Movie Prowlin: October 2012

Hello readers who haven't yet given up on this blog, and for that, I say thank you! Schoolwork and procrastination are my greatest enemies, and constantly, they're stopping me from having any inspiration to write about movie stuff. But slowly and surely, that spark of sanity is coming back to me. Only a month left of school! Well, a month and eleven days, but still, nearly in the clear!

I'm still a good ways away from my goal of 210 flicks watched in 2012, but I reckon I'll be able to hit that number. If I really dedicate my weekends to it. Weekdays are designated primarily for TV shows (my addictions, sad to say) and, every once and a while, homework.

October has been a weird month. Lots of catch-up (Magic Mike, Expendables 2) and rather decent releases. Frankly wish there were more horror titles released this month, could use a genuinely horrific horror fix.

November already looks to be craazzzyyyy. And now that I work at a movie theater, pretty sure I'm going to be contemplating running way to another universe instead of suffering through customer satisfaction. Oh well, bring it on. Already survived five Black Friday's, I can survive a whole month of Black Friday's, can't I?

Andy's Watch List: October 2012

146. Pitch Perfect - By the previews and clips, looked hilarious. The actual film? A missed opportunity. Everything it needed to be was right there in its DNA, yet the actual product was all-around fun, but could have been loads funnier and clever. As it stands, just a nice, decent, entertaining flick that I wish was better than it was.
147. Taken 2 - Fewer action scenes than the first film, but I still enjoyed this sequel. Maggie Grace kicks ass, Neeson is his usual awesome self, and I'm a sucker for revenge tales. Not bad.
148. Sleepy Hollow - Revisiting the Burton film, and I never get tired of the freakiness of Christopher Walken as the Horseman whilst still having his head.
149. Sinister - Not genuinely scary, but I DID love the design of the main demon, Bagul, and all the Super-8 footage was creepy enough to send shivers up and down my body.
150. Argo - Good.
151. Magic Mike - Not all that good, actually. And I blame Soderbergh for that.
152. End of Watch - A movie that doesn't even follow it's own rules! At least Anna Kendrick was still all kinds of gorgeous.
153. Lola Versus - I feel like I've seen a movie like this before. A couple times before even. If anyone's interested in checking this out, rent/watch (500) Days of Summer instead. It'll be a far better and worthwhile experience.
154. Paranormal Activity 4 - Eh. It was alright.
155. Safety Not Guaranteed - Wanted to like it, but turns out . . . didn't like it at all.

156. The Master - Long, long, long, and all kinds of boring. Yes, Joaquin Phoenix is mesmerizing, and it's old news about Hoffman by now with his also amazingness, but this flick lacks a script, it lacks coherency. Thus, it's the perfect example of how even brilliant, fantastic performances can't save a shitty script. Blah.
157. The Expendables 2 - Whereas the first one was long, bloated, and boring, this sequel is short, concise, and entertaining. That said, sorta depressing that the Governator has seemingly lost his spark for one-liners, they fell ridiculously flat, but Bruce Willis was more than happy to take up the mantle.
158. Dark Shadows - This is, I think, my third or fourth time watching it all the way through, and although I'm not becoming more aware of the pacing issues and areas where the script could improve, I still love the hell out of this movie. I can say, probably a first for a Tim Burton production.
159. Seeking a Friend for the End of the World - Like Pitch Perfect, what I expected wasn't what I got, and also just like that film above, I'm slightly disappointed by what we did get. Steve Carrel's character hardly evolved in 21 days, there were loads of character/plot contrivances, and an noticeable lack of the funny. Don't think I'll make it to a round 3.
160. Cloud Atlas - A week later, and I'm still uncertain how I feel about this flick. Even for a near three hour running time, I guess it comes down to: it's not enough. Sure, it's visually beautiful, every frame is absolutely necessary, and it's absolutely fun to see Hugo Weaving and Hugh Grant in crazy diverse roles, but I wanted more from the stories. Otherwise, as a piece of cinema, this flick is gorgeous.
161. Frankenweenie [3.D] - As a huge fan of the 1950's black & white sci-fi monster movies, I found myself enjoying all the throwback references more than the actual film, but the movie itself was fine. No huge complaints. Pacing issues, here and there, but I find that happens a lot in Burton movies. Surprise, surprise, two Burton flicks in one year I actually didn't mind!

M O V I E     O F      T H E       M O N T H

May not have been the sweeping epic that I was hoping for, making me swell with emotion and become utterly engrossed in every tiny, minute detail, but there's no denying that Cloud Atlas is one of the biggest, most ambitious productions of the year, and that alone deserves admiration and applause. Not one frame should be cut, not one line from the movie is useless (although redubbing Halle Berry's work would be greatly appreciated), and it's nearly three hour running time honestly doesn't feel that long. Plus, any movie that has Hugh Grant playing against his customary roles is well worth giving notice to. There are some fine ideas in this narrative, I just can't help but feel that those ideas needed to be fleshed out a bit more, and there are some things that really did need some splainin' (Hugo Weaving as a tormenting visionary leprechaun, hunh?. Can't say I'm going to revisit Atlas anytime soon, but it's a pity that it won't be as successful as it should be. [B]