"Crazy, Stupid, Love." (2011); "Lymelife" (2008); "My Girlfriend's Boyfriend" (2010); "What About Bob?" (1991); "Breakfast with Scot" (2007); "Bad Teacher" (2011)

Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011) - I like the cast a lot for this movie (although Gosling seems to have a weird look to me; don't know why, sorry dude) so of course I liked the movie. Emma Stone is a doll and I'm pretty sure she's what we all hoped Lindsay Lohan would have been. *zing!* I like it when movies have a bit of interconnectedness to it. That might have just given the movie away. Or maybe not. I'm trying to put voodoo confusion on you right now. You are getting very sleeeeeepy..... as sleepy as I am writing thizzzzzzzz. Okay, I'm back. The movie was fun but like many Hollywood movies, it hijacked an important social event (and several other social situations) so the characters could show the drama of their plight. I understand as a writer that 'they' say to up the ante and raise the stakes but it's a little old and predictable, that trick. I do recommend the movie though as the characters and situations were fun.

Lymelife (2008) - I'll be honest. I thought I was picking out a documentary about Lyme's Disease which someone in my life has. But I still liked the movie and it was fun to see some of the other members of the Culkin family. It was dramatic of course but enjoyable. I don't have tons to say about it except that the tone is a little heavy. If you like the 70's era, this would be one of those. Some notable players: Cynthia Nixon, Alec Baldwin (playing an a-hole), Jill Hennessy and Timothy Hutton as well as the aforementioned Rory Culkin and Kieran Culkin.

My Girlfriend's Boyfriend (2010) - This is one of those Lifetime-esque movies that almost hurts to watch. I watched it on hulu to kill some time but of course had to finish it. Let's just say that the plot was the reason I watched and then it turned on me and insulted my intelligence and my personal belief system. Yeah. I mean the twist was okay but it was the weepy 'poor me' moment that completely ticked me off. That and the ulterior storyline didn't show conflict so how would that have sold within that story. It's kind of a gag-worthy story and the character played by Alyssa Milano is not likeable nor believable. I wasn't able to connect to her enough to care about her. So, yeah, I might tell you to pass up on this one unless you'd like to watch it and bitch about it with me. ;)

What About Bob? (1991) - I'm sure I've mentioned this movie several times because it is one of my all-time favorite movies. I am mentioning it this time however it terms of it's MPAA rating. It's rated PG. If any of you have ever seen it and know it well, you will realize this mainly comes into play for the elaborate string of creative cuss words utilized to demonstrate Tourette's Syndrome. I watched it most recently with my parents and my nephews (ages 12, 9 and 6) who now have a more active vocabulary because of it. This movie is perfectly crafted. It shows the complete turn-around of a psychiatrist into someone who is insane. Brilliant. What I just found from the trivia page probably helped character-wise: "According to Richard Dreyfuss, he and Bill Murray did not get along during filming."  Other tidbit: "Woody Allen was suggested for the role of Leo Marvin." - What a completely different movie THAT would have been! It's worth noting that the 6 year old did not have the attention span necessary for this movie but still found the funny parts funny. The older two really enjoyed it. So, hooray for educating the younger generation, even when it includes putting their precious ears at risk for bad words. I may be hearing from my brother on that one... ;)

Breakfast with Scot (2007) - I'm a fan of movies that focus on non-heteros and I put this one at the top of my movie queue after seeing the trailer on another recently-watched non-het movie (2 points to the reader who can guess which one that was). This movie was less campy than I thought it was going to be and I really appreciated that. I also appreciated that it didn't rely on the upcoming business trip to "up the ante" AND I liked that even the most unlikeable of characters was not made into a demon but actually just another human with a complex system of needs. His girlfriend wasn't even a throw-away character and we were able to respect her because of it. I liked the story and the manly-men gay guys that break the mold of what society expects a gay man to be. The message is pretty clear without being overwhelming or distracting. I thought it was a nice movie and would recommend it for sure!

Bad Teacher (2011) - I've got to say... this teacher is my new hero. I LOVED this movie because it was a great, under-appreciated vehicle to show a "bad girl" in action. It is so uncommon to see roles for women that are nitty-gritty and allow them to be the slacker without having to do a complete 180 to become the proper women that society demands. We need more movies like this. This movie was excellent. It was cleverly funny and so so wrong in all the right places. I LOVED LOVED LOVED the cameos/roles by Phyllis Smith, John Michael Higgins, Molly Shannon and Eric Stonestreet. AWESOME. This movie didn't do too well and I attribute part of it to the aforementioned sexism present in Hollywood and society in which women aren't allowed the 'fun roles'. But I loved it because the film and Diaz's character were unapologetic and got away with murder. The movie was zany and not realistic but I could deal with that because it has character and spice. Totally recommend this movie.

"The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2" (2008), "Le Divorce" (2003), "Big" (1988), "Zookeeper" (2011), "I Hate Valentine's Day" (2009), "Munster, Go Home!" (1966), "Tru Loved" (2008)

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (2008)  At first when I saw the Greek pics I was like 'Oh, no! I already saw this movie and wasted an online rental!' But then I realized that they go to Greece in both movies and that I had only just seen the first movie. I was more or less able to pick up on the storyline, although I hadn't seen the prequel for many years. This movie is standard fluff safe for preteens. As long as your pre-teens know about sex and broken condoms that is. The movie was pretty formulaic and predictable. Supposedly, if you've read the book series, the sequel here is all of the last books lumped together. I don't know because I've not read them myself.

Le Divorce (2003) - How do you say 'disappointment' in French. Bleh. I was hoping for a romantic comedy, but I got a far-fetched dramedy instead. The last bit of the film with the symbolic image floating through Paris... that was ridiculous. I didn't really get what I wanted here. I found it hard to be okay with Kate Hudson's character because I didn't really identify with her. I don't really want to waste more time on this movie because it just wasn't what I wanted. But what do I expect for a close-out price of $5 at Borders? ;)

Big (1988) - This was supposed to be one of those 'in the background movies' while I was working on a script, but I ended up chatting with a friend abroad and paying attention to this movie. I've always looooooved Tom Hanks and this movie. Of course it's awesome to see how the technology has changed in the past 22 years. Wow. That's a while ago. I was 3 when this movie was released. I showed the movie cover to my 20 year-old brother's friend of the same age and he said. "Big isn't that about the guy with the big d***? Oh wait, that's the TV show 'Hung'". Clearly there is a generation gap and some edumacating really needs to go on because if the younger generations aren't exposed to clever movies like this... we truly have a lost world on our hands. But back to the movie. I love it. Have I said that already? I think Tom does a wonderful job portraying what a scared kid would be like in a the body of a grown-up. He just captures the essence of innocence that is lost as we grow older and start to make things complicated. I love the scene where the lady-friend asks where 'we' are going, and he is just confused, like 'what are you talking about?' There is something so fun about this movie and you would be remiss if you never saw it.

Zookeeper (2011) - When searching for this movie on IMDB, one of the same name came up that was made 10 years ago... The summary of that one was: "A disillusioned ex-Communist is left behind to take care of the animals in the capital's zoological gardens until a U.N. rescue force arrives" 
      I'm pretty sure I would have been better off seeing that one. But of course, I'm a sucker for talking animal movies (not really, but I can handle them). But the Kevin James vehicle asked too much as far as 'suspension of disbelief' goes. Especially when it got to the end of the film. Ugh. The things that were happening then were not possible and took me out of the movie, even more. But when you are watching a movie that is supposed to be appropriate for kids, you have to basically give up. I hate to think that, but in this cases it was true. Even sadder is that I didn't watch this movie with kids... I watched it with my parents that are in their late 50's and I think my dad was nodding off, while I was scoffing to my mother about the racially insensitive giraffe. Yeah, this movie is not a winner. Sorry.

I Hate Valentine's Day (2009) - I love Nia Vardalos about as much as I love Tom Hanks, which is great because he produced this movie (and another Nia vehicle as well). I will always support her/them with all my love and admiration, but I have to admit this movie wasn't perfect. At times her character was a little scary because of how bubbly-happy she was but it made sense because she's trying to prevent herself from getting hurt. I can relate to that and I think a lot of people can. The movie had a great cast and the characters were silly-fun (Ooops and Uh Oh!). I know it was supposed to be campy and fun and it mostly got there, but there were times when it didn't quite hit the mark. Regardless, because I really love her, I watched it a second time. Oh, and I do own several of her movies just for the mere fact she was a part of them (besides them being super cute and lots of fun). She has got to be one of my favorite under-utilized actresses and I will watch anything she's done. (Yes, I feel terrible for not being in love with this movie, but if it's any consolation to her, I own and love Connie and Carla (2004) because I'm a sucker for drag queens. Love you, Nia!!)

Munster, Go Home! (1966) - I watched this the day after Yvonne De Carlo's would-be-birthday. In order to watch this film, you have to appreciate good ol' 60's Munster camp. If you aren't really familiar with the TV show, this film may be lost on you. I have it as a multi-feature that I picked up at Target or something. I can't really try to talk anyone into seeing this or not. It's either your thing or it isn't. But don't be too high brow or analytical when you watch it, or you'll regret it.

Tru Loved (2008) - You can tell this film was very low budget. Some of the acting was not the best because the actor's sexual orientation often came through over the character's. And of course, the culmination of events happened during a wedding which is pretty far-fetched and convenient. Oh, did I spoil it for you? You probably weren't going to see it, but I'm sure if you do, that doesn't really affect how you will see the movie. I get what the movie was going for, but it was all just too 'convenient'. It all just 'worked out'. It didn't seem very believable the further along it got. I appreciate the movie and the message and all the work that went into it, but it wasn't top-notch filming. There were audio issues for a set of scenes and I was sad that the DVD I watched had scratches, because I really do like to watch my movies in their entirety. I would tell you to watch this film though if you can appreciate the effort of gay cinema. This was gay cinema geared towards teens so it was much cleaner than a lot of stuff out there, so for that, I say go for it.

Okay, so that's 7 films in 3 weeks. Yikes, not so good. But in my defense... is anyone even reading this?! LOL. No, but really, I've started guitar and ukulele lessons and am writing a short script, so those things are taking up some of my time previously used watching movies. Priorities, friends. I gots them. Anyway, happy viewing!!

"Kick-Ass" (2010); "Harry and the Hendersons" (1987); "Ondine" (2009)

Now, for your added entertainment... the movie posters! :)

 

Kick-Ass (2010) When I started watching it, I was a little afraid to delve into the superhero genre because I'm currently having an illicit love affair with the UK's Misfits.(<---BEST SHOW EVER!) So, it's like going on a date when you're happily married. Or something like that. Anyway, I really don't care for Nicolas Cage and his vocal quality/accent really bothered me in this movie. Whether it was just because it was him, I don't know. I guess the concept was pretty fun and the characters were interesting/entertaining. A little predictable as it follows comic book storylines, tried and true. The kick-ass pre-teen girl was fun. VERY much taken/copied/inspired from Leon: The Professional (1994). I had NO idea until IMDB that Aaron Johnson is an English actor. Way to master an American accent! :) If only Cage could do the same. OOOOO burn! I enjoyed seeing Clark Duke from Hot Tub Time Machine (2010) in this flick. Kick-Ass wasn't an amazing film by any means but it was okay to watch once.

Harry and the Hendersons (1987) Bought this flick for $5 from Target. Can't pass up a 'classic'. I hadn't seen it since the early 90's, so it was fun to have a rewind. This is a fun flick for the family, by any means. You'll definitely remember the neighbor Irene (Lainie Kazan) from My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002). And of course, who John Lithgow is tons of fun. Thanks to IMDB, I just discovered that Harry, the lovable Bigfoot was played by Kevin Peter Hall who was The Predator in movies 1 and 2!! From his Trivia page:

"This giant's face was rarely seen in his films, as he usually played monsters and semi-human creatures that required him to wear mounds of make-up, so few people know that he was a handsome and muscular man.....

Can be seen in Predator (1987) without costume. He is the helicopter pilot at the end of the film.
He was in a major car accident in Los Angeles. During surgery for his critical wounds, he received a contaminated blood transfusion. He died shortly thereafter of AIDS. He went public with his illness with the full support of his wife."

Wow. You learn something new everyday.  I wonder what we missed out on by not getting to see more of his work. :(

Ondine (2009)  I, for one, will always take any chance to fawn over Colin Farrell. Yum-my! And of course to see him with a different Irish accent (than his own) is great. I really did like this story. It had just the right mix of mysticism and reality to make a great film. Alicja Bachleda is enchanting to watch and Alison Barry as the daughter Annie is adorable! Oh, IMDB, how I love thee....I just read that Bachleda and Farrell dated for a while after meeting on the movie and have a baby. How's THAT for chemistry, eh? ;) If that's not a good enough reason to watch the film... well, whatever, you stiff.

So, I learned a lot today from IMDB and I hope you did too!! Happy Viewing!!

Movies by which to Drink Sangria!!

One of my dear friends asked me to provide a list of movies that would go well with SANGRIA! Yummy! Looking back through to the BEGINNING of my blog, here are movies I have watched that would go great with Sangria... light and fruity!

• Anything by Pedro Almodovar
• Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011) (Hindi but takes place in beautiful Spain!)
• Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
• My Life in Ruins (2009) (In Greece, but light, fun and fruity like Sangria)
• Eat Pray Love (2010)
• Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)
• The Kids Are All Right (2010)
• Tambourine (2008) Iranian comedy of circumstance
• It's Complicated (2009)
• Dostana (2008) Hindi movie that is fun! If you like gays...
• Cry-Baby (1990) Johnny Depp... mmmm
• Zombieland (2009) Zombies like Sangria, right? ;)
• 30 Days Until I'm Famous (TV 2004) Not an awesome movie but light enough for sangria
• From Dust Til Dawn (1996) Tarantino vampire flick... I think it's supposed to be campy... because it most definitely is!
• The Proposal (2009)
• Y Tu Mamá También (2001) - This is definitely a sangria movie!!!
• Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)
• Chocolat (2000) This one is debatable... Could be a wine movie too... but you MUST invest in high quality chocolate as well!!!
• Mixed Nuts (1994) This one is a cult Christmas classic and sangria will make it all the more enjoyable.
• The Birdcage (1996) or La Cage Aux Folles (1978) The remake or the original French film would be great with Sangria
• Ruthless People (1986) Bette Midler, Danny DeVito and Judge Reinhold
• Soapdish (1991) Sally Field, Kevin Kline and Robert Downey Jr.  what's not to love?

WARNING: The following movies are being pulled from a list from January 2007 and beyond so I have limited memories of the movies. Any choice to drink sangria with these movies is at your own risk. You will most likely survive and you will probably enjoy your beverage, but I make no guarantees on the enhancement to the movie that your drink will make. If you do watch one of the films while drinking sangria, let me know how it turns out ;)

• A Prairie Home Companion (2006)
• The Squid and the Whale (2005) I'm a little apprehensive about this one as a sangria choice because it's been a while since I've seen it so I'm not sure it's the right tone, but I do like Noah Baumbach
• Bottle Rocket (1996) Same as above about apprehension, but with  Wes Anderson
• I Am a Sex Addict (2005)  Something tells me that the longer it's been since I've seen the movie (I'm in Jan 2007 of my blog now), the harder it will be to judge the appropriateness of sangria, so don't quote me on these movies ;)
• Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World (2005) 
• The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
• Monja, La (2005) aka "The Nun" - (English title) Dir. Luis De La Madrid This one is pretty funny (in an absurd manner) but dark, so hold on tight to your sangria. Also was watched in October 2006, so who knows....
• Comet Over Broadway (1938) Okay, I'm almost pretty sure I'm just randomly picking movies from my list from 2006, but if it gets you to watch an old movie... well, I'm sure you won't be worse-off for it!
•  Xingfu shiguang (2000) aka "Happy Times Hotel" - UK (DVD title) aka "Happy Time" - (English title) aka "Happy Times" - UK, USA
• It Happened One Night (1934) Directed by Frank Capra   I'm almost pretty sure this one is a good sangria choice. Here's a bit of comedy for you... my write-up on this movie back in September 2006:

  "If I remember correctly, there was an excessive use of wipes, with some fades and enough intercuts to keep the audience in on the action. But if you're not film studies, you don't care. Fact is, a friend or two had raved about this movie, and now I know why. Romantic comedy at its finest. The main characters are involved in a love-hate relationship with each other and both undergo changes as they fall in love. As far as I'm concerned, this was a classier version of Spaceballs (1987)."  

So there you have it. More than 30 movies that would probably go well with sangria. Drink and watch responsibly, eh? Also, feel free to comment nicely about other movies you would choose or if my choices are a little off. ;) Happy viewing!!

"Multiple Sarcasms" (2010); "30 Minutes or Less" (2011); "Louder than a Bomb" (2010); " Paper Heart" (2009); "Bass Ackwards" (2010); "Welcome to Sajjanpur" (2008); "Mid-August Lunch (Pranzo di ferragosto)" (2008)

Multiple Sarcasms (2010) -  This movie shows how the creative lifestyle can really destroy a person's life but also make it more in tune with what a person really wants/needs out of life. I found it pleasant and witty. I basically liked the characters but some of the title animations were not constant throughout the film. It was fun to see Mario Van Peebles in the role he played. (Click the link and check out his forever long list of attributes on imdb.... dude's been in the game for quite a while!) The little girl, India Ennenga was good and was also in The Women (2008).

30 Minutes or Less (2011) -  Every time I told someone about this movie, they asked, whether seriously or in jest, if it was a short movie. So apparently the title could have used some work. The film was basically what you thought it would be... funny and gross but entertaining. It's not actually a very long movie either, but it is definitely longer than 30 minutes. ;) Aziz Ansari is one of my favorites and this role was a typical one for him. Fred Ward has a role in this movie that is pretty hilarious. He too has been in pretty much about everything.

Louder Than a Bomb (2010) - This documentary was absolutely fabulous and uplifting and inspiring. Can't say enough good things about it. High schoolers from all over Chicago compete in a slam poetry competition. The viewer is introduced to some AMAZING youth who have a lot going for them BECAUSE they have an artistic outlet that helps them express themselves and channel their energies into something super positive. I highly recommend this movie for everyone. Why? It shows that you can't judge someone from what they look like and that you can be blown away by the power of another person. It's a film that helps to cross barriers and defy stereotypes. Loved this movie. Whether or not you are a creative person yourself, you will feel something while/after watching this movie. Great stuff. Makes me feel good about the youth in a world where we are taught to fear them. It just goes to show that they need a positive, creative place to channel their talents and get the support and encouragement they need. We should all be so lucky. I'm proud of them and I will probably never meet them, but they "are a blessing to us all". (Watch the film and you'll understand that reference.)

Paper Heart (2009) - I finally got around to watching this film and it was okay. I liked that it showed a romance between two awkward people and the format was a little interesting, but kind of odd. The film didn't leave me feeling too inspired but it was another vehicle, a less cheesy one than most rom-coms, to show that you have to take a risk to get a reward. I don't know if I would have come up with that if it wasn't stated at the end of the film. :( Jake M. Johnson (plays the director) looks sooooo familiar but none of his credits ring a bell for me. I find this tidbit ironic: "Stars Charlyne Yi and Michael Cera were dating at the time of filming, but ended their relationship before the release date" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1331064/trivia) It was a nice enough film but not easy to relate to, even for me, someone who is a little more jaded like Charlyne is supposed to be. The interviews within the faux-doc setting were nice, but because of the odd format to the film, I'm unsure if they were real comments from real people or if it was all staged. Makes the overall film hard to digest.

Bass Ackwards (2010) - The title doesn't necessarily play into the overall film for me but I think I liked the film anyway. It's one of those stories where it takes a road trip for someone to find themselves. It was a bit quiet and the characters were interesting although some scenarios seemed a little far-fetched, like Vic's monologue about his daughter's death. I find it hard to believe that a person would pour out their soul to a stranger or that they would let a guy into their home to play with their son and spend the night. Although maybe that's a result of Linas Phillips' personality? Maybe some people will say these things to the right person? I don't know. I've not come across it much in my own life. After reading Linas' bio, I can see some of the elements from his life in his film and I like it. It's a personal touch to the story. I can identify with the bit about special needs kids because of the volunteering I do. The viewer gets a feeling that this story is pretty personal for the writer/director/star and that makes a difference to the story. Like the previous film, it makes it hard to distinguish film from real life because the two become so intertwined.

Welcome to Sajjanpur (2008) - This film was typical Bollywood (but not as many songs): crazy situations that mask a deeper message. In this film, a man writes letters and such for members of his village, taking liberties at times for his own benefit. There was a lot going on and a lot of characters but it was easy enough to keep track of what was going on. At the end, with some of the reveal, parts of it were just glossed over that were actually hard-hitting and shocking. It wasn't an amazing movie but was fun in that it was based in a village and wasn't as flashy as other B-wood movies can be.

Mid-August Lunch (Pranzo di ferragosto) (2008) - I really liked this film a lot! Like Bass Ackwards, it is a film in which you can really feel the hand of the filmmaker and sense their passion towards the subject. It was only after reading the DVD insert that I learned that the writer/director/actor based it off of his life experiences (and his imagination of what could be). Fun fact.... TODAY really is Ferragosto!!! The day that this movie takes place! I watched it yesterday, which was also a day featured in the movie. Fun coincidence! The movie really is sweet as it shows one man's experience with his elderly mother. I think this film shines through because of its simplicity and the truth it speaks, evident to anyone who has spent any actual amount of time caring for the elderly. It was very cool to read the insert and learn a bit about the older women in these roles. I really do like films that showcase people we don't see very often in films because there is so much more to life. It also emphasizes that you should write what you know (same with Bass Ackwards). This movie was quite a gem and I'm saving it for my parents to watch because I'm sure they can relate even better than I as they are caring for their parents.

So, out of these 7 films watched in the past couple weeks, there is a trend present in several (if not most) of them: write what you know and bare your soul. That is true and that is all. Peace!

"When in Rome" (2010), "Funny People" (2009), "Confessions of a Shopaholic" (2009), "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara" (2011), "The Hangover Part II" (2011), "El Juego de la Verdad" (2004)

When In Rome (2010) - This movie was actually pretty cute. Some slapstick humor and of course, far-fetched, but it hit the mark with a feel good movie that tells all of us suckers to keep hoping beyond hope. I loved the Napolean and Pedro cameo. Aw, did I ruin it for you? Too bad! ;)

Funny People (2009) - No, just no. Talk about a movie that starts off okay, has a nice up-swing and then becomes incredibly drawn out and painful. There were some humorous moments and the basic concept was good, but it was needlessly long and spiraled into something very uninteresting to watch.

Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009) - I am definitely the opposite of a shopaholic, but I found the movie cute. Formulaic, knew exactly what was gonna happen, but it was sweet. One thing about fashion movies is that they always seem to think that garish fashion is good. It is not. Of course, I'm not all about brand names and trends and whatnot.

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011) - LOVE! When I decided to watch an Indian bachelor party road trip movie, I wondered if I was in store for a Hangover knock-off (see next film), but luckily I was not. The theme was very sweet and uplifting. Three friends embark on an adventure trip in Spain before one gets married. The male leads are all yummy and Hrithik Roshan is a dead-ringer and an improvement on Bradley Cooper which is kinda funny. Kalki Koechlin caught my eye b/c I saw her nose and thought, 'not Indian'. I was right. She was born to French parents who had moved to India before they had her. I think she's quite interesting with her background. I'll keep an eye on her. She already knew Tamil but learned Hindi for a role in another movie. Quite cool. Anyway, this movie touched with my heartstrings because it is about overcoming your fears and relishing every moment of life you have. It was a great movie and I highly recommend it. The adventures they choose are quite fun and I was happy to see it on a big screen and squirm in my seat and feel what they went through. Yup, I'm buying this one!! :)

The Hangover Part II (2011) - I saw this right after ZNMD ---^ and it was the complete opposite, despite the shared bachelor party idea. So first I was in Spain, then Thailand. What a trip that night! If you've heard of the sensation that is the movie The Hangover (2009), you know exactly what you're getting into. It was humorous for sure. But I don't really want to see a third one. The idea is getting stale. Guys get drunk, do crazy shit, have to remember it in the morning as they find a lost friend and find pictures of it later. Fun but raunchy. If you're into that type of thing.

El Juego de la Verdad (2004) - Spanish language movie about how the truth can set you free. But first causes a lot of problems! It was predictable of course, but fun. Let's just say, the mistaken scare of death and couple swapping and you've got it down pat.

Apparently I only watched recently-made movies this past week. (2004-2011) But I watched 6 movies in a week? Holy hell. Sometimes I surprise myself ;) Well, happy viewing!!

"Despicable Me" (2010), "Father Ted" (TV), "Rango" (2011), "Rosemary's Baby" (1968), "Krazzy 4" (2008), "The Greatest Show on Earth" (1952), "Assassination of a High School President" (2008), "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" (2001)

Despicable Me (2010) - Okay, since I now own this movie, I should probably stop mentioning it in my blog. But I do love it so. My dad said it was the cutest movie he's seen in a long time and my work-mom's hubby shed a few tears too. This is most definitely a 'dad' movie. I'm sure many fathers out there can relate to finding importance in realizing there is more to life than what you knew before you had kids. And that with all the trials and tribulations that kids bring, it's still worth it. I think that's pretty sweet and it's a very fun flick with some goofy characters. I like the crazy contraptions that Gru has and his Minions are pretty cool. I need me some minions for sure.

Father Ted (TV Series 1995-1998) -  YES, it's a TV show, but it's hilarious and worth noting. My parents and I individually and together watched the first season DVD, thanks to my library. It's amazing... a BBC show that makes fun of Roman Catholics that my parents were able to laugh at. Obviously, it must not have been tooooo offensive, but I'm sure some of it was. But at least they were able to laugh at it and be jolly. I highly recommend this series. Obviously, I've only season 6 episodes, but they were awsome. Some I saw more than once. The jokes are pretty great. Not completely wholesome and obviously both religious and anti-religious people were able to find humor in it, so it's a definite win!!

Rango (2011) - Something most definitely was being smoked during the creation of this movie and I'm told one should be smoking something while watching it to fully appreciate it. I was not smoking anything and had my nine year old nephew with me at the dollar theatre. He liked it. I found it strangely philosophical at points and the characters were downright creepy-looking for the most part. I suppose it's a nice change from the standard bubbly fake-looking characters we normally see in kids' movies. But I'm not too sure this was a kid's movie. There were plenty of jokes for adults but that's how you fill the seats. It was an odd movie. I guess that's the best way to say it. Oh and long. Which was not helpful to my tiny bladder. Cuz Lordisa knows I can't miss a movie if I can't pause it! Watch this one at your own risk.

Rosemary's Baby (1968) - I put off watching this movie because I knew anything dealing with pregnancy had to be creepy. Oh, gee, did I say pregnancy? I meant the devil. And I had a devil dream not too long ago, so that didn't make me any more excited to see this one. But I knew I had to because it's one of those "important" films. Yeah, it was creeeeeepy. I started watching it at one of my jobs when I wasn't required to do much and got about an hour of it watched. And then when I was able to finish watchint it at home, I made sure to watch it in the living room because I was not able to invite the devil into my bedroom... he had already appeared there in a nightmare. Eeps. Okay, so the movie. Yeah, I would NOT be inhabiting any haunted witchery type place, no matter how cool the setup. And one obviously must set boundaries with the neighbors. But to not be able to trust your own spouse is also scary. Ugh, so not cool. I suppose you have to watch it. It's kind of an obligation, you know.

Krazzy 4 (2008) - What better to follow a scary movie than a Bollywood feel-good flick? Obviously it's not on the required watching list. And I suppose I can't even say it's good. It follows the typical pattern for B-wood movies, minus the love-fest and a great deal of song and dance. It follows four mental patients who have to get their doctor back after she's been kidnapped. And of course it asks us, what defines 'crazy'? Good question, I suppose. Not very deep, but always great escapism.

The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) - This also happens to be a very long movie (made longer by the four phone calls Mom had to answer, requiring the 'pause' button) but it was a good watch. There really is nothing like the circus and this brings it into your living room. My mom and I particularly liked the tiny dogs dressed as elephants! CUTE! Of course, brace yourself for typical 50's movies gloss and story lines. But the spectacle is worth it. Also, has my new favorite dialogue.... here is my paraphrased version: Brad: "Women are poison." Angel: "Yes, but it's a beautiful death." SCORE.

Assassination of a High School President (2008) - This movie was predictable, but clever. There were some good zingers in there. I do recommend this one, despite predictability because it was well-done and had some great references and funny moments. Yeah, that's all I'm gonna say.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001) - I was first introduced to this movie by my brother and his wife when I was so young and impressionable. Okay, I was probably in high school or maybe even college. Most likely high school. But this movie is pretty great. It takes a person usually on the outskirts of society and puts them forefront and Hedwig forces you to deal with the reality of his life. It's a great movie that speaks of duality and trying to find your other half but coming to terms with yourself as you are. There are a LOT of songs in there, but they are pretty good. Origin of Love is of course a favorite.

So, I hope you have found something to watch here. Leave me comments on your thoughts on the above movies, if you've seen them, or recommendations to me for similar movies. Basically, I just find movies at the library or from Facets. Go, little guy! :) Peace out, homies!

2 weeks later...

So, I've watched a few movies...

Itty Bitty Titty Committee (2007) - This movie was a bit of fun. A lesbian joins the ranks of a group of anarchist feminists. It's the story of a fish out of water, or someone searching for her identity who is soon overwhelmed and wants to be part of a certain group. The group dynamics were odd, not always happy people, not accepting of newcomers, which seems a little atypical for their goals. It seems unlikely that the main female character could go from one extreme to another, but I suppose they are trying to impose that joining this group gave her strength and helped her find her voice, but it was a bit of a stretch, character-wise. I don't really like the dynamic in movies of person A trying to get involved with person B who is already involved albeit somewhat unhappily with person C but can't seem to leave. It bothers me that person A thinks Person B has the fortitude to not cheat on them when it is clear they are cheating on person C. Le sigh. But I suppose that means its realistic, and that's just something I don't care for in humanity/society in general. But anyway, it was a fun movie, feministically speaking. Of course, some of their methods were radical, but it paid off in the end, although it wasn't quite explained/clear what happened. Anyway, I liked the movie. There is some soft-core lesbianism in there, however that sways you ;) For some people I would think the feminist realm is actual more of a put-off than lesbianism, but those people aren't quite in touch with reality anyway, right? :P

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Undead (2009) - If you like cheesy, campy horror films, this one is for you, especially if you follow the Hamlet storyline. Since I once played the fair Ophelia, and can't handle really scary movies, I thought this was a fun romp in the graveyard. Basically think Shakespeare and vampires and making fun of theatre people poking fun at themselves. Not a groundbreaking movie, but fun to watch.

Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) - Oh, Woody Allen, your whiny Brooklonian voice is unmistakable... and by voice, I do mean both his vocalizations AND his 'voice' as a filmmaker... very angsty and nervous, letting emotions getting the best of him and his characters. If you hate Woody, there's no way you're watching this. If you are borderline, I would probably say this film is bearable. Maybe. The characters have flaws and they are very noticable, but that seems to be his style. I could actually kind of relate with some of the interplay between the sisters, the underlying issues that happen to be there, that make up the dynamics of the relationship. It's kind of a heavy film, so keep that in mind. There are some funny situations in there. The flashbacks are quite long but are related to the story, so it's permissable. The DVD I had was skipping near the end, but because I use subtitles, I was mostly on track with what was said.

St. Trinian's (2007) - 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!

Ernest Goes to Camp (1987) - Yes, I braved the Target employee who told me I "have issues" and I bought a 3 pack of Ernest movies and enjoyed it. It's a great kids movie with the lovable Jim Varney at the healm, God rest his soul. It's escapism and you just have to sit back and enjoy the slapstick situations as the campers battle each other and the bad guys and learn to appreciate the friend they have in poor Ernest. There's an absolutely beautiful song perfomed by Varney near the end of the movie. Searching on youtube, I was awakened to a few other recordings he did, which opened my eyes to the beauty of his soul. Because I love you, here is Gee, I'm Glad It's Raining as performed by Jim Varney.

Muppets from Space (1999) - Muppet movies are almost a surefire win in my book. There are some that I like more than others, and of my collection, this is one of them. I love love LOVE the opening scene which shows all the Muppets living in a co-op! I want to BE one of them, living there! Looks like a blast!!! I like the comedy in the films and the guest cameos are always fun. And yes, I'm super-excited for the upcoming Muppet movie!! You can basically count on the Muppets to give you some good clean jokes. In this movie, look for Jeffrey Tambor Rob Schneider Ray Liotta David Arquette Andie MacDowell Kathy Griffin Pat Hingle Hulk Hogan Katie Holmes Joshua Jackson

My Own Private Idaho (1991) - Risking getting my LGBTA Ally card revoked, I'm gonna come right out and say it... I hated it. It was painful to watch and I was restless. It wasn't consistent except for the suckiness of it. I realize, it's supposed to be some iconic film and was probably pretty groundbreaking 20 years ago, but the attempts at making it Shakespearian failed because that wasn't held up the whole way through. It was a little better when it was just two actors together, but when it was any more than that, it was dull and painful. There were some elements in that were interesting, but the whole package was eck. Save yourself. Don't bother. Or do it once to rip off the bandaid and say you've seen it. :(

Vibes (1988) - Best Hulu find in a long time!!!! Cyndi Lauper, Jeff Goldblum and the recently dearly departed Peter Falk in a movie?!?!! LOVED IT!!! All of the comments on the Hulu page were raving about the movie and someone compared it to the slapstick, romantic comedies of yesteryear, and I'd agree that comparison is spot-on. This movie was tons of fun and had some great dialogue! I was going to include some here, but I don't want to spoil the fun for you! You have to watch this movie. Hulu says it exires in 3 days!!! NOOOOO! Vibes on hulu   Vibes on Crackle 

So you can tell exactly which movie I think you should watch (immediately) on this list. Vibes and St. Trinian's are my highest recommendations for this batch. :)  Happy viewing! :)

 

 

Well, Hi There!

Let's get started, shall we?

Wolverine: The Last Phantom (TV 2004) - A documentary about a crazy beast! Wolverines are pretty interesting, which I can now say thanks to watching this doc on Netflix, when a friend and I couldn't agree on fiction movie. It's cool to sit back every once in a while and marvel at the cool creatures that roam this planet. Wolverines are quite the ferocious animal, and they have an interesting lope that is atypical of many animals in that the front feet move together and the back together, rather than opposites matching strides. They don't breed well in captivity and there aren't too many left, but the doc showed some people obsessed with wolverines. It made me wonder why we are drawn to the things to which we find ourselves attracted. I recommend watching this doc as it will teach you some pretty cool stuff. Plus, it helps you become familiar with the animal that super-hot Hugh Jackman gets to play ;) RAWR, indeed!

Sixteen Candles (1984) - You know this is a classic. And you've seen it a couple dozen times at least. I rented it to educate my 20 year old brother, but he didn't take me up on it, even when I tried to convince him that Long Duk Dong totally made the movie worth it, despite ooshy gooshy stuff that may dilute the movie ;) But, I still watched the movie with a girlfriend and it was still enjoyable. This movie is obviously iconic to the 80s kids, of which I am one. So naturally, I'm at a loss for what to say. Except that when I tried to convince my brother, he said "That's the one where they get trapped in the library, right?" Haha, well at least he's on the right track. This is one of the movies that basically defines a generation, something that becomes part of our collective memory bank. If you don't know what I mean when I say "Au-to-mo-beeeel?", you really have no soul and are not deserving of my time! ;) Juuuust kidding. This movie is lots of fun and I'm pretty sure my little brother would get a kick out of it, if he wasn't too cool for school ;)

Shortbus (2006) - Most important thing to note.... Watch this movie alone or only in the company of people you feel reaaaaaaallllly comfortable with. Sex. Sex, sex and more sex. Straight sex, gay sex, group sex and more. There, now you know. The movie is done by the same people who did Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001) which I saw many moons ago and will need to revisit. It wasn't overly reliant on special effects sequences that sometimes distract from the overall movie and try too hard to be artsy. There was a little, but it basically flowed pretty well. Once you are done watching the movie, you may be a little more desensitized to sex scenes, or at least for a little bit. If you aren't a square, you will probably like this movie a little bit. It ain't your average fluffy stuff.

 Paul (2011) - Yes, I saw it AGAIN. It's a really funny flick and I was preparing to go to the Southwest and wanted to visit Roswell (didn't happen... I hear it's overrated and that makes me sad, but I WILL go there someday... maybe just with less expectations?) The film features many actors that I can appreciate, Nick Frost and Simon Pegg being on the top of my lists since Shaun of the Dead (2004). If you have any knowledge of Science Fiction at all, you will get a good many of the jokes in this movie. If you have a strong knowledge, my guess is you will find it hilarious. :) If you want an surprisingly good movie (the trailer didn't do it justice) then this is my pick.

The Adventures of Bob & Doug McKenzie: Strange Brew (1983) - An SNL transfer, this movie is just goofy. Kind of akin to Wayne's World, I suppose, in its ridiculous-ness, but less well-known. Suspension of disbelief is highly needed for this movie, but if you like drinking beer and making fun of our neighbors up North, you'll like this movie, eh? Take off, ya hoser! Good times, indeed.

Auntie Mame (1958) - I mentioned this film in my other blog, Independent of Dependents, but focused on it for sake of what it said in relation to those who don't have children. I suppose it's a back-up plan/fantasy for children that they could hav a crazy aunt who will take them in and help live a wild-marvelous adventure. I kind of had a taste when living for one summer during college with my aunt and uncle. Fun times had by all. This movie is nice. Supposed to take place partially during the Great Depression. The story line encompasses a time span from when the child is maybe ten to his twenties, so you have to accept the length of it in correlation. Don't expect anything grand from this movie, except for some fun characters and societal statements about the wealthy and about the acceptance of unwed mothers. The theme of the movie seems to be about love and creation of a family system outside the ordinary realms, and that's a very nice thing. Also about living an extraordinary life of your own choosing. Also something I can live with ;)

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011) - If you are looking for an unbiased review of this movie, you won't get it from me. I have a conflict of interests with it comes to foxy Johnny Depp and pirates. My dad said he thought the movie was boring and predictable, but he's the same one who thought the preview for The Green Lantern looked good. GAG! But me and my mom liked it. There weren't any allusions to rum this time, which was new, but probably for the better because I forgot my flask of rum at home. :( I'm not even joking. Anyway, it was quite funny when the Catholic Spaniards did what they did, and my mom said "Somebody's always gotta ruin it." I pointed out to her that they were Catholics, like her, and she kinda got quiet ;) So if you are a fan of the Pirate series, you probably don't need me to tell you to watch it, you probably already have. If you have yet to venture into the pirate-infested waters, you MAY get away without having seen the other three, but some of the repeat characters may confuse you. But still, up to you.

The Brothers Bloom (2008) - There's something entrancing about Adrien Brody's goofy nose and Mark Ruffalo is just yummy/scrumptious. (Yes, if you can't tell from this and above comments, I am a hetero female. Hear me rawr!) It was a fun movie to watch con men are always enticing. You know, the whole bad boy image. The characters were pretty good, or entertaining at least. The ending, well, I don't know. I guess it worked, but I don't know that I liked it.

The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (1947) - What? Shirley Temple made it to adulthood? Holy Shit, she's still alive?!!?!?! Wow. Okay, so my mind was just blown. Officially. Anyway, the movie was fun, there were a bunch of things in there that are hard to not see as dirty these days. I doubt they were intended to be double entrendres back then, but one never knows. Maybe I just have a dirty mind, which I do. Product of my raising. Sorry. Shirley Temple wasn't fabulous in there. And there is a suspension of disbelief needed, as with most movies in general, I suppose. It had it's funny moments. And I'm confusing Rudy Vallee with someone else? Probably Ritchie Valens. I'm just assuming that Rudy was supposed to be a big hearthrob in the day. Hmm. Anyway, I'd heard of this movie many times before and thought I should make sure to watch it. I did and it was decent. :)

Super 8 (2011) - Yes. See it. I've heard it described as today's E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) and I would call that accurate considering who made it. *cough cough* Spielberg *cough cough* E.T. with LOTS more explosions. And typical me, I was jumping in my seat every time a new one happened. The movie was engaging and I was entertained by the characters. It was totally channeling Goonies (1985) too, which I loved. Also no surprise with who was at the healm. But this was a bit more hard core than being up against the Fratellis! So yes, good flick. Good flick. Thanks to my movie buddy for picking it! :)

So there you have it folks! 10 flicks since last report. Not terrible, considering I was out of town for 6 days with no time for movies :( So, I hope you've found some good recommendations. Happy viewing!!! Peace out!

Keeping on Top of Things!

Okay, so it's been approximately three weeks since my last update, and I've managed to watch seven movies. I figure I may as well stay updated on my blog, because hey, spending an hour working on this means I've earned $5 for my travel fund. Yup, I'm a big time spender! ;)

Gentleman Broncos (2009) - This movie was so strange, even I was put off. Made by the same people who did Napoleon Dynamite (2004), one should expect it to be a little off the wall, but this was even too much for me. Perhaps if I was able to stomach watching it again, I would be ready for the weirdness, but this seems improbable. You could see how formulaic they tried to be with what they had done for Napoleon when you look at the two friends of the main character. Apparently, you're supposed to have an off-beat white girl who talks weird and a dark-skinned guy who's a little out of touch. I really thought the movie was too out there, even for me. I really enjoyed Napoleon Dynamite the first time I saw it, but this one was trying too hard to be weird. It pokes fun at the creative world, which is okay; I can handle people poking fun at the writing/movie industry, as we can take ourselves too seriously, but this movie was just off.

Paris (2008) - This movie was slow (very French) but wonderful. I love Juliette Binoche and Romain Duris was not too hard on the eyes. The movie tugs at your heartstrings with the situation between these two characters and it makes you appreciate what you have in your life. Any movie that brings death to the forefront will usually get me to tear up a bit. There were many other character story lines in the movie and they were also interesting to watch. This movie is recommendable for any Francophile obviously, but also anyone who wants to see a movie that doesn't glorify the French lifestyle, but does try to show regular people in the midst of their lives.

Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985) - This movie is one of my family's movies for quoting. "Au revoir Pee Wee!"  "Au revoir, Simone!"  will usually be said when someone is leaving the house. ;) Of course, the movie requires a suspension of disbelief, (but not as great as the first movie listed today) but there is a charm in the bizarre life of Pee Wee Herman. I got to show this movie to my three nephews and it was a joy to watch them laugh at the goofy antics of Pee Wee in search of his bike. Oh, did I mention the 'Tequila' dance and song is always a staple as well? I'll often find myself busting out the song and dance, just for funsies. This movie is a great example of a child-like adult that more or less functions in society. It also has deeper values of enjoying life and not going after what you want. "I'm not leaving here without my bike." "I know you are, but what am I?" Yeah, this movie really is pretty timeless.

Rebecca (1940) - We talked about this movie in my Dialects class so when I found it at the library, I had to grab it. After watching the movie, I couldn't stop saying "We can never go back to Manderlay." This movie is bizarre in the fact that the titled Rebecca never appears in the story, but it makes sense with how everpresent her character is in the movie. After posting that I watched this, one of my friends sent me a spoof video that was awesome after watching the movie. Here is the spoof. Watch only after having seen the movie or you probably won't get it. One can't really hold the classics to the same standards as other movies. All I know is that I would love to find myself in a huge house like that. If the staff kept going on and on about the first wife, I would have relieved them of their duties. ;) Obviously, our lead gal wasn't like that. But it was an intriguing story, even though I had an inkling of what was supposed to happen. Very dramatic for sure, as many of those movies are. But always a pleasure, as many of those movies are. ;)

Water for Elephants (2011) - Since the movie is new-er and some of you may plan on seeing it, I will do my best to not give away storyline. Random thoughts about the movie: 1) It wasn't exactly what I thought from watching the preview, and that's a positive thing. 2) Robert Pattinson wasn't a sparkly vampire, and that's also a good thing, although I don't know that I cared for his performance; it seemed a little flat or dull, I'm assuming like his vampire character. 3) I'm a little torn as to the exposition. I know the story needed to get moving, but I don't know that we got the chance to learn much about his actual character. It's hard to sympathize with him, despite his situation. 4) Reese Witherspoon was way too tan for hair that blonde in that era. They didn't have tanning booths back then and I have a great dislike for palomino people. 5) The film was nice for the fact that the circus era is enchanting in and of itself. Silly how the carny lifestyle can be compared to being on a film set ;) Maybe that's just me though who could watch a movie and think that. 6) The movie was 'okay'. I think we are all well accustomed to the idea of 'falling for the boss's wife'. Christoph Waltz 's character is really quite frightening. I see that there was some depth to it, that he wasn't a flat character, but that was a little murky. Overall, the movie was pretty good. Not great.

Yes Man (2008) - This movie requires a suspension of disbelief as well, but was watchable for the comedy. I love love love Zooey Deschanel almost to a fault. Of course it's a bit frustrating that older men can usually be paired with younger women and it's not an issue. This has happened throughout the ages in the cinema. Becuase God forbid a woman advanced in years is able to have a  "joie de vivre" that could bring Jim Carrey's character out of his rut. But that's not the focus of the story of course. Anyway, I like the theme of the movie: being more open to life and all its possibilites and not allowing yourself to get stuck in a rut. It was odd to see Bradley Cooper as a straight man, but nice to see he can do it ;) He kind of reminds me of a Matthew McConaughey for whatever reason. I'm sure I'm not the only one who picks up on that either. Back to suspension of disbelief... of course the main character has to be a banker to have an income high enough to be suitable for just going out and taking guitar, Korean, bungee jumping lessons and hop a flight on "the first plane out of here" (which happened to impossibly be to Lincoln, Nebraska..... 1) flights go to Omaha 2)no direct flights to Omaha from L.A.). Anyhoo... yes it would be nice to have a disposable income so that I could just take a bunch of classes and just live live live. But of course, movies are pretty distant from reality. The idea was nice though and hopefully people are able to take away that idea and incorporate it into their lives. Within reason, of course.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) - Ew. The only thing redeemable about this movie was that it was set in my heart-city of New Orelans. Everything else was just blah. It was a long-ass movie about nothing! I read the short story when the movie came out and this strayed from it greatly, in many ways, the first least offensive being the fact that it wasn't short. This movie was bollocks, bolderdash and boring!!! I really like the concept that F. Scott Fitzgerald came up with, and not to say this take on it was perfect, but this was pretty atrocious. And it really rubs me the wrong way that they set it to conincide with Hurricane Katrina. As if somehow it was so epic of a tale that it was worthy of being set during a horrendous disaster. I won't lie... some parts of the movie did affect me. Actually, one of them being the impending storm because I've witnessed the effect it had on the city. But there were a couple of monologues that Benjamin had at the end that grabbed me even in the midst of the unsatisfying movie.

• Benjamin Button: [Voice over; letter to his daughter] For what it's worth: it's never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There's no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you're proud of. If you find that you're not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.
• Benjamin Button: Some people, were born to sit by a river. Some get struck by lightning. Some have an ear for music. Some are artists. Some swim. Some know buttons. Some know Shakespeare. Some are mothers. And some people, dance.

It wasn't amazingly written, but they meant something to me. That was the oasis in the desert. I just had a hard time with this movie. There were things I liked about it, but overall it was a drag.



So there you have it! Seven movies in three weeks. That's okay for a gal with as much going on as I. Anyway, happy Rapture Day!!! See you tomorrow! ;) Peace!

End of April, let's see how I did...

So, I wrote on the first day of April, now on the last. I have no estimate for how many movies I watched this week.

District 9 (2009) - My younger brother told me he didn't care for the movie and what I knew of it was told to me by others. Something about cat food and aliens and being symboic for the apartheid or immigration or what not. I did actually like the movie. I thought it was interesting and different and entertaining in a creepy kind of way. I know it took me a while to getting around to seeing the movie, but I'm not so up to date on my movies most of the time anyway. The movie wasn't ground-breaking by any means. It probably falls into the category of "It's all been done" which is basically an acceptable category for nearly everything in this world, but it was done well. I like the fact that the Nigerians still find ways to scam others ;) Nothing against the Nigerians I do know in real life... just the ones that send me spam ;) I did not find the movie to be overly preachy, but I did find myself distracted at the inconsistency b/w documentary style and being able to witness more than a doc would see. I felt it was a little off-setting. Understandable for needing to release the full story, but still a little too mixed-format.

Adventureland (2009) - When I saw the preview for this movie, I thought it was going to be funnier than it was, but instead a got an angsty movie and surprise, surprise... Kristen Stewart was in it. She didn't stray too far from her brooding, crybaby crap. I have yet to see much range from her. Kind of like Julia Stiles who only played one role: "I don't need a man, Oh yes I do." Anyway, this movie was advertised (in my memory) as a comedy and I was disappointed to find a drama, but glad for whatever comedic moments were dispersed. The funny stuff was pretty funny, I just wanted more of it and less of the whiny crap. I liked watching  Ryan Reynolds  play a jerk... he's so pretty. ;)

Kindergarten Cop (1990) - "It's not a tumor."  "Boys have a penis. Girls have a vagina."  Now that that's out of the way... This movie is a staple to my childhood/upbringing. This says a lot actually. The movie is probably not one of the first to put a body builder tough guy in a room full of kids... or is it? ;) I do enjoy this movie. And I figured out the female cop is basically me b/c she has to eat all the time. She says she is hyperglycemic. Apparently I'm not, but I'm close. And she married a chef. But I'm too picky to need anything too fancy. But I'll still consider it as an option. Anywhoo.... if you haven't seen the movie by now, you really should, if only to transport yourself back to a happier time when an over-sized Austrian man was all that stood between crooks and your children.

Hot Tub Time Machine (2010) - If you've acutally seen this movie, you might not completely lose respect for me when I say that I really enjoyed it. I always love any 80s homage, especially one that does it really well. Especially one that involves time travel and Chevy Chase . The humor was spot on and the characters are pretty fun. And the squirrel stuff was funny. Yes, you should expect some crass humor, but let's face it... there are few comedies made these days that don't entail poop, fart, barf or sex jokes. I'd be hard-pressed to name many. So this movie was a win in my book. So much so, that I had to watch it the next day. It was just too much fun to pass up.

Powwow Highway (1989) - I would like to thank the library for this one. I have a leaning towards Native American movies/books/whatever and I did enjoy this one. There were moments that reminded me of another Native book I read that involved two Natives on a car trip to NM, but I think that one was for the one character to find his father? If anything knows which one that is, kindly let me know. I'd like to do a comparison. This movie is one of those that will only let you feel good if you just give into it. And if you know a bit about Native politics/mannerisms. You have to just go with the mysticism aspect and learn to let go of your cynicism like Buddy has to do. The movie focuses on him and a lovable oaf who seems to have a disconnect from reality. But it's kind of okay, because you want to believe him and be a part of it.

Gnomeo & Juliet (2011) - I can only take so many cheesy Elton John songs in one sitting and there were too many in this one to not rub me the wrong way. The movie DID make me want to stock up on pink flamingos and garden gnomes and it was an interesting twist on the classic Shakespearean story. But I'm glad my nephews had refused to see this as they probably would have been squirming through the lovey-dovey crap right along with me. It was clever, but I doubt I will watch it again. Apparently it was produced by Travelocity... you know, the roaming gnome and all that. I was kind of surprised by the big names that I respect.... Emily Blunt , Michael Caine and Maggie Smith. I was entertained to find Ozzy Osbourne , Patrick Stewart andTo Be Fat Like Me (TV 2007) - Try to not be toooo surprised when I tell you that, yes, I watched a Lifetime movie. But it was on Hulu and it didn't seem to be overly goopy. So I went for it. I was happy at some of the turns at the end, in that the characters weren't 100% formulaic. And I mean, the fat girl friend, the former best friend and the love interest. If you ever watch this movie, get back to me for a discussion and I can talk about what I mean. Either way, I thought it brought up some important themes in our society, namely obesity and the daily judgements people go thorough. Losing weight (not that I would know, sorry) is an ongoing process. If a person could lose all the weight on the day they decided to, I'm sure they would be more than happy to do so. But in the meantime, other people need to not be so judgemental and think we have a one-up, while our comrades go through a stressful, trying process of trying to get their body in shape. Big props to anyone on the journey to a healthier you

Hulk Hogan

adding their voices as well. For some reason, I usually have a large disconnect when it comes to animations and the voices. For shame. At least that means I'm mostly staying in the movie, right?



Fagbug (2009) - I thought this movie was interesting and Erin Davies non-confrontational methods helpful to the cause. Whereas some people would go off on people that say homosexuality is against their religion or smack a guy who said he would watch her make out with another person (CREEP FACTOR!!), she did a good job of holding back and just letting people speak. In the creepy hick's case, it showed him for what he really is. I thought the movie was interesting and could actually see a couple of my friend's undertaking a project such as this. I like the fact that Erin was able to partake in many gay pride parades and hate crime death memorial services as she toured the nation, trying to get a feel for the people's tolerance. There were only a couple things that were odd for me. There was a scene in which Erin was leaving Chicago and she said something I couldn't catch and was crying. I had no clue what was going on. Apparently she left her box of t-shirts outside the car and drove away. That was a little distracting. That and the font was too cutesy and hard to read. Otherwise, I basically enjoyed the movie.

A Woman, a Gun and a Noodle Shop (2009) San qiang pai an jing qi (original title) - I love Yimou Zhang in general. I have not seen the Coen Brothers Blood Simple (1984), but I can only surmise that the story was catching enough to be re-done. Something tells me that I'll like Zhang's version better, if only for the characters and the landscape. I'll have to see the Coen's sometime too. It was a little Tarantino-esque for me as well, but that didn't stop me from liking it ;)

Trantasia (2006) - It happened to be on tv and I happened to watch it. I found it interesting. It didn't really pigeonhole anyone, but in fact made it obvious that even among the transgendered, there are so many different thoughts and preferences that you shouldn't bother lumping them together. After all, you can't lump all heteros together, or even all gays, so why assume you can here. I thought the film was an interesting way to learn more about people that are usually on the fringe of society and therefore, little is known about them. It's quite the mind-bender, even for someone as gay-friendly as myself. There is such a wide spectrum of people in this world, that you never really can tell much about a person until you know them in depth. I will say, I was intrigued to see Victoria Parker/Porkchop in this arena. Actually, now that I've checked his imdb page, it does clarify that he is not a transsexual and was mistakenly cast as such. Porkchop gets around!! ;) I've seen him in Pageant (2008) and on RuPaul's Drag Race season 1 so was confused as I thought he was just a drag queen and not trans.. But anyway... watched the movie and enjoyed it b/c it didn't pigeonhole people or put them into nice little boxes. I didn't walk away going, 'Oh, I understand now'  but rather, 'Wow, what a variety of experiences.' I do have to laugh at the sore losers though. Of course, I'll never know the valididty of their claims of bias and poor pageant-running. But when you claim you're looking for the 'World's Most Beautiful Transsexual', you might want to have the a better representation of countries, but whatever.

 Wilby Wonderful (2004) - Another Hulu find. It was okay. Kinda slow. I really like Sandra Oh  in general and Ellen Page  kinda grows on you. Talent will do that ;) Small town. Scandal to hide. It was okay. Characters kinda standard in that they are kind of mockeries of a standard. Wasn't terrible. I like the play on words for the title.

Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990) - Don't know if I've mentioned this before, but this is one of my favorite movies and it's better than the original b/c of the wide array of gremlin characters and all the jokes they get to put in. Much less scary than the first one, which is probably why I like it more.

Boyfriends and Girlfriends (1987) L'ami de mon amie (original title) - Ugh... such a boring movie. Silly Frenchies... Fabien was actually cute and Alexandré looked like Colin Firth. But that was the best part of the movie. The girl who played Lea was striking. But altogether the movie was just dullllll.

So that's 12 movies in one month. You're welcome :)

I'm an April Fool!

So, it's been a while. Jan 15th was the last update. I'm a little afraid to see how many movies I have to write on... Here goes.

"The Air I Breathe" (2007) - What's weird about this movie is the year in which it was made. It seems like it was from the mid-90's with Sarah Michelle Gellar and Brendan Fraser and Kevin Bacon. Weird weird weird. It was remniscent of Crash (2004) in that the characters were all interconnected. However, in this film, each was supposed to represent a different emotion. Since it was in January that I watched this, I don't recall which emotions. The imdb page relates the emotions to a Chinese proverb. Summary: "A drama based on an ancient Chinese proverb that breaks life down into four emotional cornerstones: happiness, pleasure, sorrow and love. A businessman bets his life on a horse race; a gangster sees the future; a pop star falls prey to a crime boss; a doctor must save the love of his life. "  The movie can be slightly enjoyable if you can allow it to be all schmaltzy and just go with a higher level of suspension of disbelief. The movie isn't epic and it probably isn't watchable more than once... unless you are dying to watch it again and pick up any possible nuances. Doubtful you will watch multiple times, but stranger things have happened.

"Tangled" (2010) - Okay, I'll admit. This movie got me near the end a couple times. I had to discreetly wipe away my tears, but I'm pretty sure my cousin noticed. Luckily she didn't make fun of me for it. ;)  It was your basic Disney movie where the girl had too skinny a waist and there was singing, which I could have done without. But I found it to be pretty cute. And I suppose I'm a closet romantic. Sigh. I know. I'm ashamed. Hey, here's a thought. Maybe a movie should be made about .... wait, I'll keep this one to myself and store it in my writing drawer... mwahahaha! Anyway, the movie was pretty standard and safe. I would watch it again. Maybe a few times.

"Alila" (2003) - This was another 'interconnectedness' movie. Little hard to follow as there are so many characters and it is from Israel (so language and customs and way of life are different). The movie carried along slowly as you basicallly just witnessed their lives. There were plots to all of them, just took it's time getting there. I will say that half the time I was confused as to who was where and what was happening. It was an okay movie, but not overly exciting. There were some interesting characters and scenarios, but it was basically just an exercise in observation. Could have been more engaging.

"Dragnet" (1987) - I have a Tom Hanks box set. Yay! This one is so fun to watch. I don't watch cop/detective movies unless they are tongue-in-cheek like this one. You've gotta love Tom and Dan Aykroyd together. I'm not sure what else there is to say, except definitely watch this one if you don't take yourself too seriously! :)

"The Scorpion King" (2002) - I have discovered that the surefire way to get me to watch an action movie is if it involves muscly, sweaty, half-naked men in the desert. That proved true with Jake Gyllenhaal  in Prince of Persia and I don't even like that dude. But make him fit into the above category and I'm there. Same with The Rock, whom I have a thing for, for some reason. I don't usually go for the big beefy guys in real life, but hey. A fantasy isn't supposed to be real. If you're looking for a movie with content and gripping characters... well, you can pretend this is it and I won't correct you, but I do have a bias for movies sometimes. I just know when to admit it. ;)

"Megamind" (2010) - I could have sworn I'd already discussed this movie, because I know I'd seen it before. I loved it. It's clever and we focus on the 'bad guy'. It really delved into his character and made us like and understand him. A movie that can make you like the bad guy is pretty damn clever. Yes, I just used that word twice, but this movie is that. So yes, I give this movie the stamp of approval.

"FernGully: The Last Rainforest" (1992) - This may possibly have been the first movie I remember seeing in the theatres. I had my nephews watch it with me this time around and was sad that they weren't more taken with it, but that's technology for you. That and they watned to watch Ghostbusters or Gremlins or something they had seen before. This movie is the original 'Avatar'. Again, super-skinny female lead and disproportionate male characters as well, but I do like the storyline. Sure, a bit preachy, but really, caring for the earth is damn important!! Watch and enjoy. If you don't, I don't wanna know! ;)

"Broken Embraces" Los abrazos rotos (original title) (2009)  - If you know Almo, this is not his normal kitsch. But I liked it anyway! :) Definitely a bit more tender side to him, but of course the passion is still there. And the twisted self-serving characters and the familial connections that drive the story. I love his loyalty to certain actors as they are always fun to see in his films. No complaints, really.

Watched parts of "Kismat Konnection" (2008) and "Connie and Carla" (2004) while doing other things. I won't discuss them, but I own them both for a reason! Like and like. :)

"Taking Woodstock" (2009) - Oh, to have been there!.... which would have meant I would be stinky, dirty, on drugs and having sex with strangers. But there would have been good music! ;) Yes, this movie had great music and it was fun to see how the location was chosen. I liked the homage to Godard's "Week End" (1967) in which there was the long shot through the stopped traffic. Well, I assume it was an homage!! I'd recommend watching the flick at least once. Just for a bit of time travel :)

"Ceremony" (2010) - I'd like to know how many movies reference 'Catcher in the Rye' to show us the angsty coming of age to which apparently all boys can relate! ;) The movie was pretty angsty itself. I wasn't in love with the characters, well Teddy was frickin awesome. The movie was VERY F. Scott Fitzgerald, 'Great Gatsby'. Actually, I'm almost 100% sure that in the scene where a character was reading a book and said it was Catcher in the Rye, it was actually 'This Side of Paradise'. I have yet to read that one, but I do appreciate those little Easter Eggs. You should know that the movie is the first effort of Max Winkler... I bet you can figure out who his famous father is :) The movie wasn't terrible. Not my favorite, but it had some awesome lines. I might like it more if I watch it again. I was pleased with the ending, which helps to balance out my indifference to a more favorable position. *note: saw this movie thanks to The Omaha Film Festival

"Leave Them Laughing" (2010) - I should know better by now than to watch movies about people with terminal illnesses. I watched this movie this year at The Omaha Film Festival  and last year watched 65_RedRoses (2009) only to read a month or so later of the death of Eva Markvoort , a brave fighter of Cystic Fibrosis. In the movie being discussed now, Carla Zilbersmith let us watch her decline from ALS, or Lou Gehrig's Disesase. She made you cry, but true to the title and her spirit, she left us laughing. Both of these films are HIGHLY recommendable. Watch them to regain your sense of humanity, compassion and perspective. If you don't feel something, you may be dead already.

"Sophie" (2011) - Oh, Sophie... Saw it directly after the previous movie at The Omaha Film Festival. Sophie, Sophie, Sophie. If I was my 8 year old former self, who hadn't learned so much about film, I might have adored this movie. It's a cute movie for a little kid who doesn't know any better, but it was so on the nose and so 'scripted'. It's like they followed the Dummy's Guide for Screenwriting or something and just formulated a story, making sure to stay in the lines. The main character was annoying and the beginning of the film didn't allow us to get to know the character, so we didn't feel for her when her elephant was taken away in the first scene. Sure, the little photo montage during the opening credits was nice, but there was no soul to it. I didn't care for the whiny-ness of it, and the elephant wasn't even a character, just an animal doing poses. Blah. If you want to sit your pre-teen girl in front of a safe movie, this would be fine, but I don't recommend it otherwise. I wanted so badly for it to be good too :(

"Pirate Radio" (2009) - Yup, another film that I wanted to be good, but wasn't. The music was great of course, but making a 'music' movie is not a guaranteed success. Sure, you may get people in their seats, but keeping them there... This was similar in that I felt like I was just thrown into the story and didn't quite get to empathize with the characters. We were a little like the main character who just shows up on the boat and meets the zany crew. That's all fine and dandy to show all the oddballs and we may like a few of them, but ugh, that's not enough. I guess I'm used to stories where you see those oddballs come together from the beginning. Sure, one doesn't have to stick with formula, but you NEED to connect with your audience or you fail.

"An Education" (2009) - Another slow movie in which I didn't feel for the main character. I know we were supposed to feel for this innocent, wide-eyed girl and we were supposed to question to which type of education the title refers. Obviously, it's both the school-learning and life lessons. But the movie dragged out and I didn't really care deeply for the characters. I understand we all make mistakes. Perhaps watching this movie was one of them. ;) Ba dum dum. My friend had to explain to me that in those days (and that culture?) it was normal for an older man to take on with a younger girl, but even so, the parents were bowled over too. Whatever. Sure the costuming and time period was enjoyable, but I got it... updo=sophistication for a young girl. Whatevs.

"Paul" (2011) - I will admit that when I saw the previews, I thought this movie was going to be ridiculously dumb, but I really enjoyed it. The pair of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost was a major draw of course. Having a basic knowledge, or more than basic, of sci fi flicks got me through the majority of the references and a couple were pointed out to me. I really had a blast with this movie. The characters were entertaining. I want to say they were fresh, but I don't know that that's true. But very fun flick with some cool surprises.

"Cedar Rapids" (2011) - Saw this and Paul back to back, which was quite a treat in itself. I had fun with this one as well. But I've never heard Omaha referred to as "Ohmygod". Hmmm. This is strange b/c Omaha native Alexander Payne was on board producing. Sure, it made small town seem really small, but there is some humor in that and I could laugh at it without being too uptight about it. Sure, it was a bit far-fetched but I was entertained and that's important.

"The Big Lebowski" (1998) - I saw this one way back during high school, a few years after its release. I decided to brush up on it. ;) You have to like abusurdist comedies, and of course that's just what Ethan Coen and Joel Coen do. I love the Dude and I kinda wish I could beeee him with his freakin laidback attitude and awesome attire. Of course, as John Goodman reminds us, this film shows us how very un-dude-like The Dude becomes due the circumstances. Good writing, as it follows the 'rise to the challenge' mantra I've learned :)

17 movies isn't too bad in all this time, considering the amount of things I've been up to. Well, I saw many more movies actually, thanks to the Omaha Film Festival, but I'm not discussing the shorts. That's just too much!! So, I hope you found something to watch!! Peace out!