A couple of movies

Our recent days-off have been cold and wet so we have enjoyed the chance to catch up on a few movies. We have seen two very different films.

First up was The Way, a great, gentle film starring Martin Sheen, directed by and starring his son Emilio Estevez.

It is the story of Tom, whose normal life in California is turned upside down when hearing the news of his son’s accidental death while holidaying in France. He travels to France to collect his son’s body and discovers that his son was walking the Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James). Deciding to complete the trek for his son, he sets out to walk the Camino across Spain, like thousands of pilgrims before him. He meets up with 3 others along the way and so begins an unlikely friendship between them all.

It is a quiet film. To be honest not a great deal happens in it. But the story itself as it meanders along is a good one and the scenery filmed along the actual Camino is spectacular.

For those that enjoyed Martin Sheen as Jed Bartlett in the West Wing, this is another good role for him. And for those that like to see actual family acting together in movies, it’s amazing to see just how like Sheen Estevez now looks.

This week’s blockbuster was Men in Black 3, the next instalment of the series which started 15 years ago. We hired #1 and 2 and watched them again before seeing 3, so we’ve had a fun week or so in Men in Black land. It still stars Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith and both are still trying to defend an unknowing earth from alien invasion. It’s a fun movie with good special effects and without an overly complicated plot. It gives some good laughs along the way and doesn’t take itself too seriously. Good choice for a wet wintry day!