Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Movie Lovers #Blogfest



Answer this question: What four films define you? Describe how and include a brief outline and trailer for each movie.

Of course I will enter this fun event which is up until August 31st  and it would be fun if you would partake in this venture involving movies. You can head on over to The Doglady's Den to read more about this and post your own films that mean a lot  to you. I will write little snippets about my life and then talk about the film. I don't mind revealing aspects of my darker past because this is what gives a person strength and character. On with the show...5 films:)

"Shhhhh....don't squirm or I will hurt you. You are not worth anything, that's why nobody talks to you, no one will care if you are gone. If you keep squirming I will cut your throat from ear to ear."  I didn't care anymore and felt so confused so when I yelled out to cut my throat he switched things up..."See your brother over there? If you don't stop moving, I will drown him. I know your parents don't lock the doors so I will come here and cut their throats." I stopped moving and let things happen, what was a 7 year old to do? Escape is good...


TOP HAT-1935



The classic boy meets girl, boy loses girl and boy gets girl back but what a fun movie with not only great dancing but some very funny moments from Edward Everett Horton, Helen Broderick and Eric Blore. The classic case of misunderstandings are brought to you with the charm of Ginger who can't seem to keep away from Fred. She finally succumbs with this classic routine in all its sensual glory. How I wanted to wear this dress which Fred Astaire hated due to the feathers flying around. 

WHAT'S UP DOC-1972


Escape into laughter, which is the best medicine and I love this film to this day. 
When life gets tough, who doesn't need a little escape and laughter is always needed. This brilliant screwball comedy stars Barbra Streisand as a carefree forever student, carrying her plaid bag who meets Steve..I mean, Howard, played by Ryan O'Neal. He has come to San Francisco, with his fiancee, Eunice Burns (brilliantly played by Madeline Kahn in her first role) to attend a convention and hopefully obtain a grant for his igneous rock formations held in a plaid bag. There are 2 other plaid bags floating around the hotel with one containing top secret documents and the other priceless jewels. Mahem ensues with a car chase to beat all car chases. 

By the way, I told my mom and she told me what to do and hugged me and promised me never to tell my dad because I didn't want my dad to end up in prison for murder. She told the man never ever to come back. I can't stand looking at my communion photos to this day (he took the pics) and there is one moment where this man led me to his apartment and all I remember is walking back with him to my mom's friend's house. The brain protects...

High School.....spat on, told to wear a paper bag as I was too ugly, sandwiches thrown at my head, laughed at. Told I am worthless, my parents would be better off without me, the whole world would be in fact. Tripped in the hallways but worse, they would always try to break my fingers on my right hand so every year, my mom took me to the hospital but no broken bones, just a swelled up hand. Who knew I had Ehlers-Danlos and could not break a bone since I was so hyper-mobile. Fear that I would be killed since a group came from behind, grabbed my throat and raised me up telling me they will cut my throat from ear to ear. I had heard this before so I went within but I still walked outside on my own to show no fear. High school sucked...

MY BODYGUARD-1980


When I saw this film, I cried and so wished for a bodyguard of my own. The young man is new in school who is picked on by the gang who exhorts money from the kids. The young boy, played by Chris Makepeace tries to fight for his rights but it doesn't go according to plan. He ends up hiring the big kid everyone is scared of as his own bodyguard which works and they slowly form a friendship. My favourite is Ruth Gordon who plays the young boy's grandmother, a feisty gal who helps the troubled bodyguard and you know she has seen her bullies as she has the tattoo on her arm to prove it. 

There is always hope.. and I had an angel walking beside me through hell, who never gave up on me..my mom. My dad was there and I always felt safe and both instilled in me that hope should never be underestimated. Strength comes from within and you can do anything if you want it bad enough. I believe in this strongly...

SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION-1994


Another film I adore and believe in what it stands for. I know it is different from the book but I don't care. It stars Tim Robbins(who should have won the Oscar) as Andy Dufresne wrongly convicted to life imprisonment for the murder of his wife and her lover. In prison he meets Red, played by Morgan Freeman, who becomes his best friend. Andy must endure rape, bullying and the warden because the warden uses Andy's skills to embezzle big time. You see how this man quietly defies the guards and the warden while gaining the respect of the prisoners. Over the decades, we see his likes in posters change from Rita Hayworth to Marilyn Monroe and, finally Raquel "fur bikini" Welch. When nothing seems to go your way, there is always hope.

Through my years of facing death in the face either by bullies, offenders, or my parents' passing, dealing with health issues, losing the home I grew up in because of my one Uncle (that's another story), pain and other crap, I have always felt that life is a precious gift that should never be taken for granted. It is not easy and I had a very, very low point when I was in Grade 12 but, as my mom said, "In the morning, you always hear the birds sing." Life is truly beautiful, I get to help people, I am here for my friends, beauty resides in flowers, art and the written word which I see on the blogs I follow every day. My Mantra is...It's a Wonderful Life.

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE-1946


This film, about a man who never leaves Bedford Falls, helps everyone he can and fights the evil that can lurk in the most serene of places, makes me cry every single time I watch it at Christmas. James Stewart, my favourite actor, plays George Bailey who fights to leave the town and people and see the world but is always stopped by something/someone because he knows what is the right thing to do not what he wants to do. When all seems hopeless and he contemplates suicide, his guardian angel steps in and shows him what life would be like if he were never born. Have you ever stopped to think what it would be like if you were never born? I have promised always to do my best to help my friends, family and people I see in my work. When people fight you and no one believes you, this is when it is most important to stick to what is right. This film is a part of my heart and I hope I am not a failure because, as Clarence wrote in the Tom Sawyer book, "No man is a failure who has friends."

 I hope you enjoyed my lengthy post that might have been too much info but..oh well:) Keep smiling and smell the roses. let's see if you want to join or say which films define you. 

26 comments:

  1. Oh Birgit, so many sad stories - you’ve had some hard times, but there you are, rising above them. Good for you!

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    1. Thank you so much and I do rise above the crap:)

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  2. This is a heartbreaking post, BIRGIT. I feel very bad about all the crap you've had to endure. I wish I could have gone to school with you, as I would have been your bodyguard. (Great movie, BTW. I love it, I own it, I watch it at least every few years.)

    You have convinced me to watch the two movies on this list that I've not seen before: 'Top Hat' because... Edward Everett Horton. He's the narrator for the 'Fractured Fairy Tales' segments in Rocky & Bullwinkle, and that may actually be my favorite part of the show.

    And then 'What's Up, Doc' just because it sounds fun.

    'It's A Wonderful Life' is a wonderful movie -- one of my Top Ten of all time.

    BIRGIT, you have a terrific attitude. I am sincerely impressed, because... well, I'm not sure I could have moved on from all that. I'm also not sure I wouldn't have taken a great deal of revenge, and delighted in it.

    You're my newest hero.


    ~ D-FensDogG
    STMcC Presents 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS'

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    1. Wow, Stephen...I am humbled by your comments and I would have loved for you to be my bodyguard. I believe in what goes around comes around and that bastard is dead and gone to hell and the kids? Who knows and ...who cares..hahahaaa

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  3. Dear Birgit; My heart goes out to you for all the pain and suffering you have endured! What a testament to your strength that you have survived to tell your story. ♥ Thanks for joining the blogfest. You've selected some great movies, here. I agree; Tim Robbins should have won the Oscar for Shawshank. We watch It's a Wonderful Life every Christmas, too. A couple of years ago, we visited Seneca Falls in New York state, which was the model for Bedford Falls in the movie. The bridge is identical, as you can see HERE. One of these days, I'll write that travelogue!

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    1. Thank you for your kind, kind words...means a lot. Glad you like my films and I so want to visit Seneca Falls and will with my friend Loretta one day.

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  4. My goodness, Birgit, don't think for a moment that you posted TMI. Genuine friends are here to listen and to help if we can. You are held in very high regard throughout the blogging community. We love and care about you. I know how it feels to have someone declare that the world would be better off if you committed suicide because that very same thing happened to me in my youth. I still play back those words in my mind, but I draw strength and courage from them, determined to make a difference and prove that my life meant something to someone. Thank you very much for opening up and sharing details of your plight.

    Among the films posted here the three I have seen are What's Up Doc?, The Shawshank Redemption and It's a Wonderful Life. My favorite of those is What's Up Doc because I admire Ryan O'Neal and The Barbra, love to laugh and appreciate sophisticated adult comedy. Ryan O'Neal has guest starred in several dramatic series I have watched in the last few weeks. It's great to see him still hanging in there and making memorable scenes.

    Enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend BB!

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    1. I know you can relate since I sensed you also dealt with bullying and these people who bully are usually people who can’t move on from high school. I figured you saw all except for Top Hat. Ryan O’ Neal is a difficult person but he has had his share of crap especially with his son by Farrah Fawcett.

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  5. Wow, you've had a lot of trials in your life. I hope they made you stronger. That Elhers-Danlos is something, though, isn't it? You bend, but you don't break. I guess that's a good analog of your life.

    I have not seen My Bodyguard. I don't think. (I may have seen snippets of it.) But I've seen all the others. What's Up, Doc got me seeking out screwball comedies from the '30s. And, of course, I had my Astaire/Rogers phase...

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    1. They made me strong for sure even though these events can come back when I am not feeling well but that’s just human. I figured you saw all these films.

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  6. You went through some terrible things and knew some even worse people! But that doesn't define you. You've obviously not let it define you either, as we see none of the horrible stuff. Just one very awesome person. You!

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    1. Your words mean a lot Alex and I take them close to my heart. There is always a reason and I was meant to deal with this strife so I can help others and never ever stoop to their level.

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  7. I like what Alex said. I would have to ditto it. High school is such a terrible time yet some people think it is the best time of their life and live those "glory" days over and over again. I was glad to be gone from it.

    I would have to do some thinking about movies that might have defined me. I could do it with songs, but I'm not sure I could do it with film

    betty

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    1. Yes..high school really sucked and I find the people who were so popular at that time and bullied, never seem to move on and have a tougher time...they don’t grow. Songs can be easier to do but I love movies and I think movies might reveal more due to the visuals and story line

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  8. Goodness Birgit. I feel like I had such an incredibly easy life compared to yours. About the closest I can relate is when my mother (my grandparents raised me from birth) visited when I was in 4th grade and the man she brought with her tried to French kiss me. I told my grandmother and the look of horror on her face told me something was wrong and I thought it was ME. She made me tell my grandfather and when I said he tried to put his tongue in my mouth, I didn't get it all out when my grandfather was out of the room telling them both to never come back until my mother got rid of the pedophile. I was so lucky to have such supporting grandparents, and it sounds like you had supporting parents. I kept thinking while reading, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. You are one of the strongest people I know, helping others who need moral support. I am so proud of you and am SO glad I "met" you in blogland.

    BTW, I've only heard of Shawshank and never seen any of these.

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  9. I don't think movies can define one as they are fake, the cat pokes fun at that later on lol, but relate to us instead. Sure related indeed. Life can crap on one but we have to keep pushing through. Shawshank Redemption is excellent as is It's a Wonderful Life. Enjoyed my bodyguard too. Keep on keeping on.

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  10. You have had some very bad experiences. While I grew up in a rough neighborhood, I never experienced some of the stuff my friends did - rape, stabbing, beatings. You should be proud of your ability to survive. Many do not.

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  11. Hello lovely Birgit...we are who we grow up to be...life gives us crap and we just fight to the top of the pile....and grow stronger....you have me thinking now about my 4 films....big hugs xxxxx

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  12. I don't think you can pick a better movie to model your life after than It's A Wonderful Life. I love Jimmy Stuart and I blush to admit I didn't recognize Ward Bond. Thanks for sharing that.
    Hope your day is as great as you are.

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  13. Hi Birgit - the others have said so much about the suffering you have endured through your life. I'm glad you're here and with us ... and sincerely hope life will be happy for ever after. As to the movies ... I have seen a couple ... but should see the others - great that you always give us ideas for films to watch. Take care - and thanks for this ... cheers Hilary

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  14. I really can't come up with any films that define my life. You had some excellent picks on your list. The only one I have never seen is Top Hat. I saw What's Up, Doc? in the cinema when it was new and can't remember ever laughing so much during any other comedy. I had no idea you'd gone through such awful crap during your life. You're very brave to share much of it, but braver still for having dealt with it when it first happened.

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  15. Sorry your childhood was so bad but glad you had your mom and dad to stand by you. You have certainly come through all that with flying colours. I love the Shawshank Redemption too, own a copy of it, have seen Top Hat many times, on TV mostly. Continue to keep your chin up.

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  16. Wow, Birgit--what you went through is truly horrifying and I'm so sorry you had to survive those terrible things.

    I love Shawshank Redemption and its message of hope so much. It's actually very true to King's novella, more so than most of his adaptations, and a lot of it is word for word. Only the ending is a little different, but the intent/flavor of how it ends is the same. What a beautiful movie.

    There are definitely a lot of movies I love, but I'm not sure any define me. That's a tricky question to answer.

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  17. You had it tougher than tough as a child and teen, Birgit, and look at you now. The Mama of mine would've said to you, "Jesus Christ will get them in the end." I find those words still comforting. Love ya, B.

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  18. Glad you've endured. You're greatly appreciated here!

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