Mini-review Monday: Fifty Shades of Grey, Avengers: Age of Ultron
It’s a sad day when your mother is more up to date with movie viewing than you are. Such is the price for living in the inaka. Anyway, since I’ve been averaging one cinema visit a year since moving here, I’ve had to do a lot of waiting for DVD release. The following are catch-up mini-reviews for two high profile 2015 releases. Fifty Shades of Grey The movie adaptation of EL James’s erotic bestseller was this year’s big Valentine’s Day release. There has been much snickering about the book, but I was honestly prepared to approach the film with an open mind. I would give it a chance; judge it entirely on its own merits. After all, a good chunk of criticism of the novel centred on its writing style. With a movie, we wouldn’t have to endure heroine Anastasia Steele’s cringe-worthy inner monologue. That would be an immediate plus. And yes, Dakota Johnson ’s portrayal of sexually naïve Ana in this romantic drama is fine. The character is considerably less irritating on the screen tha...