Some observations

A few quick movie reviews I didn't have time to make while on vacation:

Pirates of the Caribbean is a terrible, meandering pile of crap. With the possible exception of Johnny Depp's performance, all of the likeable aspects of the first film--missing since the second movie--were completely absent here. The plot was over-wrought, folding in on itself, in a cerebral, lengthy film that was nowhere near as fun as the original. I'm just curious how a film that relies on the suspension of disbelief (pirate ghosts, Davey Jones, etc...), can still have me rolling my eyes thinking, "bull crap... that can't happen." Jerry Bruckheimer has created a monster.

Knocked Up:

This was a pleasant surprise from Judd Apatow, who is at the center of the vortex of that emerging genre of coming-of-age movies for people in their 20s and 30s. This movie featured all of the best qualities displayed in his earlier efford, "The 40-year-old Virgin," while tightening the balance between crude and sweet. With prosthetic vaginas and loads of swearing, it's a solid R movie, but with quick dialogue, oddly realistic situations, and an improvisational style which shows the actors having a great time (thus drawing in the audience to laugh even harder), this was the best comedy of the year. Judd Apatow is solidifying his presence in Hollywood, even without a chest waxing scene.


Also,

Rest in peace, mister Charles Nelson Reilly.

Also,

Amy Winehouse has an amazing voice. She's pretty gross, and her lyrics are stupid, but her voice is phenomenal.