Desperate Attempt to Catch Up on What We’ve Been Watching
Because fall television has begun, and I no longer can be so carefree with my screen time. Here we go:
The Bourne Legacy (2012) with Jeremy Renner. Good, but not as good as the previous films.
Hanna (2011) About a girl programmed to be an assassin. I didn’t like it as much as my husband did. But did appreciate a very creepy turn from Tom Hollander, who played Mr. Collins in the Keira Knightley Pride and Prejudice. Wondering: was Cate Blanchett’s X-Files Scully-look deliberate?
The 39 Steps (1935), Criterion Collection. The movie is great, as are the extras, and the booklet/essay that comes with the DVD. I think my favorite part is where the guy takes a woman home, and then offers her haddock, and cooks it for her.
The Wire, Season 5. Such a good show. So sad to be done. Fingers crossed for some of those characters, but by the end, I did not give a sh1t about McNulty. He got off too easy. Oh, Bunk, Bunny, Carver, Dukie, Omar, and so many, many characters. I loved spending time with you.
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953). Trifling, but probably worth it to see the original song by Monroe, since I grew up with Madonna’s “Material Girl” homage, and liked Nicole Kidman’s in Moulin Rouge.
Back to the Future (1985). The kids loved this, and I love watching my kids love a movie. The film holds up, though the Huey Lewis soundtrack doesn’t.
Fish Tank (2009). Michael Fassbender. Woo. Great indie, and loved the lead actress.
Being Elmo: a Puppeteer’s Journey (2011). Could it be MORE different than the previous DVD? Interesting and charming docu about the man behind the puppet, but I wanted more about his experience as a black man in a white man’s milieu, and felt it glossed over how he was loving to millions of kids as Elmo, but not so much to his one actual kid. (Reminded me of Miyazaki)
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, the 1979 miniseries with Alec Guinness. So classy, so good. Better than the recent film, and appropriately lacking the film’s unnecessary violence. Like the film, I had to let go of trying to follow the plot and characters and by the end they were all sorted. My husband about had a geekjoy apoplexy when he recognized the actor playing Karla.
Chronicle (2012) A surprisingly solid indie about kids who develop superpowers.
Woot! Caught up!
Currently enmeshed in season 1 of Veronica Mars (watching w/husband) and Friday Night Lights (sans husband.)
September 28th, 2012 at 6:04 pm
During this year-long trip, my Tony & I brought along shows we knew we’d get hours of enjoyment watching & rewatching. Hence bringing along The Wire! We kicked things off with a re-watch of S1 (the only season we have seen) and devoured it during a 24-h trainride from Hong Kong to Beijing. Despite knowing how things would turn out, my heart still breaks in the finale of that one. Now we’re on to S2, which we got partway through at one point before losing steam. Being able to give it our full attention this time has really helped, and I love seeing some of these flawed but beloved characters again (Omar!). McNulty is easily our least favorite “protagonist” though.
Also, due to your recent review I downloaded a Project Gutenberg version of Main Street to my iPad. I figure that will keep me occupied for a while on the countless bus, train & plane rides we have coming up through China!
September 28th, 2012 at 7:21 pm
Oh, Veronica Mars. The first season is the best.
September 28th, 2012 at 9:02 pm
I LOVE Friday Night Lights. I grew up in West Texas, and my high school played football against Odessa Permian, the school that the book was about. I posted about FNL after I watched it. I thought it was mostly very true to West Texas culture and lifestyle.
http://www.semicolonblog.com/?p=14191
September 29th, 2012 at 6:34 am
I hated Hanna. Bad dialogue, stupid plotting, too much implausibility, blech.
But also “loved” Fish Tank in the way you love a movie that is horrifying in its own right.
September 30th, 2012 at 5:54 pm
Come on … I’ve got Power of Love going through my head as I type. My boys also loved Back to the Future. @ and 3 did not hold up as well as the first did.
October 1st, 2012 at 9:00 am
I don’t think two and three held up as well when they came out, either. Not sure I feel like we need to go there.
October 4th, 2012 at 9:10 pm
Fish Tank. That movie sticks with me in an unclean way.
I’m on page 720 of Suitable Boy. Feel like it’s never going to end, but I’m enjoying the immersion experience.
October 5th, 2012 at 2:29 pm
Fish Tank was definitely dark, but I liked it and had hope for the girl getting out at the end. Glad you’re enjoying Suitable Boy. It _does_ end, and if you need to discuss it, email me. Heh.