Movies

A while back we watched The Kingdom (2007,R) (ScreenIt! Review).  From ScreenIt!:

Four FBI agents travel to Saudi Arabia without permission to investigate a coordinated attack and multiple bombing that killed their comrade.

I remember watching this one in the middle of a long run...10 miles or something like that.  I enjoyed it.

I give it 3 out of 5.

Last September I watched part of Transformers (2007,PG-13) (ScreenIt! Review).  From ScreenIt!:

Various people must deal with shape-shifting, extraterrestrial robots that have arrived on Earth to battle over a powerful device that could mean the end of humankind.

I say that I watched part of it because this was one of the rare occasions when I stopped watching a movie in the middle because I thought it was so bad.  I wasn't into Transformers as a kid, so maybe that was part of it...and the voices are just so goofy.

I give it 1 out of 5.

Back in September we watched Superbad (2007,R) (ScreenIt! Review).  From ScreenIt!:

Three high school seniors set out to buy liquor for a big party where they hope it will help lower the inhibitions of the girls in which they're interested.

I remember someone telling me that she didn't enjoy Knocked Up that much because it was just too crude.  I didn't feel that way about Knocked Up but did with Superbad...funny, but just too crude.  I give it 3 out of 5.

Tonight we watched Fireproof (2008,PG) (ScreenIt! Review).  From ScreenIt!:

A firefighter begins an experimental, 40-day program to try to save his marriage.

Last weekend small groups at our church started the associated 6-week study.  We missed the screening of the film because we were in D.C., so we caught up tonight.

Let me first say that Christian multimedia has come a long way.  That doesn't mean this was a masterpiece, but it was decent.  It reminded me more of a TV movie than one for the theaters, but that's OK.  I thought it was strongest in it's dead-pan, humorous bits.  Caleb's dad's description of God's holiness was somehow particularly effective too.  With divorce as prevalent as it is, this is obviously a worthwhile subject.  We thought it was a little funny that the task of salvaging the marriage appeared to be entirely on Caleb's shoulders.  I also thought it was a bit strange that Caleb seemed to have so many positive influences while Catherine apparently had none (until the white-haired lady got all up in her business).  The black female characters were a bit too one dimensional ("Uh huhhhh! Oh no he dit-unt!"), but at least Caleb's pal at work, Michael, was strong.

I give it 4 out of 5 for effort.

For family movie night this week we watched Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves (1997,PG) (ScreenIt! Review).  From ScreenIt!:

Two sets of parents are accidentally shrunk to miniature sizes and watch as their kids have a party.

This one, of course, doesn't take any unexpected turns...but it's enjoyable enough.  Lisa was shocked when I told her it was from 1997.  It seems like an earlier vintage.  Or maybe we're getting old.

I give it 3 out of 5.