The One with Odyssey in IMAX

 

 

 

One of this year's summer blockbusters is The Odyssey. Although we saw it the day it first came out, Kiff had been longing to see the 70 mm cut on IMAX at Apple Cinema in Providence at Providence Place

 While the idea of taking an hour car ride to get to a theater wasn't fully tempting, we decided to make a go of it. Of course, getting tickets proved to be almost as arduous as Odysseus's voyage. They were sold out for weeks.

However, we found a date and time that would work - YAY - and made the trip down earlier today. It was worth the wait. A few things I noted about the film...

1. Figuring out concessions took a little longer than we realized - they have a self service set up - but it made sense.

2. It is clear that the popcorn is loaded and has been in there for a while. It was decent movie popcorn, but not warm. I would recommend the butter next time to warm it up.

3. The theater was amazing. The seats were comfier than normal for IMAX. However, like every IMAX I have been to, you could not see the seat numbers quite well.

4. The movie going experience was phenomenal. The trailer for DUNE prior to the movie - the only one they showed - echoed through you. And the scale of the screen made you feel like you were in the movie.

5. A fly did land on the projector which is something you don't usually see with the standard digital movies. That was a throwback moment.

Bonus - as we left and quickly got some food from the food court, Emmie and I were amazed that the DQ there served Orange Julius!!! Of course, we had to indulge...and it mostly like the old times.

 

 

The One With Project Hail Mary

 

 

Chiff and I went to see Project Hail Mary tonight. And, it was a great movie....much better than I expected.

 The premise behind the movie is that the sun is being "devoured" by someone unknown source (later to be identified as an alien-like amoeba. Ryan Gosling (against his will) and two other astronauts set out into space to help determine the cause of the problem, as well as explore another  star where the amoeba's are not having success eating a star.

After being "frozen" in a sleep-like state, Ryan's character wakes up, but the other two astronauts don't. He has no full recollection when he awakes as to where he is or why he is in space. However, how he got there and his mission are slowly revealed during carefully crafted flashbacks that provide relief during tense moments.

Along the way, Ryan's character encounter's an alien species that is not quite like the carbon based life forms of earth. They slowly but surely interact and find a way to save each other and the suns.

Amazing movie!!! It was fantastic to watch. 

 

The One With Marty Supreme

 

 

We saw the movie Marty Supreme. And, boy was it interesting. I know it is getting a lot of good publicity, and people have raved about Timothy Chalamet.

 

But, I had to tell you that I was not fully satisfied with this movie. First, it has very little to do with Ping Pong (which, in retrospect, is probably a good thing).  However, it might have made this movie a little more interesting.

 

My key problem was that Marty Supreme was rather unlikable. He created his own problem, literally dropped giant turds in the lives of others, and make his own situation worse. By the end of the movie, though I was hoping for the best, I was VERY irritated with him. And, of course, the use of the Tears for Fears song "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" to wrap things up did not help.

 

Timothy Chalamet did put in a good performance - kudos to him. But I was hardly rooting for the guy by the end.  

The One With the Muppet Christmas Carol

 

We decided to usher in the actual start to Christmas vacation in a different way this year. We went to see a movie. But, not  just any movie - Emmie's beloved "Muppet Christmas Carol"

 Now, truth be told, sometimes it is exhausting being home on December 23, when that is the day you get out of school for vacation (as it has for me for more than 45 years, 32 teaching). However, when it is held at a cool theater like the Cabot, it is always fun. And the fact that it was $1.00 tickets was an added bonus.

We enjoyed the movie - though there were a lot of kids - and then went to AB Burgers after for some dinner. The nice part is the burger place only had a few people in it, so service was quick.

All in all, a great way to start vacation. 

  

The One With Naked Gun

 

 

Earlier today, we saw the new Naked Gun movie. Full disclosure - I was not too sure how I would like it. Seeing Liam Neeson in a comedy was not what I typically have in mind as good movie fodder.

 

However, it turned out to be a great take. The movie follows the makeup of the originals. Liam Neeson is Frank Drebin Jr.....son of Leslie Nelson's character (I like how the actor's names are similar). The movie itself was the same type of "dumb funny" as the original.

 

 Bri and Kiff liked it, tho Bri, who recently saw the original, liked the OG better. Emmie gave it 5 out of 10. 

 

Overall, a good movie. 

The One With Eddington

 

 

Kiff and I decided to see the movie Eddington. Now, as I have come to figure out, sometimes Kiff finds interesting movies he enjoys. We've seen a few together. Some of them have turned out disturbing, others weird, and others fascinating. I will say I am not sure how to characterize this one....other than ZOINKS!!!

 The movie was quirky, annoying, odd, and captivating all at once. It took twists and turns - which I often see in movies with Joaquin Phoenix - and ended unexpectedly (and it took a little too long to get there).

The neat part was Kiff had a chat with two other guys when we left who were definitely moviephiles. You could tell they all found something endearing in the movie. As for me, well, I'm glad I saw it...even if I am not sure what I saw. 

The One With Mickey 17

 

 

Chiff and I traversed to see a rather odd movie, about clones and future wars. It was called Mickey 17, starring Robert Pattison as the title character (who plays several different versions and personalities of his cloned self).

The movie was set in the future and, to put it mildly, was odd. Every time a Mickey 17 dies, a new one, that has been cloned, is released. However, there end up being two Mickeys when one doesn't die as expected, creating a multitude of problems.

It was a neat idea, but really gets unraveled by the end. Still, I am glad I saw it. 

The One With the Nickel Boys

 

 

Today Kiff, Emmie, and I went to see the movie "The Nickel Boys" with Kiff's friends. Of course, we made sure to stay away from them to make sure not to be an embarrassment. They were interested in seeing it because they read the story in school that it was based on.

The movie was phenomenal. It told about life at a cruel boarding school for people accused to crimes....even ones that they might not necessarily have committed. The story was engaging, vivid, and based on a real story.

It has a surprising ending. It was haunting and amazing at the same time. It was also the first time I saw a movie at the Kendall Square Theater. It's a great place to see a movie.

The One with Nosferatu

 

 

Chiff has been waiting to see the updated version of the 1920s classic. So, we decided to see it tonight at 9:45 in Danvers.

 As a classic movie monster fan, I was very interested in seeing how the movie would turn out. And, it did not disappoint. Sure, it was no "classic," but the director paid homage to the original story as best I remember (I had only seen portions as a kid, but had read about it).

 The two things I remember about the original story was that Nosferatu was considered to be the vilest vampire. And that stayed true to in this movie, too. He literally tries to ruin everyone. Second, the original vampire was considered to be scary looking. Check, there, too. He was creepy.

The movie was intense, but solid. And the filmmakers used light amazingly, including what looked some black and white scenes at times in the movie. Overall, it was a great take.

 

The One With A Real Pain

 

 

 

Today Chiff and I went to the West Newton Cinema and saw the movie A Real Pain. Although it sounded good because Kiernan Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg were in it, I wasn't too sure what to expect. However, I knew it should be fun because we were going to the Cinema I hadn't been to in years.

When we got there, it was clear they had made some cosmetic changes over the years. Although the theater is old, it still has charm and is a better place to see a movie then when I was last their twenty years ago.

 Chiff and I had the theater essentially to ourselves - though there was another lady in our row. It was a sentimental and clever movie about two cousins who go to visit their grandmother's hometown in Poland as a way to celebrate her after she died.

Overall, it was well-written and well-paced. And, it was great to see Jennifer Grey in a movie again, too!

The One With Megalopolis

 

 

Wow. That is all I can say. On Thursday, Kiff and I went to see Megalopolis. He has been hoping to see it all year and I have been interested in it as well. Although he knew it was supposed to be a flop - he had heard that for months - he still wanted to see if. After all, he is a huge Francis Ford Copolla Fan.

 

However, nothing could truly prepare us for the wild ride we went on. The movie was marketed as a fable. While allegorical, I think it would be better advertised as a parable. But, then, it is really hard to say what the heck is going on in the story. Yikes! 

Of course, my favorite quote was when Kiff turned and said, "This is so bad!!!" Indeed. To make matters worse, for a short period of time, when of the best displays of Northern Lights to reach New England was visible while we were in the movie. Nice!!!

The One With Fly Me to the Moon

 

 

Today we got a chance to see a sneak preview of "Fly Me To The Moon" in the theater. The movie stars Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum. 

As a history and astronomy buff, I was looking forward to seeing it. But, I expected it to be a ho-hum affair. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that this movie was fun, energetic, and had a lot of twists and turns. It presented the idea of the "soundstage version" of the moon landing and where it might have come from.

Although it is based on the Apollo 11 mission - and the huge PR campaign for it - the overall plot is fictional. However, the characters are fun, realistic, and believable. And the movie was great. We all loved it - and it is definitely a surprise movie of the summer.

The One With Love Lies Bleeding

 

 

Today, was a divide and have fun day as Emmie and Bri went to Boston to see the Boston Ballet version of Cinderella. Kif and I ventured to Framingham AMC to see  Love Lies Bleeding. 

First and foremost, this was the first time we took Kif to the Framingham Theater. It brought back memories to me, which I shared with him - playing Area 51 with Prasad, waiting in line for Phantom Menace to start with people dressed up, and even seeing the Patriot there. 

Seeing Love Lies Bleeding is a new entry into my memories at the AMC. But, before I say something about the movie, it was fun to go to the theater because this is the first time I have been there since they did the Dine In theater. This is where they bring the food to you. That was pretty awesome!!!

The movie itself was pretty mediocre. Although entertaining - and a bit messed up in spots - it essentially told the story of a family business of selling weapons and drugs illegally, as well as problems that stem from it. The story line was a little ragged, though riveting in spots, but went a little overboard as roid rage took over one of the characters in an unbelievable way. This was followed by a jump the shark metaphor moment when two characters suddenly became giants (a moment which was alluded to by a Gulliver's Travel cartoon earlier in the movie).

Overall it was weird, but not bad. Emmie and Bri had a lot more fun we are told during their foray into Boston. But, it was a memorable day.

The One With My Big Fat Greek Wedding Three

 

 

 

Earlier today, we watched the third installment of the My Big Fat Greek Wedding series. We have been fans of this series as a family - especially Emmie and I - and we were looking forward to this sequel.

 

Overall, it was a cute and sentimental movie about some of the family reconnecting with family members in Greece for a reunion. Although the plot was a little quirky at the beginning, and the story definitely had some contrived moments for sentiment's sake, overall it was fun watch. Several of the cast members from the original two movies were not in this for one reason or another - some of which was sad because both father figures have since passed away. This added to the poignance of the movie. Emmie and I realized that, when each movie came out - the wedding one, the kids growing up and parents growing older, and now loss of parents one - we were able to relate to the movie because we were going through similar things.

What is nice about this series is it tries to be light and jovial, but remind you about the ups and downs, trials and tribulations of life. As a result, it is not a true escape, but a movie that makes you realize that life is something we all go through together.

The One With Oppenheimer

 

 

Today, we saw the movie Oppenheimer. It is one that I had been looking forward to for some time...and one that was on my list of must sees.

And needless to say, it did not disappoint. Of course, Kiff insisted we see it in the IMAX theater. While it was worth it - spectacle wise - seat wise it was a little tight.

 But, that was the only complaint. The movie was simply magnificent. It really had two stories going on - Oppenheimer creating the atomic bomb with the other scientists as part of the Manhattan Project and Oppenheimer defending himself from Lewis Strauss, later on, during the height of the second red scare.

 It was a little long, but did not drag, and really showed the power of what was happening at the time. It is definitely not just a movie, but the embodiment of an important piece of history.

The One With Father's Day

 

 

 

Today was Father's Day 2023....and boy was it busy...

 

It started with coffee and cinnamon rolls in the morning, which was nice.

Then, we went to the Yacht Club for breakfast buffet.

We followed up by going strawberry picking at Cider Hill....it was very muddy.

After, we went to see The Flash at the movies. It was great and paid awesome homage to DC heroes from the past.

Then we came home and took a walk.

 

 It was an awesome and tiring day!!

The One With Our Christmas Movie List

 

Here are the Christmas movies we watched this year:

 

• Spirited (good movie)

• Christmas Story Sequel (the third one, came out this year, was excellent, though bittersweet)

• Christmas Story

• Its A Wonderful Life (it was 75th anniversary)

• Christmas Vacation

• Santa Clause

• Bad Mom's Christmas

• Daddy's Home

• Just Friends

• Miracle on 34th Street (which we watched on Thanksgiving).

 

 

The One With Top Gun Maverick

 

Yesterday (June 5), Bri, Kiff, Emmie, and I went to one of those once-in-a-lifetime movie events. We went to see the sequel to the surprise 1986 epic Top Gun. We saw Top Gun: Maverick, a movie that was 12 years in the making.

 What a fantastic movie. I was not too sure what to expect. Of course, as a huge fan of the OG movie - I will watch it any time its on - I knew I'd like it. But WOW. It was AMAZING. Just as good as the first one.

 To start the weekend off right, we watched the original movie on Friday. Although Bri had seen it, Kiff had not paid much attention to it. He of course enjoyed it thoroughly.

So, when we went to see it yesterday, it was certainly a family event. It had action, adventure, humor, and a cameo from Val Kilmer (so cool!). And, Tim Cruise looks pretty great for his age. And it is amazing how Footloose, turned Fantastic Four, turned Goose Jr. - Miles Teller - captures the part and the heart of the audience.

It is a great, feel good movie and one movie event I am proud to have attended.

The One With the New Batman

 

Today, we went to the Methuen AMC (our local theater was too crowded) to see the latest installment of the Batman movie series starring Robert Pattinson.

I was not too sure what to expect. I have not seen too many of the more recent Batmans since the run of actors playing them continued to change. I did see Christian Bale in a portion of one and Ben Affleck in League of Justice. They both did okay, but I was not too sure what to expect.

However, I have to admit that I was more than impressed with the movie. In fact, it might be one of my top three favorites in the series (the other two being the first two Michael Keaton ones). Now, I must admit that Bri and I were late to the movie (Emmie and Kiff were already there). Bri was a little under the weather, but she was able to overcome it and we were able to get to the movie in time for the second half of it.

Normally, I might be confused, but the plot was clear and fluid and I was able to infer what had happened prior to it (with gaps I am sure). The acting was solid, the story line engaging, and the characters were appealing. There was the birth of so many interesting characters here, including Catwoman (played by Lenny Kravitz and Lisa Bonet's daughter - and Aquaman's stepdaughter), Penguin, the Riddler, and - at the end - the Joker.

It definitely had a dark undertone, but none of the harsh DC Batman darkness that has prevailed most of the movies. This movie was great....and I am so glad we went.

The One with the Rise of Skywalker

Two days ago, we saw the Rise of Skywalker. This is the culmination of the recent three sequel trilogy to the original Star Wars.

It is being billed as the end of the Skywalker saga (which is hard to believe because it has endured for 42 years). However, at the end, it made it readily apparent that the Skywalker saga was clearly ready to continue whenever Lucasfilm might decide to extend the series.

It was a fitting last film in the installment. It definitely tried to do a lot to wrap it up - a far cry from Revenge of the Sith, or Return of the Jedi. But, it worked on many levels and was exciting in its own right.

It was also great to see Lando Calrissian back.


Do I think it will be the last Star Wars movie? Never...but it wouldn't surprise me if it takes a few years for a new trilogy to be presented. Besides, how many times can the Dark Side keep gaining the upper hand over the Force!