My Review: Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace 3D

This was my favorite movie when I was nine years old. My uncle Ryan took me and my cousins to go see this at Lake 7 theater in Rice Lake, WI. I remember thinking that it was the coolest thing that I had ever seen, and soon became totally obsessed with it. I had a Star Wars backpack, a Star Wars lunchbox, a Star Wars calender (that was really cool because it had flip book animations of scenes from the movie), and I was Darth Maul for Halloween that year. It was kinda shitty because lots of other kids were too and my mom was way late in buying my costume so while the other kids had the cool normal sized double sided lightsaber, I had one half the size and it was filled with candy. So, now it is almost 13 years later and I was psyched when I saw that this movie was being released in 3D. The Phantom Menace is the least bad of all of the Star Wars prequels and is filled with great scenes like the podracing scene and an extremely epic lightsaber battle between Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Darth Maul. Here are the main reasons why I went to see ths movie:

• I thought that the lightsaber battle and pod race scenes would look epic in 3D
• Nostalgia
• To see if the underwater scene would scare me as much as it did when I was nine (seriously I had my hands over my eyes the whole scene)
• Ewan McGregor is crazy beautiful
• Um..its Star Wars....

Since this movie wasn't made to be in 3D, there aren't any really cool 3D moments. It was basically like watching it the first time, except now Yoda is CGI. They probably did it to make it consistent with the second two prequels, but I like puppet Yoda better. I still think that seeing this was worth the $9 and 15 minute bus ride, though. One of the greatest things about seeing Star Wars movies in theaters is hearing Ben Burtt's great sound design. The sound during the pod race is just amazing. Everytime the pods rounded a corner, I was just like "wow!"
Its also cool to watch this now that I know that Keira Knightley is Natalie Portman's decoy. I remember being shocked when I found out that Padme was Queen Amidala. That to me was my Crying Game scene. Except instead of Dil having a penis, it was Portman being the queen. I really couldn't tell the difference between Natalie as queen and Knightley as decoy queen.

Now that it is 13 years later and I have a shitload of movies featuring these two actresses, I can easily tell the two of them apart. It was interesting seeing how many times Knightley is in the background in just her handmaiden robe. Speaking of Queen Amidala, how amazing is her wardrobe? I used to have this book that came out with the book and there was a few pages dedicated to her wardrobe and I ended up ruining the book by cutting them all out. I wish I hadn't done that now because that book was really cool. It has lists of all the droids and spaceships and everything. Anyways, Queen Amidala has the most amazing clothes. Here are my favorite outfits.

Also, that lightsaber battle is just amazing!



Poor Ewan McGregor always has to have someone die in his arms. I'm surprised Qui-Gonn didn't say "tell a story Christian...or Obi-Wan." Speaking of Ewan McGregor...how gorgeous is this guy?!!?!?

Seeing this again made me realize how little he is in this movie. At least he is in the best scene in the movie. (I am referring again to the lightsaber battle).

So in conclusion, although the 3D aspect was somewhat disappointing, and I prefer puppet Yoda, this was really fun to see in theaters again.



My Review: A Dangerous Method

Is is possible for Michael Fassbender to do a bad movie? I really don't think so. I don't know if he just chooses excellent movies or if movies instantly get better with his presence. And what a presence it is. Even looking very old fashioned with his mustache, glasses, and attire, he still manages to be unbelievably sexy. Every time he flashed that Fassbender smile in this movie I couldn't help but smile myself. Oh right... A Dangerous Method. I have to admit that I am totally biased in favor of this film. Not only does it have a cast that I really love, but it is directed by one of my favorite directors, David Cronenberg. Having said that, I did really like this movie. I thought that it was sexy and interesting and was made even better by the fact that I had to read a lot of Freud for my Sexuality and Culture class last semester. Fassbender was great as always, and even though he was smoldering, he probably had the least interesting role. I really loved Viggo Mortensen as Freud. He was the only person who managed to bring some humor into the film and really gave an effortless performance. I understand why Cronenberg likes to work with him so much. I thought that Keira Knightley went a bit over the top playing the crazier Sabina in the beginning of the film, but she was much better as the recovering psychology student version of Sabina. The scenes with Fassbender and Knightley are VERY sexy, including (or especially) the scenes where he's not spanking her. I was bummed that Vincent Cassell's role was pretty small. I loved the scenes with him and Fassbender, where he helps Carl Jung develop the courage to start his affair with Sabina. My rating: 8/10

Spotlight On: Johnny Depp

He's been mentioned in a lot of my other blog posts, so now I thought that it was time to give Johnny Depp his own spotlight. He is one of my all-time favorite actors and has appeared in several of my favorite films. I just love the different types of roles that he has played. I love how he can play super serious roles, but also ones that are completely goofy. Say what you will about Johnny Depp, but one thing you could never say is that he is boring. He is an actor who, when I see his name attached to a project, makes me instantly want to go see it. He is also incredibly handsome, so that is a definite plus. Here are some of my favorite Johnny Depp films.

Nightmare on Elm Street

Depp's very first films role was in the classic Freddy Krueger film. While he is basically just playing the love interest role to the main character, he does have one of the most memorable NOES deaths...



Cry-Baby

This is a John Waters film, so naturally it is going to be over the top and cheesy as hell. But...that is why I like it I guess. Depp also looks mighty fine in that 50s bad boy look!



Edward Scissorhands

I love this movie! This was Depp's first film directed by Tim Burton, and is also one of my favorite movies. It is a sort of Beauty and the Beast type story, except here the beast has scissors for hands and is really sweet and softspoken.



Benny and Joon

This is a really cute movie where he plays a really eccentric guy who does sort of Charlie Chaplin/ Buster Keaton type routines. The scene at the park and the scene at the diner where he does the Charlie Chaplin roll dance are really cute scenes, but my favorite was always the part where he swings by Joon's window.



Ed Wood

This is another Burton/ Depp film that is also one of my personal favorites. It is about B-movie director Edward D. Wood Jr. and all of the shitty movies he made. I have never seen any of Wood's movies, but if they are anything like they are portrayed in this film, then I know that they are pretty bad.

Donnie Brasco

I don't think that I've seen this entire movie, but there is always a scene that sticks in my mind. It is the scene where Depp's character is explaining what "forget about it" means.



Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

My favorite thing about this movie is hearing Depp's inner monologue. His character is a paranoid, drugged out journalist, so everything he thinks is just twisted and funny. This is probably my favorite of Depp's not-Tim Burton films. It is just really odd and hilarious, and there aren't really any other films like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.



Sleepy Hollow

"It was a horseman, a dead one...headless!" I love Johnny Depp's portrayal of Icabod Crane. Apparently he wanted to add prosthetics to his face because Icabod is supposed to be ugly, but I am really glad that they didn't...



Blow

This is another movie where I have only seen bits and pieces when it was on TV, but I always remember the ending. The part where he gets arrested and can't pick up his daughter always makes me sad. Another really good scene is when he is making the recording for his father.



Pirates of the Caribbean

You don't see too many people getting Oscar nominations for playing pirates. I love Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow! I remember that I was so excited to see this movie when I was 13 that I read the novilization of the movie, and showed up to the theatre while the previous showing was still playing. And I wasn't disappointed! (With the first one anyway...)



Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Although noone will ever been Gene Wilder's portrayal of Willy Wonka, I still think that this one is worth mentioning. This is my least favorite of all the Depp/ Burton films, but I do think that its still a fun movie that has its good parts here and there.



Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

I love musicals and I love gore, so when you mix them up and add Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter you know I'm gonna love it! While he didn't do his own singing in Cry-Baby, he does do his own singing here, and I must say that he's pretty good!



Public Enemies

While this film wasn't my favorite as a whole, I did love Depp's performance as John Dillinger. My favorite scenes were the ones with him and Marion Cotillard.



Alice in Wonderland

It came as no surprise to me (or to anyone else I'd imagine) when I read that Depp was cast as the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland. He was the obvious choice really...

Upcoming:
He has two movies coming out within a year that I am really excited about. The first is The Rum Diary, which is another film version of a Hunter S. Thompson novel. The one that I am REALLY excited for, however, is Dark Shadows. It is directed by Tim Burton, and Depp plays a vampire! It also has greatest cast. Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green, Jackie Earle Haley, and more! It is going to be awesome!

Movie I Want To See: A Dangerous Method

I finally saw the trailer for this today and it looks amazing! The fact that it is a Cronenberg film alone is enough to make me want to see it, but it is also filled with actors that I just love! Michael Fassbender, Keira Knightley, Viggo Mortensen, AND Vincent Cassel!! Brilliant! Also, who would have thought that a movie about Sigmund Freud would look so sexy?!?

Spotlight On: Keira Knightley

This week's spotlight is on the lovely Keira Knightley. I have been huge fan of hers since I was like thirteen. I remember seeing her on a movie poster for Pirates of the Caribbean way before it came out and I just thought that she was gorgeous! Well, not only is she beautiful, but she is also a very talented actress, and one of my favorites working today. Here are some of my favorite films of hers that I have seen throughout the years.

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace

A lot of people don't know this, but one of Keira Knightley's first film roles was in the first Star Wars prequel. She played Sabe, the decoy for Natalie Portman's Queen Amidala. Apparently she was cast due to a strong resemblance to Portman. I really don't think that they look all that alike anymore, but when I saw this in theatres when I was nine, I couldn't tell the difference between when Portman was the queen and when Knightley was.



Princess of Thieves

When I was a kid I was a sucker for warrior girl movies, so I totally had this on VHS. In this film she plays Robin Hood's daughter. Interesting fact: Stephen Moyer from True Blood plays her love interest Price Philip. I actually did not know that until a few minutes ago when I was on IMDB. I haven't watched this movie in forever!



The Hole

In this movie, Knightley plays a popular high school girl who gets trapped in a bunker with three of her classmates. What is hilarious is that I actually own this movie. I remember I waited forever for it to come out on DVD in America because I really wanted to see it, so I just bought it. Its not the best movie in the world, but it's not terrible. Both Knightley and Thora Birch give good performances.



Doctor Zhivago

I actually saw this version before the one with Omar Sharif and Julie Christie. I  recorded episode one off of the TV when it was on PBS and I would watch it all the time. I didn't see the second episode until a year or so ago when I got it from Netflix. I always loved Knightley as Lara, the pretty Russian girl who is seduced by an older man then falls for a married poet/ doctor.



Bend It Like Beckham

In this film, Knightley plays a soccer player who has dreams of moving to America to play professionally. One of the very few films where she isn't playing the pretty girl. I just think its funny that theres even a part where she is mistaken for a guy...



Pirates of the Caribbean

Now onto the movie that made her famous. I remember that I was beyond excited for this movie to come out. We got to the theatre so early that we had to wait in the hallway, because the previous showing was still going on. My favorite scene in the movie has always been the part when Barbossa shows Elizabeth Swann the curse...



Love Actually

In Love Actually, she plays a character who finds out that her new husband's best friend is in love with her. She is in one of my favorite scenes in the whole movie, which you can find HERE

King Arthur

Knightley has always been great in period films, and this one is no exception. This movie has Guinevere as a warrior woman, which you don't see very often. Not one of my favorite films of hers, but it does have its good parts.



Domino

In this films she plays Domino Harvey, who was a real model turned bounty hunter, but this film is very very loosly based on her life. What this films is probably the best remembered for is Keira's awesome short haircut.



Pride and Prejudice

This is the film that got Keira her Oscar nomination. It was well deserved, because she was perfect as Elizabeth Bennett in this adaptation of the Jane Austen classic. My favorite scene has to be the part where she rejects Mr. Darcy's proposal.



Atonement

My goodness, the green dress that she wears in this film is absolutely gorgeous!! In this film she plays Cecilia, a woman in love with the beautiful James McAvoy. Unfortunately, her little sister accuses her love of raping a guest at their house, so they are torn apart. I think that her and McAvoy have such great chemistry in this film, and that library scene is SEXY AS HELL!!!



The Duchess

I remember seeing this movie in theatres and just bawling my eyes out during the scene where she has to give away her baby. I don't remember if I've seen it since, but now I really want to rent it. She gets to wear some amazing costumes in this film.



Never Let Me Go

I love this movie so much. Here she plays a clone named Ruth who was made so they could harvest her organs. In the book she was a rather unlikable character, and I think that Knightley does a great job in this film.



Upcoming:
I am super excited to see her in the upcoming David Cronenberg film A Dangerous Method. It also features Viggo Mortensen and the handsome Michael Fassbender.

She is also going to be in a film called Seeking a Friend For the End of the World with Steve Carell that is coming out next year.

Actors I'd Watch In Anything

These are the actors who, when I see their name attached to a movie project, make me go "oooh, I might have to go see that." They are the actors who have me watching a type of movie that I probably wouldn't see if it was any other actor or a movie that got terrible ratings. They are the actors who's pages I go to on Netflix because I want to watch their entire filmography. This list turned out a lot bigger than I thought it would, so I narrowed it down to just living and working actors, and its still pretty big. I didn't feel like ranking them, so I'm just going to put them in alphabetical order.

1. Asia Argento

While she is definitely not a mainstream actress, I just love Asia Argento. My favorite films of hers are probably the ones she did with her father, the great horror director Dario Argento, like Trauma and Stendhal Syndrome. There is just something about her that makes not that great films, like XXX, Marie Antoinette, and Land of the Dead, better. ( I actually own the last two for some reason...I suppose that Asia is that reason.) I've also found Catherine Breillat's films very interesting, so I was thrilled to find out about The Last Mistress, which I think that she was amazing in.

2. Drew Barrymore

I have loved Drew Barrymore ever since I was a little kid. I grew up watching E.T. and Babes in Toyland, and I still love her to this day. I was obsessed with Charlie's Angels when it first came out, and I even had all three dolls. Her scene was always my favorite in the movie Scream, and even though I'm not the biggest Adam Sandler fan, I love both movies that she did with him.  I think that she is so cute and charming and is really funny. I remember being really excited for Whip It! which is the first film she ever directed, and I really love that movie. I'm kind of disappointed that she doesn't have another movie coming out for like a year, but whatever it is, I'll probably go see it.

3. Cate Blanchett

How many actresses can play Queen Elizabeth, Katherine Hepburn, and Bob Dylan? I love Cate because she is so versatile. She is one of those actresses who makes really great role choices, and has been in so many great movies playing really great characters. She is probably one of the most beautiful actresses living today, and yet she got an Oscar nomination for playing a man in I'm Not There. To be honest, that movie wasn't my favorite, but the best parts were definitely the parts wtih Cate. I'm super excited to see her play Galadriel again in The Hobbit Parts 1 and 2, and the movie Hanna also looks really good.

4. Alexis Bledel

I am a huge Gilmore Girls fan so I love Alexis Bledel. She was the only reason I sat through both Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants movies and I actually kind of liked the movie Post Grad. Even though she is a gorgeous girl, she is kind of limited in the kind of roles she can get because of her voice and her baby face. I don't think anyone could ever take her seriously as a lawyer or a bank robber or anything like that. I am really excited to see her in The Conspirator though. I watched the trailer for that today and it actually looks pretty good. And even though Sleepaway Camp Reunion is probably going to be really stupid, I'll probably go see it anyways simply because Alexis is in it.

5. Helena Bonham Carter

I love love love Helena Bonham Carter. She is one of my favorite actresses. It's not just because I'm a Tim Burton fan. I love her in Frankenstein, Conversations with Other Women, Fight Club, Room With A View, and even though I'm not the biggest Harry Potter fan, I love her as Bellatrix Lestrange. It was because of her that I wanted to see The King's Speech when I first read about it being made. I had no idea it was going to be this huge Oscar winning film, I just wanted to see it because it had Helena in it. Even though I knew that Melissa Leo was going to win Best Supporting Actress, I was disappointed that Helena didn't win. I can't wait for Dark Shadows to come out! It has such a great cast...including Bonham Carter.

6. Jeff Bridges

Ever since the 1970s, Jeff Bridges has been in some amazing films! The Last Picture Show, Starman, Tron, King Kong, The Big Lebowski, and his Oscar winning role in Crazy Heart. He was in two movies that came out last year, Tron: Legacy and True Grit, and he was great in both of them. I actually wasn't that interesting in seeing Tron: Legacy until I saw that he was going to be in it. He was perfect as Rooster Cogburn, and I'm saying that as a fan of the original True Grit with John Wayne. Its just proof that Jeff Bridges + Coen Brothers = AWESOME! Hopefully he'll do more films with them in the future because that is something I'd like to see...

7. Abbie Cornish

She gave great performances in Somersault and Bright Star, and I expect nothing but good things from Abbie Cornish. She's in Sucker Punch, which I can not wait to see, and even though Limitless isn't my type of movie, I might go see it just because she is in it. There are two movies coming out that she is in called W.E. and The Girl, and I intend on seeing both of those. Even though I do get kind of annoyed with all the young hollywood actresses, I think that Abbie Cornish is someone who has actual talent and perhaps will be a future Oscar winner, but can also do action films like Sucker Punch! Can't wait til the 25th!!!!

8. Benicio Del Toro

I don't know about y'all, but I was super disappointed that he died right away in the movie Snatch. He was pretty much the reason that I watched that movie and he died right in the beginning! (Its a good movie with or without him, but still...) Anyways I loved Del Toro in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Sin City, Traffic, and in the remake of The Wolfman. I thought that he was an odd choice for Lawrence Talbot, but he proved me wrong and did an awesome job. I don't know if he is still playing Moe in a movie version of The Three Stooges, but if he does I am so going to see that. I'm also really excited to see The Iceman and Silence, both of which should be coming out in the next couple of years.

9. Johnny Depp

I thought that the third Pirates of the Carribean movie was terrible, but you know what...I'm still planning on seeing the fourth one. I was really excited to see The Tourist, but I never got a chance, so I'm going to have to wait for the DVD. I'm also really excited to see The Rum Diary and Dark Shadows. If you put Johnny Depp in a movie, I'm going to see it and thats that. Its not just because he is a sexy sexy man, but because I think that he is one of the greatest actors working today. He gets a lot of criticism for movies like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Alice in Wonderland, but I just love that he can play goofy, rediculous characters like that and then also play cool, calm John Dillinger.

10. Michael Fassbender

Fassbender came out of nowhere! He was great in supporting roles in 300 and Inglourious Basterds and now he is getting really cool roles left and right. I mean theres Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre, Magneto in X-Men: First Class, and roles in David Chronenberg's A Dangerous Method, Guy Richie's Excalibur, Shame with Carey Mulligan, and probably the coolest thing ever, a role in (the Alien Prequel?) Prometheus. I was pumped when Noomi Rapace was cast in that movie, but I was even more pumped when I read that Michael Fassbender was cast in that movie as well. I have no idea if it has anything to do with Alien or not, but I honestly don't really care because with that cast, the movie is going to be awesome!

11. James Franco

Okay, this dude carried a movie about a guy stuck under a rock. That can't be an easy task for any actor. I love James Franco because he can do super serious roles, but can also be in movies like Pineapple Express and the upcoming Your Highness. Also, he is damn FINE!!! He is one good looking man. I am super excited for The Iceman, The Broken Tower, and most of all, Rise of the Apes. That is a movie that I probably would have seen no matter who was cast, but when I heard that James Franco was in it I became super excited! So, I'll be able to watch another Planet of the Apes movie, and also see his gorgeous, gorgeous face. Win win scenario....

12. Zooey Deschanel

Messing up my alphabetical order, but I just thought of her right now. I remember I was super excited when I was first reading about (500) Days of Summer. Both because I love Zooey Deschanel and because it seemed like a perfect movie for her. I was totally right. I'm really excited to see both Your Highness and My Idiot Brother, and it is really nice to see Zooey move up from best friend roles. She was pretty much the only good thing about Failure to Launch, which was a terrible movie. Shes also a singer in the band She & Him, and I love their video for Why Do You Let Me Stay Here? It is probably the cutest thing Zooey has ever done.

13. Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie is probably best known for being the most beautiful woman on the face of the planet, but she is also a very talented actress. Her performance as Lisa Roe in Girl, Interrupted is one of my favorite movie performances ever. She was amazing in movies like Changeling, which made me sob like crazy, and she is probably the only bankable female action star with her roles in the Tomb Raider movies and Salt. I was so bummed that she didn't get cast as Catwoman in Batman, but I'm looking forward to see her as Malefiscent and Cleopatra. I'm also still hoping that she'll be cast as Ava Lord in Sin City 2 if that ever gets made!

14. Keira Knightley

For the longest time I thought that the first Pirates of the Carribean movie was the first movie I saw her in. In actuality, it was Star Wars Episode I when she played Sabe, Queen Amidala's decoy. After Pirates came out though, I just LOVED her! I bought a bunch of her movies like Princess of Thieves and The Hole, and I was super excited when Doctor Zhivago finally was on television. Since then its been great to see what a great career she has had. I wish that Last Night would hurry up and get an American release date because I really want to see it! She is also going to be in A Dangerous Method with Michael Fassbender, and play Tinker Bell in a TV movie about Peter Pan. Should be cool!

15. Chloe Moretz

As far as child actors go, they don't get much better than Chloe Moretz. In the past couple years she has been in awesome movies like (500) Days of Summer, Kick-Ass, and Let Me In. Let Me In, which was a remake of the (better) Swedish film Let The Right One In, could have been terrible, but Chloe, along with costars Kodi Smit-McPhee and Richard Atkins really made it a great remake. She has a buttload of movies coming out in the next few years, but the one I'm really excited for is seeing Chloe Moretz play Emily The Strange. Could you have more perfect casting? I'm also excited for Kick-Ass 2 because she was awesome as Hit Girl, and really made that movie.

16. Gary Oldman

Just like Cate Blanchett, Gary Oldman is a great example of a chameleon. He has had some amazing roles. Dracula, Sid Vicious, Beethoven, Lee Harvey Oswald, Drexl Spivey, Mr. Zorg, Sirius Black, and Commissioner Gordon in Christopher Nolan's Batman series. I just love Gary Oldman. I even saw that terrible movie The Unborn just because he was in it. Oldman also has a million movies coming out, but I am really excited to see him in Red Riding Hood. I am probably going to see that in the next couple of days, so I'm pumped. I also can't wait for The Dark Knight Rises, which will probably be the last time we see him as Commissioner Gordon.

17. Guy Pearce

Guy Pearce is probably one of the most underrated actors working today. He is amazing in everything I've seen him in, especially The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Memento, L.A. Confidential, and Factory Girl. With Helena Bonham Carter, he was also one of the only reasons I wanted to see The King's Speech. Now I'm just waiting for Don't Be Afraid of the Dark to come out. It was supposed to come out two months ago, but now its been delayed until August. LAME! No worries though, because Mildred Pierce is premiering at the end of the month on HBO. I don't have HBO, but that is what the internet is for. I really loved the movie Mildred Pierce with Joan Crawford, so this'll either be really good or terrible.

18. Natalie Portman

Lets hope Chloe Moretz will have a career like Natalie Portman. Starting with a great career as a child actress, she grew up to be an Oscar winner. I have loved a good majority of Natalie's movies, and shes had two good ones come out in the past year. She was funny and charming in No Strings Attached, and was absolutely amazing in Black Swan. She has two more movies coming out this year, Thor and Your Highness and I intend on seeing both of them. Wow, the movies Your Highness has three people on my list, I guess I'm definitely going to have to see that one, even it it does look a little rediculous.

19. Sam Worthington

Like Fassbender, Sam Worthington is another actor who seemed to come out of nowhere and started getting all of these cool roles in movies like Terminator: Salvation, Avatar, and Clash of the Titans. While he does make a great action star, he is also a talented actor, which he shows in the movie Somersault with Abbie Cornish. He's worked with a few of the actresses on my list. He's worked with Cornish, with Helena Bonham Carter in Terminator: Salvation, and in the upcoming Last Night with Keira Knightley. Seriously, is that movie ever coming out in this country? Well, if it doesn't I still have sequels to Avatar and Clash of the Titans to look forward to.


So there you have it, the 19 actors that I would watch in anything. I could make it an even 20, but I don't feel like it.