Jerry's Thoughts, Musings, and Rants!

Sherlock Holmes - A Game of Shadows

One of the things I plan on doing this year is getting out of the house more - amongst the company of humans was how I explained it to a colleague. Now I don't necessarily want to interact with those humans, I certainly don't want to be touched by them, and annoying humans can stay away . . .

The other day I moved in this direction by heading out to see a movie. There are lots of movies out right now that I want to see but we rarely go to the theatre. Crazy! Especially when you consider that we can go to the adult only cinema near our house where drinks are served and annoying adolescents who titter at every bad word spoken on the screen or sexual innuendo are banned!

The movie we ended up seeing was the second installment of the Guy Ritchie Sherlock Holmes franchise starring jude Law and Robert Downey Jr. Ritchie is known for gritty movies featuring martial arts, violence, loud noises, and dark scenery which seems an odd mix with Sherlock Holmes, yet it works.

The movie is at its best when focused on the Downery Jr's and Law's  comedic (and often irresistibly mean-spirited) banter and the palpable chemistry between Downey Jr and Law certainly cementing this feeling. Some have suggested that the two characters seem more like lovers than friends. Whatever - they're funny together and the dialogue sparkles when they interact with one another on screen.

In 'a Game of Shadows' we catch-up with Holmes in pre-WWI London where he is even more eccentric and entirely obsessed with what seems to be a completely random series of sinister events which he attributes to criminal mastermind at large—Professor James Moriarty (Jared Harris). In Moriarty, Holmes admits he’s met his match and he is further hampered in his pursuit by the fact that his trusty sidekick, Watson is about to wed and is totally uninterested in Holmes latest obsession. It isn't long before Holmes drags Watson fully into the action and the two are off through Europe trying to stop Moriarty's plan.

Sherlock Holmes has always been the smartest man in the room... until now. There is a new criminal mastermind at large - Professor Moriarty - and not only is he Holmes' intellectual equal, but his capacity for evil, coupled with a complete lack of conscience, may actually give him an advantage over the renowned detective. Long-time Holmes fans will remember Moriarty as a criminal mastermind, described by Holmes as the Napoleon of crime and while he only featured in two of the Holmes novels he has come to be seen as Holmes' arch-nemesis.

Overall the movie is an enjoyable romp, and I liked it far more than the first one. Fans of the first movie should enjoy this; even new comers should be able to pick things up quick as it does offer a good adventure during this time of year. But it never becomes a classic thanks to its writing, but then again popcorn movies can be a great piece of escapism.

Harry Potter and the Deathy Hallows - Part 2

It was 4 years ago that my copy of the last Harry Potter book arrived at the door -  at the time I struggled with reading it. Not because it was bad but because I didn't want it to end. Turning the last page meant saying goodbye to characters and plots that had entertained me for years.

I felt the same about going to see this movie.

We had the pleasure of viewing it in an adult-only theatre so I did not have to endure young children crying at the scary bits, tittering away over kissing (happily the excess of teen hormones seen in earlier installments was under wraps to some extent in this film), or loudly pointing out where the film moved away from the books (there was an excess of this too). Thank goodness because my head might have exploded.

I find it hard to believe that it has been some 11 long years since the Harry Potter series first graced the big screen, and while the hardcore fans are still just as dedicated as ever, it’s hard to say that the same level of magic and wonder remains for the movie going public. The kids that were in awe when the series first debuted are now experiencing the joys of adulthood and are likely less entranced than they once were. That being said, we thought this was an excellent film and in some respects one of those rare movies that ends up better than the book which inspired it.

With nothing left to tell, the grand finale to the Harry Potter saga holds nothing back. everyone knows the story. Everyone knows how it will turn out. Yet the film manages to pack some happy surprises for the audience.

After the return of Voldermort (Ralph Fiennes) and the wizarding and human worlds both in chaos, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) regroups with his closest friends to learn the missing information he needs to defeat Lord Voldemort once and for all. Part 1 of the cheap ploy by Warner brothers to squeezes the last bit of riches from this series was long (and a bit dull I thought with Harry, Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermoine (Emma Watson) searching for Horcruxes which would allow them to destroy Voldermort.

Part 2 starts with three horcruxes still left to destroy, Hermione and Ronfollow Harry into the vaults of Gringot’s and back to Hogwarts itself to find the ones still missing. When the last truth is finally revealed about the night James and Lilly Potter were killed, Harry discovers that there is still one more thing that must be destroyed to make Voldemort truly vulnerable and seal his fate. This final movie is really a two hour epic battle between good and evil that will have you on the edge of your seats waiting to see what comes next.

The principal players have become one with their parts (having grown up on camera from children to adults - also beautiful shown throug a series of flashbacks). Everyone has 'their' moment on the screen in this last movie, whether in flashback or ghostly visitation. There are plenty of golden character moments . . . Neville Longbottom (Matthew Lewis) coming into his own, Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter) receiving her long-deserved comeuppance (lord, how I wanted to cheer!), and Professor McGonagall (Maggie Smith) revealing a side of herself that we always suspected might be under that tightly controlled bun. Even villains like Severus Snape (Alan Rickman) and the Malfoys clan enjoy their character moments, and for whatever you think of them, something very humane still lingered in these characters -  something that people suspected might have been there for years in spite of evidence to the contrary.

The fact that the movie had the biggest opening weekend box office in motion picture history isn’t really an indication of whether or not it is worth seeing, but it certainly is a clear marker of the anticipation surrounding its release. As much as Part I was somewhat unsatisfying, this is completely satisfying and a fitting end to the franchise.

The 39 Worst Actors?

I'm sure that you've heard of the movie rating site Rotten Tomatoes?

The Rotten Tomatoes website, created in 1999, aggregates reviews from hundreds of newspapers and websites across the country, converts each review into a thumbs-up ("fresh") or thumbs-down ("rotten") rating, and then combines those assessments into a single "Tomatometer" rating that gives the percentage of positive reviews. The site even aggregates archived reviews from films that were released in the 1990s and before. Whether you're looking at contemporary cinema or the classics, the Tomatometer can serve as shorthand for a film's critical reception, if not its box office success.

After analyzing the reviews for the movies the following actors appeared in they rated them as the worst 39 of the past 25 years. Don't ask me why they picked 39 as the number - surely another 11 could have been found  . . . To prove that even bad actors can have brilliant movies there are about 13 Oscar winners in the list.

What do you think?

I'd agree with many of these. A couple I've never heard of (sigh). Some I'd disagree with.

1. Jennifer Love Hewitt
2. Steven Seagal
3. Keanu Reeves
4. Kristen Stewart
5. Chuck Norris
6. Denise Richards
7. Dwayne 'the rock' Johnson
8. Demi Moore
9. Vin Diesel
10. Renee Zellweger
11. Sylvester Stallone
12. Katie Holmes
13. Nicolas Cage
14. Zooey Deschanel
15. Brendan Fraser
16. Megan Fox
17. Ashton Kutcher
18. Jackie Chan
19. Jennifer Lopez
20. Matthew McConaughey
21. Shaquille O'Neal
22. Brooke Shields
23. Owen Wilson
24. Kevin Costner
25. Pamela Andersen
26. Arnold Schwarzenegger
27. Gwyneth Paltrow
28. Brad Pitt
29. Miley Ray Cyrus
30. Josh Hartnett
31. Jessica Simpson
32. Quentin Tarantino
33. Kate Hudson
34. Rob Schneider
35. Olivia Newton-John
36. Billy Zane
37. David Caruso
38. Patrick Duffy
39. Jean-Claude Van Damme

The Oscars

Once again Paul and I sat back and suffered through another Oscar telecast. The Oscar's are a bit like a bad accident - you know looking at it is bad and may expose things unfit for human eyes but you are damned if you can look away.

We can't help ourselves. We've rarely seen the flicks. Generally we soon find that there are some actors we have never heard of before. Regardless, yet year after year we're here.

Last night was supposed to be the young and hip Oscars. This cemented the fact that I am neither young nor hip because I didn't get it. No, not at all.

In fact - I've heard the telecast compared to that of a bad reality show - complete with expletive laced speeches. The Oscars have come a long way since they had the look of a regal ball . . . which is fine so long as someone ensures that everyone is on the same page with what they have become. In short, someone needs to figure out just what the show is and then allow it to flow.

There were times last night when I thought I was watching the lose, booze-filled Golden Globes. In fact, had Ricky Gervais strode upon the stage I think he would have been cheered, even by the Fierstiens.

So what were the lowlights for me?

1. James Franco. An actor I used to admire appeared to be stoned throughout the entire telecast. Were he and Jeff Bridges sparking some weed before the telecast?
2. Christopher Nolan has clearly upset some academy members - give this man an Oscar already.
3. Hathaway (who I adore) and Franco just didn't work as hosts. They didn't come across as young and hip at all. Their humour was dry, their presenting was amateurish, and the awards lacked entertainment. Bringing back Billy Crystal for a bit just made them seem even worse by comparison. At least they didn't try and dance with a Disney hologram.
4. Oprah hit the ball out of the park when she presented the documentary. Class, intelligence, grace. That being said, when did she become Dolly Parton? Actually, apparently her dress designer does both Madonna and Dolly. Oprah. . .
5. Lots have been said about Melissa Leo dropping the f-bomb during her thank you to the Academy. I'm willing to cut her some slack though - the poor woman had just had her ass grabbed by an elderly man with a cane - that would discombobulate anyone. You wouldn't think saying the f-word was such a big deal, but in America you can hardly say 'toilet' on commercial television without getting slapped.
6. Since I already brought up Kirk Douglas . . . and at risk of seeming ageist . . . honest to god his bit made me uncomfortable. He leered, he patted Melissa's ass, he drooled over Anne Hathaway. It was as if he was channeling Charlie Sheen. Dirty old men aren't funny. Neither are dirty 'young' men but this ain't about Sheen.
7. What was up with ABC letting us know that they were going to be airing the show for the next ten years? This didn’t make me feel comforted at all.
8. Gwyneth Paltrow... I don't know about you, but I've had about enough of Gwyneth singing for awhile. How many shows has she sung on in the past month?! Sorry, but I really wished Jennifer Hudson would've grabbed the cane from Kirk, given Gwyneth the business end, and take over for the nasal-heavy Gwyneth (bless her heart). Having said that - she finally had a dress that fit and she looked freaking amazing in it.
9. Anne Hathaway’s Apache-like hoots throughout the evening were off-putting I thought. Really? No. Seriously…really? I get it . . . younger crowd . . . you're hip . . . the funny thing is that anyone I know who is in their 20 and 30s generally refrains from such foolish woo woo calls unless they are at a bar or drunk or both. Hathaway, presumably, was neither (although she did mention drinking a few times - hmmm). Enough Anne.
10. Matthew McConaughey and Scarlett Johansson found humor in repeating the word "sound" when they were presenting the best sound Oscar. They were the only ones. Speaking of Scarlett - whoever did her hair should be let go. Immediately.

All of this really reinforces one fact - actors read lines that others have written for them. They are not comedians. They don't do humour well as a rule. If the academy wants humour they they need to bring in comedic actors. Or Brits - Helen Mirren and Russel Brand (the pairing was a WTF moment for me but I was soon amazed) showed that actors could be classy, funny, AND smart. The Brits get this.

Enough said. I need to get back the sleep I lost last night. Since I'm not young nor hip I need my sleep.

Paul, be a dear, warm me some milk.

Before I nod off I have to give a shout out to the folks on facebook and twitter who engaged in a virtual Oscar party that was far more amusing than any live Oscar parties that I have ever been to. That, Anne and James, might not be young but it's a wee bit hip.

Ricky Gervais at the Golden Globes

I missed the Globes. I generally do. It seems an excuse for the vacuous self-promotion by people who least require it.

I have been listening to the fall-out over the comments made by the host - british Comedian Ricky Gervais. Today he declared that he'd never host the Globes again (Hollywood types breathed a sigh of relief).

Not knowing what he said I went to YouTube where I found a collection of clips from his remarks at the Globes.

What What do YOU think? Too much?

The King's Speech

Last fall the Toronto Film Festival was abuzz about the latest offering starring Colin Firth. The King's Speech, starring Firth, Geoffrey Rush, and Helen Bonham Carter is the unlikely but true tale of how the Duke of York (later to be King George the VI) turns to an unconventional therapist (played by Rush) to cure his painful stammer. A colleague of mine saw it at TIFF and has raved about the movie ever since.

When it finally opened just before Christmas I patiently waited for it to be screened at a local theatre. Yesterday, after three weeks of patience (far more than my usual store I'd say) we hopped into the car and drove to Mississauga where it was playing.

As always, I went with a degree of trepidation . . . the inner cynic always thinks that the experience I shall have won't live up to the hype and crushing disappointment shall result.

Silly inner cynic. Nothing could have been further from the truth with this film.

Screenwriter David Seidler, who actually had a pretty severe stammer growing up, has written a script about his apparent personal hero, King George VI, who overcame the same handicap with the help of a failed actor turned speech therapist (Rush playing Lionel Logue) to flourish as a monarch. Seidler injects humour and irony into the proceedings at just the right times to make this story work, and work well. The fact that much of the story takes place within the arc of known history also causes you to feel more empathy for the young Duke as he struggles to overcome his disability in an era where disabled people were hidden away from view. Disabled Rotalty . .  you can only image the consequences (irnoic perhaps given the level of inbreeding amongst the European Royal Houses . . .)

We know from history class that the Prince of Wales will abdicate thrusting Bertie onto the throne as George the VI. We know that Hitler will soon embark on crazy antics that plunge the world into a nightmarish struggle. We know that this King will be tested - he is going to have to inspire strength in his people that they never knew they had. He is going to have to communicate with them and not cause them to look aware in embarrassment as he tries to form his words and convey them . . . which is the reaction to his stammered utterances in the early scenes of the film.

There are some really fantastic sequences, and every single exchange between Albert and Logue is full of memorable dialogue. Logue's amusing disregard for Bertie's royalty makes for some brilliant laughs, and both men display a great sense of humor. The impeccable chemistry between the two really drives the film. In most films starring Geoffrey Rush, he steals the show, but the heart of The King's Speech belongs to Firth, who is brilliant here - you actually feel his pain and many in the theatre were actually crying when he managed to overcome his impediment and give his now famous 'we are at war' speech.

Helena Bonham-Carter didn't really have a lot to do as Elizabeth, but provided great support and genuine encouragement. Paul and I were both struck with how nuanced she was - perhaps more noticeable to us given that the last movie we had seen her in was Harry Potter and there was nothing nuanced about her portrayal of Belatrix Lestrange. What she was able to convey with the simple arch of a brow or the nod of her head was telling - it was nice to see her play a character rather than a caricature.

The King's Speech is the story of personal courage rising above adversity. Elitism and hierarchy. Friendship. Influence. Triumph. Equality. Trust. Self belief. Of course, these are all the hallmarks of an Oscar winner and this movie will likely be rewarded at awards ceremony after award ceremony - as it should for it is well.

Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes has survived many things over the years, including falling to his death at Reichenbach Falls (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle had to bring him back to appease outraged fans). It was with some concern that I went to see the latest movie to features this quizzical detective. Would Holmes survive Director Guy Ritchie?

No. I must admit that I do not like Guy Ritchie productions a bit. To me they are far too much whupping upside the head whilst listening to a booming rock-n-rolla sound track and far too little calm reasoning. So I went to this film with a good deal of trepidation. How ever would everyone's favourite detective survive this coupling?

Just fine as it turns out.

Ritchie brings his trademark style to the story of the Victorian-era "consulting detective" whose image was defined in the past by deerstalker caps, elegant reasoning and the occasional taste for morphine. Downey Jr. is a far more raucous and grungy Holmes, an unshaven (and sometimes bare-chested) bare-knuckled fighter with a taste for irony and fast quips, not to mention a facility for martial arts. Some have written against this - imagine a Holmes solving disputes with his fists rather than his intellect . . . it turns out that in the books he was known to throw a punch or three. Much of this aggressive behaviour was sanitized when a deerstalker hat was plonked on his head.

The story begins on cobbled streets as two carriages race through the night pursued by a man leaping from shadow to shadow. That would be Holmes himself, an Victorian action hero who soon demonstrates his Eastern fighting skills and the sort of arch amusement that Downey Jr. brings to his roles. He's joined by a similarly active Watson, a two-fisted sidekick played by Jude Law with a matching gift for banter. I have never appreciated these actors in the past yet in this film they worked together, very well. They played off one another with a healthy dose of humour and I was surprised to find myself laughing out loud with the rest of the audience at many junctures.

Together, they must vanquish Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong), one of those imperious villains who appears to know more than the screenplay will admit. The tale revolves around something called the Temple of the Four Orders, one of those satanic cults that only the rich and powerful would be ridiculous enough to join. However, it accomplishes its goal of revving the engine of Sherlock Holmes.

Oh, this Holmes is revved.

Beyond Blackwood and his plot to control the world, Sherlock Holmes is a showcase for the buddy comedy of Holmes and Watson: the neat sidekick perpetually exasperated by the brilliant slob who lives in amusing bachelor squalor, sleeping on the floor and firing guns into the wall of his rooms.

I've read criticism that the movie has a disjointed plot. Clearly my errant youth has finally caught up with me because things made sense and I had no trouble following along. Sure the plot was outlandish and far-fetched - this is a movie folks!

Sherlock Holmes is a fun, frenetic pulp-action romp with a good balance between imaginative fight scenes, deductive reasoning and a bit of CGI of old London Town to appeal to everyone.

All in all, it’s a fun, modern twist on an old favourite, and hopefully a start to a new movie franchise. The perfect way to spend a few hours over the past (sigh) holiday.

Julie & Julia

Paul and I decided to go and see this movie on the weekend. I was quite looking forward to it - what food obsessed person wouldn't? I mean this is the movie about Julia Child and a food blogger . . . what's not to love?

Let's just start at the top . . .  I enjoyed just everything about this movie. How rare a feat is THAT? About time Hollywood.

The movie, directed by Nora Ephron, cuts back and forth between Child’s life in the 1950s and food blogger Julie Powell’s life in NY in 2002. Meryl Streep plays Julia and shines in every scene that she’s in. She emphasizes Child’s joy and effusive personality, her love of cooking as well as her love for her husband, Paul (played equally well by Stanley Tucci). It’s a fully fleshed out character, and Streep is stunning - so many people who knew Child have commented how they felt as if they were watching their beloved Julia on the screen.

The backdrop of Paris, its markets glowing in the shining sun, is romantic and stunning. Queens: not so much. While the sole meuniere sizzles away in Paris, New York is, well, soulless. Where Paris is bright, here it is drab. The contrasts balance the movie and make it accessible.

Amy Adams is also good as Powell, though her character is less appealing in my opinion. She sets out to complete Mastering the Art of French Cookingbecause she feels that her life is missing something and because she feels she is missing something when she compares her life to her friends’ busy, important (and oh, so self-absorbed) lives. Her attempts at cooking complicated French recipes are sometimes humorous, but Ephron and Adams also show her less attractive sides. She comes across as narcissistic, petty, and selfish at times.

Where Julia’s story emphasizes the mutual affection and support that she and her husband Paul, played by Stanley Tucci, share, Julie’s story shows how she almost drives her husband away by her single-minded drive to gain some sort of celebrity and renown through her blog. I liked that the contemporary segments offered this slightly darker view of relationships and fame. It serves as a good contrast to the focus on child - a mirror on our so-called more enlightened world. Together these seemingly disparate halves come together to create a great, fun movie about food.

If you haven't seen the movie check out this trailer . . . you'll want to check it out once you've seen it!

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Paul and I popped out to see the latest installment of the Harry Potter franchise a few weeks ago. We had the pleasure of viewing it in an adult-only theatre so I did not have to endure young children crying at the scary bits, tittering away over kissing (dear lord, there was an excess of teen hormones in this film), or loudly pointing out where the film moved away from the books (there was an excess of this too). Thank goodness because my head might have exploded.

I find it hard to believe that it has been eight long years since the Harry Potter series first graced the big screen, and while the hardcore fans are still just as dedicated as ever, it’s hard to say that the same level of magic and wonder remains for the rest of 'film-dom'. The kids that were in awe when the series first debuted are now experiencing the joys of adulthood and are likely less entranced than they once were. Nonetheless, as Warner Brothers races to finish these movies (and the final installment is a two-part-er) before the cast outgrows their characters more than they already have, clearly audience burnout is the furthest thing from their minds.

The characters are the true stars of the sixth installment. When the movies first started there were weak child actors surrounded by giant adult acting talents. Happily there has been a marked improvement in the acting - none of the 'child' stars may ever hold a candle to Robbie Coltrane, Richard Harris, Maggie Smith, or Alan Rickman but at least they can hold their own more than they once did - the blank stares off into the distance that were once meant to show emotion have given way to - perish the thought - a trace of emotion.

Picking up from the intense conclusion of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the story finds Harry still being pursued by Death Eaters and Voldemort’s forces growing more powerful. The movie opens with scenes of mayhem throughout London and a spirit of fear pervades the land. Dumbledore convinces retired teacher Horace Slughorn to return to Hogwarts, but with an ulterior motive: he previously taught a student named Tom Riddle, aka a young Voldemort. Dumbledore is trying to collect memories related to the the dark lord so as to figure out how he attained immortality. Meanwhile Professor Snape makes a vow to help Draco Malfoy perform a task for the dark lord, and as for Ron and Hermione… well, they’re just experiencing the joys of adolescence (cue vomit bags opening).

While back at Hogwarts Harry finds a book on potions that has copious handwritten notes by “The Half-Blood Prince.” Whoever this person was, he was brilliant at creating potions - subtly modifying the recipes in the book to make them all work perfectly, was one of his skills. Harry’s new-found “skill” at potion-making draws the attention of newly re-recruited professor Horace Slughorn. The professor is played by Jim Broadbent, who gives one of the best performances of the film - surprisingly nuanced  considering the comedic nature of the role

Aside from a confrontation with the Death Eaters at the Weasley residence (which wasn't even in the book!), there isn’t a lot of action in this movie up until the finale — and even the finale feels underwhelming. I was shocked that the BIG scene from the entire book was omitted. I was let down. The JK Rowling formula is set - 500 pages of boring book interspersed with a brief bit of excitement, followed by 200 pages of gripping fiction. The movies were the same - except in this one the gripping part was fleeting. The writers even decided to omit the funeral of Professor Dumbledore; a huge mistake. Dumbledore was a central character - surely any Hollywood screenwriter penning a big budget flick knows to milk that dramatic moment for all it is worth. Sadly one was left flat and deflated. BAH

On the plus side, overall I would have to say Director David Yates has produced a very handsome film. The cinematography was indeed excellent, as many reviews are saying. Hogwarts does seem to be immense now, and beautiful, as Harry remarked at the end of the film "I never realized how beautiful this place is." How typical of modern cinema - produce a film that looks good but this appearance hides a thin plot and limited substance.

Photo Hunt - Entertainment

This week's Photo Hunt theme is "entertainment".  This week's shot is from our trip to Italy in 2008. We were in Torino and had gone to what must be one of the funkiest museums in the world - the Cinema museum. As we left we stumbled into the midst of this real-live movie shoot . . .

It was cool to watch future enterainment being created.

Lots of the slow travel  community members also photo hunt when they aren't traveling. You can find their posts by clicking the links below. 

• Old Shoes, New Trip
• Eden's Wanderings and Wonderings
• My Place in the Sun
• Churches in Venice – Mosaics, Marble, and Miracle-Working Madonnas
• Palmabella's Passions
• What I Really Think
• shave Ice and Gelato
• Jerry's Thoughts, Musings, and Rants!
• Keep your Feet in the Street
• Baked Alaska
• That's my story...and I'm stickin' to it!
• Postcards from the Trail
• Cooking at the Whistlestop Cafe
• Candi's Corner
• Trekcapri's Blog
• Destination Anywhere