Saturday, July 17

Inception
Bones, Season Three

I will not say that Christopher Nolan's Inception just saved movies.

However, as far as the summer box office goes, it will (hopefully) prove to be a much needed lifejacket. There have been a lot of box office disappointments over the past few months (Carrie, I'm looking at you -- well, you and that green ogre whose movies I don't care for). Inception isn't overly cerebral like many of Nolan's films are perceived. Inception is actually pretty straightforward. It's about penetrating dreams to find information. However, the blend of action and brain stimulation is beautifully crafted, and I don't think there is a single scene that wasn't a tiny eyegasm - here's looking at you Joseph Gordon-Levitt, as you float around in a gravity-less space kicking ass and working to save your team -- and your adorable butt and really great vest.

Really, the cast was top notch, great form. Tom Hardy, who was a familiar in an I can't place you kind of wave, was witty and charming (and from Meadowlands!). Cillian Murphy was just too trusting behind his heavily hooded eyes, and I always enjoy Ken Watanabe - he's absolute magic in any film. My real concern was Ellen Page playing outside her well-known acting space as quirky (Hard Candy notwithstanding). I admit to being very pleasantly surprised with her performance - not annoying or overly pushy as the character could have easily gone, in my view. My only regret about the cast is Leo DiCaprio - not for his performance in this film, but - for me - the general character that echoed of his character in Shutter Island. Overall though, brilliant. Jo-Go has a voice like milk chocolate as he explains he wonderfully complicated but not world he and team create and inhabit.

It's rare that a movie makes me so excited I have jitters when I walk out. It looks like I've taken a five hour energy. I shake a little, my hands clench and unclench, and I look around a little manic - I probably look a little like a meth head. The last time I felt this was after The Dark Knight (which I also saw on an IMAX screen -- maybe there's a connection?). Best movie ever? Not necessarily. Best movie of the year? I've seen some good ones but it's definitely top three, especially considering how well-blended the genres were. It's an action movie with some heart and head and not completely predictable dialogue. Saving the summer box office? Well I'm seeing it again (probably a matinee though -- so I'm throwing like $24 bucks at it, and I recommend you do the same.

Bones has been taking over my life, along with trying to make my cat like me. Nothing new to say other than the Widow's Son Killer is creepy, and I really hate Bones' fugitive family.

Monday, July 12

Bones
True Blood
River Monsters

I have finished the first season of Bones! What an accomplishment? Yeah, I do feel proud, although, like any other crime shows, some of the plots seem completely ludicrous, including the whole thing about her parents. Of course someone so smart and emotionally distant has abandonment issues. Eye roll. Also, for someone who seems to care so much about bones, she has nice curled hair and I'm dying to know what kind of eye makeup she was rocking in one of the later episodes of the season. Anyway, Definitely recommend the show for people with spare time and a soft spot for procedural crime dramas. Bones (Dr. Brennan) really is surprisingly compelling. However, having watched the first episode of season two, I hate the new character they brought on as head of forensics. She wasn't there before, as far as I can tell the job is new/made-up, and I hate petty workplace dramas. It's why I work where I do...well, that and a multiplying amount of "No"s from other places....

True Blood sucks this season. I'm going to say it. There were two good moments last night - the Sookie/Eric dream and Eric saying "brother cousins"-- and that's all. They are taking 54 minutes to tell about 15 worth of story. Sam, your parents/new family are annoying scammers who I still think are going to eat you and grill you behind their van. Tara, I wish your character would die. You are useless. All you do is get involved with creepy guys and screw over Sookie while under their influences. Bill....seriously? I get you are protecting Sookie and maybe you have to be drinking stripper blood and shit, but you are looking rough and wrinkled. Not the Bill I remember from Season One. You have fallen on my True Blood Sex Bracket. Much more of this and I'll be putting your name below Terry's. Sookie...you looked like goth trash last night, and god help me I thought it was hilarious. Eric, you are the only good part of the show. You and Pam. You and Pam and Lafayette.

Dude, River Monsters convinces me even more that I never want to swim in a non-pool environment again.