Week at the Movies

I've seen a few movies in the last couple weeks. Let's take 'em from the top:

I Am Legend
This was a good movie, especially if you go with a friend who appreciates a good vampire/Armageddon flick. However, the real value of this movie is that it may convince you to read the book by the same name. Let me tell you: the book is of course better, more profound in plot, denouement, and climax than the movie, and has a completely different ending. The movie is a pretty lame injustice by comparison.

Charlie Wilson's War
Awesome movie. Go see. Ignoring the fact that I'm always happy to see Philip Seymour Hoffman getting more work, this is a relevant film, an exciting movie, and I wanted it to be longer than it was. 'nuff said. I'm almost tempted to read the book by the same name, but not quite.

Juno
Great movie, destined to be a classic in the spirit of Ghost World, Napoleon Dynamite, and Little Miss Sunshine. Bonus points for use of the Mott the Hoople song, All the Young Dudes. This is a great comedy/drama to watch with friends.

The Darjeeling Limited
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou is easily one of my favorite movies. Its calm humor just leaves me in stitches. The Darjeeling Limited is a very different sort of movie, but you can tell the artist behind it is the same. The themes of parent-child relationships, alienation, and actualization remain in the crosshairs here, and the comedy style is like more food from the same great restaurant. However, while Life Aquatic was a spoof of sorts, The Darjeeling Limited is a drama and stands completely on its own. The characters are rich, the soundtrack is another wonder, the dialog and humor are in touch. Life Aquatic may have sent you away snickering, and this movie will send you away reflecting.

That's about it. Next movie I'm looking forward to: Cloverfield