Tag: movies

Veteran’s Day Movies

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Thanks to all of the veterans out there, including my husband, dad, and father-in-law, for serving and protecting your country.  In honor of Veteran’s Day here are some of the best movies about the veteran experience that I’ve seen.

Bar none my favorite is The Best Years of Our Lives (1946).  This film about three vets returning home from WWII won many Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Director, and Honorary Oscar. “Russell, an amateur actor who really did lose both of his hands in the war, earned an honorary Oscar for ”bringing hope and courage to his fellow veterans,” then beat the competition to win the Best Supporting Actor Oscar, making him the only performer to win two Academy Awards for the same performance.”  Do yourself a favor and watch this one if you haven’t already.  It will stay with you.

Born on the Fourth of July (1989) is another film that stayed with me.  Based on the true story of Ron Kovic as he returned home after losing his legs in Vietnam, this one was hard to watch.  Tom Cruise turned in a great performance that earned him an Oscar nod.

Although I don’t necessarily think of Legends of the Fall (1994) as a post-war movie, it is.  Three brothers go off to war and only two come home.  How each handles it is the beauty and sadness of the story.

I wasn’t in love with The Manchurian Candidate (1962) about Korean War vets being brainwashed by Communists, when I saw it, but I would like to see the remake.

Do you have a favorite film featruring veterans?

Jack Nicholson was in that? Quiz – guessing closed

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I don’t consider myself a Jack Nicholson fan but he has been in many iconic films. I’ve seen 13 of his movies and put them in the order that I liked them best.  All you need to do is tell me what movie the images are from.  7.5 points for each right answer and 2.5 points for listing a Nicholson movie not pictured.

Please play along with us.  For everyone who plays an extra $ goes to the winner and the everyone is entered for a special prize.  Just leave a comment with your guesses and don’t google the answers.

Rules & Leaderboard here. Last week’s

1. (1992) A Few Good Men

2. (2003) Something’s Gotta Give

3. (1983) Terms of Endearment

4. (1974) Chinatown

5. (1996) Mars Attacks!

6. (1980) The Shining

7. (1997) As Good As It Gets

8. (1994) Wolf

9. (1989) Batman

10. (2007) The Bucket List

11. (1975) One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

12. (1969) Easy Rider

13. (2011) The Pledge

October’s 5 Word Movie Reviews & $ for Charity

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Once a month I feature the movies I’ve seen for the first time with a 5 word ‘review’.  Only it’s not really a review.  For that I need your help.  I hope that you’ll add your 5 words to my 5 words and that someone else will add their 5 words and so on until we have a a fun hodgepodge of words to describe the movie.

This month you can give money to charity by contributing your 5 words (Details here).  Please join the fun :)  Past 5 Word Reviews here.  We’re up to $88.

(2011. Cast-Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Raul Giamatti, Evan Rachel Wood, Marisa Tomei)  Grade B

All politics is dirty. Compelling.

Our political system – only human. (Margot)

Great insight into dirty politics.  (Heather)

(1980. Cast-Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, Scatman Crothers)   Grade C+

Here’s Johnny!  Iconic Psychological Horror.

Theme:  deet deet deet deet (audio review by Jill)

Don’t stay in haunted hotel. (Stephanie)

Nicholson. Scariest man alive, really. (Heather)

The Creepiest Movie Ever Period (Beth)

All work and no play.  (Tony)

The poster for the film shows Natalie Portman with white facial makeup, black-winged eye liner around bloodshot red eyes, and a jagged crystal tiara.(2010. Cast- Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Barbara Hershey, Vincent Cassel)   Grade C+

Creepy Ending Saved Disturbing Film.

Disturbing, but true film art. (Heather)

Ballet never looked so horrific. (Jenners)

Dark Mysterious Artistic Deep Beautiful  (Beth)

Insecure ballerina obsessed with perfection. (Michelle)

Natalie Portman drives herself crazy.  (Tony)

September’s 5 Word Movie Reviews & Money for Charity

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Once a month I feature the movies I’ve seen for the first time with a 5 word ‘review’.  Only it’s not really a review.  For that I need your help.  I hope that you’ll add your 5 words to my 5 words and that someone else will add their 5 words and so on until we have a a fun hodgepodge of words that make up a ‘review’.

This month you can give money to charity by contributing your 5 words (Details here).  Please join the fun :)  Past 5 Word Reviews here.  We’re up to $86.

CrazyStupidLovePoster.jpg(2011. Cast-Steve Carrell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, Marisa Tomei, Kevin Bacon) Grade B

Surprisingly melancholy.  More Gosling, please.

Cute concept.  Chemistry was off. (Kathy)

Surprisingly sweet, adorable, and funny.  (Heather)

(1998. Cast-Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, John Turturro)  Grade B-

The Dude’s life is bowling.

Dude, I’m f—— high, dude. (Heather)

The Dude abides, still loses.  (Tony)

I Love You, Man.jpg(2009. Cast-Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, Rashida Jones)   Grade C

Not as stupid as expected.

Had poster on my wall.  (Tony)

My love affair with serial killers

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Today over at Tea Time with Marce she wrote about how she is fascinated by serial killers.  Well, I am too.  I’m not sure when my love affair began, but I love getting into their twisty, sick minds for a little while.  It’s so far from my reality that those minds intrigue me.  Warped?  Sure, why not.

Here are a few novels I’ve read that have memorable serial killers…

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.  It’s not so much the serial killer in this one but the whole book that I loved.

Ashes to Ashes by Tami Hoag.  This is one of the earlier thrillers I read of this genre and I haven’t stopped since.

The Bone Collector by Jeffery Deaver (and pretty much the whole Lincoln Rhyme series).  I love Lincoln and he goes up against some of the most twisted minds ever.

Dead Sleep by Greg Iles.  The premise of this one is that someone is posing models in death scenes, but are they really posed? Loved it.

Heartsick by Chelsea Cain.  This is the first of a series and the only one I’ve read so far, but man is that woman crazy.  One of the few women serial killers out there.

Think of a Number by John Verdon.  This was a great way to start a series.

One nonfiction book that I really enjoyed was Mind Hunter:Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit by John Douglas.  One of the first profilers talks about his interviews of famous serial killers and his pursuit of the worst of the worst.  The Silence of the Lambs Jack Crawford is said to be based on Douglas.  A really engrossing read.

And not to leave the big screen out here are a few memorable serial killers in film…

Patrick Bateman in American Psycho.  I know it’s based on a book but I haven’t read it.  Some of the images from this movie will stick with you for a while.

Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs.  A great movie, both a psychological thriller but also a gory horror flick.

John Doe in Se7ven.  This was a great movie with a killer too creepy to forget.

Norman Bates in Psycho.  Talk about creepy.  Suspense at its best.

Sweeney Todd in Sweeney Todd.  I didn’t like this movie and my nose is twitching in disgust as I’m typing this, but that was one sick barber!

 

So, I know I need to read the Dexter books and the Dan Wells trilogy.  Any other books that you recommend to entertain my warped mind?

 

 

August’s 5 Word Movie Reviews & Money for Charity

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Once a month I feature the movies I’ve seen for the first time with a 5 word ‘review’.  Only it’s not really a review.  For that I need your help.  I hope that you’ll add your 5 words to my 5 words and that someone else will add their 5 words and so on until we have a a fun hodgepodge of words that make up a ‘review’.

FYI-I did not read the book, The Help, so there were no comparisons for me.

This month you can give money to charity by contributing your 5 words (Details here).  Please join the fun :)  Past 5 Word Reviews here.  We’re up to $83.

(2011. Cast-Viola Davis, Octavia Butler, Emma Stone, Bryce Dallas Howard)     Grade A

Southern Prejudice & Spunk. Inspirational Story. 

Prejudice and inspirational southern spunk. (oh so cleverly fixed by Jill ;))

Perfectly cast story of change.  (Kathy)

Well-done story but slightly patronizing.  (Heather)

(2008. Cast-Ryan Reynolds, Abigail Breslin, Elizabeth Banks, Isla Fisher, Rachel Weisz)    Grade B+

3rd Grade Sex Ed?  Yikes!

Like the concept but mediocre.  (Heather)

(2005. Cast-Robert Downey Jr., Val Klmer, Michelle Monaghan, Corbin Bernsen)                          Grade B

Charming Downey. Sharp, Noirish Mystery.

Rollicking nonsense, but please enjoy.  (Tony)

(2006. Cast- Michael Douglas, Kiefer Sutherland, Eva Longoria, Kim Basinger)  Grade B-

Lie Detector Tests Are Conclusive?

(2010. Cast-John C Reilly, Marisa Tomei, Jonah Hill, Catherine Keener)     Grade D

Twisted Mom/Son Relationship.  Boring.

Not funny. Lame. Terrible idea. (Jenny)

July’s 5 word movie reviews & money for charity

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A very slow month for me, but it was good variety 😉

Once a month I feature the movies I’ve seen for the first time with a 5 word ‘review’.  Only it’s not really a review.  For that I need your help.  I hope that you’ll add your 5 words to my 5 words and that someone else will add their 5 words and so on until we have a a fun hodgepodge of words that make up a ‘review’.

This month you can give money to charity by contributing your 5 words (Details here).  Please join the fun :)  Past 5 Word Reviews here.  We’re up to $77.

(2011. Cast- Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis, Charlie Day, Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Aniston, Colon Farrell, Jamie Foxx)       Grade B+

Awesomely Fun Cast.  Horribly Good.

Pretty crude. Over the top. (Kathy)

Best when three friends featured. (Jenners)

Didn’t wanna like it…did.  (Heather)

But really fun to watch.  (Tony)

(1959. Cast- Sandra Dee, James Darren, Cliff Robertson)   Grade B+

50’s Teens surfing & singing. Cute.

Surfers, singing, beaches, old favorite.  (Kay)

Monday Movie Meme – Summer

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Feature Presentation…MONDAY MOVIE MEME
This week’s movie topic is all about Summer…
Hop on over to The Bumbles for more.
Well, a few weeks ago I wrote a post about my favorite summer movies (here) so it seems silly to make another list.  I think I’ll make a list of summer movies that I’ve never seen but have always thought I should. 
Vote for which one I should watch first and I’ll watch it in the next week or so.
 
So tell me, which one of these movies have I been missing out on the most?  One vote please!  I’ll see what the count is over the weekend.
 

Monday Movie Meme – Favorite

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Feature Presentation…MONDAY MOVIE MEME
This week’s movie topic is all about Favorites…
A while ago, Sandy @ You’ve GOTTA Read This suggested we do a post about our favorite movie viewed year-to-date. Share on your blog your favorite YTD movie – not necessarily one released this year, just a new-to-you film viewed this year, and link back here so that others can find you.  The Bumbles
After looking at what I watched this year Bridesmaids (2011) was easily my favorite.
It wasn’t perfect, but it was funny.  I am not a Kristen Wiig fan, on SNL her characters usually annoy me, but she did win me over in this one.  The humor is raunchy and over-the-top, but somehow I really felt for Wiig’s character. 
Melissa McCarthy was so great in this film. I’ve loved her since she was Sookie on Gilmore Girls.  For those that have seen the movie, Air Marshal John (Ben Falcone) is Melissa’s real-life husband.
So, what has been the best movie you’ve seen so far this year?

My favorite high school movies

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I read Carrie this week and it got me thinking about some of my favorite high school movies.  As a teen in the 80’s that decade is well-represented.

1. The Breakfast Club (1985)  I know this one is always showing up on this blog, but I can’t help it.  Here’s the post about why I love it so much.

2. Sixteen Candles (1984)  This one actually gets better with every viewing.  That whole movie is full of teen insecurity.  Here’s the post about why I love it so much.

3. the Harry Potter movies (2001-2011)  Can you imagine attending Hogwarts?  I think the fact that we all can proves how spectacular this series is.  While I liked the books better, each movie has gotten better and now I love the movies too.  I think The Goblet of Fire (2005) was my favorite onscreen.

4. Grease (1978) I can sing every song in this musical.  I had a hard time believing that any of the cast was young enough to be in high school, but it was great fun anyway.

5. Mean Girls (2004) This is a great movie about, what else, how mean teen girls can be to each other.  This is probably the last time I actually enjoyed watching Lindsay Lohan onscreen.

6. The Karate Kid (1984) I love this story of the new kid on the block who did nothing wrong but talk to the wrong girl.  He overcame bullying by beating them at their own game.

7. Pretty in Pink (1986) Aw, Duckie.  Who didn’t love Duckie in this love story about a ‘richie’ falling for a poor girl.  Their prom certainly beats the one Carrie had!

8. Dead Poet’s Society (1989) Teaching boys raised to appreciate their priveleged status a different way to look at life is at the heart of this movie that requires at least one tissue.

9. Bring It On (2000) Do not ask me why I love this cheesy movie because I do not know.  I was not a cheerleader nor did I ever have a desire to be. It’s a mystery, but I really liked it.

10. Heathers (1989) I haven’t seen this one in forever and really need to watch it again.  I remember the bitchiness and the angst and the wit.  Loved it.

11. Election (1999) This dark comedy was a great story about an overachiever going too far and her teacher going even further.  Great stuff.

12. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) I didn’t fall in love when I saw this the first time in high school, but each viewing makes me appreciate it more.