Tag: movies

Monday Movie Meme – Mind Games

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Feature Presentation…
MONDAY MOVIE MEME
This week’s movie topic is all about Mind Games…The movies love to make their characters forget. Memory loss. Hypnosis. Spells. It makes for interesting plot possibilities and entertainment for the viewers.
 
Here are the first five that come to mind…
 
1. Shattered (1991)  Tom Beringer plays a man who has amnesia after a car accident.  It’s the stuff he can’t remember that may get him killed.
 
2. Memento (2000)  Short term memory loss and a stockpile of post it notes make Guy Pearce’s character interesting.  And that fact that it is told in reverse makes it worth a second look just to figure out what happened!
 
3. Mulholland Drive (2001) Another car wreck causes amnesia and this one is a bizarre tour through Los Angeles.  Also needs a second viewing.
 
4. The Notebook (2004) A sappy love story that may cause a tear or two.
 
5. 50 First Dates (2004) Another short term memory loss sufferer is Drew Barrymore’s character.  She’s what makes it worth watching.
 
So, did I forget a good one?  (ha ha)  
Find out what movies other bloggers chose at the Bumbles. 
 
 

Fave Film # 34 – Only You

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1994

Cast- Marisa Tomei, Robert Downey Jr., Bonnie Hunt, Billy Zane, Fisher Stevens, Joaquim de Almeida

Faith believes in destiny and when the Ouija board and then a crystal ball at a carnival tell her that her soul mate is Damon Bradley she takes it to heart.  Fast forward more than a decade and Faith is about to marry a podiatrist when she takes a message for her fiance from Damon Bradley.  Convinced that it is fate she takes the next plane to Italy to find him.  Only she is always one step behind and must rely on her best friend and a new love interest to help her track down Damon.

Why I love it – It is no secret that I love Italy and have since we visited there in 2008.  The beautiful setting of Venice, Rome and coastal Italy made this movie easy on the eyes.  It also made me want to head back as soon as Gage is up to it!  The Italian landscape wasn’t the only thing easy on the eyes.  Marisa Tomei and Robert Downey Jr. as Faith and Peter were adorable and it was fun to watch them together onscreen.  And I’d love to have Tomei’s wardrobe.

This movie was pure romantic escapism.  It was about destiny and finding that one other half of yourself.  Faith’s belief was magical and innocent and it was nicely offset by Peter’s belief that they were meant to be together.  I love stories like this when they are done well and the leads perfect in their roles, like this one.

As much as this was a love story about destiny and falling in love it was also about the hard work and reality of marriage.  Faith’s best friend and sister-in-law Kate, played perfectly by Bonnie Hunt, went to Italy with Faith thinking that her marriage was over because her husband was cheating on her.  She was ready for a sexy Italian diversion and she got one in the suave Giovanni.  These two couples traipsing around Italy searching for the illusive Damon Bradley were fun to watch and easy to like.

It’s a great romantic comedy.  Here’s the trailer if you still aren’t convinced.  Here are my 0ther 99 favorite movies.

Robert Downey Jr. Was In That? Quiz

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Jason and I had our first date night as parents on Saturday night and we went and saw Due Date.  Jason liked it more that I did, but it had its moments.  I am always charmed by Downey and I’ve listed his characters in the order that I like his movies best with a hint (these are only the movies I’ve seen).  Can you identify the movie?  Leave a comment telling me the # and the name of the movie.  No Googling or looking at other commenter’s answers – that’s cheating and no fun!  Play once or every week.  It only takes one correct answer to be eligible for a prize.  You have until Thursday night to submit your answers.

 Each answer worth 5.5 points, with 6.5 points for the bonus question.

Last week’s Thankful Quiz here.  Current Leaderboard here.

1. Kirk Lazarus (2008) also starred Ben Stiller Tropic Thunder

2. Peter Wright (1994) also starred Marisa Tomei  Only You

3. Ian (1985) also starred Anthony Michael Hall  Weird Science

4. Terry Crabtree (2000) also starred Michael Douglas  Wonder Boys

5. Tony Stark (2008, 2010) also starred Gwyneth Paltrow  Iron Man 1 & 2

6. Sherlock Holmes (2009) no more help on this one!  Sherlock Holmes

7. Steve Lopez (2009) also starred Jamie Foxx  The Soloist

8. Paul Avery (2007) also starred Jake Gyllenhaal  Zodiac

9. Peter Highman (2010) also starred Zach Galifianakis  Due Date

10. Joe Wershba (2005) also starred George Clooney  Good Night & Good Luck

11. Wayne Gale (1994) also starred Woody Harrelson  Natural Born Killers

12. Special Agent John Royce (1998) also starred Tommy Lee Jones  US Marshals

13. David Seton Barnes (1991) also starred Sally Field  Soapdish

14. Jack Jericho (1987) also starred Molly Ringwald  The Pick-Up Artist

15. Derek Lutz (1986) also starred Rodney Dangerfield  Back to School

16. Billy Covington (1990) also starred Mel Gibson  Air America

17. Leo Wiggins (1988) also starred Anthony Michael Hall  Johnny Be Good

BONUS QUESTION For what television series did Robert win a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor?  Ally McBeal

Monday Movie Meme – The Great Beyond

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Feature Presentation…MONDAY MOVIE MEME

This week’s movie topic is all about The Afterlife…

There are movies about Heaven and Hell and demons and angels and some of them I actually like!  Here are a few favorite movies about what happens after life. 

 

1. Dogma (1999).  Lots of angels and other Biblical characters in this irreverent take on the last descendent of Jesus.  Smart & Funny.

2. Heart & Souls (1993) Wouldn’t it be great if you could stick around until you fixed things that you left unfinished?  Hopeful.  Field of Dreams (1989) also falls into this category.

3. The Others (2001) A more stark view of what can happen after you die.  Depressing with  great ending.

Monday Movie Meme- Hated It

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Feature Presentation…MONDAY MOVIE MEME
This week’s movie topic is all about The Worst Movie You’ve Ever Seen…
Visit the Bumbles for more bed movie selections.
 
These three movies are generally considered classics by most, but I could not stand them.  I spent at least half of each movie complaining about how terrible it was.  I saw all of these many years ago, so I don’t know if I’d feel differently now, but I don’t plan on finding out!  Please don’t hate me if I’m disparaging a favorite of yours.
 
1. The English Patient (1996)  This was far too long.  I felt like Elaine in Seinfeld when she was fired because she confessed to Mr. Peterman that she hated the movie. 
 
2. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) Actually thought I was going to like this one, but somehow missed the point of it and why it is considered so great.  I’m sure one of you will tell me.  Please, tell me!
 
3. Amadeus (1984) This is another one I thought was too long.  Don’t remember anything else about it.  This is the one that I might possibly see again because, while I remember hating it, I don’t really remember why.

So, what about you?  Is there a movie that you hated and everyone else loved?  Care to confess?

Monday Movie Meme- Trashed

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Feature Presentation…MONDAY MOVIE MEME

This week’s movie topic is all about Boozing…

Check out more boozy scenes at The Bumbles

Three of my favorite intoxicated scenes.  If you haven’t seen them you should take a few minutes and be amused.  I think you’ll laugh out loud 🙂

1.

Anthony Michael Hall in Weird Science (1985)

2. The wedding scene in Sixteen Candles (1984).  She’s not drunk, but has taken muscle relaxers.  The video is here.

3.

The wonderful Jimmy Stewart and Katherine Hepburn in The Philadelphia Story (1940)

 

October’s 5 Word Movie Reviews

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October was a very busy month around here so I am surprised that we managed to see three movies.  And that I like them all.

If you’ve seen any of these movies leave me your 1-5 words in the comments and I’ll add them to the post.  Or, if you are feeling ambitious and want to do this on your own blog leave me a link in the comments and I’ll add it to the bottom of the post.   Of course,  you can always just comment.

(2009. Cast- Jason Bateman, Ben Affleck, Kristen Wiig, Mila Kunis, JK Simmons)  Grade B+

Funny. Bateman & Affleck are perfect.

 

(2006.  Cast- Christina Ricci, James McAvoy, Catherine O’Hara, Reese Witherspoon)  Grade B+

Sweet piggy  fairy tale.  Fun.

 

(2009. Cast- Gabourey Sidibe, Mo’Nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey, Lenny Kravitz, Sherri Shephard)    Grade B-

Too Hard To Watch.  Powerful.

 I bawled for an hour.  (Heather)

Monday Movie Meme – Supernatural

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Feature Presentation…MONDAY MOVIE MEME
Share on your blog favorite movies with those witchy, surreal, psychic or alien happenings, linking back here at The Bumbles.
 
Here are a few that fit the bill.  I’ve listed them in the order I like them best.  And they have something else in common besides today’s theme.  Can you guess what it is?
 
 
These aren’t my absolute favorite supernatural movies, but so many of them have shown up here week after week that I decided to mix things up.  Can you guess the common thread?   I don’t think I made it very hard!
Visit the Bumbles for more supernatural movies.
 

September’s 5 Word Movie Reviews

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So, September was a very slow month for movies.  It was a slow month for everything.  Sleeping is taking more time than usual and trying to get things done before baby comes is a priority.  We’ll see what happens this month!  It’s possible that baby could come a few days early and be an October baby, like me 🙂

If you’ve seen any of the movies leave me your 1-5 words in the comments and I’ll add them to the post.  Or, if you are feeling ambitious and want to do this on your own blog leave me a link in the comments and I’ll add it to the bottom of the post.   Of course,  you can always just comment.

(1988. Cast- Ilan Mitchell-Smith, John Glover, Wallace Langham, Doug Hutchinson)   Grade B

Teen Bullies Cruelty. Different Ending.

(1955. Cast- Katharine Hepburn, Rossano Brazzi)      Grade B-

Love Affair with Venice Continues.

Bittersweet affair in breathtaking Venice. (Stephanie)

Fave Film #8 – The Lord of the Rings trilogy

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The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Two Towers (2002), The Return of the King (2003)

Cast- Ian McKellan, Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Orlando Bloom, Liv Tyler, Hugo Weaving,

Directed by Peter Jackson

This trilogy, based on the fantasy books by JRR Tolkien, is based in Middle Earth in a dangerous time.  The dark lord Sauron wants to rule over Middle Earth and he must find the One Ring that can make that possible.  The wizard Gandalf, four hobbits, two men, an elf, and a dwarf form a fellowship to destroy the ring, but there are many evil forces at work and they don’t all make it to the end.

Why I love it– I think this trilogy tells the perfect story.  It is the quest for good in a world turning evil. There is betrayal, redemption, forgiveness, honor, death, love, and loyalty.  It has all of the classic themes that make a story satisfying.  Not to mention the idyllic beauty of the movie itself.  Filmed in New Zealand it definitely made me want to take a trip. 

And with the first film, so began my love affair with Aragorn or Strider.  I call him both depending on my mood.  I mean, c’mon, look at this guy.  He is the strong hero, the future king, and all hotness.

I liked the movies as a whole, although the Fellowship of the Ring was my favorite.  I loved the bond between the nine.  Frodo was the ring bearer, but the other eight were there to make sure he completed his dangerous task.  In the second and third movies the fellowship was working for the same purpose, but not together.  

I read the first of the series in college and loved it and it’s been too long for me to make a comparison, but I loved the way this came to life on the big screen.  I loved the acting, the sets, the music and the story.  I don’t watch a lot of fantasy films, but this is one I’ve watched more than once which quite a commitment since it runs 558 minutes (or 683 if I watch the extended version).