FRIDAY FLICK: Rango****

RANGO (animation) is a lonely pet chameleon living in a fantasy world. His real life begins when he accidentally becomes the Sheriff of Dirt (uh, that's the name of a town).  As he fights to uphold the law and discover the whereabouts of the water, you'll meet eerily anthropomorphized characters who look and sound vaguely familiar.

Of course, there's Johnny Depp as Rango; the wrinkled mayor looks suspiciously like John Huston in Chinatown; stocky Ned Beatty is the Sheriff (you'll remember him from Deliverance); Timothy Olyphant (I liked him as the bad guy in Live Free or Die Hard with Bruce Willis) is The Spirit of the West, although it sure sounds like Clint.

Don't let the animation fool you. This is no kiddie movie. With emotional, spiritual and social undertones, this story will keep your interest and make you smile.

Despite the star quality, it's the look of this movie that's absolutely amazing and so fitting for the big screen. The detail (flaking skin, a moving feather) will blow you away.

You've got to see this movie on the big screen. You'll love it.

May characters surround you,


Catherine

FRIDAY FLICK: Gnomeo & Juliet***

ROMEO & JULIET, LOVE STORY OF THE AGES. But if you're not into sad endings, see Gnomeo & Juliet, an animation full of cement heroes, bad guys & forbidden love.

LOVED the creativity:  the ground-eating Terraferminator (Hulk Hogan), a lawnmower on steroids that will make men drool with desire.

LOVED the characters:  the lipsticked frog, the pink flamingo with a Latin accent.

LOVED the casting of voices:  Jason Statham as Tybalt (hot-headed red gnome), Ozzy Osborne as Fawn (yep, the bat-eating, heavy metal Prince of Darkness is in a kid's movie, well, at least his voice is).

LOVED the humor:  "Let's kick some grass."

LOVED the Elton John songs throughout the movie & the whirlygigs at the end.

Hmm, I just remembered this movie was in 3D, but I sure don't recall that. It must have been really subtle; none of that flying-in-your-face stuff.

Written by Walt Disney Pictures, it's just plain fun.

For a little light entertainment, see Gnomeo & Juliet.

May smiles surround you,



Catherine

FRIDAY FLICK: The Mechanic ***

INSPIRATION. ABRAHAM-HICKS CALENDAR QUOTE (please buy one at Abraham-Hicks.com > Store > Calendars > Planning Calendar/Workbook). "YOUR BROADER INTENTIONS. You have not come here to prove yourselves worthy. You've come here because you saw physical life experience as delicious and you wanted the experience. You wanted the environment, you wanted the data, you wanted the process, you wanted the sensualness, you wanted the physicalness of thought, you wanted the combination of that which you are from Inner Perspective and that which you are from physical perspective--because the combination is so very, very good."

I love being reminded that I WANTED to be here. How about you?

I AM A FAN OF JASON STATHAM. All that action, muscle and street tough charm. What's not to like? And I LOVE his story (hawking knock-off designer goods in London to make ends meet and then discovered in a gym).

But I gotta say, The Mechanic was not my fav movie. I mean it had action, but it was a bit gorey for me. I closed my eyes for several scenes, but could not block out the wet, yucky sounds.

It's about a hit man who takes on an apprentice (didn't like him, didn't like his looks, the whole idea was improbable...even for me...I mean, come on...how'd he get so good so fast?) and the connection to a previous victim.

I did love his house and the car he was restoring and, of course, a few scenes with Donald Sutherland.

But all in all, you can wait until the DVD comes out (sorry, Jas).

May plausibility surround you,


Catherine

FRIDAY FLICK: The King's Speech *****

AMAZING!!!  The deeply moving story of the man who reluctantly became King George VI (father of Queen Elizabeth II, played by Colin Firth). Our images of the privileges of royalty are shattered as we experience the pain and humilation of a quiet man with a debilitating speech impediment.

He wrestles with a word; our heart breaks. He stammers and stutters; we hold our breath. He barks his word forth like an engine backfiring; we sigh with relief.

It's difficult to imagine that so much anxiety and suspense could be built over something so simple as sound and close-ups of faces. Yet it is true.

This is not just an historical narrative. It is a story of courage, perseverance, and most of all:  love. I was touched by the devotion of Elizabeth to her husband, Prince Albert, Duke of York (King George VI). I enjoyed the marital comfort of the Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush playing the unorthodox Australian speech therapist) and his wife. And was pleased with the deepening friendship between King and commoner.

Beautifully acted. Sensitively portrayed.

And I want that wallpaper!

May courage surround you,


Catherine

The Green Hornet **** (movie)

I'M BAAAACK! WHATEVER I HAD, IT'S JUST ABOUT GONE. I'VE BEEN LAYING PRONE in bed for days and sat up for the first time today. I was tired of looking at my bedroom ceiling and thought I could manage to sit up in a theater for a while. Finally. Got out of the house. Watched a fun remake of the comic character, The Green Hornet.

Forget Britt Reid (party-boy-turned-vigilante played by Seth Rogen). I loved his sidekicks!

1.  LOVED Jay Chou, kung-fu-master-fighter-makes-the-best-cup-of-coffee sidekick, Kato.

2.  LOVED Black Beauty, a 1966 Chrysler Imperial Crown, arsenal on wheels:  machine guns in the door jamb, flamethrower in the radiator grill. Black, shiny, has a deep growl. You got the picture.

These comic remakes that have been so popular the last several years make me want to read the originals. Hmmm. Might be interesting to look up. Lemme see...

Looks like the Green Hornet started out as a radio show in the 1930s, film serials (short films) in the '40s, comics since the '40s, a TV show in the '60s starring Bruce Lee (guess I missed that) and finally it's very own feature film this year.

Overall:  a rollicking good time and fun flick.

May varoom-varoom surround you,


Catherine

The Tourist **** (movie)

M ANY MOONS AGO, WHEN THE EARTH WAS STILL COOLING AND I WAS YOUNG AND commuting, working overtime, raising a child, taking classes at USF, and doing homework every night (ARGGHHH!), I decided that Fridays were my one night off. I'd see a movie to relax, escape, and gobble a large buttered popcorn all by myself in the dark without anyone telling me it was too many calories, too many carbs, and too much fat.

I have since cut back to a small, dry popcorn [sigh], but I still see my Friday night movie. And if I don't, I get a little cranky.

My schedule has been a little wonky lately with the bathroom remodel and working on my resume. So I made the ultimate sacrifice and saw a movie on Saturday instead.

The Tourist, starring Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp. I give it ****.

A beautiful couple takes a fun romp through beautiful surroundings.

There's chemistry between Johnny and Angelina and they look good together.

I don't know when I've seen Angelina look more beautiful, regal, stunning. She would glide into a room and the sea of people would silently part to let her pass.

Angelina embodied the most beautiful women of the world. One moment, she was reminiscent of Jackie O. Another, Sophia Loren.

And she is the only woman that can wear long suede gloves during the day and pull it off.

If you have a little cash, buy stock in that glove company. We're going to see more of them soon.

See the movie and smile.

Warmly,


Catherine

Burlesque ***** (movie)

I saw the Burlesque last night, starring Christina Aguilera & Cher. A small town girl in a dead-end town runs away to LA with hopes of performing on stage.

LOVED IT!

The songs (Aguilera has an A-MAZ-ING voice)...the choreography...the costumes.

It's a cross between Moulin Rouge, with a little La Cage Aux Folles, and an updated dash of Flash Dance all mixed together.

I'm not a big Cher fan...well...OK...I love her, her clothes and her story, but I'm not a big fan of her singing voice. But she does a solo called You Haven't Seen the Last of Me and it was filled with emotion. I could feel her heart ache.

And the song where Christina sings in the green satin dress is unbelievable. I had goose bumps rushing up and down my body while she sang...it was sooo moving.

In fact, the movie was so good (OK...OK...the story line wasn't that original, but hey, what do you expect with the title is "Burlesque"), I saw it again tonight. I wanted to see the dance moves on a theater screen again because they're so fast and fun.

It's my all-time favorite movie right now.

What's your fav movie and why?

If you want to be energized, go see this movie now.

May you be uplifted today.

Warmly,


Catherine

Tangled ****

Friday, December 3, 2010

I SAW "TANGLED," THE NEW WALT DISNEY ANIMATION ABOUT LONG-HAIRED RAPUNZEL locked away in a tower. She meets a cutie-pie bandit and ventures out into the world for the first time, discovering the world and solving an age old mystery. I loved the movie. It was so well done and much more than you'd expect from any cartoon. There's love and adventure, song and spirit. I won't spoil it for you, but the moment of the floating paper lanterns was magical. I'm tucking that image away with the others I keep whenever I want to think of something happy, like rainbows, hummingbirds, sunshine and sunflowers.

Let me know your favorite scene in the movie.

May magic surround you today.

Warmly,


Catherine