26 Thursday Apr 2012
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Well, my old theme seems to have blown up, leaving my blog in a shambles, so…I found a really basic, plain theme to use instead. Don’t really feel like messing with it to make it all pretty, so…this’ll have to do.
13 Tuesday Mar 2012
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As I have found myself less enthused about writing reviews for movies I’ve seen, I’ve decided to switch up the format a little bit. I will no longer be a slave to the review structure I have used in the past. Instead, I will simply just write as much or as little about the movie as I feel compelled to write. Let’s face it, some movies don’t deserve the full review structure.
If the movie only deserves one sentence, then that is all it shall get…
20 Friday May 2011
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I’m probably going to be changing a few things around here in the next day or so, appearance-wise. That is, switching to a new WordPress theme.
So, if you visit the blog and it looks different, or it’s in total disarray, don’t fret. I’m gonna try to make it mostly look like it always has, but I don’t know how possible that will be.
Thank you for your patience in this transitionary (is that a word?) time.
13 Friday May 2011
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Tags
So, I saw this thing that’s going around movie blogs, and I thought I’d play along.
Basically, you pick your favorite movie from every year that you’ve been alive. For me, that’s 1976-2010. Not including 2011 because it’s just getting going.
Note: I’m going by the year these films are listed under on IMDB.com, not necessarily the year they got a wide release.
Here goes Part II…
The Contenders – T2, Barton Fink, What About Bob?, Defending Your Life
Decision – T2 is awesome, and WAB is funny, but…Albert Brooks is the man.
WINNER Gimme back my pasta!!
The Contenders – Wayne’s World, Batman Returns, Patriot Games, Prelude To a Kiss
Decision – Hmm, not a very strong year…but if I’m going with the one I’ve found myself watching the most often…
WINNER I told you not to call me Junior...
The Contenders – Jurassic Park, Groundhog Day, True Romance, The Fugitive, Fearless, Searching for Bobby Fischer
Decision – This one’s tough. Despite it’s lack of a compelling story or interesting characters, JP is still very watchable…GD is one of Murray’s best…TR is fun and has some great scenes…but I think it’s two in a row for Mr. Ford…
WINNER What's that you were saying, Junior?
The Contenders – Shawshank Redemption, Leon – The Professional, Dumb and Dumber, Ed Wood
Decision – Some great movies, but not too difficult a choice for me here. This is for…Mathilda…
WINNER And remember, when you grow up, you're not to star in anything called Your Highness, okay?
The Contenders – Braveheart, Se7en, Twelve Monkeys, Before Sunrise
Decision – Bunch of great ones here, but Se7en is in my all time top 5, so…
WINNER And they lived happily ever after...
The Contenders – Fargo, Bottle Rocket, Mission: Impossible, Swingers, MST3K: The Movie
Decision – It’s hard to go against Mike & the Bots, but since the movie wasn’t as good as many of the better episodes…
WINNER Pointless act!
The Contenders – L.A. Confidential, Gattaca, Grosse Pointe Blank
Decision – I’m NOT just picking this because I’m afraid John Cusack will show and kill me if I don’t…
WINNER I think yer gonna want to wait til' I'm done reading it before you try to take the magazine again...
The Contenders – The Big Lebowski, The Truman Show, A Bug’s Life, Rushmore, Sliding Doors
Decision – Sic transit gloria…
WINNER Poor Bill...
The Contenders – Fight Club, The Matrix, The Sixth Sense, The Iron Giant
Decision – Wow, strong field. But…Fincher wins again…
WINNER So...you're NOT going to let me borrow your jacket?
The Contenders – Gladiator, Memento, Almost Famous, O Brother Where Art Thou, Unbreakable
Decision – M. Night was still making good movies…strong entry from the Cohens…but along came Christopher Nolan…
WINNER Remember when I used to be pretty well known, memory man?
The Contenders – Amelie, Fellowship of the Ring, Ghost World, Donnie Darko
Decision – Wow, Fellowship is probably my favorite of the LOTR trilogy…but the other 3 are among my favorite movies. Definitely the toughest choice so far. In fact…
WINNERS No spoon for you!
The Contenders – Spider-man, The Ring, Insomnia, About a Boy, Whale Rider
Decision – Ugh…another really tough one. Absolutely love Whale Rider and About a Boy, but…I think Nolan wins again…
WINNER I've never noticed how beautiful your eyes are...
The Contenders – Pirates of the Caribbean, Finding Nemo, In America, The Station Agent, X-men 2
Decision – It comes down to In America and the Station Agent…and I like Irish accents, so…
WINNER Throw another rock at the old man, daddy!!
The Contenders – Garden State, Spider-Man 2, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Before Sunset
Decision – Not that the others aren’t great movies, but…this is an easy call…
WINNER You're that guy that was so annoying in Ace Ventura, right?
The Contenders – Batman Begins, Serenity, The Descent
Decision – It’s close, but for once, Nolan doesn’t win…
WINNER Bring me that cupcake!
The Contenders – The Fall, Children of Men, Little Miss Sunshine, Stranger Than Fiction, Once
Decision – Lots of good, varied choices here. Comes down to Once or The Fall…
WINNER Make me a pie!
The Contenders – Superbad, Juno, Sunshine, Zodiac, Lars and the Real Girl
Decision – If Sunshine had a slightly stronger finish, it might emerge victorious, but that Ellen is quite the charmer…
WINNER Honest. To. Blog.
The Contenders – The Dark Knight, Iron Man, Wall-E, Let the Right One In, Cloverfield, Bolt, The Brothers Bloom
Decision – Even though it wasn’t actually widely released until 2009…
WINNER Umbrellas!
The Contenders – Inglourious Basterds, (500) Days of Summer, Moon, Up In the Air, Ink, Paddle to Seattle
Decision – Extremely tough call…but I think Zooey is the deciding factor…
WINNER Did I mention that I want to be an architect...?
The Contenders – Inception, Kick-Ass, Let Me In, Cold Weather
Decision – Ya know, even though I rated Inception and Let Me In higher than it, this little indie movie has really grown on me…
WINNER Here's a book about cold Wheaties, but nothing about cold weather, sorry...
11 Wednesday May 2011
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So, I saw this thing that’s going around movie blogs, and I thought I’d play along.
Basically, you pick your favorite movie from every year that you’ve been alive. For me, that’s 1976-2010. Not including 2011 because it’s just getting going.
Note: I’m going by the year these films are listed under on IMDB.com, not necessarily the year they got a wide release.
Here goes…
The Contenders – Rocky, Squirm, Track of the Moonbeast
Decision – Obviously I haven’t seen many movies from 1976…so, I went with the one I DIDN’T see on Mystery Science Theater 3000
WINNER I never noticed how much he looks like Paul McCartney
The Contenders – Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Star Wars
Decision – Spielberg beats out Lucas in this case, but it’s a close one.
WINNERGonna build a mountain, in your living room...
The Contenders – Superman, Laserblast
Decision – Once again I have to go with the one I’ve seen that’s actually good enough to NOT be featured on MST3K.
WINNER Seriously, Laserblast?
The Contenders – Alien, Apocalypse Now, Mad Max
Decision – Not a strong field this year, as far as personal favorites go, so I went with the one set in space…space always wins…
WINNER Crazy new-age beauty treatments...
The Contenders – Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Superman II
Decision – Seeing as how it’s one of my all time favorite movies…
WINNER Why does my back suddenly feel all warm...and wet...?
The Contenders – Raiders of the Lost Ark, Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior
Decision – Again, we’re dealing with an all time favorite…
WINNER Pretty much how it feels to watch this movie.
The Contenders – Poltergeist, Star Trek II, The Secret of NIMH
Decision – Close race, but one of these had Ricardo Montalban, while the others did not…
WINNER What does-...I don't know what that means, what does that mean?
The Contenders – Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, Wargames, The Right Stuff
Decision – Ally Sheedy is awesome, but the Mercury 7 are even more awesome…
WINNER Who's the best pilot ya ever saw?
The Contenders – Terminator, Karate Kid, Top Secret!, Ghostbusters
Decision – Now it’s getting tough, but classic comedy wins out over classic sci-fi/action.
WINNER So you guys didn't think the sequel was all that bad, right?
The Contenders – Back to the Future, Real Genius
Decision – One of these falls apart a little too much at the end…
WINNER Hey thanks for not making out with your mom too much.
The Contenders – Big Trouble In Little China, Platoon, Aliens, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Decision – Stop your grinnin’ and drop your linen…
WINNER Wait, WHAT happens to my character in the third movie...?
The Contenders – Roxanne, Broadcast News, Raising Arizona, The Princess Bride
Decision – Okay, we’re getting into some tough territory now. I guess I have to go with the one I’ve seen the most and can quote from the most freely…but the others are very strong contenders…
WINNER As you wish indeed...
The Contenders – Big, Die Hard, Beetlejuice
Decision – Well, Die Hard is just awesome all around…Beetlejuice is funny and has Winona…but…
WINNER Bow down before Zoltar!
The Contenders – Say Anything, The Abyss, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Glory
Decision – I really want to pick John Cusack and Ione Skye, but they just can’t quite compete with the dark nothingness of…
WINNER Watch this, I'm totally gonna pick it's nose!
The Contenders – Joe Versus the Volcano, Edward Scissorhands, Men At Work, The Freshman
Decision – Really, this is a two horse race. Joe or Edward, Edward or Joe…?
WINNER Joe..and his lamp
The 90s and beyond will appear soon in Part II!
07 Tuesday Sep 2010
Posted in Uncategorized
Well, I haven’t written anything in a while…since I haven’t watched any movies in a while…at least not any that I haven’t already reviewed.
I saw this on CTCMR and decided to do it myself.
Off we go…
1. Sequel that shouldn’t have been made
Haven't I been through enough!?
Alien 3 – David Fincher did the best he could, but I just hate movies that completely negate everything that happened in the previous movie.
2. Favorite Oscar-nominated film from a recent ballot
Ew, when did you get so old?
Up In the Air – It would’ve got my vote for best picture.
3. A movie that makes me laugh every time
Piranhas are a very tricky species...
Rushmore – Really I could have put Bottle Rocket here too…or a couple of other Wes Anderson movies. I just like the style of humor.
4. A movie I loathe
Pretty much the same look I had on my face throughout the movie...
Death at a Funeral – I only saw it once, but that was enough. Really rubbed me the wrong way…
5. Movie that makes me cry every time
Gramma says hi...
The Sixth Sense – I simply cannot watch the scene between Cole and his mom in the car near the end without tearing up. Well done, Toni…
6. Least favorite movie by a favorite actor
I'm sure we'll be this happy for the whole movie!
Revolutionary Road (Kate Winslet) – This is the first thing that came to mind. I’m sure there are better examples. Normally I love Kate, but her character bugged me, and the movie as a whole was just so mean and depressing that I could barely appreciate its good points.
7. Movie that should be required high school viewing
Please don't kill me...
High School Big Shot – Important lessons here about not trying to impress girls by committing crimes and such. Okay, so I saw this one on Mystery Science Theater 3000. It’s terrible. The main kid is such a dope…
8. Best Scene Ever
Ever dance with a dinosaur by the pale moonlight?
Edward Scissorhands – I’m showing my Winona bias here, but I could watch her dance in the snow to Danny Elfman’s music all day. It’s good in any language.
9. Movie I thought I wouldn’t like but ended up loving
Totally redeemed.
Dumb and Dumber – At the time, I was very much anti-Jim Carrey, but funny is funny…and this movie is funny.
10. Movie that disappointed
Still got it...
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – I love David Fincher and was looking forward to this one…but it just didn’t do much for me.
11. Best music in a scene
Trust me, you don't want to race me...
American Graffiti – There are plenty of scenes to choose from. I particularly like the dancing scene where Smoke Gets In Your Eyes is playing.
12. Favorite Animated Movie
Have we met...?
Finding Nemo – I’m not real big on animated movies, but I do like the stuff Pixar is putting out, and this is probably my fav of the bunch.
13. Favorite Black & White Film
She stole my ice cream...just when I was starting to like her...
Roman Holiday – Audrey’s just so darned likable…
14. Best Musical
Or maybe not so slowly...
Once – Easy choice, seeing as how it’s about the only thing I can tolerate (and love, actually) that can also be classified as a “musical”.
15. Favorite guilty pleasure movie
What? it's just Bernie...
Weekend at Bernie’s – Yeah, I know…but I still find myself laughing at it…for some reason…
16. Favorite series of related movies
Wow...that almost looks real...
Star Wars Episodes IV-VI – It’s too bad Lucas never went back and made any prequels, eh? That would be an interesting story to see told. Maybe some day…
17. Favorite title sequence
They are a-changin'...
Watchmen – Probably an obvious choice, but it’s just too well done to not pick it. The sequence gives a lot of back story, plus we get a great Bob Dylan song.
18. Best movie cast
3 man army...
The Princess Bride – Maybe a bit of an odd choice, but everybody’s so perfectly cast, and everyone contributes something to the movie. Even the bit parts, like those played by Billy Crystal and Carol Kane, are memorable.
19. Favorite kiss
Take it easy...
Empire Strikes Back – It’s funny AND incestuous!
20. Favorite romantic couple
Okay...
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – It’s not always pretty for Joel and Clementine, but you get the sense that they like each other too much to ever give up on making it work.
21. Favorite final line
Boom
Fight Club – “You met me at a very strange time in my life.”
22. Best action scene
This could end badly...
Seven – I’ve always liked the chase sequence in the middle of the movie because it’s so sudden and intense. Plus, it has a more realistic feel than most action sequences. When people fall down or get hit…they actually get hurt.
23. Quote I use most often
Also loves toxic waste...
Real Genius – Cheating a little here because I don’t use the exact quote, but I do use the same style joke a lot. When Chris Knight is asked, “why is that toy on your head,” he replies “Because if I wear it anywhere else, it chafes.” The joke being that he didn’t answer the actual question they were asking. Try it in your daily life. If somebody asks, “why are you sitting over here all by yourself,” you can say, “because it’s more comfortable than standing.”
24. A movie I plan on watching
The man...
Anything Christopher Nolan decides to make.
25. Freakishly weird ending
Ummm...
2001 A Space Odyssey – Love the movie, even the freakishly weird ending, but…yeah…it’s a strange one.
26. Best villain
There will not be a four...
Die Hard – Hans!
27. Most over-hyped movie
Welcome to hype!
Independence Day – I recall a lot of build up to this one. Lots of previews with the white house exploding, etc. Personally, it did not live up to the hype at all.
28. Movie seen more than 10 times
Slow ahead?
Jaws – There are plenty to choose from, but I went with Jaws because…well, it’s Jaws.
29. Saddest character death
Gentle giant...
The Green Mile – John Coffey. *sniff*
30. Scene that made me stand up and cheer
Whoa...
The Matrix – When Neo saves Trinity right before the helicopter crashes into a building.
THE END.
Thanks for stopping by.
06 Friday Aug 2010
Posted in Uncategorized
This is the trailer for a documentary a friend of mine has been working on for a long time. It is finally nearing completion and I thought I’d do my small part in promoting it.
It’s called Shed No Tears. For more information visit unseenstories.com.
07 Monday Jun 2010
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So, I’m taking the advice of one M. Carter At the Movies and will be reviewing some of (or perhaps all eventually) of the movies in my favorites list. I’ll label them as “Personal Favorite: Movie Title”.
I’ve reviewed a few of them in the past, so I’ll just link to those from my favorites list, and I’ll add “Personal Favorites” to their titles as well.
Yeah, that’s all I had to say…
27 Thursday May 2010
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As I sit here contemplating what movie related topic I could possibly write something about, I keep getting pounded with the same thought: Whatever you’re planning to write about, many many people have already written about it…and they probably did a better job than you could ever do.
The state of modern romantic comedies? What makes a movie scary? Top (insert number here) all time lists? Why try to write something that’s already been written a thousand times over? To bring my unique perspective to it? Possibly. But, chances are, it’s not as unique a perspective as I’d like to think it is. Heck, I’m sure plenty of people have written posts just like this one before. Even complaints about having nothing original to say aren’t original!
Songwriters must go through this. There’s only so many ways to write a love song, and you’d think people would get sick of them (as Paul McCartney pointed out), but you just have to buckle down and try to say what’s already been said in a way that nobody’s ever said it before.
That probably takes effort and energy though. Two things I’m not always bubbling with.
However, I would like to write something here besides reviews. That’s where you, the reader, enters the scene. I’m hoping you’ll suggest a topic for me to write about. Even if it’s totally unoriginal (e.g. Best Movie Twists Ever!)…or way too original (e.g. Top 10 Movie Scenes Featuring a Birdhouse!). That way it won’t be me coming up with the silly idea in my own blog. I can blame somebody else. See how that works?
So yeah, leave a comment with a suggestion if you have one. Or, if you’d rather I quit writing altogether, you could say that too…or just don’t leave a comment at all. I’ll consider every comment NOT left as a vote for me to stop writing. Seems logical.
Speaking of stopping…
10 Monday May 2010
Posted in Uncategorized
Do you like music? Sure, we all do.
Well, I saw this little non-movie meme posted over on Cut the Crap Movie Reviews and decided that I’d fill it out for meself. It’s been quite a while since I’ve posted something anyways.
I need to get back to watching a movie or two, eh?
Anyways, on to the music questions!
1. Open up your iTunes, music player, spin the CD, whatever, hit shuffle and tell us what is the first song to play…
Full Moon, Empty Heart – Belly
Gotta love that Tanya Donelly!
2. Name your top 5 favorite bands/musicians of all time
This is difficult since my tastes have changed over the years, but I guess the most lasting ones would be:
The Beatles, Camera Obscura, Dar Williams, The Nields, and ELO
3. What was your first CD to own? (8 track, Record, CD, MP3 for the newbies)
I don’t recall exactly what the first thing I owned was, but it was definitely on a record. It was probably either the single Take On Me by Aha or Take These Broken Wings by Mr. Mister.
4. Of all the bands/artists in your cd/record collection, which one do you own the most albums by?
I’m assuming it’s The Beatles. It definitely is if you count all their solo stuff as well.
5. What was the last song you listened to?
Currently playing on my mp3 player is…Dead of Winter by the Eels.
6. What song would you say sums you up?
Nowhere Man – The Beatles…heck, in Yellow Submarine the Nowhere Man was even named Jeremy.
7. What’s your favorite local band or band that originated from your hometown?
That’s easy, The Sarah Mac Band! Yeah, they’re friends of mine, but they’re good too. And I made their website for them. 🙂 http://www.sarahmacband.com
8. What’s the greatest concert you’ve ever been to?
That’s tough. Seeing Paul McCartney at the Georgia Dome in 1993 was good. But I also very much enjoyed seeing Camera Obscura for the first time at the Club Downunder in Tallahassee in 2007. The Stars put on a very good show there too.
9. What musician would you like to hang out with for a day?
Probably Tracyanne Campbell from Camera Obscura.
10. What was the greatest decade for music?
60s, though pretty much every decade from the 50s on has had some good music if you look hard enough for it.
11. What is your favorite movie soundtrack?
Might have to go with Rushmore…
12. What’s the most awful CD/record/etc. you’ve ever bought?
Back in the day I bought a CD by Jennifer Paige after hearing that song she did, Crush. Yeah, embarrassing…
13. What’s your favorite band t-shirt or poster?
I never owned any band posters that I recall. My brother had a cool White Album poster though. As for t-shirts, I think my favorite one was a Kate Rusby shirt that was black and had a little cartoon drawing of her on it. Sadly, it started falling apart, but I still have it. I had a pretty cool Beatles Hey Jude shirt in high school as well.
14. Rolling Stones or The Beatles?
Beatles, and it’s not even close. Though, I do like a fair number of Stones songs.
15. What is the one song you would most like played at your funeral? Your birthday? While on a romantic date?
Razzle Dazzle Rose by Camera Obscura…for all three occasions. 🙂
The Robot Who Likes Pretty Things 