Movie Marathon!

I've been on a movie rampage marathon for the past few days, and just sitting on my chair and soaking in the large number of movies that I've both missed out, and movies that I've not seen in a long time such as:

Terminator (1984), Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991), Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003), Terminator: Salvation (2009)

I've seen the last 3 movies, but not the very first movie, where it all begins when Kyle Reese (John Connor's father) is sent back from the future to 1984 to save Sarah Connor from being killed. Everything that I know from the subsequent movies are now all starting to make sense and I cannot believe that I actually missed out watching the first Terminator movie. No wonder my mum said I can't call myself a true Terminator fan. But I must say the adult Kyle Reese is totally gorgeous with an equally gorgeous to-die-for body. Too bad Kyle Reese has to die. And I'm so upset to find out that John Connor will get killed by the very Terminator that saved him in the 2nd and 3rd movie in 2032. Not that there's a connection or anything, but John Connor was born in 1985, which makes him 27 this year. So Evan's also born in 1985, making him 27 too. Coincidence? I think not!

Batman

All right, so I didn't manage to watch all the Batman movies. Batman (1989) was actually pretty good, and its where you see Jack Nicholson as the very first Joker and who did a pretty good job. But Michael Keaton was just, not my taste. And Harvey Dent was played by an African American man! I was so stunned and I must have sat there throughout the entire movie trying to figure out who this guy was. Batman Returns (1992) is by far the best Batman film out of the Schmuacher/Burton films. Its awesome because Tim Burton directed it, and the movie just screams eclectic and bizarre. And this is where real Catwoman is the best Catwoman, played by Michelle Pffifer. And okay, so maybe the rather suit and entire concept of a sexy Catwoman is extremely sexist, but hey she pulled it off and she was PERFECT. And Danny DeVito was the Penguin. AWESOME FILM. Batman Forever (1995). Slight disappointment, this film was. The villains really weren't interesting at all (The Riddler, played by Jim Carrey and Two-Faced/Harvey Dent) played by Tommy Lee Jones. Chris O' Donnell who played Robin was pretty all right as well, but he lacked the chemistry to play Batman's sidekick. Batman and Robin  (1997). OMG worst Batman film EVER. Arnold Schwarzenneger was just a completely pointless blocky villian wanting to avenge his dead frozen wife. He's got the build, but not the character! Uma Thurman was Poison Ivy was okay, but the interactions between her and Batman and Robin are simply stupid. In what universe, will the Caped Crusader EVER show himself to the public as a charity event?! Batman always stays hidden and he certainly doesn't go gallivanting around town during the day, attending charity events in his suit! Its so campy and ridiculous. And intruding a Batgirl here? I'm sure Batgirl worked well in comics, but this was NOT one of Alicia Silverstone's best movie to date. Batman Begins (2005). Now this was just brilliant! Christian Bale is so gorgeous and sexy and super hot and so enigmatic! I think it really worked because it showed how Bruce Wayne turns from a petty criminal to Batman, by documenting his journey from millionaire, to petty criminal, to ninja training and finally to Batman and it really helps the audience understand where Batman is coming from. Rachel Dawes was an interesting addition. She wasn't in the comics, but she was a pretty neat character, playing Bruce's childhood friend and love interest. Katie Holmes actually did a good job acting as Dawes. I was surprised, given her penchant for roles in chick-lit films.  Ra's Al Ghul was a stunning villain (hello, its Liam Neeson!) and I liked how the villain and Batman actually have a shared history, and this makes the film much more emotional, unlike other villains like The Riddler and the Penguin who push Batman's buttons, simply because they're discontent with their lot. Its a nice change really, and it really worked so good with me. The Dark Knight (2008). Equally awesome. Again, it also documents Harvey Dent's journey from being an attorney to being Two Faced and the emotional ramifications of his transformation, and it actually made me feel sorry for him. I actually liked Christopher Nolan's idea of getting Rachel to fall in love with Harvey and to stop waiting around for Batman/Bruce. It gave it such a twist, and I really was hoping that Rachel would end up with Dent, if she didn't get killed. That entire scene was the saddest moment in the entire movie, especially for Bruce. He was devastated! Poor Bruce. He waited his entire life for her and she ends up getting killed and wanting to choose another man over him. The Joker was an interesting character. Initially when I first saw the movie, I didn't like Heath Ledger's portrayal of the Joker. It was too serious instead of being scary-serious like I had anticipated. But after watching it critically during this holiday, I started seeing the brilliance of this performance. Its psychotic-serious and so bizarre to the point that it actually struck a chord with the audience. I'm now understanding why Heath Ledger got a posthumous Oscar for this. It was truly a good piece. The Dark Knight Rises (2012). HUGE DISSAPOINTMENT. So much hype, so much anticipation but it just didn't work with me. I didn't like how Bruce went into hiding for 8 years and did nothing. Bane, while I agree that he's there to test Batman's physical and mental strength, it just didn't really work enough for me, but having it tied to Miranda Tate's desire for revenge for her father made it...a little...campy. Miranda Tate didn't work with me at all. Bane was enough to bring the city down and I would have liked it better of Bane wanted revenge for Ra's instead of Tate. And Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle/Catwoman?! WHAT was Nolan thinking?! She so was not good at all. Her characterization of Catwoman was so transient and sloppy, and granted she's beautiful, but she's not sexy to be Catwoman. And I despised the ending. I'd rather Bruce Wayne end up with Miranda Tate (if she wasn't such a vengeful slut), then be with Selina Kyle. But I wish Nolan would have told us how he had survived. All in all, this movie isn't a movie that I'll watch again.

So there you have it. I've seen like 10 movies in a week and it was so good to have that me-time in a magical world.

But yeah, other movies I watched as well since my final paper are The Prestige, staring Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman & Scarlett Johannsenn, which I still don't even what's it about because I got so bored halfway through the movie. If it helps, its about magicians and the ending was beautiful (Bale gets reunited with his daughter). My Best Friend's Wedding, with Julia Roberts, Cameron Diaz and Ruper Everett (who voiced Prince Charming in Shrek), about Jules (Roberts) who's in love with her best friend for 9 years, but who's getting married to Kim (Diaz) and she's off to stop the wedding in 4 days as she seeks help and advice about the rationality of her actions from George, her best gay friend (Everett). Its hilarious, but beautifully sad. Jules loved him so much that she let him go and marry Kim, because he loves Kim. If you love someone, you'll let him/her choose their paths, and that's what Jules did. I cried at the ending when she made the decision to bring them back together after successfully splitting them up after seeing his anguished face because that's when she realizes how much he really loves Kim. Oh and her best gay friend, George, is incredibly funny.

American Psycho has Christian Bale and Kevin Bacon, with Bale as Patrick Bateman playing a Wall Street executive in New York, but securely hides his narcissistic behavior and love for murder and prostitutes from his friends. This movie has some nudity and a huge amount of blood and death involved, and very...awkward moments of sitting through sexual trysts. And hearing Christian Bale say the va-jay-jay word made me burst out laughing out of my chair.

Magic Mike is the weirdest show I have ever seen. A bunch of male strippers dancing around and shaking their butts? I don't even know what to say. The best stripper was the one played by Matthew McConaughey. There's just something so desirable abut hearing dirty talk in a Southern accent.

Flashdance. Romance and dance in the 1970s. Loved it. Jennifer Beals practically popularized dancing in a leotard and leg warmers.

Up next, chick-lit marathon :D