My Northwoods Viewing Habits

Media I had never seen before (or don’t remember seeing) before I saw ‘em these past few months in the Northwoods:

• BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT – Classic Summertime with the kids movie experience.  A chock-full action-packed bonanza which could have done without the whole Malaysian connection for a tighter pull and more even action-drama balance.  As is, exhaustingly go, go, go.
• ROBOCOP – Lived up to expectations.
• BATTLESTAR GALACTICA – ENTIRE SERIES THROUGH SEASON 4.0 – Frackin’ amazing.
• ALONG CAME POLLY – Pointless.
• PLANET OF THE APES – Hyper sexual Charleton Heston is creepy.
• BEING THERE – Cute, though message-y.
• CASTLES OF TRANSYLVANIA – More creepy the hyper sexual Charleton Heston.  In fact, one of the creepiest things I’ve ever seen.  Watched it with my grandparents on All Hallow’s eve.
• THE CANTERVILLE GHOST – Immensely enjoyable, nice twist on socio-economic relationship musings.
• CHUCK NORRIS WALMART TRIOLOGY – Speaks for itself, though for some reason, these are the only films my mother can stay awake through their entirety when viewed at home.
• HAROLD AND KUMAR ESCAPE FROM GUANTANAMO BAY – Amusing.
• SUPERBAD – I enjoyed the ending.
• 21 – I suspect serious derivations from a book much beloved by a certain ex-coworker.
• ENCOUNTERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD – Snobby but darkly humorous in that Herzog way.
• ALFRED HITCHCOCK ANTHOLOGY – Never ceases in its wonderment.
• IRON MAN – One of the most highly entertaining superhero flicks I’ve seen.
• CHAPELLE SHOW SECOND SEASON – Wow.
• BACK TO SCHOOL – Stupid but entertaining, worth the dumb gags for the Vietnam scene.
• BAGDAD CAFE – Weird but I liked it.  Spawned a rash of late-night Mojave dreams.
• GRAN TORINO – Bizarre but entertaining.
• VEGAS VACATION – I didn’t laugh once.
• ROBIN HOOD MEN IN TIGHTS – I laughed often.
• LA DOLCE VITA – Strange and beautiful.  The costumes and scenery are truly awesome.
• JOE DIRT – I laughed once or twice.  I expected more.
• FREEDOM WRITERS – Pander-y.
• PERSEPOLIS – Whoa.
• THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD – I love westerns so I enjoyed the western-y of this but beyond that, it was sort of boring.
• STARDUST – Very entertaining, despite Claire Danes’ appearance.
• THE PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO – I was entertained but missed the hoopla.  Realistic ending.
• CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD – Obviously the writing is a-one but all in all, I was sort of annoyed by the whole bit.
• SYRIANA – I’d still mack on George Clooney, even if he was a killer, overweight and had a weird beard.
• PERSUASION – Chick flick.  Me like.
• SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS 2 – Bouncy and colorful.  Nice performances.
• TUMBLEWEEDS – I got a strange feeling of deja vu because I’m pretty sure I’ve seen the last part of this movie before.  All in all, a delightful gem with great acting and writing.
• THE BOURNE IDENTITY – I never thought of myself as an overly Matt Damon kind of person but my god, the muscular proportions on that man.  I thoroughly enjoyed this film.
• THE CRYING GAME – So much more than I thought, even though, surely, the spoiler wasn’t really a spoiler after so many years.  Tame by todays standards but I can see how it must have been totally shocking way back when.  That said, I was able to appreciate the mechanics of story telling in full and I must say, very well done.
• MAN PUSH CART – Quite captivating but baffling extras.

Three of the above advance to my permanent Bibliothek.