Movie #387 - The History Boys

The History Boys
2006 - Rated R - 1 hr 49 min
Director: Nicholas Hytner
Starring: Richard Griffiths, Frances de la Tour, Clive Merrison, Stephen Campbell Moore, Andrew Knott, Russell Tovey, Dominic Cooper, Samuel Barnett

Okay.... this movie was not at all what I expected.  Yes, it's about a rowdy bunch of male students trying to earn acceptance into Oxford.  Yes, it's about stiff, rigid teaching and modern, "randy" students clashing.  But somehow, all the plot summaries available online glossed over the detail about the manual stimulation between student and teacher.

Oh, it's not sexual though, so I guess it's okay.  For real? Honestly?

I'm not sure what this movie was trying to convey as its lesson learned, but it certainly seemed to me to be a proponent of sexual abuse.  Hooray!

The sad thing is, barring that little tid-bit, I rather enjoyed the rest of the movie.  It just didn't sit well with me. I think it gave me heartburn.

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 #257 - Harry Potter & the Sorceror's Stone

Harry Potter & the Sorceror's Stone
2001 - Rated G - 2 hr 32 min
Director: Chris Columbus
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Richard Harris, Emma Watson, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane, Fiona Shaw, Richard Griffiths, Ian Hart, Warwick Davis, Verne Troyer, John Hurt, Bonnie Wright, Tom Felton, John Cleese, Alan Rickman

A Harry Potter marathon?  Ok, sure!  I've never watched all of these in order - it's a huge undertaking.  But so much fun!

Yes, I'm a fan. And yes, I'm still pissed that I'm a muggle. 

This first movie reminds me of that... and how I never got my letter to Hogwarts. But I digress... from a book-to-movie standpoint, this is probably one of the best films.  Basically, it's the shortest book so they didn't have to cut that much out.  Once we get to the complicated, longer books, I can't say the same.  Sad, but necessary.

The only thing I regret about this movie is that they didn't have the foresight to cast Ralph Fiennes to do Voldemort's voice this early on.  But when this movie came out, I don't think the fourth book had even been released yet. So I guess I can't blame them.

Onward to the Chamber of Secrets!

Movie #247 - Guarding Tess

Guarding Tess
1994 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 36 min
Director: Hugh Wilson
Starring: Shirley MacLaine, Nicolas Cage, Austin Pendleton, Edward Albert, Richard Griffiths, James Rebhorn

This movie's sweet, really.  It starts out a battle of wills between a former first lady and her head of security, who just wants out.  Nicolas Cage plays a tame version of himself (Hey, his acting abilities are limited, all right?) but it works. The power struggle is fun to watch, but it's Shirley MacLaine who really steals the show. 

Then the movie turns dramatic quickly with an unexpected kidnapping.  It's like all that light-hearted banter was a setup. You've been betrayed. This is now a crime drama.  Toes are getting shot off, FBI agents are swarming, and where the heck is Shirley MacLaine? But of course, everyone gets their warm, fuzzy ending.