Art Imitating Art

Before I saw The Last Jedi, I made it a priority to see another film. I dragged my boyfriend with me to see The Disaster Artist. I had been excited about the film since the very first bit of news that it was being made. Having James Franco direct and star in it was genius to me. He can match Tommy Wiseau’s manic energy note for note. I wasn’t sure about Dave Franco playing Greg, Tommy’s best friend and partner in crime. He just seemed like a pity hire for the role. I didn’t need to be worried though. The Franco brothers work well off each other. The film was as awkward to watch as I originally thought, which is a testament to who well-acted the movie was.

I was adamant about seeing it opening weekend so we made a plan to catch a matinee on Sunday. We got there and bought some nachos since I was starving. We had seats right in the middle of the theater, middle row and middle seats. We snuggled in and waited for the magic to happen. I already talked about how well done the film was above but the audience’s response was just as good. We were feeding off of each other’s enthusiasm. We clapped at the end of the film, which I rarely do. It was obvious we had all seen The Room before so we could appreciate the film all the more.

I don’t normally follow the Oscars but I’d be surprised if James Franco doesn’t get nominated for best actor. Mostly so that Tommy Wiseau can finally get an invitation to the ceremony and this whole thing can come full circle. 

Fan Event for Star Wars

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI

I bought these tickets back in October. Once I received an email about special showings for super fans. I knew I had to get it for the boyfriend. But as we tried to find a theater we liked and that was close by, they quickly sold out of seats right before my eyes. It was infuriating to see them slip away while we tried to finalize our plans. I was forced to settle on a theater that I hadn't been to in years. But they had the seats and I had the money so I bought two.

Months go by and we're finally at the day of the opening. It was on a Thursday at 6 so we both left work for this. We show up at the theater wayyyyy too early; so early that we couldn't even sit in the auditorium. So we slink on back to the car and the boyfriend insists on watching a Star Wars lore video on YouTube about everything that's happened in the past 10,000 years of this space opera. The video was incredible. There was just so much stuff I didn't know that I needed to know. Click HERE to watch it for yourself. Even if you're a casual fan, it's very well done and held my interest the whole time.

We finish that and head back into the theater. With the special viewing came Star Wars trading cards and a free popcorn. We collect the goods but skip on the food. We go in and find our seats, which hadn't been updated since the 90s. I realize that I've been spoiled with the newly renovated movie chains and their recliner seats but come on. These seats were just sad looking but not totally uncomfortable. The very few trailers play and then...

AWESOMENESS ENSUES. I was gasping and screaming and applauding and crying and completely exhausted by the end of the film. I usually stick to just the experience and not review the film itself but I will say that despite all my geeking out, it could have been better. The movie holds up to the last episode and is well acted but the pacing was a bit off in places and there were times I wish I had a fast forward button.

But I have no complaints. I plan on seeing it again very soon. I just hope it holds up to my expectations.

Opening Weekends

I have seen two films in their opening weekends and I forgot how fun it is to see movies with a large audience who are also seeing it for the first time. It's exhilarating when we're all excited and eager to see what will happen. But if lots of people aren't your thing (which they sometimes aren't for me), it can be exhausting instead.

Last weekend, I saw two films with my boyfriend. We were already a week late in seeing Thor so we decided to see that one first. It was AWESOME. I can say it's the best Thor movie out of the trilogy and was funny as hell. It's easily the second funniest Marvel movie. I thought the shift in tone was well needed and well executed. The color schemes caught and held my attention the entire time. The end credit scenes were a little less fun. The first one left me confused and the second one was kinda funny. It was just a good time all around.

But the good times couldn't last. Next, we went to see Murder on the Orient Express. The crowd was mostly older white people. I'm sure they were fans of the book as I was. My hopes were extremely high after the amazing listening experience. It started off well. The changes felt organic and seamless. Then the third act happened. IT WAS A FUCKING MESS. I'm glad I was away from the rest of the crown, sequestered off in the back row, because I was huffing and puffing the whole time. I'm still fuming about it. The director and writer and whoever was responsible needs to send me a personal apology.

Fast forward to this past weekend and I'm hoping my boyfriend will ditch cleaning the house for an early matinee of Justice League. He gives in and go see the 10:00 showing. And that was awesome. Even better than I could have hoped for. This was a great followup to Wonder Woman. I don't understand why the critics are giving it bad reviews but if you wanna see it, see it in Dolby theaters or XD or IMAX. It's worth the extra cost.

I think this is the most active I've been with going to the theaters on the weekend. I usually try and go during the week. But this was a nice change.

Superhero Kink?

That's how someone asked me if that's what this movie was about. Professor Marston and the Wonder Women is so much more than that. At its core, it's a love story. The twist is that it's between 3 people. Poly relationships usually get a bad rap in media by this real life story tugs at the heart strings. These are just people who met and all fell in love with each other. Now don't get me wrong, there are some steamy scenes and had me crossing and uncrossing my legs multiple times. But mostly, I was just rooting for this couple to stay together and raise their family in peace.

This film had been on my radar for a while now. I saw the trailer online and prayed that a local theater would play it once it was released. Luckily, my historic theater came through and had it on opening day. I was finally able to see it this past weekend and i dragged the boyfriend along. I tried to go with Kelly and the gang but they weren't available. He was no eager to go at all. He thought he'd be bored. I'm happy to say he was thoroughly entertained. It opened up a discussion about dominance and submission and what we thought those things meant in our own relationship. This movie is definitely thought provoking and can be a nice way to start an exploration in sexual preferences and kinks.

Anyone looking for a cheap thrill should look elsewhere. I look for those too from time to time but this film is just too pure for that.

Behind the Times

I have been going through a movie slump again. I just haven't been motivated to leave the house for the theater. I'd much rather wait for my local library to get the DVD and I'll just watch it that way. But I've recently made the effort to go out and about.

The first outing was with my little cousin. I hadn't done anything with him in a long time, just the two of us. I was summoned over to babysit at the lat minute and decided that staying in the house with him would have resulted in someone getting choked. So we hopped on the bus and saw a matinee showing of The LEGO Ninjago Movie. It was playing in one of the small auditoriums to the side. It was maybe 6 of us in there. I had no high expectations for this film but it sucked.
I thought the pacing and jokes and overall story fell completely flat. My cousin, on the other hand, loved it. He laughed at all the (un)funny parts, wowed at the action scenes, and tried to start a slow clap during the credits. No one joined him but I appreciated his enthusiasm.

My most recent outing was to see Happy Death Day on opening weekend. Kelly, Maria, and I met up of a Friday matinee showing. The theater had just added those recliner chairs so I was in heaven. I really enjoyed the movie. I thought it was well acted and genuinely funny. The ending lost its momentum though. The reasoning behind the killing was stupid. It kind of brought down the overall quality of the story. We had a great time though. Te movie was followed with lunch and then I crashed at home.

I'm hoping to see a bunch of movies before the year is out but honestly, I might just wait to watch them at home.

Kellibration Obligations

I was NOT planning on see the theatrical release of It. I was a fan of the miniseries, which I barely remember and I had never read the mammoth of the book. I knew about it because everyone knows about It. It's pop culture candy and everyone has had a piece. So only someone I loved could convince me to go see this movie. And who did this to me??? It was Kelly! September is her birthday month and she celebrates all month long. With this being a horror movie, I knew she was planning on seeing it. She loves watching scary movies. I honestly don't know why I allow myself to be dragged along to these scream fests. But I caved and I was there opening weekend.

It was a small group of us, Kelly and three of her friends. I was running late (damn public transportation!) so Kelly held the seats for us. I was sure that the theater would be packed but there were still plenty of empty seats left over. I'm guessing it was because it was a Sunday afternoon. We brought our own snacks and shook with anticipation and fear. I already told Kelly's friend that I would be grabbing onto him for support and he said likewise. But...the movie never delivered the scares I thought were coming. There were definitely moments that had me cringing and spooked me. But I wasn't SCARED scared. Honestly, I found the movie to be more funny than anything. The child actors knocked it out of the park. I especially loved Richie and Eddie, played by Finn Wolfhard and Jack Grazer respectively. They were the comedic reliefs and they did not disappoint. 

With how long the book was, obviously the movie could only show so much. It ends with them defeating It and vowing to come back if there town is attacked again. The credits scroll across the screen and it closes with it declaring this was only chapter one. I can't say I'm too excited for the sequel but I know I'll end up seeing it. If only because I'm curious who will play the adult counterparts to the child actors. 

P.S. - We had dead center seats. Kelly did good with holding them from other movie goers lol

Better late than never

THREE MONTHS!!! It has literally been over 90 days since Spider-man: Homecoming was released and I just saw it for the first time yesterday. I made a promise to my boyfriend that I would only see it with him and we finally had time and opportunity yesterday to go see it.

We had the whole afternoon free so we went out and ventured to a new theater. It was the ArcLight out in Bethesda. A coworker of the BF had recommended we go there and so we did. When you first walk in, there is a wall of movie posters that was very cool to look at. I very quickly declared which ones I wanted to see. After gawking at that, we went to go buy the tickets. They cost $30 FUCKING DOLLARS. It was a Friday afternoon! There were no matinee prices to speak of. You know how much I love a cheap movie ticket. But we forged ahead. I wasn't turning back now that we were actually going to see Spider-man. I had waited long enough.

We had center seats and the theater to ourselves. I would have been completely surprised if someone else showed up to watch it. This theater doesn't play ads so it went straight to the previews and then the movie started. It was amazing. I had never laughed so hard at a Marvel movie. I see now why everyone thinks Tom Holland is the best Peter Parker. He looked the age and acted just like a teenager would. I believed every second of his performance. As a part of the MCU, I felt like it jelled together rather well. I loved Tony Stark as the father figure/mentor to Peter. If Robert Downey Jr ever leaves the franchise, I hope he pops up every now and then. He's the perfect grumpy snark to tell everyone how much they're screwing up and then immediately leave after.

So after the looooooong wait, I'd say it was worth it. I'm glad I saw it in the theaters and with the boyfriend. Watching it on my TV would not have done the experience justice.

Atomic Dud

I really wanted to like this movie. The trailers were epic, it was based on a graphic novel, and it was starring Charlize Theron whom I enjoy. But I felt that the pacing was to slow and the action sequences placed too far apart. They were amazing, I was blown away by the fight choreography. It just didn't do much to capture and hold my attention.

I went with Maria and Kelly on an evening movie date. I was there first so I grabbed a beer and sipped while watching the previews. We had good seats, towards the middle. It was a packed theater. It was opening weekend and I feel like the crowd was eager to see something new.

From the very beginning, I wasn't that into it. I just felt bored. All the action scenes were in the trailer so I knew what was going to happen before the movie wanted me to. The only exception was the staircase fight scene towards the end of the film. That had me beyond excited. But that elation quickly faded and I was pissed that I had paid full price for my ticket.

Overall, this movie can be viewed in your home and you wouldn't be missing out on anything.

p.s.- The soundtrack was everything and I was rocking out to 80s music the rest of the night.

Third time's the charm

Baby Driver; a ridiculous title for an awesome movie. I have seen it THREE FUCKING TIMES. The cursing is not because I'm mad about that fact. It just that I've never seen any film that many times while it was still in theaters. It held up with each viewing though. Once you know everything that's going to happen, it becomes easier to notice the small details and inside jokes that were well hidden the first time.

#1
I was spending a whole day out and about by myself when I impulsively decided to see a movie. My local historic theater was playing it so I caught the bus and bought my ticket for the first afternoon show of the day. Since Wonder Woman was still showing, I thought Baby Driver would be in one of the smaller theaters. But since it was opening weekend, I was able to see it in the main theater. I was dead center with only a handful of  other people in there with me. I curled up with my popcorn and loved every second of it. I haven't been the biggest fan of Ansel Elgort but he's amazing as Baby. He totally made me fall in love with him.

#2
Kelly and I were long overdue for a movie matinee date so we went out on 4th of July. It was crazy packed in the theater but I was able to snag two seats while Kelly went out to get something to eat. The movie was even better the second time. The crowd really made watching it much more enjoyable. We all laughed and gasped and cheered all at the same time. It was epic. This time, I was more interested in the soundtrack. It really is its own character.

#3
Despite the fact that I really want to see Spider-man: Homecoming, there was no way in hell I was seeing it opening night on a Friday. So the boyfriend and I decide to see Baby Driver. It had finally been moved to the smaller theater on the side. It had a larger crowd than I expected but again, it added to the experience in a positive way. My boyfriend could hardly contain his joy at all the car chasing scenes. He loved it and I loved watching his excitement and joy.

I definitely think that this is one of Edgar Wright's best films. It's right behind Scott Pilgrim vs the World for me. When it becomes available to own, I am going to buy my own copy. But until then, I don't even wanna think about watching this movie again.

FINALLY

I have been waiting for this movie forever. WONDER WOMAN IS HERE. Did I read the comics? No. Have I seen the classic tv show? Also no. Nor have I consumed any DC comics animated movies or shows. But I like Gal Gadot and the DCEU franchise. This movie came guns blazing and did not leave me disappointed.

The boyfriend and I made an impromptu outing for this movie. I thought we'd have to wait weeks until we saw it together but the stars aligned and we were able to go opening weekend. It was an afternoon showing at our local historic theater. I got there first and dashed for two seats in the middle towards the back. There were already people there, a nice little crowd of adults. Once the boyfriend go there (just as the lights went out and the previews came on) my excitement skyrocketed. I had been looking forward to this film for months. The trailers had done an excellent job of getting my attention and keeping it.I was ready to see Wonder Woman kick some ass.

And that she did. The action in this movie was unbelievable, exceeding my expectations. Gadot was a natural on screen, holding her own just like she did in BvS. Chris Pine was a great love interest, never once feeling like he was just added on to look pretty (even though the film definitely poked fun at the role reversal of damsel in distress). This film deserves all the love and praise it's getting. For me, BvS is still the best outing for the franchise. This is a very close second though.

Gut and Heart Punch

I have been two for two with seeing good films my last couple of outings. One was an indie and the other a teen flick. These movies are on complete opposite ends of my interests but I loved them both. I felt they accomplished what they were trying to portray and engaged the audience throughout the whole showing.  

First up is Colossal. I invited Kelly out for a late night showing at our local historic theater. We were both tired from work and could barely keep our eyes open as we looked to find seats (to the right and towards the top). It was just us and another couple in there that seemed lost. The film opened with a short film that showed the less appealing aspects of technology. It was hilarious. I wish I could remember what it was called and I'm too lazy to look it up. 

After that, the film started and it completely blew me away. I was expecting a funny slapstick monster movie comedy. Instead, I got a heartfelt, slightly uncomfortable view of an abusive relationship. I won't say how or why but it was handled in such a unique way. Anne Hathaway is such a great actress and she owned that role. I wanted to go back and see it again but it had already left the theater before I had the chance to.  

The latest movie I've seen was Everything Everything. Again, Kelly and I made our way to the cinema. We went on discount Tuesday and smuggled in food from Brown Rice. To make up for our deception, I also bought popcorn and hot dogs for myself. We found seats right in the center and laid back in the recliner seats. There was a good crowd for the early evening showing. As an audience, we were pretty talkative but it improved my movie going experience. The film was so darn cute. I loved the two lead actors. They had amazing chemistry. I really liked the movie but the soundtrack was the real star. I was damn near dancing in my seat while the film was trying to make me feel things. I'm happy I didn't wait for the DVD like I had originally planned to do. This is the feel good movie of the year so far.

Epic Space Superhero Action Comedy Vol 2

Those are the exact words I used to describe Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 to someone who avoids superhero films. I agree with the observation that there are so many of them and it's difficult to tell them apart. But I absolutely loved the first film and it's still holding up as my favorite Marvel movie so far. I was hoping the second out of the Guardians would take the torch but I failed to really connect with this movie.

My boyfriend and I went to a local theater that's under some construction. They had just put in new recliner seats, which are becoming a great bonus of seeing movies. It was discount Tuesday (thank God for discount Tuesday) and we went to a late night showing. By late night, I mean after nine when I am usually in pajamas and zoning out on YouTube videos. It was mostly empty which I was surprised at. I think I was hoping for a more audience driven experience. In retrospect, it would have helped me get more excited and lost in the film. Because it was just my boyfriend and I, we were left to pick apart the film and roll our eyes at allllll theeeeee speechesssssss.

It was too sentimental and sappy for me. I sighed out loud and said, "Really?" under my breath too many times to count. I get it, they are no a family. Just don't beat me over the head with it. I did love all the post credit scenes. There are five total, so unless you don't care don't leave the film until the very end. They don't really play into how the Guardians will fold into the Avengers story line in an obvious way. They seemed like little funny clips to amuse, not intrigue.

The next film up is Thor: Ragnarok and that one has me a little hype. I just hope it doesn't disappoint me like this one did.

New theater

I used to live on the opposite side of town where there was this little movie theater and no one seemed to want to go to. They knew it was there but it seemed abandoned and run down. And it was, just a little. But it was always empty and the prices were decent. If you were looking for a secluded movie experience, this was the one to go to.

I hadn't been out there in 2 years and since then, they've completely renovated it. It's awesome inside. They have a small lounge area near the concession stand. The theaters vary in size but none are teeny tiny. And the seats...they recline. I love this new feature theaters have been putting in. It's so damn relaxing. It almost makes me forget I'm there to see a film and take a nap.

But I didn't this past Tuesday. I got my boyfriend out on a date. Another bonus: Tuesdays have discount prices all day. So I only paid $12 for the both of us. We were a little early but still decided to check out our seats instead of sitting in the lounge. We sat in the middle towards the left of the screen. After the repetitive commercials and the less than exciting previews, the movie began.

By the way, we went to go see Sleight. The actual cinematic outing overshadowed the film. I still really liked it though. It's about a street magician who sells drugs to support himself and his little sister. When she's kidnapped, he does everything it takes to get her back. The actors were believable and lifelike. I just wish they were either more or less backstory for the main characters. It just fell a little flat and didn't fully capture my attention. The ambiguous ending left me confused on the point of it. I didn't stay through the end credits to see if it was explored further either. I enjoyed the movie but it's not something I'd recommend for a theater experience. You can appreciate it just as much on your home T.V.

Childhood Disappointments

This movie.....sucked. I couldn't believe how uninteresting the story was and how long it dragged on and how bored I was. I went with my aunt and little cousins. The movie choices were either Power Ranges or Boss Baby. We should have seen the latter. There were some enjoyable parts and funny one liners but not enough to save this film.

We got their early enough to get choice seats, allllll the way in the back. We were literally in the last row, hidden away from other movie goers. I'd already seen all the trailers so there was nothing new there. Then the movie started and I was let down. I wanted to leave and walk out but it was a family outing and that's frowned upon. One of my younger cousins even fell asleep during the movie! I am not kidding. He was snoring an curled up in the seat, missing all the awful acting and lack of action sequences. The only part of the movie I liked was the blue Ranger. He was hilarious and refreshing and believable.

After the end credits, we all agreed that the movie was not good. It didn't make us feel better when Boss Baby was let out and everyone had smiles on their smug little faces.

Note to self: Wait for the $3 theater to watch all remakes, re-imaginings, and reboots from my childhood. I won't feel as shafted as i did with this movie.

Disney Remake

I'd like to make a confession: I have never seen the 1991 version of Beauty and the Beast. I know, I KNOW! It keeps me up at night and leaves me feeling ashamed...

Actually I don't give a rat's ass and you wanna know something else? I've never seen The Little Mermaid either. Stick that in your judgmental Disney pipe and smoke it. I got hooked on Lion Kind and Hercules and Pocahontas growing up. I had no more room for the other classics, even to this day. But I love Emma Watson and have a huge crush on Dan Stevens so I was obligated to see this film. I waited two(?) weeks after it was released to watch it. Kelly invited me for a matinee pre-brunch movie and I happily accepted. We were in a smaller theater and sat in seats on the right towards the middle of the theater. None of the trailers really grabbed my attention. Finally, the movie started and it was great the whole way through. I don't know if anything was severely changed or kept exactly the same. I just know I loved it. The songs were beautifully sung and the acting was cute; cute definitely being a compliment in this case.

The CGI was iffy in some parts but I was mostly able to lose myself in the story. I cried...twice. I have no control over my emotions and this film was tugging at my fragile heartstrings. There wasn't an end credit scene (according to the employee cleaning up the theater) so we didn't stick around. This movie is great for all ages. It did fail on making me interested in seeing the original though. I'm completely happy with this being my only reference to the title.

Mindless Action and Thoughtful Satire

I haven't been to the movies in a full week and it actually feels weird. I think I've been to see something at least once a week since the new year. These experiences have been from the week before last. I saw them relatively close together.

I saw Kong: Skull Island first. The boyfriend and I went together. I was excited about this one because it's the establishing film for the upcoming Kong vs Godzilla movie. Just saying that gives me goosebumps. This is just a fun movie. The acting wasn't anything special, except Samuel L. Jackson. He was hilarious as a twisted soldier determined to get revenge. After seeing him as the good guy in Legend of Tarzan, it was fun to see him play a villain. He does it so well. The death scenes in this movie were awesome, as drab as that sounds. Kong was kicking all kinds of ass and taking all the names. The last scene was surprisingly heart warming and was a great way to end the nonstop action and fight scenes. We didn't stay to see if there was an end credits scene so I hope we didn't miss anything.

Next up was Idiocracy. The local historic theater was showing this in their revival series. My boyfriend has been recommending this film to me since we've been dating so we had to go see it. We went to the premiere at night. The theater wasn't very full but full enough that we couldn't sit dead center. We were still in the middle, the best seating area. The film started and it was so funny and sad. Funny because everyone in the film were acting like idiots. And sad because our present looks a bit too familiar to the film's future being portrayed. I can see why this is a cult classic but it's not my favorite revival film. I'm glad I was able to experience it with an audience that obviously loved the movie. And there is a funny, stupid end credits scene. So if you watch this on DVD, see it through until the end.

Logan Squared

I have been killing it with seeing films on their opening weekend. I'm introducing a new movie buddy to the blog. It's my aunt, Muffin. That's not her real name but it's what the family calls her. She has been eagerly waiting to go see Logan just as much as I have to we made plans to go together. She's a matinee movie goer like myself so we went to see a morning showing.

There were a lot of people there since it was a Sunday. We got really good seats, almost dead center and close to the middle. We were both delighted (she was surprised) to see the Deadpool teaser trailer before the movie started. It was so funny and just the edge I needed taken off before the emotional roller-coaster I was about to ride. There are no words for how awesome this film is. It's by far the best solo Wolverine movie and one of the best X-Men movies int he franchise. I cried...hard. By the last scene, I was sobbing for anyone to hear. My aunt has tougher skin than me so she was able to hold it together.

The first thing I did after the movie was text my boyfriend that we had to see this sooner rather than later. We went to see it later that week during the day. The theater was mostly empty so that helped us feel like we were all alone, watching this masterpiece. I cried again...even harder. It was worse knowing how it ended. I couldn't control myself. He even welled up with some tears, though they didn't fall. We went back home to talk about how amazing it was and how it was the perfect send off for Hugh Jackman. It makes me sad though. He truly was Wolverine, through and through.

Double Feature

Lately, I've been getting into the habit of two things:

1- Seeing two movies in one day.
2- Seeing the same film with different people on separate outings.

It's crazy how much a film can change when you factor in how you see it with. Friends, family, significant others. These are people who can take a cinematic experience and make you question whether or not you're actually seeing the same film as before. I saw Get Out with Kelly for a matinee movie date. After we saw Split. I also saw Get Out a week later with my boyfriend after work.

Outing with Kellz

We are the queens of movie matinee. "The earlier, the better", is what we say. That's mostly because of the cheap prices ($5) and for an empty theater. I'm not a fan of packed movie seats so morning showings are my favorites. We saw Get Out first, opening day. It was kinda hilarious. I'm glad it played more like a thriller than a true horror film because I'm a wuss who hates being frightened, even when I'm seeking to be scared. Jordan Peele had a great debut film and I'm happy to see anything that he directs in the future. After the movie, we were eager for more. That's to say, we were bored and had nothing better to do. So I treated us to afternoon tickets for Split. Afternoon tickets can be a mixed bag, not quite as cheap as matinee but not full price. I didn't see M. Night Shymalan's last film so I had no high hopes for this one. Thankfully, I really liked it. James McAvoy completely carries the film on his back. The other actors were fine but he's the blatant talent that makes the film interesting. The unique tie-in with another of his earlier films was a delicious Easter egg. If Shymalan expanded on that idea, I'd be on board for it. All movied out, we emerged into the light of day, hissing at the sun. I rushed home to decompress and the retreat into the shaded living room of my apartment.

Date Night with BF

We had always planned to see Get Out together. Just because I had already seen it was not stopping me from following through with our plans. We decided to go after work, for a 7 o'clock showing. The theater was fucking packed. Luckily, we got there early enough to grab two end seats together, high up enough so our necks weren't at a 90 degree angle the entire time. We bought actual food, buffalo wings and chicken tenders, and sat back for the movie to start. I had hyped it up a bit for him so he had very high expectations. He was not disappointed. We laughed, cringed, and cheered right along with the crowd. This was one of the rare occasions where standard seating and a sold out theater worked at our advantage. Since I had already seen it before, I could zone out and listen to other people's reactions. That made the film even better. We all clapped at the end and we left the theater in a tizzy. All we could talk about was the movie. It was definitely a good night for us.

Vacation Part 3

Finally, I'm finished. This is the last film I saw while I was on vacation. Technically it's a bunch of films but I'm counting them as one since I watched them all in one sitting. These were the Oscar nominated live action films. And this time, I dragged some unlucky bastard along, my boyfriend. Poor guy was staying with me during our time off and on the last day I invited him to yet another movie outing with me. Honestly, I was going with or without him so it's not like I forced him. He came along voluntarily (for the most part).



We went to the Charles theater and sat in the same area that I did when I went to go see the animated films. First up was Sing (English title). It's about a choir in a school that's covering up a big secret. This is the film that ended up winning but I don't think it was the best one. It's definitely a feel good, stick it to the man kind of film. The child actors were great and I really believed the story. Next was Silent Nights. It follows a couple dealing with immigration, racism, and a bunch of other issues. My boyfriend and I both thought this movie was overly sappy and melodramatic. It hits you over the head with the message of the film- We're all the same; forgiveness will set you free; blah blah blah. I was happy when it was over since it felt like it was dragging. After this snooze fest, Timecode played. This was my favorite one by far. It's about two security guards who share a secret passion. i don't wanna give away what the passion is but it's very unexpected and beautifully portrayed. This should be the only one you try and see. It's definitely worth it. Second to last is Enemies Within (English title). This film is the one that made me cry. It's a relevant issue for anyone who watches it, even though it's filmed in France. It's an interview that a man goes on to finalize his citizenship that turns into an interrogation. It made me feel upset and frustrated to see this man painted into a corner. I was beyond relieved to see that the last film was a lighthearted one. The Railroad Lady (English title) was such a great film. It was my boyfriend's favorite to win the Oscar. The woman waves a flag every time the train goes by her house and she starts a correspondence with one of the travelers on the train. It ends on a high note and just put a huge smile on my face. It's also based on a true story which makes it even cuter.



And that's that. My cinema adventures for my birthday vacation. I have seen some films since then so I'll be sure to write about those soon.

poster of my favorite live action short film 

Vacation Part 2

During my vacation, my boyfriend surprised me with a day trip to Pennsylvania. We were on our way to get breakfast and he randomly asked me did I wanna go out of town. Our original plan was to hit up this diner that I really wanted to try. I had been to another location in North Carolina and wanted to try this one out since it's the closest one to me. So he drove us to York, PA and we ended up seeing two movies and going to the library instead. I think that was the better experience. The seats were AWESOME! They're the new ones that recline and sit your feet up. I almost expected it to give me a massage as well. First one up was...


The Lego Batman Movie

It was so good. I wasn't a huge fan of The Lego Movie but this film had me excited. If I had known we were going to see it, I would have worn my Lego Batman t-shirt. We drank our hot beverages (coffee for him, hot chocolate for me) and split an order of cinnamon bites. Even the food was good. I was being spoiled rotten by this movie theater. The jokes int he movie were hilarious and plentiful. I'm sure I missed a few of them because the delivery was nonstop. If you love plot-less stories with an overabundance of references, this is the movie for you. And since it's Lego Batman, it's perfect for kids. They won't really understand what's going on but they'll still enjoy themselves. We stayed until the very end just in case there was a end credits teaser. There isn't one, but I was excited to see a trailer for another Lego movie. The next one is about ninjas and that's all I needed to know to be sold on the idea. I'll definitely be seeing that one.








So after this was the trip to the local library, which was gorgeous. We ended up eating at Quaker Lube (hahahaahaha luuuube) and went back for movie number two...


John Wick Chapter 2

I will shout this from the roof tops. I loooooooooved the first John Wick. I didn't see it in theaters and I regret that decision. I saw it on HBO and was blown away by the fight/shoot out sequences. The stunt choreography was beautiful. And I genuinely adore Keanu Reeves so that was a plus. I had very high hopes for this film. We both did. Sadly, we left disappointed. It was just more of the same old same old. There is only so much this franchise can do with his character and motives. This chapter failed to make much sense to me or make me care about the outcome. A highlight was Ruby Rose's character. The sign language and suits exasperated my sexual attraction to her. After the movie, we went back home and talked about how the ending was so annoying. It doesn't make me eager to see a third possible chapter. The love I have is strictly for the first film now.









Part 3 will be out soon and that should have me all caught up on my cinema outings.

Vacation Part 1

I've been on vacation for a few days and I've seen a handful (or two) of movies. I'm gonna split up the posts because I'm lazy and genuinely don't want to write all of these reviews as once. It's tedious, trying to remember exactly what my experience was at that time and how I felt before, during, and after. I'm gonna try though so here goes.

#1- Fifty Shades Darker

 I saw this opening weekend with my best movie going buddy, Kelly. It was the day after my actual birthday so I considered this a treat. We had saw the first film together with a group of friends and it was hilarious. So we were looking for a repeat experience with just the two of us. I got there first and held the seats for us. It wasn't as crowded as I imagined it being but  I'm still glad I was one of the first people in so I could grab the center seats. The movie itself was funny without meaning to be and way better than the first one. The end credits had a teaser trailer for the last film, Fifty Shades Freed. Kelly and I made plans to finish the trilogy next year on a high note. And by high note, I mean alcohol will be involved. I had a coupon for a free small popcorn that I used after the movie was over and also bought a Lego Batman t-shirt from the kiosk near the concessions stand. I was off to a good start with my movie marathon.







#2- Oscar Nominated Short Films: Animated


Charles theater to the rescue. I've always wanted to screen the short films nominated for the Oscars but never could find a theater close enough to me to go see them. So I was beyond ecstatic to find that Charles was playing both live action and animated. I went solo, braving the cold bitter wind to catch the bus. I was a little late so by the time I walked in the auditorium, it was pitch black. I literally stumbled to find a seat. I ended up taking refuge in a corner seat, a few aisles up from the door. The first film was Borrowed Time, a dark and depressing look at regret. I felt it was too heavy handed with the feels so I didn't like it too much. Next was Pearl (I think), a cute but emotional story about a father and daughter. I really liked this one and found myself humming along to the music. Blind Vaysha came after that. This was my favorite and my pick to win the Oscar. It's about a girl named Vaysha who can see the past with one and see the future with the other. The people in her village call her blind since she cannot see what is actually right in front of her. It was very interesting and my recommendation from the whole lot. Piper takes the screen and my little heart with it. Pixar has some of the best animations out there and this is up high on the list. Piper is a little bird who's trying to figure out how to get food on his own. It's the cutest damn thing you'll ever see and it was kind of funny. Finally, we have Pear Cider and Cigarettes. It's the longest film to be nominated and the one with the warning for children to leave the theater. I kid you not, the screen said parents should remove small children because of the film's mature content. It's about a man retelling the chaotic life of his alcoholic best friend. It had a unique animation style that I really liked but I wasn't that invested in the story. After the showing was over, I took my ass straight back home and chilled for the rest of the day.



And this is where I'll end the blog. I have about 4 more film adventures to recap. Stay tuned for more to come.

I Am Not Your Negro

The title of this blog isn't a political statement about the film I saw recently. It's the actual title of the documentary based on James Baldwin's writings and speeches. The film is nominated for Best Documentary and it's the only film I've seen in the category. So my completely biased opinion is that it should win.

I first heard about the movie from a review in Entertainment Weekly. I assumed it wouldn't be showing in any theaters around me so I made note to watch it once it was released on DVD. A few days later I get an invitation from Kelly to go see it at the Charles Theater. Good ol' Charles theater, always playing the socially conscious and hard to find films. I immediately said yes and just barely made it in time to see it. Thankfully the place was mostly empty since it was a late showing and the Super Bowl was on. We sat dead center, a bit closer to the screen than I'm used to. But since there weren't any actions scenes or loud sounds, the seating suited me just fine.

About the movie itself, all I can say is go see it. Black, white, young, old. It honestly doesn't matter. It shows you that the same thing has been going on for years and that self reflection and facing reality is the only way things will change. The movie inspired and saddened the audience with its brutal honesty. The director, Raoul Peck, holds nothing back. He seamlessly puts together footage from the civil rights movement to today's black lives matter movement. Same message, different day.



                     

Revival of Moonrise Kingdom

Thank God for smaller independent theaters. When I heard that one of my favorite movies was coming back in theaters for a week, I knew I couldn't miss it. I didn't see the film in the first time it was released. I waited for my library get it on DVD so I wouldn't have to pay. I can now say it's worth it to pay for a movie ticket.

Moonrise Kingdom is a love story told by Wes Anderson, a beautifully talented director. His films are more like art to me. The whole crew is amazing, especially the editor and cinematographer. The pacing is like reading a really good book. It leaves you wanting more. I invited my mom to come with me since I wanted to share the joy of watching the movie. Our taste usually differ when it comes to film but I feel that Anderson is universal in likability.

My worse movie pet peeve came true this past Sunday. We were late for the showing. BY 8 MINS! In my world, that is beyond unacceptable. Granted, my mother had a good reason. She had left her phone at home and had to go back and get it. I mean, shit happens. But I was secretly fuming until we picked our seats out in the dark. We were forced to seek refuge in the back left of the theater, since all of the center seats were occupied. Once we were comfortable, I left out to get us popcorn and use my coupon for a free drink. Having seen this movie over 15 times, I realized how silly I was being with my anger and decided to just enjoy myself.

She loved it. She laughed at the dry humor, complemented the child actors, and thanked me for treating her. I would call this outing a complete success and am  resolved on buying the movie on DVD. It's something I should own so I don't have to depend on Netflix or theater revival series to watch it.



                             

XXX: Return of the Unwanted Franchise

I'd like to confess something. I've never seen any of the XXX films before. Not the original and not the sequel with Ice Cube. They couldn't even get Vin Diesel back for that one but he's back now. "Better late than never" goes the saying. I think the most surprising thing about this film is not that is exists, but that I really enjoyed it. It's the perfect blend of mindless action and ridiculous plot.

My boyfriend had the choice of the theater while I had to choose which movie we saw. My first choice was Split but the tickets prices made me gasp so Xander Cage it was. We went after work and we were the first ones in the theater. I hoped that we would be the only ones there but no such luck. A group of teens came in, along with a few single individuals and other twosomes. Since the film had been out for a while, we were in a smaller theater so it felt a bit crowded. 7:00 rolls around and it's the opening credits. No trailers, no dimming of the lights, no wait. I was a little confused at first but went with it. I didn't want to sit through 15 mins of trailers anyway.

Samuel L. Jackson (who is in everything, I swear) starts off the film with his death. The government brings Xander back into the game because he's the only person who can solve the mystery of who's responsible for dropping satellites out of the sky (the explosion is what killed Jackson). He in turn brings in his team of bad asses and they're off to find the bad guys. SPOILER ALERT, the bad guys are also XXX agents and have broken off to do their own thing. The ring leader is Donnie Yen, who I have recently fallen in love with. He's easily one of the better parts of the movie. Which is why he'll be on the trailer in this blog.

There's not much to say about the movie itself. People got beat up, shit blew up, Vin Diesel got laid multiple times. I laughed the whole time, even when I wasn't supposed to. By the time the credits rolled, I had a semi permanent smile on my face. If this movie makes enough money to warrant a sequel, I'd definitely go see it.

Dramatic Drama

Fences

After the horrible experience that was The Bye Bye Man, I was in desperate need of a great film. I've been wanting and waiting to see Fences since it was in its limited release. I found excuse after excuse not to go, saying it'll still be in theaters once I get around to it. It's obviously got one foot out of the door because the theater only had two showing, 10 am and 10 pm. My friend (Everybody say hello to Kelly), picked the morning showing because matinee prices (DUH). Again, I'm the first one to arrive. So much so, that the theater wasn't even open yet. The doors stay locked until 9:30. It was a rat's race to get in line. I was paying cash so no quick tickets from the kiosk for me.

I get the ticket and do some rule breaking that would make you blush. I stuck out to the Starbucks next door to get food and bring it back to the theater. I know, I'm a bad ass rebel. Deal with it. Once I've hidden the goods, I pick our seats and wait patiently. Kelly shows up right before the trailers. (I've seen them all before except the new trailer for XXX: Return of Xander Cage. It was an action packed hot mess that I cannot wait to see.)

Lights go out and the movie starts. From the very first line of dialogue, it's obvious to me it was adapted from a play. The inflections and delivery gave me a glimpse of what the actors' performances were like on stage. It's captivating. Denzel Washington and Viola Davis were just...awesome. I could wax poetic about them for this whole post but I'll keep it to awesome. Davis was the star for me though. The scene when she finally lets Washington have it should secure her every award she has and will be nominated for. It's that good, definitely gave me chills and brought me to tears.

Washington also needs to be commended for his job as director. I feel that this is his greatest film to date. Antwone Fisher held out as my favorite for a long time but this movie takes the cake. The pacing was on point, not once did I check my phone to see what time it was. He gave August Wilson, the writer of the play and screenwriter for the film, his very best. At end credits, the entire audience applauded and some people gave a standing ovation. That speaks to how moved we were as a group.

P.S. We sat three rows to the back, right in the middle. 😃😃

                                                 

Horrible Horror

The Bye Bye Man


This was just the worst horror movie I've seen in recent years. I mean really, it was God awful. And it's all my friend's fault. So lets all throw tomatoes and heckle Kelly for suggesting this movie. (Insert large tomatoes and other garden vegetables being catapulted at Kelly.)

On the bright side, the experience of watching this film was hilarious and worth the matinee price. I arrived at the theater 30 mins before the showing and was waiting for Kelly to show up. Having sat in the lobby for 10 mins, I decide to go sit in the actual theater. Too bad the lights were out, even the lights on the floor to guide you to your seat. If the theater workers were going for a creepy atmosphere, they succeeded. I stood my ass right outside the auditorium until the lights came on. Once that happened, I felt safe enough to pick our seats and wait (im)patiently. She arrives and then the previews start...but with no sound.

That should have told me right then and there the caliber of movie I was about to sit through. The sound comes back on after 5 minutes and the most underwhelming trailers play. (Except for Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, I am too pumped for that.) Now it's finally time for the movie to start. It opens with a vague opening of seemingly random killings and jump cuts to our stars, a trio of college kids off to buy a house. You have Elliot, one of the most lackluster protagonists in horror history. Next is Sasha, Elliot's girlfriend who is basically a wooden plank. Last is John, Elliot's best friend who's only characteristics are that he wants Sasha and is black. With their new house comes creepy vibes right off the bat. They decide to do a seance with a paranormal gifted friend of Sasha's and the scares start.

Well, I guess they were supposed to start. I waited the whole movie to be scared at least once but it never happened. I did however laugh at the jokes the group of people that sat next to me were cracking. Best one was calling John, played by Lucien Laviscount, a discount Drake. It's funny because it's true. So you have a horror movie that was severely lacking in terror, actors that were without any skills, and a theater that has no hopes of anyone staying until the end. I say that because for the last 10 minutes of the film, the lights came on full blast. The was the icing on this crappy cake. And news flash, watching scary movies in the bright light of day takes away from the ambiance.

Finally, thankfully, it was over. I could take a full breath since I was no longer laughing in disbelief. Kelly and I left the theater grateful that we only spent $7 on the tickets and eager to put the memories behind us. With this first blog, I will hopefully obliterate this movie from my mind now that I've written it down.

P.S. We sat in the middle seat in the second to last row 😏😏
P.P.S. Don't think it don't see it don't think it don't see it don't think it don't see it

                                                    

Trying Something New

With every new year comes the same ol' BS revolutions. "I'll lose weight, I'll read more, I'll travel to foreign places." Mine is way easier to achieve. "Start a blog about movies." I get instant gratification since this will be my first post. I'll mainly talk about movies that I've seen in the theater, not on DVD or TV or streaming services. Although if a movie is that damn good (or bad), I'll write a little blurb about it. 

Now, to explain the name of the blog. I had such a difficult time thinking of a name. I didn't want anyone else coming up with a name for me so I suffered in silence. I waited until I set this page up to just write whatever came to mind. Something that was theater/movie related without being too on the nose. I feel like everyone covets the middle seat in the theater. You're not right up on the screen and you're not all the way in the back. You're dead center, able to take it all in. So that's the story with that.

In a perfect world, I'd see every movie that opens but I have a life. Well, it's actually not that hectic but movies are expensive. I plan on uploading at least 3 times a month though. Hopefully I'll be able to stick to that and not forget I even have this blog. Here's to a great year of film.