Private Hudson's Theaterlog: (January 1,2009-May 3,2009)

This is just to catch up on a log I have been doing on all the movies I have seen in the theater from the beginning of 2009 to now.

January 1, 2009:

Caught this at one of my discount theaters and was thoroughly impressed. Full Price.

January 10, 2009:

Not living in a major city area (Rochester,NY) this movie got screwed distribution wise (goddamn you Twilight) that this was shown for only two 7 P.M. showings (one on Saturday, one on Sunday) exclusively at the George Eastman House. Went to it with a full crowd and really liked it not as much as I hoped but still have an interest in seeing it again. Full Price.

January 15, 2009:

Went to a free radio-sponsored preview screening with my friend James and we both really liked the movie despite my gripes with the length and stock characters/plot developments but really tense, well-made, and engaging even though some people were disappointed that this wasn't "Inglorious Basterds" (Korey, that's not how it happened). Full Price.

January 17, 2009:

Second Best Picture nominee I saw (Slumdog "Four-Star" Millionaire was first). A beautiful, well-made,movie though the second half felt slower and more conventional but near perfect and it made my top ten of 2008. Full Price.

January 18, 2009:

Dammit. Got dragged into one of the few 3-D showings by a friend who'll love ANYTHING. Carlyle was right, this movie sucked mostly because it was a boring, direct-to-video slasher movie with some decent 3-D effects, a few MST3K-worthy laughs (I shouted during the climax "Shoot Both!" and laughed pretty hard a few times throughout at the movie) and it moved faster than the abominable Alphabet Killer. But seeing it in 3-D does not automatically give this a Matinee. Some Ol' Bullshit.

January 23, 2009:

Went to a double feature at the discount Cinema (low admission, cheap concessions!) invited by my friend James. Valkyrie was a decent Matinee with some moments of engagement and tension while The Day The Earth Stood Still was a marginally okay Low Matinee.

January 29, 2009:

3rd Best Picture nominee I saw. I thought it was really good but not as amazing as Slumdog, Button, or Milk but definitely better than The Reader (Which I just saw on DVD this May 2nd. Matinee.). But Frost/Nixon is still Full Price despite it not being in my top 10.

February 6, 2009:

Chose this over Push at Tinseltown because of timing and I'm glad I saw it (though I still want to see Push) as it was a quick, brutal well-made action film barely put down by a little choppiness and cheesy but not annoying conventions. Full Price.

February 17, 2009:

Caught this on vacation in Florida and really liked it. Clint Eastwood was over the top, the movie seemed a little predictable, but still very enjoyable. Full Price.

February 21, 2009:

Saw this in 3-D. Great-looking and a movie that didn't exploit the 3-D like Bloody Valentine. Cool movie even though it was conventional. Strong Matinee.

February 28, 2009:

Caught this after the Oscars at a matinee showing at the discount cinema. Really good, inspiring movie which is why i found it to be a better movie than Frost/Nixon. Full Price.

March 6, 2009:

My most anticipated movie this year. Went to Tinseltown and saw it on the big screen. Wow was I impressed. I wish it could've been Four Stars but it wasn't as emotionally effective as the graphic novel and sometimes the bad acting (those who played Laurie and Nixon) and over-the-top quality worked against it, but it was overall a great movie I feel I would like to see again. Full Price.

March 21, 2009:

A really good "bro"-mantic comedy which is only hampered by cliches and slow pace. High Matinee/Low Full Price.

March 29, 2009:

Caught this double feature again at the discount cinema and boy was I impressed. Two top ten worthy movies. The Wrestler was a perfect Best-Picture worthy movie like Slumdog and the Dark Knight and Mickey Rourke deserved Best Actor over Penn. Better Than Sex.
Revolutionary Road was also a great that I loved. A flawless, well-acted, well-made movie that the Oscars snubbed (like the Wrestler) because it was "too depressing." Full Price.

April 10, 2009:

Being a Seth Rogen fan, I really wanted to see this and although this is something different and very uncomfortable, this was a great dark comedy that had me laughing pretty hard while shocking me in where it went. Too bad everyone went to see Paul "Obese" Blart over this great alternative. Full Price.

And sadly that's all I've seen this year so far do to few opportunities to get to the theater. But hopefully the summer changes that.