Thursday Movie Picks-Revenge

Revenge is a plate best served cold..is how I recall this saying. Sometimes I think about revenge but what will that serve in the end...I don't like a cold meal unless it is meant to be cold. A new month over at Wandering Through The Shelves and it starts off with this theme. I know it is a big one but, for the life of me, I had a hard time coming up with movies. It will be fun to see what everyone else has chosen. Here are my 3...

1. FURY-1936

This film is from MGM that normally did not go along with such hardened films but this is a gem directed by Fritz Lang whom most actors, including the stars, Spencer Tracy, could not stand. Spencer plays a man in love with a beautiful gal, played by Sylvia Sydney (the old lady in Beetlejuice who smokes constantly which she did in real life), who ventures to meet up with her only to be arrested on very thin evidence. A mob decides to take matters into their own hands and want to lynch him. He escapes but becomes so angry and hardened that he seeks revenge by pretending to be dead so the people in the mob are brought to trial. A very strong statement, not only on revenge but on the mob mentality that we see, all too often, today.

2. 9 TO 5-1980

Let's make people laugh and this is one movie to do it. It stars Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton as 3 women working for the sleaziest boss one could encounter (and let's face it, most of us have in one form or another). They end up kidnapping him in his own home and decide to keep the company going doubling productivity. The problem is they still have to deal with this slimeball played brilliantly by Dabney Coleman. It is quite funny especially that Jane Fonda plays the meek gal and Dolly can hold her own with the 2 female stars. A very funny film that I need to see again.

3. STAR TREK-THE WRATH OF KHAN-1982

This, to me, is the best Star Trek film with the original cast and one of the best from all the Star Trek films. It takes one of the original episodes and shows what has happened to the people from the show. Khan was a leader, tyrannical one with an ego the size of Charlton Heston's chest, who is found on a ship called Botony Bay, frozen. The Star Trek crew defrost Mr. Ego who learns, very quickly, how the ship works. Of course, there is a girl who falls for his ruggedness and when he is caught at the end, he is placed with his defrosted crew down on a planet with the gal by his side. Jump ahead and now, you find out that the planet went into a deep freeze, the lady love died and Khan is out for revenge. He blames Kirk and is out to get him..and his little dog too! Sorry, there is no dog unless you count these ugly worms that dig into your ears and plant themselves in your brain, as some sort of pet. This is the film where Spock "dies" and it is powerfully acted especially by Ricardo Montalban as Khan who originated the role on the TV series. I think he should have been up for an Oscar.

To do a quick vent...January was not that great..I miss my craft room. There has been family issues and I am in the middle and this stems from January 15th. We got together to remember mom who died a year before but, unfortunately, it did not go as planned. A week later, someone rear ended our car..again, and almost to the same day when I had my car accident a year ago and, this past Friday our beloved Naddie, our oldest cat, died suddenly. My hubby got him when he was so little so he is quite devastated. Blecchhhh. OK that is me venting. I plan to give a little cheer about Naddie here when I can.

OK, I promise, I had nice days too:) Now, which 3 films would you choose?

Wandering Through The Shelves: TV Edition-2018 Freshmen Series

I believe I am back on track! This is the final Thursday in January and the final day for this month! I can't believe it but it is and so time never stops. This is all about the new shows that debuted last year and I am old school so I have nothing from Netflix, Crave, Hulu, Doolu or Spoodoo...Poop-Poop-Pee-Doo. Check out Wandering Through The Shelves and see what everyone else has picked. The 3 I have chosen are all from the regular old 3 networks so here we go...

1. NEW AMSTERDAM

How I wish hospitals were truly like this where someone cares and spends the time to figure out what is wrong with you. To be honest I would love to see a real doctor's show...maybe a dark comedy where you see how horrible the cleaning staff washes down everything, the nurses talk about their trips not bothering to see if the old person down the hall is ok and the doctors could care less if your issue does not show up on bloodwork. This stars Ryan Eggold (who is in BlacKkKlansman) as the new head of the hospital and starts right off firing a bunch of doctors and basically creating a storm of controversy but endearing himself to some doctors who are glad he is finally running things. My hubby and I both enjoy this show because it feels good, it cares and has some good story lines and no zombies or serial killers as heroes.

2. MANIFEST

A bunch of people on a plane run into some bad turbulence  but finally land only to learn that they landed...5 years later! The center are a brother and sister who find out that their mom has since passed away, the sister's fiancee married her best friend and the brother's son remained 10 whereas his twin sister is 5 years older. Of course there is a conspiracy afloat and you are not sure whom to believe. I am really enjoying this series and hope they can carry this throughout the next seasons. Oh yes, and, so far, no zombies

3. THE COOL KIDS

Yes...I like this show with its sad soundtrack and ok chuckles but for some reason, I enjoy watching this. I think it is because they are finally showing people who are not 25 wearing cool clothes and are big time lawyers or neurosurgeons but are older people in an old folks home. Now this home is a nice one that I could never afford but, aside from that, you get to see what the old coots are up to. It stars Vicki Lawrence, Martin Mull(who is the oldest of the bunch), David Alan Grier and my fav, Leslie Jordan, that short guy with the southern accent who played on Will & Grace. I'm not saying it is the best but it is my guilty pleasure and there are no zombies in this....nope, you don't even see an old person laying there drooling in their cup.

Which 3 would you choose?

Thursday Movie Picks- Long Titles..er..2018 Releases..er...OOPS! ...yeah confused yet? :)

So...I made a big boo boo because this week, at Wandering Through The Shelves, is actually films with long titles which I discussed last week when, actually, last week was about 2018 releases. In fact, since I was horrible last year seeing only one movie, I actually rented 3 films so I could discuss them here. Yeah...major brain fart and just skipped ahead like a hippie dippy gal holding a tambourine. I will be curious to see which  long titled films will be chosen. I, on the other hand, will talk about 2018 movies...and I saw 3 new ones so here we go....

1. MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 67...NOOOOO...I MEAN 6-FALLOUT

Tom Cruise will be in a wheelchair holding on to a moon rocket while we see his false teeth fly out but I digress. This was another fun entry in this franchise even though it stars...Tom Cruise. He is a true adrenaline junkie and does many of his own stunts. Of course, a nutbar (not Cruise, this is the plot) with tons of money is ready to destroy the world and Cruise and his small team must save the day. I always love seeing Simon Pegg and even Ving Rhames but the gals were on board as well and have a strong showing. If you want to escape and turn your brain off, this is a good film to see.

2.  AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR

I truly thought I would get confused by all the superheroes here or that I would be lost because I still have to see Black Panther (don’t judge me). But I was pleasantly surprised and was fully engaged in all the characters even my fav, Rocky Raccoon..ok its not Rocky but it is a foul-mouthed Raccoon..be still my heart. So it starts off that evil god Thanos, with a major chin issue, wants to rule the world and to do this, he must have all 6 stones and he goes about collecting all of them. I thought the seriousness of the film didn’t quite gel with the humour ...or is that the other way around? Anyhoo, oveRall, it is quite good and you know part 2 is all about time travel or something like that otherwise we only get to watch Thanos look at a sunset dreaming about Kirk Douglas’s chin.

3. BLACKKKLANSMAN

This is the best of the 3 that I rented and I wasn’t sure I was going to like it as much as I did but it is gripping.  It is actually based on a true story where an African American police  detective, the first, in that city, wonders if he can infiltrate the KKK. He does and it’s amazing how he and his fellow detectives go about bringing a part of this disgusting vile faction down. I love the cinematography especially when actors are talking and their faces are brought to the foreground. I was struck by how powerful that was. Spike Lee did a great directing job and the ending showing the maniac going through the crowd killing and injuring people just shows how rife the prejudice still is. Those right wing extremists need to no longer be given any ability to have a voice. I have always thought the KKK are pure evil and I still do.

So those are my 3 from last week and last week is

Thursday Movie Picks-Movies with Long Titles

You won’t see Dr. Strangelove or Eternal Sunshine here because....I have not seen these movies yet...yup, me bad. Wandering through the Shelves came up with this clever theme and I had to think(and look up) to find 3 films I have seen. I have seen many others but I pick the 3 below...

1. THOSE MAGNIFICENT MEN IN THEIR FLYING MACHINES; OR, HOW I FLEW FROM LONDON TO PARIS IN 25 HOURS AND 11 MINUTES-1965

Well, that’s a mouthful but this is one funny movie starring Stuart Whitman as an American who decides to travel to England to join the race. You meet a variety of nut bars from other countries from the great Gert Frobe (Goldfinger from James Bond of the same name) as a Prussian nut to the equally great Terry-Thomas as the evil nemesis. It is very funny, light entertaining film...worth a look for sure and based on an actual race.

2. THE FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS OR PARDON ME BUT YOUR TEETH ARE IN MY NECK-1967

This movie was picked by one of the other film nuts last week and, even though I have not seen this since I was a kid, it fit this challenge. This is a Roman Polanski film in which he co-stars with his future wife, Sharon Tate (who was killed by the Manson family). Polanski plays the assistant to an elderly Van Helsing type character who is out to kill the head vampire in Transylvania. The old guy needs a lot of help since he is quite shaky on his feet. A young bosomy damsel (played by Tate) is kidnapped by the vampire to be offered up as a sacrifice to the annual vampire feast. This, seriously, has some scary moments in it but it is also quite funny especially the head vampire's gay vampire brother. It's quite a fun British film and you know Polanski must love the Roger Corman movies.

3.  THOSE DARING YOUNG MEN IN THE JAUNTY JALOPIES- 1969

This is almost a sequel to the first  film I chose and it even has Terry -Thomas in it as the grandson of the evil dude he played in the first movie. Gert Frobe plays, once again, a German nut who, along with his partner are thieves. The Italians are represented as well as the Americans, this time, by Tony Curtis. They are all in a race across Europe heading to Monte Carlo to win the trophy and you know hi-jinks ensues. It is another funny, frolicsome film that you can't help but enjoy.

Which 3 would you choose?

Remembering My Mom

You can't see my mom too clearly there but that's ok because she is now with my dad and is an angel in my heart and in the stars above. She loved that picture of the angel, she loved gold, glitter and Christmas.

One year ago she passed away but I love her and miss her so....She is my angel

Thursday Movie Picks-The Cold

This week was actually my suggestion so thanks for using this, Wandering Through The Shelves. Actually, it has not been that cold at all here in my neck of the woods and our temperatures go from a high of 8C down to -3 in the  evening. We have had no snow which sucks as I love snow except in March...then the snow can leave:). Anyway, here are my choices for the cold...

1. JEREMIAH JOHNSON-1972

I love westerns and this is a more modern style compared to the great westerns made by John Wayne, James Stewart etc... This stars Robert Redford as a soldier from the civil war who is done with civilization and just wants to be on his own. He knows nothing of the land but is taught by a rugged mountain man and friendly Native Americans and soon becomes an expert at living on his own until he somehow finds a family in an orphaned boy and a young Native girl. The scenery is beautiful and much of it takes place in the winter when many people on the crew of this film had a tough time of it but Redford enjoyed it immensely. A gripping film with great cinematography and some very touching moments and humorous ones as well. I miss the deep snow...just saying

2. THE ICE STORM-1997

This film concerns 2 families-neighbours, and their children. Kevin Kline plays the husband of one who is having an affair with the neighbour's wife. The children of both also have a messed up life to say the least and all the dysfunction seems to culminate during an ice storm. It's a film that was much hyped in its day and I was so looking forward to it only to feel somewhat disappointed but I would like to revisit it and see if I see it through better eyes as it were. I can say I have experienced ice storms and that is not a fun experience to say the least.

3. WIND RIVER-2017

Hold the presses...I picked a new movie! I wanted to see this film and we rented it last year...yes, rented as I am still of the old school. It stars Jeremy Renner as a Fish and Wildlife agent who comes across the body of a Native American girl in the wilderness. A new FBI agent comes to town to solver the case and hires the Wildlife agent to help her track who may have killed her. It is not only a great thriller but  gives you food for thought since there have been many unsolved cases of Native American women in the U.S. and Canada that have been killed or disappeared and nothing has been done about it. The acting is sombre but you are feeling the tension and the ending feels right.

Bonus...

4. DR. ZHIVAGO-1965

I chose this film before but I am choosing it again since it was my mom's favourite film and she died almost a year ago on January 15th. This stars Omar Sharif as the legendary doctor who marries a wealthy girl in pre revolutionary  Russia. When the First World War breaks out, he is called to duty and meets up again with Lara, who is helping as a nurse, and falls in love with her. When they go back to their respective lives all has changed because of the Russian revolution.  His father in law has lost everything to "the people" and they are closely watched so they travel to the countryside and the doctor meets up again with Lara where they can no longer deny their love. It is an epic tale of love, war, loss and the horribleness of communism set against the cold but romantic view of winter. My mom could relate so well to this film because of  what she went through during the war and after when the Russians marched in and took her grandfather's farm. Interestingly, it was her brother's favourite film as well.

What are your 3?

Thursday Movie Picks-Place in Title

I hope everyone had a good Christmas & New Year's as so many I know from my circle of family and friends did not which is sad but it all depends on how one looks at things. Despite still feeling quite ill, I had a nice Christmas and was blessed with gifts and, more importantly, family and friends and all of you who wished me well. A new year and a new weekly start to the movies from Wandering Through The Shelves. We start off with a place in the title and i hope someone picks Casablanca which is one of my all time favourite films but i had already spoken about this film once before. I went with a theme within a theme and hope you like them....

1.  AN AMERICAN IN PARIS-1951

This won the best picture that I don't believe should have won (I would have gone with The African Queen or Strangers on a Train) but it is still an excellent film and musical from the Arthur Freed unit. It is about..guess...yup, an American in Paris who decided to stay in Paris after the war and try his hand at art. He becomes the gigalo to a wealthy woman who knows how to ensnare her men. Gene Kelly plays the artist who meets a young french girl, Leslie Caron, in her film debut, who is the paramour of a famous entertainer. Kelly's best friend is played, with sarcastic fun, by the devilish Oscar Levant as an aspiring pianist who agreed to do this film because he was a close friend of George Gershwin. The dancing is beyond superb, the Costumes, Cinematography and Art Direction is simply stunning. If you love art, musicals and a great story line, you will love this film especially the last 20 minutes which is pure dance done to backgrounds inspired by the famous impressionists of the previous century.

2. THE LAST TIME I SAW PARIS-1954

I am not a romance gal nor a fan of Van Johnson but, for some reason I don't mind this movie. It stars icky Van Johnson (Whom I think was the true inspiration of Troy McClure from The Simpsons), a G.I. and aspiring writer in Paris rejoicing that the war is won who is kissed by the beautiful but fickle Elizabeth Taylor. He quickly meets another gal who falls for him and invites him to a party. He goes with her and finds Ms. Taylor who happens to be the other gal's sister. So, as you guess, Van and Liz fall in love and marry and have a kid while her sister marries someone else and the sister's dad still decides to party away. This is an OK film that I always seem to watch when it comes on TV. The one thing I would change is that horrible painting that is shown in the film of Taylor. It's supposed to show her beauty and devil may care ways, but all I want to do is burn it.

3. PARIS WHEN IT SIZZLES-1964

This film was made in 1962 but did not come out until the year I was born. It more fizzles than sizzles because of the wacky script and William Holden having to go to a sanitarium to dry out because of his alcoholism which is why Tony Curtis appears in the movie. Despite the silliness-a writer has 3 days to come up with a script and becomes inspired by his most recent temp-Audrey Hepburn, I actually enjoy this silly farce. It has some fun moments and some bad moments(Holden as the vampire/devil is pretty dreck) but it is something to enjoy on a rainy afternoon when you would rather be in Paris having a glass of wine watching the world go by. Besides, Audrey is always enchanting...

What are your 3???