What I Watched, What You Watched: Installment #57

I managed to watch a little more than usual at home this week thanks to a slightly lighter screening schedule, so I have five movies to talk about today rather than what’s been only one or two recently. Let’s get to it.

	QUICK THOUGHTS: I have now seen all of the Coen brothers’ films. This was the one that had eluded me and pretty much because I didn’t think I would like it. However, I did enjoy it, but not as much as some others do. Edgar Wright recently told me it was his favorite movie period and Laremy ranked it his third favorite Coen movie. I can only say it made me laugh quite a bit, though I suspect future viewings will cause me to like it much, much more.

	QUICK THOUGHTS: Have you seen this documentary yet? It wasn’t quite as intimidating as I thought it would be, but after watching it I found myself telling people all about it over the course of the next several days. It’s short, interesting and definitely eye-opening. It also gives you a few better ideas on how to eat a little better. Give it a look if you have the chance.

	QUICK THOUGHTS: I had hoped to watch all three Mad Max films this week and do some kind of editorial. I was only able to find time to watch the first one, but hopefully in the coming weeks I’ll find time for the other two. Before watching this I’d only see The Road Warrior and while people seem to agree that is the best film in this franchise I must say this one wasn’t all that bad. Watching The Road Warrior the first time a little while back I wasn’t blown away, but I think a lot of that was due to the build-up and unrealistic expectations for an early 1980s film. After watching Mad Max I’m itching to give Road Warrior a second look.

	QUICK THOUGHTS: H.G. Wells chases Jack the Ripper into the future to late 1970s San Francisco. Yeah, this one is crazy, but it is quite fun considering it stars Malcolm McDowell as Wells and David Warner as Jack the Ripper. The best is the idea Wells has that the future will be some sort of crime free utopia and once he realizes Jack the Ripper has used his time machine for evil he chants, “What have I done? I’ve turned that bloody maniac loose upon Utopia!” It’s a line for the ages.

	QUICK THOUGHTS: My second time travel movie of the week and my second Nicolas Cage movie of the week. It’s easy to see how Cage became a big star with movies such as this and Raising Arizona, he has no problem taking a character to the extreme and it really adds a bunch of laughs. This movie isn’t all that bad and I need to take a look back at 1986 because Siskel and Ebert seemed to have thought it was one of the year’s absolute best.

Now it’s your turn. What did you catch in theaters or at home this past week?