Tag: movies

Monday Movie Meme – Bring on the Heat

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Feature Presentation…MONDAY MOVIE MEME
This week’s movie topic is all about Heat…
Devoted Monday Movie Meme-er Nicole @ The Madlab Post recently suggested
a topic for us that I thought was very appropriate given the weather we have
been having here in the Boston region lately. She wanted to discuss movies
containing a heat wave or extreme summer heat that was present in but not
necessarily the focus of the film…Share on your blog movies that turned the heat on their characters and link back here, The Bumbles.
Of course, the first one that comes to mind is Body Heat View Image  (1981).  Kathleen Turner and William Hurt were smokin’ hot!
The next obvious choice is the Seven Year Itch Seven year itch.jpg  (1955).  Even if you haven’t seen this movie that takes place one hot summer you are probably familiar with iconic Marilyn Monroe scene.
And while I’m thinking of hot, iconic images my mind goes to this scene.  https://youtu.be/HNR_HofJ_Fs  Top Gun (1986)
Holes Holesposter03.jpg (2003) is very hot.  How hot would you be digging holes all day in the desert?
So, what’s another movie that sizzles?

June’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 $74.

(2006. Cast- Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Christopher Plummer, Jodie Foster)                  Grade B+

Well Done, Smart Hostage Thriller

(2oo3. Cast- Shia LeBeouf, Jon Voight, Sigourney Weaver, Patricia Arquette, Dule Hill, Henry Winkler)         Grade B+

Desert Digging.  Great Family Fun.

Surprisingly entertaining with Shia LeBouf (Heather)

Disturbing But With Cute lizards (Beth)

(2011. Cast- Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams)   Grade B

Classic Artists & Authors Revisited & Admired.

Roaring 20s through nostalgic eyes (Stephanie)

Owen Wilson? No. Movie great.  (Heather)

The best of times, too.  (Tony)

 (2010. Cast- Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci, Michael Imperioli, Saoirse Ronan)  Grade C+

Book Was So Much Better.

Meh adaptation of awesome book (Heather)

Devastating yet strangely uplifting movie (Beth Hoffman)

Monday Movie Meme – Epic Battle

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Feature Presentation…MONDAY MOVIE MEME
This week’s movie topic is all about Epic Battle Scenes…
For the most part I do not like battle scenes.  They are usually my least favorite part of the movie if there is such a scene, but here are a few that still come to mind for their emotional impact.
1. Glory (1989) is about the Civil War’s first all-black volunteer army.  The storming of Ft. Wagner, the last scene, had me in tears.  Based on a true  story.
2. When Uma Thurman and Lucy Lui fight in Kill Bill, Vol. 1 (2003) I was mesmerized and entertained, shocking even me.
3. Dogma (1999) View ImageThe last scene between angels and God worked visually with angel blood and loss of wings to keep me interested.  It’s been too long since I’ve seen this one!
4. Lord of the Rings:The Two Towers (2002) – The Battle of Helm’s Deep.  This is what the whole movie was building toward and it did not disappoint. 
There are others but these are the first that come to mind.  Are there any epic battles you like?  Visit the hosts of this meme, The Bumbles.

Movies that celebrate summer

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It is officially summer and that got me thinking of some of my favorite movies that celebrate the sun, the unbearable heat, and vacations.  Here are my  favorite 10 movies that celebrate summer.  What are some of yours?  Maybe I’ll have to revise my list if you remind me of better ones 🙂

1. Summer School (1987).  It’s Mark Harmon.  That should be all I need to say.

2. Movie poster shows a woman in the ocean swimming to the right. Below her is a large shark, and only its head and open mouth with teeth can be seen. Within the image is the film's title and above it in a surrounding black background is the phrase "The terrifying motion picture from the terrifying No. 1 best seller." The bottom of the image details the starring actor and lists credits and the MPAA rating.Jaws (1975).  Ruined the beach for me for a long time.

3. Dirty Dancing (1987).  Who didn’t want to spend a summer with Johnny Castle when they first saw this?

4. National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983).  Who doesn’t remember the summer road trips with family?  Let me know if any of you have a story as good as this one 🙂

5. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005). I didn’t read the book but I was charmed by the 4 friends in this movie.

6. Summertime (1955). A movie that celebrates summer vacations, Venice and Katharine Hepburn.

7. An Affair to Remember (1957). It starts on a vacation and the romantic last scene has snow falling in the background.  I still need to see the original.

8. Under the Tuscan Sun (2003). If only I had been able to convince my husband we needed to buy a fixer upper while we were on vacation in Italy!

9. Weekend at Bernie’s (1989).  Probably the only list where you will find this movie listed above Stand By Me.  For a summer cheesefest you really can’t go wrong with this one.

10. Stand By Me (1986).  Was I the only one surprised to find out that  Stephen King could write such a sweet and heartwarming coming of age story?

EDITED TO ADD- Grease (1978)  You were all so right! It was completely wrong to leave Grease off this list!  I’d probably add it in at 5 or 6.

Fave Film #25 – The Wedding Singer

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1998

Cast- Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore, Christine Taylor

Robbie Hart is a wedding singer, a good one, but still a wedding singer and on his wedding day his bride-to-be decides that it isn’t enough for her.  Robbie is depressed but finds purpose in helping Julia plan her wedding to Glen, a less than impressive fiance.

Why I love it- It is no secret that I love all things 80’s, so this ode to the 80’s is an obvious fit for me.  I held off seeing it, however, due to its lead.  I am not a fan of Adam Sandler movies (I did love him on Saturday Night Live), so I was surprised that I totally fell for him as the wedding singer.  He had a vulnerability and normalcy in this movie that I hadn’t seen from him before.  And if you add the always charming Drew Barrymore, well you have the basis for a good flick.

It hit the over the top 80’s vibe just right, with the pop culture references, the music and wardrobe.  Just look at the poster and Adam Sandler’s permed hair!  It took me back to my high school days (a little) and life before cell phones and texting when a cd player was the hot new thing.

I never would have thought I would buy into Adam Sandler as a romantic lead, but what can I say?  His song to Julia at the end is one that I sing to my hubby 😉  And it’s funny.  It’s a sweet romantic comedy.

Fun Fact- In a recent Entertainment Weekly poll of favorite wedding movies The Wedding Singer tied for second with Wedding Crashers.  Father of the Bride was #1.

Monday Movie Meme – Confusion

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Feature Presentation…MONDAY MOVIE MEME
This week’s movie topic is all about Confusing Plots…all about confusing movie plots. Now, I don’t mind a plot that makes you pay
attention and think. But what I do mind are plots that leave you more confused at the end than when you started.  Share on your blog movies that make you go hmmmmmmm, and link back here..at The Bumbles Blog
Well, I tend to forget  confusing movies fairly quickly.  Jason and I discuss it after we’ve watched it and if we can’t reach some sort of conclusion I usually just write it off as a bad movie 🙂  But here are a few I remember being confused by.
1. Donnie Darko (2001) was a movie that just made me feel stupid.  At least until after I’d watched it and then looked online for some answers and realized that the writers were confused themselves.  If you enjoyed it, great, but don’t think that you ‘got it’.  I actually liked the movie, but I do not pretend to completely understand it.
2. 2001:A Space Odyssey (1968) I wanted to like it, but ended up being confused as to how such a strange film in considered a classic.  Maybe it was all of the ‘special effects’ that did it in for me.  Or the last scenes.  Well, okay, maybe all of it.
3. The Matrix Revolutions (2003).  I really liked the first one.  Thought the second one was okay.  But this wrap up of the trilogy lost me.  Jason tried to explain it to me but it hurt my head.
4. Muholland Drive (2001) I remember I really liked this one, except by the end I had no idea what had just happened.  Frustrating, but the movie experience was still good.  Now that I’ve read some theories on the movie I want to go back and watch!
5. Planet of the Apes (2001).  It had been years since I saw the original, so maybe it’s not surprising that I felt confused by then end of this one.  And then cheated.  Jason rewatched it on tv, but I really didn’t want to waste any more of my time. 
Looks like 2001 was a confusing year for me.  Is there a movie that has always confused you?  Am I alone in my choices?

Monday Movie Meme – Gifts

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Feature Presentation…MONDAY MOVIE MEME
This week’s movie topic is all about Gifts…
Share on your blog movies that feature presents, gifts or other tokens being
presented.  And please visit The Bumbles to participate.
I’ve only got a few minutes before heading out-of-town, but here are the few I’ve come up with.
1. In No Way Out (1987) Kevin Costner is stuck in the Pentagon while he is assigned the task of finding his lover’s killer.  Only the trail points to him unless he can prove that Gene Hackman gave her a government registered gift from Morocco, thus pointing a finger on him.  I love this thriller.
2. The Breakfast Club (1985) is an all-time favorite and who doesn’t love the scene when good girl Molly Ringwald gives bad boy Judd Nelson a diamond earring?
3. Colin Firth’s gift of a diary to Renee Zellweger in Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001) made a very fun and satisfying last scene.
Do you have a favorite gift in film?

May’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’.

You may notice that we saw a movie at the theater this month.  Can you tell which one of us won the March Madness bracket and gets to pick the next five theater movies? 🙂

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 $66.

(2011. Cast-Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy)    Grade A-

Bawdy Girl Fun. Surprisingly Touching.

Wet my pants laughing (TeddyRee)

Obnoxious. I must be prudish. (Stacy-A Novel Source)

Real Women Having Real Fun (Beth)

Best bathroom humor scene ever! (Michelle)

Obnoxious but hilarious, go women! (Debbie)

So funny and real, favorite.  (Heather)

Depressing but incredibly funny, too.  (Tony)

(2005. Cast-Samuel L Jackson)   Grade B

Tough Coach Reforms Athletes.  Refreshing.

(2010. Cast- Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leto)                                          Grade B-

Great Performances. Depressing True Story.

Creative use of the f-word. (Kathy)

Touching, f-ing story. Bale Rocks! (Heather)

Christian Bale falls in trash.  (Tony)

(2010. Cast- Aaron Eckhart, Jennifer Aniston, Martin Sheen, Dan Fogler)                      Grade B-

Cute Leads. Sweet Healing Romance.

(2005 Cast-Lisa Kudrow, Steve Coogan, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jason Ritter, Bobby Cannavale, Laura Dern, Jesse Bradford)  Grade B-

Interesting Twists & Cast. Unique  Storytelling.

Theatrical release poster, includes two white silhouetted figures against a black background.(2010. Cast- Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz)       Grade D

Action Gone Terribly, Terribly Wrong.

No chemistry between leads…None (Kay)

Cruise is creepy. No chemistry. (Heather)

Previews looked good, movie wasn’t! (Debbie)

Should have been great. wasn’t. (Louise)

Cruise and Diaz: poor showing.  (Tony)

Monday Movie Meme – Writers

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Feature Presentation…MONDAY MOVIE MEME
…The movies like to pay tribute to writers as well. After all, without them we’d be hard up for a good flick. Here are some writers in film that we came up with. Share on your blog movies that feature writers, authors, poets and scribes, linking back here so that others can find you.
There are so many to choose from but these four classics are favorites of mine and they all feature a writer, so I’ll go with these.  Yes, I know, these movies make it onto my Monday lists often. So, why haven’t you seen them yet?!
1. Macaulay Connor in The Philapelphia Story  James Stewart was the underdog author/reporter that you were rooting for to win the girl.  Except you wouldn’t really be upset if she ended up with Cary Grant.  It was a win-win for Katherine Hepburn’s character, Tracy Lord.
2. Fred/Paul Varjak in Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) A well-kept author who was trying to write a second book.  Did he and Holly Golightly deserve each other?  I say yes.  Oh, And George Peppard is surprising easy on the eyes (since before this I only remembered him from The A-Team in the 80’s)
3. Joe Bradley in Roman Holiday (1953) Gregory Peck has the story of his life land in his lap and as a reporter in Rome it’s hard to resist the girl, especially when she’s Audrey Hepburn.  Again, a writer easy on the eyes.
4. Peter Warne in It Happened One Night (1934)  Clark Gable is a reporter following a story and the story happens to be Claudette Colbert.  Another handsome writer.  I’m sensing a theme here.
I could try to come up with another, but Gage thinks I need to be done.  So, is there a classic movie that I missed featuring a writer.  Do tell.  And please visit The Bumbles to participate.

Monday Movie Meme- Farms

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Feature Presentation…MONDAY MOVIE MEME
This week’s movie topic is all about Farms…
Movies have featured farms and farming forever. Their roles in film have changed and even diminished some as the industry of farming has waned. But there are plenty of examples out there. Here are a few that we thought of. Share on your blog movies that are set on a farm, focus on farmers or reference farming in some way, linking back here so that others can find you.
Brought to you by The Bumbles
1. Children of the Corn (1984) was a hit at slumber parties when it came out.  If only to see who would hide in their sleeping bag, who would scream, and who would pretend it wasn’t the creapiest movie ever.
2. Grapes of Wrath (1940) is a the serious side of what happened to farmers during the Great Depression.  A downer of an awesome movie.
3. Footloose (1984) isn’t necessarily a farming movie, but the scene where they play chicken with the tractors is one that came to mind. 
View Image4. Man in the Moon (1991) is a surprisingly good movie.  See it to check out a young Reese Witherspoon.
5. Signs (2002) is a good one.  Who was doing all that damage to the fields?  The answer may surprise you (or not).  This was before Mel Gibson became taboo.
Go to fullsize imageSo, what farming movie would you recommend?
Please contribute your thoughts to my 5 word movie reviews for charity. Post here.  So far, we’re up to $66.