The Choice - Nicholas Sparks

Picked up the latest Nicholas Sparks novel "The Choice" at the library Sunday. I didn't even remember that I had requested it - must have back in May - that is how long it takes to get the latest release for these type of books.

"The Choice" tells the story of Travis and Gabby.

Yep. That's about all I have to say. It is a fast read.

I liked Sparks' first novel "The Notebook" in 1998 - however I just am so not into books like these anymore where everything fits together just right at the perfect time. It is as if he is just going through the motions for a million dollar screenplay.

Maybe I am being a bit cynical on a New Year's Day night, but when I read I am looking for more, I felt like I never got to know either Travis or Gabby and felt closer to their dogs.

Happy New Year.

Juno. Like the city in Alaska?

Shelly and I went to Juno this afternoon and we both loved it. Absolutely loved it. It is the brainchild of local Mpls blogger Diablo Cody and was never dull.

It is an odd little tale of a strange girl named Juno (after Zeus' wife - talk about big shoes to fill) who finds herself in a bit of a pickle after becoming pregnant from one encounter with orange tic-tac eating/best friend/boyfriend Paulie Bleaker.

Everyone in the movie is perfectly cast, especially Juno - she is portrayed by Ellen Page and she is phenomenal. Talk about taking acerbic wit to a new level, she always has the best lines and gives the impression she is wise beyond her years, but in the end she is just a scared 16 year old from Minnesota who has enough sense to know she isn't ready to be a mom.

Allison Janney (from the West Wing) has some of the other best lines as Juno's stepmother Bren and Jennifer Garner (who Shelly and I both love from our Alias-obsession days) does a realistic portrayal of Vanessa who is waiting for a child. Her character I didn't really like at first, but by the end of the movie you were so rooting for her and her life.

Another one of my favorites Jason Bateman plays Vanessa's husband Mark who ends up as a complete antithesis of how Vanessa evolved for the viewer. Loved him in the beginning - maybe more in the middle and by the end I couldn't stand the Kurt Cobain wannabe, commercial composer loser.

Like I said, go see Juno - it is so very good.

Walk Hard: (and fast away from this movie)

Let's be clear, I did not see this movie. I preferred to see Alvin and the Chipmunks a second time vs. subjecting myself and it was the best decision I've ever made, according to my husband and his best friend, Term.

They wanted me to tell you TO NEVER SEE THIS MOVIE. Evidently it's the worst movie EVER made. This is especially surprising coming from Term, who can find a redeeming quality in pretty much every movie made. My husband Nathan says this is worse than From Dusk to Dawn, which has emphatically been his worst movie ever for at least 10 years now.

DO NOT SEE THIS MOVIE.

I Am Legend

If you like suspenseful, gut wrenching sci-fi movies, you'll like this one. I thought the storyline was interesting and the way they presented it was good, but the suspense about killed me. Scared the crap out of me! So only go if you like that kind of thing. Will Smith is great as always.

Alvin and the Chipmunks

This is a fun kid movie, not offensive or violent or scary. My 3 year old even sat through it and he has an attention span of a knat.

Atonement

This is another movie that is just amazing and I'll have a hard time putting it into words. First off the actors are great. James McAvoy, who I first loved in Becoming Jane, is wonderful. He's not gorgeous in a Brad Pitt sort of way but he has the most entrancing eyes. And the way he brings the characters to life just pulls you in.

The story is wonderful in it's originality. I think it's the filming and the score though that makes it so enjoyable. They use really interesting camera work that is beautiful and suspenseful in a gentle way.

I loved it, I think you will, run to see it.

Into the Wild

I loved this movie but I don't know how to explain why. I guess it starts with a well-written story. Kudos to Sean Penn for screenwriting this one. I haven't read the book but I have to imagine this would be a hard story to convert to a screenplay. He uses some unique techniques to bring to life this young man's story and struggle.

He also didn't chintz on the scenery. The story follows Christopher McCandless' journey across the US. They could've cheaply let California substitute for many of the locations (like South Dakota) but they didn't and the effect is magical. You feel like you are experiencing everything he did and it made me want to chuck it all and hit the road too (for a few minutes anyway). Again, kudos to Sean Penn.

This is really a movie you NEED to see on the big screen. Watching it in a theatre I was truly lost for two hours in the experience. That doesn't happen very often and it was great.