One Week is about Ben's (Jashua Jackson) final effort to find the meaning of life. Ben is a teacher who is diagnosed with cancer and told that with radical treatment he still does not have a very good chance at survival. On his way home from the doctor he sees a motorcycle for sale and buys it. Ben has decided that before he has to face his cancer, before he has to become a patient, he will try living his life and perhaps realizing a dream of becoming an author.
Ben takes off from Toronto, heading West, an a typical road trip movie ensues. As an audience we also get to enjoy the Canadian scenery (that made me really want to travel more in the country myself) as well as the cool and sometimes just plain odd roadside attractions (Camel, Paperclip, Banff, Hell's Gate, Nickel, Giant Hockey Stick, and the Stanley Cup). Ben also meets some people along the way that help him discover something about himself or his situation. One of them played by none other than Gord Downie! Ben also runs into two Newfies (perhaps the movie's way of working in the East Coast that Ben ignores on his trip) who are biking across Canada to win a case of beer (each) and are looking for a Canadian Tire. A truly priceless moment.
Eventually, Ben finishes his trip from Toronto to Tofino and must return home to face his current situation.
SPOILER: The movie is narrated and at the end we learn that the narrator is readin Ben Tyler's book One Week. He realized his dream of becoming an author before he died.
One Week gets two kernels - it is a nice movie to watch and take in the scenery, but it is ultimately a little forgetable and some people may find the lack of action a tad boring.
It appears that I did not take any notes on Friday the 13th, but I really don't think it was necessary. To help explain the quality of the movie you should know that it came out in theatres on Friday, February 13th. I watched it at the second run movie theatre (Rainbow) on Friday, March 13th. Not promising.
I have very little to say about this movie. Basically there were a lot of boobs and some comic relief. Oh, and a lot of death. It was ultra-predictable (the brother and sister always survive in horror movies!) and the moments that I am guessing were intended to be scary came off laughable.
At one point earlier in the movie we see a guy operating a wood chipper...which clearly meant that someone was going to die via wood chipper later on. The best thing I can say about this movie is that they did not disappoint me in this.
I am about to spoil the end...but is it really a spoiler when everyone sees it coming? The most frustrating part of the movie is when the brother and sister finally escape Jason by jamming him in the wood chipper they then decide to unjam him and throw him in the lake. Brilliant move guys, brilliant move.
If you've actually read this blog before you may have noticed that I did not link any of the actor's names to their imdb pages. I'd like to think of this as me doing them a favour so as to not further connect their names with this movie.
Friday the 13th gets one kernel - I only paid $4 and it was mildly entertaining as a sort of slasher/comedy.
I know it has been a REALLY long time since I've posted. I apologize. I haven't really gone to that many (only 3), but still...
First up is the movie Twilight, based on the book of the same name written by Stephenie Meyer. Luckily I took notes about this movie or I would remember almost nothing. Basically the movie isn't that good (if you look at it as solely a movie with no book attachment) and I am glad I read the book first, because the movie does not leave you with the impression that the book is that great. When looking at the movie as an adaptation of the novel I would say that it did a good job of getting the story across without cutting out important information or making seemingly random changes (looking at you Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 1&2).
I thought the acting was pretty stilted and some of the speeches were almost painful to watch (particularly the one at the end in the hospital room). I also thought the running scenes were rather poor. Edward (Robert Pattinson), Carlisle, Jacob's Dad, and Chief Swan were all not as I had imagined. I know Edward is this gorgeous guy, but I thought he would be gorgeous in a less obvious way (if that makes any sense at all). Carlisle kind of gave me the creeps and yet he is supposed to be this really friendly genuine guy that everyone loves. Jacob's Dad I had pictured much older...I kind of remembered him more as a grandpa for some reason. I also thought Chief Swan would be older and maybe a little tubby and a little more lost without his daughter. All that being said, I thought that Bella (Kristen Stewart) was really good. Though fairly minor characters, Jessica and Eric were perfect! Before I give my kernel rating I must admit that I am a fan of Buffy the Vampire slayer and at times I found it hard to grasp this new definition and the new rules of vampires. I got over the whole glittering in the sun thing...it is a fairly creative reason that vamps aren't out in sunshine, but there were a few inconsistencies that I felt brought the whole thing down a little.
Oh, looking at my notes there were a few other things I wanted to mention...in quick points!
- The baseball game was cool to see because it is an interesting concept that, for me, was hard to visualize from just reading.- The movie had some good music moments; opening song Full Moon and Collective Soul's Tremble for My Beloved.- The moment where Edward read mind's in the restaurant was truly great.
- I can't believe they felt the need to recreate the cover of the book in the movie (hands holding apple). I just about died of a corn overload.- I haven't read past the first book, but Jacob is totally a werewolf, right?
Twilight gets two kernels - it stays pretty true to the book, even if it does so in a very stilted poorly acted (or possibly directed) movie. Also, I know some major Twilight fans (of the books) that really like the movie so I might get in trouble if I just give it the one kernel.
