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Rock of Ages 2012
I saw the musical in London when I was there last year so of course I was excited when I heard about the movie. As I understand it the movie has gotten pretty good reviews, but I’m not sure the movie is worth all the praise. Rock of Ages is a musical jukebox built on hair-metal hits from the 1980’s. At least the musical is. I suppose the director Adam Shankman (Hairspray) together with his writers Justin Theroux, Chris D'Arienzo…
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Brave 2012
This is the first animated movie I've seen that passes the Bechdel test. Its heroine, Merida, is a fairy-tale feminist, and this made me think of Disney princesses where most of them need to rescued by their men and end up either married or engaged. Sonia Saraiya wrote a funny and interesting article ranking the Disney princesses from the least to the most feminist. www.nerve.com/entertainment/ranked/ranked-disney-princesses-from-least-to-most-feminist
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The Godfather 1972
I know it's a masterpiece, an never-dying classic. But I'm just not that into it. Am I alone thinking that?
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Win Win 2011
I like Win Win. It has a sweet and strong narrative, extensive and thorough. And it's enjoyable to see a focused relaxed Paul Giamatti (playing Mike) be ordinary, friendly rather than curious and choleric. Mike is great, he has stature. Although I’m a bit conflicted about the ending. McCarthy makes Mike the hero of the piece. The ending suggests that Kyle is better off with a "decent" family like Mike's, than with his natural mother, who is casually dismissed as…
