"Chandni Chowk to China" (2009); "The Truth About Cats & Dogs" (1996); "But I'm a Cheerleader" (1999); "The Ides of March" (2011); "Maybe Baby" (2000); "Strictly Ballroom" (1992); "Puss in Boots" (2011); "Rebel Without a Cause" (1955)

Chandni Chowk to China (2009) - I'm almost sure I was in India when this film came out because I either saw ads for it or something but it seems quite familiar. If you have never seen Bollywood, this is either a terrible movie with which to start or a fantastic movie to break you into Bollywood. I'm going to lean towards, 'don't start with this movie,' but that's only because I don't want you to give up on Bollywood immediately. The movie has the common trends in Bollywood movie: escapism, mountain-high suspension of disbelief and dramatic situations like none other. Oh yeah and song and dance routines. There aren't as many as usual in this movie because it is an action flick. In which an Indian man is told he is a reincarnation of a Chinese hero and has to learn kung fu. So it's a bit Karate Kid in that sense... if you pretend Kung Fu and Karate are interchangeable... which is as unlikely as many of the moves shown in this movie (that I totally want to learn). Don't get me wrong, besides Akshay Kumar's terrible hair and the ridiculousness of the movie in general, it was an okay trainwreck to watch once. Oh, and I'm changing my name to Meow Meow. 

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The Truth About Cats & Dogs (1996) - It had been a while since I watched this movie and it was fun to revisit it. Ben Chaplin is a cutie in a slightly odd looking way. I really enjoyed watching the relationship between the two women because it really touched on the physical expectations of females from others and for themselves. Although the wardrobe is dated (that's good for a laugh), we still get the idea of how differently people are treated because of their looks. Like the Bollywood film I just mentioned, this film is escapist and has a semi-high call for suspension of disbelief. This movie is very much a romantic comedy. Some well-known faces are to be seen in this 15 year old movie!

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But I'm a Cheerleader (1999) - I love this movie and was super-excited to catch in on TV on a day off from work! ;) This movie pushed the limits in my mind when I was younger, and I suspect it may have pushed the limits when it was released in general. It's still relevant today especially when you think off the conservatives running for public office who think they can change someone's sexuality. I'm sure you can assume that I'm not of that mindset and want people to find happiness, even if it isn't along traditional gender lines. I love seeing Cathy Moriarty and RuPaul in this flick and Dante Basco who was RUFIOOOOOOOO in Hook (1991), another one of my favorite flicks. Anywho... 'Cheerleader' is very much a satire and a well-done one at that. It shows how ridiculous it is that society focuses so much on gender roles and trying to create an idealistic and unrealistic view of 'reality'. This film is campy, kitschy, fun and very much worth the watch!

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The Ides of March (2011) - I didn't choose to see this movie because I HATE politics and this movie did a good job reaffirming my feelings. If I were to say that politicians are self-serving, self-important, immoral and scuzzy, this movie might basically agree with me. So I guess that means the movie showed me what I expected to see. Cinematic-ally speaking, the film was crisp but there were several close-ups meant for dramatic purpose that just made me laugh at the ridiculousness of the character's dialogue. I don't know if that's because the close-ups highlighted how serious they were trying to be but it just took me out of the film. Yes, the leading men were yummy (George Clooney and Ryan Gosling) but I was frustrated by the lack of a strong female character. I don't know if that is supposed to be a sting on the reality of lack of strong women in politics in real life or not but I didn't care for that bit of anti-feminism, nor this movie in general. My movie-watching companions liked it but for me, non!

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Maybe Baby (2000) - Since I am very Independent of Dependents (read: I do not want children for myself and would rather those who do want children adopt more often than they do) this film was VERY much an exercise and tolerance for me. I wanted to see what pushes people to try different fertility methods and why. I personally lack the urge to procreate and am quite happy for it but it was interesting to see what exactly people are willing to go through. My big frustration with these kind of treatments is that if they go on for years, the idea of having children is just an idea and isn't a reality. I can't fathom why people don't turn to adoption sooner. It seems a waste of money... instead of spending money on the treatments, use that money to help children that already exist. If you want to know more, follow the link above to read these musings and more on my co-authored blog. BUT as far as the MOVIE goes... I guess it was comical. Since I have a history in film-making, I always enjoy watching movies and shows in which they are filming something. I found it unlikely that they would start shooting a script that wasn't finished but that was probably just a plot device. As an American with acting tendencies, I really liked the time exposed to the various accents of the characters... Can anyone tell me what Tom Hollander's accent was? It was quite strong! So the film showed what these characters were going through in an attempt to be parents and it showed the strain this goal put upon them. To me, it was completely ridiculous that they never mentioned adoption, especially when the woman talked about a charity for orphans! I don't know if that was a deliberate message, maybe to try to show that 'there's more to it than just adopting as the easy answer'. I mean I guess I can't completely fault them for trying but to me the answer is so simple. I thought the idea of it was better than the execution. I wonder how it would have been interesting without the huge help to the storyline (the filmmaking bit) but at least I can say I watched it and had a chance to sit with accents. I suppose most other people who aren't as hung up on infertility/adoption issues as I am might actually enjoy the movie. I'd love to hear from those of you who have seen it and what you thought. P.S. I loved seeing Rowan Atkinson and Joanna Lumley  (from Absolutely Fabulous (1992)) in this movie. Emma Thompson as well.

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Strictly Ballroom (1992) - This movie is camp from start to finish. And of course it made me feel like dancing. Both things are always a good sign in my book! Reading up on director Baz Luhrmann helps the movie make a lot more sense, as far as content and style goes. He's Austrailian, born to ballroom dancing parents and did some dancing himself growing up. So I'm sure this film was very much his baby. His IMDB bio page says:

"His first three films, Strictly Ballroom (1992), Romeo + Juliet (1996) and Moulin Rouge! (2001), were dubbed the "Red Curtain Trilogy", as they all fell under a particular style of filmmaking."

He is quoted:

The Red Curtain requires some basics. One is that the audience knows how it will end when it begins, it is fundamental that the story is extremely thin and extremely simple - that is a lot of labor. Then it is set in a heightened, created world. Then there is a device - the heightened world of Strictly Ballroom (1992), Verona Beach. Then there is another device - dance or iambic pentameter or singing, and that's there to keep the audience awake and engaged. The other thing is that this piece was to be a comic tragedy. This is an unusual form, there's been a few goes at it - [like] Dancer in the Dark (2000) - but it's not common in Western cinematic form.

 So, what you want to know is what is the movie like? Gaudy for one, as ballroom dancing can sometimes be. But of course, he was doing this from an angle of familiarity, so it's more of an homage than anything else. I find it funny that 'gypsies' are often portrayed as experts on matter of soul, dance and music. I suppose that stereotype helps add some flair to the film. It contrasts the immigrant working class with the upper crust who can focus on making dance a career. I love the part when the Spanish dad is hanging out at a BBQ/asado, just chilling in his flamenco dancing gear, ready for a challenge. Oh, and here's a hint... if someone tells you some deep dark secret about someone else, save yourself some time and energy and go verify that story, mkay? ;) The movie was fun and I would watch it again... but in a group.... and then follow it up with some dancing and sangria! :)

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 Puss In Boots (2011) - This movie was okay. Had a good amount of jokes in it but overall was basically what you would expect. SPOILER ALERT: There was a bit of predictability with the cats... a six year old girl in the audience even called it "It's a girl!" Okay, that's really not spoiling anything for you. I mean you have two options when you see the new cat, it's either a romance (girl cat) or a buddy movie (boy cat)... and Puss already had a brother. Well, we don't know that at that point either but hey, it's a kids movie and they push both. If you think this is a spoiler, well wait til I tell you about... hey, actually I do have something else to spoil... the Golden Goose isn't even a goose... it's a baby chicken. Plot weakness. Oh and at the end, was that a 'go' for suicide? Yeesh! That part didn't sit well with me. The sacrifice crap. Ugh. But I like the Spanish flavor and it is voiced by very yummy Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek with a surprise from Zach Galifianakis, Billy Bob Thornton, Amy Sedaris and Guillermo del Toro. That's the fun part about animations.... finding out who the voices are.

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Rebel Without a Cause (1955) - For having been a film studies major, I'm kind of surprised it took me so long to see this movie. It's supposed to be very iconic and it's interesting. I had to laugh when the title came up because it was displayed in such a way that it made it look like a horror movie. I suppose in some ways it is, when you think about all that happens in the film in the course of less than two days. I found the themes of parental duty and wreckless teens very interesting and it was probably very new at that point. James Dean plays the character in such an interesting way. Some of the vocalizations uttered are a bit strange. There were several iconic shots that made me light up with nostalgia for a film that holds such a high place in our society. I'm sure many males can relate to his character: a guy trying to prove he's a tough man but just really looking for friends. If only to be able to say, you've seen it, you better watch this film! 

Okay, that about wraps it up for me. I hope you liked the trailers I decided to add. The last one is a hoot and made me laugh! "Powerful, So Powerful... Sensitive, So Sensitive!"

"Amreeka (2009); "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes!" (1978); "Airplane!" (1980); "Jumanji" (1995); "Ernest Scared Stupid" (1991)

Amreeka (2009) - I thought this film was going to be more of a comedy than it was but it turned out to be a nice dramatic piece about 'the other side' of 9/11. And by that I mean anyone targeted by their looks and assumed to be part of a terrorist organization because of it. The movie wasn't super-preachy but showed a better developed look at what many people had to undergo because of hate and ignorance and fear rampant after 9/11. I highly recommend this film if you want to get in touch with the lives of others and understand the personal impact actions have on others. It was well-done and touching. I was surprised to see Alia Shawkat in this film after reading her bio, I see she is of Iraqi ancestry on her father's side. First of all, I didn't actually know her name, I just knew that I knew this actress. Second of all, it was surprising to me that she was in a movie playing a Middle Eastern person but it makes sense now. I can only assume it was fun for her to work on this film and I think it would be wonderful if there were more scripts like this with more diverse characters than just white bread.

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes! (1978) - This is a great bad movie. No, that's not a typo. This is one of those movies that's so bad it's good. It's a riot, with many references to historical events, which means, it's not exactly a low-brow comedy. If you are well-studied, you should get many of the references. It's one of those movies for smart people that don't take themselves so seriously. And not just smart politically/historically but also cinematically with references to other films. I would honestly love to see this film remade with some big name stars to make the movie really something. Something like the next movie I watched....

Airplane! (1980) - Notice how both these great movies have exclamation points as part of the titles? This film is also the humorous high-brow type but you don't have to be a genius to know funny when you see it. This is one of those iconic movies that highlights the best of satire and makes it shine. It has tons of iconic actors in it, including Julie Hagerty one of my favorites thanks to her What About Bob? tie. :) Of course Leslie Nielsen is the most noted character in the movie but I also enjoyed seeing David Leisure as a Krishna, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as a pilot pretending to not be the basketball star, oh and whadya know!...Barbara Billingsley as the Jive Lady. This movie is a study in comedy to be sure. If you have any appreciation for fine art in your bones, you've probably already seen this. If you haven't, get to watching it now!

Jumanji (1995) - I showed my nephews this movie and it holds up, not that I didn't think it would. But sometimes it's hard to interest today's generation into something from 16 years ago. Wow. I was 10 when this came out! Robin Williams is one of my favorite actors and it was funny to see Kirsten Dunst with such a young face. Oooo! Here's why I'm glad I look these films up... I get to learn tidbits that I may not have noticed while watching the film... namely that Jonathan Hyde played the father AND the hunter. Such a great dramatic casting/writing move! Adds quite a bit of symbolism to the film that I didn't otherwise notice! And that is the beauty of film/art/creativity. The only note to anyone watching this film in 2011... remember, it was made in 1995 and technology has come quite a long way since then. But that doesn't prevent the adventure!

Ernest Scared Stupid (1991) - My nephews requested to see this movie and 2 out of the 3 of them liked it. If you've ever seen any of the 'Ernest' movies, you know that these movies are completely for kids. This particular film exemplified that when we saw that the grown-ups didn't listen to the kids, then got in trouble and needed the kids to bail them out. My youngest nephew (age 6) was really frightened by the troll and thought the movie deserved a rating of PG-13. ;) The troll was pretty gross, I'll give him that. After watching Ernest Goes to Camp I looked up one of Jim Varney's music recordings and came to the conclusion that his was a beautiful soul. If you think about, here was a man who dedicated much of his life to 'acting a child' to provide safe movies for kids. He plays the bumbling Ernest P. Worrell in nearly 20 films in the 80's and 90's. Only someone who really loves it could go that long with such a character. He's well-loved and sorely missed. I know this isn't the review of the movie but of this particular character but what the movie lacks for solid watchability, it makes up for with heart. If you want to take some time off from being a serious cinematic adult, watch this or another Ernest flick and just laugh along. Also, this film features an Eartha Kitt character. If you want to learn anything today, read her amazing biography on IMDB.

Five movies in one week. Not too shabby. I would recommend all of them of course but only if you don't hold yourself in too high esteem. Loosen up and have fun!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Movies by which to Drink Sangria!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2 weeks later...

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

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

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

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

St. Trinian's (2007) - While just looking this up on IMDB, I saw there is a sequel!!! Hooray!! This movie was a lot of campy kitsch and I had a blast! The characters were so wild and out there. AND Rupert Everett played a pair of siblings... a brother and sister! I love him and I love drag, so I was sold when I read the DVD cover at the library. Yes, finding this at the public library threw me for a loop! This movie was tons of fun and I even wasn't so put off by Russell Brand as I usually am! ;) This really was an ensemble cast, apparently based off of a cartoon series. I love the movies that are bizarre-o comedies and this one is a new cult fave of mine! :) Highly recommendable for anyone who likes the goofy, larger-than-reality films!

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

Well, Hi There!

Let's get started, shall we?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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