Friday Movie Review - Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

As everykitty knows, my mommy left me ALL ALONE last Friday and went off to have fun with Grandmama. What made it even worse was that she went to see a movie without me - and not just ANY movie! She went to see "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull."

I still can't believe it. She KNEW how excited I was about the new Indy movie! I even dressed up like him for the Indiana Jones look-alike contest. I wore that hat for days!

Well, seeing as how mommy once again let me down, I took matters into my own paws. I donned my "Igor Kittenovsky, Russian Foreign Exchange Student" disguise and once more infiltrated the movie theatre. This time I added some gummy bears to my popcorn and Dr Pepper concession order - I felt I deserved an extra treat for the earlier mommy abandonment. (Gummy bears are just as much fun to bat around as popcorn - and if you whap them just right, they bounce!)
I settled myself into the back of the darkened theatre with my goodies and awaited the infamous "Indy" theme music. Mommy has been humming it for weeks now, and I couldn't wait to hear the real thing.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

Directed By: Steven Spielberg

Written By: David Koepp (Screenplay)

George Lucas (Story)

Let me just say here kitties, for a bean as ancient as he is, Harrison Ford looks pretty good. I can now see the resemblance that so many of you remarked upon during the look-alike contest. He wouldn't make a bad mancat.

And Shia LaBeouf (Mutt) made a pretty good sidekick, for a wannabe 50s greaser. I liked how attached he was to his motorcycle. I felt bad for him when he had to leave it behind for the rest of the adventure. How would I feel if I had to leave my pink mousie behind? I'd be stricken!


Instead of fighting Nazis in this picture, Indy is facing off against the soviet russians. I felt a little conspicuous in my russian disguise after I found that out. Maybe I should have disguised myself as Harrison Ford instead? I might have gotten in for free!
There was a lot of scenes with Indy and Mutt in dirty, dark places with a lot of dead beans. I know this is what my mommy calls her "dream job." I don't understand my mommy sometimes.
I don't want to give a lot away, because that would spoil it for those kitties who haven't seen this movie yet. But I did want to let all of you know that it was worth all of the trouble I took to see it. I give "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" two paws up, and a whip crack!

Friday Movie Revew - Sweeney Todd

Thank you Zoolatry for the great graphic!

Sometimes a kitty reviewer desires a fresher, more current movie to review. This was the case for me this week. For quite awhile now, I have seen the trailers for "Sweeney Todd" on the television, and I found myself intrigued. I know my mommy has been to see this movie twice . . . without me, mind you. She told me that kitties weren't allowed in movie theatres. I thought about that, and then came up with a plan.

Disguised as a Russian foreign exchange student named Igor Kittenovsky, I easily gained entrance to the theatre! After ordering myself a popcorn to play with and a Dr Pepper to sip, I settled in the plush seat to watch the show.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

Director: Tim Burton
Writers: John Logan (screenplay)

Stephen Sondheim (musical)

Kitties, this movie is not for the squeamish. And if you don't have a dark sense of humor, you probably shouldn't watch it. That being said . . . . I LOVED IT.

As with other Tim Burton movies, "Sweeney Todd" has a wonderful use of color and great use of cinematography that sets the mood and underscores the plot. From the opening sequence in which the overture is played to a backdrop of credits and bloody, grimy London sewers (with rats!) to our introduction to Mrs. Lovett and her pie shop to the final denouement in the bake house, Burton's use of color and camera angle enhances the experience until a kitty just has to chirp in happiness. And this is without even taking into account the great acting and singing!

Johnny Depp fills the title role with panache. As usual, he has taken a quirky anti-hero and made it into something that my mommy will drool over for days. Helena Bonham Carter (another one of my mommy's favorites) plays Mrs. Lovett, and manages to make her both practical and romantic . . . even as she is chopping up Todd's victims into meat pies in the basement. Both Depp and Carter did their own singing, and might I say that they did wonderful jobs.

I am sure you kitties are all aware that this film is an adaptation of Sondheim's original musical, directed by Harold Prince. What you might not know is that Angela Lansbury is the original Mrs. Lovett! You can look here to see that in 1982 there was a television production of the musical, and it is available to view on DVD. I plan to put this on mommy's Netflix queue.

Not only was this an original Broadway production, it is actually based on a true story. For those kitties with inquiring minds, you can read all about the real Sweeney Todd here.

As you may have guessed, "Sweeney Todd" gets two paws up . . . for those kitties with a more macabre sense of humor and a strong stomach.

I hope you enjoyed my review, kitties! I am off to take a nap after my thrilling theatre adventure. Purrs!