Movie Review: Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

When I first read about Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, it went on my must-see list, and then was promptly forgotten about. I fear this may have happened around the country, and I am here to tell you to run out right now and see it before it disappears.

The movie is a night in the life of boy-meets-girl. They have such a cute "meet cute", you're already starting to swoon. And if at first some of the characters seem more college age than the high school seniors they are, don't worry. Nick and Norah's charming awkwardness will soon remind you of yourself, maybe a bit too much.

The night unfolds with the search for a band, two ex's (one for each Nick and Norah), Nick's gay bandmates who play matchmakers, and the city of New York. And music, so much music. Unlike many films obstinately about music, in this film the music is like it is in real life. It's background, forefront, a passion, an aside, a way to connect, a reason not to. It's all those things and it works so well that it becomes organic to the story and not an overwhelming plug for a band or a music video for a song.

As for the central romance, I truly think this movie is right up there with the sacred cow, Say Anything. Micheal Cera is just as dork-adorable, and unlike Ione Skye, Kat Dennings is beautiful but relatable. She's a pitch perfect anygirl, going from average to soft to sharp to stunning.

The supporting characters are very well done, especially Ari Graynor as Norah's best friend. Her performance as a drunk girl is spot-on, if cringe worthy. Nick's two best friends and the guy they pick up are hilarious and lovely, and the movie is filled with great lines.

I'm so charmed by this movie, not only am I buying it the day it comes out, I'm also offering to take anyone in the tri-state area with me to see it. You must see it now. You will not regret.

Movie Review: The Incredible Hulk

I was very resist to see this movie for no real reason other than I just didn't feel like seeing the movie. Loki and I had come from a two movie weekend with one almost not living up to the hype and the other no bringing to fruition the creepiness of the director's previous movies.

I did not see Ang Lee's version of the Hulk. Nor did I really want to. Being a Marvel girl myself (as opposed to say a DC girl) I wasn't thrilled with them making the Hulk and I'm not sure why. Edward Norton? Really?

Well, yes. Edward Norton. Good choice. Tim Roth as the Abomination? Another excellent choice. Liv Tyler? So so. She didn't take away from it, but didn't add (at least for me) anything. I was leery of CGI effects that it would take to make the Hulk and the Abomination, but it worked.

Keep in mind, The Hulk does not have the playful nature that Iron Man does. It's a lot more serious...which isn't saying that it's not fun. Just keep it in mind. For fan boys (and girls) there are lots of in-jokes to chuckle at. Oh, and Stan Lee has a bigger cameo in it! At least ten seconds! I don't know why I keep using exclamation points!

I'm not as familiar with the mythology of the Hulk, so I don't know who the future villain (The Leader) is. Though Loki did fill me in after the movie. He also did mention that the Rouges Gallery isn't as impressive as say Spider-Man's or the X-Men's Rouges Gallery.

The story? Oh, yes. The story.

Bruce Banner (the Hulk when not in Hulk form) is trying to find a cure to the gamma radiation. General Ross is bent on finding him and bringing him back to the US. In the process he recruits Emil Blonsky, a Russian born, England raised soldier. He sees the Hulk and the power that he has and become obsessed with having that same power. Lots of action, lots of angst (Bruce versus himself, father versus daughter, Hulk versus the world), lots of potential to make a franchise.

I give a four out of five.

Movie Review: Iron Man

Who better to play an egotistical, alcoholic playboy than Robert Downey, Jr? Okay, maybe Charlie Sheen, but Downey excelled at playing Tony Stark, billionaire/inventor/playboy/genius, with both the arrogance and the vulnerability required to make this story really engrossing.

For non-Fanboys, Tony Stark owns a weapons company and he himself is a robotics expert who personally invents many of the devices. He drinks, he philanders, he gambles, he skips meetings and events, he tinkers with his high tech "toys" while leaving all the real work to his faithful assistant Pepper (Gwenyth Paltrow). On a trip to Afgahnistan (modified from the original comic's Vietnam), Stark is captured by cave-dwelling rebels led by an evil warlord. Seeing that they have managed to get his weapons, Stark creates his Iron Man suit and sets out to defend the world from the weapons which have fallen into the wrong hands.

Not just a movie for comic book guys, it's filled with action, comedy and very light romance (very, very light). I thought the foreshadowing of the "true" bad guy made it a little too obvious, so there is no big shock when his deeds are revealed. I missed one obvious clue, so had a bit of a "duh" moment, but that's just me. Overall, great casting, great effects, good story, good humor. And of course, a hilarious and brief cameo by Stan the Man, himself.

Five out of five stars and stick around through the credits, especially if you know Fury :D

Book Review: Black Ships

Paperback Writer here...again. :) Yes, I'm just ripping through many books. But it's in my nature okay? Okay.

So, I belong to this website called Library Thing where I can list all the books I have in my library...kind of like Good Reads. (I'm Ceecee on one and Paperback Writer on the other. If you feel like joining me, let me know.

Anyway, one of the very cool features of Library Thing is the opportunity to get advanced copies of books. And finally, finally, I got my hands on a book. I don't remember requesting this book, but what the hey. A free book is a free book. And I'm keeping my end of the bargain up by actually reviewing it.

So, on to the book. The book is Black Ships by Jo Graham. It's a take on the Aeneid told from the viewpoints of an oracle named Gull. She is the daughter of a slave taken from Troy who can see - accurately - the future. One day, she sees nine black ships and knows that she will joining them and thus altering her life forever. It is their journey from Greece to Italy with detours in Egypt.

I throughly enjoyed this book and I hope it does well. I actually hope that Jo Graham will write more books like this...but then again, this is coming from the self-professed mythology junkie. :)

Five out of five stars.

Book Review: The Thirteenth Tale

Paperback Writer here again with another book review. And I promise, I'm going to write a real review, not just these half reviews, I've been doing. Deal? Deal.

Anyway, last Thursday while Loki was performing I had the opportunity to do one of my favorite activities: namely wander around a bookstore in search of something new to read. I had several books in my hand when I came upon The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. Now, I've seen this particular book time and time again, but the cover just did nothing for me. This time though, I decided to actually the blurb on the back.

It still didn't entice me to actually pick it and carry it around with me while I wandered the store, but I did take a picture of it on my cellphone. It's my favorite way of remembering books that I might want to read at a later time...just not right now. But after picking a few chick lit books, I decided I wanted something more weighty. And I wasn't in the mood for chick lit. (Though, really, am I ever? There's nothing wrong with chick lit, but I'm just not a chick lit type of girl.)

I thought about The Thirteenth Tale downstairs and decided to swap the books for that one downstairs. But I wanted to make sure that this book was a book that I was going to read. I read the first page, not bad. I decided to keep going. And that's when I ran into these lines:

"...I never read without making sure I am in a secure position...I was so seduced by the descriptions of underwater life that I unconsciously relaxed my muscles. Instead of being held buoyant by the water that so vividly surrounded me in my mind, I plummeted to the ground and knocked myself out. I can still feel the scar under my fringe now. Reading can be dangerous..."

Tell me, how does a bibliophile not resist a book that tells you that reading can be dangerous? That was Thursday night, I finished the book last night before I went to bed. A rather rare thing for me, which suggests that I gave up some things that I said I was going to do in favor for finishing the book.

That being said, Paperback Writer, what is the book about? It's about a reclusive writer who knows that she is approaching the end of her days and has decided to tell her life story. Her true life story. She chooses a quiet, bookish woman to write it. And in the process the reader comes to understand that the writer and the biographer have a lot more in common than they think. It is very gothic in nature - something I never really identified with or against - and it's just well written. A lot of mystery, ghosts, secrets and family.

I highly recommend this book. In fact, if you want, I can loan you my copy. Just as long as you give it back to me.

Five out of five stars.

Book Review: Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians

Paperback Writer here...again. :)

I just finished Brandon Sanderson's book Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians. And I have to say, I haven't enjoyed a book like this since....Harry Potter. Okay, okay, is that really saying a lot? Well, perhaps. :)

Anyway, like Harry Potter, Alcatraz Smedry (yes, Alcatraz Smedry) is an orphan...an orphan who seems to possess special skills. His Talent is breaking things. No, seriously. That's his talent. And on his 13th birthday he receives a special package from his long absent father. The present? Sand.

Wait! Don't go. I'm not that crazy.

Really. :)

Just go with it, okay?

Obviously, this book is geared toward the younger set. But I throughly enjoyed it as well. And perhaps, that's because I'm really a big kid at heart. Throughout the entire book, Alcatraz consistently breaks the "fourth wall" by talking to his readers and reminding them that he "is not a nice person." He repeats this many times leading one to believe that maybe he is a nice person.

At the root of the story is Alcatraz trying to retrieve his inheritance from librarians, which goes without saying that all librarians are evil in this book. They want to take over all the world (Free Kingdoms and Hushlands respectively). With what? The help of Alcatraz's special sand.

Oh, go on. You know you're intrigued.

The only fault that I have with this book? That I finished it within a day. It's only 300 pages. ;)

Anyway, this obviously is going to have a sequel...perhaps more than one. But, we'll see where it goes. I've a pretty credible source telling me that Sanderson has been tapped to write the last Robert Jordan Wheel of Time book.

Nine out of ten stars.

Movie Review: Cloverfield

Paperback Writer here.

Loki and I went to see Cloverfield this weekend. It took me this long to try and put down a review...

And I think it might be difficult for me to write a proper review without giving away some of the details.

But I'll try.

First, don't go in with any expectations. You'll probably have a better time that way.

Second, if you get motion sickness this movie is not for you. Seriously.

Third, this isn't a Hollywood movie. Meaning?

Well...

(Don't say I didn't warn you)

It doesn't have an "ending" per se. Oh, it ends all right. Abruptly. And not prettily for anyone. The ending is not satisfying at all. And yes, there were a couple of boos from the audience (which was sold out, by the way), but there was still an even greater number that was blown away by it. Loki included. He said that he hasn't been that scared by a movie in a long time. In fact, after we got home, the both of us didn't get to bed until very early the next morning. Loki was just hopped up on adrenaline and I was up filling in all the details that weren't explained in the movie.

Now, keep in mind that despite the abrupt ending and the very shaky camera work (it's all filmed from the viewpoint of one camera...a hand held camera) that this isn't really a movie about monsters (though it is really terrifying when you see the monsters) it's more a movie about how people react in survival situations. Loki tells me that it is much like how Night of the Living Dead is about survival against zombies.

I can see what he means.

He tells me that there are a lot of mixed opinions regarding this movie: how it is an allegory about 9-11; that it plays on their fears about it; that it's not a movie for people over 30. I don't know. I guess it could be an allegory about 9-11. But I didn't see it that way. Would I go back and see it? No. But that doesn't mean that I didn't dislike the movie.

*sigh*

I guess I'm about as mixed up as all those other reviews floating around on Rotten Tomatoes.

:)

Anyway, things to remember when going in: hand held camera work, people that you don't know who star in a movie, very stressful and the most important thing to remember? Have no expectations. Keep an open mind.

And that's all I'm going to say about it.

Eight out of ten stars.

Movie Review: I am Legend

Paperback Writer here.

Today, Loki and I went to see I am Legend with Jami's favorite actor, Will Smith, based on the original book by Richard Matheson. I enjoyed the movie (even though I spent 2/3 of it watching it through my fingers) and it sticks to the basic plot of the original novel.

Now, now, now. If you read the book, you know that this isn't entirely true, okay? The book was written in the 50's, so naturally, the movie has been updated, okay?

A virus has been created that supposedly cures a tragic disease...but what happens is that these people who have been saved...begin to mutate. If you've seen the trailers then you know what these creatures resemble. If not, then...use your imagination.

Anyway, which is where we pick up with Robert Neville (Smith), a military medical doctor trying to find a cure. He spends most of the movie with his trusty dog, Sam. And of course, things start to go wrong. Very, very wrong. The cuts between the year 2009, the year where this miracle drug has been discovered to Neville's current year, 2012. The world is a wasteland with abandoned cars, crops growing in Central Park and lions roaming Times Square.

Last 1/3 of the movie though, is where it deviates from the book. I won't go into too much detail, it sort of feels...forced. It's a good movie, but I would've liked to see how people began their transformation.

I'll give it a three out of four stars.

PS - Animals die...and I didn't like it. It made me very sad. Just saying.