Randy and I saw the movie The Bourne Ultimatum yesterday. Yes, I realize it came out a month-and-a-half ago. Yes, before we had a baby, I would have been in the theater on opening night. Yes, it is embarassing that my older sister and my parents(!) all saw this movie before I did. That aside, The Bourne Ultimatum is a fantastic action film and a well-done bookend to the trilogy.

What may surprise you is that I am a Robert Ludlum fan. He not only penned the original Bourne books (new books in the Bourne series have been released but were written by another author) but Ludlum also wrote eighteen other novels, all of which were New York Times best sellers. The movies go far afield from the books as the books’ plots are too complicated to translate into 2-hour films, but the movie adaptations have been interesting in their own right.

Besides the great actions sequences, what captures my imagination with the Bourne movies’ storyline is Jason Bourne’s desire to not only know who he is but why he is. I believe they are the most basic questions for every human being and it’s somehow reassuring to see Jason Bourne struggling with the same questions and getting those questions answered.

According to April
Bourne films: Best Action Film Trilogy
Bourne books: Must-Reads for Spy Novel Fans

I remember a time in junior high when I was reading a lot of Stephen King novels. Anytime I would find myself with nothing to do, I would write these long narratives describing the little detais of my life. However, I never imagined someone else narrating my life like some omniscient third-party.
In “Stranger Than Fiction,” Will Ferrell plays Harold Crick, an I.R.S. auditor who’s been living quietly a mundane existence until he starts to hear a woman’s voice, supplied by Emma Thompson, narrating his life.
Although this is a fantasy, drama and comedy rolled into one, it is a sweet tale of morality and responsibility. It’s about what small things make life worthwhile, how our choices affect other people and how life is too short to waste a lot of time. Although I’ve always believed that comedy is more difficult than drama, Ferrell shows that he has dramatic potential, playing Crick with a believable earnestness and candor. It’s amazing that a good film like this ever got made as it very smart and creative, unlike much of the drivel and re-hash that has come to theatres this season (e.g., “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause“). In the words of Larry the Cucumber, “I laughed. I cried. It moved me.” This film is definitely worth the suspension of disbelief.

Finally, a James Bond film that I would enjoy even if it weren’t a James Bond film. Nothing against the twenty+ other films (depending on if one counts the unofficial Bond films) but although they were all entertaining and full of visual appeal (e.g., Sean Connery) I can’t honestly say I ever was interested in the characters or storylines. There were a few elements I knew I could count on: an over-the-top opening sequence, Bond flirting with and/or bedding a bad girl, and silly quips and/or character names. With these things, I would work harder to suspend my disbelief to buy into the film’s fantasy. Thoughtfully, “Casino Royale” pays homage to the franchise but doesn’t follow exactly in its footsteps. Although it is a Bond film, its back to basics action and storyline are in line with more recent spy films such as the “Bourne Identity” series.
Bond is an interesting character in this script. If Timothy Dalton had the opportunity to play this incarnation of Bond with this script, perhaps his tenure may have been extended. Although I have enjoyed Pierce Brosnan as Bond, I appreciate the grittiness that Dalton and now Daniel Craig have brought to the role. If all I wanted was another bigger-is-better action film, I would rent “Mission: Impossible III,” or worse yet “Terminator III,” and so seeing the balance of action and some character development is refreshing. Royale’s Bond is still mysterious, but less of a caricature and more engaging, thanks to both Craig’s performance and good source material.
I could go on and on about the various details that everyone else will cover like casting choices and plotlines, but suffice it to say, this is my favorite Bond film so far. This is due to the fact that I would have liked this film without the name of James Bond, the vodka martinis or M. It’s a film that can stand on its own instead of relying on its predecessors — ironic as this film is technically a prequel and, in the Bond timeline, predates them all.

My wonderful husband surprised me with “LEGO™ Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy” for our Gamecube. I’ve been anticipating this game for a while now so it was pretty exciting to unwrap it. We’ve just begun to work our way through but this game is just as fun as the first LEGO™ Star Wars game. Sure, the cuteness factor makes the play very appealing but although it has been rated as appropriate for all ages, the game is still challenging even to adults. The problem-solving aspect can be pretty tough.
I have become partial to being Chewbacca as we make our way through the game. Besides being able to hop very high and being a crack shot with his blaster, Chewie will also rip the LEGO™ arms off of adversaries. It sounds violent but when you see a little LEGO™ wookie jump on the chest of an Imperial Stormtrooper and pull his plastic arms off, it’s much more on the side of amusing than shocking. They are toys after all.
Having recently received this game as well as the DVDs for season two of “Lost” from Randy, I now have big holes on my Christmas wish list. I’m sure it won’t be too hard to come up with something new.

Tonight I’ll be part of the one billion people to watch the Academy Awards® although afterwards I’ll probably wonder want those 3+ hours of my life back. To be honest, I haven’t seen any of the films up for the big awards this year, partly out of time constraints and partly out of disinterest. Back in the day, I used to see at least one movie in a theater a week but nowadays, there isn’t much on the big screen that will pull me in.
I do like the Oscars® though. I’ve heard that people who will walk the red carpet will spend more time and energy picking out what to wear for this event than they will in choosing their wedding apparel. It’s shallow, but it’s fun to see what everyone is wearing and whom they are with. Although I love the glamour, I miss the crazy fashion choices of people like Cher who actually give us something to talk about the next day over the water cooler.
We always watched these award shows when I was growing up. They were big family events somehow. I’d make snacks like apples and cheese or a plate of nachos and we’d all discuss the nominees and presenters. My dad would tease us for wasting our time on these shows, but somehow he’d always be in our rec room watching with us. There wasn’t usually anything too controversial and it was family fare, like the Miss Universe® pageant.
So, tonight’s viewing will be part nostalgia mixed with curiosity to see what John Stewart will say and do as host. I’m just looking for a little light entertainment. I’ll leave the search for scandal and poor fashion choices to the tabloids and Razzies.
My Awards
Consistently Best Dressed on the Red Carpet: Nicole Kidman
Strangest Red Carpet Correspondent: Isaac Mizrahi
Best Red Carpet Correspondent: Joan Rivers
Most Anticipated Nominee Tonight: George Clooney
Best Oscar Host: Johnny Carson
Presenter Least Likely to Wear Something Interesting: Meryl Streep
Oddest Choice for Presenter: Will Ferrell

We just saw the latest offering of vampire films by Hollywood: “Underworld: Evolution” directed by Len Wiseman. Although not the best of vampire films, I was amazed at the sheer amount of fake blood that this production must have purchased. Is that a recommendation? Only if you are a big fan of the genre and don’t mind lots of violence. Otherwise, I’d say go and see “Chicken Little” — much more of an overall feel-good movie.
I remember the first vampire film I ever saw. It was one of the several Dracula films from the 1970s starring Christopher Lee. In truth, I don’t remember much about the film but I can tell you that when my parents sent me to bed, I dug out a small wooden cross, put it on a string and wore it around my neck that night and for several nights following.
Even after that traumatic introduction, over the years I’ve been of a fan of the classic Dracula story as well as the reinventions of the genre. At first it was probably the allure of living forever that made a vampire’s life fascinating. I believe that during my teen years, it was the tragedy and loneliness of a vampire’s life that resonated with me — one of my favorite songs from that time is “Moon Over Bourbon Street” by Sting. More recently, I find myself intrigued how the vampire legend will be recreated and retold (a lá Vlad the Impaler).
As an exercise to appease my own curiosity (after all, what else is a post in a blog?), here is a list of movies with at least one vampire that I recall having seen over the years (along with some highlighted favorites). There are some gaping holes in this list but a girl only has so much time and there are just too many movies to catch up on for now. Still, if I’ve missed something worthwhile, please let me know.
Van Helsing (2004)
Blade: Trinity (2004)
Underworld (2003)
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)
Queen of the Damned (2002)
Blade II (2002)
Dracula 2000 (2000)
Blade (1998)
Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995)
Interview with the Vampire (1994)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)
Vampire’s Kiss (1989)
My Best Friend Is a Vampire (1988)
The Lost Boys (1987)
Lifeforce (1985)
Transylvania 6-5000 (1985)
The Hunger (1983)
The Night Stalker (1972)
Count Dracula (1970)
Bud Abbott Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)
Dracula (1931)
Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922)

Creepiest: The silent classic “Nosferatu” whose evil Count Orlok looked as if he had more in common with orcs and goblins than vampires.
Best Reinvention of Vampire Origin: “Dracula 2000” takes a creative twist and we find that Dracula is one of the most tragic of fallen souls: Judas Iscariot.
Best Dracula: Coppola’s “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” stars the brilliant character actor Gary Oldman who captures the desperation and rage of Stoker’s tragic antihero.
Coolest Vampire Hybrid: The Reaper vampires in “Blade II” are downright terrifying. The amazing special effects make them look completely real.
Most Obvious Casting Choice: As a human being, David Bowie is creepy, so I thought it brilliant of Tony Scott to cast him as a vampire in “The Hunger.”
Best Use of Fake Blood: This was a tough one but it has to be the unbelievably ridiculous spray of blood that occurs when Lucy is “saved” from her exsistence as a vampire in “Dracula: Dead and Loving It,“a wonderful Mel Brooks moment.

We just got home from finally going to see “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.” Yeah, yeah, normally we see such movies on opening day, but hey, we were moving and getting ready for the holidays and Randy was starting a new job. Anyhow, I am thankful that we were able to see it on the big screen (although not the $8.50 price tag. I miss the $6.00 shows back in Kentucky in a much nicer, newer theatre nonetheless).
Granted, I was predisposed to like this film as I devoured the Chronicles as a youth, hoping to find a magical wardrobe someday. No, this film wasn’t the epic that the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy was but neither were the books. They’re for kids, right? I never did make it through “The Hobbit” when I was young as I couldn’t wade through the description of a hobbit’s home that seemed to take up the first third of the book (I know it didn’t but sure felt that way). The Chronicles were accessible to me, taking me to a magical place where animals could speak and children could be kings and queens .
The movie adaptation of “The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe” is good, although a bit plodding in parts. Sadly, the performances from the children are a bit overwrought but they are passable. Tilda Swinton as the White Witch was brilliant though as she is quite riveting and fearsome especially when she is wielding her two swords. I was concerned that she would cross the line and become too cold and calculating a lá Star Trek’s Borg Queen, but Swinton’s turn on the Witch provided a ferocity and willpower I believe not conveyed by Lewis, but wonderful onscreen.
My brother-in-law’s comment to me about this film was that the scene at the Stone Table was more difficult to watch than its counterpart in “The Passion of the Christ.” Having not seen the Narnia film yet, I didn’t know what to make of this as all I could recall from our viewing of “The Passion of the Christ” was the sniffing and sobbing from the crowd that surrounded us. Admittedly, I was not moved to tears although I was deeply affected by Mel Gibson’s interpretation. I must agree with my brother-in-law. Albeit a simplified analogy, it was much more troubling to me in Narnia. I can’t put my finger on exactly why quite yet but I’ll try to reflect on that in the future.
I had a dream the other night, before we even decided to finally see this film, where Randy and I were approached by a lion. It was wounded and Randy magically treated it (the way things happen in dreams). The most amazing part was when when the lion was better I was able to walk up to him and bury my face in his thick mane and put my arms around his enormous neck and shoulders. Perhaps in heaven I will be able to realize my dream and mount the back of that great lion and run across the hillsides just like Susan and Lucy. Oh, for those moments, heaven, come quickly.

I’ve been a fan of the emperor penguin since I did a report on them for a marine biology class I took in high school, so Randy and I went to see “March of the Penguins” last night. Not surprisingly, we were the only people in our town of 5,000 watching a 7:00 p.m. show of a documentary on the evening of the first day back to school. It was nice in some ways as were able to carry on a conversation although it felt so foreign to speak while in a movie theatre, mostly we whispered to one another.

The documentary is a lovely film highlighting the communal and monogamous culture of the penguins. Morgan Freeman narrates the American version of the film which melds nicely with the mellifluous music by Alex Wurman. The harsh conditions of Antarctica look majestic and awe inspiring and it is amazing to realize that these birds brave the extreme weather on the ice for several months a year by huddling together for warmth and without any food. The “love story” aspect of the mating and domestic life of the penguins that is highlighted by the narration is a bit syrupy sweet although one can’t help but be moved when a mother penguin cries out when she realizes that her chick has died from exposure. Although the anthropomorphizing of the penguins in the film’s narration is a little too heavy-handed, one can still take a lesson on determination and self-sacrifice from these dignified-looking birds .

I’m looking forward to the “extras” that I hope will be on the DVD release. The filmmakers spent a year on Antarctica to record this documentary. More about their firsthand experiences in the bitter conditions as well as personal insights would be fascinating.

You can see some clips and stills from the film at its official website or better yet, go and see “March of the Penguins” on the big screen in your local theatre. The only thing that would have been better is if they had filmed it for IMAX.

David Goyer (writer of the “Blade” franchise) and Christopher Nolan (writer and director of the brilliant film “Memento”) don’t patronize the audience with pat answers or glib lines. They don’t constantly rush off to the big fight and chase scenes in lieu of furthering the story or developing characters. They have given us back our intimate connection with the Dark Knight, stripping away the hype and latex. He is a man who acknowledges his fear and loss, and sees the world as a place worth saving. Our hope is renewed.