No Thursday Movie Picks

I know...Shocker! The reason there is no Thursday Movie Picks is the topic-Middle Eastern language films. I have seen none..Nadda, nuttin honey, so there is nothing but crickets here. Now enough about my brain since I will still talk about movies, movies I have seen this past week  which will explain why my ass is getting larger by the minute so ..on with the show. Oh, and if you want to read what films people have chosen head on over to Wandering Through The Shelves to see their picks this week.

1.  CHINA SEAS-1935

My hubby and I both enjoyed this frolic with Clark Gable as a captain who loves the drink, the seas and women especially Jean Harlow in all her platinum best.  I love the beginning since it shows how it looked 80 years ago in China. You have  some first class passengers enjoying their trip with one classy dame falling for the Captain and his lover getting jealous. The ship and crew have to deal with a fierce storm, pirates and one shady SOB.

2. THE BRAIN THAT WOULDN'T DIE-1962

Oh yes..., it's bad, very bad but so bad it's good. My hubby wouldn't watch it as he doesn't understand how I can find schlock fun but I do. Evil scientist races with his fiancee to his cottage and wrecks the car and decapitates his girlfriend by mistake. What's a mad scientist to do but take her severed head back to his lab and keep it alive until he can find a suitable body. What more can I say...

3. CHOCOLAT-2000

I love chocolate and when I see her pouring the hot cocoa I just want to go through the screen and take it away from Judi Dench. Love this movie about a mysterious woman, with her daughter, arriving in a small French town at lent and opening up a Chocolate shop. She helps the town out of their doldrums but not before incurring the wrath of the mayor and some townsfolk as well as bringing passion back...Ooh La La.

4. HIDE AND SEEK-2005

You think I could find a trailer for this flick? So this is all of 3 seconds worth but still something. I caught this on TV and it will be worth a closer look on DVD. Yes, I still rent DVD's and am proud of it:) This stars Robert De Niro as a widower with his wacko freak daughter played by Dakota Fanning who move to the country so he can help her get through the trauma of her mom's suicide. You never are quite sure if you are watching a ghost story or not. I am not bawled over by it but I did like it and found the leads watchable. I won't say more because it is not your average ghost story..if I can say that.

5. GODZILLA-2014

OK, OK I watched this one and the next movie while making some cards but I am still underwhelmed by this flick because most of the time it was so dark I couldn't make out what the hell was going on. I am surprised how many big stars on in this film although 2 biggies die near the beginning and frankly, who cares. Godzilla is running amok but so are 2 freaky looking insects that look mechanical-a male and female and one of them has wings. Those 2 are really mean and Godzilla hates their guts. The army, scientists and everyone else are scrambling to save the planet while these 3 destroy most of the U.S. but don't worry, everyone seems happy that Godzilla lives. Ughhh

6. PRACTICAL MAGIC-1998

This is fun and does not need the brain to work much which is great. Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock play sisters who are witches but Sandra tries to not believe in this bunk. When her sister is in trouble, she comes to her aid and that's when all hell and toads break loose. It is actually a fun comedy with some bewitching going on and great music.

7. THE SHINING-1980

The scene above is the usual moment when I changed the channel since those girls really freaked me out. On Monday night, I couldn't turn the channel since I saw this film and Freaks at the performance Art Centre on the big screen and it was a treat. This is a classic horror film about an alcoholic, who has not touched a drop for 5 months who takes his family up to this lodge to take care of it during the winter months. While they are there, he wants to write his great novel but all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy so what's a man to do but slowly go nuts and want to kill his family. he is egged on by the ghosts who rule the place. His young son can see what is going on since he has the shining while his mom has no clue. So much has been written about this film from the sexual innuendos to the comedic elements. A great ghost film

8. FREAKS-1932

I spoke about this film before and it is one of my favourites because, even though it is a horror film, it really shows the "freaks" in a warm light and that they are people. It stars Harry Earles, who was in quite a few films even though he was a little person, as a member of the circus falling for the beautiful trapeze artist, Cleopatra. His Fiancee (played by his real life sister, Daisy) is very sad since she can see the Cleo is just making fun of him. Once Cleo and her dumb ass lover find out the little guy is rich, they decide to do get rid of him but they underestimate the bond of the freaks. We get to meet the other members of this circus and share in some of their lives from the bearded lady giving birth to the Siamese twins's relationships with men. This was done before the hays Code was enforced so living in sin was aok and sexual innuendo was big ("You should have seen me before my operation"). The director, Todd browning, treated these "freaks" with respect and it shows. You meet Prince Randian who, without arms or legs, takes a match out of the box and lights his cigarette and Johnny Eck who has no body after his diaphragm but can walk easily on his hands and must have been incredibly strong.

OK this is very lengthy and I doubt most of you have the chance to view the film promos but I put them in anyway. Next week I will showcase films I have actually seen that correspond to the theme from Thursday Movie Picks:)