Smart-Alecky Fun

Now You See Me

Four magicians Henley (Isla Fisher), Michael Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg), Jack (Dave Franco) and Merritt (Woody Harrelson) all receive an invite from a mysterious person.  A year later they are the Four Horsemen with a show in Vegas - where they pull off a..bank heist.  Now the FBI and Interpol are after them - led by Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo).  Of course there is a former magician (Morgan Freeman) following the Four Horsemen around because he is going to expose their tricks, even when the Horsemen's money guy Tressler (Michael Caine) tries to put a stop to it.

All star cast with an interesting story.  Honestly, it is different from other movies that I have been watching recently - it isn't action, it isn't a super hero, it isn't a drama, raunchy comedy or a romantic comedy. 

So the movie -- I think I liked it.  Ok I liked almost all of it, I just was not completely sure about part of the end - you will understand the part I am talking about when you see it.  I liked the mystery storyline (not completely obvious, no NOT like STAR TREK obvious). The tricks were fun to see - the cast was good.

I liked Jesse Eisenberg's Atlas as much as I liked Woody Harrelson's Merritt.  I love Isla Fisher - she's got this fun attitude.  I like Henley's (nice name) wit and charm.  Dave Franco was good at being Jack - the new kid on the block.  Morgan Freeman described his character as a Sleazoid (I think that was the word) on Live with Kelly and Michael.  I guess that is a good word for it.   Oh and of Mark Ruffalo was a good Rhodes.  He is likable as always.

Review:  Something different

Girl Friday

So I have been looking for a trench coat for years. Yes, years.  I just could not find any that were cute enough for the price.  It just seemed a little crazy to pay that much for a trench coat (some were more expensive than winter coats).

This spring, however, the weather has been perfect for one. Sunny and beautiful one minute and rainy and cold the next.  Shoot, whatever happened to April Showers Bring May Flowers? 

So first thing - when you are looking for a specific item, it just becomes impossible to find it or if you have then find it in your size or the color.  Or is it just me?

So I started scouring online shopping sites.  There was this really cute Betsey Johnson one with ruffles and another one with a skirted bottom - unfortunately the skirted bottom in a particular color in my size was sold out.  I realized that I basically wanted a decent trench in a brighter, more fun color rather than the original trench (I always think Humphrey Bogart).  I'll leave it to men to do the more neutral colors. 

The specific color I really wanted was a nice green.  I still want one - so if you see one - email me or comment!  White ones are always chic but I think I would worry about the trench getting dirty.  I saw this one above (the trench is actually a little more coral - but the lighting is making it look brighter) and thought why not. I have seen decent trenches in stores such as Target as well as regular department stores (Macy's, Nordstrom, etc) that are affordable. 

The reason I wanted it in a brighter color is because - well it should still have a "pop" on a gloomy day.  Also, I wanted a color that would not clash with any purse, shoes or outfit I might wear.

Just because it is functional, doesn't mean it can't be fun or cute or sexy right?  

Sherlock Is Awesome

Star Trek into Darkness 
.Spock (Zachary Quinto) and Kirk (Chris Pine) are off to another adventure.  Kirk travels to the one place they really should not go - Klingon planet (ok I am not a Trekkie - correct me please!) on a secret mission to bring back the criminal Khan (Benedict Cumberbatch).  However, the mission is not all that it seems to be and he puts his entire crew including Sulu (John Cho), Bones (Karl Urban), Ohura (Zoe Saladana) and Scotty (Simon Pegg).

Spock is still more Vulcan than human - well kind of sort of.  Kirk still doesn't do anything without thinking - but that is the reason the two of them work so well together.  You need both of them working together to be successful.  I loved the dynamic between Spock and Kirk. 


Khan (Benedict Cumberbatch - so British sounding right?) was the quintessential perfect villain.  Brilliant and Ruthless - with powers that poor humans do not have.  Villains are awesome too right? 
I really need to watch Sherlock since everyone who has ever seen it has raved about it - and how great Benedict Cumberbatch is in it.  Actually, it did take a me second when I started watching Parade's End to realize it was Benedict Cumberbatch - the blonde hair threw me.  He is pretty amazing. 
I think Zachary Quinto is perfection as Spock.  Come to think of it, I thought he was perfection as Sylar too.  Another amazing villain.

The movie had the best one liners.  I went through a list of them on Saturday after watching the movie - I think anyone who sees the movie will love them as well so I will keep them to myself and let you enjoy them when you see the movie.

What was not so great?  Well the entire movie was awesome.  It was. Unfortunately, there was something that was way too obvious at the end of the movie.  I think everyone will figure it out.  Even with this issue, I liked the entire cast.  I think J.J. Abrams did a great job with the direction as well.

Also, did anyone else notice that Francie (Merrian Dungey) from Alias made a cameo towards the end of the movie?  I looked her up but she was not listed on IMDB - she didn't have any lines but I am pretty sure it was her!  Go J.J. Abrams (pulling a Joss Whedon - actually they both have been great about bringing favorite actors back in shows/movies). 

Review:  Super Fun, But Obvi - Still worth watching in the theater with your friends

Humanity at Its Best

The Impossible

So I was extremely surprised by the length of the movie.  It was short!  It came out during Oscars and so many of the movies were soo long.

The movie is based on a true story of a family who was visiting Thailand when the Tsunami hit.

I was wondering why Ewan McGregor didn't get an Oscar nod when Naomi Watts did --- because it was mostly the story of Maria (played by Naomi Watts) and how she and her son Lucas (Tom Holland) survived.  In the beginning, what she did --- shows the love of a mom for her child.


So my post title?  I liked that people were working together to help one other after a horrific event - the good of humanity...  Every small gesture counts. 

Review:  Worth watching...

Updates

Sorry for the lack of posts - will post something soon (hopefully tomorrow).

Cool Bad Guys

Iron Man 3

I love me some RDJ.  He is awesome as Tony Stark - or what I think Tony Stark should be.  

So Tony Stark as per usual is a little bit cocky and a little bit ridiculous - a whole lot of amazing.  I, however, thought the whole telling the entire world his actual home address was dumb (this was in the first twenty? minutes of movie, so no I am not giving anything away). 

Tony was upset that Happy (Jon Favreau) was badly hurt in an explosion by the Mandarin (Ben Kingsley).  Unfortunately, you have to give Tony a little bit of leeway since he hasn't been doing well since his bout with the aliens in New York City (AVENGERS - if you haven't seen it you should).
My guess is anyone in the public eye does not want anyone much less the press to know where they live.  I actually think the entire speech was...well Tony is brilliant - he should know better.  I did think the entire scene when the rocket/bomb was sent to Tony's house while he and Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow) were there was awesome (this is in the trailer :D).

I thought the movie could have been slightly shorter (maybe five to ten minutes) and I don't think there could have been but there was a lot of storytelling.  I did feel that Don Cheadle was not in the movie as much this time around - but I guess that was organic to the story. 

It took me awhile to place James Badge Dale but he was cool as Brandt.  See Guy Pearce as Aldrich in the beginning of the movie was a whoa.  Good Job make up artists.


Review: GO WATCH IT

More Important Than the Presidency

Scandal (Thursdays at 10 pm ET on ABC)

Do NOT Read If You Did Not watch "A Woman Scorned" on 05/02/2013


OH MY GOD !  I can't help it, I love Fitz (Tony Goldwyn).  I really love Liv (Kerry Washington).  Ok I have to repeat this - I don't love the cheating.  However, you can't help but feel that if they had met (say while he was not running for office), he would have divorced Mellie in a heartbeat.  So minus the cheating, they are awesome characters - strong and smart.  Driven. 

Anyway, I was thinking as I watched the episode, I miss their one minute moments but today the twenty two minute moment was awesome.   All this fighting and pushing away has not been fun with the two of them!!!

I love the "work for me" from Liv.  Why do guys just assume girls are sitting around and waiting for the guys? Fitz just knows what buttons to push.  Making Liv jump through hoops and I was mad on her behalf with his use of power.  Then, he proved himself with the twenty two minutes! Sigh... And Liv can fix the bad press, I just know it.

David (Justin Malina) was hilarious in being clueless.  "I wonder with who (or is it whom?) is sleeping"

Now Mellie is going on a rampage.  I don't really blame her.  Obviously it was a politically arranged marriage, one that sort of worked.  Honestly they have three kids and it is sort of messed up with the third.  He is so in love with Liv that he and Mellie have a baby?  I just got mad at him for that one all over again (one of my issues with Fitz).  To top it all off, Mellie does care about him.  You can't be so pissed at someone if you didn't care.

What are your thoughts?