I want to start by pointing out that this is my 100th post and I have recently surpassed 8,000 views of my blog. Thank you to all of you who are reading and enjoying my random thoughts. If you have not already done so, please share this with any of your friends, family, co-workers or random people on the street that you think might enjoy reading it as well!
And now onto business.....
As I talked about last week, I recently read The Help by Kathryn Stockett in preparation for the movie. I am glad that I read the book because it was very good, but it made me realize that I need to stop reading books before seeing a movie adaptation. Or at least not reading it so close to seeing the movie because then I compare and contrast too much and think about all the things that have been left out from the book instead of just enjoying the movie.
That being said, this was a great film that everyone should see. It was funny and moving and very engaging. I did think it left out a little too much of the racial tension that was very present in the book, but the performances were excellent and really drove the plot.
The characters did talk about how much trouble they would be in if anyone discovered that they were writing the book and there were a few scenes where they show you what kinds of things went on in Jackson, Mississippi in the 60's. However, Skeeter's mother, played by Allison Janney, was not as racist in the movie as she was in the book. Also, they did not really talk about the maids who did experience backlash from their book, aside from Aibileen. The movie as a whole was just a lot more lighthearted than the book.
Emma Stone, Bryce Dallas Howard, Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer were all fantastic in their performances. I also enjoyed seeing some Veronica Mars faces in Chris Lowell, Jessica Chastain and Nelsan Ellis. It is really because of this great acting that the movie was so good. With a less talented cast, I do not think it would have made the same impact.
I think it is important for all women to see this film. Not only is it entertaining but it shows us what roles we played in a previous time and reminds us of how far we have come and why we should not take our power for granted.
Since The Help is coming out early this week, I am doing my Weekend Preview today instead of Thursday. In addition to The Help, the other big movies out this weekend are 30 Minutes or Less, Final Destination 5 and Glee: The 3-D Concert Movie.
30 Minutes or Less stars Jesse Eisenberg, Danny McBride, Aziz Ansari, Nick Swardson, Dilshad Varsaria, Michael Pena and Fred Ward. In this movie, Eisenberg plays a pizza delivery boy that gets kidnapped by two wanna-be criminals who strap a bomb to his chest and give him eight hours to rob a bank. He enlists the help of his best friend and must also deal with the police, assassins that the criminals have hired to kill their father, and their own relationship issues. It looks pretty funny but I will probably wait for the reviews before I make up my mind about seeing this.
I have received my most favorite Entertainment Weekly edition of the year: the Summer Movie Preview. There are a ton of potentially awesome movies coming out this summer and, like I did in the Fall, I will now give you my list of the ones I am most looking forward to seeing.
May: 6 - THOR (Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins) - Something Borrowed (Ginnifer Goodwin, Kate Hudson, Colin Egglesfield, John Krasinski) 13 - Bridesmaids (Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Jon Hamm) 20 - Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Ian McShane) 26 - The Hangover Part II(Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Ken Jeong)
Depending on reviews, other May possibilities include: Kung Fu Panda 2, Priest and Midnight in Paris.
June: 10 - Super 8 (Elle Fanning, Kyle Chandler, Noah Emmerich) 17 - Green Lantern (Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Tim Robbins) 24 - Conan O'Brien Can't Stop (documentary)
Other June possibilities include: Bad Teacher, Cars 2, Mr. Popper's Penguins and X-Men: First Class.
July: 8 - The Ledge (Liv Tyler, Patrick Wilson, Charlie Hunnam, Terrence Howard, Christopher Gorham) 15 - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint) 22 - Captain America: The First Avenger (Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, Tommy Lee Jones) 29 - Crazy, Stupid, Love (Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Julianne Moore)
Other July possibilities include: Cowboys & Aliens, One Day, The Smurfs, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Larry Crowne, Friends With Benefits and Horrible Bosses.
August: 12 - The Help (Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Sissy Spacek, Cicely Tyson, Allison Janney, Bryce Dallas Howard)
Other August possibilities include: Our Idiot Brother, Rise of the Planet of the Apes and The Change-Up.
What movies are you most excited about?! Please share them with me in the comments section! xoxo c
