Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt come together in this light drama (comedy mixed with drama and romance).  Ewan is a fisheries expert; Emily is a Assistant to a rich Yemeni Sheikh who wants to bring Salmon Fishing to his homeland.

Movie was okay but my opinion was biased after disappointing rentals - That's My Boy and Seeking a Friend for the End of the World.  Would hold as a first date movie, too.  Would be okay to watch on a rainy day after the relationship has matured.

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

Steve Carell and Keira Knightley become friends after unexpected breakups with their significant others.  Their friendship is accelerated because a huge asteroid is headed to Earth and will end the world in four weeks!

Hold on this one as a first date movie.  Slow action and slow to develop. About half way was hoping for the action to pickup; it did not but by then had to stay to see the end.  That said, ending was not worth the wait.

That's My Boy

Adam Sandler and Andy Sandberg play father and son it this comedy.  Adam is Andy's father from a student-teacher affair that resulted in a pregnancy.  Cannot go in more detail as I lost interest and stopped the movie.  Enough said, this one does  not get a first date movie recommendation!

50/50

Movie with J. Gordon Levitt, Seth Rogen, and Anna Kendrick.  J. Gordon is diagnosed with cancer.  Seth - his best friend, tries to support him through the ordeal.  Anna is a psychologist also helping J. Gordon.

Good movie, consider it a safe first date movie.  Check it out when you get a chance!

Lawless

... a movie based on the book "Wettest County in the World" by Matt Bobdurant - grandson of one of the main characters.  It stars Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, and Jason Clarke as the three Bondurant brothers. Also in the film are Gary Oldman, Guy Pearce, and Jessica Chastain.  Set in prohibition era Franklin County, Virginia, the three Bondurant brothers manage a gas station that also fronts their illegal moonshine business.  When a crooked politician and his deputy come to the area, they quickly make enemies of the brothers.

Good movie, even better since it is based on historical events.  Would hold as a first date movie but would recommend checking it out when you get a chance.

Total Recall (2012)

Remake of the Sci-Fi Action movie of the same title starring Collin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, and Jessica Biel.  Similar but different than the original.  Still a good movie.  Hold as a first date movie but would watch it later.  Should be pleasantly surprised on how the results.

The Decoy Bride

British Indie Film about a famous actress played by Alice Eve and a writer play by David Tennant (Dr. Who fame).  Their wedding is spoiled by paparazzi, so they plan a wedding on a remote island that David wrote about in his book.  A few twist and turns later, David is married to a local girl played by Kelley MacDonald as a decoy to the real wedding....

Safe first date movie, recommend this one.  Been having a good run with Independent Films!

Loopers

Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Emily Blunt in a movie about time-traveling hitman (called Loopers) that carry out contracts to kill people to include themselves eventually.  In this case Bruce and Joseph Gordon play the same character - a looper named Joe.  Bruce is the older Joe and Joseph Gordon is the younger Joe. 

Bruce wants to change the future, traveling back in time to make it so.  Specifically, he intends to kill the man that killed his wife.  Emily Blunt is the mother of the man that Bruce is after.  Joseph Gordon is caught in the middle - maintain the status quo and carry out his plans for the future or team with Bruce.

Good movie... would hold as a safe first date movie but would see it later on in the relationship.  Main reason is the story line does not fit a first date movie, else it still is a good movie.

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.