Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Year: 2011

Why'd I Watch It?: It's right up my alley.

What's It About?: 70s British espionage.

What'd I Think?: As a disclaimer, I haven't seen the original or read the book, because I'm a total pleb. That being said, I really loved this movie. This was clean and well done, with excellent acting all around, especially from Oldman. The style and tone of the whole movie was just bang on. I kind of prefer the talk-y espionage sort of spy flick to the action-y type. Then again, I'd be content to just lie around and listen to Benedict Cumberbatch talk all day.

Rating: 5 waffles

War Horse

Year: 2011

Why'd I Watch It?: Quest to watch all of the Oscar movies.

What's It About?: A boy, his horse, and World War I.

What'd I Think?: In my serious adult opinion it was pretty good. All the cinematography was beautiful, with stunning landscapes and wonderfully framed shots. The story was good and I'm glad the war was depicted as brutally as it was. It was a bit longer than necessary, but whatevs. In my goofy teenager opinion Hiddleston and Cumberbatch bought the farm too quickly and if I never see Cumberbatch with that awful 'stache again it will be too soon.

Rating: 4 1/2 waffles

Drive

Year: 2011

Why'd I Watch It?: It looked really good.

What's It About?: A stunt driver who drives getaway vehicles in his spare time and then he gets in to some shit.

What'd I Think?: The last time I came close to feeling this way about a movie was Inception. Acting was superb. I am so gay/straight/bi-curious for Ryan Gosling now. It was shot beautifully, between the cinematography and all the amazing lighting setups. Those gore effects made my friend Elizabeth, a SPFX make up artist, freak out. The whole execution was phenomenal. There are no words. I want to have this movie's children. Also, DAT SOUNDTRACK.

Rating: 5 waffles

A Dangerous Method

Year: 2011

Why'd I Watch It?: Fassy and Viggo as Jung and Freud!

What's It About?: Jung boinking one of his patients and having a falling out with Freud.

What'd I Think?: This was really disappointing. I was just expecting to to be more interesting, more in depth, more fucked up. And it was none of those things. I don't really like Keria Knightly very much, but it could have been okay! Fassbender! Mortensen! But it was just really flat with no real plot of any kind, and no sexual tension at all. I haven't come out of a movie feeling disappointed in a long time, but this was just lackluster.

Rating: 2 waffles

Thor

Year: 2011

Why'd I Watch It?: It's Thor.

What's It About?: Thor.

What'd I Think?: It was fun. I didn't roll around like a 5th grader on cocaine as I did post-First Class, but I did enjoy myself thoroughly. The cast was super solid (though I could have done without Kat Dennings' character, but that's not her fault). Tom Hiddleston was especially excellent. Good origin story. I hope Branagh had fun too.

Rating: 4 1/2 waffles

Source Code

Year: 2011

Why'd I Watch It?: Jake Gyllenhaal. Also, potential neat sci-fi?

What's It About?: A soldier who keeps getting sent back in time in to some poor dude's body to stop a train bombing.

What'd I Think?: It was decent. It's not super cerebral or anything, but a solid concept with a pretty good ending that could have been great if Hollywood movie were only more nihilistic.

Rating: 3 1/2 waffles

H.P. Lovecraft's Re-Animator

Year: 1985

Why'd I Watch It?: It was the midnight movie at the Belcourt.

What's It About?: A guy who develops a serum that can bring the dead back to life, but they're all screwed up zombie-monsters.

What'd I Think?: Campy horror at its finest. The perfect blend of gratuitous gore, intentional comedy, and wonderful practical effects. Seriously, this movie is really fun. Also, Jeffrey Combs is amazing.

Rating: 5 waffles