Advance Booking

THE GHOSTS OF GIRLFRIENDS' PAST
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner
Directed by: Mark Waters

Connor Mead (Matthew McConaughey) is a womanizing fashion photographer. At his younger brother's wedding, he makes it amply clear that he doesn't believe in love or marriage. That night, he is visited by three ghosts, three women in his life who show him how he has treated women and what will happen if he continues on his present ways. They give him a chance to reform and reconnect with his childhood sweetheart Jennie (Jennifer Garner).

The movie was below average. I think romantic movies survive on the cuteness factor and quotable quotes, and this movie had neither. Jennifer Garner looked old, and McConaughey could not really bring out the roguish charm that his character was supposed to possess. If there was something good about this movie, it was Emma Stone as the Ghost of Christmas Past. Her high-school act was comic and endearing. Watch this if you have nothing else to do.

X MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston
Directed by: Gavin Hood

When James Howlett sees his father being killed by the groundskeeper Thomas Logan, bone claws shoot out of his hand to impale Logan. He then learns that Logan was his father, and flees with half-brother Victor Creed. After surviving three wars due to their regenerative abilities, Logan (Jackman) and Victor (Schreiber) are recruited by Major William Stryker (Danny Huston), along with other mutants, to form the mercenary group Team X. Disgusted by the bloodthirsty ways of his comrades, Logan leaves the team and builds a new life with girlfriend Kayla Silverfox. But he can't hide for long, so when Striker comes calling and Victor a.k.a Sabertooth comes hunting, Logan must embrace his animal side and become Wolverine.

I thought this movie was super cool. I've loved Jackman in the X-Men movies, and here he carries the story on his muscly shoulders. I especially loved the scene in Stryker's lab, when he emerges from the tank after being implanted with adamantium. Schreiber was also excellent and complements Jackman very well. Their fights are very well executed, and bring out the menacing and animal nature of Wolverine and Sabertooth. The final fight of Wolverine and Sabertooth vs Deadpool was one to die for, it was awesome. This is a classic superhero movie, it has deadly villains, the tortured hero, fabulous fights, the works. Go watch it, if you haven't already.

P.S. Here are this week's giveaways, since I missed my Sunday Salon post.
Trisha's Book Blog is giving away Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men by till August 28
Book Tumbling has Frozen Tears by Mary Ann MacAfee to give away till September 2