Mini Review--Coraline

I'm often leery of movies based on books, especially books I like. But when it comes down to it, if it has Neil Gaiman's name on it, I'm there.

When Coraline got underway, I realized I didn't remember the book that well, so I just went along for the ride. From what I could remember, though, the basic plot honors the original pretty well. The tone of the movie definitely dovetails nicely with that of the book. Though rated PG, Coraline's a bit intense for the younger crowd, although probably not much more so than classic Disney "kiddie" flicks like Sleeping Beauty and Snow White. For the most part, Coraline is more creepy than scary, though the last act does add a scare factor.

The 3-D technology used for Coraline is impressive. There's not much of things jumping out at the audience, as in My Bloody Valentine, which in my opinion was a more appropriate approach for a younger audience. The 3-D really brings you into the story, most notably in the tunnel transition between Coraline's real world and the Other world.

Overall, I found Coraline immensely entertaining and wonderfully produced. My kids enjoyed it, as well, though at 11 and 15 they're a bit older than the target audience.

Wanna Buy a Hoodie?

I'm ridiculous. And I'm aware of this. So when Clandestine Industries announced their relaunch this week, I ran right over there and spent some money. (The pictured hoodie is not, by the way, the one I bought.)

I like hoodies. And I like Pete Wentz, so I send him my money for hoodies. And these hoodies are comfortable and warm and darn it, I just like them.

So next time you're at a Fall Out Boy concert, look for the old lady in the Batheart hoodie. It just might be me....

Mini Review--My Bloody Valentine 3-D

I don't normally venture out of the house for horror movies, much less 3-D horror movies, but the lure of seeing Jensen Ackles on the big screen proved too much for me in this case.

My Bloody Valentine turned out not to be a great movie, but it wasn't bad, either. The 3-D wasn't as gimmicky as it often is, and also proved surprisingly realistic. (Also, much to my happy surprise, it didn't give me a migraine like the last 3-D movie I went to.)

While gory and definitely not for the squeamish, My Bloody Valentine features a solid performance from Jensen Ackles and a plot that, unlike many horror movies, actually makes some sense. Surprisingly, though, the only really sympathetic character in the film is the killer.

Another Quickie Review--The Incredible Hulk

I haven't watched the Ang Lee Incredible Hulk, so I can't say how the more recent version compares, but I can say that I enjoyed it quite a bit. The plot was pretty straightforward comic book movie, and therefore predictable. But what really made the movie for me was the shoutouts to the TV series. I used to be completely addicted to The Incredible Hulk, and seeing the nod to Bill Bixby, Lou Ferrigno in a small part, and even a snippet of the TV theme song in the soundtrack made me smile.

Quickie Movie Reviews

I've spent the holiday break catching up on some movies, and plan to watch several more before I have to get back to the day job on Monday. A couple I particularly enjoyed so far were:

Hancock. My daughter is a big Will Smith fan, and this movie is fast-paced, funny, and an enjoyable twist on the usual superhero film. I wasn't quite on board with the last third, but overall it's a fun ride.

Quantum of Solace. I very much enjoyed Daniel Craig's first foray as James Bond, and while this wasn't quite as strong a movie as Casino Royale, it was still an entertaining afternoon in the theater. Daniel Craig continues to play Bond with cool, rugged sexiness, and in Quantum, recovering from the events of Casino, Bond is even more square-jawed and taciturn. And very, very easy on the eyes.

Top Five TV Shows of 2008

To round off the top fives for now, here are my picks for top five TV shows. These aren't necessarily new shows, but they're shows I've particularly enjoyed this year.

1. Supernatural. This remains my favorite show on TV, and this year it's better than ever. Dean's time in hell, as well as the introduction of angels to the show's mythology, have added layers that work better than I ever thought they would.

2. Bones. After a major misstep at the end of last season and a really horrific return at the beginning of this one, I was afraid I was going to have to take this former favorite off my must-watch list. But the show has recovered nicely, and while I still hold a grudge, it's returned to its eminently watchable self.

3. Leverage. This show just started a couple of weeks ago, but it's rapidly becoming a favorite. Familiar faces Christian Kane (Angel) and Aldis Hodge (Supernatural, Friday Night Lights), make it that much more entertaining.

4. Burn Notice. The presence of Bruce Campbell and Sharon Gless make this already fun show even more awesome.

5. House. Last season was questionable. The season before that? A bit annoying. This season seems to be back on course.

Top Five Movies of 2008

My movie viewing this year was largely comprised of sequels and nostalgia. My top five movies of the year (counting only movies I managed to catch in the theater):

1. Wall-E. One of the most impressively produced, written, directed, you-name-it movies I’ve ever seen.

2. The Dark Knight. A fantastic movie, fantastic sequel, and a mind-bogglingly good performance from Heath Ledger. He will be missed.

3. Iron Man. One of the best non-Batman superhero movies ever.

4. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Honestly? Not that great a movie in a lot of ways. But I loved it. I’m a huge Indiana Jones fan, and while I had issues with some portions of the story, I loved the way they wrapped up Indy and Marian’s storylines.

5. The X-Files: I Want to Believe. Again, not the best movie in a lot of ways, but boy, have I missed Mulder and Scully. And the Mulder-and-Scullyness of this movie gave me a warm fuzzy.