Movie Review: Noah (2014)

All weekend I have been trying to figure out what I think about the movie Noah. Friday night Kevin and I ventured to the theatre to check it out, lured in by the intense previews.

Intense, yeah I think that is a fair descriptor for Noah.

Entertaining, another accurate word you can use to describe the movie Noah.

But would I watch it again? Hell no.

Kevin and I could start a podcast that has all of our reviews from the half hour drive home from the theatre. Most of the time our opinions of blockbusters are pretty nice, we enjoy 90% of the movies we see. We went wild over Noah in different ways. We both acknowledged that there were points in the movie where we out right laughed (and I will admit to a couple tears). For once the brats that sat behind us and talked through the entire movie did not annoy us. Weirdly it is a movie that is so long and ridiculous that you want to look over at the person you came to the movie with say, “whaaaaa?”

Our conclusion about Noah is that Director Darren Aronofsky basically wanted to make a movie mocking to story of Noah and The Ark. I personally don’t have any problem with the special effects used throughout the movie, or the story but the way Aronofsky mix them together is crazy. Like Lord of the Rings meets the story of Noah and the Ark from your childhood.

Rock giants. Yes, rock giants or “Watchers” are one of the most ridiculous parts of the whole movie. If giant mounds of rock walking around and talking intrigue you, see this movie. If you can get onboard with that I’m not sure you are going to like the rest of this blog…

To say Aronofsky took liberties with the story is to be kind. It is definitely not the Noah I remember from Sunday School.

On top of the crazy directorial choices there is a ton of overacting throughout the movie. Russell Crowe and Emma Watson can pull it off, Jennifer Connelly not so much.  Kevin would like to note that even though Crowe eventually was very old man Noah in the movie at all times he remained thick, solid and tight. Sigh. Crowe makes it easy to believe that old man Noah could kick anyone’s ass, especially his sons. Noah is a boss.

This movie was crazy from beginning to end. Noah did have its beautiful moments, but the ridiculous outweighed the believable. That is why we think Aronofsky made this movie to prove that Noah and The Ark is a story so out of this world that it could never have happened.

I would rent this one, though it looks great on the big screen it is so long that you are inevitably going to need a breather to talk it out and gather your wits.

The Day We Almost Went To Sea World

If you were to have asked me 12 months ago while I was in San Diego if I wanted to go to Sea World I would have without a doubt told you that I would have loved to visit the park. On a student’s budget we had to pick our attractions and we chose to visit the San Diego Zoo with it’s new baby pandas instead of Sea World. For $84 a person it was a little much to do in addition to the Zoo.

A lot can change in a year. Even six months ago I would have been incredibly positive about a place that us 90s kids have incredible memories of, even if only through commercials. Growing up on the East Coast of Canada our regional CTV channel gave away Sea World trips all the time, it was engrained in us that the splash zone was a première family destination.

Imagine this in Little Kate's mind with all the added greatness of the 90s. 

Back in autumn the documentary ‘Blackfish’ had a screening in Nelson and the lovely ladies from 1035 The Bridge told us all about the incredibly emotional experience they had sitting at the theatre watching it. I was a little reluctant to get onboard with their contempt for Sea World, I had just visited the incredible Vancouver Aquarium where I was amazed by the important rehabilitation work the staff there does and found it hard to believe their claims from the doc.

Once we determined we would be vacationing back in San Diego again this winter Sea World started coming up again. I flip-flopped on whether to watch ‘Blackfish’ or not. But, with increasing activity on my Facebook and Twitter feeds about the documentary I knew it would come down to at lease watching ‘Blackfish’.  I was surprised at some of the people I know; people who do not normally vocalize their strong opinions via social media, venting online about their feelings towards Sea World and their sympathy for the killer whales being held in captivity.

So it came down to the wire, I put off watching ‘Blackfish’ because (to be honest) I have not been in the mood to be any sadder than need be in real life. Last night, my boyfriend and I were debating going to SeaWorld; to be honest with you I wanted to go. Forget the price of the day; I wanted to go for the show, for the rides and to see the animals.

Yes, I had been debating going and not posting the pictures online to avoid the ridicule from friends for going after having the resources to watch ‘Blackfish’ on Netflix and choosing not to (or worse, watching the doc and going anyways).  But, late into the night while we were trying to plan our day I put it on anyways.

Taken from Blackfish's Wiki page. 

I must say that I was absolutely horrified; ‘Blackfish’ brought me to tears.  We watched the entire film and had both decided early on that we would not be going to Sea World today. I am trying to take ‘Blackfish’ with a grain of salt, but just seeing the videos of the killer whales looking so unhappy is what made my decision for me.

Yes, there are moments when the killer whales do seem very happy; but they are outweighed (to me) by the moments when the killer whales are sad. What makes it worse is seeing the aggressive nature of the whales in captivity towards each other, I do not question that the Sea World trainers treat the whales well. I believe that they love the animals and respect them, as they should; but I do think that the bigwigs at Sea World are less concerned about the well being of the whales (mentally).

I am not trying to be preachy, I am not saying that you should not go to Sea World; I just wanted to voice my opinion on the whole ‘Blackfish’ saga in light of all of the hoopla that has come out in regards to concerts being cancelled and boycotts of the park.

I am totally for organizations like the Vancouver Aquarium that rehabilitate and learn from the animals in their care. I am against visiting Sea World at the current time until they can find a more humane way to do business.

As a kid who grew up on the Atlantic Ocean I learned about our oceans at an early age and to respect what you do not understand. Our planet’s oceans (and lots of the creatures that live within it) are some of the great mysteries we have left, unfortunately killer whales are a large, majestic mystery that we need to learn more about (apparently) even if it means not having kitschy interactions with them.

Even though Sea World is down the road for us right now, I think I will wait to see killer whales in their habitat, in their communities and take in their “culture”. Better for me to suffer on a cold boat than for them to suffer indefinitely in what sounds like killer whale prison.

Again, I will revisit the idea of going to Sea World in the future if their practices change or new unbiased information comes to light but right now my opinion leans towards staying away and taking the chance to see them in the wild.

Viral Video Gone Wrong: Life Size Chucky

A couple of weeks ago I presented you with a viral video that was made to promote a upcoming horror movie called ‘Devil’s Due’. That video was terrifying, this viral video is just wrong.

I think the team promoting the new Chucky movie was severely misguided by pulling out this campaign. I have a feeling that some of these people are acting, no matter the video is not as funny as the man laughing in the background.

I think this video really crossed the line by having Chucky chase after these poor people; someone could have been seriously hurt. I hope they are all actors.

Is it too sick and twisted? I am just a huge baby? Let me know what you think!

Viral Vid: Devil Baby Attack

WARNING: THIS LITTLE BUNDLE OF JOY WILL HAUNT YOUR DREAMS

Holy crap!

I may not sleep tonight.  This creepy little guy, like most viral video serves a very creepy purpose. This is not your Disneyland remote-controlled animatronic; this is what I imagine is living in the dark underworld of the ‘It’s A Small World’ ride. All part of a viral campaign for the new movie Devil’s Due (due out this Friday), it makes me very happy to not live in the same country let alone state where this monstrous creation is.

Everything about this demon child is terrifying. From its dirty little face to its screeching howls, I think this could be used as a form of birth control. I bet you anything people who see this movie will not have procreating on their minds for a good long time afterwards! 

Throwback: Disney & McDonald’s Hercules Plates

Back in 1997, little Kate was a HUGE Disney nut. Yes, I was obsessed. I thought any other animated films

were inferior to any Disney movie (rightly so), there were few that could compare (Swan Princess, Thumbelina). Hercules was one of the big ones I can remember being released to crazy fanfare, I loved it. I saw it multiple times in theatres and was SO excited for its release date.

My family had at least one fast-food meal a week. Usually Saturday afternoons, I remember how excited we would be to go to McDonald’s (most weeks) when the toys were good. To us, the Hercules toys were the BOMB. I know it sounds so lame now, but as a kid in the 90s the Zeus football was hot stuff. The plates were extra and super cool, because they were extra on top of the happy meal and a SUPER treat. My sister and I totally fought over the Megara plate… screw The Muses, right?

Well our plates are long gone after long time use in the microwaves for snack and not so serious meals. In case you are wondering, each plate will run you about $5 on EBay (on the cheap) but more likely $9. Or, you can pick up the whole set of six plates in mint condition for about $50. There are some more pricey sellers looking for hundreds of dollars, clearly these people live in a bubble of lunacy. I forget how much they cost back in 1997, but I have a feeling they ran about $2.99 with a meal purchase. Let me know if you can remember how much they were, I was just a wee filly back then.

I loved these plates, they were colorful and durable… until you put them in the microwave. I do maintain they are the best nacho plates ever. 

Kate's Reading Challenge Book 10: '50 Shades of Grey’ by E.L. James

One of my goals I set for myself on my twenty-fourth birthday was reading a book a week.  I am a little behind, moving twice and finishing school put a damper on my plan. To help motivate myself to finish books on time every week my new plan is to share my latest read with you on my blog. I w
ill read anything and everything and I would love your suggestions, feel free to email them to me at kate@mountainfm.net.

Book 10: '50 Shades of Grey’ by E.L. James

After saying I would never read ’50 Shades of Grey’ I can now say I have. I made the pledge to get through the book on-air when it was announced that Charlie Hunnam would play the lead role of Christian Grey. I had made several attempts to read the book in the past, but I just could not get into it. After forcing it, I finally managed to turn the last page a couple of weeks ago.

My thoughts?

I’m not impressed. I didn't expect a realistic story line in this book, so no disappointment there. I really did not like much of this book; I found it hard to sympathize with Ana because she was just too pathetic to me. Imagining Charlie Hunnam as Christian got me through the book. I was prepared for so much more and it seemed a little green and drawn out, maybe I just have a super dirty mind? The books pace was so slow and then it abruptly ends. I know that there are more books in the series, I will not be wasting my time on them, I have no more time to waste on a set of books.

I am also very discouraged that Hunnam has since decided not to do the film adaptation. 

Kate's Reading Challenge Book 7: ‘The Wolf of Wall Street' by Jordan Belfort

One of my goals I set for myself on my twenty-fourth birthday was reading a book a week.  I am a little behind, moving twice and finishing school put a damper on my plan. To help motivate myself to finish books on time every week my new plan is to share my latest read with you on my blog. I will read anything and everything and I would love your suggestions, feel free to email them to me at kate@mountainfm.net.

                         

Book 7: ‘The Wolf of Wall Street' by Jordan Belfort

When I started reading ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ I could not put it down. Jordan Belfort’s tales from his life of wealth and abundance are almost unimaginable for average people. I really enjoyed most of ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’; it did seem to drag on though. Typically books I read for my weekly reviews are under 500 pages on my iPad and this bad boy was over 800 pages. Despite being long the story continues to move and sometimes has to jump in time to keep everything moving. My only real beef is that the story could have been condensed more; some of the technical information could have been left out. I feel like I learned a lot about trading, Swiss Banking and the SEC but would rather have spent time hearing more about Jordan Belfort’s sexy escapades. I enjoy hearing the perspective of both Jordan Belfort ‘the Wolf’ and Jordan Belfort the loving father, sometimes it seems like his only redeeming quality is how much he loves his children (and how generous he was with the money to the people in his life).

Overall, I would recommend waiting for the movie if this book interests you. I am really excited to go see the film adaptation (I made a point to finish the book before seeing the movie). If you enjoy the film consider investing in reading the book, I am sure it goes into much more detail than the movie will. 

Here is the film adaptations official trailer.

Netflix Classic: World's Greatest Dad

Netflix Classic: World's Greatest Dad

Have you ever watched a movie so bad you wondered what were those people thinking? I do this all the time. In fact you can read my previous blog about ‘Sharknado’ it was the worst movie I have ever seen. Which has inspired me to start a log of all the movies I watch that are just down-right horrible, most of them are F-list horror movies with cooky titles found on Netflix, hence the label “Neflix Classics”.  Every Saturday you can find my latest “Netflix Classic” review right here on my Mountain FM Blog.

World's Greatest Dad (2009)

In one word this movie is dysfunctional. 

To give this movie credit it is bold. I never imagined the dark places this movie goes. Honestly, I picked it for this week’s Netflix Classic because I had a jones-ing for a Robin Williams family movie; World’s Greatest Dad was definitely not what I had in mind. Seriously, don't watch this movie based on it’s poster!

I found this movie really hard to watch. The topics were uncomfortable and the characters were all very hard to like. It is a twisted movie, even though I like raunchy comedy parts in this movie are too much.

The movie drags along too, character development happens quickly in the beginning and then you are waiting for the movies climax. World’s Greatest Dad then plateaus on the action for a while and eventually wraps up quickly.

I won’t be watching this one again. I’m not sure who I would recommend this movie to  I have a feeling it would make pretty much anyone feel uncomfortable and confused. Even for some dark comedy I don’t think this movie is funny enough to balance its grimness.

Netflix Classic: iSteve

Netflix Classic: iSteve 

Have you ever watched a movie so bad you wondered what were those people thinking? I do this all the time. In fact you can read my previous blog about ‘Sharknado’ it was the worst movie I have ever seen. Which has inspired me to start a log of all the movies I watch that are just down-right horrible, most of them are F-list horror movies with cooky titles found on Netflix, hence the label “Neflix Classics”.  Every Saturday you can find my latest “Netflix Classic” review right here on my Mountain FM Blog.

iSteve (2013)

With the release of the new bio-pic about Steve Jobs being last week I decided to pick a parody film about the life of Steve Jobs this week for my Netflix Classic this week it was released online in April and it is called 'iSteve'. It was just as bad as it sounds. 

It is not often that I find a comedy so bad that I will tell people not to watch it. Even movies I don't like have seem to have some silver lining redemption moments, not the case with 'iSteve'. Funny or Die (online comedy heroes) really disappointed me with this turd of a movie. 'iSteve' was just not funny. It is that simple. I watched the entire thing, at first I thought I had read the description wrong and that it was a serious movie. Then it continuously made errors about the life of Steve Jobs and really bad joke so I knew it really was trying to be a parody film. 

Urg. I am not a huge Jobs fan. I am not a hater either. I read his biography, I have invested time into learning about Steve Jobs and the makers of 'iSteve' clearly did not. It was made written in three days and shot in five, I think they could have had something if they invested more time into making it. I have yet to see 'Jobs' the Ashton Kutcher movie released last week, I think I will wait on that. From the press it has gotten I think I will wait until it makes it to Netflix.

I may take time out of my day and money out of my wallet to see the Aaron Sorkin adaptation of 'Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson. I thought the book was fair and well written, I doubt the makers of 'iSteve' took the time to read it because there was little to no evidence of any research being done on the subject of his life.

I am being very critical, I know. It was just supposed to be a funny, light-hearted extended sketch but I found it kind of offensive. Funny or Die has a huge following, with people who will watch their content regardless of the quality.  

The only part of the movie that I thought was mildly funny was part of the evolution of Pixar that showed a meeting between George Lucas and Steve Jobs. 

Not worth your time, do anything else. Seriously, anything else. 

iSteve - Buy on Amazon or watch on Netflix from Justin Long

Netflix Classic: Video Game High School

Netflix Classic: Video Game High School

Have you ever watched a movie so bad you wondered what were those people thinking? I do this all the time. In fact you can read my previous blog about ‘Sharknado’ it was the worst movie I have ever seen. Which has inspired me to start a log of all the movies I watch that are just down-right horrible, most of them are F-list horror movies with cooky titles found on Netflix, hence the label “Neflix Classics”.  Every Saturday you can find my latest “Netflix Classic” review right here on my Mountain FM Blog.

Video Game High School (2012)

My boyfriend and his friends love this movie. They quote it regularly, it drives me crazy.

Video Game High School is the result of an incredibly successful Kickstarter campaign, like most other ‘Netflix Classics’ you won’t find any really familiar names in the cast list; except maybe the guy from Epic Meal Time (Harley Morenstein) and even that is pushing it. Video Game High School was originally a web series and then edited into a really, really long two-hour movie. A second series is now being released on http://www.rocketjump.com/.

As much as the boys love this movie, I really don’t understand the appeal of Video Game High School. The premise of the movie is pretty basic; it is an underdog story about a futuristic high school student fighting for his place at an elite school that swaps out sports for video games. Don’t worry, they cover all types of video games; from shooters to music there is a place for all gamer kids at this school.

The dialogue is kitschy to say the least. I would give you a few quotes here, but I really don’t think reading them in type does their silliness justice. I have no idea who the target is for this movie, it is too violent to be a kid’s movie and it is way too out there to attract adults. I am guessing this is the perfect movie for teens or twenty-something guys who wish they could have attended a high school centered on video games.

Watch the trailer below, if you’re not a fan than you most likely should stay away from this Netflix Classic. If it looks like your cup of tea, groovy I hope you enjoy it! Video Game High School is in the process of releasing the second season of webisodes, so I am sure a sequel is in the works.

For more about Video Game High School check out:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2170584/