Crazy, Stupid, Love

I saw this film in the theatres then watched it again on DVD and for the most part,  I liked it. There were some parts that I didn’t like but you can’t like everything I guess.  The story goes that Steve Carell’s character finds out his wife had an affair and she wants a divorce.  He is blindsided by the revelation and finds himself moving out and drowning his sorrows in the local club.  Enter the smooth talking ladies man played by Ryan Gossling.  He takes pity on Steve and decides he’s going to teach him how to be a man again . . .a ladies man.  The story takes you on Steve’s transformation and his conquests but through it all – he still wants to be that middle-aged man married to his love of his life.  There are several other subplots which are entertaining and some really funny lines and scenes.  Eventually the movie hits the nail on the head by realizing – that true love does exist in its truest and sometimes stupidest forms.   And after everything has been said and done - you have to sit back and decide if all the craziness, heartache, and pain is worth getting back to square one.  Overall, I think I liked it better than what I thought!

Crazy, Stupid, Love

I REALLY enjoyed this movie!  I think what I liked the most was how to me, I could really put myself in almost each person's role as far as being in love in different stages of life.  Like being 13 and being in love with a 17-year-old and thinking it's the real thing.  And being 17 and having a 13-year-old with a big crush on me.  Or being in love and being destroyed by the person you care most about in the world and have given your heart to.  Even the "player" falling in love when it's the last thing he was looking for and it found him!  It was funny, but also hit serious notes and touched nerves for anyone that has been through anything like they were dealing with.  It had me laughing out loud one second and crying the next.  I liked everyone in the movie – I always like Steve Carell and Emma Stone – it also had Julianne Moore and Marisa Tomei and even Kevin Bacon.  They used humor to mask things at times, but their true feelings kept coming out, too... How love IS crazy! It IS stupid! But, it can also be the most incredible thing in the world when you find someone you have "that" connection with - and it seemed like everyone in the movie was either looking for that connection or trying not to lose that connection - or to get it back!

Pirates of the Caribbean - On Stranger Tides

So, here’s ANOTHER “Pirates” movie.  It was fine.  I enjoyed it, I guess.  I don’t know – I just didn’t really feel the same vibe as some of the others.  Johnny Depp is back as the one-of-a-kind Captain Jack Sparrow and Penelope Cruz plays his love interest, Angelica.  Just kind of a “been there, done that” kind of feeling for me.  The adventure this time is looking for the fabled Fountain of Youth and Jack is said to know the location, which makes him very valuable to Blackbeard and everyone else trying to find the fountain.  It really is quite an adventure finding it for everyone.  One thing I do enjoy is Jack’s humor – the one-liners are so deadpan and unexpected sometimes – a lot like my own sense of humor.  I could have used a lot more of that!  I didn’t hate it, but wasn’t blown away, either – and I WAS blown away with the first movie in the series.  Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood this time?  I did like it – just not sure what was missing for me.

Pirates of the Caribbean - On Stranger Tides

I have to agree with Eric – this was the fourth installment in the Pirates franchise and it felt like the fourth one.  I loved the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie!  It was whimsical, enchanting, romantic, and adventurous – as any “first” movie should be.  After that, the storylines just kept going downhill BUT the adventure and Captain Jack Sparrow stay the same.  I think that’s why there’s still a draw to these movies is because Johnny Depp plays an amazing character whom we’ve all come to love and root for!  A few new faces in this movie was a nice change, Penelope Cruz as his love interest and Ian McShane as the evil Blackbeard the Pirate.  On Stranger Tides still brings the swashbuckling adventure, the thrill of the chase, a few surprises, and of course, Jack Sparrow in all his glory.  If you are a fan of the Pirates movies you’d still want to see this one – after all – once a pirate – always a pirate!

Water for Elephants

I really liked this movie!  It reminded me a little bit of “The Notebook” the way it was told but I was enthralled by the actors, the setting, and the story.  Set in the depression, a very impressive Robert Pattinson (from the Twilight movies) plays a veterinary student named Jacob who has lost everything.  With no ties to his hometown – he jumps a train to look for work.  The train he jumped on belongs to a traveling circus.  He is offered a job working for the circus and in turn - falls in love with the animals and the star of the show, Marlena, who is the ringmaster’s wife played by Reese Witherspoon.  It is a beautiful story told under the big top with all the trappings of a jealous husband, a couple of lost souls, and one extraordinary elephant named Rosie that brings all their fates together.  I found myself lost in the story as I was transported to a time of long ago.  I would watch this movie again as it mesmerized me from beginning to end.

Water for Elephants

I agree with Christy 100%!  Wow, I don’t say THAT very often!  I wasn’t sure what this movie was when I decided to watch it, but knew the book was popular, so thought I’d give it a shot.  I’m so glad I did - I really, really liked it!  A LOT!  I found myself completely “lost” in it.  It kind of followed the lives of the circus workers involved in keeping a traveling circus running in the 1930s.  There was some violence, some drama, sacrifices that had to be made, a love story - all kinds of stuff.  There were definitely some rough spots if you're an animal lover (which I am), but not devastating.  I guess I could see where it was heading, but wasn't ever sure how it was going to get there, so it really kept my interest and kept me watching!  I'd definitely watch it again!

Heart & Souls and Penelope

I want to tell you about two movies that I really enjoyed!  I like movies that have heart and warmth to them.  Movies that make me smile and laugh and movies I can watch over and over again and still enjoy them as much as I did the first time I watched them.  Heart and Souls is one of them.  I adore Robert Downey Jr and this film has so much charm to it I have to tell you about it.  The premise may seem odd – it’s about four spirits that have unfinished business on earth and they need Robert Downey Jr’s help to fulfill their last wishes.  He finds out that by helping them – he learns his own life lessons along the way.  That we all have a desire to be forgiven, to be loved, to be remembered, and to make the most of our lives while we are still here on earth.  Hopefully this movie will make you laugh – smile – and just forget about your problems if just for a couple of hours.

Then, just a fairy tale away is PenelopePenelope has been cursed with a nose of a pig - a pig nose instead of a normal nose.  For years her parents have kept her hidden because of the scorn and hurtful words people have thrust upon her.  But now the time has come for her to get married and her parents are paying any man to look past the nose and marry their daughter.  But to Penelope, she knows love is more than just money or looks.  That love is something that is deep, true, and something that will look past all faults to the real heart of the person.  Penelope is a fairy tale of a curse, a blessing, and coming to find out that you are who you are and people will love you just as you are if you love yourself first.  An enchanting film that will cast its’ spell on you with some fairy dust, a sprinkle of laughter, and of course, as all fairy tales go . . . a happy ending.