Mission... Possible?

So it has been a year as of yesterday since I posted in this blog. This is just not acceptable, especially since I have seen approximately 120 movies since then. There have been a couple times in the past year where I wanted to write in this blog and while watching a movie I would even think of things to write, but by the time the movie ended I just wasn't in the mood. But yesterday I saw Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol in the theater and after the movie I immediately began writing down some ideas.

I must start by saying that this was one of the most enjoyable action movies I've seen in a long time, and it had nothing to do with the plot. Honestly, I'm not even sure if I could tell you what the plot was about except that it had something to do with a crazy Russian trying to rebirth the world through nuclear war. This might be the first and only time I'll say this but the plot wasn't even important to the enjoyment of the movie. It was sort of a the-journey-is-more-important-than-the-destination situation.

This was definitely the funniest Mission Impossible so far, not that I really remember the first two (but I did just see number three the day before in preparation). Simon Pegg just made the movie for me. Some of the other actors had some funny lines, but if he hadn't been in the movie I'm not sure if I would have liked it as much.

This was also one of the few action movies where I was never bored or on the verge of falling asleep. Maybe I just wasn't as tired as I sometimes am, but the movie held my attention the entire time. I think it was because there were not as many car chases, exploding cars, and machine guns as in most action movies. There was more running, covert operations, and crazy acrobatic feats. Don't get me wrong, it was still just like every other action movie where a car flies 60 feet in the air and the driver walks away with only a limp, but I was able to suspend disbelief a little more.

I think part of my interest and excitement came from the fact that I saw the movie in IMAX (the kind in a normal theater chain not a really huge IMAX theater) and the picture quality was amazing! Even without being in 3D, the quality of the film made you feel like you were there. I literally flinched a couple times when things came flying at the camera. Although one complaint I have about the theater was that the volume was too loud, especially the bass. A little bass is good, but it's not a rock concert people!

Speaking of sound, I enjoyed the music a lot too! It had the obligatory Mission Impossible theme song a few times, but it was always arranged in a new and interesting way that kept you guessing (although that didn't prevent me from having the song stuck in my head for a few hours after the movie). The composer is Michael Giacchino who has done the score for a lot of other JJ Abrams projects, like Lost, Star Trek, Super 8, Fringe, and Alias. Most importantly to me, he did the music for a number of Pixar movies, like The Incredibles, Ratatouille, and Up. This movie score had a similar jazzy feel as the Incredibles and I thought it was just perfect! He is definitely one of my favorite composers.

Overall, I left the movie theater feeling excited and happy and I felt like I had a very enjoyable experience, especially considering that I didn't have very high expectations. The movie was not perfect, but it was definitely fun and I would recommend it to anyone that loves action movies or suspenseful movies, or just wants to have a good time and not think too much. The acting was great, and for the ladies out there, Tom Cruise still looks really good! And I'm sure a lot of guys will probably be drooling over Paula Patton. I don't really have a rating system but I will give it 4 stars. You'll just have to guess how many that is out of though ;)

~Picture This!

A Movie Blog?

I've been thinking about starting a movie blog for awhile now, but I just never got around to. Winter break seemed like the perfect time to start. My friend Laura (http://schooled03.blogspot.com/) thought of the title. Appropriate, no?

This isn't a movie critic blog, because I am definitely not eloquent enough, or even remember movies well enough, to write that kind of blog. No, this is just blog for me to discuss movies, because anyone who knows me knows that I love movies, and this is the only way I can become more involved in what I watch. It's mostly for myself, so I can try to remember what movies I've seen and a little bit of what they are about. And also because who else is really going to read this anyway?

Ok, let's just get on with it!

I have watched over 15 movies in the last six days so I have a lot of movies to choose from for my first blog. However, I'm going to start this blog off with Marley & Me, because I just finished watching it 10 minutes ago. (You might notice the link takes you to the IMDb page for the movie, because IMDb is the most awesome creation ever.)

Marley & Me is one of the cutest and sweetest movies ever, and watching it doesn't even give you a toothache. By the end of it I was bawling my eyes out even though I've seen it before. That's just the kind of movie it is. Marley & Me will make you cry every time you see it. I like movies that can make me cry, especially the ones that make me cry at the happy parts as well as the sad ones. Of course, the last scene when they are burying Marley made me cry the most, and I don't even own a dog! It's just sad to see them lose a member of their family, because that's what Marley was to them. A furniture eating, jewelry steeling, jumping, licking, peeing family member. I think that John Grogan, played by Owen Wilson, says it best in the voice-over at the end of the movie:

A dog has no use for fancy cars, big homes, or designer clothes. A water log stick will do just fine. A dog doesn't care if you're rich or poor, clever or dull, smart or dumb. Give him your heart and he'll give you his. How many people can you say that about? How many people can make you feel rare and pure and special? How many people can make you feel extraordinary?

The narration was actually quite good throughout the movie. Sometimes it can be rather cheesy and detract more than it adds to a movie, but this one was just right and Owen Wilson pulled it off wonderfully. One of my favorite scenes is when he quickly narrates everything he did and an accompanying montage of scenes plays with it. The fast narration and short, choppy clips go well together.

Overall, the funny antics with Marley and the Grogans pair nicely with the emotional ups and downs of their life. From when they first get Marley and he destroys the garage, to when Jennifer loses a baby and Marley lays his head on her lap as she cries. You can really feel how big a part Marley plays in their life, like when John says he tried writing a column that wasn't about Marley and he can't.

Marley & Me really made me want a dog! But it also made me not want a dog, because while Marley is super cute, he is also a handful, and I just don't think I'd have the time or the patience to deal with him. I mean they must have to buy new furniture all the time!

But this movie is just super cute and I am definitely considering buying it in the near future. Christmas gift anyone?

*~*Picture This*~*