Off To The Movies…
Posted by Samantha Hunter in Samantha Hunter, tags: entertainment, Fun, movies
We’re heading out to see the new Sherlock Holmes movie this weekend. While I didn’t think I wanted to see it when I first saw the previews, it hits me as the best of the Christmas/New Years offerings, and I am a horrible movie person. Hubby wanted to see Avatar, and I was so thankful when he changed his mind after reading several reviews.
I don’t know why — it must be some kind of entertainment ADD — but I can sit and watch 3-4 hours of TV (I am a complete TV addict, but I think it’s a mixture of the variety, something new every 60 minutes or less, and I can get up and take breaks), but making a 2 hour movie can be a stretch, and ones that are longer than that seriously challenge my ability to sit still. It was torture for me to go through the LOTR series with my husband, who loves it… when he rewatches them at home, at least we can get up, take breaks, walk around — but sitting through them in the theater was my version of movie hell.
Though at least the stories were good — one thing that put me off of Avatar is that people only talk about the special effects. I could care less. Give me a great story with no special effects, please — the story is what carries me through and makes me forget I am sitting in one place for 2+ hours. If the characters are compelling and the story makes me want to see what’s going to happen, it’s worth the money. I stay clear of movies where people’s recommendations hinge on “but the cinematography was amazing” or “you have to see the special effects.” No thanks. Of course, most movies have some kind of effects, but I think the point is more that the effects shouldn’t be the point of the movie — they can enhance it, but a movie should still be about the story and the characters.
That’s what’s so nice about books (and TV, when you think about it — the special effects in Buffy were often rough and hokey, but look how much we love it). They can’t rely on special effects, it has to be all about the story. If the story fails, you’re toast, and I’m thankful for that.
Are flashy effects enough for you when you spend at least $11 (usually more) on a movie ticket? Or do you want to be carried away by compelling characters (Jason Bourne, for example — few special effects, amazing movies, all) and great plots? Have you been to see any movies over the holiday, and what did you think? I’ll share my opinion of Sherlock Holmes after we get back, and I’ll look forward to hearing yours.
Happy 2010!
Sam
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I’d love to see Holmes, Sam. Especially after all the RD, Jr. commentary on the, um, close relationship between Holmes and Watson. LOL However, I’d never get Tony to sit through the flick. That’s in no way connected to the commentary. He likes his films loud. Although he did fall asleep midway through LOR’s Return of the King.
We’re both with you on special effects. Please, feel free to use them to enhance a story, but not to carry a film. We’ve seen so many stinkers lately that I don’t even want to go to Blockbuster anymore. District 9, Circle of 8, Reasonable Doubt…hell, I don’t even want to remember the dozen or so movies we’ve seen since Thanksgiving that aren’t even worth mentioning. Tweaking Bonnie Tyler’s lyrics: Where have all the good writers gone and where are all the Gods? WE NEED A WRITER!
XoOx
Lori (& Tony) – who’re freezing their arses off :-S (H)
I went to see Avatar yesterday and I loved the actual story. If you do go you can get up during the flying scene – its got to be at least 10 minutes long! There is a romance in it too – though I think they could have done a better job of showing the developing romance.
Lori, surprisingly, one of my first impressions of Holmes, in the first few minutes, was how LOUD it is — and my husband loved it — it’s very action oriented. I think Tony might like it more than he supposes?
Tell him to go with you, and if I’m wrong, I’ll refund his admission. *G*
But seriously, the sound in the movie is something that fascinated me — the music was perfect, and very interesting, but it made me think about how much of steampunk is sound — the noise and slamming of industrialization (and the dirt) and they use a few moments of silence to great advantage, as for the most part, it sounds like machinery running through the entire film, in some ways, but not in a bad way — it actually enhances the entire film. I loved it — seriously loved it.
I hear you on stinkers — the worst DVD for me, and we don’t watch too many, was Watchmen — gawdawful. I did like Quantum of Solace more than I expected, enjoyed Yes Man a lot, and The Proposal was cute. But that kind of sums up my 2009 movie experience –we only went to the theater once, for Star Trek. It seems like the greater proportion of movies really are stinkers and if the want to solve the national deficit, just take the money it took to produce them.
In previews, I will say that Ironman 2 and Hot Tub Time Machine look like winners, LOL — the second is not my usual fare, but it has a decent cast, and looks like it could be silly fun.
Liz, I don’t know — a ten minute flying scene is probably going to have me antsy and wanting them to move it along — seriously, it just doesn’t do it for me, especially if the romance was lacking, which is exactly my point — too much focus on effects, not enough on story. It’s probably more because sci-fi really isn’t my thing — Star Trek was different, as I am an old original series viewer, but for anything new, it really has to grab me, and I still think about movies like ET or Star Wars, where the story was as tight as the special effects — I want it all. *G*
Sam
Lori, also I should say Holmes’s story was wonderful as well — great tension, humor, mystery… great stuff. It could be up there among some of my favorite movies.
Sam
I loved Sherlock Holmes. Fun movie and one of my top 10 this year. BUT I also liked Avatar and not just for the special effects. It had a great story/romance and was much more than I expected.
The two movies we have been to the theater to see in the past few months were GI JOE which being kids of the 80′s both my hubby and I loved. Plus Channing Tatum with no shirt on is such a huge bonus, lol! And of course we went to see New Moon since I am a huge Twilight Fan and I have gotten my hubby in to them too. I agree with everyone that the books are better then the movies, but I love the movies too. That and Robert Pattinson totally does it for me, lol!
On DVD I loved The Proposal, Sandra Bullock is awesome! I also just saw Becoming Jane with Anne Hathaway. It was a beautiful movie. It also made me very glad to have been born now and not back then, to have to marry for money and not love would just suck. Also being a Dan Brown fan we got Angels and Demons which again the book was better, but anything with Tom Hanks is gonna be good and it was.
And Sam I also agree with you about Buffy, it may have been hokey but it brought us back week after week. And of course David Boreanez as Angel was always a big plus. I think I have a thing for hot men, lol! Have a great day ladies!!
Hi Sam, I haven’t been to the movies at all. I know , really sad stuff. I got lost in some wonderful books instead. There are a lot of movies out that I would love to see though, Holmes being one of them. I so want to see “It’s Complicated” with Meryl Streep. I just love her…she is one of the best actresses out there, and I love to watch her. The DVDs I watched were Kate and Leopold…Hugh Jackman…yummy. Les Miserables with Liam Neeson, P.S. I love you, again…I have really become a big fan of Gerard Butler. Love Actually, all star cast…it was a great Christmas movie…it is on my official Xmas movie list now.
Lori, I am here in good old NE CT freezing as well. Iam drinking a cup of Earl Grey tea though, and watching the snowfall. I hope you warm up soon.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Candace, you’d almost convince me to try it if it weren’t for the length… Soooo long. I just can’t do it. Heck, my knee locked up on me watching Holmes, LOL, though I didn’t notice until we stood up — I hate sitting for that long. But it’s good to hear there’s some story there.
I agree, Holmes would be in my top 10 movies, for many reason — everything in it just came together perfectly, IMO.
We’re freezing as well — though it warmed from 9 to 15 (w/out wind chill) and after an hour or so of shoveling, was warm enough to go without gloves or hat… I’m waiting to see if we’ll need a second pass today, or can wait until tomorrow. One nice thing is shoveling makes me feel like I had a good workout. Usually I hate, hate, HATE snow, and you would think with our snowblower out of order, I would hate it even more, but I actually enjoyed the shoveling. I keep having this idea of building a bunch of snowmen in the lower yard, but the snow is too fluffy just yet — maybe later in the week.
Alina, you sound like much more of a movie goer than I am.
I think you are not alone in your admiration for hot men, especially on this board. 
Paula, funny that you mention Kate and Leopold, one of my favorite movies — and for some reason, when I was watching Holmes, I got the urge to rewatch K&L — I think it was because K&L had some of that sense of industrialization/technology, too — the bridge, elevators, toaster, etc. Oh, yeah, and Hugh, LOL. (Sweet taste of creamery butter, anyone?). I would like to see that one with Hugh Grant and SJP, and maybe Up In The Air, but heck, that would be more movies for me in a month than I have seen in the last two years, LOL.
Sam
I liked Avatar, but the story is nothing new. We’ve seen the conflict before. In a way, I’m glad the story was simple/familiar because I could appreciate the effects. They were good in that I forgot that I was watching computer animation.
We seem to be at odds with the reviewers. I can’t stand it when there are logic problems or the editing leaves loose ends that confuse me.
I loved reading all your opinions! I haven’t been going much to the movies lately, but for me it’s all about the plot and the characters. The effects can be a nice extra, like extensive descriptions in a book can be, but they also can easily become too distractive
Sam, I love finding out we have similarities I didn’t even know about. LOL I have such trouble sitting through 2 hour+ movies, too. It’s easier when I can watch them at home and start and stop them all day long so I can do other things in between. I did that yesterday with Something’s Gotta Give, one of my favorite movies. I started it in the afternoon and didn’t finish till the evening, with all my pausing.
I’m like you in another way: I don’t watch too many movies in the theaters. I’ve gotten really particular with which movies I’ll shell out money for, and therefore usually only see good ones. This year I saw about five of them and liked them all. My favorite was probably The Fast & The Furious (fast cars and hot men, what’s not to like?) or The Proposal, which was cute and funny.
Great topic!
Heather, that’s another perspective, I suppose, not having the story distract from the effects, LOL.
Hmmmm. But I agree completely, hating huge gaps and loose ends.
Cari, how funny — it does seem to happen a lot, doesn’t it?
I can’t remember Something’s Gotta Give — will look it up. I think a lot of people are particular now about movies, because they are so expensive — and the snack bar is worse than the ticket. I had some free tickets I got from credit card points, and then my Dad gave us a movie gift card for Xmas, so we were good to go for free movies and snacks, which helped. But even when it’s free, I want to make sure we see a good one. 
Sam
Hey Samantha~
I remember when I went through my Gone With The Wind phase. The hubs wanted to kill me (“You’re watching that again?” *chuckle* But like you, sometimes I feel that long movies are the best.
I don’t mind special effects, especially if it’s a movie that’s entirely popcorn, feel good fodder (2012 was a great one) but I love movies with heart. Did you see Brothers? (With Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman, Tobey Maguire) Excellent movie! I was amazed it didn’t receive more recognition in the awards category this year. And The Hurt Locker…well, it’s got Jeremy Renner in it. What more needs to be said?
*sigh* I could talk movies all day.
Jaime
Jaime