Maryamie: Movies

Munich: a quick movie review

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 21:07:10 GMT

"So what movie are you going to watch tonight?" Patrick asks me as we go for our evening walk around the little pond.
"I was thinking of watching Munich."
Patrick frowns. "I saw that movie with Dad already. It's sad. I don't recommend it."
"Not all sad movies are bad though. This one is based on a true story. I think I would like to watch it as it got lots of praise from reviewers if I remember right." I counter.
"Ok, so like I said it's a sad movie. Everyone dies except for one guy who dies five years later in a terrorist attack." Patrick exclaims.
"That sounds very sad. Any good parts at all?" I am hoping for some highlights here.
"Hmmm...well there were a couple of boob shots, but they ended up getting shot too and got all bloody." Patrick shrugs.
"So the only good thing was a shot of couple of naked boobs who died?"I ask disappointedly.
"Well, there was a naked guy too who got shot. Lots of explosions and shooting and then at the end pretty much everyone died. Like I said, a sad movie. Now you don't have to watch the movie because I told you the whole two and a half hours in less than two minutes. And saved you lots of sadness. There." He smiles triumphantly.
There are times when you just can't argue with a thirteen year old.
We ended up watching Sixteen Candles, an old favorite for both of us and laughed our way through it. I guess Munich has to wait for another night.

Liberty

Thu, 31 May 2007 01:31:00 GMT

Today I am getting all my inspiration from the Blogging Poet. I just saw a short movie on his site, titled Liberty, done by a Greensboro resident which I liked quite a lot. It is amazing to me how the Internet allows us access to different parts of the world and when I find gems like this, it makes my day. It is just over seven minutes and totally worth a watch.

The Dinner Game: A Movie Review

Tue, 01 May 2007 21:45:56 GMT

Robert was getting back home late last night from Mix '07 in Vegas and so I watched The Dinner Game while I waited up. Not that he would've watched it with me, mind you. I made a mistake of making him and a bunch of my friends watch Amelie a few years ago and we all hated it. Since I had recommended it though, everyone hated me too. And ever since then every time U recommend a foreign movie to watch, Robert dismisses it as yet another stupid French movie that he will not watch.

The Dinner game was awesome though. I was laughing from the beginning to the end. It reminded me of how much I enjoyed watching The Closet. I really recommend watching this short and sweet movie. I am going to check out more movies by the same director, Francis Veber. He is a master of comedy.

I love watching foreign films as they usually have more meat and less flash as the Hollywood movies. Robert dismisses pretty much anything with subtitles. So anyone has any good suggestions?

Not a chick flick, just stupid

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 01:14:29 GMT

Last night we watched Talladega Nights and after 15 minutes into the movie, Robert took his glasses off, put his head in my lap and prepared for a nice nap. "Hey this isn't a chick flick!" I protested.
"No, it's just stupid." He responded shaking his head.

He did manage to watch most of the movie and remark every once in a while that it was one of the stupidest movies he had ever since. I had to agree, it was pretty stupid. The red neck jokes just aren't funny after the first few times, but the movie had its moments when it made me laugh out loud. I like Will Ferrell a lot. He was hilarious in Anchorman, and he did make me laugh in this movie too. It just wasn't one of his best. If you want to see funny, you have to check him out in Funny or Die. Of course I've been told that people with small kids won't find it funny. It was really funny to me :)

All Caught Up with Lost

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 19:45:20 GMT

The title should aptly claim all caught up in Lost. I got addicted to it a few months ago when a coworker at my previous job offered to loan me the Season one disc set. I never watched it on TV, because I thought it was like Survivor, but I was so wrong. I watched the first episode and then Robert and I stayed up the whole week, watching the entire first season. Then we waited for the disc set of season two to come out and we did the same thing last month. Last week we got a hold of all the previously aired episodes for Season three. Now we are all caught up and have to wait until February for the rest of the third season to unveil. Like a true believer, I have pulled in my family into the cult as well. Robert was first and then we got Patrick in too. All three of us are Lost addicts now.

I never thought I would become one of those desperate creatures who hang at the edge of their seats from one week to another awaiting yet another episode of their beloved series. Oh no, not me. We don't watch much TV. Haven't had one since we moved to the new house which is close to four months now and haven't really missed it. Even when we had TV, we liked to watch shows that could stand alone without a plot being carried from one episode to the next. Amongst our favorites: CSI, Law and Order, and Without a Trace. Why do we have a big ass TV in the middle of our living room you ask? Well, it's all about Xbox and Netflix baby.

So what is it about Lost? Well you have the mysterious tropical Island, filled with polar bears, monsters and secret hatches, not to mention the sinister indigenous people, or The Others. Then you have the mysterious backgrounds of all the plane survivors and how they relate to one another. And let's not forget all those hot guys with their shirts off. I am of course partial to Sawyer, because I have a thing for bad boys, but my favorite character has to be Kate. She is beautiful and sexy, but complex and mysterious. I am totally crazy about Lost and can't wait till February. Are you a Lost head too?

Brokeback Mountain

Sun, 07 May 2006 10:10:50 GMT

Just saw Brokeback Mountain with my friend Shadi who is visiting from out of town. It was her second time watching it and she cried through it again. Everyone who has watched this movie has recommended it to me. I have heard nothing but priases from friends. It's hard for any movie to live up to all that hype. I didn't cry in the movie although I was moved by the sense of forbidden love and the characters' helplessness in dealing with emotions that were so much more powerful than what they could rein in. The sweeping landscape shots especially in our HDTV were simply amazing. Every scene was like a snapshot made for a post card and of course Heath and Jake are oh so hot. I had to rewind the sex scene. God bless whoever invented the rewind button and the concept of high definition TV.

I liked the movie. I know Shadi and some other friends will want to kill me for saying it but I didn't think it was all that and a bag of chips. I have nothing against gay movies either. I have a reputation of dragging my friends to see any gay movies that are out there and some of them are dragged against their will. One friend refuses to see any movies with me until she has read reviews about it after I took her to see Priscilla the Queen of Desert . So I guess I just expected so much more, due to all that I had heard and all. Brokeback isn't the epic, heart-breaking love story of all times, but the lanscape shots are nice and I'll always pay to see two hot guys baring it all out in the name of love.

Shadi and I are gonna watch a whole bunch of movies while she is here, so stay tuned. More reviews coming your way shortly.

Fun DVDs to watch with the whole family: March of the Penguins, Chicken Little, Supersize me, Bad News Bears, and Napoleon Dynamite

Tue, 02 May 2006 22:58:20 GMT

My wonderful, twelve years old step son, Patrick was visiting us for Spring Break a couple of weeks ago and we watched a few good movies together, that I recommend watching with your family if you ever get the chance.

At the top of the list was March of the Penguins. This is an amazing documentary. I am not a typical discovery channel fan, but both Patrick and I enjoyed watching this beautiful story unfold. The scenery is breathtaking and the penguins are oh so cute. Watching them wobble along on the snowy path or slide on the ice or just cuddle up was so wonderful. We loved it!

Another cute movie we watched together was Chicken Little. We rented this movie with not much expectation and it proved to be a fun, coming of age movie with cute Disney characters making us laugh all along. Our favorite character? It was a toss-up between Fish out Of water and the little alien baby, Kirby. It certainly doesn’t measure up to Finding Nemo, but it is cute and lovable and fun in its own way.

Another movie we rented with not much expectation and then was nicely surprised was Bad News Bears. I haven’t watched the original, but I thought Billy Bob Thornton’s performance was brilliantly funny and heartfelt. The characters grew on us and we really rooted for them to win. Great fun movie to watch with the family.

I also think every family in the US needs to watch Supersize Me. It opens your eyes to the horrific effects of fast food culture on our lives and bodies. I am not a big fan of fast food and I don’t think indulging in McDonlad’s treats is an evil thing once in a while. I also don’t believe we should sue fast food companies as we are all give choices. Nobody is forcing junk food down our throat. I found this movie an eye opening documentary though and I recommend watching it to everyone.

Last but not least, we watched Napoleon Dynamite again. I love this movie. It is hilarious. If you are part of the geek culture or if you have a young adult or a teenager in your life, you have probably already watched this. If you have not, please do and laugh your ass off like I do every time I see it.

Well this concludes my movie review for the week. Tomorrow is movie night with the divas club and we’ll be watching a DVD on our new rockin’ HDTV. Stay tuned for a movie review.

Thank you for smoking: A movie review

Sat, 08 Apr 2006 08:04:25 GMT

One of the funniest movies I have seen; with clever social satire and stunning performances, Thank You For Smoking made my Friday night. Jen and I had a great time watching this movie tonight. I told Robert when I got home, that he should see this movie as Nick Naylor, the main character, reminded me so much of him. I am not saying that Microsoft is anything close to Tobacco industry, nor that Robert is the devilishly handsome Spin Sultan, but Robert is good at what he does and so was Nick Naylor. Whether you are a smoker or a spinner or both or none, you'll enjoy this movie. A definite must-see.

Movie reviews for DVD rentals: The Weatherman, New York Stories and the Object of My Affection

Wed, 05 Apr 2006 22:25:01 GMT

The picks for this week contain one new and two not so new DVDs. I liked all three. Hope you do too.

I liked the Weatherman, but then again I can’t think of any movie that Nick Cage has been in that I haven’t liked. In the tradition of American Beauty, The Weatherman is a film about a man’s search for meaning and happiness in today’s American life. It was heartfelt and touching but also funny. I recommend watching it.

I also liked the trilogy of three short films in New York Stories. I think all three short films were stories about love lost and found and each director played with them in their own special way. I enjoyed the sexual tension and the chaos of art, ego and love in Martin Scorsese’s “Life lessons,” as well as the soft, childish charm of Coppola’s “Life with Zoe,” and I laughed hard throughout Woody Allen’s Oedipus Wrecks about a son’s uncomfortable relationship with a controlling mother.

I even liked The object of My Affection, and I think I stayed away as long as I did because I didn’t think I could stand Jennifer Anniston but she was fine and the movie was sweet, romantic and funny. I liked the simple, yet meaningful message about love and marriage: “You gotta pick someone and make it work.” It sounds easy enough. If only we could all follow through.

Maryam’s DVD Rental Guide for the week---Crash, Born into the Brothels and Beauty Shop

Tue, 14 Mar 2006 08:49:52 GMT

I finally watched Crash a couple of nights ago and now I understand why everyone who had seen it told me I should too. It is one of the most moving and thought provoking movies that I have seen of late. Great acting, gripping plot and ground breaking theme. Definitely deserved the Oscar, but I had a couple of problems with this movie.

First, the foundation that we kill the “other” because of racial prejudice doesn’t really hold true. I think that most blacks are killed by blacks, most whites are killed by whites, most Hispanics killed by Hispanics than different races. There is racial tension, but that just keeps us separated, most homicides are committed by people who knew the victim and were close to them.

Second, in the last two years I have watched two movies, both Oscar nominees; (The House of Sand and Fog and Crash) portray Iranian men as temperamental, gun-waving, and paranoid maniacs. Add Not without My Daughter to the Mix and we have a great winning combination for the portrayal of Iranian men by Hollywood. Such racial profiling can not be further from the truth.

Speaking of racial profiling, Beauty Shop also plays on that theme but it is funny and relaxing and of course Queen Latifah is always a pleasure to watch. It was a bit long, but still a good fun flick for the chicks J

Last but not least is the documentary, Born into Brothels about the lives of the children of prostitutes in Calcutta. This is a must see movie as it opens your eyes to the depth of human soul and finds hope in the last places you would think to look. Simply amazing!

Movie night with the Divas: Chicago

Fri, 03 Mar 2006 07:51:35 GMT

We have been getting together since last September for the book club every month and the first time that we have more ladies show than any other time is the movie night. Go figure! And I am not gonna get into guessing why they all voted to see a movie about women who kill their well-deserving husbands and boyfriends and get away with it. Chicago was great. I definitely recommend it. I loved the musical and I loved the movie even more than the musical itself.

Movie review: Lord of War, Pink Panther, The Man, and The Legend of Zorro

Tue, 28 Feb 2006 06:03:20 GMT

I’ve been looking at the list of Oscar nominations for this year and I have to say I am quite disappointed that Lord of War, is not among them. I can’t believe it. This is disturbing, entertaining, great movie that you have to rent and watch. Nick Cage is amazing, but so is the plot and the way the movie makes one examine life and humanity.

If you want to rent a funny movie though, I suggest The Man. It is one of those cop buddy movies that Eugene Levy and Sam Jackson take to another level of fun and hilarity.

And if you are out there in the theaters and looking for a funny movie to see, I suggest Pink Panther. Take the whole family, check your mind out at the door, kick back, relax and laugh your ass off.

Update: I just finished watching Zorro 2 or The legend of Zorro, and didn't find it as entertainning as the original. But I guess most sequels end up disappointing. I found the movie too long to keep my interest and the plot too far-fetched to move me. Ms. Jones is as beautiful as ever though and Mr. Banderas still can hold one's attention.

I grew up watching cartoons of Pink Panther and the Zorro series on TV in Iran. It's wonderful to see my childhood intrigues come back in such a flashy way on to the big screen. What will they think of next?

What movie should we see?

Fri, 24 Feb 2006 22:42:14 GMT

The beautiful ladies of the Divas book club are gathering at my humble house on March 1^st to watch a movie. I have suggested Crash, but am wondering if you all have any suggestions?

Your Guide to new romantic comedies DVDs: Wedding Crashers, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Dodge Ball, Be Cool, Must Love Dogs, Hitch, Spanglish, and A Very Long Engagement

Tue, 31 Jan 2006 05:16:07 GMT

If you find yourself in the movie rental store looking for a new comedy one of these days, let me suggest Wedding Crashers. Warning: it’s rated R for some sexual scenes and profanity. But if you don’t mind that stuff, then this movie is for you. I love Vince Vaughn. He is hands down one of the funniest men in the movies today. Wedding Crashers was by far one of his best performances, but he was the only saving grace, I thought, for Mr. and Mrs. Smith. He held his own down against Ben Stiller in Dodge ball and boy he was good in Be Cool. In fact the whole movie would have gone to hell if it wasn’t for him and The Rock.

I guess you have noticed that I like Comedies, and if you are like me you’ll find yourself feeling obligated to rent Must Love Dogs. Do me a favor and don’t. Yes, John Cusack is very cute and Diane Lane is a sexy lady, and the only reason you should watch this movie is if you really love Diane and John. If you don’t really love them, then you won’t really love Must Love Dogs. What a lackluster romantic comedy.

Hitch is another romantic movie that you should only watch if you love Will Smith and I do, so I liked it. I don’t remember much about it except that I thought the juxtaposition of slim Smith next to chubby Kevin James was fun enough. The female characters seemed rather shallow and air-headed in this movie. Maybe that was the point.

The comedy that got under my skin though was Spanglish. I see a recurring theme in movies and television to show American women as neurotic, blabber mouthed, stressed out, shallow and completely clueless characters. I can’t stand it. It’s as if the Annette Bening character in American Beauty walked out of set and walked into Spanglish as Tea Leoni’s character. I have never met women like these and I understand that they are caricatures but why are they showing up everywhere these days, or is it just me? This movie had some redeeming moments with the younger girl characters, but that’s where it stayed.

If you are really in the mood for romance and don’t mind subtitles, I can recommend an excellent French movie, A Very Long Engagement. I hated Amelie and am not a fan of war movies, but I thought this movie was well done. It is a great story about love and keeping hope alive.

So go out there and get yourself some romantic comedies to watch and keep loving and hoping and laughing.

Movie/DVD reviews: Bewitched, Sahara and Million Dollar Baby

Tue, 03 Jan 2006 22:38:37 GMT

Sahara was a fun action movie. I am not a great fan of Matthew McConaughey and Penelop Cruz annoys me, but I did enjoy this movie. It was in the same level as National Treasure with somewhat of a similar plot. Mindless but explosive entertainment with a few pretty faces and some funny banter. Watch it if you are looking for some fun action and light banter.

Bewitched was another fun, lighthearted movie but it went on longer than it should have. Will Ferrell is funny and Nicole Kidman is very cute. I guess for mindless entertainment it would do, but Ferrell was much better in Anchorman and Kidman could and should take on more challenging roles. Watch it if you just want some lighthearted mindless entertainment.

There was no fun or light in Million dollar baby though. Million Dollar Baby is one of those movies you feel obliged to watch because it won an oscar, but you shouldn't really have to. A dark, brutal and depressing movie that I wish I hadn't watched. I have to admit that I abhor boxing and don't consider it a sport but just a pure expression of violence and brutality that should have no place in the civilized world. Watch it if you like boxing and have a craving for a depressing movie.

And that's it for Maryam at the movies. See you next time!

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason --A Movie Review

Sat, 31 Dec 2005 09:51:34 GMT

Just finished watching Bridget Jones Part II and loved it. Bridget Jones movies number one and two are must-see, feel good movies for all the ladies. Renee Zellweger is wonderful. The movie is very funny, very romantic, and of course Hugh Grant is as sexy as ever.

You know I have fallen for charming, sexy and heartless guys like Daniel Cleaver character before. Who hasn't? But it's like that book says: Gentlemen prefer blondes, but gentlemen marry burnettes. Well I believe, ladies prefer bad boys, but ladies marry good men.

Rent the DVD tonight. You'll love it.