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!

2 SnowDays=Movies!

Sup, peeps? Okay let's get right to it!

"Oldboy" (2003) - Korean movie, yay! This one came highly recommended and it was quite the movie. If you're looking for a happy love story, this sure ain't it!! If you like Saw, try this one on for size. Personally, I don't think the original crime was bad enough to warrant the retaliation it did, but I guess that's revenge for you. My recommendation of this movie continues onward to you.

"The Secret Life of Bees" (2008) - This movie is probably the farthest you can get from the previous one mentioned! My mother recently lent me the book and I enjoyed it, so naturally, I wanted to see how the movie compared. It was alright. Obviously books usually are better because they rely on the powers of our imagination to create a world whereas a movie shows it to us. I can unfortunately see why the movie didn't get guys in the theatre.... positive black male and female role models that have dignity and sophistication? Why is it we ignore images that we need to see more of? Big thank you to the black (and white) H-wood superpowers that brought this book/movie to life. I will say I was interested to note that the book didn't pick up on the honey/grave song as I thought it would when I read it, but that the movie did.

"How to Lose Friends & Alienate People" (2008) - I had fun with this one. I like Simon Pegg a lot ever since "Shaun of the Dead" (2004) and "Big Nothing" (2006) oh and all his other movies! And Jeff Bridges had a fun role. But I am not a fan of Megan Fox nor Kristen Dunst, not necessarily in that order of distaste. The movie didn't have too many surprises from the basic well-known storyline but I enjoyed it.

"Revenge of the Bridesmaids" (2010) - What I love most is the fact that I found it listed under 'Most Popular' on hulu meaning that many people, like myself, figured they could sneak-watch it online and not be held too accountable. I happen to enjoy Raven-Symoné for the fact she is my celeb-doppleganger. The movie is a good time-waster and a little cathartic for those of us who detest weddings. If you have time to kill, go for it :) It's nice to see people sabotage a wedding! :)

"Baabul" (2006) - I was surprised to find this on hulu as well. It has several of my favorite Bollywood actors and was really good. Besides having congestion/sinus issues, I went through a lot of kleenex for all my sobbing along with the story. Come to think of it, nope, just kidding. I was gonna say this is the only movie I've seen in which John Abraham not take off his shirt, but there was a bit of open shirt action. I hope I never see a movie of his in which he isn't  taking off his shirt. OMG, he has a gorgeous body and should be naked all the time. He was  an underwear model which is why they always put him half-naked in movies. Watched part of "Dostana" (2008) today and let me tell you I could watch him in the intro allllll day.... DROOL!!!!! (See, girls can be just as shallow as guys!) But really "Baabul" was a really good flick and a great introduction for anyone wanting to see a Bollywood tearjerker in top form.

When I watched it online it was called "She Gets What She Wants" (2002) but imdb calls it "Slap Her... She's French" (2002). Either way, I enjoyed the movie and it's awful exagerated accents. It was campy and fun. And it actually got you to like someone you started out not liking. Fun stuff. And wonderful film studies major that I am, I didn't actually see the plot point switch. I guess I was enjoying it too much :)

"Tiptoes" (2003) - This movie gets a huge nod from me. It's not cinematically great, but for me it was so refreshing to see 'little people' in roles that are not belittling. Sure, it got a bit preachy and was kind of a platform, but I was just so appreciative of the movie, that it's like giving your kid a huge hug after their dance recital in which they tripped on stage... you're just so proud they tried at all. :) I knew the name Gary Oldman was familiar (he's been in everything by the way) but it threw me for a loop when I realized he was playing a dwarf. I guess they wanted a 'name' over actually really helping the little people. But I would love to know how they pulled it off b/c there are plenty full-body shots of him as a dwarf.... Anyway, I love Peter Dinklage and yes I have a certain fondness/interest in 'little people'. Prob cuz I'm short ;) Dinklage's character was really bizarre. He got to play a crazy French man and, combined with the previous movie, it was the second time in the same day that someone in a movie mentioned the Americans saving the French's butts in WWII. Really? Is that all we think of the French?!? Considering Americans suck at history, I guess it makes sense that we only know a couple jabs to throw. lol     I do recommend this movie, if only to change your perceptions of 'little people'.

"Whip It" (2009) - hadn't really planned on seeing this one, but I was told to, handed the DVD, watched it and enjoyed it. I'm not much of a roller skater. But I appreciated a movie in which ladies kick butt! =D   Boys, you can keep your dumb sports movies. I enjoyed this one.

Staying on top

Okay, here goes with trying to stay on top of my movie watching....
I did watch Easy A again, I just liked it a lot. Other movies I watched this week that I'd seen before:"The Secret"(2006), [inspiration for the new year, right?], "The Namesake"(2006) [looooove this movie!; it makes me cry every damn time!!], "Airheads" (1994) [too ridic to not get a kick out of it]

I've also seen "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" (1984), but that was a few years ago. Enough to make me forget and add it to my Facets movie queue. I love Almodóvar! What can I say? I find it interesting that there was a small amount of mysticism/magic to the movie with the character of the little girl. And Almo looooves to have his women kill their lousy husbands. Hmmmm... ;)

 "Despicable Me" (2010) Yes, I fiiiinally got around to seeing this movie. I liked it. Had a very limited cast, it seemed. I mean the banker and Vector and their connection really 'upped' the drama in a way. You understood people's actions more; it put them into more perspective. I really liked Pharrell's addition to the soundtrack as it wasn't typical, cheesy-ness and had a beat I was trying to dance to ;)

"Tees Maar Khan" (2010) Had to have some Bollywood in my life. This film was waaaay over the top, more so than most B-wood flicks. But it wasn't overly gushy in romantic terms as many are, but in silly terms. And there was only one character who was 'sane' throughout the whole thing, and he was a pawn. We saw the main character had a love interest, but she was used as a means to his goal. It was pretty goofy, a little more so than usual. But dance scenes are always nice, with their brilliant colors, but sometimes it seemed like they were completely mocking themselves. Ah, such is life. Why not make a goofy movie if you can? I would. ;)

trying to stay on top of things

I figure maybe updating my movie blog wouldn't be so time-intensive if I did it more than once every two months! Last entry was 21 days ago. Three weeks isn't too bad... Here goes!

"Easy A" (2010) - This movie was pretty fun to watch. With the curly red-head title character having high school problems, it reminded me of Mean Girls (2004). I enjoyed the references to the 1980's John Hughes movies and thought it was a cute homage to his work. Doesn't seem to have landed the same impact his movies did, but the movie's effort can't be faulted for that. I liked the wink at The Scarlet Letter novel and how the movie was no justification for the book. I find it hard to believe that a person so cute as the title character really had so many problems being noticed prior to the rumor. She was very cute and put together from the get-go and the only difference was she slutted up her appearance more. I found this to be a pretty fun movie and would watch it again.

"Nine to Five" (1980) - I will admit, I didn't watch this movie in its entirity, but I really enjoyed what I saw (the last hour?) and the statement it made about women in the workplace. The fact that at the end, the corporate boss was supportive of all the changes except equal pay, really speaks to the ridiculousness of women's injustices in the workplace. It doesn't hurt my battlecry that I just finished reading "Sex and Power" by Susan Estrich which highlights the disparging statistics of number of women in top corporate positions and the variance in their salaries from the men in equal or lower positions. As far as the film itself goes, it was fun to see these powerful ladies in these roles. Actually, it almost enforces stereotypes of women and how they choose to exert power and force because of the lengths they took to maintain civility when kidnapping their boss. But even so, that says much about the differences between men and women. Even when taking a victim, these women could be more civilized, although vulnerable. The end message though is that even though we have come so far, we still have a long ways to go and we need to work together to achieve it. This is the theme of Estrich's book, as well. Wow, a lot to say about a movie I didn't fully watch!! ;)

"Dark Habits"/"Entre Tinieblas" (1983) I am a big fan of Almodóvar and was thrilled to get a copy of his early movie, thanks to Facets. As a recovering Catholic, I'm okay with seeing religion mocked ;) And when you ask me if I want to watch a movie about a nightclub singer who goes into hiding in a convent of gay and/or drug-addicted nuns, I say, sure! Right away, you can tell no one is safe. Every character has his or her own secret, even the deceased nun that went to a missionary in Africa. The fact that the characters are so bizarre is underscored by the fact that they find themselves to be so normal. I mean, why shouldn't a nun harbor a pet tiger? The funny thing is that God didn't seem to be such a presence in their lives. It was in the lip-service aspect. That was the primary reason for being a nun, but they all found ways to cope with being there. It made the nightclub singer not so strange, really. And isn't that so Almodóvar to take the person that should be the outcast and make them 'normal'? Well, maybe it isn't typical of all his films, but he doesn't hold anything back. His goal is not to protect ego of the religious folk. The thing about these characters is that even though they were supposed to be so holy, they weren't but they weren't very abashed about it. I could appreciate the irreverance and I hope you can too! ;O)

"Napoleon Dynamite" (2004) - Can I just say I liked this movie before it received all the hype? It's always fun to watch a movie about bizarre characters because they help you free your mind and bit and not take yourself or everything else too seriously. And it has a bunch of ridiculous situations. What I like best is that it is supposed to take place in 2004-2005 school year in Ohio, but even the cool kids seem like they are stuck in the 80s. Ohio must really suck!! ;)

"Zoolander" (2001) - I do like Ben Stiller a lot and this movie is always fun to pop in. If you can't tell, I really like movies that don't take themselves too seriously.

"FernGully: The Last Rainforest" (1992) - I was thrilled to find a copy of this for $5 at Target and couldn't resist the chance to snatch up a movie from my childhood. In case you were wondering, Fern Gully IS the original Avatar, complete with tree spirits and creatures to fly on and destroying/saving the natural habitat. This one is more colorful though. Not just blue. ;0)

"Get Your Stuff" (2000) - This movie is a disgrace to the gay community if ever there was one (and I'm sure there's more than one). I was really disappointed with it. Not only did it seem like a film you were forced to watch because your friends made it, it relied heavily on stereotypes of gay life such as 'there's always a drag queen at a party' or 'you should beg your husband to come back to you even though he's cheating on you' and 'gay men always want to have sex, even if the door is open and there are kids in the house'. Not to mention the movie asked you to put aside issues of legality when it comes to foster children and a druggie mother who had her rights taken away but somehow manages to land herself in the gay mens' home so they can take care of her and her kids. And honestly, why the hell wouldn't they hide the liquor if there are troubled kids and women in the house?!?!? And if they are going to add the kids to the gym membership, why didn't they get them beds? This movie didn't sit well with me on many levels, obviously. I know the couple wanted 'a baby' but the fact that they apparently had no idea how to raise children and weren't ready to change their lifestyle made it absurd. And the social services lady wouldn't have done any of the shit she did. Gah, this movie. It could have been something great, but it was a terrible premise, terribly executed with terrible results. And terrible dialogue. but you should watch it! hahaha

"A Christmas Story" (1983) - T'would hardly be a Christmas without watching this flick. And I own it on VHS. :) This time I watched it with my rents. Mom reminisced about her childhood while Dad snoozed in and out (as usual). If you haven't watched it before, I'm ashamed you're reading this. No, I'm GLAD you're reading this. Isn't that the point of this blog? To get you into new movies? If you have some for me, leave a comment, please! Always need to broaden my horizons.

"Kiss Me Again" (2006) - Maybe not the typical Christmas movie, but it was available on Hulu. When I watched it, I was so very much reminded of "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" (2008) which I just watched tonight and will be discussed in duality with "Kiss Me Again". VCB was 2008, so that threw off my idea of KMA copying VCB. But maybe Woody Allen saw KMA and decided he could do better. And yes, KMA definitely needed improvements. Similarites: artists, dark room, threesome, Spanish woman that are or look like Penelope Cruz (Mirelly Taylor bears a striking resemblance). Differences: KMA relied on visuals to titulate the audience while VCB allowed the threesome between the lovers to be of a cerebral delicacy based upon the theme that love is so hard to define (Cristina's premise of her 12 minute movie). KMA is closer to soft-core while VCB shows the beauty of love in its complexities. KMA shows how emotional people get when they aren't prepared for the results of feelings of a threesome but VCB doesn't show a threesome destroying the lives of the people in it; in fact in VCB it was the threesome that brought harmony to a tortured couple. Obviously I enjoyed VCB (I had seen it before, on the plane on the way to India) and purchased it. Watching KMA was an impulse and another example of a poorly done movie (see "Get Your Stuff"). There are some movies that just have it and others that don't. The element of narrator in VCB could be a little annoying, but at least for once, it wasn't Woody Allen's voice.! ;) In fact, it didn't completely scream Woody Allen, the movie and that was very nice. VCB was a very charming movie with beautiful people, beautiful views and an attractive soundtrack, to which I am listening right now!

And, it only took me just a bit over an hour to write about these 10 movies I watched in 21 days. Not too bad all around! :)

Been a Long-A Time....

It really has been a while, so let's get down to business....

"Wristcutters: A Love Story" (2006) I have a dark sense of humor, so this movie was interesting. It's based on the idea for an afterlife for those who commit suicide. Worth a watch. Okay, I guess I can try to lure into it a little more. It has Shannyn Sossamon in it who starred opposite Heath Ledger in A Knight's Tale. Fun snippet is that the frontman of Gogol Bordello is in the movie and so is his music. Pretty fun actually.

"Definitely, Maybe" (2008)  Can you believe it was a guy who made me watch this movie? I had been avoiding it, but conceded if only to ogle Ryan Reynolds for a little bit. It's kinda predictable and tries to make a guessing game out of love, which is exactly what we do anyway, isn't it? 'Who should I end up with?' Not much for me to say on this movie as it was two months ago that I watched it. Gee, I should really update this blog more often. But then you wouldn't have so many movies to choose from.

"Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" (2010) Not a huge fan of video games or Jake Gyllenhaal but I will concede to enjoying this movie. There is something about movies set in the desert with beefy, sweaty men that I find appealing (also a fun of The Mummy series and The Scorpion King for this very reason. rawr!) I did enjoy this flick, not because it was amazing in any regards, but it was fun escapism. And b/c of the sweaty beefy guy, even if he wasn't a preference of mine. It was odd to see Ben Kingsley in that movie. Although know that I look at his profile, his roles are kind of all over the place. Gemma Arterton is easy on the eyes too, and I always like a movie where the female isn't completely helpless.  :)

 "Scrooged" (1988) I will always love this movie. It's one of the ones we taped off of tv.... I mean. Uh, scratch that. I love it because it's a very entertaining twist on the Scrooge idea. It's different and cheeky (kinda like me, I guess) so it's fun to watch. And we all know I love Bill Murray. :0)

"Ghostbusters II" (1989) Speaking of Bill Murray..... don't blame me. My host during that time span had these movies, which I enjoy, or anime, which I don't even try to understand. What's not to love about The Ghostbusters? I'd call them.

"Get Smart" (2008) I do so love a movie in which the female is clearly smarter than the male. Oh, and the Rock was in it. HOT. (see Prince of Persia note about Scorpion King and my obsession with beefy, sweaty guys. Hmm, is it a healthy or unhealthy obsession?) I really would like to see the original movie/tv show so that I can appreciate the humor. I'm sure the original release was a little more appropriate/timely b/c of the then-contemporary James Bond movies.





"Bolt" (2008) I'm pretty sure I enjoyed the movie while watching it and that it was funny, but I can't remember anything right now. Good flick for kids with some fun jokes. I think that's probably safe to say...

"Japón" (2002) I have NO idea why this movie is called 'Japan', when it has absolutely nothing to do with Japan. It's a Spanish movie, filmed in Argentina by a Mexican. After watching the movie and then watching parts of the director talking about it, it just seemed to be pretentious, or at least the director did. He seemed to really get off on the movie. I couldn't say the same. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't terribly wondeful either. You could tell it was cheaply made. Apparently, the director filmed it out of pocket. For me to criticize him and conclude that he is a self-important person with enough cash to pay people to go along with his projects, probably isn't fair as it looks like he's earned some awards with this and other work. But I wasn't completely blown away. Not saying every movie has to be extravagently made, but this was very slow and left me waiting and waiting. What I noticed from this and another movie "Los Muertos" (2004), another Argentinian-made movie, is that there is animal killing. In Japón, a bird, in Los Muertos, a rabbit. I guess PETA can't really regulate other countries, eh? I think that is something interesting though. I mean if you are showing people in rural areas in Argentina, yes they will kill animals for food and not think anything of it. It is what it is.

"Hocus Pocus" (1993) "Witches? There be no witches here, sir." "Just three old spinster ladies spending a quiet evening at home." "Sucking the lives out of little children!" It's been a long-standing joke that the Sanderson sisters are my sisters and myself. I happen to be the big dumb one that cans sniff out children. Ironic, b/c of my choice towards no child-bearing. lol I have to watch this movie every Halloween anymore, so whenever I can find friends or family to enjoy it with me, I'm quite happy. It just helps to ring in my favorite season. I would like to have a re-do actually of Halloween, since I was a little ill. :(

"50 Ways of Saying Fabulous" (2005) I was jonesing for some subtitles for a bit of this New Zealand feature. But other than that, I really enjoyed the storyline and the characterization. What I most appreciated in the film is that the parents and other adult figures didn't completely seem negative towards the young boy's homosexuality. The aunt let him dress up in girl's clothing, even. I liked the suggestion at adults that can protect children by supporting them. I liked this story a lot. It was a gay-friendly movie that wasn't based arond the club-life and I thought it was a sentimental look at the 70s and self-discovery.

"Let the Right One In" (2008) Låt den rätte komma in (original title) The Swedish predecessor to 2010's "Let Me In" which I still have yet to see. I thought this foreign original was a fantastic additon to the vampire genre because it is distinctly different to what has been produced before. It is a more realistic portrayal to what vampiricism (is that a word) would entail in the modern world. And yes I just talked about a vampire movie being realistic. It wasn't overly romanticized or glorified as we've seen in other films. And it had to be pointed out to me the subtlty of gender in the film.

"Girls Will Be Girls " (2003) This movie is probably the definition of camp. Men dressed as women, playing women. And lots of sexual jokes. I did enjoy this movie. I think the intention was to put you on edge with some of the racy-ness, but I enjoyed it. If you are one who enjoys gender-bender movies, you will enjoy this one.

"The Visitor" (2007) I thought this was a beautiful movie that highlighed music and our interconnectedness on this planet. It also gave a window into the deportations that occur to good people. I urge anyone who has a hang-up about 'illegals' to watch this movie and open their hearts. It's one planet, we just created the borders. And Richard Jenkins is a doppelganger for a theatre teacher I had in college....and, after I looked at his page, in another movie I will be discussing in this post.

 "Father of the Bride" (1991) Got to watch this on the big screen with producer Howard Rosenman. This movie makes me think of my own father, only because I remember him watching this and other Steve Martin movies. (As well as Chevy Chase and maybe a couple other actors). It's a sentimental movie that really holds up over time. It's almost 20 years old and a remake of a Spencer Tracy movie. It's always fun to see different generations of comedians try on roles, especially when they execute it so well. I can't help but see how young the actress is. Maybe I'm just new-fashioned, but I think people should wait a bit longer than their 20s to tie the knot. But that's neither here nor there! ;)

"El Norte" (1983) Oh boy... I know I mentioned in my words about 'The Visitor' that people with strong views on immigration should watch that, but this movie is incredibly powerful. You never know what immigrants are up against when you close your mind and just shout that they shouldn't be here. You never know what situations they are trying to avoid by leaving their country and what situations they live through to try to find a better life. Not saying all immigrants are holy, sin-less people, but there needs to be more understanding towards their dignity and humanity. The movie is nearly 30 years old, but very relevant and moving.

"The Taste of Tea" (2004) Cha no aji (original title) This bizarre movie quickly won over the hearts of me and my family members, due in part to The Mountain Song. It also happens to be a movie of interconnectedness, however random. Soooo many stories happen in this film and it's bizarre to watch them unravel. It is one of my family's favorites now, and we often find ourselves asking each other: "Why are you a triangle?" 

"Agnes and His Brothers" (2004) Agnes und seine Brüder (original title) Quite a bit darker than I expected. In fact, I expected something 'fabulous!' but those Germans never give you what you want ;) It's the stories of three brothers and their messed-up lives. It definitely has very little happiness to it and left me with a weird feeling after watching it. I don't regret watching it, I just regret watching it alone and so close to bedtime. I had to completely disconnect myself and try to forget I'd seen it. It's striking, to say the least.

"Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" (2010) Yes, I enjoyed it, and yes, I made an avatar of myself, even though I watched the movie only after it was out on DVD. I'm a little slow/preoccupied with lots of other stuff (as if you couldn't tell by how long it takes me to update). I enjoyed the format of the story as unique and entertaining. I do so like Jason Schwartzman as well. Fun times to be had with this movie. I like the colorfulness of the characters and even though I'm not a gamer, I was pleased with that aspect and could appreciate it. It was a playful romp, for sure :)

"And the Band Played On" (TV 1993) Woo-wee, if you want a heavy movie that teaches you important stuff, that would be this one. It chronicles multiple characters at the discovery and classification of AIDS. It shows what the scientific community had to go to erase the stigma of it as a 'gay disease' and invoke sympathy from the hetero community. Powerful and truthful movie.

"Nothing But Trouble" (1991) After watching this movie, you will view Demi Moore differently. Fun flick but bizarre. I could have sworn my father and I had seen this movie on tv once, but a few years ago when I bought the DVD and watched it with him, he couldn't remember it. John Candy (RIP) and Dan Akroyd must have had tons of fun with their costumes :) And Chevy Chase is not silver-haired in this movie which is surprising to look at after watching him on TV recently. :(

"The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela" (2008) After spending a lot of time watching the glitterific world of RuPaul on his tv shows, it really is something to see the reality of being transgendered in other countries. It's described as such on the trivia page: "The film is inspired by actual people and events - was originally supposed to be a documentary but was changed to a semi-fiction feature." So I'm currently confused to know if it was really about Raquela's life or just a made up story. The style is a little off-putting as the acting isn't stellar when it comes to re-enacted segments, but there's something okay in the style of the piece. I liked the introspection and humanity it brought to a segment of the world population that is often ignored.

"Burlesque" (2010) Someone described it as a bunch of music videos and I can definitely see that. Prior to seeing it, I assumed it would be like Moulin Rouge and Chicago. I'm happy that most of the songs were done as part of the burlesque act, except for a song from each Cher and Christina Aguilera. Both of those songs, although done for dramatic purpose in the storyline, took me out of the movie and it's theme. I didn't really care for that. I couldn't see any other actresses but Cher and Xtina playing those parts, and I think they did pretty well. It seems like those parts were written for just them. The storyline was pretty predictable. I for one am glad it wasn't a 'true musical' but all the songs took place on stage. I may have grown up in the theatre, but I can only take musicals under special circumstances. Ya hear? Watching this movie DID make me wanna go out and shake it on the dance floor. Probably a good thing I didn't. Would have scandalized the place! ;)

"Keeping It Real: The Adventures of Greg Walloch" (2001) I've never understood why we have to always call things 'adventures' when there is nothing spectacular going on. Case in point: The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. There is nothing adventurous about a family so wholesome as that. Anyway, for this particular movie, the alternate title 'Fuck the Disabled' is more catchy, don't you agree? Gives a glimpse into the life of a comedian who is gay and disabled (cerbral pasly). This flick has a LOT of cameos. I didn't even recognize Stephen Baldwin until I just checked out the imdb page. I thought this movie was interesting. Seems like some of Greg's stand-up routine is/was less comedy and more relation of his thoughts on life. That was okay/interesting too, don't get me wrong. I thought it was very interesting to hear him speak on how he views his life and his art.

Okay, so that took 3THREE HOURS to type all this up. I get an award of $5 for doing this (money put to my travel fund) and you hopefully now have a few movies you want to watch! (23 in 2 months? not toooo shabby for a busy gal!)

Time Passes Quickly!

Okay, it has been quite a while since I updated my movie blog. Ooops. Please forgive me! ;) K, here goes!

"Brief Interviews With Hideous Men" (2009) - I was disappointed in this movie. It was obvious that it was a research journal of some sort and I would have loved to read it as such. It would have been more suited to a stage play and left me disappointed, cinematically speaking. There is something important about knowing one's social media and one's audience. One has to know the strengths and weaknesses of the method of presentation, and I would much rather read the book on which the movie was based. If not that, a stage play would take second place, but I feel that would come off just as smarmily. Sorry, John Krasinski.

"The 'burbs' "(1989) - I must admit, I love Tom Hanks and this film was just soooo much fun. I've loved it ever since the day we taped it off of T.V. This time around, I watched it with some family members and realized that the VHS copy had seen better days, so I bought the DVD (actually a 3 pack of Tom Hanks movies). This movie has a lot going for it. One thing I love is the subtly of some of the comedy. One has to pay attention to what's going on to really catch every grain of humor. It also encompasses an era that I find to be highly entertaining, what with Corey Feldman and all. (Goonies is one of my faves, so I can't pass up the opportunity, right?) All in all, I highly recommend watching The Burbs. ;)

" The Rainbow Warriors of Waiheke Island " (1992?) - This documentary is one of those that touched me deeply on a level and I'll try to explain why. I was born in the year the Greenpeace ship was bombed, but that barely touches on it. My mother said she didn't remember because she was busy trying to raise her four children (at the time). But these people belonged to an era that I can only dream about and study, and this is one of the 'textbooks' on which these studies can be based. These Greenpeace warriors put their lives on the line to protect wildlife and protect us against nuclear testing. It was a time when you could really stand for something and it was important. It's nothing like the protests of today because the current ones (not all of them, but prominent ones in the U.S.) are built on party lines, these falsehoods of humanity centered around politics. The Rainbow Warriors were defending life. I know this sounds trippy, but I can't help but admire these unsung heroes who put their lives on the line, not to gain dominance over another political party, but to encourage and support a healthier and safer way of life. I wish this documentary was more well-known, and highly encourage you to get your hands on a copy and soak up the history no one's talking about.

"Summer Hours" (2008) - This French flick was a very quiet film that let us witness how we as people develop attachments to material goods. And how we often never speak up when these things are threatened. I found it to be an interesting, albeit slow, movie. It also called to mind family dynamics and the secrets we might not know. I thought it was interesting how the parents acted in the "best interest"  of the children/teens, but without ever really consulting the teens. At the end, we see the teenage daughter mourning the loss of what was taken away and her inability to do anything about it. It makes you question the worth of your own possessions and what memories they keep for you. Once the person with the memories is gone, the object is still just an object. What then? Does it have importance or are we silly to attach ourselves to these creations?

"My Life in Ruins" (2009) - This comedy is along the lines of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" not only because it stars Nia Vardalos and has to do with Greeks, but for the humor in the humiliated main character who has to learn to let go a little. I watched this film three times because my family and I enjoyed it so. If you give yourself over to the laughter and allow yourself to smile, this film can take you there. I can see some viewers not 'getting' it, but I do enjoy the actress, the type of comedy and the simple message. I also happen to know the director, but that's not enough to sway me! I'd intended to see it first-run, then second, but got my hands on a DVD and held onto it for at least 3 weeks. Ooops! But when a particular film hits your funny bone and your view of life, you can't help but appreciate it, right? I think this film, as well as Nia is quite underappreciated and of course I am a strong proponent of Poupi Kakas and all things potty humor. ;)

"My Bloody Wedding" (2010) - This is another case of knowing the director, however, I'm not as in love with it as the previously mentioned film. This film is definitely in the campy, kitschy humor zone and I think it was just a little off-mark. It seemed to be simultaneously poking fun at both horror films and the horror film satires as well, and I am uncertain if that was the intent. As a satire of a satire, we were witness to over the top acting from all the characters, but at least it had it's own unique monsters. The outtakes were pretty awesome, though ;) I do appreciate indie filmmaking and I this is it. I have seen another of the director's films "My Name is Jerry" which was mentioned in a previous post (March or April 2010?)

"The Triplets of Belleville" (2003) - I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that I may have previously written about this movie in one of my first blog entries. If not, I will just say, this cartoon is NOT for children. It would be a confusing story line for a child to understand and has some themes or nudity that might not be appreciated. But don't look to me to tell you what your children should watch! According to the imdb page, thie film is highly accredited/awarded and it's so absurd, it's highly lovable. It's French, for one, and while this might not be a good reason for some people, the humor is so out there that you can't help but laugh. The film is mainly without dialogue, so no worries to those of you who detest subtitles. Hopefully you are not the same that cannot watch a film that doesn't have a convoluted plot. It basically doesn't hold anyone or anything sacred and that's half the fun of it. It's irreverent humor and highly recommended.

"My Big Fat Greek Wedding" (2002) - Yes, I previously mentioned this film in this very post, but apparently it was on television when I was staying at Grandma's, and to my surprise, my parents were watching it at their house on television too, followed by the next movie I'll discuss. Anyway, this is one of my family's favorite movies and I've seen it many a time. I think we can relate to and appreciate it because of the makeup of our own family. We are a mix of course, but with a heavy Polish bloodline on one side. I think anyone who has chaos in a big number of family members can relate. I think the theme of this film is that sometimes we are too lost in what we think our role is a person that we surprise ourselves to find out that we are capable of more and that others won't be so surprised to accept us when we let ourselves bloom. It's a great film for those of us (the great majority of the world) that are not movie star quality all the time. It's a film that shows our inner character just may need extra time to get out! Feel good flick, if ever there was one. And brings a favorite one-liner for my family: "Why you want to leeeave me?"

"Runaway Bride" (1999) - Never saw it when it came out, but finally one night huddled in front of the television. It's an okay flick. Mo-def a predictable rom-com. I liked it on principle I suppose, for the message it tries to send about knowing oneself fully before committing to a relationship and expecting everything to fall together. I think many people rush into marriage without knowing who they are as an independent person and it's most important to know thyself. This film isn't anything mind-boggling or thought provoking of course, but if you want a fluff piece for a day in, sure, why not?

"How to Drain Your Dragon"  (2010) - I'm 100% positive that I've discussed this film in a previous entry, quite possibly the most recent, but I figure it's worth another go. This time I actually saw it with an 11 year old and not someone in my own age range. Each time though, it was lots of fun. I love the message of this film and the characters are lots of fun. And of course, a strong supporting female character (who is stronger than several of the males, okay, they're Vikings, but still!) is always appreciated. The main message of the film is that we should sometimes question why things are done the way they are and whether it's the best way. In this case, yes I am telling you what to let your children watch! ;)

"Eat Pray Love" (2010) - I first read the book in Spanish, go me. The film was alright, of course, with many variations from the book, but that's to be expected. It really has to be, to condense a year plus and three countries into such a short time period. Wouldn't it be nice if we could all be paid to travel? I'm pretty sure I could handle that. It's basically a story about the luxurious rich who are the only ones who can afford to travel and search for spirituality, while the rest of us suckers have to find it while working our humdrum jobs and staying put when we can't afford a vacation to the next town over. Yes, I'm jealous in a way, but at the same point, I don't need to pretend that by traveling, all the answers come suddenly more clear. It helps, though, or is at most, a very good excuse! I suppose that if one is out of balance, something extreme might be the only answer, or at best, the most entertaining. I am currently reading a book that is a satire of her book. It's the male's fiction version: Drink, Play, F@#k! Boy, do I love it!

"Shrek Forever After" (2010) - Yet another children's movie meant for adults. It was fun and had a lot of laughs. Am I sad that Shrek is no more? No, not really. All empires must come to an end. I think I missed the third Shrek, but that's not really a biggie, right? Nope.

"Boy A" (2007) - Based on a true story and an interesting concept, but the execution, pardon the pun, was a little slow and painful. The main character, while naive and innocent was painfully female in his relation. It's hard to envision someone like that. I do like the idea, but don't know that it was done well enough. It was more painful and awkward. Good concept, unfortunate execution.

"Monsters Inc" (2001) - Okay, so maybe the point of this blog entry is that I didn't get out of the house much for new movies and actually watched a few that I've seen several times before, but still, I feel inclined to let you know! This has the same message of "How to Drain Your Dragon" in that we should question the status quo. The characters are fun to watch and the story is fun as well. Fun. There you have it. ;)

"The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" (2004) - You either like Wes Anderson and his posse, or you don't. I happen to do. ;) Yes, I've seen this before, but there isn't any harm in re-watching movies, right? I'm unsure if this one was mentioned in my blog entries previously, but here goes. It's goofy, irreverent and absurd. I'm beginning to think those are my qualifications for like liking a movie. I love me some Bill Murray (long before I knew he was roomies with a professor of mine!) and this movie lets him be the goofball we all know and love. Interestingly enough, the character is a bit similar to another film I will soon discuss... stay tuned for that one! This is interesting to watch in light of The Rainbow Warriors of Waiheke Island but this is definitely on the irreverent side of that. It's fun to see people acting absurdly and it being considered standard behavior.

"Connie and Carla" (2004) - This movie is right up my alley. Two girls have to dress up as drag queens. And one of them is my beloved Nia Vardalos. Thank you very much! The other is Toni Collette, who leads in another film I'll discuss in this post. It's campy and funny and I love me some gays, so dammit, this was the best find in a grocery store movie bin in a long time! Oh, and I kind of love dressing up as a tranny/drag queen, myself! Not a secret, really. Just a weird obsession. haha


"To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar" (1995) - Had I known at age 10 that this movie would mean so much to me, I would have not been allowed to see anyway. Lol. I'm sure that I've covered this film numerous times, but it's now been a year since our beloved Patrick Swayze has passed on to that stage show in the sky. =( This film reminds us to stay true to ourselves and to always leave the world a little more fabulous than we found it.

"9 Dead Gay Guys" (2002) - Just blame it on the UK for this irreverent flick about two Irish lads trying to navigate the gay scene in London. It's very out there and unabashed, so beware! I found it to be kind of fun, if not just a good use of characterization. Not for the weak of mind.

"Bend It Like Beckham" (2002) - Another flick with gay influence, making four in a row. This altered my mind apparently as a straight female. SIDE STORY: After watching these four gay-friendly movies, I was telling a friend who I was going to soon visit in his Northwestern state, that the joke at work is that I am a man. He then tried to get back to the subject at hand and asked: "What do you wanna do when you come out?"  I replied, " Well, I'd like to have a stage show". He laughed. "I meant, when you come out to visit me". So, moral of the story is that my laugh has been made fabulous by so many gay flicks and I think I really would like a stage show! In another note, by checking out the imdb page for this flick, I've noticed that the lead, Parminder Nagra, is absolutely GORGEOUS and should get more work! I want to see more of her! (and less of Keira Knightley. BOO! Yes, I'm a hater)

"Muriel's Wedding" (1994) - As promised, another flick with Toni Collette. I liked what I saw of this flick, but it was a bit unnerving/disturbing since I'm basically the opposite of Muriel in as far as obsessions towards weddings. But she saw a wedding as a means to being someone important, which of course she has to unlearn. And Porpoise Spit seems like the ultimate drag! Poor girl! Although, staying with the rich swimmer might not have been so bad! ;)

"Get Low" (2009) - Bill Murray! My Man! So I mentioned previously that his role in Life Aquatic was very similar to that of this movie. Also starring: Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek and Lucas Black. This film was really really good. It was in the 1930s and Duvall played a hermit with a backstory who wanted to have a party instead of a funeral. And of couse, he wanted to be present, so I guess one could call it a FUN-eral, eh? This concept back then would have been absurd, and I'm sure it's not entirely commonplace even today, but I know my own father has mentioned he would rather have people celebrate his life than mourn his passing. I like this idea and would want a party too, so of course I would want to attend. Really, sounds like fun. I guess a birthday is a true celebration of an individual, but that's expected. Hmm, I think I have some thinking to do.

"The Kids are All Right" (2010) - I liked the concept of the lesbian moms and their two kids who wanted to find their sperm donor. The fact that the couple was demonstrated to have the same problems that hetero couples have is probably nice, but I would probably choose Mark Ruffalo. Yummy! ;) Although, love me some Julianne Moore. =D

"Away We Go" (2009) - This movie was not highly enjoyable. I get what they were were going for and I like all the actors (well most of them), but it was trying too hard and was a bit forced. I know that sounds like a generalized critique without much of a road map as to how to fix it, but that's just the impression I got. That and I'm always turned off by pregnancy movies. Ugh. Yeah, that's  my own issue for sure. Still, the beginning of the movie was confusing as to where it was going and what was happening and how I was supposed to feel for the characters. Eh.

So 23 movies in over two and a half months. I do have valid excuses this time.... a life! =D
So those are the movies I've seen since my last update and my general thoughts on all of them. Hope you have found something to watch! :)

14 movies in a month.... Eh

I can't be blamed. My sister got married in June, so there wasn't as much time for movie watching. But I did okay for a working slob :)

Kites (2010) - This was my Bollywood with a hint of Latin fusion. My go-to Indian couple said it sucked. I'll have to agree that it was pretty ridiculous. It featured Hrithik Roshan who has an extra thumb on his right hand. If you're going to suffer through the movie, watch for that ;0) I will say that the most redeeming part of the movie was a joke in Spanish that only I understood. The rest of the theatre was made up of Indians. For ONCE it was I who got the first laugh!

A Mighty Wind (2003) - This was a Christopher Guest movie that was a tongue-in-cheek look at the folk music world of the 60s and 70s. Of course, it was a typical Guest movie and very enjoyable :)

Kandukondain Kandukondain (original title)/ I Have Found It (2000) - bollywood version of Sense and Sensibility with Ash Rai. You know the story: two sisters and their dudes, one of them old enough to date the mother. This movie is actually in Telugu, which will make mera Kalyan-ji happy :)

A Walk to Beautiful (2007) - This movie is heartbreaking. Women in other countries are suffering pain and disgrace because of a medical problem post-childbirth that is caused by their bodies formations in their culture's conditions. I'm taking about fistula obstetrics. You can actually watch this movie on line and I recommend you do. Watch here.

Prince Among Slaves (2007) - A PBS doc (narrated by Mos Def) about Abdul-Rahman an African prince forced into slavery in the U.S. Has a really cool montage of his descendents at the end! You can watch it in pieces on youtube here.

My Best Friend's Wedding (1997) - Only appropriate to watch the day after my sister's wedding, right? Haha. And I watched it on VHS. Word. Actually, if you click the link, it takes you to the imdb page and you can watch the movie online!

Casi Casi (2006) - I think the words "adorable" and "clever" sum this movie up pretty well! If you can manage to watch a Spanish-language movie, my bet is that you'll love this gem!

Little Britain USA (2008) - Okay, this is a TV show, but I watched the first season on DVD within a coule days. If you are a fun of crude British humor, you will love this. Some of the stuff is actually directed by David Schwimmer. Highly recommendable for the crass people I know! ;)

The Three Stooges Meet Hercules (1962) - Watch this gem online by clicking the link. The Three Stooges are wonderful, as usual! And it's quite humorous to see the characters that play against them. Really, you can't go wrong with the Stooges!

Hawaii, Oslo (2004) - This movie is one of those examples of great storytelling showing the interwoven lives of its characters. Takes place in Sweden and is definitely a must-see!!!

Wesele (The Wedding) (2004) - Do you love messed-up weddings and/or seeing Polish people in action? Then you'll love this one. Watched it with my parents a week after my sister's wedding and I'm VERY glad hers didn't end up like this! It's kinda twisted but an interesting ride for sure. It's kinda like watching a car wreck but not having to file a police report ;)

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009) - I know this one wasn't incredibly popular, but I enjoyed watching it. I always love the jokes that are put in there for the adults, because let's face it: good kids' movies are aimed towards the adults. Fact. I would like to point out that Mr. T did a great voiceover!

Monsoon Wedding (2001) - I just feel inclined to say that one of my besties met Mira Nair! AND had her sign a movie for me! HEART YOU, XAVS!! Oh, and Mira Nair of course. This movie is about more than just another Indian wedding, but digs into the personalities present. Having been blessed to attend an Indian wedding, I'm glad "ours" went smoother than this one. Gee, that seems to be the theme for this month! Three wedding movies?! Not too shabby for someone who doesn't care much for weddings! Haha

Blue Velvet (1986) - I just watched this movie tonight and am trying to forget that I did. It's a very disturbing movie, not only for the images you see, but for how you react to them. I wouldn't have known to pick it off the shelf at the library had my aunt and uncle not mentioned it when we wanted to watch a movie to honor the late Dennis Hopper. Heavy. Worth a watch, but dang!


So, there you have it, folks. If you can't find something to watch here, you're too picky! ;) If you have seen them or if you do watch them, leave me a comment and tell me what you think. AND if you have any suggestions, send them my way! Peace!

a new low

Wow, I think I only watched 8 movies since last post. BOO! Very bad!

Dialogues of the Exiled - a 70's look at the Chilean exiles living in France. storyline is hard to follow, since there isn't much of one. Very 70's filmmaking style.

Percy Jackson & the Lightning Thief - I'm kind of a sucker for the movies that play with old myths. I enjoyed this flick.

The Wild Hunt - WIN! LOVED this film! Highly recommendable.

Summer Camp! - As a former camper AND camp counselor, I can completely relate to this flick. Enjoyable for sure.

Chris & Don - Pretty interesting look into a gay couple that was separated by 30 years!

How to Train Your Dragon - Wish I would have seen it in 3-D. I always like the movies that challenge us to re-think what we were taught. :)

Good Hair - Really liked this movie. Right amount of comedy and truth w/o making a stance. Left that up to the audience.

Precious - Finally got around to seeing it. Didn't cry, thankfully, but was very glad for my blessings of a healthy childhood :(

A Jihad for Love - Another movie that makes me count my blessings. Shows the difficulty of gays that have to reconile their sexuality with their Islamic religion. If you didn't know, in some countries, homosexuality is illegal and is "just cause" for murder. :(


Okay, so that's 9. Still. Not a lot of film watching, but I'm a busy gal! Peace!

Only 12 movies?! For shame!

Okay, I'll admit. 12 movies in just over a month's time is pretty pathetic for someone who used to watch 2 or 3 movies every day for school. I should be ashamed and kind of am, except maybe this indicates I was actually a productive member of society since I wasn't watching so many movies. But I'm not sure that's true!


It's Winter: Iranian film that shows the plight of the working class and what happens when one has to make hard choices. Interesting to see life in a world which is so often obscured from our understanding.

Have Rocket, Will Travel :
Three Stooges are always a good time! If you don't laugh, your face is too tight! ;) This one you can watch online, so don't worry about searching through your rental queue.

Hud: Paul Newman, may he rest in peace. Yet another flick where a good man plays a bad boy. Interesting look at the cattle world and the family dynamics for this particular ranch. Besides being a good character study, I learned a bit about cattle ranching ;) AND about how good Paul looks! Ha cha cha! (but I already knew that!)

Secret of the Mountain: If it looks like a made-for-TV movie... Definitely safe for the kids. The little girl was pretty cute! Fun adventure story. Not the best movie ever, but fun.

Confessions of a Superhero: Available to watch online! Yay! A very intersting look at the characters in Hollywood and what it means to them to stand around and take pictures for tips.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Secret of the Ooze: Okay, okay, I know. Not a very film scholar-esque movie to see. But it's a childhood favorite and since it was playing in a local theatre at a midnight show... I just had to indulge. All I can say is "Go, ninja, go, ninja, go!" ;)

Peacock: Very talented cast here, especially Cillian Murphy. For those Juno fans, check out Ellen Page in a more dramatic role. Also Susan Sarrandon and Bill Pullman. Dark film and look at cross-dressing.

Beauty Academy of Kabul: I saw this title on the movie rental shelf years ago but only just got around to watching it. Interesting look at Afghanistan for anyone, whether interested in beauty or the human plight.

Avatar: I'm a little disappointed I didn't see it in 3-D and that it took me this long to get around to it. The creatures were cool and of course, being a Mother Nature fan, the storyline was right up my alley. It wasn't the most amazing movie ever, but the visual effects were cool. I like the fantasy of it but the story is one of the basics.

Bull: This one you will not find on IMDB. Believe me. It's a short my aunt and some of her friends made in 1999. No, no the one listed on imdb. It's a sentimental flick for the fact that I have family in it. And was surprised to find this time, that a film friend that has passed, was also in it. Wish I would have watched it between meeting him and his passing. I'm sure that would have been an intersting convo. :(

Hercules: Although phsyically too skinny, I've always loved Meg's saucy-ness! Who put the glad in gladiator? Hercules! Sometimes you just have to watch a Disney flick and release your inner child :)

Pageant: Several gay men compete for the title of Miss Gay America. Had a lot of fun watching this one. I don't care what your opinion is of homosexuality. It takes a lot of talent to dress in drag and entertain a crowd. More power to them!


So, there you have it. My movies watched, mostly in April. Hopefully I'll be watching more soon and more regularly. Hope you found at least one or two to check out soon :) Peace!