Up and Away

Pixar has done it again.

We went to see "Up" in 3D this weekend, and it was incredible. Any animated movie that can bring me to tears has got to be good (and yes, as a warning, within the first 10 minutes, there is a sequence that will start the waterworks for just about anyone. I swear the movie theatre was silent, as people tried to keep their sniffles under control).

There is some heavy content in the movie that I wonder is really meant for younger children, but along with the great message (Live Life. Don't live in the past. Adventure can be found in everything you do.), it had lots of humor and wonderful artistry. And anyone with a dog would be totally able to relate to the movie!

I highly recommend it, especially if you like Pixar movies. They've done it once again!

And, as a teaser, Toy Story 3 is coming out July 2010. Seems like so long away, but I never realized it takes them at least five years to create each movie. That is true talent.

James Bond, baby

I've never been a huge James Bond fan. I guess I never did fully grasp what the draw was for guys. Yeah, Bond get the women, the cool gadgets, the fun spy job. But after 87 movies, doesn't that get a little old?

That was until Daniel Craig came along. As long as he's James Bond, I'll keep watching. Those eyes. Those muscles. That scruffy-yet-handsome face. Excuse me while I swoon.

So Scott and I went to see the newest 007 installment and we were a little disappointed. Daniel Craig, of course, did not disappoint, and there was a lot of action and fun gadgets. But the last movie came out - what? three years ago? And this movie picks up right where the last one ended, without any back story to remind you what happened. So we were confused for most of the movie. The plot was a bit thin and we felt that there were story lines that were started but never fully developed. Also, this James Bond is a little "colder" than other ones...you don't quite warm up to him like to you do the other Bonds (and he doesn't get the girl in this movie).

The problem will be magnified when this movie makes its run on Spike or TNT. Usually, each Bond movie is its own encapsulated movie. But this one relies on the previous movie to make any sense. So you really can't watch it in a vacuum.

A word to the interested: unless you're looking for eye candy, watch the last James Bond movie before seeing this one. Maybe you'll leave the theatre feeling a little more fulfilled.

The best movie of all time?

I'm going to call it. Best movie. Hands down. And yes, it's an animation.

It's true, though. Pixar has given us another gem that is not just clever, not just creative, but pure genius. The movie has so many meanings on so many levels that it's something you can turn over again and again in your mind and find a new nugget to consider. On the surface, the movie is about a robot that follows his love to explore new things. But there are so many other things that it touches on - mainly a call to take our heads out of the sand and make a change. That change can be to reach out to humanity or reach out to our planet or discover a world outside of the one we know.

And it's moving - after the movie was over, not one moviegoer left their seat. We just all sat there, taking in what we just saw. Who would have thought that the greatest love story this year would be between two robots? And that that love could be conveyed with only three words spoken between the two (Wall-E, Eva, Directive)?

The animation is incredible - the moment the movie started, I forgot I was watching a cartoon; everything is so realistic. I can't believe that the animators can create humanity in a pair of two-dimensional robot eyes.

So if you're looking for a good place to plop down $9 this summer, go see Wall-E. It's an incredible movie and you won't be disappointed.

Sex comes to the city

Tonight was the Raleigh premiere of Sex and the City and I got to see the sneak peek! Special thanks to Alison who won two free tickets on the radio and brought me along. A little dinner beforehand with a glass of wine and then a special screening of the greatest movie to hit the streets of New York...kinda.

I did win a shirt before the movie started. They were giving out shirts to people for random things, and one of the things was having something from NYC in your purse. I, of course, had my MetroCard with me. Who knew it would come in so handy in NC?

Overall, I would give the movie a B+. The movie had its cute moments and its share of witty - and hilarious - dialogue. Every one of the characters are still true to form and it maintains a pretty good clip, despite the movie clocking in at 2.5 hours. Like hanging out with four of your best girlfriends, the time really did fly.

The biggest thing missing was that sparkle that came with the series. It seemed as if the actors were trying too hard to make this into something it wasn't. At times, it felt that the acting was a bit strained (I think Kristen Davis - Charlotte - did the best job of everyone). Even Oscar-winning Jennifer Hudson didn't seem to quite fit in. The plot was a bit thin; I had a hard time buying that Carrie would have done what she did. The movie didn't do much to develop the characters, which I realize is probably because it's aimed at a certain target - those women who followed the show for six seasons. But, being one of those girls, I still had a hard time emotionally connecting with some of the characters and their predictaments. Don't get me wrong - I laughed, I cried, I cheered. The movie was just missing that frosting on the cake. I would have just liked to see SATC go out with just a little more style.

But the point of a good chick flick is to get away. To escape into a fantasy of New York City for a few hours. And the movie did a good job of that. The fashion was fun to see, the city was fun to see, and the denouement of the show was fun to see. And, of course, seeing the movie with my good friend made it fun to see. Thanks for the fun girls night out, Alison!

On a random note, I just read an article in The New Yorker about Pascal Dangin, who is this world class retoucher of fashion photographs. Apparently, he's so good that photographers actually have him on set to help them with their photos. Well, he had a cameo role in the movie. He was on screen for all of three seconds, but it was so fun to see him and know who that crazy hair belonged to. And it made some of the movie make sense. Random to have just read that and then to have seen him in the movie.

Give my regards to Broadway

The Wedding Singer. Legally Blonde. Spamalot. Titanic. Footloose. The Rocky Horror Picture Show. All these titles have something in common: they are movies that have been made into Broadway musicials.

I am bothered by this trend. Broadway has a certain mystique, a class about it that has created classical musicals. To bring a movie script onto the stage seems demoralizing and almost sacrilegious. I don't see Legally Blonde worthy of sharing the same circle as Andrew Lloyd Webber. Making a movie into a musical cheapens the value of Broadway.

(The Disney movies weren't included in my initial list. The Little Mermaid and The Lion King have made their debuts onto Broadway, as well. But Disney is in a different world, and almost shares that same mystique as Broadway. For some reason, I'm not as bothered by these animated movies becoming singing and dancing numbers on stage).

Could it be a societal issue? Are we becoming so secular that we are disinterested in those shows that we haven't already seen on the big screen? Are we trading the classics for the best sellers? Are we in danger of those famous Broadway musicals going dark, only to make their appearance again in brief revivals, a la Cats? What happened to the "good ol' days" when it was the silver screen that was honored to host a Broadway musical, and not the other way around?

I refuse to support any musical that has it's roots in a movie. I'll still go to Broadway musicals, but to see the quality shows, not just one that's hoping to extend its commercial value on 42nd street.