Alexander Walker Lives, William Ages

#90: Feeling Very British today, aren't we?

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Just got home from the advanced screening of Monster-in-Law - a movie which would've worked if the lead actress hadn't been Jennifer Lopez. That and if the script had been a notch better than cereal carton blurbs. Jane Fonda's acting was acceptable. Wanda Sykes was talented enough to make something out of otherwise 'blah' lines. Michael Vartan, well, he just looked good. The dynamics between him and J.Lo was not credible. Neither was his attempt at portraying a doctor. (Come on. Keanu was more believable as a doctor in "Something's Gotta Give." Bill-and-Ted accent and all.) He just looked good. (Oh. I said that already?)
*** Bottomline: Below Expectations.

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Batman Begins is another story. That movie I loved. (To think that I watched it with the least likely person I'd spend a Friday evening with.) Christian Bale is not your typical hottie-who-overshadows-the-character actor. He has always been a good actor, even from way back his "Empire of the Sun" days, so it wasn't surprising that he was able to give a new shade of depth to the persona of Batman. I don't like Katie Holmes. (From way back her Dawson's Creek days. I find it annoying the way she twitches or gives her signature "I-can't-believe-I'm-saying-this" head shake when she delivers her lines.) But in the movie, the camera didn't stay so long on her character, cutting the window of possibility of her ticks distracting the viewer from the meat of the scene. That probably explains why I didn't come out of the movie disliking her more. I also appreciated the way the story unfolded. It took the viewer (comicbook-ignorantes like me included) by the hand and led him carefully into seeing the process by which Batman became Batman.
*** Bottomline: Above Expectations. Bravo.

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Mr & Mrs Smith from two Mondays ago was hmm... ok. Beautyfest is what it is. The story didn't have to matter. The audience didn't have to see how predictable the storyline was or how shabbily tied the ending was. They just had to keep themselves from alternately drooling over Angelina and Brad Pitt.
*** Bottomline: Within expectations. Nothing great about it but no regrets having seen it.

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Happy Birthday to William!

As if naming my first real company car after you wasn't enough, now I'm sending you birthday greetings. Yes, from Manila to Wales. Or are you in Scotland now?

Two wishes:
1. May you never tire of flashing that Princess Diana-esque smile
2. And may you find a way to keep yourself from balding like your father, Prince Charles.

So when will you come and sweep me off my feet?