Tomorrow will mark the 1-month anniversary of the last blog I've written. Pretty impressive, I'd say. Let's just call this break one of many hiatus-es (is that even a word?). Call it writer's block, call it laziness, call it what you will...sometimes I just don't watch anything new. (After my Oscar stint, who could blame me?)
At any rate, I return with gusto to introduce the much-anticipated 6th Anniversary Edition of k8's 100 Favorite Movies of All Time: REDUX! That is to say, a couple people I know personally and who may or may not be related to me, are mildly curious and are likely only attempting to make me feel a little better about my recent absence from cyberspace.
Faith, of In My Opinion fame (who has NOT been on hiatus and has written some fabulous reviews in the past month...check them out!), and I have been discussing my options for how to deliver these 100 influential movies of my life. I have chosen the AFI method of releasing the full, uncut and uncensored list of possible films first. Then, once the 100 have been selected, I will embark on a 10 week release of mini-reviews.
Like my quotes, movies are selected based on the following qualifications:
1. Do I identify with the characters or situations in this film?
2. Quote-ability. Memorization was a big part of my early-viewing days. Can I quote any/all of it?
3. Likeability. Is it just a great movie?
4. Did it have some over-whelming impact on my life? Good or bad?
NOTE TO READERS: It's audience participation time! I want to hear back from you. Which movies do you think should be on my list? Why? What makes that movie worthwhile for you? Did it have an impact on your life in some way or did you just think it was FREAKIN AWESOME?! God forbid...have I missed your favorites?? Enquiring minds want to know.
So without further ado...the 240 finalists, in no particular order.
1. The Goonies (1985)
2. Aladdin (1992)
3. Garden State (2004)
4. Singin' in the Rain (1951)
5. Tombstone (1993)
6. The Sandlot (1993)
7. Much Ado About Nothing (1993)
8. Anne of Green Gables (1985)
9. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
10. The Music Man (1962)
11. Newsies (1992)
12. Return of the Jedi (1983)
13. Big Business (1988)
14. Three Men and a Baby (1987)
15. Groundhog Day (1993)
16. Mary Poppins (1964)
17. Swing Kids (1993)
18. Empire Records (1995)
19. The Sound of Music (1965)
20. Flight of the Navigator (1986)
21. Muppets Take Manhatten (1984)
22. The Princess Bride (1987)
23. Ghostbusters (1984)
24. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
25. Back to the Future (1985)
26. The Empire Strikes Back (1981)
27. Gremlins (1984)
28. The Ten Commandments (1956)
29. Hook (1991)
30. The Philadelphia Story (1940)
31. Glory (1989)
32. Moulin Rouge! (2001)
33. Young at Heart (1954)
34. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
35. Mr. Mom (1983)
36. Memento (2000)
37. The Secret of N-I-M-H (1982)
38. American Beauty (1999)
39. Innerspace (1987)
40. The Parent Trap (1961)
41. The Birdcage (1996)
42. Sleepy Hollow (1999)
43. Take Me Out to the Ballgame (1949)
44. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
45. The Emperor’s New Groove (2000)
46. School Ties (1992)
47. First Wives Club (1996)
48. While You Were Sleeping (1995)
49. Romancing the Stone (1984)
50. Gladiator (2000)
51. Say Anything (1989)
52. Jurassic Park (1993)
53. Good Morning, Vietnam! (1987)
54. Big (1988)
55. Splash (1984)
56. Backdraft (1991)
57. Strictly Ballroom (1992)
58. 12 Monkeys (1995)
59. The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
60. Trainspotting (1996)
61. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
62. The Matrix (1999)
63. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
64. O’ Brother Where Art Thou (2000)
65. Speed (1994)
66. The Chipmunk’s Adventure (1987)
67. What About Bob? (1991)
68. The Fugitive (1993)
69. American History X (1998)
70. The Neverending Story (1984)
71. Toy Story (1995)
72. On the Town (1949)
73. The Usual Suspects (1995)
74. The Three Amigos (1986)
75. Nine Months (1995)
76. Charlotte’s Web (1973)
77. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)
78. Robin Hood (Disney) (1973)
79. Schindler’s List (1993)
80. Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
81. The Land Before Time (1988)
82. Benny & Joon (1993)
83. Braveheart (1995)
84. A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
85. Back to the Future II (1989)
86. The Many Adv’s of Winnie the Pooh (1977)
87. Dead Poet’s Society (1989)
88. Being John Malkovich (1999)
89. Sixteen Candles (1984)
90. Grosse Point Blanke (1997)
91. The Jerk (1979)
92. His Girl Friday (1940)
93. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
94. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)
95. Top Secret (1984)
96. The Ref (1994)
97. Don Juan DeMarco (1995)
98. Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993)
99. Poltergeist (1982)
100. A Night to Remember (1958)
101. Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
102. Murder By Death (1976)
103. Fight Club (1999)
104. Blow Dry (2001)
105. Lucky # S7evin (2006)
106. Talladega Nights (2006)
107. Thank You For Smoking (2005)
108. The Great Muppet Caper (1981)
109. French Kiss (1995)
110. Bringing Up Baby (1938)
111. Some Like it Hot (1959)
112. The Departed (2006)
113. Finding Nemo (2003)
114. Sideways (2004)
115. Hotel Rwanda (2004)
116. Blood Diamond (2006)
117. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
118. Sahara (2005)
119. Million Dollar Baby (2004)
120. The Incredibles (2004)
121. Cry-Baby (1990)
122. Pillow Talk (1959)
123. Double Indemnity (1944)
124. Rear Window (1954)
125. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)
126. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
127. Zoolander (2001)
128. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
129. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
130. 9 to 5 (1980)
131. Clue (1985)
132. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
133. An American Tail (1986)
134. Hot Fuzz (2007)
135. Twister (1996)
136. The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert (1994)
137. Adventures in Babysitting (1987)
138. 12 Angry Men (1957)
139. A Christmas Story (1983)
140. Christmas Vacation (1989)
141. Best In Show (2000)
142. Waiting for Guffman (1996)
143. Better Off Dead (1985)
144. Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999)
145. Elf (2003)
146. Everything is Illuminated (2005)
147. Heathers (1989)
148. It Happened One Night (1934)
149. Office Space (1999)
150. Pecker (1998)
151. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (1990)
152. Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
153. What a Way to Go! (1964)
154. Tootsie (1982)
155. The Awful Truth (1937)
156. Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005)
157. Barefoot in the Park (1967)
158. MI:2 (2000)
159. Harvey (1950)
160. Overboard (1987)
161. Kiss, Kiss Bang, Bang (2005)
162. Foul Play (1978)
163. Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
164. Soapdish (1991)
165. The Apartment (1960)
166. The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)
167. Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993)
168. The Last King of Scotland (2006)
169. Pretty in Pink (1986)
170. Noises Off (1992)
171. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
172. The Big Lebowski (1998)
173. Milo & Otis (1986)
174. Footloose (1984)
175. Romy & Michelle’s High School Reunion (1997)
176. Stripes (1981)
177. Toy Story 2 (1999)
178. Rocky (1976)
179. Apocalypse Now (1979)
180. M*A*S*H (1972)
181. Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend (1985)
182. Batman Begins (2005)
183. *batteries not included (1987)
184. American Psycho (2000)
185. Beetlejuice (1988)
186. The Brave Little Toaster (1987)
187. Howard the Duck (1985)
188. Casablanca (1942)
189. Cool Hand Luke (1967)
190. Darby O’Gill and the Little People (1959)
191. E.T. (1982)
192. Dogma (1999)
193. Mallrats (1995)
194. Ferngully: The Last Rainforest (1992)
195. The Frighteners (1996)
196. The Graduate (1967)
197. The Gold Rush (1925)
198. Hackers (1995)
199. The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)
200. How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)
201. Jason and the Argonauts (1963)
202. The Legend of 1900 (1998)
203. Mr. Deeds (2002)
204. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
205. Paris - When it Sizzles (1964)
206. Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)
207. Radioland Murders (1994)
208. Shrek 2 (2004)
209. Shanghi Noon (2000)
210. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
211. Sleepers (1996)
212. SpaceCamp (1986)
213. Spaceballs (1987)
214. Steel Magnolias (1989)
215. The Sting (1973)
216. Sugar & Spice (2001)
217. Stranger Than Fiction (2006)
218. Super Mario Bros. (1993)
219. Swingers (1996)
220. Swiss Family Robinson (1960)
221. The Sword in the Stone (1963)
222. This is Spinal Tap (1984)
223. The Thin Man (1934)
224. To Catch a Thief (1955)
225. Tron (1982)
226. Wargames (1983)
227. Victor/Victoria (1982)
228. Wayne’s World (1992)
229. Willow (1988)
230. Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1957)
231. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)
232. Young Frankenstein (1974)
233. Ernest Goes to Camp (1987)
234. Frantic (1988)
235. Con Air (1997)
236. Proof of Life (2000)
237. Tremors (1990)
238. Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (1966)
239. The Namesake (2007)
240. Holiday (1938)
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
NO Thanks to the AFI...
Nothing's ever perfect. What's the old adage? You can please all of the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time but never all of the people all of the time. Something like that....but I digress.
As a follow-up to my blog, I Would Like to Thank the AFI, I decided to make a list of the movies I'm not thankful to the AFI for having watched. To mix it up, this one is set up a little differently. There aren't many movies I've disliked since I started keeping tabs; so, I'm going to look at every movie I've disliked on the list, whether I watched it before or after the AFI released their 100 greatest. There are also varying degrees of "dislike". None border on pure unmitigated hatred, as each film serves it's purpose in cinematic history; but that doesn't mean I must like them all, does it? Again, for a complete list, go here. So, without further ado, let's begin shall we?
Ok...let's hear it. I know you have things to say to me about disliking some of the greatest American cinematic staples of the past century. Leave your thoughts...I can take it!
As a follow-up to my blog, I Would Like to Thank the AFI, I decided to make a list of the movies I'm not thankful to the AFI for having watched. To mix it up, this one is set up a little differently. There aren't many movies I've disliked since I started keeping tabs; so, I'm going to look at every movie I've disliked on the list, whether I watched it before or after the AFI released their 100 greatest. There are also varying degrees of "dislike". None border on pure unmitigated hatred, as each film serves it's purpose in cinematic history; but that doesn't mean I must like them all, does it? Again, for a complete list, go here. So, without further ado, let's begin shall we?
1. The Grapes of Wrath (#21): Why did I watch the movie? Because it was easier than 
reading the book for Honors Lit my Junior year of high school. (Sorry Ms. Baharestan!) What did I get out of it? The overwhelming urge to take a nap. It may not be fair of me to rate this movie based on my 17-year-old mind's opinion. However, I think even today I would find this Steinbeck adaptation slow and relatively uneventful. This era of literature has never interested or attracted me. However, that's not to say that the story of Oakies traveling to California for work during the dust bowl of the 1930's lacks heart. Hardly. Henry Fonda's uplifting portrayal of Tom Joad won him an Oscar nomination. The film went on to take home Oscars for Best Supporting Actress (Jane Darwell) and Director (John Ford).
2. Vertigo (#61): Why did I watch the movie? College friends rented it and I'd heard it 
was a must-see. What did I get out of it? A short nap and a lot of staring at my watch. As I mentioned in my previous AFI blog, I'm not a fan of Mr. Hitchcock. While I've liked a couple of his movies, and I respect him as an artist, his films have never kept me engrossed. Vertigo finds Stewart, a retired San Francisco police detective, hired to follow a wealthy ship-builder's wife (Kim Novak). As the story progresses, Hitchcock weaves a web only he could devise, that has our hero stretched to the brink of his own sanity. Quintessential Hitchcock...if you're not me, you'll probably love it.
3. The Birth of a Nation (#44): Why did I watch the movie? Because it was on the list. 
What did I get out of it? Exasperated sighs and raised eyebrows. I believe I can say without a doubt, that this was my first silent movie. I think my only other "silent movie" experience was movie within a movie in The Three Amigos...which doesn't even count. If I'm not mistaken, the reason this 1915 silent picture made the AFI's Greatest 100 is because of it's epic scale, subject matter and method of story-telling. The complete DVD version runs a baffling 187 minutes. Yes, 3 hours and 7 minutes of silent Civil War epic. While the cut down 2 hour 5 minute VHS version was boring enough for me to turn off before intermission; it's important to recognize this film broke many boundaries including depicting the KKK and racial turmoil during the 1860's. Silent films aren't for everyone, especially those of us who are used to the fast-paced movies of today. Still, Nation has it's place...but that place is not amongst my personal movie collection.
4. Rebel Without a Cause (#59): Why did I watch the movie? It was on the list and it's James Dean's signature roll. What did I get out of it? Whiney teen angst and mid-50's 
stereotypes. Like Marilyn Monroe, Dean has become an American Film Icon. Better remembered for leaning against a wall smoking a cigarette than just about anything else. In Rebel, Dean finds himself the new kid in town, who makes a number of friends and enemies as he strives find his place in a new school and the love of Natalie Wood. I'm sure teenagers in 1955 would have identified more with the characters in the movie and empathized with their struggle to belong in a stiflingly structured community. However, I believe my reaction was, "Wah, cry me a river and grow up!" Arguably, what's most interesting to me about this movie doesn't have anything to do with the actual film itself; it's the real life tragedy of 3 of is principle cast members. As we all know, Dean was killed in a car crash about a month before Rebel was released, Natalie Wood mysteriously drowned in a lake in 1981 and Sal Mineo was stabbed and killed in 1976. Fascinating reality, disappointing fiction.
5. North By Northwest (#40): Why did I watch the movie? Because it was on the list. What did I get out of it? About 36 minutes of intriguing action and 100 minutes of thumb-twiddling waiting for something else to happen. Arguably one of Alfred Hitchcock's greatest films and very likely his best collaboration with Cary Grant. Who hasn't seen that "money shot" of Cary 
running away from the crop-dusting plane? To be honest, I think this is one of the most fascinating stories Hitchcock brought to the screen. Grant's Roger O. Thornhill is an average man, who is unfortunately mistaken for CIA operative, George Kaplan, by a group of spies. Thornhill then goes through Hell and back trying to find the illusive Kaplan and clear his own identity. Along the way he meets the beautiful Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint), who agrees to help him on his quest for the truth. I fell asleep during this movie, probably only for about 20 minutes or so, but I fell asleep. This movie could've been incredible if Hitch had cut out about 20 to 30 minutes. Speed up the pace and get rid of the long dead periods where we're just watching people sit or listening to extraneous details. But hey...I'm in the minority here. Just go see it for yourself!
Honourable Mention
A Clockwork Orange (#46): I admit it. I hate this movie. It freaks me out. I haven't even seen it the whole way through. Now before you Kubrick fans jump on my back and start hurling obscenities at me, let me say this: You can't expect me to believe you don't find anything 
traumatizing about watching someone's eyes held open by wires or that you can ever listen to the song Singin' In the Rain again without the image of a very violent and graphic rape scene...I just won't believe it. (Incidentally, I can still listen to that song, because the rape scene in question is one I haven't seen.) It gets the "Honourable Mention" status because I've basically decided that I will never watch the whole movie. I don't want to see it. I have no desire to see it. Nor do I see any reason why I should see it. Do you have any idea how many other movies are out there that won't cause me personal trauma and require a visitation to a counselor after it's over? There's a lot. Trust me. Netflix has like 30 to 50, 000 for me to choose from.
Ok...let's hear it. I know you have things to say to me about disliking some of the greatest American cinematic staples of the past century. Leave your thoughts...I can take it!
Monday, March 26, 2007
TMNT (aka Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
T-U-R-T-L-E Power!
If you were a kid in the early 90's or you had a kid during the early 90's or you were alive during the early 90's...you knew about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle phenomenon.
I hopped on the TMNT bandwagon with their first movie, aptly named Teenage
Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990), road it through the sequel Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991) and fell off the wagon with the bumpy and rather lackluster Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Turtles in Time (1993) For some unknown reason, the big screen has been over-grown, gnarly, crime-fighting-turtleless for 14 years.
Simply shocking.
Not to worry, though. The four crime-fighting amphibians, their rodent ninja master and band of friends are back with animated vengeance. Plus, with the magic of CGI, these turtles have an unprecedented new litheness.
As with any cinematic resurrection, there are doubts surrounding the ability to make a new movie equal to the original. Naturally, a number of TMNT fans have awaited the release of this newest adventure with a mix of excitement and fear. Myself included. Would Kevin Munroe (who according to his imdb page, had only 1 video game to his directorial credit) be able to capture and deliver a story with the same action, comedy and fun of the first movie?
For all you comic book readers out there, I would just like to say this: I have never read the comics. I don't know anymore than the movies have taught me. That having been said, I thoroughly enjoyed the new TMNT. Michelangelo was bodacious
with his obnoxious puns, prompting one of his amphibious brothers to quip, "Mikey, do you remember our little talk?" Donatello was introduced to the audience as "your friendly IT support agent 24 hours a day." Raphael is as angry as ever. And Leonardo is searching for himself in South America.
TMNT gave me the overwhelming urge to watch the 1990 original, which I own thanks to my wonderful little brother, so I popped it in when I got home. There are some amazing similarities. Specifically between Raph and Leo. I won't say more for those who will be seeing one or both of the movies in the near future, but I think some of the dialogue is even the same at parts.
With all do respect to the original...I do believe this latest installment, which continues the story of the four brothers following the demise of Shredder and The Foot (who do make an appearance), does more to set up the characters of the Turtles. As a kid, I didn't grasp the concept that Raph was angst-ridden, Don was the genius, Leo was the fearless leader and...well, ok I did get that Mikey was the party dude! Kudos to the TMNT scriptwriters for transforming the boys from 4 pizza-loving partiers into 4 distinct and independent characters.
What would I have liked to see more of? Mikey and Don. The first movie showcased some great numchuk action...this movie had virtually none. Well, no visible ones anyway. Likewise, Donatello and to an extent Michelangelo’s characters both took a backseat to the conflict between Leonardo and Raphael. They've left the door open for a sequel...so let's bring the other two brothers into the spotlight!
Totally tubular shots of the boys looking powerful, cheesy jokes and radical amphibious ninja action. The Turtles are back in town...COWABUNGA, DUDES! 4 Stars.
If you were a kid in the early 90's or you had a kid during the early 90's or you were alive during the early 90's...you knew about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle phenomenon.
I hopped on the TMNT bandwagon with their first movie, aptly named Teenage
Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990), road it through the sequel Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991) and fell off the wagon with the bumpy and rather lackluster Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Turtles in Time (1993) For some unknown reason, the big screen has been over-grown, gnarly, crime-fighting-turtleless for 14 years.Simply shocking.
Not to worry, though. The four crime-fighting amphibians, their rodent ninja master and band of friends are back with animated vengeance. Plus, with the magic of CGI, these turtles have an unprecedented new litheness.
As with any cinematic resurrection, there are doubts surrounding the ability to make a new movie equal to the original. Naturally, a number of TMNT fans have awaited the release of this newest adventure with a mix of excitement and fear. Myself included. Would Kevin Munroe (who according to his imdb page, had only 1 video game to his directorial credit) be able to capture and deliver a story with the same action, comedy and fun of the first movie?
For all you comic book readers out there, I would just like to say this: I have never read the comics. I don't know anymore than the movies have taught me. That having been said, I thoroughly enjoyed the new TMNT. Michelangelo was bodacious
with his obnoxious puns, prompting one of his amphibious brothers to quip, "Mikey, do you remember our little talk?" Donatello was introduced to the audience as "your friendly IT support agent 24 hours a day." Raphael is as angry as ever. And Leonardo is searching for himself in South America.TMNT gave me the overwhelming urge to watch the 1990 original, which I own thanks to my wonderful little brother, so I popped it in when I got home. There are some amazing similarities. Specifically between Raph and Leo. I won't say more for those who will be seeing one or both of the movies in the near future, but I think some of the dialogue is even the same at parts.
With all do respect to the original...I do believe this latest installment, which continues the story of the four brothers following the demise of Shredder and The Foot (who do make an appearance), does more to set up the characters of the Turtles. As a kid, I didn't grasp the concept that Raph was angst-ridden, Don was the genius, Leo was the fearless leader and...well, ok I did get that Mikey was the party dude! Kudos to the TMNT scriptwriters for transforming the boys from 4 pizza-loving partiers into 4 distinct and independent characters.
What would I have liked to see more of? Mikey and Don. The first movie showcased some great numchuk action...this movie had virtually none. Well, no visible ones anyway. Likewise, Donatello and to an extent Michelangelo’s characters both took a backseat to the conflict between Leonardo and Raphael. They've left the door open for a sequel...so let's bring the other two brothers into the spotlight!
Totally tubular shots of the boys looking powerful, cheesy jokes and radical amphibious ninja action. The Turtles are back in town...COWABUNGA, DUDES! 4 Stars.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
The 100 Quotes of Me...20 - 1...The Big Finale
Drumroll please! This list represents the last of the 100 Quotes of Me. In the top 20 you will find the quotes that I either identify with most or have worked their way into my lexicon so far that I've nearly forgotten where I heard it in the first place!
20. Obi-Wan: Luke, you're going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view. (Return of the Jedi)
19. Greg: Oh, I love that movie. (Sleepless in Seattle)
18. Bob: We always like to avoid confrontation, whenever possible. (Office Space)
17. Alexander: I asked you a simple question! Do you love her?
Peter: YES!! But don't hold that against me, I'm a little screwy myself! (It Happened One Night)
16. Largeman: Fuck, this hurts so much.
Sam: I know it hurts. But it's life, and it's real. And sometimes it fucking hurts, but it's life, and it's pretty much all we got. (Garden State)
15. Bulgarian Girl: Mousier, you are a man. If someone loved you very much so that your happiness was the only thing she wanted in the world…that she did a bad thing to make certain of it. Could you forgive her?
Rick: Nobody ever loved me that much. (Casablanca)
14. Largeman: Maybe that's all family really is. A group of people who miss the same imaginary place. (Garden State)
13. Sugar: It's the story of my life. I always get the fuzzy end of the lollipop. (Some Like it Hot)
12. Frank: I will not apologize for who I am. (Magnolia)
11. Robbie: It's just there were a lot of little things like that. I know that sounds stupid...
Julia: Not at all. I think it's the little things that count. (The Wedding Singer)
10. Elwood: I always have a wonderful time, wherever I am, whoever I'm with. (Harvey)
9. Duckie: It's called a sense of humor. You should get one, they're nice. (Pretty in Pink)
8. Clarence: Remember, George: no man is a failure who has friends. (It’s a Wonderful Life)
7. Largeman: It just sort of happens one day and it's just gone. And you can never get it back. It's like you get homesick for a place that doesn't exist. (Garden State)
6. Kate: Happy - smile. Sad - frown. Use the corresponding face for the corresponding emotion. (French Kiss)
5. Tracy: You seem quite contemptuous of me all of a sudden.
Dexter: No, Red, not of you. Never of you...Red, you could be the finest woman on this earth....I’m contemptuous of something inside you--you can’t either help or won’t attempt to. Your so-called “strength,” your prejudice against weakness, your blank intolerance.
Tracy: Is that all?
Dexter: That’s the gist of it. Because you’ll never be a first-class human being or a first-class woman until you’ve learned to have some regard for human frailty. It’s a pity your own foot can’t slip a little sometime, but your sense of inner divinity wouldn’t allow that. This goddess must and shall remain intact. (The Philadelphia Story)
4. Anne: I know I chatter on far too much…but if you only knew how many things I want to say and don’t. Give me SOME credit. (Anne of Green Gables)
3. Becky: That's your problem! You don't want to be in love. You want to be in love in a movie. (Sleepless in Seattle)
2. Kathleen: Every thing I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn’t it be the other way around? (You’ve Got Mail)
And last, but certainly not least..........The Number 1 Quote of Me!
1. Buddy Elf: I just like to smile. Smiling’s my favorite! (Elf)
Well, thus ends my 100 quotes of me; hope you enjoyed them! I may get ambitious again and re-do my 100 Favorite Movies of all time...but don't hold your breath, that takes a lot of time and energy! :)
20. Obi-Wan: Luke, you're going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view. (Return of the Jedi)
19. Greg: Oh, I love that movie. (Sleepless in Seattle)
18. Bob: We always like to avoid confrontation, whenever possible. (Office Space)
17. Alexander: I asked you a simple question! Do you love her?
Peter: YES!! But don't hold that against me, I'm a little screwy myself! (It Happened One Night)
16. Largeman: Fuck, this hurts so much.
Sam: I know it hurts. But it's life, and it's real. And sometimes it fucking hurts, but it's life, and it's pretty much all we got. (Garden State)
15. Bulgarian Girl: Mousier, you are a man. If someone loved you very much so that your happiness was the only thing she wanted in the world…that she did a bad thing to make certain of it. Could you forgive her?
Rick: Nobody ever loved me that much. (Casablanca)
14. Largeman: Maybe that's all family really is. A group of people who miss the same imaginary place. (Garden State)
13. Sugar: It's the story of my life. I always get the fuzzy end of the lollipop. (Some Like it Hot)
12. Frank: I will not apologize for who I am. (Magnolia)
11. Robbie: It's just there were a lot of little things like that. I know that sounds stupid...
Julia: Not at all. I think it's the little things that count. (The Wedding Singer)
10. Elwood: I always have a wonderful time, wherever I am, whoever I'm with. (Harvey)
9. Duckie: It's called a sense of humor. You should get one, they're nice. (Pretty in Pink)
8. Clarence: Remember, George: no man is a failure who has friends. (It’s a Wonderful Life)
7. Largeman: It just sort of happens one day and it's just gone. And you can never get it back. It's like you get homesick for a place that doesn't exist. (Garden State)
6. Kate: Happy - smile. Sad - frown. Use the corresponding face for the corresponding emotion. (French Kiss)
5. Tracy: You seem quite contemptuous of me all of a sudden.
Dexter: No, Red, not of you. Never of you...Red, you could be the finest woman on this earth....I’m contemptuous of something inside you--you can’t either help or won’t attempt to. Your so-called “strength,” your prejudice against weakness, your blank intolerance.
Tracy: Is that all?
Dexter: That’s the gist of it. Because you’ll never be a first-class human being or a first-class woman until you’ve learned to have some regard for human frailty. It’s a pity your own foot can’t slip a little sometime, but your sense of inner divinity wouldn’t allow that. This goddess must and shall remain intact. (The Philadelphia Story)
4. Anne: I know I chatter on far too much…but if you only knew how many things I want to say and don’t. Give me SOME credit. (Anne of Green Gables)
3. Becky: That's your problem! You don't want to be in love. You want to be in love in a movie. (Sleepless in Seattle)
2. Kathleen: Every thing I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn’t it be the other way around? (You’ve Got Mail)
And last, but certainly not least..........The Number 1 Quote of Me!
1. Buddy Elf: I just like to smile. Smiling’s my favorite! (Elf)
Well, thus ends my 100 quotes of me; hope you enjoyed them! I may get ambitious again and re-do my 100 Favorite Movies of all time...but don't hold your breath, that takes a lot of time and energy! :)
Monday, March 19, 2007
An Homage to the Amphiboogie Danci-Frog
It was brought to my attention recently, that I did not give due reverence to a staple of childhood. Not just my childhood, but that of countless others in my generation. A group of entertainers that taught us the value of friendship, love and that living in bus station lockers was the most economical way to sell your show on Broadway! The Muppets.
I was not one of the "fortunate" kids who was able to watch The Muppet Show on TV. Alas, my formative years in eastern Kentucky did not include the plethora of cable channels available to children in larger cities. I had to, instead, make due with Muppet movies on VHS. Which were a pretty decent trade-off, if I do say so myself!
Like so many of my 1980's staples; I rediscovered Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, The Great Gonzo and all their friends as an adult and have fallen in love with them all over again for completely new reasons. The humour of the prat falls, funny voices and cute characters have been replaced with satire, sarcasm and a greater appreciation of the cameos. Therefore, I have decided to make a list of my favorite Muppet movies.
After much deliberation, I've opted to only include "Muppet" movies that star Kermit and the gang. This is not to say that I didn't love and adore other Henson classics like Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas, Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal. Merely that I have to set boundaries somewhere!
1. Muppets Take Manhattan: The third of the classic Muppet movies was my favorite. Most likely because I thought of myself as the greatest actor in my church and the best ballerina in
my little class of other 6 year olds. What little girl wouldn't love the idea of starring in a play on Broadway (or the introduction of The Muppet Babies)? The tale of one noble frog's persistence to see his dream come to fruition, even if it means he must bid farewell to the pig of his dreams and all his friends (all the dogs and bears and chickens and things) is something we all face as we grow older. Most of us go on to find something stable...but the dreamers, the Kermits of the world, they fight for their dreams and don't give up. "The frog is STAYIN'!!" You should re-watch this movie, if for no other reason, than to see Joan Rivers' cameo...her transformation from 1984 to 2007 is more frightening than amazing!
2. The Great Muppet Caper: I must admit, I didn't think much of this movie when I originally saw it. The misadventures of our furry, foamy friends in England didn't appeal to my young
self. However, when I went on a Muppet-movie-buying spree several years back, I picked up Caper on a lark. What I discovered was one of the greatest little gems of Henson's repertoire. What makes it so special to me now is it's comic take on movies as a whole; having characters comment on everything from the people in the credits (Fozzie: "Kermit, do people actually read these names?" Kermit: "Sure. These people have families.") to the acting chops of the Muppets themselves. (Piggy: "I am playing 800 different emotions!" Kermit: "Well, try to play one of them right!") Of all the Muppet movies, Caper garners the most guffaws of joy from me. Watch it again for the first time!
3. The Muppets Christmas Carol: Ah, Dickens. I think when he envisioned his tale of Ebeneezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim; he must've pictured Michael Caine, Kermit the
Frog and Kermit's real-life nephew Robin. Yes, in fact, I'm sure that's what good ol' Charlie was thinking, "Gee, I hope that within the next century or so a frog stars in this movie!" This ties with Scrooged as my favorite rendition of Dickens' classic "A Christmas Carol". The first Muppet movie released after Jim Henson's heartrending death in 1990, I was pleasantly surprised with Brian Henson's maiden voyage. Cute songs, great use of the characters and lots of arguably "new age" Muppet humour. Love it!
Honourable Mentions: Call me sacreligious, but The Muppet Movie falls in this category. As
with Manhattan we find our gang on a quest to break into Hollywood, all meeting each other and building lasting friendships along the way! This initial big-screen Muppet film was wonderful but didn't quite have the pull for me that the three above exhibited.
I was not one of the "fortunate" kids who was able to watch The Muppet Show on TV. Alas, my formative years in eastern Kentucky did not include the plethora of cable channels available to children in larger cities. I had to, instead, make due with Muppet movies on VHS. Which were a pretty decent trade-off, if I do say so myself!
Like so many of my 1980's staples; I rediscovered Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, The Great Gonzo and all their friends as an adult and have fallen in love with them all over again for completely new reasons. The humour of the prat falls, funny voices and cute characters have been replaced with satire, sarcasm and a greater appreciation of the cameos. Therefore, I have decided to make a list of my favorite Muppet movies.
After much deliberation, I've opted to only include "Muppet" movies that star Kermit and the gang. This is not to say that I didn't love and adore other Henson classics like Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas, Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal. Merely that I have to set boundaries somewhere!
1. Muppets Take Manhattan: The third of the classic Muppet movies was my favorite. Most likely because I thought of myself as the greatest actor in my church and the best ballerina in
my little class of other 6 year olds. What little girl wouldn't love the idea of starring in a play on Broadway (or the introduction of The Muppet Babies)? The tale of one noble frog's persistence to see his dream come to fruition, even if it means he must bid farewell to the pig of his dreams and all his friends (all the dogs and bears and chickens and things) is something we all face as we grow older. Most of us go on to find something stable...but the dreamers, the Kermits of the world, they fight for their dreams and don't give up. "The frog is STAYIN'!!" You should re-watch this movie, if for no other reason, than to see Joan Rivers' cameo...her transformation from 1984 to 2007 is more frightening than amazing!2. The Great Muppet Caper: I must admit, I didn't think much of this movie when I originally saw it. The misadventures of our furry, foamy friends in England didn't appeal to my young
self. However, when I went on a Muppet-movie-buying spree several years back, I picked up Caper on a lark. What I discovered was one of the greatest little gems of Henson's repertoire. What makes it so special to me now is it's comic take on movies as a whole; having characters comment on everything from the people in the credits (Fozzie: "Kermit, do people actually read these names?" Kermit: "Sure. These people have families.") to the acting chops of the Muppets themselves. (Piggy: "I am playing 800 different emotions!" Kermit: "Well, try to play one of them right!") Of all the Muppet movies, Caper garners the most guffaws of joy from me. Watch it again for the first time!3. The Muppets Christmas Carol: Ah, Dickens. I think when he envisioned his tale of Ebeneezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim; he must've pictured Michael Caine, Kermit the
Frog and Kermit's real-life nephew Robin. Yes, in fact, I'm sure that's what good ol' Charlie was thinking, "Gee, I hope that within the next century or so a frog stars in this movie!" This ties with Scrooged as my favorite rendition of Dickens' classic "A Christmas Carol". The first Muppet movie released after Jim Henson's heartrending death in 1990, I was pleasantly surprised with Brian Henson's maiden voyage. Cute songs, great use of the characters and lots of arguably "new age" Muppet humour. Love it!Honourable Mentions: Call me sacreligious, but The Muppet Movie falls in this category. As
with Manhattan we find our gang on a quest to break into Hollywood, all meeting each other and building lasting friendships along the way! This initial big-screen Muppet film was wonderful but didn't quite have the pull for me that the three above exhibited.The second of my honourable mentions is only "sort of" a Muppet movie: Follow That Bird.
It's been years since I've seen this movie, but it's always held a special place in my heart. The story of Sesame Street's Big Bird searching for his place in the world tugs firmly on my heartstrings even today. I remember thinking upon its release in 1985, that I was "too old" to see this movie (yes, I was only 7). Sesame Street is, after all, geared towards toddlers and pre-elementary kids. However, Bird captured the same magic as the other Muppet treasures and is therefore enjoyable for kids (and adults) of all ages!Now it's your turn. I know you have thoughts. I know you have a favorite Muppet movie. Spill! Enquiring minds want to know!
Incidentally...just who is the "Amphiboogie Danci-Frog"?? Check out the "Kermit & Floyd" Muppetism on The Great Muppet Caper's Special Features to find out!
Thursday, March 8, 2007
The 100 Quotes of Me...40 - 21
The end grows nigh, we're down to the last 40 quotes. As we start getting closer to number 1, a lot of the quotes will be more in the "define me" and "quotability" categories than the "just fun" category. A little more insight into the mystery that is k8! :)
40. Harry: I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible. (When Harry Met Sally…)
39. Elwood: Well, I've wrestled with reality for 35 years, doctor, and I'm happy to state I finally won out over it. (Harvey)
38. Frank: I CAAARE!! (Scrooged)
37. Doc: Why Kate, you're not wearing a bustle. How lewd. (Tombstone)
36. Spanky: Hey there stud-puffin, goin my way? (The Little Rascals)
35. Mother: Make him feel important. If you do that, you'll have a happy and wonderful marriage - like two out of every ten couples. (Barefoot in the Park)
34. Emilio: I am very, very sneaky, sir. (Mr. Deeds)
33. Jefferson Smith: You see, boys forget what their country means by just reading The Land of the Free in history books. Then they get to be men they forget even more. Liberty's too precious a thing to be buried in books, Miss Saunders. Men should hold it up in front of them every single day of their lives and say: I'm free to think and to speak. My ancestors couldn't, I can, and my children will. Boys ought to grow up remembering that. (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington)
32. Verbal: The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist. (The Usual Suspects)
31. Frank: You…are a lone reed. (You’ve Got Mail)
30. C-3PO: It's against my programming to impersonate a deity. (Return of the Jedi)
29. Navin: This is the kind of spontaneous publicity, your name in print, that makes people. I’m in print! Things are gonna start happening to me now! (The Jerk)
28. Lucky: Well, we're just gonna have to use our brains.
Ned & Dusty: Dammit. (The Three Amigos)
27. Bonnie: If your manner of speech is any indication of the workings of your mind, then it's a wonder you can even tie your shoes. (Hurlyburly)
26. Lucas: Damn the man. (Empire Records)
25. Blauner: That’s great. We’ve got a miniature version of you, and he’s a method actor. (Beyond the Sea)
24. Don: I’m trying to say something to you, but I’m such a ham…I guess I’m not able to without the proper setting. (Singin in the Rain)
23. Shirley: Some people just don’t appreciate. (Take Me Out to the Ballgame)
22. Michele: Me, too! Uh! (Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion)
21. Peter: Well, I generally come in at least fifteen minutes late, ah, I use the side door - that way Lumbergh can't see me, heh - after that I sorta space out for an hour.
Bob: Da-uh? Space out?
Peter: Yeah, I just stare at my desk, but it looks like I'm working. I do that for probably another hour after lunch too, I'd say in a given week I probably only do about fifteen minutes of real, actual, work. (Office Space)
40. Harry: I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible. (When Harry Met Sally…)
39. Elwood: Well, I've wrestled with reality for 35 years, doctor, and I'm happy to state I finally won out over it. (Harvey)
38. Frank: I CAAARE!! (Scrooged)
37. Doc: Why Kate, you're not wearing a bustle. How lewd. (Tombstone)
36. Spanky: Hey there stud-puffin, goin my way? (The Little Rascals)
35. Mother: Make him feel important. If you do that, you'll have a happy and wonderful marriage - like two out of every ten couples. (Barefoot in the Park)
34. Emilio: I am very, very sneaky, sir. (Mr. Deeds)
33. Jefferson Smith: You see, boys forget what their country means by just reading The Land of the Free in history books. Then they get to be men they forget even more. Liberty's too precious a thing to be buried in books, Miss Saunders. Men should hold it up in front of them every single day of their lives and say: I'm free to think and to speak. My ancestors couldn't, I can, and my children will. Boys ought to grow up remembering that. (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington)
32. Verbal: The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist. (The Usual Suspects)
31. Frank: You…are a lone reed. (You’ve Got Mail)
30. C-3PO: It's against my programming to impersonate a deity. (Return of the Jedi)
29. Navin: This is the kind of spontaneous publicity, your name in print, that makes people. I’m in print! Things are gonna start happening to me now! (The Jerk)
28. Lucky: Well, we're just gonna have to use our brains.
Ned & Dusty: Dammit. (The Three Amigos)
27. Bonnie: If your manner of speech is any indication of the workings of your mind, then it's a wonder you can even tie your shoes. (Hurlyburly)
26. Lucas: Damn the man. (Empire Records)
25. Blauner: That’s great. We’ve got a miniature version of you, and he’s a method actor. (Beyond the Sea)
24. Don: I’m trying to say something to you, but I’m such a ham…I guess I’m not able to without the proper setting. (Singin in the Rain)
23. Shirley: Some people just don’t appreciate. (Take Me Out to the Ballgame)
22. Michele: Me, too! Uh! (Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion)
21. Peter: Well, I generally come in at least fifteen minutes late, ah, I use the side door - that way Lumbergh can't see me, heh - after that I sorta space out for an hour.
Bob: Da-uh? Space out?
Peter: Yeah, I just stare at my desk, but it looks like I'm working. I do that for probably another hour after lunch too, I'd say in a given week I probably only do about fifteen minutes of real, actual, work. (Office Space)
Sunday, March 4, 2007
I would like to thank the AFI...
Over the past 6 years I have been on a mission; a slow mission but a good one nonetheless. Just what is this lofty goal I've been pursuing for more than half a decade? Why, to watch all 100 of the AFI's 100 Greatest Movies of All Time, of course. It's a slow-going process for me, though. Like the Oscars, I've found a number of the movies to be very heavy and dramatic...a theme that often causes me to sit on my hands and take my time.
This isn't to suggest that the AFI holds the same Academy standards for "great" movies. Hardly. This list canvases a large number of genres over the first 100 years of American cinema. For a complete list, go here. I should note that there are a number of movies on this list that I adore; e.g. Singin' In the Rain (#10), Star Wars (#15), Raiders of the Lost Ark (#60), The Sound of Music (#55), The Silence of the Lambs (#65), The African Queen (#17). In this blog, though, I am going to focus on 5 movies I watched solely because of their existence on this list. These 5 films have gone on to become some of my most favorite and most respected.
1. The Philadelphia Story (#51): I love this movie. I think to a certain extent it's because I find a little of myself in Traci Lord's (Katharine Hepburn) willful and independent nature. She knows what she wants in life, presents herself as a strong woman and hides her frailty out of fear or insecurity. Hepburn (my favorite classic actress) is joined by the always impeccable Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart. On the eve of Traci's marriage to George Kittredge (John Howard), her ex-husband C.K. Dexter Haven (Grant) shows up unexpectedly with tabloid journalists (Stewart, Ruth Hussey). Mayhem ensues. Don't miss my favorite scene which finds a rather inebriated Stewart laying it all on the line with Grant. Great fun!
2. Bringing Up Baby (#97): Kate and Cary make yet another appearance on my list with this screwball comedy classic. In this film we find Grant as university paleontologist, Dr. David Huxley, trying to score the big donation that will fund all the dinosaur digs his little heart desires. Unfortunately for him, Susan Vance (Hepburn), in all her ditzy and star struck ways has taken a liking to the rather geeky paleontologist...as if anyone could really believe Cary Grant was a geek. Ha! Throw in a leopard who loves the song "I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby" and an illusive dinosaur bone and you have the recipe for a lovely romantic comedy!
3. Some Like it Hot (#14): There are some gimmicks that always get a laugh and at the top of the list is "Men in Drag." Many films have centered on this theme over the years. Good ones: Tootsie. Cheesy-yet-fun ones: Too Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar. And terrible ones that make you want to slit your wrists: White Chicks. Some Like it Hot definitely fits in the first category. The movie's timeless humour earned it the top place on AFI's 100 Greatest Comedies list as well. The story begins in 1929, when musicians Joe (Tony Curtis) and Jerry (Jack Lemmon) witness a mob hit and are forced to flee Chicago...as women. They get jobs playing with an all-girl band in sunny Florida, which stars a sultry Sugar Kane (Marylin Monroe) with whom both men immediately fall in love. Lemmon and Curtis's antics as Daphne and Josephine are brilliant...and the scene with Lemmon and his maracas is one of my all-time favorites! Definitely a classic and worth every commendation!
4. Rear Window (#42): I should start by stating for the record: "I'm not a fan of Hitchcock." I know that in many minds that is like saying: "There is no God." or more apropos "I don't like Lord of the Rings." (Which I don't...nervously glancing around.) I have found most Hitchcock movies to have brilliant concepts and fascinating plot lines...but they are unbelievably long and boring with lengthy periods of no action. Not so with Rear Window. The lack of action actually worked well for the story and I became just as intrigued by the residents of the apartment complex as L.B. Jeffries (Jimmy Stewart) and Lisa Fremont (Grace Kelly). Those who have seen the movie will remember what was, for me, the most chilling scene: Jeffries watching Mr. Thorwald's (Raymond Burr) dark apartment, the only visible light coming from the end of his cigar. Sends a chill up my spine even now.
5. Double Indemnity (#38): This 1944 noire classic stars Fred MacMurray as insurance salesman, Walter Neff, who plots murder with his married love interest Barbara Stanwyck. I admit, it's been a while since I've seen this movie, so it's a little fuzzy. However, this is the most engaging noire picture I have ever seen. At the very beginning of the movie, MacMurray confesses his guilt to the murder and over the next 107 minutes the audience is led through a riveting disclosure of the who's, how's and why's of the crime. If a black and white noire can capture the mind of a 22 year old (ahem...me), I think that says something! Excellent!
These were some of my favorites. However, in the immortal words of LeVar Burton..."Don't take my word for it!" Go out and watch for yourself. Other note-worthy movies that didn't make my top 5, but are still worth a view: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (#29), Casablanca (#2), Platoon (#83), The Apartment (#93), Tootsie (#62), All About Eve (#16), Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (#99), Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid (#50), The Gold Rush (#74), the list goes on and on. I've managed to see more than 40 movies in the past 6 years (I have just over 30 left to go)...a low number but honourable just the same. Check out the list and offer feedback! Which movies are your favorites? Which ones do you disagree with? Enquiring minds want to know!
Special Note: Whilst conducting my research, I stumbled across an announcement of the AFI's 10th Anniversary 100 Greatest Movies list. Yep, every 10 years they'll be updating the list! So keep an eye out for the newest AFI release this June!
This isn't to suggest that the AFI holds the same Academy standards for "great" movies. Hardly. This list canvases a large number of genres over the first 100 years of American cinema. For a complete list, go here. I should note that there are a number of movies on this list that I adore; e.g. Singin' In the Rain (#10), Star Wars (#15), Raiders of the Lost Ark (#60), The Sound of Music (#55), The Silence of the Lambs (#65), The African Queen (#17). In this blog, though, I am going to focus on 5 movies I watched solely because of their existence on this list. These 5 films have gone on to become some of my most favorite and most respected.
1. The Philadelphia Story (#51): I love this movie. I think to a certain extent it's because I find a little of myself in Traci Lord's (Katharine Hepburn) willful and independent nature. She knows what she wants in life, presents herself as a strong woman and hides her frailty out of fear or insecurity. Hepburn (my favorite classic actress) is joined by the always impeccable Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart. On the eve of Traci's marriage to George Kittredge (John Howard), her ex-husband C.K. Dexter Haven (Grant) shows up unexpectedly with tabloid journalists (Stewart, Ruth Hussey). Mayhem ensues. Don't miss my favorite scene which finds a rather inebriated Stewart laying it all on the line with Grant. Great fun!
2. Bringing Up Baby (#97): Kate and Cary make yet another appearance on my list with this screwball comedy classic. In this film we find Grant as university paleontologist, Dr. David Huxley, trying to score the big donation that will fund all the dinosaur digs his little heart desires. Unfortunately for him, Susan Vance (Hepburn), in all her ditzy and star struck ways has taken a liking to the rather geeky paleontologist...as if anyone could really believe Cary Grant was a geek. Ha! Throw in a leopard who loves the song "I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby" and an illusive dinosaur bone and you have the recipe for a lovely romantic comedy!
3. Some Like it Hot (#14): There are some gimmicks that always get a laugh and at the top of the list is "Men in Drag." Many films have centered on this theme over the years. Good ones: Tootsie. Cheesy-yet-fun ones: Too Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar. And terrible ones that make you want to slit your wrists: White Chicks. Some Like it Hot definitely fits in the first category. The movie's timeless humour earned it the top place on AFI's 100 Greatest Comedies list as well. The story begins in 1929, when musicians Joe (Tony Curtis) and Jerry (Jack Lemmon) witness a mob hit and are forced to flee Chicago...as women. They get jobs playing with an all-girl band in sunny Florida, which stars a sultry Sugar Kane (Marylin Monroe) with whom both men immediately fall in love. Lemmon and Curtis's antics as Daphne and Josephine are brilliant...and the scene with Lemmon and his maracas is one of my all-time favorites! Definitely a classic and worth every commendation!
4. Rear Window (#42): I should start by stating for the record: "I'm not a fan of Hitchcock." I know that in many minds that is like saying: "There is no God." or more apropos "I don't like Lord of the Rings." (Which I don't...nervously glancing around.) I have found most Hitchcock movies to have brilliant concepts and fascinating plot lines...but they are unbelievably long and boring with lengthy periods of no action. Not so with Rear Window. The lack of action actually worked well for the story and I became just as intrigued by the residents of the apartment complex as L.B. Jeffries (Jimmy Stewart) and Lisa Fremont (Grace Kelly). Those who have seen the movie will remember what was, for me, the most chilling scene: Jeffries watching Mr. Thorwald's (Raymond Burr) dark apartment, the only visible light coming from the end of his cigar. Sends a chill up my spine even now.
5. Double Indemnity (#38): This 1944 noire classic stars Fred MacMurray as insurance salesman, Walter Neff, who plots murder with his married love interest Barbara Stanwyck. I admit, it's been a while since I've seen this movie, so it's a little fuzzy. However, this is the most engaging noire picture I have ever seen. At the very beginning of the movie, MacMurray confesses his guilt to the murder and over the next 107 minutes the audience is led through a riveting disclosure of the who's, how's and why's of the crime. If a black and white noire can capture the mind of a 22 year old (ahem...me), I think that says something! Excellent!
These were some of my favorites. However, in the immortal words of LeVar Burton..."Don't take my word for it!" Go out and watch for yourself. Other note-worthy movies that didn't make my top 5, but are still worth a view: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (#29), Casablanca (#2), Platoon (#83), The Apartment (#93), Tootsie (#62), All About Eve (#16), Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (#99), Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid (#50), The Gold Rush (#74), the list goes on and on. I've managed to see more than 40 movies in the past 6 years (I have just over 30 left to go)...a low number but honourable just the same. Check out the list and offer feedback! Which movies are your favorites? Which ones do you disagree with? Enquiring minds want to know!
Special Note: Whilst conducting my research, I stumbled across an announcement of the AFI's 10th Anniversary 100 Greatest Movies list. Yep, every 10 years they'll be updating the list! So keep an eye out for the newest AFI release this June!
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
The 100 Quotes of Me...60 - 41
And the countdown continues. Here are the next 20 quotes of me!! I can't wait to hear your thoughts and comments!
60. Kronk: No, no, it’s not you. There’s a wall there. (Emperor’s New Groove)
59. Don Juan: No woman has ever left my arms unsatisfied. (Don Juan DeMarco)
58. Peasant: Come see the violence inherent in the system. Come see the violence inherent in the system! Help, help, I’m being repressed! (Holy Grail)
57. Jan: I'm sorry, all I heard was 'Blah, blah, blah, I'm a dirty tramp!' (Mr. Deeds)
56. Schatze: [A potential husband should have a …] Class address, class background, class character…to be specific about it, nothing under six figures a year.
Loco: I’ve never heard anything so intelligent in my life. (How to Marry a Millionaire)
55. Cole Porter: If I can survive this movie, I can survive anything. (De-Lovely)
54. R.F.: It’ll be a sensation! Lamont and Lockwood: They Talk!
Lena: Well of course we talk, don’t everybody? (Singin in the Rain)
53. Kate: I don't know what they taught you in France, but rude and interesting are not the same things. (French Kiss)
52. Lloyd: You know what I'm going to get you next Christmas, Mom? A big wooden cross, so that every time you feel unappreciated for your sacrifices, you can climb on up and nail yourself to it. (The Ref)
51. Leia: Why you stuck up, half-witted, scruffy looking, nerfherder.
Han: Who’s scruffy looking? (The Empire Strikes Back)
50. Henry Jones: I didn't know you could fly a plane.
Indiana: Fly, yes. Land, no. (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade)
49. Benedick: They say the lady is fair, 'tis a truth, I can bear them witness; and virtuous, 'tis so, I cannot reprove it; and wise, but for loving me - by my troth, it is no addition to her wit, nor no great argument of her folly; for I will be horribly in love with her. (Much Ado About Nothing)
48. Westley: There’s a shortage of perfect breasts in the world, t’would be a pity to damage yours. (The Princess Bride)
47. Joe: You're not a girl! You're a guy! Why would a guy wanna marry a guy?
Jerry: Security! (Some Like it Hot)
46. Sorsha: I dwell in darkness without you and it went away? (Willow)
45. Barney: Why d’ya have t’look so beautiful? If your nose were shiny or your eyes dull… anything to make it easier…but you have t’come in here lookin’ like a chorus ‘a angels… (Young at Heart)
44. Peter: You can't listen to this and not dance! (Swing Kids)
43. Jack: I'd say that she gets under your skin as soon as you meet her. She drives you so nuts that you don't know whether to hug her or really--arm wrestle her. She would go all the way to Europe just to get a stamp in her passport. I don't know if that amounts to insanity or just being really, really {pause} likeable....(While You Were Sleeping)
42. Nick: I believe that the woman cares.
Nora: I don’t care. It’s just that I’m used to you, that’s all. (The Thin Man)
41. Lt. Doyle: People do a lot of things in private they couldn't possibly explain in public. (Rear Window)
60. Kronk: No, no, it’s not you. There’s a wall there. (Emperor’s New Groove)
59. Don Juan: No woman has ever left my arms unsatisfied. (Don Juan DeMarco)
58. Peasant: Come see the violence inherent in the system. Come see the violence inherent in the system! Help, help, I’m being repressed! (Holy Grail)
57. Jan: I'm sorry, all I heard was 'Blah, blah, blah, I'm a dirty tramp!' (Mr. Deeds)
56. Schatze: [A potential husband should have a …] Class address, class background, class character…to be specific about it, nothing under six figures a year.
Loco: I’ve never heard anything so intelligent in my life. (How to Marry a Millionaire)
55. Cole Porter: If I can survive this movie, I can survive anything. (De-Lovely)
54. R.F.: It’ll be a sensation! Lamont and Lockwood: They Talk!
Lena: Well of course we talk, don’t everybody? (Singin in the Rain)
53. Kate: I don't know what they taught you in France, but rude and interesting are not the same things. (French Kiss)
52. Lloyd: You know what I'm going to get you next Christmas, Mom? A big wooden cross, so that every time you feel unappreciated for your sacrifices, you can climb on up and nail yourself to it. (The Ref)
51. Leia: Why you stuck up, half-witted, scruffy looking, nerfherder.
Han: Who’s scruffy looking? (The Empire Strikes Back)
50. Henry Jones: I didn't know you could fly a plane.
Indiana: Fly, yes. Land, no. (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade)
49. Benedick: They say the lady is fair, 'tis a truth, I can bear them witness; and virtuous, 'tis so, I cannot reprove it; and wise, but for loving me - by my troth, it is no addition to her wit, nor no great argument of her folly; for I will be horribly in love with her. (Much Ado About Nothing)
48. Westley: There’s a shortage of perfect breasts in the world, t’would be a pity to damage yours. (The Princess Bride)
47. Joe: You're not a girl! You're a guy! Why would a guy wanna marry a guy?
Jerry: Security! (Some Like it Hot)
46. Sorsha: I dwell in darkness without you and it went away? (Willow)
45. Barney: Why d’ya have t’look so beautiful? If your nose were shiny or your eyes dull… anything to make it easier…but you have t’come in here lookin’ like a chorus ‘a angels… (Young at Heart)
44. Peter: You can't listen to this and not dance! (Swing Kids)
43. Jack: I'd say that she gets under your skin as soon as you meet her. She drives you so nuts that you don't know whether to hug her or really--arm wrestle her. She would go all the way to Europe just to get a stamp in her passport. I don't know if that amounts to insanity or just being really, really {pause} likeable....(While You Were Sleeping)
42. Nick: I believe that the woman cares.
Nora: I don’t care. It’s just that I’m used to you, that’s all. (The Thin Man)
41. Lt. Doyle: People do a lot of things in private they couldn't possibly explain in public. (Rear Window)
Monday, February 26, 2007
The Brothers Grimm
A Suberbly Fantastic Waste of Time!
Sometimes I'm just in the mood for a fun, fantastical, cheesy movie. I can't sum up a long day better, than by curling up on my couch with a blanket and pillow and popping in some mindless entertainment. Such was the case yesterday.
While flipping through one of God's greatest creations, Video On-
Demand (Offered by my cable company; who is not paying me, so they get no mention! Kate - 1, Cable Company - 0...score!), I stumbled across Terry Gilliam's The Brothers Grimm starring Heath Ledger and Matt Damon. I saw this in the theatre and had recently been wanting to watch it again; so I muted the phone, fed my puppy, turned up the surround sound and settled back on my chaise lounge.
I was a little late when I jumped on the Gilliam bandwagon. My first of his movies was 12 Monkeys. I was immediately hooked. Shortly thereafter, I began catching up; The Fisher King, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen and just about all the Monty Python I could get my hands on. Some I liked, some I didn't. However, I have always enjoyed Gilliam's juxtaposition of reality and fantasy.
Grimm was really no exception. Let me start by saying, all-in-all I really enjoyed the movie. However, I can only rate it a weak 3 stars, because of the movie's less-than-stellar ending. Without giving anything away (in case you want to watch it), I'll just say that it was unbelievably predictable and extremely silly and cliché.
That having been said, I thought the rest of the movie was rather pleasant. Damon and Ledger were hilarious in their roles as Will and Jacob Grimm (respectively), who traversed French-occupied Germany in 1811 ridding villages of ghosts, ghouls and banshees alike. More like The Three Amigos than demonic exorcisers, the brothers find themselves forced to go to a small village (by the always exceptional Jonathan Pryce) which has been plagued by the disappearance of several young girls. Needless to say, mayhem ensues as our would-be heroes find themselves in over their heads.
The Brothers Grimm is certainly not the greatest movie ever made, nor is it the shining star in Terry Gilliam's galaxy of work; but if you're looking for a fun movie to help you escape from the real world, Grimm is as good as any...if you can get past the ending. Ha!
Sometimes I'm just in the mood for a fun, fantastical, cheesy movie. I can't sum up a long day better, than by curling up on my couch with a blanket and pillow and popping in some mindless entertainment. Such was the case yesterday.
While flipping through one of God's greatest creations, Video On-
Demand (Offered by my cable company; who is not paying me, so they get no mention! Kate - 1, Cable Company - 0...score!), I stumbled across Terry Gilliam's The Brothers Grimm starring Heath Ledger and Matt Damon. I saw this in the theatre and had recently been wanting to watch it again; so I muted the phone, fed my puppy, turned up the surround sound and settled back on my chaise lounge.I was a little late when I jumped on the Gilliam bandwagon. My first of his movies was 12 Monkeys. I was immediately hooked. Shortly thereafter, I began catching up; The Fisher King, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen and just about all the Monty Python I could get my hands on. Some I liked, some I didn't. However, I have always enjoyed Gilliam's juxtaposition of reality and fantasy.
Grimm was really no exception. Let me start by saying, all-in-all I really enjoyed the movie. However, I can only rate it a weak 3 stars, because of the movie's less-than-stellar ending. Without giving anything away (in case you want to watch it), I'll just say that it was unbelievably predictable and extremely silly and cliché.
That having been said, I thought the rest of the movie was rather pleasant. Damon and Ledger were hilarious in their roles as Will and Jacob Grimm (respectively), who traversed French-occupied Germany in 1811 ridding villages of ghosts, ghouls and banshees alike. More like The Three Amigos than demonic exorcisers, the brothers find themselves forced to go to a small village (by the always exceptional Jonathan Pryce) which has been plagued by the disappearance of several young girls. Needless to say, mayhem ensues as our would-be heroes find themselves in over their heads.
The Brothers Grimm is certainly not the greatest movie ever made, nor is it the shining star in Terry Gilliam's galaxy of work; but if you're looking for a fun movie to help you escape from the real world, Grimm is as good as any...if you can get past the ending. Ha!
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Half Nelson
Why Depression is Fun!
When I leave a movie feeling like I need to either kill myself or get doped-up on anti-depressants -- all the while feeling somehow empowered to fight the forces of oppression and unite the world...I know I've seen an Oscar-worthy movie.
As I was watching Half Nelson last night, I made a mental list of all the emotions and feelings I experienced....things like: unease, discomfort, pain, pity and even nausea. (Which, admittedly, is very weird...but true.) After it was over, I wrote them all down and slept on it. Those feelings haven't really changed.
First and foremost, the movie was incredibly powerful. The script is minimal and frequently depends on the talent of its actors to convey the message through action and expression. They do not disappoint.
I had heard a great deal of buzz about Ryan Gosling's performance as Dan Dunne, the drug-addicted history teacher of an inner-city Brooklyn school. In fact, in a recent poll on IMDB, he came in second overall as a favorite dark horse candidate to steal an Oscar from the anticipated recipient. Now I know why. Gosling delivered one of the most compelling and understated performances I've ever seen by such a young actor. So believable, in fact, that it honestly made me hope he doesn't fall into a similar career path as River Phoenix. (It was Phoenix's role in My Own Private Idaho that is rumoured to be the cause of his drug addiction and subsequent death in 1993.)
Dunne is discovered strung out in the girls locker room by 13 year-old Drey, one of his latch-key students. What follows is a relationship between the two that, while it never actually crosses the Mary Kay Letourneau line of indecency, becomes painfully uncomfortable from time to time. I found myself yelling at the TV in a vain attempt to keep young Dunne from losing his job. He doesn't, of course, because the movie isn't about physically inappropriate teacher-student relationships. The movie is about one young man's struggle to come to a realization that he alone can't change the world. He escapes to a drug-induced haze to deal with life and in a way comes to depend on young Drey to find a little hope.
There was one thing about this movie that aggravated me. I don't care much for screenwriters who interject whiney idealistic politics into their storyline. There are a few references by Dunne and his parents that garnered eye-rolls and some "Good Lords" out of me, but they were brief and I was grateful.
All-in-all, though, Half Nelson was exceptional. A commanding story that showcases the magnificent talent of its actors. Shareeka Epps turns in a wonderful performance that earned her (and co-star Gosling) top honours at the 2007 Independent Spirit Awards. Nelson isn't for everyone...so watch at your own risk. However, it undeniably grabs it's audience with raw and powerful emotion and doesn't let go. Superb. 4 Stars.
When I leave a movie feeling like I need to either kill myself or get doped-up on anti-depressants -- all the while feeling somehow empowered to fight the forces of oppression and unite the world...I know I've seen an Oscar-worthy movie.As I was watching Half Nelson last night, I made a mental list of all the emotions and feelings I experienced....things like: unease, discomfort, pain, pity and even nausea. (Which, admittedly, is very weird...but true.) After it was over, I wrote them all down and slept on it. Those feelings haven't really changed.
First and foremost, the movie was incredibly powerful. The script is minimal and frequently depends on the talent of its actors to convey the message through action and expression. They do not disappoint.
I had heard a great deal of buzz about Ryan Gosling's performance as Dan Dunne, the drug-addicted history teacher of an inner-city Brooklyn school. In fact, in a recent poll on IMDB, he came in second overall as a favorite dark horse candidate to steal an Oscar from the anticipated recipient. Now I know why. Gosling delivered one of the most compelling and understated performances I've ever seen by such a young actor. So believable, in fact, that it honestly made me hope he doesn't fall into a similar career path as River Phoenix. (It was Phoenix's role in My Own Private Idaho that is rumoured to be the cause of his drug addiction and subsequent death in 1993.)
Dunne is discovered strung out in the girls locker room by 13 year-old Drey, one of his latch-key students. What follows is a relationship between the two that, while it never actually crosses the Mary Kay Letourneau line of indecency, becomes painfully uncomfortable from time to time. I found myself yelling at the TV in a vain attempt to keep young Dunne from losing his job. He doesn't, of course, because the movie isn't about physically inappropriate teacher-student relationships. The movie is about one young man's struggle to come to a realization that he alone can't change the world. He escapes to a drug-induced haze to deal with life and in a way comes to depend on young Drey to find a little hope.
There was one thing about this movie that aggravated me. I don't care much for screenwriters who interject whiney idealistic politics into their storyline. There are a few references by Dunne and his parents that garnered eye-rolls and some "Good Lords" out of me, but they were brief and I was grateful.
All-in-all, though, Half Nelson was exceptional. A commanding story that showcases the magnificent talent of its actors. Shareeka Epps turns in a wonderful performance that earned her (and co-star Gosling) top honours at the 2007 Independent Spirit Awards. Nelson isn't for everyone...so watch at your own risk. However, it undeniably grabs it's audience with raw and powerful emotion and doesn't let go. Superb. 4 Stars.
Monday, February 19, 2007
The 100 Quotes of Me...80 - 61
And the list of k8's 100 Quotes of Me continues...
Let your mind wander and if your muse speaks some of your favorite quotes, comment and share with the world! :)
80. Thomas: I'm a cowboy, and you're a pansy. (Swing Kids)
79. Christian: Love is a many-splendored thing. Love, lifts us up where we belong. All you need is love. (Moulin Rouge)
78. Milton: My body is a roadmap of pain! (The Frighteners)
77. Edna: Supermodels. Heh! Nothing super about them... spoiled, stupid little stick figures with poofy lips who think only about themselves. (The Incredibles)
76. Dorothy: The chaperone’s job is to make sure nobody else has fun. Nobody chaperones the chaperone. (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes)
75. Mrs. White: Flies are where men are most vulnerable. (Clue)
74. Dory: I shall call you squishy and you shall be mine and you shall be my squishy. (Finding Nemo)
73. Han Solo: That's a good story. I think you just can't bear to let a gorgeous guy like me out of your sight. (The Empire Strikes Back)
72. Lloyd: You think every morning I wake up, look in the mirror and say "Gee I'm glad I'm me and not some 19-year-old billionaire rockstar with the body of an athlete and a 24-hour erection!" No I don't! So just excuse the shit out of me! (The Ref)
71. Indiana: It's not the years, honey, it's the mileage. (Raiders of the Lost Ark)
70. Claudio: Then down on her knee she falls! Beats her heart, tears her hair, curses, “Oh Sweet Benedick, God Give Me Patience!!!” (Much Ado About Nothing)
69. Quiz Kid Donnie: I used to be smart, but now I'm just stupid. (Magnolia)
68. Austin Millbarge: We mock what we don't understand. (Spies Like Us)
67. Rick: Are my eyes really brown? (Casablanca)
66. Kate: I mean the kind of love between one man and one woman.
Luc: It is not a very interesting question. It is a question of a little girl who still believes in fairy tales. (French Kiss)
65. Lena: Well, I can’t make love to a bush! (Singin in the Rain)
64. Ellie: Your ego is absolutely colossal.
Peter: Yeah, yeah, not bad, how's yours? (It Happened One Night)
63. Batty: Puff up, puff up. They hate that! (Ferngully)
62. Smee: I’ve just had an apostrophe.
Cpt. Hook: I think you mean epiphany.
Smee: Lightin just struck my brain…(Hook)
61. Osgood: Do you use a bow or do you just pluck it.
Jerry/Daphne: Most of the time I slap it. (Some Like it Hot)
Let your mind wander and if your muse speaks some of your favorite quotes, comment and share with the world! :)
80. Thomas: I'm a cowboy, and you're a pansy. (Swing Kids)
79. Christian: Love is a many-splendored thing. Love, lifts us up where we belong. All you need is love. (Moulin Rouge)
78. Milton: My body is a roadmap of pain! (The Frighteners)
77. Edna: Supermodels. Heh! Nothing super about them... spoiled, stupid little stick figures with poofy lips who think only about themselves. (The Incredibles)
76. Dorothy: The chaperone’s job is to make sure nobody else has fun. Nobody chaperones the chaperone. (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes)
75. Mrs. White: Flies are where men are most vulnerable. (Clue)
74. Dory: I shall call you squishy and you shall be mine and you shall be my squishy. (Finding Nemo)
73. Han Solo: That's a good story. I think you just can't bear to let a gorgeous guy like me out of your sight. (The Empire Strikes Back)
72. Lloyd: You think every morning I wake up, look in the mirror and say "Gee I'm glad I'm me and not some 19-year-old billionaire rockstar with the body of an athlete and a 24-hour erection!" No I don't! So just excuse the shit out of me! (The Ref)
71. Indiana: It's not the years, honey, it's the mileage. (Raiders of the Lost Ark)
70. Claudio: Then down on her knee she falls! Beats her heart, tears her hair, curses, “Oh Sweet Benedick, God Give Me Patience!!!” (Much Ado About Nothing)
69. Quiz Kid Donnie: I used to be smart, but now I'm just stupid. (Magnolia)
68. Austin Millbarge: We mock what we don't understand. (Spies Like Us)
67. Rick: Are my eyes really brown? (Casablanca)
66. Kate: I mean the kind of love between one man and one woman.
Luc: It is not a very interesting question. It is a question of a little girl who still believes in fairy tales. (French Kiss)
65. Lena: Well, I can’t make love to a bush! (Singin in the Rain)
64. Ellie: Your ego is absolutely colossal.
Peter: Yeah, yeah, not bad, how's yours? (It Happened One Night)
63. Batty: Puff up, puff up. They hate that! (Ferngully)
62. Smee: I’ve just had an apostrophe.
Cpt. Hook: I think you mean epiphany.
Smee: Lightin just struck my brain…(Hook)
61. Osgood: Do you use a bow or do you just pluck it.
Jerry/Daphne: Most of the time I slap it. (Some Like it Hot)
Smokin' Aces
Smokin' Awesome!
What did the tv commercial say?
Here are the words the New York Times uses to describe Smokin' Aces..."Blam! Blam! Blam! Expletive! Expletive! Plot Twist. FBI. Expletive! Blam! Blam! Blam! Roll Credits."
The ad sold me. The cast cinched the deal. I ask you, how could I possibly turn down Jeremy Piven, Ryan Reynolds, Jason Bateman, Peter Berg, Andy Garcia, Taraji Henson, Ben Affleck and even a cameo by Matthew Fox? (Ok, maybe most of us coulda done without Ben Affleck, but he was GREAT...so let's just let bygones be bygones, shall we?)
Smokin' Aces was awesome! Everything I look for in an action movie. This was one helluva 1 hour 49 minute ride through the wild and crazy world of La Cosa Nostra...with Piven at the center of the mayhem. Like most people I've talked to, I figured out the twist way ahead of time but that doesn't matter...because it's the "getting there" that's the best part.
Here are the words the New York Times uses to describe Smokin' Aces..."Blam! Blam! Blam! Expletive! Expletive! Plot Twist. FBI. Expletive! Blam! Blam! Blam! Roll Credits."
The ad sold me. The cast cinched the deal. I ask you, how could I possibly turn down Jeremy Piven, Ryan Reynolds, Jason Bateman, Peter Berg, Andy Garcia, Taraji Henson, Ben Affleck and even a cameo by Matthew Fox? (Ok, maybe most of us coulda done without Ben Affleck, but he was GREAT...so let's just let bygones be bygones, shall we?)
Smokin' Aces was awesome! Everything I look for in an action movie. This was one helluva 1 hour 49 minute ride through the wild and crazy world of La Cosa Nostra...with Piven at the center of the mayhem. Like most people I've talked to, I figured out the twist way ahead of time but that doesn't matter...because it's the "getting there" that's the best part.
If you enjoy massive amounts of violence, gallons of blood, torture, drugs and prostitutes then you're in the right place! If you don't enjoy that, you might like it anyway because it's just a fun, outlandish and brilliantly engaging story! Even when you know the twist, you have no idea what to expect next.
My Neflix Review: The only way this could've been better, is if Ryan Reynolds had performed the whole thing in a**less boxer-briefs!!
And kudos to the NY Times, they hit the nail right on the head!
**Personal Note to Jeremy Piven**
J - Your awesomeness is not a shock to me. I have been a fan since well before your "10 YEARS!!!" rant in Grosse Pointe Blank. However, I fear your new-found Entourage fame is turning you into an insufferable, pompous, arrogant diva. Do us all a favor and bring yourself back down to earth...you were more likeable before.
My Neflix Review: The only way this could've been better, is if Ryan Reynolds had performed the whole thing in a**less boxer-briefs!!
And kudos to the NY Times, they hit the nail right on the head!
**Personal Note to Jeremy Piven**
J - Your awesomeness is not a shock to me. I have been a fan since well before your "10 YEARS!!!" rant in Grosse Pointe Blank. However, I fear your new-found Entourage fame is turning you into an insufferable, pompous, arrogant diva. Do us all a favor and bring yourself back down to earth...you were more likeable before.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
The 100 Quotes of Me...100 - 81
Lists. I love making lists. My top 5 Johnny Depp movies. My top 5 Action Flicks. My top 5 Guilty Pleasures. I've made a lot of these in my day and I can't tell you how many boring work days have flown by as a result of these little beauties.
Every now and then, though, I get a little more ambitious and make a "100 Greatest" list. In 2001 I created k8's 100 Favorite Movies. That list is really out of date right now, so you don't get to see that one....yet. In late 2004, however, the AFI (American Film Institute) announced it's plans to name the 100 Greatest Movie Quotes in film history. Well, needless to say, my little brain started working. I would say a good 1/3 of my personal lingo comes from movies. Most of my cleverest quips and sayings aren't mine at all (but I do deliver them well, if I do say so myself!) but from the minds of screenwriters.
In order to narrow down the quotes (my drafts included more than 300), I had to come up with a set of guidelines to most accurately narrow down my selections to 100. After much deliberation, I came up with the following:
1. Does it define me as a person or somehow say something about me?
2. Quote-ability. Has it worked its way into my every-day vernacular?
3. Likeability. Is it just fun and memorable?
With the rules defined, I hand-picked my 100 Quotes of Me. Over the next few weeks, I will be posting them for your review and pleasure. Please feel free to comment on the ones you like and others that may stand out for you!
100. Helena: Oh, spite. (Midsummer Night’s Dream)
99. Arvid: Quiz time. Got your glasses on.
Thomas: What?
Arvid: It means you don't know who your friends are. (Swing Kids)
98. Preston: Up until now one could write this off as coincidence. But then she reached into her bag and pulled out a Strawberry Pop Tart—the very same breakfast pastry that I was consuming at that moment! (Can’t Hardly Wait)
97. Benny: It's like taking me to the top of the mountain and showing me the world, and then marching me back down, and saying, "That's what you can't have Benny, you silly great fat article.” (Circle of Friends)
96. Marie: You're right, you're right. I know you're right. (When Harry Met Sally)
95. Indiana: Ahh, Venice. (Last Crusade)
94. Barrie: Yes, well, we dream on a budget here, don’t we? (Finding Neverland)
93. Albert: That sarcastic contemptuous tone that means you know everything because you're a man, and I know nothing because I'm a woman.
Armand: You're not a woman.
Albert: Oh, you bastard! (The Birdcage)
92. Muriel: I refuse to endanger the lives of my children in a house with less than four bathrooms. (Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House)
91. Dorothy: Remember, honey, on your wedding day it’s ok to say yes. (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes)
90. Dr. Lester: I’ve been very lonely in my isolated tower of indecipherable speech. (Being John Malcovich)
89. Rizzo: God save my little broken body. (Muppet’s Christmas Carol)
88. Mrs. White: Get off me! (Clue)
87. Capt. Lewis: Benjamin, you are not fit to wear that uniform.
Benjamin: No shit! (Private Benjamin)
86. Kobayashi: One cannot be betrayed if one has no people. (The Usual Suspects)
85. Mother: Corie, you don’t give a person a chance…at least let me see the whole apartment.
Paul: This is the whole apartment.
Mother: It’s a nice large room. (Barefoot in the Park)
84. Jack: That's right, Mr. Joe Fusco, Jr. He said you two were intimate.
Lucy: Yeah, well he also said he invented aluminum foil, he's delusional. (While You Were Sleeping)
83. Lucas: Who knows where thoughts come from? They just appear. Mmm-hmm. (Empire Records)
82. Randy: I can’t put my arms down! (A Christmas Story)
81. Hansel: Sting would be another person who's a hero. The music he's created over the years, I don't really listen to it, but the fact that he's making it, I respect that. (Zoolander)
Every now and then, though, I get a little more ambitious and make a "100 Greatest" list. In 2001 I created k8's 100 Favorite Movies. That list is really out of date right now, so you don't get to see that one....yet. In late 2004, however, the AFI (American Film Institute) announced it's plans to name the 100 Greatest Movie Quotes in film history. Well, needless to say, my little brain started working. I would say a good 1/3 of my personal lingo comes from movies. Most of my cleverest quips and sayings aren't mine at all (but I do deliver them well, if I do say so myself!) but from the minds of screenwriters.
In order to narrow down the quotes (my drafts included more than 300), I had to come up with a set of guidelines to most accurately narrow down my selections to 100. After much deliberation, I came up with the following:
1. Does it define me as a person or somehow say something about me?
2. Quote-ability. Has it worked its way into my every-day vernacular?
3. Likeability. Is it just fun and memorable?
With the rules defined, I hand-picked my 100 Quotes of Me. Over the next few weeks, I will be posting them for your review and pleasure. Please feel free to comment on the ones you like and others that may stand out for you!
100. Helena: Oh, spite. (Midsummer Night’s Dream)
99. Arvid: Quiz time. Got your glasses on.
Thomas: What?
Arvid: It means you don't know who your friends are. (Swing Kids)
98. Preston: Up until now one could write this off as coincidence. But then she reached into her bag and pulled out a Strawberry Pop Tart—the very same breakfast pastry that I was consuming at that moment! (Can’t Hardly Wait)
97. Benny: It's like taking me to the top of the mountain and showing me the world, and then marching me back down, and saying, "That's what you can't have Benny, you silly great fat article.” (Circle of Friends)
96. Marie: You're right, you're right. I know you're right. (When Harry Met Sally)
95. Indiana: Ahh, Venice. (Last Crusade)
94. Barrie: Yes, well, we dream on a budget here, don’t we? (Finding Neverland)
93. Albert: That sarcastic contemptuous tone that means you know everything because you're a man, and I know nothing because I'm a woman.
Armand: You're not a woman.
Albert: Oh, you bastard! (The Birdcage)
92. Muriel: I refuse to endanger the lives of my children in a house with less than four bathrooms. (Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House)
91. Dorothy: Remember, honey, on your wedding day it’s ok to say yes. (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes)
90. Dr. Lester: I’ve been very lonely in my isolated tower of indecipherable speech. (Being John Malcovich)
89. Rizzo: God save my little broken body. (Muppet’s Christmas Carol)
88. Mrs. White: Get off me! (Clue)
87. Capt. Lewis: Benjamin, you are not fit to wear that uniform.
Benjamin: No shit! (Private Benjamin)
86. Kobayashi: One cannot be betrayed if one has no people. (The Usual Suspects)
85. Mother: Corie, you don’t give a person a chance…at least let me see the whole apartment.
Paul: This is the whole apartment.
Mother: It’s a nice large room. (Barefoot in the Park)
84. Jack: That's right, Mr. Joe Fusco, Jr. He said you two were intimate.
Lucy: Yeah, well he also said he invented aluminum foil, he's delusional. (While You Were Sleeping)
83. Lucas: Who knows where thoughts come from? They just appear. Mmm-hmm. (Empire Records)
82. Randy: I can’t put my arms down! (A Christmas Story)
81. Hansel: Sting would be another person who's a hero. The music he's created over the years, I don't really listen to it, but the fact that he's making it, I respect that. (Zoolander)
Monday, February 12, 2007
The First One...
As is my custom, I was scanning the hyperlinks on IMDB this morning, when I stumbled across one that said: 7 Actors Discuss the First Films That Influenced Them from NYTimes.com. "Oooooooh!" I said to myself, in the manner of Toy Story's little green aliens, and clicked the link. What followed was a 9-minute film of Cate Blanchett, Brad Pitt, Helen Mirren, Abbie Cornish, Ken Watanabe, Penelope Cruz and Leonardo Dicaprio all discussing the movies that most influenced their lives.
This got me thinking...is there one movie that really changed my life? If so, what is it?
That's a tough question. Frankly, I don't remember the first movie I ever saw, either in a theatre or on VHS. For some reason, that one event doesn't stand out...wonder why?
So I started exploring the recesses of my mind, pushing aside the cobwebs of age, and soon the movies from my childhood began flooding back to my conscious. The Goonies, always among my top picks, is one of the greatest movies of my generation. The Princess Bride had the unprecedented ability to affect me differently as a child and as an adult.I watched A New Hope and Return of the Jedi so many times that I broke the tapes. Three Men and a Baby...I think I actually broke the video store's copy of that. My personal Jim Henson favorites: Muppets Take Manhattan and The Dark Crystal. The equally dark Neverending Story and Return to Oz. I even had a few classics that I loved growing up: Little Women (with Liz Taylor), The Wizard of Oz and The Music Man (with Robert Preston), all personal favorites when I visited with my grandmother.
However, as I thought of these titles, none really jumped out at me as the catalyst of my movie obsession. Sure, I loved them and watched them obsessively, but did any of them fuel me to a level of devotion that would inspire me to write this blog? No, I don't think so. So what did it? What film put me over the edge of "casual movie-goer"? As I watched Jake Paltrow's short film, listening to each actor describe their favorite audience-member moments, one movie kept popping into my head. It wasn't an instance from my childhood. It wasn't a movie someone insisted I watch. It wasn't even at a movie theatre. But seeing this movie opened my eyes to hundreds, even thousands, of movies I wasn't willing to take a chance on before.
Picture if you will...The tiny village of Steinbach, Germany, 1996. I, nearing that all important 18th birthday, was on a study abroad. Most of the channels on TV were obviously in German, but I did have two English options: Sky News (booooring) and the European version of TNT. This TNT was not all westerns like it was at home. No, this TNT spent half its day as Cartoon Network and the other half of its day as TCM. It was early into my month-long trip to Deutschland that I saw...Singin' in the Rain.
Of course I'd heard of Singin' in the Rain. Basically every list of the "greatest movies ever made" includes it. We sang the title song in Girl Scouts. I don't remember exactly what I was
expecting...probably that it was going to be a drama, probably that I was going to roll my eyes a lot. But it was either that or the news...so naturally, I chose the movie.
From the opening credits to The End, I was mesmerized. The movie was absolutely incredible. It was funny, a real surprise to me. It laughed at Hollywood during the late '20s to early '30s, when silent pictures faded and talkies took the reigns. The love story was not overly "cheesy" (a problem I generally have with musicals), but rather sweet and added to the appeal of the story. It's a true movie-lovers movie but doesn't exclude the rest of its audience. The music was timeless and the phenomenal dancing by Gene Kelly, Donald O'Conner and Debbie Reynolds has never been equaled.
Musicals aren't for everyone but you may find Singin' in the Rain the exception. Marvelous story. Superb characters. Awe-inspiring dancing.
TCM's ad said it best:
"There's no such thing as classic movies. Just great films you've never seen before."
This got me thinking...is there one movie that really changed my life? If so, what is it?
That's a tough question. Frankly, I don't remember the first movie I ever saw, either in a theatre or on VHS. For some reason, that one event doesn't stand out...wonder why?
So I started exploring the recesses of my mind, pushing aside the cobwebs of age, and soon the movies from my childhood began flooding back to my conscious. The Goonies, always among my top picks, is one of the greatest movies of my generation. The Princess Bride had the unprecedented ability to affect me differently as a child and as an adult.I watched A New Hope and Return of the Jedi so many times that I broke the tapes. Three Men and a Baby...I think I actually broke the video store's copy of that. My personal Jim Henson favorites: Muppets Take Manhattan and The Dark Crystal. The equally dark Neverending Story and Return to Oz. I even had a few classics that I loved growing up: Little Women (with Liz Taylor), The Wizard of Oz and The Music Man (with Robert Preston), all personal favorites when I visited with my grandmother.
However, as I thought of these titles, none really jumped out at me as the catalyst of my movie obsession. Sure, I loved them and watched them obsessively, but did any of them fuel me to a level of devotion that would inspire me to write this blog? No, I don't think so. So what did it? What film put me over the edge of "casual movie-goer"? As I watched Jake Paltrow's short film, listening to each actor describe their favorite audience-member moments, one movie kept popping into my head. It wasn't an instance from my childhood. It wasn't a movie someone insisted I watch. It wasn't even at a movie theatre. But seeing this movie opened my eyes to hundreds, even thousands, of movies I wasn't willing to take a chance on before.
Picture if you will...The tiny village of Steinbach, Germany, 1996. I, nearing that all important 18th birthday, was on a study abroad. Most of the channels on TV were obviously in German, but I did have two English options: Sky News (booooring) and the European version of TNT. This TNT was not all westerns like it was at home. No, this TNT spent half its day as Cartoon Network and the other half of its day as TCM. It was early into my month-long trip to Deutschland that I saw...Singin' in the Rain.
Of course I'd heard of Singin' in the Rain. Basically every list of the "greatest movies ever made" includes it. We sang the title song in Girl Scouts. I don't remember exactly what I was
expecting...probably that it was going to be a drama, probably that I was going to roll my eyes a lot. But it was either that or the news...so naturally, I chose the movie.From the opening credits to The End, I was mesmerized. The movie was absolutely incredible. It was funny, a real surprise to me. It laughed at Hollywood during the late '20s to early '30s, when silent pictures faded and talkies took the reigns. The love story was not overly "cheesy" (a problem I generally have with musicals), but rather sweet and added to the appeal of the story. It's a true movie-lovers movie but doesn't exclude the rest of its audience. The music was timeless and the phenomenal dancing by Gene Kelly, Donald O'Conner and Debbie Reynolds has never been equaled.
Musicals aren't for everyone but you may find Singin' in the Rain the exception. Marvelous story. Superb characters. Awe-inspiring dancing.
TCM's ad said it best:
"There's no such thing as classic movies. Just great films you've never seen before."
Strictly Ballroom & Blow Dry
The Commonwealth Comedies...
I've decided to take a moment to draw your attention, good reader, to a self-designated genre of movie. I am calling it: the Commonwealth Comedy. You're probably familiar with this sort of flick; they may even be listed amongst your favorites. This humourous film generally centers on a somewhat odd, yet real, scenario and introduces its audience to an eccentric group of heroes and villains. Most importantly, these movies tend to originate from Great Britain or one of their many remaining commonwealths. Thus, the Commonwealth Comedy. Thank you, thank you. I’ll be here all week, please try the veal!
In this review, I will be focusing on two of my personal favorites: Strictly Ballroom and Blow Dry.
Baz Luhrmann's pre-Moulin Rouge tale, Strictly Ballroom, takes us behind the scenes of Australia's ballroom dancing subculture. I discovered this movie thanks to another cinematic staple of my young life: Swing Kids. Ballroom’s trailer was at the beginning of my VHS tape which I viewed no less than 1500 times. On a whim, when I was visiting from college, my Mom rented this Aussie flick for us to watch. I was absolutely floored. Luhrmann's knack for using color and movement to accentuate the musicality of his films is always astounding and magnificently reminiscent of the old Hollywood musicals. Add to that, the characters' manic obsession with ballroom dancing and attaining that one all-important goal, being Pan Pacific Grand Prix Champions, and you've got a hilarious and uplifting story that never fails to impress. Well, never fails to impress me anyway! This vastly under-appreciated film definitely deserves a viewing. I’m sure that there are some of you who may not have enjoyed Moulin Rouge (how that’s possible is beyond me!) but I implore you to give Strictly Ballroom a chance…because, to quote the movie: “Vivir con miedo, es como vivir a medias.” A life lived in fear, is a life half-lived.
I shan't lie. I did not watch Blow Dry because of good reviews. I did not watch Blow Dry because its trailer looked intriguing. I did not even watch Blow Dry because I knew what it was about. No, I watched Blow Dry because Josh Hartnett was in it. Shameful, I know, but I cannot and will not deny the fact that he's pretty. I’ve seen a number of movies in my day and I am ecstatic to say that Blow Dry is definitely not your typical eye-candy movie. In this little English gem, we meet a peculiar group of elegantly coiffeured hair-styling competitors who are competing for the annual British Hairdressing Championship. An all-star cast including Alan Rickman, Natasha Richardson, Bill Nighy, Rachel Griffiths and Heidi Klum joins Harnett in this endearing little comedy. Harnett proves that he’s not just a talent-less pretty face. He manages to impress even the harshest “accent critics” (namely me), by holding his Yorkshire accent quite convincingly throughout the film. However, it’s the film’s characters and the absurdity of glorifying the use of outlandish quantities of hairspray, glitter and hair accessories they use that makes it a truly splendid thing to watch. Stylish and silly. Charming and captivating. I loved this movie.
Now, I beg of you your wisdom. Do you know other movies that would fit into this genre? “Cheesy” little flicks from the land that gave us tea and scones or kangaroos and Steve Irwin. Please, comment and impart your knowledge on the masses.
I've decided to take a moment to draw your attention, good reader, to a self-designated genre of movie. I am calling it: the Commonwealth Comedy. You're probably familiar with this sort of flick; they may even be listed amongst your favorites. This humourous film generally centers on a somewhat odd, yet real, scenario and introduces its audience to an eccentric group of heroes and villains. Most importantly, these movies tend to originate from Great Britain or one of their many remaining commonwealths. Thus, the Commonwealth Comedy. Thank you, thank you. I’ll be here all week, please try the veal!
In this review, I will be focusing on two of my personal favorites: Strictly Ballroom and Blow Dry.
Baz Luhrmann's pre-Moulin Rouge tale, Strictly Ballroom, takes us behind the scenes of Australia's ballroom dancing subculture. I discovered this movie thanks to another cinematic staple of my young life: Swing Kids. Ballroom’s trailer was at the beginning of my VHS tape which I viewed no less than 1500 times. On a whim, when I was visiting from college, my Mom rented this Aussie flick for us to watch. I was absolutely floored. Luhrmann's knack for using color and movement to accentuate the musicality of his films is always astounding and magnificently reminiscent of the old Hollywood musicals. Add to that, the characters' manic obsession with ballroom dancing and attaining that one all-important goal, being Pan Pacific Grand Prix Champions, and you've got a hilarious and uplifting story that never fails to impress. Well, never fails to impress me anyway! This vastly under-appreciated film definitely deserves a viewing. I’m sure that there are some of you who may not have enjoyed Moulin Rouge (how that’s possible is beyond me!) but I implore you to give Strictly Ballroom a chance…because, to quote the movie: “Vivir con miedo, es como vivir a medias.” A life lived in fear, is a life half-lived.
I shan't lie. I did not watch Blow Dry because of good reviews. I did not watch Blow Dry because its trailer looked intriguing. I did not even watch Blow Dry because I knew what it was about. No, I watched Blow Dry because Josh Hartnett was in it. Shameful, I know, but I cannot and will not deny the fact that he's pretty. I’ve seen a number of movies in my day and I am ecstatic to say that Blow Dry is definitely not your typical eye-candy movie. In this little English gem, we meet a peculiar group of elegantly coiffeured hair-styling competitors who are competing for the annual British Hairdressing Championship. An all-star cast including Alan Rickman, Natasha Richardson, Bill Nighy, Rachel Griffiths and Heidi Klum joins Harnett in this endearing little comedy. Harnett proves that he’s not just a talent-less pretty face. He manages to impress even the harshest “accent critics” (namely me), by holding his Yorkshire accent quite convincingly throughout the film. However, it’s the film’s characters and the absurdity of glorifying the use of outlandish quantities of hairspray, glitter and hair accessories they use that makes it a truly splendid thing to watch. Stylish and silly. Charming and captivating. I loved this movie.
Now, I beg of you your wisdom. Do you know other movies that would fit into this genre? “Cheesy” little flicks from the land that gave us tea and scones or kangaroos and Steve Irwin. Please, comment and impart your knowledge on the masses.
Sunday, February 4, 2007
The Holiday
A Holiday for $1.25
Once a year Americans turn up the testosterone for a three-hour game. Bring out the beer, bring out the chips, bring out the best commercials of the year!
So what do I do? Pull out my $1.25 and head off to the dollar theatre, naturally.
For well over a month, I've avoided the cheesy romantic movie The Holiday. Reviews were not flattering (unless the reviewer in question was unequivocally enamoured of Jude Law), so I decided against seeing it. However, as friends and family began sending me favourable reports, I had a change of heart and opted for a late matinee this afternoon.
Let me state for the record how pleasantly surprised I was by this movie. I don't know about you guys, but I love movies that talk about other movies. It's like the writer is trying to pass on little secrets to those of us who can recognize them. I nearly jumped out of my chair when I caught a 3 second glimpse of His Girl Friday and chuckled merrily at the mention of The Lady Eve and speculated that the Irene Dunne movie Kate Winslett watched was more than likely The Awful Truth.
These are my favorite moments. This is why I go to the movies.
** Caution: Estrogen approaching on Testosterone Appreciation Day! **
I like a romantic comedy as much as the next girl, but I'm picky. I expect predictability. I expect a cookie-cutter cast (girl, bad guy, nice guy, best friend, etc). Yet there needs to be a little something that sets it apart. I think Faith said it best when she recommended it to me, "They have cool jobs!" It's true. I loved that Jack Black was a composer and that Cameron Diaz was a movie trailer editor. The fact that she thought of every aspect of her life as a trailer narrated by the trailer guy was great! (I so do that) These characters were people I could really identify with. While I find myself more a Kate Winslett than Cameron Diaz...I think we all (men included...admit it or not) see ourselves in these roles. Unrequited love...yes, yes. Collosal pricks...yes, yes. Perfect men? Nah, romantic comedies only. :)
This movie met all my requirements, with one exception: Jude Law and Cameron Diaz both had very cheesy moments at the end that garnered an exasperated eye-roll and groan out of me. Otherwise, the movie was fun and sweet and endearing. 4 Stars
And, Madame Writer/Director, I wanna know what else was on Eli Wallach's list of 15 movies Kate was supposed to watch. I hope it included The Philadelphia Story. :)
Once a year Americans turn up the testosterone for a three-hour game. Bring out the beer, bring out the chips, bring out the best commercials of the year!So what do I do? Pull out my $1.25 and head off to the dollar theatre, naturally.
For well over a month, I've avoided the cheesy romantic movie The Holiday. Reviews were not flattering (unless the reviewer in question was unequivocally enamoured of Jude Law), so I decided against seeing it. However, as friends and family began sending me favourable reports, I had a change of heart and opted for a late matinee this afternoon.
Let me state for the record how pleasantly surprised I was by this movie. I don't know about you guys, but I love movies that talk about other movies. It's like the writer is trying to pass on little secrets to those of us who can recognize them. I nearly jumped out of my chair when I caught a 3 second glimpse of His Girl Friday and chuckled merrily at the mention of The Lady Eve and speculated that the Irene Dunne movie Kate Winslett watched was more than likely The Awful Truth.
These are my favorite moments. This is why I go to the movies.
** Caution: Estrogen approaching on Testosterone Appreciation Day! **
I like a romantic comedy as much as the next girl, but I'm picky. I expect predictability. I expect a cookie-cutter cast (girl, bad guy, nice guy, best friend, etc). Yet there needs to be a little something that sets it apart. I think Faith said it best when she recommended it to me, "They have cool jobs!" It's true. I loved that Jack Black was a composer and that Cameron Diaz was a movie trailer editor. The fact that she thought of every aspect of her life as a trailer narrated by the trailer guy was great! (I so do that) These characters were people I could really identify with. While I find myself more a Kate Winslett than Cameron Diaz...I think we all (men included...admit it or not) see ourselves in these roles. Unrequited love...yes, yes. Collosal pricks...yes, yes. Perfect men? Nah, romantic comedies only. :)
This movie met all my requirements, with one exception: Jude Law and Cameron Diaz both had very cheesy moments at the end that garnered an exasperated eye-roll and groan out of me. Otherwise, the movie was fun and sweet and endearing. 4 Stars
And, Madame Writer/Director, I wanna know what else was on Eli Wallach's list of 15 movies Kate was supposed to watch. I hope it included The Philadelphia Story. :)
Saturday, February 3, 2007
Reviews in 50 words or less...
Time for the first issue of k8's Reviews in 50 Words or Less! These reviews come from my Netflix notes. No doubt there will be more where this comes from!
Kinky Boots - 4 Stars
Cute, funny, sweet and heart-warming. If you liked Calendar Girls, The Full Monty and Billy Elliot give it a shot! Chiwetel Ejiofor is great!! (and he looks WAY too good in those boots!)
Pearl Harbor - 1 star (I'm very gracious)
The only solace I have is that I didn't pay to get in, but that can NEVER take away the pain it caused me
Midnight Cowboy - 4 Stars
Fabulous acting by Hoffman. Definitely one of his best! Loved the dynamic between Rizzo and Joe. Joe's innocence and naiveté. Rizzo's gritty tenacity. Their curious devotion to each other. Great!!
Foul Play - 4 Stars
Good, fun, 70's-era Chevy Chase humor. Gotta love it!
National Treasure - 2 Stars
This was better when it was called "Sahara" and starred Matthew McConaughey and Steve Zahn. Hee hee
The Sure Thing - 4 Stars
Four words: Tim Robbins sings showtunes! Need I say more?
The Pest - Negative 5 Million Stars
This movie (tho I only saw it once), has continued to insult my intelligence for the past 12 years. John, I liked you MUCH better as Luigi & the little latino boy in drag.
Manhattan Murder Mystery - 4 Stars
For Me? Rear Window meets Vertigo meets noire w/a twist of Double Indemnity! Fun fun FUN!!!
Save the Last Dance - 1 Star
Without Julia Styles, this movie MIGHT have been bearable...but that's doubtful. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Brokeback Mountain - 4 Stars
Wonderfully made movie, worth every nod!! But apparently...I'm dead inside.
Batman Begins - 4 Stars
Loses a star for having the AUDACITY to cast Katie Holmes. Christian Bale is now my favorite Batman!
The Brothers Grimm - 3 Stars
VERY predictable. Climax was stupid. But characters were FANTABULOUSLY GREAT!!!
American Psycho - 3 Stars
*SHUDDER*
Honourable Mention:
The Island - Negative 8 Billion Stars
Mother of God...will someone kick Michael Bay? A good swift kick to the shins...with a spiky battering ram.
Kinky Boots - 4 Stars
Cute, funny, sweet and heart-warming. If you liked Calendar Girls, The Full Monty and Billy Elliot give it a shot! Chiwetel Ejiofor is great!! (and he looks WAY too good in those boots!)
Pearl Harbor - 1 star (I'm very gracious)
The only solace I have is that I didn't pay to get in, but that can NEVER take away the pain it caused me
Midnight Cowboy - 4 Stars
Fabulous acting by Hoffman. Definitely one of his best! Loved the dynamic between Rizzo and Joe. Joe's innocence and naiveté. Rizzo's gritty tenacity. Their curious devotion to each other. Great!!
Foul Play - 4 Stars
Good, fun, 70's-era Chevy Chase humor. Gotta love it!
National Treasure - 2 Stars
This was better when it was called "Sahara" and starred Matthew McConaughey and Steve Zahn. Hee hee
The Sure Thing - 4 Stars
Four words: Tim Robbins sings showtunes! Need I say more?
The Pest - Negative 5 Million Stars
This movie (tho I only saw it once), has continued to insult my intelligence for the past 12 years. John, I liked you MUCH better as Luigi & the little latino boy in drag.
Manhattan Murder Mystery - 4 Stars
For Me? Rear Window meets Vertigo meets noire w/a twist of Double Indemnity! Fun fun FUN!!!
Save the Last Dance - 1 Star
Without Julia Styles, this movie MIGHT have been bearable...but that's doubtful. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Brokeback Mountain - 4 Stars
Wonderfully made movie, worth every nod!! But apparently...I'm dead inside.
Batman Begins - 4 Stars
Loses a star for having the AUDACITY to cast Katie Holmes. Christian Bale is now my favorite Batman!
The Brothers Grimm - 3 Stars
VERY predictable. Climax was stupid. But characters were FANTABULOUSLY GREAT!!!
American Psycho - 3 Stars
*SHUDDER*
Honourable Mention:
The Island - Negative 8 Billion Stars
Mother of God...will someone kick Michael Bay? A good swift kick to the shins...with a spiky battering ram.
Thursday, February 1, 2007
The Island
The Island...OF CRAP!!!
This review was originally written in June of 2006. I am including it partly to add bulk to my growing blog…and partly because I think it would be nice to have a bad review amongst good ones. :)
I think we can all agree that movie tastes differ. Even people who tend to like the same things will disagree from time to time. Such was the case between me and my dear friend who, for her own safety, shall remain nameless (but you know who you are). She came down for a visit and a lovely weekend full of movies and games, always a pleasure…until she pulled it out of her bag. Michael Bay’s
My opinion of her movie recommendations has taken a sharp and severe dive.
Before I start in on this movie’s inadequacies, it is necessary to give credit where credit’s due. This movie did have one redeeming value. Yes, only one. Ewan McGregor looked mighty fine in that burgundy turtleneck.
Every other part of that movie has caused me numerous convulsions, both during and after. Still, in all fairness, I went into this movie with extreme bias. First, Faith (of “In My Opinion” fame) had told me that the only redeeming value was Ewan's turtle neck (check) and the spectacular fight scene that pits real-life Ewan against his cloned counterpart. Unfortunately, I was so mad by that point in the movie, the humour was hard to appreciate. Second, I saw MST3K's Parts: The CLONUS Horror (starring Peter Graves) which was the same freakin' movie AND IT WASN'T GOOD THEN EITHER!!!!
NOTE: for explanation of the above Baynito Michaelini and Movie™,
Finally, I really just did not want to watch it. Period. End of sentence. My friend had already extensively explained the entire plot to me. I could already tell it sucked. I didn't need visual confirmation. It would be one thing if there was no other way to get a decent Ewan-Fix...but I have Moulin Rouge. I'll be ok.
Now that I've had time to de-stress (after that 2 hours and 16 minutes of my life I'll never get back) I am thinking with a little more clarity. Let's compare, shall we, The Island with MI:2. These two Movies™ are exactly the same. They both wield the Symbolism™ Club of Pain, the I-Have-a-Message-and-you're-gonna-sit-there-until-I'm-done Chains of Bondage and the Look-How-Much-I-Can-Blow-Up-in-30-Seconds Button of Destruction. Why, then, did I praise MI:2 for it's hilarity and spit repeatedly on The Island for it's insulting incompetence? I can't say. It doesn't make sense. But it is true.
I blame Michael Bay. It must be his fault. That can be the only answer.
The one thought that begs meditation is this: Why do I even care? Why do I let a movie so obviously created for people who aren’t me, cause my poor little self so much strife and frustration? I believe it is emotional duress created by the Movie™.
In summation: Even if this movie starred ME along-side Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Colin Ferrell, Ewan McGregor and Christian Bale and involved some pretty intense "action"...I WOULD STILL NOT WANT TO SEE IT. Well, ok, maybe I'm being a bit hasty, but I think you all get my point. Michael Bay, even though I didn't spend a single red cent on this movie…I want my money back. I'm claiming "emotional duress."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)