I have a great movie-watching system. I go to screenit.com to find movies rated “6” or higher by a random 1000 viewers (critics are too picky). If the movie is highly rated and interests me, I add it to my Netflix queue. If I see the movie in the theatre, I delete it from Netflix. If not, it is a nice surprise in the mail months later.
Here are all the movies I have seen recently and liked:
Iron Man – one of the few movies both Greg and I enjoyed (all the rest of the movies listed here I couldn’t get him to watch with me!). I liked the development of Tony Stark’s character. I liked the heavy metal music. The portrayal of “terrorists” was stupid. But, I was thoroughly entertained from beginning to end . . . twice.
Son of Rambow – I loved the wise insights into the various stereotypes: the “bad boy” who was simply neglected; the “over-religioned boy” who decided to risk hell for real life; their unexpected friendship; the “pious Mom”, the “mean big brother.” Warm and happy ending.
The Straight Story – this movie is so slow I almost shut it off. It’s about an old man driving across the Midwest in a lawnmower. Once I re-programmed myself into slo-mo, I realized this is what it’s like to be older and slower and weaker in a fast-paced world – portrayed by the trucks whizzing past the lawnmower. The main character’s WWII experiences still alive in his mind reminded me of many patients I came to know in the hospital. So many parts of this lovely journey rang true to human experience.
Charlie Bartlett – more good psychology and humor. About a teen who became the school shrink, dispensing drugs and advice in the bathroom.
Juno – I love that girl. I contrast her character to Page O’Toole in Jodi Picoult’s Harvesting the Heart. O’Toole’s baby has low-risk surgery and she’s passed out on the sidewalk hallucinating – in fact, everything with her is an emotional overreaction. But Juno’s Ellen Page gets pregnant in high school and handles the whole thing with compassion and reason. Funny too.
August Rush – if you love music, you’ll get this movie. Corny but it worked on me.
