Despite still not seeing very well, I checked out Moon the other day… Appropriately alone. It’s so refreshing to see smart science fiction on the big screen and Moon was just that. So smart, in fact, that it treated something that would have been the whole reveal of any other movie so matter-of-factly that you just knew the filmmakers didn’t think you were an idiot and that this was your first time in a movie theater.

It’s nice to be treated like you have a brain by movies now and again.

That said, somehow it manages to get an unfortunate Hollywood ending via some totally unnecessary audio that destroys any individual interpretation with specifics.

I need to remember to check out more smart films… $9.99 next?

So, I finally managed to catch Pixar’s latest masterpiece: Up. I have to admit, I’m amazed  they can continually produce imaginative, risky films that only keep getting better and better.

That said, this was probably one of the most depressing movies I’ve ever seen. Anyone who spends the time weighing the issues presented during the hour and forty minutes of animation would have to admit that meditating on a life wasted, on the worth of companionship, on the way we painfully attach emotions to inanimate objects, on the destruction of dreams, on the harsh realities surrounding our heroes and on the disintegration of the American family… is some seriously heavy stuff.

I need to remember to look out for Pixar’s next (which should prove more upbeat) Toy Story 3.

I could barely care less about the Oscars last night. In fact, I had forgotten that they were even on until some friends over reminded us.

So, we fired up the rabbit ears and checked out Hugh Jackman’s opening number, which was fun (especially the part about not seeing The Reader). Then the awards got under way and I realized that there was only one award that mattered to me: whether they would award a movie with almost no speaking as the animated film of the year. The woman and I had a brief debate about this category being the “animated film of the year” not the “kid’s film of the year”. Then, thankfully, the Academy awarded the Oscar to Wall-E.

I should remember that there are still some places where people are brave enough to get behind unconventional projects.

Finally went to see The Dark Knight last night. For as big a Batman fan as myself to wait this long meant there must have been major illness and ridiculous amounts of work keeping me away, but I finally saw it… and it’s right. Nearly 98% pitch perfect, which is truly amazing for a PG-13 movie. This movie has given me hope that Hollywood is not full of a bunch of idiots.

I should remember to see it again and again… and hope they don’t completeley screw up the video game.

OK, this happened a while ago, so I don’t remember things super clearly, but I had been dying to catch what should be the final version of my favorite movie of all time: Ridley Scott’s Bladerunner at the amazing Ziegfeld theater.

A couple weeks ago, I did just that… and it was amazing.

First of all there was quite a line to get in, but everyone in the line already had tickets, so getting in wasn’t such a big deal. Luckily, I was able to grab a seat for me and my lady right in the middle of the giant ocean of über-geeks and settle in for the show. By über-geeks, I mean there was a guy there with a replica glowing umbrella straight out of the movie. Additionally, they all cheered or jeered as the opening credits played based on each individuals contribution to Blade Runner’s tumultuous history.

Anyway, the huge picture’s quality was absolutely amazing and all the minor edits and tweaks mostly added to an already impressive movie. There was only one groan-worthy moment which came during the pivotal scene where Rutger Haur’s character confronts his maker late at night in his bedroom. During the original scene, Rutger stalks forward, staring down a man who basically represents his character’s God and says: “I want more life… FUCKER!” Unfortunately, in this “final cut” that “fucker” was changed to “father.” Several of the other changes also made things more plain and straightforward, but not with such hamfistedness. It was sad. I groaned.

Anyway, I should remember to purchase this new version on whatever HD format is the best. It remains my favorite movie ever!

Last Monday, my woman arranged a viewing of the 1974 Charles Bronson classic, Death Wish at Grand Opening‘s latest incarnation: a drive in theater. The movie was expectedly laughable, except for the fairly graphic rape scene starring non other than a young Jeff Goldblum as a violent thug.

I really love what these guys are doing with the space. After the ping pong experience (which my woman also hooked up) and now the drive-in, I need to remember to check out every new incarnation of this place.

So, due to the suggestion of some friends, I checked out the new Stephen King adaptation: 1408. The funny part about this movie is that it’s almost two movies in one. The first half is a great, creepy flick carried by John Cusack’s witty acting… the second half is a ridiculous stream of nonsensical gags that amount to nothing.

When the whole movie ended, some guy in the back of the theater said “Awww, fuck.” And that was basically the general consensus. It was dumb.

I need to remember to stop watching stupid movies for no reason. There have to be better things to do with my time.

Last night I checked out Michael Bay‘s explosive new re-imagining of an 80′s classic (and one of my favorite cartoons): Transformers.

I have to admit, I had very low expectations going in. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Michael Bay movie I’ve liked. However, if you check your brain at the door and let your inner fanboy loose, this new Transformers movie is truly an excitement filled, funny, and really entertaining movie… just don’t discuss the plot when you leave the theater.

Anyway, it was just awesome to hear our old friend Prime’s voice again. Sure, I had some issues with the changes to the characters, the lack of time spent with the decepticons, the fact that the decepticons spoke another language which seemed extremely xenophobic, and the fact that every black guy in the movie acted like a fool (yeah, that’s not counting the military guy whose only job was to call for backup), but the bottom line is that the movie thrilled me for 2 and a half hours.

I have to remember to check out the inevitable sequel they so obviously set up.

I ran across a link to the Vexille movie site today, so I thought I should remind myself to check it out. Cinematical says:

According to a glowing review over at Twitch, Vexille is about a future where android technology becomes forbidden once lines between technology and humanity cross. Everyone signs the UN treaty but Japan, who secludes themselves from the world, kicking out foreigners and masking themselves from electronic/satellite surveillance. After 10 years of seclusion, a Daiwa (Japanese robotic company) executive comes to meet with international politicians. Vexille, a female op based in LA, discovers the politicians dead, that the Daiwa is a cyborg and then must infiltrate Japan to stop the company and save the world.

Sounds good and the visuals look great! Too bad it opens in August in Japan… and who-knows-when in the states. Oh well, at least I can remember to look out for it.

Since coming back from Japan, I’ve been trying to steer clear of Japanese food since I felt like I almost OD’d over there, but one thing I didn’t get nearly as much of as I hoped while there was anime. So, I finally checked out Satoshi Kon’s latest movie, Paprika and I gotta say… it was awesome, like nothing I had ever seen before.

I could get into the plot and it’s science fiction aspects, but none of that is really important. The movie is about concepts more than direct this happens after that. Additionally, it’s just gorgeous. The art style had evolved slightly from his older movies, so it took about 5 minutes to get accustomed to the color palette, but from then on it was so much eye-candy!

When I walked out of the theatre, the only way I could describe what I thought of the film was that it was like Lucky Charms. That is to say: “Magically Delicious!”

I gotta remember to buy the DVD as soon as possible!