Movie Review -> A Christmas Carol (3D)

Glenn and I went to see this movie on November 21 for a little date night. We spent $30 on two IMAX 3D tickets. I'm not sure it was worth spending the extra to see it in IMAX, but definitely in worth it in 3D. Normal theatres are playing it in 3D as well, so I'd say if you're interested in seeing it, just go see it in a normal theatre and save a couple dollars... you still get the 3D effect.

The movie sticks to the typical storyline that we're all familiar with, so really this film is all about the visuals, which really are spectacular. I think critics are being a little harsh on this film. It doesn't stray from the story line, and the point is made that a change is happening in Scrooge with each ghosts' visit. I don't see how it can get any more in depth than that. The only critique I agree with is very minor... it was pointed out that in the end when Scrooge buys the needy family the prize turkey, you never get to see the family's reaction. Not that big of a deal and definitely not really worth complaining about.

As far as whether or not you should bring your children... limit it to 12 and above. There are a few scenes that are quite creepy. As an adult, I loved it. One ghost reminds me of a scene from the movie Ichi the Killer. NOT for kids. I don't think small children will really follow how the story is told either. There are some discussions that adults understand, but an 8 year old will get stir crazy. I think adults will thoroughly enjoy this more than children overall. I know some kids behind us were scared of a few scenes and some moms left crying.

There isn't much more I can say... if you want to see a visually stunning movie without having to think of the storyline, go see it. You all know the story. Sit back and enjoy. :)

I give this movie 4 out of 5 stars.

Movie Review --> Where The Wild Things Are

I know a lot of parents are on the fence as to whether or not it is a good idea to take their children to see this movie. In this review I am going to put some of the speculation to rest as to whether or not this movie is worth seeing in the theater by adults and children alike.

Concern #1: how scary is the movie? To be perfectly honest, while watching it, I didn't understand where this thought was coming from. As a parent-to-be, I tried to look at the movie through a parents eyes to see how comfortable I would be bringing my own child to see this movie. I have to say that any child 8 and above is old enough to see the movie. Why 8? Well, the little boy in the movie looks about that age... I think any child his age and older can relate to what he is feeling and going through. Any younger child will not understand it and will find his early behavior to be a bit confusing and chaotic. That is the only reason I would not take a small child to see it... it has nothing to do with it being scary, but the level of understanding.

Concern #2: the so-called "gore." Okay, so a monster gets its arm ripped off... if anyone really pays attention, they'll see that instead of blood coming out, sand falls out, as if it's a large stuffed animal. Remember, this is a little boy's imagination... it's not gory or gross, it's quite funny and jokes are made by the monsters after this happens. To add more comedy to the situation, the arm is replaced by a stick, which makes the audience giggle every time the monster comes on screen.

Concern #3: the boy never gets reprimanded. I think the people who are saying this don't know how to pick up on things. In the end of the movie, when the boy goes home, he does not get reprimanded by his mother for his behavior. Instead, she embraces him and feeds him... loves on him as she has been worried about him. The thing is, you can tell, very obviously, that she sees that the boy has already been through something big... he looks and seems different, as if he is a different child. The mother knows that he has learned a valuable lesson... a lesson much more valuable than her reprimands... even though she may not know what exactly has happened, she knows he has learned his lesson. You can see it in the boys eyes and her eyes as well. Many parents get upset because they feel as if the boy is being rewarded for his bad behavior. I think this is a little... okay, VERY far fetched.

This movie is a lot like watching an indie film. It doesn't follow the typical Hollywood formula, which I really liked. The music in it is unique and fits the scenes perfectly. It was visually appealing... or as Glenn put it, "It looked awesome." ;) Some people have complained of slow parts in it, but I didn't pick up on that at all... there is a lot of character building and learning in this film, and what may seem slow to some people is actually very necessary. I feel like this movie has gotten a lot of unnecessary flack from people who just don't get it. I went into the movie with very low expectations based on previous reviews I had read and came out pleasantly surprised. I think toddlers would enjoy the fuzzy monsters, but may be a little confused and shocked at how the little boy behaves in the beginning... they may even attempt to mimic him at home. In my opinion, if your child isn't old enough to comprehend what this boy is going through, then don't bother taking them to see it. If you're only worried about it being gory or scary, then you need to go see it for yourself because it's neither of those things.

Personally, I would buy this movie in a heartbeat. I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

Movie Review -> Julie & Julia

If you know me at all, you know that one of my biggest passions, next to scrapbooking, is FOOD. I love to cook. I love to read about cooking. I love recipes, measurements, onions, butter... I love watching chefs stir, wisk, and chop. When I'm in the kitchen putting together a new experiment, I feel complete. This is why I have a food ministry in the church and why I thoroughly enjoying encouraging others to cook more often. (Although this is not for me but for those who need to be inspired and encouraged)

This movie was absolutely everything I wanted it to be. It was hilarious, adorable, creative, and educational. Throughout the movie I laughed, I cried, I felt hunger, and I actually learned a trick or two. Meryl Streep played the most perfect Julia Child. There is NO other actress... and I mean, NO ONE who could have played a more perfect Julia Child, other than Mrs. Child herself. While watching this movie, I felt like I was watching the real Julia Child. I always thought she was such an adorable chef, but I never really knew what an amazing woman she really was. I never knew the road she took to become the woman we know--knew her as.

Amy Adams reminded me a lot of myself in this movie, so I empathized with her character quite a bit. This movie inspired me to want to cook even more than I already do. I know, that's a shocker, right? Seriously though... there is a lot I do... but then a lot I just don't do. Like, when I want a hollandaise sauce for my salmon and asparagus, I just use one of those instant packets at the grocery. But oh... how glorious would it be for me to whip up my own egg & butter perfection?? Yes, I think I must do this....

If you want a light-hearted, fun, inspiring movie to see, go see this. This movie is definitely for the ladies, but I do think men will get a kick out of it as well. You can't help but laugh at "Julie Child."

In a nutshell, it's amazing. Go see it. 5 out of 5 stars.

Movie Review -> Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Before I get into great detail, take a moment to read my pastor's review of the movie, because I agree with him 100%.

Now, going into this movie, I set myself up for disappointment. I read all the reviews on RottenTomatoes and got myself prepared for the worst. This way, I couldn't be too disappointed, I could only feel better once seeing it. This proved true. I have to say, I think all the critics are being a little harsh when they say that there isn't a plot line. Anyone who saw the first movie and remotely comprehended it will see that the second one follows behind. However, there are several things that could have been eliminated entirely to keep the movie under 2.5 hours. I felt like it drug on and on because of a couple things they added that actually cheapened the movie.

1. The robot twins... the brothers... what was the point of them? Their ghetto banter wasn't funny in the least bit. It was really lame. They wasted time and movie space and were completely unneccesary to the film. I cringed every time they spoke and someone laughed. I feel like the kids who came to see this are going to think that kind of behavior is cool and start talking like them.

2. The robots using excessive foul language. It wasn't cool. It was forced, like a 12 year old who is trying to look cool in front of his friends.

3. Megan Fox. How much of her lips, thighs, and boobs do we need to see to remember she's in the movie? She constantly looked like she was sweaty and it was very distracting. I'm sure the men don't have much to complain about with this one.

4. The Killer robot in disguise. See above.

5. Mom eating the hash brownies. Why was this necessary? Again, a wasted 10 minutes.

6. Humping dogs. Why did we need to see those 2 dogs humping in every other frame during the first 20 minutes? Really? It's immature humor. Nothing was funny about it.

7. Scoring. The scenes with Shia and Megan in the beginning had music playing that made it feel like you were watching a teen drama. "I'm so young, cool, and in love right now. Fresh out of high school."

8. Robot balls. Was it necessary for the giant robot to have balls hanging between his legs?! I mean, really! What was the point? Again, very stupid/immature humor.

Those are the things I hated the most about the movie. Now, if you're looking for a typical Michael Bay action packed film, this might as well be wrapped in a package and tied with a pretty bow on top. It was very action packed, the sound effects were great, it wasn't as "noisy" as other critics said. One review I read stood out in my mind and I agree with it 100%:

"When the movie is good, it's good. But when it's bad, it's really bad."

Overall, I think fans will be somewhat pleased. I do think it's worth seeing in the theater, but I don't recommend bringing small children without the parents seeing it first. This is a movie we'll end up buying to add it to our collection, but I don't think I'll ever just say to Glenn, "Hey, lets watch Transformers 2." Maybe it's because we've seen the first one, and it was really good, and now we're just over it. Maybe it's old news now and that's why it wasn't as great. Or, perhaps, the movie makers totally missed who their target market really is and decided to cater to a different crowd.

I'd give this movie 3.5 out of 5 stars.