The Vow

Emily scored passes to an early screening of the Vow starring Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum. The movie opens on Valentine's Day and is about a couple dealing with the wife's memory loss after a car accident. The movie is based on true events and you even get to read about the actual couple in the end credits.

The film's marketing points out that Channing Tatum was in Dear John and Rachel McAdams was in the Notebook. Both movies the actors were in previously were based on Nicholas Sparks novels, though the Vow is not based on a Sparks book. Nicholas Sparks based flicks are the most consistently tear-jerking of movies, I made sure that I had tissues in my purse. I did not cry as much as I had predicted I would but I certainly did shed some tears. The story unfolds less predictably than the trailer led me to believe and there were more complicated details involved in the characters' lives.

All in all, not a movie I need to own but it was entertaining and enjoyable. I would watch it again when it makes its way to DVD.

Midnight in Paris

As the first scene or two unfolded I became concerned, was this going to be an overly talkie movie with unlikeable characters with dialogue that does not remotely reflect reality? Luckily the plot started off and the movie became enchanting and excellent. I can not wait to re-watch at home and google all the referenced artists and writers from the 1920s that I may not have caught on first viewing. Owen Wilson is stellar though one warning, the usually likable Rachel McAdams, is not in this film. I still like her because she is fabulous, her character just is not.
As Midnight in Paris is Woody Allen's highest grossing picture to date and the movie has been well reviewed, some Oscar attention seems fairly definite.

Seeing this movie was an experience thanks to the Parlor Room at Cinetopia Progress Ridge. Jennica and I arrived early and were first to the theater. We took the opportunity to try out every seat and each of the four rows in the space. The room has framed LED screens that tie into the movie currently playing. The screens featured the Eiffel Tower flashing between day and night, a Paris street scene, and works of Monet and Picasso. Before the movie began, the main screen alternated between a poster shot of Owen Wilson in a Van Gogh like stroll through Paris at night and old Woody Allen trailers. The room also has a fireplace and being as it is brand new smelled like new upholstery. The trays with cup-holders were built into the armchairs we sat in. Primo-lux movie viewing. I am so glad that my first experience there was with Jennica. I went with her to my first and all but one of the movies I saw at the original Vancouver Cinetopia.

Morning Glory

Monday Miss Emily Ficker scored passes to an advanced screening of Morning Glory, starring Rachel McAdams, Patrick Wilson, Diane Keaton, Harrison Ford and Jeff Goldblum. We arrived more than an hour and a half before the movie started, and for these screeners, that sounds crazy early, but it was perfect. Well, perfect may not be the right word, early enough, yes. In time for the crazies, yes. In case you missed Emily's and my delightful exchange on facebook, there was a group of people that had chairs, they all knew each other and they were coo-coo for cocoa puffs. I was completely prepared to wait in line, next time I'll be prepared for the side of crazy. I'll try not to over-boil with furry when they cut in line just because they know someone already there.

I loved the movie! It delivered. It was hilarious, it made me cry...well almost, I did well-up. It completely passed my new standard of: "did it reflect the trailer while being more than than just the trailer." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9lWUqraDoU (ps, I totally love the song that is played in the trailer, Natasha Bedingfield's Strip Me). I find myself in my usual spot between the rock and the hard place -- when I like a movie, I don't want to oversell it or give too much away. I am a big believer in movie expectations, if too high, one might not like a movie, they have every reason to like!
Another shout out to Marla's movie night! We watched the Back-Up Plan last night (not the best, its slapstick in parts, serious in others and as a result is too uneven. And my rom-com test of the too cheesy ick factor, totally does not pass. Way too many moments that make me squirm because of the cheese). Movie night is SO much fun! There is no movie the week of Thanksgiving, but next week in honor of the holiday, we'll be watching HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS! One of my all-time favorite movies.