Movie #402 - Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events

2004 - Rated PG - 1 hr 48 min
Director: Brad Silberling
Starring: Jim Carrey, Jude Law, Liam Aiken, Emily Browning, Timothy Spall, Catherine O'Hara, Billy Connolly, Meryl Streep, Luis Guzman, Jamie Harris, Craig Ferguson, Jennifer Coolidge, Jane Adams

Hey, little Emily Browning... before you were that girl from Sucker Punch! As the eldest Beaudelaire child, she's quick-witted and self-assured here.  Also caring to her kinda-weird younger siblings.  The family unit formed here is believable, which makes the movie really work.

With a cast of big-named stars parading by, it would otherwise be very hard to focus on the point of this movie.  Carrey's Olaf is big, bold, and pretty eccentric. Over the top, as is his usual. Billy Connolly gives a nice, heartwarming Uncle Monty and Meryl Streep's worry-wort Aunt is a joy to watch as well.  But the focus stays nicely on the kids, who pass through this Series of Unfortunate Events with gusto. Poor things.

I did like this one -- although I haven't read the books -- and I had hoped the franchise would carry on, turning more of the books into movies.  It doesn't seem like that's going to happen (seven years later), so if I want all those questions answered -- what is the deal with the spyglass? -- I guess I'll have to read the books.  Maybe they'll make good bedtime stories for my kids some day.

Movie #135 - The Count of Monte Cristo

The Count of Monte Cristo
Touchstone Pictures
2002 - Rated PG-13 - 2 hr 11 min
Director: Kevin Reynolds
Starring: Jim Caviezel, Guy Pearce, Richard Harris, James Frain, Luis Guzman

Okay, so right off the bat, the catch phrase for this movie has me rolling my eyes... "Prepare for adventure, Count on revenge."  Really? Someone went there?

So once I get over that, I don't mind this movie so much.  Does it stick to the original masterpiece? Not exactly.  Is it entertaining? Sure. That's mostly thanks to Jim Caviezel and Guy Pearce, who are awesome! And oh, original Dumbledore (Richard Harris) is in jail with Edmond which is kinda cool.  I also discovered that Henry Cavill from The Tudors plays Albert, so that's also fun to see.

Mostly, you just watch this movie for the light intrigue and 'complex' revenge plot that's not really all that clever.  Did you know that if everyone assumes your dead, no one recognizes you when you come back? I feel like they could have done more there, so it's not like the whole 'Clark Kent wears glasses so he can't be Superman' thing... but whatever.  Luiz Guzman also doesn't really fit into this movie... he's not bad, and I give him credit for trying, but every so often he says a line and it pulls me out of the 'atmosphere' of this movie. He seems a little out of place, that's all.

In general, this isn't so bad but I'm frustrated about the ending.  In the book, things don't work out so well for our hero, who learns that seeking revenge has its consequences. In the movie, he gets his revenge and then gets to stay happy... What is this movie trying to say?

Movie #128 - Confidence

Confidence
Lions Gate Entertainment
2003 - Rated R - 1 hr 37 min
Director: James Foley
Starring: Edward Burns, Dustin Hoffman, Andy Garcia, Rachel Weisz, Paul Giamatti, Donal Logue, Luis Guzman

This movie has a great cast, which caught my attention right off the bat the first time we watched it.  And since we bought it soon thereafter, you can assume safely that the cast delivers as expected.  This has a great twist-twist ending, lots of mind games between con artists, and plenty of Rachel Weisz being coyly devious.  I kinda love it. And Ed Burns.

I don't want to reveal too much for those who haven't seen it, but this movie keeps you thinking. I always enjoy a good double-cross or triple-cross or who-the-heck-is-working-for-whom kind of movie.  Just watch it sometime and you'll see what I mean.

Movie #120 - The Bone Collector

The Bone Collector
Universal Pictures
1999 - Rated R - 1 hr 58 min
Director: Phillip Noyce
Starring: Denzel Washington, Angelina Jolie, Queen Latifah, Luis Guzman, Ed O'Neill

Before we really knew anything about Angelina Jolie, she was in this movie with quadrapalegic Denzel Washington and a pre-weight loss Queen Latifah.  Back then, I wasn't distracted by her and I could just enjoy this crime thriller and all its gorey glory.  Now, I watch this movie and I go, "Oh hey! It's Angelina Jolie! I forgot she was in this movie..."  And I'm all distracted by how young and pre-Lara Croft she is.  It's weird.

Anyway, I got over that after a few minutes and let myself enjoy the gore-fest.  Honestly, not that I'm complaining, but this movie does have some gratuitous blood and guts.  It's all good, cuz it is indeed a murder flick, but wow.  Yuck.  And also, awesome.

This one has a good twist ending, but you'll only enjoy that the first time you see it.  After that, you watch it and think how stupid you were not to catch on to who the murderer is... and that's as distracting as Jolie's lips.