Entertainment

This Films is Not Yet Rated (2006,NR) was another film watched during a few days of bachelorhood.  The filmmaker examines the MPAA's rating system and its lack of transparency.  One of the more interesting aspects of the film is how he hires a private investigator to determine the identities of the ratings and appeals board members.  The MPAA is certainly providing a useful service with its rating system, but it also seems like there should be more transparency and that the ratings should be applied with more consistency.

I enjoyed this film.  I give it 4 out of 5.

Another film watched during a few recent days of bachelorhood was Black Snake Moan (2007,R) (ScreenIt! Review).  From ScreenIt!:

When a farmer finds a young white woman beaten and unconscious, he sets out to save her from herself, by chaining her to his radiator so she must stop seeking solace in sex with strangers.

I really didn't know what to expect from this one because all I had seen was a bizarre trailer in the theater one of the few times that I had been there in the last few years...but I was pleasantly surprised.  I enjoyed it.

I give it 4 out of 5.

Another film watched during a recent few days of bachelorhood was X-Men: The Last Stand (2006,PG-13) (ScreenIt! Review).  From ScreenIt!:

A group of superhero mutants battles other mutants who are upset about a cure that's been developed to turn all of them back into regular humans.

It was OK.  I felt like it had been a little too long since I'd seen the previous two and so was missing some of the back-story.  I was kind of surprised that there would be a last stand so soon, but I see now that there are several "origins" films planned.

I give it 3 out of 5.

During a few days of bachelorhood several weeks back I watched 300 (2007,R) (ScreenIt! Review).  From ScreenIt!:

A Spartan king leads his small, but fierce army into battle against the immense invading Persian army.

I liked it OK.  Didn't care for all of the violence, but what could I expect given the subject matter?  I'm curious about which aspects are realistic.  Wikipedia has some discussion of that subject.

I give it 3 out of 5.

Tonight we finished watching The Constant Gardener (2005,R) (ScreenIt! Review).  From ScreenIt!:

A British diplomat learns about his social activist wife as he tries to find out about her murder and who's responsible for it.

I know it received some critical acclaim, but I thought it was kind of a dud.  I give it 3 out of 5.