The Giver

Summary from The Weinstein Company website:  The haunting story of THE Giver centers on Jonas (Brenton Thwaites), a young man who lives in a seemingly ideal, of colorless world of conformity and contentment. Yet as he begins to spend time with The Giver (Jeff Bridges), who is the sole keeper of all the community's memories, Jonas quickly begins to discover the dark and deadly truths of his community's secret past. With this new-found power of knowledge, he realizes that the stakes are higher than imagined - a matter of life and death for himself and those he loves most. At extreme odds, Jonas knows that he must escape their world to protect them all - a challenge that no one has ever succeeded at before. THE GIVER is based on Lois Lowry's beloved young adult novel of the same name, which was the winner of the 1994 Newbery Medal and has sold over 10 million copies worldwide.

My Review

Probably like six months ago my grandma handed me this movie from her collection and said "you would like this, you should watch it."  So I took it home and my husband was all "eh, whatever" and it got stuck in the tv cabinet and we never watched it.  Well, this weekend while I was cleaning I came across it and I figured it was about time for me to return it (watched or not).  So, I took it to my mom to return for me (she'll see my grandma before I do).  So, of course my mom was all, "did you watch it?" and I was like, "no" and she replies "well you need to, you'd really like it."  Geez Louise people....it can't be that good.  But whatever...

Well guess freaking what...I was wrong. Yep, I said it. Y'all. I am so mad at myself that I never read the book. I would have LOVED this book. And you know why I didn't read it? I'll tell you exactly why....two reasons.  1)  The cover looks boring and 2) I've seen it listed as required reading.  I have enjoyed probably two books I was ever required to read, so I don't read required reading. Plus, I always pick books with intriguing covers and this one is just a picture of an old dude.  WTF, Emily....you're an idiot.

Basically, I really enjoyed this movie. It reminded me a little of the Divergent series...which I got bored with after the first book.  But I liked this because it felt like there was closure...it didn't feel like it was going to be dragged out over a trilogy just to make money.  If you're into dystopian stuff....it is one of the better ones I have seen.  Don't get me wrong, I love The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner Series, but the others are kind of lost to me.  This one, however, really cool.  Now....I need to go apologize to my mother and my grandmother for not watching this sooner.  And mentally kick myself for being so damn judgmental when it comes to book covers.  I guess I'm finally learning something in my old age, haha.

The Town

I hope that, by now, you people know just how much I love gifs.  

Anyway, borrowed another movie from the library.  This one had Ben Affleck and Jeremy Renner in it...yes, please!  And besides...I love a good cop movie.

Summary from the Warner Brothers website:  As he plans his next job that could result in his gang's biggest score ever, a longtime thief plans his way out of the life and the town while dodging the FBI agent looking to bring him and his bank-robbing crew down.  In addition to heading an electrifying cast, Ben Affleck also directed and co-wrote this suspenseful, critically-acclaimed crime thriller that unfolds - and often explodes - across gritty Boston locations.  Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively, Titus Welliver, Pete Postlethwaite and Chris Cooper also star.

I thought the movie was great.  Who doesn't love an Irish bad boy with a Boston accent?  I thought the story line was really interesting especially how Affleck and Hall meet and then begin a relationship.  Although Affleck played a criminal, I felt like his character was developed in such a way that you almost wanted to see him escape the lifestyle as opposed to being caught and imprisoned. (My husband would flip if he heard me say that.)  Overall, it was a really good movie.  I highly recommend it if you're into cop movies (or Ben Affleck).

The Ides of March

First of all, I will fully admit that I originally picked up this movie because Ryan Gosling was in it.  And George Clooney...but mostly just Ryan Gosling.  That is one fine looking man, for real.

Summary from the Sony Pictures website:  "Ambition seduces and power corrupts in a nerve-wracking thriller from director George Clooney. Idealistic campaign worker Stephen Meyers (Ryan Gosling) has sworn to give all for Governor Mike Morris (Clooney), a wild card presidential candidate whose groundbreaking ideas could change the political landscape. However, a brutal Ohio primary threatens to test Morris's integrity. Stephen gets trapped in the down-and-dirty battle and finds himself caught up in a scandal where the only path to survival is to play both sides. The all-star cast includes Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood."

So I borrowed this movie from the library and had it for like a month before I finally got a chance to watch it.  I don't know why I waited so long, I just did.  But, overall, it was a really good movie.  The character development and the way the story unfolded were really interesting.  It was intriguing to see the behind-the-scenes stuff that goes along with an election (or at least how it was portrayed in the movie).  I think both Gosling and Clooney did a fantastic job with this movie, as did Wood.  I highly recommend this movie, especially if you're into politics.