I have often described cable TV as 800 channels of nothing to watch. I get tired of the offerings on my usual channels, or feel guitly about subjecting my family to hours of "murder death kill" programming, so I try to find something else to watch. Most often, as I'm flipping through the channels, I pause at a movie I may have seen dozens of times and settle in for yet another viewing. Here, in no particular order, are a few of my tried-and-true favorites, movies I can watch over and over and never get tired of.
ARMAGEDDON
This movie is so silly and over-the-top, but it has a great cast and lots of fun moments. I love Will Patton as the deadbeat dad who finally gives his son a father to look up to. Steve Buscemi's character is nuts and practically steals the movie. I adore Owen Wilson and will watch him in anything, although his deplorable hairstyle is almost a dealbreaker in this film. And I always tear up at Bruce Willis's final scenes.
THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW
This movie feeds into my fascination with post-apocalyptic fiction. I admire the people in the library for doing whatever it takes to ensure their survival. I love that Dennis Quaid will go the distance to rescue his son. I don't especially like the politics of this movie, but the story draws me in every time.
THE PRINCESS BRIDE
I first read this book when I was in the sixth grade and was a huge fan long before Rob Reiner filmed it. My husband and I were living in Panama the first year we were married when the film came out, and I made him take me to see it. Mark Knopfler's score is perfect, the ensemble cast is one of the best ever, and practically every line of dialogue is instantly recognizable in this eminently quotable script.
JAWS
This movie reels me in every time (pun very much intended, lol). I love everything about this movie, especially the instances where it differs from the book. Lots of great lines, a solid cast, and one of the best movie monsters ever. My father-in-law never swam in the ocean again after seeing this film.
SIGNS
M. Night Shyamalan's movies are pretty much all remote-droppers for me, but this and THE SIXTH SENSE are probably my favorites. On another note, who knew that M. Night was psychic, correctly forecasting Joaquin Phoenix's future need of a tinfoil hat and Mel Gibson falling off his rocker?
13 GOING ON 30
Jennifer Garner is adorable in this movie as the girl whose wish to be 30, flirty, and fabulous magically comes true. It's a little hard to believe that a 13-year-old in a 30-year-old's body could bluff her way through her job as a magazine editor, but it's packaged so sweetly that I'm willing to suspend my skepticism. Andy Serkis is a sweetie, and Judy Greer deliciously loathsome, but it's Mark Ruffalo as the romantic lead who makes this an automatic pause for me.
JUST LIKE HEAVEN
Mark Ruffalo is the romantic lead in this charmer, as well, and Reese Witherspoon is a sassy smart-alec of a spitfire in this story of a doctor who slips into a coma after a car accident on the way to meet the man of her dreams. The delicious Donal Logue is amusing in a supporting role, and Jon Heder is a treat as a psychic.
27 DRESSES
I'm not a huge Katherine Heigl fan, and I swear I've read a book with this exact plot because nothing about this movie surprised me and it all seemed beyond familiar, but James Marsden was a charming surprise as the romantic hero, and Judy Greer shows up as the heroine's best friend in a likeable twist on her character from 13 Going on 30. Everything about this movie is a little larger than life, but in a good way.
INDEPENDENCE DAY
This really ought to be at the top of my list, because I'm pretty sure my entire family is sick of it by now due to frequent exposure, but once I scroll to this, I almost always stop looking. I despise the First Lady scenes because her death is gratuitous and the characters' reactions to it shallow and short-lived, but those scenes go by almost quickly enough, and we can get back to kicking some alien butt. I love Margaret Colin and have always wondered why she didn't have a bigger career. This movie has a great ensemble cast, including the only good-looking Baldwin in Hollywood (Adam, who is NOT one of the brothers).
THE OTHERS
This movie maddens me because the soundtrack is so poor--some scenes are so quiet as to be almost unintelligible, and that drives me nuts every time I watch it. As a ghost story, however, it's a tale told seamlessly, truly frightening in its storytelling without a shred of blood or gore and one of the most intriguing plot twists in movie history. Being a fan of memento mori, I appreciated the use of the book of the dead in a couple of pivotal scenes. Nicole Kidman was frosty and refined, and the young actress who played her daughter was perfectly cast and did a wonderful job.
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING and THE RETURN OF THE KING
I like both of these films for different reasons. TFOTR cemented my crush on Sean Bean. TROTK wraps up the trilogy nicely. I rarely watch the second film, but I will stop for either of these two others pretty much every time.
THE BOONDOCK SAINTS
Okay, the truth is I've only seen this move twice. I became a fan of Norman Reedus because of the TV show The Walking Dead, and when I heard he was in this movie, I hunted it down so I could watch him in it. A few minutes in, I realized that I'd seen it before. Norman Reedus does a fine job, but Willem Dafoe OWNS this movie as the FBI agent in pursuit of the vigilante brothers and their psychotic sidekick. His performance is what will make this a stop and watch movie for me.
There are, of course, other movies on my list. I love 2010 (the sequel to 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY) and 2012, yet another end-of-the-world as we know it disaster flick. SHANGHAI NOON and SHANGHAI KNIGHTS, A WALK TO REMEMBER, MEN IN BLACK, the last Harry Potter movie, THE BIRDS--my list could go on and on. The next time you find yourself watching one of these movies on HBO or some other channel, chances are, I'm probably watching it, too.
Showing posts with label movies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label movies. Show all posts
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Saturday, January 16, 2010
OFF TO A GOOD START
January so far has been a really good reading month, with lots of interesting books. I've finished 10 books this month, and have several others in varying states of reading progress. I like to finish a book every other day, so I'm a couple of days ahead of schedule. I don't have really strong impressions of some of the books, but I'll share my thoughts, such as they are.
True Love and Other Disasters, by Rachel Gibson--This was about a former exotic dancer/Playboy bunny who marries a wealthy old guy. When he dies, he leaves her his hockey team. The old guy's son is a nasty piece of work who wants to buy the team from his erstwhile stepmother, but he gets in her face once too often and she decides she'll keep the team for herself. Unfortunately, she and the team captain take an immediate dislike to each other, but their animosity soon turns to attraction.
I really enjoyed this book--it reminded me of Susan Elizabeth Phillips's Chicago Stars books. However, I was kind of bugged by some of the details in the book, especially about Faith's clothing and nail polish. As a former exotic dancer trying to go conservative, I found the constant references to short red nails a bit off-putting, because someone who switches to a basic neutral palette in her clothing would probably wear less obvious colors of nail polish. Also, sometimes the footwear sounded kind of tacky and stripperish, and I could never tell if the author meant to show that Faith hadn't quite absorbed a less flamboyant presentation or if she wanted to show that sometimes the wild girl has to escape the confines of her beige life. Other than those minor quibbles, it was a fun, satisfying read.
What I Did for Love, by Susan Elizabeth Phillips--It's always a treat to read SEP, and I enjoyed this story of a child TV star who finds herself married, Vegas-style, to her former co-star, a somewhat dissipated has-been who seems intent on arranging for a reunion show to earn some money. Of course his motives turn out to be a bit more altruistic, and there's really a decent guy under that bad-boy exterior. SEP keeps the action moving and the plot twists turning with her usual flair.
Certain Poor Shepherds, by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas--This slight Christmas tale seems like a book I SHOULD like because it's kind of serious and literary, but I just didn't love it. This is the story of a dog and a goat and the flock of sheep they tend, who follow the star to Bethlehem and have some adventures along the way, including encounters with angels and the three Wise Men. Probably someone more serious-minded than I would enjoy it more.
Getting Lucky, by Elaine Barbieri--I was actually somewhat disappointed with this story, because it was all a little too pat and relied on stock characters to tell the story. The heroine was orphaned while on a wagon train to California and had to walk the rest of the journey after her parents died. The book blurb tells us the heroine's virtue is at stake, but you never really get a sense that she's in any real danger, despite the best efforts of the villain and the jealous other woman (who is a saloon hall hooker). Everything was telegraphed well before anything actually happened, and there was just a bit too much mustache-twirling and gnashing of teeth to make a truly engaging read.
Dragon Slippers, by Jessica Day George--This was a very unique fairy tale about a girl who is offered as a sacrifice to a most unwilling dragon. She coaxes him into giving her a pair of shoes, which are coveted by an evil princess who is engaged to the heir to the throne of the girl's kingdom. The story was original, and it was a very enjoyable read, with some excellent themes.
Lady Jane Grey: A Tudor Mystery, by Eric Ives--This book was very scholarly in nature, as the author's intent was to delve through legend and letters to get to the real reason why Jane Grey, the person most innocent in the plot to put her on the throne of England in lieu of her devoutly Catholic cousin, Mary, was put to death. It was pretty dry reading in places, but thoroughly researched and eminently convincing in its conclusions.
Early Dawn, by Catherine Anderson--The heroine of this story is kidnapped from a train during a robbery by a band of outlaw brothers who molest and abuse her while preserving her virginity as they intend to sell her to a Mexican bordello. After several days of captivity, the heroine is rescued by a man who's been pursuing the brothers for years in serach of vengeance for his wife's rape and murder by these same villains. Most of the book consists of the hero and heroine trailing and/or evading the outlaws while they wait for the heroine's brothers to catch up with them and take her home. The heroine's strength of character was very appealing, and the hero's heartache was touching. Anderson has added another winner to her long list of successful books.
The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold--I don't know what took me so long to get to this one, but it was definitely my kind of book. I wanted to read it before I see the movie, which opened this weekend. Susie Salmon is a captivating narrator/heroine, and the ripple effect her murder has on the rest of her family is heartbreaking and encouraging at the same time. Anyone who's lost a loved one to a murderer will find this book heartfelt and accurate in its depiction of the isolation grief causes the survivors of crime victims. I hope the movie does the book justice.
Kissing the Countess, by Susan King--It took me months to get into this book, but once it finally caught me, it held me until I finished it. Catriona is a minister's daughter who collects old songs from her Scottish Highland home to preserve them before they're lost to the clearances (when Scottish lords moved families out of their homes and cleared the land to raise sheep for maximum profit and minimum outlay). While returning from a trip to gather yet another song, she comes across an injured man. As the weather gets treacherous, they seek shelter in an abandoned hut, where they're found by Catriona's father, the local doctor, and the mysterious man's friend. Forced into marriage, Catriona learns that her husband is the new laird, whose father was responsible for moving so may people out of their homes. The subplot involving the doctor was a little nebulous and stretched belief at times, but overall, the book was interesting.
Princess Ben, by Catherine Gilbert Murdock--This was another good fairy tale, about a somewhat spoiled princess whose uncle, the king, is murdered along with her mother, while her father is missing and presumed dead. Ben ends up being groomed for the throne by her very strict aunt, the king's widow. This story incorporated elements from lots of familiar fairy tales, but combined them in a unique and compelling way. I definitely want to read more by this author, and recommend this book to all fairy tale fans.
Well, that's it so far for this month. I've read lots of new storybooks with my kindergarten classes, and have listed those titles on my shelf at www.shelfari.com. I hope to have lots more books to report on by the end of the month. Happy reading!
True Love and Other Disasters, by Rachel Gibson--This was about a former exotic dancer/Playboy bunny who marries a wealthy old guy. When he dies, he leaves her his hockey team. The old guy's son is a nasty piece of work who wants to buy the team from his erstwhile stepmother, but he gets in her face once too often and she decides she'll keep the team for herself. Unfortunately, she and the team captain take an immediate dislike to each other, but their animosity soon turns to attraction.
I really enjoyed this book--it reminded me of Susan Elizabeth Phillips's Chicago Stars books. However, I was kind of bugged by some of the details in the book, especially about Faith's clothing and nail polish. As a former exotic dancer trying to go conservative, I found the constant references to short red nails a bit off-putting, because someone who switches to a basic neutral palette in her clothing would probably wear less obvious colors of nail polish. Also, sometimes the footwear sounded kind of tacky and stripperish, and I could never tell if the author meant to show that Faith hadn't quite absorbed a less flamboyant presentation or if she wanted to show that sometimes the wild girl has to escape the confines of her beige life. Other than those minor quibbles, it was a fun, satisfying read.
What I Did for Love, by Susan Elizabeth Phillips--It's always a treat to read SEP, and I enjoyed this story of a child TV star who finds herself married, Vegas-style, to her former co-star, a somewhat dissipated has-been who seems intent on arranging for a reunion show to earn some money. Of course his motives turn out to be a bit more altruistic, and there's really a decent guy under that bad-boy exterior. SEP keeps the action moving and the plot twists turning with her usual flair.
Certain Poor Shepherds, by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas--This slight Christmas tale seems like a book I SHOULD like because it's kind of serious and literary, but I just didn't love it. This is the story of a dog and a goat and the flock of sheep they tend, who follow the star to Bethlehem and have some adventures along the way, including encounters with angels and the three Wise Men. Probably someone more serious-minded than I would enjoy it more.
Getting Lucky, by Elaine Barbieri--I was actually somewhat disappointed with this story, because it was all a little too pat and relied on stock characters to tell the story. The heroine was orphaned while on a wagon train to California and had to walk the rest of the journey after her parents died. The book blurb tells us the heroine's virtue is at stake, but you never really get a sense that she's in any real danger, despite the best efforts of the villain and the jealous other woman (who is a saloon hall hooker). Everything was telegraphed well before anything actually happened, and there was just a bit too much mustache-twirling and gnashing of teeth to make a truly engaging read.
Dragon Slippers, by Jessica Day George--This was a very unique fairy tale about a girl who is offered as a sacrifice to a most unwilling dragon. She coaxes him into giving her a pair of shoes, which are coveted by an evil princess who is engaged to the heir to the throne of the girl's kingdom. The story was original, and it was a very enjoyable read, with some excellent themes.
Lady Jane Grey: A Tudor Mystery, by Eric Ives--This book was very scholarly in nature, as the author's intent was to delve through legend and letters to get to the real reason why Jane Grey, the person most innocent in the plot to put her on the throne of England in lieu of her devoutly Catholic cousin, Mary, was put to death. It was pretty dry reading in places, but thoroughly researched and eminently convincing in its conclusions.
Early Dawn, by Catherine Anderson--The heroine of this story is kidnapped from a train during a robbery by a band of outlaw brothers who molest and abuse her while preserving her virginity as they intend to sell her to a Mexican bordello. After several days of captivity, the heroine is rescued by a man who's been pursuing the brothers for years in serach of vengeance for his wife's rape and murder by these same villains. Most of the book consists of the hero and heroine trailing and/or evading the outlaws while they wait for the heroine's brothers to catch up with them and take her home. The heroine's strength of character was very appealing, and the hero's heartache was touching. Anderson has added another winner to her long list of successful books.
The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold--I don't know what took me so long to get to this one, but it was definitely my kind of book. I wanted to read it before I see the movie, which opened this weekend. Susie Salmon is a captivating narrator/heroine, and the ripple effect her murder has on the rest of her family is heartbreaking and encouraging at the same time. Anyone who's lost a loved one to a murderer will find this book heartfelt and accurate in its depiction of the isolation grief causes the survivors of crime victims. I hope the movie does the book justice.
Kissing the Countess, by Susan King--It took me months to get into this book, but once it finally caught me, it held me until I finished it. Catriona is a minister's daughter who collects old songs from her Scottish Highland home to preserve them before they're lost to the clearances (when Scottish lords moved families out of their homes and cleared the land to raise sheep for maximum profit and minimum outlay). While returning from a trip to gather yet another song, she comes across an injured man. As the weather gets treacherous, they seek shelter in an abandoned hut, where they're found by Catriona's father, the local doctor, and the mysterious man's friend. Forced into marriage, Catriona learns that her husband is the new laird, whose father was responsible for moving so may people out of their homes. The subplot involving the doctor was a little nebulous and stretched belief at times, but overall, the book was interesting.
Princess Ben, by Catherine Gilbert Murdock--This was another good fairy tale, about a somewhat spoiled princess whose uncle, the king, is murdered along with her mother, while her father is missing and presumed dead. Ben ends up being groomed for the throne by her very strict aunt, the king's widow. This story incorporated elements from lots of familiar fairy tales, but combined them in a unique and compelling way. I definitely want to read more by this author, and recommend this book to all fairy tale fans.
Well, that's it so far for this month. I've read lots of new storybooks with my kindergarten classes, and have listed those titles on my shelf at www.shelfari.com. I hope to have lots more books to report on by the end of the month. Happy reading!
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