1. 01/05 - The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty (2013) (theatre) *****
2. 01/08 - Grudge Match (2013) (theatre) **
3. 01/11 - Her (2013) (theatre) *****
4. 01/12 - Lone Survivor (2013) (theatre) *****
5. 01/17 - 21 Jump Street (2012) (cable) **
6. 01/18 - The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013) (theatre) **
7. 01/19 - Inside Llewyn davis (2013) (theatre) ****
8. 01/21 - The Corpse Bride (2005) (blu-ray) ***
9. 01/25 - Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014) (theatre) ****
10. 01/26 - August: Osage County (2013) (theatre) ***
11. 02/01 - The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug (2013) (theatre) ****

12. 02/08 - The Lego Movie (2014) (theatre) *****

It's a shame that most "family entertainment" tends to be dumbed-down kiddie fluff with overly simplistic "messages" (everyone is special!) designed to sell toys. "The Lego Movie" could very easily be mistaken for one of those movies: It's pretty obviously designed to sell toys, and it does, indeed, tell us that "everyone is special", but here's the thing: It's not dumbed-down in any way, shape or form. It is a clever, charming, tremendously fun movie that is overflowing with things for young and old alike to enjoy. It's also a wonderfully subversive film, with it's underlying messages about the dangers of conformity and those who would stifle the creative spirit. The absolutely stellar voice cast includes Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Morgan Freeman, Will Arnett, Will Farrell, Alison Brie, Charlie Day, Nick Offerman and Liam Neeson. Also, be on the lookout (listenout?) for cameos from Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Cobie Smulders, Anthony Daniels, Shaquille O'Neal, Will Forte and Billy Dee Williams. Fast-paced, action-packed and laugh-out-loud funny, this is a shining example of true "family entertainment".

In das kino:

American Hustle
12 Years A Slave
The Wolf of Wall St
Inside Llewyn Davis
The Dallas Buyers' Club

What did you think of them?

17) Monuments Men. Fine WWII drama about a team of unlikely soldiers tasked with recovering art stolen by the Nazis. Based on a true story. Great cast. I'm a sucker for brothers-in-arms movies.

Seen in the theater:

1) The Hunger Games: Catching Fire ❤❤❤
2) Inside Llewyn Davis ❤❤❤❤❤
3) Nebraska ❤❤❤❤
4) Her ❤❤❤❤
5) August: Osage County ❤❤
6) Her ❤❤❤❤
7) The Wolf of Wall Street ❤❤❤❤ (2nd viewing)
8) American Hustle ❤❤❤❤❤ (4th viewing)
9) Inside Llewyn Davis ❤❤❤❤❤
10) 12 Years a Slave ❤❤❤❤
11) American Hustle ❤❤❤❤❤
12) That Awkward Moment ❤❤

Screw up with the MoviePass app, so I ended up having to buy a ticket for a late feature, which meant I had tons of time to kill, so I watched American Hustle for the 5th time. I was going to see I Frankenstein but ended up in the wrong theater, so I sat through That Awkward Moment (which started out as a charming movie and then became horrifyingly stupid). I understand the concept of skinny jeans, but I swear Zac Efron was wearing yoga pants in some scenes. And his hair is almost as high as Eraserhead levels.

Well, that's a step up from I, Frankestein, which starts horrifyingly stupid and pretty much stays that way throughout.

This morning I watched "The Way Back" (2010) with Jim Sturgess, Ed Harris, Colin Ferrell, & Mark Strong. It's a "true" story of prisoners who escape from a Russian labor camp in Poland during WWII and travel a 4000 mile walk to safety from Poland to India.

A well-done survival movie. Recommended. Playing on Netflix.

Last night I watched "Trance", Danny Boyle's latest film. It's not bad, a little predictable in places, surprising in others but it becomes super-awesome because of a couple of Rosario Dawson full-frontal nude scenes.

A movie that flew under the radar considering its a Danny Boyle film. Similar to Inception.

1. 01/05 - The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty (2013) (theatre) *****
2. 01/08 - Grudge Match (2013) (theatre) **
3. 01/11 - Her (2013) (theatre) *****
4. 01/12 - Lone Survivor (2013) (theatre) *****
5. 01/17 - 21 Jump Street (2012) (cable) **
6. 01/18 - The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013) (theatre) **
7. 01/19 - Inside Llewyn davis (2013) (theatre) ****
8. 01/21 - The Corpse Bride (2005) (blu-ray) ***
9. 01/25 - Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014) (theatre) ****
10. 01/26 - August: Osage County (2013) (theatre) ***
11. 02/01 - The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug (2013) (theatre) ****
12. 02/08 - The Lego Movie (2014) (theatre) *****

13. 02/09 - The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) (blu-ray) ***

Like the Peter Jackson directed "Lord Of The Rings" trilogy, this first-of-three-films adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" runs a little too long, and has a few too many "deus-ex-machina" endings. Unlike the previous movies, however, this has a much more personal and intimate feel to it (odd, given that the main cast of characters is about twice the size). That, and the overall lighter tone to the story makes this a much more accessible and relatable movie. Ian McKellen continues to impress as Gandalf, and Martin Freeman's Bilbo Baggins is about as note-perfect a performance as you're gonna find, capturing both the timidity & heroism of the character. Also of note are Sylvester McCoy as the delightfully daffy Radagast, Barry Humphries (Dame Edna!) as the immensely icky Great Goblin, and, of course, Andy Serkis who reprises his role as the pitiful and pitiable Gollum.

14. 02/09 - The Monuments Men (2014) (theatre) ***

Given the compelling nature of its story (based on actual events), and the high pedigree of its cast (George Clooney [who also directs], Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, John Goodman, Bill Murray, Jean DuJardin, Hugh Bonneville & Bob Balaban), I couldn't help but think that this movie should have been a lot better than it was. Of course without the compelling nature of its story, and the high pedigree of its cast, it also could have been much, much worse. The problem is, it just doesn't seem to know what kind of movie it wants to be. Is it a gritty, realistic depiction of the brutalities of war? Is it a stinging anti-war indictment? Is it an affectionate nod to the kind of war movies that Hollywood just doesn't make anymore? Unfortunately, by attempting to be all three, it ends up being none of them.

I have yet to see anything in the theater yet after my accident at the end of the year. Plus it has been so ungodly cold in my neck of the woods that leaving the house doesn't sound at all fun. That said, I did find out the next list of Cinemark Classic Series flicks and some of these I will definitely be seeing.

Feb 23 & 26 - On the Waterfront - I have actually never seen this in its entirety.
Mar 2 & 5 - Rear Window - I drool at opportunities to see Hitchcock on the big screen. Can't wait!
Mar 9 & 12 - Chicago - This was a favorite of my dad's and I did enjoy it quite a bit. I will go if I can get the wife to go with.
Mar 16 & 19 - Grapes of Wrath - I did this show in college and will likely take the 12 year old
Mar 23 & 26 - Shawshank Redemption - This is one of my coffee table movies. If I flip past, no matter where in the movie it is, I stand absorbed until I finally sit down on the coffee table, still absorbed. Yet I don't know if I will catch it in the theater. Game-time decision.
Mar 30 & Apr 2 - Silence of the Lambs - I just watched this last week in IFC. I love it, but I don't feel a driving need to go see it again so soon. I would have waited if I had known it was coming.

Just saw "Thor: Dark World" for a $1 in the Cinebarre theater in Asheville yesterday. Loved it!

Cinemark Classic Series starting 2/23...

On The Waterfront
Rear Window
Chicago
The Grapes of Wrath
The Shawshank Redemption
The Silence of the Lambs

Maybe the first two. Possible Silence of the Lambs. Shawshank if I didn't see it weekly on cable.

I'd like to see Rear Window and The Grapes Of Wrath.

If only someone had posted this list two days ago and two posts above yours...

Such a person would have been seriously awesome.

I thought he had coincidentally seen these movies last week.

Plus I'm double posting back at Joe for him double posting my Cinemark announcement in last year's thread.

I can see why you'd think that, what with him putting all those dates in front of the titles. Apparently he went and saw each of them twice in the future!

You can all eat shit and die hard with a vengeance.

Vengeance actually makes a lot of sense. Well played, sir. Well played.

I'd rather eat popcorn, this being the movie thread and all.

Eat popcorn and live and let die.

Not as effective.