2007 - Movies

I just can't resist to do some kind of end of the year summary. Over the next couple of days I'll offer some thoughts on the year that was 2007. I thought I would start with movies. Once upon a time I was the kind of guy who could walk up to a movie theater and realize that I had seen almost everything there. But things have changed. First, I have two kids. This definitely cuts down on having a couple of hours free in the evening. Second, I'd like to think I'm more discerning. And third, I can't help but believe that the choices just aren't what they once were. (Maybe reasons two and three have something to do with each other.) I like movies that stick with me after I'm done. I want to be able to think about it for a little while. These kinds of movies seem fewer and further between these days.

2007 was the year of the adoption movie. Juno and Bella were both about girls who decided not to get an abortion. Bella was a great movie. I haven't enjoyed a movie going experience as much in a long time. Juno was well made and well acted. It was definitely an honest portrayal of the prevailing understanding of sex and relationships among high school students. Parents, Juno is probably a pretty accurate picture of what your kids face every day in a public high school. It ain't pretty. I'm not really cool enough (or weird enough) to watch many foreign movies but The Italian was another movie I enjoyed. This one is about adoption from a little different angle. And it was made in Russia not Italy.

As far as the blockbusters go, I really enjoyed I am Legend and Harry Potter 5. It really bothers me how much I enjoyed watching people steal in Ocean's 13(which was way, way better than Ocean's 12). I was super disappointed in Spider Man III. Not only was I bored but I was actually a little annoyed by the late introduction of a new super villain. It was like they got to the end of shooting the movie and realized that the Sand Man just wasn't going to contribute enough to the final showdown. I also saw Enchanted...not much to say about that one.

Wow. That's it. I really didn't see a lot of new movies this year. I'm looking forward to Prince Caspian this summer. Hopefully I'll see something else before then.