Harold and Kumar: Escape From Guantanamo Bay

Yup, this movie was just as silly and ridiculous as the name implies, but I found myself enjoying the comedic chemistry of John Cho (Harold) and Kal Penn (Kumar). The movie is filled with pervasive drug use, gratuitous nudity and ethnic stereotypes, but somehow manages to make all these things seem fresh and humorous and is able to weave them into an actual plot. Don’t get me wrong this movie is not a piece of artwork, but it certainly manages to capture the viewer’s attention for an hour and 45 minutes. My true complaint of the movie is that once we see our anti-heroes finally reach their dream destination of Amsterdam we see very little of them there; just a hokey montage of them participating in the cities legal activities.

Missy Movie Grade: B-

The Mist

This is a great little horror movie based on a short story by the one and only Stephen King. When an electrical storm leaves artist David Drayton’s house with a tree in the middle of his studio, he heads to town with his son and neighbor Brent Norton. While at the grocery store picking up the essentials a mist suddenly envelops the small Maine town—leaving most stranded. Most see the mist as nothing more than a byproduct of the previous nights electrical storm; until another local runs into the store screaming, “There’s something in the mist!” and claiming that something took his friend. As the mist prevails and hope for survival diminishes; blame is cast, mistrust abounds, sides are chosen and eventually people start to turn on one other.

Marcia Gay Harden’s performance was perfection. She is all too convincing as the overly religious Mrs. Carmody. She uses religion and the will of God in the worst way; to frighten people into her submission.

The ending of this movie offers no solace. We are left alone with our protagonist in a situation that is truly horrifying.


Missy Cinema Score: B

Christian Bale Arrested!

I never intended this blog to be all about Christian Bale. However, he's been the main focus of it since pretty much the beginning. Now, I am sad to say, I am writing about him again today. Not because The Dark Knight is the best movie ever (it is) or because he is the greatest actor around (he is) or because he is the hottest person alive (he is). But because he got flippin' arrested! And for apparently assaulting his mom and sister! WTF! When I heard on the news tease on the Adam Corolla radio show (listen to this great morning show) that he was in big trouble I thought two things: 1) he said something bad about Heath Ledger 2) he got a DUI. Then we I heard the story I just couldn't believe it. I know I don't know him or anything, but I just couldn't imagine why he would do something like that to his mom and sister. I couldn't believe it. It had to be a lie. But on the other hand I can't imagine a mom and sister purposely lying about something like that, especially when he is having so much success right now.

Whatever happens moving forward and whatever happens to be the truth I hope it gets worked out quickly. He is far too talented to let anger issues or family troubles ruin his career and taint his character.

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20213900,00.html

Ranking This Summer’s Movies

Below is a list of all the movies I have seen this summer (May 1 to present) in order of best to worst. Keep in mind that 3 through 6 should be a tie for third place as all these movies were very good.

1. The Dark Knight
2. Iron Man
3. Sex and the City: The Movie
4. Wanted
5. The Strangers
6. Get Smart
7. What Happens in Vegas
8. WALL-E
9. The Incredible Hulk
10. You Don’t Mess with the Zohan

Here are a few surprises I came across this summer. Surprise #1: What Happens in Vegas was very FUNNY! It was so much better than I thought it would be. Surprise #2: At the beginning of the summer my husband and I were at the local cineplex and after seeing a poster of WALL-E I said, “I am calling it now. Best movie of the summer. Best movie of the summer” It’s number 8—how did that happen? Finding Nemo this movie wasn’t. Surprise #3: One of my favorite actors of all time Adam Sandler is at the bottom of the list. This movie isn’t bad. I would probably give it a B-, it’s just that so many other movies were better. (My advice to Adam Sandler and Mike Myers: The 40 Year Old Virgin completely reinvented the comedy genre. When picking scripts from now on, please choose one with real people in real situations that just happen to be funny.)

And here are some non-surprises. Non-surprise #1: Both comic book action films The Dark Knight and Iron Man ROCKED! Non-surprise #2: Steve Carell continues to climb my ladder of favorite comedian of all time. He continues to make movies that are funny and warm with great scripts and co-stars while giving a great performance himself. Non-surprise #3: Christina Bale confirms the he is both the best Batman ever and the best looking man in Hollywood right now.

I will update this list once the movie season commences on August 31st.

The Dark Knight

“You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” Harvey Dent

The Dark Knight not only captured my heart and imagination this weekend, but also the rest of America. The movie raked in more than $155 million—making it the biggest 3-day opening for a movie—ever. The movie prevailed on every level, and even now, 48 hours after viewing it, I am still trying to take it all in. The story was vast and complex , more akin to a Shakespearian tragedy, rather than a summer popcorn action flick. And at 2 hours and 33 minutes, the movie still manages to leave you longing for more—and counting the moments until the third installment of this terrific franchise. It’s a film, that will no doubt, only get better with each additional viewing.

Christian Bale, is superb as Bruce Wayne and Gotham’s Dark Knight. He brings a vulnerability to the character—he’s complex, tortured and driven. Never once do you question is authenticity as Bruce Wayne or Batman. Bale is surrounding by a first-class supporting cast. Aaron Eckhart. Morgan Freeman. Gary Oldman. Michael Cain. Maggie Gyllenhaal. Each of these actors brings dynamic life to Christopher Nolan’s script. These fine actors prove that there is no such thing as a small part—each one of them giving performances that were layered and went well beyond a big-budget action film.

Then there’s Heath Ledger. Simply put: I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. He was mesmerizing and terrifying, a true villain in every sense of the word. The performance was bold and free and left me with an enormous sadness—knowing that this performance will be the last time we get to see this great talent, who obviously still had so much left to give. I can only imagine the characters and stories he still had inside him.

It is because of Heath Ledger’s Joker that the city of Gotham is in complete ruin and disarray. His quest “to see the world burn” reaches to the very core of human nature and is entirely psychological. The Joker’s path of destruction leaves the audience asking themselves, “what would I do?”—the answer is never clear or easy. And it is because of this very real and honest look into the human psyche that The Dark Knight is so captivating and so beyond any other film of its kind.

Missy’s Cinema Score: A

Fool's Gold

A shirtless Matthew McConaughey, a spunky Kate Hudson, the beauty of the Florida Keys, a big yacht and treasure…what’s not to like? Right? Well, wrong. This movie failed in more ways than I can wrap my head around. I kept thinking, “How many times can Matthew McConaughey play the same character?” And Ms. Hudson wasn’t as spunky and fresh as I wanted her to be, first of all she plays a PhD student…need I say more??? A PhD student who just happens to marry not only the shirtless, but job-less, money-less and nearly home-less McConaughey simply because he’s good in bed. Seriously? Does anyone really do that? I wonder what the movie executives were thinking. “Hey, these two made a bankable movie before. Let’s put them in another one. Only this time, the script will be hokey, and the storyline flat, unrealistic and dumbly confusing.” The movie is full of mindless and played out stereotypes. A party girl heiress who, get this, doesn’t have much in the way of brains. A couple dudes from Jamaica who say “man” a lot and get high. A rapper who has a big posse, an animal nickname, and lots of bling. I couldn’t find one redeeming quality in this movie, not even the great Donald Sutherland could pull this one out of the dumpsters. Sutherland plays the brain-dead heiress’s dad and is funding the McConaughey-Hudson treasure hunting mission. It’s one of those movies that’s only good if you’re watching it while doing other stuff and not 100% paying attention.

Missy Grade: C-

Christian Bale Who?

As many of you know The Dark Knight opens tomorrow, with limited midnight shows starting tonight. I would like to take a moment to talk not about the movie in general, but rather, the star of the movie Christian Bale. I feel that both Batman Begins and The Dark Knight have been great opportunities to highlight what an amazing actor Christian Bale is. However, sadly these two movies have done little to promote this fine actor. Back in the summer of 2005 during the initial release of Batman Begins there was a media storm surrounding the budding and globe-trotting relationship of co-star Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise. Christian Bale was simply overlooked. (Luckily for us viewers Katie Holes is not reprising her role and has been replaced by the lovely Maggie Gyllenhall.) And now with the release of The Dark Knight the focus has been 100% on co-star Heath Ledger and his tragic and all-too-soon death—which is completely expected and fitting. However, once again, Christian Bale is being overlooked. I actually saw a preview of the movie last night that didn’t have one second of Christian Bale in it. I mean come on…it’s a Batman movie, let’s show some Batman for crying out loud. Nevertheless, while disappointed with the marketing campaign and the media’s lack of Bale attention I am super excited to see this movie. I think it will end up being the King of the Summer Box Office and will ultimately lead to a third installment of this current Batman franchise. Next time around, let’s just hope for the Christian Bale love.

In the meantime, you can go out and give him some love by watching him in any of these terrific performances:
The Prestige
Harsh Times
Equilibrium
American Psycho
Swing Kids

Welcome and Hello

“Cinema should make you forget you are sitting in a theater.” ~Roman Polanski
My name is Melissa Reed. I am 25 years old, happily married and currently living in Phoenix, Arizona. For those that know me. You already know this. For those that don’t. here it is: I love movies. They are a true passion of mine. I don’t just watch movies, I watch movies. I go to the movie theatre any chance I get and have vast collection of DVD’s at home. I find myself discussing movies with my husband, friends, family, co-workers, myself all the time; so I thought to myself, “why not start a blog and discuss movies to your heart’s content and maybe a few people will actually read it.”
So here I am. Cinema ticket in hand. DVD player dusted off. Popcorn buttered. And fingers stretched. I can’t say that I’ll be a daily blogger. As much as I’d love to I don’t think it’s possible to watch a movie a night. But I will discuss each and every movie I do watch (good or bad) and will have best of and fav’s lists, award show commentary and, on occasion, a blog about the people who watch movies with me and what I do when the camera isn’t rolling.