If you don’t know that I love movies then you probably don’t know me all that well. Like I said, I LOVE MOVIES!! I’m also a huge supporter of seeing movies in their true form, on the big screen surrounded by hundreds of extremely loud speakers. There is no remote control to turn the volume down, you barely get to choose your seat, the floor is sticky, the food is overpriced and I love every single second of it! Some argue they would rather save their money and rent it when it comes on DVD but let’s face it, it’s just not the same.
A few years ago I used to go with a group of friends to the movies every friday night for whatever big movie was coming out that weekend. I miss those times. So this summer in the wake of all the big blockbusters that are releasing, I will once again be visiting my local theater friday evenings. I’m hoping to attend every week as long as a decent movie is releasing. I’m already a bit behind since this is already week 3. If you are interested in joining in this quest please let me know since right now I’m in this alone.
WEEK 1 – Iron Man 3
I’ll keep this short and sweet since like I said I’m already 2 weeks behind on this project. The first Iron Man was and still is my favorite Superhero movie and probably one of the BEST movies I have ever seen. It’s hard for sequels to live up to the name of their predecessor and even though Iron Man 2 and 3 both gave valiant efforts, they were still not as good as the first.
That being said Iron Man 3 was a very entertaining and an extremely long 2 and a half hours. It could have been at least an hour shorter, included less Robert Downy Jr. and more Iron Man. Sure he had all the Iron Man suits attack at the end and I’ll admit it was pretty cool…but where was Iron Man in half of the movie? All in all it was still a good movie and definitely kept me entertained.
MY RATING: 3 out of 5
WEEK 2 – The Great Gatsby
I love The Great Gatsby! I always have. It was one of the few books I actually enjoyed reading in high school (believe me I read them all) and it quickly became one of my favorites. I often credit The Great Gatsby for my great love of the 1920s. When I found out they were making this movie (and I’ve known for years) I was ecstatic. I even brushed up on my knowledge by re-reading the book and re-watching the awful original movie. The book was even more exceptional the second time around and I highly recommend that everyone read it.
But if you’re not a reader, GO SEE THIS MOVIE. I thought the 3D was pleasant and offered an extra dimension while not overdoing it. Although I’m a fan of Robert Redford as an actor, Leo DiCaprio was not only a great Gatsby but a fantastic one as well. The girl who played Daisy was a much better choice than Mia Farrow from the original and she played the character much better. The soundtrack…oh boy is it terrible. I don’t understand the decisions that were made there and it doesn’t fit. I’m a huge fan of electro swing music, current music trend more popular in Europe, and I believe some of those songs would have been a much better choice and would have fit more with the setting.
The movie follows the storyline to a “T” but unlike the original which feels like they are reading dialog straight from the book, this one does not. It follows the Gatsby and Daisy storyline much closer and deeper making it feel more like a love story. The love story also does not overshadow the underlying themes and messages that Fitzgerald so carefully chose to place in his masterpiece. Even though this story takes place in the 1920s in a life full of extravagance and boot-legged liquor, these messages stand the test of time. I won’t give them away because they are the true beauty of the story and you’ll just have to experience and understand them for yourself.
MY RATING: 4.2 out of 5
