Movies I watched 8-23-2008

When I first met my wife, one of our favorite things to do was go watch movies at the theaters. We would settle in with a big bucket of popcorn and share a drink. The popcorn was unlimited, so a trick I learned from another movie goer was to empty the popcorn in one of those candy boxes and get a refill at the initial purchase. Back then a bucket of popcorn was $3.00 and the movie tickets were $3.00. What a deal compared to now.

One of the things I didn’t enjoy back then were people who talked throughout the movie. Even if they tried to talk low or whisper, it would take away from the movie experience for me. I can only imagine now how frustrated I would become, listening to people talking on their cell phones or tapping their illuminated devices text messaging their friends. I could only assume they are giving scene by scene descriptions. Anyways, I am afraid to go back to the theaters and see what the experience would be like now.

I imagine $10 tickets and $10 bucket of popcorn with no refills. Inside the movie theater, I would probably watch a sea of cell phone lights in the darkness.

Nowadays, my wife and I have been experiencing movies at home. Instead of the buttery popcorn at the movies, we eat the Paul Newmans’ natural popcorn. I must say it tastes great and is much lighter. Probably one of the best popcorn I have tasted. We have a 37 inch LCD but I would love to upgrade to a larger one. My brother has a 60 inch LCD and it is simply wonderful. With the prices coming down and possibly another government rebate check, that might be our next big purchase.

The last movies I saw were:

American Drug War: The Last White Hope:

My friend recommended this one to me. It was very good for a documentary. The beginning was slow and the narrator had a monotone voice that makes you sleepy. Once you get past the first 20-30 minutes, it does pick up a lot. If you remember the Iran-Contra wars and Oliver North vaguely, then this film will give you insight to what that was all about. The drug industry is big and I do believe that the CIA was involved back then with many witness accounts of events that happened from credible people such as former DEA agents and law enforcement officers.

Early in the movie, they mentioned Nixon and Vietnam. That made me remember another recent movie I saw American Gangster with Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe about true-life Harlem drug lord Frank Lucas. This was a good movie and I would highly recommend it.

Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay. You know this is going to be a bad movie and won’t be as good as the first one Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle starring John Cho and Kal Penn, but you just kind of know you will get some laughs. Knowing that this is my only expectation, the movie didn’t disappoint. It was funny for a bad movie about potheads who happen to be Korean and Indian who are stereotyped by their looks. I am sure the title of the movie kind of gives it all away about what their experience is going to be about. Doogie Howser’s Neil Patrick Harrisis in the second movie too.

Mad Money was a better movie than I thought it would be. It starred Diane Keaton, Katie Holmes, and Queen Latifah. The acting was good, the plot was basic, but with the happy Hollywood ending, it left me with a good feeling. I don’t think this did well at the box office, but I would recommend watching this one.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day was a big pleasant surprise. This one starred Amy Adams and Frances McDormand. I liked the movies’ setting in 1939 London where everyone is very formal and the men wear hats. The state of economy back then reminded me of the economic times we are going through now where everyone was worried about being put out on the streets. The plot was great, acting good, and the ending pleasant. I don’t think this did well at the box office but I liked it very much.