Juno

Anne and I watched the movie Juno yesterday (before the movies stopped showing it!). It was great! It dealt with the serious issues of teenage pregnancy, infertility, parenting, and what makes for a good relationship with humour and grace. It didn't seem to be like most American movies which can at times seem a bit too far removed from reality or the script a bit corny. This could have been set in NZ or Australia given the style, the undergirding humour and the gentle way the issues were handled.
We enjoyed seeing Alison Janney (CJ in The West Wing) in a different role as Juno's stepmother. Both the parents in the movie modelled something very good - a few deep breaths, seeing the lighter side of what loomed as a dark situation, cna being slow to judge and quick to care... good stuff! Highly recommended!

Harry Potter #5

Josh and I went along to see Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix yesterday - along with a million others...

I confess that I have only seen one of the other movies (the first) and bits of the some of the others... and I was left with a similar ho-hum feeling to the first time.

While the effects are stunning I found the storyline was average... Lottie & Kate from the youth group assured us that the books are much better... so I take their word for it.

I'm more of a Batman kind of guy - if you are wanting to look at the dark side in movies Batman Begins offers much more... but that's just me!

The lives of others

Anne and I saw The Lives of Others a few days ago at the delightful Cloister's Theatre in the Christchurch Arts Centre... it was profound. We were reminded once again of the dark shadows of 20th century Europe that continued on into our at-the-end-of-the-baby-boom era.

It seems that most of our favourite movies are depictions of the way art/beauty/music can transform people and open a window of hope (As it is in heaven, Life is beautiful, Les Choristes, Amelie etc) and they are all European... interesting. The cinematography was brilliant - I loved the way the main character (pictured) showed joy at the end but with only the faintest change in his quite serious face... the power of film at its best.

Audrey, Audrey, Audrey

I have been surprised to learn that other colleagues of mine share similar views about Audrey Tautou. I guess I am picking on her this week because she is the main 'thing' we can salvage from The Da Vinci Code, and thank God for that!
One colleague described her as "pretty smashing" another said "Let's cast off restraint. Let's live a little. what's her mobile number?"
Good healthy stuff given the impossibility of connecting with her (if Tom couldn't in the movie, who can?)
Well, I thought that until today... when the following photo came. Audrey - thanks, I didn't know you cared!

That Audrey woman

Two photos from the movies I mentioned Audrey Tautou has shone in...
Amelie & A Very Long Engagement

Da Vinci Code Movie

I am still trying to make up my own mind on the movie. The critics were quick to pan it and I heard their comments. Do they determine how I saw it? I hope not but...
Here are my thoughts...
Cinematography: stunning - great light/shade, clever flashback and imagination sequences.
Making the most of symbols and art: good - but not enough focus on architecture of old churches.
Keeping the integrity of the story: mostly ok, but some key disappointments were the taking away of the relationship between the curator and the grandmother and the sacrifice they made for Sophie's future and why did they choose to take out the romantic link between Langdon and Sophie? If I was Tom Hanks I would have insisted that they keep that in. The opportunity to kiss the gorgeous Audrey Tautou would have been my bottom line condition of being in the movie. No kiss, no Tom!
Acting: Come on Tom Hanks re-act! Audrey Tautou, yum. Ian McKellen - I knew Gandalf had a dark side. Paul Bettany: should have been more sinister. Alfred Molina: So good - always good. Jean Reno: ditto.
Direction: it was all too easy - the anguish of trying to work the problems out was largely absent, as was the pressure and threat. I wasn't on the edge of my seat at all but I was when I read the book. Why not?
Story: Well it was only ever a big thriller. All the conspiracy stuff: so full of #@^* that there is nothing to say and more importantly, nothing that the church should get so reactive about. I am sure that all the church is exposing in its attempts to dispute the conspiracies is its lack of confidence in Christ. Come on church, have faith, speak truth and act with grace!
Overall rating: so far 5 out of 10
My feeling: just a little bit disappointed.
Back to Audrey: if you don't know anything about her hire Amelie & A Very Long Engagement.