Movie #271 - Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey
1993 - Rated G - 1 hr 24 min
Director: Duwayne Dunham
Starring: Michael J Fox, Sally Field, Don Alder, Robert Hays, Jean Smart, Don Ameche

This was a personal favorite when I was growing up.  What kid doesn't love a good adventure story told by two dogs and a cat? Especially when they have such vibrant personalities (and celebrity voices).

So does it hold up now?  Mostly, yeah.  The kids missing their pets and the pets missing their kids is still a compelling story line... but is this really believable?  I guess this does happen, the whole pets walking all the way home thing.  Every once in a while there's a story on the news about a courageous travelling pet.  I don't know any of these pets -- my dog is certainly not a potential cross-country traveller -- but it's not totally unbelievable that they're out there.

If you can believe the story line, then the movie is fun and easy to enjoy.  The three pets are characterized well and some of the lines are still funny.  Overall, this is one I can easily see myself sharing with my daughter when she's a little older.

Movie #270 - Hollywoodland

Hollywoodland
2006 - Rated R - 2 hr 6 min
Director: Allen Coulter
Starring: Adrien Brody, Ben Affleck, Diane Lane, Bob Hoskins, Robin Tunney

I love a good murder mystery, espeically one like this.  A mysterious suicide doesn't look right to one investigator, and it's not just any suicide either.  It's Superman's (or the actor that played him, anyway) and there are lots of reasons for him to kill himself but even more for others to do the job instead.  So is it suicide?

The resulting flashbacks aim to tell the story while Adrien Brody tries to get to the bottom of the story.  Ben Affleck embodies the legendary George Reeves well, donning the famous red and blue suit like a champ.  I'm not sure how much of the movie is truth or theory, but they unfold this mystery with just the right amount of suspense and intrigue.

After I finished the movie, I wanted to learn more.  If you're curious, there's a whole article on TruTV.com that will fill in the blanks for you.

Movie #269 - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
2005 - Rated PG - 1 hr 49 min
Director: Garth Jennings
Starring: Martin Freeman, Mos Def, Sam Rockwell, Zooey Deschanel, Bill Nighy, Warwick Davis, Anna Chancellor, Alan Rickman, Helen Mirren, Stephen Fry, Thomas Lennon, John Malkovich, Richard Griffiths

A movie based on a book series filled with high-profile cameos by British actors? It's not Harry Potter but it is another excuse to enjoy Alan Rickman's unparalleled dry humor.

I've never read the Hitchhiker series by Douglas Adams, but I've heard from those that have that this movie is a good representation of his witty space tale.  Earth gets destroyed and a man in his bathrobe sets out on a journey with some weird aliens, the president of the universe, and a depressed robot.  It's fun to watch the cameos pop up and Martin Freeman is delightful, as always.  Lots of fun all around, with a really original premise, and some cool visual effects.  Now, I just need to read those books.

Movie #268 - Hitch

Hitch
2005 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 58 min
Director: Andy Tennant
Starring: Will Smith, Eva Mendes, Kevin James, Amber Valletta, Julie Ann Emery, Adam Arkin, Michael Rapaport

Time for a campy rom-com, folks!  I don't hate this movie, but it's not as "laugh out loud funny" as the DVD box says it is.  Will Smith is good as the suave confidence-inspiring "Date Doctor." And at least he does stick to his principles throughout the movie, so women never have to hate him.

Eva Mendes is the big shot reporter, but I'm not sure she really does that well in this role.  She looks fantastic all the time and her witty reparte passes inspection, but she doesn't seem rght somehow.  But Kevin James is priceless, so that makes up for it.

The name Alex Hitchens, aka "Hitch" is kinda corny.  Drives me nuts, actually.  Someone thinks they're clever, don't they?  And the plot's predictable. Cookie cutter romantic comedy, with little more to offer.  If you're a Will Smith fan, see it.  If you're addicted to rom-coms, see it.  But otherwise, this is probably one you can skip.

Movie #267 - Highlander

Highlander
1986 - Rated R - 1 hr 56 min
Director: Russell Mulcahy
Starring: Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery, Clancy Brown, Roxanne Hart

I have to admit something embarassing.  I had never seen this movie before.  I knew it was about a Scottish Highlander, but then I saw the picture to the right here --->

and I got confused.

Now, I've seen it.  I feel like I've received admission to a special club or something.  And I gotta tell you, this movie is pretty frickin' cool.  We don't own any of the rest of them -- or the TV show, which my husband swears is even better -- but I want to watch them now.  I'm glad they don't explain the whole Immortals thing - where they come from, why, and why the heck they're duking it out.  But the idea of a battle royale as old as mankind is pretty cool.  Maybe we'll pick up the other ones one of these days.

Movie #266 - Hero

Hero
2002 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 39 min
Director: Yimou Zhang
Starring: Jet Li, Tony Leung Chiu Waj, Maggie Cheung, Ziyi Zhang, Donnie Yen, Daoming Chen

No one fights in the air quite like the Chinese.  Bollywood has their dancing, Chinese film has their aerial fighting.  Good times.

In this movie, most of the action is in the past.  Jet Li's character claims to have defeated three assassins who've been out to get the emperor for years.  He says he got 'em, so he gets private audience with the man himself.  Is it all a true story or is it an elaborate scheme to get a new, unknown assassin within striking distance of the throne?

Once this issue is cleared up, there's more to talk about.  Flash backs to epic battle scenes and alternate versions of the events help to break up the present day lack of action.  The film is well balanced, the plot line enough of a ride to keep you well engaged, and the characters strong and compelling.  I really enjoyed this one a lot.

Movie #265 - Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Hellboy II: The Golden Army
2008 - Rated PG-13 - 2 hr
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Starring: Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Doug Jones, John Alexander, James Dodd, Seth MacFarlane, Jeffrey Tambor, John Hurt

More of the Red guy isn't necessarily good or bad news in my opinion.  This installment takes a turn more toward a fantasy plotline, with an ancient army's resurrection and command at stake.  Can Red, Blue, and the team stop them in time? 

Meanwhile, more of the weird are they/aren't they love story between Blair and Perlman takes shape.  At least she's fully committed to the team this time around, allowing for more conflicts elsewhere... like with the weirdo in the deep-sea diving gear.

Somewhere between these two movies, Guillermo del Toro did Pan's Labyrinth and the artistic elements are apparent.  Having recently watched Pan as well, some of the characters could easily be lifted from this movie and placed into the world created in that one.  Visually, this is gorgeous to watch.