31 Days of Film - Day 31: The "perfect" film

I reviewed Toy Story 3 when it came out in 2010. I was a mess afterwards. I've only watched it two other times. It's a tear jerking film. And it's PERFECT. It's the closest thing to perfection a film could ever get. And the shocking thing is - it's a sequel.

Both Toy Story sequels improved on the first - not just with technology but with the story itself. Toy Story 2 ripped our hearts out, but Toy Story 3 crushed them. (Yes, that is a Once Upon A Time reference.) Toy Story 3 basically perfected storytelling and CGI animation.

I don't think an animated film should make someone sob for the last 10-15 minutes of a film. I don't think it's right at all. But the ending was perfect (for the movie as well as the trilogy). I know Disney likes to milk their movies to the point of no return (see Frozen) but I really hope the rumors of Toy Story 4 remain rumors. You cannot perfect perfection.



And that concludes the 31 Day Film Challenge! With Disney coming in just two weeks I won't be doing a September challenge. I'm sure I'll find excuses to ramble on, though. (For 18 pages... FRONT AND BACK!)

And then when I get back from Disney there will be pictures... and hopefully a completed trip report (I mean, 5th times the charm, right?!)

31 Days of Film - Day 30: The "smartest" film you've seen

A lot of movie viewers claim this movie is just a mixture of Forrest Gump and Castaway - it's easy to think that considering the star of all three films is Tom Hanks, but it's so much more! The Terminal was Spielberg's jaunt into a "date night" movie, but with his classic themes of father-son bond and, of course, biopic (the story is loosely based on a real story).

This film has so much charm and heart that it's easily one of my favorite Spielberg films. The casting of Tom Hanks as Viktor Navorski is what makes this movie work. He is the perfect sympathetic character. Stanley Tucci as the stories villain is also fantastic in his role (I love him, he can play so many different characters so well). The merry band of misfits that Navorski encounters in his 9 months in the terminal round out the film in a humorous and touching way.

I remember seeing this movie twice in one day - first with my best friend Erin, and then later that night with my dad as a father-daughter date. It charmed me both times.

It doesn't talk down to the audience, and a lot of the humor is subtle in a look or gesture of the actor. It's a classic Spielberg flick. Not sure it's the "smartest" I've ever seen, but it's definitely the one that's stuck with me most.

"Do you have an appointment?"

31 Days of Film - Day 29: A film that you will never tire of

I. Love. This. Movie. It's amazing. Even after so many viewings that I've lost count I still laugh hard watching this movie. I quote it more than I probably should.

In college I watched this movie whenever I had a bad day - it wasn't the humor that made my day better... it was the idea that the whole world was blowing up. My aunt always knew when I was mad at the world because I was cheering on the aliens.

I've been known to watch this movie more than once in a single day. I've marathon-ed a whole weekend of just this movie. Normally I'm sick as a dog and too tired/lazy to get up and switch out the movie - but that's a minor detail.

Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum were such an unlikely pair, but it worked. Jeff is quirky... and Will is a dork. In Smith's first major motion picture he proved that he had the chops to be more than a teen demographic sitcom star. Bill Pullman was the best choice ever for a president. And Randy Quaid always plays crazy (because he IS crazy) to perfection.

Great cast, fun story, just a great sci-fi flick.

31 Days of Film - Day 28: The "perfect" date movie

Not that I've ever gone on a date night to the movies (have to have a date to go on a date), but one of my favorite "romantic" type films (of which I don't like many) is "The Holiday". I LOVE this movie, and while it does happen around Christmas time, it's a movie worth watching year round. The four main characters are so adorable that you can't help but love the movie.

Kate Winslet's character being my favorite, I feel a connection to the character - I understand her. Even though our life experiences are no where near alike a lot of her personality I see in my own. Cameron Diaz is pleasant in the film as well, and I'm not a fan of hers (find her a tad overrated), her character is a sympathetic one from the onset when we meet her douchebag of an ex-boyfriend. Jude Law and Jack Black as the ladies' unexpected love interests make the movie sing.

And I'm not a fan girl of either of them, though if they played characters like the ones they have in this movie all the time I probably would. This movie proves there are good guys out there, you just have to be willing to see past the "good friend" stage.

Eli Wallach (RIP!) is also the charming neighbor that Kate's character befriends. He brings a charm and warmth that the movie thrives on. You can't not love him. It's a beautiful friendship. I need an "Arthur" in my life.

31 Days of Film - Day 27: A film from your childhood

Sleeping Beauty is the first movie I ever remember being obsessed with. I had it on VHS and wore that sucker out. I loved (and still do) everything about it. Samson was an awesome horse, Prince Phillip dashing, Aurora beautiful... the fairies were hilarious and Maleficent is the most awesome villain EVER. She turns into a DRAGON!

I loved the sounds that Samson's hooves made on the cobblestone. How he dumped Phillip into the water. I loved how Maleficent flew into her rages, and how she mocked Phillip in the dungeon.

That Merryweather, like me, hated pink and wanted the dress to be blue. And I laughed at how stupid Flora was trying to make a cake. (I have been known to quote her "what's a tsp" while in the kitchen.)

I've had a crush on Prince Phillip since age three. He's my favorite prince of all time (which is why I'm always so bummed that Once Upon A Time doesn't give him a good storyline... so much potential!).

And really I love everything about Maleficent. She is just so... deliciously evil. And she turns into a Dragon... that makes her pretty much the most awesome thing ever. The movie starring Angelina Jolie does not do the mistress of all evil justice. They wimpified her.

31 Days of Film - Day 26: The film that should never have had a sequel

Just about every Disney animated film should not have a sequel - the only exception I can think of is Lilo & Stitch (I love the second film, though I can't watch it after losing Yuka last year).

I just don't understand why Disney thinks this is a good idea. Okay, I get that they're a business and it's an easy buck - but most of these films are total throw aways! They have no real quality of storytelling, characters, or animation. They are cheaply made from start to finish. It's not just disappointing, it's disheartening.

The Walt Disney name deserves better.

I know some of my fellow Disnerds will disagree, but honestly I just don't get how they can ignore the quality factor.

31 Days of Film - Day 25: Film that makes you want to be a filmmaker

I was 10 when I saw Jurassic Park for the first time. Not in theaters, but on a big screen TV at my dad's friend's house and he had surround sound. That movie was epic. Dinosaurs came to life (they were scary man eating dinosaurs, but they were still dinosaurs). My imagination was in hyperdrive.

When in Jr. High I thought it'd be awesome to work for Lucasfilm and do the special effects for Star Wars or other films like it. But by the time I hit High School I realized that the computer graphics took a lot of science and math knowledge and those are two subjects I struggled with. It was around this time I really started putting two and two together and realized I love putting creative projects together. I love telling stories and capturing stories...

And I was getting really fangirly about Spielberg films. I was beginning to pay more attention to the credits and the people behind the film, not the ones starring in them.

Jurassic Park still sparks my imagination and is the movie that always makes me want to go back and try and get that dream of becoming a film director. I want to have an epic film series. I want to have dinosaurs or something else HUGE. I want to tell a story that generations will continue to pop into their media players and enjoy them again and again.

I want to be a director like Steven Spielberg!

31 Days of Film - Day 24: Your favorite "guilty pleasure" film...

Does Mr. & Mrs. Smith count as a guilty pleasure? I suppose it depends on what makes one feel guilty? I can't think of a single movie I own or watch that make me feel guilty about something... now if we're talking TV I have one (Terriers... hey it's been a while since I did a Michael Raymond-James shout out... oh, wait... I did a review about a movie he's in two days ago... whoops.)

I was not a fan of Brad Pitt's when it was popular to be a fan - story of my life, really. I'd never been a fan of Angelina Jolie's either. I just felt both were very overrated as actors (and as hotties) and so I didn't pay much attention. For the record, both are very good at their job, but I wouldn't say I'm a fangirl of either. Still this movie looked interesting and friends wanted to see it in theaters so I tagged along.

Jolie and Pitt are a pretty awesome duo. They definitely had chemistry (this IS the movie that destroyed Pitt's marriage to Jennifer Aniston, afterall) and the script was charming. I love the idea of two assassins being unaware that they married their main rival and are now tasked with killing the other.

Who knew paid murder could be so sexy?!

The movie wouldn't have done as well, I think, if they'd played it straight on serious. That it's really in many ways a comedy is what makes it work. Otherwise they could've taken it the soft porn route (like the coming attraction of "50 Shades Of Grey" which I have no desire of ever seeing), and I wouldn't be gushing about the film had it gone that way. Granted there is sexual content in the film, but it's definitely of the PG-13 variety.

I guess I feel guilty liking it because of all the "controversy" and tabloid fodder than surrounded it... so that's my guilty pleasure...

31 Days of Film - Day 23: Funniest Film you've ever seen

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation starring Chevy Chase. This movie is a classic Holiday film, and is timeless. It's one of the many movies I can quote backwards and forwards (and I often use it in every day conversation), and yet I laugh just as hard as I did the first time I saw the film when we watch it.

Tradition with my aunt is we watch it the night of Thanksgiving after dinner is over, people are gone, and the football is over. We get out the boxes of Christmas stuff, grab another slice of pie, and pop the movie in. And laugh.

It's one of the many things I miss with my aunt living in California these days - it's just not the same without her. My parents aren't about getting Christmas out in November... and they don't appreciate Christmas Vacation like my aunt and I do. Sure they laugh here and there, but they'd rather watch Elf or A Christmas Story. Gag me.

What makes this movie so funny is - we've all had that Christmas/Family function. We relate SO WELL to the film. We recognize ourselves and our family members in the zany cast of characters... and we're so thankful that Cousin Eddie hasn't come around our place in decades.

I'm half tempted to throw this movie on right now (hey, it's closer to Christmas than it's not!) but it'll just make me miss my Aunt Judy even more than I already always do.

31 Days of Film - Day 22: Film you should like, but don't.

This was three hours of my life I wish I had back. I do not get the obsession with this film (any more than I do the obsession with Titanic). I know that there are a lot of good things about it from a film making perspective. It is probably the world's first actual blockbuster (though JAWS gets the official title of first) and is one of AFI's top 100 classic films.

But I don't get it.

Quite frankly everyone's whiny, the movie is dreadfully long, and the stereotypes are typically over the top. And this is supposedly a serious and dramatic piece. Sometimes I think the only real reason this movie gets the critical acclaim that it does is that it opened the door wide open for movies to allow swearing. It's also the only line I remember from the movie.

Because it's the one everyone repeats when they talk about the movie. Like it's the only one that matters. Because, really, it is the only one that matters because it signals the end of an insanely long movie. Three hours you will never, ever, get back.

And I don't want to hear about how great this movie is; it's great if you like it. I just don't, and I don't really care who thinks I'm wrong because...

31 Days of Film - Day 21: The film that not only changed the way you saw cinema, but the way you saw the world

Erin took me to see Big Fish (playing at the Orca Theater) for my 19th birthday. I'd been having a rough go of late, and so she wanted to treat me. I was a huge Ewan McGregor fangirl at the time (still am) and it was his latest and greatest film. It was also a Tim Burton film, and his work normally creeps me out... so we weren't sure how this movie would be... but it was a way to get me out of the house - so off we went.

The film was brilliant. Everything a film should be. I still feel this is Burton's greatest film (and will probably always feel this way). It has heart and a way of weaving a story that isn't just the narrator (and main character's) flowery way of spinning the truth. I still don't know if I understand all of it... but it was thought provoking - and for a barely 19 year old girl it was life changing.

The casting was sublime - not just McGregor, everyone was spot on for the characters they played. The story was interesting (I've not read the book as I'm worried the movie took too many liberties as most often do). I'm not keen on the whole affair/double life aspect of the story - but the love story between Edward and Sandra is so compelling. It's the part I don't totally understand about the film, but who doesn't get all giddy with the field of daffodils scene?!

 

SANDRA TEMPLETON, I LOVE YOU AND I WILL MARRY YOU!

It's honestly just such a beautiful film. I used to watch it over and over, and haven't seen it in a long while. I may have to remedy that sometime this weekend. I hear it's now a musical on broadway (or about to be). I hope it's good... and I hope that it's successful enough to some day make it's way out on tour to Alaska. I'd love to see how it stands up to the movie.

31 Days of Film - Day 20: best political film

I was going to choose Lincoln - but the ending was a bust. As much as I love Spielberg and act as if I can't find fault with him - he missed the mark in the ending of Lincoln (I'd have ended with him walking down the hall, and then fade to his speech. The assassination was unnecessary). So I chose my next favorite "political" film.

Helen Mirren was perfectly cast as "The Queen" - the film takes place in the aftermath of Princess Diana's death and shows what the Royal Family dealt with, with the ugliness of the media and "fans" of the slain former royal. I was barely in jr. high when Diana died, so I grew up/was more aware of the aftermath and I never got the hero worship she gets. I also don't get the obsession Americans have with the royal family (I mean, didn't we win a war so we didn't HAVE to be enamored with them?!)

But this film brought a humanity to the Royal Family that folks had forgotten they might possess. It was actually refreshing that it took a decent look into not only the political structure, but the emotional ones surrounding The Queen's decisions during that troubled time. Sure it wasn't a war or political take over - but it was a kind of celebrity Armageddon that was completely out of control. Honestly, the reasons given in the film for why they "hid away" for so long made complete sense to me. That the hyperbole of the media and Diana's family created the hate spewed at the family was completely uncalled for... but there again I'm not a fan of Diana or the family. And it's "just a movie" interpretation to what happened.

James Cromwell was fabulous as Prince Phillip as well. But when is he not fabulous?!

31 Days of Film - Day 19: First film you saw in theaters

It was a double feature, and I honestly don't remember which one is first, so I'll just do both. Which shouldn't be too hard as I adore both movies. The movies were Disney's Oliver and Company and Lucas/Spielberg's The Land Before Time, and I was in love with them. I was obsessed - especially with Land Before Time.  I loved dinosaurs (still do), I dressed up as a dinosaur for several years for Halloween. My aunt made the costume, it was epic!

I loved Little Foot, Cera, Duckie, Peetry and Spike. I loved being scared by SharpTooth, and I cried for Little Foot's mommy. I was 3 or 4 years old when it came out. I had all of the toys, clothes, books. It was a huge fan. I don't know if it was the story or the fact that I saw it larger than life on the big screen, but it impacted my childhood greatly.

I was destined to be a super nerdy kid, I know. I was also very much a tomboy, so while princesses were a big deal to a lot of my friends growing up, I was more into the dinosaur movies, or the princesses male counterparts and sidekicks. They were having more fun than the girls in the frilly dresses. I think I appreciate the princesses more now as an adult than I ever did as a kid (though I did love Belle and Jasmine as a kid).

Oliver and Company was every kid's dream in a way. It was about dogs and cats (getting along). It starred a super cute kitten who just wanted a home and found one with his girl Penny a lonely girl from a rich family. You had a merry band of misfit mutts who team up with the cat to save the girl. It's still adorable, though these days I can't watch it often without tearing up with how Oliver is abandoned as an unwanted kitten.

The music is timeless - I mean it's Billy-freaking-Joel! I don't like him as a person (I think he's smarmy) but I love his music and the songs in this movie don't disappoint (as I type this I'm listening to Why Should I Worry?). Dodger is one cool cat of a dog, and Georgette is the perfect poodle stereotype. Cheech Marin as Tito offers the perfect amount of comic relief...

I had a lot of Oliver & Company swag (including this super cool sweat shirt that had Oliver on it and his eyes where holographic so they moved!) and I was on a mission later that year when I went to Disneyland to find an Oliver doll (I didn't get one, settled for Lady from Lady and the Tramp, and an Eeyore -and a dinosaur!- instead).

There's a lot of humor I didn't get as a child ( isn't that how most Disney movies go? ) but now I can sit and laugh at parts that made no sense in my first viewing.

31 Days of Film - Day 18: Worst script in a film

I loved Batman growing up. I watched the reruns of the horribly cheesy tv show. So I'm not asking for a though provoking, Schindler's List type script from a Batman movie.. but after the great films from the 80s and early 90s, you expect at least some sort of decent and fun script.

This movie was not fun, clever, or even well acted. The casting was just as bad as the writing (seriously Clooney as Batman SUCKS). It was thrown together and just a mess. It was so disappointing.

I mean, I was so creeped out by Batman (Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson) that I couldn't watch it for years after my first viewing. And, so this day, I cannot watch Jack Nicholson in anything (including the Oscars) without wanting to cry. He creeped me out that much.

Christopher Walken, Michelle Pfiffer, and Danny DeVito had the same affect in Batman, Returns. They were incredibly creepy (in DeVito's case he was super disgusting). Even Tommy Lee Jones and Jim Carrey delivered awesome Batman Villain performances (with Val Kilmer as the caped crusader). Uma Thurman, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and George Clooney (and Alicia Silverstone) were just a huge disappointment.

My fangirl crush of Chris O'Donnell was not enough for me to make it all the way through this film. It's that lame. I'd rather watch the 1960s Batman movie!

31 Days of Film - Day 17: Best scene ever in a movie

The original prompt was "most beautiful" scene, but I can't think of one that stands out among all of them (now, TV that'd be easy ha ha). However, my all time favorite scene in any film is easy to choose. I've thought this scene was BRILLIANT since PotC came to theaters in the summer of 2003.

I went into the film thinking it wasn't going to be much of anything and was blown away. I hadn't had a high regard for Disney films in quite some time. Sure, PIXAR movies were good (great!) but they were just partnered with Disney - no run by them. Stories had been lacking for most off my teen years, I expected PotC to be another one of their lame attempts and revitalizing their franchise (I mean, they based a movie off of a theme park attraction).

It started off good enough with the whole crossing of the ocean, and then jumping to Lizzie and Will angst... but it wasn't until the scene that introduced Jack Sparrow that this film went from being another pirate movie to the most amazingly humorous adventure EVER. Curse of the Black Pearl is near movie perfection. Johnny Depp created a fantastic character, and Keira Knightly, Orlando Bloom, Geoffry Rush and Jack Davenport all committed so well to the story and their characters. It was casting made perfect.

I saw it four times in theaters, and this scene NEVER failed to crack me up!


4 weeks until we go searching for Captain Jack in Disneyland!

31 Days of Film - Day 16: Movie you totally didn't "get"

Everyone in my friends group (online and here at home) LOVE this trilogy. I am the odd man out. I read the books in Jr. High and didn't care for them, so when the movies came out I was less than interested. I never saw them in theaters, and didn't go to the viewing parties my friends held at their houses when they came to video. I knew I didn't like the story, so seeing it in film format wasn't going to be much better (movies are rarely if ever better than the book!)

I've since suffered through the trilogy (as well as the first Hobbit movie). I just don't get it. Granted, I know my likes aren't always mainstream, so I'm not judging! But the way people react when I say I don't like the movies (or books) you'd think I'd kicked their dog. For me they're long and tedious. They have a few moments here and there that are charming or funny, but for the most part it's just a significant waste of time. Which I don't normally mind wasting time (I'm blogging about movies here, obviously time wasting is something I know how to do) I just want to have a good time while wasting time. And this isn't a good time for me.

I lost friends - or nearly so - over this. (Seriously two guys I grew up with stopped talking to me for WEEKS after I said I didn't like the books/movies. High School, gotta love it.)

I just don't get it! LOL

31 Days of Film - Davy 15: Best Horror Film

No, now, hear me out. YOU may not see the horror of this film, but let me tell you this movie is CREEPY. Yes, I know, it's a Spielberg movie! It's one of his best movies. Well, let me tell you I can't watch it without hiding my eyes for most of it.

It's not even the alien part of the whole thing - I can handle aliens (for the most part). They don't bother me. The turd is halfway cute, actually, when I think about him. It's not the aliens, it's not the unknown... it's the government guys in the HazMat suits!

When they capture poor little ET and put him in the freezer (or whatever it is) and his tummy glows red, the five year old me that's still very much in my head wants to run for the other room. My dad finds it hilarious and makes sure to stop on the movie whenever it (rarely) plays on TV. Because he's evil like that.

And, yet, I love quoting this movie. And the music is - as John Williams' scores always are - incredible. So it has a lot of positives... which is why it's the best horror movie of all time.

31 Days of Film - Day 14: A film you used to love but now hate

It's not that I hate "All Dogs Go To Heaven", because I don't. It's a fun film... for the most part. It's just that after losing three of the very best dogs ever (Amiga in 1998, Jordy in 2002, and Yuka in 2013) I can't really handle watching it. So it was a film I loved to watch and now can't without big ugly crying. And I don't like to ugly cry.

I loved this movie as a kid. Wore out my VHS tape of it. Itchy was my favorite, and I adored Anne Marie. I was terrified of the alligator, and it bothered me that there was a pink dog in charge of Heaven. The demon that chases Charlie was scary, but it was a good scary... and who doesn't quote "you can never come back" in that creepy voice the pink dog had?

I had the movie memorized, but it's been so long that I don't think I could put two lines together. Though I'm always surprised when we pop a movie in I haven't seen in decades and I can quote it line by line, so who knows.

Playing around on imdb.com to see who voiced the characters (all I remember is Dom DeLuise as Itchy) I'm giggling because the voice of "Ducky" in The Land Before Time is the same as the voice of "Anne Marie". Never realized that. Gotta love random bits of trivia. Thanks, Internetz.

31 Days of Film - Day 13: Movie with your least favorite actor/actress

I've said it several times before - I don't like Leonardo DiCaprio's acting (he doesn't win me over in interviews either). I find him incredibly boring, put on, and just not that good. I'm in the minority, and Hollywood disagrees, so it is what it is... but I think he's more hype than actual product.

And I think his performance in What's Eating Gilbert Grape is what people are really thinking about when they consider his acting chops. It's completely different from any of his major roles that he would later play (he's typically stuck in Jack Dawson type roles... which is predictable and stupid, but when that comes easy and the money's good...).

I've only watched the film a couple of times - it's one of those movies like "Dan In Real Life" or "Elizabethtown" that's well done but kinda depressing (even if there are happy moments). But, DiCaprio's performance has always stuck with me. That kind of acting I can get on board with. He was totally committed and transformed into the character, whereas these days he transforms all the characters into himself and it's just meh.

31 Days of Film - Day 12: Movie with your favorite actor/actress

I am going to cheat and do a film with both my favorite actress and actor. I adore Katherine Hepburn. Ever since high school I couldn't get enough of her. She was such an interesting persona. Equally high on my favorites list is Cary Grant. I've loved him since mom sat me down and made me watch Arsenic & Old Lace (while I was in high school). I was in drama club, and she wanted me to get an appreciation for great acting.

It worked.

I love all things 1940s and 50s, especially the glamorous Hollywood version of the times. It was the golden era of cinema. I love the architecture, the fashion, the simpler times (that really blazed the way for the convoluted ones we have today).

And I love their movies.

Especially The Philadelphia Story. It stars my three favorite actors of that era - Hepburn, Grant, and Stewart. It's witty, smart, and just a great time. It was originally written for Broadway - and for Hepburn. After her turn as Tracy on stage, she brought it to Hollywood where they cast Grant and Stewart to play opposite her. They could hold their own against such a powerhouse like Kate. The chemistry that the cast had was near perfection.

I kinda identify with Hepburn's characters in her films. Hepburn herself was a tomboy and so I think that's what always speaks to me - and her characters seem to be a lot like her. I may not be a divorcee looking at groom #2 all the while still feeling something for groom #1 and crushing hard on a journalist, but I do get the trying to stick to the picture everyone has of me and holding myself to impossible standards... and holding those around me to impossible standards.

Grant and Stewart created great moments as well on screen. Their humor and sarcasm were what they were known for, and the looks they gave spoke volumes. This film was the perfect vehicle to pit the two against each other, and all I can say is - it's a tie. I can't choose a winner in who was "better". It was like both characters were made for the actors who played them.

It's said that due to his bigger popularity, Grant got to choose which of the two roles he would play - the production company was hoping he'd play Macaulay Connor, but he chose CK Dexter Haven instead. It was the right move, though, because I honestly can't see the roles reversed. Besides, Grant should always get the girl.

Dang, if there's one thing that this daily challenge is doing, it's making me want to rewatch all of my favorite films!

Yes, I know, I've gushed about a certain other actor as of late on my blog... but he's not had a break out role in film yet (seriously, he dies or has a five second role in most everything... and the one film that he actually had a significant role in I haven't seen because he plays a really bad dude!). So Michael Raymond-James will just have to wait until I get to do another TV 30 day meme. lol