Madeleine the Movie Maven

My Rating System

As you may have read in my first posting, I dispensed with the usual "star" ratings in favor of something more original, more in tune with today's economy. We work hard for our money, so we need to know if we're about to spend it wisely.

My system for films currently in theaters is pretty self-explanatory:
- I'd pay to see it twice!
- Worth full price
- Matinee
- Rental
- Not even for free

UPDATE
My system for films on DVD that I review is:
- Add it to your collection
- Worth full rental price
- Good “rainy day” flick
- Use a rental coupon
- Not even from the library

Thanks for visiting my blog! I hope you'll start and/or participate in discussions by adding your comments to my various reviews and experiments (see Madeleine's Film Labs posts).

Craig plays his cards right with refreshing Bond performance

Screenwriters: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Paul Haggis; Ian Flemming (novel)

Many a groan was heard round the world when Daniel Craig was chosen to follow in Pierce Brosnan’s very big Bond footsteps: Who is this new guy? He’s not tall enough. He’s blond, for chrissakes! As an avid James Bond fan, I admit I was a tad skeptical, more so about the story than the actor, though (the trailer was all over the place). However, I really enjoyed it.

For those of you who just screamed, “Sacrilege!”, grab the nearest crowbar, pry open your minds, then see the movie. I predict your groans will turn to cheers.

So who is Daniel Craig and why does he make a good James Bond? According to imdb.com, the 38-year-old British actor has appeared in over 40 movies and television episodes, most notably, Layer Cake (a hip gangster flick a la Guy Ritchie) and Sylvia (as Ted Hughes, opposite Gwenyth Paltrow). Why is he a good Bond? Once our hero earns his “007” status, he reveals a different kind of intensity and mixes it with a touch of vulnerability. Which is not to say that he’s made James Bond wimpy; quite the contrary. As he pursues terrorist banker Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen) with the stubbornness of a bull chasing a matador, this vulnerability reminds us that, despite his skills, smarts and strengths, our hero is still prone to errors in judgment. Just like us.

What I liked: Smartly written script, featuring witty repartee (finally!) between Bond and love interest Vespa Lynd (Eva Green); verbal exchanges during the high-stakes poker game between Bond and Le Chiffre; creatively rewritten Bondisms; the construction site chase

What I didn’t: As a prequel, I was confused by the casting choice of Judi Dench as “M”; the conspicuous absence of “Q”; fewer gadgets

Madeleine says: Worth full price

What do you say?

My Big Debut

Greetings, fellow movie lovers! I am Madeline the Movie Maven; welcome to my movie reviews blog. I’m no industry insider but I see dozens of movies every year, from mainstream to indies to foreign flicks. I know what I like, and I know what I don’t. But then, don’t we all.

Before I share my first review with you, I will make two promises: (1) I will try very hard not to reveal too much about any movie I review and (2) I will always say what I liked and didn’t like about the film, which I believe are standard ingredients of a fair critique.

Now let’s talk about ratings. As someone who craves originality, I’ve decided to chuck the conventional "stars" method and invent my own. It's pretty self-explanatory:
- I’d pay to see it twice!
- Worth full price
- Matinee
- Rental
- Not even for free

Something to remember: We all have different tastes. So, take my opinions with the proverbial grain of salt. You’ll soon find out if I say "tom-aaa-toe" and you say "tom-ah-toe", or if we both put ketchup on our scrambled eggs. I invite you to post your thoughts, opinions and critiques in the "Comments" section so we can engage in a fun, intelligent, yet civilized, dialogue.

Okay, grab some popcorn, stow all drinks in the appropriate cup holders, and let's start discussing one of the most talked about, and dare I say anticipated, movies of the year: Casino Royale.