Saturday, November 08, 2014

Harper (1966 ); Hit & Run (2012); Dead Snow (2009); Housebound (2014); Dead Snow 2:Red vs Dead (2014); That Guy Dick Miller (2014); X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014); The BoxTrolls (2014); Franklyn (2008); The Book of Life (2014); High Anxiety (1977)

It's just going to work out that I'm listing movies I watched in October. I last updated this blog on October 1st and haven't watched any movies yet in November (because I've been writing!) but will probably be watching a new movie tonight, so check back next month. ;) (Actually, this took me way too many hours, so maybe I need to do this weekly. Ay yi yi!

11 New Movies! (Not all "new" but actually quite a few 2014 movies here!)

Harper (1966)

Lew Harper, a cool private investigator, is hired by a wealthy California matron to locate her kidnapped husband.

Director:
Jack Smight
Writers:
William Goldman (screenplay), Ross Macdonald (novel)
Stars:
Paul Newman, Lauren Bacall, Julie Harris | See full cast and crew

WATCH TRAILER HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMD4XixVjhQ

 From my S.O's collection; watched with him.
It was a long movie. The trailer above is 3 and a half minutes long, which either says something about the movie, or about the attention span of audiences then versus now. ;) After watching the trailer, I'm like 'wuuuuuuh'? Not a great trailer at all. It seems it's banking on Paul Newman's popularity and how many females are in the movie. Like a commenter on the trailers said "Bad trailer, good movie". The movie is better than the trailer, I can say that. It's long, and winded but kept us into it. We also liked that the characters name was similar to that of our mentor Lew Hunter... who actually knew Paul Newman. So we wondered.... ;) If you have 2 hours to kill, give it a shot.
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 Hit & Run (2012)

Former getaway driver Charlie Bronson jeopardizes his Witness Protection Plan identity in order to help his girlfriend get to Los Angeles. The feds and Charlie's former gang chase them on the road.
Directors:
,
Writer:
Stars:
, , | »

 TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FyKg1w23Rc

From the collection of my S.O. and watched with him
Written and Directed and Acted in by Dax Shepard, accompanied by his wife Kristen Bell. This movie was not as dumb as the trailer made it out to be! Definitely got a good movie out of it. Way to go, team! You can tell Dax put his all into it. I will say it was a bit hard to pick up with at the beginning with the relationship with him and the incompetent Tom Arnold/cop. That seemed a bit goofy, but it allowed for more flow of comedy so I get why they did it. I really liked the more realistic portrayal of a couple that Dax and Kristen gave. Of course, probably because they are married in real life, but more realistic dialogue than that of most other films. S.O. and I were chuckling at it, that's for sure. Lot of fast cars too so there's something for everyone.
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Dead Snow (2009)

A ski vacation turns horrific for a group of medical students, as they find themselves confronted by an unimaginable menace: Nazi zombies.
Director:
Writers:
,
Stars:
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TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEQwEmeWnyI

Watched via Netflix with S.O. at the house of a friend in preparation for seeing the sequel a few days later at the Mile High Horror Film Festival.
I'm not much into blood and gore and all that, but I can appreciate a horror movie in the veins (teehee) of Shaun of the Dead, as I was told this was going to be. Well, it has a bit of laughs/preposterous-ness but was scary all the same. Vacationing in the cold seems like NO fun to me at all, I will say that. There were some cliches, but there were some creative kills too. I was wrong when it came to picking out survivors. Stay tuned for my take on the sequel. 
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Housebound (2014)

Kylie Bucknell is forced to return to the house she grew up in when the court places her on home detention. Her punishment is made all the more unbearable by the fact she has to live there with her mother Miriam - a well-intentioned blabbermouth who's convinced that the house is haunted. Kylie dismisses Miriam's superstitions as nothing more than a distraction from a life occupied by boiled vegetables & small-town gossip. However, when she too becomes privy to unsettling whispers & strange bumps in the night, she begins to wonder whether she's inherited her overactive imagination, or if the house is in fact possessed by a hostile spirit who's less than happy about the new living arrangement. Written by Luke Gerantson

Director:

Writer:
Stars:
, , | » 

 TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji8Tsuj3u0c

Watched with S.O, friends and other moviegoers at the Mile High Horror Film Festival
GREAT film from New Zealand. Comedic and scary in all the right parts. Has plenty of thrills and chills. The heroine was proactive and kicked butt and was a strong character. I usually shy from scary films, but this one we will probably buy and watch again. And again. HIGHLY RECOMMEND
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Dead Snow 2: Red Vs Dead (2014)

If the worst day of your life consisted of accidentally killing your girlfriend with an axe, chain-sawing your own arm off, and watching in horror as your closest friends were devoured by a zombified Nazi battalion, you'd have to assume that things couldn't get much worse. In Martin's case, that was only the beginning. - Written by Production

Director:
Writers:
, , 1 more credit »
Stars:
, , | » 
 
 TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4FoV9iiLmI
 
Watched with S.O, friends and other moviegoers at the Mile High Horror Film Festival
You can tell the popularity of the first film allowed the filmmakers to do more, and in this case, they wrote in Americans and made it more comedic than scary, which kind of cheapened it. It didn't have the same tone as the first and you can tell they were trying to appeal to a wider audience. That's not to say it wasn't funny. There were creative kills, more so than in the previous film. I didn't like all of it, but then again, when you think of the fact that funny horror movies get us to laugh at the grotesque ways people have probably been killed in real situations, it's kind of disturbing. So, as a stand-alone film, instead of as a sequel, it's okay, but this was a more humorous tone, so does not match the previous film well. Oh and the two pretty nerd girls... kind of lame especially since one just kept referencing Star Wars. Overkill. She could have died and I wouldn't have cared. Actually, a LOT less people died in this film than in the first one. Big difference and that elaborates how different the tone was. I did enjoy seeing Martin Starr (from Freaks and Geeks). And I think the guy who played the gay Norwegian (really, why was that even a joke?) was one of the characters from the first one (one of my companions noticed both those points but I'm too lazy to verify. Seriously writing about 15 movies takes me way too much time. Okay, I got un-lazy and found him: Stig Frode Henriksen... same actor and oh, he's a writer too. Double paycheck, anyone? ;) I'd do the same. lol)
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That Guy Dick Miller (2014)

Documentary about veteran character actor Dick Miller, whose career in and outside of Hollywood has spanned almost 200 films across six decades, featuring a diverse range of interviews with directors, co-stars, and contemporaries.

Director:
Writer:
Stars:
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TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSKTIe-HRG8

Watched with S.O. and other moviegoers at the Mile High Horror Film Festival including Dick Miller's niece who was very kind!
I knew the face, but didn't know the name. Nor did I know how many films he'd been in. But this was a fun documentary and you can tell Dick has personality and presence. He can be labeled as a character actor, but that character is 'all of them'. :) It was cool to be in the same theater as his niece who was seeing the movie for the first time while her aunt and uncle were watching the premiere in Spain. I recommend this movie for anyone who likes to learn about the actors that aren't as well known, but just as talented.
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X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

The X-Men send Wolverine to the past in a desperate effort to change history and prevent an event that results in doom for both humans and mutants.

Director:
Writers:
(screenplay), (story), 2 more credits »
Stars:
, , | » 

TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK2zYHWDZKo 
 
Watched with S.O. over the course of a few days. Watching too close to bedtime isn't helpful when people get sleepy quickly after long days and overestimate their ability to watch a movie before bed. Hi, honey! :)

I've been familiar with X-Men since my childhood, but I still needed a bit of explanation to keep me set straight. I REALLY liked the diversity of characters in this script. We had mutants/actors that were from all different parts of the world and it pulled me in, made me more invested. I really like Jennifer Lawrence so it was fun to see her as Mystique. I like me some Hugh Jackman/Wolverine too. And Ian and Patrick being best buddies makes the film more fun to watch too. Oh and Peter Dinklage. Great cast and really cool movie. I'm told in the comics that Ellen Page's character Kitty is the one that actually goes back in time, so that's kind of a bummer that she got cheated out of that. But a franchise is a franchise, right? :P Cue rant about roles for women....
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A young orphaned boy raised by underground cave-dwelling trash collectors tries to save his friends from an evil exterminator. Based on the children's novel 'Here Be Monsters' by Alan Snow.
Directors:
,
Writers:
(screenplay), (screenplay), 1 more credit »
Stars:
, , | »
Watched at a small town theater with a few other people.
I wasn't expecting the small theater to show it in 3D, but it was. This film was just okay, just like the company's previous 'Coraline' and 'ParaNorman'. When I saw the trailer originally, I figured the movie was going to be predictable and I supposed it had it's moments. A lot of the voices/actors are quite cool. Was fun to hear , one of my faves since The IT Crowd. The movie was alright. It's nice to see people thinking 'outside the box' (ha ha) when it comes to making movies for kids. Instead of just fairy tales and such. I wasn't in love with it, but it was okay.
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Preest is a masked vigilante detective, searching for his nemesis on the streets of Meanwhile City, a monolithic fantasy metropolis ruthlessly governed by faith and religious fervor. Esser is a broken man, searching for his wayward son amongst the rough streets of London's homeless. Milo is a heartbroken thirty-something desperately trying to find a way back to the purity of first love. Emilia is a beautiful art student; her suicidal art projects are becoming increasingly more complex and deadly. Written by Anonymous
Director:
Writer:
Stars:
, , | » 

TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08Nj6a8U2uk

Bought on a whim for a discount while in Denver at 2nd & Charles. Watched with my S.O.
This is one of those head-scratchers, as you try to figure out what the hell is going on. Seems like a comic book for sure (not an insult, just a descriptor of tone and graphics and locations). If you like to know what's going on at all times, this is not the movie for you. It was okay. I don't remember hearing about it back in 2008. 
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The Book of Life (2014)

From producer Guillermo del Toro and director Jorge Gutierrez comes an animated comedy with a unique visual style. THE BOOK OF LIFE is the journey of Manolo, a young man who is torn between fulfilling the expectations of his family and following his heart. Before choosing which path to follow, he embarks on an incredible adventure that spans three fantastical worlds where he must face his greatest fears. Rich with a fresh take on pop music favorites, THE BOOK OF LIFE encourages us to celebrate the past while looking forward to the future. Written by 20th Century Fox

Director:
Writers:
(screenplay),
Stars:
, , | » 

TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBw5YScs8iQ

Watched at a small town movie theater in 3D for $2. Win!
I studied Spanish for most of my life and am big into more diversity in representation, so I was intrigued to see it. The beginning/framework of the movie threw me off, but it eventually made sense. Things I didn't care for: the phallic noses of characters, that the female had a neck and waist of approximately the same size. I wasn't sure about the use of pop culture songs; I lean more towards not really liking that aspect, but I guess they did it for inclusion? I did like that the female was smart and independent and was able to fight. Although it did bother me at times that she laughed off Joaquin's machismo and still liked him. The film was colorful and I could tell that there were a lot of people involved that are proud of their Spanish-Speaking heritage/cultures and were excited to bring it to the screen. Some of the stuff was a little stereotypical for me, like being really excited about 'churros' but I guess some characters need a schtick and it gets laughter from some people (aka kids in the theater). Although I more or less enjoyed the movie, I found myself watching it critically, waiting for some great insult or injustice to the representation of Mexico and its people and history. But I guess I don't do that for ALL films that take place in the U.S., so maybe I was just trying to be protective of something I care about. But, judging by the wide array of hispanohablantes (spanish speakers) involved in the film, I guess we came out okay. :)
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High Anxiety (1977)

Mel Brooks' parody of Alfred Hitchcock films.

Director:
Writers:
, , 2 more credits »
Stars:
, , | »

TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsJE8sYoe0E

New addition to S.O.'s collection after his mom was recalling it to us. Watched with S.O.
Even though I'd not seen all of Alfred Hitchcock's movies, I was still able to pick up on some homages. I am a fan of absurdist comedy, and this fits the bill. If you don't like Mel Brooks' silly style, you may as well stay away from this one. Do you like how the synopsis doesn't even pretend the film is actually about something? (It actually has a plot, I promise).
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Movies I watched in October that I'd seen before:
-Megamind (2010): Got S.O. to watch this with me and he really enjoyed it. He still quotes it, which makes me happy. I wanted to prove to him that he can like 'kid's movies' too... ;)
-The 'Burbs (1989): Got S.O. to watch it and he really enjoyed it. One of my favorite movies. (And it had Dick Miller in it.)
-The Addams Family (1991): Had to watch to get into the Halloween Spirit! (And needed something to distract me as I cleaned the blinds with a toothbrush. Yes, seriously.)
-Hocus Pocus (1993): Same as above :)

Okay, that's a wrap! Tell me what you thought about the films or if you're going to watch/avoid something based on my coverage.... Until next time! (Which is hopefully sooner than later!)
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Wednesday, October 01, 2014

Money For Nothing (1993); The Seven Year Hitch (TV 2012); Guardians of the Galaxy (2014); If Tomorrow Comes (TV 1971); The Family (2013); Prince Charming (TV 2001); The Sound of Love (TV 1978)


In an effort to help the page load faster, I won't be posting the movie trailers ON the page, but will provide a link to the YouTube videos I choose (with the link visible to you). I'll still provide the posters and titles that link to the IMDB pages. We'll see if that helps at all for load time. Or maybe that's just my slow laptop that is the problem ;)

Seven movies this month... also watched this month: Season Four of Northern Exposure. LOVE that show! Okay, here we go!

Money For Nothing (1993) 

When unemployed dockworker Joey Coyle finds $1.2 million that fell off of an armored car, he decides to do the logical thing: take the money and run. After all, he says, finders keepers. He turns to his ex-girlfriend Monica, who works in an investment firm, for advice, before turning to the mob for help laundering the money. While Joey makes plans to leave the country, however, a detective is following his ever-warmer trail in order to recover the cash. - Written by James Meek

Director:
Writers:
(article), (screenplay), 2 more credits »
Stars:
, , | »
From my personal collection (on a 3-for-one DVD I got from the Dollar Tree) and watched with my S.O.
Based on a true story. This film does a good job at portraying the culture/time/neighborhood presented. It was a good look at what would likely happen if (and did happen when) a person happened upon a grand sum of money while down on their luck. It's a good warning too about how money can be overpowering. I enjoyed the film and it helps that I like John Cusack. I'd recommend this film. Can't find a decent trailer on youtube however... Strange.
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 The Seven Year Hitch (TV 2012)

Two best friends accidentally take their relationship to the next level and suddenly find themselves saying 'I do.'

Director:
Writers:
,
Stars:
, , | » 

Rented from the Library. Watched alone.  
I should have figured that since it was a Hallmark movie, it'd be cheesy and predictable. It was. The main female was always really cutely/perfectly dressed, too much. It was way obvious that the boyfriend was bad news so there really wasn't any question what was going to happen.
YOUTUBE TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSnykgkxn_M
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 Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

A group of space criminals must work together to stop a fanatic from destroying the galaxy.

Director:
Writers:
, , 2 more credits »
Stars:
, , | »

Watched in a small town theater with my dearest darling (just seeing if he's paying attention).
I had a great time with this one. The soundtrack helped set it apart from other action/adventure/comic book movies. It really made me want to read the comic series too. I loved the kickass Gamora character. Movies should really have more strong females. (One of my aims as a screenwriter.) One doesn't need to know anything about the comics to enjoy the story. Obviously it's set up for a sequel (and maybe then some) and that's welcome because it's something different from the normal stash of comic book movies (and rehash after rehash). New characters to love. I think Andy mentioned one of his favorite things was that our main character met his goals but not as successfully as he set out to do.
YOUTUBE TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTZ2Tp9yXyM
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If Tomorrow Comes (TV 1971)

In California, a young Caucasian girl and a Japanese-American boy defy local prejudices and secretly marry--on Dec. 7, 1941, minutes before Pearl Harbor is attacked.

Director:
Writer:
Stars:
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From the personal collection of the film's screenwriters; Watched with a room full of his student screenwriters.
This was the first film my screenwriting mentor sold. It's Romeo and Juliet during the time of Japanese Concentration Camps during WWII, which is something more people need to know about. For the seven years I've been learning from my mentor, I've heard about this film time and again and was glad to finally watch it. It stuck pretty closely to the Shakespeare story although there were some quick cuts that may have had something to do with its TV format. If you can get a hold of this video, consider yourself blessed. I know I am. :)
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The Family (2013)

The Manzoni family, a notorious mafia clan, is relocated to Normandy, France under the witness protection program, where fitting in soon becomes challenging as their old habits die hard.

Director:
Writers:
(screenplay), (screenplay), 1 more credit »
Stars:
, , | » 
New addition to my personal collection (Thanks, Walmart $5 bin!); watched with my beau.
Ever since I saw the trailer, I wanted to see this movie. The wait was worth it: I enjoyed it. The characters were great, well-rounded. The daughter kicked ass (for most of it) as did Michelle and the others. It was interesting how the film was able to get us to sympathize with "bad" people/criminals. And that was even mentioned in the movie in a (paraphrased) line by Michelle Pfeiffer: "My family may have done bad things, but they're good people". You don't have to be a die-hard Mafia/Godfather fan to enjoy this movie.
YOUTUBE TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwZNypYmPFE
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 Prince Charming (TV 2001)

After an extramarital indiscretion, a fairy-tale prince and his sidekick are turned into frogs for all eternity or until the prince can convince a maiden to kiss and then marry him.

Director:
Writer:
Stars:
, , | » 
Rented from the library. Watched sola.  
I had hoped that the cast would mean a good movie. But it didn't. It was cheesy, that's sure. Am I just extra harsh tonight? I mean, I'd like to think that if Lifetime/Hallmark wanted to buy my scripts, I'd be happy to make a movie, but it also makes me wonder.... :(
YOUTUBE FULL MOVIE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXEeKoPzp1M
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The Sound of Love (TV 1978) 

A romance about two people who are both disabled. Racing car driver Dave and street-girl Eileen fall in love after he has a car accident. Made as part of a South Australian Film Corporation three picture tele-movie series alongside _Plumber, The (1979) (TV)_ and Harvest of Hate (1979). - Written by Jamie Skinner

Director:
Writers:
(story),
Stars:
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From the collection of the original screenwriter; Watched with Lew and 10 other amazing people (If you can't tell, I like the people that encourage my writing)
 The VHS copy was poor quality, but we were lucky to have it. Can you believe it was the first time Lew actually saw his movie? (Keep in mind, this is 36 years after the movie was made...) It was a little different from Lew's original story mostly from location and character background. It was a refreshing story since it featured characters that aren't often portrayed on screen... namely deaf/hearing impaired people. It threw me for a moment that the sign language was for another country since I'm a bit familiar with American Sign Language, not Australian. But we sure learned the symbol for "stupid" so that was fun. Nice movie with interesting characters.
Took forever to find the movie poster, so no youtube trailer/movie.  
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Thanks for reading! Please comment/share. XOXO 
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Saturday, August 30, 2014

Bart Got a Room (2008); Silver Linings Playbook (2012); When a Stranger Calls (1979); Forks Over Knives (2011); Forks Over Knives Presents: The Engine 2 Kitchen Rescue (2011); Vegucated (2010); Brave (2012); World War Z (2013); Now You See Me (2013); The Protector 2/Warrior King 2 (2013); Food, Inc. (2008); Accidents Happen (2009); Despicable Me 2 (2013); Ladies and Gentlemen, My Name is Paul Heyman (2014); Girl Rising (2013); Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014); Muppets Most Wanted (2014); Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014); Sling Blade (1996)

Do me a favor, if you are reading this: please comment on the blog or the Facebook page on which you found the link. I feel like no one reads this and I may just be wasting my time (besides creating an online journal where I can access my reactions to films. This has come in handy specifically when I was at the store contemplating whether or not to buy a movie I had seen and wanted to remember what I thought of it.) 
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So I have 19 movies to report on that I've watched since I last posted July 6th. Ooops! But I've been pretty busy the past couple months with a job search and a move. Here we go!
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Bart Got a Room (2008)

While Danny's father and mother independently search for love, Danny is on his own desperate quest to find a prom date. Danny's search becomes progressively more pathetic once he and his family learn that Bart, the school's biggest dweeb, not only secured a date for the prom, but got a hotel room as well.

Director:
Writer:
Stars:
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Purchased from Antique/Thrift store. Watched sola.
I will admit. I mostly purchased this movie because William H. Macy had a fro. And it was a pretty decent movie. The characters were interesting, as was the setting and situations. It was a bit far-fetched, but I enjoyed it. 
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 Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

 After a stint in a mental institution, former teacher Pat Solitano moves back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife. Things get more challenging when Pat meets Tiffany, a mysterious girl with problems of her own.

Director:
Writers:
(screenplay), (novel)
Stars:
, , | » 
Rented from Omaha Public Library. Watched with my S.O. 
A friend recommended this movie a zillion times to me and I finally found a copy on my library shelf. For some reason I was expecting a darker movie. Sure, there were dark spots, but there was a lot of comedy in it too. We really enjoyed the film. I thought it did a great job of treating tenderly people who have their lives upended and have a rough time dealing. It was great to see truly imperfect characters and to be able to relate with them and cheer for them. 
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 When a Stranger Calls (1979)

A psychopathic killer terrorizes a babysitter, then returns seven years later to menace her again.

Director:
Writers:
,
Stars:
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From my S.O's collection, watched with him.
I told Andy we shouldn't watch this before bedtime. And lo and behold, he had to check all the doors in the house for the basement and upstairs before I'd let us go to sleep. He learned to believe me when I said I couldn't watch scary/suspenseful movies before bed and we may never again. But he thought my reaction to a certain scene was hilarious even though I screamed and hit Andy repeatedly in fear saying "I don't like this!". Truth be told, I guess I liked it. I liked seeing Carol Kane in a non-comedic role. At first, I tried to be all jokey-jokey when it started, but that's my defense mechanism I use to counteract fear. Obviously it didn't work. And what I think worked so well about this movie is how easy it is to relate to that primal fear that you are being hunted. Unfortunately, for women, that fear is always under the surface. I agree with the tag line "Don't Watch It Alone" and would add "Don't Watch It At Night"! What Andy likes to say about this film is that, even though it was made in the late 70s, it can still very much elicit a response from a modern audience. :P
 P.S. I only made it 25 seconds into the trailer just now before I had to stop it. :P
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 Forks Over Knives (2011)

Examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting our present menu of animal-based and processed foods.

Director:
Writer:
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Rented from OPL and watched with my S.O.
I had previously watched and reviewed this movie in November 2013 and you can find my thoughts here. This time I watched it with Andy and he was astounded at the data. He also wanted to know how in the hell I allowed him to feed me steak and eggs right before we watched this film together. I knew however that seeing is believing. It also prompted us to watch some other documentaries you will see in a moment. A month later, our diet has changed a little bit and we have purchased the cookbook. We did try a couple of the recipes and they made us feel good and ready to continue our day, instead of bogged down. However, it's been difficult to jump in full on yet, but we at least have the knowledge.
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Forks Over Knives Presents: The Engine 2 Kitchen Rescue (2011)

Join Rip Esselstyn, former Texas firefighter and bestselling author, as he teaches the White and Wali families the basics of a whole-food, plant-based diet.

Rented from library and watched with S.O. Andy.
This short documentary was a great way to learn HOW to change one's diet and what foods we thought were healthy are not. It seems to basically be about substitution. This is a must for anyone looking to change one's diet after watching the previous movie.
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 Vegucated (2010)

 Vegucated is a guerrilla-style documentary that follows three meat- and cheese-loving New Yorkers who agree to adopt a vegan diet for six weeks and learn what it's all about. They have no idea that so much more than steak is at stake and that the planet's fate may fall on their plates. Lured by tales of weight lost and health regained, they begin to uncover hidden sides of animal agriculture that make them wonder whether solutions offered in films like Food, Inc. go far enough. Before long, they find themselves risking everything to expose an industry they supported just weeks before. But can their convictions carry them through when times get tough? What about on family vacations fraught with skeptical step-dads, carnivorous cousins, and breakfast buffets? Part sociological experiment and part adventure comedy, Vegucated showcases the rapid and at times comedic evolution of three people who are trying their darnedest to change in a culture that seems dead set against it. 
Director:
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 Rented from the OPL and watched with S.O. Andy
Another documentary on our way to re-examining our food intake. The good parts of this movie was the look at HOW animals are treated before they are slaughtered for human consumption. I feel there is a big disconnect and that if people actually saw the truth about what happens to animals before they make it to the plate, it would make them rethink their meals, even a little bit. After watching 'Forks Over Knives' I thought it was silly to prove that vegans can eat Oreos only because it contains no animal products. This to me seems like a cop-out and proof that one can still have an unhealthy diet as a vegan. Of course, food choices are up to the individuals, so veganism is what you make of it. I also thought it was nice to see the struggle that these participants went through, because if one is going to undertake a new diet, one needs to understand the challenges. Otherwise, the movie was full of some very interesting facts and it's worth a watch.
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Brave (2012)

Determined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, Merida must rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse. 
 Directors:
Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman, and 1 more credit »
Writers:
Brenda Chapman (story), Mark Andrews (screenplay), and 3 more credits »
Stars:
Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly and Emma Thompson | See full cast and crew
From my personal collection. Watched with my 12 year-old nephew. 
I previously reviewed the film in July 2012 and loved it. To any naysayers who think boys can't relate to a female lead... I say 1) then why are females expected to relate to male leads and see those movies? and 2) my nephew liked the movie. The truth here is that a well-told story with interesting characters supersedes lines drawn by gender. Great film. Adventure, comedy, intrigue, good message. One of my favorites.
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United Nations employee Gerry Lane traverses the world in a race against time to stop the Zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments, and threatening to destroy humanity itself.

Director:
Writers:
(screenplay), (screenplay), 4 more credits »
Stars:
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From the OPL. Watched alone.
I really wanted Andy to watch with me because the first five minutes were gripping. The film started right away, setting up character and situation pretty quickly. The film presented info for audience members to figure out what was going on and make their own conclusions. It was an interesting take on the genre. Sure, there were some unlikely bits, but as far as storytelling goes, our hero is the best at what he does, which is one of the tenets we have been taught as screenwriters: Make your heroes and heavies strong. In this case, it happened. There were quite a few intense moments that made up the well-timed pacing. And then when reports of the quick spread of Ebola filled the news in the week after I watched this, it made me nervous. ;) I know there are plenty people more in tune with the horror/action genres that have a lot of gripes about the film, but it kept me interested/engaged, so I guess it worked for me. :P
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  Now You See Me (2013)

An FBI agent and an Interpol detective track a team of illusionists who pull off bank heists during their performances and reward their audiences with the money.
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Rented from the library. Watched sola.
Let's talk about a movie that I didn't like. SPOILER: I think I was okay with it until the end. Then I HATED it. I don't like being duped and I found the reveal to be implausible, ill-contrived and just dumb. Also the idea that the dynamics between the four magicians didn't change in the year they worked together? No. And the actions of the lead were meant to fool the audience. It was all a ruse and a set-up. I suppose since we are talking about magic tricks, that's to be expected but I didn't like it. Technically, the setup and the payoff matched in a way, but I didn't buy it.
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 The Protector 2/Warrior King 2 (2013)

When the owner of a major elephant camp is murdered, Kham finds himself the number one suspect and on the run from both the police and the deceased's vengeful twin nieces. But luck is on Kham's side when he runs into an Interpol agent sent to Thailand on a secret mission.
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From S.O. Andy's collection. Watched together.
For some reason, I like martial arts movies. Maybe it's because my dad watched them on TV that I find them bearable (versus golf that Dad watched/slept through). Andy really likes Tony Jaa (in addition to Bruce Lee of course) and the guy has some great moves. There was a bit of sub-par acting from non-Thai speaking actors, but it's probably very difficult to communicate on a set with foreigners. There were plenty of great action sequences and a nice elephant to boot. I liked the kickass women, but an outfit or so one of them wore was too unbelievable for me....That's my major criticism about women's portrayal in film and comics and games... not enough clothing/armor and outfits that would be difficult to move in freely and that objectify the woman instead of allowing her fighting skills to speak for themselves. But anyway, nice action flick for anyone needing some martial arts fun.
P.S. Watching movies like this always make we wish I knew how to kick butt and look cool doing it! 
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 Food, Inc. (2008)

An unflattering look inside America's corporate controlled food industry.
 
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Rented from OPL. Watched with S.O. 
This is another documentary that Andy and I watched as part of our food learning. It's pretty terrible to see the regulations or lack thereof, and how few companies actually control our food supply. It explains why food recalls are so expansive. I really recommend this movie for a better understanding of how our food system works.
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Accidents Happen (2009) 

There are dysfunctional families... and then there are the Conways. After a family tragedy, 15-year-old Billy Conway has become the de facto glue between his bitter mom, distant brother, and stoic dad. But when Billy starts to act out, everything changes for him and his family.

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Purchased from Thrift Store. Watched Sola.
I love Geena Davis. Definitely didn't expect it to be such a downer. I was expecting more silly. It was still really good. 
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  Despicable Me 2 (2013)

Gru is recruited by the Anti-Villain League to help deal with a powerful new super criminal.

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Rented from OPL. Watched sola.
I love me some minions. It took me far too long to get around to seeing this one. It was okay. It's always hard to watch sequels to movies you love so much. I didn't like the body design of Kristen Wiig's character. Too skinny! And she was a little annoying at parts. But I liked another chance to visit my favorite characters. Does one NEED to see the first one to understand this one? Maybe. I know it helped me. I'm not sure if I'll buy this one. Like I said. Love the first one. Makes the sequels judged to a higher/harsher degree. :(
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Ladies and Gentlemen, My Name is Paul Heyman (2014)

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From my S.O's personal collection. Watched together.
I'm pretty sure you can guess I didn't pick this movie. In the past year, I've learned more about wrestlers than I cared to, but I guess it's relevant to my pursuits as a screenwriter and member of the entertainment industry. I've got to say, Paul Heyman is annoying, but he isn't a shlump when it comes to putting in the work and having business savvy. It was interesting at points, annoying at others, and seemed a bit long for me, but there was a lot of information to pack in. It doesn't seem like they tried to sugarcoat or protect him much and showed varying viewpoints, so that's good. If you don't like wrestling, you probably won't be watching this anyway, unless your S.O. does. Then, good luck. ;) :P (P.S. I've seen Wrestlemania a couple times before this with co-workers so I can't blame Andy entirely. Actually watching the most recent Wrestlemania was good lead-up so I had at least seen Paul Heyman in action before.)
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  Girl Rising (2013)

The movie tells the stories of nine girls from different parts of the world who face arranged marriages, child slavery, and other heartbreaking injustices. Despite these obstacles, the brave girls offer hope and inspiration. By getting an education, they're able to break barriers and create change.
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 Rented from OPL. Watched with S.O. Andy
I forget where exactly I saw this on Facebook, but I looked into it and rented it right away. It was saddening to see how terrible females have it across the globe but uplifting to see the spirit and the drive of young women and organizers that are working hard to change the situations. I highly recommend this movie! It's a great collaborative effort and was very creatively conceived. Nice presentation and statistics.
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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)

A group of mutated warriors face off against an evil kingpin who wants to take over New York.

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Watched in the theater. Shocking I know! Watched with 15 year-old nephew.
I was a big fan of the Turtles growing up. That's why my favorite color is orange. I once told my mother that I was going to marry Mikey and she could visit us in the sewer. Ah, the dreams of young girls. ;) Anyway, I know a lot of my peeps were unhappy with the casting of Megan Fox and with the design of the turtles. But I have to say, after the initial shock of how ugly they looked, I came to appreciate the detail that went into making each turtle different from each other with something other than the color of the eyemask. Of course there were some unbelievable parts (I mean within action sequences, b/c there is NOTHING about Turtles that mutate and train to be ninjas that is implausible. It could totally happen.) I will say I was irritated with the way that Mikey treated April. I guess that was always his shtick, but the feminist in me was like 'oh my gosh, can't he respect her instead of sexualizing her?!' Yeah, I know. But that's the way I felt. Anyway, who else braved the ticket price (okay, I paid matinee prices) and saw the movie? Tell me what you think! Oh yeah, I also thought Shredder was a chump for relying on his fancy suit, that the turtles left Splinter without first aid for WAY too long, and again, I wanted to be a ninja after watching their fancy moves.
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Muppets Most Wanted (2014)

While on a grand world tour, The Muppets find themselves wrapped into an European jewel-heist caper headed by a Kermit the Frog look-alike and his dastardly sidekick.

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Rented from Redbox. Watched with 15 year-old nephew. 
I always like the Muppets, and this followed in the same vein as they usually deliver. It was kinda goofy to see some American actors doing fake French and Russian accents, but I guess Hollywood chooses recognizable actors for American audiences. And I love Kermie, but how many decades has he had cold feet about marrying Piggy? Sigh. :P Anyway, normal Muppet fun to be found here.
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Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014)

Some of Sin City's most hard-boiled citizens cross paths with a few of its more reviled inhabitants.

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Watched in theaters (matinee pricing) with S.O. Andy.
It's been many years since I saw the original and Andy really wanted to see it. Good thing he's also gotten me into comic books lately because it was so stylized I might have been left behind if I was a regular moviegoer. I enjoyed it enough. Andy said he was judging it against the first movie too, which I mentioned before, is impossible to avoid. I enjoyed the movie enough, despite nudity and whatnot. I know, I'm such a stickler. :P
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 Sling Blade (1996)

Karl Childers, a simple man hospitalized since his childhood murder of his mother and her lover, is released to start a new life in a small town.
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From S.O. Andy's personal collection. Watched together.

I'd heard good things mentioned about this movie a few times. Most recently I believe by a fellow panelist at SNAFF. The title had made me think it would be some sci-fi/action type thing but I was so wrong. I read the synopsis on the DVD and was in for it. I still got something different than I imagined, but I really liked it. I kept thinking of the quirks of some of the special needs youth/adults I've volunteered with, the level of accuracy, how Billy Bob chose the role/idea, and the comparisons and reception it received in line with Forrest Gump a year or two earlier. I found it interesting how so many of the people that met Karl projected their own assumptions and life stories on him. It was a pretty interesting movie. I'd love to hear from others who have seen it. 
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Well, there you have it. Only took me about 4 hours to type this all up. So I really hope at least 10 people looked at this. I don't expect people to look at EVERY movie, but to use this as a way to find some new movie ideas. Hope you enjoyed. Feel free to leave comments and feedback either on the blog here or on Facebook where you found the link. BYE!
 

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