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Thursday, July 15, 2010:
What I'm watching: Law Abiding Citizen
 From Yahoo Movies: Clyde Shelton is an upstanding family man whose wife and daughter are brutally murdered during a home invasion. When the killers are caught, Nick Rice, a hotshot young Philadelphia prosecutor, is assigned to the case. Over his objections, Nick is forced by his boss to offer one of the suspects a light sentence in exchange for testifying against his accomplice. Fast forward ten years. The man who got away with murder is found dead and Clyde Shelton coolly admits his guilt. Then he issues a warning to Nick: Either fix the flawed justice system that failed his family, or key players in the trial will die. Soon Shelton follows through on his threats, orchestrating from his jail cell a string of spectacularly diabolical assassinations that can be neither predicted nor prevented. Philadelphia is gripped with fear as Shelton's high-profile targets are slain one after another and the authorities are powerless to halt his reign of terror. Only Nick can stop the killing, and to do so he must outwit this brilliant sociopath in a harrowing contest of wills in which even the smallest misstep means death. With his own family now in Shelton's crosshairs, Nick finds himself in a desperate race against time facing a deadly adversary who seems always to be one step ahead.
This was a great, chilling movie! I enjoyed seeing Gerard Butler in the bad guy role this time around, although considering how he got there - having seen his wife and child killed - it's hard to not feel sympathy and understanding for his actions, and maybe even root for him a little. I am a Libra, and one of the occupations that is always considered appropriate for Libras is a judge, yet I don't think I could ever be impartial enough to let the things happen they way they do in the justice system. Not that I believe they are completely wrong, but because I see too many seriously bad, unrepentant people get away with horrible acts of violence. There were a few things in the movie that made me squeamish, but they're more alluded to than anything else (like exactly how his daughter may have eventually died - you're left to imagine what horrible things were done to her) - yet at one point it got a little too close to home - such as when Clyde found the killer that got away. Picturing in my mind all the things he said he was going to do to him was creepy and disgusting, to say the least. Something out of my worst nightmares. But I guess after a point when you lost the most important people in your life, one of them being a child, you lose touch with reality, at least temporarily, and reach a point where you just don't care. Sadly Clyde was pushed off the deep end, and avenged his family the only way he knew how. What I liked:
Gerard's sexy ass! Don't know why he had to strip, but dayum, that was sweet!
The scene with the judge and the phone. Didn't see that coming!
The "daddy" bracelet his daughter made for him - heartbreaking and poignant.
Using brains (mostly) over brawn to get away with the crimes.
What I didn't care for:
- Not a big Jamie Foxx fan, and I thought he was an ass in this movie
- The ending. Come on! Why? I get it, but still.
- No strong female character.
Overall, an enjoyable, action-packed movie with sufficient eye candy and violence to get your adrenaline going. Again have to mention that the lack of a decent female role in these types of films is beyond tiresome. There always has to be the requisite pissing contest between the two guys. Wouldn't it have been wonderful if a woman was in one of those roles? Have you seen it? Wasn't a nekkid Gerard HOT??? Labels: Gerard Butler, movies
posted by Stacy~ at 7/15/2010 07:37:00 AM
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Wednesday, December 02, 2009:
Holiday contest #1: Do you want "The Ugly Truth"?
 " Abby Richter is a romantically challenged morning show producer whose search for Mr. Perfect has left her hopelessly single. She's in for a rude awakening when her bosses team her with Mike Chadway, a hardcore TV personality who promises to spill the ugly truth on what makes men and women tick." from Yahoo movies This was one of my favorite movies of 2009, so I thought it would be fun to give it away as my first holiday prize. I just love Gerard Butler (even if he is a man ho!) and thought he was funny and sexy and even sweet in this movie. It's a bit raunchy, and politically incorrect, but if you like hot guys and you're not easily offended, then I think you just might like this one. If you've already seen it and want your own copy (like I do), then here's your chance. As always, I like to ask a question and get to know my "audience" *g*, and this time is no different. And the contest question is: "What's the craziest thing you'd do or have done to get a guy's attention?" Rules: So please comment no later than noon CST on Saturday, December 6th. All eligible comments must answer the question. Please DO NOT leave your email address. Once the winner is announced here at my blog, it will be their responsibility to contact me within 1 week of announcement, otherwise a new winner will be announced. Contest is open to anyone I can send this to, anyone who receives mail. [Since I will be out of town on business starting early Sunday morning and will be gone for a week, I might not be able to respond until after the 12th.] So go ahead, I want to know just how wild and crazy you guys all are LOL. And GOOD LUCK!!! Labels: contests, Gerard Butler, movies
posted by Stacy~ at 12/02/2009 06:55:00 AM
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Wednesday, August 12, 2009:
"Shattered" (2007) - movie review
From http://www.moviesonline.ca/film6483.htm: Neil and Abby Warner have the perfect life and a perfect marriage. With their beautiful young daughter, Sophie, they are living the American dream... until today.
When Sophie is suddenly kidnapped, they have no choice but to comply with the abductors demands. The kidnapper - Ryan (PIERCE BROSNAN), a cold and calculating sociopath takes over their lives with the brutal efficiency of someone who has nothing to lose.
In the blink of an eye Neil and Abby's safe and secure existence is turned upside down. Over the next twenty four hours they are at the mercy of a man who wants only one thing. That they do his bidding. It soon becomes clear that Ryan's demands are all the more terrifying... because he doesn't want their money. What he wants is for Neil and Abbyís life, the life that they have built over 10 years, to be systematically dismantled and destroyed. Piece by piece.
With time running out on their little girl, Neil and Abby realise their nightmare is about to take its most deadly turn: They will have to face Ryan's final, horrifying challenge - would they kill an innocent man to save their own child?
In the far distance a solitary light burns in the window of a lodge as the car glides to a halt - and Neil knows it is a question only he can answer - when Ryan hands him the gun...
After seeing "The Ugly Truth" and loving it, I wanted to find out if there were any other Gerard Butler movies I hadn't seen, and came across this one, which appealed to me, since I'm definitely in a suspense mode lately. As I'm watching it I realize that part of it had been filmed in Chicago; where the hell was I when Gerard was in town??? I seriously don't remember this. How sad to have missed that.
Anyway, so the movie starts out with Abby and Neil, and we see their beautiful daughter, their gorgeous house, their wonderful life. Abby is a stay-at-home mom, and Neil works for a top advertising agency. The two are going about their day; Abby planning a day of pampering with a girlfriend for her birthday and Neil getting ready to attend an off-site work meeting at his boss' cabin. As they drive into the city together, discussing their plans, all of a sudden a man with a gun jumps up from the backseat and tells them they will never see their daughter again unless they do everything he says.
So as the day progresses, Tom Ryan, their captor, asks exactly what it is they would do to get their daughter back. He takes them through the city, making demands on a deadline, pushing them to see how desperate they are to get their child back. He basically breaks down their life, taking from them their security, their sense of worth and confidence, their trust in each other. Yet by the time their day of captivity is over, Tom will ask of them the ultimate sacrifice, and pushes to find out to exactly what measures this couple will go to in order to save their child...
My thoughts:
This movie was pretty interesting, and not exactly what I was expecting, and that can be very cool. We see what we think is this perfect family going about their lives. They seem totally devoted to each other. Yet then we see glimpses of what really goes on in their day, and we see that Neil on that job and learn he can be a real jerk at times, that he lets his ego take over and smirks at those less charismatic, less, confident. That Abby is not so content being a stay-at-home mom all the time. There are cracks in the armor.
But all of that is set aside in the desperate need to get their daughter back. Money, career, material objects become not only secondary, but completely unimportant when it comes to saving their child. It becomes quite obvious that Tom doesn't care about anything or anyone, and so Neil and Abby realize that reasoning with him is not an option. He has an agenda that he intends to carry out, and no matter what they say or do, it won't change that. Their feelings of rage and frustration and utter helplessness grow in intensity because they are at Tom's mercy, and have no idea what he's going to ask of them next. But Tom has a definite plan as to how this is all going to end, and it's not going to be pretty. The question is: how far will you go to protect the life of a loved one?
Pierce makes for a decidely sinister and sexy villain. You can't help but be drawn to his ruthless character housed in such an attractive package, yet also hate him at the same time for endangering the life of a child. Abby is a frantic mother who would lay down her life, or let herself be victimized to get her daughter back. Maria Bello is incredibly gorgeous, yet she also has this strong maternal vibe that shines strongly in her role as Abby and you can picture yourself being her, scared for her child, willing to be pushed to any length if it means her daughter will be safe. That fits with my idea of a loving mother, and she got it right without becoming hysterical and useless. And then there's Gerard as Neil, the sexy husband and father, who loves his daughter but feels threatened and is not afraid to push back, at least at first. Like any protector, he can't sit idly by and just "let" this happen to him and his family, he has to try to get control back from Tom. But there comes a point when he's stripped of his dignity, that whatever loss he suffers can't compare to the idea of something bad happening to his little girl. Or his wife.
I would recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys suspenseful action, and is fascinated by the lengths some people would go to in order to protect what is their's, whether it be material things, or something infinitely more precious, like a loved one. You also see several glimpses of Chicago, which for me is always a treat. Time flew by as I watched this, even though at times I was on the edge of my seat, wondering what the ending was going to turn out to be.
Rating: ****1/2 out of ***** Have you seen this movie? What did you think? Labels: Gerard Butler, movies
posted by Stacy~ at 8/12/2009 06:38:00 AM
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Monday, July 27, 2009:
"The Ugly Truth" (2009) a.k.a. a Stacy eye candy movie
The battle of the sexes heats up in Columbia Pictures' comedy The Ugly Truth. Abby Richter (Katherine Heigl) is a romantically challenged morning show producer whose search for Mr. Perfect has left her hopelessly single. She's in for a rude awakening when her bosses team her with Mike Chadway (Gerard Butler), a hardcore TV personality who promises to spill the ugly truth on what makes men and women tick. --© Sony Pictures
This movie doesn't reveal anything new about romantic comedies - there's still the stereotypical uptight heroine, the slightly smarmy, gorgeous hero who smirks at the heroine and always manages to put her in her place, and the lame scenario that inevitably throws them together so they are forced to spend copious time either working with each other or against each other for a common goal, i.e. competing for a promotion, forced to work on the same team, needing to get married to stay in the country... However one thing this movie has that a lot of others don't is actual, intentional humor. Raunchy, honest, no-holds-barred humor. Sure, Mike Chadway is the predictable, crass male chauvinist whose rude and and raw beliefs garner him quite a following, which leads him to network televison, and Abby Richter is the detail-oriented, list-obsessed anal producer who is forced to work with Mike. But they are so fun to watch that even the sexist comments and crude behavior aren't as offensive as you'd expect. When she meets a potential candidate who fits the criteria on her list for the perfect mate, she ends up realizing that maybe there is some merit to what Mike has to say, and he begins to give her lessons on attracting - and keeping - the man of her dreams. Of course all this time together predictably ends in them falling in love, but not without some obstacle (i.e. Abby's dream man) or another (Mike's fear of commitment). And there is the grand gesture of someone declaring their feelings. The inevitable climax occurs, and another romantic comedy is in the bag. Okay, with my blind lust of Gerard Butler, there's not much wrong he could have done here. There were moments that he was a complete pig who only dated women wearing bikinis who wrestled in jello, but what can I say? I really liked him in the movie, and I liked Katherine Heigl as well, even if I'm not sure I like her very much in real life, but she's damn good in these movies (i.e. "Knocked Up"), and it takes balls to put herself in some of these situations. Together they had enough chemistry to light San Francisco, and the scene in the restaurant with the vibrating panties was bloody hilarious. Even my friend Liz, who hated "Something About Mary" with a passion because of what she calls its nasty humor, loved this movie, and believe me, that's sayin' something. So will I be buying this on DVD? Hello? Haven't you been listening? Gerard?? You betcha I will! It's better than "The Proposal", and I thought that was cute, but this one was full of suggestive, dirty, sexy humor and laugh-out-loud goodness. Totally works for me. Rating: **** out of ***** Have you seen it?
If so, did you like it? If not, do you want to? Labels: Gerard Butler, movies
posted by Stacy~ at 7/27/2009 06:31:00 AM
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Tuesday, December 02, 2008:
posted by Stacy~ at 12/02/2008 05:51:00 AM
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Thursday, September 04, 2008:
...but this today. Went out with some friends from work last night and relaxed with 3 lovely and pink Bella Rose martinis. Yum-my. Sadly, I didn't see anyone like this in the bar. Now wouldn't that have been nice? * Ever see anyone famous in a bar/restaurant? Did you go over to meet them? If not, who would you like to meet and what would you say to them if you could? Labels: Gerard Butler
posted by Stacy~ at 9/04/2008 05:43:00 AM
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Friday, June 06, 2008:
I'm off in a bit to Lori Foster's event, kids, so have a great weekend. Here's a little somethin' to smile about...(at least I'm smiling) Yum Yum Yum... Labels: Gerard Butler
posted by Stacy~ at 6/06/2008 07:02:00 AM
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Wednesday, May 21, 2008:
"Nim's Island" (2008) - movie review
Anything can happen on Nim's Island, a magical place ruled by a young girl's imagination. It is an existence that mirrors that of her favorite literary character, Alex Rover - the world's greatest adventurer. But Alexandra, the author of the Rover books, leads a reclusive life in the big city. When Nim's father goes missing from their island, a twist of fate brings her together with Alexandra. Now they must draw courage from their fictional hero, Alex Rover, and find strength in one another to conquer Nim's Island.
Gerard Butler. That's all I needed to hear before deciding to go see this movie. I had no idea what the movie was about when I agreed to see it, other than who was in it, and I was perfectly fine with that. Gerard plays Jack Rusoe, a scientist who lives on "Nim's Island" with his young daughter Nim. She lost her mother, an oceanographer at a very young age, and is home-schooled by her father. She reads books, and plays with her friends Selkie (a sea lion), Fred (an iguana) and Galileo (a pelican). Her favorite stories are by an explorer named Alex Rover, who tells incredible tales about the many exciting adventures he experiences. Given Nim's imaginative and inquisitive nature, she devours these stories and can't wait to find out what he's up to next. One day Jack decides to go out on a scientific mission at sea, and asks his daughter to come with him. But she feels she's old enough to stay at home and take care of their home and the animals. He promises he'll only be gone for two days, and he'll be in contact with her in case she needs him. But as you can expect, an unexpected storm has Jack lost at sea, and he has no way to contact Nim. Meanwhile, Nim goes about her day, playing with her animal friends and reading her book. She responds to her father's emails, and discovers one from Alex Rover, of all people. Turns out Alex is not the intrepid explorer of Nim's expectations, but rather Alexandria Rover, a neurotic woman afraid to leave her apartment. With an uncooperative muse by the name of Alex Rover taunting her, and who just happens to look a lot like Jack by the way, the author is suffering from writer's block, and needs some research assistance from Nim's father. Nim is thrilled that Alex has contacted her father, and doesn't hesitate to act in his place. But when Jack fails to return home, and the island about to be taken over by an overzealous cruise ship captain, Nim doesn't know what to do. She emails Alexandria, asking for help. Alexandria, who lives halfway around the world in San Francisco, tries to help by calling 911, but her efforts are obviously futile. With the encouragement and challenge from her muse, Alexandria finds the courage to leave her apartment to go and save a little girl who is all alone, and afraid she's lost her father. My thoughts: Cute movie, though you might want to wait til it's out on DVD. Definitely for kids and families. And fans of Gerard Butler, who conveniently finds reason to go shirtless, which is a definite bonus. Nim is a fearless and happy child who is well-loved by her father. She lives on a beautiful island, and has lead an amazing life. If anything is missing, it's contact with other people, especially those her own age, and when she needs help the most, she cannot turn to her father, but must rely on the assistance of a complete stranger. Jodie Foster is very funny as the lonely and stressed out writer afraid of everything, and Gerard does a great job of playing both Nim's science geek father and Alexandria's handsome, fearless adventurer. Abigail Breslin plays Nim, a cheerful, smart young lady who's protective of her island and her animal friends, and of course her father. If she looks familiar, she's been in "Little Miss Sunshine" and "Definitely, Maybe". So yeah I'd recommend it for something to watch with young kids. It was a fun flick.
Rating: **** out of ***** Labels: Gerard Butler, movies
posted by Stacy~ at 5/21/2008 04:52:00 AM
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Wednesday, March 26, 2008:
~ Why not Gerard Butler? ~ (yeah, why not????) ~ Why not a Baskin-Robbins Cappuccino Blast? ~ (I don't want to hear it. Calories mean nothing to me in the middle of a craving.) ~ Why not sleep an extra 15 minutes in the morning? ~ (ah, it felt really good) ~ Why not stay home and read? ~ (alas, I must go to work, and not even a blue-eyed devil can change that) ~ Why not play the lottery? ~ (I believe it's up to $100 million...I could handle that) ~ Why not treat myself to several must-have books even if my tbr pile is out of control? ~ (yeah, it's an addiction, but one I can live with happily enough) ~ Why not pay it forward and buy someone a cup of coffee (or tea) today? ~ (someone did this for me yesterday, so it's my turn)
So. Why not...what?
Labels: Gerard Butler
posted by Stacy~ at 3/26/2008 05:15:00 AM
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Monday, January 14, 2008:
"Dear Frankie" (2004) - movie review
Studio: Miramax
DVD Release Date: July 5, 2005 Run Time: 105 minutes ASIN: B00094AS9A Nine year-old Frankie and his mom, Lizzie, have been on the move ever since he can remember. To protect her son from the truth, Lizzie has invented a story to satisfy Frankie's curiosity. She regularly writes Frankie a letter from his make-believe father who works aboard a ship traveling to exotic lands. However, Lizzie soon finds out his father's ship will be arriving in a few days. Now, Lizzie must choose between telling Frankie the truth and hatching a desperate plan to find the perfect stranger to play the perfect father. I saw this as a preview when I rented "On a Clear Day", and was immediately drawn to the idea of this movie and couldn't wait to watch it. Of course it doesn't hurt that Gerard Butler is in the film. When the movie starts, Frankie (Jack McElhone), Lizzie (Emily Mortimer) and her mom are moving yet again. By this time, Frankie is so used to it, he seems to look upon it as just another adventure, while Lizzie and her mother worry that they have to keep running, wondering if it will ever end. On top of that, Frankie is deaf, and it makes Lizzie even more protective of her son. Starting over at a new school is one of the struggles Frankie must face, and while being the new kid is difficult enough, he doesn't let that get him down. Frankie's a scrapper, and he's also smart and loves school. He can hold his own and doesn't back down from a challenge. One of Frankie's passions is the sea, from the ship like his father supposedly sails on to the marine life that exists beneath the surface, and he lovingly treasures every letter his "father" sends him, usually along with an exotic stamp from some far away land. One day Frankie finds out that the ship is father is on, the Accra, will be docking where he lives. Lizzie is frantic, and her mother decides they must leave immediately. But Lizzie is tired of running, and makes a bold decision to find a man to pretend to be Frankie's father, just for the day. Her first effort ends in failure, and knowing she doesn't have much time, Lizzie realizes she needs help, so she confesses her situation to her new friend Marie, who happens to know someone who might be able to help her. When Lizzie first meets the gruff, stoic "stranger" (Gerard Butler), she's not sure what she's gotten herself into, but he agrees to take the job and be Frankie's father for one day. Relieved yet anxious, Lizzie lets the stranger into her home and into her son's life, not realizing how this meeting will change them all, maybe most of all Lizzie, who has kept people, including her son, at arm's length for so long. This movie is definitely a gem of a film, simple, sturdy, and not spoiled by an overly sweet happy ending. I've mentioned before how I love Scotland (i.e. my obsession with the Loch Ness monster) and the accents of the people. Here, as in "On a Clear Day", we once again see Glasgow as the port city it is, industrial with hardworking people of the middle class. I liked how the characters "fit", and how the actors and actresses were so suited for their specific role. Emily Mortimer seems frail and ethereal, but her driving force is her love for her son, and she'll do whatever she must to protect him. Jack McElhone is a child with such expression in his face, yet also has that naughty boy quality that most kids his age would have, and while his character loves his mother dearly, he is also stubborn and independent and determined to do things his way. Gerard Butler, while undeniably gorgeous, does a wonderful job of playing the role of a rugged, working class man who sails on a ship and keeps to himself, yet is touched by Frankie and the good life he has despite what he's lost. It's obvious his character is not used to children, but his awkward behavior is fitting for the role of Frankie's absent father, and as the two get to know one another, he opens up more to the young boy, which prompts him to ask for another day of being "his dad", something maybe he needs even more than Frankie does. 
SPOILER: there is no fairytale ending here; Gerard doesn't sweep Lizzie off her feet and they all of a sudden become a happy family. But there are sweet moments, such as how we see that Jack is just as protective of his mother as she is of him, and how the kindness of a stranger can bring a family closer together, and there's also that hope of possibility that maybe one day.... I'll let you draw your own conclusions on that. Now you'll just have to see the movie. Rating: ***** out of ***** Labels: Gerard Butler, movies, reviews
posted by Stacy~ at 1/14/2008 02:17:00 PM
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Sunday, January 06, 2008:
'P.S. I Love You" (2007) - movie review
A grieving young widow discovers that her late husband has left her a list of tasks revealed in 10 messages, delivered anonymously, intended to ease her out of grief and transition her to a new life.
I've been wanting to see this movie since way before it was released, so finally Friday night I went and saw it with a friend. Before seeing it, I'd heard it was a sad movie, to bring lots of tissue, but I'll say right now, that while yes, there were several sad moments, it was also funny and endearing and sweet, and I didn't cry, but I did laugh.
When we first meet Holly and Gerry, they are fighting. It's one of those silly "female" arguments that makes me roll my eyes, but it leads to some humor and making up, and Gerry in his boxers with no shirt - now that's just lovely. Shortly afterwards - and I can say this without spoilers - Gerry dies. Holly, naturally is devastated. She wants to stay in her apartment and never leave, but friends and family won't let that happen. And nor will Gerry. He comes up with a plan to get Holly to join the land of the living again, to bring her back to the girl he fell in love with many years before.
She revisits old haunts and goes to Ireland, and we see moments from their past together, like how they met. Her mother doesn't approve of Holly doing all of these things because she thinks it's only prolonging her grief, but Holly does it anyway, and begins to find a way back to herself. Holly struggles, and cries, and feels jealous when good things happen to her friends because she thinks that part of her life is over, yet that is the lesson Gerry is trying to teach her - her life goes on, and there are many wonderful things still awaiting her. It's a lesson that takes her awhile to learn.
What I didn't like:
Holly's uptight, almost neurotic personality. It made me wonder why a guy like Gerry would stick around. Most of the time it baffled me as to what Gerry saw in Holly to begin with, except for a few moments when she lets herself go and enjoys herself.
The lack of chemistry. Hilary Swank is pretty in an ugly duckling kind of way, and Gerard Butler is the definition of a sexy, earthy Irishman (or Scot) with a love of life and sense of adventure, yet I couldn't see these two together. Hilary seems uptight during the more intimate moments, and the scenes felt awkward at times. (Let's just say their first kiss was nothing like John's and Margaret's from "North and South". Now that was sexy and romantic in its innocence and exploration. Whew!)
Holly attracting the attention of all the straight, unmarried men. Why? Didn't get that. Lisa Kudrow was more more interesting. Not that I didn't like Holly because she has her moments. I just figure in real life, men would run far from someone like her. But then, what do I know?
What I did like: Holly's best friends, played by Lisa Kudrow and Gina Gershon. While both are probably older than Holly (probably by about 10 years) there was a relaxed, bantering camraderie between them that worked really well. Lisa Kudrow is funny as hell, such a great actress, and so self-absorbed in this movie - I loved it. The scene in the boat is priceless.
Gerard Butler, Harry Connick Jr., and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Gerard is not afraid to put himself out there, whether emotionally or at the risk of being laughed at. His chararcter is sexy and charming, with that lovely accent and twinkling eyes, and how much he loved his wife. Loved that. Harry Connick Jr. is funny as a bartender with what he calls "no filter". He basically says whatever pops into his head, and it's hilarious. Jeffrey Dean Morgan (from Grey's Anatomy) is the epitome of an Irishmen (is he Irish in real life?) with that engaging smile, sparkling eyes, and brawny build. Both him and Gerard sing in the movie too, which is fun. Ladies, I say we all go to Ireland to bring us back some hotties - who's with me?
Yet despite its faults and the awkward romance between the main characters, I would recommend seeing it for the beauty of Ireland (men included), the humor, the sweet moments, and the friendships. For me, I got my Gerard Butler fix, so I'm a very happy girl to have seen it. Rating: **** out of *****
Labels: Gerard Butler, movies
posted by Stacy~ at 1/06/2008 07:59:00 AM
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Saturday, October 27, 2007:
In an adaptation of the best-selling Cecelia Ahern novel , Holly Kennedy (Hilary Swank) is beautiful, smart, and married to the love of her life-a passionate, funny and impetuous Irishman named Gerry (Gerard Butler). So when Gerry's life is taken by an illness, it takes the life out of Holly. The only one who can help her is the person who is no longer there. Nobody knows Holly better than Gerry. So it's a good thing he planned ahead. Before he died, Gerry wrote Holly a series of letters that will guide her, not only through her grief but in rediscovering herself. The first message arrives on Holly's 30th birthday in the form of a cake and, to her utter shock, a tape recording from Gerry, who proceeds to order her to get out and "celebrate herself." In the weeks and months that follow, more letters from Gerry are delivered in surprising ways, each sending her on a new adventure and each signing off in the same way: P.S. I Love You. Holly's mother (Kathy Bates) and best friends, Sharon (Gina Gershon) and Denise (Lisa Kudrow), begin to worry that Gerry's letters are keeping Holly tied to the past, but, in fact, each letter is pushing her further into a new future. With Gerry's words as her guide, Holly embarks on a touching, exciting and often hilarious journey of rediscovery in a story about marriage, friendship and how a love so strong can turn the finality of death into new beginning for life.  There's just something about Gerard Butler, don't you think? Labels: Gerard Butler, Hilary Swank, movies
posted by Stacy~ at 10/27/2007 05:41:00 PM
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Tuesday, August 07, 2007:
"300" - movie review (2007)
Based on the epic graphic novel by Frank Miller, '300' is a ferocious retelling of the ancient Battle of Thermopylae in which King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and 300 Spartans fought to the death against Xerxes and his massive Persian army. Facing insurmountable odds, their valor and sacrifice inspire all of Greece to unite against their Persian enemy, drawing a line in the sand for democracy. The film brings Miller's (Sin City) acclaimed graphic novel to life by combining live action with virtual backgrounds that capture his distinct vision of this ancient historic tale.
This movie is a fictional telling of the actual Battle of Thermopylae, back in 480 B.C., where 300 Greeks, overwhelmingly outnumbered, held back the invading Persians for three days before a local resident, motivated by the desire of a reward, betrayed the Greeks by revealing a mountain path that led behind the Greek lines. Though the Greeks' defeat was inevitable, their incredible endurance and unity against the Persians is astounding.
Right from the beginning, we see the life of a Spartan warrior is not an easy one. From the age of seven, he is taken from his mother, where he is to serve in the military until the age of 30. The ordinary Spartan was a citizen-warrior, trained to obey and endure. Leonidas survives such training until he is named King, and continues the traditions with his own son. Soon, Persia is knocking at the door, determined to overtake every bit of land and have all bow down to the current ruler, King Xerxes, who proclaims himself a God-King, and will grant mercy to those who agree to serve Persia, as long as the kneel to his will. Leonidas, unimpressed with Xerxes' wealth and unwilling to bow to anyone, man or King, refuses, preferring to meet the Persians in battle. When he is denied by the priests, whose word is law, his request for their blessing to fight, Leonidas ignores the warning and takes his 300 best men and leads a campaign to repel the enemy. His men are as fearless and enthusiastic to fight as he is himself. While Leonidas is away from home fighting the Persians, his wife, Queen Gorgo, appeals to the council to send more men to aid her husband. She is a wise and fearless woman, though pragmatic, and does what she must to to influence them to do her bidding for the good of all Sparta, however she is betrayed by an influential politician. Enraged, the queen exacts her revenge and therefore reveals the traitor to the councilmen, who in turn unite against Persia. The whole reason I wanted to see this movie is to watch the luscious Scot, Gerard Butler, in action, and I was not disappointed. Gerard makes for a great Spartan king, loyal to his people and their ways, resourceful, and unafraid of death. His queen, Gorgo, played by Lena Headey, is a formiddable woman, not one to cower behind her husband but one who stands with him, side by side, and speaks her mind freely, as was the way of Spartan women. For once a female character I could actually like and respect, and not one who came across as clingy, dependent, or indecisive. The killing in this movie is bloody and plentiful, but combined with the special effects, rather fluid and graceful, a ritualistic dance of violent beauty. The Greeks kill thousands of their enemy, building a wall of bodies to demoralize the enemy. Their strategy is incredibly successful as doubt and fear begin to grow. Based on actual events, the outcome is not a mystery, but nevertheless the unfolding of events is absorbing to watch. Any film that gets me interested in learning the history behind it is a success in my book, because now I truly do want to read more about the actual circumstances that lead to the making of this movie. It must have looked amazing up on the big screen. Sorry I missed that. Great movie all the same, though. Have you seen "300"? Did you like it? Why did you go and see it? Does the re-telling of actual historical events fascinate you? Labels: Gerard Butler, movies
posted by Stacy~ at 8/07/2007 04:46:00 AM
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