I actually had Kramer vs Kramer flashbacks during this movie — I have very vivid memories of that being the first movie that really upset me about parental treatment of children. (I was pretty young to see it then but my parents are not censors of much.)

Julianne Moore’s performance here is pretty amazing and just spot-on for what it’s supposed to be. The two young blondes who become Maisie’s caretakers (Skarsgard being one of them–yeah I’m pretty much over my obsession with him, except where Pinterest is concerned) are both fine although both come across as idiots as the movie begins and it takes a while for them to be tolerable on screen (they become moreso as they wake up to the realities of the film, I guess, which is fine, but did they really have to be quite so dumb to begin with?).

It was a well-done movie but pretty hard to watch if you are daily interacting with children who, while not necessarily mentally or physically ABUSED, are most certainly treated with varying degrees of neglect.

I mean I have often before, and certainly during this movie, pondered whether some sort of readiness test for parenting should be instituted by the state before unprotected sex is allowed. But of course in order to bring that about, the policing of sex would have to be instituted which is such a wild violation of one’s civil rights that it’s plain horrifying. But then you see a child being treated this way…

There certainly are people too self involved to parent, just as there are people too stupid to parent, and frankly the former is more horrible than the latter. The latter might learn, the former don’t care to.

Frankly, the two best things about this movie were 1) Zoe Saldana’s (false, I presume) eyelashes and 2) Chris Pine’s blue eyes.

It was entertaining enough, I guess.

This movie was not what I expected–several of the major players have very small parts.

I liked the first third and I liked the last third, but the Bradley Cooper-focused middle third didn’t really engage me at all. More Gosling, less Cooper and I would’ve liked this more.

The only movies I find tolerable enough to watch right now as I drift in and out on the couch have been action movies.

(All rewatches):

Bourne 1, 2, 3:
I still get really pissed during the first movie how much they threw away (or actually DID WRONG) from that book, because it’s just a gloriously finely crafted book and not a very good movie. Movies 2 and 3 are very well done, although they basically have nothing to do with the books at that point. But I can enjoy them as movies in their own right, whereas the first movie just makes me mad. But I watch it anyway. Because Matt Damon is pretty.

Lara Croft 1, 2:
It’s hilarious to watch these movies and see Daniel Craig and Gerard Butler as Angie’s sidekicks, respectively, back before they really hit it big. I love how these movies combine some great fighting with the Indiana Jones mystical hoo-ha type stuff. And I could just watch training montages of Jolie fighting for a few hours and be pretty happy. 😉

Casino Royale:
It’s so interesting to go back and watch this after having seen Skyfall, because tell me that you, like me, did not forget how rough and tumble and just plain uncouth Daniel Craig was in the first of these movies. Yes they work it into the storyline, having him just barely having made 00 status as the movie begins. He’s just so much sloppier here. His clothes don’t fit, he gets muddy, etc. It’s an interesting evolution they’ve put him through, moreso than any other Bond I would think.

new to me:

The Adjustment Bureau: Too bad they didn’t do a better job with the setup/gimmicky backstory because Blunt and Damon actually have great chemistry. I loved all their scenes together which made it not as bad a movie as I’d heard. Also so much great NYC scenery.

rewatches:

Ghostbusters 1 and 2: Yes these are SO dated in so many ways but man they totally hold up humor-wise. Really entertaining even if they did bring Rick Moranis back to mind, after having gleefully completely forgotten of his existence.

Music and Lyrics: I am never ever ever going to be sick of watching this movie. It’s charming and delightful and Hugh & Drew are both adorable in it.

pre-sickness rewatch:

The Town: introducing Lauren to my favorite recent movie. Oh I still love every minute of it.

Loved every minute of it!

I wish some of the really smart and thoughtful movies/directors had the same budgets to work with as the Bond people because between fight scenes and explosions and the occasional makeout, there is some gorgeous cinematography.* But instead it’s used on a Bond film which no matter how much I enjoyed it is still just a Bond film.

I liked how they both explored deep back story here as well as laying the grounds for future story. I liked how Bond started out defeated and broken. And, you know, he did take his shirt off a few times.

Javier Bardem has always played creepy just fine. He is even creepier here with the crazy blonde hair. GAAAAHHHHHHH.

*If this movie doesn’t make you want to move to the Scottish moors and live alone surrounded by fog and rock, then you are a cold soul.

So bad. Way worse even than I expected especially considering how much buzz I’d heard about McConaughey’s performance in this. Seriously? The people spreading that lie are out to lunch, man.

And hardly any male stripping going on for a movie about male strippers so you don’t even get nearly as much eye candy as would have made it worthwhile. At least we saw it at the Brew ‘n’ View so I could drink beer while being disappointed.