Confessions of a Liberal Puritan

I stopped off and saw the first showing of Joss Whedon's "Much Ado About Nothing" at the local art-house movie theater this noon, and it was WONDERFUL!

I thought it even better, in many ways, than my previous favorite adaptation of that play, the sun-drenched and colorful Emma Thompson/Kenneth Branagh version from the early 1990s. The black and white color palette keeps it sharp and focused, the actors are all spot-on, and I was astonished at how well "Sigh No More, Ladies" works as COCKTAIL PARTY MUSIC, with a new Whedon tune.

It's not just for Whedon fans ready to enjoy some familiar faces speaking less-familiar lines, and while it's got style a-plenty it also has a surprising amount of substance, for such a comparatively frothy Shakespeare comedy. I HIGHLY recommend this film! :)

After spending most of my Christmas vacation with my parents being sick as a dog and unable to do more than cough up phlegm and fitfully sleep the days away in my Dad's recliner, I drove back from Wisconsin on Saturday, January 5th (in plenty of time to preach on Epiphany Sunday), and since then I've finally been getting back to seeing movies in the theater, after what feels like (and apparently WAS) many, many months of NOT going to the movies.

I'll try to note below where there may be spoilers in my very, VERY BRIEF review comments.

( Django Unchained )

Then, after a faculty meeting on Jan. 11, I saw "Jack Reacher", followed by "Skyfall".

( Jack Reacher )

( Skyfall )

Most recently, after church yesterday, I saw "Zero Dark Thirty" and "Les Miserables".

( Zero Dark Thirty )

( Les Miserables )

( Les Miz, cont'd (minor spoiler, possibly) )

Since I was far too sick to go out and see any movies while I was with my family in Wisconsin over Christmas and New Year, my sister did her best to at least keep me entertained with DVDs.

( DVD summary )

( Prometheus DVD (possible minor spoilers) )

Just a quick note:

I saw the earliest showing at my nearest multiplex today, at noon, and then slipped into a showing of "Safe" that was starting a few minutes after "The Avengers" let out.

I got a big kick out of the "Avengers" movie, which displays many of Joss Whedon's strengths and few of his weaknesses as a storyteller. ( no spoilers )

As for "Safe", Jason Statham (whom I really enjoy in most of his roles, if the movie is even half-watchable) was really good in it, and the little girl playing "Mei", the Chinese schoolgirl being used instead of a computer by the Chinese mob in New York City, was very believable. ( possible spoilers )