Expats Post: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

My latest review on Expats Post:

Link to review: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. A wonderful film.

Starring: Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson, Bill Nighy, Dev Patel and Maggie Smith.

Enjoy!









DVD soon to be released:
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
 The novel:

Preview: The Good Doctor

Well, it's been awhile since we've seen Orlando Bloom....he's back; and from the looks of this trailer in what appears to be a very different role than what we may be used to. The Good Doctor. 

On Demand in July 2012
In theatres August, 2012.

Website for The Good Doctor:
Facebook fanpage 


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Free Movies Online and More - Open Culture

Hello movie fans:

I stumbled upon a website that shows free movies online and had to share. Now some of you may be thinking - 'another pirated site'. Not this time. First, I don't watch pirated movies, ever. Second, I did a little research and found Open Culture ONLY shows content for educational purposes. It's a site that supplies ton of material that ranges from ebooks to films to language lessons, etc...

Anyway, I am interested in sharing the hundreds of classic films they have on their site. Many of them I haven't seen but always wanted to, now I can. So, when I have the time I will try and look at a few of these, but I hope you all take a look at this site and find some classic films for your enjoyment.

OPEN CULTURE - 475 movies
Classics, Film-Noir, Westerns, Silent Films, Indies and Documentaries

Also, I perused the site for awhile and found it extremely fascinating. The type of content and the amount of information on Open Culture is right up my alley... art, poetry, film, education, etc...I have now bookmarked this site. Hope you all check it out. Here are a few other page links to this site:

Charles Bukowski - a video
Early Terry Gilliam Animation
Morgan Freeman Teaches Kids to Read (Early Electric Co. Footage)
Today's post: The First Films of Great Directors: Kubrick, Coppola, Scorcese, etc..

Enjoy!


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Tired of Previews on Rampant Radio

Hello movie fans,

Recently I had my first radio interview as a movie reviewer on Rampant Radio - Answer Pants show. I had a blast and can't wait to do another one. The guys were great and also huge movie fans. I was very nervous at first but I realized that I can talk about movies anywhere, anytime and any way. So....

Here is the entire Podcast via iTunes (it's free) Radio show - episode 61 - please check it out.   I come in about 25 minutes into the show.  And, episode 62 is the second half (Just check out the title of that show..hehe). The guys were all great to talk to and can't wait to do another one. In fact, they asked me to see The Three Stooges and I just posted my review recently.

Have a great week!!

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The Three Stooges

Directed (and co-written) by The Farrelly Brothers, C3 Entertainment, 2012

Starring: Sean Hayes, Chris Diamantopoulos,  Will Sasso, Jane Lynch, Sofia Vergara, Stephen Collins, Jennifer Hudson, and Larry David.

Genre: Comedy

Question: Do you think it's glamorous being a movie reviewer? Seeing movies everyday, talking about movies, learning more about filmmakers, writing about certain actors, story-lines, discovering new talent etc...Well, it's the best job in the WORLD! I cannot lie. But I was asked to see movie to review it and it was one I hadn't planned on seeing.....The Three Stooges. Yep, you read that right. I saw The Three Stooges.

This does happen once and in a while but not often enough to complain about - seeing a film that I wasn't interested in watching. In fact, I usually end up glad I was asked because I am forced out of my comfort zone and sometimes discover a decent film. However, I really didn't want to see this particular movie. I wasn't interested in it at all but I was on a radio show recently, interviewed by the boys of Rampant Radio's Answer Pants show and I agreed. I am too nice and just could not say no, (Unless it's a slasher film - can't handle those. Sorry people...so don't ask.) but I think reviewers and critics who have a specific distaste for a genre or such should avoid reviewing those movies. My thought, everyone has different tastes and likes. Mine may be broad, but I don't like everything, but my goal is to entice people to see a movie NOT go out of my way to pan a film. That is just not my style.

With all that said, I will admit I went into the theatre not a happy camper but with an open mind. Of course I had seen the original The Three Stooges' skits and I just didn't find the slapstick humor all that funny or entertaining. However, when the original short films were made times were different, tastes were simpler and people weren't bombarded with 1000 TV channels, 15 movies opening on each weekend and the only place to see a film was in the local movie house. However, I do like the Farrelly Brothers and thought if any filmmakers were going to revive the old Vaudeville act they were the best choice. I also thought they were going to increase the farcical jokes with today's more R-rated humor that they are so known for. (Yes, I didn't know it was rated PG until I got to the theatre - sorry, didn't do my normal research on this one.)

So what did I think of the film? Well, it was a pure homage to the original act. The movie was separated into three acts or episodes. The story was...well, umm...simple, silly and filled with a lot eye-poking, nose-pulling, and hammer-hitting. And, if I have to be honest, I was slightly bored because as I mentioned this type of humor just wasn't my cup of tea. However, if you like the slapstick humor of the original act then you may enjoy this film. Plus, I already told my kids this, I think children will enjoy this film so, yes, I have it on my Netflix queue for my kiddos. It was rated PG and it was made for the young at heart.

The three actors who portrayed Larry, Moe and Curly embodied their characters well. It was actually a little spooky how well, but I think the Farrelly brothers did a great job at casting the threesome. I was also a little surprised to see who else was in this film (see list of actors) but then again I didn't see any previews or do any research on this. However, once I did see the movie and did some fact checking, I found out the origins of the original The Three Stooges and found that story to be really interesting. Now that is a film I think I would be interested in viewing...anyone thinking of doing a biopic?

My favorite thing: The warning to the children during the credits. That got a giggle out of me.

My least favorite thing: Oh, you know I can't bash a film and you know I didn't really care for this one so let's just leave it at that for this 'least favorite thing', okay?

Rating: PG
Length: 92 minutes

Review: 4 out of 10

Attack the Block

Directed (and written) by Joe Cornish, Studio Canal, 2011.

Starring: John Boyega, Jodie Whittaker,  Alex Esmail,  Luke Treadway, and Nick Frost.

Genre: Comedy, Horror, Sci-Fi.

Question: Have you ever walked down a dark street only run into a bunch of hoodlums and hope they aren't about to mug you? You think, "Why aren't they home, doing their homework, or playing video games?"

Hoodlums? Did I really just use that expression? Holy cow, I am getting old. Anyway, I will admit when I see a group of teenage boys hanging around on a corner, in a park or such, I automatically think they are up to no good. I don't base this on any experience of my own, but I think it's just inbred into us as we grow up - to think the younger generations are just going to make mistakes when in a pack.

With that all said, the boys in Attack the Block are hoodlums that do attack innocent people and make the mistakes you think they will, however, if all hell breaks look you will WANT to want them by yourside. Did I just lose you all? Sorry, my vagueness rises again. But it's a must to keep you all in the dark about the story on this one...and it's just what I do in my reviews, right?

Anyway, Attack the Block is a British film that I believe is destined to become a cult-classic. Why do I say that? Well, just look at the genre categories this movie falls under. It's a perfect recipe. And if my 12 year-old son was older, I know he would love this film, but I am not showing it to him for a few more years: lots of bad language, blood, violence and humor that will go over his head. (I know, I am such a mom.) However, I guarantee this will be on his list to see as soon as he catches a whiff of it. It was practically made for him (and his generation).

So, here's the gist of the tale: A group of British teenagers, living in South London, with nothing better to do hangout on their neighborhood block. They make a mistake and there's payback. Drugs, guns/swords and lots of bad language are strewn throughout the story. Aliens are involved. Okay, that's it, no more details. However, if you are parent of a teenage boy, you may never trust what your son tells you again when they call you to tell you what they are up to or why they are late if you see this film.

Except for Nick Frost, Simon Pegg's best bud, I didn't recognize any of the actors in Attack the Block, but they all did a fantastic job at taking this irreverent tale and making it completely believable. So, have fun watching this film; I surely did.

My favorite thing: The two youngest boys. They had me in the giggles.

My least favorite thing: That sometimes I couldn't understand all the British slang.

Rating: R
Length: 88 minutes

Review: 9 out of 10

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Preview: Killer Joe

There are a few things that intrigue me when I go looking for a movie to put on my list. Sometimes it's actors, sometimes it's the story and sometimes it's what others say about a film. Found one today that I think is going on my list. Killer Joe. It's not often I see a NC-17 rating and read the words disturbing and funny all in the same sentence. Then you add Thriller (my favorite genre). I am so in.

Now, I will admit I didn't watch the whole preview...it seemed to show a bit too much for my taste, which is very critical, as you know. But here you go. Due out this summer.

Stars Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsh, Thomas Hayden Church and Gina Gershon.


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