The Five Year Engagement

ACTUALLY STAYED AWAKE

This movie was surprisingly funny.  Not continuously laughing funny, but every 5 minutes or so, there is a quip or an action that does make you laugh out loud.  This might be Jason Segal's funniest movie since "Saving Sarah Marshall."  The biggest shocker was when I found out it was an Judd Apatow movie during the credits, and that's when I went, "Aha.  That makes sense."

Battleship

FELL ASLEEP

Although I fell asleep for maybe 15 minutes watching this movie, I woke up, resumed watching it and still enjoyed it.  I don't know what it is - I like these "Armageddon" type movies.  It reminded me of the bombing sequence in "Pearl Harbor" with Cuba Gooding Jr.  That was the only memorable part of "Pearl Harbor," and this movie was like that part but extended to an hour.  While I wasn't a fan of the 2 "Friday Night Lights" characters, I did enjoy staring at Brooklyn Decker.  Of all the brainless action movies that I've seen ("Transformers," "GI Joe", any superhero movie), this was on the better side.

The Avengers

FELL ASLEEP TWICE

Not only did I fall asleep once while watching this at night, I woke up the next morning and tried to plow through it, and sure enough, I fell asleep again.  I think if you spliced the first 30 minutes of the movie with the last 30 minutes to make it a 1 hour movie, I think it would have been better.  I just didn't like the middle hour.  I also didn't know who Loki was and was confused if he was really the bad guy or not.  And I think my infatuation with Scarlet Johannson may have ended with this movie.  I don't know if it was the script or the acting, but she just wasn't good in it.  I don't know what it is with these Marvel superhero movies - they're so predictable: weak plot, lots of CGI action, some t&a here and there and you have a Marvel action movie.  Just like in the comics, DC (Batman) proves to be the alternative and better option.

Total Recall

FELL ASLEEP!

The only thing I remember from the first "Total Recall" was 1) the 3 breasted lady, 2) Arnold was in it, 3) and it had something to do with Mars.  I should have known better than to watch this movie at 10pm on a Friday night.  The movie didn't even stand a chance.  Not even Kate Beckinsale could save me.  This is one of those movies that my dad would love - nonstop action with a very thin plot.  Seriously, 30 minutes in, I was falling in and out of sleep.  Francine nudged me awake one time, and I even told her, "Just let me sleep.  This movie is so bad."  'nuff said.

The Dark Knight Rises

ACTUALLY STAYED AWAKE

This was a tough one because 1) the movie was at 8pm, 2) the movie is nearly 2:45 hrs long, and 3) I had a glass of wine before the movie.  Except for a couple of very short 1-minute long "eye closures," I was awake for 99% of the movie.  Anyhow, 15 minutes into the movie, and a couple of things immediately popped up in my head - 1) why does Bane sound like a 70 year old British man and 2) I love the Catwoman role, but I don't know if Anne Hathaway was right for the role.  I love Anne, but she's too young for the part.  I would have liked to have seen an older actress (someone like Kate Beckinsale) play the role.  And my only gripe in the movie was how no one died when they were shot at.  It's like c'mon, if you're running 200 yards into a firing squad, more than 5 people out of 1,000 had to have been hit by a bullet.  Besides that, one of the top classic action movies of all time.

The Amazing Spider-Man 3D

Status - STAYED AWAKE

Remind me to be 30 minutes late to the next Spiderman "reboot."  Why?  Because it's the same first 30 minutes every time - wimpy Peter Parker getting picked on at school, goes on a field trip, gets bit by a radioactive spider, and then learning his newfound skills.  Seriously, I'm tired of the same 30 minutes over and over.  Other than that, I thought this version was just eye-candy.  I think the 3D did add to the enjoyment of the movie because if it wasn't for the 3D, I most likely would have fallen asleep.  And I think Emma Stone's stock didn't necessarily fall or rise with this movie (just like Kirsten Dunst's stock didn't necessarily rise or fall with Mary Jane).  All in all, I think I liked the other Spiderman series better (more meat; less eye-candy.)

21 Jump Street

I remember the first part of the movie being actually funny, but then Channing Tatum started to get annoying and then I dozed off.  Highly recommend the first 15 minutes.  You can sleep after that.