Hershey Squirrel’s Movie Blog

Okay, so what happens when you get Woody Allen involved in a James Bond Movie? You get the first Casino Royle. David Niven Plays the cunning “Sir” James Bond in one of the most ridiculous films ever laid down on film. This is definably one of the silliest and retarded things I’ve ever seen, even given that it was made in 1967. Even those six people that appreciate Woody Allen’s sense of humor will be hard pressed to get this one. Jimmy Bond who can speak in the presence of his father James? Come on.

Ok that being said this film was definatally made for the dope smoking, acid dropping crowd of the 60s. If you watch it in that context, like Barbarella, it’s a good time. It is one of those cult classics and I must admit it had it’s moments, it’s not a bad watch on your PC at two in the morning, if you keep an open mind, but thank god for remakes.

Ok so using my 11 year old twins and a friend of theirs as a shield, I go see wall*e. Well my 11 year old son asks me if he and his friend can leave halfway through the show, and my daughter is caught up in a conversation about sleep away camp with a friend she meet at the theater. I made my son and his friend sit back down and they promptly brought out their PSPs. Look, if you haven’t figured it out by now I love seeing kids movies. Having kids makes it easy, but when your kids aren’t interested in the film and you have to force feed them it’s not a good sign. Visually I was drawn into Wall*e, Pixar animation is cool to watch even if it’s just paint drying, which is how I felt about the story. Nothing really happened. And I might add it was lacking in the adult humor that makes these types of films great for the parents. No, “Momma, another gator got in the trailer,” like in Monsters Inc. I’m sure Steve Jobs made a good deal of money when he sold to Disney, and I’m not bashing on Disney (ok, maybe a little) but there was a lot missing in Wall*e story wise. No risks were taken (unless you count the part where Wall*e puts the bra on his head - that one drew a few mild chuckles from the little girls in the audience.) The great casting that usually comes in a Pixar film wasn’t there either, and the action was milk toasty at best. I really didn’t care that Wall*e got smashed by the evil Co-pilot. There was also a lot of missed opportunities with the overweight humans, probably the hyper politically correct society we live in had something to do with that. I mean I could use a tuck here and there and a loss of say 30 pounds, but I love to see someone get their fat ass stuck in a door now and again.

If your kids are say 5 to 7 they will enjoy this one, but you probably won’t.

Here’s one you should check out if you already haven’t. It’s new to the on demand feature of your Netflix. Neil LaBute’s directorial debut (who also wrote it) released in 1997, but really holds up. Stars Aaron Eckhart in the role of a sleazy office worker and all ’round scumbag guy. The thing that really sets this apart is that though he’s a scumbag he’s not a stereotype. The writing is fresh and witty even ten yes later. Some things never change, and LaBute really nails the politics of the inner office mentality. I hadn’t seen this movie for ten years, but was glad I watched it again. Once it starts I couldn’t help, but be drawn back in, even though I knew what was coming. I enjoyed the bantering back and forth of the workers and the endgame of the movie. The dialog really holds up and was carried off brilliantly by the cast. If you haven’t seen this one check it out, and if you saw it years ago like I did, it’s well worth revisiting.