Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Mayhem at the Cinema

Four days of rain, rain go away, but I am doing OK.

I have mentioned before that I love to go to the cinema. When I was a girl under 12,  my friend Peggy, my brother Fran and I would go to the Saturday afternoon matinee where we would see two movies, three or more cartoons, an adventure serial, and a Newsreel.  For forty-two cents each, my parents got rid of  us for the whole day, something I am sure they thought was well worth the money.   Of course, before we went, mom would check the Legion of Decency to make sure everything was on the "A" list.

After marriage, convincing hubby to take me to the movies was not easy and it took years before he would relent, as sitting in an uncomfortable seat and eating stale and heart-stopping oily popcorn, was not first on his list of entertainment.  However, after years of nagging pleading, he gave in and before long he was a cinema aficionado.  When they recently built a theater near us with double wide seats and rows, a menu of good bistro food and a full bar, along with pleasant waiters, he thought he died and went to heaven.  Going to the movies and being served a salad and sandwich (or such), accompanied by a glass (or bottle) of Pino Noir is an idea whose time has come. 



Today, though,  it is difficult for me to find a movie that I would enjoy seeing.  They all seem to be of one genre, "blow them up, shoot them up, destroy, and kill, kill, kill.   In order to be fair to friends whose choice of movie usually has to do with car chases and shooting automatic weapons, we sometimes have to fold, throw in the towel, acquiesce agree to their choices when they accompany us to the theater. 

Taken 2 Poster

Last Saturday, we saw the number one movie in the country, Taken 2  Where do I begin? Liam Nissan plays a CIA operative whose wife has been kidnapped by some eastern fellows.  They are seeking revenge because Liam killed thousands of them (or it seemed like that) in Taken 1 where his daughter was kidnapped and almost sold into slavery.  Liam, who is getting long in the tooth, wipes them out with various weapons, but not before he beats 5 or so up at any one time with his bare hands.  During all this, he only gets a scratch on his left cheek bone and a little blood smeared around his mouth.  To add to this, he and his daughter (who has not passed her driver's license test) race their car through the streets of the crowded city, while being chased and shot at and crashing into other vehicles and stores along the way.  Cars are being tossed in the air and mayhem ensues but there is not a mark on their car.  They head for the US Embassy and as they barrel in, knocking down gates and with bullets from machine guns flying at them, they finally stop and surprise, surprise, they have no apparent injuries.  The car though finally has some damage.  There are some bullet holes on the front hood and a small sideswipe on the side.  I guess they wanted to show that the good people at the embassy could hit a speeding car.  However, they showed quite a few soldiers with these heavy duty weapons shooting at the vehicle but there are only about 8 holes in the front of the car.  Not a good advertisement for the military.  A ten year old kid with less than a week of playing video games could do better.

Not my cup of tea, but the saving grace is that I was drinking something stronger than tea.

For those that like this type of movie, I have good news.  Right before Liam kills the last man standing, we find out that his nemesis has two more sons who will also seek revenge.  And here I thought he had done in the whole country.

If there was a Legion of the Mindless, this one would get five stars.

32 comments:

  1. Recent movies worth leaving my comfort zone (my living room and pajamas) are termed chick flicks--the two latest "Hope Springs" and the "Exotic Marigold Hotel".

    But the finest acting nowadays can be found on television-- beginning with "The Sopranos" and now "Breaking Bad", "Broadwalk Empire", "Boss" and "Damages". Positively riveting adult films.

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  2. Not my cup-of-tea. I cannot stand violence, killing, and car crashes; to me that's something I read about in the papers, not watch as entertainment. The Cinema sounds nice though!

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    1. The wine was good though and very reasonably priced. Next time is my turn to pick the movie and hopefully better ones will be playing.

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  3. I used to love going to double features especially when I got to walk over with my older brother and his cute friends!. I heard the sequel was disappointing, but at least your meal sounded enjoyable. I worked in a movie theater for years, and I'm still addicted to the greasy popcorn. Julie

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    1. I have to admit that when I enter a theater, that smell of the popcorn makes me buy it whether I really want it or not.

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  4. Aaargh. That sounds like a movie for lying down and avoiding. When they have a female in the lead she can do all those things with full make-up, and not so much as chip a nail.
    It makes me seem more than ordinarily incompetent. I can't even garden without blood, sweat and occasionally tears.

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    1. I have a thing about movies making some sort of sense even if it is nonsensical.

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  5. I loved your review (so funny)... and the fact you can drink wine at the movies! We saw a movie this summer at the drive-in (it's so "good" I can't even remember the name of it) that was equally ridiculous. It's like they don't even bother to make action movies realistic anymore. Guns that make things blow up and don't need reloading and make huge splats. No real plot to speak of. It's more like a comedy, really.

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  6. Arleen you're a born movie reviewer! I feel like I've seen the darn thing, so now I don't have to.
    Since the multiplexing and the shrinking of screens (and seats) while home screens grew, I stopped going. But a bistro and a bar? Big comfortable seats? I like this idea very much. A grown-up's escape, and one I'd certainly go experience!

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    1. I forgot to mention that the writing for the "human interest" part of the movie ( there was probably 5 minutes devoted to that) was bad,y written and badly acted.

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  7. You deserve five stars for sitting through it.

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  8. I went to a lot of movies as a kid, and loved it. Where else could we enjoy such inexpensive air conditioned entertainment? But we haven't been to the movies in years. Last time we went, my husband and I were both fidgety, and could hardly wait to get out of there. Your review is super, and spot on for a lot of today's movies. The movie hero's survival that beats all was in a movie from the '80s, though. He survived a nuclear explosion by stepping behind a tree. (A Schwartzeneggar flick)

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  9. Arleen, I adored going the the movie theater as a child. I do remember a double feature with a cartoon and a newsreel in-between the movies. And, if you wanted to sit and watch it through a second time you were allowed. As an adult I have found going to the movie on a weekday afternoon alone, to see something I really want to watch, a relaxing pleasure. I usually pass on the snacks and just sit and enjoy the movie. I watch a lot of "bomb 'em up" movies as it is a good escape for R. Sometimes I will pull the pay-back card and he will return the favor. Loved the review.

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  10. I think that drinking something stronger than tea would help me get through that movie, too. Of course, the last of the "Twilight" movies comes out soon or may be out already. I hope that poor nambly pambly girl gets some gumption about her, but she didn't so much in the book. I hope you find a movie you really like. I think some that are out now need to be muffled with tequila.

    litlmarysunshine.blogspot.com

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    1. I saw coming attractions of ones that I put on my "don't miss list. One is Les Mis which will be out at Christmas..

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  11. I personally would have to be drinking Nyquil to enjoy Taken 2. :-) Walked out of Taken 1 -- what ridiculous writing!!

    I absolutely love bistro-style theaters.

    Pearl

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  12. Glad you survived the "adventure." I probably would not have.

    Here's to more thoughtful and less violent film viewing. Something about a Beautiful Marigold Hotel in India, perhaps.

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  13. I love Liam Neeson; he is Irish and dynamic. But, I agree with you. I have seen too many car crashes, etc. It would wonderful if there were a movie offering that didn't involve blood, crashes, death, screaming, zombies, space aliens, etc.

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  14. I have a great memory of sitting in that fabulous theater - me with my draft beer and you with your cosmopolitan (make that 2 cosmo's) while watching Chipwrecked! The laughter from the kids (as well as the adult beverages) made that an Oscar-wothy movie!

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  15. Legion of the Mindless! I love it!!! Both Husby and I are movie aficionados. But I have my standards. No reality. If I want reality, I watch the news. There. The field is wide open . . . Hand me my drink and my salad.

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  16. Food and wine sounds like a wonderful idea. Needless to say it is so different here in old fashioned England. Our nearest cinema does not even have a ticket office any more, (you buy your ticket at the food concession - if you feel like waiting behind a line of people choosing snacks and drinks - I don't). They have put the prices sky high. )

    Partly because the experience is so unpleasant and expensive, I don't go much to the movies these days - but the other reason is that I have been so disappointed in most of the films I have seen in the last couple of years.

    I'm glad you enjoy your theatre though even if what you actually see isn't always much good.

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  17. sounds like a fun date...
    we stick yo our $1.25 red box with beer and pretzels.

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  18. We don't go to the movies very often either but wine would be a good draw. I never saw Taken so I don't think I would like Taken too either, but I agree movies aren't what they used to be

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  19. DEar Arleen, your last line made me chuckle and I'm still grinning as I write this! Like you, I don't enjoy that type of totally unrealistic movie. But I have to admit to going to the Bourne Identity movies. That was because Matt Damon was in them. He and Tom Hanks and Johnny Depp are my favorite male actors.

    I've never heard of a movie theater that serves salads and has waiters. I can see that my experience is sorely lacking!!!! Peace.

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  20. I go to the movies all the time but only go during long lunches because I hate watching movies with crowds.

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  21. I like a good Neeson, but this probably isn't a movie I'd see.

    Last year I took the kids to a movie and spent more on snacks than tickets. Had no idea one popcorn and two sodas would end up costing 16 dollars . . .

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  22. Hi Arleen,

    A lovely looking cinema. It seems one would need something mind altering to endure such a mindless movie. Oh my goodness.

    I used to go to the Saturday afternoon matinees in Vancouver. You got to see a film for 20 cents. Well, except for Disney movies. They cost 25 cents. The cinema, bless them, gave us 5 cent candy bars for free, whenever a Disney movie was showing. I'm rambling and um showing my age! :)

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