Day 14: Romancing the Stone

I wasn't particularly in movie mode tonight. After procrastinating for many hours, it took much coaxing, but I finally sat down to watch the movie. My time, stretched thin, is not cooperating with this blog. Try not to be alarmed, or too disappointed, but the blogs are going to be short, sweet, and too the point for awhile. Here we go!

My first impression of the movie was this:
A single writer seems to live in a fantasy world made up of the plots of romance novels. Of course a cat properly named Romeo is included in her small apartment nestled in a downtown city setting. It seems this movie is going to be about a crazy cat lady who becomes a heroine while fulfilling a story line from one of her novels.

But then.....

Some serious action materializes on the screen after only 10 minutes of viewing the film! All of the sudden, there are shady knife wielding characters, mysterious murders, and foreign kidnapping schemes. It doesn't stop there! The movie continues with unbelievable car chases, guns that miss everything in sight, more hostage situations, and a scene in which a car goes over a waterfall. A man even has his arm chewed off by a crocodile! Holy guacamole!

Due to all of the insane action, I have to say, it wasn't bad. It was better than I thought it would be (remember--I do NOT like romances at all.) I enjoyed watching younger versions of Kathleen Turner, Michael Douglas, and Danny Devito and all of their crazy shenanigans. And darn that ending! You'll know what I mean when you watch it.

Final verdict:

Watch this movie if you enjoy romances. Why not watch the sequel while you're at it: The Jewel of the Nile (1985)

Other similar movies for your viewing pleasure:

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

Next Movie: The Third Man (1949)

Day 13: Ghost Town

Lucky number 13 starts off with a bang with the movie Ghost Town.
I must say that I am a big fan of British humor. I absolutely adore it. Why? It's not the slapstick comedy or raw humor that most are accustomed to enjoying. British comedies employ dry humor to get those Brits laughing. (as well as poor college students from America that only watch PBS because they can't afford cable so they end up watching "The Lawrence Welk Show" and "Kipper" all day long and in-between classes…..ok, so it was only one summer but that's not the point…) Anyway, dry humor, for those of you that are not aware of it, is funny because it has a subtle nature and relies on the actor to deliver in a deadpan manner, as well as an audience to analyze what is being said. For anyone who has grown up watching "Are You Being Served" or "Keeping Up Appearances", also PBS favorites, you would definitely appreciate Ricky Gervais, or the "Michael" of the British, and original version, of "The Office".

Now to the movie!

Ricky is his charming self in this movie, speaking candidly, and being generously descriptive in his monologish one-liners. He plays a man that goes in for a routine surgery, performed by Kristen Wiig, has a near death experience, and suddenly, he can talk to dead people. Seeing dead people has never been funnier! Kristen Wiig is hilarious, as usual, in her own quirky sort of way. As the plot thickens, Ricky, or Dr. Pincus D.D.S., has the daunting task of wooing a dead man's wife, played by Tea Leoni, away from a shady lawyer character. The dead man, played by Greg Kinnear, has a guilty conscience and nothing left to lose, being that he is deceased, so he "haunts" Dr. Pincus until he surrenders.

Hilarity ensues as Dr. Pincus has to continue his normal life, while being followed around by hundreds of departed souls. Using his charismatic charm, he continues on a destructive path, ostracizing himself even more so than during his life before death. He falls into the typical predicament of "I'm supposed to be doing this to get the lawyer away from this woman, but I am really falling for her so what the heck do I do now?"

Will Dr. Pincus woo this woman, or will he be left alone for the remainder of his years on earth? To find out, dig up some friends and watch Ghost Town. (sorry…had to throw out a pun.)

A few quotes from the movie to enjoy:
Quote #1:
"It was like a terrorist attack down there!" Ricky Gervais on taking the laxatives prior to surgery.

Quote #2:

"I died?" Ricky Gervais
"A little bit..." Kristen Wiig


One last worthy mention:
This movie has an excellent soundtrack with songs by Wilco, Citizen Cope, John Mayer, John Lennon, and Sir Paul McCartney. Look it up! It's worth it.
Next Movie: To Be Announced (I'm still taking suggestions...what do you want me to review?)

Day 12: Forgetting Sarah Marshall

In order to forget Sarah Marshall, you need to be introduced. Once you have met this movie, you won't want to forget it. This movie is for anyone in a slump. It will make anyone forget about his or her own life, or at least feel better about it.

It all begins with a man, Jason Segel, who has been blindsided by his girlfriend. The girlfriend happens to be a popular actress on a crime show, so after the break-up, it's a little difficult for him to get away. He decides to go to Hawaii, where of course she is vacationing as well with her new boyfriend played by Russel Brand (2008 MTV Music Awards). He just so happens to be the complete opposite and is ever-so-slightly off-putting.



I won't reveal the ending, but the whole movie is chocked full of those awkward, uncomfortable, and embarrassing moments that are unbelievable, but always happen in real life.



I feel like there has been a movie made to get people through every kind of hardship imaginable. This one is definitely for people who have broken up with someone and cannot seem to get their life back on track. This is my #1 pick for getting over a break-up. I enjoyed this movie for the simple fact that it is real.



Watch this movie, weep with Jason Segel, and help him put his life back together. Enjoy!



Next Movie: Romancing the Stone

Day 11: Julie & Julia

Does your life seem like things are stagnant? Is everything going according to plan, but you feel like things are spiraling out of control? Does it seem like your life is an out-body-experience (as in you are not a participant of your own life)? Sometimes, we need to step outside of ourselves to discover what is inside of ourselves. Risk leads to discovery. Enlightenment can only be obtained through the opportunities that spark our ingenuity.

Now I am not a Zen Master by any means, nor do I claim to be. I don't want to brag. I do have a philosophy minor. I know. Impressive. So I, therefore, feel qualified to make general assumptions on the meaning of life based on the movie Julie & Julia.

But back to the important part, the movie. If you haven't seen the movie trailers in the last few months, you will know that this movie is about a girl who blogs about cooking through Julia Child's cookbook. It is about her rediscovery through Julia's discovery. Her life comes together through the pivotal realization that food is the catalyst for the writer that has been waiting to be liberated. While she learns about herself through blogging and cooking, a parallel universe is going on in which Julia Child is discovering her own talents and ambitions in life. Many things are discovered about Julia Child that can give others hope that you don't have to have instant success in life in order to be successful.

**Fun facts to learn from this movie: Julia Child was not a cook her entire life. It took her several years to be taken seriously as a cook and to get her cook book published. She was married late to a man that she was passionately in love with. (Who knew?)

While this movie was somewhat inspiration for my blog, I found myself identifying excessively with the main character. I know what it's like to want to do something more with my life, something including my passions, which just so happen to be watching movies and apparently writing about them. Many people would consider this to be a "Chick Flick"....While I would agree that it probably is, I think anyone would enjoy it.

So grab a fancy cheese platter, invite some friends over, and enjoy Julie & Julia.

Bon Appetit!


Next Movie: Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Day 10: McLibel

Documentaries, by definition, are used to document all of the hardships and triumphs of a particular event. McLibel was no different. This one had me thinking. Can one person really make a difference? How about two? Does a court case ruling make a loser or a winner? Or is completing something extraordinary what sets people apart, makes them unique members of society that generate hope.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. It all began when two people decided they didn't like McDonalds. They despised Big Macs and Ronald McDonald. They were revolted by the big birthday parties and the McPlay Place. They decided they were going to take a stand and pass out pamphlets, letting the UK know how bad McDonalds really was. Too bad there's something called English Libel Law.

The English Libel Law states that when things are said unjustly against a corporation, the people saying these things, aka slanderers, need to publicly apologize. Hence, the issue. Is it slander when the things being said are true?

It took a court 15 years, and McDonalds sacrificing over 10 million dollars for the issue to be resolved. In the end, both parties were right, and both parties were wrong. Again, it isn't the verdict that matters. All that matters is the awareness about issues in our society. I didn't know. You didn't know. Now we know.

If you watch this movie, and you enjoy it, I have a few more documentaries that I have watched in the past that are similar. You don't have to be a Michael Moore fan, but I did watch Sicko. Whether or not the facts are all correct, it was enlightening to say the least. A documentary about Walmart called WAL-MART: The High Cost of Low Price is also pretty decent. It goes way in depth about Wal-Mart. If you are more of a reader, read Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America-- A book that exploits the workforce in general in order to inform the public on the evils of earning minimum wage.

Next Movie: Julie & Julia

Day 9: The Picture of Dorian Gray

For anyone who has taken high school English, you have probably heard of Dorian Gray. No? How about Oscar Wilde? With no formal introduction prior to this movie made from a book, one may be a little lost. I only remembered bits and pieces from a book report back in high school, so I chose to do a little research.

Oscar Wilde, the author, was quite a colorful little fella. Writing many plays including The Importance of Being Earnest, he had some success as a writer. However, his reputation is what most people commit to memory, not his works. Being arrested for gross indecency put a bit of a strain of his marriage, and he died a few years after being released from prison of cerebral meningitis.

Oscar's character, Dorian Gray, is one that many would be unwilling to relate to. The movie begins and we find that Dorian is the object of almost everyone's affection. And why not? He is handsome, confident, and has an air of innocence about him. After a self-portrait is created for him, he changes. He realizes that he will grow old and unwanted, but the painting will stay the same. Instantly he is a changed man. He becomes vain, caring not for the people around him. He moves in a world that is his own, destroying beauty, while he himself stays beautiful. While he grows older in age, his portrait ages. Dorian stays young and fresh from outward appearances, while his portrait, covered by an old cloth, becomes more repulsive, a sponge soaking in all of his sins.

I think the premise of the movie, not the movie itself, is what makes it so great. Every time we do something wrong, we get a little uglier, but nobody knows about it from appearances. To bare ones soul is a brave thing indeed! To have to show the world how truly ugly or beautiful we are would help us, hopefully, become better people because we would have a visual moral indicator guiding us.

I want to end with a quote from the movie. "To become the spectator of one's own life is to escape the suffering of life." How true this can be when we are faced with difficult decisions and choose to opt out of our own lives. We choose to medicate instead of feeling the pain. We step outside of our lives, not to get a better perspective, but to take a vacation from ourselves. We fill our time with busywork so we won't have to think about ugly things we have done or said. In the end, just as in the end of the movie, penance will have to be paid. We will be judged. It makes one wonder, what would your portrait look like out from under the cover?

Next movie: McLibel

Day 8: Drillbit Taylor

Ha! If you have ever been bullied, or have been a bully, you will appreciate this movie! Drillbit Taylor is a bum who is hired to protect the shall we say "less fortunate" kids at the school. In the process, he develops a bond with the kids that he is actually bamboozling. Facing some difficult choices, Dr. Illbit has some serious decisions to make throughout the movie. Does Drillbit Alamo Bob Taylor end up saving the day, or does he fly to Canada to acquire free land from the government? You will have to watch and find out.

It wasn't a very deep movie, so I don't really have any emotionally moving words to pair with this blog entry, but it did remind me of the struggles we all face in school, and how awesome it would be to hire someone to take care of it! Especially if that someone was Owen Wilson.

I recommend this movie, as well as many other of the Judd Apatow movies. If you need a reminder as to who he is, here is a list of some of his more recent works (I also highly recommend these):

Pineapple Express
Step Brothers
Knocked Up
Superbad
The 40 Year Old Virgin
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

All of these movies are equally hilarious. I have seen them all, and they all of the same group of actors/ actresses. So rent a few of these, and have a great laugh night. Or, go out to the theater and see Funny People. That is one of Judd's most recent movies, which I have not seen but am planning on it. Look for that movie coming soon on my blog!

Next Movie: The Picture of Dorian Gray

Day 7: The Order of Myths

Ever wonder about the history of Mardi Gras? Mobile, Alabama. 1703. This was the setting of the first official Mardi Gras in the United States. Since then, it has been tradition to carry on with the festivities of Mardi Gras in true southern style. When things are steeped in tradition these days, there always seems to be an issue. This issue? Segregation. Both sides express their views on the importance of the festivities and their meaning. Both sides express their unwillingness, scratch that, the unwanted desires for things to change. Can we decide what is right for the future of Mardi Gras?

One doesn't need to know about the history of the south and its turmoil to get a sense that something isn't quite right during Mardi Gras season. Two Kings, one black-one white. Two Queens, one black-one white. In the name of tradition, that, as we are assured so many times during this documentary, is just the way it is.

During black, white, or any other race's Mardi Gras, institutions are being upheld, festivities are being had, and fun is everywhere. It seems that both groups, the MCA (Mobile Carnival Association) and the MAMGA (Mobile Area Mardi Gras) are content with continuing on the institution as is, but from the mannerisms and awkwardness of the participants in the documentary, it is evident that some are ready for a change. The tone sets the stage, and we are all bystanders in the uncomfortable scenes, shifting and morphing their way into a sort of reconciliation in the end.

While it there is no cookie cutter solution to the ending of segregation for all, it does give us hope that we can carry out our traditions as we please and be respected to do just that.

Next Movie: Drillbit Taylor

Day 6: Lakeview Terrace

So Dolly was out for today. My Netflix online sometimes fails me, and today was one of those days. Therefore, good old Dolly will be on hold until I can watch it without the server crashing every five minutes. With that said, I furiously flipped through On-Demand and found a movie that I had seen the previews for, but had forgotten about. It's called Lakeview Terrace.



This movie infuriated me. It was one of those movies where you are literally dumbstruck at the events taking place before your eyes. I was so frustrated by one of the main characters, Samuel L. Jackson, that I almost had to stop the movie. He did a really great job of being a complete jerk.



Without giving too much away, Sam plays a cop that definitely abuses his power. The entire movie was a constant power struggle, and brought up serious issues of race and privacy. After watching this movie, I wanted to curtain and lock every orifice of my apartment.



I would recommend this movie, if you like the type of movie that makes you so mad that you scream at the tv, and grip the pillows with so much fury that your knuckles turn white. Forget the category; this one has a label all its own.



Next Movie: The Order of Myths

Day 5: The Iron Giant

Say what? Vin Diesel, in a cartoon. That's exactly what I thought when Adam, my husband, showed me this animated film from the 90's. This 1999 animated feature film, also starring Jennifer Aniston and Harry Conick Junior was created by the same people that brought us The Incredibles (another animated feature that I absolutely loved!) Set in the 1950s during the Red Scare, it's a wonderful story about a boy who befriends a robot. However, in true climactic form, the government catches wind of this giant weapon of destruction, and sets out to destroy it.

This movie really was touching, heartwarming, and any other synonymous adjective. At first, I was a little weary. I thought it would be like Flipper or Lassie, but it was actually really funny. The animation is somewhat similar to The Incredibles, as was the humor. I laughed, almost cried, and was definitely emotionally invested in this film. I absolutely recommend this film, especially for all you teachers out there. If anyone is doing a unit on anything during the 1950s, this would be the perfect movie to show. There are references to all things '50s, including the Daddy-O beatnik lingo, that made me feel like I was walking down memory lane...and I was born in the 80's!

If you're skeptical, like I was, be cool Daddy-O and take a step into coolville and watch the movie. Snap. Snap. (Beatnik reference if you were confused by the snaps.) Oh, and by the way, Vin Diesel plays the Iron Giant and only has a few lines, just in case you were wondering.

Next Movie: Hello Dolly

Day 4: The Hangover

Picture this. You wake up in a pool of blood and one of your front teeth is missing. There is a tiger in the bathroom and a baby in the closet. As if that weren't enough, the groom is missing. Although this sounds similar to Christmas at my grandma's, it is indeed the pivotal moment in The Hangover. The moment in which they realize the bachelor party has gone too far, and at this point, there is no turning back.

I just need to say that this movie was wrong, oh so wrong, but it was also hilarious. Ridiculously hilarious. There were parts that made me not only blush, but think how in the world can people actually do these things. But in typical Hollywood fashion, these things somehow had a way of working out. The mix of zany characters, as well as insane situations, helped put this on one of my number one ridiculous movies. It's definitely up there with Super Bad, Knocked Up, and dare I say Old School.

I give this one an inconceivable, for the fact that it was inconceivable for how they pulled off some of the stunts that they did. I would recommend watching this, but make sure there is no one under 20 years old in the room. That's all I will divulge of this movie. That is it, there is no more.

Next movie: The Iron Giant

Day 3: Ralph Nader: An Unreasonable Man

Money. Scandal. Greed. Coercion. Corruption. The democracy of the human people. Whatever the issue, call in Ralph Nader and his Raiders. Can Ralph fix it? Yes he can!

Wow! What a movie. I have to say that this movie is well done, and it really does open my limited political coffer, if only a smidgen. I give this one a rating of inconceivable, my first to give out, just for the fact that it did enlighten me.

In the movie, we find out all of the wonderful things Ralph has done for us (OSHA and seat belts to name a few). But then I remember something that happened back in 2000. Oh yeah! The election. That ole' chestnut was the downfall if not the ruining of Mr. Nader. For all of the good, the American public could not forgive him for 'ruining' Gore's chances at the top. Many of his supporters left, and by the 2004 election, he was alone.
But like life, if you choose to fight a battle, you better be prepared to fight like hell to win it. Ralph's still plucking along, fighting for the cause. You don't have to like Ralph Nader, but you do need to give the man credit for giving up the ultimate sacrifice of friends, family, and a life, to stand up for what he thinks is right. That, in and of it self, is truly commendable.

So, if you are like me, and get confused trying to watch C-Span, trying to jumble through all of the events that have occurred throughout the day in various parts of the world, watch this documentary. It will catch you up on a all things Ralph Nader. Watch it, become enlightened, or disagree with it. Whatever you do, take from it that everyone makes choices and sacrifices every day. Each of the small steps may not seem important, but they will lead us down an eventual path, the path to our destiny. Thinking of it that way, you might want to be careful where you step.

Tomorrow's movie: The Hangover

Today's Film: Penelope

It's a pig. It's a girl. NO, it's Penelope!

Not being a " girly" movie fan by any means, I looked at Penelope as an ultimate challenge. Give me a German silent movie about vampires, no problem! But this is a movie about a girl, who is a wealthy heiress, and she can't find love because she has the typical nose-shaped-like-a-pig syndrome. Crap. This was going to be a rough hour and a half.

My foreshadowing skills, as well as my keen perception skills tell me that this movie will be one of those happily-ever after movies, where by the end of it, I will actually wish my only problem was that I had a pig nose that could be transformed by a kiss from Prince Charming. My fears do not stop there. I'm getting this strange vibe that I will have to relive those feelings from junior high. You know, the ones where there is that one part of your body, or maybe your whole body, that you just can't stand, and it keeps you from being the person that you actually are or could be. Somehow I feel like this may be a recurring theme throughout the movie.

After quite a lot of time wasted thinking about the film before actually watching it, I dove head first into this movie. The verdict: Not bad. In fact, I really did enjoy it. It could have been the fact that Catherine O'Hara was the mom (Waiting for Guffman anyone?) Or it could have been the funny one-eyed man with dwarfism. Whatever it was, Penelope captivated me, (I believe that is an official movie reviewers statement...it's almost mandatory to say something like that.) It's gritty and raw like the original Snow White. Ok. It's not so gory, like the Brother's Grimm fairy tale, where they talk of the queen consuming Snow White's lungs and livers, but it's not a Disney movie, either. So to sum up, it's real life.

With every fairy tale comes a standard lesson or lessons. In this fairy tale/ romantic comedy/ morally reflective movie, pick your category, a few life lessons to sum it up could be: "you shouldn't judge anyone by their outward appearance," or "true love conquers all", or possibly even "money isn't everything." But I think the best lesson is this: If you don't love yourself, no one will love you. Simple, profound, and the purest truth. It took Penelope twenty-five years to find this out; when will the rest of us?

Final Rating: Somewhere in between tolerable and inconceivable--I think I just formed a new category: Emerging.

Two movies down; 363 to go. The marathon continues!

Tomorrow's movie: Ralph Nader: An Unreasonable Man





Disclaimer: I do not claim to be a professional writer. Be kind when reading and think only positive thoughts. Have a nice day.

Tonight's Film: "Nosferatu"

Ok. Gear up. Tonight, I started off this mission with a bang. I decided to go for something classic and iconic (oh, and did I mention foreign) for my first film.


Eerie music. Check. Gaunt faces and plenty of eye makeup. Check. A movie that saves the good stuff for the very end. Check. A silent movie isn't worth watching unless it's full of symbolism, generalizations, and simplicity. Nosferatu was indeed chocked full of all of these things.


The classic film "Nosferatu: eine Symphonie des Grauens"aka "The Terror of Dracula" was filmed in the silent film era in 1922. Being that I am the curious type, I decided to do a little research on this film. While researching, I tried to find other Dracula films that had been created before "Nosferatu". The shocker: I couldn't find any! This really is one of the first vampyric movies to hit the silver screen. The irony is that the ever-so-slightly cartoonish image of "Dracula" we know and cherish is completely morphed into something truly terrifying and frightening.

All right. So the actors do not speak. The music is a little cheesy, and everything is a little overly dramatic. The simplicity of the film made me tired, but it also gave me a sense of peace. It almost brings you back to the days when we didn't need four vacuum cleaners for our house (one for each room, of course), and we could get by for an hour without a Big Gulp from the Seven Eleven.

The plot was the typical. It followed the standard Dracula format, or rather every Dracula film was derived from this very movie. In fact, there is a scene in which "Count" Orlock (aka Nosferatu) actually tries to attack the main character. The main character naturally has a freak out moment, but in typical movie fashion, the main character brushes it off and everything is oky-doky. The main character, or Hutter as he is called, reminded me very much of Keanu Reeves' character in Bram Stoker's "Dracula". The sequencing is almost identical, even up to the part where the "Count" notices the Hutter's wife. While the plot was pretty standard, the theme is what I pondered about throughout the duration of the film.

I think there is honestly a true theme that is captured within this movie, but may be lost in similar "fancier" movies with special effects . Within all of the horrible things going on in life, it seems like we always need a scapegoat. Someone to blame the world's problems on. It seems that the cause of the problems cannot be human, even though it is only human to err. The plague, which is not only referenced in this movie but also and probably the basis of this movie considering the time and setting, was of course not caused by an act of God. It was, however, an act of Nosferatu. It's funny to think that whether it's film or literature, we always like to find a cause, or a reason for the things that go on in our life. Our curious nature seems to make way for discovery and the gap for faith grows smaller and smaller until faith is almost nonexistent.

Alright. Enough deep reflection. I feel like I just wrote a Jack Handy quote. I give this movie a tolerable rating. I say if you really want to watch it, wait until Halloween, or late at night for full effect.


Watch it and let me know what you think!


Tomorrow's film: Penelope



(I'm going way out of my comfort zone with this one folks!)

Mission:

We are all on a mission. Every day, we have something to do, and we get it done. Or we don't get it done. Or we think about getting it done. Or we don't do it, nor do we think about getting it done, (wouldn't that be the life!). With that being said, I have decided to take on a simple, somewhat daunting, but ever so exciting mission. It's a mission, that for me, makes sense.

I'm somewhat educated, (aren't we all), and I've decided to put some of that tutition money to use and write about something dear to me, MOVIES! I absolutely love watching movies. Any movie, really, will do. As a Netflix subscriber, it's not a good day until you reach into that mailbox and see that beautiful red envelope screaming out, "Open Me!"

Therefore, my mission is fairly straightforward. I will watch 365 movies in 365 days and give you, the anticipated reader, the scoop on how watchable these movies actually are. I have decided to develop my very own rating scale to help out anyone who hates to read through these blogs and just wants to know what's going on. So here goes it:

If a movie is just down right amazingly mindblowing, it will receive a rating of "inconceivable". If a movie is ok, as in I-paid-money-to-watch-it-and-I-still-have-alot-of-popcorn-so-I-guess-I-will-sit-and-finish-it, it will receive a rating of "tolerable". Now I'm fairly open minded, so if a movie is so down right atrocious that I can't even sit through it, it will receive the rating of .....drumroll please...."dire".

So there you have it. For those of you who didn't read through that mess, it's fairly simple. Quick Recap: Inconceivable: Good; Tolerable: Ok; and last but not least, for the movies that are so bad that even I couldn't finish watching: DIRE.

Enjoy reading, as I enjoy watching.