So along comes yet another generic romantic comedy featuring Jennifer Lopez (honestly the only movie I've ever really enjoyed that she was in was probably Monster-in-Law, and that is solely due to the comic talents of Jane Fonda.) I saw the previews..and I knew exactly what to expect. I read the reviews...I knew it was going to be terrible. But still...still I wanted to see it. One reviewer wrote: "Please, ladies, stay away or movies like this will never stop" Haha. And I knew it was true. But, I still went anyway and saw it this weekend...and I was unsurprised to find how awful it truly was. Still, as weird as it is, I like going to movies...all movies. I like the experience and I like being in the know...I like being able to form opinions. That said, I still certainly crave the well-made ones, much more than the derivative fluff that comes out nowadays (I'm looking at you The Proposal and The Back-Up Plan) Good films last, and they satisfy :) When you can have something like (500) Days of Summer, why settle for less? Well I can promise you I'm not settling, just trying to stay informed. That's my excuse anyway. But, my answer for seeing the movie is simply because I like the experience of seeing movies...even if the only thing I get out of it is just to be able to rag on a product. Or maybe they're just my guilty pleasure...like good ice cream or something. That said, it pays to know when you're being indulgent. I think what it comes down to though is that I just have a love-hate relationship with the romantic comedy. They are the easiest films for me to watch, yet they can be the most offensive with their ridiculous portrayals too. It all began with Sleepless in Seattle where after that point, nothing was too far fetched in terms of plot. This is true. The strength of (500) Days of Summer is that it doesn't examine some silly plot...it examines an actual relationship. There's no catch....it just shows us how a guy fell in love and dealt with all of the feelings that brought. I think more romantic comedies would be better if they focused on that. As for the movie... Well, it was completely predictable, and not very funny at all. It also made me never want to become pregnant (far too much gross-out humor.) It relied very heavily on reaction shots from a tiny dog for laughs from the audience...so you always know that's a good sign (I hope the sarcasm is noted.) My roommate Laura remarked that it was just trying too hard the whole time. I would agree. I think what makes the run-of-the-mill rom-coms a bit better, is if the audience can buy the two characters together and their romance, and/or if the film is funny enough to compensate for the formula. But neither of these factors was present in The Back-Up Plan. I would probably have to give this about RATING: 3/10

One of the reasons I really wanted to start a blog was so that I could share my feelings on new movies as they are in released theaters. While I have seen some films in theaters recently, I didn't feel that they were too blog-worthy, but with the release of Clash of the Titans, and the season of blockbusters fast approaching, now is as good a time as any to start dishing on the films that are in theaters. Now to begin, I must say that Clash of the Titans is certainly not a good movie. But is it an entertaining movie? I would say it is. Now for me, Greek mythology has always been a fascinating subject (although I took a course on it as a requirement for my major last year, now I've almost forgotten everything...oops). So seeing a lot of these characters and locations from myths on screen was actually pretty exciting for me (I must admit though, I have not seen the original film so I can't say if this remake was needed or not.) For example, the underworld of Hades, the lair of Medusa, Mt. Olympus, and seeing the three fates were all pretty cool. The other thing about the movie is that it is pretty much non-stop action. There's always something going on, so if you're looking for that, I don't think the movie disappoints. While it was no masterpiece, I thought it was good, dumb fun as opposed to a bad, dumb, bore of a film, but perhaps many of you will disagree with me and put it in that category anyway. But I enjoyed it and sometimes that silliness is just what you crave. Also of note, this film features the kid who played Marcus in About A Boy all grown up. No, not him.. that's Liam Neeson. As to its flaws, the film certainly didn't make much room in the way of character development, or anything other than cliched figures of heroes. Everything here, you've seen before. Also, the special effects were definitely disappointing. The scorpions looked all right, and the Kraken was fine. I only wish they hadn't gone the CGI route with Medusa. She had so much potential. I only wished they'd have used a real woman and just gone crazy with her makeup. But alas, they did not and she just looked fake. There was such buildup with her too, she had a fabulous evil laugh and I enjoyed the legend that Io related to her. I also must mention that the costumes in this film were very poor (like... take you out of it poor). A lot of wasted opportunity there, which is a shame. I always love a good costume epic. Finally, I must say my biggest (and shallowest) pet peeve. Spoiler alert for those who don't want to know....but... NO KISS?? No kiss at the end? COME ON! Sam Worthington and Gemma Arterton are two of the most attractive people on the planet right now, and they had two perfect opportunities for a nice cinematic kiss. Call me crazy, but adventure epics just call for it. I hate it in movies when it doesn't happen (Superman Returns and Iron Man come to mind). Come on! Haha, so after the film, I read the accounts of the real mythologies of the characters. Perseus actually marries Andromeda (another character in the movie) and Io, who in the film was "cursed" with neverending youthfulness for resisting a God's advances was turned into a heifer in true mythology. Sucks for her. Ah well, all the mythological inaccuracies just made me want to watch Disney's Hercules to see a happier inaccurate version. So again, just gotta say. Good movie? Nope. Entertaining? I think so. (Just watch out for some of the awful dialogue and acting, haha) It's worth a watch in the dollar theater...in fact, it's the type of movie dollar theaters were made for. RATING: 4.5/10

Yeah...it's March of 2010 now...but I really wanted to make this list and my motto is "better late than never." Partially to blame for this lateness was that I felt that I couldn't truly complete this list until I had seen some choice films on DVD I was very right in doing so, because some of the last movies I've seen on DVD definitely earned a spot on my list for sure. We'll start from the bottom and go to the top. #10 An Education The film certainly is not one that I would recommend to everyone. You know that scene at the end of Juno when Jason Bateman's character Mark comes on to Ellen Page's Juno? Yeah, that's pretty much the entire tone of An Education. Tastefully telling the story of the seduction of a sixteen-year-old girl definitely is no simple task and the film certainly has no qualms about making the viewer feel pretty uncomfortable. That said, the film definitely has a lot of poignant things to say and features an incredibly strong cast. Carey Mulligan gives a fantastic performance (probably the best of the year by an actress as far as I’m concerned), as does Peter Sarsgaard and the supporting cast, particularly Rosamund Pike. My only gripe is that I feel that the ending is slightly rushed so that the audience doesn’t quite get the reward for their patience as they deserve, nevertheless, the film as a whole remains strong. Again, this movie is clearly not for the faint of heart (at times it's pretty depressing stuff) but it is extremely well made and worth a watch by those who are willing to take the risk. Quote: Action is character. If we never did anything we'd never be anybody. #9 The Lovely Bones Okay, I have to admit, I am a complete sucker for movies that blow me away visually (except Avatar…which I did enjoy to an extent…but not as much as the rest of the world apparently.) So naturally, when I saw the visually dazzling trailer for Peter Jackson’s latest film, The Lovely Bones this film quickly became one of my most anticipated. When I read the reviews, I was very disappointed and kept my expectations low. I was delighted that I kept an open mind (or I don’t know…maybe I went in there determined to love it) because I was completely engrossed the entire time. The film is gripping, heartbreaking, horrifying, and visually stunning all at once. There’s so much going on under the surface as well that it’s a great movie to try and dissect. Also, Stanley Tucci’s performance shouldn’t be missed. I know this movie came out here in Utah in 2010, but as the IMDB lists it as 2009 I’m placing it on my list anyway. Quote: There was one thing my murderer didn't understand; he didn't understand how much a father could love his child. #8 District 9 I heard a lot of hype about this film, but really didn’t know quite what to expect, as I had only seen limited previews. This was a solid sci-fi flick that is set apart from the rest because it was told in a very compelling and unique way. While it took a while for the plot to get going, the ambiance that sets the film up is absolutely necessary to get the audience invested in the events surrounding the characters. Once the film does get moving, it is definitely an intense ride that keeps the viewer's attention constantly until the very end. Quote: When dealing with aliens, try to be polite, but firm. And always remember that a smile is cheaper than a bullet. # 7 Inglourious Basterds This movie is pretty great. The storytelling here is very well done in every way. The movie is very engaging and suspenseful. It also features some pretty great performances too. Tarantino builds an increasing tension throughout the film that culminates in a finale that really should not be missed. I guess hooray for revisionist history films! Who thought I'd ever be saying that? Quote: You probably heard we ain't in the prisoner-takin' business; we in the killin' Nazi business. And cousin, business is a-booming'. # 6 TIE Away We Go I don’t know how John Krasinski does it! Even with a beard and hipster dork glasses, he still is the most alluring male (to this gal) on the planet. Seriously, the guy is so lovable. But he is just one of the reasons I love Away We Go While the film, doesn’t really have the strongest plot (the familiar road movie formula,) it really benefits from the strong performances of both of its leads. Who knew Maya Rudolph had such dramatic acting chops in her? The film is equally hilarious and poignant. When I wasn’t laughing my head off, I was taking a deep look at myself at my ideas of love, marriage, and parenting. Away We Go is a very enjoyable watch from start to finish. Quote: "What's wrong with a stroller?" I LOVE my babies. Why would I want to PUSH them away from me?" #6 TIE Up in the Air This is a very interesting movie. Its characters are real, and its story is important. I don't really have a ton to say because I don't want to give anything away, but it is just a really good movie...It's just solid. The fewer expectations you have, the more you'll understand and enjoy it. Jason Reitman does it again. Quote: If you think about it, your favorite memories, the most important moments in your life... were you alone? Life's better with company. #5 I Love You, Man This movie is just ridiculously hilarious. A movie based entirely on my brother, Clayton’s favorite concept of “friend dating,” certainly has the potential for the amusement of the highest. I Love You Man definitely does not fail to capitalize on the wonderfully awkward and hilarious moments that friend dating offers (and Paul Rudd and Jason Segel have great bromance chemistry) This film is a solid comedy with great writing, and thus definite rewatchability. Quote: If you see a cool looking guy, strike up a conversation and ask him on a man date. #4 Zombieland What can I say? Another movie on my top ten list that I find absolutely hilarious. Could I be more predictable? This movie for me was basically the equivalent of a rollercoaster—it has just as many laughs and thrills. The characters and their dialogue are very memorable, but what I perhaps love most about Zombieland is just how outrageous it dares to be. During a certain subplot of the film, I kept thinking to myself “Is this REALLY happening…Yes yes, it is and it is amazing.” Quote: "I'm not great at farewells, so uh... that'll do, pig." " That's the worst goodbye I've ever heard. And you stole it from a movie." #3 Up It’s no secret that I love Pixar…in fact…I’m a bit of a Pixar snob. So I definitely was pleased to find that Up was yet another triumph. While the film could have perhaps fleshed its villain out some more, the rest of the characters in Up are incredibly portrayed and serve the story well. I always find it to a film’s credit when they are able to touch an audience so quickly and Up had many members of the audience in tears within the first ten minutes (me included, which is definitely a rarity.) Up, put simply, is just a beautiful story about the adventures that life holds. Quote: Thanks for the adventure. Now go have one of your own. #2 Drag Me To Hell What’s this? Another horror comedy on my list? Kent Dunn is right. This is pretty much an awesome genre, and one of my newfound favorites. What I absolutely love about Drag Me To Hell is that it demands your attention and definitely takes it captive until the very end. Like Zombieland, Drag Me To Hell is outrageous, hilarious, and extremely entertaining. I have to give the edge to Drag Me To Hell just for the scene in the parking garage alone... it is so ridiculous it's fantastic. Quote: Here kitty, kitty.... #1 (500) Days of Summer It’s official. I’m in love with this movie. I love its acting, I love its writing, I love its editing, I love its soundtrack, I love the heart-shaped birthmark on the back of its neck..haha wait what? But seriously… I love this movie so much that I’ve allowed it to occupy a spot in my top favorites ten not only of the year…but of all time. Perhaps more than any other film I have seen in my life, this film actually makes the audience feel exactly what the characters do from the extreme highs of the relationship to the utter lows. Don’t even get me started or else I WILL write out an essay-length response about just how perfect this movie really is. But what I love most is that this movie is real and honest. As an experience, seeing this movie for the first time was amazing, but learning from it more and more after each viewing is just as important and why it goes down as an instant favorite. Quote: This is a story of boy meets girl. But you should know upfront, this is not a love story. HONORABLE MENTIONS: Extract, Paranormal Activity, Star Trek, Where The Wild Things Are, Adventureland, Bright Star, The Princess and the Frog.

So....I did it. I finally started a blog. I've been told for a while now by many that this was something I should do, but I never really wanted to. I don't really know why I changed my mind...but now I'm here, and I have a lot to say! So enjoy my rambling thoughts on my favorite topic: film.