I like it. I like it big time!

I've been enjoying a rare opportunity to watch broadcast TV, and the interesting mix of movies that comes with that.

Urban Cowboy (1980) - "Bud Davis is a country boy who moves to the city to visit his uncle and his family. He starts hanging out at Gilley's, the popular nightclub owned by Mickey Gilley himself. He takes a job at the oil refinery where his uncle works, hoping to save enough money to buy some land. He also meets a cowgirl named Sissy, they dance together, fall in love and suddenly get married. And then their marriage is shattered when Bud sees Sissy allegedly seeing con man Wes, who teaches her how to ride the mechanical bull... and plans to rob Gilley's. When a bull-riding contest at Gilley's is announced, Bud decides to sign up. Can he win the contest and save his marriage to Sissy?"
source: watched on TV
I watched it because: I'd never seen it, and it's a cultural phenomenon
IMDB: 6.4/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 73% Audience: 81%
my IMDB: 4/10

notable quote: "All cowboys ain't dumb. Some of 'em got smarts real good, like me."

MPAA rating: PG

directed by: James Bridges

my notes: boy meets girl; he beats her up. Girl meets new boy; gets beat up again. First boy fights with second boy for the love of fair maid. What a gross joke.
overall: not recommended

The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) - "Bourne is once again brought out of hiding, this time inadvertently by London-based reporter Simon Ross who is trying to unveil Operation Blackbriar—an upgrade to Project Treadstone—in a series of newspaper columns. Bourne sets up a meeting with Ross and realizes instantly they're being scanned. Information from the reporter stirs a new set of memories, and Bourne must finally, ultimately, uncover his dark past whilst dodging The Company's best efforts in trying to eradicate him. "

source: watched on TV
I watched it because: I've seen the first one - and thought this was the second. Ooops
IMDB: 8.0/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 92% Audience: 91%
my IMDB: 8/10

notable quote: "This is Jason Bourne, the toughest target that you have ever tracked. He is really good at staying alive, and trying to kill him and failing... just pisses him off."

MPAA rating: PG-13

directed by: Paul Greengrass

my notes: not as good as the first, but entertaining and engrossing anyway. I liked it.

Academy Award winner:
• Best Film Editing
• Best Sound Mixing

• Best Sound Editing
overall: recommended

Donnie Brasco (1997) - "This true story follows FBI agent Joe Pistone as he infiltrates the mafia of New York. Befriending Lefty Ruggiero, Pistone (under the name Donnie Brasco) is able to embed himself in a mafia faction led by Sonny Black. Ruggiero and Pistone become tight as the group goes about collecting money for 'the bosses'. Eventually, the group become big-time when Black himself becomes a boss; all the while, Pistone collects evidence. However, the trials and tribulations of the undercover work become more than Pistone can bear. His marriage falls apart, and to top it off, the mafia suspect a mole in the organization. The real dilemma is afforded to Pistone, who knows if he walks away from the mafia, Ruggiero will be the one punished."
source: watched on TV
I watched it because: it's been on my "to see" list for a long time, and there it was in front of me
IMDB: 7.7/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 88% Audience: 89%
my IMDB: 7/10

notable quote: "'What's "Forget about it"?'

    '"Forget about it" is, like, if you agree with someone, you know, like "Raquel Welch is one great piece of ass. Forget about it!" But then, if you disagree, like "A Lincoln is better than a Cadillac? Forget about it!" You know? But then, it's also like if something's the greatest thing in the world, like, "Minghia! Those peppers! Forget about it!" But it's also like saying "Go to hell!" too. Like, you know, like "Hey Paulie, you got a one-inch pecker?" and Paulie says "Forget about it!" ... Sometimes it just means "Forget about it.'

MPAA rating: R

directed by: Mike Newell

my notes: hard and violent, and excellent. Al Pacino is brilliant as the ham-handed, terminally unsavvy Lefty, and Johnny Depp is a thoughtful, difficult, beautiful surprise as Donnie.
Academy Award nominee: Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Published—Paul Attanasio
overall: recommended

Along Came a Spider (2001) - "Detective/psychologist Alex Cross loses his partner in an out of control 'bust.' He stops working and cannot forgive himself. He is drawn back to work reluctantly when a senator's daughter is kidnapped and the kidnapper seems to want to deal with Alex personally."
source: watched on TV
I watched it because: wanted a movie that I can watch while doing other things. I figured anything based on a James Patterson novel would work just fine....
IMDB: 6.4/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 32% Audience: 53%
my IMDB: 4/10

notable quote: "I am living proof that a mind is a terrible thing."

MPAA rating: R

directed by: Lee Tamahori

my notes: dumb. A good dramatic movie should be a little unbelievable; this goes so far beyond that, requiring complete suspension of disbelief and tolerance for red herrings and double- and triple-agents ... The child actors are all that make it worth watching.
overall: not recommended

[the title quotation is from Donnie Brasco]