Evolution

No one is more surprised than me how much I love this movie. I definitely vetoed this a couple of times when trying to pick a movie amongst friends, but then  finally, one day in NJ, Brett was in the area so we got to hang out.  I was at my Dad's with my sister, and the three of us went to Blockbuster and had the arduous task of choosing a movie. Now, for those of you who know me, my sister and Brett...we have some strong opinions.  I thought finding a movie we'd all agree on was a near impossible feat. And I was right. It was near impossible, but not. Not only was it a marvelously fun afternoon, I handed myself over to a greater power. Evolution.

Clue

The opening music is so very Beetlejuice....or Beetlejuice stole it! (Or likely the same musician scored it), but anyways, the beginning is ominous and yet upbeat. You'll be happy to know that I just looked up John Morris, the guy who did the music for Clue and although he did not in fact score Beetlejuice, he did work on Spaceballs and Blazing Saddles and a number of other movies. I just had no idea! God bless IMDB.

Beauty and the Beast

As a currently childless adult, I often feel sadness that children born now, well past the year 2000, which already seems like its far enough away, do not share the same definition of "Cartoon" or "Animated" movies as I, and a whole generation, do.  Hilter sympathizer or not, Walty D sure did do some incredible stuff at an incredible time in motion picture history.  And while in a head-to-head contest of all Disney movies....The Little Mermaid wins,  Beauty and the Beast is yapping at Ariel's tail.  

So now on to the movie.

Baraka

I'm including the description that someone on IMDB so graciously bestowed upon this movie because I suspect some of you have not seen this movie. For those who have...you know what I'm in for.  For those who haven't, I urge you to add to your Netflix queue.

Without words, cameras show us the world, with an emphasis not on "where," but on "what's there." It begins with morning, natural landscapes and people at prayer: volcanoes, water falls, veldts, and forests; several hundred monks do a monkey chant. Indigenous peoples apply body paint; whole villages dance. The film moves to destruction of nature via logging, blasting, and strip mining. Images of poverty, rapid urban life, and factories give way to war, concentration camps, and mass graves. Ancient ruins come into view, and then a sacred river where pilgrims bathe and funeral pyres burn. Prayer and nature return. A monk rings a huge bell; stars wheel across the sky. 

Call Me, Al. No Seriously, Call Me, Al.

I know I have yet to make it past the A's on my DVD rack (I swear, Baraka will be forthcoming and well worth the wait!)...but once we get to the D's, I get to gush about how much I love the movie Defending Your Life.  Well, along with his marvelous performance as Daniel, Al Brooks wrote this movie. He wrote it and its brilliant.

So late last week, Sir Al was on my imaginary husband's show, the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He was there to plug a movie which I've now forgotten, but also a book...2030: The Real Story of What Happens to America.  For all the reasons I love, with my whole heart, Defending Your Life...I instantly picked up an old Borders Gift Card (thanks Mary Cannon--its from 2 Xmas' ago!) and order that puppy right up.  It should be here in a couple of days.  And its the first hard cover book I've read since the Twilight Series and Harry Potter.  I don't think they necessarily all fit into the same genre, but they definitely let your imagination run wild in a specifically-tailored world. And the ride is a blast!

Not Writer's Block--Writer's Open Floodgates

So I watched Anchorman awhile ago. Like probably over a week ago. I can’t begin to describe how amused I still am at that movie.  Like from word one, I laugh.  And I have to be honest—at the time of its release, I don’t think I was a Will Ferrell fan. This was before I recognized my love and adoration of Elf…and Stranger than Fiction.  I think he might be a bit crazy, might look like what I remember my Uncle Vick looking like, but Will Ferrell is most assuredly talented. (As is evidenced by him receiving the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.) 

As I was watching the movie, I was trying to “live-blog” or “llog” (pronounced yah-g’), as it shall henceforth be named.  I made it not even half way through the movie and realized I was really transcribing the movie—and that’s not what I was aiming to do with the blog.  So here we are—all these days later—and I still haven’t finished up the entry! And damn it,  I want to watch Baraka this weekend. It will be done, oh yes, it will be done.

Anchorman

I'll start with this: I honestly believe that Will Ferrell was born with one of many specific purposes on this Earth. Making this movie, was one of them.


Once again, my movies are true representations of my loves. Laughter and music.  This soundtrack is bangin' and think it arguably ranks up there with my top comedies of all time.  I did make this an actual blog because I love sharing my love of movies, much the same way I love sharing music that moves me.


Instantly, you are hooked.


"MMMM, I look good. I mean really good. HEY EVERYONE, COME AND SEE HOW GOOD I LOOK!"

Amelie

Words can't describe how excited I was for the movie to begin.  The pig lamps that move. The whimsy of it all.  Just pure smile.  Wow, I feel like it has the same vibe as The Science of Sleep...which will come up much later, but all the same, is a fantastic movie. Aren't imaginations a wonderful thing? What would human kind's existence be like without the ability to imagine. I, for one, find it a daily habit.

{{ A Brief Interlude }}

So this isn't technically a part of your regularly scheduled program, but I just had to make a special post for all those forgotten movies that aren't on the shelf.  On the first blog, I went back and added an update saying that while I am thrilled with my current top shelf, there are certainly movies that I love just as much that I just don't happen to own, therefore making me unable to put them on said Top Shelf.

Almost Famous

Let's just first start with the sounds.  From the very beginning, pre-credits, you hear a record start up...then you see the insignia for "Vinyl Records" production company or whatever.  You instantly know the sound in all its familiarity, despite the fact that they aren't often used any more, depsite a small insurgence in the last couple of years to release on vinyl.  Anyways,  it sets your base, your ear can now pick up minute sounds.  Then the pencil writing begins to welcome the cast and tell us the title.  Well done there. {{Said in an Eddie Izzard type of way}} I want his handwriting, ps, mine is atrocious and anytime I see good handwriting I'm instantly jealous.  More great, general realistic sounds.

Why

2011 has not been a good year for me...so far.  I lost my father on January 29th, and still wasn't over the loss of my grandmother the year before, losing my job the year before that, and losing my step dad the year before that!  Yea, its been a crappy couple of years.  So as I'm trying to dig myself out of crap-hole I've found myself in, I'm turning to one of my ultimate comforts.  Something that is so a part of me that transcends shittiness.  Movies.  I have always, always, loved movies.  Escapism knows no better form.