On Sunday, I went to the movies. You may think this isn’t worth mentioning but knowing I hadn’t seen a film on a big screen since summer 2008 and The Mummy : Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (don’t judge, I was invited) it IS an event.

I picked Coraline because I love animation films plus the theater I go to offers the opportunity to see it in 3D. The story is kinda basic but the imagery is wonderful and the whole 3D experience sucks you in immediately. It is funny, cute and spooky all at the same time in very well-balanced proportions. Small detail I liked : in the original version they have Teri Hatcher and Dakota Fanning doing voice-over and for the dubbed version (yes, they sadly only offer French versions) they cast the usual French voices for Teri and Dakota. It’s very probable nobody noticed or even cared about that but these are the little things that catch my attention. Anyway, if you haven’t seen Coraline yet, go see it when you get the occasion, it’s brilliant.

coraline

Since there’s an offer running this week that gives access to every other movie for 3€ after one at full price (11€! in this case – it reminded me why I don’t go to the movies that much any more) I headed to State Of Play starring Ben Affleck and Russel Crowe. Despite an already seen scenario – 2 and a half deaths lead to huge conspiration theories – the realisation has good rhythm, the supporting cast does a very good job – props to Rachel McAdams as Della Frye – and there’s not a minute when nothing happens. A very tight thriller, recommended.

state_of_play

Tonight was time for a comedy : Ghost of Girlfriends Past. I didn’t expect much from it but it was very ok. Matthew McConaughey plays some kind of jerk you actually end up having sympathy for, Jennifer Garner plays the girl in love with the photographer (just like she did in 13 Going on 30) and Michael Douglas‘ character is quite colouful. It’s fun and despite the story being simple and predictable, you tend to get drawn into it. Not the movie of the year but a  sweet movie nonetheless.

I have four more movies scheduled for this week, maybe I’ll share a word or two about them, maybe not.

*If you’ve been wondering where the title for this post comes from, prepare for a little trip through my tortured mind : Coraline was originally written by Neil Gaiman who also wrote the stories to illustrate Amanda Palmer’s The Big Book of Who Killed Amanda Palmer? (they’re also dating, but that’s not relevant) and Amanda Palmer once covered Death Cab For Cutie’s song I’ll Follow You Into The Dark and well, theaters are places where they turn off the lights and then it’s dark. Voilà. You’ll find me in the last room down the hall on the right, the one with the white padded walls.

mel :: Jun.30.2009 :: Coraline, Ghost of Girlfriends Past, Movie, State of Play, movie of the day :: No Comments »