People Like Us

I liked this movie very much. It has some uneven situations (and acting) and you wonder where they are going in the first half of the movie. The premise is of a brother and sister who do not know the other exists. Their characters are played by Chris Pine (excellent in the Star Trek re-boot and [this is for my daughter] Princess Diaries 2) and Elizabeth Banks (okay in my type of movie: Definitely, Maybe and the superb Seabiscuit). Pine's 'mother' is Michelle Pfeiffer (Stardust and Batman Returns). All three provide some very good acting throughout.

Olivia Wilde (Cowboys and Aliens, which was a mistake to make & painful to see) is Pine's 'girlfriend' and I cannot figure her out. She has fabulous eyes and is lovely to watch, but can she act? She doesn't really get much of a chance to prove herself in this one. Michael Hall D'Addario, who is new, plays an 11 year old and is great.

Throughout the movie one asks oneself - "What would I do?" and, "How would I react in that situation?" It eventually all comes together. I would like to see again.

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

Well, this is one weird movie. It sort of has three sections: the first third is weird and somewhat (deliberately) stilted; the middle third is a little less so but perhaps has better pacing; and, the final third is quite lovely.

Performances are good. I'm not a big fan of Steve Carell but he plays a similar role as in Dan in Real Life (which I loved) and I like him in this. And Keira Knightley (Pride & Predjudice), whom I admire, plays a quirky role well.

I guess the topic is strange enough that of course every offbeat and strained joke in the book about the end of the world can be expected. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. The pacing is equally sporadic.

Not sure I'd see it again. It could be an okay rental (with the caveats listed here). Mind you, you might not find it in theatres anyway because it doesn't appear to be staying long (got to get out of the way for Spiderman, Batman et al).

Brave

I liked this movie.  One critic I saw interviewed thought it might be a (future) 'classic'. Not sure I'd go that far. It is well done in terms of telling the tale, pacing and the actual drawing is excellent.

The only actor I could put a name to was Emma Thompson (HP series, Love Actually and many more) and her voice was only occasionally recognizable.

I found the clan gathering intriguing, in that much has been written about similar assemblies in various countries. This one has many of the levels of relationships, role playing and camaraderie that one might expect to see and is fun to watch.

There is a twist in the story that most of the trailers do not allude to, nor show. Parents of young children might want to read a few reviews with 'spoiler alerts' to see if their young person (or they themselves!) can handle it. I would like to see it again.