Opening Today!

There are a few movies of interest hitting the big screen today.  First, is Thor.  The Marvel movie is (for all of you who don't know the story) about a warrior who is banished to Earth for his arrogance.  He of course falls in love with a beautiful human (making us women-folk feel like it's realistic to expect an other worldly warrior to fall in love with us) - played by Natalie Portman - and subsequently has to save Earth when a villan from his own planet attacks.  I'm excited about this one.  I'm enjoying the Marvel movie trend going on right now, and - after X-Men and Spider Man - have high expectations of this one.  We'll see if it can live up to its potential!

Next on the list is Something Borrowed.  Starring Kate Hudson and Ginnifer Goodwin, the film is about a self centered friend who gets engaged to the man that Goodwin's character loves.  Trailers imply an affair follows.  I never read the book by Emily Giffin for that exact reason.  I don't generally appreciate stories that are about affairs and tend to glorify the act of cheating.  Though I like both actresses in this one, I think I will probably skip it.

The Beaver is also making a limited debut today.  I have to say, I'm skeptically curious about this one.  Starring Jodie Foster and Mel Gibson, it certainly has some big names in it.  However, it's about a guy that is struggling so much with his psyche that he has to communicate through the use of an old puppet (a puppet, by the way, that he finds in the dumpster.  Hepatitis anyone?).  Bizarre?  Yes.  Would this story line have been acceptable 10 or 20 years ago?  I don't think so.  But, with so much light being shown on mental illness and the damage it can do, I think this film might see some success.  I still struggle with it because it's just odd.  I mean this fully grown man expects everyone in his life to communicate with him through this puppet?  That's weird!  And yet, strangely intriguing.  It seems to deal with some tough issues, like depression and how it can affect a marriage.  I'm not sure I'll see it in the theater, but I might give it a shot when it comes out on DVD.

So, that's pretty much it for this weekend.  Oh, and for the record, I stand corrected about last weekend's Fast Five prediction.  It gained the number one spot at the box office, which either demonstrates that it's a fairly good flick, or the weekend was just that slow.  I'll let you be the judge on that one.