So right now I'm working on catching up with all the movies I haven't seen. I haven't gotten very far. However, I am not dissuaded. It'll just take me a little time, that's all. Thus far:

I was very much impressed by this movie. I had no idea what to expect going into it -  I had read the review in the Star Trib (which had nothing but good things to say), desired to see the film, and then promptly forgot about it for a few weeks. Until Father's Day rolled around and we needed a family movie. This is not a family movie. I think my mother is slightly scarred from seeing this film. I adored it. My dad also enjoyed it, but definitely exaggerated his delight upon seeing how much praise I had for the film. Whatever.

Anyway, let me begin by saying I'm not much of a Colin Farrell fan. His roles just never quite did it for me. Here, I was blown away. Farrell was the perfect choice for the totally neurotic, cynical, spazzy Ray. Brendan Gleeson's character Ken was the ideal counterweight for crabby Ray. Round, cuddly-looking, friendly and pleasant. You wouldn't peg either of them as assassins. I don't want to say too much about the plot and I know already that this is a totally crap review, but as the film continued, I was more and more impressed by how deeply into the human psyche director Martin McDonagh was willing to delve. Battles between right and wrong, ethics versus selfishness, and l

ife and death are waged freely throughout the film. Topped off with a beautiful beautiful ending that left me nearly speechless, this film was one that won't leave my mind for quite some time. 

Favorite Character: Chloe - played by Clemence Poesy (from Harry Potter 4)

Favorite Line: "Well, here we are in a room with two manky hookers and a racist dwarf." -Ken

Favorite Moment: Ray karate chops Jimmy the midget in the neck. Classy.

Another pleasant surprise. Although I was told many a time before seeing this movie that it was absolutely hysterical, I still had my doubts. Luckily, I was not disappointed in any way. The plot itself is fairly basic. Fatass panda accidentally/on purpose becomes the savior-to-be for a good chunk of China. Problem: he's a fatass and has no clue what he's doing. Other problem: his dad wants him to go into the noodle business. Other other problem: the bad guy is friggin diesel as hell. And pissed. In short, Po the panda  (Jack Black, hilarious as always) figures things out and saves everybody, uttering "skadoosh" simultaneously. Go figure. What really impressed me was how the film catered to such a large demographic. Kids, teens, adults, grandparents. I saw them all there and they were along side me, laughing their asses off at every twist and turn of the film. That is the mark of a good cartoon film. A universal audience. Cheers Mark Osborne and John Stevenson.

Favorite Character: Shifu - voiced by Dustin Hoffman, no idea what kind of animal he was. 

Favorite Line: "One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it." -Oogway

Favorite Moment: Tai Lung zapping Po and Po saying "I'm going to pee" and rolling around laughing. Backfire.