Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium

Mrs.Simpleton and & have seen this twice in the theater, and a bunch o' times on DVD, and I must say, it's one of our favorites. One comment I've heard about it is that the ending is weak, and although I can understand that, there is more than meets the eye...

If you saw it once, and kind of dismissed it, I'd say rent it, watch it again, and look for the clues throughout the movie that help explain the ending. For example:

Note what Magorium says to Mahoney when he gives her the Congreve cube...

Note what Magorium says in the hospital to Mahoney about the cube...

Note what Magorium says when he uses the payphone...

If you add those up, and then add in the last chapter (Messing with the Mutant), the ending gets a lot stronger.

There are also a TON of things that you miss in just one viewing...

When Magorium turns off the music in his apartment, it looks like he scratches a needle on his old Victrola... Actually, there's an iPod sitting right next to it - and that's what made the record scratch sound.

When the shop is having it's issues with Magorium's "departure," watch for color changes. There are some really interesting clues and bits that are a part of that theme.

In general, the store is as much of a character in the movie as the people are.

Notice what Mahoney is holding at the graveside...

The office door (when Magorium is showing Henry around the store) says "Etcetera."

It's really an amazing film, with a lot more there than you might think. Very clever - almost too clever, since most folks will see it once, dismiss it, and miss a lot of the detail and clever bits. Sad, since they add a lot to the overall impact. Granted, Natalie Portman can't conduct her way out of a paper bag, which distracted Mrs. S and myself, being the music geeks that we are (not to mention watching her fingers to see if she is really playing the piano...), but it's the overall, not the specifics that make the ending pleasant. And, she does a great job as Molly Mahoney, "bless her timid heart." So, Ezzie, if you'd dance on in here...

Ezzie the Wonder Dog gives this one three spinning tails, and Mr.Simpleton adds that for most people, the first viewing might warrant one spinning tail, or even The Void, but if you watch it a couple of times, the rating goes up. :-D

The Forbidden Kingdom

Mrs.Simpleton and I went last night to see this action/comedy/adventure/kung fu romp, and apparently so did a lot of other folks, since it did really well this weekend at the box office.

The short review? We LOVED it. The slightly longer review? Read on...

Great visuals, comedy from Jackie Chan, action from Jet Li, and enough classic kung fu moves to make a Bruce Lee fan like me smile from ear to ear. Beautiful scenery, and a GREAT score added to it. We'll be going for at least one more showing, if not a couple, 'cause it's a lot to take in in one sitting.

So, what does the Simple One say? Go. Go now. Right now...





Are you still here? GO! What? Oh - the rating. Sorry. Ezzie, would you do the honors? *woof woof*

Ezzie the Wonder Dog gives this one three spinning tails - and Mr.Simpleton throws in a new chew toy and a tub of popcorn. Now, go!

Superhero Movie

This puppy rots. It smelleth. It stinketh.

I like Leslie Nielsen. And have laughed at many of his film appearances. Not so with "Superhero Movie." Mrs.Simpleton and I went, we watched, and we left, wishing we had skipped the went and watched part of this sentence. No clever humor, no witty lines - just the gross kind of jokes and visuals you expect in a frat house on "really stupid comedy night." This one isn't even one of those that you laugh at as a guilty pleasure - unless you live for predictable, gross humor. If so, have at it. Otherwise, Ezzie, if you'd be so kind...

Ezzie drops three steamy piles on this one, and shakes her paws to get off the dirt. Yuckers.