Paper Whiskers

Movie round-up

I haven't done one of these in awhile. Thanks to our Blockbuster Online membership, I've been able to catch up on older movies that I didn't see in the theater and forgot about until I went browsing.

Working Girl - An 80s movie that I actually like! lol I don't remember when I saw it for the first time, but it was within the last few years. I'm a huge fan of Sigourney Weaver and Harrison Ford, and they are both great in this. Also, the 80s hair makes me extremely glad I missed that era! :D

Tale of Desperaux - I loved this movie. I haven't read the book, but do intend to. It was a bit hard to watch in places, but that just sold me even more. The characters are fantastic, even the sad ones. Another one for my to-buy list. (Thank goodness for Blockbuster's previewed movies sales! lol)

The Day The Earth Stood Still - I knew ahead of time how this movie ended, so I put off watching it. Eric saw it in the theater, and based on his advice, I eventually got up the nerve to watch it. I really really enjoyed the effects, and the story. It's right up my alley, and the B plot with Jennifer Connelly's character and her stepson was surprisingly good. We haven't got a copy yet, but I plan to.

Bolt - I had heard the hamster stole the show, and was worth the price of admission, and they were right. The story was original, and fun to watch. We enjoyed it, but haven't bought a copy yet. It wasn't that good.

Igor - The preview was great, and it has John Cusack, so I was expecting much more from this movie. It didn't live up to expectations, at all. Which is a bummer, because I like the concept.

Horton Hears A Who - This one surprised me with it's sweetness. I read Dr. Seuss as a kid, but not a lot, so I wasn't familiar with the story. I really enjoyed it, and we got ourselves a copy, because it's definitely worth watching again. I also have discovered that actors I can't stand watching in a movie, are much easier to take when they're just voice-acting a character. I didn't even know that Steve Carell was in this until I saw the credits.

Winter Movie Viewing

In October, I made a list of the movies that I always try to watch around Halloween time. Now, it's time for the winter/Christmas list. Some of these movies aren't Christmas-themed, because I watch them as long as it's cold outside.

Here's the list, in no particular order of preference:

Miracle on 34th Street (1947) and (1994) - I love both versions of this movie equally, but I get a real kick out of the fact that Natalie Wood is in the first one, as a little girl.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) -  Delightfully twisted, I think sums up this movie. And the closing scene, with drifting "snow" made me gasp out loud. Loved it.

Sleepless in Seattle - Not my favorite movie, but I usually watch this one at least once during the season. Lately, for some reason the scene when she's driving down the highway, flipping channels has been stuck in my head. "And now, Jingle Bells - backwards!" LOL

All I Want For Christmas - I have loved this movie for years and tracked it down a couple years ago on DVD, after watching a TV recording for too long. It's cute, and fun to watch.

Die Hard 1 & 2 - Yes, Die Hard. What, you didn't realize they were Christmas movies? Well, the first one takes place during a Christmas party and the second on Christmas Eve, so I think it counts. LOL I love this whole movie series and will watch Bruce Willis blow stuff up any day of the week. Nothing says Christmas like explosions and bad guys. ;)

Nightmare Before Christmas - We kicked off the holiday by watching this on Blu-Ray over the weekend. I love the songs and the wonderful story, but when you consider the amount of work and craftsmanship that went into the making of this movie, it's even more impressive.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - A classic that I used to get so excited about watching every year. It still feels really weird knowing I can watch it whenever I want, thanks to DVD.

The Santa Clause - A new classic. The first one is the best, but I like the world so much that I'll willingly watch the sequels just to see more of Santa.

While You Were Sleeping - One of my all-time favorite movies, not just for Christmas. Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman are wonderful and sweet, and the family is a ton of fun.

Holiday Inn - An old, old family favorite, that I mainly watch for the song and dance routines. It's a great one to listen to and sing along.

Home Alone - My desperation movie. LOL

The Day After Tomorrow - Lots of snow and ice in this movie, and glaciers. And flash-frozen fast food joints. LOL  This is one of my favorite movies, any time of the year. 

Fred Claus - A recent addition, which frankly surprised me by how good it was. Vince Vauhgn isn't too annoying, and Kevin Spacey is fantastic (of course).

101 Dalmatians - I recently got this old Disney classic on DVD and am getting re-acquainted. Another one that makes you shiver just watching, with all the cross-country travelling the dogs do.

Going My Way - Another old favorite, starring Bing Crosby as Father O'Malley. There are lots of great moments that make me laugh, and some great musical performances. "Swinging on a Star" is one of them.

A Charlie Brown Christmas - The best of all the classics. And the other one I looked forward to watching every year as a kid. The soundtrack has to be one of my all-time favorites.

So, that's the list. If you're looking for something new to watch this year, I hope it gave you some ideas. Feel free to share your own favorites. I'm always on the lookout for new things to watch.

Halloween Movie Viewing

There are two times of the year that I have specific lists of movies/tv episodes that I always try to get through. Halloween is one; Christmas is the other. Surprisingly, Halloween is a longer list.

In no particular order of preference:

Beetlejuice - A classic, and one that is by turns creepy and very very funny. Michael Keaton really shines, and the ending is completely perfect.

The Craft -  I saw this movie in a dumpy little theater in Biloxi, Mississippi with my tech school roommate, B. The theater we saw it in was one I had never heard of, that served you food while you watched. Waiters and everything. There were a few rows of regular seats up front, but the rest of the floor was full of round tables, with overstuffed chairs. It was a very odd way to see a scary movie. As a result of that day with B, this movie has always had a certain meaning attached to it. She was a great friend, when I needed one more than anything. The movie itself is great. Not very scary, but enough that if I have it on in the evening, the drapes have to be closed. ;)

Practical Magic - My favorite one of the lot. I love Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman in this. I especially love Sandra's hair. LOL  But the story is wonderful. All the actors do a great job and it's one that I can watch on repeat. And have. My favorite scenes are the midnight margaritas scene and the casting out scene at the end with all the women in the circle. Both are played beautifully.

Arsenic and Old Lace - Another requirement of the season. If you've never heard of it, it's the story of a writer, his crazy brother Teddy (who thinks he's Teddy Roosevelt), his escaped murderer brother Johnathan and his two sweet old aunts who "help" lonely old gentlemen to a grave in the cellar. Cary Grant is in full slapstick mode in this movie and revels in it. There are a million things to love about the movie, so I won't name every one. If you haven't seen it, I urge you to track down a copy. 

Bewitched - I was leery of this one, because I don't like Will Farrell, as a general rule. So, I initially got it for Eric to watch. But, I was quickly sucked in by Nicole Kidman's performance. Not to mention the sets and costuming. Her house is scrumptious!

The Nightmare Before Christmas - Pure genius. And it's on both my Halloween and Christmas lists.

Phantom of the Opera - A recent addition to the list. This is the remake of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical, made just the way he imagined it when he wrote it years ago. I love it. Gerard Butler is fantastic as the Phantom, and the sets and costuming are a treat. And of course, the music is outstanding.

Hocus Pocus - Another funny one, from Disney. Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker crack me up, as the Sanderson Sisters.

The Sixth Sense - I love this movie, and managed to sit through it in the theater. But, it seems to be scarier watching it at home, so I haven't actually watched it more than once or twice since. LOL I have watched the DVD extras a few times, though. The story of how the movie came to be is just as fascinating as the movie itself.

It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown - I looked forward to this TV special every year growing up, and it wasn't truly Halloween until I'd seen it. I still love it.

The New Doctor Who, season 3 episode "Blink" - Probably the scariest thing I've ever seen made for TV or in a movie. I have only watched it all the way through once, but if there was ever a time of year for it, it's now. I guarantee that after watching this, you'll never look at angel statues the same way again. It's brilliant and not to be missed.

So, there's the list. Almost all the links go to Wikipedia, where you'll find more details about plot and suchlike. And some great background info, too. 

Share your own favorites in the comments, if you like. I'm always on the lookout for new ones. :D

Movies: Action!

Now that the majority of the summer releases are out (at least the ones I've been waiting for), it's time for some reviews. They'll be short, and there might be spoilers. So, if you are worried about that, be advised.

Transformers

What can I say? Other than I've now seen it 4 times, and would willingly go again. Yes, it is that good. The effects are out of this world, the characters have heart (yes, even the robots), and the Air Force guys rock! The first two, I really hoped for and kinda expected, the third totally surprised me. I knew that they filmed on a base and used airmen as extras, but I didn't know how big of a role the Air Force would have in this movie. Movies always play up the Marines and the Army, TV has covered the Navy fairly well, but the Air Force hasn't had the same exposure. So, that was pretty cool.

Live Free and Die Hard

What an awesome ride this movie is. It's exactly what I think a 'blockbuster' movie is - big budget stunt sequences that push the boundaries of reality. I'm a huge fan of both Bruce Willis and Justin Long, so I was really excited to see them in a movie together. I wasn't disappointed, because they played off each other wonderfully. I've seen it twice now, and am super tempted to go again this weekend. Oh, and Kevin Smith is in it! Bonus!!

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

The best Harry Potter movie, yet, I think. I really enjoyed it. The acting was better and the effects were really impressive.

One Photo and A List

{Trent and Uncle Eric, hanging out in the hammock.}

1. My hair is 10 inches shorter, as of the day after we returned from vacation.

1a. Perfect timing, don’t you think?

2. I’ve seen Transformers 3 times already, and have plans to see it at least once more.

2a. Anyone need a movie buddy to see it? I’m your girl!

2b. Seriously. This summer isn’t quite in the same league as Superman Summer, but it’s pretty darn close!

3. Happiness is:

3a. The tug of toddler fingers on my necklace, accompanied by a little voice: “po-lar bear?”

3c. Pink glasses perched on a freckled nose

3d. A wide open grin that doesn’t seem to care that in a swimming pool, it’s usually better to keep your mouth closed, lest you get a mouth full of water

3e. A good heart that worries about the new puppy’s mommy missing her baby

3f. “Bubble Land”

3g. Schwans ice cream bars

3h. Long talks with sister-in-laws

3i. Bluebirds keeping house

3j. Long naps in hammocks

4. Calvin and Hobbes STILL makes me laugh so hard I cry

5. Number fill-ins beat sudoku any day of the week.

6. I think Lucy is going to have to stay skinny for a while.

6a. It’d be nice to have a digital SLR (so nice!), but for the amount of pictures I’m taking right now, film is fine.

6b. Bummer. :(

6c. But at least Target has cheap developing, and will put them on CD!

7. A .30 cent gas price increase over the lunch hour is ludicrous.

7a. LUDICROUS!!!!!!

8. I have seen many movies lately, but will have to do a movie review post later.

8a. Live Free and Die Hard

8b. Down With Love

8c. Miss Potter

8d. Happy Feet

8e. Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer

8f. Oceans 13

8g. Man of the Year

8h. Catch and Release

9. Despite the fact that I am not saving up for big purchases anymore, I’m coveting these Copic markers.

9a. Alcohol-based (so don’t smear/dot like water-based)

9b. Blend-able, like Prismacolors

9c. Many, many colors, in such vibrant shades!

10. I read a romance novel while on vacation.

10a. First one in two years, I think.

10b. All-Star Superman, Vol 1 was light-years better.

11. I made a quilt for Tina, with the scraps from the kids’ Christmas gifts. It deserves a post of it’s own, but I’ll just post a link to the album for now.

11a. 5 Quilts album (4 kids quilts and 1 mother’s quilt)

Finally identified:

"At Long Last Love" from the "Sinatra & Sextet: Live in Paris" 1962 concert album (album released in 1994)

I've been looking for this song performance for ages, ever since I watched Return to Me the second time. (The first time I was recovering from the emotional rollercoaster that movie takes you on.) The soundtrack doesn't have this song on it, played during one of my favorite scenes. (When everyone's dancing at the restaurant.)

I figured out which song it was, but every version I could find online sounded different from the one in the movie. And yes, I did actually have the movie going and compared the song tracks to the clips I could find online. No dice. He usually sings it much slower and smoother than the one that is in the movie. So, I gave up the search.

Until this weekend, when I was watching the movie again, and realized I could see part of the CD that the characters are holding when starting the music. Thank goodness for Pause! It's not a clear shot, but the cover definitely had a black center, with a white border. Definitely enough to match, thanks to the Internet! And I found it. I don't want the whole CD, so unless I find a single for sale somewhere, it'll just be in my reference file. But at least I know which version I'm looking for now.

:D

Man, I love research.

Holiday Movies

I changed my banner, so I decided I should post a Christmassy post to go with. I can't post anything I'm working on, because it's Christmas, you know. Top secret stuff is in the works.

I am still working on kid quilts, and have managed to find backing sheets for the girls'. Blue/green flannel prints are amazingly hard to find, however. So, I'm hoping to luck out at the local department stores soon. I also need to get one more package of batting and the binding material for all of them. (more $$$, which is kind of a downer - thank goodness for 50% off coupons!)

So, the movies.

There are surprisingly few good Christmas/winter movies that are worth watching once, let alone multiple times as is my habit. If you have a favorite that isn't on my list, post a comment and tell me why it's yours. I'm really wanting something new to watch this season.

Nightmare Before Christmas - Genius little film that is a treat to watch, again and again. I love the pathos of it, and all the little details included in every scene. I watch this for both Halloween and Christmas.

Charlie Brown Christmas Special - I bought it last year finally, because I kept missing it on TV. For some reason, I only watch it once a year - maybe because that's the tradition and it's more special that way.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - I grew up watching this one, too, like many people my age. I love all the extra storyline they wrote, like the elf and the prospector. And of course, Burl Ives as the snowman narrator is the best part.

While You Were Sleeping - A wonderfully feel-good movie. I love Sandra Bullock in this. I also love Ally Walker (the jilted wife) who crashes the wedding at the end, because when this came out she was starring in Profiler on TV (a very very dark and creepy FBI drama) and it was fun to see her do comedy.

Home Alone - I know. I KNOW!! I can't hardly believe it either. The fact that I have this movie shows how desperate I was last year for semi-decent movies. I've always hated the disrespect that the family in the movie shows each other. I still hate it, and I tend to glaze over the more obvious remarks when I watch it. But despite that, there is something about Macauley Caulkin's presence that draws me in. He's a great actor now (see Saved!) and you can see bits and pieces of it in this.

Holiday Inn - Another classic movie that we watched growing up. I love the musical aspect of it - an inn open just on holidays, with accompanying musical numbers. Dance sequence! :D

The Santa Clause - We love this movie!!! The sequel is okay, and I haven't seen the third one yet. Hopefully, I'll get to see it before it leaves the theaters. I love Tim Allen, and David Krumholtz as Bernard (not so much in the sequel, though) and the way they worked in the divorced family situation. It's a really sweet movie and I love it.

Miracle on 34th Street (either version) - The movie I don't own, but usually catch by happy accident at some point during the season. I love the whole idea of proving Santa exists and the courtroom scene is my favorite scene in the movie, I think.

Die Hard 1 & 2 - LOL An example of what I mean by 'winter' movie, not necessarily Christmassy. I love the Die Hard trilogy, and tend to watch the first two more around this time of year, just because they take place in December.

Sunday with Keanu

Well, I've finished piecing the top for Trent's quilt. I've been working on it off and on all day. Keanu Reeves movies have been on in the background.

A Walk in the Clouds was first. I love this movie. It's a simple romantic tale, that is easy to watch and soak in. And it has beautiful music that makes it a good movie to listen to as well. Which is important, because the TV is behind me when I'm sewing.

After that, was Speed. It's been ages since I watched it. I used to watch this over and over again. I could still do that. I love it that much. Watching it for the first time in years was fun. Love Dennis Hopper as the mad bomber, and Jeff Daniels as Jack's partner. But Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock together is the best part. Love their chemistry.

As I was watching (listening to) Speed, I started to wonder if we had a copy of the Matrix anywhere. Turns out we do. I just finished watching it and it still blows me away. Not the effects so much, but the story and the characters. I got caught up in watching it all unfold. Awesome stuff. I remember the first time I saw this movie was in a brand new theater, and we had to sit in the very front, in the main floor seating. It felt like IMAX. We were surrounded by the movie and I was completely floored. Man, it was good!!! I've never seen the second two movies, but I'm thinking I may have to rent or borrow them from somebody. Just so I can see the whole story and find out what happens next.

Interesting note about all three movies I watched today? They are all on VHS. lol We have rarely upgraded our movies to DVD, mainly because it would cost an exorbitant amount of money to do it. And also, why? For the most part, these played fine. Yes, it was grainy in comparison to DVD, but after awhile it's not noticeable. And there was a little warping at the beginning of the tape, but the movies themselves played fine. They're not going to last much longer, though. Almost all of our tapes are from the pre-viewed bin at the Great Falls, MT Hastings. They have a lot of wear and tear on them. So, we'll have to start thinking about upgrading some of them in the somewhat near future.

Movies I MUST See

I rented Bride & Prejudice today, and before it's even started, I'm dying to see the two movies previewed.

Dear Frankie, about a boy who corresponds with his father (at sea, who he's never met) with Emily Watson Mortimer ::thanks commenter Teresa!:: (who I loved in The Kid) and Gerard Butler (the guy behind the Phantom's mask). It looks wonderful!!!

The second is A Lot Like Love, with Amanda Peet and Ashton Kutcher. Funny!!! Hopefully all the funny parts aren't in the previews, but it's got two of the funniest on-screen comedians in the business, so I doubt it.

I'll report back when I get the chance to see them.

Now, on to Bride & Prejudice. lol

EDIT:

Bride & Prejudice - Excellent! I loved the women in this movie, especially. They were all very natural, warm and funny. The men's performancs (with the exception of the father) seemed a bit - dull? Not sure exactly, just that they seemed to be overshadowed by the women. Maybe it was the costuming, but I don't think so. Martin Henderson, who played the male lead, especially seemed flat. He played Darcy well, but the conflict with Lalita wasn't resolved quite enough, I didn't think. Maybe it's a culture difference? Like I said, I'm not sure exactly what bothered me, and it didn't ruin the movie by any means (I watched it twice in a row). lol

One of the best things about this movie is the musical numbers. I'd forgotten it was a musical, so the wedding dance towards the beginning was a great surprise. The 'making of' documentary on the DVD talked about the Bollywood style a lot, and how it was incorporated into the movie. Fascinating stuff.

So, it was a great movie. And now I'm ready to find the other two and watch them. :)

Movies - Reviews

I thought it was time for another batch of quick movie reviews.

Superman Returns - I know I've already gushed, but I have still more to gush about. The plane-out-of-control sequence is my favorite action sequence I think. Although the yacht sinking is pretty close, especially because it's emotionally more intense. I do have one major problem with this movie. A scene that completely threw me out of the experience, which makes me angry and grossed out every time. Luckily, it's towards the beginning somewhat so it doesn't ruin the whole movie. It involves the widow's little dogs, for those who've seen it. So totally unnecessary and took the black humor that is part of Luthor's character one step over the line. Okay, back to gushing. The more I see Brandon Routh's performance as Clark Kent, the more I like it. At first, it was a little awkward to watch. But, it's okay, because this Clark is supposed to be very awkward. I also really enjoyed seeing more of Martha Kent. Her love for her son is apparent and their relationship is easier to see here, since it was barely touched on in the first movies.

Cars - WE LOVED IT!!! Oh, it was so much better than I'd expected. We saw it opening night and sat in the last row on the floor, so it was an experience just watching it. We were so close and off to the left, that I had to move my head to watch the cars drive across across the screen. It just added to the experience. The characters are wonderful and hilarious. We laughed out loud throughout most of the movie. And the tractor-tipping scene makes me giggle just remembering it. So much fun. We've seen it twice now in the theatre, and I'm definitely going to try and see it again.

The Prizewinner - I watched this on DVD with my sister-in-law. It takes place in Defiance, Ohio which is very near where she lives. It's a movie about the contesting that was really big during the 1950s and focuses on a housewife who raised her 12 kids with her winnings. It was a little unbelievable how marriages worked back then. Julianne Moore's character was very interesting to watch, as she dealt with her husband's alcoholism and job problems. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but not enough to buy it on DVD.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest - We went to the midnight preview last Thursday, with Eric's brother and his wife. I'd forgotten that in small towns, there's not much for teenagers to do other than go to the movies. There were two screens showing it, with 500 seats. Based on our theater, I'd say it wa 90/10 teens/adults. I felt like such an old fogey, because I was already tired before the movie started. lol Anyway, the movie itself was pretty good. I'm not a fan of the first one, although I've seen it lots, thanks to Eric having it on all the time. So I mostly enjoyed the special effects and costuming. The pirate ships were extremely cool and Davy Jones and his crew were very elaborately themed. After I got used to their appearance, I spent most of my time focused on that aspect. Just very cool.

King Kong - I kinda wanted to see this in the theater, kinda not. Mainly because I knew it couldn't possibly have a happy ending (no King Kong ever does), and I really didn't want to see it happen on the big screen. So we never saw it, and watched it last week on DVD. Again, the effects were the draw, but the story was just sad. From beginning to end. This was definitely a case where the anticipated tragic ending overshadowed the whole movie for me, and I couldn't enjoy it. Even the dinosaur sequence (I love Jurassic Park) was ruined a bit, because they couldn't even leave them alone and had to build in a dramatic deathly stampede, on top of the Kong/T-Rex fight.

Big Fish - Another one we watched last week. We caught up on our movies while on vacation. Can you tell? lol I liked this one. It's Tim Burton storytelling through and through, and was just charming. Even though it's about a dying father's life, it wasn't sad. At the end, you wind up rejoicing along with everyone else. It was a wonderful ending. And the tall tales were something to watch.