Monday Movie Meme – Date Night

March 15, 201015 Comments

Feature Presentation…

MONDAY MOVIE MEME

This week’s movie topic is all about Date Night…Share on your blog your best or worst movie date, movies featuring movie dates or how you use movies for dates these days.

I’ve been on many a date night starting in high school, less through college, with a resurgence in my after college life. As I think back it’s hard to come up with a best or worst movie date night, most of them blur together.

I can tell you what our movie dates look like these days. Jason & I both love college basketball (Jason is more obsessive about his Spartans than I am about my Buckeyes) and March Madness is truly that here. We print out the brackets and make our picks and we have done this since we were married over 11 years ago. We make the same bet every year. The winner gets to choose the next 5 theater movies we see. Usually we take turns choosing so this is a big deal. I am the reigning champ, having won for 2 years in a row 🙂 If I win I make sure I pick at least one that we both like, but after that it’s chick flick city.

So, I’ll be filling out my brackets today and if any of you have some insight on a good pick leave me a comment and let me know. I have movies and pride on the line.

Go Bucks and Go Spartans! (The mean tournament people put us in the same bracket this year:()

Monday Movie Meme – the Oscars

March 8, 201021 Comments

Feature Presentation…MONDAY MOVIE MEME (for other Oscar posts check out the Bumbles)

This week’s movie topic is all about Oscar…Share on your blog your thoughts about Oscar

I love the Oscars (and the Golden Globes). I love watching the beautiful Hollywood people arrive in their Sunday best the most. It’s a girl thing. Last night there were a few offbeat dresses that I loved.

I also love the acceptance speeches. Last night Sandra Bullock and Jeff Bridges gave moving tributes to their parents. Then there was this uncomfortable moment. I love the spontaneity of the moment and I appreciated that there was no speech reading last night.

I sometimes get excited about the hosts and last night Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin did not disappoint. I thought they were fun. Of course, Steve Martin makes me smile most of the time.

I thought last night’s show was the best I’d seen in a while. I liked the way they honored the Best Actor/Actress nominees right from the opening of the show and I loved the John Hughes tribute.

I don’t always think the winners are the most deserving. When I posted my 5 picks for movies that everyone loved and I hated, 3 of them were Best Picture winners. And I don’t think they always give the Oscar to the best actor or actress either. Sometimes, if a respected actor or actress has been doing good work for a while, they will get the Oscar even if they were not the best that year. And no I’m not naming names!

So what about you? How do you feel about the Oscars? Did you have a favorite dress from last night?

My Monthly Movie Thoughts and open invitation

February 27, 2010April 8, 201725 Comments

These are the movies I’ve watched this month and I’ve given each one a grade and 5 words to describe it. There are two ways to actively participate. One, 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 just browse and enjoy too 🙂

(2009. Cast- Zooey Deschanel, Joseph Gordon-Levitt) Grade A

Quirky Charming Original Un-Love Story.

Enchanting, lovely, hilarious, romantic realism. (Nolatari)
Quirky, end was really fantastic! (Heather)

This whole movie is charming. (Tony)

(1993. Cast- Johnny Depp, Aidan Quinn, Mary Stuart Masterson) Grade B+

Two Misfits. Sweet Love Story.

Sweet, quirky, plus Johnny Depp! (Stephanie)

Adorable. Depp at his sweetest. (Nolatari)

Touching Cute Early Depp Vehicle (Beth)
Johnny Depp, disarmingly charming role. (Michelle)

Depp, one of his best! (Heather)

(2010. Cast- Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams) Grade B

Gritty. Troubling. Insanity. Prison. Surprising.

Book and movie both great (Heather)

Leo is crazy, right? Right??? (Tony)

(2009. Cast- Russell Crowe, Rachel McAdams, Ben Affleck, Helen Mirren, Jason Bateman, Robin Wright Penn) Grade B

Journalism & Politics on Trial. Lies.

Good enough. Series is better. (Nolatari)

I enjoyed the political intrigue. (Heather)

Politics as usual, poor guy. (Tony)

(1986. Cast- William Peterson, Joan Allen, Brian Cox, Dennis Farina) Grade B

Hannibal Lecktor. Grissom Before Grissom.

Unsatisfying once you see Hopkins. (Tony)

(1980. Cast- Brooke Shields, Christopher Atkins) Grade C+

Childlike Innocence. Escapism. Campy Fun.

Mostly for Teen Age Boys (Beth)

Monday Movie Meme – I don’t get it

February 22, 201036 Comments

Feature Presentation…MONDAY MOVIE MEME

This week’s movie topic is all about Popular Movies You Hated…

District 9 So many people (and bloggers) told me I would love this film and I convinced Jason he would too. Um, neither of us liked it at all. And, yes, we understood the underlying messages of the movie (we knew them going in), but we didn’t get all the hype. After I told a friend that we didn’t care for it she asked if I realized who the guy with the flower was at the end? Yes. Didn’t save the movie for me.

The English Patient We watched it because it won the Oscar and I only made it to the end by sheer will. I cannot remember anything I liked in this one. I feel like Elaine from Seinfeld after she admits to her boss that she hated The English Patient and he fired her. Please don’t stop reading my blog because I hated The English Patient, please?

Pulp Fiction When I saw it the first time at the theater I was unprepared for all of the violence and I hated it. Watched it again years later and still disliked it. I am sure I’m missing that cool Tarantino gene where I understand the genius of every movie he makes.

Amadeus It’s been awhile since I’ve seen this one, but when Jason & I ranked the AFI’s Top 100 movies of all-time (we spent many years and watched them all) this one came in at the bottom of my list. To be honest, I only remember that I couldn’t wait for it to end and not much else. Many people I love really like this one, so maybe one day I’ll give it another shot.

Brokeback Mountain This one I didn’t hate, but almost as bad, I was bored. I know it broke new ground with A list actors in a gay love story, but I just kept waiting for something to happen. This is a problem I have with a lot of westerns. The one saving grace for me in this movie was Heath Ledger. He was phenomenal.

Want to see what movies other bloggers chose? Visit The Bumbles.

Why not leave a comment confessing your own list. I’d love to see it!

Star Crossed Lovers Quiz

February 16, 2010February 19, 201018 Comments

This is week two of the new amd improved weekly quiz where I’ve decided to have them count for something! While you all get adjusted this first round will last through February and there will be 2 prizes! Check out the details HERE.

The biggest difference is that you don’t have to be first. Everyone gets an equal shot. Your comments will show up tomorrow.

Last week we did lovers for Valentine’s Day, but that day is done and tragedy has struck! This week I’m going to give you two actors who have portrayed famous lovers onscreen. You tell me the loving, yet doomed couple (fictional names, not actors names, last names are not necessary, 5 points) and/or the movie title (5 points). Each question you get right is worth 10 points. List as many as you know and no cheating off other commenters Good luck!

Want to see the leaderboard from week one? Answers from last week’s quiz? And please guess if you only know one or two. You’ll still be eligible for a prize!

1. Rose & Jack – Titanic

2.Bonnie & Clyde – Bonnie & Clyde

3.Rhett & Scarlet – Gone With the Wind

4. Molly & Sam – Ghost

5.Oliver & Jenny – Love Story

6.Romeo & Juliet – Romeo & Juliet

7.Tristan & Isolde – Tristan & Isolde

8.Cleopatra & Mark Anthony – Cleopatra

9.Ada & Inman – Cold Mountain

10.Ilsa & Rick – Casablanca

Come back Friday to see the answers.

Monday Movie Meme – Old Man Winter

February 15, 2010February 15, 201020 Comments

This week’s movie topic is all about Winter…

This week it’s all about snow, something most people in the country are now very familiar with. Here are the first five that came to mind.

Doctor Zhivago It’s not really a favorite of mine, but I loved the winter fashion.

Alive This has one of my biggest fears on display, a plane crash. Oh, and possibly getting eaten by friends.

A Simple Plan I read the book first and loved it. And the movie with Billy Bob Thronton, Bill Paxton and Bridget Fonda shows that the chilly landscape isn’t as desolate as a heart obsessed with money.

Misery I watched this one for the first time only a few years ago and loved it. Annie was one crazy fan.

Frosty the Snowman A classic. Just watched it again a few months ago. Love me some Frosty.

Stop by The Bumbles and check out other winter movies that are sure to match your white landscape. Is there a favorite of yours that I’m missing? Let me know, maybe it’s one I have to see.

Fave Film #12 – Silence of the Lambs (1991)

February 12, 2010April 22, 202017 Comments

1991

Cast- Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Ted Levine, Scott Glenn

It was the top 5 Oscars – Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay

FBI trainee, Clarisse Starling is sent to interview Hannibal Lecter, the mass murderer, to see if he can help the FBI find the serial killer known as Buffalo Bill. When the daughter of an important Senator goes missing and Buffalo Bill is the suspect, time is short and Clarisse must rely on Hannibal’s help.

Why I love it – I think the number one reason I love this film is Anthony Hopkin’s chilling portrayal of Hannibal ‘the Cannibal’ Lecter. I could not tear my eyes away from his cold glare and his creepy voice. He is what most people remember about this movie and he is onscreen for only 16 minutes. How awesome do you have to be to win a Best Actor Oscar for only 16 minutes of face time?! I love his psychoanalysis of Clarisse and Buffalo Bill, even if I don’t exactly approve of his eating habits.

And a close second to why I love this movie is Jodie Foster’s tough, yet vulnerable Clarisse. She’s a woman in a male dominated field and it only makes her work harder. I love the scene in the car with her boss Crawford when she throws his apology for treating her differently in front of the men back in his face. She does not make a scene, but she does make her point.

This is a crime thriller, horror, suspenseful drama that has is all, if you can stomach a little gore. Okay, maybe more than a little. I loved the series Monk and it took me two full seasons to stop picturing Captain Stottlemeyer as the crazy, skin obsessed Buffalo Bill.

I loved watching this again last night. I had forgotten just how good it was. I’m including one of my favorite lines from the movie. When I order Chianti I still think of Hannibal 😉

Lovers Quiz

February 9, 2010February 13, 201023 Comments

This is a new kinda weekly quiz. I’ve taken a few ideas from other blogs (especially The Life & Times of Michael5000) and decided to have these weekly quizzes count for something! While you all get adjusted this first round will last through February and there will be 2 prizes! Check out the details HERE.

The biggest difference is that you don’t have to be first. Everyone gets an equal shot.

This week I’m going to give you two actors who have portrayed favorite lovers onscreen. You tell me the loving couple (fictional names, not actors names, last names are not necessary, 5 points) and/or the movie title (5 points). Each question you get right is worth 10 points. List as many as you know and no cheating off other commenters 🙂 Good luck! Last names are not necessary.

1. Westley & Buttercup from The Princess Bride

2. Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy from Pride & Prejudice

3. Bridget Jones & Mark Darcy from Bridget Jones’s Diary

4. Harry Burns & Sally Albright from When Harry Met Sally

5. Danny Zuko & Sandy Olsson from Grease

6. Tommy Albright & Fiona Campbell from Brigadoon

7. Paula Pokrifki & Zack Mayo from An Officer and a Gentleman

8. Erica Barry & Harry Sanborn from Something’s Gotta Give

9.Terry McKay & Nickie Ferrante from An Affair to Remember

10. Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman & Johnn Castle from Dirty Dancing

Come back on Friday to see the answers.

Monday Movie Meme- All About Bugs

February 8, 2010February 9, 201020 Comments

Feature Presentation…MONDAY MOVIE MEME

Share on your blog instances of crawly critters and link back to the Bumbles

I don’t like bugs, of any kind. As a kid if I saw a spider after my parents had gone to bed I would leave a note on the door telling my dad where he could find that spider so he could kill it in the morning, LOL 🙂 Anyway, I’m not into bug movies, but I am reading a book right now about the study of moths which brought a couple of movies to mind and then my mind went tot his scene in Avatar

I loved that scene! Yes, I know they aren’t moths, but it’s a good creature so I thought I’d start with that. And now on to one of the moth movies and it’s a good one because we never actually get to see the moth creature. I was creeped out by the movie, but I did get to watch Richard Gere 🙂

And for my last entry I thought I’d go with real moths, like my book. The movie is creepy and sinister.

I just watched the first movie made from these Thomas Harris books and saw Brian Cox as the original Hannibal Leckter. If you’re interested it’s Manhunter (1986).

So, did I miss any great movies that featured bugs?

Monday Movie Meme- The Good, the Bad & the Ugly

February 1, 201017 Comments

Feature Presentation…

MONDAY MOVIE MEME

This week’s movie topic is all about Highs & Lows…I’m sure you have a favorite actor/actress. Someone whose work you admire enough to overlook, or even forget completely, those performances where they weren’t quite on their game. Or perhaps there is someone whose portrayals are usually forgettable, but they have surprised you with a gem here or there.

I had a hard time deciding on which actors to choose, so I glanced over the list of recent Golden Globe winners and decided to go with that.

Sandra Bullock – Love her and will watch everything she’s in, but they can’t all be good, right?

The Good-The Proposal, The Blind Side, While You Were Sleeping

The Bad- Premonition, Forces of Nature

Robert Downey Jr. – I always find hin compelling and I’m not sure why.

The Good- The Soloist, Tropic Thunder, Wonder Boys

The Bad- Air America, Johnny Be Good

The Ugly- The Pick-Up Artist

Drew Barrymore– I find her charming.

The Good- Ever After, Wedding Singer, ET

The Bad- Mad Love, Batman Forever

The Ugly- Poison Ivy