Summer Movies - What Are You Excited to See?

I'm so far behind in my movie viewing, it isn't even funny. But I'd like to change that, and see at least a few flicks during the summer blockbuster season. So my question is - what movie are you looking forward to seeing? Or maybe more specifically, what movies should *I* be excited about? What's coming up that really should be seen on the big screen?

Help a girl out! :)

Monday Movie Musings - Changes at IHMTD

Okay, it's not really a movie, but the changes being chatted about concerning new fall FOX comedy I Hate My Teenage Daughter have been on my mind lately.

First, what was already the latest premiere of the fall season has been pushed back even later, to November 30. The first premiere date, November 23, didn't make a whole lot of sense - it's the day before Thanksgiving, and you wouldn't expect it to get much attention (or ratings) then. But a week later pushes it even closer to the winter hiatus season. How many episodes will actually be shown before they go to reruns or holiday specials? At this point, they should just call it a midseason replacement and go with a January premiere.

Then comes the news that they're already retooling the show (which, to be honest, was one of the things I crossed my fingers for when I first heard they were premiering so late in the first place). When I attended the filming, I thought it was funny, but definitely a traditional sitcom-style show (not a bad thing, but it is what it is). And I was very impressed with the cast - the talent there was impressive.

But the show has been eviscerated by the critics. Absolutely shredded. And my hope was that the added time before the show premiered would give them an opportunity to change things up, maybe bring the show and script up to the level of the performers.

So word is (in the new issue of Entertainment Weekly) that they've done some reshoots that make them more confident in the show. The problem? The example given is that Eric's character, Matt, was changed to seem "less pathetic".

Okay. I have no issue with Eric being given more material, or his character switched up. But of all the negative reviews of the show (and believe me, I've read almost all of them -yeah, I'm a little invested in IHMTD succeeding), not one of them said anything negative about Eric or his performance. NOTHING. It's all about the parenting fail by the female characters, or the tone of the show, or the laugh track - but not a single critic has said, "I hated the character of Matt and it killed the show for me."

So, uhm, I really hope that's just one of the changes, and they've done other adjustments to the pilot to help it be successful - and prove the critics wrong. Even if it does start so late in the year.

Monday Movie Musings - Glee 3D

So this weekend I took the kids to see Glee 3D, which we'd talked about seeing when it came out but were either gone or busy for most of that first week. Of course, now it's pretty much gone from theaters, so we had to drive an hour to one of only three theaters in a 100 mile radius to still be showing it.

I'll spare you my usual "I hate 3D" rant, which I'm sure you'll appreciate. :)

(But honestly, I think the movie would have been just as enjoyable - maybe more - if it had been regular 2D style.)

Overall, we enjoyed the film, though the kids wanted to know why the Klaine skit was barely shown, and midkid joked that it was too bad Blaine had no furniture to climb on.

We all agreed that since the concert series never made it to our neck of the woods, this was a worthy fill-in.

Monday Movie Musings - Harry Potter 7.2

So, I finally got to see the last Harry Potter movie, and loved, loved, loved it! I thought the acting was superb, the cinematography excellent, and the entire experience moving and enjoyable.

I also saw it in glorious 2-D, since 3-D glasses give me a massive headache. Luckily, my kids are indifferent to the 2-vs-3 D debate, and were just happy to see the movie while it was still in theaters. (We're still in hot water for missing Pirates of the Caribbean 4, despite the negative reviews. They didn't care that the movie was likely horrible - they wanted to see it on the big screen!)

Next movie up? The Glee movie, most likely, since FutureStar and Midkid both love the music.

What's next on your list?

Monday Movie Musings - So Many Movies, So Little Time!

Like many parents, I've fallen out of the habit of seeing films in the theater. The cost of tickets, added to babysitting costs and assorted sundry expenses, not to mention the time involved, made it more alluring to wait for the video or cable release and watch movies then. Some films, though, don't translate well to the small screen. And, of course, as my kids have gotten older, they've wanted to go to the movies instead of watching them at home.

So I'm looking at the movies that are in theaters now and making a list of films I want to see in their bigger than life incarnations.

1. Harry Potter, 7.2. This is a no-brainer, especially since FutureStar and Midkid have been chomping at the bit to see it, too. We'll probably go this week (though I'll never fully win them back after missing the midnight showing for the LAST HARRY POTTER MOVIE EVER.)

2. Cars 2. Not one I'm dying to see on the big screen, but GPS is, so to keep the movie-going-with-kids in balance, we'll be heading out to the multiplex for this one as well.

3. Cowboys & Aliens. Harrison Ford. Daniel Craig. An old-fashioned western until the spaceships arrive. Can't wait!

4. Captain America. Intrigued by the positive buzz I've been hearing lately.

5. Lefty Loosey, Righty Tighty. Okay, this one's a wish list movie, since it hasn't been released yet (it hasn't even hit the festival circuit!), but I'd love to see this one on the big screen.

How about you? What movies are you looking forward to, or have enjoyed already this summer? And do you prefer seeing films in the theater, or in the comfort of your own home?

Monday Movie Musings - Update on LLRT (now with sneak peek scene!)

Just got some news about Lefty Loosey Righty Tighty, which is in post-production right now. (I posted about the film way back here, and have been following its progress over the past several months.) They're very close to finishing, and have a new sneak peek available for those who've memorized the trailer and were waiting for new material. :)

Here's the scene, featuring my favorite actor Eric Sheffer Stevens.



Right now, the team is hard at work putting the finishing touches on the film, including color correction, sound mix, and the title sequence. Their website has more details on the process, if you're so inclined.

Once the film is complete they'll be submitting it to film festivals and hopefully gaining interest from distributors, so I'll keep you posted as news crops up.

Also, and slightly off-topic, director James Yaegashi has been putting a lot of effort into fundraising for Japan. Here's a vid about the project he's working on, which includes some actors I recognized (and you might as well...)

Monday Movie Musings - Pilot Filming Follow Up

Over the past week I've gotten some questions about the filming of I Hate My Teenage Daughter (thanks, LoveLure!) and I thought I'd take today's blog post to answer them, rather than burying them in the comments of an older post.

1. Do they shoot the episode in the sequence we'll see the final episode? Or do they go out of order (e.g., if they use the kitchen set twice, do they do both those scenes before moving to another set)?

The pilot was filmed in order. The first scene (and last, as well) was pre-filmed, so we watched it on the monitors in completed form. After that, the cast and crew went through the script in order, making sure each scene was done to their satisfaction before moving on. Hence, the 4 hour filming time for what's essentially a 22 minute episode.

(Side note: I wouldn't be surprised if it was trimmed a little from what we saw filmed. Even taking into consideration the multiple takes and between-scene pauses, it still seemed longer than 22 minutes. Fingers crossed none of Eric's work is lost, though!)

Also, the video feed we watched on the monitors wasn't just raw footage - the angles and camera changes were already decided ahead of time, so we saw the angle change from one character head-on, to the other head-on, to a wide shot, as the scene played out.

2. Are there multiple sets of multiple cameras (one for each set)? Or do the cameras stay fixed and just point at different sets? Or do the sets move?

The sets are fixed, and the cameras moved from set to set, as each scene changed. One set was around the corner (we watched on the monitor as they filmed behind the wall at the edge of the audience seating), and I can't remember if they moved the cameras all the way back there. But otherwise, when a scene change was announced, the cameras would roll over to the next set, a clump of people following behind (director, cinematographer, various other behind-the-scenes crewmembers). This is part of why breaks between scenes took a while; the equipment needed to be in place before they could start again.

(Side note: When the flats were moved away from the front of the set and we could finally see the whole setup, I originally thought there was a narrow backyard or outdoors set between the kitchen set and the family room set. It took me a while to realize it was actually just set dressing for both sets, so that if the camera angle caught the view outside a window, it would look like there were trees and bushes out there. LOL)

Also on the topic of IHMTD, a quick perusal of general TV discussion boards and prognosticators shows that most people expect it to be on the schedule for next year. This means pretty much nothing, of course, since the Powers That Be at FOX have the last word, but it's encouraging in an inside-baseball, fantasy league sort of way.

Also also, I'm still highly tickled when I run across links to this blog in discussions of the show and the coming TV season.

Have a great Monday!

Monday Movie Musings - Mercy

I have to admit, I hadn't heard of MERCY until I started seeking out previous roles by the stars of Hawaii Five-0. But when I realized that Scott Caan wrote, produced, and starred in this movie about a romance-ish author who is cynical about love, I knew I had to watch it.

First, it's Scott Caan. Second, I'm a fan of indie films, and this definitely fit the bill. Third, romance(esque) author? I had to check it out.

Now, reviews/descriptions of the film called Scott's character a romance author. But in watching the film, I'd have to say that wasn't exactly true. He wrote about love, but it didn't appear that he was a romance author per se. My guess is the character's books were more in the Nicholas Sparks vein. I was also amused, prior to watching it, to read that the character met the heroine at the launch party for his new book. Most of the romance authors I know (including me) don't have launch parties thrown for each new book. However, that's not quite what happened either. It was more a party for the writer and his friends, to celebrate the book release, not a formal launch party that might be thrown by the publisher in an official capacity.

So some of the reservations I had about the film ended up being more a "lost in translation" issue with write-ups about it, rather than the film itself.


And I really ended up liking the film. It was emotional and heartbreaking, and Scott did a good job with all of his roles - producer, writer, and actor. It was very cool to see him act with his father, who was fantastic. And I honestly didn't see the twist until it was right there.

Like the main character's books, it's not a romance, but it is about love, loss, and growth. And I definitely recommend it to fans of indie film and/or Scott Caan.

Monday Movie Musings - Harry Potter Exhibition

So today's movie musing isn't so much about a single movie, but rather the Harry Potter Exhibition I went to with the kids last weekend.

We hadn't planned on going; I figured our big museum-type experience for the winter was the Picasso exhibit, and pretty much ignored the ads for the HP event. (We live a good hour and a half from the town where both exhibits were shown, so attending them is a full day experience.)

Then Midkid entered a drawing at Borders and won two tickets to the exhibition. Couldn't let them go to waste, could we? No, of course not. So last weekend I packed up the kids and trekked to the big city for a visit to Hogwarts.

(First, though, we had to get our tickets. Because they were free passes, we couldn't reserve our spots online, and we were nervous about being able to get in. As we reached the ticket booth, my heart sank. It was 10 am and the sign posted said the first available entry time was 3:15 pm. Ten minutes after our parking pass was set to expire. I went up to the booth, showed the saleswoman the passes, and explained the predicament. She worked her magic and found us tickets for the 11:45 am entry. Yay!)

So after a quick snack and some time in the science center playing around with the exhibits, it was time to go in. And let me tell you, this exhibition was absolutely worth the effort. Part museum exhibit, part Disney-style fun, it's fascinating and enjoyable for any fan of the movies. Even if you're not a Harry Potter fanatic, it's great to get an up close view of costumes, set pieces, and behind-the-scenes movie magic.

The kids enjoyed the opening schtick, especially GPS, who was "sorted" into Gryffindor by the sorting hat and a friendly guide. The sorting was followed by entry into a circular room, similar to the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland, with a multimedia intro, followed by fog machines, engine sounds, and a wall opening to reveal the Hogwarts Express engine.

There were costumes galore, from early Harry Potter to Draco Malfoy to Professor Snape to Quidditch robes to so many more I can't name them all. There were actual wands used by the characters in the movies. Ron and Harry's dorm room beds were there, with items from the set to make it seem like they'd just stepped outside for a moment. There was a message board from the movies, something that had been likely just put up in the background for "flavor", but so detailed and *right* it made me smile.

The books looked like they'd been taken out of someone's library. There were professor's desks and Hagrid's hut and Lockhart's many publicity photos. You could tug on mandrakes in the garden set and make them squeal, and toss a quaffle through a hoop. (The quaffle was much squishier than I'd expected, like a cross between a soccer ball and a football, but with some of the air let out.) All three kids sat on Hagrid's chair, grinning at how small it made them seem. We studied the posters on the wall, advertisements for the Quidditch world cup and wanted posters for the characters on the wrong side of authority. We wandered through the Great Hall and scoped out all the food on the banquet table.

It was fascinating, and lots of fun, and gave me some insight into how much detail goes into creating a movie world like Harry Potter's. It's ended in Seattle, but supposedly will be touring to other locations soon. If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend going to see it.

Monday Movie Musings - The Man Who Came to Dinner

This month, I'm going to spend Mondays focusing on my favorite holiday films. (Seems appropriate, no?)

I'm kicking things off with one that is full of sparkling dialogue, great characters, and a fun story. The Man Who Came To Dinner originated as a stage play, and it shows - in a good way. When radio personality Sheridan Whiteside slips on the steps and injures himself, he ends up convalescing at the owners's home and taking it over completely. There are celebrities, resident nurses, a mummy case, penguins, and hijinks galore. It's smart and funny and snarky and sweet, and I love it.

The cast is amazing, too - Bette Davis, Billie Burke, Monty Wooley, Ann Sheridan, Jimmy Durante... not an off note in any performance. Just delightful.



I highly recommend it!

Monday Movie Musings - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One

Thursday night found me, once again, making the trek to the local theater with my two oldest, ready to watch the midnight showing of the newest Harry Potter movie. It's debatable whether that makes me a great Mom (midnight showing! Family togetherness!) or a horrible Mom (it was a school night! We didn't get to bed until three am!).

The truth is likely somewhere in the middle. I justified the decision by focusing on the fact that it's a rare occasion (please to be ignoring the two other midnight shows we'd attended since June, though both of those were during the summer months) and that school was on early release the next day so they could power through a shortened day and crash when they got home.

Okay, setting aside the behind-the-scenes agonizing, the movie itself was fabulous. I loved how much of the book was actually in the movie, really fleshing out the story and bringing in those smaller moments that made the HP series so much fun to read. I loved the special effects, the crackling pace, the characters and their interactions. (I don't want to give anything away, especially since it's so new in theaters, so I'm trying to be purposefully vague.) I do understand those who felt like the ending was missing something, since it's really only half of the book, but I thought it was overall a very well done film.

Have you seen it yet? What did you think?

Monday Movie Musings - Lefty Loosey Righty Tighty

So a month or two ago my favorite actor, Eric Sheffer Stevens, mentioned in an interview that he was working on a new film, Lefty Loosey Righty Tighty. There wasn't a lot of info on the film out there, but eventually we discovered that it was an indie rom-com set in Brooklyn, put together by a group of longtime friends and colleagues. Their website had a "soft launch" a few weeks back (translation: it wasn't officially open for business yet, but ESS fans discovered it and started spreading the word), and some more details were available there.

Like all indie films, it was made on a shoestring budget, and there was an opportunity to donate toward post-production costs. (Check out the funding request here. It's hysterical.) The minimum amount needed was raised in under two weeks, and editing has begun! Check out the result of that work below, a teaser that looks more like a big budget release than the title "indie" would indicate. (And I mean that as a compliment.)

LLRT from Lefty Movie on Vimeo.

Here's what the film is about:

MICHAEL is a former college indie rocker who’s now a new dad and not sure how he feels about his life of comfortable domesticity. His wife HELEN is not sure how she feels about Michael not being sure…especially when he’s the one always opting for “crazy” evenings of watching Netflix on the couch with a six pack of tall boys safely nearby. Perhaps Michael can make one last great grasp at rock stardom and finally find that complete 100% certain no-doubt-about-it contentment that hasso far eluded him.

FRANKLIN (Eric Sheffer Stevens) is a recently divorced college professor who’s convinced he’s a loser and no one will love him ever, ever again. He does have cerebral suspicions that his 19-year-old poetry student MARY wants his body bad, however. This creates an internal crisis of significance; even for a man who’s viewed his entire adult life as one long series of continuous internal crises.

LLOYD is an aspiring novella-ist and reluctant part-time notary who’s most successful at eating nachos and shunning commitment from his longtime on-again/off-again “friend” KIT. When backed into a corner by Kit’s newfound romantic certainty, does Lloyd opt for a free lifestyle of syndicated daytime television and semi-competitive sports involving Kooshballs? Or, does he choose love…

“Lefty Loosey Righty Tighty” is the story of three friends on the precipice of middle-age. Too old to be young. And too young to be old.

****

Sounds intriguing, doesn't it? I can't wait to see the finished product. And if you're interested in learning more, stop by Wednesday and Thursday for an exclusive interview with the director, James Yaegashi!

Monday Movie Musings - Sherlock

So I've been listening to my non-US-based friends go on and on and ON about the new BBC version of the Sherlock Holmes story, SHERLOCK. Of course, it wasn't showing in the US yet, so I was sadly left out of the squeeing and raving and cheering.

Until now. Thankfully, PBS's Masterpiece Mystery series has imported the Brit hit, and I'm thrilled that they did! The first episode, A Touch Of Pink, aired a week ago, and I LOVED it. Absolutely loved it. The second episode is currently waiting on my DVR for an uninterrupted hour-plus to sit down and enjoy.

Because really, this isn't a show you can watch with half an eye. There's so much there - so much crackling dialogue, so much interplay between Sherlock and Watson, so much detail that could be missed if you're not watching full-on. It's entertaining, intriguing, snappy, amusing, modern, yet not ignoring the grand history of Sherlock Holmes. The actors are exceptionally talented, the scripts are instantly quote-worthy, and the mystery is challenging enough to keep the viewer hooked.

I'm so glad Sherlock made it across the pond. Yet another BBC import to adore!

Monday Movie Musings - North And South

No, not the Civil War miniseries starring Patrick Swayze. No, I'm talking about the BBC miniseries starring Richard Armitage.


Haven't watched it yet? Here are ten reasons you should:

1. Richard Armitage.
2. Gorgeous cinematography, ranging from the pastoral beauty of the southern countryside to the stark lines of the northern mill town.
3. Richard Armitage in a cravat.
4. Thoughtful consideration of both sides of a union dispute, with neither cast as the unrelenting villain.
5. Richard Armitage in a snowstorm.
6. "Look back...look back at me."
7. Richard Armitage and a heartbreaking proposal. Sniff.
8. Lovely friendship between Margaret and Nicholas. If Mr. Thornton wasn't around, I'd totally ship them.
9. Have I mentioned Richard Armitage?
10. One of the best onscreen kisses, ever.

Here's a sneak peek:

Seriously, it's a great movie. I highly recommend it! If you haven't seen it yet, what are you waiting for? Go, go, go!

Monday Movie Musings - Pride and Prejudice

I love Pride and Prejudice.

I read the book for the first time in junior high, which was, sadly, a bit too young for me to read it. I lost so much of the subtlety and humor; when I re-read it years later I was shocked at how much I laughed. But even back then there was something there that captivated me, something that was strong enough to bring me back for a second try.

Around that same time frame I vaguely remember watching the Olivier version of P & P. I know now that it's not a particularly faithful representation of the book, and the costumes are sadly inappropriate for the time period, but Greer Garson is adorable.



Years later, I saw the BBC six-hour miniseries, and fell hard for it - the casting, the directing, the script, the performances, everything. And, of course, Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy. He owns my Pride and Prejudice heart.



So when I heard there was going to be another version, starring Keira Knightley, I was skeptical. With as much love as I had for the 1995 version, could I even give the 2005 theatrical-release-length version a fighting chance?

Surprisingly enough, I really enjoyed that version, too. I thought there were some lovely moments, particularly the one where Mr. Darcy hands Lizzie into the carriage and then walks away, flexing his hand, as if the sensation of touching her was too much. Small moments like that totally make or break films for me.

There are other versions as well, each with their ardent fans. So my question to you is - what's YOUR favorite version? Who do you think played the parts best, and who missed the mark?

And for a final treat, here's a video featuring five of the different versions, including the Bollywood film Bride and Prejudice. It's not on YouTube, so here's a link. Enjoy!

Monday Movie Musings - the (718)

A few months back, some friends went to Vermont to see Eric Sheffer Stevens in the Vermont Shakespeare Company production of Much Ado About Nothing. While there, they met many of the other actors in the show, including one Parrish Hurley.

Parrish is on Facebook. Parrish is a swell guy. Parrish has a talent for coming up with excellent nicknames. Parrish has a great TV pilot that he's shopping around to cable networks right now, called 'the (718)'. It's funny, profane, wince-inducingly honest, and secretly a little sweet. (Don't tell him I said that, though. I'll lose all my street cred.) It's won a number of awards at film festivals around the globe.

Here's what it's about:

With humility and heartbreaking hilarity, 'the(718)' presents the misadventures of beer-drinking, football-watching, awkward homosexual Stephen and his two straight best friends (as well as his beat poet conscience) as they navigate life and love in New York City's County of Kings. With a little less shoe talk than 'Sex & The City' (but a lot more testosterone), it's a clever and sexy portrait of Brooklyn's three most (in)eligible bachelors brimming with all of the insecurity, bravado and dependency that they would prefer to keep secret.

Here's the trailer:

Want to see the whole thing? If you follow this link, and type in the password brooklyn, you can watch it in its entirety! Warning, though - it is DEFINITELY NSFW. Seriously. Do not say I didn't warn you.

I really enjoyed the pilot, and hope it gets picked up by a cable channel soon. I'm also fascinated by the creative process, in whatever art form, so I asked Parrish to answer a few questions about how this pilot came to be. The two-part interview will be up on the blog Wednesday and Thursday of this week.

Want to know more about the (718)? Visit the facebook page. Follow the twitter account. Check out IMDB. Or take a peek at the official website. And be sure to come back later in the week for the interview!

(also, I'm extending my contest through the end of this week, so be sure to comment early and often! LOL)

Monday Movie Musings - It Gets Better

It's been an ugly couple of weeks. It seems like every other day there's another news report about another teen suicide caused by bullying. Whether it's the 13 year old who hanged himself after classmates tormented him about being gay, or the college kid who jumped off a bridge because his roommate secretly taped him with another man and streamed it on the internet, all these cases are tied together with a painful commonality - bullying based on perceived sexual orientation.

The fact is, 9 out of 10 GLBT teens are victims of bullying at some point in their school career, and they're also four times more likely to commit suicide than straight teens. So while bullying in any shape or form is wrong and needs to be stopped, it's even more crucial to take a stand against sexual-orientation-targeted bullying. That's why today's Monday Movie Musings is focused on the videos featured on the new YouTube channel It Gets Better. By turns funny, earnest, emotional, fierce, and determined, the short pieces featured on this channel have a message of hope for all kids out there dealing with these issues. Here's one of my favorites.




And stop by tomorrow when Book BIN Tuesday will be looking at YA or YA-friendly books with LGBT themes.

Monday Movie Musings - Julie and Julia

I just finished watching this movie last night, and have a bit of a confession to make.

Though I'd heard of Julie & Julia when it was first released, and had a vague interest in it, in that sort of "I should really rent that someday, maybe I'll put it on my Netflix queue" way, I didn't do anything about it until I heard that Eric Sheffer Stevens was in it.

Bang, top of the queue.

I was good, though. I watched the whole movie, even though he was only in two scenes and only had lines in one. (He also spent most of his too-brief time on film eating, which I adored. It's one of Dr. Reid Oliver's quirks that stand out as well.)

I liked the film overall, although it felt at times that I was watching two movies at the same time. The constant jumping back-and-forth between Julie and Julia's stories was a little -- distancing, I guess would be the word for it. I never got really invested in either of their storylines.

Still, it was interesting, and some of the food looked incredibly tasty. (Not the aspic, though. *shudder*) Would have been better with more ESS in it, though. (Yes, I'm biased.)

Monday Movie Musings - Eclipse

Note: This is a new, semi-regular feature I'm adding to the blog. It will be a mix of new releases and favorites available on DVD, mostly because with kids I don't get out to the theater often enough to warrant weekly reviews of new films. I will do my best to keep all reviews spoiler-free, because it irritates me when I read a review on a book or movie and it gives away the ending. Hope you enjoy!

Week two of my Monday Movie Musings, and it's another midnight showing. This time, we saw Eclipse, which was the biggest movie event I'd ever seen in our little town. I'd tried to order tickets online but the website said it was sold out, so I drove down to see if any tickets were available at the box office. Luckily, the guy at the counter said that they were continuing to open screens each time a theater filled up. I bought three tickets, and about half an hour before we headed out to the theater.

Tactical error. The movie theater is at the local mall, and even 30 minutes prior I was hard-pressed to find a parking space. We finally parked in the furthest row and hiked over to the cinema.

It was packed. The line for the concession stand was out the door, and groups of people milled around outside, hoping against hope that they could get tickets because, yes, it was finally sold out. All ten screens.

We wandered from theater to theater, hoping to find three seats together. Finally we found them – in the second row. Hello, neck strain!

As with last week's movie, I wans't as familiar with the source material as many in the theater. I've never read the books, and I have only a vague idea of the storyline. That said, there were things I liked about the movie. I liked the opening scene - I thought it was very tense and evocative. I liked Victoria's race through the woods. And yes, Jacob does look hot without a shirt. (I know, I know. I'm so ashamed.)

And a lot of the enjoyment of the movie was spending it with my kids, who ARE huge fans of the franchise.

FutureStar – I loved it so much! It was great and awesome and will please any Twilight fan out there. I liked that it included Bree Tanner. Way better than Twilight.

MidKid – I liked the whole movie. The director showed many details. The two best parts of the movie are when Riley gets bitten, and the scene between Bella and Jacob.

Monday Movie Musings - Toy Story 3

Note: This is a new, semi-regular feature I'm adding to the blog. It will be a mix of new releases and favorites available on DVD, mostly because with kids I don't get out to the theater often enough to warrant weekly reviews of new films. I will do my best to keep all reviews as spoiler-free as possible, because it irritates me when I read a review on a book or movie and it gives away the ending. Hope you enjoy!

A few weeks back I saw Toy Story 3 with my two oldest kids. It was a fundraiser midnight showing at the local theater, and we decided last minute to go. Now, confession time – I've never seen the first two movies. They came out between my two animated film eras – watching on my own, and watching with kids. So though I'm familiar with many of the characters, I have only a vague idea of the storylines.

Luckily, though, you don't have to have seenhe first two movies in order to understand and completely enjoy Toy Story 3. It was a funny, emotional, sweet, exciting, and surprisingly powerful movie that I wholeheartedly recommend. I actually teared up in parts, which surprised me. It shouldn't have, though. I know myself. I cry at commercials. And this movie had some truly touching moments.

The only drawback for me was the 3-D. I found it disappointing and unnecessary. I get that it's the latest big thing in movies these days, but the film would have been just as good without.

And since I had two companions at the show, here are their reviews as well:

FutureStar said it was absolutely worth staying up for a midnight showing. Favorite part? The first time the kids came in the caterpillar room.

MidKid said I liked it a lot. Everybody from all ages would like it. My grandma saw it and loved it. Favorite part? The part where Bonnie runs into Woody.

So there you go - three thumbs up. If you haven't seen this movie yet, I highly recommend it!