Been a While But.... "Kinky Boots"

Been a while since posting.  Have watched movies; just not seen any that I wanted to write about since my last post.  In other words, "Expendables 2", "Savages", "Hannah", "Ted",... are not first date movies.  Moreover, the prequel of the Hobbit has me bummed because they broke it out into a trilogy... go figure!

Then, while channel surfing this morning stopped by the Indie Channel to see what was showing. It was a British film titled, "Kinky Boots".  Not knowing what was in store given the title (i.e. thoughts of the "Crying Game"), decided to take the bold step and watch it.

Good thing... this one easily makes the first date move rating!.. Check it out when you get a chance, not going into detail about it other than it has restored my faith that good movies are still being made.

Grey

Liam Neeson stars in this one.  This time he plays a professional hunter hired to protect oil workers from Bears and Wolves.  Things don't seem to be going his way; this made worse when his plane crashes while headed home.  Liam and other survivors are forced to fight the elements and then wolves that are slowly killing them one by one.

Won't recommend it as a first date movie.  Slow in action, dragging at times, and the ending was disappointing.  Glad to have rented instead of seen it at the theaters.

The Dictator

Here is one from Sacha Baron Cohen.  The Dictator spoofs ethnic groups, sex, and many other things.  It is not a first date movie but... compared to others that Sacha has made, it is less shocking (especially compared to Borat).  One thing to note - it does have a plot and there are some funny jabs here and there.

Taken 2

Liam Neeson returns doing what he does best - killing bad guys!  Liked the first movie, like this one, too.  Ready for another one to follow.  This franchise leaves you feeling like a winner when you see Liam taking down bad guys and then walking away the victor.

Play the first date movie by ear, need to make sure your potential significant other is okay with violent scenes and some good old fashioned a**-kicking!  Else, go see it on your own and feel like a winner!

21 Jump Street

Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill play Narcs in an updated movie version of the 80's TV show 21 Jump Street.  Funny moments and the cameo of Johnny Depp is good. But, hold on it as a first date movie.

Pitch Perfect

Here is one with Anna Kendrick that easily makes the first date movie list.  It's a fun movie about college acapella singing competition.  Anna is an aspiring music producer wanting to go to Los Angeles and begin "putting her time in".  Problem... she is a college freshman and must first prove to her father that she can make it in college, at least go to class and join a club.  With that, she joins the female acapella group!

Fun movie that spoofs the nerdy side of college acapella singing groups but in a good way.  Liked the movie, check it out when you get a chance!

Trouble with the Curve

Movie with Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams, and Justin Timberlake.  Clint Eastwood is an aging baseball scout.  Amy is his daughter. Justin is a former baseball player now turned scout.

Mixed reviews by critics... This one liked it, easily makes the "First Date" movie rating!

Bourne Legacy

Another in the Jason Bourne Franchise.  We liked it even though Matt Damon is not in the movie.  Jeremy Renner plays Aaron Cross - a member of an elite team of genetically enhanced Field Operators that support a super, super, super secret Intel Program run by the "Government"!  Rachel Weisz is a Doctor cleared for the Program and tasked with gathering data from the Field Operators.  Edward Norton is the "Government's Lead" who must terminate key parts of the Program because of the ripple effect that Jason Bourne (from the Bourne Ultimatum) created.

Good movie, safe first date movie!

Dark Knight Rises

Another in the Barman franchise bringing back Christian Bale and Gary Oldman and new comer.... Gordon Levitt.  Liked the action, storyline was excellent, did not feel like a movie that went almost three hours!  Even better was the twist that made you rethink who was good and who was bad!  Long movie but can say this one is a safe first date movie.

"John Carter"

Here is a Disney movie that took us by surprise.  "John Carter" is sent to Mars while searching for an artifact.  His physical strength and agility increases due to the change in gravity.  This is quickly recognized as a "plus" when he is befriended by the "Natives".   In parallel, there is an ongoing war between "Red" and "Blue" People that John gets pulled in to when he saves a "Red" Princess.

 

Good movie, safe first date movie.  Was a sleeper that took us by surprise... do watch this one!

Water for Elephants

Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon in a movie about a traveling circus in the 1930s.  Robert plays Jacob, a Cornell Veterinary student who suffers a tragedy as he nearing graduation.  He is informed that his parents were killed in a car accident.  Alone with no one else in the world and no possessions, he hits the road and by chance joins a traveling circus.  Reese plays Marlena, the Circus' star attraction who showing horses and performing tricks and acrobatics with them.  She is also the Circus owner's wife.

 

Good movie, was pleasantly surprised.   Definite first date movie!

The Vow

Movie with Rachael MacAdams and Channing Tatum as a young couple dealing with the Rachael's memory loss after a car accident.  Rachael remembers nothing about  her life with Channing.

Story drags at times but still makes an entertaining movie.  Safe first date movie.

One for the Money

Katherine Heigl plays a divorced, down on her luck, unemployed woman.  To make ends meet she takes on a job as a Recovery Agent - Bounty Hunter.  Slow action.  Could have been better.  Save for a rainy day, and hold as a first date movie.

One Hit from Home

Baseball movie about a Pro Baseball Player who leaves the game due to a knee injury.  Some how he gets pulled in to coaching a College Team struggling to win.

Slow movie that could use help in the storyline.  Don't recommend it as a first date movie.  Pick something else.

New Year's Eve

Movie on the same lines as Valentine's Day.  Cast of characters and multiple storylines make for an entertaining movie.  Safe first date movie.  Check it out some time.

"Avengers"

Had to check out all the hype about Avengers.  Watched it in 3D and was pleased.  Even better, Scarljo was in it as the Black Widow.  And of course, we always like her movies!  This one gets a First Date rating easily.

"J. Edgar Hoover"

Movie directed by Clint Eastwood about FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover.  Stars Leonardo Dicaprio as Hoover.  The movie takes the viewer from the Bureau's start and it ascendancy through the years.  Touches on some of the controversy on Hoover's close friend and confidant Agent Tolson, secret files maintained by his Secretary Ms. Gandy, and the run ins with Congress and Presidents.

 

Good movie but too long for a first date.  Better to rent it after the relationship has matured.

"War Horse"

... movie about a horse that goes through World War I and survives!  Bought on a whim my an old farmer who recognized it as a quality thoroughbred, raised and trained by the farmer's son, and then unfortunately sold to the Army when the family needed money, the horse named Joey goes to war.

 

Good movie, liked seeing the difficult situations unfold and resolve themselves, but.... a little too long for a first date movie.  Do recommend renting it, just be prepared for it to be a movie about a horse and not war for those wanting an action, shoot'em up, war movie.

"The Sitter"

Jonah Hill leads the cast in this movie about a twenty-something man who volunteers to babysit for his Mom's friend out of guilt. But, when he gets a call from his girlfriend about a party that could lead to him getting way past "third base", he decides to bring the kids along!

 

Funny moments much on the lines of Jonah's other movies,... meaning lots of references to sex, profanity, etc,...  This one does not make the first date movie list.  Was entertained though but we liked Super Bad, too.  Also, would consider the storyline to be a more recent version of the one used in "Adventures in Babysitting".

"We Bought a Zoo"

Movie based on a true story of a writer and recent widower played by Matt Damon.  Missing his wife, needing a change for him and his two kids, he decides to move to the country.  In this case "9 miles from the nearest Target Store".  Worse, he buys 18 acres and a house that is actually a zoo staffed by a skeleton crew of zoo keepers.

 

Not a bad movie, easily a safe first date movie.  Moreover, we do like Scarlett Johansson's movies.  So this one makes this list of "likes" as well!

"Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy"

Movie based on the book of the same title.  Not much to say other than we did not watch the whole movie.  Too slow and worse, confusing to follow.  Do not recommend as a first date movie.

"Hunger Games"

Checked out the movie based on the book "Hunger Games".  Easily makes the first date rating.  Some differences in the movie compared to the book.  Still did a good job with it!  Now are they going to follow more movies based on books two and three!

"Rum Diary"

Johnny Depp in a movie set in 1950's Puerto Rico.  Taking on a job with a Newspaper, Johnny works (more like drinks a lot of rum) his day job....

 

Sorry "Sports Fans" could not get past the first 45" of the movie.  Called it short and put in a different DVD.  This one is not a first date movie!  Don't subject your budding relationship to this movie, else suffer the consequences!

"In Time"

Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried in a movie where people are allotted 1 year to live after they turn 25.  That one year is used like money.  You spend it to pay for things like food as well as work to earn more.  Depending on how you manage your time, you can live forever or die suddenly.

Good movie, safe for a first date.  But, have to admit a weakness for Amanda's movies.  Also, did like Cillian Murphy in his role as a "Time Keeper".

"Double"

Richard Gere and Topher Grace play a retired CIA Agent and an FBI Agent, respectively.  They are teamed together to find "Cassius" - a Russian Hitman/Agent, that has come out of hiding and killed an US Senator. 

Richard was responsible for tracking down Cassius' team of assassins.  He succeeded in neutralizing them except for Cassius. Now retired, he is satisfied with leaving things "as is".  Topher is a young FBI Agent who earned a Master's Degree writing a thesis on Cassius' exploits.  Now that he has resurfaced what better team to assign the case than Richard and Topher!

Hold as a first date movie as the movie drags a little at times; let's not start a first date with moments that drag along... hint, hint, hint.  But, do check it out.  Was entertained and enjoyed the twists and turns of the plot.

"What's Your Number"

Anna Faris and Chris Evans in a comedy about love and finding that one and only!  Except Anna becomes fixated with the number of men she slept with in the past. Funny movie with entertaining moments.... Would hold off as a first date movie. But, would rent it afterwards!

"Flypaper"

Patrick Dempsey, Ashley Judd, and a host of others in a comedy about a bank robbery gone wrong.  Lots of twists and turns.  A funny movie that rates a first date.  Like how things unfold as described by Patrick Demspey!

"Real Steel"

Hugh Jackman in a movie about a down and out ex-boxer dealing with family issues (ex-wife dies, gains custody of their young son), money issues from losing robot matches, and personal issues like being less self-centered.  Liked the futuristic "Robot Style Boxing".  Thought it would be corny but was pleasantly surprised!  Giving this one a First Date Rating!  Don't pass the chance to rent this one!

"Girl With The Dragon Tattoo"

Daniel Craig plays Mikeal Blomkvist in this murder/mystery based on the book with the same title.  Convicted of libel and forced to distance himself from his Magazine, Mikael takes on a job to investigate the disappearance of a young girl from a rich family.  The twist is that it happened over 30 years ago, the body was never found, and he is hired by the family patriarch – Henrik Vanger.

 

Liked the book, liked the movie,... but better hold off as a first date movie.  Graphic scenes may snip a budding relationship before it can start!

"Ides of March"

Ryan Gosling and George Clooney in a movie about a Governor's election run for President.  George is the Governor; Ryan is a key lead in the Campaign Management Team, not quite the Campaign Manager but is his right-hand man.  Things are going well until some "political moves" are made that create mistakes, lead to pitfalls, and even death! Liked the movie, save for the ending... could have done better with it.

 

Hold off on watching it as a first date.  Rule of thumb: "Don't watch movies about politics for a first date!"

 

"Killer Elite"

Jason Statham takes the lead in his role has a mercenary for hire.  Blackmailed into killing enemies of an Omani Sheik, he and his team begin "taking out" certain British SAS soldiers responsible for the deaths of the the Sheik's sons.

 

"B-Movie" with a lot of potential.  Kept watching because it was based on a true story and I like Jason's movies normally.  Else, don't see this one for a first date!

"Contagion"

Movie with Matt Damon, Gwenyth Paltrow, and others that shows viewers how quickly a contagious person can affect others.  In this case, millions throughout the world become sick and die.  While this disease rages, doctors and scientists work feverishly to find a cure.  In parallel, a panic sets in and people get violent!

 

Good movie but do pick another one for a first date given the theme of this one (also there is reference to a extramarital affair)!

"The Kings Speech"

Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush star in a movie about King George VI and a Speech/Linguist Teacher, charged with helping the King overcome his stuttering!  Did not know that King George had a speech impediment.  Colin does a great job as the King.  Geoffrey does equally (if not better) as the Teacher!  Liked the movie; safe first date movie.  And, being just under 2 hours long, you have time to do other things that may possibly lead to that next date!

"Apollo 18"

... documentary like movie of the last space mission to the Moon.  Covert operations and secrecy has kept this mission from the public for years.  But, with the recent discovery of video footage, the movie lends credence to other reasons why the US has chosen not to return to the Moon.

 

Good movie that kept viewers interested in the ending.  But, would not rate this one as a first date movie.  Hold on this one for now and pick a different one to watch with that special someone.

"Lincoln Lawyer"

Matthew McConaughey and Ryan Phillippe star in this crime drama.  Matthew is a lawyer, who works in a Lincoln Town Car.  He has a driver to take him places since he lost his drivers license.  Ryan is a rich kid accused of assaulting a prostitute.  Ryan's mother hires Matthew to get him out of jail.

 

Good movie, okay first date movie,... just tread lightly since the movie is about a man who beats women.  Liked the twists and turns.  For more details check it out on IMDB.