't list anything with the worst actor in American history as a good movie.  Now I'm worried about you.  He's 10x worse than Clint Eastwood acting in his own movies which he's directing. 

Cyrus with John C. Riley - saw it last night.  Great movie.  Filmed in typical artsy/documentary fashion to capture a real-life feel, but not over done (enough to be a Sundance entry).  The themes, both overt and subtle, were fantastic and all three major actors were just awesome - you'd never think Riley could do this kind of film. 

Now, who's being mean? I knew you would get your own back . . . . which reminds me. How come you have so much time these days, to watch all these movies?

Karin is away on business, so I am sitting down to watch ( once more ) " The Seven Samurai ". Black & White with sub titles, but a good watch ( for men ). " The Magnificent Seven " was based on this film.

My wife took three of our kids up to see the grandparents last week and left my 16 year old with me - he had to work.  So, it was bachelor weekend.  Then last night was our 19th wedding anniversary - thus the Cyrus movie...which, again, was stellar.  Good, messy, sometimes-dark, real-life relationship issues with some hilarity.

My movie reviews will likely be relegated to one per week now, Mr. Alan - lucky you ; ) 

Costner? Alan...I am worried about you. Have you not seen "Waterworld"? Arguably the worst movie in history. I am with Joe on this one, buddy!

The Expendables: Looking forward to it!