Change Your Image
michyh1
Reviews
House M.D.: Help Me (2010)
Pretty Good
I liked when Cuddy laid it on the line with House with the "move on" speech. Go Cuddy!
I also liked the fact that House laid out his entire situation to Hannah in a nutshell. The finale was almost like a review of the entire series (if you've never seen the show, this one probably would bring you up to speed really quick).
Although we are assured that this is not a hallucination, I'm still hesitant on that score. House did get stuck in a secondary collapse....I hope the writers don't toy with us again, that would not be cool.
What would be cool would be seeing how the complications unfold regarding House & Cuddy trying to "make it work". Then again, jumping the shark is still in the back of my mind so I am slightly cynical as to what happened - but in the end I did like it for now!
My Brilliant Career (1979)
Good film - Don't get the Main Character, though
Don't get me wrong, I like Judy Davis & I like this movie because of the nice chemistry between her and Sam Neill. Sam sure was handsome when he was younger (still looks good now too, though).
In the end I didn't get the main character because her behavior didn't make a lot of sense to me. If Sam Neill's character was an idiot I would understand, but he was about as perfect for Davis' character as she could ever hope for & her "career" didn't seem like much of a lifestyle......so her actions left me perplexed.
Still, the movie was well done & the scenery was interesting. It kept me engaged until the end....however, when the final credits rolled I was left scratching my head.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Hammered (2009)
Christine Lahti - My Respect
Christine Lahti is a great actress - I am impressed! I knew about her past work but geeze....Go Christine Go!
Her few appearances on this show have been electric. In particular, the sparring between her character & Christopher Meloni's character, Stabler.
"Wow" is all I can say in regard to what she has done with what she has been given......and what she has been given is tough to pull off & not particularly flattering stuff.
I can't really describe it all that well but I hope the powers that be realize she's a valuable asset to the show & that they give her character some dignity in the end......hopefully it'll be more than a couple of episodes.
NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service (2003)
Catching On - Slowly
I just started watching NCIS & it's starting to grow on me. A lot of it has to do with the Ziva David character & plot line. The "Good Cop Bad Cop" episode was great & has earned NCIS another fan (me).
I've become very slowly interested in this show because it is sometimes difficult for me to follow the plots. Dialogue can provide clues but the lines are sometimes mumbled so I have to watch my recordings of the show a couple of times to piece together what people are saying & what clues are presented. Otherwise, when I catch on to what is happening I realize I've enjoyed figuring out the threads & in the end the stories are pretty good.
Again, I like the Ziva David character a lot. I've spent many years watching shows that really lacked a strong female character and I'm tired of getting frustrated when they are supposed to be strong but end up missing every target they shoot at & the male lead comes in and "rescues" them at the end.
Not so here & I want whoever is responsible to know I appreciate it - keep up the good work & thank you for continuing to include Ziva in the show - I just hope you keep her character responsible & true - she has the potential to be a pretty good female role model (like Benson in Law & Order SVU).
BTW, IMO a romance with DiNozzo would not be a good idea right now. Teasers are okay but I think the only time that could/should potentially happen is if they decided to finish off the series....which I hope doesn't happen for quite a while.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
It's Not Bad But Not Great
I think we need Alfonso Cuaron back & maybe another screenplay writer. I always liked Lawrence Kasdan's work. How about him? (If he's still alive, that is). If he isn't, bummer.
The books are great & I've read them all. The only Potter movie I've liked was Prisoner of Azkhaban. The rest I saw once & filed them away to memory. This movie is like that....I don't think I'd want to see this twice. But I keep hoping....we have 2 more left. I hope they get those right.
At the end it felt like I sat through a 2 Hour plus movie. I checked my watch twice. It's not like "Lord of the Rings". I saw all 3 multiple times & the time flew by...
In general, I'm glad everyone has grown up & I think the acting has improved. The beginning held promise but I think they wasted a lot of time on some non-interesting segments. It's like a pieced together soap opera. Special effects are wonderful, though.
There isn't THAT much kissing in the movie (thank goodness, I was prepping for the cringe feeling but luckily it wasn't too bad). However, nobody had chemistry in this one so I found myself not caring for who liked whom. Hermione likes Ron? I honestly couldn't see the reason for the attraction.....Luna Lovegood was interesting. Give her Harry instead.......oh wait, that wouldn't be following the books, sorry.
Anyhow, if you want to waste some time or cool yourself off in an air-conditioned theater this summer, go for it. Otherwise, maybe it might be a good idea to wait for when it's available to rent.
House M.D.: Both Sides Now (2009)
Not Bad
It was a little bit of a disappointment, initially, but after thinking about it, I ended up liking this episode. The House-Cuddy moments overall were pretty good (as usual) & we finally get to see some major sparks flying.
Amber is beginning to get on my nerves, but she's getting on House's nerves so I guess that's a necessity that fulfills its purpose.
The main reason I liked the episode? Cuddy's character is my favorite & this episode treats her with the respect she deserves, ultimately. She is exceedingly smart & compassionate & it keeps her from turning into another enabling, "lovestruck" idiot that House can use to make himself feel good (kind of like Stacy).
House needs to get a grip & although he hasn't lost his edgy, mean, and selfish spirit, this episode peels back some of his defenses & you see a bit more of what House is thinking. At this point, he doesn't deserve Cuddy & subconsciously he knows it. But I think it shows that he is yearning to be a better man than he is right now.
Hugh Laurie is an awesome actor. I hope he wins an award for his work this season. But Lisa Edelstein is fantastic and she shouldn't be overlooked either - she props up the show & without her it wouldn't be so great. She's deserves just as much recognition.
Il y a longtemps que je t'aime (2008)
Eric Rohmer Fan Likes This Movie
I am one of those people who love Eric Rohmer films. That may make me a bit weird because I know that a lot of people say that watching an Eric Rohmer film is about as exciting as watching paint dry. Well, if people want to call me crazy for being a fan - go ahead. I can watch "Boyfriends & Girlfriends" and "Autumn Tale" every day...just like I could watch this movie just about every day. It's oddly calming. It makes me want to slow down.
I had to laugh at one point in this movie because they were criticizing Rohmer in it. Yet, I liked this movie because in some ways it does have some of that Rohmer style.
It's slow paced, has a lot of dialogue, not a lot of things really happen....and you get to immerse yourself in European culture. In this case French culture....with it's protagonist being played by a British actress who makes you believe she was born there. Granted, the people in the movie aren't all that youthful (which is basically a staple in Rohmer films overall) but I thought it was a very engrossing character study.
Finally, the casting was wonderful. For some reason I'm glad that the colleague of Juliette's sister was so sympathetic too. They could have made him a pervert / user / leech / catalyst for some weird "shock value" plot twist (I don't know how else to explain it) but I'm glad they didn't. I recommend this film & I am rooting for Kristin Scott Thomas. I hope she wins every award available this year.
Mamma Mia! (2008)
Getaway to Greece
Mamma Mia is my vacation destination this year. If I can't afford to go to Greece, then this is the next best thing. To top it off, I get Meryl Streep & Amanda Seyfried singing my favorite ABBA tunes (and doing a great job as well - with gusto).
I don't want full-bore reality when it comes to musicals (i.e. Sweeney Todd - yuck). I want a semi-getaway from reality.
I want romance, dancing, laughing, great music & fun (with a bit of seriousness to it - but not taking itself too seriously). In my opinion, Mamma Mia delivers that.
I love it when the audience is swaying to the music, smiling throughout the film, leaving the theater with big grins on their faces & humming the songs on the way out. That's entertainment, folks, & money well spent at the movie theater.
BTW, this is not a chick flick - it treats men with respect & personally the term "chick flick" is way overused. What does that mean anyway? Is there an official explanation somewhere? Life doesn't revolve only around women - men make up the other half of the population!!! I saw plenty of guys in this film & some of them were really handsome & nice too!
Anyway, I loved Mamma Mia & I am glad it's doing so well abroad. I wish it did better in the USA but maybe people were sidetracked here by "The Dark Knight". Lighten up everyone - go see Mamma Mia.
Fireproof (2008)
Encouraging Movie
It's amazing what this little movie has done. I've seen it twice now & when I leave the theater I feel so much happier....because it shows that when things look completely hopeless, miracles can still happen.
It was a serious subject, but they kept up a pretty good pace, with some well-done action sequences & humorous moments throughout to lighten it up a bit. I also liked the scenery....I live in the LA area & always wondered what it would be like to live in a slower- paced part of the country. But even in the quieter neighborhoods, no one is immune to marriage difficulties.
I went to see this on a Wednesday night and was surprised to see a pretty good size crowd in the theater. The audience even clapped at the end.
I never really liked Kirk Cameron in Growing Pains. But I think he did a commendable job here & I hope to see him in more films. I also liked Ken Bevel who played his friend & coworker, Michael. Has Ken ever acted before? He's pretty good!
I wish the Kendrick's & the church well in their future endeavors. For a small budget, I think they did a commendable job. I'm looking forward to seeing what they do with their next project, since they are obviously growing in experience. (Prayers also help, of course - this movie proves it).
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)
Nice Getaway without the High Cost of Travel
I really enjoyed Prince Caspian.
It took me away from my humdrum life for a few hours & took me into a fantasy world where I could lose myself in Narnian "intrigue". It even took the sting out of my nearly $4.00 / gallon gas tank fill-up earlier in the day. Thanks to this movie, horseback riding is looking a lot more appealing as well.
I loved that the latest special effects are used fully & that the film makers have succeeded in creating a true magical reality. Wow, what a difference between this and the earlier BBC versions of Narnia. Who would have thought they could make Reepicheep live & breathe like they have? The White Witch in the ice was awesome also. Dare I say,"chilling?" **duck head**
The casting was perfect. Ben Barnes is a hunky Caspian. I forget the name of the actor who plays Peter but he's improved too. Everyone has grown up & matured and it shows here.
To those cynics who call this "Christian Propaganda" do they know what they are talking about? What is so offensive about Jesus anyway? Willing to lay your life down for your friends? Sacrificing for the good of many? (I think that the U.S. Military does that for me everyday)... Read the bible first and make up your own mind. I think it's secular propaganda that you are a victim of.....this is harmless stuff compared to a "Hostel" or "Sweeney Todd" (which I have heard about but will never ever see). Granted there are battles but isn't just living a lifelong battle? At least Christians have Jesus - Narnians have Aslan. We're not spared from the battle but are given help and hope along the way to make it through and we learn/develop from what we learn as a result. Wow, that's really offensive (heavy sarcasm).
Keep up the good work, Disney. We need more of these fine movies and I am willing to go back to see this a couple of more times because you did a great job turning a difficult book into a watchable and enjoyable film. I'm looking forward to The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
One final note, though. Please use better music at the end of the next movie. Usually the end song adds something to the final impression of a film but this one was pretty bad. Corny. Cheesy. Cringe-worthy.
The kiss was fine, though. Any girl in her right mind would want to smooch that Prince. I know I would, so I'm glad they did it!