Thursday, January 29, 2015

Gratitude-The movies


January-that first month after the magic of Christmas when reality hits, people get their post Christmas bills that make them weep, we see commercials for Cuba, Mexico and cruises for people who can afford it and it snows and the sun is not all that bright. To put a better spotlight on the month, sickness abounds and I am one of the millions fighting a stupid cold. I feel like I swallowed a woolly mitten, my voice has dropped 5 octaves and I feel like I will cough up a lung.

Oh yes...this is about gratitude:) and I belong to the Gratitude Circle Now even though sloths all over the world are giving me the thumbs up for my achievement in the organization of my crap...which has not really happened yet, I have been grateful for movies. Yes the movies!

No, my sloth-like skills have not moved me to an actual theatre but my ever expanding ass has found the couch and my hubby and I rented movies. Yup we still rent films. We don't have Netflix or Satellite nor do we even begin to know how to attach cables or laser-beams from our computer to the TV (which was bought in 1997 and is still going strong). I am grateful for film. I love film from the time I was a little kid and my Dad introduced me to the wonders of the screen. One can forget ones' troubles, sickness and dive into the greatness that is film.  so which films have I seen so far....

1. THE EXPENDABLES 3-The blow'em up feel good manly men's film where there is always one chick in the flick just to make sure the men don't get told they are pigs. Now men should know that we women will still call men pigs because we can:) I enjoyed this film, actually all of them. They blow things up, they kill a few hundred men, destroy towns, buildings well whatever is in their way but it is fun. I almost want to say wholesome except for all the killing, bad language and bad acting but hey-they are fun! I enjoy a good action film and this has action. I may not understand what Sylvester Stallone is saying but it has balls (the film not Stallone).

2. BOYHOOD- This film is on many critics top 10 lists for last year's films. It has won many awards and is up for many Oscars. The big reason it has received so much attention is the Director filmed this over a 12 year period using the same actors and one sees the 2 children grow into young adults.  He filmed around the other actor's availability and it is so neat to see these people age over 12 years.....NOT! I am sorry what a colossal bore!! It has children who wish their parents could get back together, it has the mother marry 2 deadbeat jerks, one who is an abusive alcoholic, it has the children going through their own stages of growth but it is boring! This director was so bent on the nuance of  filming over 12 years he forgot a key component-a great story that holds you and makes you care about the people. I actually wanted to bitch slap the kid when he was a teen. He looks like Hayden Christiansen's brother. Let me ask you, don't you want to bitch slap Hayden Christiansen (young Darth Vader)? Almost 3 hours long-dull as dirt.

3. THE 100 FOOT JOURNEY- This is not the best film in this genre but it is enchanting. It is about an Indian family who leave their homeland after the wife/mother is killed. They stop in a small town in France and the father decides to open up his own Indian restaurant right across from a very fancy pants French restaurant-you know the kind that serves 2 small bites of food and charges you $80 for it. The son of the Indian man has the gift of creating beautiful food. This film is about family, racism, love, acceptance and enjoying life. It is a nice film that puts a smile on your face.

4. GONE GIRL- I  can say, hands down, Rosamund Pike deserves the Oscar nom. She plays one batshit crazy nutbar which you would never ever want to meet. Oops sorry a bit of a spoiler alert there. This is one tense film and it's amazing how often Ben Affleck can play someone dumbfoundedly stupid but he can pull it off (hmmm maybe he is playing to his type..just kidding...maybe). It was a little long and I didn't care for the ending because it does make one feel they may do a second film, but it is worth watching.

5. CHEF- Yup, another one about food. this time a man frustrated with his job and his idiot boss who decides to finally listen to his ex-wife and have his own food truck. It is written and directed by Jon Favreau plus he plays the lead. His ex-wife is the luscious Sophia Vergara who I even want to see naked and I am straight as can be. I found the film a little long and I found the actor a little long-winded especially when he starts to talk about his profound thoughts on food to his son. If I was the son and he started to preach to me like that, my thoughts would be going to the nearest chocolate I want to buy. This film is nice but I was expecting more.

6. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY- Talk about one nutty movie! I loved it! It is fun!! The special effects are great-It would have been cool to see it in the theatre. The characters are well developed and Vin Diesel never acted so well (I am Groot). You have the green chick who came from some Star Trek set, The cool dude who still loves his tapes, this man who looks like some big rock and Rocky Raccoon...ok it is not Rocky but he is one ass kicking raccoon. Actually I just would have loved to pick him up and cuddle him but he probably would slapped me silly and knock me out cold. The humour is great and it is well written. You know there will be a second and I can't wait.

7. JOHNNY GUITAR- Never saw this coming eh? This is an oldie that I never saw before, starring the nutbar hanger in hand mom Joan Crawford. One just has to see this film  and then wonder if you didn't take some mind altering drugs. This is a film where the men are definitely second...it's all about 2 women even if Johnny Guitar is played by a man. No one cares about Johnny Guitar, he is just the  boytoy of Joan Crawford. She owns a saloon which will bring in oodles of money once the train tracks are built. The nearby town doesn't want the train because it will bring in the nasty settlers who will put fences up and screw up all the cattle men. Mercedes McCambridge plays the woman who is out to get Joan Crawford and they actually end up having a showdown. Apparently Mercedes gave quite the speech and the crew all clapped and gave her an ovation much to Ms. Crawford's dismay. After that, Mercedes noticed her part being cut back and she could not find work for a few years. She believed it was due to Ms. Crawford and her jealous ways which is not far off. I say watch this film-it is quite amazing and has much to offer.

Have you seen any of these films? Do you agree or disagree? Just a wondering. So there! I am grateful for the films I love to watch.

47 comments:

  1. Two more years to the next Guardians film! Yes, it was awesome. So much fun.
    Boyhood sounds interesting and yet boring. Will probably skip.
    Expendables movies are dumb, but hey, fun to watch stuff blow up.
    Sorry you have a cold. Don't hack up a lung. You need those.

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    1. 2 yrs! That's a long time to wait. Some people will blast me for calling Boyhood boring but each to their own and blowing things up is always fun...to watch:)

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  2. I had to watch Guardians of The Galaxy twice to get it, LOL, but I think the first time I was tired since it was after we moved. Groot was my favorite character by far. So all the Expandables (hubby likes the series). They are a big predictable, but indeed lots of action. Read Gone Girl, that was an interesting read, might have to see the movie. Thanks for the reviews of the others. I had seen Boyhood listed but didn't realize what it was about. I'm sure hubby won't be interested in it (can you tell he influences a lot of the movies we see?)

    I hope you feel better soon! A January winter cold is never fun (not that a cold is ever fun)

    betty

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    1. I know what you mean about the men in our life. I love old films and musicals and unless i watch them in the morning or day, I have no ability to see them. This means I often don't see them since I don;t usually watch movies during the day. I rather have a cold now than during the summer which really sucks:) Actually never having a cold is even better but then I wouldn't be grateful for when I am healthy

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  3. Hmm, I had Boyhood on my list, but I'll cross it off now. Thanks for that public service! I didn't like Gone Girl the book, so I'm not tempted by the film. (Using the PC to comment today and it actually seems to work!)

    Anabel at Anabel's Travel Blog

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    1. I always say to watch a film and be your own judge but Boyhood made me very tired. I wonder how different the boom is to the movie. Usually the book is better

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  4. Ah.....sorry you are sick, Birgit, and about that 'woolly mitten'..:) Hot tea, with lemon, okay, oh and vicks vapo rub too. I've heard all the hoop-la about Gone Girl. Guess I better read the book or see the movie. Guardians of the Galaxy has my name on it, and yep the Joan Crawford movie was a surprise. Might have to check it out.

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    1. oh yes peppermint tea with honey and smelling like Vicks:) Oh you have to see these movies as those 3 rock

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  5. I LOVED Gone Girl. Superb film and book. I also loved Guardians of the Galaxy. Watched it on the plane whilst flying to Germany :)

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    1. Guardians if so crazy but i loved it. Gone Girl makes you wonder about marriage but that woman is really nasty

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  6. Thanks for the recommendations! I'm glad you're thinking about the positives.

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    1. Oh yes-one always has to think about the positives

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  7. I like very few "modern" movies, so I have seen none of those on this list.

    But I love The Golden Era Of Hollywood. And I am very, Very, VERY well versed in Westerns, which is my all-time favorite genre - I have seen hundreds and hundreds of them (literally) and got a chance to meet Roy Rogers once; had my picture taken with "The King Of The Cowboys" and Dale Evans (in fact, that picture even appears in a recently published book about Roy and Dale).

    So, yes, I've seen 'JOHNNY GUITAR'. Sorry, I didn't care for it at all. Here's what I wrote in my 1990 self-published book 'CALAMITY CAT AND BLACK COLE KID'S UNCOMPLICATED GUIDE TO WESTERN MOVIES FOR THE SIMPLE-MINDED COWPERSON':

    I gave it a "C" grade and said:

    Lots of neat, snappy dialogue, too bad it's ALL cliche. Interesting, bizarre sets (the casino is a Frank Lloyd Wright design) and weird, attractive color. And that's all for the positive aspects of this movie.

    Have you seen 'THE WESTERNER', starring Gary Cooper and Walter Brennan? A kinda forgotten Western that I recommend very, very highly. It's a subdued charmer that still holds up really well. Plenty of humor, too.

    ~ D-FensDogg
    'Loyal American Underground'

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    1. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE old films and try to see as many as I can. My hubby is ok with them and likes some but it's hard to see many of the old films I love. We both love Westerns and War films. Johnny Guitar is just one crazy ass western actually and I am not a Crawford fan-I guess OCD sociopathic nutbars on not on my hit parade but I had to laugh out loud at some of the antics in the film. I don;t think it was meant to be that way but those broads are nuts!. The Westerner is one film I have yet to see! It is a film that has escaped me all my life. so I have to see it. I adore John Wayne also

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  8. I enjoyed Guardians of the Galaxy big time. I'm ready for more. We saw both Chef and the 100-Foot Journey. It seems like there's always one "old people" movie about the English and Indians every year. And, I always want to see it. It was okay as was Chef. I'd see 100-Foot Journey again, but not Chef.

    We subscribe to Netflix by mail, and been seeing a lot of movies lately. Check out these two, if you have a chance. Girl on a Bicycle and The Book Thief. The first movie is set in Paris. It's a good-time comedy ala Dean Martin type movie. The second is more serious. It's set in a German village, from 1938-1945. A little girl has been sent to live with foster parents there. Lots of things go in, including hiding a young man in the family basement from the Nazis.

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    1. I agree about wanting to see the 100 Ft Journey but I don't care if I see Chef again. I have not seen Girl on a Bicycle but I have seen The Book Thief and loved that film!

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  9. Nope, haven't seen a one of them. I do want to see Guardians and Gone Girl (although I might watch Gone Girl on fast forward).

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    1. Do have a look at these (except Boyhood:))-just kidding-I am a firm believer in making up ones own mind

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  10. The only one I saw was Guardians of the Galaxy and yes I think the raccoon would slap you silly and knock you out cold.

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  11. I like Boyhood, Chef, and The 100 Foot Journey. I haven't seen the others. I use Netflix. I don't think we have any movie rental stores left since Blockbuster went out of business. I see people using Red Box outside of the local Walgreen's.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. We still have a couple of video stores thankfully. Hope you can see the others, if you want to

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  12. (SPOILER ALERT if you haven't seen/read Gone Girl, don't read!!!) Rosamund Pike was amazing. What didn't work in Gone Girl (the movie) to me was Ben Affleck. In the book, for the first half you thought he actually did it. So the moment where you found out she was still alive was a HUGE moment. I'm hearing from people who saw the movie but didn't read the book that they weren't surprised she was still alive. That, to me, is because Ben Affleck is just a nice guy. We really never believed he did it where in the book, both characters were unsympathetic. (That was one complaint readers had about the book, actually, but it was necessary to make the twist work.)

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    1. Yes I figured it out that she was alive and well before it became apparent. Ben Affleck was likeable in a stupid oaf kind of way. Rosamund Pike played her character really well.

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  13. Gone Girl was great. Oops, I just glanced up and saw Stephanie commenting on the same thing. Crazy, and I do mean crazy, good. I like a film that makes me wince.

    I nominated you for The Very Inspiring Blogger Award, Birgit!

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  14. I nominated you for The Very Inspiring Blogger Award!

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  15. Your reviews are amazing! I haven't seen any movies in ages. My leg cramps up if I sit too long so the cheap vintage movie theater with amazing popcorn is no longer an option. My husband watches tons of movies (Netflix streamed through the wii I bought to improve my balance and exercise in private). Unfortunately the movies he mostly watches I tend walk out of! I've read Gone Girl twice. Once when it first came out because I loved the authors previous books (and in general psychological thrillers that keep me up all night). The second time a year+ later for a book club. I'm planning on watching the movie just for comparison. Oops, I just read Stephanie's comment so maybe not. I really need to start watching movies. I've been stuck on sharing youtube videos of shows I loved as a child / young teen with my husband. He's 7 years younger and missed prime time but is addicted to reruns of game shows from the era.

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    1. It's tough when one is not comfortable. I hope you can find a place that caters to your needs or a really good chair or couch:) It's hard to watch films that one's partner doesn't like. I don't like to watch movies until the evening which means I often don't see musicals since my hubby is not into them which is a bummer

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  16. Hi again........I nominated you for a Very Inspiring Blogger Award at my blog :)

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  17. I adore movies and TV! I haven't seen most of the movies you mentioned, but I'd love to see The 100 Foot Journey, Chef, and Guardians of the Galaxy. OMG - Joan Crawford was a witch! I've read Mommy Dearest. Yikes! Have a wonderful weekend!

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    1. You have to see these films and let me know your thoughts. Yup Joan Crawford was one bad ass woman-major OCD too

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  18. Ooooooh ooooh, Johnny Guitar!! Johnny Guitar! That is one of my all-time favourite films, and I am so so so glad when someone else is liking on it. But hey, I (as you know) love Boyhood. Just sayin'.

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    1. Oh Johnny Guitar is so crazy that I love it! I never thought I would see 2 women in a showdown like that. Who really cares about the men:)

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  22. Would you be shocked to know that we don't have TV, Birgit? Oh there is a television in the house, but we haven't bothered to connect it. I am glad for YouTube though and get to watch pretty good movies via YT. I'm going to try and watch the list you've shared!
    Always the small things that make me so grateful!
    Thank you! ♥

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    1. I wouldn't know how to live with the great and powerful TV:) I have to hand it to you:)

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  23. Hope you're enjoying your Sunday, Birgit.

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  24. Great list! I also loved Gone Girl and Guardians of the Galaxy, but who didn't? And as for the Expendables, yes, they had one chick, but it wasn't just ANY chick, it was foxy badass Ronda Rousey. She by herself is better than 10 Hollywood A-list ladies, but I'm an MMA guy, so I've always had a crush on her.

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    1. I have no idea who that chicky bird was but I do know she is eye candy

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  25. Haven't seen any of these unless I saw Johnny Guitar and forgot what it was like--I think maybe I did see it a few years ago.

    Hated the first Expendables film because it was so dark we couldn't see what was going on in the film. I've heard that #3 is better so maybe we'll give that one a chance. Oh, and I didn't see those films in answer to the previous comment.


    Arlee Bird
    A to Z Challenge Co-host
    Tossing It Out

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    1. Some of the Expendables takes place in an old building so it might be dark there although I didn't think so. It's a fun flick. Johnny Guitar is quite unique and Joan Crawford is not a chick to mess with.

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