Weekend Movie Reviews 9/24

Where do I start. It's been a crazy week in movies for me. I have no life and winter (even though it was 80) hibernation means "catch up on movies".

First I'll start with my new release review

Into the Wild - Sean Penn adapted John Krakauers classic book into film. The TRUE story is about a young guy who gives away his life savings after school and treks to Alaska with numerous adventures in between. I waited for 2 years for this film to come out and It came out friday, in select theaters. I went to NYC (The Great Sunshine Theater) to see it. It was great....the way they layed out the timeline made the looong story actually bearable and enjoyable. If they would have time lined it from start to finish without going into the future/alaska it would have been horrible. While I don't think this film, especially at 2.5 hours will appeal to a wide audience, it is certainly a GREAT movie. I feel they didn't go enough into the time he spent with the old man, which was a BIG part of the book. I would have liked for them to go into his head a little more while in Alaska too.

Jersey Girl - Kevin Smith version. George Carlin is great. Story kind of sucks. Ben Affleck = "Eh". I hate Liv Tyler and J Lo. The kid and Carlin made the movie. Watched it because it's the only Kevin Smith and Ben Affleck movie I haven't seen.

The Birds - Alfred Hitchcock. Pretty much enough said. Great classic.

Lady In the Lake - Great idea, somewhat poor execution. Almost Blair Witch meets murder mystery classic. If the acting and story were a little better, it would have been great.

The Shining - I watched this because Laurie never seen it. The kid actor in it is simply amazing. Combine that with Jack Nicholson's acting, Steven Kings writing, and Kubricks directing and of COURSE you get a great movie. But this movie is better than great. Scatman Crothers is perhaps one of my favorite actors. Shelly Duvall is ugly, and I felt she was the weakest link of the movie.

The Hitcher 1986 - Took this recommendation from a co-worker just to see Rutger Hauer. It wasn't too bad. The ending was "eh". I could have wrote a little better ending but it did it's 80's cheesy horror flick thing. Someone should re-write this movie from Ryders point of view. I hear there was a new version released earlier this year that I probably will never check out. It was cool seeing the chick from Fast Times at Ridgemont high in another movie though...

I know I watched one or two more, I just can't remember which. I caught glimpses of some other movies, but did not watch them yet. In the queue is Psycho, Grand Prix, Eraserhead, Big Fish, Last Tango in Paris, Fearless, Dirty Dozen and Stagecoach and I forget what else TiVo recorded. Most/Some of those I already saw and are my favorites, like Dirty Dozen and Psycho but I'm ashamed to have never seen Eraserhead and Big Fish. Big Fish better not let me down as everyone says it's great but I have a preconceived notion it's going to be fucking gay.