Olympus Has Fallen..and so have I...for Gerard Butler

Whether you want an action movie (think Die Hard) or you simply like eye candy (Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, Dylan McDermott are totally delicious), this movie won’t disappoint.

Director Fuqua (Training Day et al) doesn’t waste any time bringing the viewer to the edge of their seat – within 10 minutes we are rooting for Special Agent Mike Banning (Butler).  Forced to make a life or death decision for the President of the United States, he knows his own life will never be the same.

Fast forward a year, Banning watches something so horrific unfold outside his “desk job” window he can hardly believe his eyes. He suddenly becomes “the best hope we’ve got” at taking back the White House and freeing the President who has been kidnapped by terrorists – hundred sof them, who were hiding in plain sight. Walking and working among the landscape of Washington DC, completely unnoticed.  His chance for atonement was our darkest hour.

I stared in shock as I watched tourists become terrorists and trash trucks explode.  I couldn’t help but think “could this really happen?”  Because Olympus was shot over a year ago, it seemed surreal to watch the White House crumble at the hands of North Korean terrorists.  That hit a little too close to home in our current political environment.

Lots of carnage & fantastic special effects abound.  

Gerard Butler carries the movie with all the self sacrifice you would expect from  a true Secret Service Agent.

Olympus makes you proud to be an American.   No one shouts patriotism louder than Oscar winner Melissa Leo as our Secretary of Defense, who says “The Pledge of Allegiance” as she is being dragged through the dead bodies of her colleagues.

The only criticism I have is the casting of Morgan Freeman as Speaker of the House.  He seemed too old and too tired.  I wish Fuqua would have brought Denzel Washington along for the ride.  

I felt a little skittish walking to the car when it ended.  I nervously avoided strangers, actually wondering if someone was about to pull out an assault rifle.  In other words, I found the movie pretty believable.

Intense

Brutal

Worth It

I give this a 7 out of a 10 (I don't like silly jokes in the middle of a terrorist takeover, and I really REALLY dislike seeing people stabbed in the eyeball)

The Perks of a Movie that Feels like Home



 

The Perks of Being A Wallflower - 2012

 

 

I recall seeing previews for Perks when it was tossed around during Awards season.  I thought it sounded like  Pretty in Pink circa 2012.  A coming of age movie, an age I had outgrown many, many years ago. 

 

Boy was I wrong.

 

 

I still keep secrets buried deep under my laughter and silliness.  Maybe MY STORY was the reason this movie hit so close to home. 

 

Or maybe HER STORY made this so surreal.  She is my Charlie.  My Patrick.  My Brad.  My Hero.  We will never stop trying.  This - this most difficult job. 

I sobbed the deep sobs of a Mother who is failing her child.

 

There is a consistent feeling throughout the movie – that feeling when your heart is right at the top of your throat.  And if you make a peep,  your entire soul will pour out onto the floor.  That feeling of impending doom….something really, really bad is about to happen and there is nothing you can do to stop it. 

 I thought “if Charlie were real..", but isn’t he?  Don’t we all know a Charlie?  Or at least think we do?    If Charlie were real – he would be the bravest, greatest young man on the planet.  And no one would ever know.  No one would ever take the time – or the risk - to know him.

 

When the movie ended and the music went silent, I was sad to see them go. As I watched the credits fade, it was my deepest wish they all would find not only the love they felt they deserved, but the love all misfit toys deserve.  The love of one really good friend.

A Saturday Night in Oz....Sort Of

I went to see Oz the Great & Powerful in 3D last night.  I knew going in this was not the Oz of my youth - a movie wrapped tightly with annual living room picnics of frozen pizza and root beer.  Ah, happy days.



I had done my homework, and knew Warner Brothers held copyrights to not only the Ruby Slippers, but the "specific green" of the Wicked Witch and her chin-wart.  I knew this one would be different.

What I didn't expect was Disney to turn this classic tale of friendship & bravery into a "Fatal Attraction in Willy Wonkaland"

First, we have a beautiful young maiden throwing herself at the feet of a fake magician, practically begging him to ruin her life.  Lucky for her, James Franco's Oz sends her packing.  It might have been a bit more believable if James Franco's smile wasn't so greasy.  The guy had about as much charm as a modern day pimp. 

Next we have a random encounter (think "Diane Lane's windy day scene in Unfaithful") between Oz and another beautiful young maiden, albeit a bat-shit crazy one.  Somehow he manages to have her falling at his feet in under two minutes, just by asking her to dance.

Michelle Williams definitely carries the movie - she is a beautiful "Glinda the Good" and she delivers the best line of the movie, said to Oz "The only person you have fooled is yourself." There's a pretty big life lesson......

There is no question,  the 3D special effects are spectacular.  And if you thought the flying monkeys were scary in the original, be ready.  These flying ape/baboon/monkey monsters are flat-out terrifying.  (The little river fairies really freaked me out too.)

Probably the biggest disappointment was the casting of the Wicked Witches Theodora (Mila Kunis) and Evanora (Rachel Weisz).    Their heaving breasts in every scene was completely lost on me. If you know me, you know I am not a prude.  I love a nice looking breast as much as anyone.  They just seemed wierd in this movie.  The only explanation must be a sweet treat offered for all the soccer dads who were dragged kicking and screaming to the movie in the first place.

And this is the best scary wicked witch look they could come up with?  They really missed the mark.  She didn't look scary.  She just looked like a puffy, seasick super model.  Oh, and of course, with heaving breasts.

 

To sum it up, it was an enjoyable movie.  I didn't get bored, and didn't think about leaving.  I know I am still in "Oscar Movie Withdrawal".  You have to admit - the movies from 2012 will be hard acts to follow.

If you have tweens in your life, this movie will be a fun way to spend a Saturday night.  But do it in 3D or stay home.

I would give it 5 corkscrews out of 10, if I could figure out how to make them.  But I can't so I will keep working on that.

 

 

 

Top Ten Movies - A Manly Perspective

Since my first blog was about MY favorite movies of all time, I thought I should share a male perspective.  For that, I turned to my BFF and Lover, Jay Erdman.  He could only come up with one movie.  The Outlaw Josey Wales.

 

No kidding....he could only name one movie.  From 1976.  He would have been 16 years old when he saw this movie.  (He went to see Brokeback Mountain with me, but I doubt he's brave enough to list it here.) 

 

 

So I decided to ask around.  Turns out, a new friend of mine, Mark Antle (owner of the classic Leibowitz Fine Menswear), also happens to be a movie buff.  Who knew?  I asked him to come up with his top ten movies of all time.  So without further ado:

 

 

Mark's Top Ten Movies of All Time (in no particular order)

 

 

1.  The Godfather - 1972 - Starring Marlon Brando and Al Pacino

 



 

 

2. Jaws - 1975 - Directed by Stephen Spielberg 

 

  

 

3.  Raiders Of The Lost Ark - 1981 - Starring Harrison Ford

 



 

4.  Stand By Me - 1986 - River Phoenix (I also loved this movie.)

 

 

5.  Pyscho - 1960 - Directed by Alfred Hitchcock & starring Anthony Perkins & Janet Leigh

 

6.  Tombstone - 1993 - Starring Kurt Russell, Sam Elliott & Val Kilmer



7.  Jurassic Park - 1993 - Mark's second Stephen Spielberg movie to make the list.

 

8.  The Lord of the Rings The King Returns - 2003 - (Film 3 of the Trilogy)

 

9.  It's a Wonderful Life - 1946 - Jimmy Stewart

 

 

10.  The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance - 1962 - Another Jimmy Stewart film - PLUS John Wayne

 

 

So there you have it. A man's vote. I bet every man in America has a John Wayne film in his top ten. At least any man with taste.

Thanks, Mark for letting me into you world!