Movie Review: The Lovely Bones

The Lovely Bones
MPAA Rating/ PG-13
Nate's Rating/PG to PG-13
The Lovely Bones is the story of a young girl who is murdered by one of her neighbors and then ends up somewhere in the "in between".  She isn't totally in heaven because she refuses to let go of her own life.  She also isn't exactly living either.  The movie has a gazebo represent the bridge she used between the afterlife and the living situations going on around her.

During the course of the movie, her family struggles to cope with her death as time marches on and relationships move in different directions.  The movie is a roller coaster ride of emotions. Although the movie revolves around something depressing and disturbing as a young girls murder, it is more about life and relationships, and coping.
I had not heard of the book before seeing the movie.  After reading the synopsis of the book, there are parts that I was glad was left out of the movie.  I am not sure it would have played well with the darkly uplifting sentiments being portrayed in the face of this tragedy.
Many aspects of the movie are hard to put into words.  I would recommend the movie, but with caution.  Although not overtly violent or full of cuss words, it is a move that deals with adult themes.  Think twice before letting your children watch it.
3 out of 5 nateys

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Review: Raising Arizona

Raising Arizona was the next pick on our ever expanding Netflix que.  It's been quite a while since my last viewing of this classic Coen brother flick, but time has been kind to this movie.  After 23 years, the movie is just as fresh and relevant as it was in 1987 when it was first released.  The diaper theft and the ensuing chase is worth the entire movie.  This was one of the best movies that Nicholas Cage ever acted in.  He was still fresh and a bit creepy in his eternally stoned way.  His acting since then has gotten very formulaic an cliche.

I will refrain on too much synopsis since most of you have already seen this classic movie.  And the more enlightened of you have seen it more than once.

Nate's rating----- 4 out of 5 nateys

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Movie Review-The Hurt Locker

MPAA Rating-R (Nate's rating somewhere between PG-13 and R)

I admit, I had not heard about this movie before the Oscars. But after seeing it pull out an improbable win against some other major heavyweight movies to capture the Best Picture award, and after reading some reviews that praised the fact that it's focus (unlike most Iraq movies at this point) was not political, I decided to give it a spin.

Imagine being in the middle of a desert being suffocated by over 100 degree heat. And on top of all that you are about to put on a 100 pound bomb suit and walk over 50 meters to your destination to hopefully defuse a bomb that was hastily assembled by insurgents hell bent on doing nothing else but causing complete chaos and mayhem. That is the basic theme of The Hurt Locker.

This movie takes you an journey spanning about 30 days of Bravo Companies deployment. In the process, the special bomb unit deals with everything from bombs left in the trunk of cars, to an Iraqi man that has been forced to strap a bomb to his torso with a timer on it. The way the movie is divided up could almost be like five or six different little mini-movies.

The Hurt Locker is a graphic, gritty depiction of the Iraqi conflict. Even though there is death and much profanity, I don't think it was overdone or dramatized. In fact, I have seen many other nonsensical movies that have glorified death and dismemberment more than this movie did. The scenes are intense. You will find yourself sitting on the edge of your seat hoping that the bomb crew will survive another day.

If you have children I would have say to use caution when watching the movie with them. If you decide to let your children watch it, be present and prepared to explain what is going on and the risks that our soldiers take every day.

Although The Hurt Locker is hard to watch, it is a gripping movie that portrays war in a sobering light.

4 out of 5 Nateys

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Up in 3D

The fam had the chance to take in a flick yesterday at our local cinema. After much deliberation between the new Transformers movie and Pixar's Up. I decided on Up. After comparing reviews, Transformers (unfortunately) seemed like a movie I would rather spend $2 on rather than $50.

So, my family and I trekked into the local Edwards cinema and purchased the pricey ($64 for my entire family) 3D version of Disney-Pixar's Up.

The first twenty minutes was an impressive attempt to show the potential of this new type of 3d entertainment. In fact my son commented afterwards that the commercials were more impressive than the movie itself. The 3d did add tremendous depth to the movie. It felt 3d in that area. But if you have been to any of the Disney 3d theaters in their theme parks, you will be disappointed by this 3d experience.

The movie is preceded by a cute (and typical) cartoon short by pixar about a gloomy cloud that creates dangerous creatures for an unlucky stork to deliver. It was an engaging piece and should be up for an animated short oscar.

The movie itself opens up with a young boy pretending to be his explorer hero, when he runs into a little toothless girl who shares the same interests. Thus begins the intro to the movie following the two from marriage to the end of the girl's (Ellie) life. This touching segment has no words but sets the theme for the whole movie. The adults in the audience will find it hard to maintain a dry eye.

After the audience is informed of the goals and aspirations of the couple we are brought to present day where we find our "hero", sitting on the porch of his house while high rises are going up all around him. It's at this point our adventure begins. We see the balloons come up and our hero takes off into the wild blue yonder.

The movie has typical Pixar slapstick comedy with wonderful animation and great dialogue. As with all Pixar movies, this movie is filled with many wonderful qualities that are sure to make parents happy. Love, honesty, loyalty are but a few character traits that are presented in this fine animated piece.

If you are looking for quality family entertainment that is fulfilling whether you're 80 or 8, give Up a try. Compared to most of the summer fare out there this year, Up is quality and well worth the investment. Save the other "blockbusters" for you Netflix que.

Nate's Rating
4 out of 5 nateys


ratings info
1=better used for trash liners
2=okay but not great
3=good and average fare
4=excellent and worthy of many awards and a trip to the theater
5=Simply Divine

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Review:Marley and Me

I am not usually a big fan of "cute" flicks, but was actually looking forward to seeing this movie. "Marley and Me" starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston is about a reluctant newspaper columnist who finds himsef the owner of an out of control and rather psychotic Labrodor Retriever. Loosely based on the book by John Grogan "Marley and Me:Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog", this book is more about life lessons than it is about the mangy mutt.

The movie chronicles about fifteen years of Grogan's life from his marriage to the somewhat sad ending of the movie. In this time he struggles with job changes, children, and problems within his marriage. The movie portrays a couple and a family trying to stay together in a world that is truly bent on family destruction.

My two criticism of the movie is the many times "sex" is mentioned or alluded to, and the quality of acting from the main characters. Even though it all falls within the context of marriage, if you are watching with young children it can be a little embarrasing.

The acting is not all that great either. I found myself on occassion, thinking I was watching a not so good Hallmark Channel movie instead of major motion picture with a decent size budget and two fairly big stars. The movie does get a bit sentimental although by the end it endears itself into your heart. The Marely character is definitely the glue that holds the film together. Throughout the many different scenes in the movie, the one constant is the damage Marley is able to inflict.

I would recommend seeing this movie. Just be warned of the adult content.

Nate's Review---> 3 out 5 Nateys

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