It’s been a while since I’ve posted a movie review, but after seeing Once, I feel it a dishonor to the creators/musicians for not passing it on to other movie viewers & musicians.

It’s a completely brilliant and refreshing film about a musician’s plight to get his music off the streets and into rotation, but never really gets the gumption to do it until, out of happenstance, this ordinary woman approaches him one night while he’s singing out his lungs and angst ridden heart.  Brilliantly enough, they have no names, and they look ordinary, yet resembling the normal Irish man and Czech woman.  But from the beginning of their meeting, to the randomness of their conversations, you find yourself cozied up within their budding friendship and obvious musical connection.  His songs are climaxing, strong, and honest; she helps fill in his songs that were once void of calm sweetness by singing superb harmony and infusing simple piano melodies.

But what makes the movie work most is its honesty between them.  If the two characters were a song, they’d be initially subtle, strong, beautiful, but with an underlying tension and tragedy (somewhat like "Falling Slowly").  Speaking of songs, Glen Hansard and  Markéta Irglová star in this film, as brilliant musicians, having written most of the songs together. 

"Falling Slowly" (above) won an Oscar for best music in a film, beating the other nominated candidates Enchanted and August Rush.   I recommend buying the soundtrack on iTunes.  It’s superb, honest, and melodic. Just great music.  I mean, I hardly pay for my music but this time, after having seen the movie, I quickly researched the two musicians and wanted the soundtrack.

After the Movie:

A budding romance followed quickly while filming the movie between these two musicians (a happy ending after all!!!).  After the movie, they made a band, The Swell Season (named after Hansard’s favorite book) and is currently touring US and international venues.  He’s 38 and she’s 20, but their musical prowess really equal each other, him having experience in a band and she being classically trained in piano and voice. 

So the movie doesn’t have to end…you can see them continue to make music…and hopefully with fingers crossed, maybe a much needed sequel.

                                                                               GO SEE IT.
                                                                               LIKE NOW.

Iron Man

Greatly casted, with Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, an older indulgent billionaire who plays as hard as he works. What I love about this marvel hero was all the exciting gadgetry, eye candy for geeks and nerds worldwide. That is definitely something I can admire in a super hero. I also loved his assistant- Pepper Pots. I mean, how cool is having an extremely hot assistant who can run away from an enormous robot in Gucci 4 inch heels- named Pepper Pots?!

I also loved that they casted Robert Downey Jr., unlike so many movies out there that have been downing the age in casting their super heroes.

I’d totally watch this movie again. Robert Downey Jr. is finally getting his credit…

27 Dresses

i could have sworn that i’ve seen this movie before…oh wait, i have. it was called “Never Been Kissed.”

the story line was in such parallel dimensions that if you played the movies simultaneously, both couples end up kissing right at the same time at the end of the movie.

ok. ok. not that exactly…but haven’t we seen this already? someone falls for the person who is their target subject for the news article of the year, and decides to abort the initial plan, thus sacrificing their career advancement for true love, only to realize that the story is way to good not to be printed?

i mean, katherine heigl is typically the subtle comical force, but the plot line just didn’t pull enough originality. i also must have burped at one part cause i just didn’t understand how their relationship really blossomed into love, even though by the trailers alone, you knew she’d eventually end up dating an x-Men. but there were some good parts worthy enough for this to be some blockbuster night.

Dan in Real Life

Heartfelt is right. This was a great cast, no lie, but without Steve Carell, it probably wouldn’t have been as interesting. Steve Carell definitely has this surrounding subtle wit about him that makes you relate and believe him. The movie itself is entertaining, not just because of the kickpuet soundtrack of Sondre Lerche, but because of the subtle plot and … subplots. Great movie.

Ps. Buy the soundtrack. No lie.

The Golden Compass

who wrote this movie?

what they should’ve done was use the golden compass to point them to a better ending.
you know what they should’ve done? they should’ve used the golden compass to direct them to a logician, because if that ice bear became king of like a thousand bears, then why didn’t at least 300 bears go to war like the Spartans?

and the author of this movie obviously had psychological issues w/ his/her mother, because in the end, that little girl let her open a can of three levels of wrong.

and if i were that girl, i would’ve used the compass to point me towards Aslan, who most likely lived two miles west, where there were more talking animals.

and lastly, i would’ve used the golden compass to point me to the person who owes me money back from spending on that movie.

The Kite Runner

this was a very powerful and subtle movie that makes you feel so distant yet close to the movie’s themes at the same time. it’s almost unimaginable what national turmoil exists in different parts of the world, that we can only get a limited dimensional view through a movie like this. but then, universally speaking, we can relate w/ themes such as family, morality, and responsibility. a movie such as this gives us an opportunity to question our own courage and challenge to stand for that which we believe, and to have responsibility for other people aside ourselves.

this movie was tragic in many aspects, but i believe we should take the opportunity to watch more thought provoking movies like this and create some dialogue.

The Mist

premise was just terrible, but overall, the suspense was ok. they really outplayed complete stereotypes on hysteria and humanity. and what was the ending all about? it was like spending two hours on a maze and finding yourself right where you started, except really irked that you were suckered again into giving a stephen king story another try.