Stats: 1953. Starring James Mason & Pamela Mason. Not Rated.
Background: I’d never heard of this film before I saw it was a special feature on the dvd of the 1963 Charade.
Reactions: Charade is a collection of three short films. James and Pamela Mason wrote and starred in each film. The movie begins in the Masons’ home; James is an actor and Pamela is a writer, and he decides they should make short films based on three of her stories. Each film begins and ends with the Masons discussing the film, which lends a connectedness to the stories that would not otherwise be present.
Story #1 is about a divorcee living in Paris. She’s an artist, albeit an unsuccessful one. The woman who lives in the apartment next door plays the piano incessantly—and not very well, at that! One night, the artist hears the woman’s piano being played, but the pianist is quite talented, so she knows the woman must have a guest. She then hears arguing, followed by silence. She opens her door but turns off her light, and she sees a man exit the neighbor’s apartment. When the woman’s body is discovered the next day, the artist knows she saw the killer. Rather than report to the police what she saw, she hopes to see the killer again—he is a strange inspiration for her art. When he moves in next door—into the same apartment as the girl he killed—the two begin a relationship. I won’t tell you how it ends, but you can probably guess!
Story #2 focuses on a duel. It’s really not interesting enough for me to even describe it in detail. Basically, two men love the same woman, they agree to a duel (with some strange terms), and no one dies. The story had the opportunity for some major twists, but it didn’t capitalize on any of those opportunities. This story is much duller than the first.
Story #3 is the story of a man who has millions of dollars and a successful company but isn’t happy with his life. One day, he walks away from it all. He takes a variety of menial jobs and ends up as a butler for an old millionaire. He falls for the maid, and in a desire to impress her, he returns to his business. (Side note: Two of the men who work for him are named Rosencrantz and Guildenstern … an odd shout-out to Hamlet.)
I would never buy this film, but it’s fine as a special feature. I find it odd that it’s coupled with the 1963 Charade—the only thing the two films have in common is their name!
Verdict: Keep (because there’s no way I’m getting rid of the other Charade!)
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
#20 "Charade" (1963)
Stats: 1963. Starring Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Walter Matthau. Not Rated.
Background: I first watched this movie while in junior high or high school when I checked it out of our local library. I loved it, but it traumatized my little sister … it contains a few murders, and while the viewer never sees the murders happen, the dead bodies are shown. I don’t think she's ever looked at plastic wrap the same way!
I’ve watched Charade six or seven times over the years, and I got it on dvd a few years ago. I just realized today that my dvd contains a 1953 movie also called Charade, so I guess I’ll be watching that next! (From looking at its imdb page, I don’t think it’s at all connected to this Charade, but I guess I’ll find out!)
In 2002, The Truth About Charlie, a remake starring Mark Wahlberg and Thandie Newton, came out. I was excited until I actually saw it. Seven years later, I don’t remember anything about the movie except that I didn’t like it!
Reactions: I’d forgotten how funny this movie is! It’s a suspense film with lots of twists and turns, but it also contains many humorous lines—including a reference to Hepburn’s My Fair Lady! (Charade was released the year before My Fair Lady, so it may just be coincidence, but it’s still an amusing line.)
My favorite line from today’s rewatch: “I hope we have a lot of boys; we can name them all after you.” The line won’t make sense if you haven’t seen the movie, so go here to watch it free!
Verdict: Keep
Background: I first watched this movie while in junior high or high school when I checked it out of our local library. I loved it, but it traumatized my little sister … it contains a few murders, and while the viewer never sees the murders happen, the dead bodies are shown. I don’t think she's ever looked at plastic wrap the same way!
I’ve watched Charade six or seven times over the years, and I got it on dvd a few years ago. I just realized today that my dvd contains a 1953 movie also called Charade, so I guess I’ll be watching that next! (From looking at its imdb page, I don’t think it’s at all connected to this Charade, but I guess I’ll find out!)
In 2002, The Truth About Charlie, a remake starring Mark Wahlberg and Thandie Newton, came out. I was excited until I actually saw it. Seven years later, I don’t remember anything about the movie except that I didn’t like it!
Reactions: I’d forgotten how funny this movie is! It’s a suspense film with lots of twists and turns, but it also contains many humorous lines—including a reference to Hepburn’s My Fair Lady! (Charade was released the year before My Fair Lady, so it may just be coincidence, but it’s still an amusing line.)
My favorite line from today’s rewatch: “I hope we have a lot of boys; we can name them all after you.” The line won’t make sense if you haven’t seen the movie, so go here to watch it free!
Verdict: Keep
Sunday, September 20, 2009
#19 "Brian's Song"
Stats: 2001. Starring Sean Maher, Mekhi Phifer, Paula Cale. Not Rated. Based on a true story.
Background: The first time I watched Brian’s Song, I cried through the last 20 minutes. My youngest sister watched it with me, and she looked at me like I’d lost my mind!
This is a remake of the beloved 1971 TV movie starring James Caan and Billy Dee Williams. I’ve never seen the original, so I can’t speak to any of the claims that this movie is far inferior to the original. If that’s the case, though, the original must be spectacular!
Reactions: Maher and Phifer knock this out of the park! (Since it’s a football movie, maybe I should say they score a touchdown?) The two actors portray Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers, Chicago Bears teammates competing for the same starting job. At first, the two merely put up with each other; when Gale suffers a season-ending injury, Brian helps him get back in shape, and the two become close friends. Later, as Brian faces cancer, Gale is there every step of the way.
In the interest of full disclosure, I must warn you about the incredibly cheesy death scene in which Piccolo’s spirit (perhaps … not quite sure …) runs toward the goal line on a football field. It’s as bad as it sounds, but the rest of the movie is so good that you have to forgive the ending. (Besides, I’m always crying so hard at this point that I can’t see very well, anyway!)
I love this movie. It’s not one of those you can watch any time—I only watch it when I’m in the mood for a good cry; I know there’s no way I’ll be able to avoid crying when watching it!
Verdict: Keep
Background: The first time I watched Brian’s Song, I cried through the last 20 minutes. My youngest sister watched it with me, and she looked at me like I’d lost my mind!
This is a remake of the beloved 1971 TV movie starring James Caan and Billy Dee Williams. I’ve never seen the original, so I can’t speak to any of the claims that this movie is far inferior to the original. If that’s the case, though, the original must be spectacular!
Reactions: Maher and Phifer knock this out of the park! (Since it’s a football movie, maybe I should say they score a touchdown?) The two actors portray Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers, Chicago Bears teammates competing for the same starting job. At first, the two merely put up with each other; when Gale suffers a season-ending injury, Brian helps him get back in shape, and the two become close friends. Later, as Brian faces cancer, Gale is there every step of the way.
In the interest of full disclosure, I must warn you about the incredibly cheesy death scene in which Piccolo’s spirit (perhaps … not quite sure …) runs toward the goal line on a football field. It’s as bad as it sounds, but the rest of the movie is so good that you have to forgive the ending. (Besides, I’m always crying so hard at this point that I can’t see very well, anyway!)
I love this movie. It’s not one of those you can watch any time—I only watch it when I’m in the mood for a good cry; I know there’s no way I’ll be able to avoid crying when watching it!
Verdict: Keep
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
#18 "Bella"
Stats: 2006. Starring Eduardo Verástegui & Tammy Blanchard. PG-13.
Background: I first heard of Bella in late 2007. Candice Watters of Boundless.org wrote a great review of it, and after reading that review, I knew I wanted to see it. In May of 2008, I rented it from Netflix. My mom and I watched it together, and we both really enjoyed it. I gave it to Mom for her birthday, and then I found it for myself on half.com.
Reactions: As Watters said, Bella is beautiful. There’s no other way to say it. Each time I watch it, I come away thankful that I’ve seen it.
Bella shows how one day can completely change your life. Jose (Verástegui) is a former soccer player whose life fell apart due to one mistake. Now he spends his days working in his older brother’s restaurant, completely haunted by that mistake. Nina is a waitress at the same restaurant; when Jose’s brother fires her for being late, Jose follows her, believing there’s more to her story. There is—she’s pregnant, and she intends to have an abortion. The film could have taken a hard, abortion-is-murder line. Instead, Jose chooses to love and accept Nina, no matter what, even agreeing to accompany her to the clinic. In Jose’s care for Nina, he finds the redemption he’s been longing for. And in the end, Bella gives one of the strongest pro-life messages I’ve ever seen, all without being “preachy.”
Watch Bella. You won’t regret it. (If you're careful about movie ratings, don't let Bella's PG-13 deter you. I honestly have no idea why it's not rated PG.)
Verdict: Keep!!!
Fun Facts: Ali Landry (The Doritos Girl and Mario Lopez's ex-wife) has a small role in the film. I actually had to look it up on imdb because I couldn't figure out which character she played. She was excellent. Turns out, she's married to Bella's writer-director.
Background: I first heard of Bella in late 2007. Candice Watters of Boundless.org wrote a great review of it, and after reading that review, I knew I wanted to see it. In May of 2008, I rented it from Netflix. My mom and I watched it together, and we both really enjoyed it. I gave it to Mom for her birthday, and then I found it for myself on half.com.
Reactions: As Watters said, Bella is beautiful. There’s no other way to say it. Each time I watch it, I come away thankful that I’ve seen it.
Bella shows how one day can completely change your life. Jose (Verástegui) is a former soccer player whose life fell apart due to one mistake. Now he spends his days working in his older brother’s restaurant, completely haunted by that mistake. Nina is a waitress at the same restaurant; when Jose’s brother fires her for being late, Jose follows her, believing there’s more to her story. There is—she’s pregnant, and she intends to have an abortion. The film could have taken a hard, abortion-is-murder line. Instead, Jose chooses to love and accept Nina, no matter what, even agreeing to accompany her to the clinic. In Jose’s care for Nina, he finds the redemption he’s been longing for. And in the end, Bella gives one of the strongest pro-life messages I’ve ever seen, all without being “preachy.”
Watch Bella. You won’t regret it. (If you're careful about movie ratings, don't let Bella's PG-13 deter you. I honestly have no idea why it's not rated PG.)
Verdict: Keep!!!
Fun Facts: Ali Landry (The Doritos Girl and Mario Lopez's ex-wife) has a small role in the film. I actually had to look it up on imdb because I couldn't figure out which character she played. She was excellent. Turns out, she's married to Bella's writer-director.
Monday, September 14, 2009
#17 "Along Came a Spider"
Stats: 2001. Starring Morgan Freeman & Monica Potter. R.
Background: While I was intrigued by this movie when it was released, I didn’t watch it until several years later because my cousin “spoiled” the movie for me by letting it slip that Ashley Judd was the bad guy. When I finally watched the movie, I was genuinely surprised by the plot twists, as I kept expecting Ashley Judd to show up as the killer. She never did, since she’s not in the movie!
I found this in a suspense three-pack in Walmart’s $5 bin. It’s packaged with Kiss the Girls and Double Jeopardy. As Kiss the Girls is the first disk, the dvd’s are filed under “K” on my shelf … so I forgot about this movie until today, causing it to be out of order in the lineup.
Reactions: Maybe I should start reading James Patterson’s books, as I’ve enjoyed the film adaptations of Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider. However, I do know that many times, film adaptations of books stray from the original plot (see The Time Traveler’s Wife and both of the recent Narnia films), and I usually prefer whichever version I encounter first! (The Time Traveler’s Wife is a notable exception here—I wouldn’t recommend the book, which I read first, but I greatly enjoyed the movie!)
This plot takes turns I didn’t expect. Watching the movie again, knowing how it would end, I still didn’t pick up on the clues. It’s quite entertaining, and I prefer it to Kiss the Girls because the subject matter isn’t as, for lack of a better word, icky. It’s a good suspense movie, (and the suspense really picks up in the last 20 minutes) yet it isn’t too scary.
Verdict: Keep
Background: While I was intrigued by this movie when it was released, I didn’t watch it until several years later because my cousin “spoiled” the movie for me by letting it slip that Ashley Judd was the bad guy. When I finally watched the movie, I was genuinely surprised by the plot twists, as I kept expecting Ashley Judd to show up as the killer. She never did, since she’s not in the movie!
I found this in a suspense three-pack in Walmart’s $5 bin. It’s packaged with Kiss the Girls and Double Jeopardy. As Kiss the Girls is the first disk, the dvd’s are filed under “K” on my shelf … so I forgot about this movie until today, causing it to be out of order in the lineup.
Reactions: Maybe I should start reading James Patterson’s books, as I’ve enjoyed the film adaptations of Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider. However, I do know that many times, film adaptations of books stray from the original plot (see The Time Traveler’s Wife and both of the recent Narnia films), and I usually prefer whichever version I encounter first! (The Time Traveler’s Wife is a notable exception here—I wouldn’t recommend the book, which I read first, but I greatly enjoyed the movie!)
This plot takes turns I didn’t expect. Watching the movie again, knowing how it would end, I still didn’t pick up on the clues. It’s quite entertaining, and I prefer it to Kiss the Girls because the subject matter isn’t as, for lack of a better word, icky. It’s a good suspense movie, (and the suspense really picks up in the last 20 minutes) yet it isn’t too scary.
Verdict: Keep
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
#16 "Behind the Mask"
Stats: 1999. Starring Donald Sutherland & Matthew Fox. Not Rated. Based on a true story.
Background: I bought this movie from christianbook.com about 18 months ago. It was one of those impulse buys, prompted by CBD’s ingenious shopping cart tool that tells you how much more merchandise you can buy before the shipping rate goes up … and then they suggest items that will fall into that price range. Still, there’s no way I would have bought this movie had it not featured Matthew Fox, one of the stars of my current favorite show/obsession LOST.
One night last summer, my sisters and I decided to watch it, but about three minutes in, one of them declared it was too boring to watch (if you know my sisters, you can probably guess which one!). I later watched it by myself and really enjoyed it.
Reactions: Behind the Mask is the true story of Dr. Robert Shushan’s (Sutherland) friendship with James Jones (Fox). Shushan is a workaholic who runs a center for physically and mentally disabled adults. Jones, who is himself disabled, is a janitor at the center. When Shushan has a heart attack, Jones finds him and gets help; in the following months, the two men become good friends. In helping Jones pursue his dreams (from simple things like having a desk to his lifelong goal of finding his father), Shushan rediscovers his passion for helping others. And in Shushan, Jones finds a father figure and mentor. Ultimately, Shushan helps Jones connect with his father, and Jones helps Shushan repair his relationship with his son.
This is a great movie. Sutherland and Fox are excellent in their roles. (I guess Fox has a gift for playing crazy bearded guys … see the LOST season three finale’s “We have to go back!” Jack.) The best part of the movie, though, is after the final scene. At that point, we see pictures of the real Jones and Shushan, and we see a tape of the moment when Jones sees his dad again. Great stuff!
Verdict: Keep
Background: I bought this movie from christianbook.com about 18 months ago. It was one of those impulse buys, prompted by CBD’s ingenious shopping cart tool that tells you how much more merchandise you can buy before the shipping rate goes up … and then they suggest items that will fall into that price range. Still, there’s no way I would have bought this movie had it not featured Matthew Fox, one of the stars of my current favorite show/obsession LOST.
One night last summer, my sisters and I decided to watch it, but about three minutes in, one of them declared it was too boring to watch (if you know my sisters, you can probably guess which one!). I later watched it by myself and really enjoyed it.
Reactions: Behind the Mask is the true story of Dr. Robert Shushan’s (Sutherland) friendship with James Jones (Fox). Shushan is a workaholic who runs a center for physically and mentally disabled adults. Jones, who is himself disabled, is a janitor at the center. When Shushan has a heart attack, Jones finds him and gets help; in the following months, the two men become good friends. In helping Jones pursue his dreams (from simple things like having a desk to his lifelong goal of finding his father), Shushan rediscovers his passion for helping others. And in Shushan, Jones finds a father figure and mentor. Ultimately, Shushan helps Jones connect with his father, and Jones helps Shushan repair his relationship with his son.
This is a great movie. Sutherland and Fox are excellent in their roles. (I guess Fox has a gift for playing crazy bearded guys … see the LOST season three finale’s “We have to go back!” Jack.) The best part of the movie, though, is after the final scene. At that point, we see pictures of the real Jones and Shushan, and we see a tape of the moment when Jones sees his dad again. Great stuff!
Verdict: Keep
Sunday, September 6, 2009
#15 "Before Sunset
Stats: 2004. Ethan Hawke & Julie Delpy. R.
Background: When I learned a sequel to Before Sunrise was coming out, I was thrilled. As far as I know, it didn’t play in theaters around here, but I saw it shortly after its release on a premium cable movie channel that my roommate and I got for free. It didn’t quite live up to my expectations, but I did enjoy it. When I saw it in the $5 bin at Walmart, I picked it up, mainly so I’d have the set of two movies.
Reaction: I feel the same about Before Sunset as I did about Before Sunrise. I actually had watched part of this movie shortly after I bought it, but my attention kept wandering, so I turned it off … never a good sign!
Perhaps if I hadn’t tried watching the films back-to-back, I would have enjoyed this one more tonight. As it was, it was a lot of conversation with little action for one night!
So it turns out that Jesse and Celine didn’t meet up in Vienna as planned. In the intervening nine years, Jesse has become a best-selling author; he wrote a “fictional” account of their night together. Celine finds him at a book signing in Paris, and they spend the next several hours conversing … and Jesse tries to decide if he’s going to leave his wife and take a shot at a relationship with Celine.
As was the case in the first movie, we viewers don’t know how the story ends. In the first film, I chose to believe they did meet up again in six months, and then lived happily ever after. Obviously, the filmmakers had other ideas. In Before Sunset, though, I really hope Jesse decided to go home to his wife. The way the movie ends would lead you to believe he chooses Celine, but in the "Becky" version of the story, Jesse decides to return to his wife and son and give his marriage another chance.
Verdict: Sell (Buy it here. You could even buy it with Before Sunrise and save on shipping!)
***Update 9/8/09: Less than two hours after I listed it on half.com, it was purchased for $1.06. The buyer also bought Before Sunrise!
Background: When I learned a sequel to Before Sunrise was coming out, I was thrilled. As far as I know, it didn’t play in theaters around here, but I saw it shortly after its release on a premium cable movie channel that my roommate and I got for free. It didn’t quite live up to my expectations, but I did enjoy it. When I saw it in the $5 bin at Walmart, I picked it up, mainly so I’d have the set of two movies.
Reaction: I feel the same about Before Sunset as I did about Before Sunrise. I actually had watched part of this movie shortly after I bought it, but my attention kept wandering, so I turned it off … never a good sign!
Perhaps if I hadn’t tried watching the films back-to-back, I would have enjoyed this one more tonight. As it was, it was a lot of conversation with little action for one night!
So it turns out that Jesse and Celine didn’t meet up in Vienna as planned. In the intervening nine years, Jesse has become a best-selling author; he wrote a “fictional” account of their night together. Celine finds him at a book signing in Paris, and they spend the next several hours conversing … and Jesse tries to decide if he’s going to leave his wife and take a shot at a relationship with Celine.
As was the case in the first movie, we viewers don’t know how the story ends. In the first film, I chose to believe they did meet up again in six months, and then lived happily ever after. Obviously, the filmmakers had other ideas. In Before Sunset, though, I really hope Jesse decided to go home to his wife. The way the movie ends would lead you to believe he chooses Celine, but in the "Becky" version of the story, Jesse decides to return to his wife and son and give his marriage another chance.
Verdict: Sell (Buy it here. You could even buy it with Before Sunrise and save on shipping!)
***Update 9/8/09: Less than two hours after I listed it on half.com, it was purchased for $1.06. The buyer also bought Before Sunrise!
#14 "Before Sunrise"
Stats: 1995. Starring Ethan Hawke & Julie Delpy. R.
Background: I came across Before Sunrise in the public library my senior year of college. I checked it out, put it on, and soon realized it was unlike any other movie I had ever seen. I was captivated by the dialogue; it seemed like a real conversation between two real people. A few years ago, I found it in Walmart’s $5.50 bin, and I felt like I’d hit the jackpot!
Reactions: This time around, the conversation wasn’t so captivating. It’s still an intriguing concept—Jesse (Hawke) and Celine (Delpy) meet on a train in Europe and spontaneously decide to spend a night together in Vienna before Jesse catches his flight back to the United States. They wander around Vienna, having various adventures, and always talking. Over the course of one night, they fall in love—or in lust?—and they vow to meet up again in six months. But will they? We’ll never know … except we will, because there’s a sequel! As I watched, I was … bored. And considering I’ve owned the movie for more than two years and prior to today hadn’t watched it once, it’s probably time to let someone else enjoy it.
Verdict: Sell (buy it here!)
***Update 9/8/09: Sold on half.com for $3.48.
Background: I came across Before Sunrise in the public library my senior year of college. I checked it out, put it on, and soon realized it was unlike any other movie I had ever seen. I was captivated by the dialogue; it seemed like a real conversation between two real people. A few years ago, I found it in Walmart’s $5.50 bin, and I felt like I’d hit the jackpot!
Reactions: This time around, the conversation wasn’t so captivating. It’s still an intriguing concept—Jesse (Hawke) and Celine (Delpy) meet on a train in Europe and spontaneously decide to spend a night together in Vienna before Jesse catches his flight back to the United States. They wander around Vienna, having various adventures, and always talking. Over the course of one night, they fall in love—or in lust?—and they vow to meet up again in six months. But will they? We’ll never know … except we will, because there’s a sequel! As I watched, I was … bored. And considering I’ve owned the movie for more than two years and prior to today hadn’t watched it once, it’s probably time to let someone else enjoy it.
Verdict: Sell (buy it here!)
***Update 9/8/09: Sold on half.com for $3.48.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
#13 "Bailey's Billions"
***Remember how I said in the heading that I have to watch every movie, no matter how embarrassing? Well, this is one of those movies!***
Stats: 2005. Starring Dean Cain, Tim Curry, Jon Lovitz, Laurie Holden. G.
Background: Why do I own this movie? Two words: Dean Cain. The first time I ever saw Dean (see? We’re on a first name basis in my head!), he was on a preview for ABC’s Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. Partway through the first season, I started watching, and I was immediately hooked. I was also “in love.” While I’d had other celebrity crushes by age 12 (the first being Jonathan Brandis), Dean was the one that stuck. I know he’s old now, but I still sometimes think it would be wonderful if he would find Jesus and then find me :-) (Actually, I have no idea what his religious beliefs are ... maybe he just needs to do the "find me" step!)
Surprisingly, this is the only Dean Cain movie I own. I do have all four seasons of Lois & Clark, though!
Reactions: Bailey’s Billions is ridiculous. And not in a good way. I knew it was going to be a joke when, not five minutes into the movie, two things happened. 1) A woman’s fur scarf got stuck on something, and she began spinning like a top. 2) A dog talked. (Of course, Dean is the only one who can hear him ... )
The villains (Curry and Jennifer Tilly) are over the top; the plot line is perhaps too advanced for kids—it’s about an animal rights activist (Holden) and her daughter who discover a puppy mill; and, frankly, it’s boring.
However, it does star Dean, who is looking mighty fine (after he ditches the “look how unattractive I am” glasses and hair) … still, there’s really one option …
Verdict: Sell (so please buy it!)
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
#12 "Armageddon"
Stats: 1998. Starring Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler, Billy Bob Thornton. PG-13.
Background: I had absolutely no desire to see Armageddon when it was released. One day in the spring of 1999, I decided to watch a movie while the baby I was watching napped. Armageddon was the only one I could find without snooping in cabinets, so I watched it … and cried. That wouldn’t be a surprise today, but back then, I never, ever cried. I didn’t really think about Armageddon again until a few years later. My aunt had just died, and she had a ton of movies. My parents brought some home after they helped clean out her apartment, and Armageddon was one of them. I watched it again, loved it again, and decided to get it on dvd.
Reactions: Armageddon is my favorite disaster movie. Probably because, at its core, it’s not a disaster movie—it’s a chick flick! From the love story to the heartbreaking father-daughter scene to the Aerosmith power ballad, Armageddon is a chick flick through and through—it’s just wrapped up in a “boys blowing up an asteroid” plot. (Confession time: I love “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing.” I belt it out along with Steven Tyler every time I come across it on the radio … or on my iPod!)
You would think that after seeing this movie multiple times, the scene with Harry (Willis) and Grace (Tyler) at the end of the movie wouldn’t affect me. You’d be wrong. I still cry every time! In fact, this time I cried from the moment Harry rips out AJ’s air hose until the end of the clips during the credits.
Fun fact: I just learned from Armageddon’s imdb page that J.J. Abrams was one of the writers. No wonder I love it!
Verdict: Keep
Background: I had absolutely no desire to see Armageddon when it was released. One day in the spring of 1999, I decided to watch a movie while the baby I was watching napped. Armageddon was the only one I could find without snooping in cabinets, so I watched it … and cried. That wouldn’t be a surprise today, but back then, I never, ever cried. I didn’t really think about Armageddon again until a few years later. My aunt had just died, and she had a ton of movies. My parents brought some home after they helped clean out her apartment, and Armageddon was one of them. I watched it again, loved it again, and decided to get it on dvd.
Reactions: Armageddon is my favorite disaster movie. Probably because, at its core, it’s not a disaster movie—it’s a chick flick! From the love story to the heartbreaking father-daughter scene to the Aerosmith power ballad, Armageddon is a chick flick through and through—it’s just wrapped up in a “boys blowing up an asteroid” plot. (Confession time: I love “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing.” I belt it out along with Steven Tyler every time I come across it on the radio … or on my iPod!)
You would think that after seeing this movie multiple times, the scene with Harry (Willis) and Grace (Tyler) at the end of the movie wouldn’t affect me. You’d be wrong. I still cry every time! In fact, this time I cried from the moment Harry rips out AJ’s air hose until the end of the clips during the credits.
Fun fact: I just learned from Armageddon’s imdb page that J.J. Abrams was one of the writers. No wonder I love it!
Verdict: Keep
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
#11 "An American Tail: Fievel Goes West"
Stats: 1991. Starring Phillip Glasser, Dom DeLuise, John Cleese, James Stewart. G. Animated.
Background: I watched this movie in 1999 at my grandparents’ house, too, but Grandpa didn’t watch with me. It must not have been too memorable because I remembered virtually nothing of the story. I bought it because it came on the opposite side of the An American Tail disk.
Reactions: Wow. This movie doesn’t hold a candle to the original. It is much more “cartoonish” than An American Tail; however, kids might actually enjoy it more. It definitely goes at a quicker pace and has more cartoon violence.
In one scene, Wylie Burp (Stewart—yes, that James Stewart) gives Tiger (DeLuise) lessons on acting like a dog. He teaches him how to give “The Laaaaaazy Eye”—is that where my siblings got it? I can hear Val running around talking about “The Laaaaaaaaazy Eye!” And that truly was the highlight of the movie. The plot is very similar to the original, but it's not as affecting.
I must say, though, even if the plot disappoints, the music is still spectacular! James Horner is a master composer--I love listening to his scores!
One scene uses “Rawhide”—great song, but all I could think of was the Walmart version!
Verdict: Keep (only because it's on the An American Tail disk, and I'm not about to get rid of that!)
Background: I watched this movie in 1999 at my grandparents’ house, too, but Grandpa didn’t watch with me. It must not have been too memorable because I remembered virtually nothing of the story. I bought it because it came on the opposite side of the An American Tail disk.
Reactions: Wow. This movie doesn’t hold a candle to the original. It is much more “cartoonish” than An American Tail; however, kids might actually enjoy it more. It definitely goes at a quicker pace and has more cartoon violence.
In one scene, Wylie Burp (Stewart—yes, that James Stewart) gives Tiger (DeLuise) lessons on acting like a dog. He teaches him how to give “The Laaaaaazy Eye”—is that where my siblings got it? I can hear Val running around talking about “The Laaaaaaaaazy Eye!” And that truly was the highlight of the movie. The plot is very similar to the original, but it's not as affecting.
I must say, though, even if the plot disappoints, the music is still spectacular! James Horner is a master composer--I love listening to his scores!
One scene uses “Rawhide”—great song, but all I could think of was the Walmart version!
Verdict: Keep (only because it's on the An American Tail disk, and I'm not about to get rid of that!)
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