Brave over Lorax

That was a year ago I thought about bringing blogging back? Guess I'm still considering it. :-) I have an idea for a blog, but do I have the readership to understand/care for my musings? I am contemplating this. While I do, I recently have watched the "Lorax" and "Brave". So, I will review them.

   Brave: Another Pixar movie. I was disappointed with the short film. It was just a little dumb: cute, but just nothing really stand outish about it. The movie was a little disappointing as a whole- in the sense that its not one I would go out and buy like many of the others. Maybe because I was thinking, hoping the story would be something other than what it was- maybe a remake of a fairy tale, or a little more cute than it was. There were some tense and scary moments! (for a 5 year old). The sound track was good though. The scottish setting was believable and unique. What I think ended up being the most disappointing feature and the most detracting, was the witch with her magic. Well, that and the little wisps (spirits??) that lead everyone to their destiny, even though in the end, the heroine realizes that everyone's 'destiny' is inside them....bleh. The movie didn't dwell long on the witch, but the wispy things would definitely make little kids ask questions- Are there really things that lead us to our destiny? (no my child, follow your heart- your destiny is inside you- again: bleh). Aside from those minor caveats, the movie wasn't bad. The animation was again, suburb and visually stunning. The lesson about repentance and reconciliation was strong and very well received. I, however, just find it obnoxious how in so many movies the young person ends up being 'right', while the older, wiser adult realizes how 'antiquated' and 'wrong' they were.

     The Lorax ALSO was disappointing because I was expecting a cute, humorous movie, like Despicable me or even Horton hears a Who. It was moderately cute, but not nearly as humorous as  Despicable Me- and that had a great lesson. The talking fish and bears (that live off the truffula fruits) were much more minor in nature than you were lead to believe with the trailers. Overall, the Lorax was.... a childish environmentalist movie, which, you knew it was going to be. It just came across to me as overly so. And the songs (it was a musical) were non-grabbing and rather rediculous, including one that was downright offensive. Maybe kids wouldn't pick up that he's asking "how bad can I be? I'm just doing what comes naturally- and following my destiny"?  Kids pick up on far more than we think....And I'm sure it was meant to come off as obvious that he was "bad" because he was doing what was 'wrong' (by cutting down trees)- but really, in the end would I want my impressionable youngster getting this tune stuck in his/her head? I don't think so!

      At the end of the day, some minor enjoyment, but also the realization that life can go on just fine without movies- especially certain ones. I'll just take my girl for a bike ride or go swing.

Blogging is back!

So, I re-found my blog. Perhaps I'll re-invent it. Perhaps I'm in the process of re-inventing myself... All I know is I miss writing, but am tired of one sentence rants at things- and there should be something redeeming in it too. Soooo, here we go. We'll give it a shot. Even if just I read it, it's inspiring. So, thanks for reading Elisha. You are SO welcome.....


(most of the previous posts are out of place but I did not have the heart to remove them. Feel free to read them if you choose- keep in mind that was ages ago. haha)

Spider Man 3

Spiderman 3 set all kinds of box office records. I thought it might. What do you expect after an entire Spring of mediocrity? The question will be if it can hold it's own since Shrek 3 and Pirates 3 open within the month. Despite what comicbook fans say and what some critics have said, I thought the movie was superb. I was most impressed with the message behind the movie- which basically is the same message behind all three. Peter was a real person, with real struggles and wow, that much about forgiveness? How can a positive message be allowed in Hollywood? Surely, someone should interject something about revenge or something from the Quaran- Something about hate being ok. Oh yes, the story had issues. Somethings weren't explained. A meteor? What the heck? Whatever happened to the little girl? Could Peter really be that shallow with marriage on his mind? Yes, he's human. Kudos to Bryce Howard's character for doing what she did. She was quite cool to see in this movie. Not a fan of Kirstin Dunst, and not a fan of her singing. I'm not a fan of a guy turning to a sand man with no explanation, and not a fan of some ultra jerky footage and sometimes overactive action scenes, but this movie get's a solid 4 out of 5 from me. And could be worth going to IMAX to see again!
~ET

Movie Review: Shooter

Shooter was an absolutely amazing movie. My cousin was right. It was the perfect guy movie. Someone thought it was better than the last James Bond movie and I think he's right. Here's why: I did not leave that theater feeling 'guilty' (despite a wee bit of vigilanteism :) or unedified. War and self defense is one thing, but extra or pre marital (or even some marital) lovin' is too much of a hollywood plague that this movie avoided well. They didn't even kiss, yet they got involved enough for it to be a great romance (In my opinion). The only regret I walked away with was that there weren't enough scenes with Kate Mara or Mark's cabin home in them! Overcomable. The opening camera shots were totally great, wisked me right in to a place I wanted to be. Granted, I know they were probably mostly cgi, but I bought it and I wanted to be that guy. It was a good bit like the Bourne Identity and James Bond but different. They almost overdid the F word, but at only 8 or so times, and used as the swear word it is (not as an overused adjective as it is in some), it was easier to ignore. Yes, there were some implausible points but if I can get lost in the movie as a character and really enjoy the outcome and how it comes out, (haha) that is a good movie. 4.5 or A- Don't want to say I recommend it, though I rarely see movies twice in the theater and this one will probably be an exception.
~ET

Chicago

Chicago, SO not what I thought. I knew it was a musical, but somehow my innocent self was thinking along the lines of Music Man or My Fair Lady...That's a no. OH there was song and dance alright, but it was sensual and fairly rediculous. Sure, it probably took some skill to choreograph that, but it was most un-inspiring. The story threw me for a loop because I was expecting something like what I hear Dreamgirls is like. I'm baffled at how this movie won so many awards! Queen Latifah?? She wins best supporting actress for her, what, 3 scenes? It was slightly disappointing that you can't even fastforward the song and dance without missing some story too, they kept cutting in and out. So, once I found what the story was going to be, it did grab me into watching it, but it was a pitiful movie, and I didn't really like the subtle something I took from the end of the movie either. I give a don't bother- even Catherine Zeta Jones can't save this one.
~ET

The Visitation vs Thr3e

Frank Peretti vs. Ted Dekker. Alien vs Predator. Hmmm. I could do that movie too. It all comes down to distance. I liked the Visitation more than Thr3e. I think it was because I remembered just enough of the book for it to make sense. With thr3e, the book was still way to fresh in my mind, and my worst fears for that twist at the end came true. This resulted in me not being sure whether I liked the book much less the movie. Neither movie does the book justice. And for me, that's saying something. I guess that's why I prefer to keep my book-reading and movie-watching seperate. Both movies would be rather hard to follow and fairly lacking in necessary details if I hadn't read the book which reinforced the message I knew was trying to get out. Both stories are done well as far as Christian films go but especially in Thr3e, the end conclusion and 'lesson' from the whole thing was really glossed over. It left me feeling there wasn't much to celebrate. He didn't even get the right girl...well, in a way he did. Oh boy. In the Visitation, it was undeniably graphic with demon possession and child-crucifixtion but it didn't stray from the spiritual roots of the book. There again, being so long since I read the book, it was hard to tell how much of the real 'message' they left out. It did seem to be spiritual without being obviously so. I guess the only way to explain myself is for you to see the movie. But then why bother with a review? Well, now you know that the books were at least better than the movies. The mind's imagination goes far beyond the eye's and then sometimes seeing an imagined tale actually disappoints with its inferiority.

~ET

Love's Abiding Joy

Like the title suggests, this is an adaptation by Janette Oke co-produced by Micheal Landon Jr (who I think has a contract to do all sappy, Christian-type films set in the west). I think I read the books when I was way younger and remember not really crying, but just weeping that I would read a book about so much hardship when life really has enough of that of it's own. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof...I think that's from the BIble. Anyway, it's the fourth in a series where someone important dies and nearly devistates everyone, someone 'hooks up', and everything turns out just great in the end. Come to think of it, that was the plot in the first three too. For some reason, I seem to be a sucker for these 'feel bad then good' type movies. But this one grabbed me the wrong way this time. Yeah, I'd even probably watch it again, but the dialogue was so awful. Hire a screenwriter for crying out loud. All in all, it wasn't a painful movie per se, only if you had the sound up.