The One with a Bunch of Movies

Lots of Olympics going on.  Anyone else notice that the Korean short track racers are teaming up?  I thought that was illegal.  I also think they took out that British Elise on purpose, but that's just me.  The Bode Miller story was pretty said, with his brother and all.  Other than that, I've enjoyed watching the US get whipped in curling, and I find the Snowboard Cross fascinating, if a bit of a train wreck.

Dredd
Okay, I knew going in this was super-violent and going to be bloody with a lot of swearing.  I do find it hard to give a good depiction of a Megacity One without drugs, and the swearing was actually appropriate to the setting.  I found the movie interesting and fun.  The hook, the new street narcotic SloMo was pretty neat as an idea and the villain was an intense and creepy (and a woman) crime boss.  One thing, this movie is more about his rookie partner than Dredd, but that didn't detract from the movie.  I enjoyed it, but warning, this one is not for the squeamish.  ***

Unforgiven
One of my favorite westerns still doesn't disappoint after all these years.  On this viewing I found a new perspective.  Gene Hackman's character is the real draw to this film, and strikes a chord as a realistic depiction of a hard-bitten and flawed lawman trying to keep the peace.  While Eastwood's William Money character can't shake his reputation, Hackman is trying to build a house, symbolic of him trying to build a new life after his own shady past and the ragged scars on his character.  His final words after crossing the wrong gunman are, "I don't deserve this, I was building a porch."  I absolutely love this movie.  "'Deserves' got nothing to do with it."****

Sword in the Stone
Classic Disney.  This one is probably my second favorite to Aladdin.  My favorite part is the battle with Mim.  ***1/2d

The Raven
The first few minutes of this movie didn't catch me, but I stuck with it and it paid off.  I'm a fan of the genre, the 19th century mystery such as Sherlock Holmes and there is a definite parallel from Poe's flawed genius to Doyle's creation.  I liked that they drew in a decent amount of historical accuracy to a fictitious portrayal, including the election going on at the time, Poe's West Point background, his dying in an infirmary.  The more they included the better I felt about the movie.  The murders were gory owing to the source material, Poe's vivid writings, and the copycat killer plot is tried and true.  Speaking of copycats, I was reminded of Harry Connick's Copycat serial killer, and that is a good thing for horror fans.  I enjoyed it.  ***

I need to read more and watch less.