A Christmas Carol; A New Take on an Old Classic

Tis the season for holiday movies, both old and new. I had the opportunity to take my family to see the new version of Dickens A Christmas Carol starring Jim Carrey. We've all read the story, or at least heard it. There wasn't really anything different story wise to this version, but it went above and beyond when it came to the animation. Very realistic and detailed, things really came to life - especially the Scrooge character.

It is a little scary in parts, especially for little kids, but over all this was a really good film, full of everything that makes for a good holiday feel good movie.


The Other Critic Writes Again

First Impression

I have decided to stop using a particular day to do the First Impressions on and go with a more open flow environment. With that said, here we go (on a Tuesday).

Check out this trailer for an action packed spy thriller due out next summer. With explosions, gun fire and Angelina Jolie, Salt looks like the perfect summer movie. Here's the trailer. (And for the iPhone users, click here)

Next up is a new Zac Efron movie titled Me and Orson Wells. This one's a little more on the dramatic side, with a side dish of Claire Danes for romance. Definitely a date movie, not one that you and your buddies could, or should, just decide to watch on a whim. Here's the trailer. (And for the iPhone users, click here)

And for those of you who like a feel-good, half a box or tissue tear jerker, check this out. Brendan Fraser and Harrison Ford star in Extraordinary Measures. Grab a tissue and check out the trailer here (iPhone viewers click here)

That's all the First Impressions for now, but you never know when you're going to find an extra three or four minutes to watch a trailer, or two, worth talking about and sharing.

First Impression Wednesday

I thought I'd start to get into the holiday spirit by giving out a few more First Impressions. With the holidays just around the corner, there's bound to be at least one movie to see that's going to be good. Here are a few to consider.

Let's start off with Matt Damon and Greg Kinear in Green Zone. Here's the trailer.

Love Matt Damon in this kind of a role, he does a great job. Even though this doesn't come out until the spring, it's nice to see good previews this close to the holidays.

Look for more trailers under the tree to unwrap coming soon.

Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant'

I have recruited again; this time the services of my friend Aaron Watson. Here's his take on Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant'.

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So, the other night I reluctantly went to see 'Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant' with my wife. I had no desire to see this movie, because it looked very “Nickelodeon” to me and childish. It just seemed too... teeny-bopper for me. But, my wife is a vampire fan and likes these kind of things so I obliged. And ya know what? I was pleasantly surprised. No, that doesn’t sound quite right. Let’s say, I was surprisingly entertained.

There are some good story elements in this film. Consequence. Friendship. Sacrifice. I particularly like the tragic “best friends turned arch-enemies” story line. No Oscars will be given for this film, but some of the characters (as the title implies) are delightfully twisted. (Others are just twisted.) And surprisingly, I was not bothered a bit by John C. Riley playing a non-comedic role. He played his part rather well.

One thing that does niggle me about the movie, though, is that I feel it suffers from a personality disorder. It doesn't know what kind of movie it is supposed to be. It definitely has a “Nickelodeon”, "after-school-special" air about it. But, there is strong language, relatively intense violence, and displays of disturbing behavior which feel out of place. But, perhaps that’s what the creators wanted you to feel... A sense of unease or disconnection.

Ultimately, I enjoyed it. I look forward to seeing how the story unfolds and am now considering reading the books as well. For a fun fantasy/horror escape I’d recommend 'Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant'.

First Impression Monday

Since I missed last Fridays post, I thought I'd do it today—who couldn't use a little pick-me-up on Monday, right? Here goes.

The first movie trailer I have selected is Clint Eastwood's Invictus. Based on a true story, this powerful movie stars Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon. I really, really like these actors—what makes this even better is the fact that the movie is based on a true story.

Here's the trailer for it.

The second, and final, movie for today's installment of First Impression is another movie based on a true story called The Blind Side. Starring Sandra Bullock (which as of late I have been very impressed with) this is sure to be one of the best films of 2009.

Here's the trailer:

That's it for this week.