That Old Box of Disney Toys

Movie Title:  Toy Story 3
Starring: Tim Allen, Tom Hanks
Genre: Family
Director: Lee Unkrich
Produced By: Disney/Pixar
IMDb Page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0435761/

Description of Movie: The toys that we know and love are thought to be the toys that are supposed to go to the day-care centre as Andy leaves for cottage. It's up to everyone's favourite cowboy, Woody to convince the others that they weren't abandoned, and bring theem back home.

Review: This movie really lived up to what the other two did (in fact, it was MUCH better than the 2nd one..) which is great for a series like this, when most sequels are not at all good. Toy Story 3 kept that family feel to the rest of the trilogy while still being able to entertain those older kids (like me) or the EVEN older kids, like the parents that everyone knows watched Toy Story, and loved it. The idea that the toys would be leaving the Disney toy box was life threatening to some, while heartfelt to others; in fact, it was sort of a bittersweet moment when the film came to it's heartfelt and heartstring tugging end. I almost wonder if this will be the same feeling when the inevitable time comes when the GREAT SERIES THAT IS HARRY POTTER will come to an end, come July 15th.
On one hand I wanted to cry because the series ended, while on the other, I was overcome with happiness by the way that it all ended.
Perfectly.
All who have seen it will know what I mean when I say that the movie almost ended the way UP did, it was going to make everyone cry (of course, the actual ending may have too). Alas, the movie was a great success, both in  the box office and in everyone's home, and was a great way to end the series. The movie was full of laughter, joy and those ever Toy Storyish moments of "WOAH! Did (s)he just do that!" with new characters, and old favourites everyone must watch this movie, because it is almost guaranteed that you will like it (if you liked the other two of course).

Overall Letter Grade:  A
Buy, Rent or Skip?: Buy

Buy, Rent, Skip's First Promo!

Hey There MovieWatchers! We think that you should go ahead and watch out first promo video for Buy, Rent, Skip! Its pretty funny, but it will really only make sense if you've seen the "Debbie Likes Cats" eHarmony video bio video.

Keep Up the Awesome
-Iain and Defne

The Apartment Friend.

Movie Title: The Roommate
Starring:  Leighton Meester, Minka Kelly
Genre: Thriller
Director: Christian E. Christiansan
Produced By: Screen Gems
IMDb Page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1265990/

Description of Movie:  Sara, a new college student finds herself living with a roommate who quickly becomes obsessed with Sara, which takes a turn for the worse.

Review: Wow. It's been a while since our last review, and what better to kick it off with than a Suspense film (well, it could be Wayne's World I guess..). I cannot believe how unbelieveably creepy this movie is. The movie is creepy, but still mediocre at the same time. Unfortunately, this movie had potential to be great, but wasn;t. There were too many instances in the movie that called for unrational reactions. This movie was full of glamorized violence (glamorized violence is violence that occurs, but fails to show any conaequences or aftermaths) and events initiated by Rebecca (the roommate) that were left unresolved by the end of the movie. This is a movie that I figured would leave me on the edge of my seat, (almost like Taken did) but instead left me sitting there bored by the middle of the film. Rebecca IS crazy, she does some unrational and psychotic things in the movie, including self inflicted mutilation, harassment beyond belief and even murdering animals for her own gain. The fact that all of these things go unresolved make the rationality of this movie beyond unbelievability, no matter how real this situation could really be. Unfortunately, this movie didnèt live up to the potential to become what it could have been.

*Side Note: Although I have never seen it, I understand that this is essentially the G rated version of Single White Female. That might be a better movie to pick up...

Overall Letter Grade: C-
Buy, Rent or Skip?: Skip

T-t-t-that movie about the St-st-st-stammering K-k-k-k-kin-fuck.

Movie Title: The King's Speech
Starring: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush
Genre: Biopic, Drama
Director: Tom Hooper
Produced By: Bedlam Productions
IMDb Page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1504320/

Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush as King George VI and Lionel Logue, respectively

Description of Movie: "[The King's Speech] tells the story of the man who became King George VI [6th]... After his brother abdicates, George ('Bertie') reluctantly assumes the throne. Plagued by a dreaded stammer and considered unfit to be king, Bertie engages the help of an unorthodox speech therapist named Lionel Logue. Through a set of unexpected techniques, and as a result of an unlikely friendship, Bertie is able to find his voice and boldly lead the country through war." -Anonymous Writer


Review: Wow. There really aren't enough words of praise in the Englsih language that can satisfy what I feel about this movie. Before watching The King's Speech, I first watched a documentary on the real King George VI. One of my favourite things about this movie is that it accurately told the history of the King's childhood, throughout various Bertie/Lionel scenes, which is always a great touch. I felt that this movie accurately portrayed the debilitation that the stammer caused Bertie through the years of his lifetime. For someone who does suffer from a stammer, this movie was very inspiring, although my stammer is not as profound as Bertie's was...and in fact, the only time that I don't stammer (aside from swearing, singing, etc.) is when I am on stage performing.  The one thing about theis movie that I liked so much was when the audience could see Bertie using the mechanical practices (that Lionel had gone over with Bertie) while he was delivering his various speeches; I felt that this added a great element and effect to the movie overall. Although this whole movie was very inspiring and powerful, the one scene that really touched me the most actually occured towards the start of the movie, when Bertie recites the famous monologue from Shakespeare's Hamlet and later realizes that he can actually speak without stammering. The pauses in the movie for comic relief, also added to the greatness of this flick.
Anyways, it looks like this review is going nowhere and getting a little long-winded. So I am going to finish off the way I started.
Wow.
I truly would recommend this movie to ANYONE, stammer-er or not; and think that this is a movie worth watching again and again. This could possibly be one of the greatest movies I have ever seen in my life...aside from Mrs. Doubtfire of course! 

King George VI (Firth) before his famous War-time speech followed by his wife Queen Elizabeth (Helene Bonahm Carter)

 Overall Letter Grade:  A++
Buy, Rent or Skip?: Buy...and watch again, and again

Vein Slicers

Movie Title: Wristcutters
Release Date:  2006
Genre: Fantasy/Romance/Drama/Comedy
Director: Gordan Dukic
IMDb Page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0477139/

Description of Movie: Zia, a depressed man in his early 20s decides to 'off himself' after his girlfriend leaves him. He wakes up in a strange alternate world that is soley inhabited by other humans who have killed themselves. A world without smiles, flowers or stars. Zia quickly learns that his ex-girlfriend has killed herself as well. He meets Eugene, a Russian musician and they embark on a roadtrip to find her.

 Review: So this film was lent to me by my good friend who always has the best movies. In all honesty, the storyline is wonderful. The only problem is that it drags. It's a short film but for some reason it just went on and on. The scenery was deary and the colours were nearly black and white. The acting is great, Tom Waits is just too much in this film. There was just something about it, perhaps the soundtrack or the bleakness that turned me off. The ending is so heartwarming though, it was worth watching the whole film for the final five minutes. I don't know, it's really up to the viewer on this one.

Overall Letter Grade: C-
Buy, Rent or Skip?: Skip.

The Fabulous Destiny of Amelie Poulain

Movie Title: Amelie (known in France as 'Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain')
Genre: Romantic/Comedy
Release Date: 2001
Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
IMDb Page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0211915/

Description of Movie: The lonely Amelie Poulain one day decides to become a better person after finding a small box of childhood treasures that belonged to the previous owners of her flat. She dedicates herself to reuniting, matchmaking, avenging and rebuilding the lives of strangers without taking any credit for herself. Her little adventures lead her to Nino Quincampoix, an odd young man who collects rejected photobooth pictures. Her love blossoms and Amelie must conquer her shyness and her cowardice to finally win the one thing she wants the most in life.

Review: French cinema at it's finest. This film captures innocence, vulgarity, heartbreak, love, passion, hatred, it's all so just beautifully woven into the two hours, I desperately wish it was longer. The first half is chirpy, quirky, Amelie out and about fixing up the lives of those around her. The second half is heart breaking as she tries to gain the love of Nino. It's also subtly hilarious, there are those gem moments scattered throughout the film where you can't help but give a little giggle. The soundtrack, words can't describe it, Yann Tiersen is a genius. Everything about this film is what I love about cinema. Whimsical dialogue, great acting, magical setting it's all here. I've watched it countless times, the first time being only around 11 or 12. It will be forever a film I hold dear and I hope, dear reader, it fares the same for you.

Overall Letter Grade: A+
Buy, Rent or Skip?: Buy it, no questions asked.



"Amelie has a strange feeling of absolute harmony. It's a perfect moment. A soft light, a scent in the air, the quiet murmur of the city. A surge of love, an urge to help mankind overcomes her."

A Hideous Authenticity

Movie Title: The Ugly Truth
Release Date: 24.07.2009
Genre: Comedy
Director: Robert Luketic
Produced By: Sony Pictures
IMDb Page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1142988/
Description of Movie: A romantically challenged morning show producer is reluctantly embroiled in a series of outrageous tests by her chauvinistic correspondent to prove his theories on relationships and help her find love

Review:  The Ugly Truth, it's a movie that's a little less Rom and a little more Com. I have seen most of Robert Luketic's movies and The Ugly Truth is one of my favourites. This movie kept me laughing from beginning to end, and Gerard Butler was the perfect pick to play Mike Chadway. The Ugly Truth was a movie that was really, truly well written...this movie even makes the topic of masturbation be hillariously funny. A big kudos goes out to the writers of the film for making this movie one of those gutbusting movies that you can watch again and again. 2009 was the year of Gerard Butler and this movie is one that proves it. Although this movie was rated R, I would reccommend this movie to any comedy lover, simply because it can take profanity that would normally cause the audience to tsk and turn it into a roaring laughter-fest. It could've used a little less romance though... 

Mike Chadway (Butler) and his Jell-o babes

Overall Letter Grade: A
Buy, Rent or Skip?:Rent/Buy ---depending on your taste in comedy I suppose

"You have to be two people. The saint and the sinner. The librarian and the stripper."- Mike Chadway