Three Days, Three Movies

After going to see such a disappointing Golden Compass last week, AJ and I have spent the last three nights watching three great, but very different movies.

Thursday we rented Bourne Ultimatum. AJ really wanted to see it when it was in the theaters this summer, but we never quite made it. It is all action, very fast paced (a little too much for me). Matt Damon looks like a bullet with dark circles under his eyes throughout the movie. There were some pretty cool parts. I like the con-artist, scamming aspects better than the chase scenes.

Friday we watched Amazing Grace about the outlawing of slavery and the slave trade in Britain and her colonies. The starring historical figure is William Wilberforce. I wondered how closely the writers stuck to history, but it was a great story and I thought the movie was well done too. I wondered if the woman who became his wife was as interested in his political causes as he was and if she was truly the intellectual equal as portrayed. However, this is what it says in Wilberforce's entry on Wikipedia: "The couple were devoted to each other, and though Barbara showed little interest in Wilberforce's political activities and tended to narrow-minded possessiveness, she was very attentive and supportive in his increasing ill-health." Interesting. I'd like to do some more reading about him. And William Pitt was only 24 when he was elected prime minister. I liked that actor and character.

And last night, we watched Stardust, a whimsical fantasy as AJ described it. It reminded both of us of The Princess Bride, combining drama and humor. It was fun to watch.

We haven't watched movies like this in a long long time. It was Christmas vacation week. Our choices were very much shaped by new releases that were available at Redbox. But, we've been staying up too late and I am feeling it today. Next up will be A Mutual Friend, recommended by my mom--an adaptation of a Dickens book-- and Wit starring Emma Thompson. I need to watch that before book group next week.