Trailer For "The Darjeeling Limited"!

Wes Anderson is back!

License to Wed

I just watched it. Who greenlit this thing? Who decided this was suitable for release? Stay far away. 2/10

Always Crashing in the Same Car

"Always Crashing in the Same Car"

is a 12 minute film by Duncan Wellaway. Remember that name. It stars Richard E. Grant and Paul McGann, together again for the first time since "Withnail and I." It's online and very high quality. Great movie!

This Makes My Brain Vomit.

Seriously, it just got everywhere. Yes, that's a real poster. Yes, that's Jason Lee. All I can say is...why?

"Transformers" (finally) and "Potter."

Finally getting a day off I at last had the chance to see "Transformers" at a time that wasn't ridiculously late. I could actually enjoy it and what better way to enjoy it than by seeing it at the theater of my childhood, the Oak Tree. It's where I saw "Top Gun" and "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" as a kid but I hadn't been there in years. Very happy to see that the theater is pretty much just as I remember it. They didn't re-model but it doesn't look old and rundown either. But to the movie, yes!
"Transformers" as directed by Michael Bay had the potential to either be an absolute blast or a large steaming pile. I am happy to say that I had a blast. As a kid I liked Transformers but I wasn't nearly as into it as a lot of kids around my age. (I was all about "Star Wars" and "Ghostbusters.") Still, the gleeful geek in me was immediately hooked when I heard Optimus Prime (voiced by the original guy himself, Peter Cullen) telling me, "In the beginning, there was the cube." There's really no point into going into detail about the plot. It's pretty simple. There's these GOOD robots, see! And then there's these BAD robots... In the middle of it are teenagers Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) and Mikaela Banes (Megan Fox). Things get blown up real good and there's lots and lots of robot fights. What really makes this movie work as well as it does though is the performance of LaBeouf as the teenage everygeek. I had gotten kind of sick of hearing about this guy so much, but he's so great in this that I just don't care anymore. And I loved how the Decepticons, when you get right down to it, are really just bullies. They're not evil in the traditional aliens coming to destroy earth sense. They're just mean for the fun of it. What an incredibly entertaining movie. Michael Bay done good. 8/10

As I walked out to the parking lot I heard some guy blasting an eighties metal song, which only seemed fitting after watching "Transformers" at the Oak Tree. It was suddenly 1986 again and I didn't have a care in the world. So after "Transformers" I decide to see if my friend Maureen wants to go see "Harry Potter." As I understand it it's about this boy wizard and it's based on some books or something. It evidently has a bit of a cult following in Argentina. As luck would have it she was at that very moment on her way to see it at the Metro. Perfick!
"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," the fifth film in the series, while not as dark as I would have expected, is still full of some very heavy things. Many critics seem to be complaining of "Potter" fatigue. I don't see it. It's not quite as good as "Goblet of Fire" but it is very very good. Daniel Radcliffe gets better in the role every time and I love seeing the collection of some of Britain's greatest actors coming together, even if they only have a few minutes of screen time. Imelda Staunton is outstanding in her meaty role as the cheery yet vicious new professor Dolores Umbridge. As always though I just wish there were more of Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman. After the movie I listened to Maureen and her sister discuss the books at great length. I really want to know more about these characters, particularly Snape (Rickman's character) and Sirius Black (played by Gary Oldman). I need to finally start reading these books. I can see why the Argentinians are so into them. 8/10

Ratatouille

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Little people with bad taste grow up to be big people with bad taste. Studios serve up garbage films to children all the time. It's excused with a shrug and the words, "Oh, it's for kids. They'll like it!" This is why I am so incredibly thankful for Pixar and the writer-director of "The Incredibles," Brad Bird. Bird is also the man behind Pixar's newest effort, "Ratatouille." He understands that quality matters no matter how old the audience is.
"Ratatouille" tells the story of Remy (Patton Oswalt), a rat living in France, who believes that food shouldn't just be taken out of the garbage. Food should be something special and something to be savored. He sneaks into homes and gets the best pieces of cheese and vegetables he can get his hands on. He even keeps his hands clean by walking around only on two legs. All of these things, along with his love of reading and cooking shows would be disapproved of by his father (Brian Dennehy). Remy's brother Emile (Peter Sohn) reluctantly agrees to keep his secret. One afternoon while gathering up some especially good ingredients, Remy sees his inspiration, the brilliant French chef Gusteau (Brad Garrett) on television. Gusteau's philosophy is that anyone can cook. Food critic Anton Ego (Peter O'Toole) disagrees, and Remy discovers that Ego's scathing review of Gusteau drove the chef into a deep depression which eventually led to his death. Remy is soon discovered by the woman whose home he has invaded and narrowly escapes being shot, but he gets separated from his family amidst the excitement.
Remy's only friend becomes an imaginary version of Gusteau, offering him encouragement. Soon Remy finds that he is in Paris and finds Gusteau's restaurant, now run by the greedy Skinner (Ian Holm). Remy desires to cook more than anything in the world but he has no way of accomplishing this in a human world. That is until the nervous young Linguini (Lou Romano) arrives in the kitchen, much to the chagrin of Skinner. Linguini is only taken on because of his mother's dying wish, as she was a close friend of Gusteau's. Linguini is the first to discover Remy and after a misunderstanding, Linguini is given credit for Remy's delicious new soup. The two quickly team up, with Linguini becoming Remy's cooking puppet.
"Ratatouille" is a bit darker in tone than the average animated G-rated movie, but it's nothing that children can't handle. It's certainly not disturbing like last summer's dreadful "Monster House." Bird gives children a film that doesn't talk down to them. The lessons about believing in yourself and not selling out are not heavy handed. Bird believes that kids will get it without being beaten over the head with a message stick. He gives his whole audience, young and old, a thoroughly enjoyable movie that we only want to end because it has made us so hungry. It also features the most well written and well delivered monologue I have heard in a very very long time. Bird's words out of O'Toole's mouth are a wonder to behold. It comes near the film's end so I won't spoil it for you.
"Ratatouille" is a far superior film to Pixar's previous effort, "Cars," and one that will be enjoyed by all. Don't be late either. The short that runs prior to the film, "Lifted," is absolutely hilarious. I think we can all relate to that little alien.

Ratatouille: 9/10
Lifted: 10/10

"Snow Cake" Opens in Seattle Tomorrow!

The movie I've been talking up for over a year now finally gets its Seattle release...on one screen...for one week only. Sooo...it's sort of a victory. Just make sure you get to it this week!
Varsity showtimes this weekend are: (2:00 4:20) 7:00 9:20. Monday-Thursday have the 7:00 and 9:20 only. It's an absolutely amazing film. You will be very happy you saw it.

You've Got the Touch!

I haven't seen "Transformers" yet but those who I've talked to say that Michael Bay did not include Stan Bush's timeless rock classic (oh, if sarcasm could be conveyed over a computer screen), "The Touch." This makes me want to kill Michael Bay. Well I have to attend an interstellar peace conference. But until I return I leave you with..."The Touch":

Scrap Happy Daffy!

Happy Independence Day!