Robin and Marian: The sister clubbed me with this one. It's written by the guy who did The Lion in Winter, which is all kinds of awesome and should be watched by anyone with any interest in history or just good movies. This isn't as good as that, but you can tell the guy has a real love for the time period and subject matter. Story doesn't recap the familiar stories--we jump ahead twenty years to when everyone's trying to figure out how to go back to living a normal life (and mostly failing at it). It's about heroes and lovers getting old, not being able to go back to the way things used to be, etc. Which is kind of nice since it's ground Hollywood doesn't often like to cover (old people don't sell). It's one of those stories you know is going to end badly for everyone involved, but you like them too much to stop watching (goddamn sheriff of Nottingham is even fairly likable). Still not 100% sure what I think of the actual ending. I guess she figured something of the sort was going to happen at some point and she may as well make sure she's there when it does (and also there's an army outside). I also have to note that I greatly appreciated seeing King Richard presented as a warmongering douchebag for once. Since, y'know, that's pretty much what he was.
1776: Rented this for July 4th, and because I hadn't seen it in at least fifteen years. Still a lot of fun. I don't normally go for musicals, but c'mon, singing John Adams. Had also forgotten how witty the script was (or more likely I didn't notice it in the first place, given how old I was the last time I saw it). Should totally be required viewing in U.S. history classes.
Young Sherlock Holmes: Obviously the newer movie reminded me that this existed. One of those things you wouldn't even consider watching unless you grew up in the eighties, really. I went, "Eh, I haven't seen it since like 1990 and I think there were Egyptian cultists or something in it. Could be okay." Kinda isn't. Even allowing that it was probably meant to be a kids' movie since the main characters are teenagers and for Hollywood the latter often implies the former (though it's actually rated PG-13), it's very bland, predictable, and suffers from occasional bouts of unbearable tweeness. Dumb Watson is also present. Should've expected as much, really--Chris Columbus script, the man is the king of mediocrity (dammit, Spielberg, why did you have to inflict this mook on the world? You really couldn't have found a better protege?) I figured, Barry Levinson directed it, he's competent at worst. I should've remembered, at worst he made Toys. Only remotely noteworthy thing about the movie is it having one of the first CGI sequences in film (if not the first). Still looks decent enough considering they kept it short and it was meant to be surreal in the first place (credits attribute the segment to Pixar, incidentally. Didn't think they were operating that early--1985).
Inception: Saw this last weekend. Lives up to the hype, excellent on pretty much every front. I can think of nothing bad to say about this movie; it has pretty much everything you would want to see in one. Neat sci-fi ideas are expressed efficiently (visually whenever possible) and without talking down to the audience; supporting cast is charming enough even when their roles in the story are fairly basic; there are dudes beating each other up in variable gravity; stuff explodes; there is a tragic love aspect that plays out in fairly non-cliche fashion tied in with a backstory about the dangers of obsession and the risks of exploration. There is often a lot occurring but it's never difficult to tell what's happening. This is no mean feat when you're crosscutting constantly between three or four disparate (but related) scenarios at the end of the movie. Basically if there is anything you appreciate about the act of being alive, you should watch this.
Toy Story 3: This was fun. Not a whole lot more to say than what's generally true about most Pixar work--they excel at making movies ostensibly for kids that anyone can enjoy. Ending was really nice. Evokes growing up and moving on without being depressing or cynical. This is how to finish a series. The Darth Vader moment was much appreciated--maybe I'm too much of a geek to see it otherwise, but I can't imagine them not having Return of the Jedi in mind there. Also, bonus points for Totoro cameo.
