Two movie reviews and the Trick or Treaters of 2005

Before Sunset
Rating: 5/10

Before Sunrise, the prequel to this movie, was about two characters with completely unrealistic and forced dialogue in order to fill screen time before eventually get to the hook. The hook… to tell each other to meet back at the same place one year later. Yeah, the whole movie led to this. It should have started with the hook. And if Ethan Hawke was anywhere near nice (because he was kinda a stuck up jerk) this movie would have some appeal. Other than that, it was two talking heads with very very unrealistic dialogue. Hawke and Delpy didn’t pull it off. But it would be tough to do unless you’re a great actor.

Before Sunset was about the same… except the two characters meet not 1 year later, but 9. This time there was NO HOOK except that this movie was the hook. Don’t ever write a movie like this. The one saving grace for this movie is two seasoned actors, Hawke and Delpy who were actually pleasant to watch and actually pulled it off for me. They did a good job keeping me there to see what happens. But nothing happens. NOTHING! Again, two talking heads walking around Paris talking about ‘the past’. There was NO CONFLICT for thirty minutes of the film. And just when the characters showed some sort of depth and subtext, the credts rolled and I felt like I wasted my time again.

I don’t have much more to say about this movie except, if you want to watch two talking heads walk and talk instead of sit and talk at a coffee shop, then this movie is for you. The story happens in between the last time they met and before this movie started. Unfortunately, we don’t get to see that part. We have to see this.



Million Dollar Baby
Rating: 8/10

Great performances from a darn good movie. I really didn’t want the movie to go where it went and had no idea it was going to end this way. I never read any reviews or spoilers so I really didn’t know much about this movie other than the performances were great. And yes, they were. I can’t really say it was predictable, but it was. And I wonder if this movie would have been a big hit without the last few lines of Morgan Freeman where it is revealed he is telling the story to Frankie’s daughter. To me, that was the kicker that topped off the great performance because it gave this movie more purpose and life versus just a story about a trainer and his boxer and the tragic relationship they had. I might be contradicting myself by saying, I really liked this movie but I was a little disappointed in it. Still… an 8/10 rating.

And here are the “Trick or Treaters” of 2005.


Darth Vader and the Fairy Princess.


Darth Vader Voice: “Bella, I am your brother…”

Last night was fun. It was actually the first 'real' trick or treat night we had with the kids. We went to this neighborhood where tons of people flocked to. Tons of trick or treaters crowded the streets as they moved from house to house asking for candy. It was safe, it was fun, it was warm... it was the perfect night for kids to go safely from house to house.

I was exhausted. The kids were tired. The bags were heavy with candy and I was ready to sleep.

It was a pretty good Halloween 2005. Unfortunately we have TONS of candy left because we didn't hand much out.

I can't wait till next year.