A Loss of Words

     I am not going to say a lot about what I am telling you about today. I do not have the words to do justice to those involved in the film I just finished. Terry Pratchett - Choosing To Die is a documentary following Author Terry Pratchett, as he explores the realities of medically assisted death. All I can say is watch it.

Terry Pratchett - Choosing To Die

     Yes tears were running down my face.

As I was Sitting Down For Lunch.....

     Today I took a break, and decided I would go out for lunch. A simple burger and fries, and inspiration set in as to what movie I would talk about today.
     Harold and Kumar go to White Castle, the story of two friends, who after indulging an a significant amount of marijuana, decide that the best place to quench their hunger is at Americas favorite slider shop.

     But in so many ways the movie is about so much more. Harold Lee (played by John Cho) is a mild mannered office worker. He is taken advantage of by his co-workers, under appreciated by his boss. Day in and day out, his routine only has one high point. His elevator ride with the girl of his dreams, Maria, who he doesn't have the courage to ask out.

     His roommate and best friend Kumar Patel (played by one of my favorite actors Kal Penn) is a medically brilliant, yet completely unmotivated, pot smoker. Where Harold is professional and career minded, Kumar only wants to live in the moment.

     After a rather hard day at work for Harold, as well as a rather um, well I don't know what day for Kumar, the pair relax with a little (and by little I mean lot) of marijuana. This brings out the ultimate question, what will they do to slake their intense and growing hunger. Almost like a message from God, a commercial for White Castle comes on the television, and the decision has been made. They MUST  go to White Castle. 

     Full of humor aimed at pot users, this movie is full of over the top jokes, drug references, and nudity.

Beyond all of that though, is a story of self discovery, as well as a coming of age story of sorts. There are cameos galore in this movie, including an amazing story arch involving Neal Patrick Harris, that in my humble opinion is unbelievably funny.

     I would recommend watching the unrated version of the movie, simply because they can get away with more of the dirty jokes than in the rated version, but either way, your are sure to get a good laugh. Come for the simple jokes, stay for the crazy adventure.

Being John Malcovich

     Seldom have I been so at a loss for words about a movie, that I have no clue how to describe it.

      Being john malcovich is the story of a puppet master, who after being forced to take a normal job, and I use that term loosely, discovers a portal that takes one inside of actor  John Malkovich himself.

     This is as far as I can go in my basic description of the movie, for quite simply, so much comes into play in the movie, that is difficult to put into words. Relationships are stressed, psyches are damaged, and everyone has their world are torn apart and put back together in ways they never imagined possible.

     The main question becomes, what becomes of you, when you become someone else. And what will you see, if you stop to look inside yourself.

     With twists and turns that give surprise, after surprise, this movie will definitely make you think. The down side, is that it is slow to build to the exciting parts. Worth a look for the curious nature of the film alone.

Starring: John Cusak, Cameron Diaz, Ned Bellamy, Catherine Keener, and of course John Malckovich.

Mindless Entertainment

     Every once in a while, a guy sits down, takes a drink of his beer, and decides to watch a movie with little more than guns, cussing, one liners and not much else.  I think I may have found the epitome of such films.

      When a man we eventually come to know only as Mr.Smith (Clive Owen), delivers a mysterious strangers baby in the middle of an epic gun battle, and finds himself caught protecting the newborn form a non stop onslaught of gun toting assassins.

     A full on blast of anything action, Shoot 'Em Up is a full blown, over the top assault on everything an action movie is and could be. From the first scene on, we are given, and I mean given, a non stop barrage of bullets, fighting and one liners that would make the manliest of men squeal in laughter.

one of the movies slower scenes

     We also have Paul Giamatti playing a role I swear he was born to play, as the near telepathically brilliant Hertz, who has been dispatched to find and kill the baby, Mr. Smith is protecting.

yeah....

     Later we are introduced to the gorgeous Donna Quintanno (Monica Bellucci) who is a lactating prostitute, that Mr. Smith tries to hire to feed the baby, only to find that there is more beneath the surface to her, than her unique physical attributes.

     Worth a watch, and highly entertaining, if for no reason other than the fact that literally every aspect of this movie has bullets flying (including the love scene).