Eat Pray Love, 2010

Eat Pray Love

First off I have to admit, this was my first movie after not seeing any for almost two weeks (or was it longer – it felt longer). Why I chose this from the many, many, many other’s I’d missed in my 14 day absence, I don’t understand... But I did and here we are.

If you’ve checked in with other reviews you’d have heard less than enthusiastic reviews, I’m afraid that I can’t offer anything more hopeful.

Right off the bat I’ve heard some wild impressions from the workers at Chapters that wonder what they could have found in the book to transfer over to the screen. 60% of people I’ve talked with don’t like the book – but the means 40 do.

My impression? Well it was simple ~ loved the seats, loved seeing my former work colleagues, loved the big theatre, the theatre food, the previews of things to come. And now about the movie ---

I like Julia Roberts. I’m happy that she’s started a family and taken some time off for the kids. However it was very nice to see and hear her again. I think that was the biggest appeal of the movie. Lights went down and there was Julia’s voice narrating the thing! Now, I’m not fond of narrated films – I think ‘why tell what you have the medium to show’ but it was just such a treat to hear Julia’s voice again that I let this one slide.

The movie itself was a bit of a soul searching documentary ~ I think many can relate to this because we are all searching! No one seems to have found ‘it’ and so we look and look. For me, it was interesting to see this woman’s journey (though sensationalized), and I can’t deny the vain of jealousy I felt that she had the luxury, finances and tenacity to go off and explore other places and cultures in the world.

The movie itself didn’t have much to go on. Not much drama, not much sweeping scenery, and really not much wisdom for the viewer to walk away and say, ‘I found my latest it’. It was a cute story, but one I could see would have done just as well in a movie of the week (TV) venue.

My biggest complaint would be that the movie was like three movies, or four. It was about this one woman’s adventure to find herself, and so I didn’t feel like any of the other actors were anything but fillers. To top it off in the end I didn’t feel like she was that much better off, just more traveled with more experiences. Maybe it made a better book?

My rating is 2.8 stars and that might be generous because it was the first movie I saw in 2 weeks!

Until next escape (hopefully sooner this time),

Aviva B.
 
Charlie St. Cloud, 2010

Charlie St. Cloud, 2010

I knew Ghost’s were coming back in!!! So – now my book, “Safe” should gain in popularity! ... Anyways.

The movie was a good sap film. I went with my friend (I told her she should bring Kleenex). Yes, there was tears!

The premises? Charlie is the older brother in a sing mother family and he’s about to be leaving for collage – to which his younger brother is understandably nervous that Charlie will do the same thing their dad did – disappear. Charlie never gets a chance to prove whether he will or won’t, his brother dies before that day comes. Only Charlie, being so good at keeping his word discovers that at sunset he can see his brother in a specific location and thus he spends the next five years faithfully showing up at sunset so he can keep that promise.

Creepy ---

And touching.

Well, believe you me, five years is five too many to be hanging out with the ghost of your brother. Mean while life is passing him by (or over).

Zac Efron, I’m afraid that my assessment of him is tainted, you see I have a completely unhealthy crush on that boy! So, in light of that, my telling you that he did a great job stepping into the role of Charlie (troubled ghost whisperer) won’t hold much water. But I really do think he did a good job. Coming from High School Musical, he’s maturing into one fine and seasoned actor.

Charlie Tahan, who plays the brother (ironic that the younger kid has the same name as the older brother’s character – I can picture there were some confusing moments on set as someone said “Charlie” and in the wrong context no one would know who was being spoken to...), anyways, the real life Charlie plays Sam St. Cloud, he does a fine enough job being the annoying, yet completely lovable 11-year-old boy.

Tess Carroll, played by Amanda Crew, was a pivotal character – watch her! And that’s all I’m going to say because I’m finding it hard not to give anything else away!!!

I enjoyed not only Alistair Wooley the character who befriends Charlie St. Cloud’s even with all his strange quirks, but I also truly enjoyed seeing for the first time Augustus Prew (the actor who plays him). I was impressed with him and believe we shall be seeing more of him soon (hopefully).

Yes, the story was well told and full of an interesting twist.

I hope you go and enjoy,

My rating: 4.5 stars,

Until next escape,

Aviva B.
 
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