I originally posted this idea on Insight into Entertainment and it's all I think of when we get close to Thanksgiving. It's what I do on Thursday as I cook and wait for dinner. I didn't love the writing on this post so I've modified it quite a bit this year.
There were many reasons to love "Friends" and this week I'm thankful that they always had a terrific Thanksgiving episode. I like it when a TV show acknowledges that it doesn't live in a vacuum and realizes that it exists on Thursday nights and Thanksgiving is always a Thursday, and the producers at "Friends" always made unique Thanksgiving shows. Most series do a Christmas/holiday episode of some sort, but with the current schedule of episodes, Christmas shows often appear the first week of December with no new episodes until well after the holidays. Without further ado, here are the reasons I'm thankful Friends was an awesome show.
Season 1 - "The One Where Underdog Gets Away" This episode brings all the friendless Friends together when they're supposed to be celebrating elsewhere. It's the beginning of them putting together their lives as a family. Wonderdog (a balloon in the Thanksgiving Day parade) escaped from the Macy's parade and ends up down in the Village near their apartments, causing them all to get locked out and miss dinner. Not the best of the Thanksgiving series, but a classic example of Friends. And, I remember it was pretty shocking that a show would show a new episode on a holiday.
Season 2 - I don't know why, but there's no Thanksgiving episode this season. I watched the whole season to be sure!
Season 3 - "The One with the Football" None of the Friends are dressed well throughout this episode, and it always bothers me. Given that they generally dress like they're ready for anything, it's odd that they're in sweats and jerseys. They decide to play football in the park reliving Ross and Monica's favorite holiday pasttime. Eventually, it becomes really competitive and dirty tricks abound. Joey and Chandler fight over a hot girl, but as they learn, most girls don't want to be told who they get to go out with. I love watching them try to avoid passing the ball to Rachel and Phoebe flashing the guys to run past them. The episode ends with Monica and Ross still in the park holding onto the football waiting to see who wins The Gellar Cup.
Season 4 - "The One with Chandler in a Box" This is one of the all time best episodes of Friends. Joey won't forgive Chandler for kissing his girlfriend Cathy. To make up for it, Chandler spends Thanksgiving Day in a box. Monica gets ice in her eye and goes to see the eye doctor - Richard's son (hot Michael Vartan) who she invites to Thanksgiving Dinner. The whole thing becomes kinda weird, particularly with Chandler sticking his fingers out of the hole in the box, but it's got one of the best lines ever from Monica yelling at the others for judging her crush on Richard's son:
Monica: "Fine! Judge all you want to but, [points to Ross] married a lesbian, [points to Rachel] left a man at the altar, [points to Phoebe] fell in love with a gay ice dancer, [points to Joey] threw a girl's wooden leg in a fire, [points to the box Chandler's in] live in a box!"
Season 5 - "The One with Thanksgiving Flashbacks" All the Friends flash back to Thanksgivings they remember. The show always did this well, with Monica in a fat suit, Rachel with her old nose, Ross and Chandler's 80s hair. They flash back to the 2 Thanksgivings when Ross brought Chandler home from college. The first year he calls Monica fat behind her back, so the next year she's back to her normal size. She says she hates him, which parallels to their real time love affair, deciding they love each other. There's a great moment when Joey has the turkey stuck on his head. And at the end to make up for cutting off Chandler's toe, Monica dances around with a turkey on her head.
Season 6 - "The One where Ross Got High" This is another of my all time favorites. The Gellars (Monica and Ross' parents, Judy and Jack) come over for Christmas and Rachel attempts to make a "Tradition English Trifle"e but accidentally adds beef with peas and onions because two recipe pages got stuck together. Phoebe dreams about Jack Gellar fighting Jacques Cousteau. And Ross and Monica out each other on all the secrets of their childhood: porn, broken porch swing, pot smoking. They find out they've been blaming Chandler for lots of things which is why the Gellar parents have always hated him. When they find out the truth, they thank Chandler for watching out for their kids. Joey comments on Rachel's trifle: "What's not to like, Jam:good, Custard: Good, Beef: Gooo-od"
Season 7 - "The One Where Chandler Doesn't Like Dogs" This episode didn't really fit into their Thanksgiving canon. Phoebe has a dog she's been hiding in the guest room even though Chandler hates them and says he's deathly allergic. Not too much goes on beyond Rachel flirting with Tag and he finds out she likes him.
Season 8 - "The One with the Rumor" This was when Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston were still married in real life. Pitt guest starred as a friend of Ross' from high school who used to be really fat, but is now Brad Pitt (we should all be so lucky). Rachel spends most of the episode trying to figure out who he was and flirting because she can't remember the fat kid. Pitt and Ross had a club in high school called the "We Hate Rachel Greene" club. Rachel is pissed when she finds out considering she is pregnant and having a kid with Ross. Pitt applauds Ross for knocking up Rachel. Monica never told Rachel because there was a rumor that Rachel had a "teeny weeny" and Monica didn't want to see it. It's a really funny episode with lots of Thanksgiving cooking.
Season 9 - "The One with Rachel's Other Sister" Christina Applegate shows up for Thanksgiving and spouts her narcissistic opinions on how to raise Rachel and Ross' new baby Emma. She assumes she'd get to raise Emma if Ross or Rachel die, but they've already planned to ask Monica and Chandler. This causes all kinds of discussions about why certain people would or would not be good parents. Applegate is really, really annoying as a sibling you'd NEVER give your child to, but totally represents the person Rachel might have become without the other Friends.
Season 10 - "The One with the Late Thanksgiving" Monica reluctantly agrees to cook Thanksgiving dinner again, but Ross and Joey go to a hockey game, and Phoebe and Rachel enter Emma in a beautiful baby contest so everyone's late. They spend a lot of time talking to Monica and Chandler through the door with the chain on, floating heads as they stack one above the over. Joey of course gets his head stuck. It's a really funny classic Friends episode of fighting, but no one being really upset. Great finale to the Thanksgiving series.
What are your Thanksgiving TV/movie traditions? Football DOESN'T count.
I wrote this post back on Insight into Entertainment and was reminded of the holiday this morning by my students. While I wouldn't advocate any sort of violence as a way to achieve social change, explaining what happened at Tiananmen Square in 1989 (before my freshmen were born!) has made me realize there are other ways to achieve social change. So if you're feeling impotent this evening without anything to do until the votes are counted (or you're not American and don't have to vote today) I suggest watching V for Vendetta.
"Remember, Remember the 5th of November, the gun-powder treason and plot. I know of no reason why the gun-powder treason should ever be forgot." Those are the opening lines of V for Vendetta, a post-apocalyptic story of how fear can drive a society to relinquish rights for security, and of course, as the saying goes, get neither. However, a vigilante called V appears on November 5th promising that in one year, he will blow up the buildings of Parliament (like Guy Fawkes hoped to do). As the year goes by he also murders several members of the ruling party for reasons that aren't revealed until the end. However, on that first night V crosses paths with Evey (Natalie Portman), a TV producer, and she becomes a somewhat willing participant, embroiled in his struggle to bring down the government. There is a police Inspector Finch (Stephen Rea) who is unraveling V's reasons for the murders and what could be behind his vendetta against the government. Finch discovers that the fear of disease and the need for quarantine and thus the strict regulations and controls by the government were in fact created by the government itself to give itself complete power. Overall, the society rallies together to fight what it begins to understand is not a benevolent governing body, and Guy Fawkes ideas are achieved.
The movie is based on a graphic novel, and thus contains quite a few scenes set up with a comic book in mind - larger than life leaders on huge screens, cartoonish costuming, and extremes in language, dialogue. People are either good or bad, black or white actions, very little middle ground. However, I don't think that's bad. It's an interesting look at what you'd do about terrorists (or vigilantes) in such a restrictive society, and how perhaps it's important to examine why such a society would spawn someone willing to risk everything to take it down. I like this movie a lot, the dialogue is creative, plays on words, examining the meaning of power, etc. The acting, particularly by Hugo Weaving as V is spectacular. He has to get across a complete character while wearing a creepy mask and wig the whole time. It's all in his voice. Natalie Portman does a good job being transformed by V and holding her personal need above the fight for national change. I recommend watching it every November!
[Note: I was too busy watching Stripes and keeping up with Sandy's destruction last night to come up with a good Halloween post. Instead I'm reposting one of my favorites from the Old World. Hope everyone in the storm's path stayed safe.]
Three Reasons I'd Rather Be in a Vampire Plot
1. Vampires have become synonymous with sex and beauty. Tha doesn't mean there aren't some uggo vamps out there (I'm looking at you, Count Orlok), but I'd rather be surrounded by evil eye candy than rotting flesh.
2. Chances are if you find yourself in a vampire movie, you won't have to rebuild society. When the zombies show up, an apocalypse wiping out most of the planet has occurred and the few survivors must find a way to continue the human race sans water, electricity, technology, etc. Vampires usually don't want to wipe out humans, as we are their food source.
3. Should things go awry and you will not survive, in your human form anyway, would you rather become a sexy vampire who can still form sentences or a mindless zombie simply chasing the smell of human flesh? Yeah, I thought so.
Three Reasons I'd Rather Be in a Zombie Plot
1. Zombies are rather simple creatures who die a simple death. Aim for the head and you're good. There are far too many myths behind killing a vampire and you never know which ones will and won't work until it's too late.
2. Being caught up in a zombie movie offers the opportunity to make new friends. A staple of the zombie movie seems to be a group of strangers coming together to survive the undead chaos around them. Lifelong relationships can be formed in this type of situation, though "lifelong" is relevant during a zombie apocalypse.
3. Once you've made new friends, it's time to pack up and hit the road. That's right, a zombie apocalypse gives you the perfect excuse to get out and travel, boost an abandoned car, throw your guns and preservative-infused snacks in the back and go see all things you never had the time and money to see before the world nearly came to an end, since money will no longer have any value and time is all you have left.
Note: Back before Dylan ditched his origianl site, Blog Cabins, for Man, I Love Films, he hosted a 30 dAyS oF cRaZy blog-a-thon, and, not wanting to do a straight review of my chosen film Identity, this was my entry, which I later reposted on my old site and am now reposting here. Essentially, loads of recycling.
Brief Plot Synopsis (Spoilers): On a stormy night, a convicted serial killer awaiting execution, Malcolm Rivers, is granted a last minute hearing when new evidence could prove his insanity and need for hospitalization. Meanwhile, eleven strangers are trapped at an isolated motel, waiting out the storm, when they start dying one by one and must find the murderer among them. In trying to prove Rivers' insanity, the psychiatrist discovers Rivers has dissociative identity disorder and the eleven strangers at the motel are really his eleven different personalities vying for control of his mind.
Malcolm Rivers: A Psychopathic Serial Killer or Just an Avid Fan of the Game Clue?
Though Identity was supposedly inspired by Agatha Christie's novel And Then There Were None, if you look closely enough, and do a little imaginative stretching, you can see a lot of inspiration from the beloved board game Clue. So maybe Rivers' fractured mind wasn't the product of being abandoned at motels by his junky prostitute mother as a child, but his severe addiction to the Parker Brothers classic.
Colonel Mustard - Ed
Colonel Mustard is a military man, sophisticated and dangerous. In all the mayhem at the motel, Ed (John Cusack) steps up as the unwilling leader and his background as a cop with a dark past is revealed. He seems the best choice to pick up the yellow playing piece.
Miss Scarlett - Paris
Miss Scarlett is always portrayed as a young, cunning femme fatale. With Paris (Amanda Peet) being a prostitute with a boatload of stolen cash and the color red signifying lust, the connection really writes itself.
Mr. Green - Rhodes
Mr. Green has been identified as a shady man with ties to the mob. At first it seems Rhodes (Ray Liotta) is a cop transporting a prisoner (Jake Busey), but eventually it's revealed he too was a prisoner who killed the real transport officer. His criminal background makes him the most likely to put on the green suit.
Mrs. White - Larry
Mrs. White is most often the frazzled servant of Boddy manor. Larry (John Hawkes) is the assumed owner of the motel everyone is trapped in, and must accommodate all the guests' needs when they get stranded at the beginning.
Professor Plum - George
Professor Plum is noted as an intelligent, but absent-minded scientist or doctor. Based on looks alone, George (John C. McKinley) has his name all over this one, but you could also consider the fact that though George seems smart, he is socially awkward with a touch of OCD, adding extra nerdiness to his persona.
Mrs. Peacock - Caroline Suzanne
Mrs. Peacock is always the aging socialite. With her nice limo and designer luggage, has-been actress Caroline Suzanne (Rebecca De Mornay) fills the role flawlessly.
Disregarding George's step-son and wife, who are little more than living scenery for most of the film, and the prisoner Rhodes is "transporting", who is more of a plot point than actual character, the real fly in the ointment with this theory is the newlywed couple, Ginny and Lou (Clea Duvall and William Lee Scott, respectively). There really is no place for them in the Clue realm, though ironically they are just as useless and expendable in the plot of the film as well. Maybe it is a perfect fit after all.
Disclaimer: This post in no way claims that playing the Parker Brothers board game Clue turns people into serial killers...probably.
The summer of 2010 provided bloggers with two month-long memes that kept everyone quite busy detailing their favorite (and least favorite) aspects of both television and film. The one for television ran through June, and I was quite the loyal daily poster, on top of my regular daily features. But when everyone wanted to do a similar film meme for the entire run of August, I was too tired. Instead I thought it'd be neat to work on it slow and steady and release the entire month's meme in one post on the last day of the month. Of course, I pretty much put it off till the night before, but finished nonetheless.
It's been two years, and I thought it'd be fun to revisit what is still one of the most visited posts on my old site, with commentary on my thoughts from so long ago. Beware some spoilers.
Day 01 - A Sequel(s) That Shouldn't Have Been Made Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006) Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)
After the first Pirates was a shocking hit, Disney clearly hauled tail back to the drawing board to throw together two sloppy sequels with a dumb contrived story, an overabundance of special effects and far too many action sequences. I understand wanting to give the world more Captain Jack Sparrow, but at what cost? And now the fourth installment will be just as dreadful.
[2012 Comments: On Stranger Tides wasn't terribly painful while watching it, but I haven't felt the desire to revisit it either. The other two sequels still aren't good, but I find myself strangely compelled to watch them when they're on t.v.]
Day 02 - A Movie That More People Should See Moon (2009)
I think a lot of movie geeks have seen Duncan Jones' masterpiece by now, but a lot of casual film goers have not. I cannot stress the beauty of this film enough. It's a true original with a stunning solo performance by Sam Rockwell that was shamefully overlooked this past awards season.
[2012 Comments: Two years later and I haven't actually recommended Moon to the average joe, but I still wouldn't be surprised if I got blank stares if I tried. Jones' follow up film, 2011's Source Code, was interesting and entertaining, but didn't quite have the intimate beauty of his debut.]
Day 03 - Favorite Oscar-Nominated Movie from Most Recent Ballot Inglourious Basterds (2009) The Hurt Locker was amazing, but in terms of rewatchability, Inglourious Basterds has my vote. I don't normally do war movies, but this Nazi bloodbath tosses the history books in the garbage and rewrites an ending to World War II that kicks so much ass. Tarantino gets the best performances out of his ensemble cast as they spout off his genius dialogue. If only he would've waited one more year to release it, this probably would have made a clean sweep at the Oscars.
[2012 Comments: Still love it. Is it Christmas yet? I need me Django.]
Day 04 - A Movie That Makes You Laugh Every Time O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
I laugh until I cry with this Coen Brothers' retelling of The Odyssey. George Clooney breaking out of his "Guy in Suit" persona absolutely kills as Everett, a prison escapee trying to get back to his wife before her next trip down the aisle. Everett's flare for words and demand for Dapper Dan keeps me in stitches every time. Throw in Tim Blake Nelson and John Turturro as Everett's fellow dumb-as-dirt escapees and I know this movie can pick me up on a bad day.
[2012 Comments: Sadly I don't think I've watched O Brother since making this list two years ago! Needs to be remedied ASAP, but I'm sure the above holds true.]
Day 05 - A Movie You Loathe Southland Tales (2006)
Some folks call it the best bad move: I just call it shit. With a gaggle of B-List actors, Richard Kelley's self-indulgent crapsterpiece is downright painful to endure for its almost two and a half run with little coherence in the plot. I've actually blocked most of it, but I know I still hate it with a passion.
[2012 Comments: I've heard loads of people chatting about Southland Tales in the past few months, mainly on podcasts, much with my same reaction but having had more fun with it. I have intended to give it another shot, especially since my admiration for Justin Timberlake has grown since The Social Network, but I have yet to bite the bullet.]
Day 06 - A Movie That Makes You Cry Every Time Juno (2007)
I didn't love Juno the first time I saw it, but it has since grown on me quite a bit. Of course the tears don't come till the third act of the film when Juno gives up the baby and Vanessa holds him for the first time. When they close in on Juno's note to Vanessa, framed and hanging in the nursery, I really start to lose it. Hell, I'm tearing up thinking about it now.
[2012 Comments: Still gets me and in the same places.]
Day 07 - Least Favorite Movie by a Favorite Actor/Actress Little Children (2006)
Kate Winslet is an absolute goddess of the screen, but when I finally made it around to watching her film about infidelity in the suburbs paired with the introduction of a convicted pedophile back into society, I was ready to beat my head against a wall. The storylines mashed together really didn't work for me and there wasn't a single character I gave a damn about it. And in the end, this awards season darling was just boring.
[2012 Comments: Still holding to this, and I doubt I'll be rewatching Little Children again, at least no time soon. However, I'd also add the rather dull The Reader to that list. Sure she got the Oscar, finally, but it was just awkward and then a bit bland.]
Day 08 - A Movie That Should Be Required High School Viewing Mean Girls (2004)
You may be expecting some film about drug abuse or teen pregnancy, which are both important topics, but so is bullying. Tina Fey's brilliant script hits all the points of how high school girls can torture one another, actively and passively, but keeps the tone light and fun instead of delving into after school special territory.
[2012 Comments: Oh what could have been a promising career for Lohan. Now it would seem Emma Stone's doing everything right that Lohan did wrong. Of course I haven't seen the documentary that premiered early this year, Bully, about real high school bullying, but Mean Girls can't be beat. But let's throw Requiem for a Dream in there just to aid the war on drugs too.]
Day 09 - Best Scene Ever Fight Club (1999)
It's impossible to pick just one scene from the history of film, but this is one of my favorites. I love it when Tyler shows The Narrator how to make soap and gives him the chemical burn. There was so much truth about dealing with life's pain and struggles instead of retreating to a "cave" to escape it all. It's a good slap in the face for our protagonist and for us as well.
[2012 Comments: Not sure how anyone can be expected to pick just one best scene of all time, but beneath all the insanity that is Fight Club, there's the undercurrent of an important message that comes across perfectly in this scene.]
Day 10 - A Movie You Expected to Dislike But Loved X-Men (2000)
For some reason that I cannot remember, I was 100% against seeing this comic book based film. It was after the VHS release that I finally gave in and loved it, but even more so, it paved the way for X2 which has become one of my favorite comic book films of all time. I heart Wolverine...like a lot.
[2012 Comments: I've realized that after the Burton Batman series, X-Men was my reintroduction to the world of comic book films and that's probably why I look back on it so fondly. And I liked last year's Origins, but it just didn't hold a candle to X2.]
Day 11 - A Movie That Disappointed You Watchmen (2009)
I really liked 300 (and like it even more with each viewing), so the trailer for this Zack Snyder film had me pumped to see it. It looked like an amazing story with deep characters and even better visuals. After it was all over, the visuals part was pretty much the only thing I really enjoyed. And the opening credits pretty much stole the show.
[2012 Comments: I have since watched the Director's Cut on Blu-Ray and like the film much more. It was still disappointing compared to the hype, but I respect it more now.]
Day 12 - Best Soundtrack/Background Music in a Scene Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Admit it, you can't help but think of Mr. Blonde slicing off the cop's ear whenever you hear Stuck in the Middle with You by Stealers Wheel. Brutal is the only word I can even think of to describe this scene. Well played QT.
[2012 Comments: Still holds true.]
Day 13 - Favorite Animated Movie The Incredibles (2004)
You can have your Toy Story trilogy and your WALL-E and your Up; it just doesn't get better than Pixar's super-hero-living-the-quiet-life story for me. The hero elements mixed in with the family values works beautifully for a sweet and fun story with beautiful animation.
[2012 Comments: I kinda forgot about the magic of Finding Nemo, the film that actual made me see Pixar as more than just another animation studio, despite Toy Story. I can't wait for its theater rerelease next month.]
Day 14 - Favorite Film in Black and White Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Romero may have used black and white for his debut film to keep it low budget, but I can't imagine it any other way. The intensity of the horror is certainly heightened, especially during the night scenes, not to mention the carnage was still just as gory, despite the lack of color. Though it has been re-released with color more than once, I won't bother seeing those versions, as I prefer the original and classic B&W vision.
[2012 Comments: I won't redact the fact that Night of the Living Dead is awesome, but can I change my answer to Sin City? Just watched it again and it's so damn cool.]
Day 15 - Best Musical Guys and Dolls (1955)
Some folks may have issues with Brando's singing, but I'm not one of them. I'm not a huge fan of classics or musicals, but this one is too much fun to ignore.
[2012 Comments: Another film I haven't watched in years. I think it was more nostalgia speaking here, because I watched this film non-stop in high school, but how could I forget about the fun of Chicago and the sad beauty of Moulin Rouge!?
Day 16 - Your Guilty Pleasure Movie Clueless (1995)
My first semester of college, my roommate and I probably watched this movie at least once every two weeks. It was an obsession. Whenever I missed home, I knew the antics and musings of Cher, Dionne and Tai would cheer me up in a heartbeat and they always did.
[2012 Comments: Another one I haven't watched in years. Sadly I have very little time to indulge in guilty pleasure movies these days.]
Day 17 - Favorite Series of Related Movies Harry Potter (2001-2011)
Sure they have their ups and downs (I sometimes fall asleep to the first two), plus they leave out sooo much material from the books, but to still be doing the films of the magical wizarding world a decade after they began is quite a feat (though I'm sure the cash they rake in helps ease the pain). Ten years, eight films, four directors and through all that only one major cast change, due to the death of Sir Richard Harris. That's pretty impressive.
[2012 Comments: And now the series has wrapped and it's of course still my favorite. Many years from now, I want one day to myself when I can watch all 8 movies in one go. Maybe when the kids are older we can start a Christmas Day tradition.]
Day 18 - Favorite Title Sequence Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
The best part of this entire offbeat comedy was the opening. So creative yet so simple. Nothing insane and high-tech; just simple fun with food and drawing. And of course I love the White Stripes song playing throughout.
[2012 Comments: It seems the fun title sequence is a dying breed, but I still come across some pretty great ones every now and then. Not sure this is my absolute favorite, but I still smile at its simple quirkiness.]
Day 19 - Best Movie Cast Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
There isn't a single cast member of this indie roadtrip comedy that doesn't work for me. You can see the love and disgust on everyone's face for one another as they're stuck spending two days in a VW bus. They certainly feel like the typical American family that all of us just might be able to relate to on some level.
[2012 Comments: Maybe if we ever get that supposed "Arrested Development" movie, the Bluths would de-throne the Hoopers. If...]
Day 20 - Favorite Kiss Sixteen Candles (1984)
The closing moment when Sam and Jake share a kiss over her birthday cake while sitting on his dining room table puts the biggest grin on my face just thinking about it. I love it when the likable girl gets her hot sensitive guy. So sweet and romantic. *sigh*
[2012 Comments: Sorry, still sighing...]
Day 21 - Favorite Romantic Couple The Constant Gardener (2005)
Justin and Tessa Quayle break my heart. The thing that gets me about them is the mystery behind their relationship. For most of the film, you're led to believe Tessa just married Justin to follow him to Africa to do her work, then started a love affair with Arnold. And then we learn the truth as Justin uncovers the truth behind Tessa's death: she truly loved him and remained faithful. And it's so tragic they didn't get to be happy together, but it leaves you happy that Justin learned the truth about his deceased wife before his own death.
[2012 Comments: Of course I picked a sad love story, since most happy love stories feel cheap and fake coming from Hollywood. And I actually have rewatched Tessa and Justin's beautiful love story recently.]
Day 22 - Favorite Final Scene/Line Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
"Is she aware her daughter is still alive?" BAM! I have to admit, I didn't see this coming and it was freaking sweet when Bill closed this first half of Q.T.'s ode to kung fu films. At this point, I felt this action film go to an entirely different level of awesome.
[2012 Comment: I repeat - "Is it Christmas Day yet?"]
Day 23 - Best Explosion or Action Scene Inception (2010)
I'm still going cuckoo over JoGo's Hamster Wheel Hallway fight. Though I loved the entire film, I'd pay for a movie ticket just to watch that scene on repeat for the same running time. And the fact that it was CGI free makes it that much more admirable.
[2012 Comments: I somtimes actually pull up this scene on YouTube and just watch it on repeat. I'm kinda sad that way.]
Day 24 - Quote You Use Most Often Pulp Fiction (1994)
"I love you, Pumpkin." (Yolanda, played by Amanda Plummer=Rachel)
"I love you, Honeybunny." (Ringo, played by Tim Roth=Brad)
We say this to each other so much, I almost decided to be ultra-nerdy once and get t-shirts made. I refrained.
[2012 Comments: Hmmm...there sure is a lot of Tarantino represented on this list. Sadly, we don't go around playing Ringo and Yolanda much anymore. Maybe I should remedy that and plan to rob a diner.]
Day 25 - A Movie You Plan on Watching Casablanca (1942)
I've been meaning to see it, but I've been busy. Netflix use to have it available for streaming and damn them for taking that option away from me! I'll get to it one of these days.
[2012 Comments: Mission accomplished! I watched it sometime in 2011 and thought it was pretty great. Only a zillion more classics to plow through...someday.]
Day 26 - Freakishly Weird Movie Ending There Will Be Blood (2007)
The third act of this film was so completely different than the rest of the film that from the moment it started, I felt like I had been transported into another theater altogether. Then it spiraled into crazy town with the now infamous "I drink your milkshake" bit to Plainview's fatal beating of Eli with a bowling pin. And it all ends with "I'm finished." So am I, P.T. Anderson. I'm finished with your films.
[2012 Comments: I have to wonder if it's even Anderson I dislike as much as I'm fed up with Daniel Day-Lewis' ability to overact these days, after finally seeing Gangs of New York. Wonder how he'll handle Lincoln in a few months.]
Day 27 - Best Villain The Dark Knight (2008)
I know it's common these days, but I'll have to go with Heath Ledger's Joker. It's an amazingly written version of the Joker with a perfect performance to match it. Creepy and crazy with a love for chaos, the Joker is exceptionally villainous in his seduction of the audience. He's so fascinating that he leaves us wanting more, which is the scariest part of all.
[2012 Comments: Four years and a Batman sequel later and he still sends chills down my spine. I miss you, Heath.]
Day 28 - Most Over-Hyped Movie Magnolia (1999)
Damn you, P.T. Anderson! I hate that you duped enough people into loving this ridiculous film that I felt compelled to watch it. I hate that you wasted over three hours of my time. But most of all, I hate your self-indulgent face!
[2012 Comments: Oh yeah, I really don't like P.T. Anderson, except for BoogieNights. But I'll admit I wasn't in a great 3+ hour film watching mood when I sat down to Magnolia, so I could give it another shot eventually. Maybe as a double feature with Southland Tales.]
Day 29 - Movie You Have Watched More Than Ten Times Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
It's my favorite film. I find more layers to peel back every single time. I can't get enough of it. Nuff said.
[2012 Comments: Nothing to add or take away. Nothing's changed.]
Day 30 - Saddest Death Scene Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
Ofelia's death at the end of this film is very bittersweet. It's hard to watch her be shot by her evil step-father and bleed to death all alone, but assuming the fairy tale is real, which I do, it's the only way she can return to her realm and be with her family. If you don't believe the fairy tale is real, then this is one dark film to endure.
[2012 Comments: I'm sure I've seen sadder, but nothing is coming to mind. Surely her age and the cruelty of the act feed this one more than most.]
Day 31 - Scene That Made You Stand Up and Cheer Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II (2011)
Yes, I know this film isn't out yet, but I have a feeling that all true Harry Potter nerds around the world will be cheering at the end of a decade of obsession (myself included), be it after the final showdown or when the credits roll. Plus I don't ever recall standing up and cheering once at a movie in the past 29 years.
[2012 Comments: I didn't stand up and cheer. I can't even remember if we clapped or not, but I have a gut feeling we did at some point. Truthfully, I'm not the stand-up-and-cheer-in-a-movie-theater kinda gal.]
Final 2012 Thoughts: There is way too much "new" stuff on this list. Hardly anything pre-2000s. And before 1990 is almost non-existent. But, like I said, I did throw this together pretty quickly in a day or two, so I wasn't giving each category enough thought. Maybe next time I'll remedy that.
I didn't use to be a fan of reposting old material, but I have seen the light and shall embrace the practice more willingly from now on. The purpose is two-fold. Firstly, I'm on staycation, while Mia is spending the week with her grandparents and it's $5 Tuesday at my mutliplex, which is probably where I'm camped out as you read this. Secondly, there are a number of posts from my old site that I admit to be pretty damn proud of and don't want them to be forgotten. Besides, if you haven't read it before, it's still to you.
So here is my "review" of the Let Me In, the remake of Let the Right One In, illustrating a telephone conversation between the central characters of both films, Owen and Oskar, respectively.
