My Spring Break in Movies - Part 1

I've been on Spring Break this week, but instead of going on some sweet vacation, I stayed in town to watch a friend's dog and just enjoy not having to work. The only goal I laid out for my self was to watch a lot of movies. I was hoping to clean out my instant queue, but so far, I've only picked one of those off. Well, it's Wednesday and I figured I'd update you all on what I've seen during the first half of my break. I've included any movie I watched in the theater, online, on DVD or caught on cable. Enjoy:

-Friday-

The Watchmen - It was pretty awesome. I loved the GN and this didn't disappoint as a film adaptation. There were some flaws, but for the scale and ambition of the project, I was impressed. Standing alone as a move it's easier to pick apart; acting, pacing, etc. But, I'm not a real critic, so I don't have the responsibility of doing that and I can enjoy it for what it is: a loyal to the source adaptation that indulges itself into the world created by Gibbons and some other guy. The soundtrack's great and the opening credits are amazing. I know KTL didn't particularly like it, but he also thought Funny Games and Teeth were really great movies. However, I did like KTL's joke about Rorschach's mask (at least I hope it was a joke).

- After Drinking-

In the Electric Mist - This is a film adaptation of James Lee Burke's In the Electric Mist with the Confederate Dead. The novel is one of my faves in the Dave Robicheaux series and the first one I ever read, so I really wanted this to be good. Well, (surprise, surprise) it wasn't. I was pretty drunk when I watched it, but I remember it being exceedingly not good. Tommy Lee Jones plays Robicheaux, and does a good job, but he's not enough to save the movie from the general funk of suck that lingers over it. I'll check it out again sober, but doubt it'll be that much different. I cannot wait to send it back to Netflix.

-Saturday-

Lakeview Terrace - Not terrible. If you have a couple hours to kill and catch it on cable, check it out. However, if you never see it, you'll be OK. I almost wish I hadn't Netflixed it and just waited for Starz or Encore to get it.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall - The night wore on and TV selection faded, so I popped in this DVD. It's always funny. This is one you need to see. If you didn't like it - you're just lying so you can feel cool being the guy who didn't like it. It was getting late, so I drowsed in and out, but it still cracked me up.

-Later-

Heartbreak Kid - I woke up not feeling well in the middle of the night and watched this while I fought through the pain (late night hangover guts). It's a miss. It's good for killing time or background noise, but other than that, skip it for something better. Malin Ackerman, a relatively dead spot in Watchmen, plays alongside a seemingly phoned-in Ben Stiller. The real treat is the Ole Miss family watch dog'ed by Danny McBride.

- Sunday-

Vertigo - This has been in my instant queue for a while, so I thought I'd knock it out with the week off. It's a very well done movie, but Hitchcock's got better out there. Stewart's charismatic as all get out, but he can't hold the whole movie up. I think it's 'perfect' rating is a bit much - but it was fairly creepy, which the 'Cock (that's his new FTS nickname) is always good for. The score was good, too, lingering over me well into my second hour of Battlefront II time. It's a must see for any AH fan, but don't start with it.

-Monday-

Zack and Miri Make a Porno - I've been meaning to watch this since it was released in the theater, but never got around to it until JINX let me borrow his copy. I love Seth Rogen and I love Kevin Smith, so I was excited. It was unimpressive early, but it really picked up steam as I got to know the characters and overall, it's very entertaining. Check it out when you have the chance.

The Empire Strikes Back - This is one of the best films of all time. It's my favorite in the saga and where I usually start when I get into the movie watching phase of a Star Wars kick. Things I love about it: The lightsaber duel on Bespin; Bobba Fett; Vader's super star-destroyer; Billy Dee just being Billy Dee, but set in space; The Battle of Hoth; The ending. Awesome.

4th Floor - Another late night cable find. Juliette Lewis moves into a new apartment and begins having problems with a downstairs neighbor. It's not as terrible as I would have thought reading the cast and plot summary, but it's not necessarily 'good', either. William Hurt, Artie Lang and the Saw dude co-star. This might really be all you ever need to know.

-Tuesday-

300 - The Watchmen release had me thinking about this movie again, as both were directed by Zach Snyder. While 300 is nowhere near as cerebral as Watchmen, it's still pretty good, and I think I have to agree with the Moviegoer in saying it's almost perfect in what it's trying to be. But, what should get more credit, when a guy walks perfectly around the block, or when he runs 24 miles of a marathon but limps across the finish line?

Return of the Jedi - The beginning of this movie has been butchered by Lucas. The stupid dance/music number does not fit into the darker and adult tone of the original trilogy. The scenes with Luke and Vader are some of the best in the entire saga, though, and it's my fave lightsaber duel. The space battle above Endor is pretty rad, too. Best line: "You failed your highness. I am a Jedi, like my father before me." Super-tuff.

Watchmen (IMAX) - The Moviegoer, JINX and I met a friend to see this on the IMAX. It wasn't that much different for me; some visual details are crisper, but that's it. The second viewing did, however, reaffirm how great this movie is - at least, if you liked the GN. While it's not a must see on IMAX, I'm glad I did it.

Revenge of the Sith - By far the best of the prequels. It grades out to a solid 'good.' It could be much better, but every tense interaction between the heroes and villains or bad ass battle scene is undone by the ensuing Anakin-Padme love scene. The movie climaxes with my third favorite lightsaber duel - Anakin vs. Obi-Wan - but loses any street cred that scene delivers by telling us with a straight face that Padme dies of a "broken heart." But then we get to see Vader, Tarkin and Palpatine looking over the infant Death Star and get the sweet tie-ins to episode 4. Nice.

-Wednesday-

Over Her Dead Body - I watched this in a bar with the sound off, reading the sub-titles between conversations with the Moviegoer and taking shots provided by one of my favorite bartenders. It probably shouldn't count, but, for some unexplainable reason, I was mesmerized by this movie. Don't get me wrong, it's bad. But, apparently Paul Rudd can make any movie palatable. He's like the Srirachi of films.

After leaving the bar, we went to a baseball game which Georgia won 12-0. The Diamond Dogs are now 14-0 heading into SEC play in T-town this weekend.

Still up: The rest of the saga (I cannot help myself); the original Inglorious Basterds; the new 3:10 to Yuma; some more Hitchcock; the Footfist Way; Electric Mist (sober); some documentaries; what-the-fuck-ever I feel like. Check back for the cocnlusion next week.