Movie Review - The Blind Side

Sit down, relax, and enjoy a nice, warm cup of clarity
(Listening to: Lollipop by Mika)

Last night I went to the movie The Blind Side (for 10.00 a ticket plus pop and popcorn i might add and if that doesn't scream end of days I don't know what does) and I was very pleased with my choice. The movie was hilarious, heartwarming, and really stood out in a sea of triumphant-but-still-sad-enough-to-warm-your-heart sports movies. Here's the breakdown:

The Deets
The movie was written and directed by John Lee Hancock (2004's The Alamo) and based off of the book of the same name by author Michael Lewis. The book revolved around Michael Oher who grew up in the ghetto of Memphis, TN and went on to play football for the University of Mississippi and later the Baltimore Ravens. I'm not going to go much more into the story and pretend that I know much more about him than what was shown in the movie because, in terms of football, I am somewhere between completely unaware and utterly clueless.

Acting
Sandra Bullock played Leigh Anne Touhy, a staunch Christian and Southern Republican and she was absolutely amazing. The character could have easily been one-dimensional, but Sandra gave her depth, she gave her heart. Strong and proud, Bullock was, might I say, Oscar worthy? It might seem like an exaggeration but it would have been so easy to feel nothing towards this character, to even be put off by her strength and subsequent pride, but Bullock pulled the audience in with an undercurrent of insecurity and drive to want to make a true difference. Opposite Bullock was Tim McGraw, a country-singer-turned-actor who had his fair share of quips and jokes, which he handled nicely. No Oscar contention but a nice performance nonetheless. Quinton Aaron played Michael Oher and did a wonderful job. Granted most of his job included looking shy, blank and staying quiet, but he did it well. This was a boy who tested in the single digit percentiles in almost every subject except for "protective instincts"...now correct me if I'm wrong but I never remember being tested for my protective instincts...maybe I missed that day. But, again, Aaron did extremely well.

The Verdict...
If you hadn't guessed it from my comments above, I definitely recommend this movie. Now I consider myself very picky, especially when it comes to movies that attempt to pull at my heart strings because more often than not the only feeling they evoke is one of nausea (The only other movie like this that I did like was Remember the Titans...and there have been dozens of movies since...and they all sucked. Hmph). I give this movie a solid 4/5 coffee cups.


Good Morning, Good Evening, Good Riddance

Don't Push the Button! (but I really really want to!!!)

Sit down, relax, and enjoy a nice, warm cup of clarity
(Listening to: All Right Now by Free)

Okay so some of you may have heard of this little movie called New Moon. No big deal if you haven't, I'd just recommend you crawl out from the comfy little rock you've been under (wish I could have been there with you). Anyways...I do not like Twilight or any of the subsequent novels that followed (with a passion I might add) but I feel some sort of twisted curiosity to see this movie. I saw Twilight. Yes, yes, I saw Twilight...apparently 92% of the world did as well (I'm totally making that up but I have a sneaky feeling its almost spot on) and I hated the movie even more than the books (if that's possible...) And now, for some reason, I want to watch New Moon. I know I'm going to hate every second of it if I do but I can only liken it to something like being sat in front of a big red button and told that not to push it or something terrible will happen, like all of mankind will die. Now, nobody wants all of mankind to die but there is some gnawing curiosity in everyone that just wonders what would happen if they did press that button. Plus its big and its red, so right there is another HUGE temptation (I am not using that to highlight the appearance of the people in the movie...I happen to think almost none of them are more than moderately attractive...honestly...its just something to aid my mini-story, yeesh) So back to my point; I know I shouldn't, I know I really don't want to, but I feel this suicidal need to watch New Moon. Right now I'm holding off but I can't promise anything, my curiosity very well may get the better of me.

Here's to keeping my mind out of the muck that is the Twilight Saga (ugh, the name itself just makes me want to chuck something sparky into a river of lava)

Good morning, Good evening, Good riddance.

New Beginnings

Sit down, relax, and enjoy a nice, warm cup of clarity
(Listening to: Night Moves by Bob Seger)

I decided to bite the bullet and start one of these (it's free after all!). I have a lot to say and my closest friends are sick of listening to me so I thought I'd try a much bigger audience. I am very opinionated and once an opinion is formed it is very hard to change my mind (but please, try. Some have done it and I am always willing to hear out anyone). But enough about that, now to the interesting stuff.

I love movies (Finding Nemo, Gone with the Wind, Titanic, Les Choristes, Shaun of the Dead, Johnny English), television (30 Rock, Supernatural, Mad Men, Arrested Development, Glee, The Office), music (almost anything other than rap and especially classic rock and alternative), books (Harry Potter, Siddhartha, Ender's Series and anything by Stephen King or William Blake), and travel.

I watch most movies that pass through the theaters and a lot that don't. I like all kinds of genres from horror to documentaries to romantic comedies to independents. My favorite actors are Johnny Depp, Ewan McGregor, Simon Pegg, Kate Winslet, May Louis Parker and Emily Blunt (there are a lot more but I honestly can't name them all).

Anyways, that's just a little intro to me. From here on out my posts will be mostly opinion-driven posts (and believe me, I have plenty).

Good morning, Good evening, Good riddance.