First, I was totally floored that both my kids knew about "Man on a Ledge." And both wanted to see it.
In my son's case, I understand he's ditched the kiddie movies for anything with action and thrills. He's 15, though he still enjoys a good animated flick. My daughter, 11 going on 16, thought it would be suspenseful, "Just why is he up there?"
Since my kids aren't as discerning, they left thinking it was an awesomely thrilling movie with plenty of suspense and action. I'm gonna have to show them some more films from this genre. But I have to say, I didn't think it was bad. I'd say it was a bit better than average. I liked the acting for the most part. The storyline had many holes, obvious exaggeration (expected in this genre) and too much predictability (another problem of the genre). You know which supposed good guys are rotten way too quickly. But I still enjoyed much of the ride.
The movie starts with a mystery man (Sam Worthington) checking into a hotel. He has a lobster dinner and then climbs on a ledge. We quickly learn he's an escaped convict, ready to die to prove his innocence. He demands a female negotiator (Elizabeth Banks, who we learn failed her last negotiation, resulting in a dead cop. She's unliked by the force. This, he hopes will make him a spectacle, a distraction. You see, he needs time so his accomplice can steal what Mr. Convict was accused of stealing. Convoluted? Yes. And you might catch yourself rolling your eyes at some of the improbable situations.
However, despite holes in the story (and maybe it's because of them), it keeps a decent pace and has enough thrills and silliness to keep you fairly entertained for nearly 2 hours. Visually, it's griping. You feel the tension of the ledge. I give it C/C+.
I wouldn't call it a movie for the family, but I didn't find it offensive. I was OK with my kids (11 and 15) watching even though the subject is more grown up. You'd have to explain why a man is on a ledge and the consequences of such action. It's rated PG-13 for violence and brief strong language. We talked about behaviors and actions - how this news was covered, the mob mentality, trust, risking life, etc., as well as what was realistic and what was way fantastical all for movie entertainment.
You should know that this will be way scary for sensitive and young kids, with a man on a ledge for much of the film. There's lots of gun fire, fighting, some language (not overdone, though), one character looks at though he will be pushed off the building, some mild sexuality (no sex scenes, but a woman is in her underwear), smoking, a heist, police scale down the building and struggle with the man, and some explosions.
Enjoy!
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
"Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" very moving
I knew that I was going into a very emotional movie. Having the 9/11 attacks as a backdrop and a child’s journey coping would ensure some heartache.
“Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” made me tear up and laugh. It also disturbed me at times. But overall, I really liked it.
The story is basically of a precocious yet awkward boy, Oskar Schell (played by Thomas Horn, who loves playing reconnaissance missions and oxymoron wars with his father (Tom Hanks). The missions in particular would force Oskar to think and do, but also approach people, something he fears. Then Oskar’s life changes. His father dies on 9/11, trapped on the 105th floor of one of the Twin Towers. Oskar can’t make sense of it. He questions a funeral without a body. His relationship with his mother (Sandra Bullock) deteriorates. Fast-forward a year, Oskar discovers a key in his father’s closet that he feels is a clue to staying connected with his dad. It’s only clue is an envelop with “Black” on it. So he decides to create one last reconnaissance mission, a crazy search of people with the last name Black so that he can figure where this mysterious key fits.
A subplot features an older man (Max von Sydow) who is staying with Oskar’s grandma. He’s known only as “the Renter” and doesn’t speak. Oskar is not to know this man, but they end up on the journey together to figure out where the mystery key fits.
Oskar does some disturbing things, such as pinching himself and hiding the answering machine (a key plot point). He at one point mentions he was tested for Asperger’s, a form of high-functioning autism, but that it was inconclusive. He needs his tambourine for comfort and fears crossing bridges and using public transportation. He’s obviously different, which may make you forgive him for some of his inappropriate outbursts and actions. I did. Oskar uses some colorful language for a boy so young, takes off on a seemingly dangerous journey meeting strangers and argues with his mother. I don’t recall them saying his age in the movie. He looks like he could be 11 or 12. In the Jonathan Safran Foer book, which the movie is based, Oskar is 9.
Still, I’m glad that I brought my kids with me to view this PG-13 movie. My kids are 11 and 15, but I did worry about how they would interpret the film. They were so little when the 9/11 attacks occurred, so we sheltered them for quite some time. I worried that some 9/11 images, including people falling out of buildings and video of the buildings collapsing, would scare them. It didn’t. They’ve seen enough documentaries now that they are older.
The movie generated a good discussion on our way home. We talked about coping with loss and searching for answers when there may not be one. We’ve been coping with a hospitalized grandparent, so there were some parallels. We spoke of whether Oskar’s behavior was appropriate. We know several kids with autism. And we spoke about 9/11, again.
Both my kids gave the movie 4 stars. I give it an A-/B+. I felt the story was interesting and wasn’t packaged as a totally happy ending, and the acting was excellent.
“Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” made me tear up and laugh. It also disturbed me at times. But overall, I really liked it.
The story is basically of a precocious yet awkward boy, Oskar Schell (played by Thomas Horn, who loves playing reconnaissance missions and oxymoron wars with his father (Tom Hanks). The missions in particular would force Oskar to think and do, but also approach people, something he fears. Then Oskar’s life changes. His father dies on 9/11, trapped on the 105th floor of one of the Twin Towers. Oskar can’t make sense of it. He questions a funeral without a body. His relationship with his mother (Sandra Bullock) deteriorates. Fast-forward a year, Oskar discovers a key in his father’s closet that he feels is a clue to staying connected with his dad. It’s only clue is an envelop with “Black” on it. So he decides to create one last reconnaissance mission, a crazy search of people with the last name Black so that he can figure where this mysterious key fits.
A subplot features an older man (Max von Sydow) who is staying with Oskar’s grandma. He’s known only as “the Renter” and doesn’t speak. Oskar is not to know this man, but they end up on the journey together to figure out where the mystery key fits.
Oskar does some disturbing things, such as pinching himself and hiding the answering machine (a key plot point). He at one point mentions he was tested for Asperger’s, a form of high-functioning autism, but that it was inconclusive. He needs his tambourine for comfort and fears crossing bridges and using public transportation. He’s obviously different, which may make you forgive him for some of his inappropriate outbursts and actions. I did. Oskar uses some colorful language for a boy so young, takes off on a seemingly dangerous journey meeting strangers and argues with his mother. I don’t recall them saying his age in the movie. He looks like he could be 11 or 12. In the Jonathan Safran Foer book, which the movie is based, Oskar is 9.
Still, I’m glad that I brought my kids with me to view this PG-13 movie. My kids are 11 and 15, but I did worry about how they would interpret the film. They were so little when the 9/11 attacks occurred, so we sheltered them for quite some time. I worried that some 9/11 images, including people falling out of buildings and video of the buildings collapsing, would scare them. It didn’t. They’ve seen enough documentaries now that they are older.
The movie generated a good discussion on our way home. We talked about coping with loss and searching for answers when there may not be one. We’ve been coping with a hospitalized grandparent, so there were some parallels. We spoke of whether Oskar’s behavior was appropriate. We know several kids with autism. And we spoke about 9/11, again.
Both my kids gave the movie 4 stars. I give it an A-/B+. I felt the story was interesting and wasn’t packaged as a totally happy ending, and the acting was excellent.
Friday, January 13, 2012
"Joyful Noise" has positive message, but...
Every time we went to a movie this fall, my daughter would tell me just how much she wanted to see "Joyful Noise." It looked like it could be a lot of fun or a train wreck filled with Southern and church stereotypes. I hoped for the best. Love Queen Latifah. Dolly Parton can be a hoot, too. And I adore Keke Palmer, maybe because my daughter and I met her and she's not in the tabloids.
First, my daughter did like it a lot. She gave it a B+. I totally think it's because of Keke. I'm giving it a C-/D+. It wasn't horrible, but it didn't leave me joyous. It felt like another trite musical comedy — inconsistent with too many punchlines that seemed strait out of a sitcom. But the message was positive, with the potential of being inspiring had it been executed a bit better. But since I'm not a film expert, I'll just leave it there.
The story focuses on a choir trying to get some national recognition. Of course there has to be conflict, so you get it with two competitive women — one become choir director (Queen Latifah) and the other is a big church supporter (Parton). Happens the new choir director's daughter (Palmer) falls for the other's grandson (Jeremy Jordan). More tension. Women argue. Mom and daughter argues. There's a side story about a kid with Asperger's syndrome, and how another unlocks his potential, as well as the story of an absentee dad. Oh, yeah, and there's a lot of music on the road to the competition.
So much is going on that nothing feels totally developed. I think this is why I wasn't feeling the characters. There were some funny and silly moments, and there were many topics to talk about after the movie. I like that. Movies should get you talking with your kids. I ended up talking to my daughter about how they characterized the teen with Asperger's, mom-daughter conflict, true friendships, competition, spirituality, etc. Fun.
I didn't feel like it was a PG-13 movie, but it wasn't a kid movie. There was some language, such as when mother and daughter argued, but nothing too intense. There is no nudity or outwardly sexuality; but there is young love, flirting and a touch of dirty dancing. With an older couple, there was innuendo, and you know they had sex from the morning after scene in bed. Oh, there was a bit of a fist fight between teen boys, but nothing grizzly about it. If anything, it's a chance to talk about settling disagreements with violence.
I wouldn't say many kids under age 10 would want to see it. But it's generally a family friendly flick for older kids.
Cheers!
First, my daughter did like it a lot. She gave it a B+. I totally think it's because of Keke. I'm giving it a C-/D+. It wasn't horrible, but it didn't leave me joyous. It felt like another trite musical comedy — inconsistent with too many punchlines that seemed strait out of a sitcom. But the message was positive, with the potential of being inspiring had it been executed a bit better. But since I'm not a film expert, I'll just leave it there.
The story focuses on a choir trying to get some national recognition. Of course there has to be conflict, so you get it with two competitive women — one become choir director (Queen Latifah) and the other is a big church supporter (Parton). Happens the new choir director's daughter (Palmer) falls for the other's grandson (Jeremy Jordan). More tension. Women argue. Mom and daughter argues. There's a side story about a kid with Asperger's syndrome, and how another unlocks his potential, as well as the story of an absentee dad. Oh, yeah, and there's a lot of music on the road to the competition.
So much is going on that nothing feels totally developed. I think this is why I wasn't feeling the characters. There were some funny and silly moments, and there were many topics to talk about after the movie. I like that. Movies should get you talking with your kids. I ended up talking to my daughter about how they characterized the teen with Asperger's, mom-daughter conflict, true friendships, competition, spirituality, etc. Fun.
I didn't feel like it was a PG-13 movie, but it wasn't a kid movie. There was some language, such as when mother and daughter argued, but nothing too intense. There is no nudity or outwardly sexuality; but there is young love, flirting and a touch of dirty dancing. With an older couple, there was innuendo, and you know they had sex from the morning after scene in bed. Oh, there was a bit of a fist fight between teen boys, but nothing grizzly about it. If anything, it's a chance to talk about settling disagreements with violence.
I wouldn't say many kids under age 10 would want to see it. But it's generally a family friendly flick for older kids.
Cheers!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Download screening passes to "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close"
I got a link to share with my mom friends. It allows you to download some screening passes for "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" on gofobo.com. The screening is at 7 p.m. on Jan. 18 at the Harkins Scottsdale 101, 7000 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85054. Easy access to the theater from Loop 101, exiting on Scottsdale Road.
I got a chance to preview it last month, and I want to tell you about it but I agreed to hold my review until opening day, Jan. 20. For now, check out the trailer.
The movie synopisis, from gofobo: "Adapted from the acclaimed bestseller by Jonathan Safran Foer, “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” is a story that unfolds from inside the young mind of Oskar Schell, an inventive eleven year-old New Yorker whose discovery of a key in his deceased father’s belongings sets him off on an urgent search across the city for the lock it will open. A year after his father died in the World Trade Center on what Oskar calls “The Worst Day,” he is determined to keep his vital connection to the man who playfully cajoled him into confronting his wildest fears. Now, as Oskar crosses the five New York boroughs in quest of the missing lock – encountering an eclectic assortment of people who are each survivors in their own way – he begins to uncover unseen links to the father he misses, to the mother who seems so far away from him and to the whole noisy, dangerous, discombobulating world around him."
The movie is PG-13 for for emotional thematic material, some disturbing images, and language. BTW, once these screening tickets are gone, they are gone. Also, check out all the rules for the passes. I suggest you arrive early. Promoters tend to overbook theater to ensure a full house.
Cheers!
I got a chance to preview it last month, and I want to tell you about it but I agreed to hold my review until opening day, Jan. 20. For now, check out the trailer.
The movie synopisis, from gofobo: "Adapted from the acclaimed bestseller by Jonathan Safran Foer, “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” is a story that unfolds from inside the young mind of Oskar Schell, an inventive eleven year-old New Yorker whose discovery of a key in his deceased father’s belongings sets him off on an urgent search across the city for the lock it will open. A year after his father died in the World Trade Center on what Oskar calls “The Worst Day,” he is determined to keep his vital connection to the man who playfully cajoled him into confronting his wildest fears. Now, as Oskar crosses the five New York boroughs in quest of the missing lock – encountering an eclectic assortment of people who are each survivors in their own way – he begins to uncover unseen links to the father he misses, to the mother who seems so far away from him and to the whole noisy, dangerous, discombobulating world around him."
The movie is PG-13 for for emotional thematic material, some disturbing images, and language. BTW, once these screening tickets are gone, they are gone. Also, check out all the rules for the passes. I suggest you arrive early. Promoters tend to overbook theater to ensure a full house.
Cheers!
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