DVDizzy Forum

I had the opportunity to see Sweeny Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street this weekend and it was amazing. I loved it. 4.9/5.

Right now, I hate you (not really, but I hav to wait 'til February to see ST)

Watched Superbad and Love Actually yesterday.
I was surprised how funny Superbad actually is, if you don' mind the language.

You know, I'm not even close to being any kind of fan of Superbad. But I will admit, I did think it was miles ahead of and beyond Knocked Up.

I just watched Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Good movie. A bit on the slow side though.

I watched Cream: Live at Royal Albert Hall 2005.

I watched A Christmas Story over the weekend.

Saturday I finally was able to see Atonement. Bar-none, the best I've seen all year and I'm almost 100% sure that nothing will top it. I'm sure many of the older members here can recall my (for lack of better words) obsession with 2005's Brokeback Mountain.

I haven't had such a strong emotional response to a film since then.

Absolutely stunning, a must see.

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
The Simpsons Movie

Having myself a bit of a comedies-of-my-youth marathon.
Part 1:




Beethoven (1992)
Pretty much simple fun and entertainment. The kids' characters were decent enough. George was a good main character. The dog stuff was okay.

However, there was one thorn that really stuck in my side. Other than the practically unwatchable performances by Stanley Tucci and Oliver Platt as the dog thieves. Bonnie Hunt's character was melodramatic, strange, and annoying, actually. Saying "your family's going down the drain" when the kids are standing right at the door- oh yeah, everyone's becoming wayward and they can't even stand each other anymore. The little one's already into the booze cabinet. And her annoying "stay at home mom" obsession is like a not so subtle anti-working mom thing. It never lets up. Even the kids are going nuts, whining and wailing- "why do you have to go back to work?!" Where's Jack Nicholson ("Shut up, kids!!") when you need him? She never even tried to support George in the things he wanted. It never really felt natural, it felt more like she was pushing an agenda, not standing up for herself. In fact, aside from her role as "The Mom," did she have any character at all? She seemed fairly one-dimensional and detached until the action ending.

And I have to say it, poor George. He was penalized for wanting something different. Even in the end, he's not really smiling. He just shuts up because the wife wants something different. Because the family were all a bunch of robots who were like "I need- I need- I need." I get the impression that he deserved what he wanted and at every step, he got the rug pulled out from under him. I'm starting to think this is a horror movie about how much a family can really take away from your life. The sequel did a much better job at showing how the kids were starting to mature and become more independent.





Beethoven's 2nd (1993)
In terms of performances, characters, all that... this sequel is definitely the same if not better than the first movie. It's not as funny, that's for sure. And the music score stinks when compared to the first movie. But it's still a very enjoyable movie. One that also doesn't get the least bogged down by the mother, the business, or the yuppie snobs of part 1. I enjoyed the puppies (who didn't?) and Debi Mazar's performance as a woman so ice-cold (and Bitch-Fabulous, c'mon admit it, you loved to hate her too!), she'd give Cruella DeVil(le) a run for her money any day. The "in the mountains" ending was awful. But up until that point, it was a worthy followup to the best moments of the first.





Straight Talk (1992)
It's a little cliched, but let's face it, the only true flaw in Straight Talk is that Dolly Parton's advice is terrible. It's not what she says that makes people call in to talk to her, it's the way she says it. Her unique point of view and the fact that she is full of heart that makes the people she talks to feel better about themselves. The cast of this movie are great and they all do at least their part. Plus, Dolly Parton is a great presence and, she never really became a movie star. So even if no one liked this movie, they hardly to worry about her stinking up anymore of the box office. This is still a good movie and I don't know about you, but I bought it. Now, if this were a realistic, real-life situation... things might be different. Another thing I admired- when they played that movie sub-element about him deceiving her and she has to confront him and walk away from him, it doesn't feel all that cliched even though it is. She leaves, he comes back, and she basically remembers what he said and believes he's telling the truth. He didn't need to do the cliched "I'll prove it to you," she's smart enough in this case for the both of them.





King Ralph (1991)
Sorry but, I had to do it. The entire cast is amazing... And John Goodman is very good... But the character of Ralph is not well written. At all. It's all the bear minimum of what should be written in the situations. Plus, the plot is beyond perposterous. Too often, Goodman just stands there with his mouth hanging open while people are confronting him. Also, that "Good Golly Miss Molly" scene was pure torture to sit through. Never before have I felt a character prolong one of those "I'm the freak in this circus and I don't care" moments for quite sooooo long.





Curly Sue (1991)
Considering the subject matter, this shouldn't exactly be as well made and likable as it is. It just is. The only real problem is that the little girl has to look like she's really crying and she's not convincing anyone. But everyone else is doing double-duty. And it works. Basically.

Death Proof last night.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix I thought it was very good. I liked it much more than the 3rd and 4th films, but maybe not quite as much as the 1st and 2nd ones. Loved the music. I hope that David Yates can also do the 6th movie. A

On Tuesday I watched "High School Musical 2", "Jump In!", "High School Musical: The Concert- Extreme Access Pass", and the concert DVD that came with the first Hannah Montana CD (I know that's not a movie, but I watched it...).

Underdog-It was pretty good. Polly was my favorite. B

Little Lord Fauntleroy (the Alec Guiness version)

The Breakfast Club (1984), an outstanding movie that proves that teens never really do change. Also wins award for most difficult to read end credits.

Babes in Toyland (1961), fun as always, but they never did find the sheep.

Enchanted for the 2nd time now. I absolutely adore this movie and Amy Adams' singing voice is lovely as is her whole performance.
Probably one of the cutest ad most ejoyable movies to come out in years.

Last night I watched Rush Hour 3 and The Heartbreak Kid
Today I saw National Treasure 2

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Sweet!)
Kingdom of heaven (didn't like it. I couldn't get into the story and I thought it was way too long, but maybe it's because I am sick and running a fever)

I watched Bourne Ultimatum and Superbad last night.