Immortals

My View:  Immortals (2011)  Stop me if you've heard this before:  A charismatic warrior leads a small group of soldiers against an overpowering army and defies fate and the odds.  This film originates from the producers of 300, and it can best be described as 300 light.  An evil king (Mickey Rourke) is determined to destroy man by releasing the Titans (a class of deities, rivals of the Olympic Gods) who have been put in mountain prison by Zeus.  To take on the mad king, Zeus picks a human, Theseus (Henry Cavill), to save humanity.  This is a confusing, badly-acted movie with lots of slow motion battle sequences where we see lots of blood spurting about.  Mickey Rourke overacts in every scene, and Henry Cavill seems to have marbles in his mouth, as I couldn't understand about half the speeches that he gives...and he gives an infinite number of speeches.  Stay at home and rent Gladiator or 300 - you will be much happier.  And, by the way, the film was not shot in 3-D, so don't bother paying extra money for the glasses.  My Rating:  Cable   Immortals Website

Indyfest (A Look at a Small, Indie or Foreign Film):  Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey (2011)  This is a delightful film about puppeteer Kevin Clash, the man behind one of the most beloved Sesame Street characters of all time, Elmo.  It's a fascinating story of a man, who, at a very early age, decides he wants to work for Him Henson, the creator of The Muppets.  Not only was Clash able to work with Henson while he was a teen, but Clash is now one of the driving forces behind Sesame Street.Here is a man who can walk the streets of New York, unnoticed, until he puts that red, fuzzy puppet on his hand, and then he becomes a rock star. If you aren't already in love with Elmo, you will be by the end of this film. My Rating:  Full Price     Being Elmo Website

The 50 (A Movie From My Best/Worst Films of All Time):

#29 Best Film

City Lights (1931)  Charlie Chaplin wrote, directed and starred in this silent romantic comedy about Chaplin's most famous character, "The Little Tramp."  This is Chaplin at his absolute best in a film that, one moment is full of slapstick falls and chases, and in another moment is so bittersweet, it just about breaks your heart.  The Tramp encounters a blind girl selling flowers on a street corner, and by sheer luck and coincidence, she thinks that Chaplin is rich.  He falls in love with the girl, and though he is extremely poor, he makes it his mission to find a way to restore the girl's sight.  Every frame of this film is perfect, and it probably has the greatest ending ever.  It's an incredible feat of classic filmmaking...one to be savored.   City Lights Info

Forgotten Film:  Christmas in Connecticut  (1945)  Barbara Stanwyck plays  Elizabeth Lane, a lifestyle magazine writer, who, unbeknownst to her boss or her readers, is living a lie.  She claims to be a happy homemaker and loving wife with a husband and a baby, living in a beautiful home in Connecticut (think Martha Stewart).  In reality, she is a single gal, living in a small apartment in New York, making up scenes for her readers on her typewriter.  When a war hero is brought back to the states, his one wish is to experience a traditional family Christmas, "Elizabeth Lane style."  Her boss thinks it's a great idea, and Stanwyck is forced to quickly put together a plan to deceive the soldier.  In typical screwball comedy style, Lane is forced to lie about everything, and she just gets in way over her head, and, eventually falls in love with the soldier.  Stanwyck is a firecracker, and she makes this film so much fun to watch.  An enjoyablel film to break out for the holidays.  My Rating:  I Would Pay to See It Again   Christmas in Connecticut Info

In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD):  Cowboys & Aliens (2011)  While I didn't hate this film, I also didn't like it.  Jon Favreau (Iron Man) directed this film about a man (played by Daniel Craig) in the 1870s who wakes up with no memory and who has a big, metal bracelet on his wrist. Then, aliens appear and try to destroy the town. While I had fun watching Craig and Harrison Ford play off each other, the story just is kind of boring, and I really didn't care for the performance of Olivia Wilde who plays a mysterious woman who is possibly the key in defeating the aliens.  My Rating:  Bargain Matinee   Cowboys & Aliens Website

In Memory of Ed Wood (A Movie I've Seen Only in Trailers but Just Looks Like a Bad Idea): Carnage (2011)  Roman Polanski directs this comedy about two sets of parents who get together to discuss how to handle their sons fighting on the school playground.  While this film has a great cast that includes Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet and John C. Reily, it feels like a stage play.  The script, coincidentally, is based on just that...a one act stage play.   Carnage Website

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Immortals:  Personal Makeup Artist to Mr. Rourke

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Albert Nobbs  Glenn Close plays a woman, who, to be hired for a job, poses as a man in 19th century Ireland.  Word is that this is an incredible, Oscar-worthy performance by Close.   Albert Nobbs Website

Until Next Time!