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I Me Wed (TV 2007)
Director:
Craig Pryce
Stars:
Erica Durance,
Paul Popowich,
Cara Pifko |
See full cast and crewWhen I was searching around on Hulu and read the synopsis for this movie, I knew it was made for me. I am not sure that marriage is for me and am very much so the woman who is always (happily) single. I once created another Facebook account for myself so I could list myself as married to myself. (I've often been listed as married or engaged to girl-friends on Facebook and am 'engaged' now, so am subject to annoying ads! Curses!) As far as this film went, it was what I expected from a Lifetime movie. Cute, with the necessary complications. I don't have anything to prove, so I don't believe I'll be going through with this. Since *SPOILER ALERT* she ended up marrying the guy anyway, it was kind of lame. It could been bold and shown that a woman CAN live a happy life alone, but that would be anti-Lifetime. In that regard, or with the complication in general, the movie is a contradiction to itself. *END SPOILER ALERT* I thought it was a cute film for anyone who likes to challenge the status-quo, but don't hold your breath.
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Dilwale Dulhani Le Jayenge (1995)
Director:
Aditya Chopra
Stars:
Shah Rukh Khan,
Kajol,
Amrish Puri |
See full cast and crewI was trying to introduce a couple friends to Bollywood and this seemed like a good place to start. SRK is one of my favorites. Some people think he is a little odd-looking, but honestly, if you've seen him play the hero as many times as I (and my good friend) have, it's impossible to not swoon when he appears. He represents every romantic hero you love to love. When watching this film, you will be surprised to see it was filmed in the 90s, when it looks like an 80s film. The appearance of these films often seem to be a decade behind, but that's half the fun. This film is dramatic and of course long. It's a staple in Bollywood history and a lot of movies reference it, so if you are looking to get into Hindi films, this is a great place to start. The soundtrack is quite popular still. Something to note: many Bollywood movies create songs FOR movies instead of the Hollywood norm of adding already popular songs to movies. This means when you hear a song, you instantly think of the movie and the actors. Great marketing, I think. This film has been out for 18 years and SRK and Kajol have had great careers. It spans London and India and you get to experience some of the Indian customs and celebrations, so it's a great chance to learn a bit more about a culture, which is always nice. Until recently, most Indian movies have not shown kissing or implied sex because it was considered very taboo. In modern movies, this sensitivity has been dismissed. (You can search for shortened name DDLJ if you want to look up the movie.)
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Scrooged (1988)
Director:
Richard Donner
Ever since we taped it off tv (cough cough), this has been one of my favorite holiday movies. I can be a bit of a Scrooge myself (I prefer Festivus for the Rest of Us), but I LOVE Bill Murray and this movie will always get me feeling great. I love the new twist on the old tale while it pays homage to the original. It's a clever movie and has a lot of fun actors in it. It's a 'yes', all the way. P.S. The Goonies theme song is playing in the trailer??
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Om Shanti Om (2007)
Director:
Farah Khan
This was the next movie I played to get my friends educated on Bollywood. It was more recent, yet still a decade behind. It was ONE of the first movies I saw and I love it. There are a LOT of cameos in this one, but you'd have to be better-versed than I in Indian Cinema to know them. I remember when friends and I were getting ready to perform a dance routine at an Indian event at our college and the Indians near our table were impressed and delighted when the title song came on and we started freaking out and singing and dancing to it. It's hard not to. Okay, so this film is long and dramatic and requires suspension of disbelief. It's a fun watch and again the songs hold sway. I believe it is actually a remake of another movie, but again, SRK makes me swoon. The trailer doesn't much tell you about it, but if you have a few hours to kill and a need to dance and be taken in by the drama and fun... try it out.
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St. Trinian's (2007)
I first watched and reviewed this in June 2011 and really enjoyed it. This time I got to watch it with friends before New Year's and it was even more fun. The theme song is catchy and I love the girl power of it all. I really need to watch the second one. Here's what I had to say last time:
While just looking this up on IMDB, I saw there is a sequel!!! Hooray!! This movie was a lot of campy kitsch and I had a blast! The characters were so wild and out there. AND Rupert Everett played a pair of siblings... a brother and sister! I love him and I love drag, so I was sold when I read the DVD cover at the library. Yes, finding this at the public library threw me for a loop! This movie was tons of fun and I even wasn't so put off by Russell Brand as I usually am! ;) This really was an ensemble cast, apparently based off of a cartoon series. I love the movies that are bizarre-o comedies and this one is a new cult fave of mine! :) Highly recommendable for anyone who likes the goofy, larger-than-reality films!
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Fish Tales (2007)
Director:
Alki David
This movie was 'special'. It's definitely a kid-friendly movie and I'm a little amazed that Billy Zane agreed to be in it. Seems kind of tame for him. Just now, reading up on it, I find that the guy who plays the heavy in the film is also the writer and director and it seems like he has a really crazy life history. It's a movie that has heart and is educational. It's not perfect by any means, but if you like mermaids or Greece, or your children do, it's an okay movie. Thanks, Hulu, for the find.
Full movie here: http://www.hulu.com/watch/359596
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Here Comes the Boom (2012)
Director:
Frank Coraci
I'll be honest and say I did want to see this film and was glad when my nephews agreed to go with me. It wasn't as terrible or hokey as I thought it would be. It had heart and the characters were fun. It made me want to get in better shape and learn how to defend myself. I didn't think Kevin James' character was as nice to Henry Winkler's character as he should have been and Winkler didn't get to shine, as much as I love him. Charice has a role and she is a great singer. Check out her bio. I enjoyed this movie and when it finally gets to be $5 at Target, I'll buy it :)
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The Business of Fancydancing (2002)
Director:
Sherman Alexie
This film was more experimental in nature, more poetic than just a narrative. It was easy to see it was a low-budget flick but it really had a lot of heart. The sense of culture came across pretty well and there were some powerful songs, prose, and poetry. There were times when the events weren't quite clear because of some the techniques employed, but it was a film for thinking, and should be watched. Definitely not as story driven as the next film I'll discuss (that also preceded this film).
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Smoke Signals (1998)
Director:
Chris Eyre
Stars:
Adam Beach,
Evan Adams,
Irene Bedard |
See full cast and crewI've seen this film before and it was just as much fun to watch it again. If you like Native humor and well-rounded characters and story-telling, you should definitely purchase this film from Amazon for $5. It's on my list. The actress who was the face and voice of Pocahontas is in the film too. This was a very fun film based on Sherman Alexie's novel. It was very well-done, professionally shot and a very important film in getting Natives and Native stories out in the forefront. Won a lot of awards and nominations. Love this movie. "Hey, Victor!"
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The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia (2013)
Director:
Tom Elkins
Stars:
Abigail Spencer,
Chad Michael Murray,
Katee Sackhoff |
See full cast and crewYes, the name is silly, but that's what studios do sometimes to get repeat viewers. I happen to know the director (and he didn't love the name change, either!). I was a P.A. on a film he edited in my hometown [For Love of Amy (2009)]. I'm not usually into scary movies because I have an overactive imagination, but I took some friends with me and we saw Tom's premiere. It was actually a really nicely done horror film. No gratuitous nudity, no weak female characters waiting for a man to save them. And actually based on a real story. You get to see the actual family members at the end of the film, which is neat. Everything about the film was well-done. The actors, the look, the effects, the scares. I'm glad I went out of my normal comfort zone because it was worth it. It leaves me interested in exploring more of the true story. Good job, Tom! I look forward to seeing more!
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Holes (2003)
Director:
Andrew Davis
I've loved this movie for a long time now. I showed it to my oldest two nephews and they seemed to enjoy it. It's one of those enduring, easily-relatable stories. I have the book and the soundtrack as well. I love the soundtrack. I know all the songs. The film is a safe film for families, but you'll have to explain racism a little bit, for the historical part of the movie. The actors are awesome. Great cast and story.
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Nacho Libre (2006)
Director:
Jared Hess
Stars:
Jack Black,
Ana de la Reguera,
Héctor Jiménez |
See full cast and crewI've seen this film before in 2007, but got to watch it with my brother, his wife and their three sons (my awesome nephews). Silly movie for sure. If you didn't like Napoleon Dynamite (2004) then you probably should pass on this. I enjoyed both films and Jack Black. And my nephews finally understand the luchador masks I brought them from Mexico this summer :)
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Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)
Director:
Benh Zeitlin
Stars:
Quvenzhané Wallis,
Dwight Henry,
Levy Easterly |
See full cast and crew
When I first saw this trailer, I wanted to cry, so I held off on seeing it in the theater. When I did actually see it, I kept my composure, except for a few sniffles at the end. It was a dynamite film. Did a great job of telling a story and giving us lively, unforgettable, unique characters. The young actress did an amazing job! It was a very unique story and it made me think of times when I'd been around chaotic people that were in a world all their own. Very good film. Check it out (with subtitles) and "put your pants on, man!" ;)
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Director:
Jason Moore
I'd heard a lot about the movie from people and it was pretty good once I got around to watching it. There were goofy parts to it, and it was pretty predictable, but it was a fun romp with some crazy characters. There was definitely a point in there in which I could hear my screenwriting mentor in my head saying "go for the extremes and they'll pull you back if they need to". Let me just say "making angels". Those of you who have seen it will get it. I guess my problem is there wasn't a lot of diversity in the film, and that's always kind of lame. But there were a lot of roles for females which is nice. It's fun enough to watch if you want to feel like a teenager again. Just watched the trailer again and forgot a bunch of the funny stuff. I love how Anna Camp plays a college student here and then a mom on The Mindy Project (2012) TV show :)
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Director:
Dan Hayes
I got to see this documentary as a preview before it plays at my local Film Festival. I'll admit I was a sobbing mess for almost the entire movie. I had a bag full of used kleenex when I was done. It hit all the right chords on my heartstrings to get me bawling. My grandfathers were/are WWII vets and many people are probably able to relate to that in this country. I'm a pacifist, but can't help but be grateful for the sacrifices of these men. This film is definitely worth watching, if only to pay your respects. Note: I just watched this trailer. There were a couple things not in the actual documentary itself, but I've teared up and my nose is running. See this film and go talk to your vets to thank them and listen to what they have to say.
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Director:
Tobias Tobbell
I couldn't find a poster for the film, so this screenshot is all I could find. This film wasn't what I expected and I wasn't quite wanting to watch it, but I really found myself enjoying it. It was a suspenseful thriller for sure. Built on characters and situation, this is a film to watch! I got to watch it as a sneak peak to when it plays at my local film festival. I expect great things from these people! If you're at the festival, check this one out!
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Director:
Wendy J.N. Lee
Okay, this is the third film I saw as a sneak peak to the Festival. Also the third I'd recommend. It's a documentary that deals with spirituality and ecological responsibility. It was such an intriguing film. I thought the format was very nice. 700 people follow a Buddhist monk 400 miles through the Himalayas to pick up trash and educate the rural population on the dangers of plastic and disconnecting with nature. Don't dismiss this as some green mumbo-jumbo; it's a very intriguing film that helps you understand culture and other lifestyles. I'll probably never join them on a Pad Yatra, but just watching this helped me re-examine my own habits with plastic and with water conservation the very next day. Every step makes a difference. This film is a great reminder of that. The monks and nuns are quite delightful characters/people and it was great to hear of the story told as a narrative by one of the participants. It's quite a breath-taking film, and I do recommend it to everyone, green-minded or not. (Also had a cameo by one of my Bollywood actors Aamir Khan!)
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Adam and Steve (2005)
Director:
Craig Chester
Stars:
Craig Chester,
Malcolm Gets,
Parker Posey |
See full cast and crew Why does 2005 seem like just yesterday? This movie was a Hulu find: watch here. It was pretty stinking adorable and funny. Expect some shocks. I loved the characters. Craig Chester is freaking adorable! It was a fun, kitschy movie with some great names. I totally recommend it, if you can handle 'this type' of movie. Don't watch with kids around... or weak stomachs (just in the first 10 minutes). I had a lot of fun with this one. Laugh out loud.
