Movie Review of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009)

Review of the Movie Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Greed rises from wrong ideas of satisfaction; anger rises from wrong ideas concerning the state of one’s affairs and surrounding; foolishness rises from the inability to judge what correct conduct is.
- The Buddha

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is a hilarious movie for the whole family. It does get rather intense at times and the sentient, headless chicken attack might be too scary for small children.

Flint Lockwood has the right motivation; he wants to use his ability to invent to save the town. However, due to combination of the townspeople’s gluttony (symbolized by the ever increasing girth of the mayor) and Flint’s desperate need for love, he allows things to get out of hand.

The message of be who you really are in spite of the mockery of others threads through the story. Not everyone expresses love in the same way; communication can be difficult, especially between a father and son. The movie pokes fun at one shot celebrities, typecast weather girls, theme parks, disaster movies, the hours we spend watching “cute” internet videos, politicians, and even snow days. There are funny references to other movies that parents will appreciate.

No Country for Old Men

Movie Review No Country for Old Men

Movie Score = B-

Recommended Age = 18 and up

From ignorance and greed there spring impure desires for things that are, in fact, unobtainable, but for which men restlessly and blindly search.
-The Buddha

It is interesting that “A History of Violence” was tagged as overly violent when this movie is much more so. I also found the story line of Cronenberg’s movie much more engaging and straightforward.

Javier Bardem plays the cold-blooded killer with perfect understated creepiness. Tommy Lee Jones is faultless as the aging sheriff. Josh Brolin plays the stubborn overly confidence Llewellyn Moss beautifully. The characterization is excellent. I found the plot like a shot gun blast, too much happening and too gory.

I have to disagree with the Academy and most of the critics on this one.