This weekend, SharkBoy and I basically hit the “Reset” button after one week of vacation and two weeks of being sick. We did the photo challenge on Monday, as you might have seen, but we also saw an incredible amount of movies over the weekend. Here are some mini reviews, because you value my internet opinion, don’t you!?

Monsieur Lazhar: Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at this year’s Oscars for good reason: It’s subtle, powerful, thoughtful and interesting. It’s a movie that stays with you a few days after you see it, making you realize nuances within it’s minimalist style. I had one story structure complaint but can’t discuss it without spoiling it. It’s not a huge thing, just a personal preference hoobly doo that really doesn’t kill the story. All the kids in the movie did such an amazing job with their roles and characters that I feel they deserve to be shipped to LA for the Oscars, a la Slumdog.

Hawaii (1966 – Home DVD): This movie, while beautifully shot, made me angry. An epic when it was released, I had never heard of it before this weekend. SharkBoy bought it as part of this “We’re going to Hawaii on our Tenth Anniversary or ELSE” kick he’s on right now. A very young and rigid Max von Sydow plays a strict Missionary sent to the lush island of Hawaii in the mid-1800s, to “turn the savages to God” and winds up falling in love with his protegees and their ways. A bit Dances With Wolves, but not so heavy handed. I got angry because of the script: lots of broken “He make big stink no walls in church!” kind of talk from the “natives” and Max’s character was an asshole, for the most part of the movie. The long… long… movie. But still, it was a Cinemascope visual treat!

Speaking of Hawaii, we saw The Descendants too. I knew nothing about this movie other than what I gleaned from the trailer – which was nothing other than George Clooney trying to look at his daughter from afar. Which as it turns out, is only 1/10th of the movie. I cried a couple times – it was hard not to relate to Matt (Clooney) as his wife died after being taken off life support. However, I loved every single second of this movie: the secrets discovered, the release of anger, the acceptance of responsibility in the face of adversity – it made me happy. Also it was easy to like each and every character in this movie, including the stupid, stoner boyfriend. I hope it wins a couple Oscars.

Sunday, we got up early and avoided apartment chores by going to see Chronicle. The similarities to Akira are pretty rampant… If someone were to say that Chronicle was the official US version of Akira remake, I’d be satisfied – it hit all the plot points and felt like it was influenced enough to be accepted as it’s own movie, and not a ridiculous rip off of the Japanese classic. Chronicle uses “found footage” style (think Cloverfield, Blair Witch, etc.) and never once did it slip up with jump cuts or switching camera sources. I’d give it 8 out of 10 and may buy it when it comes out.

And finally, we met up with Sean and Josh to catch up, chat and see the movie The Woman In Black. Which I disliked. Not “hate”, mind you. I guess I’ve never really gotten into ghost story movies. I find they ask too much of me to suspend my disbelief that ghosts exist, let alone do harm to someone. Other than making you pee your pants, I guess. I loved how this movie was shot, don’t get me wrong – it was like an Edward Gorey book come to life, complete with a mansion high on a hill, secluded daily by tides and tracks of mud and muck surrounding it. Did I “notice” Harry Potter all through it? I’m happy to say no. Daniel Radcliffe may slip away from this albatross around his career’s neck but he needs to bring some of that Broadway character variety to his screen career. No more ghosts and supernatural stuff, please.

There was TV in there too – SharkBoy is on a Fantasy Island kick right now and I’m amused by how Mr Roarke’s character is nearly god-like, mystical, in it. Also, I’m 3 disks away from finishing Battlestar Galactica so don’t anyone tell me who the last Cylon is.