It’s Tuesday and by the time you are reading this I will be gone.
Ok – now that sounded a bit morbid. Not gone as in “gone”… but at the gym. My day is full and this is the only time I can get in my workout today. I have a full day at work, interviews to do this afternoon and a meeting tonight. Busy Tuesday.
This morning I thought I would chat about the last two movies I have seen, Shutter Island and Alice In Wonderland.
A week ago Sunday I went with Al, Justin, and Chance to Shutter Island. I read this book years ago and loved it. LOVED it. I couldn’t wait to see what they did with the movie. And I suppose, I could say the movie was ok. I don’t know if I was hoping for something too incredible – from a memory of a book I have not read in years, but the movie just didn’t hit the spot for me. It was average and I think the twist at the end was a bit different. I think it twisted… and then twisted again.
On this past Sunday I went with Chance to Alice In Wonderland. This one was more of a default movie. I wanted to spend time with Chance (our Kinship Partner) but didn’t have a lot of time and didn’t really know what we could do. So I checked the movie theater and this is the only one that looked like we would both may enjoy and was age appropriate (he is 14).
Whats funny about this movie is that the sell for me was really to see Johnny Depp and how he would take his role to the next level. What surprised me was that the character I thoroughly was impressed with Helena Bonham Carter, the Red Queen. I seriously thought she stole the show – and made the movie for me.
There is something also about Alice. Mia Wasikowska has a look about her… always serious always thinking…. she appears to be a deep character and she plays Alice well.
Overall, I have to admit I was more impressed with Alice In Wonderland (which I didn’t really want to see) then Shutter Island (which I did want to see).
Book Journey 
The Blind Side is still showing across the street this next weekend, and we’d like to go. But it’s only a week until it’s out on DVD, so we’ll see.
Hannah I really enjoyed The Blind Side. My husband hasn’t seen it yet so I am eager to have it come out on DVD! 🙂
Yeah, we’ve heard lots of good things about it.
I am glad you enjoyed them and discovered your referred the one you thought you would like less. I have no desire to see either. I truly do prefer to simply read the books and leave it to the author descriptions and my imaginations.
I love movies Jennifer (not as much as books) but a well done movie really stays with me, a lot like a book. 🙂
I felt the same way about Alice! You know how the Disney version (cartoon) has such a “cheery” Alice…then the late eighties version showed a more thoughtful Alice (played by Tina Majorino). And this new movie showed the same type of Alice.
When you think about it, that’s really more spot on. I mean, if you fell down a rabbit hole, you wouldn’t be laughing and happy, would you? At the very least, you’d be thoughtful and perhaps worried…
You’re right about the Red Queen, though. While I enjoyed Johnny Depp’s performance, Helena Bonham Carter really stunned me with her compelling performance.
Haven’t seen Shutter Island, although I’ve been thinking about it…now, maybe I’ll just wait for the DVD.
I would wait for DVD Laurel on Shutter Island. I am not even sure if I would have fully understood it if I had not read the book.
Oh sorry to hear that you did not enjoy Shutter Island (movie). I liked the book, but we loved the movie.
I am so glad you loved it Diane! 🙂 I read the book so long ago… were the endings different? I dont remember the additional twist in the book but maybe I had forgotten…
I went to see Alice in 3D last week & wnjoyed it. I have to say I thought Helena Bonham Carter was the best one in the movie. She really played the weird, funny & cruel red queen rather well. I thought the haters crush on Alice was adorable & I would probably go see Through The Looking Glass if they were to make it.
Ooh – in 3d Shannon! That would have been cool! Helena just cracked me up…. she was clearly jealous of her sister…. and the big head….LOL
If you haven’t seen Crazy Heart, it is one of the best movies I have seen in years! Jeff Bridges is just wonderful as the down and out old country singer who is looking for a little redemption for his past life. Bridges does a great job with the singing, and a big suprise for me was how good Colin Farrell (as Bridge’s prodigy) could sing. Not a lick of an Irish accent anywhere!
I highly recommend seeing the movie! I have the book in my TBR pile right now!
Thanks Sharon! I dont even think I have heard of this movie. I will have to look for it on your recommendation. 🙂
I really want to see both of those movies! They sound really good . Love Johnny Depp, he’s such a good actor.
I agree on Depp Natalie – I think he did what he could with the part. I would love to hear your thoughts on either or both of them.
As you know, I saw Shutter Island right around when I read the book. Personally, I thought that the movie was very close to the book.
In Alice in Wonderland, I agree that Carter was great as the Red Queen, but I still feel that Johnny made the movie. I really liked the movie and actually would like to see it again. My mom was not that thrilled to see it, but after it was over, she said she was wrong and that it was really good.
Michelle I read the book so long ago I am having trouble remembering all the details. I dont remember the part about his wife or the ending being the same. Other than that from what I remember it was a close match. 🙂
I would probably get Alice when it comes out on DVD.
Very interesting that you think Helena Bonham Carter stole the show, too.
Hannah I did not even know that was who the actress was until I came home and looked it up. I knew I recognized her but didn’t place her. It was actually interesting to see all the roles that she has played in movies. Many of the movies I had not seen and I had no idea she was such a big actress.
I haven’t seen either one, but would like to see both. I always think the book is better than the movie. Maybe one of these will challenge that thought for me!
Vicki – I have one instance where I thought the movie was better than the book. The Notebook by Sparks. I preferred the ending in the movie and through the movie pieces together better than things I did not find covered well in the book.
I won tickets to The Green Zone from Glue and I have a gift card for Red Lobster, so I foresee dinner and a movie next week!
Cathy – Yum and YAY! 🙂
I hope to see both of these at some point. But we so rarely go to the movies now that the kids are all old enough to go with friends, I’ll probably have to wait until they’re out on DVD.
I see a few more movies than I normally would because of Chance Lisa. He is 14 and our Kinship Partner (we are like foster parents to him) and I dont always know what to do with a 14 year old anymore….LOL Movies are always an easy choice and then we go eat some place fun!
I really want to see Alice-my husband and friends have no interest in the movie.
Haven’t seen either one. Had planned a Book to Movie party for Alice, but since I’m not at the library anymore, it didn’t happen.
An Alice book party was a great idea Pat. Depending on your movie taste, I don’t know if I would recommend either one.