Midnight in Paris (2011) - M6.4/E7

I was looking for a DVD to spend my free Valentine’s Day promo code from Redbox. It had to be something semi-romantic, just for tradition’s sake. The choice was between Midnight in Paris and Captain America. A Woody Allen flick is easily passable, but I have to say that Captain America had probably one of the best/most realistic movie relationships ever depicted (at least as well as can be depicted in an action flick). Midnight won out, and it was a well spent 90 minutes of our evening.

Don’t let the PG-13 rating fool you, this is as tame as any PG movie I’ve seen. The trailer was a little puzzling, it really didn’t go much beyond saying that something magical happens at midnight in Paris, and then flashes some images of women not seen earlier in the trailer...hinting at some sort of infidelity. While there is some sleeping around, it’s completely off screen, and not even really implied.

Gil is a writer in search for meaning in his life. He thinks he’ll be able to work things out by going to Paris with his fiance and future in-laws (very unlikeable characters). Out of desperation, boredom, and just getting plain lost, Gil somehow finds himself in 1920’s Paris with the likes of Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Salvador Dali, Gertrude Stein, Picasso, Cole Porter, and more. We see a common trend of people unhappy with living in the present, and it’s made clear that even if we were to live in the era of our dreams, that era would soon become the present and we would wish we were somewhere else again.

The only other Woody Allen film I’ve seen is The Purple Rose of Cairo, and it is very similar to this one; both are well worth watching. No strong moral message, but definitely not a negative one. It’s just a feel good story that depicts a lost character finding his true happiness by shedding the less important things in his life that keep him from it.

The Beaver (2011) - M4.6/E4

This seemed like it would be a movie with a positive message to it. The previews made it seem like there was a husband/father who had fallen out of step with his family who went to drastic/silly means to bridge the barrier that was created. I like feel-good movies that promote the importance of family. This was not a feel good movie and was not a strong proponent of positive family life.

Walter is a depressed individual who is basically asleep for 2+ years, becoming a horrible burden on his family and company that he runs. He hits rock bottom and through several attempts on his own life a part of his inner being (that really wants to change) makes itself manifest through a hand puppet Walter places on his hand in a drunken stupor. Remarkably this puppet (a beaver) allows him to break the psychological barrier between his depressed self and the part of him that really wants to change. As Walter seems to improve, we see him struggle most with his family. A puppet can be something that can be lived with/accepted more easily in the workplace where emotional intimacy isn’t needed, but at home, children need a father and a wife needs a husband. Walter shouldn't have expected to be able to hide behind his hand puppet for as long as he did.

This struggle in the family made perfect sense to me. Walter was broken and was in the process of fixing himself. While his family situation wasn’t the greatest, they needed to support him in his quest to repair himself and get out of the rut he’d been stuck in for such a long time. While most of the family members tried to exhibit patience, we see that Walter’s improvement becomes more about himself than about being the father and husband he should be (evident when the Beaver seems to be in control).

I loved the underlying story between Porter and Norah. This was perhaps the one redeeming part of the story that didn’t leave us depressed. Porter helps the seemingly perfect Norah (cheerleader, valedictorian, etc.) come to the realization that we shouldn’t hide from the truth. As part of the graduation speech Porter inspired Norah to write, she says,

“I'm not okay, not at all, the truth is, I'm missing something. The thing I loved the most, the face I wish were in the front row right now, the brother I'll never get back. So what do I do with that? What do any of us do? Besides lie. This is what I believe, right now, in this auditorium, there is someone who is with you, someone who is willing to pick you up, dust you off, kiss you, forgive you, put up with you, wait for you, carry you, love you. So while everything may not be okay, one thing I know is true, you do not have to be alone.”

In the last few minutes we do see Walter get his family back. His estranged son accepts him, and life is happy, but this is only in the last few minutes of the movie. The underlying symbol of a roller coaster suggests that life is full of ups and downs, and while we may not know how long the downs will last, better times are bound to occur. We had to wade through close to 85 minutes of oppressive turmoil to get to this semi-inspirational message, and it wasn’t worth the wait.

American Dreamz

Entertainment Rating: C

This movie might be even funnier if you've ever watched an episode of American Idol, but it was funny enough. A little weird in parts, but entertaining if you can watch it edited.

Moral Rating: 2

A semi-good message comes out when you see that fame and fortune don't really bring happiness. William Williams was a good example of getting what you want. He wanted Sally so badly that he refused to see her for what she was and when it finally hit him, the results were explosive.

Bedtime Stories

Synopsis

A long-time hotel employee gets the chance to fight for a chance to run the hotel chain. During the process he learns what things in life bring him true happiness.

Entertainment Value - B

This was a great family film with original humor and a pretty good story line (the end was as ridiculous as Paul Blart's ending, you'd be better off cutting it off beforehand). Surprisingly a quality Adam Sandler show that you can watch without any editing.

Moral Value - Failure to Communicate? - 4

[Spoiler Alert]

The show provided a positive message on realizing that happy endings don't just belong in fairy tales. Happy endings tend to come to those who actually take charge of their lives and do good things of their own free will.

Throughout the whole story Skeeter (Adam Sandler) was waiting for others to tell him what to do (his father being the one telling the story, the kids being the ones that actually end up controlling his life to some extent, etc.). When Skeeter realizes that he has power to act himself instead of just being acted upon, he finds true happiness.

Where the Wild Things Are

Synopsis

This is an adaptation of Maurice Sendak's classic children's story. In this adaptation, Max has trouble getting the attention he demands at home. After throwing a fit he runs away and travels a distance to an island where the Wild Things live. After spending some time there and growing up a bit (emotionally) he realizes he needs to return home, and is ready to better contribute to his family life.

Entertainment Value - C

This was an OK show, with potential to be really good. For a kids show, the tone was rather depressing throughout, even the music did nothing to brighten up the film. The colors through out were a drab gray and brown, maybe a little too artsy for its good. The 5 year old behavior in an older kid was a little annoying. The Wild Things were not as wild as I thought they should be, no gnashing teeth or too terrible roars. I guess it is a children's story and can't afford to get too out of hand. I wouldn't go out of my way to watch this one. Save your self 96 minutes and read the book again.

Moral Value - Failure to Communicate? - 4

What a lonely life Max led! The movie did a decent job showing that the mom loved her son, but it was kind of odd she didn't mention anything about calling the police or running out after him searching for hours in the rainy night. I liked the ending in the book a whole lot better, where Max never actually leaves his room, but when he "returns" he finds his dinner waiting for him and it's still hot.

There is a lot of trying to "fit in." Max tries to fit in with his sister's friends; Carol tries to fit in with Judith and the other Wild Things; both end up stumbling over their lack of self-control and social skills.

Max really gets a good look at his own life when he becomes the person responsible for making all the Wild Things happy (the role he thought his mother owned back home). He realizes that it's no party being in charge, that life is tough for everyone all around and you've just got to carry on. The strongest message I found in the film was in seeing Max realize that stepping outside of himself really helped him put his behavior in perspective; he began to understand that he was not the only person in the world, and that others deserve happiness as well, to which he needed to learn to contribute.

It was kind of cool how they mapped a lot of Max's, Claire's, and the Mom's personalities in the different Wild Things. Obviously the place wasn't real and was more a figment of Max's imagination, but I think they did a good job representing his imaginative journey.

Benny and Joon

Synopsis

Benny is the caretaker for his mentally handicapped sister. He's forced to realize that she is capable of making some of her own decisions, and must learn to let her go as an excuse for himself to be more involved in life.

Entertainment Value - A

Great lighthearted, romantic-dramedy. Johnny Depp really made the movie.

Moral Value - Failure to Communicate? - 3

The film produced a good message on the importance of making life happy. Life's too short to look for excuses to not be involved. We need to have the courage to make decisions that will increase our happiness. Benny used taking care of his sister as an excuse to not have a normal life. Surely it was done out of love at first, but if he really loved Joon he could have helped her get out on her own sooner. In the end they both end up breaking free, resulting in an increase of their happiness.

There is an implied sex scene that totally could have been done without; for some reason Hollywood (and as a result the world) thinks that sex is the only way to show a mature relationship between two lovers prior to marriage. Comedies have to have jokes about sex in them. It's almost as if the world revolves around sex. In a sense it does, at least that's how we all exist; but at the same time it's also how lives are torn apart. Satan can twist godly things in such a way that they destroy us instead of making us more holy.

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Coraline

Synopsis

A young girl finds a passageway to what seems like an ideal world. She finds a "new" family who wants to do nothing but please her. In order to leave her original world behind she only needs to give up her eyes for a pair of buttons to be sewn on in their place. At this realization her perfect new world seems to rapidly disappear.

Entertainment Value - C

I was rather disappointed with this film. The stop motion animation was great and the music was very good as well, but the story was very dull. We watched it in 3D, which was kind of cool, except for the reddish-green tint the glasses produced. Don't waste your time with this one.

Moral Value - Failure to Communicate? - 3

If anything could be gleaned from this, it might be that no matter how dull and busy your family may seem, they really are (should be) the main source for happiness in your life. We all need to be patient and not expect the world to revolve around us. Parents make a lot of sacrifices for us each day; we should try to do our part in supporting them in their endeavors.