Game Change

Read this book last year. Thought it was a fascinating account of the 2008 Presidential election. I thought the framing of the story to focus on Palin was a good choice for people to watch, however, they REALLY fleshed the Palin/McCain story out and made a lot more of it than the book did.

Obviously liked the book much more, but the acting was really well done in this movie. Moore did a spectacular job as Palin, and Sarah Paulson was terrific in her role as Nicole Wallace. Woody Harrelson keeps getting better with each role I see him in. In some respects, they didn't need a McCain at all...very small role considering his role in the book and the election itself.

1:streaming, 2: home, 4: Theater -- Tally Total: 7

Reading: Gregor the Overlander

It's seems interesting enough, but for some reason, I really can't connect to the characters. And as such, am not that interested in their fates. I'm halfway through the first book. I've been told that it gets pretty epic (e.g. Hunger Games proportions), but I'm not convinced.


Current tally: 2 read, 1 in process

Movies Tally 2012

January 2012
1. No Strings Attached (streaming)
2. But I'm A Cheerleader (vcr!)
3. We Bought a Zoo (theater)

February 2012
4. The Vow (theater)
5. Alvin & The Chipmunks: Chip-wrecked (theater)

March 2012
6. Wanderlust (theater)

Currently Reading

Not sure if I'm liking this --- it's very different than I had expected from the first book, both in tone and the narrative.


2012 Reading Tally: 1 book read, 1 book in process

2011 Movies, Part II

July 2011
35. Cowboys & Aliens (theater)
36. How Do You Know (dvr)
37. Crazy Stupid Love (theater)
38. Jumping the Broom (Redbox)
39. Arthur (Redbox)

September 2011
40. Contagion (theater)
41. Dinner for Schmucks (dvr)
42. 50/50 (theater)

October 2011
43. What's Your Number? (theater)
44. Ides of March (theater)
45. I Am Number Four (dvr)

November 2011
46. Last Night (Netflix streaming)
47. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part I (theater)

December 2011
48. The Descendants (theater)
49. The Family Stone (dvd)
50. Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol (theater)

2011 Movies

So far, this is what I've been watching besides the numerous television shows that I am spending my time with these days...


January
1. Easy A (Redbox)
2. The Dilemma (theater)
3. Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (dvr)

February
4. She's Out of My League (dvr)
5. Taken (dvr)
6. Youth In Revolt (dvr)
7. Unknown (theater)
8. The End of the Affair (dvr)
9. Up In The Air (dvr)

March
10. The Adjustment Bureau (theater)
11. Twilight: Eclipse (Redbox)
12. An Education (dvr)

April
13. Our Family Wedding (dvr)
14. Just Wright (dvr)

May
15. Thor (theater)
16. Bridesmaids (theater)
17. Burlesque (Redbox)
18. The Kids Are Alright (dvr)
19. Strictly Sexual (Hulu stream)
20. The Last Run (dvr)
21. The Good Guy (Netflix stream)
22. The Other Woman (Redbox)
23. The Romantics (Redbox)
24. The Back-up Plan (dvr)

June
25. X-Men:First Class (theater)
26. Green Lantern (drive-in)
27. Something Borrowed (drive-in)
28. Bad Teacher (theater)
29. Green Lantern (ashamed - it was a horrible movie)

July
30. Despicable Me (dvr)
31. Going the Distance (dvr)
32. Killers (Netflix stream)
33. Beastly (Redbox)
34. Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows: Part II (theater)

A Long Time Coming...

My last post was in June. JUNE!?!??!?

This one is going to be a massive list. If there's any particular thoughts, I think I'll add them in another post.

The movies that I've seen so far this year are in order as follows:

January
1. Juno - Theatre: Running Total: 1
2. The L Word, Season 2 - DVD: (5 discs) Running Total: 4-9
3. The Bucket List - Theatre: 2
4. Georgia Rule - DVD: 10
5. Flight Plan - TV: Running Total: 1
6. Sydney White - DVD: 11
7. Waitress - DVD: 12
8. How To Lose Your Lover - TV: 2
9. The Medallion - DVD: 13

February
9. The Jane Austen Book Club - DVD: 14
10. Jumper - Theatre: 3
11. Michael Clayton - DVD: 15
12. Guinevere - TV: 3
13. Eight Below - TV: 4
14. No Reservations - DVD: 16
15. Feast of Love - DVD: 17
16. Hollywoodland - DVD: 18
17. Good Luck Chuck - DVD: 19
18. The L Word, Season 3 - DVD (4 discs): 20-23
19. Friday Night Lights, Season 1 - DVD (5 discs): 24-28

March
20. The Seat Filler - TV: 5
21. Dan in Real Life - DVD: 29
22. Dedication - DVD: 30
23. Enchanted - DVD: 31
24. Becoming Jane - DVD: 32
25. Melinda & Melinda - TV: 6
26. Loving Jezebel - TV: 7
27. Undiscovered - TV: 8

April
28. Hitman - DVD: 33
29. American Gangster - DVD: 34
30. Blind Dating - DVD: 35
31. Evan Almighty - DVD: 36
32. Annie Hall - TV: 8

May
33. I Could Never Be Your Woman - DVD: 37
34. Zoom - TV: 9
35. The Game Plan - DVD: 38
36. Caffeine - TV: 10
37. 27 Dresses - DVD: 39
38. The Golden Compass - DVD: 40
39. Speed Racer - Theatre: 4
40. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - Theatre: 5
41. Standing Still - DVD: 41

June
42. P.S. I Love You - DVD: 42
43. The Guardian - TV: 11
44. Damage - TV: 12
45. In The Land of Women - DVD: 43
46. Tara Road - DVD: 44
47. Mr. Woodcock - DVD: 45
48. The Other Boleyn Girl - DVD: 46
49. National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets - DVD: 47
50. Fool's Gold - DVD: 48
51. The Girl Next Door - TV: 13
52. Wanted - Theatre: 6

July
53. Wall-E - Theatre: 7
54. Get Smart - Theatre: 8
55. definitely, maybe - DVD: 49
56. Mamma Mia! - Theatre: 9
57. Jack & Jill Versus the World - TV: 14
58. Sex & Death 101 - DVD: 50
59. Mad Men, Season 1 - TV OnDemand: 15
60. Drillbit Taylor - DVD: 51

August
61. The Dark Knight - Theatre: 10
62. 21 - DVD: 52
63. War of the Worlds, 2005 - TV: 16
64. Friday Night Lights, Season 2 - DVD (4 discs): 53-56
65. Penelope - DVD: 57
66. The TV Set - TV: 17
67. Smart People - DVD: 58

September
68. National Lampoon's Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj - TV: 18
69. The Bank Job - DVD: 59

Triple Feature

You can tell the boys have loads of fun making these movies. I liked it better than 12, but not more than 11. Being a Vegas afficionado, I found it strange that the hotel in the film does not actually exist and the CGI got on my nerves a bit. Acting was a bit over the top, but again, that sort of thing isn't the point in the Ocean's films.
----------------------------------

I was actually shocked that I found this one funny. I was expecting every gay joke in the book recycled, but somehow while not exactly new, it was felt fresh with these two comedians.

----------------------------------

Sweet, heartfelt little movie. I liked it, but I did not think that it was the best indie since Little Miss Sunshine or fill-in-your-own-multi-award-winning-Sundance-esque-movie-title. The music, however, was really wonderful and felt so alive in the film - as if it were organically coming from the actors/musicians on the spot.

2008 Tally, DVD: 1-3

2007 Numbers!

2007, Movies Tally
DVD: 64
dvr: 6
online: 4
theatre: 14

Biggest Surprise: 300
Favorite: Superbad
Want Those 2 Hours Back: The Heartbreak Kid

20on20 - 2007 Songs of KP's Year
1. This Ain’t A Scene, It’s An Arms Race – Fall Out Boy
2. Believe – The Bravery
3. Lacrymosa - Evanescence
4. Paralyzer – Finger Eleven
5. Gimme More – Britney Spears
6. Stripper – Soho Dolls
7. LDN – Lily Allen
8. Me & My Imagination – Sophie Ellis-Bextor
9. Three Wishes – The Pierces
10. Young Folks – Peter Bjorn & John
11. New Year’s Prayer – Jeff Buckley, Jr.
12. Gravity – Sara Bareilles
13. Inside Your Head - Eberg
14. Glamorous – Fergie/Constance Billard Choir
15. Money – Jesca Hoop
16. Ladies & Gentlemen - Saliva
17. Lay Lady Lay – Magnet (feat. Gemma Hayes)
18. Rehab – Amy Winehouse
19. SexyBack/What Goes Around…Comes Around – Justin Timberlake
20. Ships – Umbrellas/Lost Without U – Robin Thicke

Live Free or Die Hard

Wasn't expecting much, but it was pretty well done for the genre. Suprisingly coherent plot - liked the action sequences, although, of course somewhat unbelievable as far as how often these people get banged around and still get up and fight.

2007 Tally, DVD: 64

The Heartbreak Kid

It's as if the Farrelly Brothers took all the leftover jokes from their previous movies and mashed them together. A major disappointment.

2007 Tally, dvd: 63

I Am Legend

Well done, somewhat scarier than expected sci-fi film. W.Smith did a tremendous job carrying the majority of the movie. Some of the plot points I felt could have been expanded upon (i.e. his family, how the virus started turning), but overall entertaining.

2007 Tally, Theatre: 14

Four Brothers

Semi-violent movie, but with an unexpected heart.

2007 Tally, dvr: 6

Double Feature: Evening/Lucky You

For all the famous names in the film, the acting was not as good as expected. Part of that, I guess had to do with the plot and time framing of the film. The other part of it may have had to do with the fact that it was so character heavy that all of them couldn't possibly have loads to do. It wasn't horrible, just not the Oscar bait, I'm sure the makers were hoping for.

-------------------------------------------------------

Father-son picture that was marketed as a love story. Good acting all around. Some of the sidebets were more interesting than the poker playing main plot. Colorful characters abound in the side-world that could have been examined more; it was a bit of a somber movie.

2007 Tally, DVD: 61 & 62

The Nanny Diaries

I read this book and it was so great until about the last 2 chapters. I am happy that they changed the ending for the movie; I found it much more fulfilling. S.Johannsson was surprising in the role of the put-upon nanny, and L.Linney made a one-note role into a really nuanced character.

2007 Tally, DVD: 60

Loving Annabelle

This was a really sweet, albeit not terribly likely love story. I had a hard time believing that the teacher in this situation wouldn't have handled it much differently and also the ending seemed really public (a private school usually doesn't handle things in this matter as far as I can surmise).

2007 Tally, dvr: 5

Art School Confidential

Honestly, I wasn't sure what to make of this film. I was expecting a "fish-out-of-water" experience story, and ended up with this really crazy, character study, murder mystery, love-story-but-not-quite movie. Acting was well-done, but I found it really confusing to follow.

2007 Tally, DVD: 59

Amazing Grace

The movie equivalent of brussel sprouts - good for you, but not enjoyable at all. It was such a boring movie that I had a hard time even looking forward to the inevitable feel-good ending.

2007 Tally, DVD: 58

Transformers

I had such high hopes for this movie. I love a good, loud summer popcorn film. Somehow or other, I forgot that I was a girl! This movie was not for girls. It is for boys of a certain age who used to play with their toys and run over little girls' Barbies. That said, the CGI was amazing, and the plot/acting was just filler.

2007 Tally, DVD: 57

The Ultimate Gift

This film was a little bit "all-over-the-board" as it was a little life-lesson, adventure, love story, character piece, but I liked it anyway. At times, I had no idea where "it was going." Standout acting esp. from A.Breslin.


2007 Tally, DVD: 56