Previous month: June 2005
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Closer
It's funny how Julia Roberts got to be the lead female in Closer. I think Natalie Portman's role was much more significant and also better done. Someone agrees with me, as Portman got a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination. Well, Julia Roberts is the bigger star and thus in lead role, no matter how the characters turn out.
Witty dialogue was the thing with this movie. Snappy returns and clever lines echoed with certain artifical air. Nobody really talks that way; it was hard to believe. The characters were also quite empty - they were mere surface, with nothing substantial to hold on to. I didn't like anyone (except maybe Portman's character), nor did I hate them (at least much) - it was all quite indifferent.
Fortunately the movie succeeded in being funny, at times, so it wasn't all that boring. The witty dialogue did turn into boring muddle every now and then, though. At least I now know London has a neat aquarium!
31.07.2005 klo 13:24
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Moving on
We've been moving. It's hard work, let me tell you... I've spent hours putting stuff in boxes and taking stuff from boxes. Now that everything starts to fall into place (except one very messy room), it's starting to look it was worth it.
Our new apartment is gorgeous, that's for sure. We've got one extra room (and a sauna!), over 20 square meters more and the building is 40 years newer than the previous one. Quite an improvement, I'd say.
There are downsides, too. The most obvious one is the lack of Internet connection. Once you get used to having a 24/7 Internet connection, being a week without can be painful. Well, judging by the e-mail I get, I don't lose much, but reading blogs and the board game society forum has become a habit like reading the morning newspaper.
Well, that should be settled on Monday (fingers crossed!) and this entry will probably be posted then so it'll be old news already and we can really enjoy our new home. Now we're just waiting for a new carpet on the living room floor and our new, superneat sofa.
29.07.2005 klo 16:35
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Last House on the Left
Last House on the Left was the debut for the horror film director Wes Craven. It's based on Ingmar Bergman's movie Virgin Spring, which I haven't seen, so I can't compare.
The story could be an urban legend. There's a moral in the story: using alcohol and drugs and not using a bra (the movie's from 1972 and it shows) lead to a gruesome death. Poor girls.
The movie balances in between violence, anxiety and comedy. It's a bit unbalanced, I think, and at some times slows to a crawl. Wes Craven has certainly directed better movies during his career. I wouldn't recommend Last House on the Left except for those who are interested in Craven's career in general.
29.07.2005 klo 16:29
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Moving
We're currently pretty busy packing up our stuff. We're moving tuesday; we'll get a bigger place (one extra room, 25 or so extra square meters) in a building that's much better than our current one.
When going through our kitchen cupboards, we found a tin of tea that's been sealed with tape, to keep the tin from opening while moving. You know, it's been, what, four years since we moved? I'd say it's time for that tin of tea to go!
24.07.2005 klo 13:40
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Weekend movies: Lemony Snicket and Constantine
We missed Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events when it went in the theatres, so we had to fix that one now the movie was available for rental.
I loved it! Johanna didn't like it too much, but I was simply charmed by the gothic aesthetics of the movie. Nevermind the strange plot, it was all so very beautiful. Jim Carrey made a stellar performance as the eccentric Count Olaf and the kids did their roles well, too.
After watching the movie, I just had to put a reservation for the first book. This is something I must investigate! I'd love to hear comments about the books, if you've read them.
Constantine was bad. We expected something like Hellboy, but it wasn't nearly as good. Keanu Reeves can't act, that's no surprise, but the movie was boring in other ways, too.
I mean, action movie should start fast and attractive, right? Constantine was dead boring until, say, half of the movie. It should suck one in right away, but it just didn't. Terrible movie - avoid!
19.07.2005 klo 17:25
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War of the Worlds
War of the Worlds, the big boy of the summer movies this year, is done now. It did what we expected: the movie theater was rocked by the attack of the giant robots.
It wasn't a masterpiece, though. Tom Cruise sucks, to be honest, and the plot was from the Swiss cheese department. Until about half of the movie it was ok, but then went over the limit. The end was simply horrible.
I think the ending (a mandatory Hollywood syrup ending) was the biggest problem. I think the movie needed a sad with glimpse of hope kind of ending. Anyway - the robots rock and the movie is worth seeing for them, but I wouldn't pay full price for this one.
11.07.2005 klo 17:48
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Garden State
Zach Braff's one man show Garden State (Braff wrote, directed and stars the movie) is a very good Sunday movie. Much is thanks to Natalie Portman, whose role as Sam is the best thing the movie offers. If you're looking for something fun, original and perhaps even romantic, Garden State is a good choice.
4.07.2005 klo 12:37
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