I Still Watch Movies

So it may have been a while since I have sat down to write a review of a movie, but make no mistake I have still been watching. In fact, movies have now come to serve three distinct purposes in my life:

1. Reward: I have become a HUGE and horrible procrastinator. In order to get myself to study (and I mean AT ALL), I need to be able to earn some reward. Movies are now my...if I get X amount of work done, I get to go see Y...HOORAY! This reason makes me think my life is a little sad.
2. A Break: School is all science and all consuming. Sometimes I just need to get sucked into a romantic comedy and get out of my house (meaning TV can't solve the problem) and away from science for a few hours. This has become so helpful and needed that even if I don't find someone to go with, I have now gone to a movie TWICE by myself (side note, if I'm sitting in a theater alone and the theater is pretty empty, why would you, newcomer to the theater, choose to sit RIGHT in front of me and then TALK the ENTIRE time. This is not "Can I have your number"). I had thought I would never be able to cinema-venture solo as when I eat in restaurants alone, even in the airport when traveling, I feel so awkward that I have to pretend to be texting, reading, or talking to someone on the phone. It is as if I am trying to say LOOK! I HAVE FRIENDS!. But, in the movies...its pretty much dark and quiet the whole time and that whole awkwardness goes away. How...pleasantly surprising.
3. Fun: I love the movies. True, I wish it was still like 4 dollars to go to see a movie, or that when you sat down it was like that scene in Annie where they sing Let's go to the movies, but movies are definitely an enjoyed past time for me. In another life, or somehow in addition to the one I will have, I would love people to pay me to go to and talk about them.

Anyway, in the past weeks I have seen two movies worth discussing. 

The Conspirator: It was not until Robin Wright (more commonly referred to as the Princess Bride or Jenny from Forest Gump) appeared on an episode of Chelsea Lately to promote this movie that I even knew it existed (silly, small, hidden, unpublicized, indy films), but her interview piqued my interest. Then, when I saw that the little theater here (within walking and not driving distance) somehow had the movie, I knew I just HAD to go. In a nutshell, the movie is about the plot to kill Lincoln (which, obviously, was a successful one). Unlike the few films in recent years about assassination plots, mostly loosely based on fact and/or focusing on Hitler, this film appeared to stick very closely to the truth as we know it, and that's what made it interesting. Yes, it was slow to start (as most historical dramas are), but as you got deeper and deeper into the story, as the viewer you grew to question more and more the way the legal system handled the prosecution of Mary Surratt and if she really was guilty of much more than loving and supporting her son. I do not know about you and your history background, but for me, all I knew about this storyline was that Surratt was involved in the conspiracy (as the only woman). I had basically no clue about the details of her case and knew nothing concrete about the plot itself. This movie, however, taught me a lot and it did so in a non-History channel kind of way, which was cool. Because I think this learning experience was one of the best parts of the movie, I will not give much away, but I will say that if a Union Soldier defending someone accused of killing President Lincoln isn't enough drama for you, you should probably stop getting de-dramatized by reality TV. Ultimately, I really dug this movie and hope the actors/writers/directors get some recognition for it along the way.

Water for Elephants: I have been quite blog vocal about my opinions of book to movie translations, and this is no different as I am a big big fan of this novel. What can best be described as a sort of Notebook-eque story (a love story told from the perspective of the aged version of one of the lovers), the lovers in the film are completely outshined by the elephant and at times I even forgot that I should be looking at them at all. Perhaps this reaction was, in part, due to the fact that I really am not a Robert Pattinson fan and I remain unconvinced that he was the right casting for this part, but it could also just be because the idea of working that closely with an animal that awesome.... rocks. Anywhoo, the movie itself was not bad for a book-movie, and nothing incredibly drastic was changed or taken out to the point that the script made me angry. However, the movie made it seem like the main couple had only had an emotional connection (plus one kiss) and then they decided to risk everything and run away together. I think by cutting down the story, the viewer missed a lot of the build up of their relationship in real terms, and not just in innocent flirtations. They were also found WAY too fast by the husband and crew, further limiting their relationship building time. Finally, though I was proud they kept in a lot of the side stories about the circus friends, they cut the explanations of their characters and the building of them into the narrative so that the viewer was like..."wait, why is he paralyzed" or like "why were they thrown off the train?"....instead of feeling the right amount of sympathy and remorse. The biggest issue, therefore, was time. Yet, if you liked the book (and even if you did not read it), you will enjoy the movie. It is important to keep in mind that it is a little dark at times (my friend was clinging onto my arm as she thought it was a bit lighter), and that perhaps the shortening of the story leaves one with more than a few questions. All in all, be prepared for Rosie and the elder version of Rob Pattinson to steal the show and make you smile.