50 Best Movies [I've Seen] Of The Decade: No 25. Mean Girls

This I think is the only teen flick in my list. The last decade has been filled with annoying, cheesy, sexed up and clichéd teen flicks. And Mean Girls for me, was the only one that stood out. It was fun, funny, had somewhat of a commentary on the social dynamics of girls in high school (or generally just schools) and has a pretty good story too. Lindsay Lohan…Lindsay…what happened to you? She was actually pretty good in this one…and then downhill her career went. This was also the so called breakout role that really got people to notice Rachel McAdams who plays Regina the big meanie, Queen Bee head of the Plastics…and how well she did it…she was extremely vicious. Catty truly never was this funny…And I can’t help but remember also Gretchen’s pitiful attempts to get her catchphrase “fetch” going :) . Its just an enjoyable movie, I liked it even more on second viewing.

Trailer Watch: Beastly

I'm behind on all the trailers that have been released the past week. Another new trailer is Beastly which is the modern high school retelling of Beauty and the Beast. From trailer I don't really get how the Beast is such a big jerk and slight the witch as such, other than he has an enormous ego because of the power his looks give him...I mean aren't most of the popular kids and jocks in high school like that? And wait...I do think, even in the folk/ fairy tales...they forgot to mention...that its not just his looks that made him a big meanie...it was also his economic status (wasn't he some kind aristocrat?) that made him powerful. So that would be interesting, if they explored his power of his wealth. Now Alex Pettyfer...looks alright...other than he seems more like an alien other than what you would think for a Beast. And the girls...yes the casting wasn't that great there. The Olsen twins were never great actresses...there's one of them here...and not looking too good. Then there's also Vanessa Hudgens as the Beauty, who once again is playing the cutesy good girl, though she was never good at playing one in the first place...go figure. I have said before that this could be terribly bad, but nonetheless I want to see it. And from the trailer it didn't look that bad ... just the usual formulaic teen stuff. And this also has Neil Patrick Harris as a blind tutor? He's funny so he could provide some comic relief.

Trailer Watch: Eclipse

Ok so what we have here is the supposed final theatrical trailer for Eclipse. And you know what. I rather like it. At least it doesn't have an overflow of romantic sap. There's also promise of more action...and they do show the Newborns (I think that's what they call? I have yet to finish the book). Hopefully they're bad...we really need some real bad guys in the Twilight movies. But I do find that scene in the streets with the Newborns creating chaos kinda look out of place in a way that it looked like it was from a post apocalyptic movie rather than a Twilight movie. And the fight scene between the wolves and the Newborns...err...really...don't they have to be more discreet? I mean I know I know they're in the middle of a forest but an all out exposed fight? But other than that...I think the trailer is fine...much much better than the teaser...and quite unfortunately confirms that Victoria does have crap hair in the movie...it wasn't just bad angle and shots.

Out & About: Avatar, Legion, The Vampire's Assistant

Out this week on DVD is what could be the biggest DVD release this year...that is Avatar. Then there's also the Indonesian horror film Darah. Kaiji a Japanese thriller starring that kid from Battle Royale and Death Note is also out on DVD. Next there's Legion with Paul Bettany and lastly the kiddie Vamp movie the Vampire's Assistant is also out in stores.

Love Movies, Check This Out: Not a Movie Poster

If you're a movie fan, I'm sure you'll probably like looking at movie posters too. Some of them may very well be a piece of art, others are just a big photoshopped mess. But how about those that never end up in the movies' marketing campaign and those movie theater walls. Were they all that terrible. Apparently not. Curious? Check out this wonderful site Not A Movie Poster. If only we can get one of those prints...


And if you by any chance have or know an interesting movie related site or blog such as this, please email me at addictedtofilms@hotmail.com because I'd love to check it out.

New Page, Movies I Want to Watch

I've added a new page to my blog, called the Movies I Want to Watch page. Its just an ever growing random list of movies I want to watch but haven't. You can find the link to the page on top of my banner or just click here.

Random Rants/Thoughts: Bare Avatar DVDs

Avatar was released on both DVD and Blu-ray today. I had not read up on any of the Avatar DVD/Blu-ray news so I had no idea on what to expect in terms of its special features and so forth...maybe it came with those 3D glasses? So I went to the store and check it out. DVD is retailing at SGD 29.90 and Blu-ray at SGD 49.90...I know expensive right! Now I had read on the back of the cases, beneath all the subtitles and audio details...it stated the usual clause where the views expressed in the interview and commentaries in the special features are not the views of the studio...which puzzled me a bit when I don't see any particular details on the special features. So which is it? Is there...or isn't there any special features? Misleading yes? Yes! Anyhow I didn't buy either of the discs...I have to admit I was tempted to as I have yet to see the movie. But having heard enough how the movie had a blah story and was riding more on the special effects...a bare bones disc just doesn't cut it for me. Glad I made the right the decision ,as having now check up on the details online...a fully packed disc will only come in about Nov this year and a 3D version would be due next year. So a rental it will be then.

50 Best Movies [I've Seen] Of The Decade: No 24. Mean Creek

** CONTAIN SPOILERS**

I knew very little of the actual premise of the movie when I watched it a few years back other than it was a coming of age movie and that it starred Rory Culkin. I put those two things together and I somehow I expected it to be a somewhat good movie. And it was. I guess I would put this movie together with Boy A and Paranoid Park as one of those movies that features kids that make terrible mistakes except, though if I remember correctly Mean Creek didn’t fully explore the aftermath of the incident past the day itself.


Which mattered little, the audiences can always use their imagination right? I think the movie had certain a rawness to it, from the simple yet well drawn story, to the dialogue and to the young actors who all gave such wonderful performances. One scene I think that was done particularly well was the one on the beach, right after the incident, when all the kids were just sitting there, shocked over what had come to happen. You see right there, that any innocence if indeed there had been, was lost in that moment. That they could never again be just care free kids. That this incident would forever hang over them. Very very good movie...definitely deserves more recognition.

Out & About: Case 39, Cheri, Fantastic Mr Fox, The Fourth Kind among others

Once again, the past week was one of those weeks where a slew of titles got a DVD release. I mean really there was...11! At least the ones I did see. First up is The Boys Are Back where Clive Owen plays a single father. Next there's Case 39 with Renée Zellweger. Cheri starring Michelle Pfeiffer as a 1920's cougar was also released the past week. Then there's Wes Anderson's Fantastic Mr Fox which I wanna see. Next up is the Fourth Kind which was slammed by the critics...so was Motherhood where Uma Thurman plays you guessed it...a mother. Then there's My One and Only...the only movie here that I know nothing off. Robin Williams and John Travolta stars in the next movie to be released on DVD here...its Old Dogs...I can only guess it is terrible...it is the only type of comedy those two have been doing recently. Post Grad did not receive a theatrical release and went straight to DVD though I did see its posters in the theaters in September of last year or so...I guess they don't see an audience for it...neither do I. Smokin Aces 2 is another straight to DVD movie to be released the past week. And lastly there's Twilight in Forks, which is a documentary I suppose is about the effect, the popularity of Twilight has on the actual town Forks.

The Scene: Paris, je t'aime, Faubourg Saint-Denis - Our love fell asleep, and the snow took it by surprise

Ok maybe it isn't really a scene...its a short film, among several others that made up Paris, je t'aime. But I can't help but mentioning it. Its the Faubourg Saint-Denis segment...which one you might ask. Well you know...the one with Natalie Portman. I just loved the particular line...

Thomas Listen. Listen. There are times when life calls out for a change. A transition. Like the seasons. Our spring was wonderful, but summer is over now and we missed out on autumn. And now all of a sudden, it's cold, so cold that everything is freezing over. Our love fell asleep, and the snow took it by surprise. But if you fall asleep in the snow, you don't feel death coming. Take care

that Portman's character says to her boyfriend through the phone. And we believed her. Because her voice seem true, and the emotion that played on Thomas's face...the realization that things had come to an end...we believed. Then of course we see Thomas's memories of their relationship in fastforward...and we believe in everything that was said even more. What a way to cement the idea of what was said...until...I don't want to spoil anything, so just go out and watch Paris, je t'aime...this segment was a stand out...and the whole movie is just thoroughly enjoyable.

Random Rants/Thoughts: Near Dark DVD cover art got the Twilight effect

I'm sure someone has commented on this before, I can't possibly be the only one who's noticed. The new Near Dark DVD cover art (the DVD edition which was released mid last year)...which has gone through the "Twilight" effect...I guess you can call it that. Adrian Pasdar is all sombre, pasty gray and complete with his topaz eye. Can you say Edward Cullen? I found it pretty funny. I've not watched the movie before...but its hardly Twilight...but trying to cash in on that it does...which again is funny...Just imagine someone going...but where is the moping and brooding vamps?

 The DVD cover arts for the DVDs released in early 2000's

50 Best Movies [I've Seen] Of The Decade: No 23. Match Point

Ahh…my first Woody Allen movie. And my favourite. Though of course I haven’t seen a lot of his movies…mostly just the recent ones. I actually came into this thinking that it was a quirky romantic comedy…wow was I wrong. It’s been a few years since I’ve seen it but I'd say it’s more of a drama slash thriller. It has interesting characters, solid performances and a well paced story that leads to a very unexpected conclusion, at least for me, which left me with…can’t believe that just happened…buts it’s a pretty satisfying ending. I’ll recommend this movie, really good. And I definitely need to give this one a second viewing.

Out & About: All About Steve, Did You Hear About the Morgans, Ninja Assassin

Out on DVD this week is a bland serving of titles. First up is the other Sandra Bullock vehicle last year, All About Steve. Then there's Did You Hear About the Morgans. Well nope...I haven't heard. And lastly there's Ninja Assassin...aren't most ninjas by the very definition assassins?

Snippet: Spoilt

Spoilers!!! Spoilt is a very very popular T-shirt from Treadless. It has a clever design, I really like it…but I don’t think I could ever wear it. I wouldn’t want to spoil, some unsuspecting person, an ending of a movie.

TV Theme Medley

I saw this on a recent episode of Digg Reel...which featured only part of the whole clip...so I checked the whole thing out today. I guess you can say I grew up in front of the TV because I definitely watch a lot of TV growing up, so I agree with Annie, this made me smile so. Those theme songs bring back soo much memories (I remember being like 8 and freaked out by some of the stuff on X-Files, covering my eyes and yet still tuning in and wanting to know what happens next)...and putting all these great shows and their theme songs together...ahhh...how can I not smile. I love it. Now I want a movie theme medley too.

50 Best Movies [I've Seen] Of The Decade: No 22. The Lookout

I must have found out about this movie because of Brick, with it having the same lead…that must have been it, and like Brick…this was really good. I’m sure there are tons of movies about mental illness, handicap, disorder or brain damage suffered from some kind of accident, but none at least I think have done it the way the Lookout has. Most are those inspirational drama with all these scientific names of the conditions thrown around…where it starts off with diagnosis, living with the condition and not letting the condition dictate “living” their lives - which is where the “inspirational” part comes from.

The Lookout on the other hand, I’ve said before is part drama part heist movie. We see briefly what the main character, Chris was before the accident…and then how he is now, with the condition, with him suffering short term memory loss and carrying the guilt over the deaths of his friends. How he lives with his condition is portrayed very plainly (not in a negative way). He struggles to remember the most simplest of things. Furniture and items in his apartment are labelled and he carries a notebook around just to know what to do next. And then thrown in the mix is a heist plot that Chris becomes entangled in…which just makes everything interesting…seeing how he tries to comprehend the situation he has gotten into. Somehow things looks plausible, the movie was well acted, it was all done well and it just works. And Matthew Goode pulls off a good villain in this one too.

Out & About: An Education, Sherlock Holmes

Out this week on DVD are An Education a film I saw a few months ago in the cinemas. Rather like it and then there's Sherlock Holmes...which looks like it could be a fun movie.