Flick Picks 2010 - February

Updated February 27, 2010
As I never have time for a writing a full length review, I list and write a quick review of the films I see at the cinema.

Movies take a long time to reach Japan, so for people outside Japan, these might make good rental choices. For people in Japan I'll hopefully give you an idea if you want to spend your hard-earned yen on these movies.

Please comment if you agree or disagree with my reviews. I enjoy feedback!

4) Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief - Logan Lerman, Sean Bean, Pierce Brosnan, Catherine Keener (February 27, 2010)
A fun time at the movies. Percy Jackson discovers that he has a rather famous father, Poseidon. Percy is a demigod, a half god with interesting powers. He has been accused of stealing Zeus's lightning bolt and if he doesn't return it, the gods will go to war.

It starts a little like Harry Potter or The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, but by the end become a rollicky fun ride that's suitable for teens and up. This may be the first of a series. Bring 'em on I say, bring 'em on!



3) It's Complicated - Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin (February 20, 2010)
A rom-com for the over 50's has some big laughs, but ultimately isn't as fulfilling as it should be. Meryl is wonderful, Alec Baldwin shines as her ex, but Steve Martin sadly lets things down. If you don't feel like going for a chocolate croissant afterwards, you must be dieting!



2) The Lovely Bones - Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon, Saoirse Ronan(February 7, 2010)
A very disappointing version of the difficult-to-read-but-too-hard-to-put-down novel. While visually stunning, there is something lacking in Peter Jackson's version of The Lovely Bones. When I finished reading the novel, I cried; when the movie was over, I was glad. It didn't have an impact on me and I feel like it really should have.

Fourteen year old Susie Salmon disappears on her way home from school one night and is never seen again. The story told by Susie is of how her family tries to cope with their loss.

Fans of the book probably won't like it, and it won't make viewers want to read the book. Stay home. Don't bother.

2 comments:

Orchid64 said...

I was also disappointed in "It's Complicated". It wasn't simply that it wasn't as funny as I'd hoped, but just that it was so predictable. Steve Martin probably loved playing a straight man (and Baldwin obviously loved playing the goofy ex), but I just couldn't feel much for any of the characters. In particular, though I love Meryl Streep, her character's lack of ethics really undermined my sense of her likability. What sort of woman is cheated on and loses her husband then helps him cheat on his current wife? It was either an act of revenge (hurt the woman who stole her wife) or it was a profound lack of empathy.

Helen said...

Thanks for your comment Orchid. I agree with you and I think you pinpointed what I didn't like about the movie.
The Meryl Streep character was at a good point in her life, she really didn't need to get involved with her ex again. It was never really clear to me why she did have the affair with him...the first drunken night I get, but the other times.

Funny how a thing like morality can make you like/dislike a film!
(ask me why I hate Mrs. Doubtfire sometime!!)