The Invasion, Nicole Kidman, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Muse

Well, I saw a couple of movies this weekend.

First up was The Invasion, starring Nicole Kidman and that dude playing James Bond these days, last name Craig. Here were my random impressions:

- This movie came in the mail by surprise. I had no idea it was on our queue. My G. loves suspense and thrillers, so that was cool with me

- I had no idea this was a remake or modern-retelling of the Invasion of the Body Snatchers movie

- I’m glad there were no pod people or whatever. The alien spores infecting people like a virus made more sense

- The news clips from the Shuttle Columbia accident, as well as the SARS epidemics, were cool

- The CGI news clip where Bush hugged Hugo Chavez was fantastic and hilarious

- Nicole Kidman and that Craig dude are good actors. Okay, I just looked it up — his name is Daniel Craig. There were other lesser known stars that I’ve seen in other movies who were good. Don’t ask me their names (Jeremy Northam — I know he’s in it but don’t ask me who he played), but if you ever see it or whatever you’ll recognize them

- Lots of edge-of-your-seat moments.

The next movie was The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Again, I was not expecting to receive this movie, and G. had forgotten it was on the queue. So, to be frank, neither of us expected anything from this movie. Here were our random impressions:

- Another case of low expectations leading to an enjoyable movie experience

- I should never doubt Brad Pitt … the guy picks great roles and movies to be in

- Cate Blanchett is no joke, bro. She is terrific in this generation-spanning movie. Who knew she could dance?

- The daughter reading to her mom is so annoying at one point in the movie — so self-absorbed. So emblematic of this modern era we live in. I mean your mom is dying and you gotta throw a hissy fit? Dang. Great characterization

- Loved the tie-ins to WWI

- Loved the presence of Hurricane Katrina as the movie built to a climax

- A modern-day fable

- A lesson on PERSPECTIVE

- Adults only movie — the PG-13 rating would have been an R rating 30 years ago. Glad we watched it after the kids went to bed

- So many great scenes … Benjamin’s father snapping in the beginning … his stepmom raising him as her own … the nursing home folks he grew up with.

Finally, I spent most of the day listening to Muse on their Youtube channel. Impressions:

- What a great band

- Damian was right — their songs live up to their great song titles

- An amalgam of everything I love in bands like Dream Theater and Nine Inch Nails

- The singer is fantastic

- They can do anything musically

- More proof American Radio stations have zero taste in music. I mean, this band has been around over a decade, and the first time I heard them on air was on an AM conservative talk radio show?!? Huh?!? How is that even possible?

Similar Posts:

• Praise for The Namesake
• Candidates for top 100 movies list
• Top Movies of the Decade
• Random Impressions: Valkyrie
• Thank God Matrix Trilogy Is Not Popular Anymore
• On Indiana Jones and The Incredible Hulk
• Classic 80’s movies like Wargames

Random Posts:

• Drudge style headline concerning Good News for Struggling Homeowners
• Driving in Bizarro World
• Chilean Earthquake Relief
• Reflections on the ceiling
• NPR: Millionaires and interest rates

Posted in movies | No Comments »