Recently in Movies Category

Yeah!!  I didn't know they were making a movie out of this book ... and with Rachel McAdams, whom I love!  And Eric Bana ... good casting!

Yes. It's something else from Drivl.

Movie Cliches That Must Die

Just a few ... but visit the site for the whole list complete with movie examples and thoughtful reasoning ;)

*The just-in-time bomb disabling
*The "Now, what were you going to say?"
*Subduing the killer and promptly running away instead of repeatedly kicking his face in
*The makeover that turns an already-pretty girl into a hot sex kitten
*The disproportionately huge apartment that realistically can't be affordable for the person habiting it

I'd love to see Pam's additions to this list ... as she is the most movie knowledgeable person I know.

I saw Umbridge in a totally different way in my head. I think this is the first time when I have been *totally* disappointed with the casting in Harry Potter. I've been pretty pleased with everyone up until now; she is just *not* AT ALL what I had in my head. :( Shorter. Wider, shorter face. Definite frog features. I think I saw Zelda Rubinstein in my head ... Imelda Staunton just is not doing it for me.

Movie Meme ... via Lisa

Here's the game: underline the movies you own, bold the movies you've seen, put those you've only seen part of in italics. Then add three movies to the bottom of the list. Comment or Ping with a link to your blog entry :) The list is in the extended entry!

Our church has bought a few hundred tickets to Mel Gibson's new movie, The Passion, and we showed the preview today at our weekly downtown business lunch. It was only a few minutes long, but I already know that this movie is going to impact people's lives in a way no other movie has. I guess maybe because it's not so much a movie; It's a statement, a portrayal of the last 12 hours before the crucifixion. You cannot watch this film passively, or at least I couldn't. There are usually around 250-300 people at our weekly lunch, and today we had that normal crowd. The room was completely silent for the whole preview and afterwards still silent. I'm a Christian, and seeing just the preview of this movie made my eyes tear up and my heart break and yet at the same time be excited that this film has been made. Kudos to Mel Gibson for having the guts to make this film. I wonder what a non-believer will think of the film? I would find it hard to believe that anyone could watch it and still be sure about their non-belief? I've seen various interviews and articles about this movie, but didn't really know what to think of it before today. In one interview, the actor who portrays Jesus, Jim Caviezel, has been quoted saying "I'm interested in letting God work through me to play this role ...... I don't want people to see me. All I want them to see is Jesus Christ." It will be interesting to see the effects of this movie on people, Christians and Non-Christians alike.

Netflix-ed Red Dragon this weekend .... I wasn't looking forward to it because I have never been able to watch scary movies and not have nightmares. Several years ago I watched IT, I had nightmares for weeks afterward -- I kept thinking the clown was going to come eat me when I got up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. So -- I watched it -- and it was nothing like Silence of the Lambs or Hannibal. It was a little scary ... but none of the jumping in your seat kinda thing though. And nothing like in Hannibal when he was cooking the guys brains ... that wasn't scray, it was just freaky. I did go ahead and watch an hour of funny tv after it was over though -- as a precautionary measure against nightmares. I have to trick my brain into thinking I didn't watch something scary. If I go to bed right after watching a freak flick, I'll definitely dream about it -- so I temper it with an hour of Letterman or Friends or something.

:soapbox: Warning: Rant in the Extended Entry

It was a weekend for movies. I was flipping through the channels Friday night and what should I see on but Sense and Sensibility. Another Jane Austen classic. I watched it and then, guess what was on A&E? Your favorite and mine, Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. I figured I might as well pop in my DVD set of P&P instead of sitting through the tv version -- so I watched my favorite scenes from P&P, including of course the first proposal, the meeting at the lake, her at the piano with Georgianna, and the "trifle with my affections" scene at the very end. :heartbeat: Again I must reiterate how every woman needs a Mr. Darcy.

Saturday night we went to a concert out at the Amsouth Amphitheatre. Tom Petty & and the Heartbreakers -- with Bo Diddley opening. I have to say I LOVED Bo Diddley ... he was great and so funny. His band ended up getting stuck in New York and so the Heartbreakers played for him -- they were having a great time (I'm sure they love getting to play something different and with someone who has been in the business forever!) THe drummer just couldn't stop smiling :bounce:, especially when BD came up and did an impromptu drum duet (or whatever you'd call it!) with him. He ended his set by rapping -- which was just great and had the audience on their feet screaming because he's like 80 years old and was still very hip and cool. The TP and the HB come on and did a great show -- with all the great hits, FreeBird, American Girl , and a new song called Melinda in which their piano player is the starring role -- awesome piano spotlight.

Yesterday we went to the movies to see the newest American Pie, American Wedding. I enjoyed the first two movies, and mainly wanted to see this one because BTVS's Alyson Hannigan was the lovely bride. I don't think this film was nearly as funny as the first one -- but it was entertainment for an afternoon.

We tiled our master bathroom with porcelain tiles this weekend! They had linoleum floors down, so we had to rip that and the baseboards up and get the floor all nice and tidy. Then we had fun measuring ten times and cutting once (can't afford to mess up these tiles! :money:). We only had a few "delicate" cuts to make -- most of them were straight across, so it went pretty well. Steve's a wonder with that wet saw! By the end of the day, he was cutting really thin slices and not even blinking an eye! So after getting the entire floor cut and laid out, we then started slapping on the mortar, which is my favorite part about tiling. I love the gooeyness and spreading it out. It feels like doing some arts and crafts from elementary school! We'll probably grout tonight or tomorrow night -- some sources say wait 24 hours and others 48 hours -- who knows. The mortar that we used says we can grout after 24, so if we're up to it and my knees can stand being down there again I want to go ahead and get it finished so we can start using that bathroom again instead of having to go upstairs and shower and get ready! I love doing home projects like this though -- it's very satisfying to come up with an idea for something, plan it, and follow through and see it finished!

Did anyone else out there know that Valmont is Cruel Intentions? Annette Bening = Sarah Michelle Gellar; Colin Firth = Ryan Phillipe. I knew Cruel Intentions was based on the book Dangerous Liasons by Choderlos de Laclos - but I didn't put it together that Valmont was based on that book as well ! It was still a fairly decent movie ... although it was quite long :thumbsup:

As you'll notice, I've added my currently section on the side here. I'm doing it with MT and it's :cool: ! Whenever I get an inkling to add something, I just post a new entry in the appropriate category and it adds it to my list. (The pictures don't really have anything to do with the category they're with, but I couldn't bear to lose my pictures of Sarah!)

Went to the movies Saturday night .... Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl ! I liked it sooo much more than I thought I would. Steve was the one who actually wanted to see it and so I went. This is the best role Johnny Depp has had in years -- he was GREAT as Captain Jack Sparrow! He is the character who kept you involved in the movie ... Orlando Bloom was there on the sidelines with Ms. Swan (don't know her name) -- but it was Depp's character that interested you and kept you constantly wondering what he had up his sleeve! Good movie :thumbsup:

I finally watched a movie last night that everyone has been raving about -- but that I just hadn't gotten around to seeing. Thank goodness for Netflix! What was the movie? My Big Fat Greek Wedding! I know, it's hard to believe I haven't seen it! I watched it last night and while the beginning was a bit slow, I quickly got involved with Toula's situation in life (and I already loved John Corbett from Northern Exposure and Sex & The City fame). Tonight I'll have to watch the special features and then back to netflix it will go, and in a few days I'll receive another cool movie to watch. Valmont is supposed to be in my mailbox today or tomorrow -- another Colin Firth movie goody. (CF is the only reason I put it in my queue!) I love netflix. Get the windex!!

You've got to read Dave's (of davezilla.com) news here! The polar bear one is quite interesting ... and the man pillows are kinda freaky!

I'm just the regular blogger here lately, aren't I? It's only been 9 days since my last blog though -- I'm doing better (well ... it's better than two weeks between blogs?!?). We're swamped with paperwork and things to get completed for our house. The process of buying a house requires you to sign your name at least 500 times (in blood ... ), write so many checks that you check your checking account balance hourly to make sure you still have enough there to cover, and coordinating your apartment utilities cutoff dates with the house utilities turnon dates is a surefire way to get a migraine. BUT we'll be homeowners at the end of it ... so it will all be worth it!

Oh -- Sarah is TWO months old today!!! I'll post pictures later ;)

A few TV and Movie notes:

ALIAS .... I still think Irina might be a good guy. She knows the only way Sydney will leave the CIA is if Sloane is taken down. Maybe she and Jack are plotting together? I want her to be a good guy now. Oh, and Freplica is freaky with her hypnosis.

BUFFY .... I kinda enjoyed last week's Andrew-centric episode. When he's introducing all the characters .... Buffy with her wind blown hair pouring the cereal, shirtless Spike the "'can't remember her name" slayerette -- cute! The only thing I definitely didn't like was anything to do with the Willow/Kennedy hookup -- I'm just not buying it.

GILMORE GIRLS .... Although I fully enjoyed the scene with Paris having a meltdown on national television and announcing to the world that she'd had sex -- it's not really believable that she wouldn't get into Harvard. Not believeable at all. It's almost a given that if you have generations of your family that have attended Harvard -- you ARE going to get in. Paris would definitely have gotten in because not only did she have the family connections .... but she had the grades and the extra curriculars. Not believable .... but a humorous scene none-the-less. I also enjoyed the sad/friendship scene between Rory and Paris afterwards. Rory is the only real friend Paris has ever really had...and Paris has never really known how to handle that. Good episode, as usual.

ER .... I was so sad when Carter put the ring back in his pocket and decided not to propose. Probably the right decision ... but nonetheless sad. Then when Abby found the ring .... ah. I wonder if she realized he was GOING to ask her ... but something she said changed his mind. Can you imagine if that happened to you? Whew. I can't wait to see what happens with this. I love Carter ... and have since day one.

Warning --
[rant starts here]
MR. STERLING .... On the recommendation of a friend - I watched this show for the first time about 3 weeks ago. I won't watch it again, and have emailed the network about their pathetic excuse for a well-written show. The show we watched had a plot based around the INS. Yes - it is a TV show - and yes TV shows aren't supposed to be totally realistic. However, this show is supposed to somewhat resemble The West Wing (who has a team of intelligent writers who know the value of correct research). The entire premise of the show was totally incorrect. An immigrant janitor working in a government building wanted to go home to say goodbye to her mother, who was dying. Her greencard hadn't yet been processed. The whole show was about Senator Sterling trying to get INS to let her go home. The problem with that is that she would have been allowed to go anyway. It's something called ADVANCE PAROLE (and if you want to know more about it - you can read my blog from March/April 2002 - Steve and I had to get this in order for us to go to England to see his family last year). When you apply for your greencard, you apply for Advance Parole at the same time. EVEN if she didn't have the approved Parole yet .... she had a first degree blood relative dying. That immediately qualifies her for Emergency Parole. All she had to do was go to the INS office and they would have granted her Advanced Parole. This show conveniently distorted INS law and regulations .... and therefore has incorrectly led the American public to believe something that isn't true. People who watch shows like this think that they are based on things that actually happen. (Oh and another problem is that the janitor had a child who was born here in the states ... hence he was an American citizen. Oh and additionally ... I very much doubt that an immigrant WITHOUT their greencard would be allowed to work anywhere near U.S. Senators and Congressmen. I'm sure greencarded immigrants do ... but I think you'd probably have to wait at LEAST until you were granted the greencard to work at the Senate building.)
[here endeth the rant]

MONSTERS INC .... I saw this movie for the first time over the weekend. HOW CUTE IS THIS? I watched it twice and enjoyed it just as much the second time around. Good movie! Get's two thumbs up from me!

And I'm all ready for this week's ! I missed last weeks inaugural post .... but am determined to do it this week. (Thanks for the house card!! You're so thoughtful!!)