Drive (2011)

Netflix DVD on 2/2/12
Considering all the buzz that surrounded this movie when it was out, it was pretty disappointing. It is definitely bloody and very graphic (shotgun blasts at point blank range to the head, for example) and there's some shock value there, but other than that, it's a little meh. Ryan Gosling is great and Albert Brooks too, but for me, the standout was Bryan Cranston as the garage owner/mentor. Carey Mulligan was barely in the film at all, despite what trailers suggested, and I'm not totally sold on Ryan Gosling's character making the jump so easily from getaway driver to hit man.
My Netflix rating: 3 stars

New Movies in Year Three: 134

The Guard (2011)

Netflix DVD on 1/5/12
This is trying to be Snatch and failing. None of the characters are likeable or relateable, the plot is muddled, and the writing doesn't do the film any extra favors. This got nominated for a Golden Globe (for acting - Brendan Gleeson maybe?). Otherwise, I would never have watched it. Lauren was right when she said she had heard it was awful.
My Netflix rating: 2 stars

New Movies in Year Three: 127

The Adventures of Tintin (2011)

Westbrook Cinemagic with Lauren on 12/29/11
This was my first attempt at sitting through a 3D movie in a long time, and will also be my last for a long time. It makes my eyes hurt and my stomach start to roil. So not worth it. All that being said, this movie is great. It's fast-paced and full of adventure, complete with sinister Victorian bad guys and pirates. It is, however, very violent and somewhat dark for a kid's movie. Some of the things they did with the motion-capture animation were pretty amazing and it's my pick for Best Animated Feature of 2011. I have no experience with the Tintin books, so other than the fact that I thought Tintin was a kid, I had no expectations going in.
My Netflix rating: 4 stars

New Movies in Year Three: 118

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)

The Nick with Lauren on 12/20/11
Wow, Guy Ritchie. A fan of the slow-mo? I really enjoyed the story of this movie, actually more than the first Sherlock Holmes, but the heavy-handed stylized camera work was way too much. I was glad to be rid of Rachel McAdams this time around, and I loved Noomi Rapace as Sherlock's second sidekick. Mycroft Holmes was a nice touch, too. Moriarty is the classic villain, and he was played beautifully here. I would say delightful all around, except for the overused slow-mo.
My Netflix rating: 4 stars

New Movies in Year Three: 114

In Time (2011)

The Nick with Emica on 11/7/11
This movie is somewhere between action and thriller. It's not heavy on explosions or car chases, but there is definitely a lot of running (the film makes a good point - if your wealth is measured in time and you're poor, you wouldn't meander anywhere) and it lacks the suspenseful edge that most thrillers have. Amanda Seyfried is pretty awesome, even with that terrible haircut. She successfully makes me feel bad for her poor little rich girl character. I actually found the whole concept of time being the currency as well as determining your life span to be very interesting. It's different, and it definitely kept me interested.
My Netflix rating: 4 stars

New Movies in Year Three: 102

The Three Musketeers (2011)

Westbrook Cinemagic with Lauren on 11/4/11
Kind of ridiculous, but all in all, this movie is really a fun time. There are a lot of sword fights and double/triple crosses, with Logan Lerman (Percy Jackson) stealing the show right out from under Milla Jovovich's nose. He is completely unconvincing as D'Artagnan, but they're all unconvincing as Musketeers. Ray Stevenson is always going to be Titus Pullo to me and the guy who plays Aramis looks like the love child of Orlando Bloom and James McAvoy. And speaking of Orlando Bloom, between him and Christophe Waltz, this movie has some pretty sinister villains.
My Netflix rating: 4 stars

New Movies in Year Three: 100

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

Brunswick Regal on 9/22/11
Even though I've never seen a Planet of the Apes film, I was excited to see this one because, honestly, I adore James Franco. And it's pretty fun! The CG apes look really unrealistic at times, but I enjoyed the facial expressions on Caesar (the grandfather of the intelligent apes) and the giant silverback gorilla was done well. Brian Cox is once again a slimy villain, as is Tom Felton (aka Draco Malfoy), but that's to be expected at this point. I would be shocked if I ever saw Brian Cox play a straight up good guy - and I still probably wouldn't trust him.
My Netflix rating: 4 stars

New Movies in Year Three: 93

Cowboys & Aliens (2011)

Westbrook Cinemagic with Lauren on 9/14/11
This movie was awful. I had heard that people were saying that it was the first major flop of 2011 and all that, and I had assumed that maybe it wasn't great but that it was at least fun. Nope. It's awful. Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford are so far above this. Olivia Wilde's character secret? Really? And fighting the aliens magically bridges all of the characters' differences? And how the hell did that boat end up upside down anyway? Do yourself a big favor and skip this one.
My Netflix rating: 2 stars

New Movies in Year Three: 90

Captain America (2011)

Westbrook Cinemagic with Anna, Kat and Sadie on 7/22/11
I love Marvel! Have I mentioned that lately? Their movies just keep getting better and better since they started retaining their own rights and producing the projects themselves. Captain America is one of the more boring superheroes, morally perfect and without the problems like Iron Man's alcoholism or the X-Mens' elitism (sort of like Marvel's version of Superman), but the movie is definitely not. Hugo Weaving (bless him, he will always be Elrond first to me) makes a great Red Skull. And make sure you stick through to the end of the credits!
My Netflix rating: 4 stars

New Movies in Year Three: 58

Super 8 (2011)

Westbrook Cinemagic with Kat, Anna, Adam, Chris and Justin on 6/17/11
I went into this with no expectations, and I have to say that it was a lot of fun! The dialogue is very well-written - feels totally realistic for 12-year-old boys. It's tongue-in-cheek funny and the visual effects are more than up to par. I'm not a huge fan of the camera flares that show up periodically throughout the movie, even if they are intentional - when there is no visible light source, it doesn't make sense. Elle Fanning has grown into a great actress and Kyle Chandler is kick-ass as the deputy sheriff. Why doesn't Coach Taylor ever whip soldiers with the butt of a rifle?
My Netflix rating: 4 stars

New Movies in Year Three: 48

The Green Hornet (2011)

Netflix DVD over 6/10/11 and 6/11/11
Chistophe Waltz, Edward James Olmos, and James Franco are all in this - how did I miss it? Turns out to be an okay slip-up, though. It's nothing special. I know that the Green Hornet isn't a comic book superhero, but it doesn't mean that a filmmaker can afford to skimp on the story. None of the characters are all that engaging, except for Kato the sidekick, who unfortunately gets relegated most of the time to being a sidekick. The villain doesn't do all that much and the final shootout feels like too little too late.
My Netflix rating: 3 stars

New Movies in Year Three: 43

X-Men: First Class (2011)

Westbrook Cinemagic with Chris, Adam, Anna, Kat, Justin and Sadie on 6/3/11
#61 on my Top 100 List
This is officially my favorite X-Men movie. They didn't mess too much with canon stuff, and what they did was okay. I think Charles Xavier and Raven Darkholme as foster brother and sister is kind of a sweet story, plus having Xavier lose his ability to walk from the Shadow King would have been way too campy for a live action film (good call, Kat). Michael Fassbender was absolutely perfect as Magneto - I think that he, Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique, and January Jones as White Queen were the best casting choices. White Queen is still coolest when she's evil. And look for two awesome and hysterical cameos!
My Netflix rating: 5 stars

New Movies in Year Three: 41

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)

The Nick with Kat, Anna, Eric and Chris on 5/20/11
The first Pirates film is awesome, the second two not so much, and I was wary when I heard they were making a fourth. Turns out, it's pretty good. It's definitely fun to watch (and the special effects are just as good as ever) and the new directions that the characters each take are interesting. Is it a fantastic film? Not really. But it's good fun for a night out, and the effect at the end of the Fountain of Youth is great - makes me think that's what Raiders of the Lost Ark would have looked like if it had been made today. Forgive the Little Mermaid moment and just go with it!
My Netflix rating: 4 stars

New Movies in Year Three: 36

Thor (2011)

Westbrook Cinemagic with Kat, Anna, Sadie and Adam on 5/6/11
Ah, Marvel - how I love thee! Here continues the epic journey toward The Avengers. At first I was disappointed that Alexander Skarsgard didn't get the titular role here, but Chris Hemsworth was pretty badass and completely hysterical. It's also worth noting that, aside from the scenes in Asgard, this entire film takes place in one tiny New Mexico town and never once feels suffocated by the restrictive location. I like Marvel films so much more than DC ones because they are just far more fun. Batman is broody whereas Iron Man and Thor are just having a good time. And Idris Elba showing up as the Gatekeeper of Asgard was a great bonus!
My Netflix rating: 4 stars

New Movies in Year Three: 31

183. January 14/18, 2011 - Kick Ass (2010)

They weren't kidding when they said this was violent! And it's violent children on top of that. It's definitely a funny movie, not afraid to poke fun at other films or at itself, but it's also disturbing. Chloe Moretz must have been, what, 12 in this film? Such things should not be coming out of that young a child's mouth (and I worked in a middle school). I'm not a Nicolas Cage fan in any circumstance, so he wasn't a big addition for me. Overall, fun, but just meh.
My Netflix rating: 3 stars

173. December 27/28, 2010 - Lethal Weapon (1987)

Normally I like action movies. Die Hard, Indiana Jones, James Bond - bring 'em on. I like things blowing up and shootouts and characters having to escape from danger. But this one somehow just didn't do it for me. There's nothing wrong with the acting or the writing; I just could not get into it. I will say that Mel Gibson was pretty good as the suicidal cop, especially since the majority of his great roles are in historical epics. And the fact that he's sort of crazy now. He and Danny Glover have an odd sort of chemistry. Again, I can't point to any single thing that was bad - it's just not my thing.
My Netflix rating: 3 stars

170. December 25, 2010 - Die Hard (1988)

Yippee-ki-yay, motherf-er! This is such a fun, great film. Alan Rickman can't keep up the German accent all the time, but he's just so badass that I don't care. Bruce Willis gives us some truly cringe-worthy moments, especially when he walks barefoot across a room full of broken glass. The woman who plays his wife is a little lackluster, but the two leads and an excellent performance by Carl Winslow from Family Matters make up for it. Plus Argyle the limo driver is a fantastic bit part. Merry Christmas!
My Netflix rating: 4 stars

159. December 5, 2010 - Black Dynamite (2009)

This is a fantastic and hilarious parody of the 1970s in general and specifically the action movies of that period and stars who were in them. It's sort of a cross between Austin Powers and Shaft. Strange and incredibly vulgar/offensive, yes, but also hysterical. It's shot on old film stock so as to look as much like a 70s film as possible and everything appears to be authentic in that over-the-top, almost TOO authentic way. Don't let yourself get offended - it's all in good (though definitely not clean) fun.
My Netflix rating: 4 stars

157. November 27/28, 2010 - Asteroid (1997)

This was made the year before Armageddon and Deep Impact and yet it still feels like it ripped off both of them. Actually, it's more like Armageddon and Independence Day had an unfortunate love child. Imagine every disaster movie cliche and meld them all together. Of course, this was a TV movie, so I guess I shouldn't have had any hopes. Michael Weatherly was in it when he was very young. Oh Logan Cale, even you couldn't save this movie.
My Netflix rating: 2 stars

139. Novembner 2, 2010 - Red (2010)

Helen Mirren is the hottest, most badass actress working today, just on her own. Give her a white camouflage ski coat and a sniper rifle and it just makes her even cooler. And then put her alongside Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman and a delightfully crazy John Malkovich. The result is an action movie that entertains and doesn't feel tired. It's clear how much fun the cast is having and their excitement is fun to watch. Great time!
My Netflix rating: 4 stars