Category Archives: 3 of 5

Live Free or Die Hard (2007)

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Live Free or Die Hard

Live Free or Die Hard

In a movie season filled with CGI fantasy, LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD gets real; with real action, real humor, and the reprise of a beloved and iconic character: John McClane.

If you don’t like action movies, skip this one. If you are an action junkie, this one is for you.

If you liked the original Die Hard, even if you were disappointed by the sequels, you should be quite happy with this one. They’ve brought back the humor of the original, and given us more of the action. Bruce Willis‘ John McClane may have a little less hair, but he is still a serious bad@$$.

The casting was done really well in this film.
Justin Long rings true (and humorous) as his computer hacker charge/side-kick.
Timothy Olyphant is a great bad guy.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead was a great choice as daughter Lucy. She is believable as the offspring of Bonnie Bedelia/ Holly Gennero, and she carries off the attitude of McClane.
And, of course, I always enjoy a Kevin Smith siting.

I would probably give this another star if I had more friends who like action flicks. Mom doesn’t really get into a high body count. 😉

(I noticed in this flick that they made very sure to let us know that the only good guy who engages McClane in a clash, lives to fight another day.)

Rotten Tomatoes as of this writing: Critics 77%; Users 95%

Rumor Has It (2005)

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Rumor Has It

Rumor Has It

Sarah Huttington, recently engaged, goes home to Pasadena with fiance Jeff for a family wedding. She hears a rumor that “The Graduate” (book and movie) are based on her family. Did her grandmother and her mom have flings with the same man just before her parents married?

Silly little chick flick. Well cast, from Shirley MacLaine as the battle-axe grandmother to Mena Suvari as the simpering, spoiled sister. Kevin Costner, one of my least favorite actors is fine here. Since his character is required to be basically flat and without emotion, he is an ideal choice. Mark Ruffalo as the sweet, slubby fiance, Jennifer Aniston as the neurotic mess of a heroine….

I found it hard to get past the idea of a mother & daughter sleeping with the same man, and harder still when the granddaughter joins the line. Eww, just ewwwww! The general message of the movie, though, is sweet. Love isn’t like the movies, love is like life. Much as Henry Fonda said in this quote.

Tepid comedy [that] almost screams ‘just wait for video.’ ~ Full Review

Rotten Tomatoes: Critics 20%; Audience 51%

The Wedding Date (2005)

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The Wedding Date

The Wedding Date

Single-girl anxiety causes Kat Ellis (Messing) to hire a male escort (Mulroney) to pose as her boyfriend at her sister’s wedding. Her plan, an attempt to dupe her ex-fiancé, who dumped her a couple years prior, proves to be her undoing.

I am having a hermit sort of a weekend, which means chick flicks. On the suggestion of the clerks at Blockbuster, I picked up The Wedding Date.

Not bad, definitely good cinematherapy, I think my girlfriends would like it so it is higher on the Word of Mouth scale.

Some truly great lines from Dermot Mulroney’s character:

  • “The hardest thing is loving someone and then having the courage to let them love you back.”
  • “I think I’d miss you even if we’d never met”
  • “Here’s to the husbands who’ve won you, the losers who’ve lost you, and the lucky bastards who’ve yet to meet you”

Yeah, the flick was definitely written by a woman.

To be fair: Rotten Tomatoes liked this one even less than Bewitched, though there were some (slightly) positive reviews

Rotten Tomatoes: Critics 10%; Audience 68%

“A bit like cheap champagne: It’s better if you revel in its bubbly fizz and don’t think about the finish.”

~ Sue Pierman

 

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

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Harry Potter

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

It’s Harry Potter’s third year at Hogwarts; not only does he have a new “Defense Against the Dark Arts” teacher, but there is also trouble brewing. Convicted murderer Sirius Black has escaped the Wizards’ Prison and is coming after Harry.

I liked this one, for all the reasons I enjoy the Harry Potter stories. Unfortunately, having read the book, this movie fell short – not just for what they left out but for the whole feeling of the flick. Though still quite an amusing film it suffers in comparison to the first two – just not up to par.

Still; it’s a Harry Potter movie, the young stars are great, the story is intriguing. If I was not familiar with the original story, or the first two films, it would be getting a higher rating.

Rotten Tomatoes: Critics 91%; Audience 85%

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