As you know, Martin Luther King Jr. day was on Monday, but as you may not know, the kids’ school was still open for daycare. Being the cold, uncaring, callous parents that we are, we dropped them off and had our own “free” day to ourselves.

(Do you realize how much a sitter costs?? This was a golden opportunity! It’s like FREE CHILD CARE!! No, I’m not a bit only a teeny bit guilty.)

The last time we had a free day like this (Columbus day in Nov) we drove into DC, noodled around the modern building of the National Gallery of Art, had a lovely lunch, and then perused the Spy Museum before heading back to get the kids and go home.

We have been wondering all month what we would do this time around, and it became clear that there were some movies we both wanted to catch.

It also became clear that we both watched to catch different movies. So, the day dawned, kids were dropped off, and James and I smooched and parted ways. Him to see There Will Be Blood, and I to see Charlie Wilson’s War, Juno, and Sweeney Todd. Except I decided 3 movies was a bit too much, and skipped the first one. It’s a good thing, because by the time I left the theatre my ass hurt, and my back was really aching (chiropractor appointment today I CANNOT WAIT), and I was tired of sitting.

I saw Juno first, and it was a nice little flick. Edgy teen gets pregnant, ponders what to do, decides to go the adoption route, finds rich yuppies in nearby town to give child to, learns about love along the way.

I thought the story was well written and sweet, but at the end, I did have a certain sense of, “Really? This is what everyone was so hopped up about?” I liked the movie, thought it was well done, but I think what was even more well done was the publicity machine. I guess, how can you blame them, “STRIPPER TURNED WRITER!” has such reader appeal. I can totally understand any backlash going on (“way overrated”) but regardless, Ellen Page did a great job, as did the yuppies, played by Jason Bateman & Jennifer Garner, and Alison Janney who played the step-mom (who James and I STILL call CJ).

I ALSO have a big bone to pick with that same publicity machine – I have a long standing belief that previews and trailers are evil, and once again, the Juno trailers/previews/ads have rung that bell.

Dear sirs,

If you want me to go shell out $8.50 to see a movie, PLEASE DO NOT USE CLIPS FROM THE LAST 20 MINUTES IN YOUR ADS. IT’S JUST RUDE.

Fuck off,
Amy

Juno was not the biggest violator I’ve seen by any means, so this was a mild irritation this time around. Heaven knows other movies have certainly sinned much more in this arena, but still, it irks me.

IRK.

Sweeney Todd

I love Tim Burton. I love Danny Elfman. I love Johnny Depp. I love Tim Burton movies where all three of these things come together, or even just the two (Burton and Elfman) (Nightmare Before Christmas? Yeah, still saved on my Tivo from when it was on around Christmas).

I’ve never seen Sweeney Todd performed anywhere, although I have heard some of the songs at some point. Having gone to three summers of Theatre Workshop in my teen years, by God yes, I’ve heard some of the songs! So really, I only have myself to blame for being a *teeny* (really, it’s miniscule) bit let down. A-DUH, Amy, of course it’s not going to sound like the usual Burton movie with Danny Elfman doing the music… This is Stephen Sondheim’s musical baby.

So once I got through that, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Having never seen or heard the storyline, I was delighted with it’s quirks and surprises (although the biggie I totally picked up on halfway through the movie). Excellent movie, and very well done. I did wonder (again, having never seen the musical in a theatre) if there were scenes with Antony and Johanna that were cut for the movie. A little more insight into that whole story would have been nice.

So even though we didn’t spend the day together, it was a pretty nice day regardless.

-amy still has 10 more movies that will probably have to wait until netflix.